Living Word October 2014

But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. (1 Thess. 5:1)

www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk

May God give you the dew of the sky and the richness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine. (Gen 27:28)

In this month’s issue: 4.

For the Asking

Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

5.

Sealed Until that Day

Kenn Legg (Australia)

6.

Revelation 20: Events at the End of the World

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

9.

The Living Church (Sermon Outline)

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

11.

Hearing His Voice Begins With “Turning Aside”

Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

13.

Faith-builders Bible Study Mark 13

Derek Williams (UK)

17.

In Depth Study – Zechariah 3

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

19.

Gaius the Prosperous Soul

Haydn O. Williams (UK)

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Faithbuilders Bible Study Guide – Mark

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For the Asking An extract from ”Kneeling We Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey BUY ON KINDLE! £3.86 Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers.

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“Power belongs to God,” but all that belongs to God we can have for the asking. God holds out His full hands and says: “Ask, and it shall be given you. . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

(Matt. 7:7, 11).

The poverty and powerlessness of the average Christian finds its explanation in the words of the apostle James: “Ye have not, because ye ask not” (Jas. 4:2).

“Why is it,” many a Christian is asking, “that I make such poor progress in my Christian life?”

“Neglect of prayer,” God answers.

“You have not, because you ask not.” “Why is it there is so little fruit in my ministry?” asks many a discouraged minister. “Neglect of prayer,” God answers again.

“You have not, because you ask

not.” “Why is it,” many, both ministers and laymen, are asking, “that there is so little power in my life and service?”

And again God answers: “Neglect of prayer. You have not, because you ask not.” God has provided for a life of power and a work of power on the part of every child of His. He has put His own infinite power at our disposal, and has proclaimed over and over again, in a great variety of ways in His Word, “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

How little time the average Christian spends in prayer! We are too busy to pray, and so too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity but accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery, but few results. The power of God is lacking in our lives and work. We have not, because we ask not. Many professed Christians confessedly do not believe in the power of prayer. It is the fashion with some to contemptuously contrast the pray-ers with the do-ers—forgetting that in Church history the real do-ers have been pray-ers; the men who have made the glorious part of the Church’s history have been without exception men of prayer.—Torrey.

I have been in that old church in New England where Jonathan Edwards preached his great sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” He had a little manuscript which he held up so close to his face that they could 4

not see his countenance. But as he went on and on, the people in the crowded church were tremendously moved. One man sprang to his feet, rushed down the aisles, and cried: “Mr. Edwards, have mercy!” Other men caught hold of the backs of the pews lest they should slip into perdition. I have seen the old pillars around which they threw their arms, when they thought the Day of Judgment had dawned upon them. The power of that sermon is still felt in the United States today. But there is a bit of history behind it.

For three days Edwards had not eaten a mouthful of food; for three nights he had not closed his eyes in sleep. Over and over again, he had been saying to God: “Give me New England!”

And when he rose from his knees, and made his way into the pulpit they say that he looked as if he had been gazing straight into the face of God. They say that before he opened his lips to speak, conviction fell upon his audience.— Chapman.

To aim aright at the liberty of the children of God requires a continual acting of faith—of a naked faith in a naked promise or declaration. By a naked faith in a naked promise I do not mean a bare assent that God is faithful, and that such a promise in the Book of God may be fulfilled in me, but rather a bold, hearty, steady, venturing of my soul, body, and spirit upon the truth of the promise with an appropriating ACT!—John Fletcher.

Sealed Until that Day It secures us until the Lord returns to claim what is His. Paul says to the Christians at Ephesus, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph.4:30). We are sealed until the Second Coming of Jesus when the climax of our salvation will be reached, including the redemption of our bodies (see Rom.8:23).

Grace Roots by Ken Legg Order your copy online PDF AUS $9 Print AUS $19 Christians are eternally secure, not only because of the Father and the Son, but also because of the Spirit.

After we believed in Jesus we were sealed with the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph.1:13-14).

A seal is proof of ownership. As a young Christian I used to wonder how, amongst billions of people, God would know those who have believed the gospel and are saved.

Would each person be individually quizzed at the end of their lifetime?

I have since learned that everyone who puts their trust in Christ is sealed with the Holy Spirit. And this seal is ‘tamperproof’.

The seal of the Holy Spirit is God’s deposit which marks us as His. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit” (2 Cor.1:2122).

We pay a deposit on an article in order to secure it for ourselves. By paying a deposit we make the statement, “This is now mine. I will return to collect it.”

That’s the promise Jesus made when He sealed us with the Spirit.

He said, “This person belongs to me. I have bought them with the price of my own blood. One day I will come to collect those who are mine.”

A seal cannot be removed. Its permanence guarantees security for the sealed item. Even though at times a Christian may grieve the Holy Spirit, yet He will never depart from the believer. Jesus promised, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the

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Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

The Holy Spirit Is The Pledge Of God’s Intentions When Marianne and I started going out with each other I was living in the UK and she lived in Switzerland. We were a thousand miles apart. We couldn’t afford to fly to see each other regularly. And it took ages to send a letter and receive a reply.

However, when we got engaged I placed a ring on her finger. That ring sealed the promise I made to her that we would be married one day.

It was a pledge of my intentions.

Every time she looked at the ring she would be reminded of my promise, “I will come to Switzerland and we will be married. Then I will take you to be with me, and we will be married forever.”

