Revival Times Newspaper Issue 2

Useful Resources

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

In this section are a number of websites and books which can help inspire you to to seek the Lord in effective praying and in getting out there doing as well. As always, JESUS CHRIST is our greatest example and the one to whom we must compare ourselves and obey. The greatest resource is the Bible itself, so please spend your main study time in the Word of God, preferably the living Bible the King James Version!

These days even a short search on YouTube for revival preaching provides a great deal - but always test against Scripture, because we see through a glass darkly.

Websites: www.omega-ministries.org Free material to download, Booklets and tracts. www.biblegateway.com Online Bible versions for comparison www.biblehub.com Online Bible versions and Greek / Hebrew Lexicon and Interlinear www.spurgeongems.org Powerful messages from one of the great preachers of the 19th Century www.heartcrymissionary.com Equipping and mobilizing indigenous churches and missionaries www.propheticvision.org.uk David Hathaway evangelistic website - recommended! www.eurovisiontv.org Revival preaching broadcasts to the world- David Hathaway www.thelastreformation.com Join the network of believers who want to see power evangelism

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 This no-compromise, biblical clarion call to revival is timeless. He clearly shows how the church can be brought from where it is to where it ought to be. The church still needs his message, first published in 1983. “We live in a generation which has never known revival— God’s way!”

Available from: Bethany House

TRACTS to aid outreach

For the God sent no save world; d. (Jo but tht his So H hn 3: at th n inOF FAIT Jesu 17) e wSor to the inhe s is that E TEST ld th world roug inhe ritance WAYTH to

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Omega has a range of uniquely inspired tracts that present the Word of God to the non-believers and religious minded.

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These include: Signs of the end Are you a Rebel?

Resurrection Daily Disciple Discipline The Tests of Faith and many more ...

FREE DOWNLOADS.

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Available from: www.omega-ministries.org

Much of what we see expressed in the church today is built on more than just the New Testament. It’s built, instead, mostly on the Old Testament, Church culture, and Paganism. It is therefore imperative that we as God’s people dare to stop and take a closer look at the church today compared to the first church seen in Acts.

Available from: TheLastReformation.com

Do not read this book if you enjoy Sunday morning church services!

This book is for believers who want to utterly abandon it all, from top to bottom, and then start over in a way that is a revolutionary, radical departure from all present-day church practices.

Available from: www.seedsowers.com

ISSUE: 02

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

JESUS CHRIST

AND REGENERATION

By George Whitfield 1737 - No. 49

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature 2 Corinthians 5:17

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he doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in Christ Jesus, though one of the most fundamental doctrines of our holy faith; though so plainly and often pressed on us in sacred writings, “that he who runs may read;” even though it is the very hinge on which the salvation of each of us turns, and a point too in which all sincere Christians, of every denomination, agree; yet it is so seldom considered, and so little experimentally understood by the generality of professors, that were we to judge of the truth of it, by the experience of most who call themselves Christians, we should think they had “not so much as heard” whether there be any such thing as regeneration or not. It is true, men for the most part are orthodox in the common words of their creed; they believe “there

is but one God, and one Mediator between God and men, even the man Christ Jesus;” and that ‘there is no other name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved,’ besides His: But then tell them, they must be regenerated, they must be born again, they must be renewed in the very spirit, in the inmost faculties of their minds, so they can truly call Christ, “Lord, Lord,” or have an evidence that they have any share in the merits of his precious blood; and they are ready to cry out with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” Or with the Athenians, on another occasion, “What will this bumbler say? He seems to be a preacher of strange doctrines;” because we preach to them Christ, and the new-birth.

That I may therefore contribute my mite towards curing the fatal mistake of such persons, who would thus put asunder

INSIDE Enduring to the end • A Message for our times • The Tests of Faith & more...

what God has inseparably joined together, and vainly think they are justified by Christ, or have their sins forgiven, and his perfect obedience imputed to them, when they are not sanctified, have not their natures changed, and made holy, I shall beg leave to enlarge on the words of the text in the following manner: First, I shall endeavour to explain what is meant by being in Christ: “If any man be in Christ.”

Secondly, What we are to understand by being a new creature: “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”

Thirdly, I shall produce some arguments to make good the apostle’s assertion. And Fourthly, I shall draw some inferences from what may be delivered, and then conclude with a word or two of exhortation.

continued on page 3

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OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

ISSUE: 01

Revival – God’s Way Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

Revival times is a FREE publication offered to those who want to be encouraged and built up to know JESUS CHRIST as their Lord God and saviour. It is published

by Omega Ministries which is a non-denominational prophetic movement of believers who want to see the Kingdom come on earth as in heaven. Please send all enquiries or questions to the email address given below.

We recognise all material copyrights and thank God that all contributors take no wages for their work of faith in order to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and to revive his true church in our day.

All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible and or Greek and Hebrew, where appropriate, for clarity.

This paper and other teaching material is offered online for downloading and printing free of charge.

If you are inspired by the content of this paper please pass on to brothers and sisters for their encouragement.

Revival is a long lost concept in our modern society because the true Gospel has been perverted, watered down and twisted for personal gain by wolves in sheeps clothing. Enough is enough and now the sleepers must awake from their spiritual stupor. The dead dry bones must live and the faithful army of the Lord arise and shine the beauty of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

The Call Has Gone Out Soldiers of Christ, arise And put your armour on, Strong in the strength which God supplies Thru His eternal Son; Strong in Lord of hosts And in His mighty power: Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint .

Isaiah 40:28-31

Editor: Stephen Turnham © please copy and pass on Download the PDF here: www.omega-ministries.org email: info@omega-ministries.org

PAGE 2 REVIVAL TIMES

When nothing else is important— Only God’s presence Divine, When Christians quit worldly pleasures, Then God, His ear will incline.

Desperate prayer for Revival Will cleanse the Church by the Word.

Then clothed in spotless, white linen, The Bride clears the way for her Lord.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Rom 10:9) Do you accept in your heart that Jesus is alive from the dead!? o Yes o No

TEST 3: Believe AND be baptised to be saved

He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21) Jesus and the apostles taught that unless you are baptised by full immersion upon believing, you will not be saved, but damned?

—Estelle Gifford Jackson FIRST THOUGHTS Christ in you the hope of glory Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians

chapter

In a moment you will read of 12 tests that Jesus, and the apostles gave you in writing, so that you can know where you stand regarding your salvation. They did this to help you know Jesus Christ personally and have full and total assurance and confidence, that you are His. The tests of faith, where only a YES is a pass: If you have a NO against any of the tests please take it most seriously in humble prayer to God. Seek and you will find.

TEST 2: Jesus was resurrected from death on the cross

The lost ones will yield to God’s Spirit When Christians, cleansed, weep and pray; God’s Living Water flows outward; This is “Revival—God’s Way”!

to the

THE TESTS OF SCRIPTURE TO HELP YOU KNOW

Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

(John 10:25-26) Do you accept that Jesus is the promised Messiah, Emmanuel, God in the flesh and that the miracles he did in the Father’s name proved who he was? o Yes o No

Then will the burdens be lifted, Then all the sinners will cry, Then all the chains will be loosened And worldly passions will die.

The E pistle

he apostles and prophets teach us through Scripture that it is wise to examine ourself and consider if we are living to please God. This is not to condemn ourselves, but rather to enable us to change into His image. We must be founded on Him alone and KNOW that we are truly known by Him and belong to Him without a doubt in our mind.

You may have been going to a church for many years and never been told about the TESTS OF THE FAITH. Here is your chance to find out if you KNOW Jesus and if he KNOWS you.

TEST 1: Jesus is the Messiah, proven by his miracle signs

Prayer is the key to Revival, Prayer that is true Spirit-born, Nights of compassionate weeping— Intercession for all the forlorn.

in

Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves.

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Where is the hope for Revival— God’s Holy Spirit outpoured Convicting of sin, and of judgement And righteousness of the Lord?

Apostle Paul

How to know whether you are a true disciple

1

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(Acts 2:37-38, see also Rom 6:4) o Yes o No

TEST 4: Signs and miracles happen today as proof of faith

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(Mark 16:17-18) Jesus said that by the Holy Spirit he would still do miracles then and now through his body, the believing church until the end of the ages. Do you accept this? (or like the Jews do you mistakenly think it’s a devilish thing?).

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) o Yes o No

TEST 5: Do you hear the voice of Jesus?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27-29) Do you hear the voice of Jesus everyday guiding your life forward in obedience to his Spirit and Word? o Yes o No

TEST 6: Jesus Christ must be IN you

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in

2 Corinthians 13:5

you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corin 13:5; see also Col 1:27; Gal 4:19) Do you have confidence that Jesus himself freely dwells in your body as his temple? This is revealed by the FRUIT and the GIFTS of His Spirit, love and power manifested daily. We are to be like Jesus not like our fellow man lost in sin and death.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (1 John 2:3-6). o Yes o No

TEST 7: The Spirit dwells in you

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Rom 8:9) Do you have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you? (How do you know this? see Acts 10:45-48) o Yes o No

TEST 8: His commandments and they are not grievous

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

(1 John 2:3-4 and 1 John 5:3) Are you able to keep Jesus commandments and enjoy it? Jesus said that His yoke (work) was easy (Matt 11:30) - does it feel easy to you? o Yes o No

TEST 9: You do not love the world anymore

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15) Are you free from the things that worldly people do, smoking, drinking, gambling, lusting after women, trying to get rich etc.? or do you still chase after these things as a human right. Do you love God’s Kingdom more than earths kingdom? o Yes o No

TEST 10: Stop wilfully sinning

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:5-6) see also Gal 5:24.

Have you stopped sinning against God, against others and against your own body, by crucifying your flesh through fasting and prayer? o Yes o No

TEST 11: Obeying the teaching of Jesus

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9) Jesus taught us by example that we should both think AND do what he did. Are you fully abiding and obeying ALL that Jesus taught you in the Gospels? o Yes o No

TEST 12: Loving our brethren in Christ

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

(1 John 3:14) Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ, whoever or wherever they are? o Yes o No

WHAT IF I FAIL ANY OF THESE TESTS?

The purpose of these tests is not that you fail, but that you pass! If your heart and mind are convicted by any of these tests, then you have opportunity to CHANGE and come into obedience to God’s Word of Life. But don’t wait, this is urgent, because life is short, time is running out. Why be deceived when you can be completely free and have peace and joy now! Make sure you have the assurance of eternal life, by obeying Jesus and the apostles teaching in the Bible.

Remember what Paul said: 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 2:12-13) (see also James 4:10) (See Resources overleaf)

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earth only, but also heaven (sky). And this word,Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made (the visible universe), that those things which cannot be shaken may remain (Christ’s Kingdom). Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:18-29) Make no mistake about it, the human race is in really big trouble, because Jesus is coming back in POWER with angels and the saints! Lord have mercy on us all. This will be a terrible and terrifying day for those who are unprepared. This is the whole point of the body of Christ – to prepare for his return and so, just like the Levite priests, we now realise we have no inheritance in this earth (land), but rather we are strangers and pilgrims that are looking to him for salvation, this is our great hope (Rom 8:24).

This is also why Paul exhorts us to ‘seek those things above’, because this is our place and destiny, we must not turn back like Lots wife did (Luke 17:32).

Don’t turn back to the world, but press onwards and upwards and escape this corrupt generation!

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (in heaven!) Set your affection on things above, (in heaven!) not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your (spiritual) life is hid with Christ in God.When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,(second appearing) then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (resurrection)” (Col 3:1-2) These truths have huge practical implications for how we see ourselves, others and how we decide to live our lives in this present evil world. Are you really ready for Him? (see 1 John 3:1-4).

Escaping the Wrath to come Over the centuries there have been many great Christians who have revealed Christ’s divine life and passed on the good news of his salvation from the wrath

to come. We must first be clear on what we are being saved ‘from’ and ‘to’, then our purpose becomes very clear - His will be done on earth as in heaven.

The focus of our attention must be, as Jesus and Paul preached, ‘seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness’ and this Kingdom is not on earth but in Heaven where Jesus now dwells as King and Lord. He must be our total focus – our Apostle and High Priest in heaven. We must know and understand what is going on in heaven in order for it to be done on earth! This Kingdom is where Paul knew he would be going before he was taken and martyred by the Roman emperor Nero: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

(2 Tim 4:18)

When Paul was beheaded for the Faith he died and his spirit and soul went to be with Jesus in heaven, in the glory of God’s presence. One day, along with all other dead Christians, he will return with Jesus and receive a new body at the resurrection and those of faith, still living after tribulation, will too! These new bodies are the promised ‘houses’ or ‘mansions’ that Jesus promised to us who believe.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

(John 14:1-3)

What this all means practically, is that the ‘church’, which Jesus builds, is firstly ‘heavenly’ minded and based and not ‘earthly’. The ‘church’ is not the Kingdom on this earth and it’s not meant to be an organisation or charity to improve society (without any repentance). The ‘church’ is not meant to take over the kingdoms of the earth for Jesus (dominion theology). Like

PAGE 22 REVIVAL TIMES

Jesus and Paul the church will experience greater persecution as the end approaches. Secondly, the kingdom of God is bigger than the people of God and much bigger even than the visible universe. God’s plan was and is to do away with Satan and sin.

This means that this earth (even the whole universe) is due for demolition because of corruption and God plans to rebuild a new heaven and new earth - he’s not planning to simply restore this one and He has the power to do it! This means that the only way to escape this judgement is to be IN CHRIST and CHRIST IN YOU! HE is literally our ‘spiritual Ark’ and those who enter in become his people forever! Our Christian hope is to be a part of the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells and sin is no more. The restoration of all things (2 Pet 3:13).

Lastly we must accept that we are the new temple of God’s dwelling in this earth today and that this is enough for us. We must not turn back to reconstruct the shadow of the Law with buildings and religious paraphernalia . Rather we must embrace the freedom of the Holy Spirit and go out towards all the lost and needy with the good news, just as Jesus had commanded.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt 28:17-20) n Next time in Part 2 we consider: Why Did Jesus Build Things Differently?

To read this entire message in pdf format please email your request to: Stephen@omega-ministries.org

continued from cover

First, I am to endeavour to explain what is meant by this expression in the text, “If any man be in Christ.”

Now a person may be said to be in Christ two ways.

Firstly, Only by an outward profession. And in this sense, every one that is called a Christian, or baptised into Christ’s church, may be said to be in Christ. But that this is not the sole meaning of the apostle’s phrase before us, is evident, because then, every one that names the name of Christ, or is baptised into his visible church, would be a new creature. Which is notoriously false, it being too plain, beyond all contradiction, that comparatively but few of those that are “born of water,” are “born of the Spirit” likewise; to use another spiritual way of speaking, many are baptised with water, which were never baptised with the Holy Spirit.

To be in Christ therefore, in the full meaning of the word, must certainly mean something more than a bare outward profession, or being called after his name. For, as this same apostle tells us, “All are not Israelites that are of Israel,” so when applied to Christianity, all are not real Christians that are nominally such. No, this is so far from being the case, that our blessed Lord himself informs us, that many who have prophesied or preached in his name, and in his name cast out devils, and done many wonderful works, shall notwithstanding be dismissed at the last day, with “depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity.”

It remains therefore, that this expression, “if any man be in Christ,” must be understood in a... ..Second and closer signification, to be in him so as to partake of the benefits of his sufferings. To be in him not only by an outward profession, but by an inward change and purity of heart, and cohabitation of his Holy Spirit. To be in him, so as to be mystically united to him by a true and lively faith, and thereby to receive spiritual virtue from him, as the members of the natural body do from the head, or the branches from the vine. To be in him in such a manner as the apostle, speaking of himself, reminds us he knew a person was, “I knew man in Christ,” a true Christian; or, as he himself desires to be in Christ, when he wishes, in his epistle to the Philippians, that he might be found in him.

This is undoubtedly the proper meaning of the apostle’s expression in the words of the text; so that what he says in his epistle to the Romans about circumcision, may very well be applied to the present subject; that he is not a real Christian who is only one outwardly; nor is that true baptism,

which is only outward in the flesh. But he is a true Christian, who is one inwardly, whose baptism is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not merely in the water, whose praise is not of man but of God. Or, as he says in another place, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision achieves any thing (of itself) but a new creature.” Which amounts to what he here declares in the verse now under consideration, that if any man be truly and properly in Christ, he is a new creature. Which brings me to show, Secondly, What we are to understand by being a new creature.

And here it is evident at the first view, that this expression is not to be so explained as though there was a physical change required to be made in us; or as though we were to be reduced to our primitive nothings, and then created and formed again. For, supposing we were, as Nicodemus ignorantly imagined, to enter a “second time into our mother’s womb, and be born,” alas! what would it contribute towards rendering us spiritually new creatures?

Since “that which was born of the flesh would be flesh still;” we should be the same carnal persons as ever, being derived from carnal parents, and consequently receiving the seeds of all manner of sin and corruption from them. No, it only means, that we must be so altered as to the qualities and tempers of our minds, that we must entirely forget what manner of persons we once were. As it may be said of a piece of gold, that was once in the ore, after it has been cleansed, purified and polished, that it is a new piece of gold; as it may be said of a bright glass that has been covered over with filth, when it is wiped, and so become transparent and clear, that it is a new glass: Or, as it might be said of Naaman, when he recovered of his leprosy, and his flesh became like the flesh of a young child, that he was a new man; so our souls, though still the same as to offense, yet are so purged, purified and cleansed from their natural dross, filth and leprosy, by the blessed influences of the Holy Spirit, that they may be properly said to be made anew.

How this glorious change is wrought in the soul, cannot easily be explained: For no one knows the ways of the Spirit save the Spirit of God himself.

Not that this ought to be any argument against this doctrine; for, as our blessed Lord observed to Nicodemus, when he was discoursing on this very subject, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth;” and if we are told REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 3

of natural things, and we understand them not, how much less ought we to wonder, if we cannot immediately account for the invisible workings of the Holy Spirit? The truth of the matter is this: the doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in Christ Jesus, is hard to be understood by the natural man.

But that there is really such a thing, and that each of us must be spiritually born again, I shall endeavour to show under my Third general head, in which I was to produce some arguments to make good the apostle’s assertion.

And here one would think it sufficient to affirm, First, That God himself, in his holy word, has told us so. Many texts might be produced out of the Old Testament to prove this point, and indeed, one would wonder how Nicodemus, who was a teacher in Israel, and who was therefore to instruct the people in the spiritual meaning of the law, should be so ignorant of this grand article, as we find he really was, by his asking our blessed Lord, when he was pressing on him this topic, How can these things be?

Surely, he could not forget how often the Psalmist had begged of God, to make him “a new heart,” and “to renew a right spirit within him;” as likewise, how frequently the prophets had warned the people to make them “new hearts,” and new minds, and so turn unto the Lord their God. But not to mention these and such like texts out of the Old Testament, this doctrine is so often and plainly repeated in the New, that, as I observed before, he who runs may read. For what says the great Prophet and Instructor of the world himself: “Except a man (every one that is naturally the offspring of Adam) be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” And lest we should be apt to slight this assertion, and Nicodemus-like, reject the doctrine, because we cannot immediately explain “How this thing can be;” our blessed Master therefore affirms it, as it were, by an oath, “Verily, verily, I say unto you,” or, as it may be read, I the Amen; I who am truth itself, say unto you, that it is the unalterable appointment of my heavenly Father, that “unless a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Agreeable to this, are those many passages we meet within the epistles, where we are commanded to be “renewed in the Spirit,” or, which was before explained, in the inmost faculties of our minds; to “put off the Old Man, which is corrupt; and to put on the New Man, which is created after God, in righteousness and true holiness;” that “old things must pass away, and that all things must become new;” that we are to be “saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Or, was there no other passage to be produced besides the words of the text, it would be full enough, since the apostle therein positively affirms, that “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

Now, what can be understood by all these different PAGE 4 REVIVAL TIMES

terms of being born again, or putting off the Old Man, and putting on the New, of being renewed in the spirit of our minds, and becoming new creatures; but that Christianity requires a thorough, real inward change of heart? Do we think these and such-like forms of speaking, are mere metaphors, words of a bare sound, without any real solid signification? Indeed, it is to be feared, some men would have them interpreted so; but alas! unhappy men! They are not to be envied in their metaphorical interpretation: it will be well, if they do not interpret themselves out of their salvation.

Multitudes of other texts might be produced to confirm this same truth; but those already quoted are so plain and convincing, that one would imagine no one should deny it; were we not told, there are some, “who having eyes, see not, and ears, hear not, and that will not understand with their hearts, or hear with their ears, lest they should be converted, and Christ should heal them.”

But I proceed to a Second argument; and that shall be taken from the purity of God, and the present corrupt and polluted state of man.

God is described in holy scripture (and I speak to those who profess to know the scripture) as a Spirit; as a being of such infinite sanctity, as to be of “purer eyes than to behold iniquity;” as to be so transcendently holy, that it is said “the very heavens are not clean in his sight; and the angels themselves he charges with folly.” On the other hand, man is described (and every regenerate person will find it true by his own experience) as a creature altogether “conceived and born in sin;” as having “no good thing dwelling in him;” as being “carnal, sold under sin;”, as having “a mind which is at enmity with God,” and such-like. And since there is such an infinite disparity, can any one conceive how a filthy, corrupted, polluted wretch can dwell with an infinitely pure and holy God, before he is changed, and rendered, in some measure, like him? Can he, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, dwell with it? Can he, in whose sight the heavens are not clean, delight to dwell with uncleanness itself? No, we might as well suppose light to have communion with darkness, or Christ to have concord with Belial.

But I pass on to a Third argument, which shall be founded on the consideration of the nature of that happiness God has prepared for those that unfeignedly love him.

To enter indeed on a minute and particular description of heaven, would be vain and presumptuous, since we are told that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive, the things that are there prepared” for the sincere followers of the holy Jesus, even in this life, much less in that which is to come. However, this we may venture to affirm in general, that as

now connect to that Kingdom (through his Spirit) and receive the abundant life of heaven (not necessarily the abundance of this earthly life these two are different). We are given entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride, the household of God, mount Zion which is in HEAVEN which is gigantic!

