The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered! (Revelation 5:5)
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In this issue: 4.
Costliness of Evicting Satan
Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)
5.
Don’t fight the flesh; walk in the Spirit
Ken Legg (Australia)
7.
Faith: The Sixth Sense (Part 2)
Reinhard Bonnke (CfaN)
9.
Faith-builders Bible Study Luke 2:1–20
Derek Williams (UK)
12.
In Depth Study – Zechariah 10
Mathew Bartlett (UK)
15.
Pheobe the Deaconess
Haydn O. Williams (UK)
17.
Spiritual Aspiration
Mathew Bartlett (UK)
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Costliness of Evicting Satan
An extract from ”Kneeling We Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey BUY ON KINDLE! £3.86 Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. Image© Elultimodeseo
Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies (Gen. 22:17). How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house (Matt. 12:29). If as God’s servants we are only laboring for others we are missing God’s first aim in creation, which was to supply not merely man’s need but His own. For as we have said already, the creation of man was to meet the need of God. Thus if today we are going to meet God’s need we must go a step further and deal with Satan himself. We must steal back from him his power, evict him from his territory, spoil him of his goods, and set free his captives—for God. The question is not merely, “Of what account are we in the winning of souls?” Rather is it, “Of what account are we in the realm of principalities and powers?” And
for that there is a price to pay. It is often possible to move men when it is quite impossible to move Satan. The plain fact is that it costs much more to deal with Satan than to win souls. It demands an utterness of spirit Godward that in itself effectually deprives Satan of any moral ground in us he may claim to possess. This is the costly thing. God in His merciful love for the lost can often bypass and overlook in His servants what one might justly feel to be appalling weakness and even failure. But while He may do this for the soul-winner, when it comes to our dealing with the devil it is another matter. Evil spirits can see right through the witness of man. They can tell when it is compromised by being half-hearted or insincere. They are aware when we are holding back a part of the price. Looking at us they are under no illusions as to whom they can safely defy or ignore; and conversely, they know perfectly well against whom they are powerless. “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”(Acts19:15). Because they believe, they know when to tremble. And let me say this: since our most important task is their overthrow, it is better always that we should have the witness of evil powers than the praise of men. But the price of this witness to the principalities and powers is, I repeat, an utterness of allegiance to God that is unqualified. To entertain our own opinions or desires, to prefer our own variant and contrary choices, is simply to present the enemy with his advantage. It is, in short, to throw the game away. In any other sphere there may 4
perhaps—I do not know—be room among our motives for something of self-interest, without appreciable loss. But never, and I repeat never, in this. Without such utterness for God nothing can be achieved, for without it we make even God powerless against His enemy. So I say it once again: the demand is very high. Are you and I here on earth, utterly committed, utterly given to God Himself? And because this is so, are we tasting even now the powers of that future glorious age? Are we reclaiming territory from the prince of this world for the One Whose alone it rightly is?— Watchman Nee. I found that my own carnality and selfishness had given the ground they held to these monsters of hell. I myself had invited them in. I must get rid of “self” else there could be no hope of final victory. These powers of darkness (demons are as real to me now as God Himself) which were oppressing me to the point of despair, were standing on the very ground which secret selfishness had conceded to them. How was I to get rid of this “self-life” which had so long been standing out against Christ and making a way for the enemy to come in like a flood? Ah, had I but known of that “Standard,” the Cross, which must be lifted up against this prince of darkness! Such a struggle as mine would never issue in victory except the Cross be given the place of absolute supremacy in my life and ministry.—F. J. Huegel.
So week by week, I taught on each of these characteristics of the flesh, how they operate and how we are to overcome them. We spent months learning about the flesh, which we already had first-hand experience of anyway!
Don’t fight the flesh; Image © Eric Simard walk in the Spirit by Ken Legg Image © Jpegwiz It is a mistake to think that we have to fight the flesh. This is the Spirit’s work (see Gal.5:17). God’s answer to the flesh is the Spirit. Paul says, ‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh’ (Gal.5:16). I can identify with one preacher who said he once suffered from spiritual dyslexia when he read this verse. He read it this way: ‘Don’t fulfil the desires of the flesh and then you will walk in the Spirit.’ He read it back to front, placing the focus on the flesh not the Spirit. That’s how I understood this verse for many years. In fact, I once did a teaching series on the Spirit and the Flesh based on the passage in Galatians 5. In the New King James Version of the Bible, seventeen different aspects of the flesh are listed in this chapter. And even this is not an exhaustive list because at the end Paul says, ‘… and the like’, in other words ‘and there are more!’