Dear friend, you are eternally secure because the Father has given His Word that nothing can separate you from Him. Also, the Son has purchased you with His blood and incorporated you into His own body. And the Spirit has sealed you until the day that Jesus comes or calls you home to be with Him. Then Jesus will present you faultless before God. This is your salvation – signed, sealed and delivered. It is the full, ripened fruit of that which grows from grace roots!

Revelation 20 Events at the End of the World !

Truth for Today A brief extract from our forthcoming book.

By Mathew Bartlett Image © Pidiyath100

In Revelation 19 we saw the Lord Jesus Christ returning to earth with his saints to destroy those who had gathered to fight against him in the battle of Armageddon. The battle over, chapter 20 starts with the immediate ushering in of the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth, a period of time known as the Millennium. This great age of God’s glory being manifested on earth commences with the removal of that evil influence that misled the nations to rebel against God, Satan.

An angel is sent with God given authority to bind the devil, and cast him into prison - a place called the abyss or bottomless pit, where he will be sealed up for the duration of Christ’s earthly reign. As Derek Williams points out, no literal bars and chains are meant here, for ‘The devil is securely bound with the chain of God’s authority and purpose’. Since God has purposed to shut Satan in his prison, the power of his will and word are sufficient to keep him there. The absence of Satan alone will lead to a tremendous period of freedom for the earth. It is a time when, as an old hymn puts it: ‘Jesus shall reign, where ere the sun, doth its successive journeys run.’ However, as we shall see, God still has a purpose for which he sets the devil free for a season once the thousand years are over.

Christ’s people will reign with him over all the nations of the earth.

You will recall from our earlier studies that those who had died in Christ were caught up together to meet him in the clouds, an event known as the rapture, which takes place before the Lord’s returning with his saints to earth. These saints will rejoice with the Lord in the air, clothed with their resurrection bodies, fitted for eternity. With 6

them are those saints who were alive at the Lord’s coming for his people. They were caught up too and clothed with their resurrection bodies to meet the Lord in the air.

Now in chapter 20 we are told that those who gave their lives for Christ during the period of tribulation are permitted to join them as a permanent part of the church. This series of events is called the first resurrection simply because it has to do with believers being raised to eternal life whilst the second resurrection concerns only unbelievers, who will be raised to eternal judgment. The resurrection of believers is completed prior to the millennium, whilst the second resurrection, for unbelievers, takes place after the 1000 years has finished.

Those who reign with Christ are blessed and holy, for they have previously received Him as their Lord and Saviour. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3) They are made holy by his sacrifice, to stand forever perfect before the throne of God. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb. 10:14) Jude tells us that Christ will present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24) To Christ’s redeemed people, God will give the position of judges during the Millennial reign. The word judgment in v4 refers not to eternal judgment, but to the judiciary, or the law courts. Christ’s people will decide the matters of life and law in His millennial kingdom. It seems clear from this

chapter that there will be those left alive of the unsaved nations who will be permitted to live on the earth during the reign of Christ. So whilst the earthly kingdom of Christ will be wonderful we should remember that it is not a perfect paradise, nor will it be a permanent residence for God on earth.

Yet we should not underestimate it’s vital purpose. Since Christ’s sufferings for our sin were real and literal, so his entering into glory will be real and literal, and it will begin with his earthly reign. The scripture says He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (Luke 1:32) This will literally be fulfilled during the millennial reign of Christ, as he shall reign over the nations from Jerusalem itself. It will be a golden age, for during it, the prophecy of Habakkuk will be fulfilled, For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea. ( Hab. 2:14) This glory will be nothing less than God’s immediate presence with us on earth in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a time of peace, when Isaiah says He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isa 2:4) Even the animal kingdom will be affected by our Lord’s kingly rule, for the curse shall be lifted. "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young

lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.( Isa. 11:6-9) Daniel foresaw this golden age in a vision, for he saw all the kingdoms and rulers of the earth portrayed as a statue. Then he saw a stone cut without human hands which struck the statue and destroyed it and the stone became a mountain which filled the whole earth. That stone was Christ, and his rule will bring the reign of peace.

However, this will be a divinely enforced peace. Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron, putting down all rebellion to bring about obedience by compunction. We might have thought that men would want a king like this to reign over them forever, sadly such will not be the case. For whilst Christ’s millennial reign will demonstrate His power and ability to rule, and what the world can be like when he does rule, not even that will be enough to persuade unregenerate hearts to willingly submit to him.

Hence even though, as Derek Williams puts it, ‘For a thousand years the earth will be free from all strife and enjoy the blessings of God’, yet to quote Frederick Tatford, ‘amid all the tokens of God’s goodness, amid prosperity and fruitfulness, human nature will remain unchanged’.

This is the reason why, at the end of 1,000 years, God permits Satan to 7

be released from his prison. The devil wastes no time in raising an army of millions (Gog and Magog, the number as the sand of the sea) from among the still unchanged, rebellious nations. They all, without exception, gather to destroy the camp of the saints in Jerusalem. Yet the saints have no need to defend themselves, as God’s fire descends from heaven and consumes their enemies. This event will be the final episode of the end of the world and even of the universe. The devil is taken by force and thrown into the lake of fire, an irreparable separation from God where in God’s plan of things he can do no more harm.