There is no earthly human kingdom or organisation called ‘the Church’, but rather we are called ‘strangers’ and ‘pilgrims’ who like salt are mixed into all of the multitude of nations or like yeast mixed in the dough, now pleading for them to receive Christ and be delivered from Satan before the judgement comes (Heb 11:13; Pet 1:1; 2:11).

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Phil 3:20-21) Why did Jesus go to heaven?

Well because the Law was being removed and would no longer be required for justification (acceptance). Instead of residing in the bricks and mortar Temple, God the Spirit was about to dwell inside human tabernacles - that is in physical bodies - that’s the miracle of faith! Paul writes confidently in his first letter to the Galatians that, because of this, we are no longer called to be in the ‘household of Law’, but rather to be in the ‘household of faith’ which is heavenly: “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise (by Spirit). Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children (Jews).

But Jerusalem which is above is free,

which is the mother of us all (church, Zion). For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate (Gentiles) hath many more children than she which hath an husband (Israel). Now we (Christians), brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise (Spirit). But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Gal 5:21-31)

Not of this world The point of bringing this to the forefront, is that in order to be Christ’s household, His holy nation, we must first realise that it’s not about building any ‘earthly kingdom’ or ‘organisation’, with wealth,

buildings, political domination and power over others - not even over God’s enemies who oppose the truth (more on that later). The earthly humanistic utilitarian idea is a complete delusion causing division and ambition among those who believe. So wicked are men’s hearts that they want to build an earthly kingdom on behalf of God, not realising that God does not require it! Such are the denominations and cults we see today, not designed by Jesus or the apostles.

In contrast, God’s plans for this fallen earth include a series of warning judgements leading ultimately to an inescapable final judgement (Rev 5-11) and destruction of man’s entire history and all his works! Jesus said that this would be just as

sudden as when he destroyed the world in the time of Noah or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and who has found them apart from dust? However, the final judgement will be by a supernatural fire, and many will be destroyed and lost to hell for rejecting Jesus! God’s warning has come because he loves us and wants to save us from this destruction which was planned since the beginning of the fall in Eden. The world has been so deceived by Satan that they are destined for this judgement and there is literally no hope in the world’s future - salvation is truly only in Christ! It’s the great and terrible day of the Lord. It’s terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God! The good news for those of faith is that whether we live or die through these many tribulation we will enter the heavenly kingdom and our reward.

Being a Christian is about being prepared for this day and the final resurrection off the dead earth to meet Jesus and the Father with the angels in glory.

Just think how glorious it will be to meet the Father without fear, sin or pain and then in a new earth to live eternally!

Even more glorious is that it’s possible for us to connect with the greater glory of Jesus today.

Again in Hebrews we read: “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn (remnant Jews), which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying,Yet once more I shake not the REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 21

and teaching. The promise to Abraham, which came before the Law, is also fulfilled in Jesus, as the true ‘spiritual seed’ (Gal 3:16).

Through Jesus (Messiah) God had therefore completely fulfilled his promises and covenant to Israel, leaving them without excuse. He was very patient with them, but sadly most rejected him and they perished in their sins (John 8:21). Their remaining descendants still resist him today! (*Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies!

There are still some prophecies relating to Israel still to happen as a sign of the end of all ages).

So we see God’s incredible patience and long suffering with Israel and how He dealt fairly with them in all respects (and still does!).

A New Kingdom Came Some find it hard to accept that the Kingdom of Israel ended when Jesus had completed His work. He himself said that He conferred a new kingdom (from heaven) to the apostles. That the anointing of the Spirit was taken from Israel and placed upon those 120 ordinary men and women in the upper room (Matt 5:3; 13:11; 16:19; 21:43. Luke 12:32; 13:28; 16:16; 22:9. John 18:36).

This ‘new’ household is the ‘nation’ of the new kingdom of heaven and is described in a number of different ways, to help us grasp the uniqueness of this ‘heavenly’ or ‘spiritual nation’, these include: The Bride, the Body, God’s building, God’s field, living stones, Royal Priesthood, kingdom of priests, the new Jerusalem, the city of God, God’s dwelling place, wife of the Lamb, the great multitude and of course ‘church’ which means ‘council assembly’ or ‘government’. All these are given to help us grasp the incredible eternal dimensions of the kingdom of heaven and of God the Father and ‘Mount Zion’ (another metaphor) meaning the tabernacle (or canopy of angels) around the Father in heaven’s paradise. This heavenly Zion is PAGE 20 REVIVAL TIMES

gigantic and massive beyond our imagination and importantly without Satan or any sin for he was cast out!

So it is plain that ‘natural Israel’ and the ‘heavenly church’ are separate bodies with their own identities, even destinies, and it’s erroneous to say that the church is the ‘spiritual Israel’.

Gentile nations are grafted into the ‘inheritance’ of the patriarchs through Christ, but we are not Israelites. The church (global) is a brand new body made of ‘new creatures’ in Christ by the Spirit whose foundation, as I have said, is the revelation of Christ as God and not by the flesh (DNA) from Abraham or Moses (Rom 9:8). This is seen in God’s original promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:7 and highlighted by Paul in Galatians 3 . Paul always speaks of these three; the Jews, the Gentiles and the church: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32) What’s true then, is true now and just as in the time of the first apostles, ALL Israelites (Jews) today need to be saved into the ‘new nation’ (church of God) in order to be listed in the Book of Life (Rev 20:12) and enter the kingdom of heaven.

Just being born a Jew does not get you into the book of life, just being born into a Christian family doesn’t either - only genuine faith in Jesus. Despite the apparent failure of Israel as a nation, the Father still looks favourably upon them for the sake of the patriarchs (Rom 11:28), and because they have suffered as witnesses of his name. He has also used them in the dispersion to shape the modern world according to his plans. For us non-Jews we must respect the spiritual roots of the Patriarchs, but at the same time present the truth of Christ to Jews as the only way to the Father (Matt 11:30; Gal 3:29). Paul and the other apostles did this and were persecuted for it, so will all who take this stand.

Israel the land went through 1900 years of desolation and is still not fully restored (to this day), and never will be until Christ himself returns to restore the whole earth. In any case Israel was only ever meant to be a shadow (reflection) of the reality to come which is the New Jerusalem in the new kingdom heaven and earth, ruled by Jesus (God).

Today Israel itself claims to be like any other democratic nation, not based on spiritual laws, but rather on human rule. There is no Temple which has been blocked

by God using Islam their Arab enemies! They are mostly antiChrist and even forbid open preaching of Jesus in their land!

Despite this it’s significant that more Jews are coming to accept Christ today than in previous generations and this is another sure sign that the end of time approaches (Luke 21:29).

After the resurrection we see that Jesus is now the King over the Kingdom which is currently in heaven and those who are of his house are spiritually connected, sealed by the invisible Holy Spirit, marked for salvation and whose names are in the Lambs (book) scroll of life. This is what he said: “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36) This is a very important statement by Jesus just before the cross, because it affects how we see the purpose of Jesus’ ‘nation’ (church) in relation to the Kingdom of heaven, Israel and the world. Jesus went back into heaven to rule and reign on the throne of the Kingdom (right hand of the Father) having obtained salvation for those who believe in his redemption and know him. He is now like a High Priest who intercedes for his followers who remain in this dark world (Heb 2:19) His Spirit in us means that we can

God is a Spirit, so the happiness he has laid up for his people is spiritual likewise; and consequently, unless our carnal minds are changed, and spiritualised, we can never be made meet to partake of that inheritance with the saints in light.

It is true, we may flatter ourselves, that, supposing we continue in our natural corrupt estate, and carry all our lusts along with us, we should, notwithstanding, relish heaven, was God to admit us therein. And so we might, was it a Mahometan paradise, wherein we were to take our full swing in sensual delights. But since its joys are only spiritual, and no unclean thing can possibly enter those blessed mansions, there is an absolute necessity of our being changed, and undergoing a total renovation of our depraved natures, before we can have any taste or relish of those heavenly pleasures.

It is, doubtless, for this reason, that the apostle declares it to be the irrevocable decree of the Almighty, that “without holiness, (without being made pure by regeneration, and having the image of God thereby re-stamped upon the soul) no may shall see the Lord.” And it is very observable, that our divine Master, in the famous passage before referred to, concerning the absolute necessity of regeneration, does not say, Unless a man be born again, he SHALL NOT, but “unless a man be born again, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God.” It is founded in the very nature of things, that unless we have dispositions wrought in us suitable to the objects that are to entertain us, we can take no manner of complacency or satisfaction in them. For instance; what delight can the most harmonious music afford to a deaf, or what pleasure can the most excellent picture give to a blind man? Can a tasteless palate relish the richest dainties, or a filthy swine be pleased with the finest garden of flowers? No: and what reason can be assigned for it? An answer is ready; because they have neither of them any tempers of mind correspondent or agreeable to what they are to be diverted with. And thus it is with the soul hereafter; for death makes no more alteration in the soul, than as it enlarges its faculties, and makes it capable of receiving deeper impressions either of pleasure or pain. If it delighted to converse with God here, it will be transported with the sight of his glorious Majesty hereafter. If it was pleased with the communion of saints on earth, it will be infinitely more so with the communion and society of holy angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven. But if the opposite of all this be true, we may assure ourselves the soul could not be happy, was God himself to admit it (which he never will do) into the regions of the blessed. But it is time for me to hasten to the Fourth argument, because Christ’s redemption will not be complete in us, unless we are new creatures.

If we reflect indeed on the first and chief end of our blessed Lord’s coming, we shall find it was

to be a propitiation for our sins, to give his life a ransom for many. But then, if the benefits of our dear Redeemer’s death were to extend no farther than barely to procure forgiveness of our sins, we should have as little reason to rejoice in it, as a poor condemned criminal that is ready to perish by some fatal disease, would have in receiving a pardon from his judge. For Christians would do well to consider, that there is not only a legal hindrance to our happiness, as we are breakers of God’s law, but also a moral impurity in our natures, which renders us incapable of enjoying heaven (as has been already proved) till some mighty change have been wrought in us. It is necessary therefore, in order to make Christ’s redemption complete, that we should have a grant of God’s Holy Spirit to change our natures, and so prepare us for the enjoyment of that happiness our Saviour has purchased by his precious blood.

Accordingly the holy scriptures inform us, that whom Christ justifies, or whose sins he forgives, and to whom he imputes his perfect obedience, those he also sanctifies, purifies and cleanses, and totally changes their corrupted natures. As the scripture also says in another place, “Christ is to us justification, sanctification, and then redemption.” But, Fourthly, Proceed we now to the next general thing proposed, to draw some inferences from what has been delivered, And, First, If he that is in Christ be a new creature, this may serve as a reproof for those who rest in a bare performance of outward duties, without perceiving any real inward change of heart.

We may observe a great many persons to be very punctual in the regular returns of public and private prayer, as likewise of receiving the holy communion, and perhaps now and then too in keeping a fast. But here is the misfortune, they rest barely in the use of the means, and think all is over, when they have thus complied with those sacred institutions; whereas, were they rightly informed, they would consider, that all the instituted means of grace, as prayer, fasting, hearing and reading the word of God, receiving the blessed sacrament, and such-like, are no farther serviceable to us, than as they are found to make us inwardly better, and to carry on the spiritual life in the soul.

It is true, they are means; but then they are only means; they are part, but not the whole of faith: for if so, who more religious than the Pharisee?

He fasted twice in the week, and gave tithes of all that he possessed, and yet was not justified, as our Saviour himself informs us, in the sight of God. You perhaps, like the Pharisee, may fast often, and make long prayers; you may, with Herod, hear good sermons gladly. But yet, if you continue vain and trifling, immoral or worldly-minded, and differ from the rest of your neighbours barely in going REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 5

to church, or in complying with some outward performances, are you better than they? No, in no wise; you are by far much worse: for if you use them, and at the same time abuse them, you thereby encourage others to think there is nothing in them and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation. But, Secondly, If he that is in Christ be a new creature, then this may check the groundless presumption of another class of professors, who rest in the attainment of some moral virtues, and falsely imagine they are good Christians, if they are just in their dealings, temperate in their diet, and do not hurt or violence to any man.

But if this was all that is requisite to make us Christians, why might not the heathens of old be good Christians, who were remarkable for these virtues? Or St. Paul before his conversion, who tells us, that he lived in all good conscience? But we find he renounces all dependence on works of this nature, and only desires to be found in Christ, and to know the power of his resurrection, or have an experimental proof of receiving the Holy Spirit, purchased for him by the death, and ensured and applied to him by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The sum of the matter is this: Christianity includes morality, as grace does reason; but if we are only mere Moralists, if we are not inwardly wrought upon, and changed by the powerful operations of the Holy Spirit, and our moral actions, proceed from a principle of a new nature, however we may call ourselves Christians, we shall be found naked at the Great Day, and in the number of those, who have neither Christ’s righteousness imputed to them for their justification in the sight, nor holiness enough in their souls as the consequence of that, in order to make them meet for the enjoyment, of God. Nor, Thirdly, Will this doctrine less condemn those, who rest in a partial amendment of themselves, without experiencing a thorough, real, inward change of heart.

A little acquaintance with the world will furnish us with instances, of no small number of persons, who, perhaps, were before openly profane; but seeing the ill consequences of their vices, and the many worldly inconveniencies it has reduced them to, on a sudden, as it were, grow civilized; and thereupon flatter themselves that they are very religious, because they differ a little from their former selves, and are not so scandalously wicked as once they were: whereas, at the same time, they shall have some secret darling sin or other, some beloved Delilah or Herodias, which they will not part with; some hidden lust, which they will not mortify; some vicious habit, which they will not take pains to root out. But would you know, O vain man! Whoever thou art, what the Lord thy God requires of thee?

Thou must be informed, that nothing short of a PAGE 6 REVIVAL TIMES

thorough sound conversion will fit thee for the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to turn from profaneness to civility; but thou must turn from civility to godliness. Not only some, but “all things must become new” in thy soul. It will profit thee but little to do many things, if yet some one thing thou lackest. In short, thou must not only be an almost, but altogether a new creature, or in vain you boast that you’re a Christian.

Fourthly, If he that is in Christ be a new creature, then this may be prescribed as an infallible rule for every person of whatever denomination, age, degree or quality, to judge himself by; this being the only solid foundation, whereon we can build a well-grounded assurance of pardon, peace, and happiness.

We may indeed depend on the broken reed of an external profession; we may think we are good enough, if we lead such sober, honest, moral lives, as many heathens did. We may imagine we are in a safe condition, if we attend on the public offices of religion, and are constant in the duties of our closets. But unless all these tend to reform our lives, and change our hearts, and are only used as so many channels of divine grace; as I told you before, so I tell you again, Christianity will profit you nothing.

Let each of us therefore seriously put this question to our hearts: Have we received the Holy Spirit since we believed? Are we new creatures in Christ, or no? At least, if we are not so yet, is it our daily endeavour to become such? Do we constantly and conscientiously use all the means of grace required thereto? Do we fast, watch and pray? Do we, not lazily seek, but laboriously strive to enter in at the strait gate? In short, do we renounce our own righteousness, take up our crosses and follow Christ? If so, we are in that narrow way which leads to life; the good seed is sown in our hearts, and will, if duly watered and nourished by a regular persevering use of all the means of grace, grow up to eternal life. But on the contrary, if we have only heard, and know not experimentally, whether there be any Holy Spirit; if we are strangers to fasting, watching and prayer, and all the other spiritual exercises of devotion; if we are content to go in the broad way, merely because we see most other people do so, without once reflecting whether it be the right one or not; in short, if we are strangers, or worse enemies to the cross of Christ, by lives of worldly-mindedness, and sensual pleasure, and thereby make others think, that Christianity is but an empty name, a bare formal profession; if this be the case, I say, Christ is as yet dead in vain, to us; we are under the guilt of our sins; and are unacquainted with a true and thorough conversion.

But beloved, I am persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though I thus speak; I would humbly hope that you are sincerely

Most people think this passage is about simply believing in Jesus, but it is more than that. As tough as it is to hear this we must face this truth head on and be honest before God and ask ourselves, are we really doing what Jesus did?

The Kingdom of Jesus Returning now to the difference between the Jewish ‘household’ or ‘Moses church’ and ‘Jesus church’ (household) as it’s an important differentiation because the first one (Moses) is based only on outward obedience (Law) to achieve spirituality and blessing through rituals; and the second is based first on inner spiritual revelation (Spirit) leading to outward obedience (Faith) to bless others. The first is ‘earthly’ (a shadow) and the second is ‘heavenly’ (the reality/ revelation) and as such is far superior.

For the first Christians this differentiation was very clear and plain because it was there in front of them. There were obviously 3 main groups they knew; 1.

Israel; 2. The Gentile nations and 3. Christians. The household of Israel was (and still is) limited,

by Scriptural promise, to just one (circumcised) nation of 12 tribes and one promised land.

The greater heavenly nation (all believers), which is composed of ALL nations (including Hebrews who believe), possesses all things and inherits the new earth!

Jesus began with the first 12 apostles as a foundation of ‘church leadership’ to reach the whole world. We see this taught by both Jesus and all the other apostles thereafter, who always emphasise the ‘kingdom of heaven’ rather than the ‘kingdom of Israel’. Here are a number of Scripture references which reveal this point: Matt 22:1-14; 23:3738; Luke 16:16; 17:21; John 3:3; Rom 14:17; 1 Corin 15:50; Acts 1:1-7)

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is

not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8) For many years while living with Jesus the disciples wrongly thought that, as Messiah, he would restore the physical, visible and political kingdom of Israel (in their lifetime), and that they would sit with him as a king in the temple to rule and reign over the Romans and the world!

That’s why, before Pentecost, they kept asking Jesus the above question, about restoring Israel.

It was only after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came into them, that they suddenly realised the real truth - the true Kingdom of God is not of this world, Israel was just a shadow, a launch pad to the world.

Under construction The church (the holy nation) is supernaturally built of our cleansed human bodies and not bricks and mortar. God’s holy people now live in the whole earth, not just in Israel. Jesus’ church or body therefore has no outward material structures (buildings/temples) or special clothing etc. to mark it out as holy to God. That was the old household for those who did not believe the gospel (knowing God personally by revelation), but they preferred to have Moses as an ‘earthly mediator’ in the Tabernacle where God was said to dwell. Jesus showed us that because of his sacrifice it’s now our physical bodies that are the true temple and it’s the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ expressed by holiness (in our body) and charity (love in action) and the power to heal and deliver that makes his people special. From now on we should not have a care in, or for, the world’s ‘stuff’, or it’s greedy selfish ways (1 John 2:15 ). There are no buildings, no ceremonies, no traditions of men,

no garments and no sacrifices that mark out the true disciples of Christ simply because He NEVER commanded it. These things are no longer necessary to please God. In fact by doing them we are hindering the true Gospel!

This is why the traditional church has become powerless!

As it was for Jesus, so it is for us, no more, no less. Show me Jesus brick church house? show me his fast chariot?, show me his huge bank account?, show me his gold reserve?, show me his extensive wardrobe? It just isn’t there, because as Psalm 50 tells us, he doesn’t need it, because he owns everything anyway. God doesn’t need us we need him!

Sadly this is in stark contrast to the modern ‘church’ in all it’s factional designs with its complex divisions and add-ons, this was not ordained by Jesus and it’s not His will - not His apostolic body. This will upset a lot of people, just as it upset the Pharisees and lawyers in Jesus day, in fact it’s one of the reasons they crucified Jesus and stoned Stephen and later Paul as well (see John 11:47-53).

God’s patience with Israel As the book of Hebrews reminds us it was over a four hundred year period that Abraham’s physical descendants eventually became ‘Moses household’ finally escaping slavery in Egypt by Yahweh’s power. Then, at Mount Sinai (in Arabia), they officially became the household ‘under the Law’ (Israel) by covenant, this was needed because of their rebellion against personal revelation (the Rock (Christ); Exod 20:19). Jesus household today is ONLY of Faith in Him, His Name and His ‘law of the Spirit of life’. His physical life fulfilled ALL the former Law and Prophets* removing the burden (of external law) off the Jews who believed. He also opened the way for ALL the nations to ‘know’ the Father through Him by the Apostles preaching REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 19

‘spiritual’ groups of people. This was a common understanding among the apostles and early believers, but has been lost and distorted over the centuries.

The two houses Firstly the people of Israel or ‘Moses house’, known appropriately as ‘the Hebrews’ after Abraham (later ‘the Jews’ after Judah), and in verse 6 (see above my bold) he refers to the disciples of Christ (now after Pentecost) as his ‘own house’ (disciples of Jesus) with whom he associates his readers, ‘whose house are we’, (referring to all Spirit born Christian disciples, including us today). It reminds us that what Jesus had declared to those following Him, in the beginning, had indeed come true. He said that he would build His church (or household) as a ‘separate body’ from Israel and that the ‘gates of hell’ would not prevail against it: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying,Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said,Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee,That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (leadership); and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt 16:13-20) Caesarea Philippi, which stood in a lush area near the foot of Mount Hermon, was a city dominated by immoral activities and pagan worship. Caesarea Philippi stood only twenty-five miles from the religious communities of Galilee. The pagans believed that the cave entrance was the gate to hades (hell). By making His proclamation here Jesus was declaring that paganism would be defeated by His people. (see https://www.

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thattheworldmayknow.com/ gates-of-hell-article)

Jesus the Rock It’s now a widely held interpretation that this ‘Rock’ that Jesus spoke of was not in fact Peter (a pebble), the unredeemed man, but rather it was the ‘revelation’ that Peter had received from the Father in heaven, i.e that He (Jesus) is the ‘Christ’ the SON (The Rock of God). Consider for a moment how important this was; Peter received a revelation from the Father! This experience had only previously been reserved for great prophets and seers like Samuel and Isaiah! Here was a mere fisherman whose heart and mind had been opened to recognise a deep truth about this Jesus standing before him - He IS the Christ (Messiah).

This ‘revelation of Christ’, as begotten Son and Lord, is THE solid foundation of God’s new household - Jesus’ church (assembly/leadership) is built on this ‘rock of revelation’ with Jesus the chief cornerstone. This was grace given from God the Father.

