My beloved is gone down to his garden
(Song 6:2)
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In this issue: 4.
‘Pray Out’ Lies ‘Pray In’ Truth
Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)
5.
The Finality of the Cross
Ken Legg (Australia)
6.
God a Refuge for His People
Mathew Bartlett (UK)
11.
The Returning Lord (Part 2)
Reinhard Bonnke (CfaN)
11.
The Surrendered Will
Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)
14.
Faith-builders Bible Study Luke 1
Derek Williams (UK)
18.
In Depth Study – Zechariah 7
Mathew Bartlett (UK)
21.
Barnabas Son of Consolation
Haydn O. Williams (UK)
23.
How to be Born Again
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Or are we letting things drift? Are we passively submitting to the oppression and antagonism of the powers of darkness, throwing up our hands in a confession of impotence and ignorance of how to act; or are we alert, as Paul and Epaphras were, “labouring fervently in prayer,” and setting ourselves aggressively in union with the Holy Spirit, to resist the foe? . . .
‘Pray Out’ Lies ‘Pray In’ Truth An extract from ”Kneeling We Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey BUY ON KINDLE! £3.86 Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. Image© Elultimodeseo
This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. . . . Lift up thy prayer (Isa. 37:3, 4). Thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib; . . . This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; . . . I will defend this city (Isa. 37:21, 22, 35). Prayer is not merely a closet exercise of personal communion, but an acting with God in His battle against evil. Are we taking up the challenge of Satan in our own home, with its tests and trials? In our Church, with its measure of indifference and spiritual deadness? In the land, with its manifestly increasing demon possession? In the world, with its frequent exhibitions of satanic power and fury?
When we slacken, the powers of darkness press in. When we fail to pray, the power-house of the Church shuts its door. Nothing is more needed today than companies of Christian people everywhere, who can pray, and persist in prayer. The philosophy of prayer, rightly understood, will impress upon our minds the infinite value to God of a spirit which has learned, in light or darkness, to “continue steadfastly in prayer.” Our responsibility, because of our privilege, is to hold in alliance with the Holy Spirit, the fact and power of the “finished work of Christ,” without cessation, over him and his hosts, his methods and his works, until victory has been gained. It puts force into prayer to claim, on the ground of the Blood shed, the loosening of the devil’s grip, the beating back of the “rulers of darkness,” and the success of righteousness and truth. Do not pray only for the blessing of God in Christian work, but with equal might and faith pray against the blight of the kingdom of evil. Pray out lies: pray in truth. Pray out the forces of deception and destruction: pray in the life and light of the Lord. Prayer can not only bring in revival, but it can push out Satan from any
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ground he has gained in a life or a church or a work, by wielding through implicit, bold, triumphant faith the victory of the Cross against him and every expression of his evil power. Standing in the gap, according to the need of God, it must constantly be borne in mind that passivity of spirit and will is fatal. The activity of all Godgiven powers is requisite, if the Holy Spirit is to find the human channels through which He can bring to a glorious consummation the longings of the divine heart.—Gordon B. Watt. Armor thou hast, oh! haste to use, Ere thou the skill to use it lose; Powerless thou art if thou refuse To arm thee with this panoply. Though called to wrestle here below Against a mighty three-fold foe, Perpetual conquests thou shall know, Equipp’d, thou art invincible. Great, great shall thy rejoicing be, Ceaseless thy boast of victory, Till thou thy King in glory see, Through Whom thou art omnipotent. — Phoebe Palmer.
If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD . . . then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause (1 Kings 8:44, 45).
The Finality of the Cross By Ken Legg
Image © Bernard Dunne
When I first began teaching
about the grace of God, I could see that some people had difficulty accepting it. At first, I couldn’t understand this because grace is such a beautiful, liberating and empowering truth. It is the heart of the gospel. Then I felt God say to me, ‘You are not teaching grace as Paul taught it.’ So how did Paul teach grace? I went to the book of Romans, which is Paul’s manifesto for the gospel and the Christian life, and it didn’t take long to discover how he taught grace. He began with the sin problem, which is the cause of our spiritual death and disconnectedness from God. Then he revealed God’s solution to this and His way of
righteousness through faith in Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross. Only then did he move on to teach about empowerment for living through grace. There is an order: first righteousness, then grace. We will never experience the power of the resurrection in our lives until we understand and believe in the finality of the cross. This is what was missing in my ministry. It is why Paul taught the righteousness of God before he went on to share about living in the energy of His grace. Many believe that the secret to seeing God’s power at work in their lives is to fast, pray, give, sacrifice, etc. However, in the 5
first chapter of Romans, Paul taught that the gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation (see Rom.1:16). If we believe the true gospel, God’s power will work in us. If the power of God is not at work in a person’s life, their understanding of the gospel is probably faulty in relation to the finality of the cross. This seems to be the case with much of modern Christianity. Many Christians are: • More sin-conscious than Sonconscious. • Confessing their sins instead of confessing their righteousness. • Trying to die to self, when we have already been crucified with Christ (Gal.2:20). • Trying to break curses, when our position under the new covenant is that we are not cursed but blessed (Gal.3:9, 1314; Eph.1:3). These are just some of the dead works Christians do because they are ignorant of the finality of the cross. A dead work is anything we attempt to do which Jesus has already done for us. It is a ‘dead’ work because it is not necessary and has no purpose or profit. In fact, dead works undermine the finished work of Christ.
