The Sower Magazine - Return to Me... - God (3rd quarter)

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TheSower Volume 14 Issue 3 | 3rd Quarter 2012

The quarterly magazine of Spirit & Truth Fellowship International®

ARTICLES:

• RETURN TO ME... -GOD • CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH • COFFEE HOUSE FELLOWSHIP

NEW

MANNERS

&CUSTOMS Threshing, Winnowing & Sieving P. 20

Opening Letter

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

Return to God God deserves our obedience, and He wants us to obey Him because He wants us to be blessed and not suffer.

I

love poetry, and one of my favorite poems is “The Mills of the Gods” (author unknown). It opens, “He was the slave of Ambition,” and it is about a man who wanted fortune, fame and love at any cost. It is not wrong to want those things, but they must be pursued in a godly manner, and certainly not in an immoral or illegal way.

Unknown and unseen to the selfish man in the poem was “the Gods” above (it is not specifically a Christian poem), who disapproved of the ungodly ways he was accomplishing his goals. Nevertheless, the man pressed forward in his selfish ways, finally convincing himself that there might be no consequences for his behavior.

God loves people, but the world is a war zone between the forces of Good and Evil. God wants to love and bless us, but the Devil wants to ruin our lives now and eternally. It would be nice if God could just bless us and protect us no matter how we lived, but He is righteous, and that means He cannot ignore our sin. He cannot effectively help us if we ignore and disobey Him. Furthermore, this principle works on both a personal and national level. God has blessed America, but He cannot continue to bless and protect our nation if our national policies are in direct contradiction to what He tells us in His Word. The Devil is prowling around the earth looking for anyone he can devour. He can and does ruin people and nations who have ignored God and the protection He offers.

That is why this issue of the Sower is dedicated to calling people back to godly living.

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Individuals make the decision to obey or disobey God, and nations are just groups of individuals whose decisions are called “laws.” From God’s perspective, He can bless and protect those individuals and groups that obey Him, and cannot effectively protect those who do not. As the man in the poem became entrenched in his wanton lifestyle, he brazenly said, “The Mills of the Gods grind slowly, If they ever grind at all.”

The problem with that thinking is, of course, that there is a God and there are consequences for sin, as the man found out too late. None of us should have to find out too late that there are consequences for sin for both an individual and a nation. We should not be lulled into apathy by the fact that there can be many years between a sinful lifestyle and the consequences for it.

God deserves our obedience, and He wants us to obey Him because He wants us to be blessed and not suffer. Sadly, in many countries today, the people, even the Christians, spend all their time in pursuit of what pleases them—money, popularity, sex, and fun—and ignore God’s request to seek Him first and spend time in things like worship, prayer, and service to others. We must not ignorantly and arrogantly think that there are no consequences for that kind of behavior.

It is up to us to find the strength to live an obedient lifestyle before God, and ask our leaders to do the same. It will be worth the effort, both now and in the future, if we control our passions and live a godly life. May God bless you!

John W. Schoenheit

7 Monthly Audio CDs

Credits Publisher Spirit & Truth Fellowship International

®

Executive Editors John W. Schoenheit Dan Gallagher Editors Janet Speakes Renee Speakes

Contents

13 Remembering Debbie Owens

Volume 14 - Issue 3 - Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

27 Sex & Scripture Book

Lead Article

The Contender

Partner Profile

Return to Me! -God

Contending for the Faith

Ray & Ann Littlefield

by Dan Gallagher

by John W. Schoenheit

by Ray & Ann Littlefield

Page 4 The lesson seems pretty clear: honor God and He will provide for and protect those who love and obey Him.

Page 10 Many Christians think (or act as if they think) that the entirety of their Christian duty is to “be a good person,” and “go to church.”

Page 17 Ray & Ann Littlefield explain why they are partners with Spirit & Truth Fellowship.

The ABC’s of God

Manners & Customs

The Vine

A Still, Small Voice and a Honk

Threshing, Winnowing & Sieving

Coffee House Fellowship

by Cara Hanson

by John W. Schoenheit

Page 18 This young child was hearing the voice of God when I was too busy making noise to hear it.

I listened more carefully and realized that the only way to hear God is to shut out the rest of the world.

Page 20 For thousands of years farmers used a basic three-part system of threshing, winnowing, and using a sieve to get the grain to the point where it could be ground into flour.

Page 24 If you are looking for a way to “jump-start” your fellowship, or even to get something going, then maybe the “Coffee House Fellowship” approach would work for you.

15 The Christian’s Hope Book 26 Dear Sower 28 REV Commentary

Magazine Designer Ryan Maher Staff Writers John W. Schoenheit Dan Gallagher Production Coordinator Dustin Williams

Research Websites TruthOrTradition.com Over one thousand articles pertaining to many biblical issues.

BiblicalUnitarian.com Explore an entire website dedicated to the truth of One God & One Lord.

Home Office 180 Robert Curry Drive Martinsville, IN 46151 888.255.6189 or 765.349.2330 M-F 9 to 5 (ET) Fax: 765.342.8430 STF@STFonline.org STFonline.org You may view the electronic version of this magazine at STFonline.org/sower View back issues at STFonline.org/backissues All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.

NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984

by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. References taken from other translations or versions will be noted, e.g., King James Version=(KJV). In verses or quotations from other authors, the author has emphasized words by placing them in bold print. Words inside [brackets] have been added by the author.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

by Dan Gallagher

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 3

Lead Article

FEATURE

RETURN TO ME! -GOD

BY DAN GALLAGHER

A

lthough most cat owners are pretty accustomed to their pet’s aloofness, dog owners generally expect a higher level of obedience, especially when you want them to “come.” One morning I was confronted with some canine independence when I called my dog. As usual, he found the neighbor’s activities a lot more intriguing than anything he thought I had to offer. Standing his ground firmly, almost as if his feet were welded in place, he looked at me over his shoulder. It was clear that he had no concern for my schedule or my need 4 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

that he come, NOW! It may seem far-fetched to some, but there was a spiritual lesson I gleaned from my pooch’s self-centeredness.

What struck me that morning was how God has been calling out to people in much the same way that I called to my dog, and just like my dog ignored me, for the most part people have ignored Him. One of the first stories in Scripture tells of God walking in the Garden, calling out to Adam, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:8). God’s repeated plea to people throughout human history has been, “Return to

FEATURE

There are consequences for how people respond to God’s call It is easy to see that most people go about their daily lives with little thought or concern for God or His ways. Sadly, few understand that God has told mankind that there are very clear and definite consequences for how people respond to God’s call.

There are great benefits for all those who obey God, so much so, that their obedience can actually affect their weather, the fruitfulness of the harvest, and the safety of their countries. God expresses this spiritual reality in a number of sections of Scripture, and the essence of this truth is captured in Leviticus.

Me!” He has always sought those who will serve Him with more than mere words.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Leviticus 26: 3-5 (3) “ ‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, (4) I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit.

