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Volume 2, No. 3
March 1990
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Have you ever noticed that bad news always seems to come in bunches? You'll have a period
of time when all is well, and then out of nowhere you're bombarded with news of trial and
tragedy for those close to you, and perhaps even yourself. It seems like one of those
times in our area of the vineyard, and it made me think of bad news turned good.
My dad tells a story of a man who was relating to a friend how his horse had escaped its
pen. "That's bad," said the friend. "No, it's good," the man replied,
"because when my son went out to find it, he found ten wild horses as well."
"That's good," replied the friend. "I don't know," the man replied.
"My son was trying to break one of the horses and fell off and broke his leg."
"That's bad," said the friend. "No, it's good," replied the man,
"because while he was laid up in bed, a band of robbers came through our town and
conscripted all the able-bodied young men, and he was left behind." And on and on it
went.
I thought in the Scriptures of those of the Lord's own who got what they thought was bad
news, and the Lord used it for good. Remember Jacob, who said to his sons, "Me have
ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin
away: all these things are against me." He was soon to discover the Lord's hand in it
all. What of Job, who suffered the loss of family and possessions, only to end up with
twice as much as he had before? We think of the widow of Nain, supposing she was seeing
her son for the last time in that funeral procession, only to find that He Who held the
keys of hell and of death met her on the way, had compassion, and used those keys to free
her son from death. And of Mary and Martha, grieving over the loss of their beloved
brother, finding four days later that "this sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." We remember, too, how
Mary stood outside the sepulcher weeping, grieving that her Lord's body was not there.
What joy filled her heart when she discovered the reason for its disappearance, and how we
rejoice that He was not there, but risen!
Yes, over and over again in God's precious Word we see before us the glorious truth that
"all things work together for good to them that love God." Christian, do not
grieve over life's disappointments. They are but His appointments, to bring us closer and
closer to the image of the One Who delights His heart. "Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Heb. 12:11)
David Van Ryn
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***They Say, and Do Not!***
During my short stay in England, I had some dental work done and returned to the Bahamas
with a new set of teeth. Testing out my cornet after my absence, I could not extract from
it one clear note with all my effort. "Do not give up!" pleaded my wife,
thinking my talent was in danger of extinction. Perhaps a roach had settled in one of the
tubes, so I sent a stream of water from the tap through the instrument. No - after trying
again to obtain the former clarion note, I realized my days of cornet-playing were over
and my gift had disappeared with my natural teeth! I passed on my old silver friend to an
inmate at the Lazaretto, and I left him with bulging cheeks and evidently enjoying his new
possession.
You see, if there is anything false about the believer, the trumpet will make an uncertain
sound. "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the
battle?" (1 Cor. 14:8)
There was a saying, "Talk is cheap," 'tis just as true today; For what we are
interprets best the many words we say. A message lasting in effect is preached by daily
walk. It takes great power to shine for God, but none for empty talk! Our life is gauged
by depth, not length, a measurement Divine! By what we are, not what we say, and not by
course of time.
Bernard Fell
Solihull, England
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***Why Study The Bible?***
There are many reasons, but let's consider just this one, that if you (yes, YOU!) don't
study the Bible you may very easily be deceived, even though you don't think so. The Bible
warns us about false Christs (Matt. 24:23-24; 1 Jn. 2:18) and about false apostles (2 Cor.
11:13; Rev. 2:2). Then there are false prophets (Deut. 13:1-5; Isa. 8:19-20; 30:10; Jer.
23:9-40; Ezek. 11:16-23; Matt. 7:15; 24:11 & 24; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 Jn. 4:1; Rev. 2:20).
As if that weren't enough, then we read of false evangelists (Acts 15:1; 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal.
1:6-9) and of false (fraudulent) workers in Matt. 7:21-23 and 2 Cor. 11:13-15. Then there
are the false teachers of 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 6:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4; and Rev. 2:14-15. Ezek.
34:1-10 speaks of false pastors and Acts 20:30 of false elders, and then there are even
false brethren (2 Cor. 11:26; Gal. 2:4).
And of course, the presence of ALL these supposes that there is the danger of what they
teach - FALSE doctrine. They can teach and preach, and they have doctrines, and they have
explanations and outlines and illustrations, but there's one small problem -- they're
FALSE! And the trouble with many of us is that we don't think anything like that can ever
happen in our fellowships, but we're mistaken.