I remember towards the end of the series when I announced my topic one evening, a woman who had been attending the series each week said, ‘Oh no, not more flesh!’ What I did is not uncommon in Christian circles. We try to attack the flesh. Paul does not exhort us to do that. The focus of this verse is not the flesh but the Spirit. The instruction is, ‘walk in the Spirit’. And the consequence of walking in the Spirit is that we will not fulfil the desires of the flesh. We cannot walk in the Spirit and walk according to the flesh at the same time. The members of our bodies are either available to the flesh or to the Spirit, but not to both at the same time. If we are occupied with walking in the Spirit we will not be available for the deeds of the flesh. So Paul tells us not to be preoccupied with dealing with the flesh but with walking in the Spirit. Whatever we focus on we give strength to. If we focus on trying to deal with a problem we are struggling with, it will only get stronger. If you are struggling with anger and you give all your attention to overcoming anger it will become a greater problem in your life. If you focus instead 5
on being involved with what God is doing on earth, you will have little time to focus on your anger. Imagine that I want to buy a new shirt, and so I go to a store and find one I like. I take it off the rack and go into the fitting room to try it on. When I get into the fitting room I don’t spend my time looking in the mirror at myself wearing the old shirt. I don’t stare at the old one saying, ‘This is so shabby. How could I have worn this for so long? I am so embarrassed. I feel ashamed. What on earth have people been saying about me when I wore this shirt? What was I thinking?’ No, I don’t do that at all. I am so excited about the new shirt that I take the old one off without even thinking about it. I can’t wait to see what I look like in my new shirt. In fact, once I have it on I don’t even think about the old shirt. It’s lying crumpled in the corner while I look in the mirror admiring myself in my new shirt. That’s what Paul says. The way to put off the old is to get excited about putting on the new. ‘Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts’ (Rom.13:14). 3) Holiness is not negative In my Radical Grace seminar I hand out a questionnaire for the participants to help them gauge the extent to which legalism has impacted them. One of the questions is: ‘When you hear the word “holiness” does it produce
negative feelings?’ Whilst I never ask for an outward response to this question, the body language in the room tells me that the overwhelming answer is ‘yes’. Certainly, in my own experience as a young Christian, I was led to believe that holiness equated to all the things you have to stop doing. Here are just some of the things I have been told that I should no longer do now that I am a Christian: go to the cinema, watch TV, watch or play sport, go to the shops on a Sunday, drink wine, listen to secular music, wear modern clothes, etc. Perhaps the favourite song of those who make such rules is: ‘There are three things I ain’t gonna do I ain’t gonna gamble, smoke or chew. I ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more!’ What a pity that something as beautiful as holiness has been reduced to a list of prohibitions. Now it’s true, as we have seen in this chapter and the previous one, that there are certain aspects of our old behaviour which are incompatible with our new identity in Christ. We are called to put off these deeds, but remember, we put off the old to make way for the new. Just as a tree sheds its dead leaves in the autumn to make way for new leaves in the spring, so God has a whole new life He wants us to experience. But we cannot enjoy it if we are still clinging to the old life. Christianity is not a list of prohibitions. It’s about
embracing His life and living it to the full! Jesus told a parable about a demon that was expelled from a man, yet later returned because the man’s life was cleansed but not filled. It lay empty, and so the demon came back with seven others to occupy the unfilled house. Nature abhors a vacuum. We can’t just stop sinning and live in a void. We ‘lay aside the garments that are stained with sin’ so that we can put on the royal robes of our God-glorifying new life in Christ. Whenever we read in the epistles that we are to put off something, there is usually a counterpart of some aspect of our new life that we can put on in its place. For example: ‘…putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour”’ (Eph.4:25). ‘Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need’ (Eph.4:28). ‘Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers’ (Eph.4:29). Holiness is not negative. It is extremely positive: It’s not just a demand that I stop lying. God has a far greater purpose for my tongue i.e. that it becomes an instrument 6
through which the life-changing truth of God’s word is shared with many. It’s not just an appeal to me to stop stealing, but God’s invitation to me to earn my own money through working, so that I can learn the joy of giving and be a channel of blessing to those in need. Holiness is not just a call to cease using bad language. God wants me to choose my words well so that they are sure to build up others. This is holiness. The word simply means to be set apart for God and His purposes. Paul’s appeal to us is: ‘do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God’ (Rom.6:13). Order ‘Grace: The Power to Reign’ PDF AUS $9 Print AUS $19
Faith: The Sixth Sense by Reinhard Bonnke Image Š Grace21
Article reproduced with kind permission of Christ for all Nations 7
Part 2 - Faith Pins Hopes This Bible study has been taken from chapter 2 of FAITH THE LINK TO GOD'S POWER Another fact about faith is that it needs to be matched with action. Belief is not just brain cells in motion. It demands a response. Do we do what we believe? If we believe in a seed, we plant it. A man who owns an airplane but will not risk a trip is a contradictory character. It will get him exactly nowhere. We may as well believe in Mickey Mouse as the Almighty if we do not expect Him to do anything. James, the half-brother of Jesus, an upright and forthright character, in his short book made some hard-hitting remarks. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19). Their theology was sound but useless; they were sham believers. James said they were lovers of money who were impatient with God, and using them as an example, he said faith that does not work is not faith. Everyone knows humanity first stepped onto the moon on July 20, 1969. It was a great event, but it happened a long way from planet earth. Most wives find it more useful to know their husbands, who live in the same house. That is proper faith. It is also the kind of faith God wants. He is not a figure of past history
but “a very present help” (Psalm 46:1).