Immediately after this event, John sees the Great White Throne of God, and before the face of him who sat on it, heaven and earth fled away and there was found no place for them. Peter speaks of this event, when he says, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:10-12) What do you think will be the time and place of the final judgment?

Time will have ceased to be. There will be no specific place, for the universe has passed away and our ideas of time and space will hold no more meaning. We can identify the place only as being before the

throne of God. His throne is described as great and white as a symbol of his absolute holiness and unswerving justice; for justice rather than mercy will decide the judgment. The picture of God on His great white thrown brings to my mind a judge wearing a black cap, for however merciful the judge may be, his duty is not to pardon the guilty but to condemn them.

We have already noted that the unbelieving dead shall be raised (in their corruptible bodies (Matt.

10:28) to stand before God. Whether they were buried or cremated or buried at sea will make no difference. There is no way to hide or escape from this last great judgment. The great books (or records) of God were opened. Did you know that God has a book on every individual and that each book contains a record of every one of your sins - your whole life story, for nothing is hidden from God’s eyes?

Everything we have ever said, thought or done is recorded in those books. The dead were judged according to what was written in these books.

As the tragedy unfolds, another book was opened, the book of life.

Its opening reveals the woeful state of the lost, for it is opened only to show that their names are not in it.

They had the chance to accept Christ as Saviour during their lives, but had failed to do so. All hope is now gone, for no further opportunity will be given. What remorse they will feel, as an awful doom awaits them. The day of grace is over, and they are cast, quite rightly, where the devil has already gone, into the lake of fire.

The words ‘second death’ are clarified, to show that they do not refer to annihilation. At no time will

the unbelieving ever cease to exist. They will remain in conscious torment forever, the unspeakable torment of a soul banished from the presence of God. But perhaps John ends the chapter with a more joyful thought, for text of verse 14 is very significant for believers.

When death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, no one will ever die again and no one will ever be separated from God again. God’s strange work of judgment has been accomplished and now the eternal age of blessedness begins, as the very first words of Rev 21 indicate ‘I saw a new heaven and a new earth... God himself shall be with them and be their God.’ How wonderful that will be, greater than the millennium, for it will never be spoiled nor interrupted forever.

The challenge which chapter 20 brings to you, the reader, must be to ask where you would stand, if you were summoned tonight to appear before God, would your name be written in the Lamb’s book of life because you have received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Or would it be your fate to spend eternity forever separated from God? The truth which must be applied to your heart today is this: you have the chance offered to you by God to receive Christ today. Do not put it off, tomorrow may be too late, for there is no opportunity after death.

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Where will you spend eternity?

This question comes to you and me!

Tell me, what shall your answer be?

Where will you spend eternity?

Eternity! Eternity!

Where will you spend eternity?

Many are choosing Christ today, Turning from all their sins away; Heav’n shall their happy portion be; Where will you spend eternity?

Eternity! Eternity!

Where will you spend eternity?

Leaving the straight and narrow way, Going the downward road today, Sad will their final ending be, Lost thro’ a long eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

Lost thro’ a long eternity!

Repent, believe, this very hour, Trust in the Saviour’s grace and power, Then will your joyous answer be, Saved thro’ a long eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

Saved thro’ a long eternity!

Elisha Hoffman (d. 1929)

existence, and which it continues to exist, and by which we have all become part of it. Communion is our enacted statement that Christ died for our sins and is risen, and that by his saving action we are joined to him in eternal life. Every time we take communion we reaffirm our relationship with him, a relationship we have only because of what he did for us.

The Communion of the Church The church is a group of people who are ‘called out ones’, ‘sanctified ones’. The Scripture calls us saints, that is holy ones, called out of the world to be set apart for God. We are not a group like a bowling club or a political party, but a spiritual fellowship.

You cannot join the church by filling in a membership card, but by union with Christ in his death and resurrection. For those who are joined with Christ is this way share hi s life and nature. We are born again, and have become children of God. The joint agents of our birth are the incorruptible seed of the word of God, and the Holy Spirit of God. So we are joined with Christ to share one eternal destiny (Predestined).

In the words of Ephesians, the church is one body and shares one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (see Ephesians 4:4-6 NRSV)

So our membership of the church is sealed by our union with Christ, and that union may be outwardly demonstrated in two main ways.

Our union with Christ is evidenced in baptism, which is the outward confession of an inward reality.

When we came to know Christ as Saviour, our ‘old man’ (what we were outside of Christ) died, and was buried with Him. Our going down into baptismal water signifies our oneness with Christ in his death and burial, declaring that in our new life with Christ, old things have passed away. Coming up out of the water is symbolic of the fact that by faith in Christ we have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life, for we are new creations in Christ, all things have become new.

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 NKJV) Furthermore, our union with Christ is evidenced in communion, for here we rehearse the method by which the church was brought into

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In terms of its communion the church is describes as the bride of Christ. This word emphasises the union of the body to Christ and her mutual love for her Lord. Christ's love for the church cannot be doubted. He loved her and gave himself for her (Eph 5:25). Christ's possession of the church cannot be doubted that she might be his, redeem her (5:26,27).

The relationship between husband and wife is so closely bound by God himself that he describes them as being one flesh, who can only be separated by death. Yet those who are Christ's are one spirit with him, and that is an indivisible and eternal unity; indeed, it is indestructible unity. When Jesus said, ‘inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me,’ he was showing that a believer cannot be separated from his Lord; ‘he who receives you receives me’ said Jesus. How grateful we are that ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

We belong to Him, being holy and set apart as his. In the scripture every individual believer is referred to as holy. Or do you not know that your body (singular) is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom

you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Cor. 6:19) and also the whole church of God corporately is described as holy: Do you not know that you (plural) are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor. 3:16) Whoever maligns, belittles or insults the church does these things to Christ, for we are one with him.