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GOD A REFUGE FOR HIS PEOPLE: Romans 3 A Sermon Outline by Mathew Bartlett
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Image © Alex Silvano
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The Refuge Faithfulness
of
God’s
3:1-2 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. After all that Paul has said in the previous chapter, we might think that he is denying the special relationship which Israel had with God, but this is not so. His aim has been to show that even these special privileges are not sufficient to make Jewish people personally righteous before God. In chapter 9 Paul lists the privileges that God gave to Israel; for now he is content only to name the one which he considers of first importance - that God entrusted the Jews with his own inspired word. The scriptures; the Old Testament; was entrusted by God to the Jewish people that they might preserve them. That was a great responsibility, for these scriptures tell us how we may receive eternal life through faith in God’s son Jesus Christ. Their chief responsibility was also their chief privilege, for the scriptures were intended to benefit the whole world by making God’s way of salvation known. 2 Tim 3:15 ..the Holy Scriptures.. are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Matthew Henry says “ The Jews had the means of salvation, but they did not have the monopoly of salvation.” 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? So precious and important are the promises contained in the scripture
that Paul is eager to stress their immutability. The oracles were committed to the Jews, but if some did not believe, that did not invalidate the promise. The promise stands sure even though all men fail to profit from it through unbelief. Throughout the history of Israel, God’s people failed to listen to and believe His words. Recall how, after God brought Israel out of Egypt, a whole generation of men aged twenty or over died in the wilderness - only Caleb and Joshua who believed the words of God were allowed to enter the promised land. Jude 1:5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Heb 3:16-4:3 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it…For we who have believed do enter that rest... Although some did not believe, God’s promise was not annulled. God had promised to bring the
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nation into the land of Canaan and that is exactly what He did - he kept his word. There were many individuals who did not enter because of their unbelief, but as a nation, Israel did inherit the land. In the same way, God promises eternal life to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Many individuals may refuse to believe and so enter that rest, but we who do believe find that God keeps his promises. In fact, whether they are promises made for all believers or for the nation of Israel, God will keep them all. Josh 21:45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: "That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged." One of God’s attributes is that he cannot lie Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, All men may be liars but God will not be. All who oppose his truth will be found false. God maintains his own honour and will emphatically clear Himself whenever man judges him. This gives us tremendous confidence to those who put their faith in Jesus. God has promised that all who believe on his Son shall have eternal life. How reassuring to know that God cannot lie. That is why the writer to the Hebrews says: Heb 6:17-18 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the
heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. At no time could Israel claim that God had broken his promises to them – but even God’s faithfulness could not bring salvation to an unbelieving people. So whilst there is a refuge in God’s faithfulness, it is only for the believing. As God is sovereign in making a promise, man is responsible to believe the promise and appropriate it to himself. If there are Jews or Gentiles today unsaved, it is not that God’s word has failed, but that individuals have failed in their responsibility to believe and accept His Word.
There is no plea bargaining with God. We cannot say “God, you’ve got what you want - you’re glorified. So in a sense you have shared in my sin. Let me off.” Men who condone their sin and try to pass the blame to God are using the first excuse of fallen man. When Adam sinned he blamed God for giving him a wife who led him into sin. He was saying, “How can you point the finger at me, it was you who gave her to me. It was at least in part your fault.” Far from accepting blame for man’s sin, God neither condones nor tolerates it. Certainly not!, (v6) cries Paul. What kind of God would he be to overlook sin? How would he be able to pass judgment of the world? We must face up to the facts. There is no refuge in lies. We are all ultimately responsible before God for our own actions.
The Refuge of Lies There is no refuge in denying our responsibility As an evangelist Paul’s concern was not only to demonstrate that mankind is universally sinful and condemned, but that man has no answer to this situation. Some have tried to argue their way out of it. This is the oldest lie in the book. 3:5-7 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
3:8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. Sin is not a matter to be taken lightly. The opponents of the gospel mock its message - “Let us do evil so that good may come. It doesn’t matter how you live if God will forgive and save you. So lets all do all the evil we can, so we can experience God’s forgiveness even more.” The charge that the apostles preached such lawlessness is refuted strongly as Paul insists that “to condemn such men as these there is surely no injustice”
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No Refuge in Works of Law 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. So, although Paul ascribes many advantages to being a Jew, when it comes to the judgment of God, the Jew is not at an advantage. Both Jews and Gentiles are condemned as sinners, and in final confirmation of this point he appeals to the law. 3:10-18 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." In striking terms Paul sets out from scripture his previously stated charge that all have sinned and stand guilty before a holy God. The point is summed up in verse 23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. It is clear that the law applies to the Jews who are under the law. If so then Jews must face up to the fact that the law of God condemns them. Gentiles are not excused from this condemnation, for the
scripture makes liberal use of the words “all” and “none”. All the world is guilty before God. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. It is because the law condemns us, that we can never be justified by the works of the law. Why does the law condemn us? There is nothing wrong with the law. It is our sin that brings us into condemnation, and it is the law that was given to make us aware of our sin and its consequences. It reveals to us a tremendous problem without giving us the solution. Man has no solution to this problem. So far in Romans we have seen that all men are condemned. Now Paul emphasizes that there is no way that man by himself can save himself from this condemnation. To sum up the points raised in this and previous chapters, Paul has swept away any refuge that man may claim in his own works or privileges. We cannot rely on our nationality or religious background; we cannot plead ignorance; Jews cannot plead a special relationship with God; unbelief will not excuse us but rather condemn us; any argument we invent will never get us off the hook. Good works won’t do and religious rites such as circumcision are insufficient. There is nothing that man can do by himself to save himself from his condition of condemnation. Man has a problem which he himself is absolutely unable to solve. The Roman poet Horace, laying down guidance for tragedy writers in his day, who were far too keen to involve a deity whenever they had