Heaven’s truth was revealed to Peter in that moment and he saw the unseen and spoke it. He was beginning to tune into the heavenly Father’s mind and this is what Jesus was, and is, looking for from all his disciples. All that Jesus did and said was built upon this ‘Rock’ - i.e. himself and his lifestyle of obedience! It is this revelation from heaven that defeats deception and paganism which is the religion of Satan (Pan/Baal) This is confirmed to us again by Paul who reveals that Christ was even with the Hebrews as they followed Moses: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased,

for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” (1 Corin 10; see also John 6:53)

Clearly Jesus was not ‘physically’ with the Israelites, but He was with them spiritually, unseen except by Moses. This is the fundamental nature of the Rock of revelation: hearing, confessing and obeying the Word. Many people hear the Word, but then fail to obey it (like many in the wilderness) and so remain on ‘earth’ and this causes things to collapse when trouble arises (Luke 6:49). Jesus’ ‘household’ are those who believe in him as the eternal Christ, (God the Son who came in human flesh) and then DO what he says, obedience to grace.

Without the doing you are NOT on the Rock. Jesus demonstrated this himself with the Father to show us what to do: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) A physical body was prepared for the Word of God (who pre-existed time), in complete fulfilment of all prophecy given throughout the history of the Hebrew nation, in order to deliver the very words of the Father to them (and us) in person - FACE-TO-FACE, pure revelation - Spirit and Life from heaven incarnate and visible.

persuaded, that he who has not the Spirit of Christ is none of his; and that, unless the Spirit, which raised Jesus from the dead, dwell in you here, neither will your mortal bodies be quickened by the same Spirit to dwell with him hereafter.

Let me therefore (as was proposed in the last place) earnestly exhort you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to act suitable to those convictions, and to live as Christians, that are commanded in holy writings, to “put off their former conversation concerning the Old Man, and to put on the New Man, which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness.”

It must be owned indeed, that this is a great and difficult work; but, blessed be God, it is not impossible. Many thousands of happy souls have been assisted by a divine power to bring it about, and why should we despair of success? Is God’s hand shortened, that it cannot save? Was he the God of our Fathers, is he not the God of their children also? Yes, doubtless, of their children also. It is a task likewise, that will put us to some pain; it will oblige us to part with some lust, to break with some friend, to mortify some beloved passion, which may be exceeding dear to us, and perhaps as hard to leave, as to cut off a right-hand, or pluck out a righteye. But what of all this? Will not the being made a real living member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, abundantly make amends for all this trouble? Undoubtedly it will.

The setting about and carrying on the great and necessary work, perhaps may, nay assuredly will expose us also to the ridicule of the unthinking part of mankind, who will wonder, that we run not into the same excess of riot with themselves; and because we deny our sinful appetites, and are not conformed to this world, being commanded in scripture to do the one, and to have our

ENDURING TO THE END

Living by faith So now we show our love and faith in Jesus when we DO what He says, and this is only possible if his Spirit is in us. Hearing and obeying is the ONLY Christian walk, because this is what Jesus did. This is the real ‘good news’ and means complete liberty from Satan, sin and iniquity (worship of paganism and idols).

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house (your life) on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matt 7:24-25)

conversation in heaven, in opposition to the other, they may count our lives folly, and our end to be without honour. But will not the being numbered among the saints, and shining as the stars forever and ever, be a more than sufficient recompense for all the ridicule, calumny, or reproach, we can possibly meet with here?

Indeed, was there no other reward attended a thorough conversion, but that peace of God, which is the unavoidable consequence of it, and which, even in this life, “passes all understanding,” we should have great reason to rejoice. But when we consider, that this is the least of those mercies God has prepared for those that are in Christ, and become new creatures; that, this is but the beginning of an eternal succession of pleasures; that the day of our deaths, which the unconverted, unrenewed sinner must so much dread, will be, as it were, but the first day of our new births, and open to us an everlasting scene of happiness and comfort; in short, if we remember, that they who are regenerate and born again, have a real title to all the glorious promises of the gospel, and are infallibly certain of being as happy, both here and hereafter, as an all-wise, all-gracious, all-powerful God can make them; I think every one that has but the least concern for the salvation of his precious and immortal soul, having such promises, such an hope, such an eternity of happiness set before him, should never cease watching, praying, and striving, till he find a real, inward, saving change wrought in his heart, and thereby doth know of a truth, that he dwells in Christ, and Christ in him; that he is a new creature, therefore a child of God; that he is already an inheritor, and will forever be an actual possessor of the kingdom of heaven.

Which God of his infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen n (Some words modernised by the editor)

DELIVERED FEBRUARY 14, 1864,

By Charles H. Spurgeon, at the metropolitan tabernacle, newington. #554

“He who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22.

T

HIS particular text was originally addressed to the apostles when they were sent to teach and preach in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Perhaps, bright visions floated before their minds of honor and esteem among men. It was no mean dignity to be among the 12 first heralds of salvation to the sons of Adam! Was a check needed to their high hopes? Perhaps so. Lest they should enter upon their work without having counted its cost, Christ gives them a very full description of the treatment which they might expect to receive, and

reminds them that it was not the commencement of their ministry which would win them their reward, but, “He who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.” It would be well if every youthful aspirant to the gospel ministry would remember this. If merely to put our hand to the plow proved us to be called of God, how many would be found so? But alas, too many look back and prove unworthy of the kingdom. The charge of Paul to Timothy is a very necessary exhortation to every young minister—“Be continued on page 14

REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 7

A Message For Our Times PART 1 - By Stephen Turnham

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:7-9)

J

esus Christ, the eternal Word, was sent to earth from heaven to reveal the truth of the Father, that is His thoughts, His glory and His Spirit, face-to-face. This Apostle Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible God and, crucially for us, the head of the church which is His dwelling place.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For

by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Col 1:15-18) Not many of us really stop and think that Jesus was the Creator of ALL things. This is why he came and created the church of the ‘new creation’ to come, rescuing those who love God. Unfortunately most people have rejected this glorious testimony and the witness of the 12 apostles. However as disciples of Jesus we should not be surprised by this rejection, because Jesus himself said this would be the case in the future, near and far: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

(Matt 7:13-15) PAGE 8 REVIVAL TIMES

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14) Jesus gave many warnings about the consequences of sin, iniquity and false prophets who would try to lead many astray and manipulate others for their own financial gain. Jesus was a true prophet because what he said about Israel and the church has come true.

The apostle Paul said that one of the biggest signs of the end of the ages would be a return to justification by law and rules of men - self righteousness. Paul called this ‘falling from grace’ or ‘iniquity’ (Gal 5:4). This is also something Jesus prophesied would come before His return (Matt 24:12).

The great falling away The glorious Gospel of the Kingdom of heaven, that Jesus gave us in person, has been perverted, distorted and corrupted throughout the last 2000 years. Even a brief look at traditional church history reveals

how many power crazy men (and women) brought corruption and deceived millions by the laws and rules. All these years on and deception and hypocrisy are still rampant, causing untold grief and death in the world and a stumbling stone to those seeking truth - many wolves in sheeps clothing abound! As a consequence these Satanic inspired ‘false prophets’ and self appointed teachers have created a massive global deception called ‘Christianity’. We now have over 43,000 factions (or denominations) claiming to be a ‘church’ that’s in some way related to Christ and yet very few (if any) truly demonstrate the fullness of Christ and the powerful gospel that He and His apostles preached. This is what Jesus said about those seeking the true Kingdom, ‘and few there be that find it’ (Matt 7:14). These words should greatly concern us in these days because most people think they are good enough for heaven because they attend a church, but is this enough? Most, if not all these factions have rules of men mixed into the original gospel truth, like a bad yeast in good bread, causing ‘perversion’ thus making it unclean (Matt 16:12).

This ‘falling away from grace’ towards religious legalism has meant the humanistic, secular minded world has mostly written off the relevance off the good news message and thus they ignore Jesus, supported by the continual hypocrisy they see in these institutions. As a consequence things are not right in modern day ‘Christianity’ and

and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”

(Matt 13:14-16)

Are your eyes and ears open to receive these truths? It’s a sad fact that the people most annoyed with Jesus and the apostles were the traditionalist (religious) people. They thought that what they had was the best and good enough to please God (Luke 5:39). How mistaken they were then and even are today. We must take the road of humility and admit that we do not know everything. We must realise that many have gone before us and failed to see what you are about to see! (if you read on).

Radical obedience to Jesus This revelation message is much more than a mere intellectual recognition of the truth in the Bible, but rather it’s a dynamic and radical call to obedient faith to the Spirit in action. This means, that as the people of God’s Kingdom, we will come together and relate together in the simplicity of Christ alone, without religion. This will be in ways that provide practical help and guidance for all areas of godly living on earth as we await Jesus’ bodily return in glory from heaven. There are many Scripture references offered as evidence of God’s plan and good will for all of us who believe in him. Please take time to check them (Acts 20:27).

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21) As you read on you may find that many things you have

learnt or believed about the Bible Scriptures and about ‘church’ in the past will be deeply challenged. This can be both stressful and upsetting, because you may discover how much you have been deceived in the past and distracted in major portions of your Christian life.

I found this truth painful at the time. This is especially so for older traditional Christians, but the power of Jesus Christ can transform this sense of lost time into a new joy and effectiveness for His purposes. Revelation of the truth is vital, so that we can then obey correctly and do His will and not our own or someone elses! The important thing is that whatever is binding you, and hindering you, is removed now, so that when you stand before Jesus at the judgement you have a clear conscience and confidence of your reward!

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

(1 J ohn 2:28) PART 1 - JESUS THE SON OVER GOD’S HOUSEHOLD?

The Apostle and High Priest “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man (Jesus) was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:1-6) Firstly, I want to consider the apostle and high priest of our profession and why He was very different to any Hebrew prophet or priest who came before Him.

It’s because of him that we believe in God the Father of all things and seek to be his sons and daughters. In the opening verses of Hebrews the author made it clear that Jesus’ first coming to Israel with the gospel of salvation (from sin and thus judgement) was the fulfilment of his plans for that chosen nation: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had

by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Heb 1:1-4) Jesus was sent by God the Father as the first Apostle from heaven to the world with the message of redemption and the new creation to come. In order to fully understand the body of people that Jesus is building it’s sensible that we go back and look very closely at the makers pattern. The letter to the Hebrews answers some very important questions for us regarding God’s purpose and plans and reveals much about this body and His faith that we must walk in.

The writer wanted to clear up Jewish questions concerning the work of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ (particularly regarding priesthood). Back then many converted Jews were beginning to experience persecution and were being tempted to give up the faith and go back to being Jewish (by denying Christ), and so avoid the pain of persecution. They were even trying to persuade Gentile Christians to become Jews by being circumcised.

The writer goes on to describe, as early on as chapter three, some key revelations regarding the existence of two ‘houses’ or REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 17

someone who does not agree with 1-4 above you SHARE in his evil deeds and may suffer the same judgement!

As you can see, this is a very serious subject that can affect your eternal destiny and also ruin your life here today if you are deceived! Jesus said the key is ‘be not deceived’ (Luke 21:8). But how can we truly know?

The Gospel of the Kingdom Firstly, I hope the reason you are reading this message is that you are indeed inspired by the Spirit to ‘find out what pleases the Lord’ (Eph 5:9), and you have a desire to be part of a sincere living body of disciples where you live. This is a message about the Kingdom of God, not about what ‘church’ to attend (more explanation will follow on this as you read on).

Secondly, you are probably dissatisfied with the current state of ‘traditional’ or ‘institutional’ expressions of what is commonly called ‘church’ which operates more in a business style, with programmes, leaders, fundraising, routine services and social traditions. However you believe that there must be more to ‘church’ than you’ve currently experienced and humbly seek the Way of Jesus and his teaching to reach the ‘high calling’ (Phil 3:14) of which Paul speaks.

If this sounds like you then this ‘Message for Our Times’ will definitely be relevant to you and should both encourage and help direct you in the will of God regarding christian life and ministry. Our experience of ‘church life’ and what the Bible actually says that church should be are often in conflict.

Because of this you are seeking more truth and you will find it if you seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness. This must be the priority and then everything else falls into place (Matt 6:33).

False Apostles It is false leadership styles that have caused many to be led PAGE 16 REVIVAL TIMES

astray. Both Jesus and Paul point out that it is hypocrites who lead others astray. I aim to show how Jesus demonstrates true leadership and how this significantly redirects God’s disciples to serve one another in faith. I share these truths in love and to the glory of Christ (1 Corin 4:6; E ph 4:15 ).

I pray that this message will help you make a positive choice for your future growth and lead to a greater maturity in Christ, building you up in your knowledge of God and His good and perfect will.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)

In my view many Christians have been unknowingly led astray by historic (and modern) ‘leadership’ errors that are hindering spiritual growth and a full understanding of the inheritance paid for by Jesus’ in his life, death and resurrection.

We already see many ‘factions’ created by misguided, compromising totally deceived men and women. You may well be in one of these denominations today. This is to be expected with so many in our corrupt global society. I was once in one too and oblivious to how it was hindering me and even robbing me! There’s no condemnation for us who believe Jesus for salvation and there may be a measure of blessing, but we want the best that Jesus paid for - don’t we? As painful as it is to face the facts of wasted time in these man made organisations, I believe it’s essential that these errors are pointed out (using apostolic Scripture) to bring repentance and change for the good of all believers and for the glory of God. In this way Jesus is glorified and his divine nature experienced, in reality, among us who gather in his name. This is often termed ‘revival’ but Paul

calls it ‘renewal’. (See Gal 1:6; 2 Corin 7:10; Rom 12:2; Titus 3:5 ).

In my view the book of the Acts of the apostles did not stop when the book ended or when the apostles died, but the story has actually continued from generation to generation with heavenly signs following those who believe. Signs such as healing the sick, casting out demons, preaching to the poor, raising the dead and sharing all things equally within strong family units. I believe in the transformation of the sinner into a saint (a son) by the purifying, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, to see good fruit and an expression of all the gifts for edification; such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge etc. (1 Corin 12:7).

I also believe that ministry functions are given to equip believers, in order that they might do the supernatural works of service. (See Acts 28:28: Mark 16:17-18; Gal 4:7; 5:22; 1 Corin 12:4; 28; 14:1). All these things

are a demonstration of Jesus and the Kingdom of God and of His Spirit in us, as it was in the beginning of Christ and always will be until He returns.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Heb 13:8) Through this sound teaching I aim to address many key issues giving a clear Scriptural basis for my understanding. Please test and double check the Scriptures that are presented here and like the Berean’s (Acts 17) I trust that you will come to a similar conclusion.

Division is inevitable Jesus and the apostles challenged religious traditional thinking, especially those things which had been culturally accepted for many hundreds of years.

We do not want to be like those who could not see, so that they perished in their ignorance: “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;

so the unrestrained world feels increasingly free to expand its corruption, lies and iniquity. We even see open obedience to Satan and his minions in public and on the media!

Peter himself said that this would eventually happen to the Gospel over time: “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

(2 Peter 2:2)

Ironically the biggest fail of all is the Roman Catholic religion which tries to claim Peter as their founder!

A light in the darkness This ‘Message for Our Times’ has been written to communicate these concerns and to inspire prayer and dialogue between true disciples of Christ on how to move forward to greater repentance and obedience to Christ. In short a fresh REFORMATION of our understanding of both ‘church’ and ‘ministry’. The desired result is that we become a purer reflection of His ‘body’ here on earth. That we come to understand the true calling and purpose of the spiritual temple that Jesus is building by the Holy Spirit and not by law.

This message is not in any way ‘anti-church’, but in fact very ‘pro-church’, but importantly ‘church’ as defined by Jesus and the apostles and as recorded in the book of Acts and in the apostolic epistles. No-one is perfect without Christ before a holy righteous God, however our Lord commands us to ‘be holy as he is holy’, separate from the world system (through Christ’s power) and righteous towards our neighbours (1 Pet 1:15-16; Eph 1:4; 5:27 ). This clearly implies that it is 100% possible to be separate and holy and to come to a mature knowledge of God by the Spirit, in order to fully understand His will. Christ commands us to ‘sin no more’ and to ‘love one another’. The apostles teach us to

‘walk in the Spirit’ and to ‘turn away from the flesh’. This is the goal, the prize for those who believe in Jesus as Christ as their Lord, Saviour and Master (John 5:14; Gal 5:16).

The Power of the Gospel This message outlines a Scriptural understanding of how Jesus Christ established His ‘church’ (ekklésia - Greek) and how all the apostles imitated and multiplied God’s children through 100% obedience to the will of the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit. They did this to fully represent Christ’s redemption to a lost world trapped in sin and suffering under Satan’s dominion. They believed in the experiential power of the Gospel that came from heaven: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

(2 Pet 1:19-21)

Have you been moved by the Holy Spirit! Please continue to read this message with an openness to Jesus by the Spirit, realising that it’s in no way intended to condemn, but seeks to properly reveal what Jesus and the apostles meant by the Greek term ‘ekklésia’, that’s translated ‘church’ or ‘assembly’. This is in order to rediscover the best way to edify one another in Christ’s love and properly demonstrate the good news to the world. The ultimate aim is to bring glory to God, by bringing forth the good news of the gospel to the lost, so that they can choose life and receive salvation.

We must all face judgement one day, to be rewarded or condemned for our words and actions - I would prefer to be rewarded for obedience and for serving Jesus to my utmost - how

about you? The message of the Kingdom is very challenging and may well challenge teachings you’ve believed about ‘church’ in the past. Your current ‘church’ experience and understanding of it will receive correction, so please be prepared for these surprises. Everything presented here is the Word of God the Father, delivered by Jesus Christ, who must be our only foundation: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 7-11) John the apostle knew Jesus from a young age and saw the risen Lord on earth, and later by the Spirit in heaven as the Almighty God. This man knows what he is talking about and tells us some crucial facts in his second epistle (above), that, if you can see them, will change you forever!

Analysis of 2 John: 1. There are MANY deceivers who deny Jesus deity and authority.

2. There is a REWARD for those who hold to the pure teaching of Jesus both now and forever.

3. Whoever SINS (transgresses) does not have God (all and any sin!). We must not let sin reign in our mortal flesh.

4. Whoever does not ABIDE (remain) in the pure teaching (doctrine) of Jesus does not have God. If you ‘add to’ or ‘take away’ from what Jesus said, you have perverted the true Gospel.

5. If you receive or even greet continued on page 16

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The Great Revivalists - Duncan Campbell Revival in the Hebrides (1949) Part II

By Duncan Campbell (1968 Transcript) ow perhaps I should go into some of the features that characterized this remarkable movement.

Well, already I have mentioned to you that men were found in trances. Perhaps I should say this that in the Lewis revival we never saw anybody healed, that wasn’t a feature of it.

We never heard anybody speaking in tongues—in a strange language. Personally, I never heard anybody speak in tongues until a year or two ago. And that was in England. We knew nothing whatsoever about such manifestations. Don’t misunderstand me—I believe in every gift mentioned in the word of God but it wasn’t God’s plan or purpose that we should be visited in that way and we weren’t.

But we saw strange manifestations. I think just now of a certain island. Up until then God hadn’t moved on this island—one of the smaller islands, perhaps an island of 600 souls. And I was asked to go to this island to officiate at a communion.

Now, a communion in Lewis is just like one of your conventions. They begin with a prayer meeting on Wednesday night and then on Thursday, the first day when schools are closed, shops are closed, no work is done, it’s just like another Sabbath. That’s Thursday. Friday, then, is testimony day when men give their testimonies. They ask the women to be silent. You’ll never hear a woman give her testimony at such meetings. But the men speak; however, I am glad to say that many of the dear women got glorious liberty during the revival and they are meeting for prayers and praying with the men today. That is a transformation that has taken place subsequent to the revival.

But I am on this island, and I felt the going fearfully hard. Oh, it was difficult to preach—you felt your very words coming back and hitting you. And I was a bit distressed. I turned to one of the other ministers and I said, “Now don’t you think that we should send for the praying men of Barvas?” Let me say in passing that the praying men of Barvas were praying for us just now, there were at least five of them in this part of God’s vineyard who promised to do that and I believe they were keeping to their promise. However, I sent for them and in the conversation that I had with this businessman, one of the praying men, I said, “If it is at all possible will you bring little Donald MacPhail.” Now I will tell

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you later how Donald came to know the Lord. “But bring him.”

Now Donald had a remarkable experience on the hillside a fortnight after he was born again. And God came upon him—the Holy Ghost came upon him. He had a mighty baptism. I hope you believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a distinct experience. You may disagree, but I believe in it. I don’t think that I am preaching one set of doctrine that insists upon gifts. I am not thinking of that at all because I believe that the baptism of the Holy Ghost in its final analysis is just the revelation of Jesus. It is Jesus becoming real—wonderful, powerful, and dynamic in my life. And He expressing Himself through my personality. That is the baptism of the Holy Ghost that I believe in. Not that I disbelieve in anything. Of course I don’t. Some of my dearest friends are among those who exercise the gifts.

But that, by the way, this young fellow had such a baptism of God among the heather, that he forgot about coming home and a search party had to be sent out to find him in the hills. And they found him on his face among the heather repeating over and over, “Oh, Jesus, I love You. Oh, Jesus I love You.” And wasn’t he near to Jesus if he spoke like that?

He was, of course.

Well, I asked the men to bring little Donald with them. And now we are in the service in the church.

And I am preaching from the text, “Who is this that cometh from Edom . . . this that is glorious in his apparel travelling in the greatness of his strength.

I that speak in righteousness am mighty to save” that was the text. But oh, I tell you, the going was hard. The going was hard. I looked down and I saw little Donald sitting there in the seat. And I saw that his head was bowed and I saw that the floor was wet with his tears. And I said to myself, “Well, now, there is a young lad nearer to God that you or I. Oh, there is a young lad who is in touch with God.” And I stopped preaching. And looking down at this young lad, I said, “Donald, I believe God would have you lead us in prayer.” It was right in the midst of my address. And that young lad stood to his feet.