(5) Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.

The lesson seems pretty clear: honor God and He will provide for and protect those who love and obey Him. But, just as obedience brings about God’s benevolence, so too, disobedience can produce great disaster.

Leviticus 26: 21 “‘If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve.

Lead Article

This promise of reward or calamity applies to both individuals and nations as a whole. The following section is not just about God’s chosen people, Israel. Some read it thinking it applies only to Israel, however it says, “… if a country…” meaning any country.

Ezekiel 14:13-14 (13) “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, (14) even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD. We cannot dismiss this section of Scripture as archaic or something that does not concern us today. I have heard some people say, “But that only applies to Israel because they had a covenant with God.” But the record makes it clear that he is speaking unconditionally to any country. There are severe consequences for any country that turns its back on God. God’s hope would have been that He got people’s attention by naming the four judgments mentioned: famine, wild beasts, sword, and plague, since they were the four main causes of death among the ancient civilizations.

We Christians want to live under the blessing of God, but far too frequently fail to see that many of His blessings in this life are conditioned upon our obedience to Him. Any nation that honors Him will be blessed, and “any” that does not will suffer for it.

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 5

Lead Article

FEATURE

Understanding the shifting balance in the spiritual battle

Throughout time God has demonstrated His great love for people by His providence, that is, His provision and His protection. But sin always produces a separation between man and God, and because of His holiness and righteousness, it limits Him in His ability to come to our aid in the spiritual battle.

It may help to think of God’s favor by seeing it as a hand placed over us. Our sin causes Him to lift His hand, which allows the enemy to slip in under it and harm us. The lifting of God’s hand, the withdrawing of His favor happens on both a personal and national scale. Although the following verse is specifically directed towards the people of Jerusalem, the principle seems clear: when people sin deliberately and grievously by rejecting God and His ways, He withdraws His favor.

Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because you have defiled

6 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, I myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you with pity or spare you.

There is a “tipping point” in the spiritual battle

The spiritual battle raging around us is a cosmic war between good and evil, and like any war, there is a constant shifting in who is winning between the two combatants at any given time. When people act righteously, honoring God, and doing what He says to do, it causes a shift in the heavenly realms. Our acting in holy ways increases His ability to intervene on our behalf. Conversely, when people deliberately reject Him the enemy increases in his ability to do evil. He rushes in, taking over more spiritual territory and causing evil to increase.

Unlike the game of chess where there can be a stalemate between the two players, a standoff between good and evil rarely occurs. At any given time one side is always increasing while

the other decreases. And, when one side gains enough movement in their favor they can reach a “tipping point,” the time when they have tremendous advantage and momentum.

An easy way to understand the “tipping point” is to picture an object like a book or a brick standing upright.

When you push against the top it will begin to lean, and eventually, if you keep pushing, it will fall over on its own because it has passed the “tipping point.” In the spiritual realm there is a point when enough of a shift in one direction has occurred that good or evil will increase exponentially. In the case of a nation, when this happens with evil, great calamity occurs. The tipping point has been passed and God’s ability to intervene is severely limited. Many times it is the dire state of events that helps people to see their need for God, and this in turn drives them right back into His arms.

How does this apply to us?

There is much to learn from the story of Israel’s numerous rises and falls. The ups and downs are directly connected to how they waxed and

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 7

Lead Article

FEATURE

waned in their service to God. He was clear with them when He called them as a nation. In essence He said, “Bless Me and I will bless you—ignore me and you will suffer!”

“God Bless America” is a very common maxim in this country, but in the spiritual battle, pithy platitudes are never enough. It is delusional to think we can have God’s blessing when we live in a way that dishonors Him. It is arrogant to think that we as a nation can ban God from the schools, padlock Him from our public institutions, ignore Him in the justice system, and reject Him through our immoral behavior and then still think that He will “Bless America.” This is like waxing a rusted car fender, thinking that it will fix the problem.

The issue is decay, and it cannot be fixed with cosmetics. It is prideful to think that a country can ignore God’s directions and commands and not suffer for it.

Hosea 7:10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.

Hosea 5:4, 5 (4)”Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. (5)Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; How is the United States today any different from Israel in Hosea’s day? America, as well as many other nations, is not honoring the Almighty, and at some point our rejection of Him will result in calamity. I am not saying that there are no righteous, God-fearing and God-seeking people in our country. Many ask, “Are these the End Times?” Only time will tell, 8 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

but one thing we do know for certain is that there has been a worldwide increase of geo-physical disasters, wars, famines, religious upheaval, and economic implosion. These things will increase until people turn their hearts back to God.

America, bless God— then God will bless America

I want God to bless America and I pray for that all the time, but what too few seem to remember is that in order for God to bless any nation, that nation must bless God. God would have to go against His very nature for this not to be the case. The spiritual rules God established tell us that “what one sows he reaps.” When we sow unrighteousness we will reap disaster.

Our nation’s forefathers recognized the role God played in the founding of this country. In his inaugural address George Washington stated, “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency;”1 After being sworn into office as the first President he stated the following, much like the prophetic warning Moses issued to Israel.

“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.”2 As summarized by Jonathan

Cahn in his book The Harbinger, George Washington’s statement can be understood as saying: “If America upholds God’s eternal standards and follows His unchanging ways, then it will be blessed with His favor…His protection…His prosperity…..But if America should depart from the ways of God, if it should disregard His eternal standards, then the smiles of heaven, the blessings of God, will be withdrawn— its prosperity, it’s protection, and its powers would be taken away.”3

What about God’s grace and mercy?

Some may ask, “But what about God’s grace and mercy?” Yes, God has shown great grace (favor) and mercy toward mankind throughout history.

It was by God’s grace that He warned Israel through numerous prophetic messages calling them back to Him. Yet we must realize that God’s grace in providing for us is conditional, for He even tells us that He only gives grace to the humble, and resists the proud (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). Pride is always at the root of rejecting God. “Grace” is getting something we DON’T deserve, whereas “mercy” is not getting what we DO deserve.

Grace never provides for toleration of sin. Not suffering the consequences of sin, that is, not getting what we deserve, happens when God extends His mercy. Thankfully He renews His mercy every day, because we certainly need it. God also says that He will have mercy on those to whom He wants to have mercy….it is always His prerogative and not something anyone is entitled to (Rom. 9:15).

God has also told us that He will not be mocked. We should not think that we can reject God in our words

and deeds and then not suffer for it.

There may not be an immediate or even discernible consequence in our lives when we turn from God, but the nature of the spiritual battle is such that there are consequences for sin.

This is not a time to be discouraged

It is only natural for people to become downhearted and discouraged, and especially so when ungodly behavior and evil increases. God tells us that “when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding” (Prov.

28:28). We can, and must, still pray for God to bless us and our nation even if there is a lot of wickedness in it. It is good to remind ourselves that throughout human history God has never been limited by a majority position.