tied themselves in problems in the course of their plot, said “Do not bring a god onto the stage unless the problem is one that deserves a god to solve it.” With regard to the forgiveness of sins, here is a problem which needs God to solve it. This is true for sinful man cannot solve it; it is his (own) problem; he needs to be forgiven. The problem has been solved by the grace of God, who has given us Christ as the solution, the means of forgiveness and the guarantor of our acceptance. BRUCE
The Refuge of Faith in Christ 3:24 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, Through Christ a way of salvation has been revealed to all men. This way of righteousness is attested to by the same prophetic writings which brought condemnation on our sin. So that whilst righteousness is not attained by keeping the law, the law itself tells us of God’s way of righteousness through faith. 3:22-25 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified, made right in
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the sight of God. This is true regardless of race: for there is no difference. Jew and Gentile - all the people of the world have sinned; and all can be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This justification is bestowed without any merit or worthiness on our part - it is by God’s grace or his good will toward men and so is unmerited. Having shown that God cannot overlook sin, Paul expounds how God has in one act punished sin and made a way of salvation for the sinner. God gave his only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sin. This unusual word means “a sacrifice that appeases wrath”. By shedding his own life’s blood on the cross Jesus has appeased the wrath of God. It is on the cross of Christ that God’s wrath and anger against sin is most clearly seen. There, Jesus became sin for us, suffering its terrible consequences that he might save us from a lost eternity. God’s wrath against sin was poured out on his Son. Having satisfied every demand of the law by living a perfect sinless life, he then became our substitute. The sinless one died for the sinner, 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, 2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ took the punishment which our sins deserved, so that those who believe have no future punishment to fear - Jesus has taken it for them. Yet this only
applies to those who believe. Christ died for everyone, but those who do not believe on God’s Son Jesus have not had God’s wrath turned away from them John 3.18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God What about those who sinned before Jesus died? We see now why God did not always punish them immediately, for Jesus died once for the sin of all men for all time. Men who sinned before Christ came were not without hope. God was waiting patiently for the day when his Son to satisfy divine Justice. At the time of Christ’s death these faithful Old Testament saints were given the opportunity to accept Christ and so to rise to eternal life. How could God forgive David’s sin of adultery? How could God cleanse the iniquity of Isaiah? How could God forgive the rebellious prophet Jonah? The answer is the cross of Calvary, which one day would settle the sin question once and for all. 3:26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Since God has condemned sin by the death of Christ, he is able to acquit guilty sinners whilst remaining just in himself. There is nothing underhand about God forgiving the sin of those who believe in Christ or about Him giving them a right standing before him. Since his law and justice have been satisfied by Christ’s death God is able to offer free pardon to all. God now deals with the believer as if all
his sins are gone -which they are and as if he were credited with the righteousness of his Son - because he is. 3:27-30 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. What is there to boast about? Is it our own achievement? No. It is Christ’s achievement. We owe all to Christ, for we have not earned salvation, but received it as a free gift from him. This is the central theme of the Christian gospel - man is justified by faith in Christ alone and not by observing the law. This justification is available to both Jew & Gentile on the same ground of faith in Christ. 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. Yet far from nullifying the law by this faith, as some Jews feared, Paul insists that we establish the correct use of the law. The law first shows us our sin and reveals our condemnation. The same law then reveals God’s way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Finally, our acceptance of Christ produces in the life of a believer the fruit which shows that God’s law is written in our hearts, and that we no longer serve according to the written code, but by the principle of the Spirit of Christ who is alive in our hearts.
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Conclusion Having established that justification by faith is the answer to man’s need, Paul continues in the next chapter to explain clearly how it is received. The stage has been set for a full discussion of justification by faith. It is to Christ alone that we owe all. It is Christ alone who can save. Have you placed you trust alone in Christ to save you? You can be saved today, if you will put your trust in Jesus to do that for you. There will be nothing to boast in. All God asks of us is to trust, believe with simple faith, in his crucified and risen son. Will you do that today. Then you will be justified by faith.
Sola Gratia, sola fide, soli Deo gloria By grace alone, by faith alone, to God alone be glory. Image © Salvador Ceja
The Returning Lord (Part 2) By Reinhard Bonnke Image © Grace21
How do we know that Christ is returning? By the fact that Christians everywhere are praying “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” That prayer will be answered any day now. We are sure for the following reasons: 1. Jesus came the first time exactly as the Bible predicted, so He will come the second time just as the Bible says. The Bible is the only book that has ever predicted the future and proved accurate. The Lord said I am ready to perform My word (Jeremiah 1:12). Bible prophecy was accurately fulfilled by Christ’s first advent. The Magi (the ‘wise men’ of Christmas fame) came 1,000 miles and found Jesus at Bethlehem, exactly where the Bible said He would be. The Bible prophets had spoken how He would be born and live, and how He would die, His hands pierced, His clothes made a lottery, His grave being with the wicked and the rich (Isa. 53:9). One man, John the Baptist, knew about Him from Scripture, and that He was about to appear on the scene. Before Jesus stepped into public life John identified Him as He who is coming.