Now that morning at family worship they were reading Rev. 4 where John has the vision of the open door. “I saw a door opened in heaven.” And as that young man stood, that vision came before him. And this is what he said in his prayers. “God, I seem to be gazing in through the open door. And I seem to see the Lamb standing in the midst of the Throne. He has the keys of death and of hell at his girdle(?).” Then he stopped and began to weep.

And for a minute or so he wept and he wept. Oh, the brokenness. And when he was able to control himself, he lifted his eyes towards the heavens

the birds of the air which made their nests among its boughs, and where fly those beasts of the field which found a happy shadow beneath its branches? Dismay has seized them, and they flee in fright! All who were comforted by the preacher’s words, strengthened by his example, and edified by his teaching are filled with humiliation and grief, crying, “Alas, my brother!”

By these, our manifold dangers and weighty responsibilities, we may very justly appeal to you who feed under our ministry, and beseech you, “Brethren, pray for us!” Well we know that though our ministry is received of the Lord Jesus, if up to now we have been kept faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit, yet it is only he who endures to the end who shall be saved.

But, my brothers, how glorious is the sight of the man who does endure to the end as a minister of Christ! I have photographed upon my heart just now the portrait of one very, very, dear to me, and I think I may venture to produce a rough sketch of him, as no mean example of how honourable it is to endure to the end. This man began while yet a youth to preach the Word.

Sprung of ancestors who had loved the Lord, and served His Church, he felt the glow of holy enthusiasm. Having proved his capabilities, he entered college, and after the close of its course, settled in a spot where for more than 50 years he continued his labors. In his early days, his sober earnestness and sound doctrine were acknowledged of God in many conversions both at home and abroad. Assailed by slander and abuse, it was his privilege to live it all down—he outlived his enemies, and though he had buried a generation of his friends, yet he found many warm hearts clustering round him to the last.

Visiting his flock, preaching in his own pulpit, and making very many journeys to other churches, years followed one

another so rapidly that he found himself the head of a large tribe of children and grandchildren, most of them walking in the truth of God! At the age of 80 years, he preached on still, until laden with infirmities, but yet as joyful and as cheerful as in the heyday of his youth, his time had come to die. He was able to say truthfully, when last he spoke to me, “I do not know that my testimony for God has ever altered as to the fundamental doctrines.

I have grown in experience, but from the first day until now, I have had no new doctrines to teach my hearers. I have had to make no confessions of error on vital points, but have been held fast to the doctrines of grace, and can now say that I love them better than ever.” Such a one was he, as Paul the Aged, longing to preach as long as his tottering knees could bear him to the pulpit.

I am thankful that I had such a grandfather! He fell asleep in Christ but a few hours ago, and on his dying bed talked as cheerfully as men can do in the full vigor of their health!

Most sweetly he talked of the preciousness of Christ, and chiefly of the security of the believer; the truthfulness of the promise; the immutability of the covenant; the faithfulness of God, and the infallibility of the divine decree. Among other things which he said at the last was this, which is, we think, worth your treasuring in your memories.

Dr Watts sings—‘Firm as the earth Your gospel stands, My Lord, my hope, my trust.’

What, Doctor, is it not firmer than that? Could you not find a better comparison? Why, the earth will give way beneath our feet one day or another, if we rest on it.

The comparison will not do. The Doctor was much nearer the mark, when he said— ‘Firm as His throne His promise stands, And He can well secure What I’ve committed to His hands.

‘Till the decisive hour.’”

“Firm as His throne,” he said, “He must cease to be King before He can break His promise, or lose His people! Divine sovereignty makes us all secure.” He fell asleep right quietly, for his day was over, and the night was come—what could he do better than go to rest in Jesus? Would God it may be our lot to preach the Word as long as we breathe, standing fast unto the end in the truth of God! And if we see not our sons and grandsons testifying to those doctrines which are so dear to us, yet may we see our children walking in the truth. I know of nothing, dear friends, which I would choose to have as the subject of my ambition for life than to be kept faithful to my God to death—still to be a soul-winner—still to be a true herald of the cross, and testify the name of Jesus to the last hour! It is only such who in the ministry shall be saved.

Our text, however, occurs again in the 24th chapter of Matthew, at the 135th verse, upon which occasion it was not addressed to the apostles, but to the disciples.

The disciples, looking upon the huge stones which were used in the construction of the Temple, admired the edifice greatly, and expected their Lord to utter a few words of passing praise. Instead of which, He, who came not to be an admirer of architecture, but to hew living stones out of the quarry of nature, to build them up into a spiritual Temple, turned their remarks to practical account by warning them of a time of affliction, in which there would be such trouble as had never been before, and He added, “No, nor ever shall be.” He described false prophets as abounding, and the love of many as waxing cold and warned them that, “He who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.” So that this solemn truth of God applies to all of you! n Read the full version of this sermon at: www.spurgeongems.org REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 15

said that supposing Lewis produced nothing but one young girl, a wild, wild girl, just 17 years of age.

And outstanding singer, frequently singing at big concerts in Glasgow—she is outstanding. God saved her. She went to a Bible school and today I have no hesitation in saying that she is among the leading Bible expositors in __________- and that is saying a lot. She is just now in South Africa addressing conferences and conventions. Has been instrumental in bringing blessing to scores of ministers and she was the fruit of the movement. I will never forget the night that she prayed. I remember she was steeped in the doctrine of Calvinism. She was brought up in a God-fearing home; her father and mother weren’t Christians but they were saved at that time. And she was now on her knees in her room, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and she begins to pray and she says, “God I’m turning from the ways of the world—you’ll never see me on a concert platform again. I will follow your people, I will be with them in the prayer meetings. I will never go back to the ways of the world. God that is what I am purposing doing though at the end you send me to hell. That is what I deserve. God six months after that saved her. Oh, I remember the night that the Holy Ghost fell upon her at a communion service. She lifted her two hands like this and she cried, “Oh, Bridegroom, Bridegroom of my heart possess it all. Oh, Bridegroom, Bridegroom of my

you faithful unto death.” It is not to be faithful for a time, but to be “faithful unto death,” which will enable a man to say, “I have fought a good fight.” How many dangers surround the Christian minister! As the officers in an army are the chosen targets of the sharpshooters, so are the ministers of Christ! The king of Syria said to his servants, “Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the King of Israel,” even so the arch-fiend makes his main attack upon the ministers of God. From the first moment of his call to the work, the preacher of the Word will be familiar with temptation.

While he is yet in his youth, there are multitudes of the softer temptations to turn the head and trip the feet of the youthful herald of the cross; and when the blandishments of early popularity have passed away, as soon they must, the harsh croak of slander, and the adder’s PAGE 14 REVIVAL TIMES

heart possess it all!” And the Holy Ghost came upon her in such a way that she began to cry, “Oh, God, hold You hand! My young body cannot contain it!

God! Hold Your hand! My young body can’t contain it!” That was God. That’s the fruit. And what we are seeing today_____________ a movement again among teenagers. And we asked a minister recently _________________ now can you explain it? Can you explain this movement in any way?” He said, “Yes, I can—I can. I believe this has broken out because of the steadfastness of the young people who found the Saviour during the big revival years ago.” The steadfastness of the young people. I can say without fear of contradiction that I can count on my 10 fingers all who dropped off from the prayer meetings—of course they are scattered all over the world, they are in the mission fields and different places today, but according to the ministers in _____________and other places, they are standing true to the God of the covenant, true to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now my dear people that’s the story. And I tell it because I fear that another man has been going about the states, telling stories about the revival and writing books about it and I regret to say that statements have been made by him and written in his books that are not true to fact. But that is the story of the revival that can bear the light of examination. God did it. And we bless Him for it. n

tongue of ingratitude assail him, and he finds himself stale and flat where once he was flattered and admired; no, the venom of malice succeeds to the honeyed morsels of adulation! Now let him gird his loins and fight the good fight of faith.

In his later days, to provide fresh matter Sunday after Sunday, to rule as in the sight of God, to watch over the souls of men—to weep with them who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice, his duties include to be a nursing father unto young converts, sternly to rebuke hypocrites, to deal faithfully with backsliders, to speak with solemn authority and paternal pathos to those who are in the first stages of spiritual decline. To carry about with him the care of the souls of hundreds, is enough to make him grow old while yet he is young, and to mar his visage with the lines of grief, till, like the Saviour, at the age of 30 years, men shall count

him nearly fifty. “You are not yet 50 years old, and have You seen Abraham?” said the adversaries of Christ to Him when He was but thirty-two. If the minister should fall, my brethren, if, set upon a pinnacle, he should be cast down; if, standing in slippery places, he should falter; if the standard-bearer falls, as fall full well he may, what mischief is done to the church, what shouts are heard among the adversaries, what dancing is seen among the daughters of Philistia! How has God’s banner been stained in the dust, and the name of Jesus cast into the mire! When the minister of Christ turns traitor, it is as if the pillars of the house did tremble—every stone in the structure feels the shock. If Satan can succeed in overturning the preachers of the Word, it is as if yon broad-spreading tree should suddenly fall beneath the axe—prone in the dust it lies to wither and to rot; but where are

and he cried out, “God, there is power there—let it loose! Let it loose!” And suddenly, the power of God fell upon the congregation. Of course in Lewis and in other islands of the Hebrides, they stand to pray, they sit to sing. And now, one side of the church threw their hands up like this. Threw their heads back and you would almost declare that they were in an epileptic fit, but they were not. Oh, I can’t explain it. And the other side they slumped on top 10 of each other. But God, the Holy Ghost moved.

Those who had their hands like this stayed that way for two hours. Now you try to remain like that with your hands up for a few minutes and you will find it hard—but you would break their hands before you could take them down. Now, I can’t explain it— this is what happened.

But the most remarkable thing that night was what took place in a village seven miles away from the church. There wasn’t a single person from that village in the church. Not one single person. Seven miles away, it was a while away certainly but while Donald MacPhail was praying, the power of God swept through a village. Swept through the village and I know it to be a fact that there wasn’t a single house in the village that hadn’t a soul saved in it.

Not a single house in the village.

A schoolmaster that night looking over his papers 15 miles away from this island on the mainland suddenly was gripped by the fear of God. And he said to his wife, “Wife, I don’t know what’s drawing me to Barvas, but I must go.” His wife said, “But it’s nearly 10 o’clock and you’re thinking of going to Barvas. I know what’s on your mind, I know that you are going out to drink and you are not leaving this house tonight!” That was what she said to him—he was a hard drinker. And he said to his wife, “I may be mistaken, oh, I maybe mistaken, but if I know anything at all about my own heart and mind, I think I say to you now that drink will never touch my lips again.” And she said to him, “Well, John, if that’s your mind, then go to Barvas.” And he got someone to take him to the ferry, someone to ferry him across, and I was conducting a meeting in a farmhouse at midnight and this schoolmaster came to the door and they made room for him and in a matter of minutes he was praising God for salvation. Now that’s miracle. I mean you cannot explain it in any other way. A father, a mother and two daughters and a son were saved that night in this village but one of the daughters who was in the medical profession was in London. She was in London. A very clever girl. She is walking down Oxford Street after leaving a patient and she is suddenly arrested by the power of God. She went into a closet(?) and cried to God for mercy and God saved her there, the whole family saved! My dear people, these are facts. And I tell you of them to honour God. That girl is today the wife of a Baptist minister in Tasmania. He was for a fortnight in the

Hebrides at that time and the day came when he asked her hand in marriage and they married and both of them in Tasmania today.

These are some of the remarkable movings of God. That very night, a captain in the clan line was saved sailing down M_______ at that very hour. The Spirit of God laid hold of him in his cabin. The Spirit of God moved upon lobster fishermen in the sound— they had to leave their boats and their creels and make for the island. By the morning they were saved. Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we saw God move in that way in this community? God could do it.

I think one of the most outstanding things that happened I believe will go down in history as long as revival is mentioned was in the parish of Arnol. Now, I regret to say that here I was bitterly opposed by a certain section of the Christian church. Opposed by ministers who were born-again without question. They were God-fearing men, but for some reason or other they came to believe that I wasn’t sound in my doctrine because I preached the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I proclaimed a Saviour who could deliver from sin. Glorious emancipation!

And they got it into their minds that I was teaching absolute perfection or sinless perfection—a thing that I never did, nor could I ever believe in. Of course, I believe in conditional perfection: “If we walk in the light as he is in the light we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s son cleanses us from all sin.” That is scriptural perfection! That is based on obedience— on obedience. But the dear men somehow believed—of course not one of them ever listened to me— they listened to stories brought to them. And of course if was arranged that there was a special effort to be made to oppose me. To oppose me. And several ministers were brought from the mainland to this particular parish to conduct mission meetings opposing Campbell and his revival.

Well, they came, and they were so successful in their opposition that very few people from this particular community came near any of my meetings. It is true that the church was crowded, it is true that people were standing outside that couldn’t get in, but these were people who came from neighbouring parishes.

Brought by coaches, brought by cars and what have you— but there were very few from this particular village. So one night one of the elders came to me and said, “Mr. Campbell, there is only one thing that we can do. We must give ourselves to prayer— give ourselves to prayer. Prayer changes things.”

“Well you know I am very willing for that,” I said.

“Where will we meet?” “Oh,” he said, “There is a farmer and he is very willing to place his farmhouse at our disposal.” It was winter and the church was cold. There was no heating in it. The people believe in a crowded church to provide its own heat. But here we wanted a warmer spot, and the farmer was REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 11

approached. Now the farmer wasn’t a Christian nor his wife but they were God-fearing. Now let me explain that you can be God-fearing and know nothing of salvation. There are thousands of people in upper Scotland who are God-fearing. They have family worship morning and evening—they would never dream of going out to work in the morning without reading a chapter of the Bible and getting down on their knees to ask God to have mercy upon them and the family. The man may have been under the influence the night before—he may not darken the door of the church, but he would not dream of going out to work without reading the Bible. That is 12 why I believe that the average unsaved person in the Hebrides has a far greater knowledge of the Word of God than the average Christian anywhere else. I think I can say that. It is because of this custom: family worship.

This man had that. He wasn’t a Christian, but a God-fearing man, so we gathered at his house. I would say there were about 30 of us including five ministers of the church of Scotland. Men who had burdens—longings to see God move in revival.

And we were praying and oh, the going was hard.

At least I felt it hard. It came to between 12 or 1 o’clock in the morning when I turned again to this blacksmith whom I have already referred to. Oh, he was a prince in the parish. And I said to him, “John, I feel that God would have me to call upon you to pray.” Up until then he was silent. And that dear man began—he must have prayed for about a half an hour. When he paused for a second or so and then looking up towards the heavens he cried, “God, do You know that Your honour is at stake?

Do You know that Your honour is at stake? You promised to pour water on the thirsty and floods on the dry ground and, God, You are not doing it.”

Now my dear people, could we pray like that? Ah, but here was a man who could. Here was a man who could. He then he went on to say, “There are five ministers in this meeting and I don’t know where a one of them stands in Your presence, not even Mr. Campbell.” Oh, he was an honest man.

“But if I know anything at all about my own poor heart, I think I can say and I think that You know that I’m thirsty! I’m thirsty to see the devil defeated in this parish. I’m thirsty to see this community gripped as you gripped Barvas. I’m longing for revival and God, You are not doing it! I am thirsty and you promised to pour water on me.” Then a pause and then he cried, “God, I now take upon myself to challenge you to fulfil Your covenant engagement!” Now it was nearing two o’clock in the morning.

What happened? The house shook. A jug on a sideboard fell onto the floor and broke. A minister beside me said, “An earth tremor.” And I said, “Yes.” But I had my own thoughts. My mind went back to Acts chapter 4 when they prayed the place PAGE 12 REVIVAL TIMES

was shaken. When John Smith stopped praying at twenty minutes past two, I pronounced the benediction and left the house. What did I see?

The whole community alive. Men carrying chairs, women carrying stools and asking, “Is there room for us in the churches?” And the Arnol revival broke out. And oh, what a sweeping revival! I don’t believe there was a single house in the village that wasn’t shaken by God. I went into another farmhouse—I was thirsty, I was tired, I needed something to drink. And I went into ask for a drink of milk and I found nine women in the kitchen crying to God for mercy—nine of them! The power of God swept— and here was a little boy. Oh, he’s kneeling by a pigsty and he is crying to God for mercy. And one of the elders goes over to him and prays over him and little Donald MacPhail came to know the Saviour and I believe more souls were brought to Christ through that one lad’s prayers than through the preaching of all of the ministers from the island, me included. God used him. He was the boy that prayed, “I gazed upon an open door.” Now that night do you know that the drinking house was closed—the drinking house was closed.

Now that’s a way back—1952—and it has never been opened since. I was back some time ago and an old man pointed at this house with its windows boarded up and he said, “Mr. Campbell, do you see that house over there? That was the drinking house of the past. Do you know that last week at our prayer meeting 14 of the men who drank there were praying men.” Now, people—that’s revival.

That is God at work. Miracles, supernatural, beyond human explanation—it’s God. And I am fully persuaded, dear people, that unless we see something like this happening the average man will stagger back from our efforts, our conferences, conventions and crusades—they will stagger back disappointed, disillusioned and despairing. But oh, if something happens that demonstrates God! And the communists will hide in shame! I remember one night I saw seven communists—up until then they will spit in your face, talk about religion being the dope of the masses. Educated men. Wouldn’t go near a church. But dear old Peggy had a vision one night and in the vision she saw seven men from this particular community from this centre of activity born again and becoming pillars of the church of her father. She sent for me and told me that God had revealed to her that He was going to move in this particular village. Oh, yes, there were communists there, godless men there but what was that to God when God began to work He would deal with that. So she kept on talking like that. I said, “Peggy, I have no leadings to go that village. You know that there is no church there, and the schoolmaster is one of those men who would never dream of giving me the schoolhouse

for the meetings. I have no leadings to go.” And do you know what she said to me? She said, “Mr. Campbell, if you were living as near to God as you ought to be, He would reveal His secrets to you, also.” And I took it from the Lord. Oh, dear people, it is good to get the Word within you. It is good to see yourself as others see you. That was how I felt. I said, “Peggy, would you mind if I call for the parish minister and together we will spend the morning together with you in prayer?” “Oh, I’ll be happy too.”

So we came and we knelt with her and she began to pray and in her prayer she said this—“Lord, do You remember what you told me this morning when we had that conversation together?” Oh how near she was God! “I’m just after telling Mr. Campbell about it but he’s not prepared to take it. You give him wisdom because the man badly needs it!”

That was what she said! “The man badly needs it!”

And of course she was speaking truth. Of course I needed it. I needed to be taught. But I was at the feet of a woman who knew God in an intimate way. And I was prepared to listen. So I said, “Peg14 gy, when will I go to that village?” “Tomorrow.”

“What time?” “Seven o’clock.” “Where am I to hold a meeting?” “You go to the village and leave the gathering of the people to God and He will do it.”

And I went to the village and when I arrived I found a crowd around a seven room bungalow. I found five ministers waiting for me. And the house was so crowded that we couldn’t get in—indeed, we couldn’t get near it. And I stood on a hill in front of the main door. I gave out my text: “The times of _____Lord we ______ but now commands men everywhere to repent and because he hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained.”

I preached for about 10 minutes when one of the ministers came to me and said, “Mr. Campbell, you remember what you spoke about at five o’clock this morning out in a field in that wonderful meeting when you tried to help those that were seeking God?” I happened to speak from John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” He says, “Could you not go to the end of the house there and some men there and we are afraid that they will go mental they are in such a state. Oh, they are mighty sinners and they know it—they are spoken of here as communists.” And they say that three of them were here in the United States and went back communists.

I went and I saw seven men. The seven men that Peggy saw. And they were crying to God for mercy.

The seven of them were saved within a matter of days. And if you go to that parish today, you would see a church with a stone wall built around it, heated by electricity and all done by the seven men

who became pillars of the church of Peggy’s father.

Oh, my dear people—that is God at work! The minister saw two young men on their knees in the field crying to God and he recognized them as two pipers that were to have played at a concert and dance under the auspices of a nursing association off the island in his parish. He turned to his wife and said, “Isn’t that wonderful? There’s the two pipers who were advertised to play in the parish hall tonight. There they are crying to God for mercy.

Come on, we’ll go home and we will go to the dance and we will tell them what has happened.” So off he went—oh, this was a man of God. Off he went with his wife—it was about 15 miles. Went to the dance and they were not at all pleased with his appearing.

He was there to disturb them—they knew that he wasn’t there to dance for they knew the man.

However, he went in and when a lull came in the dancing, he stepped onto the floor and he said, “Kinfolk, something very wonderful has happened tonight! The Smith pipers were to be here, the two brothers were to be here—they are crying to God for mercy in Barvas!” Suddenly, stillness. Not a word.

And then he spoke again, “Young folk, will you sing a psalm with me?” “Yes,” said one young man “if you lead the singing yourself.” And he gave out Psalm 50: “For God is depicted as a flame of fire” and while singing that psalm, the power of God fell upon the dance. And I understand that only 3 who were there that night remained unsaved. And the first young man to cry to God for mercy was really a boy—just last year he was inducted into one of the largest parishes in Scotland. He found the Saviour that night with many others. Oh, dear people, this is the doing of God. You ask me, “What is the fruit of this type of movement?” Some little time ago the parish minister was asked to give a report in the record of the church of Scotland. He was asked to give a report on the fruit of the revival. Did they stand?

Any backsliding? Now this is what he wrote: “I will confine my remarks to my own parish—I will allow the other ministers to give their own reports. But let me speak of my own parish. In a certain village 122 young people found the faith and I’m not talking about middle age or the old. They were wonderful, but I’m thinking about the young people. 122 all of them over the age of 17. They found the Saviour during the first day of the revival. Today I can say that they are growing like flowers in the garden of God, there is not a single backslider among them.”