In the book of 1 Samuel, Saul’s son Jonathan approached a Philistine outpost. He perfectly expressed his position of faith in what he said to his armor bearer: 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows.

Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

No professional gambler would ever consider it wise to accept a bet where the odds were stacked against him a thousand to one. And yet, in God’s spiritual economy, odds like that are irrelevant.

Joshua 23:9, 10 (9) “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.

(10) One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.

We must remind ourselves that our struggle against unrighteousness in our nation is never a matter of “flesh and blood,” but against the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Our battle must be waged on a spiritual level. If one righteous person can set a thousand to flee then God is telling us that we have the ability to affect the outcome of the spiritual

battle on an exponential scale, but only when people return to God with our whole hearts.

Joel 2:12, 13 (12) “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

(13) Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

God’s heart to us is always saying, “Return to me!” If we as a nation will humble our hearts and seek God, (2 Chron. 7:14), He will be faithful to His promise to hear from heaven and heal our land.

Notes: 1. Avalon Project at Yale law School, “First Inaugural Address of George Washington, The City of New York, Thursday, April 30, 1789.”

2. Ibid., Avalon Project at Yale Law School, “First Inaugural Address of George Washington”.

3. Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger, (Lake Mary, FL, Charisma House Book Group, 2011), p. 213.

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 9

The Contender

FEATURE

Contending for the Faith

by John W. Schoenheit If not us…then nobody

C

hristianity is under attack today just as it has been since the first century. Although there are Christians who say that God will protect His Word and His people, that sentiment needs to be examined. When we look in the Word, and examine history, we see that when people put their trust in God and work to protect the integrity of the Word, God takes notice and helps from heaven. But when people leave godly worship and godly lifestyles, then God honors that free will decision and leaves people to the consequences of their actions.

In light of that, it is imperative that Christians learn to contend for the Christian faith. The book of Jude tells us that.

Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to 10 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

What does it mean to “contend” for the faith? The Greek word gives us a little insight. It is epagonizomai (Strong’s #1864 ἐπαγωνίζομαι), and it means “to exert an intense or strenuous effort on behalf of something; to struggle for something, to fight or contend for something.”

That should tell us that if we think contending for the faith is going to be easy and fun, we have the wrong idea. The spiritual war that is raging around us is real, and it takes a strenuous effort to fight on God’s behalf.

Many Christians think (or act as if they think) that the entirety of their Christian duty is to “be a good person,” and “go to church.” Those are important activities, but are they “exerting an intense effort” for the faith? One thing we can learn from this verse is that being the kind of Christian God wants us to be will require a lot of effort on our part, and may mean getting involved in things that, frankly, we

would rather not be involved in. No one likes conflict, but we will not be able to openly practice our Christianity if we do not fight for the faith. Perhaps a greater lesson from Jude is this: God would not tell us to do something if He were going to do it for us. We have to contend for the faith.

Is religion a “private matter?”

Although many Christians assert that religion should be a private matter, that sentiment is not biblical or logical. There are two primary issues we must examine.

Firstly, “Is Christianity a private matter?” The second is closely related: “Can any religion be a private matter?” As to whether or not Christianity should be a private matter, the Bible is very clear that Christians are to be witnesses and ambassadors for Jesus Christ.

But can any religion be a private matter? The answer is a resounding “No!” Due to its very nature, religion cannot be private. Agnostics, hedonists, and others try to disguise this fact by saying that “religion” is defined by specific creeds, liturgy, mode of worship, a specific “holy book,” etc., but Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary says that religion includes “a personal set…of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.” Everyone has a “personal set” of beliefs by which he orders his life. There are no exceptions. So it is actually ironic that some people who are offended by Christian morals and do not want them in the workplace, or at a dinner party, or anyplace else for that matter, are quite content with “their religion” being in those places.

It is part of the arrogance and self-deception of many unbelievers that they do not want “religion” brought into the work place. Yet these people are unaware (or maybe not!) that what they talk about and do is openly flaunting their religion. A few nights ago I was channel surfing and stumbled upon a “comedian” talking about the women he was seducing. In the less-than-a-minute it took me to realize what he was talking about and “surf out,” he had openly flaunted his hedonistic and self-centered atheistic beliefs, yet no one in the audience (or the network) seemed offended by his very religious viewpoint. Sadly, they would probably assert he was not being religious at all.

Whether a person is a Christian or a non-Christian, over time his deeply held beliefs will become visible to those who know him. For example, Jesus taught us that obedience demonstrates our love for him:

Many Christians think (or act as if they think) that the entirety of their Christian duty is to “be a good person,” and “go to church.”

Contending for the faith There are a number of reasons why many Christians do not contend for the faith, and this short article will only touch upon a few of them. Some Christians believe that everything that happens is God’s will, so there is no need to contend for the faith. Others believe that religion should be a private matter, and not openly discussed. Still others think prayer is enough, and if we just pray, God will act.

Also, it is widely believed that actions alone, without the message of Christ, are all we need to do. Finally, there are some Christians who think that God does not want His people involved in government or politics. We will examine each of these points.

God’s will is not always done The Bible makes it clear that not everything that happens is God’s will. For example, God says He wants all people to be saved (2 Tim. 2:4), but not everyone gets saved. Also, Luke 7:30 says the religious leaders rejected what God had planned for them, which they could not have done if what God planned always came to pass.

Furthermore, Jesus taught us to pray that the will of God would be done on earth like it is in heaven (Matt.

6:10). He would not have needed to say that if the will of God was always being done on earth. Interestingly, the theological battle over genuine free will has heated up significantly in the last couple of decades, and there are some wonderful books available that show that not everything that happens on earth is God’s will.1 It is no wonder, then, that the Bible says that we must fight for the Christian faith if we want God’s will to happen on earth.

John 14:23, 24 (NIV) (23) Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.

(24) He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 11

The Contender

FEATURE

they belong to the Father who sent me.

The point we need to clearly understand is that religion is never private. Our “religion” is the beliefs that we hold and live by. A Christian who is “private” about his Christianity may believe certain things about the Christian faith while holding other beliefs that keep him from obeying God when it comes to being an ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christian acts are not enough

A parallel “big lie” to the lie that religion can be a private matter, is that if we “act Christian,” others will get the message of Christ. The famous dictum of Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary,” has been taken completely out of context by Christians who do not want to openly share their faith.

This is especially ironic considering his life as an activist who openly spoke the Gospel. He aggressively evangelized in Italy, and even traveled to such places as Spain and Morocco to spread the Gospel. The friars and clergy in his day led lives of seclusion, contemplation, and study, which he opposed. He encouraged the men of the Church to leave their lives of seclusion and get out among the people and set an example, hence his quote, “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words when necessary.”

In his excellent article, “You Can’t Preach the Gospel with Deeds” (Christianity Today magazine; May 2012), Duane Litfin shows that it is impossible to communicate the Gospel by actions alone. The very nature of the Christian message is such that it has to be communicated by words—we have to tell people about Jesus—and this is a huge reason that we have to contend for the faith. If we do not, the Devil will make sure we cannot openly testify to

12 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

our faith.

