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Volume 1, No. 5
October 1989
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"And there was delivered unto the Lord Jesus the book of Isaiah. And when he had
opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of
all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him." Luke 4:17-20.
What a wonderful portion of the Word of God for the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive,
the blind and bruised. "Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised, promised for you
and for me. Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for
me." He the Rich One, became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. He, the
One into whom men thrust a spear, is the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, the
Healer of the broken heart. He who was bound and led to the cross, through that work, can
set the captive of sin free. He, whom men blindfolded, punched, spit upon, whose face was
marred more than any man, is the One who brings sight to the blind. He, who was wounded
for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, has borne the punishment that we
so rightly deserved.
I know some of you are going through a rough time, perhaps with work, possibly a broken
heart, laid up in bed, maybe even blind. We need to do as those men in the synagogue did
that day. Upon hearing those blessed words from the lips of the Lord Jesus, "every
eye was fastened on Him. All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which
proceeded out of his mouth." Luke 4:20,22. The old Sunday School chorus is so true,
"When the road is rough and steep, fix your eyes upon Jesus. He alone has power to
keep, fix your eyes upon Him. Jesus is a gracious Friend, One on whom you can depend. He
is faithful to the end, FIX your eyes upon Him."
If you are not saved my friend, put your trust in the Lord Jesus today, and know the joy
and peace that are only found in Him. Don't delay!
Keith Van Ryn
Atlanta, Georgia
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***Joseph, of Arimathea***
1. Joseph's Determination - Matthew 27:57-60
We praise God for His ability and desire to raise up people at times we need them in our
lives. The other disciples had fled and were concerned about their own welfare, but
prophecy needed to be fulfilled, (Isaiah 53:9) so God brought someone we had not met
before to the scene. God can always bring us a rich man for the darkness (Matthew 27:57a).
He brings into our lives those who are rich in prayer, compassion, love, understanding,
and rich in the Scriptures when the shadows seem darker than usual.
2. Joseph's Doctrine - Mark 15:42-46
Mark, by the Holy Spirit in verse 43, gives to us Joseph's purity, patience, and pursuit.
In Numbers 19:9, directions were given that a clean man was to be responsible for the
disposition of the ashes of the sin offering. God raised up Joseph for this purpose. God
uses only clean hands (Isaiah 52:11). While Joseph waited, he worked. There is much we
cannot do in Christian service because it is the responsibility of the Lord, but there is
much we can do while we wait.
3. Joseph's Decision - Luke 23:50-53
Joseph was a counsellor who, on occasion, could counsel "No!" We live in an age
which does not like to deny itself anything pleasurable, but the believer is one who can
say "No" if the situation is ungodly or not for the praise and service of
Christ. The majority is not always right and it is not true that "Everyone is doing
it." Nicodemus was on this council and counselled, "No." John 7:50-52.
4. Joseph's Declaration - John 19:38-42
When Joseph went to Pilate boldly to ask the body of the Lord, he ended his service as a
secret disciple. In this passage, Nicodemus also came out strongly for the Lord. Perhaps
you consider yourself a "secret disciple" and base your thought on timidity or
shyness, but God wants and needs your testimony where you are.
Joseph suddenly appears and as suddenly disappears, not to be seen again in Scripture. God
used him when He needed him and where He needed him for the purpose He needed him.
Can the same be said for you?
J. Philip Morgan
Daytona Beach, Florida / Magee Valley, NC
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***And He Wept Aloud...***
Genesis 45 verses 1 and 2 record these words: "Then Joseph could not refrain himself
before all them that stood by him...and he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of
Pharaoh heard."
Joseph, who so many years before had been cruelly sold into slavery by his brethren, had
just heard his brother Judah offer himself as a slave to free his youngest brother
Benjamin from bondage. The memories of the past had flooded into Joseph's heart as he
realized that Judah, the one who had suggested selling him as a slave so many years
before, had learned his lesson and would rather be enslaved himself than face his father
Jacob's anguish when he reported the loss of yet another son. Joseph's heart just breaks
with love as he weeps aloud and reveals his identity to the brothers who had not
recognized him in his position as the vice-ruler of all Egypt.