Faith, Not Scientific Opinion People often say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” No they will not. They cannot. You can only believe, or have faith, in what you do not see. What you see is fact, and is not up for believing. If you can prove it, faith does not come into play. Nobody believes two plus two equals four. They know so.
Faith is based on a personal relationship, not on a mathematical equa-tion. We know what God did yesterday, but we have to trust Him for tomorrow. There are no guarantees. In many ways, faith is akin to love. It is a heart matter. We do not decide to fall in love after weighing all the pros and cons. Couples get married on trust, not on scientific evidence or conclusive logic.
But God wants faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Faith is the way to get God’s blessing, not the “cleverness” that says you won’t believe anything unless you can run your tape measure round it. This was Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians. He was familiar with the great thinkers of Greece who had discovered the certainties of mathemat-ics. Reason worked with numbers, and they imagined it would work for everything else—including the meaning of life, the whole business of life, and God Himself. To this day, these ancient philosophers set thinkers off on a red herring trail. Paul knew what had happened, and he told the learned thinkers of Corinth that “the world through wisdom did not know God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). 8
BUY: Faith The Link With God's Power International Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke draws from his years of personal study and vibrant ministry to reveal that Faith itself is not the power, but it links us to the power source. It is not the size of our faith but the size of the God we believe in that determines the results. There is no link to God’s power without faith.
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 Luke 1:57-80
Luke Chapter 2:1-20
By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem The Birth of Jesus Christ how God was in charge of all 2:1 Now in those days a decree these events, even influencing went out from Caesar Augustus heathen kings to do his bidding. to register all the empire for By Derek Williams Luke ironically & Mathew shows GodBartlett is taxes. using the supreme ruler of Rome to make preparation for the In the days running up to the birth of the supreme ruler of all birth of Jesus, Caesar Augustus things. decreed that the entire Roman
as being against Jewish law and gave rise to an anti-Roman revolt led by Judas of Galilee; (UK) but it does Image © not Rorem correspond with Matthew’s account of Jesus being born during the reign of Herod the Great. However, the verse suggests that there was a census before the one made by Quirinius.2 That would place it during the reign of Herod the Great (as Matthew suggests), and that might also explain why the custom of returning to tribal homes was followed, to make the census look more Jewish than Roman. Our best estimates place the birth of Jesus around 4 BC.
Mark Chapter 2 (abstract)
Empire should be registered, as part of his reform of Roman taxation. Caesar Augustus (Gaius Octavius) was the adopted son of his great uncle Julius Caesar, who after defeating Julius’ assassins overcame his former allies (including Mark Anthony) to establish himself as the first emperor of Rome, ruling from 29 BC to 14 AD. Every province would, of course, organise its own census; and so the decree sets in course a chain of events in a lowly village in Galilee which led to prophecies about Jesus’ birth being fulfilled. Luke apparently wants us to see
2:2-3 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his own town to be registered. Most historians agree that Quirinius conducted a census upon becoming legate of Syria in roughly 6AD1. This census was a memorable one, for according to Josephus, the census was seen
1
H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, 9
2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in
2
2 Protos can sometimes imply ‘before’ rather than ‘first’
Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. So Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem the home of his ancestors for he was a descendant of King David. He took Mary to whom he was engaged to be married; it was not usually a requirement for a man’s wife to accompany him during a census, but perhaps because he wanted to care for Mary himself, especially since only he and Mary knew the true identity of the child. 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Thus it was while they were in Bethlehem Mary gave birth to Jesus. Luke is careful to point this out because it was well known among the Jews that Bethlehem was the place where the Messiah should be born (Micah 5:2). Luke describes Jesus as Mary’s firstborn Son; for perhaps he knows of the four other brothers and several sisters named by Matthew (Matt. 13:55-56). Mary wrapped
Jesus in swaddling clothes (strips of cloth) according to the Hebrew custom.3 Some commentators see in this an allusion to Jesus death: 2:7 “wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger” 23:53 “wrapped [Jesus body] in a linen cloth and laid it in a… tomb”4 Joel Green has some interesting information on the phrase ‘there was no room for them in the inn’. Peasant homes would have been open for travellers to share, and in these homes animals and people shared one roof with the animals in a lower level.5 The verse implies that the only room for Mary and Joseph then was among the animals in the lower part of such a house and the only thing available to serve as a cot was the animals’ feeding trough (manger).
The Birth of the Saviour made Known 2:8-9 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. Since the days of King David, Bethlehem was known as a sheep farming area (2 Sam. 17:15). On the night that Jesus was born, shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem were visited by an angel. From him the glory of the Lord filled the night sky around them, and they were terrified. 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people. The angel reassured them that he had not come to harm them but brought a message of good news from God which would bring great joy to all people.