He who touches the church touches Christ, for we are the apple of his eye.

The church's communion is an expression of our union with Christ.

But our union with him leads necessarily to our union with each other.

And this requires commitment.

kingdom of God. God's purpose is that through our prayers, teaching and evangelism and so on we might become mature in our faith, and become more like Jesus to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-13 NRSV) A building. It is still under construction, but one day praise God it will be completed, for being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (Philippians 1:6 NKJV)

The Commitment of the Church The church's commitment is a commitment to ministry.

The church of Jesus Christ is described as a body, with Christ as the head. Christ possess his church (indwells it) and expresses himself through it in the world. All the life of God resides in the body of Christ, and yet all the life of God resides in every individual part of the body of Christ. Now each part of the body has a different function, for every part is different, but all these functions are worked in us by the same Holy Spirit. Thus diversity in the body is never division. There may be many different kinds of people in the church of Jesus Christ, but we are all born of God. There are many different ministries and administrations but all are the work of one and the self-same Spirit, with God as the master overseer, Christ the head of his church.

God's blessing flows over all his body and that which you or I do is important and valuable in the

Hence the church's commitment is to ministry, but for us to be effective in ministry there must be a complete surrender to Christ's Lordship. Whatever our role in ministry this challenge is the same: in order for us to minister effectively to the body of Christ there must be complete yieldedness to the Lord: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

(Romans 12:1 NKJV)

The Consummation Church

of

the

Let me ask you a question. If you had all resources, and if nothing was impossible to you, what kind of building would you make to dwell in for all eternity? What kind of comforts would it have? The church is destined to be the dwelling place of God throughout all eternity. The glories of it cannot adequately be put into words.

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Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah (Psalms 87:3 NKJV) The Bible describes it as the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, that is with a heavenly nature. It is described in terms of precious stones and gold, indicative of its spiritual glories, for the glorified church of Christ is possessed of the glory of God, for God dwells within her. If you can tell the glory of God then you can tell the glory of the church. God is her glory, dwelling in and with her forever.

Praise God that the building will soon be finished. When the temple was built at Jerusalem, there was to be no noise of work on the temple site. Building materials were to be prepared elsewhere and then transported to the site. There will be no further building work in heaven. The building work goes on here. When it is finished the church will be the showcase of God's glory and grace. To prepare us for that place God is working in us each day to change us into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ that His church might be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Jesus said I go to prepare a place there for you, so that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye into his likeness and be forever with the Lord. O what a change.

Conclusion The living church has a vital communion with her Lord and with each other. We have a commitment to serve Christ by our ministry to his body, and we look forward to a heavenly consummation, which will be the eternal state of the church Rev 21:11 "having the glory of God."

Hearing His Voice Begins With “Turning Aside” Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Photo: © Ellah By kind permission of CfaN, an extract from Daniel’s new bookLive before you die. £9.99 BUY NOW.

There is a small shrub called dictamnus albus that grows in Israel (as well as many other places). It is also known as the “gas plant” or “burning bush,” because it emits a flammable vapour and has been said to spontaneously combust if it gets hot enough in the desert sun. Some Bible commentators believe the dictamnus albus might be the very species of bush Moses encountered.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.—Exodus 3:24 This is where Moses received his divine call and discovered God’s will for his life. But there is an interesting detail recorded here that many people miss. First of all, it’s important to note that Moses was not impressed because a bush was on fire. He had lived in the wilderness for forty years. I’m sure he had encountered many dictamnus albus bushes before, and 11

perhaps he had even seen them spontaneously combust. But this one was unique because it kept burning and burning and burning, and yet, “The bush was not consumed.”

I don’t know how long the bush burned before Moses realized something extraordinary was going on. Maybe it burned for a day or a week or a month before he decided to investigate the phenomenon. The Scriptures don’t tell us. But one thing is certain. God never shouted out to Moses from the bush, “Hey, you—Moses! Come over here. I have something I want to say to you!” Instead God waited until verse 4. It says when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to

see, then and only then did God call out to him from the midst of the bush.

I have often been asked, “Why doesn’t God speak to me?” I think many times the reason is so simple— we aren’t listening!

We are often so busy and in such a hurry that we rush right past the Lord and never stop to give Him our attention. I wonder how often we miss an encounter with God or a word from heaven simply because we are too busy to take the time to “turn aside.” I have met some Christians who feel very sorry for themselves because it seems they are always being forgotten and passed over. While others have burning bush experiences and receive great revelations from God, they seem to always be left out. They ask, “Is God angry with me? Doesn’t He love me? Aren’t I special to Him?”

My friend, perhaps God has just been waiting for you to slow down and “turn aside.”

Several years ago I ministered in a church where a powerful move of the Holy Spirit caused tremendous growth because people were being saved and discipled. After one of the powerful services I saw a new

convert talking to a deacon of the church. I was curious to know what they could be discussing, so I moved closer to listen. I heard the young man saying, “I’ve only been saved for a short time, and I struggle with prayer.” The deacon said, “Young man, prayer is easy. It’s just talking to God. Talk to Him like you would talk to a friend.”

