harvest times for your family

3 January 2013 / Volume 10 Issue 01Harvest Times for Your Family

ew Year celebrations! Fire works light the sky and crackers burst the ear drums. Are the people celebrating Nthe arrival of a new year? Is it a sign of a new dynamism and determination to face the challenges of the

coming year? Or just a means of burning up the black money to start a new year to continue the same old way

until the time for black money burning comes again!

Many of us do not burst crackers at New Year. Instead, there are the ritual watch night services, testimony

meetings, and the mega conventions to gather enough spiritual food for the whole of next year.

After all these annual rituals, what do we take to the New Year? The same old dirt: rivalry, hatred, revenge,

gossip, greed, position mongering, lust for power and money, the list can go on. Often we are so used to the

existence of these in our attitudes and actions that we seem to be unable to live without them. Doesn't that make

one feel like a hypocrite?

What does it take to effect drastic changes in areas which have been considered so sacrosanct that many of us are

scared that even a mention of any change will make the powers that be to bring down the coals of hell on the

head of that person? But right thinking people are always present in the churches.

Let's learn our lessons from history. King David introduced a new revolutionary form of worship with choirs in

which even women were allowed to take part (1Chr. 25:5,6; Ps. 68:25). Did the priests revolt against his

reforms? Not at all! They accepted and supported the changes wholeheartedly. What was God's attitude to such

changes? Did God just turn His eyes away because He had a soft corner for him? By no means! Instead, David

has been called 'the man after the heart of God'. In other words David was a man who understood the deep

thoughts and concerns of God.

Many think that unless we worship God exactly the same way as our forefathers did, God will be deprived of

His greatness. We cannot add even an iota to the greatness and glory of God with all our worship, whichever

way we offer it. On the other hand true worship lifts us puny little creatures to a higher plane. The question we

need to ask after a worship meeting is not whether God has received enough praise to reward us. Neither should

the question be about our enjoyment of the worship service. The worship that does not lift us and raise us closer

to God is no worship.

Another area that a church concerns itself with is communication of the gospel. How do we do that? Christians

seem to have made preaching (of propositional truth) the only 'approved and privileged form' of

communicating the Word of God. If an evangelist uses written form of communication, through books or

internet, it is considered inappropriate and he is often looked upon as doing things unworthy of his call. But

what matters is whether we communicate the gospel or not. Written communication modes have greater reach

and the readers get the gospel in a more permanent form. One who uses traditional Indian folk art forms and

musical plays for gospel communication are likely to be ostracized by many churches. All these call for change.

But at what cost?

Whereas David escaped the censure of the priesthood, Christ had to pay with His life for His revolutionary

messages that went against the traditions. What revolutionary changes are you working towards in the coming

year? Are you prepared to pay the price for it? High time we made up our minds!

Sam N [email protected]

Year of Change

EDITORIAL


od, who created the universe and sustains it by gospel you received from us!” (2Cor. 11:4 GNT)GHis word, is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Richard Foster underlines the need to dig deeper to Omniscient. He is Supreme and un-created. This know and stick with the one who is True God: world creates gods of their whims and fancy wild "superficiality is the curse of our age... The desperate imagination and weird thinking - a god they can carry need today is not for a greater number of intelligent with them and bargain with. But, what about us who people, or gifted people but for deep people."have experienced God! Do we also create a god we

The people, whom God delivered, longed for a god to want? This is the story of the Israelites who turned to lead them. They rejected the God who led them and Aaron to make a god for them. fed them. While Moses was communing with God, people were compromising in the world. The people gifted their ear-rings and Aaron obliged to make some The Almighty God delivered them, guided them, fed thing of their imagination. They celebrated with them and protected them from all dangers on their enthusiasm this new awakening with of this new found desert journey to the Promised Land. He gave them god and religion. the command in writing that they should not make any

god of their own. Though they experienced the miraculous ways of God they forgot the God who is.

God was grieved and Moses became totally upset even to throw the stone tablet and break it. This is our story. We drift from the True God to a god of our making and But when Moses went to meet with God on the assume that all is well with us. This is far from Truth. mountain, the restless Israelites insisted on making a The self help gospel to boost our image and worth is far calf god to go before them with their gold. They had from the Gospel of the Kingdom. The Gospel of the experienced Jehovah's power and enjoyed His Kingdom makes us stewards and disciples of the presence. He had talked with them and walked with Kingdom. It results in Salvation, Sanctification, them all the way, yet they rejected and made a god Service and Sacrifice. Any other gospel is no gospel.they wanted.