3
“When a child among the Hebrews was born, it was washed in water, rubbed in salt, and then wrapped in swaddling clothes; that is, not garments regularly made, as with us, but bands or blankets that confined the limbs closely” (Barnes) 4 4 Joel B. Green, The Greek New Testament Commentary on Luke (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2008), p. 124 citing Derrett, ‘Manger at Bethlehem’, pp. 43-44 5 5 Green, Luke, pp. 128-129 10
2:11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. Here was awesome news! The Jews had been living under the oppression of an occupying power whose emperor called himself the saviour and lord of the world. Many Jews longed for Messiah to come and liberate them from this ungodly rule and restore Israel to God. In
Bethlehem that night, this Messiah (Christ) was born, and from now on he was to be the Saviour and Lord of the world. 2:12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger. This great ruler would be recognised not by his worldly grandeur, but by the lowly way in which he was born; they would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. 2:13-14 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!" Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God “to honour the new-born Prince of Peace” (Clarke). This is their anthem of praise. The glory of God was manifested in His Son the Lord
Jesus Christ, for through Him and by Him would God fulfil his eternal purpose to reconcile the world to Himself. The peace on earth is the peace of reconciliation that will be brought about by Christ’s death and resurrection (Eph. 2:13-15). The correct rendering is “goodwill towards all men”, for “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” (John 3:16). 2:15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us." After the angels had gone the shepherds consulted among themselves and decided to go to Bethlehem and see the child whose birth God had made known to them. 2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.
When they arrived at the house they found it exactly as the angel had said, with Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. 2:17-18 When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. When they had seen Jesus they witnessed to everybody the things which they had been told concerning Him. All who heard the shepherds story were amazed by it, for although they were expecting the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem they did not think that He would have parents of such low social status or be born in a peasant house. 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. But Mary treasured all the things which she had learned about Jesus in her heart and meditated upon them. 2:20 So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. The shepherds returned to the occupation of caring for sheep praising and glorifying God for His grace which had been revealed to them. Image © Photowitch
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Our In Depth Study Zechariah Chapter 10 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
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The Lord’s Abundant Blessing
God as the Good Shepherd
10:1 Ask the LORD for rain in the season of the late spring rains — the LORD who causes thunderstorms — and he will give everyone showers of rain and green growth in the field.
10:2 For the household gods have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd.
At the end of chapter 9 we saw the blessing of God on an arable farming community described in terms of overflowing harvests of grain and new wine. The picture of abundance continues with an exhortation to pray during times of blessing and restoration; for when God is looking favourably on his land and people he will be inquired of to pour out even more abundant blessing (in this case the late spring rains which would help to produce higher crop yields). Even though we may not live in farming community, yet the spiritual principle abides; we cannot simply hope for the outpouring of God’s blessing – we must ask in order to receive (Matt. 7:7).
The idolatry of the nation had led them into spiritual poverty and moral wickedness, resulting in their exile. The worship of idols had brought no benefit to the nation; it offered them neither comfort nor hope for the future. In this way Israel had become like sheep without a shepherd with no one to provide for, bless or shelter them. 10:3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. (AV) 12
The time had come for God to show Israel the contrast between the blessings to be found in the true worship of Jehovah and the worthless worship of idols. God would gather the people of Judah like a shepherd gathers his flock, to protect, bless and provide for them. Although their idols had done them no good, God would bless them and do them a great deal of good, and only good. The AV (above) seems to me more correctly to employ the past tense, showing how God had been angered and had punished those who had led Israel astray with their lying teachings. This allusion to punishment is probably a reference to the Babylonian invasion and the years of exile; for it appears that by the time of the return, the priests were ready to obey God’s will (Neh. 10:28). As their shepherd God would take good care of them; just as a man might feed, groom and in other ways look after the horse
he rides; and upon which, in time of war, his life might depend. Jesus took up the imagery of God being the good shepherd and used it to denote his own relationship with his people in John 10:1-30. Again, Jesus used this image to stress the difference between false religious teachers and himself; he emphasised how these ‘thieves’ only came to kill and destroy, whereas he had come ‘that you might have life to the full’ (John 10:10). Those who were part of Jesus’ flock were superbly blessed, and assured of everlasting security – ‘none shall pluck them out of my hand’ (John 10:28). 10:4 From him will come the cornerstone, the wall peg, the battle bow, and every ruler. This prophecy initially seems superfluous; for Israel already knew that its kings were to come only from Judah and no other tribe (Gen. 49:10). Yet it may have served as an encouragement for the exiles to know that their governor was from this tribe, and that God upheld and recognised him as their true leader and head of state. The ruler of the nation held the people together, as the cornerstone supports the wall, or the nail firmly fixes an item to the wall. It was he who led the people into battle and gave judgment on all important matters of state, being supreme
over his generals.
counsellors
and
Yet one cannot help tasting the Messianic flavour of this prophecy. For God would one day reveal the good shepherd as one who came from Judah to rule over all people. This shepherd, Jesus Christ, would become the chief cornerstone, on which the whole church would be built. He would be the nail fixed in a firm place on which a person might believe and not be ashamed; as one might trust a firm nail not to give way under the weight of a coat placed on it (Rom. 9:33). And how firm he is! Since he lives in the power of an endless life he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through him (Heb. 7:25). With regard to battle, Christ is depicted in the Book of Revelation as riding a war horse with a sharp two edged sword; the picture is of Christ the conqueror and who is victorious over all (Rev. 19:11); and as for being the supreme ruler, none can deny Christ, for he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16).