2. Christ’s coming is the climax of all time. Historians say that they can find no pattern in the events of the past—but there is. The true way to see history is through the Bible. It points to a unifying plan, which will bring everything together and make sense of it all. Christ is returning! The very moment that Jesus left the earth, God sent angels to reassure and impress upon His followers that He had not gone for ever. This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). That promise rings like a peal of bells throughout Scripture and has rung in the Christian church for twenty centuries. The apostle Paul described what being a Christian meant, by saying that it meant to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead (1 Thess. 1:10). The nine men who wrote the New Testament all spoke of Christ’s return, and to them it was clear that that hope gave meaning to their faith, and an objective for their work. John was closer to Christ than anybody and he rested his hope 11
on Christ’s return. He wrote: Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). Furthermore, John wrote the Revelation, with 22 chapters of prophecy about Christ’s return as Lord of lords. It ends with the words of Jesus: He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” 3.We know that He is coming back because He was raised from the dead. He rose—so He will come again. When Paul was preaching to the intellectuals in Athens, he said that God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. It was the kind of absolute logic they liked. 4.We know He is coming back because He belongs here. He is the man Christ Jesus. He was born here, ate here, and grew up here. He breathed, lived and shed His blood here. He rose again in the same body in which
He died on the Cross, now renewed and immortal. The Son of Man is tied to this world forever, incorruptible, the resurrection and the life. He has two homes, earth and heaven with us and with the Father. He went to God because He came from God. He will come back because He came from here. He belongs to God and belongs to us and as He loved the Father and went to Him, so He will come back because he loves us. When the new heaven and earth come He will belong to both. 5.We know that He is coming because He is one of us. We read in Heb. 2 ‘as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same; and in all things He had to be made like His brethren’. He belongs to the human family and will not desert them nor stay away forever. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). A mediator has links to both parties. Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God. He is the only Mediator, like Jacob’s ladder set up between heaven and earth. Jesus binds heaven and earth, God and man, flesh and deity, together in Himself. His presence on earth will be the most natural thing of all. 6.We know that He is coming because the world is in danger. We go from crisis to crisis. We have manufactured all that is needed for the whole world to
commit suicide. Jesus Himself spoke of this: Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened (Matt. 24:22). He spoke also of men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth (Luke 21:26), but His coming would take place as the Divine intervention. That deliverance day is fixed in God’s program for this world. Jesus Christ, the Son God will return. He will join our hands with the hand of God in an eternal and wonderful clasp of love. Three wonderful things His coming reveals His coming tells us something wonderful about this world. His coming shows that despite human self-will, the will of God will be done. The shuttle of time has been weaving a perfect pattern. This world has a wonderful future, a Divine destiny. We may seem to be drifting, but the currents are the providences of God. His coming is not just a great religious event, but the culmination of all events, bringing everything together that has ever happened. Christ is not coming merely to live another human lifetime, but to reign for ever and ever; to take over the whole globe and put things to right. His coming tells us something wonderful about ourselves. What an incredible thing that God should send His Son to us in 12
the first place! He came as the Good Shepherd and that He intends to be, for we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalms 100:3). No wonder the Psalmist asked what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? Why the creator of infinity should concentrate upon the human race we do not know. He loves us, but why? It is a mystery. His coming tells us something wonderful about the Gospel. Jesus is coming here, to our material world and to people living here. That sounds very materialistic, and it is. Our Gospel is not an ethereal concoction revealed to somebody in a vision, or by a voice, or on golden plates. Jesus Himself is our salvation and He is coming back here the same way He departed - as thousands knew Him. That is a physical and material miracle. This truth tells us that the Gospel is as much for the physical and material order, as it is for the spiritual order. Jesus not only saves souls, He saves people. So we preach a full Gospel of Jesus as Savior, Healer, Baptizer, and Coming King. Article reproduced with kind permission of Christ for all Nations.
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The Surrendered Will 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. When we talk about being crucified with Christ and dying to self, what do we mean? It means we die to our desires, our ego, and our will. Sometimes this even means dying to our own vision. But you may say, “I’m sure my vision is God-given. It is His will.” Yet there is an inherent danger. It is possible for the calling, promises, and vision God has given us to become our main ambition, making them opponents of God, for He is not willing to share our hearts with anything—not even good things. Isaac was the fulfilment of the promise God gave Abraham. Yet God was not willing to share Abraham’s heart, not even with Isaac. So God asked Abraham to lay Isaac on the altar and offer him as a sacrifice, knowing this would be the ultimate test of Abraham’s love. Author God let the suffering old man go through with it up to the point where He knew there would be no retreat, and then forbade him to lay a hand upon the boy. To the wondering patriarch He now says in effect, “It’s all right, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love. Now you may have the boy, sound and well. Take him and go back to your tent. Now I
know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” - A. W. Tozer ‘The Pursuit of God’. What does it mean to surrender our will to God? Many of us are willing to surrender until it begins to hurt, but true surrender is painful. Some are willing to surrender as long as it is logical, but true surrender is not subject to our rationale. Others can surrender what is bad and harmful, but God is not satisfied. To God surrender is not complete until it is total. It is not simply saying, “Your will be done,” but, “Not my will.” This death to self is not some form of divine sadism. God always has life in mind. Just as a gardener prunes off the old branches so new ones can grow, God desires to remove that which hinders life and growth. This place of death is also the place of birth, and it is how God’s purposes are born in the earth! John Wimber is best known as the founder of the Vineyard church movement, which is well known for its wonderful music that touched the world and, in many ways, revolutionized worship in the modern church. But many people don’t realize that John Wimber had been very successful as a secular musician. Two of his hit singles reached the US top ten before he met the Lord and abandoned fame and fortune to follow Jesus. His wife, Carol, told 13
the following story: John and I had been Christians only a few months. We were broke and Christmas was coming. John had laid down his musical career because Jesus asked him to. After refusing a lucrative offer to arrange a Christmas album, he quietly put down the phone. As I watched, John went to the cupboards, closets and the piano bench. He gathered a lifetime of work and talent and placed it in big cardboard boxes and we drove to the Yorba Linda dump. As he pushed the last box out of the station wagon and it sunk into the garbage, John 12:24 came to my mind: “Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” In my heart I know that was when worship was born in the Vineyard. What if God asked you to give up the thing you enjoy the most? What if He asked you to lay down your gift or talent, the thing that defines you—the thing in which you find self-worth? Could you lay your promise on the altar as Abraham did Isaac, or push your treasures into the dumpster as John Wimber did? Have you checked to see who is sitting on the throne of your heart? Is it you? Is it your vision? Is it your dream? Or is it Jesus? My friend, God has a wonderful plan for your life, and He wants to use you in extraordinary ways for His glory. But resurrection only follows death—death to self, death to your will, death to your desires, and death to your dreams. It is in these painful moments of surrender that God’s kingdom is established in us, when we pray with Jesus, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
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.
Luke Chapter 1:1-1:38
By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem Introduction We infer from Paul's letters that Luke was a qualified physician (Col. 4:14) and we may assume that he was not a Jew, since Paul does not include him among "those of the circumcision" (Colossians 4:11). He joined Paul at Troas to journey into Macedonia as far as Philippi. He is not mentioned on the second missionary journey but is found to be with Paul on the third missionary journey. Luke is also the writer of the book of Acts. 1:1-2 Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. In commencing his gospel Luke says that many believer's had attempted to write about the life of Jesus
Christ having received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses of all the events that had occurred and the teachings they had received from Lord Jesus Christ and who had faithfully passed it on.
Luke dedicates the result of his work to someone called Theophilus, about whom we know nothing; except to say that his name means Image © Rorem ‘lover of God’. Luke wanted this person, and every ‘lover of God’ to know that their faith was based on certain corroborated facts; and he arranged these facts in such a way as to instruct his converts in the truths of the Christian faith..