For example, France has made evangelism illegal, and so the Devil has won a major victory in that country. We might expect laws against evangelism in China or Moslem countries, but France? We are kidding ourselves if we think that will not happen in other countries unless Christians fight hard for the faith.

A look at the world around us shows what can happen when people do not contend for the faith. In alphabetical order, we find: • Belarus: Belarus law bans unregistered religious activity, meetings with fewer than 20 members, and any religious activity in private homes. All religious literature is subject to censorship.

• China: For the last five consecutive years, Christian persecution in China has increased. There are now more Christians in prison in China than in any other country.

• Egypt: Christians are forbidden by law to repair their places of worship, so, for example, if a hole develops in a church roof, it cannot be repaired. Churches are slowly falling apart all over Egypt.

• France: Christian evangelism is illegal (this law is now being considered for other European nations as well as France).

• Indonesia: Recently, local governments have closed evangelical churches and imposed restrictions on church expansion.

• North Korea: North Korea is the most anti-Christian country in the world. Christians are tortured, imprisoned and murdered.

• Saudi Arabia: Religious freedom is nonexistent, and leaving Islam is punishable by death. Non-Muslim

worship, even for foreign Christians, is prohibited, and no places of worship other than mosques are permitted in the country.

• Uzbekistan: It is illegal to own a Bible or pray together.

These harsh and unreasonable laws and conditions are made and enforced by people. And there are plenty of people in the United States who would love to have laws that make the Bible, and Christian worship, illegal, which should motivate us to contend for the faith in every venue open to us.

We need more than just prayer

Some Christians think that prayer is all the spiritual warfare that we need, and if we just pray, God will do the rest. The Bible says no such thing. Many of our brothers and sisters in countries that repress Christianity are serious prayer warriors, but they know to do more than just pray, which is why they get arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and often killed. Although the Bible tells us to pray, the Christians in the Bible did more than just pray. For example, Paul pointed out sin, especially in leaders, and told us to reprove and rebuke sin just as he did. Prayer is important, but it must be backed up by actions.

Christians and politics

It is a quite common but incorrect sentiment in Christian circles that God does not want Christians getting involved in politics. Our lives are to a large extent governed by the rules and regulations of the state, and “the state” is just a group of people who think in a certain way and make the laws and regulations that govern society. Why would God not want us to be involved in making the rules by which we ourselves, and others, are governed? That would not make sense. A common response is, “Well, there is no mention of it in the New Testament.” That is not exactly true. Romans 13:4 says that people in governmental authority are “God’s servants” for good and for wrath.2 Can it really be that God only wants unbelievers as “His servants” in government? Of course not. God wants people who are His servants in every aspect of their lives to also be His servants in government.

We have to be careful when we try to assess the will of God by what is, and what is not, in the New Testament only. When it comes to politics, for example, there were no elections in the Roman Empire, not even on the local level. People got into positions of power because of who they knew and by appointment. But just because the New Testament doesn’t mention believers being appointed to government does not mean Christians should not seek (Continued on page 14)

Debbie Owens December 9, 1950 – June 23, 2012 The Spirit & Truth family mourns the unexpected loss, but treasures the life, of Debbie Owens.

The following quote taken from the devotional, Today God Is First, Volume 2, epitomizes Debbie’s life and love for her Savior. “One of the overriding evidences that someone has a genuine relationship with our Savior is their consistent attitude of joy and outlook on life.” Debbie’s warm smile and reassuring laughter consistently reflected God’s position of First Place in her heart.

A lover of the Word of God and one with a continual song in her soul, Debbie has been a frequent voice in our community. She has both led, and heartily participated in, Praise & Worship at many gatherings, including weekly Fellowships and Camps and Conferences. She supported Spirit & Truth Fellowship in many different ways, most recently serving as a receptionist in our Home Office.

Our hearts and earnest prayers remain with her husband Jeff, her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Hank Reed, and her grandchildren, Devon, Kadin and Brooke.

Debbie’s dedication to God’s Word and her walk of faith were an encouragement and a blessing to all of the Body of Christ, and she will be deeply missed. We now look forward to seeing her again in the presence of the Lord Jesus at his appearing.

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 13

The Contender

FEATURE

positions of influence. The New Testament admonition to “contend for the faith” means that some Christians should step into positions of influence in society.

If God speaks about a subject, we should follow that guidance unless He guides us differently. When God established the nation of Israel, it is clear He wanted godly people to step forward and serve as elders, judges, and leaders. There is no verse in the New Testament that contradicts that. When men like Mordecai and Daniel had a chance to step into leadership positions in the governments of Babylon and Persia, they did so. Mordecai is a particularly good example of the positive influence a person in government can have, because the book of Esther makes the point that he “worked for the good of his people” (Esther 10:3). That is not to say he was unfair to others, but his position allowed him to ensure that God’s interests and God’s people were provided for and protected.

The protection of God’s interests in a society should be a major concern of every Christian.

Enemy without; enemy within As much as we would like to

14 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

The New Testament admonition to “contend for the faith” means that some Christians should step into positions of influence in society. think that “people are basically good,” the evidence in the world around us shows that if we do not fight to maintain our Christian freedom, we will not be free to worship as we wish. History confirms what the book of Romans tells us plainly: there are people who purposely hinder the truth.

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, Knowing that wicked people will suppress the truth is one thing, but how do we identify those wicked people? One thing we should know is that the enemies of Christ are both inside and outside the Church. We would expect some non-Christians to be enemies of God, but Christians?

Yes, sadly. Of course the fact that there are wicked people inside the household of God goes back long before New Testament times. Korah and his followers withstood Moses (Num. 16). At the time of Christ, the men guarding Jesus’ tomb told the religious leaders what had happened, but the leaders did not honestly admit that God had, in fact, raised Christ from the dead. Instead they bribed the guards and told them to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep” (Matt. 28:13). And these were the top leaders in Israel at the time!

There are many verses in the New Testament that speak of wolves in sheep’s clothing, or Christians who try to pervert the truth. Paul writes of people in the Church who are “false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ” (2 Cor. 11:13). So how do we identify these evil or deceived Christians?

Most importantly, we have to know

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 15

the Bible for ourselves. We cannot identify a counterfeit twenty dollar bill unless we know what a “real” one looks like, and we cannot identify counterfeit religion unless we know the truth about God. Christians must get to know the Bible.