Rejoicing in God’s Victory 10:5 And they will be like warriors trampling the mud of the streets in battle. They will fight, for the LORD will be with them, and will defeat the enemy cavalry.
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Note that the prophet announces ‘they will be like warriors’; he does not predict here any particular battle, but rather illustrates the invincibility of God’s people when they come under his protection and care. The picture is one of victory, and corresponds well with Paul’s idea of the victory which God’s people possess since God is on their side (Rom. 8:31). Nevertheless, in the second sentence, a battle is predicted, in which Israel wins against all odds, for God is with them. One does not need to conjecture which enemy was defeated – the lesson the prophet wishes to communicate is that those who have God on their side are always victorious. One person, standing with God, is in a majority. 10:6 "I (says the LORD) will strengthen the kingdom of Judah and deliver the people of Joseph and will bring them back because of my compassion for them. They will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and therefore I will hear them. God announced his purpose in order to establish it in the minds of the returned exiles and perhaps to motivate those still in faraway lands to return. God would have compassion on the nation of Israel; restoring them and forgiving their past transgressions as if these and the exile had never happened. Since God was their God by an
everlasting covenant he would not turn a deaf ear to them. The greatest privilege any nation can have is an open invitation to appeal to the open ears of God. The theme is again taken up by the writers of the New Testament in terms of forgiveness being the gift of God’s compassionate love (Eph. 2:4), and of its being complete (Heb. 10:2). Zechariah, of course, refers to the sin of the nation corporately, whereas modern readers of the New Testament tend to apply the promise to each individual believer (though in reality it is still the church as a whole which is pictured as experiencing the forgiveness and receiving the promise). The writer to the Hebrews alludes to God ‘remembering their sins no more’ (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12) and clearly, when sin is forgiven in this way, the open heaven promised by Zechariah becomes available to those who are forgiven. The New Testament is filled with exhortations to pray and believe that God hears the prayers of believers (Mark 11:24); yet the superficial and half-hearted way in which some believers approach prayer reveals them to have a limited faith and a diminished awareness of the character of God. 10:7 The Ephraimites will be like warriors and will rejoice as if they had drunk wine. Their children will see it and rejoice;
they will celebrate in the things of the LORD. The rejoicing of warriors celebrating a great victory may again be pictorial rather than the prophetic prediction of a battle; for the children are portrayed as joining in the rejoicing and the source of their joy is not defeat of their enemies, but the Lord. Of all the gifts of God, it is his spiritual blessings rather than his temporal deliverances which are most to be valued; and these were known even among the people of the Old Covenant. Yet they are to be experienced to a far greater measure by those who have entered into the New Covenant (Eph. 1:3). 10:8-10 I will signal for them and gather them, for I have already redeemed them; then they will become as numerous as they were before. Though I scatter them among the nations, they will remember in far-off places — they and their children will sprout forth and return. I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to the lands of Gilead and Lebanon, for there will not be enough room for them in their own land. God had previously brought his people out of Egypt and made them his peculiar possession (Exod. 19:5). It is his abiding covenant love which lay behind his restoring them to the land and increasing their numbers to repopulate it. Wherever they had settled since the exile, God 14
would call them to return and so many would heed the call that they would have to settle in nearby Lebanon and Gilead due to the land being too densely populated.
10:11-12 The LORD will cross the sea of storms and will calm its turbulence. The depths of the Nile will dry up, the pride of Assyria will be humbled, and the domination of Egypt will be no more. Thus I will strengthen them by my power, and they will walk about in my name," says the LORD. The details of this prophecy may be obscure to us today, but its root meaning is clear. Whatever problems affect the people of God, God promises to act on their behalf; whether it is to still the angry waves of trouble which oppress them or to subdue the proud nations which threaten them. God’s people are invincible so long as he is among them; so they will walk in his strength, overcoming all obstacles, not by might or power, but by the Spirit of God.
Pheobe the Deaconess Romans 16:1–2 Brief extract of a forthcoming book based on studies by the late Haydn O. Williams. Image © Dvest
Women’s Equality In recent decades great advances made on the issue of equal rights for women. Historically, women have not been treated fairly by men; in many cultures they have been bossed around and used as the common drudge and slave of man. It is only quite recently that women have been allowed as priests in the Church of England. Yet when God made man and woman in the beginning, they were created equal and given dominion over all other life forms (Gen. 1:2223). Woman was created to be man's equal companion (‘like unto him’). However, when the woman sinned in Eden, through her disobedience she forfeited God’s perfect plan for her life (as man also did - Gen. 3:16). Yet even this does not mean that man should enslave and boss the woman. Although Sarah called Abraham Lord, sometimes he obeyed her. Woman’s equality was only truly restored and found unique expression in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to break the power of the curse, including that wherein woman lost some of her dignity – ‘your husband shall rule over you’. Through Christ, perfect equality has been restored. Men and women are
‘heirs together of the grace of God.’ They are members of His body. No male or female, we are one in Christ. In the New Testament, husbands are warned told to boss their wives, but rather to genuinely love them (Eph. 5:22 – 33); they are also warned that their prayers wil not be answered if they fail to treat their wives as equal heirs in Christ (1 Peter 3:7).