Joseph is an excellent type of Christ in the Old Testament. I think of this story often at
the breaking of bread when we remember the Lord Jesus and His sacrifice for us. I believe
that the Lord Jesus can scarce restrain Himself as He waits for that special time each
week when He makes Himself known to His brethren again. Perhaps we too, have sold Him for
a price in the past. But I am convinced that there is nothing, nothing that moves Him so
much as observing in His brethren that change from selfish sinners, uncaring of the
effects of their actions upon the heavenly Father, to those willing to be slaves for their
brother and ultimately, their Father. For it is in that very act that we are most like the
Lord Jesus Himself, it is then that He receives the reward of the cross, it is then He
sees the fruit of the travail of His soul and is satisfied.
And interestingly enough, the verse above states, "And the Egyptians and the house of
Pharaoh heard." Egypt is a type of the world, composed of sinners and the system of
sin, with Pharaoh representative of the god of this world, Satan, who rules over it. Yet
they hear as Joseph makes himself known to his brethren. I believe that the single most
important and effective witness that believers can have to the world is their love for
each other. The Lord Jesus said in John 13:35; "By this shall all men know that ye
are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Would you express your love to the
Lord Jesus and the Father today? Love your brother, surrender your self-interest for his
benefit...
Brent Van Ryn
Sterling, Virginia
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The Lesson Of The Teacup
Jeremiah 18:1-6; 19:10-11; Romans 9:20,21
This story was told by an older Christian lady to a younger sister in the Lord.
This is a story of an American couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary by going
to England. Both the man and his wife are fanciers of antiques and pottery and china. And
when they come to Sussex, they pass this little china shop, instantaneously stop, back up,
go in and their eyes single out a little teacup on the top shelf. And he looked at her and
she nodded, and he said; "May I see that one?" And as he examined it, he said;
"I've never seen a teacup like it, it's beautiful." But suddenly the teacup
spoke and said; "You don't understand. I haven't always been a teacup. There was a
time that I was red and that I was clay. And my master took me and rolled me and patted me
over and over and over, and I yelled out in objection, Let me alone! But he only smiled
and said; "Not yet." And then the teacup said; "I was placed on a spinning
wheel, and suddenly I was spun around and around and around, and I said; "Stop it!
I'm getting dizzy." And the master only nodded and said; "Not yet." And
then he put me in an oven. I've never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me
up and I yelled and I knocked at the door, and I could see him through the opening and I
could read his lips as he shook his head; "Not yet." And finally the door did
open and he put me on the shelf and I began to cool. I said; "There, that's
better." And then suddenly he brushed me and painted me all over and the fumes were
horrible and I thought I would gag and I said; "Stop it! Stop it!" And he only
nodded, "Not yet." And then suddenly he put me back into an oven, not the first
one, but one twice as hot. I knew I would suffocate. I begged, I pleaded, I screamed, I
cried, and all the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head and saying;
"Not yet." And then when I knew there was no hope and I'd never make it, I was
ready to give up, but the door opened and he took me out and he placed me on his shelf and
one hour later he handed me a mirror. He said; "Look at yourself." And I did and
I said; "That's not me. It couldn't be me. I'm beautiful!" Then he said; "I
want you to remember...I know it hurt to be rolled and patted, but if I'd have left you,
you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin you around on the wheel, but if
I'd have stopped, you would have crumbled. And I know it hurt, and it was hot and
disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. And I
know the fumes were bad when I brushed you and painted you all over, but you see if I
hadn't done that, you would have never hardened and there would have been no color to your
life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you would not have survived very
long and the hardness would not have held. Now, you're a finished product. You're what I
had in mind when I first began with you."
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Volume 1, No. 6
November 1989
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"There arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship...He arose, and
rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace...There was a great calm...and they feared
exceedingly. Mark 4:37,39,41
Three times over in this short passage from Mark's gospel the writer uses the Greek word
megas (big) -- in describing the storm of wind, the calm that followed, and the fear of
our Lord's disciples.
We are often pounded by howling winds of despair and gale-force winds of trial that
threaten to sink us before we reach the other side, and in our weakness we accuse our Good
Shepherd of not caring.
Yet our Blessed Lord desires for us to learn through the tempest that it is He Who is in
control, and that even the wind and the sea obey Him. He has said, "Let us go over
unto the other side." Shall we, unlike the wind and the sea, disobey? He is not a
man, that He should lie, and when He says the other side, there is no chance of shipwreck
before!