Furthermore, we must not be fooled by what people say. Evil people are very convincing liars (often because they believe the lies themselves), and they will say whatever they have to in order to defend their beliefs and/or move their agenda forward. Jesus was surrounded by hypocrites and liars, and he told his disciples, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16 ESV). The Bible tells us, “Test everything. Hold on to the good” (1 Thess. 5:21).3 When we find bad fruit, we have to deal with it according to the kind of fruit it is and the kind of person who is propounding it. Some evil we avoid or run away from (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 4:7; 6:11, 20; 2 Tim. 2:16, 22; 3:1-4). Some evil we confront by teaching (2 Tim. 2:25; Titus 1:9), while more entrenched evil and evil in leaders we more intensely confront (1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 1:13). If a person continues to be divisive, we are to have nothing to do with them, and certainly should not give them a voice in what we are doing (Titus 3:10). The evil some people do is so destructive that we have to expel them from our congregations (1 Cor. 5:4-7, 13; 1 Tim. 1:20).

The admonitions about how to deal with evil are not just for evil in the Church. They are applicable to any organization and to government as well.

Proverbs 25:5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.

A part of fighting for the faith is 16 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

recognizing wickedness, and removing it from our lives, from our churches, and from our government.

What is wickedness?

Some wickedness is so blatant that any reasonable person, especially one who reads the Bible regularly, can recognize it easily. However, the vast majority of evil is not blatant, and often it comes down to a matter of recognizing evil by comparing it to “good,” which is God and the things of God. Probably the most common problem in discerning what is evil and what to do about it is understanding that the Devil is a master of blending evil together with good. The religious leaders at the time of Christ are a good example. No doubt in many ways they were friendly and helpful, and “pillars of the community.” But when it came to the truth Jesus was teaching, they were violently opposed to it. Similarly, our society is full of “good” people, who are very friendly and helpful until we try to teach the Gospel or inculcate its values into everyday life; then their opposition to Christ comes at us hard and fast.

In the final analysis, getting saved and obeying God are the only things that really matter in life. Having a “good life” without salvation is like having a stateroom on the Titanic: the ride may be nice for a while, but in the end you are dead. Similarly, a “nice” person who stands against Christianity is like the person on the Titanic who, “nicely” reminds you the ship is “unsinkable,” and “nicely” talks you out of getting into a lifeboat and escorts you to the upper deck bar instead. By the time you realize the “friendly” advice was deadly, it is too late.

Concerning Jewish history, Rowland Bainton correctly observed, “The greatest seduction for the Jews…is not the hostility, but the

friendliness, of the neighbors.”4 There are many friendly and helpful people who oppose the ways of God. We must not be fooled by the mixing of good and evil. Evil is evil, and as Christians we need to be able to recognize it, and we must stand against it.

The call to arms The Devil is aggressively and relentlessly moving against the things of God, and he will fight on every front, and take any little victory he can. He will use any method, legal or illegal, moral or immoral, to gain an advantage. The saying often attributed to Edmond Burke is certainly true: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing,” Christians must contend for the faith. We must contend for it in our homes, in our places of work, in our Churches, and in our government.

The more Christ-centered a country is, the easier it is make our voices heard and we must; or, just like in France and many other countries, we will lose that legal right.

Notes: 1. A few good ones are: Dave Hunt, What Love is This? (The Berean Call, Bend, OR, 2006); Roger Olson, Against Calvinism (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2011); Jerry Walls and Joseph Dongell, Why I am Not a Calvinist (IVP Press, Downers Grove, IL, 2004).

2. Romans 13:4 is not saying that all governments, or all government officials, are His servants. The principle God is setting forth is that governments are necessary for social order, and God supports that. Jesus Christ will rule as king in the Millennium, and will rule with a rod of iron (Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15).

3. The immediate context of 1 Thessalonians 5:21 shows that it is referring to prophecy, but the principle has a much wider application.

4. Roland Bainton, Early Christianity (Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, 1960), p. 11.

Partner Profile Ray & Ann Littlefield

“We love many of the directions the ministry has taken such as their internet teachings that literally reach around the world.”

W

e are Ray and Ann Littlefield of Greenwood, Indiana and we are happy to partner with Spirit & Truth Fellowship. We have both supported this ministry longer than we have known each other.

We actually met on a Spirit & Truth sponsored mission trip to Kentucky during the summer of 2010 and were married about a year later. The way we met seems appropriate as we both have hearts to serve those in need. We currently are blessed to volunteer at a local Christian non-profit food distribution warehouse that distributes food and non-food items to over 200 churches and agencies. We are also involved with a Christian group in Nicaragua and have traveled there several times.

Regarding giving, we see that 2 Corinthians 9 teaches 3 things: Verse 6 - Reaping is related to sowing: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Verse 7 - We are directed to give willingly, from the heart: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Verse 8 - Blessings will be heaped upon us: And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

PARTNER

As indicated above, (and in other passages), giving is biblically proper. But who should one give to? Why give to Spirit & Truth Fellowship? Here are a few of our reasons.

We love many of the directions the ministry has taken such as their internet teachings that literally reach around the world. Darkness is being dispelled by light in people’s lives, and their hearts are being committed to the Lord. To know that in some small way we are helping this effort is very rewarding. The teachings and resources that can be obtained through ministry websites are fabulous.

We are also excited about the formation of STFUSA, a church association that should help to more closely unite the individual fellowships by providing a framework to facilitate communication, learning and growth.

We believe the biblical doctrine promoted by Spirit & Truth is a result of sound research, not inherited tradition; (Thus, one of their websites asks if one wants “Truth or Tradition”?). For instance, it is so comforting to know the truth about subjects, such as the dead being asleep until the return of Our Lord.

We look forward to learning more truth, and continuing to see the accuracy of the Bible reaching hungry hearts.

Blessings, Ray & Ann

with Spirit & Truth Fellowship International

Sign up online at STFonline.org Go to STFonline.org or call 888.255.6189 M-F 9 to 5 (ET).

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 17

Featured Article

The ABC’s of God Lessons from my children

by Cara Hanson

A Still, Small Voice and a Honk

T

he mercury in our thermometer was dipping, along with my desire to ride out another New England winter. I never thought I would be so jealous of geese. That unmistakable honking is actually geese laughing at those who can’t fly south for the winter. And the V-shaped flying pattern? Just a reminder of the warmer climate where I won’t be heading: Virgin Islands. Granted, at least I don’t have to fear being golden and crispy, spending Christmas at a timeshare silver platter with apple sage stuffing and a side of mushroom gravy. Warm, but not in a good way.

The fear of impending arctic temperatures had me itching to go outside one mild November morning.

As I was homeschooling our children, I noticed their attention was plummeting due to the gorgeous autumnal scene beckoning from the bay window. Surely their eyes had more glaze than an Easter ham.

I decided to chuck the planned lessons and allow the kids to learn more from an hour of exploring God’s world than they ever could from a textbook. When I announced that we were going for a walk, the kids awoke from their lesson-induced comas. I wiped the cobwebs off their brains and bundled them in more layers than a club sandwich, for the temperature had dropped below seventy and my blood was thickening.

18 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

“This young child was hearing the voice of God when I was too busy making noise to hear it. I listened more carefully and realized that the only way to hear God is to shut out the rest of the world.”