The once-thriving assemblies of Asia Minor were infiltrated by false doctrine that
gullible Christians allowed in instead of contending against, and today we're in danger of
repeating that sad history unless YOU learn to study your Bible and know what you believe
and why, and develop solid Biblical convictions and not just shallow well-meaning
traditions. How about it, will you be a Berean? "These were more noble than
those...in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
Scriptures daily, whether those things were so!" (Acts 17:11)
Carl Knott
Huesca, Spain
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***The Rich Man and Lazarus***
It is interesting to notice three things about this story in Lk. 16:19-31. First, we
understand that the beggar Lazarus sat at the rich man's gate, yet it never says the rich
man offered him a hand. Second, in verse 22 we read that both die. The rich man's
pallbearers are probably his friends, though it doesn't say; we do read, however, that
Lazarus is carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. I think I'd prefer Lazarus'
pallbearers myself! And thirdly, we see the true state of one who dies without Christ. We
understand that even the rich will die, and we read in Heb. 9:27 that "it is
appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment." In hell you will have
all your feelings. Verse 23 says "he lift up his eyes" (sight). He spoke of
needing to cool his tongue (feeling), and said he was "tormented in this flame."
We hear him speaking to Abraham, and we hear Abraham tell the sad tidings: "Son,
remember (in hell, you'll have eternity to consider the chances you had to be saved) that
thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now
he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is
a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can
they pass to us, that would come from thence."
This story destroys any theory you may have that you are going to have fun in hell with
all your friends. The rich man was able to look up, but then it was too late! There is
only one way out, and that is through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He died in our
place, and all that is necessary is to believe it and receive Him as Savior and Lord.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...for by grace are ye
saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works,
lest any man should boast." (Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9).
David Bradford
Cocoa, Florida
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***Master, Where Dwellest Thou?***
How blest was the testimony of John the Baptist to Andrew and John -- "Behold the
Lamb of God." (Jn. 1:36) It produced deep conviction and heart attraction to His
blessed Person! They promptly, humbly, sincerely, and convincingly "followed
Jesus." In perfect understanding He turned to ask, "What seek ye?" He
apprehended that they sought something and gave opportunity
to make it known. Note the following facts:
1) Their Heart's Desire -- "Master, where dwellest Thou?" It was no material
gift they desired, but the permission to make themselves better acquainted with His
Person.
2) His Gracious Invitation -- "Come and see." These words encouraged them to
accompany Him immediately and share His dwelling
place that day in mutual, happy fellowship.
3) Their Immediate Acceptance -- "They CAME... they SAW...they ABODE." His words
were dearer; His Person was clearer; and His fellowship was sweeter.
4) The Ultimate Result -- As they continued following Him, it led them to the Father's
house (Jn. 14:2); the Father's heart (Jn. 16:27); and the Father's presence (Jn. 20:17).
To us He still says, "COME AND SEE!"
John Bramhall
Florence, South Carolina
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***Meditations on Psalm 91***
In vs. 1-2, the Son is speaking about the Father; in vs. 3-13, the Spirit is speaking
about the Father; in vs. 14-16, the Father is speaking about the Son.
I am particularly interested in the last three verses, since there is a beautiful picture
there of the thoughts of our Heavenly Father toward us.
Three conditions are stated:
1) Because He hath set His love upon me -- "I love the Lord because..." (Ps.
116:1). "We love Him because..." (1 Jn. 4:19). How poor our response in love to
Him - we love because, while He loves without a cause;
2) Because He hath known my name -- "For there is no other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "For where two or three are
gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20) We do
well to sing, "Jesus, O how sweet the name!";
3) Because He shall call upon me -- "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that
call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
(Rom. 10:12b-13) "I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me." (Ps. 55:16)
When we call, He has promised to answer in the following ways:
Seven "I wills" -- deliver him (2 Tim. 4:18; Matt. 6:13; Ps. 56:13); set him on
high (2 Sam. 22:34; Ps. 18:33; Hab. 3:19*); answer him (Ps. 86:7); be with him in trouble
(2 Cor. 1:4); honor him (Jn. 12:26); satisfy him (Ps. 103:5); and show him my salvation (2
Tim. 3:15).
* Please notice these three texts especially since they are the only times in the
Scriptures that use the term "hind's feet" in reference to our feet. Rejoice in
the fact that in Hab. 3:19, we WALK upon these high places in contrast to being SET upon
high places in the other two texts. Our God has made every provision for us to make
progress, to move ahead. Your standing is perfect, isn't it? How about your state??? May
the Lord help us to be willing to follow Him!
Bill Gustafson
Waynesboro, Georgia
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Volume 2, No. 4
April 1990
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Galatians 2:20 presents a truth to us that many of us have yet to fully realize. "I
am crucified with Christ!" I believe until we fully grasp the truth of this, we will
never be able to serve the Lord Jesus the way we ought.
When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, I died. I died to self, I do not live anymore. I
have been put to death. This is true, but have I made this truth a reality in my life?
What is a Christian? It is the truth of Scripture that an individual becomes a Christian
by owning that he/she is a sinner and accepting the salvation freely offered by God
through the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I believe a Christian is one who does the will of
God in their everyday life. This is the motivating force of their life. "Not my will,
but thine be done." We are living in a day when the world tells us to do your own
thing, to stand up for your rights. This has become the feeling of many Christians, too.