Now, dear people, that’s true, that’s true. But oh if you knew the young people that have gone forth from that to Bible colleges who are today missionaries in this, that and the other part of the world, who came into saving relationships, growing as he said like flowers in the garden of God. Oh how we thank God for the stream of young people who have gone into the ministry— I’ve sometimes REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 13

approached. Now the farmer wasn’t a Christian nor his wife but they were God-fearing. Now let me explain that you can be God-fearing and know nothing of salvation. There are thousands of people in upper Scotland who are God-fearing. They have family worship morning and evening—they would never dream of going out to work in the morning without reading a chapter of the Bible and getting down on their knees to ask God to have mercy upon them and the family. The man may have been under the influence the night before—he may not darken the door of the church, but he would not dream of going out to work without reading the Bible. That is 12 why I believe that the average unsaved person in the Hebrides has a far greater knowledge of the Word of God than the average Christian anywhere else. I think I can say that. It is because of this custom: family worship.

This man had that. He wasn’t a Christian, but a God-fearing man, so we gathered at his house. I would say there were about 30 of us including five ministers of the church of Scotland. Men who had burdens—longings to see God move in revival.

And we were praying and oh, the going was hard.

At least I felt it hard. It came to between 12 or 1 o’clock in the morning when I turned again to this blacksmith whom I have already referred to. Oh, he was a prince in the parish. And I said to him, “John, I feel that God would have me to call upon you to pray.” Up until then he was silent. And that dear man began—he must have prayed for about a half an hour. When he paused for a second or so and then looking up towards the heavens he cried, “God, do You know that Your honour is at stake?

Do You know that Your honour is at stake? You promised to pour water on the thirsty and floods on the dry ground and, God, You are not doing it.”

Now my dear people, could we pray like that? Ah, but here was a man who could. Here was a man who could. He then he went on to say, “There are five ministers in this meeting and I don’t know where a one of them stands in Your presence, not even Mr. Campbell.” Oh, he was an honest man.

“But if I know anything at all about my own poor heart, I think I can say and I think that You know that I’m thirsty! I’m thirsty to see the devil defeated in this parish. I’m thirsty to see this community gripped as you gripped Barvas. I’m longing for revival and God, You are not doing it! I am thirsty and you promised to pour water on me.” Then a pause and then he cried, “God, I now take upon myself to challenge you to fulfil Your covenant engagement!” Now it was nearing two o’clock in the morning.

What happened? The house shook. A jug on a sideboard fell onto the floor and broke. A minister beside me said, “An earth tremor.” And I said, “Yes.” But I had my own thoughts. My mind went back to Acts chapter 4 when they prayed the place PAGE 12 REVIVAL TIMES

was shaken. When John Smith stopped praying at twenty minutes past two, I pronounced the benediction and left the house. What did I see?

The whole community alive. Men carrying chairs, women carrying stools and asking, “Is there room for us in the churches?” And the Arnol revival broke out. And oh, what a sweeping revival! I don’t believe there was a single house in the village that wasn’t shaken by God. I went into another farmhouse—I was thirsty, I was tired, I needed something to drink. And I went into ask for a drink of milk and I found nine women in the kitchen crying to God for mercy—nine of them! The power of God swept— and here was a little boy. Oh, he’s kneeling by a pigsty and he is crying to God for mercy. And one of the elders goes over to him and prays over him and little Donald MacPhail came to know the Saviour and I believe more souls were brought to Christ through that one lad’s prayers than through the preaching of all of the ministers from the island, me included. God used him. He was the boy that prayed, “I gazed upon an open door.” Now that night do you know that the drinking house was closed—the drinking house was closed.

Now that’s a way back—1952—and it has never been opened since. I was back some time ago and an old man pointed at this house with its windows boarded up and he said, “Mr. Campbell, do you see that house over there? That was the drinking house of the past. Do you know that last week at our prayer meeting 14 of the men who drank there were praying men.” Now, people—that’s revival.

That is God at work. Miracles, supernatural, beyond human explanation—it’s God. And I am fully persuaded, dear people, that unless we see something like this happening the average man will stagger back from our efforts, our conferences, conventions and crusades—they will stagger back disappointed, disillusioned and despairing. But oh, if something happens that demonstrates God! And the communists will hide in shame! I remember one night I saw seven communists—up until then they will spit in your face, talk about religion being the dope of the masses. Educated men. Wouldn’t go near a church. But dear old Peggy had a vision one night and in the vision she saw seven men from this particular community from this centre of activity born again and becoming pillars of the church of her father. She sent for me and told me that God had revealed to her that He was going to move in this particular village. Oh, yes, there were communists there, godless men there but what was that to God when God began to work He would deal with that. So she kept on talking like that. I said, “Peggy, I have no leadings to go that village. You know that there is no church there, and the schoolmaster is one of those men who would never dream of giving me the schoolhouse

for the meetings. I have no leadings to go.” And do you know what she said to me? She said, “Mr. Campbell, if you were living as near to God as you ought to be, He would reveal His secrets to you, also.” And I took it from the Lord. Oh, dear people, it is good to get the Word within you. It is good to see yourself as others see you. That was how I felt. I said, “Peggy, would you mind if I call for the parish minister and together we will spend the morning together with you in prayer?” “Oh, I’ll be happy too.”

So we came and we knelt with her and she began to pray and in her prayer she said this—“Lord, do You remember what you told me this morning when we had that conversation together?” Oh how near she was God! “I’m just after telling Mr. Campbell about it but he’s not prepared to take it. You give him wisdom because the man badly needs it!”

That was what she said! “The man badly needs it!”

And of course she was speaking truth. Of course I needed it. I needed to be taught. But I was at the feet of a woman who knew God in an intimate way. And I was prepared to listen. So I said, “Peg14 gy, when will I go to that village?” “Tomorrow.”

“What time?” “Seven o’clock.” “Where am I to hold a meeting?” “You go to the village and leave the gathering of the people to God and He will do it.”

And I went to the village and when I arrived I found a crowd around a seven room bungalow. I found five ministers waiting for me. And the house was so crowded that we couldn’t get in—indeed, we couldn’t get near it. And I stood on a hill in front of the main door. I gave out my text: “The times of _____Lord we ______ but now commands men everywhere to repent and because he hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained.”

I preached for about 10 minutes when one of the ministers came to me and said, “Mr. Campbell, you remember what you spoke about at five o’clock this morning out in a field in that wonderful meeting when you tried to help those that were seeking God?” I happened to speak from John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” He says, “Could you not go to the end of the house there and some men there and we are afraid that they will go mental they are in such a state. Oh, they are mighty sinners and they know it—they are spoken of here as communists.” And they say that three of them were here in the United States and went back communists.

I went and I saw seven men. The seven men that Peggy saw. And they were crying to God for mercy.

The seven of them were saved within a matter of days. And if you go to that parish today, you would see a church with a stone wall built around it, heated by electricity and all done by the seven men

who became pillars of the church of Peggy’s father.

Oh, my dear people—that is God at work! The minister saw two young men on their knees in the field crying to God and he recognized them as two pipers that were to have played at a concert and dance under the auspices of a nursing association off the island in his parish. He turned to his wife and said, “Isn’t that wonderful? There’s the two pipers who were advertised to play in the parish hall tonight. There they are crying to God for mercy.

Come on, we’ll go home and we will go to the dance and we will tell them what has happened.” So off he went—oh, this was a man of God. Off he went with his wife—it was about 15 miles. Went to the dance and they were not at all pleased with his appearing.

He was there to disturb them—they knew that he wasn’t there to dance for they knew the man.

However, he went in and when a lull came in the dancing, he stepped onto the floor and he said, “Kinfolk, something very wonderful has happened tonight! The Smith pipers were to be here, the two brothers were to be here—they are crying to God for mercy in Barvas!” Suddenly, stillness. Not a word.

And then he spoke again, “Young folk, will you sing a psalm with me?” “Yes,” said one young man “if you lead the singing yourself.” And he gave out Psalm 50: “For God is depicted as a flame of fire” and while singing that psalm, the power of God fell upon the dance. And I understand that only 3 who were there that night remained unsaved. And the first young man to cry to God for mercy was really a boy—just last year he was inducted into one of the largest parishes in Scotland. He found the Saviour that night with many others. Oh, dear people, this is the doing of God. You ask me, “What is the fruit of this type of movement?” Some little time ago the parish minister was asked to give a report in the record of the church of Scotland. He was asked to give a report on the fruit of the revival. Did they stand?

Any backsliding? Now this is what he wrote: “I will confine my remarks to my own parish—I will allow the other ministers to give their own reports. But let me speak of my own parish. In a certain village 122 young people found the faith and I’m not talking about middle age or the old. They were wonderful, but I’m thinking about the young people. 122 all of them over the age of 17. They found the Saviour during the first day of the revival. Today I can say that they are growing like flowers in the garden of God, there is not a single backslider among them.”

Now, dear people, that’s true, that’s true. But oh if you knew the young people that have gone forth from that to Bible colleges who are today missionaries in this, that and the other part of the world, who came into saving relationships, growing as he said like flowers in the garden of God. Oh how we thank God for the stream of young people who have gone into the ministry— I’ve sometimes REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 13

said that supposing Lewis produced nothing but one young girl, a wild, wild girl, just 17 years of age.

And outstanding singer, frequently singing at big concerts in Glasgow—she is outstanding. God saved her. She went to a Bible school and today I have no hesitation in saying that she is among the leading Bible expositors in __________- and that is saying a lot. She is just now in South Africa addressing conferences and conventions. Has been instrumental in bringing blessing to scores of ministers and she was the fruit of the movement. I will never forget the night that she prayed. I remember she was steeped in the doctrine of Calvinism. She was brought up in a God-fearing home; her father and mother weren’t Christians but they were saved at that time. And she was now on her knees in her room, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and she begins to pray and she says, “God I’m turning from the ways of the world—you’ll never see me on a concert platform again. I will follow your people, I will be with them in the prayer meetings. I will never go back to the ways of the world. God that is what I am purposing doing though at the end you send me to hell. That is what I deserve. God six months after that saved her. Oh, I remember the night that the Holy Ghost fell upon her at a communion service. She lifted her two hands like this and she cried, “Oh, Bridegroom, Bridegroom of my heart possess it all. Oh, Bridegroom, Bridegroom of my

you faithful unto death.” It is not to be faithful for a time, but to be “faithful unto death,” which will enable a man to say, “I have fought a good fight.” How many dangers surround the Christian minister! As the officers in an army are the chosen targets of the sharpshooters, so are the ministers of Christ! The king of Syria said to his servants, “Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the King of Israel,” even so the arch-fiend makes his main attack upon the ministers of God. From the first moment of his call to the work, the preacher of the Word will be familiar with temptation.

While he is yet in his youth, there are multitudes of the softer temptations to turn the head and trip the feet of the youthful herald of the cross; and when the blandishments of early popularity have passed away, as soon they must, the harsh croak of slander, and the adder’s PAGE 14 REVIVAL TIMES

heart possess it all!” And the Holy Ghost came upon her in such a way that she began to cry, “Oh, God, hold You hand! My young body cannot contain it!

God! Hold Your hand! My young body can’t contain it!” That was God. That’s the fruit. And what we are seeing today_____________ a movement again among teenagers. And we asked a minister recently _________________ now can you explain it? Can you explain this movement in any way?” He said, “Yes, I can—I can. I believe this has broken out because of the steadfastness of the young people who found the Saviour during the big revival years ago.” The steadfastness of the young people. I can say without fear of contradiction that I can count on my 10 fingers all who dropped off from the prayer meetings—of course they are scattered all over the world, they are in the mission fields and different places today, but according to the ministers in _____________and other places, they are standing true to the God of the covenant, true to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now my dear people that’s the story. And I tell it because I fear that another man has been going about the states, telling stories about the revival and writing books about it and I regret to say that statements have been made by him and written in his books that are not true to fact. But that is the story of the revival that can bear the light of examination. God did it. And we bless Him for it. n

tongue of ingratitude assail him, and he finds himself stale and flat where once he was flattered and admired; no, the venom of malice succeeds to the honeyed morsels of adulation! Now let him gird his loins and fight the good fight of faith.

In his later days, to provide fresh matter Sunday after Sunday, to rule as in the sight of God, to watch over the souls of men—to weep with them who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice, his duties include to be a nursing father unto young converts, sternly to rebuke hypocrites, to deal faithfully with backsliders, to speak with solemn authority and paternal pathos to those who are in the first stages of spiritual decline. To carry about with him the care of the souls of hundreds, is enough to make him grow old while yet he is young, and to mar his visage with the lines of grief, till, like the Saviour, at the age of 30 years, men shall count

him nearly fifty. “You are not yet 50 years old, and have You seen Abraham?” said the adversaries of Christ to Him when He was but thirty-two. If the minister should fall, my brethren, if, set upon a pinnacle, he should be cast down; if, standing in slippery places, he should falter; if the standard-bearer falls, as fall full well he may, what mischief is done to the church, what shouts are heard among the adversaries, what dancing is seen among the daughters of Philistia! How has God’s banner been stained in the dust, and the name of Jesus cast into the mire! When the minister of Christ turns traitor, it is as if the pillars of the house did tremble—every stone in the structure feels the shock. If Satan can succeed in overturning the preachers of the Word, it is as if yon broad-spreading tree should suddenly fall beneath the axe—prone in the dust it lies to wither and to rot; but where are

and he cried out, “God, there is power there—let it loose! Let it loose!” And suddenly, the power of God fell upon the congregation. Of course in Lewis and in other islands of the Hebrides, they stand to pray, they sit to sing. And now, one side of the church threw their hands up like this. Threw their heads back and you would almost declare that they were in an epileptic fit, but they were not. Oh, I can’t explain it. And the other side they slumped on top 10 of each other. But God, the Holy Ghost moved.

Those who had their hands like this stayed that way for two hours. Now you try to remain like that with your hands up for a few minutes and you will find it hard—but you would break their hands before you could take them down. Now, I can’t explain it— this is what happened.

But the most remarkable thing that night was what took place in a village seven miles away from the church. There wasn’t a single person from that village in the church. Not one single person. Seven miles away, it was a while away certainly but while Donald MacPhail was praying, the power of God swept through a village. Swept through the village and I know it to be a fact that there wasn’t a single house in the village that hadn’t a soul saved in it.

Not a single house in the village.

A schoolmaster that night looking over his papers 15 miles away from this island on the mainland suddenly was gripped by the fear of God. And he said to his wife, “Wife, I don’t know what’s drawing me to Barvas, but I must go.” His wife said, “But it’s nearly 10 o’clock and you’re thinking of going to Barvas. I know what’s on your mind, I know that you are going out to drink and you are not leaving this house tonight!” That was what she said to him—he was a hard drinker. And he said to his wife, “I may be mistaken, oh, I maybe mistaken, but if I know anything at all about my own heart and mind, I think I say to you now that drink will never touch my lips again.” And she said to him, “Well, John, if that’s your mind, then go to Barvas.” And he got someone to take him to the ferry, someone to ferry him across, and I was conducting a meeting in a farmhouse at midnight and this schoolmaster came to the door and they made room for him and in a matter of minutes he was praising God for salvation. Now that’s miracle. I mean you cannot explain it in any other way. A father, a mother and two daughters and a son were saved that night in this village but one of the daughters who was in the medical profession was in London. She was in London. A very clever girl. She is walking down Oxford Street after leaving a patient and she is suddenly arrested by the power of God. She went into a closet(?) and cried to God for mercy and God saved her there, the whole family saved! My dear people, these are facts. And I tell you of them to honour God. That girl is today the wife of a Baptist minister in Tasmania. He was for a fortnight in the

Hebrides at that time and the day came when he asked her hand in marriage and they married and both of them in Tasmania today.

These are some of the remarkable movings of God. That very night, a captain in the clan line was saved sailing down M_______ at that very hour. The Spirit of God laid hold of him in his cabin. The Spirit of God moved upon lobster fishermen in the sound— they had to leave their boats and their creels and make for the island. By the morning they were saved. Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we saw God move in that way in this community? God could do it.

I think one of the most outstanding things that happened I believe will go down in history as long as revival is mentioned was in the parish of Arnol. Now, I regret to say that here I was bitterly opposed by a certain section of the Christian church. Opposed by ministers who were born-again without question. They were God-fearing men, but for some reason or other they came to believe that I wasn’t sound in my doctrine because I preached the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I proclaimed a Saviour who could deliver from sin. Glorious emancipation!

And they got it into their minds that I was teaching absolute perfection or sinless perfection—a thing that I never did, nor could I ever believe in. Of course, I believe in conditional perfection: “If we walk in the light as he is in the light we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s son cleanses us from all sin.” That is scriptural perfection! That is based on obedience— on obedience. But the dear men somehow believed—of course not one of them ever listened to me— they listened to stories brought to them. And of course if was arranged that there was a special effort to be made to oppose me. To oppose me. And several ministers were brought from the mainland to this particular parish to conduct mission meetings opposing Campbell and his revival.

Well, they came, and they were so successful in their opposition that very few people from this particular community came near any of my meetings. It is true that the church was crowded, it is true that people were standing outside that couldn’t get in, but these were people who came from neighbouring parishes.

Brought by coaches, brought by cars and what have you— but there were very few from this particular village. So one night one of the elders came to me and said, “Mr. Campbell, there is only one thing that we can do. We must give ourselves to prayer— give ourselves to prayer. Prayer changes things.”

“Well you know I am very willing for that,” I said.

“Where will we meet?” “Oh,” he said, “There is a farmer and he is very willing to place his farmhouse at our disposal.” It was winter and the church was cold. There was no heating in it. The people believe in a crowded church to provide its own heat. But here we wanted a warmer spot, and the farmer was REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 11

The Great Revivalists - Duncan Campbell Revival in the Hebrides (1949) Part II

By Duncan Campbell (1968 Transcript) ow perhaps I should go into some of the features that characterized this remarkable movement.

Well, already I have mentioned to you that men were found in trances. Perhaps I should say this that in the Lewis revival we never saw anybody healed, that wasn’t a feature of it.

We never heard anybody speaking in tongues—in a strange language. Personally, I never heard anybody speak in tongues until a year or two ago. And that was in England. We knew nothing whatsoever about such manifestations. Don’t misunderstand me—I believe in every gift mentioned in the word of God but it wasn’t God’s plan or purpose that we should be visited in that way and we weren’t.

But we saw strange manifestations. I think just now of a certain island. Up until then God hadn’t moved on this island—one of the smaller islands, perhaps an island of 600 souls. And I was asked to go to this island to officiate at a communion.

Now, a communion in Lewis is just like one of your conventions. They begin with a prayer meeting on Wednesday night and then on Thursday, the first day when schools are closed, shops are closed, no work is done, it’s just like another Sabbath. That’s Thursday. Friday, then, is testimony day when men give their testimonies. They ask the women to be silent. You’ll never hear a woman give her testimony at such meetings. But the men speak; however, I am glad to say that many of the dear women got glorious liberty during the revival and they are meeting for prayers and praying with the men today. That is a transformation that has taken place subsequent to the revival.

But I am on this island, and I felt the going fearfully hard. Oh, it was difficult to preach—you felt your very words coming back and hitting you. And I was a bit distressed. I turned to one of the other ministers and I said, “Now don’t you think that we should send for the praying men of Barvas?” Let me say in passing that the praying men of Barvas were praying for us just now, there were at least five of them in this part of God’s vineyard who promised to do that and I believe they were keeping to their promise. However, I sent for them and in the conversation that I had with this businessman, one of the praying men, I said, “If it is at all possible will you bring little Donald MacPhail.” Now I will tell

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you later how Donald came to know the Lord. “But bring him.”

Now Donald had a remarkable experience on the hillside a fortnight after he was born again. And God came upon him—the Holy Ghost came upon him. He had a mighty baptism. I hope you believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a distinct experience. You may disagree, but I believe in it. I don’t think that I am preaching one set of doctrine that insists upon gifts. I am not thinking of that at all because I believe that the baptism of the Holy Ghost in its final analysis is just the revelation of Jesus. It is Jesus becoming real—wonderful, powerful, and dynamic in my life. And He expressing Himself through my personality. That is the baptism of the Holy Ghost that I believe in. Not that I disbelieve in anything. Of course I don’t. Some of my dearest friends are among those who exercise the gifts.

But that, by the way, this young fellow had such a baptism of God among the heather, that he forgot about coming home and a search party had to be sent out to find him in the hills. And they found him on his face among the heather repeating over and over, “Oh, Jesus, I love You. Oh, Jesus I love You.” And wasn’t he near to Jesus if he spoke like that?

He was, of course.

Well, I asked the men to bring little Donald with them. And now we are in the service in the church.

And I am preaching from the text, “Who is this that cometh from Edom . . . this that is glorious in his apparel travelling in the greatness of his strength.

I that speak in righteousness am mighty to save” that was the text. But oh, I tell you, the going was hard. The going was hard. I looked down and I saw little Donald sitting there in the seat. And I saw that his head was bowed and I saw that the floor was wet with his tears. And I said to myself, “Well, now, there is a young lad nearer to God that you or I. Oh, there is a young lad who is in touch with God.” And I stopped preaching. And looking down at this young lad, I said, “Donald, I believe God would have you lead us in prayer.” It was right in the midst of my address. And that young lad stood to his feet.

Now that morning at family worship they were reading Rev. 4 where John has the vision of the open door. “I saw a door opened in heaven.” And as that young man stood, that vision came before him. And this is what he said in his prayers. “God, I seem to be gazing in through the open door. And I seem to see the Lamb standing in the midst of the Throne. He has the keys of death and of hell at his girdle(?).” Then he stopped and began to weep.

And for a minute or so he wept and he wept. Oh, the brokenness. And when he was able to control himself, he lifted his eyes towards the heavens

the birds of the air which made their nests among its boughs, and where fly those beasts of the field which found a happy shadow beneath its branches? Dismay has seized them, and they flee in fright! All who were comforted by the preacher’s words, strengthened by his example, and edified by his teaching are filled with humiliation and grief, crying, “Alas, my brother!”

By these, our manifold dangers and weighty responsibilities, we may very justly appeal to you who feed under our ministry, and beseech you, “Brethren, pray for us!” Well we know that though our ministry is received of the Lord Jesus, if up to now we have been kept faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit, yet it is only he who endures to the end who shall be saved.