The root cause of this is, not knowing the God of the We do this often with the blessing and co-operation of Bible. Even when we know Him close, we often rebel our religious leaders. We crave for a god we can and drift from the living God to a God we can manipulate and manage. But we forget that it is no god manipulate and manage resulting in deterioration and and it has no life or power to do any good. We drift decay instead of bearing fruit.from the God who is, to a god we want. This is the

idolatry now thriving among the so called believers. “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” We shift from the gospel of the Bible to a gospel of our (Ps. 100:3 NIV).creation. Paul raised this heart breaking complaint to

the Corinthian church, “you gladly tolerate anyone Dear Lord! Help me to stay awake and alive to the who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not True and living God by reading, reflecting and the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a receiving the Truth of the Word of God. gospel completely different from the Spirit and the

God Who Is

God Is Grieved

God We Want

- K. J. Joseph

DEVOTIONAL

There is a God we want, and there is a God who is. They are not the same God. The turning point of our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is. - Patrick Morley

God of My Making


THEOLOGY

n the person of Jesus, God disclosed Himself in a In the fullness of time, God came to mankind in a most Ifully personal way. Natural revelation or what we significant setting – in a manger. He was available to can know about God from the natural world only leads all who approached Him for help. The sorrowing and us to believe that He exists. It does not give sufficient the afflicted, the open sinners and even the self-grounds for beliefs about God's nature. righteous ones could reach Him. He showed His

power over nature and, and worked miracles to comfort people in need. He was able to live with The relationship between the infinite God and finite people and show how He could get firsthand human beings is revealed to us in the incarnation of information about their fears and aspirations. Christ. The incarnation of Christ denotes the addition Incarnation made it possible for people to touch Him. of God into humanity and mingling, that is, the union He was sensitive to the needs of people. When a of God and humanity. In Jesus, God became one with woman touched His garment in faith in the midst of a man and man became one with God. The matter of crowd around Him, He identified the sickness she was “God mingling with man” is inconceivable to our suffering from for twelve years in one look and healed understanding. Yet, this mysterious union was fully her. He went about doing good and preaching the accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ.Kingdom of God. He was moved with compassion when He saw that the multitude was lost, and was We read in 1Timothy 3:16 that God was manifested in meeting their physical and spiritual needs. the flesh, and in Colossians 2:9 that in Christ dwells

the fullness of the Godhead bodily. God did not The God of the universe and beyond is concerned

change into man; instead He adopted human nature about the details of our lives here and now. Here He

and united it with His divine nature in the unity of one calls us into His service.

person. As Michael Ramsey said, “God is like Christ, He gave us hope and meaning in life. The goal and and there is nothing unlike Christ in God.”hope in a meaningful future should be beyond the reach of death, and yet not in such a manner as to When He took humanity, He did not make Himself destroy the significance of all that lies on this side of immune from the frustrations common to humans. death. The curtain of death lies across the path to the The Bible presents Jesus as one who had feelings just future. Jesus opened a way through the curtain and has like us and who was thus capable of being tempted. come to lead us on the way, which He is. We can go But it also presents Him as being sinless. He was not a forward with confidence because Jesus has gone superhuman being above human struggle, and so we before us. We can go forward confidently even when can identify with Him. His humanness is well-the future is hidden, as we have a reliable track. We expressed in His vulnerability to tiredness and know our future hope is of the immortal and the physical weakness. Wearied as He was with all His imperishable. Incarnation made it possible to build labour, He fell asleep. In contrast to the usual practice our life not on the instability of the temporal, but on of the condemned criminal carrying his own cross to the permanence of the eternal. We eagerly look toward the site of crucifixion, Jesus was too weak to carry it His second coming (John 14:3).beyond a certain point on the way to Golgotha.

God's Revelation by Incarnation– Dr. George Samuel


ohn 10 should be studied with John 9 as its context, other sheep (Gentiles) were not decided by those in the Jespecially from John 9:39. John 10 begins with the fold, but by the Porter, the door for entering and the

expression, “Verily, verily, I say to you.” This expression going out. In this connection, it will be interesting to

always precedes the introduction of a doctrine Jesus keep our mind on the three words:

Christ's hearers were not familiar with. He was telling 1. The fold (a??? – AULEE)

the Pharisees, that they are being blind teachers who 2. The sheep -- p??ßat ?? (PROBATON)entered not through the door into the Jewish fold. He

also told them that He entered into the Jewish fold 3. The flock (p??µ?? – POIMNEE)

according to the ordinances established by Jehovah, The purpose of incarnation of the Son was to save and their God. The evidences of His legitimate entry were not to judge or rule. When He came into the Jewish fold, all the good works that He had fulfilled for their benefit. the sheep in that fold were a mixture of those who were All the miracles, preaching, and teachings were for the His and those who belonged to the thieves and robbers manifestation of God's glory and His messiahship; but who came not by the door. These two groups were to they refused to accept them as witnesses of His claim to grow together until the harvest, so that those who were be the Messiah and rejected Him. He told them that not His will be cast into the fire. He taught this truth to though they occupied the fold, He entered into it by the the Jewish leaders at different times. He did not come door that was opened to Him by the Porter. The Potter into the fold to condemn the world, but to take His sheep opened the door, because He was the Shepherd of the from the fold, to save them. The sheep are saved by sheep. The porter recognized Him and that is why the calling them by their names and taking them out to be fed door was opened for His entry. He also told the Jews that by the shepherd. His sheep hear His voice and follow He is not only the Shepherd, but also the Door for His Him.sheep to be led out of the fold. The underlying teaching

The prescribed order of entrance of the shepherd into the was that the entrances of false teachers as well as that of

fold was fulfilled perfectly by Jesus Christ. Those who

- Dr. George P. Koshy

STUDY

“And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.”(John 10:16)

Other Sheep Not Of This Fold


came not by the door were thieves and robbers. The are not called the 'flock.'

door of the fold was not opened to them by the Porter, the The Good Shepherd comes to the fold. He calls His Holy Spirit. Therefore, they could not come by the door. sheep by name. The objective of coming into the fold They did not fulfill any of the signs required of a was to take them out of that fold. He came into the fold shepherd. The Shepherd came to the fold of the sheep, as we read in John 10:2. He did not enter into the 'flock,' which was the place of the scrutiny of the character of therefore the flock is not mentioned there. Only the the true shepherd. Those who failed to recognize Him as sheep is mentioned. He leads His sheep out of that fold. the true Shepherd were those who were not His sheep. Those sheep led out of the fold, is called “Flock.” The They heard a voice and not their names; as the Jewish reference of the fold is to the Jews (John 9:39-41). The leaders said that they heard a thunder, when the Father Shepherd will lead His sheep out of the fold through the said, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” at only Door. That Door was the Good Shepherd who gave the temple. All His sheep were not in the same fold. His life for them. When He spoke those words, the This was the Jewish fold. leading of the flock out of the fold was a future event to The sheep that were in the fold that did not recognize the the Pharisees. His death on the cross was still a future voice of the Shepherd must be independent sheep that event. The Shepherd “puts forth His own sheep,” out of seek to be lead against the voice of the true Shepherd. the fold and goes before them.The 'voice' of the Shepherd has the power to separate the

Let us look to the actions of His sheep that know Him as sheep that are of the Shepherd's and that are not. This their Shepherd. The sheep follow Him. They know voice was heard by the sheep of the Shepherd. Those their path because He is leading them and they are who were not His were engaged in works that were following Him. They know the Shepherd's voice. They directed towards their condemnation. The thieves and not only know the Shepherd's voice, but they know that robbers entered into the fold by climbing in some other it is His voice. They are His own. They will not follow a way. The true shepherd does not climb into the fold, but stranger. They will flee from strangers. Here is the He enters through the door that was opened by the safety and security of the salvation of the sheep. Those Porter, the Holy Spirit. This Shepherd, the Messiah, did that do not do this are not His sheep, though they may not just come “to the sheep” but He came “to the fold of pretend to be. The sheep have personal knowledge of the sheep.”the Shepherd. They do not follow but flee from

So far, we have seen that the Porter, the Holy Spirit, has strangers, because they know that their voices are not of

the power and titleauthority to open the door of the the Shepherd. Their defense is completely entrusted in

sheepfold. We also should observe that the sheep in that the Shepherd. When they follow the Shepherd, they are

fold are not mentioned as a flock, but as the sheep in the outside the fold. They are no more inside that fold. They

fold. The Greek word for 'sheep' in John 10 is p??ßat ?? are outside the fold with the Shepherd who came into the

(PROBATON) and its literal meaning is: 'something fold to call them by their name. But the sheep that are

walks forward.' The Greek word used for 'fold' is a??? still remaining in the fold with the thieves and robbers

(AULEE).are those who did not know the voice of the Shepherd

With this background information, let us consider John and whom the Shepherd did not call by their names. The 10:16, “And I have other sheep (προβατον - Shepherd and His sheep are outside the fold, because the PROBATON) which are not of this fold (αυλη - sheep knew His voice and followed Him. AULEE)); those also I must bring, and they shall hear