The crisp, clean air punctured our lungs as we stepped outside and allowed autumn to intoxicate our senses. We inhaled the scent of decaying leaves as we crunched through their corpses of crimson reds, rustic oranges, and earthy browns. Their colors reminded me of apples, pumpkins, and cinnamon, and I suddenly felt the urge to bake a pie.

The half-naked trees stretched their arms to the heavens and reminded me that even when we are losing our leaves, we should still praise God for His goodness. We headed to the beach and trudged through the barren sand. There is something achingly beautiful about a beach that has been stripped of humans for several months, and I felt mildly guilty for disturbing its solitude.

The kids ran freely into the wind, stopping only to collect seashells, which had been laid out for them like hundreds of tiny Christmas presents from the sea. As I surveyed the stark beauty of the moment, the feathers of tiny tears tickled my face.

Just when I thought nothing could disturb this reverie, I heard the sound of a goose honking, no, laughing at me from overhead. No goose was going to ruin my mood with his fowl play. I started to sing: “Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat…”

My four-year-old piped up, “Mommy, please stop singing now.”

I didn’t think the singing was that bad, but apparently Simon Cowell had

Dan & Lori Gallagher Relocate As many of you know, Dan & Lori Gallagher are the primary care-givers for three of their pre-adolescent grandchildren, ages 6, 7 and 8. After much thought and prayer, they determined that they needed to relocate to the West Coast where they could be closer to their families.

This would give them the additional support and help they need, as well as put them in a position to better care for Lori’s aging mother.

They will be moving to Medford, Oregon in August where Dan will continue to work for the ministry, serving as CEO, writing, teaching, and working to plant and build fellowships.

appeared in miniature form beside me.

“You need to stop singing because I hear God talking,” Nate explained.

Now I wondered if God was sending a prophetic message that my singing had to stop.

“What do you hear?” I asked him.

“God is talking. Don’t you hear it?”

I stopped and listened, but all I heard was the wind and the waves.

“What does it sound like?”

“The wind! The waves! Don’t you hear it?”

I love it when I’m reproved by someone who still has to use a step stool to climb into bed. This young child was hearing the voice of God when I was too busy making noise to hear it. I listened more carefully and realized that the only way to hear God is to shut out

the rest of the world.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I thought of Elijah, who was told

by God to go out on the mountain and wait for the LORD to pass by.

Elijah waited through the hurricane, earthquake, and fire, only to hear God in a gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

My response? “Um…you told me to come here?”

Elijah’s response: 1 Kings 19:14a “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty.”

Bingo, Elijah. When we seek God and we are zealous for His presence, the world will be drowned out by His whisper.

As I surveyed the deserted beach, I shivered, but not from the chill in the air. Everything in creation was speaking to me–even His geese. I had learned to hear Him in a still, small voice and a honk.

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 19

Manners & Customs

Threshing, Winnowing & Sieving Separating the good from the bad

Learning biblical customs has many advantages. It makes reading the Bible more enjoyable when we know about the people and how they lived.

By John W. Schoenheit

H

elping people understand and apply the lessons of the Bible is one of the great goals of The Sower, and in that light we are presenting a series of short articles on customs of the Bible.

Biblical Customs

The Bible is written in such a way that it is completely and inextricably interwoven with the culture and the customs of the times and places in which its events occur. While the cultural references were well known to the people who lived in biblical times, many of them are unfamiliar to us today. Learning biblical customs has many advantages: it makes reading the Bible more enjoyable when we know about the people and how they lived; it clarifies things in the Bible we would otherwise not readily know, or that do not make sense to us at first; it alerts us to mistranslations or possible mistranslations in the Bible; and it gives us great insight into how to properly apply the Word of God in our lives.

Separating the good from the bad

Grains such as wheat, barley, and millet were staple foods in the biblical culture, and were so essential for life that grain was called a “staff,” (walking stick), because it was necessary for support and defense. It is hard to see 20 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

the idiom of bread as the “staff of life” in most modern English Bibles. This is because so many people have not understood the phrase “staff of bread,” that versions such as the NIV translate the Hebrew text as, “supplies of food.”

Nevertheless, the biblical idiom, “staff of bread” was the source of our modern idiom, that bread is the “staff of life.”

Isaiah 3:1 (author’s translation) For look!, Yahweh Elohim of the armies is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah the staff and the support, all the staff of bread, and all the staff of water.

Ezekiel 4:16 (KJV) Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment.1 It was one thing to grow the grain in the field, but it also took a lot of work after the grain was grown to get it ready to grind into flour. For thousands of years farmers used a basic three-part system of threshing, winnowing, and using a sieve to get the grain to the point where it could be ground into flour. After harvesting, the first stage in making grain suitable for grinding into

flour was the process called threshing.

Threshing Threshing is the process of removing the grain of wheat or barley from the stalk and husk. The threshing was done in different ways, depending on how much grain there was and the tools the farmer had available to him.

Essential to threshing was a “threshing floor,” a flat area of hard dirt or rock on which freshly harvested wheat could be piled. Quite a few verses, from Genesis to the New Testament, mention threshing floors, which makes sense because grain was so essential to life.2 When there was only a little wheat, the kernels of grain could be knocked off the stalk with a stick, which is what Gideon was doing when he was trying to hide the fact he had harvested some wheat (Judges 6:11). A much more common way of threshing was to pile it on the threshing floor where cows or oxen were driven back and forth over it. Their feet “threshed” the grain from the stalk. God wanted to make sure the animals that did that work were well kept, and so He commanded, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” (Deut. 25:4). In other words, the ox got to benefit from his labor by eating some of the grain he was threshing. Many farmers owned a

“For thousands of years farmers used a basic three-part system of threshing, winnowing, and using a sieve to get the grain to the point where it could be ground into flour.” “threshing sled,” a piece of equipment that looked rather like a wide toboggan, with pieces of metal or stone set in the bottom so the wheat could be cut off the stalk faster: Isaiah 41:15 See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.

As the oxen or threshing sled went over and over the large pile of harvested wheat, the stalks would be cut up into pieces, and the heads of grain knocked off the stalk and often even separated from the husk. Then the grain was ready to be winnowed.

Winnowing

Winnowing was the process that separated the mixed up pile of grain, stalk, and husk so that the edible grain could be sifted and eaten. To winnow the grain, the farmer scooped up the pieces of the crop he had just threshed and threw it all up into the air. The wind blew the light pieces of stalk to the side, while the grain, which was both heavier and roundish, fell almost straight back down. Thus, over time, the threshing floor was covered with three quite distinct piles of material.

The kernels of grain fell almost straight down or were not blown far at all. The larger pieces of stalk, or “straw,” had blown a little ways off to the side, and the small pieces of stalk, called the “chaff,” had blown even further away.

The farmer used a “winnowing fork,” or a “winnowing shovel” to Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 21

throw the threshed grain into the air.