My friend, as sincere as that deacon was, his advice to the young convert was terrible. If that young man had done what he was told to do, I’m sure his prayer life would have been exhausted within a week. Prayer is not about making lengthy lists of requests for God and continually chattering for as long as possible.

“Yes, I do that,” the young man said, “but after about five minutes I’ve said everything I know to say. Yet I hear other people saying they pray for hours. How can someone pray for so long? What do they talk about?” The deacon began to explain. “First,” he said, “you need to make a list of all your friends and relatives on a piece of paper. Then you need to list everything you need from God. Then you need to list everything you can be thankful for . . . ” And the catalog of things to talk with God about went on and on.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to be quiet and listen!

After the deacon finished giving his advice, I pulled the young man aside and said, “Do you really want to know the secret to prayer?”

“Yes” he said, “please tell me.” I said, “I can give it to you in one word: listen.”

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When I am in the presence of someone who is full of wisdom and who has many years of rich life experience, I make it a point to keep my mouth shut and listen to what he has to say, because I know that what he has to say is more important than what I have to say.

Do you think for one second that what you have to say is more important than what God has to say? François Fénelon said, “A humility that is still talkative doesn’t run very deep.” Learn to become quiet in the presence of the Lord, in a posture of humility and awe, and tune your spiritual ears to His voice.

God will speak to you in this place, and you will encounter His presence as Moses did—when you turn aside and listen.

The Faith-builders Bible study series The ‘Faith-builders Bible study series’ has been developed a useful resource for today’s students of God’s Word and their busy lifestyles.

Pastors, home or study group leaders and indeed for anyone wishing to study the Bible for themselves will benefit from using Faith-builders studies.

Each volume is the result of many years of group Bible study, and has been revised again and again to be relevant, challenging and faith building whilst remaining clear and easy to understand.

Each chapter has thought provoking questions to aid study and sample answers are provided.

Below is an extract from the study notes for Mark chapter 9.

Buy paperback now for £5.20 Kindle Edition only £2.01

The ‘Faith-builders Bible study series’ has been developed a useful resource for today’s students of God’s Word and their busy lifestyles.

Mark Chapter 13

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem Do Not Trust in Earthly Things 13:1 Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!’

As Jesus was leaving the temple one of his disciples was very impressed by its greatness and splendour and drew his attention to it. This was the second temple which by this time had been rebuilt and enlarged

by Herod the Great. In Luke 21:5 we are told that it was adorned with shapely and magnificent stones. The Jews were very proud of it and this disciple was too.

13:2 Jesus said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!’

However, if he thought to make an impression on Jesus he was greatly mistaken; Jesus was not taken up

with the temporary things of this world, not even the temple. He directed this disciple’s thoughts away from the temporal to the eternal (2 Cor. 4:18) by warning that what seemed so magnificent would not endure. The temple would be completely destroyed, with every stone thrown down; this took place AD 70 when the Roman legions besieged and captured Jerusalem.

not to be so caught up with the external observances of Christianity that they become distracted from Christ himself (Col. 3:2).

Mark Chapter 2 (abstract)

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem

The temple belonged to the old covenant; but when Jesus died and rose again this was the beginning of the new covenant. The continual animal sacrifices made in the temple were no longer required, as Jesus had made his once and for all sacrifice on the cross (Heb. 10:912). Jesus wanted to prepare his disciples for the day when the external regulations for worshipping God would be done away with and they would instead worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24).

Believers today must also be careful 13

Signs of the End of the World

13:3-4 So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?’

As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple with just four of his disciples (Andrew is an addition to the usual three), they asked him what signs would indicate the time when these things would happen.

13:5-6 Jesus began to say to them, ‘Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and they will mislead many.

The signs given in these verses were to be fulfilled from the time of the first disciples right up to the time of Jesus' return. The first was the appearance of false Christs and false teachers (claiming to represent Christ). Believers must be very careful not to be deceived by anyone (2 Thess. 2:3). The best way to safeguard ourselves is to walk close to Jesus every day, reading his word and taking it into our hearts.

Down through the centuries right up to the present time there have been many false teachers and false Christs. Their numbers will continue to increase as a sign of the near return of Jesus (1 John 2:18).

13:7 When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Jesus next refers to wars and rumours of wars; the latter being a reference to civil unrest, or acts of terrorism. Christians are not to be alarm by these events, for we are not like those who have no hope (Luke 21:25-26); they are signs that our Lord’s coming is getting nearer!

But, says Jesus, these events do not mean that the end will come at once.

13:8 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

Whole nations shall make war against each other and earthquakes will occur in all sorts of places, even where they had previously been unknown. There will be constant famines and catastrophic happenings throughout the world.

All this is but the beginnings of the sufferings that are to happen (Rom. 8:22-23).

13:9 ‘You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before

governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

who endures to the end will be saved.

Another sign of the coming end of the age is the persecution of the church. Jesus warns that his followers would be turned over to the local governing authorities to be beaten, and even appear on trial before rulers, such as when Paul appeared before Caesar (Acts 25:11-12); though this would become an opportunity for the believers to testify of Christ. Such persecution has continued throughout the Christian era and will do so until Jesus comes again.

As with all the signs of the end of the age, the persecution will get worse as the end approaches.