But, my brothers, how glorious is the sight of the man who does endure to the end as a minister of Christ! I have photographed upon my heart just now the portrait of one very, very, dear to me, and I think I may venture to produce a rough sketch of him, as no mean example of how honourable it is to endure to the end. This man began while yet a youth to preach the Word.

Sprung of ancestors who had loved the Lord, and served His Church, he felt the glow of holy enthusiasm. Having proved his capabilities, he entered college, and after the close of its course, settled in a spot where for more than 50 years he continued his labors. In his early days, his sober earnestness and sound doctrine were acknowledged of God in many conversions both at home and abroad. Assailed by slander and abuse, it was his privilege to live it all down—he outlived his enemies, and though he had buried a generation of his friends, yet he found many warm hearts clustering round him to the last.

Visiting his flock, preaching in his own pulpit, and making very many journeys to other churches, years followed one

another so rapidly that he found himself the head of a large tribe of children and grandchildren, most of them walking in the truth of God! At the age of 80 years, he preached on still, until laden with infirmities, but yet as joyful and as cheerful as in the heyday of his youth, his time had come to die. He was able to say truthfully, when last he spoke to me, “I do not know that my testimony for God has ever altered as to the fundamental doctrines.

I have grown in experience, but from the first day until now, I have had no new doctrines to teach my hearers. I have had to make no confessions of error on vital points, but have been held fast to the doctrines of grace, and can now say that I love them better than ever.” Such a one was he, as Paul the Aged, longing to preach as long as his tottering knees could bear him to the pulpit.

I am thankful that I had such a grandfather! He fell asleep in Christ but a few hours ago, and on his dying bed talked as cheerfully as men can do in the full vigor of their health!

Most sweetly he talked of the preciousness of Christ, and chiefly of the security of the believer; the truthfulness of the promise; the immutability of the covenant; the faithfulness of God, and the infallibility of the divine decree. Among other things which he said at the last was this, which is, we think, worth your treasuring in your memories.

Dr Watts sings—‘Firm as the earth Your gospel stands, My Lord, my hope, my trust.’

What, Doctor, is it not firmer than that? Could you not find a better comparison? Why, the earth will give way beneath our feet one day or another, if we rest on it.

The comparison will not do. The Doctor was much nearer the mark, when he said— ‘Firm as His throne His promise stands, And He can well secure What I’ve committed to His hands.

‘Till the decisive hour.’”

“Firm as His throne,” he said, “He must cease to be King before He can break His promise, or lose His people! Divine sovereignty makes us all secure.” He fell asleep right quietly, for his day was over, and the night was come—what could he do better than go to rest in Jesus? Would God it may be our lot to preach the Word as long as we breathe, standing fast unto the end in the truth of God! And if we see not our sons and grandsons testifying to those doctrines which are so dear to us, yet may we see our children walking in the truth. I know of nothing, dear friends, which I would choose to have as the subject of my ambition for life than to be kept faithful to my God to death—still to be a soul-winner—still to be a true herald of the cross, and testify the name of Jesus to the last hour! It is only such who in the ministry shall be saved.

Our text, however, occurs again in the 24th chapter of Matthew, at the 135th verse, upon which occasion it was not addressed to the apostles, but to the disciples.

The disciples, looking upon the huge stones which were used in the construction of the Temple, admired the edifice greatly, and expected their Lord to utter a few words of passing praise. Instead of which, He, who came not to be an admirer of architecture, but to hew living stones out of the quarry of nature, to build them up into a spiritual Temple, turned their remarks to practical account by warning them of a time of affliction, in which there would be such trouble as had never been before, and He added, “No, nor ever shall be.” He described false prophets as abounding, and the love of many as waxing cold and warned them that, “He who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.” So that this solemn truth of God applies to all of you! n Read the full version of this sermon at: www.spurgeongems.org REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 15

someone who does not agree with 1-4 above you SHARE in his evil deeds and may suffer the same judgement!

As you can see, this is a very serious subject that can affect your eternal destiny and also ruin your life here today if you are deceived! Jesus said the key is ‘be not deceived’ (Luke 21:8). But how can we truly know?

The Gospel of the Kingdom Firstly, I hope the reason you are reading this message is that you are indeed inspired by the Spirit to ‘find out what pleases the Lord’ (Eph 5:9), and you have a desire to be part of a sincere living body of disciples where you live. This is a message about the Kingdom of God, not about what ‘church’ to attend (more explanation will follow on this as you read on).

Secondly, you are probably dissatisfied with the current state of ‘traditional’ or ‘institutional’ expressions of what is commonly called ‘church’ which operates more in a business style, with programmes, leaders, fundraising, routine services and social traditions. However you believe that there must be more to ‘church’ than you’ve currently experienced and humbly seek the Way of Jesus and his teaching to reach the ‘high calling’ (Phil 3:14) of which Paul speaks.

If this sounds like you then this ‘Message for Our Times’ will definitely be relevant to you and should both encourage and help direct you in the will of God regarding christian life and ministry. Our experience of ‘church life’ and what the Bible actually says that church should be are often in conflict.

Because of this you are seeking more truth and you will find it if you seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness. This must be the priority and then everything else falls into place (Matt 6:33).

False Apostles It is false leadership styles that have caused many to be led PAGE 16 REVIVAL TIMES

astray. Both Jesus and Paul point out that it is hypocrites who lead others astray. I aim to show how Jesus demonstrates true leadership and how this significantly redirects God’s disciples to serve one another in faith. I share these truths in love and to the glory of Christ (1 Corin 4:6; E ph 4:15 ).

I pray that this message will help you make a positive choice for your future growth and lead to a greater maturity in Christ, building you up in your knowledge of God and His good and perfect will.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)

In my view many Christians have been unknowingly led astray by historic (and modern) ‘leadership’ errors that are hindering spiritual growth and a full understanding of the inheritance paid for by Jesus’ in his life, death and resurrection.

We already see many ‘factions’ created by misguided, compromising totally deceived men and women. You may well be in one of these denominations today. This is to be expected with so many in our corrupt global society. I was once in one too and oblivious to how it was hindering me and even robbing me! There’s no condemnation for us who believe Jesus for salvation and there may be a measure of blessing, but we want the best that Jesus paid for - don’t we? As painful as it is to face the facts of wasted time in these man made organisations, I believe it’s essential that these errors are pointed out (using apostolic Scripture) to bring repentance and change for the good of all believers and for the glory of God. In this way Jesus is glorified and his divine nature experienced, in reality, among us who gather in his name. This is often termed ‘revival’ but Paul

calls it ‘renewal’. (See Gal 1:6; 2 Corin 7:10; Rom 12:2; Titus 3:5 ).

In my view the book of the Acts of the apostles did not stop when the book ended or when the apostles died, but the story has actually continued from generation to generation with heavenly signs following those who believe. Signs such as healing the sick, casting out demons, preaching to the poor, raising the dead and sharing all things equally within strong family units. I believe in the transformation of the sinner into a saint (a son) by the purifying, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, to see good fruit and an expression of all the gifts for edification; such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge etc. (1 Corin 12:7).

I also believe that ministry functions are given to equip believers, in order that they might do the supernatural works of service. (See Acts 28:28: Mark 16:17-18; Gal 4:7; 5:22; 1 Corin 12:4; 28; 14:1). All these things

are a demonstration of Jesus and the Kingdom of God and of His Spirit in us, as it was in the beginning of Christ and always will be until He returns.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Heb 13:8) Through this sound teaching I aim to address many key issues giving a clear Scriptural basis for my understanding. Please test and double check the Scriptures that are presented here and like the Berean’s (Acts 17) I trust that you will come to a similar conclusion.

Division is inevitable Jesus and the apostles challenged religious traditional thinking, especially those things which had been culturally accepted for many hundreds of years.

We do not want to be like those who could not see, so that they perished in their ignorance: “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;

so the unrestrained world feels increasingly free to expand its corruption, lies and iniquity. We even see open obedience to Satan and his minions in public and on the media!

Peter himself said that this would eventually happen to the Gospel over time: “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

(2 Peter 2:2)

Ironically the biggest fail of all is the Roman Catholic religion which tries to claim Peter as their founder!

A light in the darkness This ‘Message for Our Times’ has been written to communicate these concerns and to inspire prayer and dialogue between true disciples of Christ on how to move forward to greater repentance and obedience to Christ. In short a fresh REFORMATION of our understanding of both ‘church’ and ‘ministry’. The desired result is that we become a purer reflection of His ‘body’ here on earth. That we come to understand the true calling and purpose of the spiritual temple that Jesus is building by the Holy Spirit and not by law.

This message is not in any way ‘anti-church’, but in fact very ‘pro-church’, but importantly ‘church’ as defined by Jesus and the apostles and as recorded in the book of Acts and in the apostolic epistles. No-one is perfect without Christ before a holy righteous God, however our Lord commands us to ‘be holy as he is holy’, separate from the world system (through Christ’s power) and righteous towards our neighbours (1 Pet 1:15-16; Eph 1:4; 5:27 ). This clearly implies that it is 100% possible to be separate and holy and to come to a mature knowledge of God by the Spirit, in order to fully understand His will. Christ commands us to ‘sin no more’ and to ‘love one another’. The apostles teach us to

‘walk in the Spirit’ and to ‘turn away from the flesh’. This is the goal, the prize for those who believe in Jesus as Christ as their Lord, Saviour and Master (John 5:14; Gal 5:16).

The Power of the Gospel This message outlines a Scriptural understanding of how Jesus Christ established His ‘church’ (ekklésia - Greek) and how all the apostles imitated and multiplied God’s children through 100% obedience to the will of the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit. They did this to fully represent Christ’s redemption to a lost world trapped in sin and suffering under Satan’s dominion. They believed in the experiential power of the Gospel that came from heaven: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

(2 Pet 1:19-21)

Have you been moved by the Holy Spirit! Please continue to read this message with an openness to Jesus by the Spirit, realising that it’s in no way intended to condemn, but seeks to properly reveal what Jesus and the apostles meant by the Greek term ‘ekklésia’, that’s translated ‘church’ or ‘assembly’. This is in order to rediscover the best way to edify one another in Christ’s love and properly demonstrate the good news to the world. The ultimate aim is to bring glory to God, by bringing forth the good news of the gospel to the lost, so that they can choose life and receive salvation.

We must all face judgement one day, to be rewarded or condemned for our words and actions - I would prefer to be rewarded for obedience and for serving Jesus to my utmost - how

about you? The message of the Kingdom is very challenging and may well challenge teachings you’ve believed about ‘church’ in the past. Your current ‘church’ experience and understanding of it will receive correction, so please be prepared for these surprises. Everything presented here is the Word of God the Father, delivered by Jesus Christ, who must be our only foundation: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 7-11) John the apostle knew Jesus from a young age and saw the risen Lord on earth, and later by the Spirit in heaven as the Almighty God. This man knows what he is talking about and tells us some crucial facts in his second epistle (above), that, if you can see them, will change you forever!

Analysis of 2 John: 1. There are MANY deceivers who deny Jesus deity and authority.

2. There is a REWARD for those who hold to the pure teaching of Jesus both now and forever.

3. Whoever SINS (transgresses) does not have God (all and any sin!). We must not let sin reign in our mortal flesh.

4. Whoever does not ABIDE (remain) in the pure teaching (doctrine) of Jesus does not have God. If you ‘add to’ or ‘take away’ from what Jesus said, you have perverted the true Gospel.

5. If you receive or even greet continued on page 16

REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 9

A Message For Our Times PART 1 - By Stephen Turnham

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:7-9)

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esus Christ, the eternal Word, was sent to earth from heaven to reveal the truth of the Father, that is His thoughts, His glory and His Spirit, face-to-face. This Apostle Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible God and, crucially for us, the head of the church which is His dwelling place.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For

by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Col 1:15-18) Not many of us really stop and think that Jesus was the Creator of ALL things. This is why he came and created the church of the ‘new creation’ to come, rescuing those who love God. Unfortunately most people have rejected this glorious testimony and the witness of the 12 apostles. However as disciples of Jesus we should not be surprised by this rejection, because Jesus himself said this would be the case in the future, near and far: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

(Matt 7:13-15) PAGE 8 REVIVAL TIMES

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14) Jesus gave many warnings about the consequences of sin, iniquity and false prophets who would try to lead many astray and manipulate others for their own financial gain. Jesus was a true prophet because what he said about Israel and the church has come true.

The apostle Paul said that one of the biggest signs of the end of the ages would be a return to justification by law and rules of men - self righteousness. Paul called this ‘falling from grace’ or ‘iniquity’ (Gal 5:4). This is also something Jesus prophesied would come before His return (Matt 24:12).

The great falling away The glorious Gospel of the Kingdom of heaven, that Jesus gave us in person, has been perverted, distorted and corrupted throughout the last 2000 years. Even a brief look at traditional church history reveals

how many power crazy men (and women) brought corruption and deceived millions by the laws and rules. All these years on and deception and hypocrisy are still rampant, causing untold grief and death in the world and a stumbling stone to those seeking truth - many wolves in sheeps clothing abound! As a consequence these Satanic inspired ‘false prophets’ and self appointed teachers have created a massive global deception called ‘Christianity’. We now have over 43,000 factions (or denominations) claiming to be a ‘church’ that’s in some way related to Christ and yet very few (if any) truly demonstrate the fullness of Christ and the powerful gospel that He and His apostles preached. This is what Jesus said about those seeking the true Kingdom, ‘and few there be that find it’ (Matt 7:14). These words should greatly concern us in these days because most people think they are good enough for heaven because they attend a church, but is this enough? Most, if not all these factions have rules of men mixed into the original gospel truth, like a bad yeast in good bread, causing ‘perversion’ thus making it unclean (Matt 16:12).

This ‘falling away from grace’ towards religious legalism has meant the humanistic, secular minded world has mostly written off the relevance off the good news message and thus they ignore Jesus, supported by the continual hypocrisy they see in these institutions. As a consequence things are not right in modern day ‘Christianity’ and

and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”

(Matt 13:14-16)

Are your eyes and ears open to receive these truths? It’s a sad fact that the people most annoyed with Jesus and the apostles were the traditionalist (religious) people. They thought that what they had was the best and good enough to please God (Luke 5:39). How mistaken they were then and even are today. We must take the road of humility and admit that we do not know everything. We must realise that many have gone before us and failed to see what you are about to see! (if you read on).

Radical obedience to Jesus This revelation message is much more than a mere intellectual recognition of the truth in the Bible, but rather it’s a dynamic and radical call to obedient faith to the Spirit in action. This means, that as the people of God’s Kingdom, we will come together and relate together in the simplicity of Christ alone, without religion. This will be in ways that provide practical help and guidance for all areas of godly living on earth as we await Jesus’ bodily return in glory from heaven. There are many Scripture references offered as evidence of God’s plan and good will for all of us who believe in him. Please take time to check them (Acts 20:27).

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21) As you read on you may find that many things you have

learnt or believed about the Bible Scriptures and about ‘church’ in the past will be deeply challenged. This can be both stressful and upsetting, because you may discover how much you have been deceived in the past and distracted in major portions of your Christian life.

I found this truth painful at the time. This is especially so for older traditional Christians, but the power of Jesus Christ can transform this sense of lost time into a new joy and effectiveness for His purposes. Revelation of the truth is vital, so that we can then obey correctly and do His will and not our own or someone elses! The important thing is that whatever is binding you, and hindering you, is removed now, so that when you stand before Jesus at the judgement you have a clear conscience and confidence of your reward!

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

(1 J ohn 2:28) PART 1 - JESUS THE SON OVER GOD’S HOUSEHOLD?

The Apostle and High Priest “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man (Jesus) was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:1-6) Firstly, I want to consider the apostle and high priest of our profession and why He was very different to any Hebrew prophet or priest who came before Him.

It’s because of him that we believe in God the Father of all things and seek to be his sons and daughters. In the opening verses of Hebrews the author made it clear that Jesus’ first coming to Israel with the gospel of salvation (from sin and thus judgement) was the fulfilment of his plans for that chosen nation: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had

by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Heb 1:1-4) Jesus was sent by God the Father as the first Apostle from heaven to the world with the message of redemption and the new creation to come. In order to fully understand the body of people that Jesus is building it’s sensible that we go back and look very closely at the makers pattern. The letter to the Hebrews answers some very important questions for us regarding God’s purpose and plans and reveals much about this body and His faith that we must walk in.

The writer wanted to clear up Jewish questions concerning the work of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ (particularly regarding priesthood). Back then many converted Jews were beginning to experience persecution and were being tempted to give up the faith and go back to being Jewish (by denying Christ), and so avoid the pain of persecution. They were even trying to persuade Gentile Christians to become Jews by being circumcised.

The writer goes on to describe, as early on as chapter three, some key revelations regarding the existence of two ‘houses’ or REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 17

‘spiritual’ groups of people. This was a common understanding among the apostles and early believers, but has been lost and distorted over the centuries.

The two houses Firstly the people of Israel or ‘Moses house’, known appropriately as ‘the Hebrews’ after Abraham (later ‘the Jews’ after Judah), and in verse 6 (see above my bold) he refers to the disciples of Christ (now after Pentecost) as his ‘own house’ (disciples of Jesus) with whom he associates his readers, ‘whose house are we’, (referring to all Spirit born Christian disciples, including us today). It reminds us that what Jesus had declared to those following Him, in the beginning, had indeed come true. He said that he would build His church (or household) as a ‘separate body’ from Israel and that the ‘gates of hell’ would not prevail against it: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying,Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said,Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee,That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (leadership); and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt 16:13-20) Caesarea Philippi, which stood in a lush area near the foot of Mount Hermon, was a city dominated by immoral activities and pagan worship. Caesarea Philippi stood only twenty-five miles from the religious communities of Galilee. The pagans believed that the cave entrance was the gate to hades (hell). By making His proclamation here Jesus was declaring that paganism would be defeated by His people. (see https://www.

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thattheworldmayknow.com/ gates-of-hell-article)

Jesus the Rock It’s now a widely held interpretation that this ‘Rock’ that Jesus spoke of was not in fact Peter (a pebble), the unredeemed man, but rather it was the ‘revelation’ that Peter had received from the Father in heaven, i.e that He (Jesus) is the ‘Christ’ the SON (The Rock of God). Consider for a moment how important this was; Peter received a revelation from the Father! This experience had only previously been reserved for great prophets and seers like Samuel and Isaiah! Here was a mere fisherman whose heart and mind had been opened to recognise a deep truth about this Jesus standing before him - He IS the Christ (Messiah).

This ‘revelation of Christ’, as begotten Son and Lord, is THE solid foundation of God’s new household - Jesus’ church (assembly/leadership) is built on this ‘rock of revelation’ with Jesus the chief cornerstone. This was grace given from God the Father.

Heaven’s truth was revealed to Peter in that moment and he saw the unseen and spoke it. He was beginning to tune into the heavenly Father’s mind and this is what Jesus was, and is, looking for from all his disciples. All that Jesus did and said was built upon this ‘Rock’ - i.e. himself and his lifestyle of obedience! It is this revelation from heaven that defeats deception and paganism which is the religion of Satan (Pan/Baal) This is confirmed to us again by Paul who reveals that Christ was even with the Hebrews as they followed Moses: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased,

for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” (1 Corin 10; see also John 6:53)

Clearly Jesus was not ‘physically’ with the Israelites, but He was with them spiritually, unseen except by Moses. This is the fundamental nature of the Rock of revelation: hearing, confessing and obeying the Word. Many people hear the Word, but then fail to obey it (like many in the wilderness) and so remain on ‘earth’ and this causes things to collapse when trouble arises (Luke 6:49). Jesus’ ‘household’ are those who believe in him as the eternal Christ, (God the Son who came in human flesh) and then DO what he says, obedience to grace.

Without the doing you are NOT on the Rock. Jesus demonstrated this himself with the Father to show us what to do: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) A physical body was prepared for the Word of God (who pre-existed time), in complete fulfilment of all prophecy given throughout the history of the Hebrew nation, in order to deliver the very words of the Father to them (and us) in person - FACE-TO-FACE, pure revelation - Spirit and Life from heaven incarnate and visible.

persuaded, that he who has not the Spirit of Christ is none of his; and that, unless the Spirit, which raised Jesus from the dead, dwell in you here, neither will your mortal bodies be quickened by the same Spirit to dwell with him hereafter.

Let me therefore (as was proposed in the last place) earnestly exhort you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to act suitable to those convictions, and to live as Christians, that are commanded in holy writings, to “put off their former conversation concerning the Old Man, and to put on the New Man, which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness.”

It must be owned indeed, that this is a great and difficult work; but, blessed be God, it is not impossible. Many thousands of happy souls have been assisted by a divine power to bring it about, and why should we despair of success? Is God’s hand shortened, that it cannot save? Was he the God of our Fathers, is he not the God of their children also? Yes, doubtless, of their children also. It is a task likewise, that will put us to some pain; it will oblige us to part with some lust, to break with some friend, to mortify some beloved passion, which may be exceeding dear to us, and perhaps as hard to leave, as to cut off a right-hand, or pluck out a righteye. But what of all this? Will not the being made a real living member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, abundantly make amends for all this trouble? Undoubtedly it will.

The setting about and carrying on the great and necessary work, perhaps may, nay assuredly will expose us also to the ridicule of the unthinking part of mankind, who will wonder, that we run not into the same excess of riot with themselves; and because we deny our sinful appetites, and are not conformed to this world, being commanded in scripture to do the one, and to have our

ENDURING TO THE END

Living by faith So now we show our love and faith in Jesus when we DO what He says, and this is only possible if his Spirit is in us. Hearing and obeying is the ONLY Christian walk, because this is what Jesus did. This is the real ‘good news’ and means complete liberty from Satan, sin and iniquity (worship of paganism and idols).

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house (your life) on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matt 7:24-25)

conversation in heaven, in opposition to the other, they may count our lives folly, and our end to be without honour. But will not the being numbered among the saints, and shining as the stars forever and ever, be a more than sufficient recompense for all the ridicule, calumny, or reproach, we can possibly meet with here?