The reality is we have no rights at all. We have been crucified with Christ. Oh, if this
could only be reality in my heart and yours, dear Christian.
If we are going to be true "Christians," then we must be characterized by
"doing the will of God!" We find His will given to us in the pages of His Word.
Paul could say, "I die daily." This must be our prayer each day, too. Lord
Jesus, help me to die today, that men may see not me, but Thee only!" I believe there
are many professing Christians in the Church, but few real believers in Christ who are
seeking to do the will of God. If I'm not living His will in my life, I must ask the
question, "Am I really saved?" "Faith without works (faith proven) is dead
being alone!" May we fully recognize the truth of being dead to self, and to
practically die with Christ,
for His Name's sake!
Keith Van Ryn
Atlanta, Georgia
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***A Refreshing Saint***
"Onesiphorus...oft refreshed me." (2 Tim. 1:16)
Do you not like to meet a refreshing saint? Onesiphorus was one who has been recorded in
the Scripture, even refreshing in his day the greatest of the Apostles, very frequently.
What a blessed testimony!
1.THE MEANING OF ONESIPHORUS. His name means "profit bringer" and he lived up to
it, for he was profitable to the saints of God. Is not this what every Christian should
be, ministering spiritual profit to the Lord's beloved people always?
2.THE QUALITY OF HIS MINISTRY. "He oft refreshed me" is the testimony of Paul to
the ministry of this saint. In the heat of trials and difficulties, a visit by Onesiphorus
was as a "breath of fresh air" to the beloved apostle, refreshing his spirit by
fellowship, consolation, and kindness, and that very frequently. When Onesiphorus
"blew in" he brought with him the freshness of a spiritual atmosphere that
enabled one to recover from the effects of the heat! He always seemed able to cool off the
temperature of the trial when visiting tested saints, even for the beloved apostle Paul.
3.THE FAITHFULNESS OF HIS MINISTRY. He "was not ashamed of my chain," writes
Paul, for though forsaken by saints at large and bound as a prisoner of Rome, Onesiphorus
did not desert the apostle because of this. Faithfulness was part of his character and
Paul could testify of him to Timothy, saying, "in how MANY things he ministered unto
me in Ephesus, thou knowest very well."
4.THE DILIGENCE OF HIS MINISTRY. "When he was in Rome, he sought me out very
diligently and found me." (Vs. 17) The worldly maxim, "when in Rome do as the
Romans do" was not the motto of this saint of God! He searched the great metropolis
of the Roman Empire, perhaps from one end to the other, until he found the beloved and
aged servant of God. What chords of appreciation arise from the heart of the apostle,
causing him by the Spirit to record this deed upon the pages of the Word of God, which
liveth and abideth forever!
5.THE FUTURE REWARD OF HIS MINISTRY. "The Lord grant him that he may find mercy of
the Lord in THAT day," writes Paul. The day of Christ, when Onesiphorus will stand
before the Judgment Seat of Christ, will yet declare the "gold, silver, and precious
stones" earned by this faithful ministry that refreshed the saints of God, for
"God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed
toward His Name, in that ye HAVE ministered to the saints, and DO minister." (Heb.
6:10)
Would you not enjoy having Onesiphorus "blow in" for a visit, as a spiritual
"breath of fresh air?" I am sure you would; better still, why not try to be A
REFRESHING SAINT yourself? God has need of them everywhere amongst His people in these
difficult and testing days! They bring "spiritual profit."
John Bramhall
Florence, South Carolina
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***Enduring Ever***
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The
grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the Word of the Lord endureth
forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
In a child's simplicity, our three-year-old son sadly stated that the beautiful flower
which his cousin had given him was dying. My wife thought of these two verses in 1 Peter
1:24-25. "And its flower falleth away." All that is of this earth fadeth away
and perisheth (Heb. 1:10-12) "but the Word of the Lord endureth forever."
"For I am the Lord, I change not." (Mal. 3:6)
Though all perish, the Lord never changes, and neither does His salvation, "the Word
which by the gospel is preached unto you." The Word of the Gospel may be foolishness
to the unbelievers who perish, but "to us who are saved it is the power of God."
(Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18-25). We thank God that His Word is ever new and never
"falleth away!"
Calvin Fritchey
Pembroke Pines, Florida
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***EARTHQUAKE!!***
The severe October California earthquake reminds us that God's Word is like a seismometer,
an instrument which records a number of earthquakes.