The time would come when all Christians would be hated and detested by the whole world for Christ's sake. Once again, the picture Jesus gives implies that this hatred would increase toward the end of the age. Nevertheless, “those who patiently endures to the end shall be made a partaker of the salvation of Christ and delivered from spiritual death' [Amp. N. T.] The Christian “must hold fast to the very end: and if he be truly Christian he will hold fast, because God holds him fast” (Alan Cole). Jesus said “remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself” (Rev. 2:10).

13:10 First the gospel must be preached to all nations.

God has purposed that the message of salvation must be declared to all nations before the second coming of Christ.

13:11 When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave these instructions to his disciples concerning how they should conduct themselves when they were delivered to those in authority for the gospel’s sake.

These instructions hold good for believers facing persecution today.

We are not to be anxious about what we are to say or try to prepare our defence beforehand, for when the time comes the Holy Spirit will speak through us.

13:12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child.

Children will rise against parents and have them put to death.

Jesus further warns that close family members would betray Christians, even if that meant them being put to death.

13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one 14

A Time of Great Trouble 13:14-18 ‘But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.

The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house. The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.

Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter.

Remember that Jesus was replying to his disciples’ question about the signs of the end of the age when he spoke of this “abomination of desolation” (Daniel 9:27). It is difficult to see how Jesus’ words could be taken as a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, for many of the events depicted in later verses did not coincide with the Roman siege. Perhaps the “abomination” is a reference to the image of “the beast” - a worldruling opponent of Christ who would appear toward the end of time, and erect a statue of himself in the temple, proclaiming himself to be God (Revelation 13:12-15; 2 Thess. 2:4). Similar profanities had defamed the temple previously.

During the period of Antiochus Epiphanes a statue was erected of

him in the temple and pigs were sacrificed there. But Jesus was clearly speaking here of a future day that would be worse than the time of Antiochus.

Jesus’ words were given as a warning to those alive at the time of this “abomination”. When they saw these things happen it would be vital for them to escape from Jerusalem and the surrounding area as quickly as possible and head for the Judean Mountains. There would be no time to take any possessions, just enough time to flee for their lives.

13:19 For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.

Although the days of the Roman siege were dreadful they did not come up to what Jesus foretold here. He was warning about a time of affliction that would be more dreadful than anything ever seen on earth, and which would never be witnessed again. This can only be a reference to the end of the age, a time which is spoken of in more detail in the book of the Revelation.

13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.

The word “elect” (chosen) is often used of believers in Christ (1 Pet. 1:2). Yet the word is also used to denote the nation of Israel. In context, Jesus has been addressing a localised situation (“let those who are in Judaea”) at a particular time.

It is possible that he simply means only a few will be saved alive at this time; he does not elucidate as to whether they are Christians or Jews.

But given their locality, they would more likely be Jews.

13:21-22 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe him. For false messiahs and false

prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.

During these days of suffering many false prophets will appear professing to be the Christ. Many will follow and support these false prophets. They will be able to show signs and work mighty miracles (Rev. 13:11-14). These signs and miracles will be such a good counterfeit that if it was at all possible even those chosen by God would be deceived by them.

beast” is revealed. Certainly, at some time between the sixth and seventh seal being opened the tribes of Israel are sealed (Rev. 7:18) and the redeemed of the Lord are in heaven (Rev. 7:9-17).

13:26-27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

It is because Jesus has forewarned us of this that we can be on our guard and not taken in by what is false.

After these signs appear in the heavens, Jesus himself will be revealed, coming in the clouds of the sky with great power and glory.

Then shall be gathered in from all over the earth to the utmost limits of heaven all those who belong to him (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

Second Coming of Christ

Parable of the Fig Tree

13:24 ‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

13:28 ‘Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Immediately after these days of suffering are completed, awesome signs from God will appear in the heavens to announce the end of the world. Even the sun, moon and stars, together with the powers of heaven (e.g. gravity) will be shaken.

This is a simple parable taking an object of nature that response to the seasons as a matter of course. It cannot do anything else but respond. As summer approaches the young shoots appear and its leaves begin to bud. This is invariably taken as a sign that summer has arrived.

13:23 Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time.

It is noteworthy that the signs given in this verse seem to correspond with those in Revelation 6:12-13, which occur at the opening of the sixth seal. Just before this, in Revelation 6:10-11 many Christians who had been martyred ask Jesus how long it will be until they are avenged. The Lord answers that it will not be until more of their fellow servants have been killed as they were. This might suggest that up until the opening of the sixth seal the church is present on the earth, whilst after the sixth seal comes the day of wrath (V17). On the other hand, some commentators believe the church will be removed before the great trouble occurs and “the 15

13:29 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door.

So it is with the signs the Lord gave to his disciples: they herald that his coming is near, even on the threshold 13:30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

The generation here certainly does not mean that of the twelve disciples. It may refer to the generation that is alive at the time when all these signs have been accomplished. Jesus is emphasising

by this and the following verse that an end will come to the world.

13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Yet although heaven and earth will perish and pass away (2 Pet. 3:10), there are some things, which, according to the eternal word of God will endure forever.

The Time of His Coming 13:32 ‘But as for that day or hour no one knows it — neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son — except the Father.

This verse has always presented a real difficulty in as much as if Christ is the divine son of God, how can he speak of not knowing the day of his return? Yet this difficulty might be explained if we remember that Jesus was also a man, and as a child he grew in wisdom, and in his humbles state as a man he might claim to not know something.