Mark Chapter 2 (abstract)
By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK)
1:3-4 So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know for certain the things you were taught. Having considered the need for a full orderly account Luke had closely investigated everything from the beginning (starting with John the Baptist's conception). It may well be that Luke was able to interview some of the surviving witnesses personally; and these might have included Mary and Peter (Luke seems to know more about their stories than Matthew does). 14
The Conception of John the Baptist 1:5 During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. Luke sets the time as being in the days of Herod Antipas, sometimes called Herod the Great, who had
been installed as king of Judea by the Roman Emperor; and begins his story in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. At that time there was a priest serving in the Temple from the division of Abijah named Zechariah. The divisions of the priests were appointed by King David for serving in the temple (1 Chron. 24:10). Zechariah’s wife was Elizabeth a descendent of Aaron the first high priest. 1:6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. Luke draws our attention to the fact that both Elizabeth and Zechariah were righteous in the eyes of God and lived blameless lives according to the law and commandments of the Lord. Luke accepts that the Jews were the chosen people of God, and that their laws, and Temple worship had been given to them by God. One of Luke’s purposes in showing that Jesus was born as part of a right-living community of Jews is to show how he was born as the fulfilment of all God’s promises to Israel, to redeem them from the law (Gal. 4:4-5) and become the centre of their worship (John 4:24) as well as the whole world’s worship (Mat. 2:2). Luke first shows Jesus to be the Saviour of Israel (the Messiah) and later reveals that he is not only Israel’s Saviour but the Saviour of the entire world (Isa. 49:6). 1:7 But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old. By describing Zechariah and Elizabeth’s situation Luke is deliberately reminding us of an earlier couple to whom God made many promises. Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, Abram and Sara had not child, for Sara like Elizabeth was barren. It was the same God who gave his promise to Abram, and fulfilled it in Isaac who would now give Elizabeth the power to
conceive. This reminder is intended to show that the time had come for God to fulfil of his promise to Abram (Gal. 3:16; Luke 1:68-72). The child of Elizabeth and Zechariah would herald the arrival of the ‘descendent’ of Abraham whom the prophets had spoken of in various ways as God’s servant and son and Israel’s king. 1:8-9 Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. Whilst Zechariah was serving in the temple according to the order of his division, the lot fell to him to enter the holy place and burn incense (it was customary among the priests to draw lots to decide who which of them might have this privilege). 1:10 Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. Recall that only the priests were allowed to enter the holy place to offer incense (Num. 3:10; 16:40), and so whilst Zechariah was inside the temple of God the crowds of people were praying outside. 1:11-12 An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. As Zechariah performed his priestly office, he was shaken by the appearance of an angel standing in the holy place; and overwhelmed with fear. 1:13-14 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth. The angel reassures him that there is no need to be afraid for he is a 15
messenger from God to bring him good news. God had heard his and Elizabeth's persistent prayers for a child (Luke 11:9). In the first place, the angel had come to announce the birth of John as the answer to their prayers, who would give them a great deal of pride and joy. But the angel also wanted Zechariah to know that John’s birth was of a much wider significance in God’s plan, and that many people would one day be glad that he had been born. 1:15-16 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. The child to be born would become exceedingly great in the sight of the Lord, thus taking a place in God’s purposes which was equivalent to that of Moses or Elijah. Like Samson, he was to be placed under the vow of a Nazarite from birth, and so was never to drink wine or any alcoholic drink (Numbers 6:2-3). This kind of vow was meant to indicate complete dedication of the life to God. Most unusually, John would be filled with the Holy Spirit while he was still in Elizabeth's womb and because of his preaching the Word of God many people in Israel will repent and return to the Lord their God. No wonder Jesus described him as the greatest prophet to be born of a woman (Luke 7:27-28). 1:17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. Although John was to have a prominent place in the working out of God’s purposes, yet these purposes did not centre on John. His mission was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 3:4).
The allusion to his walking in the spirit and power of Elijah is not a reference to his ability to work miracles (for John never worked a miracle – John 10:41), but rather to confront iniquity as Elijah did on Carmel, bringing the nation back to God in repentance. John would exhibit the same lifestyle and zeal for truth as Elijah had; rebuking sin and exhorting to repentance. Through him many parents, children and those who were rebellious would accept the wisdom of the godly and turn back to God (Mal. 4:5-6). 1:18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well." Unfortunately, unlike Abraham who had believed God’s promise, Zechariah could not believe the angel's words, and asked for proof, since he believed he and Elizabeth were too old for this to happen. 1:19-20 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place." In reply, the angel reveals his name-‘Gabriel’ meaning "the might of the strong God" (Clarke)—and his position ‘I stand in the presence of God’. As such he is the messenger of God sent directly from his presence to bring the good news to Zechariah. By implication, failing to believe Gabriel’s words was a failure to believe God, and so as a consequence of his unbelief, Zechariah was struck dumb and would not be able to speak again until John the Baptist was born. 1:21 Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to
wonder why he was delayed in the holy place.
therefore taking away her disgrace among the people.
Meanwhile the people outside had begun to wonder why Zechariah was taking so long inside the temple.
In those days and in that culture, to have children was considered to be a blessing from God and a fulfilment of His promise of fruitfulness (Lev. 26:9); whilst to be barren was considered by some to be a sign of God's displeasure.