Indeed, was there no other reward attended a thorough conversion, but that peace of God, which is the unavoidable consequence of it, and which, even in this life, “passes all understanding,” we should have great reason to rejoice. But when we consider, that this is the least of those mercies God has prepared for those that are in Christ, and become new creatures; that, this is but the beginning of an eternal succession of pleasures; that the day of our deaths, which the unconverted, unrenewed sinner must so much dread, will be, as it were, but the first day of our new births, and open to us an everlasting scene of happiness and comfort; in short, if we remember, that they who are regenerate and born again, have a real title to all the glorious promises of the gospel, and are infallibly certain of being as happy, both here and hereafter, as an all-wise, all-gracious, all-powerful God can make them; I think every one that has but the least concern for the salvation of his precious and immortal soul, having such promises, such an hope, such an eternity of happiness set before him, should never cease watching, praying, and striving, till he find a real, inward, saving change wrought in his heart, and thereby doth know of a truth, that he dwells in Christ, and Christ in him; that he is a new creature, therefore a child of God; that he is already an inheritor, and will forever be an actual possessor of the kingdom of heaven.

Which God of his infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen n (Some words modernised by the editor)

DELIVERED FEBRUARY 14, 1864,

By Charles H. Spurgeon, at the metropolitan tabernacle, newington. #554

“He who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22.

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HIS particular text was originally addressed to the apostles when they were sent to teach and preach in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Perhaps, bright visions floated before their minds of honor and esteem among men. It was no mean dignity to be among the 12 first heralds of salvation to the sons of Adam! Was a check needed to their high hopes? Perhaps so. Lest they should enter upon their work without having counted its cost, Christ gives them a very full description of the treatment which they might expect to receive, and

reminds them that it was not the commencement of their ministry which would win them their reward, but, “He who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.” It would be well if every youthful aspirant to the gospel ministry would remember this. If merely to put our hand to the plow proved us to be called of God, how many would be found so? But alas, too many look back and prove unworthy of the kingdom. The charge of Paul to Timothy is a very necessary exhortation to every young minister—“Be continued on page 14

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to church, or in complying with some outward performances, are you better than they? No, in no wise; you are by far much worse: for if you use them, and at the same time abuse them, you thereby encourage others to think there is nothing in them and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation. But, Secondly, If he that is in Christ be a new creature, then this may check the groundless presumption of another class of professors, who rest in the attainment of some moral virtues, and falsely imagine they are good Christians, if they are just in their dealings, temperate in their diet, and do not hurt or violence to any man.

But if this was all that is requisite to make us Christians, why might not the heathens of old be good Christians, who were remarkable for these virtues? Or St. Paul before his conversion, who tells us, that he lived in all good conscience? But we find he renounces all dependence on works of this nature, and only desires to be found in Christ, and to know the power of his resurrection, or have an experimental proof of receiving the Holy Spirit, purchased for him by the death, and ensured and applied to him by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The sum of the matter is this: Christianity includes morality, as grace does reason; but if we are only mere Moralists, if we are not inwardly wrought upon, and changed by the powerful operations of the Holy Spirit, and our moral actions, proceed from a principle of a new nature, however we may call ourselves Christians, we shall be found naked at the Great Day, and in the number of those, who have neither Christ’s righteousness imputed to them for their justification in the sight, nor holiness enough in their souls as the consequence of that, in order to make them meet for the enjoyment, of God. Nor, Thirdly, Will this doctrine less condemn those, who rest in a partial amendment of themselves, without experiencing a thorough, real, inward change of heart.

A little acquaintance with the world will furnish us with instances, of no small number of persons, who, perhaps, were before openly profane; but seeing the ill consequences of their vices, and the many worldly inconveniencies it has reduced them to, on a sudden, as it were, grow civilized; and thereupon flatter themselves that they are very religious, because they differ a little from their former selves, and are not so scandalously wicked as once they were: whereas, at the same time, they shall have some secret darling sin or other, some beloved Delilah or Herodias, which they will not part with; some hidden lust, which they will not mortify; some vicious habit, which they will not take pains to root out. But would you know, O vain man! Whoever thou art, what the Lord thy God requires of thee?

Thou must be informed, that nothing short of a PAGE 6 REVIVAL TIMES

thorough sound conversion will fit thee for the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to turn from profaneness to civility; but thou must turn from civility to godliness. Not only some, but “all things must become new” in thy soul. It will profit thee but little to do many things, if yet some one thing thou lackest. In short, thou must not only be an almost, but altogether a new creature, or in vain you boast that you’re a Christian.

Fourthly, If he that is in Christ be a new creature, then this may be prescribed as an infallible rule for every person of whatever denomination, age, degree or quality, to judge himself by; this being the only solid foundation, whereon we can build a well-grounded assurance of pardon, peace, and happiness.

We may indeed depend on the broken reed of an external profession; we may think we are good enough, if we lead such sober, honest, moral lives, as many heathens did. We may imagine we are in a safe condition, if we attend on the public offices of religion, and are constant in the duties of our closets. But unless all these tend to reform our lives, and change our hearts, and are only used as so many channels of divine grace; as I told you before, so I tell you again, Christianity will profit you nothing.

Let each of us therefore seriously put this question to our hearts: Have we received the Holy Spirit since we believed? Are we new creatures in Christ, or no? At least, if we are not so yet, is it our daily endeavour to become such? Do we constantly and conscientiously use all the means of grace required thereto? Do we fast, watch and pray? Do we, not lazily seek, but laboriously strive to enter in at the strait gate? In short, do we renounce our own righteousness, take up our crosses and follow Christ? If so, we are in that narrow way which leads to life; the good seed is sown in our hearts, and will, if duly watered and nourished by a regular persevering use of all the means of grace, grow up to eternal life. But on the contrary, if we have only heard, and know not experimentally, whether there be any Holy Spirit; if we are strangers to fasting, watching and prayer, and all the other spiritual exercises of devotion; if we are content to go in the broad way, merely because we see most other people do so, without once reflecting whether it be the right one or not; in short, if we are strangers, or worse enemies to the cross of Christ, by lives of worldly-mindedness, and sensual pleasure, and thereby make others think, that Christianity is but an empty name, a bare formal profession; if this be the case, I say, Christ is as yet dead in vain, to us; we are under the guilt of our sins; and are unacquainted with a true and thorough conversion.

But beloved, I am persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though I thus speak; I would humbly hope that you are sincerely

Most people think this passage is about simply believing in Jesus, but it is more than that. As tough as it is to hear this we must face this truth head on and be honest before God and ask ourselves, are we really doing what Jesus did?

The Kingdom of Jesus Returning now to the difference between the Jewish ‘household’ or ‘Moses church’ and ‘Jesus church’ (household) as it’s an important differentiation because the first one (Moses) is based only on outward obedience (Law) to achieve spirituality and blessing through rituals; and the second is based first on inner spiritual revelation (Spirit) leading to outward obedience (Faith) to bless others. The first is ‘earthly’ (a shadow) and the second is ‘heavenly’ (the reality/ revelation) and as such is far superior.

For the first Christians this differentiation was very clear and plain because it was there in front of them. There were obviously 3 main groups they knew; 1.

Israel; 2. The Gentile nations and 3. Christians. The household of Israel was (and still is) limited,

by Scriptural promise, to just one (circumcised) nation of 12 tribes and one promised land.

The greater heavenly nation (all believers), which is composed of ALL nations (including Hebrews who believe), possesses all things and inherits the new earth!

Jesus began with the first 12 apostles as a foundation of ‘church leadership’ to reach the whole world. We see this taught by both Jesus and all the other apostles thereafter, who always emphasise the ‘kingdom of heaven’ rather than the ‘kingdom of Israel’. Here are a number of Scripture references which reveal this point: Matt 22:1-14; 23:3738; Luke 16:16; 17:21; John 3:3; Rom 14:17; 1 Corin 15:50; Acts 1:1-7)

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is

not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8) For many years while living with Jesus the disciples wrongly thought that, as Messiah, he would restore the physical, visible and political kingdom of Israel (in their lifetime), and that they would sit with him as a king in the temple to rule and reign over the Romans and the world!

That’s why, before Pentecost, they kept asking Jesus the above question, about restoring Israel.

It was only after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came into them, that they suddenly realised the real truth - the true Kingdom of God is not of this world, Israel was just a shadow, a launch pad to the world.

Under construction The church (the holy nation) is supernaturally built of our cleansed human bodies and not bricks and mortar. God’s holy people now live in the whole earth, not just in Israel. Jesus’ church or body therefore has no outward material structures (buildings/temples) or special clothing etc. to mark it out as holy to God. That was the old household for those who did not believe the gospel (knowing God personally by revelation), but they preferred to have Moses as an ‘earthly mediator’ in the Tabernacle where God was said to dwell. Jesus showed us that because of his sacrifice it’s now our physical bodies that are the true temple and it’s the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ expressed by holiness (in our body) and charity (love in action) and the power to heal and deliver that makes his people special. From now on we should not have a care in, or for, the world’s ‘stuff’, or it’s greedy selfish ways (1 John 2:15 ). There are no buildings, no ceremonies, no traditions of men,

no garments and no sacrifices that mark out the true disciples of Christ simply because He NEVER commanded it. These things are no longer necessary to please God. In fact by doing them we are hindering the true Gospel!

This is why the traditional church has become powerless!

As it was for Jesus, so it is for us, no more, no less. Show me Jesus brick church house? show me his fast chariot?, show me his huge bank account?, show me his gold reserve?, show me his extensive wardrobe? It just isn’t there, because as Psalm 50 tells us, he doesn’t need it, because he owns everything anyway. God doesn’t need us we need him!

Sadly this is in stark contrast to the modern ‘church’ in all it’s factional designs with its complex divisions and add-ons, this was not ordained by Jesus and it’s not His will - not His apostolic body. This will upset a lot of people, just as it upset the Pharisees and lawyers in Jesus day, in fact it’s one of the reasons they crucified Jesus and stoned Stephen and later Paul as well (see John 11:47-53).

God’s patience with Israel As the book of Hebrews reminds us it was over a four hundred year period that Abraham’s physical descendants eventually became ‘Moses household’ finally escaping slavery in Egypt by Yahweh’s power. Then, at Mount Sinai (in Arabia), they officially became the household ‘under the Law’ (Israel) by covenant, this was needed because of their rebellion against personal revelation (the Rock (Christ); Exod 20:19). Jesus household today is ONLY of Faith in Him, His Name and His ‘law of the Spirit of life’. His physical life fulfilled ALL the former Law and Prophets* removing the burden (of external law) off the Jews who believed. He also opened the way for ALL the nations to ‘know’ the Father through Him by the Apostles preaching REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 19

and teaching. The promise to Abraham, which came before the Law, is also fulfilled in Jesus, as the true ‘spiritual seed’ (Gal 3:16).

Through Jesus (Messiah) God had therefore completely fulfilled his promises and covenant to Israel, leaving them without excuse. He was very patient with them, but sadly most rejected him and they perished in their sins (John 8:21). Their remaining descendants still resist him today! (*Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies!

There are still some prophecies relating to Israel still to happen as a sign of the end of all ages).

So we see God’s incredible patience and long suffering with Israel and how He dealt fairly with them in all respects (and still does!).

A New Kingdom Came Some find it hard to accept that the Kingdom of Israel ended when Jesus had completed His work. He himself said that He conferred a new kingdom (from heaven) to the apostles. That the anointing of the Spirit was taken from Israel and placed upon those 120 ordinary men and women in the upper room (Matt 5:3; 13:11; 16:19; 21:43. Luke 12:32; 13:28; 16:16; 22:9. John 18:36).

This ‘new’ household is the ‘nation’ of the new kingdom of heaven and is described in a number of different ways, to help us grasp the uniqueness of this ‘heavenly’ or ‘spiritual nation’, these include: The Bride, the Body, God’s building, God’s field, living stones, Royal Priesthood, kingdom of priests, the new Jerusalem, the city of God, God’s dwelling place, wife of the Lamb, the great multitude and of course ‘church’ which means ‘council assembly’ or ‘government’. All these are given to help us grasp the incredible eternal dimensions of the kingdom of heaven and of God the Father and ‘Mount Zion’ (another metaphor) meaning the tabernacle (or canopy of angels) around the Father in heaven’s paradise. This heavenly Zion is PAGE 20 REVIVAL TIMES

gigantic and massive beyond our imagination and importantly without Satan or any sin for he was cast out!

So it is plain that ‘natural Israel’ and the ‘heavenly church’ are separate bodies with their own identities, even destinies, and it’s erroneous to say that the church is the ‘spiritual Israel’.

Gentile nations are grafted into the ‘inheritance’ of the patriarchs through Christ, but we are not Israelites. The church (global) is a brand new body made of ‘new creatures’ in Christ by the Spirit whose foundation, as I have said, is the revelation of Christ as God and not by the flesh (DNA) from Abraham or Moses (Rom 9:8). This is seen in God’s original promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:7 and highlighted by Paul in Galatians 3 . Paul always speaks of these three; the Jews, the Gentiles and the church: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32) What’s true then, is true now and just as in the time of the first apostles, ALL Israelites (Jews) today need to be saved into the ‘new nation’ (church of God) in order to be listed in the Book of Life (Rev 20:12) and enter the kingdom of heaven.

Just being born a Jew does not get you into the book of life, just being born into a Christian family doesn’t either - only genuine faith in Jesus. Despite the apparent failure of Israel as a nation, the Father still looks favourably upon them for the sake of the patriarchs (Rom 11:28), and because they have suffered as witnesses of his name. He has also used them in the dispersion to shape the modern world according to his plans. For us non-Jews we must respect the spiritual roots of the Patriarchs, but at the same time present the truth of Christ to Jews as the only way to the Father (Matt 11:30; Gal 3:29). Paul and the other apostles did this and were persecuted for it, so will all who take this stand.

Israel the land went through 1900 years of desolation and is still not fully restored (to this day), and never will be until Christ himself returns to restore the whole earth. In any case Israel was only ever meant to be a shadow (reflection) of the reality to come which is the New Jerusalem in the new kingdom heaven and earth, ruled by Jesus (God).

Today Israel itself claims to be like any other democratic nation, not based on spiritual laws, but rather on human rule. There is no Temple which has been blocked

by God using Islam their Arab enemies! They are mostly antiChrist and even forbid open preaching of Jesus in their land!

Despite this it’s significant that more Jews are coming to accept Christ today than in previous generations and this is another sure sign that the end of time approaches (Luke 21:29).

After the resurrection we see that Jesus is now the King over the Kingdom which is currently in heaven and those who are of his house are spiritually connected, sealed by the invisible Holy Spirit, marked for salvation and whose names are in the Lambs (book) scroll of life. This is what he said: “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36) This is a very important statement by Jesus just before the cross, because it affects how we see the purpose of Jesus’ ‘nation’ (church) in relation to the Kingdom of heaven, Israel and the world. Jesus went back into heaven to rule and reign on the throne of the Kingdom (right hand of the Father) having obtained salvation for those who believe in his redemption and know him. He is now like a High Priest who intercedes for his followers who remain in this dark world (Heb 2:19) His Spirit in us means that we can

God is a Spirit, so the happiness he has laid up for his people is spiritual likewise; and consequently, unless our carnal minds are changed, and spiritualised, we can never be made meet to partake of that inheritance with the saints in light.

It is true, we may flatter ourselves, that, supposing we continue in our natural corrupt estate, and carry all our lusts along with us, we should, notwithstanding, relish heaven, was God to admit us therein. And so we might, was it a Mahometan paradise, wherein we were to take our full swing in sensual delights. But since its joys are only spiritual, and no unclean thing can possibly enter those blessed mansions, there is an absolute necessity of our being changed, and undergoing a total renovation of our depraved natures, before we can have any taste or relish of those heavenly pleasures.

It is, doubtless, for this reason, that the apostle declares it to be the irrevocable decree of the Almighty, that “without holiness, (without being made pure by regeneration, and having the image of God thereby re-stamped upon the soul) no may shall see the Lord.” And it is very observable, that our divine Master, in the famous passage before referred to, concerning the absolute necessity of regeneration, does not say, Unless a man be born again, he SHALL NOT, but “unless a man be born again, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God.” It is founded in the very nature of things, that unless we have dispositions wrought in us suitable to the objects that are to entertain us, we can take no manner of complacency or satisfaction in them. For instance; what delight can the most harmonious music afford to a deaf, or what pleasure can the most excellent picture give to a blind man? Can a tasteless palate relish the richest dainties, or a filthy swine be pleased with the finest garden of flowers? No: and what reason can be assigned for it? An answer is ready; because they have neither of them any tempers of mind correspondent or agreeable to what they are to be diverted with. And thus it is with the soul hereafter; for death makes no more alteration in the soul, than as it enlarges its faculties, and makes it capable of receiving deeper impressions either of pleasure or pain. If it delighted to converse with God here, it will be transported with the sight of his glorious Majesty hereafter. If it was pleased with the communion of saints on earth, it will be infinitely more so with the communion and society of holy angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven. But if the opposite of all this be true, we may assure ourselves the soul could not be happy, was God himself to admit it (which he never will do) into the regions of the blessed. But it is time for me to hasten to the Fourth argument, because Christ’s redemption will not be complete in us, unless we are new creatures.

If we reflect indeed on the first and chief end of our blessed Lord’s coming, we shall find it was

to be a propitiation for our sins, to give his life a ransom for many. But then, if the benefits of our dear Redeemer’s death were to extend no farther than barely to procure forgiveness of our sins, we should have as little reason to rejoice in it, as a poor condemned criminal that is ready to perish by some fatal disease, would have in receiving a pardon from his judge. For Christians would do well to consider, that there is not only a legal hindrance to our happiness, as we are breakers of God’s law, but also a moral impurity in our natures, which renders us incapable of enjoying heaven (as has been already proved) till some mighty change have been wrought in us. It is necessary therefore, in order to make Christ’s redemption complete, that we should have a grant of God’s Holy Spirit to change our natures, and so prepare us for the enjoyment of that happiness our Saviour has purchased by his precious blood.

Accordingly the holy scriptures inform us, that whom Christ justifies, or whose sins he forgives, and to whom he imputes his perfect obedience, those he also sanctifies, purifies and cleanses, and totally changes their corrupted natures. As the scripture also says in another place, “Christ is to us justification, sanctification, and then redemption.” But, Fourthly, Proceed we now to the next general thing proposed, to draw some inferences from what has been delivered, And, First, If he that is in Christ be a new creature, this may serve as a reproof for those who rest in a bare performance of outward duties, without perceiving any real inward change of heart.

We may observe a great many persons to be very punctual in the regular returns of public and private prayer, as likewise of receiving the holy communion, and perhaps now and then too in keeping a fast. But here is the misfortune, they rest barely in the use of the means, and think all is over, when they have thus complied with those sacred institutions; whereas, were they rightly informed, they would consider, that all the instituted means of grace, as prayer, fasting, hearing and reading the word of God, receiving the blessed sacrament, and such-like, are no farther serviceable to us, than as they are found to make us inwardly better, and to carry on the spiritual life in the soul.

It is true, they are means; but then they are only means; they are part, but not the whole of faith: for if so, who more religious than the Pharisee?

He fasted twice in the week, and gave tithes of all that he possessed, and yet was not justified, as our Saviour himself informs us, in the sight of God. You perhaps, like the Pharisee, may fast often, and make long prayers; you may, with Herod, hear good sermons gladly. But yet, if you continue vain and trifling, immoral or worldly-minded, and differ from the rest of your neighbours barely in going REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 5

of natural things, and we understand them not, how much less ought we to wonder, if we cannot immediately account for the invisible workings of the Holy Spirit? The truth of the matter is this: the doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in Christ Jesus, is hard to be understood by the natural man.

But that there is really such a thing, and that each of us must be spiritually born again, I shall endeavour to show under my Third general head, in which I was to produce some arguments to make good the apostle’s assertion.

And here one would think it sufficient to affirm, First, That God himself, in his holy word, has told us so. Many texts might be produced out of the Old Testament to prove this point, and indeed, one would wonder how Nicodemus, who was a teacher in Israel, and who was therefore to instruct the people in the spiritual meaning of the law, should be so ignorant of this grand article, as we find he really was, by his asking our blessed Lord, when he was pressing on him this topic, How can these things be?

Surely, he could not forget how often the Psalmist had begged of God, to make him “a new heart,” and “to renew a right spirit within him;” as likewise, how frequently the prophets had warned the people to make them “new hearts,” and new minds, and so turn unto the Lord their God. But not to mention these and such like texts out of the Old Testament, this doctrine is so often and plainly repeated in the New, that, as I observed before, he who runs may read. For what says the great Prophet and Instructor of the world himself: “Except a man (every one that is naturally the offspring of Adam) be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” And lest we should be apt to slight this assertion, and Nicodemus-like, reject the doctrine, because we cannot immediately explain “How this thing can be;” our blessed Master therefore affirms it, as it were, by an oath, “Verily, verily, I say unto you,” or, as it may be read, I the Amen; I who am truth itself, say unto you, that it is the unalterable appointment of my heavenly Father, that “unless a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Agreeable to this, are those many passages we meet within the epistles, where we are commanded to be “renewed in the Spirit,” or, which was before explained, in the inmost faculties of our minds; to “put off the Old Man, which is corrupt; and to put on the New Man, which is created after God, in righteousness and true holiness;” that “old things must pass away, and that all things must become new;” that we are to be “saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Or, was there no other passage to be produced besides the words of the text, it would be full enough, since the apostle therein positively affirms, that “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

Now, what can be understood by all these different PAGE 4 REVIVAL TIMES

terms of being born again, or putting off the Old Man, and putting on the New, of being renewed in the spirit of our minds, and becoming new creatures; but that Christianity requires a thorough, real inward change of heart? Do we think these and such-like forms of speaking, are mere metaphors, words of a bare sound, without any real solid signification? Indeed, it is to be feared, some men would have them interpreted so; but alas! unhappy men! They are not to be envied in their metaphorical interpretation: it will be well, if they do not interpret themselves out of their salvation.