The Scripture tells us that after the Lord spoke, there was a "mega" calm. As
great as that storm was, in that it put fear into the hearts of each of those men of the
sea, so great was the peace that followed. The Scripture tells us that the wicked are like
the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, but there is One Who is able to calm the billows of
sin raging in the sinner's heart. If you are without Christ, invite Him into your heart,
and allow Him to whisper to your soul, "Peace, be still."
Finally, we read that there was "mega" fear. Those fishermen had seen the
Creator of all simply speak the word, and the tempest turned to tranquility. Men today
shake their fists at God and say "No!" to Him, not knowing that it would take
just a word, and the world and all that is therein would be burned up. The Scripture
promises us that "the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept
in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Beloved, let us fear
Him Who is able with His Word to take the great storm, and make the great calm.
David Van Ryn
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***The Storm and the Calm***
We were concerned when we heard the news of Hugo, the eighth hurricane of the season,
raging through the Caribbean dealing out destruction and death in its vicious path. Having
had some experience with these indescribable tempests, we could enter into the relief of
those who escaped the onslaught. When visiting the island of Nevis some years ago,
Hurricane "Faith" passed by. Someone remarked, "Faith without works is
dead," but we are thankful that she did not give us the works, and we sympathized
with those affected.
Sin, like a hurricane, swept into God's fair creation with devastating power. We trace its
origin. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and
so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned." We note its increase in size and
intensity. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Today, the
storm moves on with its raging winds of crime, deep swells of drugs, rising billows of
violence, and the spiritual barometer is at an all-time low. The Bible is a reliable
Forecaster and tells of the approaching storm of judgment for this sinful world.
"[God] hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by
that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He
hath raised Him from the dead." The storm signals are clearly displayed and it is
wise to heed its advisories and take the shelter provided in Christ. Even now, "A Man
shall be a Hiding Place from the wind, and a Covert from the tempest." Let us never
forget that Jesus Himself passed through the greatest storm of all time at Calvary to
bring salvation and peace, and there was no shelter for Him! "Deep calleth unto deep
at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me."
Every hurricane has its strange central calm amid the mighty whirl, the core of the
vortex, and faith in the Person and work of Christ in this turbulent scene brings us into
the calm of sins forgiven. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ." He desires that His people enjoy the stillness of
His presence, though the storms of life still rage around, and hear His sweet voice
saying, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." The Psalmist could say,
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me." The reviving is in
the center of the storm, for He is there to protect and to keep His own in perfect peace
until travelling days are done.
Bernard Fell
Solihull, England
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Three Things We Fear
"And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the
heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all
shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall
be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Hebrews 1:10-12
Three things we fear: we don't like change, we don't like aging, and we don't like death.
In this passage, in reference to the heavens and the earth, we note: they shall be
changed, they shall wax old, and they shall perish.
But in glaring contrast, we read of our Lord: Thou art the same (no changing), Thy years
shall not fail (no aging), and Thou remainest (no perishing). In spite of the
deterioration we see around us and even in ourselves, He is faithful! All may change, but
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever! Praise His Name!
Bill Gustafson
Waynesboro, Georgia
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Rest in Peace
I suppose the one thing most of us want more than anything else in life is peace. I
remember seeing a cartoon years ago of a room with several children running around and
playing, and in the middle of the room there was a large playpen where the mother of the
brood sat serenely in a rocking chair reading a book. I suppose that was the only way she
could get a little peace.
But what most of us desire is not simply that kind of peace, nor peace from war, but the
inner peace that gives joy and satisfaction in the daily life. The Lord said in Matthew,
"Take no thought what ye shall eat, etc." He was saying, "Don't
worry." And He could say that, for He said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give unto you."
However, my favorite verses for peace are found in Phil. 4:6-7. "Be careful (anxious)
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
You remember in Rom. 5:1, it says, "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Here it speaks of peace with God. When I was
at enmity with God because of my sins and sinful nature, Christ in love died for me, and
my acceptance of that has made Him my Savior, and I have peace with God. I know my sins
are paid for and I am on my way to heaven.
But Philippians 4 speaks of the peace of God. We can come in prayer and share with Him
that which we may not be willing to share with anyone else, and we can ask (supplicate),
knowing that it will be between He and I, and regardless of how often I come and for
whatever reason, He will not fault me for coming, for He would not have me to "be
anxious", but He would have me bring it to Him.