SINAI. Ex. 19:18. "The whole mount quaked greatly." It was an attendant to
impress all the people of the solemn occasion of the giving of the law to Moses, and of
God's unsullied holiness and majesty as He descended in fire upon the mount. Not only did
Sinai quake, but Moses also. (Heb. 12:21)
CALVARY. Matt. 27:51. With the rending of the veil of the Temple, "the earth did
quake, and the rocks rent." It seems as if the earthquake of Calvary was answering
the earthquake of Sinai. Matchless grace answering majestic law. "The law was given
by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (Jn. 1:17) The world was honored
by a visit of its Creator Who came to make a sinner a new creation in Himself.
The law revealed the exceeding sinfulness of sin but provided no remedy to put it away.
The only One Who fully kept the law hung upon the central cross. To set us free from the
curse of the law, He allowed it to work all its righteousness upon Himself by bearing its
penalty and meeting all its just demands. (Gal. 3:13) The just now live by faith in the
Person and Work of the Son of God and not by the works of the law. (Rom. 3:20)
We saw Thee not when lifted high
Amid that wild and savage crew,
Nor heard Thy meek, imploring cry,
"Father, forgive: they know not what they do."
Yet we believe the deed was done
Which shook the earth and veiled the sun.
The hand that shook the earth rent the veil of the Temple, and opened the way for the
sinner, cleansed by the precious blood of Christ, to enter into the Holiest of All. (Heb.
10:19-20)
PHILIPPI. Acts 16:26. The Lord's servants, Paul and Silas, were falsely accused,
shamefully treated, and thrown into prison by the magistrates. With bleeding backs and
feet fast in the stocks, they sang praises unto God. What a wonderful duet! It was not
pain and silence; it was Paul and Silas: not sighs in the minor key, but songs in the
major. Some birds sing best in the dark and in that midnight trial their voices were never
sweeter. And what a wonderful testimony those songs in the night were! "The prisoners
heard them." (Vs. 25) Then came the earthquake which shook the prison foundations
like ships at sea.
The jailor, himself a captive of sin, was awakened out of his sleep of death, and,
supposing the prisoners had escaped, drew out his sword to commit suicide. But Paul had
the Sword of the Spirit unsheathed and cried with a loud voice, "Do thyself no harm:
for we all are here." The earthquake brought about a work of conviction in the soul
of the jailor, for he sought Gospel light and trembled with the sense of his need.
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The Lord's servants, still suffering
physically, joyfully unfolded the Word of God to him and to all his house. "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." And so the jailor
and his household were saved and were baptized with great joy.
In Acts 16 we are reminded that the Lord opens the heart's door to salvation to all who
are willing to receive Him, as Lydia did, but it seems that others need an earthquake to
arouse them to a sense of their desperate need. The prayer-line in vs. 13 was a life-line
which reached souls in the gospel in vs. 34.
OLIVET. Zechariah 14. The Mount of Olives, place of the ascent to Glory of the Lord Jesus
after His triumphant death and resurrection, will be the place of His descent to earth
when He returns again. Acts 1:11. It will be accompanied by an earthquake which will split
the mount into two parts, one part moving to the east, the other part to the west, leaving
a valley of escape for the persecuted people of God. What a thrilling moment it will be
when those pierced feet stand upon that mount and those pierced hands sway in sovereignty
earth's sceptre!
Zechariah is a remarkable prophecy recording the history of the return of the remnant from
Babylon to the return of the Messiah to earth. It foreshadows the Lowly Christ, 9:9; the
Betrayed Christ, 11:12; the Crucified Christ, 13:7; the Victorious Christ, 14:3; the
Acknowledged Christ, 13:6. The Lord goes forth to fight against the ungodly nations as a
Man of War, to deliver His earthly people, and to be King over all the earth. The voice
that shook the earth at Sinai will shake the heaven also, that all shakeable things may be
removed and the unshakeable things remain - His kingdom, His Word, His purposes, and the
faith of His people who can say with Paul in the midst of trial, "None of these
things move me."
"See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh Whose voice then shook the earth."
(Heb. 12:25-29) God has spoken in these last days of His grace in His Son, not by
earthquake, wind, or fire, and has fully revealed His heart of love by the still small
voice of His Spirit.
"And His that gentle voice we hear,
Soft as the breath of even,
That checks each fault, that calms each fear,
And speaks of heaven."
A number of earthquakes to come are mentioned in the Revelation, including the greatest of
all time, 16:18, but for the Christian the next great event on God's program is the
rapture of the Church to Glory before the earthquakes of God's righteous judgements are
felt in this world. May God's voice be heard in these natural disasters of today, shaking
many out of apathy and indifference as to eternal realities and leading them to rest by
faith upon the solid foundation of the Rock of Ages which will never tremble or remove.
And may the Lord's people, in the shaky conditions of the world today, when men's hearts
are failing them for fear, be steadfast and unmovable. (1 Cor. 15:58)
Bernard Fell
Solihull, England
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