The winnowing fork and shovel were used in a similar way as people today move loose hay with a pitchfork or broad shovel. The winnowing fork was usually about the size of a pitchfork, but with flat wooden tines to catch more of the grain. Isaiah 30:24 (ESV), mentions animal fodder “which has been winnowed with shovel and fork.”

Since the grain crops ripened in April, May, and June, it was not unusual that during the daytime there was too little wind to winnow.

That meant the farmer had to wait until there was a slight wind, which often came in the evening. That is why when Naomi was looking for a husband for Ruth, she told her to go see Boaz, saying, “This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor” (Ruth 3:2 HCSB).

After winnowing, the valuable grain was gathered and stored, while the straw and chaff were handled in different ways. Sometimes it was ignored and left to blow away. Thus, Jeremiah 13:24 says, “I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.”

Sometimes the straw and chaff were used in making mud bricks because it helped bind the mud together. That was why Pharaoh forced the Israelites to make bricks with “straw” (Ex. 5:718). Sometimes the straw and chaff were used as fuel for household ovens, 22 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

because it burned fast and hot, and got the ovens hot quickly. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble” (Mal. 4:1 ESV).3 The process of winnowing provided a clear picture of how God will treat people on Judgment Day. The people who have believed in Him and have lived obedient lives will be treated like wheat—they will be gathered together and be safely kept. In contrast, the unbelievers and disobedient will be treated like chaff— they will be burned up in the lake of fire just like chaff is burned up in an oven. Matthew says: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12).4

The Sieve

Just before the grain was ground into flour, it was sieved. This was necessary for a number of reasons.

For one thing, it was common in the harvesting that weed seeds got mixed in with the wheat, and threshing and winnowing did not separate the different seeds (cp. The Parable of the Seeds in the Field: Matt. 13:24-30).

Furthermore, the winnowing process did not get all the chaff from the grain. Also, in picking the grain off the threshing floor, dust and pebbles were

mixed in with the grain.

In the biblical culture, a grain sieve was round and fairly large, usually two to three feet in diameter.

The sides were wood, often 3-5 inches high with a bottom that was often made of woven reeds, grasses, or thin interwoven pieces of wood. Sieving was one of those parts of life that was so common that people felt no need to describe it. In fact, when James Neil wrote Peeps into Palestine (c. 1915), he remarked, “The process…has never to my knowledge been described by any previous writer.”5 Due to the paucity of written material on the process, it is appropriate to extensively quote Neil on the subject of sieving.

“The woman servant—for it is only women who sift—sets herself on the ground with her feet spread widely apart, taking in her hands a large but shallow sieve called ghurbal, some two and a half feet across.6 Having placed a small amount of wheat in the ghurbal, or sieve, she commences by giving it some six or seven sharp shakes, so as to bring the chaff and short pieces of crushed straw to the surface, the greater part of which she removes with her hands. After this the main part of the work begins, which is

done with much skill. Holding the sieve in a slanting position, she jerks it up and down for a length of time, blowing across the top of it all the while with great force. In a word, she turns herself into a regular winnowing machine! Three results follow.

In the first place the dust, earth, small seeds, and small, imperfect grains of wheat, etc., fall away through the meshes of the sieve. Secondly, by means of the vigorous blowing, any crushed straw, chaff, and such-like light refuse is either blown away to the ground, or else collected in the part of the ghurbal which is furthest from her. Thirdly, the good wheat goes together in one heap about the center of the sieve, while the tiny stones or pebbles are brought into a separate little pile on that part of it which is nearest to her chest.

The pebbles, chaff, and crushed straw thus cleverly removed from the corn [grain], mainly by the angle at which the sieve is held and the way in which it is jerked up and down, are then taken out of the ghurbal with her hands. Finally, setting the sieve down upon her lap, she carefully picks out with her finger any slight impurities which may yet remain, and the elaborate and searching process of sifting is complete.”

Understanding the sieving process helps us understand its use in biblical illustration. For example, Amos 9:9 says, “For I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, and not a pebble will reach the ground.” This verse has been widely misunderstood because the sieving process itself has not been clearly understood. Sieving separates the grain from the pebbles, but both of them stay in the sieve. The translators

of the KJV could not understand why the verse would say that “pebbles” would remain in the sieve, after all, the sieving process was supposed to separate the pebbles from the wheat.

So the KJV reads, “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.”

The KJV translation seems to make sense, but the Hebrew word the KJV translates “grain” is clearly a rock or pebble. The message in Amos is a subtle but profound one.

Amos was written before any of the great deportations and scattering of Israel occurred, and the point God was making via Amos’ prophecy is that even though Israel would be shaken among the nations like grain is shaken in a sieve, the grain and the pebbles would still be together. The godly Israelites, “God’s grain,” if you will, would survive, and so would the obstinate and hard-hearted Israelites, the “pebbles.” Even in God’s judgment upon Israel and the scattering of the Israelites among the nations (which happened when Israel was scattered by the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans), the godly and ungodly Jews survived together, just like there were always pebbles found with the grain.

The other notable use of sieving as a biblical example occurred when Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31, 32 ESV).

The illustration was clear to Peter because all the wheat that was sold in the marketplace had pieces of chaff, dirt, and pebbles mixed with it. Just as when wheat is sifted in the sieve and pieces of dirt and chaff show up, Satan was demanding to be able to pressure Peter until a lot of unwanted stuff showed up in his life. Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail and that no chaff or pebbles would ruin Peter’s life.

Threshing, winnowing, and

sieving grain was a part of daily life from Genesis until the early 1900’s.

The fact that there are dozens of allusions to it in the Bible reflects both the daily life of the people, and the fact that God expects us to learn spiritual lessons from our daily lives.

Notes: 1. Isaiah and Ezekiel use different Hebrew words for “staff,” but they both can refer to walking staffs.

2. Some include: Gen. 50:10; Num. 15:20; Deut. 15:14; Judges 6:37; Ruth 3:2; 2 Sam. 6:6; 1 Kings 22:10; 2 Kings 6:27; Job 39:12; Jer. 51:33; Hos. 13:3; Micah 4:12; Matt. 3:12.

3. The ESV does a good job in Malachi 4:1 in using the word “oven.” Some modern versions use the word “furnace,” which is misleading. There are words in Hebrew for different types of furnaces (though none were used to heat homes).

A kibshan (#03536 ‫ )ןָׁשְבִּכ‬was a smelting furnace or lime-kiln (Gen. 19:28); a kur (#03564 ‫ )רּוּכ‬was a refining furnace (Prov.

17:3); an attun (#0861 ‫ )ןּוּתַא‬was a large furnace that was used in extracting ore.

The word in Malachi is tanur (#08574 ‫ ;רּוּנַּת‬pronounced tan-noor), a household oven.