Multitudes of other texts might be produced to confirm this same truth; but those already quoted are so plain and convincing, that one would imagine no one should deny it; were we not told, there are some, “who having eyes, see not, and ears, hear not, and that will not understand with their hearts, or hear with their ears, lest they should be converted, and Christ should heal them.”

But I proceed to a Second argument; and that shall be taken from the purity of God, and the present corrupt and polluted state of man.

God is described in holy scripture (and I speak to those who profess to know the scripture) as a Spirit; as a being of such infinite sanctity, as to be of “purer eyes than to behold iniquity;” as to be so transcendently holy, that it is said “the very heavens are not clean in his sight; and the angels themselves he charges with folly.” On the other hand, man is described (and every regenerate person will find it true by his own experience) as a creature altogether “conceived and born in sin;” as having “no good thing dwelling in him;” as being “carnal, sold under sin;”, as having “a mind which is at enmity with God,” and such-like. And since there is such an infinite disparity, can any one conceive how a filthy, corrupted, polluted wretch can dwell with an infinitely pure and holy God, before he is changed, and rendered, in some measure, like him? Can he, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, dwell with it? Can he, in whose sight the heavens are not clean, delight to dwell with uncleanness itself? No, we might as well suppose light to have communion with darkness, or Christ to have concord with Belial.

But I pass on to a Third argument, which shall be founded on the consideration of the nature of that happiness God has prepared for those that unfeignedly love him.

To enter indeed on a minute and particular description of heaven, would be vain and presumptuous, since we are told that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive, the things that are there prepared” for the sincere followers of the holy Jesus, even in this life, much less in that which is to come. However, this we may venture to affirm in general, that as

now connect to that Kingdom (through his Spirit) and receive the abundant life of heaven (not necessarily the abundance of this earthly life these two are different). We are given entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride, the household of God, mount Zion which is in HEAVEN which is gigantic!

There is no earthly human kingdom or organisation called ‘the Church’, but rather we are called ‘strangers’ and ‘pilgrims’ who like salt are mixed into all of the multitude of nations or like yeast mixed in the dough, now pleading for them to receive Christ and be delivered from Satan before the judgement comes (Heb 11:13; Pet 1:1; 2:11).

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Phil 3:20-21) Why did Jesus go to heaven?

Well because the Law was being removed and would no longer be required for justification (acceptance). Instead of residing in the bricks and mortar Temple, God the Spirit was about to dwell inside human tabernacles - that is in physical bodies - that’s the miracle of faith! Paul writes confidently in his first letter to the Galatians that, because of this, we are no longer called to be in the ‘household of Law’, but rather to be in the ‘household of faith’ which is heavenly: “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise (by Spirit). Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children (Jews).

But Jerusalem which is above is free,

which is the mother of us all (church, Zion). For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate (Gentiles) hath many more children than she which hath an husband (Israel). Now we (Christians), brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise (Spirit). But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Gal 5:21-31)

Not of this world The point of bringing this to the forefront, is that in order to be Christ’s household, His holy nation, we must first realise that it’s not about building any ‘earthly kingdom’ or ‘organisation’, with wealth,

buildings, political domination and power over others - not even over God’s enemies who oppose the truth (more on that later). The earthly humanistic utilitarian idea is a complete delusion causing division and ambition among those who believe. So wicked are men’s hearts that they want to build an earthly kingdom on behalf of God, not realising that God does not require it! Such are the denominations and cults we see today, not designed by Jesus or the apostles.

In contrast, God’s plans for this fallen earth include a series of warning judgements leading ultimately to an inescapable final judgement (Rev 5-11) and destruction of man’s entire history and all his works! Jesus said that this would be just as

sudden as when he destroyed the world in the time of Noah or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and who has found them apart from dust? However, the final judgement will be by a supernatural fire, and many will be destroyed and lost to hell for rejecting Jesus! God’s warning has come because he loves us and wants to save us from this destruction which was planned since the beginning of the fall in Eden. The world has been so deceived by Satan that they are destined for this judgement and there is literally no hope in the world’s future - salvation is truly only in Christ! It’s the great and terrible day of the Lord. It’s terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God! The good news for those of faith is that whether we live or die through these many tribulation we will enter the heavenly kingdom and our reward.

Being a Christian is about being prepared for this day and the final resurrection off the dead earth to meet Jesus and the Father with the angels in glory.

Just think how glorious it will be to meet the Father without fear, sin or pain and then in a new earth to live eternally!

Even more glorious is that it’s possible for us to connect with the greater glory of Jesus today.

Again in Hebrews we read: “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn (remnant Jews), which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying,Yet once more I shake not the REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 21

earth only, but also heaven (sky). And this word,Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made (the visible universe), that those things which cannot be shaken may remain (Christ’s Kingdom). Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:18-29) Make no mistake about it, the human race is in really big trouble, because Jesus is coming back in POWER with angels and the saints! Lord have mercy on us all. This will be a terrible and terrifying day for those who are unprepared. This is the whole point of the body of Christ – to prepare for his return and so, just like the Levite priests, we now realise we have no inheritance in this earth (land), but rather we are strangers and pilgrims that are looking to him for salvation, this is our great hope (Rom 8:24).

This is also why Paul exhorts us to ‘seek those things above’, because this is our place and destiny, we must not turn back like Lots wife did (Luke 17:32).

Don’t turn back to the world, but press onwards and upwards and escape this corrupt generation!

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (in heaven!) Set your affection on things above, (in heaven!) not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your (spiritual) life is hid with Christ in God.When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,(second appearing) then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (resurrection)” (Col 3:1-2) These truths have huge practical implications for how we see ourselves, others and how we decide to live our lives in this present evil world. Are you really ready for Him? (see 1 John 3:1-4).

Escaping the Wrath to come Over the centuries there have been many great Christians who have revealed Christ’s divine life and passed on the good news of his salvation from the wrath

to come. We must first be clear on what we are being saved ‘from’ and ‘to’, then our purpose becomes very clear - His will be done on earth as in heaven.

The focus of our attention must be, as Jesus and Paul preached, ‘seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness’ and this Kingdom is not on earth but in Heaven where Jesus now dwells as King and Lord. He must be our total focus – our Apostle and High Priest in heaven. We must know and understand what is going on in heaven in order for it to be done on earth! This Kingdom is where Paul knew he would be going before he was taken and martyred by the Roman emperor Nero: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

(2 Tim 4:18)

When Paul was beheaded for the Faith he died and his spirit and soul went to be with Jesus in heaven, in the glory of God’s presence. One day, along with all other dead Christians, he will return with Jesus and receive a new body at the resurrection and those of faith, still living after tribulation, will too! These new bodies are the promised ‘houses’ or ‘mansions’ that Jesus promised to us who believe.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

(John 14:1-3)

What this all means practically, is that the ‘church’, which Jesus builds, is firstly ‘heavenly’ minded and based and not ‘earthly’. The ‘church’ is not the Kingdom on this earth and it’s not meant to be an organisation or charity to improve society (without any repentance). The ‘church’ is not meant to take over the kingdoms of the earth for Jesus (dominion theology). Like

PAGE 22 REVIVAL TIMES

Jesus and Paul the church will experience greater persecution as the end approaches. Secondly, the kingdom of God is bigger than the people of God and much bigger even than the visible universe. God’s plan was and is to do away with Satan and sin.

This means that this earth (even the whole universe) is due for demolition because of corruption and God plans to rebuild a new heaven and new earth - he’s not planning to simply restore this one and He has the power to do it! This means that the only way to escape this judgement is to be IN CHRIST and CHRIST IN YOU! HE is literally our ‘spiritual Ark’ and those who enter in become his people forever! Our Christian hope is to be a part of the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells and sin is no more. The restoration of all things (2 Pet 3:13).

Lastly we must accept that we are the new temple of God’s dwelling in this earth today and that this is enough for us. We must not turn back to reconstruct the shadow of the Law with buildings and religious paraphernalia . Rather we must embrace the freedom of the Holy Spirit and go out towards all the lost and needy with the good news, just as Jesus had commanded.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt 28:17-20) n Next time in Part 2 we consider: Why Did Jesus Build Things Differently?

To read this entire message in pdf format please email your request to: Stephen@omega-ministries.org

continued from cover

First, I am to endeavour to explain what is meant by this expression in the text, “If any man be in Christ.”

Now a person may be said to be in Christ two ways.

Firstly, Only by an outward profession. And in this sense, every one that is called a Christian, or baptised into Christ’s church, may be said to be in Christ. But that this is not the sole meaning of the apostle’s phrase before us, is evident, because then, every one that names the name of Christ, or is baptised into his visible church, would be a new creature. Which is notoriously false, it being too plain, beyond all contradiction, that comparatively but few of those that are “born of water,” are “born of the Spirit” likewise; to use another spiritual way of speaking, many are baptised with water, which were never baptised with the Holy Spirit.

To be in Christ therefore, in the full meaning of the word, must certainly mean something more than a bare outward profession, or being called after his name. For, as this same apostle tells us, “All are not Israelites that are of Israel,” so when applied to Christianity, all are not real Christians that are nominally such. No, this is so far from being the case, that our blessed Lord himself informs us, that many who have prophesied or preached in his name, and in his name cast out devils, and done many wonderful works, shall notwithstanding be dismissed at the last day, with “depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity.”

It remains therefore, that this expression, “if any man be in Christ,” must be understood in a... ..Second and closer signification, to be in him so as to partake of the benefits of his sufferings. To be in him not only by an outward profession, but by an inward change and purity of heart, and cohabitation of his Holy Spirit. To be in him, so as to be mystically united to him by a true and lively faith, and thereby to receive spiritual virtue from him, as the members of the natural body do from the head, or the branches from the vine. To be in him in such a manner as the apostle, speaking of himself, reminds us he knew a person was, “I knew man in Christ,” a true Christian; or, as he himself desires to be in Christ, when he wishes, in his epistle to the Philippians, that he might be found in him.

This is undoubtedly the proper meaning of the apostle’s expression in the words of the text; so that what he says in his epistle to the Romans about circumcision, may very well be applied to the present subject; that he is not a real Christian who is only one outwardly; nor is that true baptism,

which is only outward in the flesh. But he is a true Christian, who is one inwardly, whose baptism is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not merely in the water, whose praise is not of man but of God. Or, as he says in another place, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision achieves any thing (of itself) but a new creature.” Which amounts to what he here declares in the verse now under consideration, that if any man be truly and properly in Christ, he is a new creature. Which brings me to show, Secondly, What we are to understand by being a new creature.

And here it is evident at the first view, that this expression is not to be so explained as though there was a physical change required to be made in us; or as though we were to be reduced to our primitive nothings, and then created and formed again. For, supposing we were, as Nicodemus ignorantly imagined, to enter a “second time into our mother’s womb, and be born,” alas! what would it contribute towards rendering us spiritually new creatures?

Since “that which was born of the flesh would be flesh still;” we should be the same carnal persons as ever, being derived from carnal parents, and consequently receiving the seeds of all manner of sin and corruption from them. No, it only means, that we must be so altered as to the qualities and tempers of our minds, that we must entirely forget what manner of persons we once were. As it may be said of a piece of gold, that was once in the ore, after it has been cleansed, purified and polished, that it is a new piece of gold; as it may be said of a bright glass that has been covered over with filth, when it is wiped, and so become transparent and clear, that it is a new glass: Or, as it might be said of Naaman, when he recovered of his leprosy, and his flesh became like the flesh of a young child, that he was a new man; so our souls, though still the same as to offense, yet are so purged, purified and cleansed from their natural dross, filth and leprosy, by the blessed influences of the Holy Spirit, that they may be properly said to be made anew.

How this glorious change is wrought in the soul, cannot easily be explained: For no one knows the ways of the Spirit save the Spirit of God himself.

Not that this ought to be any argument against this doctrine; for, as our blessed Lord observed to Nicodemus, when he was discoursing on this very subject, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth;” and if we are told REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 3

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

ISSUE: 01

Revival – God’s Way Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

Revival times is a FREE publication offered to those who want to be encouraged and built up to know JESUS CHRIST as their Lord God and saviour. It is published

by Omega Ministries which is a non-denominational prophetic movement of believers who want to see the Kingdom come on earth as in heaven. Please send all enquiries or questions to the email address given below.

We recognise all material copyrights and thank God that all contributors take no wages for their work of faith in order to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and to revive his true church in our day.

All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible and or Greek and Hebrew, where appropriate, for clarity.

This paper and other teaching material is offered online for downloading and printing free of charge.

If you are inspired by the content of this paper please pass on to brothers and sisters for their encouragement.

Revival is a long lost concept in our modern society because the true Gospel has been perverted, watered down and twisted for personal gain by wolves in sheeps clothing. Enough is enough and now the sleepers must awake from their spiritual stupor. The dead dry bones must live and the faithful army of the Lord arise and shine the beauty of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

The Call Has Gone Out Soldiers of Christ, arise And put your armour on, Strong in the strength which God supplies Thru His eternal Son; Strong in Lord of hosts And in His mighty power: Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint .

Isaiah 40:28-31

Editor: Stephen Turnham © please copy and pass on Download the PDF here: www.omega-ministries.org email: info@omega-ministries.org

PAGE 2 REVIVAL TIMES

When nothing else is important— Only God’s presence Divine, When Christians quit worldly pleasures, Then God, His ear will incline.

Desperate prayer for Revival Will cleanse the Church by the Word.

Then clothed in spotless, white linen, The Bride clears the way for her Lord.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Rom 10:9) Do you accept in your heart that Jesus is alive from the dead!? o Yes o No

TEST 3: Believe AND be baptised to be saved

He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21) Jesus and the apostles taught that unless you are baptised by full immersion upon believing, you will not be saved, but damned?

—Estelle Gifford Jackson FIRST THOUGHTS Christ in you the hope of glory Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians

chapter

In a moment you will read of 12 tests that Jesus, and the apostles gave you in writing, so that you can know where you stand regarding your salvation. They did this to help you know Jesus Christ personally and have full and total assurance and confidence, that you are His. The tests of faith, where only a YES is a pass: If you have a NO against any of the tests please take it most seriously in humble prayer to God. Seek and you will find.

TEST 2: Jesus was resurrected from death on the cross

The lost ones will yield to God’s Spirit When Christians, cleansed, weep and pray; God’s Living Water flows outward; This is “Revival—God’s Way”!

to the

THE TESTS OF SCRIPTURE TO HELP YOU KNOW

Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

(John 10:25-26) Do you accept that Jesus is the promised Messiah, Emmanuel, God in the flesh and that the miracles he did in the Father’s name proved who he was? o Yes o No

Then will the burdens be lifted, Then all the sinners will cry, Then all the chains will be loosened And worldly passions will die.

The E pistle

he apostles and prophets teach us through Scripture that it is wise to examine ourself and consider if we are living to please God. This is not to condemn ourselves, but rather to enable us to change into His image. We must be founded on Him alone and KNOW that we are truly known by Him and belong to Him without a doubt in our mind.

You may have been going to a church for many years and never been told about the TESTS OF THE FAITH. Here is your chance to find out if you KNOW Jesus and if he KNOWS you.

TEST 1: Jesus is the Messiah, proven by his miracle signs

Prayer is the key to Revival, Prayer that is true Spirit-born, Nights of compassionate weeping— Intercession for all the forlorn.

in

Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves.

T

Where is the hope for Revival— God’s Holy Spirit outpoured Convicting of sin, and of judgement And righteousness of the Lord?

Apostle Paul

How to know whether you are a true disciple

1

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(Acts 2:37-38, see also Rom 6:4) o Yes o No

TEST 4: Signs and miracles happen today as proof of faith

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(Mark 16:17-18) Jesus said that by the Holy Spirit he would still do miracles then and now through his body, the believing church until the end of the ages. Do you accept this? (or like the Jews do you mistakenly think it’s a devilish thing?).

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) o Yes o No

TEST 5: Do you hear the voice of Jesus?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27-29) Do you hear the voice of Jesus everyday guiding your life forward in obedience to his Spirit and Word? o Yes o No

TEST 6: Jesus Christ must be IN you

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in

2 Corinthians 13:5

you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corin 13:5; see also Col 1:27; Gal 4:19) Do you have confidence that Jesus himself freely dwells in your body as his temple? This is revealed by the FRUIT and the GIFTS of His Spirit, love and power manifested daily. We are to be like Jesus not like our fellow man lost in sin and death.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (1 John 2:3-6). o Yes o No

TEST 7: The Spirit dwells in you

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Rom 8:9) Do you have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you? (How do you know this? see Acts 10:45-48) o Yes o No

TEST 8: His commandments and they are not grievous

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

(1 John 2:3-4 and 1 John 5:3) Are you able to keep Jesus commandments and enjoy it? Jesus said that His yoke (work) was easy (Matt 11:30) - does it feel easy to you? o Yes o No

TEST 9: You do not love the world anymore

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15) Are you free from the things that worldly people do, smoking, drinking, gambling, lusting after women, trying to get rich etc.? or do you still chase after these things as a human right. Do you love God’s Kingdom more than earths kingdom? o Yes o No

TEST 10: Stop wilfully sinning

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:5-6) see also Gal 5:24.

Have you stopped sinning against God, against others and against your own body, by crucifying your flesh through fasting and prayer? o Yes o No

TEST 11: Obeying the teaching of Jesus

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9) Jesus taught us by example that we should both think AND do what he did. Are you fully abiding and obeying ALL that Jesus taught you in the Gospels? o Yes o No

TEST 12: Loving our brethren in Christ

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

(1 John 3:14) Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ, whoever or wherever they are? o Yes o No

WHAT IF I FAIL ANY OF THESE TESTS?

The purpose of these tests is not that you fail, but that you pass! If your heart and mind are convicted by any of these tests, then you have opportunity to CHANGE and come into obedience to God’s Word of Life. But don’t wait, this is urgent, because life is short, time is running out. Why be deceived when you can be completely free and have peace and joy now! Make sure you have the assurance of eternal life, by obeying Jesus and the apostles teaching in the Bible.

Remember what Paul said: 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 2:12-13) (see also James 4:10) (See Resources overleaf)

REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 23

Useful Resources

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

In this section are a number of websites and books which can help inspire you to to seek the Lord in effective praying and in getting out there doing as well. As always, JESUS CHRIST is our greatest example and the one to whom we must compare ourselves and obey. The greatest resource is the Bible itself, so please spend your main study time in the Word of God, preferably the living Bible the King James Version!

These days even a short search on YouTube for revival preaching provides a great deal - but always test against Scripture, because we see through a glass darkly.

Websites: www.omega-ministries.org Free material to download, Booklets and tracts. www.biblegateway.com Online Bible versions for comparison www.biblehub.com Online Bible versions and Greek / Hebrew Lexicon and Interlinear www.spurgeongems.org Powerful messages from one of the great preachers of the 19th Century www.heartcrymissionary.com Equipping and mobilizing indigenous churches and missionaries www.propheticvision.org.uk David Hathaway evangelistic website - recommended! www.eurovisiontv.org Revival preaching broadcasts to the world- David Hathaway www.thelastreformation.com Join the network of believers who want to see power evangelism

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 This no-compromise, biblical clarion call to revival is timeless. He clearly shows how the church can be brought from where it is to where it ought to be. The church still needs his message, first published in 1983. “We live in a generation which has never known revival— God’s way!”

Available from: Bethany House

TRACTS to aid outreach

For the God sent no save world; d. (Jo but tht his So H hn 3: at th n inOF FAIT Jesu 17) e wSor to the inhe s is that E TEST ld th world roug inhe ritance WAYTH to

ow to kn How er you wheth true are a of le discip ra h istre yo C s u Jes RE u a

Omega has a range of uniquely inspired tracts that present the Word of God to the non-believers and religious minded.

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Available from: www.omega-ministries.org

Much of what we see expressed in the church today is built on more than just the New Testament. It’s built, instead, mostly on the Old Testament, Church culture, and Paganism. It is therefore imperative that we as God’s people dare to stop and take a closer look at the church today compared to the first church seen in Acts.

Available from: TheLastReformation.com

Do not read this book if you enjoy Sunday morning church services!

This book is for believers who want to utterly abandon it all, from top to bottom, and then start over in a way that is a revolutionary, radical departure from all present-day church practices.

Available from: www.seedsowers.com

ISSUE: 02

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

JESUS CHRIST

AND REGENERATION

By George Whitfield 1737 - No. 49

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature 2 Corinthians 5:17

T

he doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in Christ Jesus, though one of the most fundamental doctrines of our holy faith; though so plainly and often pressed on us in sacred writings, “that he who runs may read;” even though it is the very hinge on which the salvation of each of us turns, and a point too in which all sincere Christians, of every denomination, agree; yet it is so seldom considered, and so little experimentally understood by the generality of professors, that were we to judge of the truth of it, by the experience of most who call themselves Christians, we should think they had “not so much as heard” whether there be any such thing as regeneration or not. It is true, men for the most part are orthodox in the common words of their creed; they believe “there

is but one God, and one Mediator between God and men, even the man Christ Jesus;” and that ‘there is no other name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved,’ besides His: But then tell them, they must be regenerated, they must be born again, they must be renewed in the very spirit, in the inmost faculties of their minds, so they can truly call Christ, “Lord, Lord,” or have an evidence that they have any share in the merits of his precious blood; and they are ready to cry out with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” Or with the Athenians, on another occasion, “What will this bumbler say? He seems to be a preacher of strange doctrines;” because we preach to them Christ, and the new-birth.

That I may therefore contribute my mite towards curing the fatal mistake of such persons, who would thus put asunder

INSIDE Jesus The only foundation • My Father’s Business • & more...

what God has inseparably joined together, and vainly think they are justified by Christ, or have their sins forgiven, and his perfect obedience imputed to them, when they are not sanctified, have not their natures changed, and made holy, I shall beg leave to enlarge on the words of the text in the following manner: First, I shall endeavour to explain what is meant by being in Christ: “If any man be in Christ.”

Secondly, What we are to understand by being a new creature: “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”

Thirdly, I shall produce some arguments to make good the apostle’s assertion. And Fourthly, I shall draw some inferences from what may be delivered, and then conclude with a word or two of exhortation.

continued on page 3

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