Women’s' Ministry Some in the churches have excluded women from ministry and point to a scripture that says women should keep silent. But this stance cannot be the overall teaching of the Bible, for the Bible speaks of women prophesying and praying in church and sharing in hard labour with the apostles in the work of God. Both Jesus and Paul were supported and helped by women. Indeed, they were Christ’s first evangelists after he had risen from the dead! Thank God for women's ministry, a great asset in the work of God.
Pheobe was a Sister in the Lord The only place where Pheobe’s name is mentioned is in Romans 16:1 – 2, but these verses tell us so much about her..
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Paul called her a sister in the Lord, so clearly she was a child of God. She was born of the Holy Spirit (see John 3) and was a true follower of Jesus. Being saved by grace she enjoyed fellowship with the other people of God, both men and women. Pheobe’s name means pure, bright, radiant, and it seems she lived up to her name; for she had a good ‘name’ (reputation) in the church. Paul speaks very highly of her and commends her in our text. Pheobe lived in a place called Cenchrea which was about 9 miles from Corinth. Paul laboured for over eighteen months in Corinth (REF). Many Greeks came to know Jesus Christ. A church was planted there and apparently another was also commenced in Cenchrea. He knew this lady personally and had great respect for her.
Pheobe was a Servant of the Church Pheobe was called a servant (or deaconess) of the church, serving and working on behalf of the local Christian community. She was chosen no doubt for her qualifications. The first deacons were men chosen by the church in Acts 6 to serve the church in
practical ways. They had to be people of good character, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Without doubt, Pheobe would have needed to share in these qualities; and like Stephen, one of the original deacons, may have had a wider ministry. In their service for God, deacons/deaconesses like Pheobe could earn for themselves a great reward for faithfulness. Thank God for women who are trustworthy, faithful and anointed.
Gospel tract now in shop! APOLOGY: LAST MONTH WE ADVERTISED THIS TRACT BEFORE IT WAS IN THE GOSPEL TRACT SHOP. IT IS AVILABLE NOW! about the subject – it is a problem which vexes the whole human race. Yet God has already given us the answer to this seemingly insurmountable problem. Jesus Christ came to abolish death and bring eternal life and immortality to the human race. God’s eternal son left heaven and became one of us, sharing our flesh and blood nature, so that he could die.
Pheobe was a Succourer of Many The apostle Paul wrote about Pheobe that she was a succourer of many people and of himself. She was a great help to others. There are those in the body of Christ who are placed there as helps (1 Corinthians 12:27 – 28). Pheobe’s work may have been very wide ranging: visiting the sick, comforting the sorrowing, putting up visitors, giving hospitality, praying and interceding, helping in any way and encouraging through teachings of the Word, giving herself to ministry in both spiritual and practical ways. She was certainly known for her ministry, faithfulness and the blessing she brought to many. As Paul commended her to the Romans, it is ossible that she was carrhing his letter to them, and Paul urged the Roman church to receive her and help her in her work. Are you in a church that is just as appreciative on women’s ministry today, or do we need to go back in time 2,000 years to catch up with the God who calls and equips women for service?
I grew up around horse racing. In our house all the talk was about the tip for the 2:30 at Chepstow or who was favourite for the 3:30 at Newmarket. I knew the names of jockeys and trainers and I could work out the odds on an each-way accumulator before I was 10! As a young boy—even though it was illegal—I would sneak in to see my mum in the betting shop where she worked. All the men (it was usually men) were watching the horse racing and exchanging tips. One thing all the punters were looking for was a winning bet, especially if the odds were long. Many times someone would put a pile of cash on a ‘dead-cert’ only to lose heavily. They found out the hard way that the only certainty with gambling is this – the bookmaker always wins. Of course, there are some things which are certainties in life. Death, for instance. No one knows when death will come, and we all hope it will not be too soon, but death will surely come to us all. We simply cannot avoid it; it is appointed for people to die. Equally certain is the fact that all of us will one day stand before God to be judged for our sins. For centuries people have sought for a way to avoid death and to live forever. Many books and films have been made
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Everyone has sinned, and since the penalty for sin is death, all humanity was awaiting punishment of eternal death and separation from God in hell. But Jesus allowed himself to be nailed to a Roman cross and died in our place—bearing our sin—so that we might live forever. After Jesus had died, his friends took his body down from the cross and laid it in a nearby tomb. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and now he is alive forever. He has immortal and eternal life–and is willing to share it with you. When you ask Jesus into your life, his spirit enters into your heart, so that you share eternal life with him. When this happens, all your sins are forgiven and you become a child of God. The death sentence for sin no longer has power over you. Think of it this way: if you committed a crime, and the penalty was a fine—but a friend paid the fine for you—would you have to pay the fine as well? Jesus died to pay the price for your sin so that you will never need to. God loves you, and he has promised to give you eternal life if you put your faith in his son Jesus. Have you put your trust in the Lord Jesus? Have you asked him to save you from your sin? When you do so, he will give you a life that will never end. And when inevitably death comes for you, you will no longer have to face judgment – instead you will be immediately present with the Lord Jesus, in a place of joy where there is no pain or sorrow forever.