The point of what Jesus is saying, however, is that if he and the angels do not know the time or date of his coming, no man should presume to know it.

13:33 Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.

Instead of guessing the time for the Lord’s coming, Christians should be constantly on the alert, on our guard spiritually by watching our lives and praying, so that we might be ready when he comes.

13:34 It is like a man going on a journey. he left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.

Jesus likens himself to a master who goes on a journey and puts his servants in charge of particular tasks. We are all his servants, and

we are also all like the doorkeeper who was commanded to remain alert, watching for his master's return (Luke 19:13; 1 Cor. 15:58).

13:35-37 Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return — whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn — or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!’

Jesus repeats his warning that since we do not know when he will return we must be watchful at all times; keeping our minds on him and doing the work he has entrusted to us. Otherwise when he comes he may find us asleep like the unbelievers; that is, in a state of spiritual apathy and dull to the things of God (Rom. 13:11; 1 Thess.

5:6). That is why he addresses his warning to all; it is not only his existing followers which must learn to be awake and watching. The teaching of Christ’s second coming has led many to personal faith in him.

Discussion Chapter 13

Questions

for

1. vv. 5-6. Why can the reader be assured that any one on earth claiming to be Christ is false? In answering this question, consider also how Jesus describes His own return in 13:26. _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

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2. vv. 3-25. List some of the signs of Jesus’ coming given in this chapter. _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

3. vv. 14-22. Describe the time of great trouble which Jesus refers to in these verses. _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

4. vv. 28-31. What is Jesus teaching through the parable of the fig tree? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

5. vv. 32-37. Why can no one correctly predict the time of Jesus’ coming? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

Our In Depth Study Zechariah Chapter 3

By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Jacob Gegory

Scripture taken from the NET Bible®.

This article is an extract from The Prophet of Messiah – a Zechariah Bible Commentary Buy Paperback £2.54

Vision Four: The Cleansing of the High Priest vv. 1-7 3:1 Next I saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

Joshua the high priest was among those who had returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. Zechariah sees him in vision form standing before the angel of the Lord with Satan making accusations against him. The devil had done the same to God’s servant Job (Job 1:6-12), and presumably does so to all God’s servants, since he is known as ‘the accuser of the brothers’ (Rev. 12:10).

3:2 The LORD said to Satan, "May the LORD rebuke you, Satan! May the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Isn't this man like a burning stick snatched from the fire?"

Joshua stands in front of the Lord as one who is justified in his sight, and so the Lord rebukes Satan for daring to bring an accusation against God’s servant (Rom. 8:33); for if God be for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:29-31)?

3:3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood there before the angel.

The dirty clothes which Joshua wore were symbolic of his own sin and possibly (since the high priest represented the nation) that of all Israel. The scripture had already declared all people to be sinners, and all human righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).

3:4-5 The angel spoke up to those standing all around, "Remove his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "I have freely forgiven your iniquity and will dress you in fine clothing." Then I spoke up, "Let a clean turban be put on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood nearby.

But in a picture of cleansing, forgiveness and justification, the angel ordered Joshua’s soiled clothes to be removed and that he be clothed instead with clean robes.

Joshua also received a clean turban, the sign of high priestly office, which bore a gold plate engraved with the words HOLINESS TO THE LORD (Exodus 29:6; 39:30).

For the Jews, this would have been an indication that God would honour his covenant. The sin of the 17

people was to be removed, and they would once again be seen as the nation belonging to God, with a renewed and cleansed priesthood and rebuilt temple. Their enemies, represented in the vision by Satan, would be unable to overcome them or thwart God’s purposes.

The early church realised that this vision provided an illustration of what Christ has done for Christian believers. Christ has carried our sin away in his own body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24) so that our filthy garments might be taken away and our sins are forgiven (1 John 2:12).

Subsequently, Christ clothed us with the garments of his righteousness and salvation (Isaiah 61:10). By faith in Christ we are justified in God’s sight (Gal. 2:16); that is, we are accepted as part of God’s covenant people, in a right relationship with God. Christ has cleansed us in order to make us holy; we are a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6) that we might serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Heb. 12:28) offering spiritual sacrifices to the Lord (1 Peter 2:5).

3:6-7 Then the angel of the LORD exhorted Joshua solemnly: "The LORD who rules over all says, 'If you live and work according to my

requirements, you will be able to preside over my temple and attend to my courtyards, and I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you.

Having cleansed and justified Joshua, the Lord next gave him a solemn commission. The Lord’s charge to Joshua was for him to perform the duties of high priest, the vision thereby ordained Joshua as high priest in the eyes of the people.

But more than that; for the return of the nation of Israel to the Promised Land was a re-establishing of their God-given call to be witnesses to the nations; and this was to be inaugurated by the consecration of their high priest as much as by the rebuilding of the temple.

Having been made holy, Joshua was to serve God in holiness of life’ keeping his commandments blamelessly. This is always to be the result of consecration to God’s service. Like Joshua, it is only once we have been cleansed that we can be consecrated to serve the Lord; just as in Exodus 29:20 Aaron and his sons had to have the blood of the sacrifice applied to them before they could minister. The result of our cleansing and consecration is to be obedience (Rom. 6:1-2); for the deeper our appreciation of our forgiveness, the deeper will be our devotion to God (Luke 7:47).