Why does he say the peace of God passeth all understanding? Because God knows all that is
going to happen, and He has the power to answer every request. Our worry comes because we
do not know -- if we need a job, if we are ill, if we need finances, if we would have a
loved one to be saved, we do not know, but He does! Unlike us, He does not have any
contingency plans. He can have perfect peace, because He knows the way. And when we learn,
dear saint of God, to rest in Him, then we, too, have perfect peace. We have His peace
because we are resting in His will. We may not understand (a peace that passeth
understanding), but we don't have to understand. We simply rest in that perfect peace.
Remember what He said to Moses in Exodus 33:14: "My presence shall go with thee, and
I will give thee rest." The peace that passeth all understanding...rest in it!
Carroll Van Ryn
Frostproof, Florida
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***Hold Fast!***
In these days of spiritual decline, the exhortation "Hold fast" is greatly
necessary. The phrase occurs twelve times in Scripture, for however dark and difficult the
path, we ought to have a strong grip on God's truth. If inclined to let it go, repent and
tighten our grip. Consider important truths to hold fast...
The Gospel -- 1 Cor. 15:1-4 -- Paul's declaration of the Gospel, which we have believed
and by which we are saved. Many preach on anything but the "death, burial and
resurrection" of Christ, the message of salvation. All need to hear the glad and
glorious tidings in simplicity and power. Note Gal. 1:9. Hold it Fast!
Assurance of Salvation -- John 3:36, 5:24; 1 John 5:13; 2 Tim. 1:12 -- The believer is not
only saved but SAFE! Can "never perish" -- John 10:28, etc. "That ye may
know that ye have eternal life" writes John -- and it is unfortunate that so many
believers think their salvation can be lost. You can't lose anything God gives that is
eternal! Hold fast to our blessed assurance!
Inspiration of the Scriptures -- 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:21 -- Probably the longest and
greatest theological battle rages over the fallibility or infallibility of the Bible.
Prominent ecclesiastical leaders openly deny the verbal inspiration of the Bible in its
inerrancy. Yet godly men in the past century whose hearts the Lord touched, after much
prayer and study of God's Word, repudiated all creeds, catechisms, confessions, etc., and
took the Bible for their complete guide in all matters relating to the Church and
Christian life. Let us be as emphatic as the old brother who said he believed the Bible to
be the inerrant Word of God from "Generations to Revolutions"! The Bible stands:
hold it fast!
The Gathering Name of Christ -- Matt. 18:20 -- One precious Name alone expresses the unity
of the Church. "My name," said the Lord Jesus! Paul stated it in 1 Cor. 1:2, yet
even in his day some were not satisfied with this -- 1 Cor. 1:12. The only church which
Scripture gives us authority to belong to is called "the church of the living
God" -- 1 Tim. 3:15. All believers are in this "body of Christ" (1 Cor.
12:13) and united to the risen Head in heaven -- Eph. 1:22-23. If you are one, practice
this truth and hold it fast!
The Priesthood of All Believers -- 1 Pet. 2:1-10 - - note we are a "holy
priesthood" and a "royal priesthood" - vs 5 and 9. All believers, young or
old, are priests in God's spiritual house. No distinctions such as clergy or laity, for
each is called and ordained by God to enjoy immediate access into God's presence at all
times and in all circumstances -- Heb. 10:19. We may have different functions to perform
as God reveals, but we are equally the same in the priesthood. (Rev. 1:5,6; 5:10). How
precious to recognize the whole priesthood is under the authority of the great High Priest
above - Heb. 4:14-16;7:25. Hold it fast!
Separation Unto God -- 2 Cor. 6:14-18 -- In the spiritual realm, we are to walk separate
from (1) the world -- John 15:19; 1 John 2:15; (2) the disorderly -- 2 Thess. 3:6; (3)
those with unsound doctrine -- 2 John 8-10; and (4) from immorality -- 1 Cor. 5:11-13.
Above all, we are to be separated unto God. Remember that separation from true believers,
sound in faith and godly in life, is not taught in the New Testament. We are to be a
separated people! Hold it fast!
The Coming of the Lord -- John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54, etc.
The imminent, pre-tribulational, pre-millenial return of our Savior is our blessed hope!
Let us ever look for that glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Even so, come Lord Jesus, Amen!" Hold it fast!
John W. Bramhall
Florence, South Carolina
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