Spiritual Aspiration A Sermon Outline: 1 Corinthians 4 by Mathew Bartlett Image © Godfer
Spiritual aspiration is the desire to go higher, deeper and more immersed in Jesus Christ. It is an essential ingredient of all spiritual growth. No one gets what they don’t ask for, and no one asks for what they do not desire or aspire to. Spiritual hunger or thirst is the key to spirituality, and spiritual growth. The writers of the Psalms had a tremendous desire for God. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. Psalms 63:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart
and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalms 84:2 Paul’s desire was for more of God. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection Phil 3:10 The desire for God causes us to reach out in faith and cry on the Lord for more. Illustrate the baby cries for food, the young animals cry out for food. When we cry on God we will be satisfied, for he has promised to satisfy our spiritual hunger. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matt 7:7-8 Therefore I say to you, whatever 17
things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24 The trouble with the Corinthian Christians was that they had stopped thirsting for a daily fresh experience with God. They were not hungering for more of the Lord and this had stopped their spiritual progress. v8 In their self satisfied pride they considered they had arrived spiritually, (not only that v7 but they had brought themselves there). The Corinthians had become like the Laodicean church - lukewarm not too bothered - and this stifled their longing for Christ. Christ tells them to be zealous and repent. If we want to grow in Christ then we must learn the secret of spiritual aspiration. We must be willing to pay the cost of aspiration; follow
the role models of aspiration and avoid the stiflers of aspiration.
The Cost of Aspiration Faith in Christ. How do we overcome sin in our lives, moral weakness, spiritual indifference or backsliding? By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Christ who has done all and provided all things for us - are you taking him or are you still trying in your own strength. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 1 John 5:4 The Corinthians spiritual growth was hindered because they thought they had arrived, they thought they had done it all in themselves and this stopped them going any further until they realized it was not they but Christ who lived and worked in them. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal 2:20 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil 2:13 We have a part to play in this spiritual growth, but our part is to look for God’s will and to yield ourselves to him in faith, to trust him to work in us. The cost of aspiration is to have no confidence in the flesh to realize that it is not I but Christ who lives in me - not I but God who works in me.
Fellowship in his Sufferings that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Phil 3:10-11 To be closer to Jesus means to have fellowship with him in all his experience: in joy but also in suffering. To be closer to Jesus does not mean to be some kind of self sufficient spiritual superman, but to be entirely dependent on him in our weakness. In this chapter Paul lists his sufferings for Christ's sake, simply, to show that he was weak. To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 1 Cor 4:11-13 Not only did Paul experience physical suffering, he felt his weakness in terms of his own sinfulness. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Rom 7:24 Like every Christian Paul was a man of two natures the old Adamic nature of sinfulness and the new nature which is in Christ. That is why the scripture says: the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another Gal 5:17 This distressed him. Even though Paul knew he had been forgiven for his past life, he often called to mind 18
how he had made havoc and wasted the church and this made him feel afresh how unworthy he was to be a servant of Christ. I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Cor 15:9 Yet Paul’s confidence was in Christ. He was aspiring for the purer and greater and higher things of Christ. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended (to be perfected) but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 The cost of aspiration is to have no confidence in the flesh, whether in our own righteousness or strength, but to have confidence in Christ realizing that when I am weak, he is made strong in me. Following his Humility Humility is a sober or correct measurement of ourselves. v10 Only when we see what we are in ourselves will we reach out in faith to receive from Christ. To live for God and to serve him we need a power beyond ourselves. That is something Christ will give us, or to be more exact, the something that we need is all that the Lord Jesus has and is, and he is willing to give himself to us. The cost of aspiration is a realization that we are bankrupt in ourselves and depend on Christ for all our riches and resources. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- Rev 3:17
Only when we realize they realized their condition would they turn to Christ who says I will give you. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Rev 3:18
The Model of Aspiration v1-6. In earlier chapters Paul had made clear how the Corinthians that it was Christ, not he or Apollos who had saved their souls. They were not to put men on pedestals. That did not mean that the church could despise these men of God, for Paul wanted the Corinthians to realize that they were given by Christ as examples for His church to follow. Brothers join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. Phil 3:17 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Heb 13:7 The Corinthians were to follow Paul (& Timothy) as role models for them to aspire to. There were many voices calling out for the Corinthians to follow them. Yet Paul insists, follow me (v15). Role models can be old, as Paul was, or young as Timothy whom Paul told: Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Tim 4:12 Older people, are you an example that young believers can follow? Young People, are you a living
example and witness to your friends and family of what a Christian ought to be? What people, especially young people need today is not a church of Christians who keep up with the latest craze. They want and need spiritual reality in their lives. What they want to know is if you have spiritual reality in your life.
If we would stop holding on to all we hold dear and instead follow Christ then we would know the blessing of God in every area of our lives. This is the reality of Christian discipleship. Peter said to Jesus “We have left all to follow you.” Don’t let anyone stop you leaving everything for Christ.