The Greater High Priest to Come vv. 8-10 3:8 Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you are a symbol that I am about to introduce my servant, the Branch.

God sends a message to Joshua and his contemporaries about the servant of God who was one day to appear, whom Isaiah and Jeremiah had already identified as ‘the Branch’ (Isa. 11:1 and Jer. 23:5). It was important to note that this branch was to be of the line of David; yet Joshua the high priest is set forth as a picture of him in order to indicate that he would also be a priest, bearing the sin of many (Isa. 53:10-11). Of course, Israel knew that this could never be – priests only came from the tribe of Levi; yet as the writer to the Hebrews explains, the priest God spoke of was appointed after the order of Melchisedec, not the order of Aaron,; that is, according to the power of an endless life. Jesus Christ is the branch born of the seed of David, who because of his endless life remains a priest of God forever (Rev. 1:18; Heb. 6:20).

3:9 As for the stone I have set before Joshua -- on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

It is uncertain whether an actual engraved precious stone was placed before Joshua during his consecration; at least in this vision of his consecration. If so, it would have served as a perpetual reminder before the people of God’s promise in this verse – to remove the sin of the people through the ministry of ‘the branch’.

The Lord Jesus Christ is again and again referred to as a ‘stone’ in the scriptures. He is a chosen and precious stone (1 Peter 2:4), yet he is the stone which the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22; Acts 4:11) 18

and the one who became a trap and snare to those who did not believe (Isaiah 8:14; 1 Peter 2:7). On this stone, the Lord says, are seven eyes 1 (originally, possibly seven facets ), a symbol speaking of the allknowledge of God. The servant who is anointed with the sevenfold Holy Spirit (Rev 4:5; Isa. 11:2) will also possess such all-knowledge.

Engraved on the stone, which is Christ, is the sign that God would remove the iniquity of the people in a single day - the dreadful day when Christ hung on a cross at a place called Calvary and God laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:6).

3:10 In that day,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'everyone will invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.' " The result of Christ’s removing the iniquity of the people is described vividly in terms of fellowship, abundance and peace; a message which would have been welcomed by the fearful exiles. Moreover, the fact that everyone would have his own supply and could sit in peace, suggests that they would be no more slaves or servants (as they had been in Babylon). Through Christ we enjoy fellowship with God (1 Cor. 1:9) and one another (1 John 1:7).

Through Christ we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and with each other (Eph. 2:14). Through Christ we have abundance (Rom. 8:32). Through Christ we are no longer slaves or servants but sons and friends (Gal .3:26; John 15:15).

1

Baldwin, p. 116-117

From ‘Meet These Men: Character Studies in the Bible’ A forthcoming book based on studies by the late Haydn O. Williams. Image © Dvest Gaius the prosperous soul 3 John 1 The name Gaius is mentioned five times in the New Testament. The apostle Paul baptised one of his Corinthian converts by this name (1 Corinthians). Later, he became one of Paul’s travelling companions (Acts 19:29). Another Gaius was from Derby (Acts 10:4). In the book of Romans 16:23 Paul received hospitality of Gaius. However, there is a doubt as to which of these if any was the Gaius of John.

We may not be sure who he was, but more importantly, we know what kind of man he was. A study of his character and conduct reveals him to be a prosperous soul, a beloved brother, a faithful servant and a charitable man. If we are not sure where he came from ewe can be sure to where he was going. We are only given six verses about him but they are all gold. He was a consistent Christian brother.

Although we are not told when or how Gaius found Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, it is obvious that he did have a real encounter with the Lord. He was also well known to John, who looked upon him as his son in the faith, and who was delighted to find him growing in the truth. It may be that John had led Gaius to Jesus and was his Pastor.

John was always thrilled to see spiritual growth.

Christ was living in Him. No wonder his soul flourished.

He was loved by John, the great apostle of love. He had been close to Jesus and leaned on his breast.

He wrote much about love (e.g.

John 3:16). God is love. John knew real love and he wrote so much about it. John loved Gaius truly. To be worthy of John’s love makes Gaius a very special person to John.

Waited on Brethren

He was loved by others. The word beloved conveys the idea that he was loved by other people also.

Having a good testimony, he was well spoken of because of his love for others. He was a prosperous soul indeed, an apt description for him. His love made him prosper.

Walking in the Truth Our text speaks of the truth in Him and that he walked in the truth.

Pontius Pilate asked Christ, “What is Truth?” But truth was standing before him. Jesus said “I am the way, the Truth ad the Life.” (John 14:6) John said, “The law was given

by Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ.” Walking means living in harmony, in fellowship with truth, practising and obeying the word of the Lord and the Spirit of God. Gaius was walking in the truth because he was living in Christ and

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His condition It would appear that he was not enjoying the best of health or material wealth. If this was true then he’s bigger than we think. He did not make sickness or anything else an excuse to prevent his soul from prospering. Affliction or poverty doesn’t mean you are out of the will of God. We can still grow in grace and truth.

His Charity Gaius was commended for his love, concern, charity and ministry to the saints. He was given to hospitality (REF). Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. (REF). He was unselfish and without respect of persons. He was big hearted man, He did it faithfully, prosperous soul.

Conclusion Many starve their souls while they prosper materially and positionally.

What a difference between Gaius and Diotrephes who loved the preeminence, to be the boss, selfish proud, arrogant, he was not a prosperous soul - but Gaius was a prosperous soul.

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