4. The translation, “unquenchable fire,” which occurs in most versions of Matthew, is very accurate. The fire in the Lake of Fire is “unquenchable,” it cannot be put out. That does not mean, however, that it burns forever. As with any fire, when the fuel is gone, the fire goes out. When the last person is annihilated, totally consumed, in the Lake of Fire, it will go out. For more information on annihilation in the Lake of Fire, see REV commentary on Revelation 20:10 at stfonline.org/REV 5. James Neil, Peeps Into Palestine (Billings and Sons, Great Britain, c. 1915), pp. 58, 59. Neil, who lived in the Middle East for years, gives us a clear example of why the pre-World War I customs books are such a treasure. After WWI, customs in the Middle East that had been the same since the time of Abraham began to change, and change rapidly. Old customs, like sifting grain, soon died, and no amount of arm-chair sociology or archaeology is able to tell us how the ancient customs were actually done. Thankfully, people like Neil wrote what they often got to see with their own eyes, and had Neil not recorded it in such detailed fashion, a vital part of what went on in basically every household for thousands of years would now be lost to us.

6. The Arabic word is ghurbal, the Hebrew word is kebarah (#03531 ‫ ;הָרָבְּכ‬cp. Amos 9:9).

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 23

The Vine

Articles to support the growing network of fellowships associated with Spirit & Truth Fellowship.

Coffee House Fellowship

By Dan Gallagher

M

y experience has taught me that when it comes to people and their particular coffee, there is a wide variety of likes and dislikes. The true purists like their coffee black and bold, while others may adulterate theirs with cream, sugar or some other concoction like hazelnut-mocha-caramel. There are even those elitist aficionados who will only drink their special brands, like Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, or some other particular type. Whether or not you have any particular allegiance or aversion to Starbucks, one thing most people recognize is that its success has as much to do with its hospitable store environments as it does with its coffee.

What is a “third place”? In the late 1980’s Ray Oldenburg wrote about the concept of the “third place” in his influential book, The Great Good Place.

Ray described the “first place” as a person’s home, the “second place” as his work place, and the “third place” as an

Have you ever considered honoring Mr. Starbucks, or some other coffee house near you, by having a “Coffee House Fellowship”? area where people can congregate apart from home and work. “Third places” have historically been very important for the building of community. Oldenburg suggests that societies throughout

“If you are looking for a way to ‘jump-star t’ your fellowship, or even to get something going, then maybe the ‘Coffee House Fellowship’ approach would work for you.”

24 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

history have all had “third places,” and even goes so far as to suggest that they are vital for “civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and a sense of place.”1 What does the concept of a “third place” have to do with coffee? Well, the reason that Starbucks coffee houses are designed as inviting casual places to hang out is that they have intentionally positioned their stores to be a person’s “third-place.” They want people to come and linger in their facility over a cup of java or tea, and a treat.

Have you ever considered honoring Mr. Starbucks, or some other coffee house near you, by having a “Coffee House Fellowship”? What could be better than enjoying the pungent smell

Ideas to Spice up your Fellowship There are many ways to run a fellowship or a small group.

Here are a few ideas that may bring new life to your fellowship:

of fresh brewed coffee and baked goods as you meet with others and share a spiritual conversation, especially one about the Good News, Jesus? This type of place can be a nice neutral environment to meet someone to discuss matters of faith, or even provide them a friendly conversation as they struggle with life’s issues.

A number of us from the office have made it a regular habit to meet at the local coffee house, where we discuss a wide array of things happening in our spiritual walk or in the world around us.

It is a great environment (one of many!) to show the world that following Jesus is more than a Sunday trip to the local church. In many ways, this is what the first-century disciples did when they took their faith to the local “agora,” the

center of most cities’ business and social interaction.2 If you are looking for a way to “jump-start” your fellowship, or even to get something going, then maybe the “Coffee House Fellowship” approach would work for you. If nothing else, you will probably enjoy a good cup of coffee and make your Lord happy by your efforts.

Notes: 1. Oldenburg, Ray, The Great Good Place, (New York: Paragon Books, 1989).

2. The Agora was the name of a specific part of the Greek and Roman cities, the center of town and public life. See Schoenheit, REV Commentary: Acts 16:19 at STFonline.org

Bowling Night Fellowship On this night, meet at a bowling alley, play some games, have fun, talk, then afterwards have someone share a short message from the Word & pray together.

Faith, Film & Fiction Have a movie night to watch movies with biblically-based themes for fellowship. Have popcorn, drinks, etc. Then discuss those themes, ask questions and so on.

Discovery Bible Study A Bible study that focuses on reading the Scriptures, repeating it in your own words, and then discussing what you have learned with a focus on obedience.

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 25

Dear Sower Audio & Video Teachings Thank you all at STF for your diligent work for God! It has been very uplifting for me to explore the video and audio teaching on the TruthOrTradition.com website. I have been of one accord with the teachings thus far and am really excited about that fact. It has really been a relief. Sometimes its easy to feel alone in this matter. Just wanted to drop a line to some brothers and sisters in Christ. I will by praying for you and what you do!

Video: Love Comes from God Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to make this video about God’s immeasurable love.

It was really encouraging to me especially at the point of my life now.

I believe this has been an answer to my prayers. Thanks again and may God bless you in your walk with him and your ministry.

YouTube User (BMcc0109) Editor’s Note: Check out our YouTube Channel, visit YouTube.com/truthortradition

Video: What does the name Jesus Christ mean?

I loved this explanation Mr. Schoenheit. There was no theological biasness, no misunderstanding, just a pure simple explanation of what Jesus and Christ means. And I can see the cheerfulness on your face!

YouTube User (breathsoaringinWind) Editor’s Note: To watch hundreds of teachings, visit YouTube.com/truthortradition

26 The Sower Jul/Aug/Sep 2012

Weston B.

Website Feedback Appreciate the optimization for iPhone! The Audio Podcast section is incredible, thank you for the lessons (especially “Iron Sharpening Iron”).

Editor’s Note: Check out our audio podcast at STFonline.org

Article: You Are the Only You God Has I just finished reading an article called “You Are the Only You God Has.” Wow, wow, wow, and thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so moved and inspired, so filled with HOPE. God, our God is absolutely amazing and truly awesome beyond words. I pray for you continually and so Love the work you all do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Deborah S.

Audio Teaching CDs God bless you and happy spring.

I have been enjoying the teaching CDs. They are a real blessing as I travel in my car. Looking forward to

the next one and The Sower.

Thanks, Marilyn Editor’s Note: Visit STFonlineStore.com to purchase our Audio CDs or listen for free via MP3.

YouTube Channel Feedback Great teachings! I’m learning a lot from this ministry. Continue to preach / teach the Truth!

YouTube User (PMAN41)

Scripture Study Snacks Great channel, especially love how you have so many videos and how much work you put into them!

I love your videos, please don’t stop making them! I call them “Scripture Study Snacks!”

Editor’s Note: Subscribe to our channel, visit YouTube.com/truthortradition or subscibe to our iTunes video podcast at STFonline.org.

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Email us at STF@STFonline.org

Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 The Sower 27

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