Children, young people and even adults learn by copying others. Are you maintaining a vital and real relationship with God each day? Are you willing to share its reality with others as opportunity arises? If so then you can be an example for others to follow. Paul describes himself and his fellow workers as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. As servants they gave:
An Example of Consecration to Christ
An Example of Commitment to Christ The apostles followed Christ wherever he led. Their obedience had been tested and proved by many trials. To them it was not men’s judgment of their ministry but only Christ’s that mattered, for a servant answers to no one but his master. Paul said he “knew of nothing against himself” but would not even trust his own judgment, he left that to the Lord, for as he has already explained in the day of his appearing the Lord will appraise every man’s life and work to give each their due reward. Paul’s service gave the Corinthians an example of commitment to Christ. Like Peter before him, Paul left everything to follow Christ. I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ Phil 3:8 19
The apostles were stewards of God's word and his household. In the ancient home stewards looked after items which were not theirs. The mysteries of God are the truths and teachings of Christ and his gospel, and Paul and his fellow workers were faithful in dispensing this truth to others. The steward of a home was responsible for feeding the household. The stewards of God’s house feed the flock of God on the word of God. But stewards were also responsible for the children of the household and had authority to discipline them. We will see Paul discipline God’s children in chapter 5. God’s stewards are to be examples of consecration to Christ. A steward waits continually on his master. Are we waiting continually on our master and fully engaged in his business - or are we allowing other things and the business of this present life to overtake our consecration to Christ? For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away Matt 24:38-39 Work, exams. Never put these before our desire and aspiration for Christ or our consecration to Christ
The Stiflers of Aspiration Spiritual Aspiration can be Stifled by the Devil Paul warns us not to allow our aspiration to be stifled. Not only were the proud Corinthians stifling their own spiritual growth, but in the church were messengers of Satan sent in to cause damage and destruction. If left unchallenged they would not only stifle aspiration and stop further growth but undo all that had been achieved so far. The devil is always out to destroy God’s work. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet 5:8 Make light of that verse at your peril. From time to time in our Christian experience we meet those who claim to be Christ’s who attempt to destroy your faith or to lead you astray from Christ. I had a semi-humorous film called “The Pretender” in which a young man who likes the ladies becomes attracted to a Christian young lady who attends a local church. So what does he do? He tells everyone he's become a Christian, he goes to Bible study so he can learn the language, gets baptised gives his testimony, but he's not really saved at all - all the time he is bragging to his non Christian friends about how he is fooling this girl and it won't be long before he gets her into bed. An older Christian guy finds out what's going on by talking to friends of the younger man. He races across town and arrives at the girls house in the nick of time to expose the fraud and throw him out. The girl finds out the truth and is broken hearted to find that the man she thought loved her and God loved neither and was just
trying to use her. In places the film is very funny, but it has a serious side. Sadly I’ve seen exactly the plot of the film has happen in real life again and again. You see, in whatever way he can the devil will try to destroy the faith of God’s people, especially young or weak Christians for they are the easiest prey for him. The scriptural answer is “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Spiritual Aspiration can be Stifled by the Attitudes of Others. v18 The proud Corinthians set themselves up as spiritual men and tried to stop those they saw as "beneath" them growing any further, lest it should be exposed that they ere not spiritual men at all. Rather than stifle aspiration, Christian leadership should foster aspiration by going on ahead, desiring more of God and leading others to want more of God as well. That is why Paul says we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. I wish you did reign. Paul wasn't trying to keep men under but raise them up in spiritual growth. Paul says, “We want you to aspire to greater things in God. When others overawe you with a show of power, they are just big mouths. When I come, says Paul, I will find out what power these windbags have. So have it your way, says Paul, shall I come in love, to win you by a right example, or shall I use the rod of discipline to correct what is stifling your aspiration and stunting your spiritual growth.” Spiritual Aspiration can be Stifled by our own Attitudes. Spiritual Aspiration can not only be stifled by the devil and by the attitudes of others it can be stifled 20
by our own attitudes. This can happen, for example, if we assume that we cannot attain the heights of spiritual growth because of some disability or lack of ability. Perhaps we think that a lack of academic learning, a physical handicap or a terrible mistake we have made in the past will hinder us. By these attitudes we are only hindering ourselves. If we are prepared to give ourselves wholly and unreservedly to the Lord then nothing can stop us going on into his fullness, or keep us from blessing and usefulness in His service. We might say, “I can’t do a good job, there are others who do it better than me, so I won’t do it.” But what attitude is that? It is pride. A better attitude is “Lord I might not be able to do what I think is a great job, but I’ll give all I am and do all I can for you, and you will accept it.” Where are your aspirations today? Are you prepared to be consecrated and committed in your life to Christ, by faith in Him, to follow his humility and to have fellowship with him in his sufferings? Or are you allowing your aspiration to be stifled by the devil, or the cares of this world, your own attitudes, or those of others. This morning you can break through all that hinders you as you say from your heart: Let me come closer to Thee, Jesus; Oh, closer day by day! Let me lean harder on Thee, Jesus, Yes, harder all the way. Thirsting and hung’ring for Thee, Jesus, With blessed hunger here, Looking for home on Zion’ s mountain No thirst no hunger there. J. L. Lyne
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