1:22 When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak. When he finally came out and they discovered that he could not speak to them, they understood by the signs he made that he had seen some kind of vision in the temple. 1:23 When his time of service was over, he went to his home. When Zechariah reached the end of his service, he returned home. 1:24-25 After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people." Soon after this Elizabeth became pregnant and didn't go out in public for five months. It may be that she was taking good care of herself, now that she was to be a mother. I remember my mother telling me an old wives tale that we shouldn’t buy clothes for our baby until after the first 6 months of pregnancy because so many children were lost before then. On the other hand, some commentators have supposed that Elizabeth wanted to wait until her pregnancy was showing before letting others see her – a kind of evidence to them of what she knew, in case they refuse to believe her. Whatever the case, Elizabeth gladly acknowledged that it was the Lord who had healed her of barrenness and enabled her to conceive
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Gabriel's Announcement to Mary 1:26-27 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant God sent Gabriel to Mary who lived in Nazareth in Galilee. She was a virgin promised in marriage to Joseph who was descendent of King David. At this point Luke introduces us to another important theme in his gospel – for since Joseph was a descendent of David, the child born to Mary would be considered to have come from David’s family line, from which God had promised to raise up a king (Psa. 132:11); and hence Luke identifies Jesus as the child named in Isaiah 9:6-7. 1:28-29 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. When the angel entered into her house he greeted her by saying "Rejoice! The grace of the Lord is upon you". Mary was not chosen on
her merit, as she realised herself in verse 48; it was by grace that God had chosen her. It is important to note, however, that both Joseph and Mary were God-fearing Jews who lived according to God’s commands. These words greatly disturbed Mary for she could understand neither what the angel meant nor why he had appeared to her. 1:30-31 So the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus As in the case of Zachariah, Gabriel reassures Mary that she has found grace in the sight of God. Then he makes known to her the startling news that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son and that he was to be given the name Jesus (or Jeshua) which signifies God’s salvation. This is the name God had identified with the branch that rises out of Jesse in Isaiah 11:1 and Zechariah 6:11-12. 1:32-33 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." "He shall be great" in every way: in wisdom, power and glory, for he shall be the Son of God. God will give him permanent possession of the throne of his ancestor David (Matt. 1:1 and 1 Kings 2:4) and he will reign over Israel forever; an indication that Israel shall never have another king after him- he is ‘king forever ceasing never over us all to reign.’
1:34 Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" Luke is referring back to Isaiah 7:14, where the word ‘virgin’ may in fact refer to any young woman. Luke includes this verse to clarify that Mary was a virgin in the sexual sense - she had never had sexual intercourse with a man; and that is why she could not understand how she could become pregnant.
1:35 The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. The angel made it quite clear to Mary that her conception would not involve the seed of man. For the Holy Spirit will come upon her, so that the conception would be brought about by the power of the
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Most High and the child born would be the holy Son of God. What Luke has in mind here is the incarnation, when God became flesh and dwelt among us. This is also the reason why Jesus was without sin: only descendants of Adam were born in sin, Christ came from above. 1:36-37 And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age — although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God. Another important link that Luke makes here is to show how Mary was a relative of Elizabeth (who you will recall came from the family of Aaron, Israel’s first High Priest). This is important because it provides a link between Luke’s portrayal of Christ as a king and as a priestly servant of God. Gabriel tells Mary that Elizabeth is six months pregnant although elderly and barren; for nothing is ever impossible with God (Jer. 32:27). 1:38 So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. Mary humbly submits herself to obey the message from the Lord (I am the Lord’s servant) and confesses her belief in Gabriel's announcement to her. Then the angel left.
Our In Depth Study Zechariah Chapter 7 By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Jacob Gregory
Scripture taken from the NET
Bible®. This article is an extract from The Prophet of Messiah – a Zechariah Bible Commentary Buy Paperback £2.73
Seeking God vv. 1-3 7:1-3 In King Darius' fourth year, on the fourth day of Kislev, the ninth month, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah. Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the LORD's favor by asking both the priests of the temple of the LORD who rules over all and the prophets, "Should we weep in the fifth month, fasting as we have done over the years?" Zechariah carefully records the time when the returned exiles had sent representatives to inquire of God regarding their religious observance of fasting in the fifth month. This regular fasting had been the practise of the Jews throughout their seventy years in exile; and it may have been that since God had kept his promise to restore them to the land, they wanted to know if they ought rather to rejoice than mourn. It does appear that God was working on these men by his Spirit,
stirring them from apathy and indifference to genuinely seek the will and mind of God. It was God’s moving that caused them to challenge the status quo and reevaluate the things they had always done; they did not wish merely to go through the motions but get serious with God. There are times when we too must awake from our apathy to seek God with all our hearts and ensure that we are in the centre of his will, doing what he requires of us.
God’s Reply vv. 4-6 7:4-6 The word of the LORD who rules over all then came to me, "Speak to all the people and priests of the land as follows: 'When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months through all these seventy years, did you truly fast for me — for me, indeed? And now when you eat and drink, are you not doing so for yourselves?' "
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As the prophets waited on God, God spoke through Zechariah to challenge this practise of fasting with the searching question: ‘did you fast for me?’ In other words, was this a genuine religious observance, or simply a matter of course? Like many traditions, this fast began with the best motives; but over time it became an empty formality. There are times when God does call and require a fast (e.g. Joel 2:15) but always in connection with genuine repentance and turning to God, never as a meaningless ritual. Indeed, that God takes no pleasure in outward observances without inward piety had already been made clear by the prophets (e.g. Amos 5:21-22; Isaiah 66:3). There is absolutely no use in our keeping up any form of religious observance if our hearts are far from God; yet God accuses Israel of doing exactly that - for whether fasting or eating their hearts were focussed on themselves.
God’s Requirements vv. 7-10 7:7-10 Should you not have obeyed the words that the LORD cried out through the former prophets when Jerusalem was peacefully inhabited and her surrounding cities, the Negev, and the Shephelah were also populated? Again the word of the LORD came to Zechariah: "The LORD who rules over all said, 'Exercise true judgment and show brotherhood and compassion to each other. You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor, nor should anyone secretly plot evil against his fellow human being.' God’s reply is very enlightening. He brings the exiles no new message, but refers them back to the messages given to their fore-fathers who had refused to listen when they lived in peace before the exile. If they had heeded God’s word and obeyed his voice then they would never have been removed to Babylon. So God restates the message given through the earlier prophets, summarising it by means of three positive and five negative commands: Exercise true judgment. Primarily this refers to the law courts. Bribery, partiality and corruption were common before the exile (Amos 5:12; Micah 3:11) but they were now to be things of the past in both civil and criminal courts. In a broader sense, God’s words imply doing the right thing and dealing fairly in all circumstances; whether that means employers paying fair wages to employees and ensuring good working conditions, or a father providing for his family;
indeed doing whatever else is just and right. Show mercy (NET – brotherhood). The word used implies love and forgiveness. It is the opposite of the inhuman and unmerciful attitude of people who do not value human life or show care towards their fellow human beings. God’s love is for everyone and so our love must be for our neighbour, whoever they may be. God has forgiven us so much that we are at fault if we fail to forgive others, especially those who are our Christian brothers and sisters (Matt. 18:21-22; Luke 17:34). Jesus several times emphasised the passage of Hosea which makes clear that God requires mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; Matt. 9:13).
Compassion. The New Testament is very clear on this subject, that compassion is the practical expression of love (1 John 3:17). This fits with Zechariah’s understanding and his view of godly fasting compares well with Isaiah’s (Isa. 58:5-7). There are so many needs in our world are we able to meet just some? If we are not moved with compassion when we see others in desperate poverty or suffering with life threatening illness, then we must question the state of our relationship with God. 19
It would make no difference if we fasted each day for twelve months of the year, if we failed to show love and compassion (1 Cor. 13:3). The New Testament contains commands that we are to remember the poor (Gal. 2:10; Acts 20:35; Mark 14:7); just as the Scripture promises many blessings to those who do (Ps. 41:1; Prov. 22:9; Prov. 28:27). As Christians, we are members of one body – the church – and if one member of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. Hence Christians should especially remember other Christians in need. In the first century, the Gentile churches did so by sending offerings to their poorest brothers, the saints in Judea (Rom. 15:26); may we emulate their example. Do not oppress widows or orphans. These groups in society were helpless in Zechariah’s time. In the days before welfare or social security, if a widow and her children had no family or breadwinner for the household then they were destitute apart from the mercy of God. But God takes upon himself the task of being a father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow (Psa. 68:5). Jesus took a similar role when he rebuked Pharisees for extorting money from widows (Matt. 23:14); and in its earliest days, the church cared for believing widows who were genuinely destitute; although those with relatives were to be cared for by their families (1 Tim. 5:3, 16). Christians can join God in his care of the vulnerable in a variety of ways. The Christian tradesperson, for example, who decides to make a
little less profit than usual when working for a widow will be repaid by God; as will those who remember orphans with gifts. Do not oppress the foreigner. There was to be no racism among God’s people. They were to welcome any foreigners with open arms, remembering that they were once strangers in Egypt (Exod. 23:9). Of all people, the Jews should have realised that it is not easy to be a stranger in a strange land; and that many migrants had come to Israel to escape the evils of poverty, tyranny and idolatry. The Christian church today should be the most welcoming place for any immigrants from any nation. Do not oppress the poor. This is the negative aspect of the corresponding positive command to compassion. The poor were desperate for work, and so would accept very little pay. Employers were not to exploit this. The poor had no recourse to payment of lawyers’ fees; and so could easily be unfairly defeated in court. Yet God would remain as their righteous judge. Nor should anyone secretly plot evil against his fellow human being. Violence and malice of all kinds whether expressed in robbery, assault, or other acts inspired by jealousy or hatred are the opposite of love and are abhorrent to God. Such acts were to have no lodging place among God’s restored people (Eph. 4:31-32).
A Warning from Israel’s History vv.11-14
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7:11-14 "But they refused to pay attention, turning away stubbornly and stopping their ears so they could not hear. Indeed, they made their heart as hard as diamond, so that they could not obey the Torah and the other words the LORD who rules over all had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore, the LORD who rules over all had poured out great wrath. " 'It then came about that just as I cried out, but they would not obey, so they will cry out, but I will not listen,' the LORD who rules over all had said. 'Rather, I will sweep them away in a storm into all the nations they are not familiar with.' Thus the land had become desolate because of them, with no one crossing through or returning, for they had made the fruitful land a waste." God’s warning to the returned exiles is that they should listen to and obey the voice of God. They were not to do what their forefathers had done prior to the exile; for although they heard word of God they refused to listen and hardened their hearts so as not to obey, even though they heard his words again and again (Heb. 3:15). Whoever rejects the voice of God speaking to them puts themselves outside of God’s mercy and stores up judgment for themselves; just as Israel’s refusal to hear caused the destruction of their land and their being carried away into exile. Similar judgment awaits all who harden their hearts and refuse to listen to the voice of God (Heb. 3:12; Prov. 29:1; Rom. 2:5-6).
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The encouragement which Zechariah's prophecies brought to the Jews at the time of their return from exile helped them to rebuild not only their temple but also their national identity. Yet Zechariah's message of hope pointed beyond the glory of the temple to one greater than the temple: the Anointed One (Messiah) who would become both priest and king forever over all nations. Available at Amazon The Prophet of Messiah: The Book of Zechariah Paperback: £3.73 & free UK delievery. KINDLE: £2.96 members of unlimited)
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Barnabas Son of Consolation Acts 11:24 Brief extract of a forthcoming book based on studies by the late Haydn O. Williams. Image © Dvest One way of studying the Bible is to do so biographically, by taking Bible characters and what is written about them. This is a study method which can be very rewarding indeed. In this study, we shall learn about Barnabas, who was also known as Joseph.
Bad Men The media and newspapers today are full of the deeds of bad men: violence, war, murder and robbery fill our television screens. Sadly many men are bent on the destruction of property and life. Nothing is sacred to them, not even the House of God; for churches have often been vandalised and robbed. One thing we can be sure of is that the news that hits the headlines on television and in the papers is usually bad news, and this highlights the fact that we are living in the last days, where God through the apostle Paul predicted that evil men would go from bad to worse (1 Tim. 3:1; 2 Tim. 3:1)
Good Men Thankfully, the Bible not only tells us about bad men but also records the deeds of many good and godly men and women through the ages. Our text, Acts 11:24, is about one of these good men: Barnabas. How refreshing it is to read of generous souls whose lives were given to God and used to bless and help others in need. To this day some people won’t credit Christians with good works. At this present time some countries treat Christians as scum; however many great deeds may be attributed to God’s people today as well as in the past.
A Good Man Acts 11:24 tells us that Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Barnabas’ real name was Joseph, and he was a Levite from Cyprus. Yet he was nicknamed Barnabas by the twelve apostles because of his consoling and comforting 21
ministry. He was one of the early coverts to Christianity in Jerusalem, just like many other Jews who came to Pentecost, thousands of whom accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, being baptised as a result of the preaching of Peter. And what a gift of God to the church Barnabas proved to be!
Genuine Conversion People could tell that there was something genuine about Barnabas. Often in missions and crusades we have discovered that many so-called ‘conversions’ are not genuine but Barnabas’ conversion truly was. He had been touched in his pocket, as well as his heart, for he sold some land he owned and gave money for the apostles to distribute to the poor. When salvation is real there is always evidence of it, and as in the case of Zacchaeus, when a man’s love for money is affected (Matt 19:8) – that is evidence indeed!
A Good Name
His Friendliness
The apostles were quick to note the generosity of Joseph and they were so delighted with this evidence of the grace of God that they changed his name to Barnabas which means the son of consolation, or encouragement. This was a good name to have and Barnabas stayed true to it. He was a great encourager to new converts, as his trip to Antioch described in Acts 11 reveals.
After Saul the persecutor’s remarkable conversion he began to preach, but when persecution then turned its attention on him he fled to Jerusalem. Knowing Saul’s past many were afraid and doubted his salvation (Acts 9:2627). At that time it was Barnabas who befriended the young Saul and helped and encouraged him as a new convert. Who knows whether Paul would ever have become a great apostle without the help of this man of God, Barnabas?
I wonder what names would describe our nature or life as Christians? The Bible says that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches (Proverbs 22:1). We must strive to put our Christianity unto action, for our character is of great importance, for God wants us to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:28).
A Generous Man The word ‘generous’ means not only open handed and free in giving (or liberal) – it also means noble minded. That is to say, Barnabas was not mean spirited or prejudiced against others. So whilst we have no way of knowing whether Barnabas was short or tall, strong or weak, fat or thin, we do know that he was someone with a very big and open heart towards others.
When Saul left again for his own town, Barnabas sought him out and took an interest in him. He brought him back to serve the Lord at the new church at Antioch where they worked together for some time (Acts 11). I wonder whether we treat new converts in the way that Barnabas did; do we accept them with open, generous hearts, r do we have an ‘elder brother’ spirit, as in the parable of the prodigal son, who was not welcomed back into the family by his older brother?
His Perception During a time of great persecution in the early church, when Stephen laid down his life, Peter was used to open the door to the Gentiles. At around the same time some Christians came to Antioch, preaching to the Gentiles and a new church was started in the city. 22
The church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to investigate what exactly was going on, ad although he no doubt saw many faults and failings, he chose to overlook these, for he also saw genuine evidence of the grace of God, and was delighted. So he encouraged the young church to remain faithful and true to the Lord Jesus. Unfortunately, this was too much for some in Jerusalem, who did not like the idea of Gentiles being accepted into fellowship without being circumcised, and it took until Acts 15 for this to be settled. Today, some denominations can treat ‘other’ denominations in a similar way!
A Great Hearted Man Barnabas with Paul was a pioneer missionary sent out by the Holy Spirit and by the church (Acts 13). He sacrificed and suffered for Jesus Christ and his greatness is seen in his humility. He was older in the faith than Paul, had helped Paul in his early lie and was called and chosen like Paul; but even so he later chose to accept second place to the younger man. When they set out, Luke names them as Barnabas and Paul, but thereafter it was Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas proved trustworthy with money, responsibility and with new converts - a man full of the Spirit and faith - this was the secret of his great heart!
Our latest Gospel tract Worldwide delivery. Image © Bernard Dunne
New Life is available to all who will sincerely call upon the Lord to be saved. Step 1... Admit that you are a sinner and need a fresh start with God.
Being born again is a life changing experience. The new birth transforms the inner life, affecting the way we think, talk and act. A person is born again when they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and receive him as Lord. Being born again is not the same as “turning over a new leaf”. It is not merely a moral transformation. It is a brand new life - the life of Christ which is supernaturally produced in us by the Holy Spirit when we trust God’s word. When we were born, we inherited the fallen nature of our fathers. We became enslaved by unclean habits. The born again experience brings New Life resulting in deliverance from sin. This
Step 2... Pray to God. Tell Him that you want Him to forgive you and give you a clean heart. God has promised “Come now, let us reason together says the Lord, though your sins are red as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be as white as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 Step 3... Believe that Jesus died for your sin on the cross, taking the punishment that you deserved, and rose again the third day. Invite the Lord Jesus to come into your heart and life. Then confess to others that you have given your life to the Lord Jesus. Do not be ashamed of the most wonderful Person in the universe. Step 4... Read your Bible daily. Talk to God in prayer regularly. Join in fellowship
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with other Christians who love the Lord Jesus. Here is a special prayer which you can use: Your “Born Again Prayer”. Dear Lord Jesus, I want to be Born Again. I believe that you died on the cross to save my soul from sin and that you rose again. I pray you will forgive my sins. Take from my life all unclean habits and desires. Give me a pure and clean heart. Lord Jesus come into my heart and into my life today. Amen. [LARGE SPACE HERE TO LABEL OR PRINT YOUR CHRUCH CONTACT DETAILS]
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Contact Us Editor: Mathew Bartlett Living Word Magazine and Bible Studies Online are ministries of Sharon Full Gospel Church. UK Reg. Charity No. 1050642 www.sharonchurch.co.uk Tel: (+44) 01495 753561 Lines open 9am-5pm Mon to Fri with answerphone. Living Word digital magazine is available free of charge. Print copies also available at cost price from: www.biblestudiesoline.org.uk 24