So far we have been discussing John 10:1-15. What my voice; and there shall be one flock (ποιµνη – about John 10:16? “And I have other sheep which are not POIMNEE; in KJV it is translated as 'fold'), one of this fold; those also I must bring, and they shall hear shepherd (ποιµνην – POIMNEEN).” It is true that my voice; and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” p??µ??? (POIMNEEN) is translated as 'shepherd.' The When the Lord Jesus Christ told the Pharisees about shepherd is the one who takes care of the sheep in the leading His sheep out of the fold in which they were the fold. His sheep in the fold that He led out of it are called thieves and robbers, they understood that t the parable the flock. The sheep that are not His but are in the fold


was addressed to them. However, they were ignorant who were led out of the Jewish fold were told to go about how He came in by the door of the fold that was into the fold and also into the Gentile fold, and take opened to Him by the Holy Spirit, the Porter. They were those who are His out of it and bring them out. Thus also ignorant about what that exactly meant. He had the 'in and out' of His sheep is brought before us. We entrance into the fold that was opened to Him by the read in Acts 15:14 that when those of His sheep that Porter, the Holy Spirit. However, He led His sheep out were led out of the Jewish fold and called them to be of that fold through another Door, “I am the door of the “Little Flock” were preaching the gospel as sheep.” “I am the door: if any man enters by me, he shall commanded, God was taking a people out of the folds, be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” the Jewish and Gentile folds, for His name. Those When His sheep enter through the Door, which is the

sheep that were led out of the Jewish fold and taken Shepherd, they have a right to go 'in and out.' This 'in

out of the Gentile fold are now one flock, the “Little and out' are not into the old fold or out of the old fold, but

Flock.”to find pasture as being led by the Shepherd and in

We should never forget that the Good Shepherd did obedience to the Shepherd. The Shepherd was the Door not go to the Gentile fold. He sends His 'Little Flock' for His sheep to get out of the system of that fold, the

Jewish system. He alone came as the Jewish Messiah; to the Gentile fold to complete the “Little Flock.” He

as He explained in John 4 to the Samaritan Woman, came to the Jewish fold and died for His sheep, laid

according to God's appointed way. Therefore He is down His life for His sheep, went to the Father after

God's appointed way to others, Jews and Gentiles. He his resurrection commanding that the flock from the

is the Door. He is their way out of the Jewish system. Jewish fold should go to the other fold.

He is the way to become the flock that He mentioned John 10:16 is misinterpreted in the Book of Mormons. as “Little Flock” (µ????? p??µ???? – MIKRON We read in the Book of Mormons, that the other sheep POIMENION) in Luke 12:32. in “not of this fold” are about the members of the

When the Good Shepherd came into the Jewish fold Mormon Church. It is not true. To understand this,

and took His sheep, which had the ability to hear Him we should study John 10 as told by Lord Jesus Christ.

and follow Him out of the fold, they were not put again In the Book of Mormons, they claim that the Good

into another fold, but He called them “Little Flock.” Shepherd went to certain nations in the Americas,

He then sends them into the other fold that He talked against what is written in the Scriptures. Therefore,

about in John 10:16. This He did when He gave the they claim that it was a special revelation, outside the

command, “Go into all the world, and preach the revelation of God and they give it equal authority with

Gospel to all creatures” (Mark 16:15). Before the that of God's revelation. God has said that no one

cross, when He sent them to preach the gospel of the should add to His revelation and we read in

kingdom, the disciples were commanded to go only to Revelation. The Revelation is from God through

the lost sheep of Israel. After His death and Christ through His angel to Apostle John to be given to

resurrection, they were commanded to go to the the Assembly. No one should add or take away

Jewish fold and also the other fold and preach the anything to or from it. If any does, he/she is cursed.

gospel. We read this in Acts 1:8. Thus those sheep

Contd. from Pg. 3

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Harvest Times for Your Family 9 January 2013 / Volume 10 Issue 01

being.ourtesy is an attitude which every individual Cshould posses. But it is a very rare thing to see in This will help them to stand firm in Christian this world. fellowship and also in their relationship with God

because they will surely believe it is God who make For a Christian, courtesy should be a prominent trait the other person remember about them and enquire found in his life. The word for Courtesy – their well being. It will be the truth most of the time 'philophronos' in Greek means 'with friendly among believers.thoughts'. In Acts 28:7, this word id used to refer to the

hospitality shown by Publius to Paul and his fellow As Christians it is our bounden duty and responsibility shipwrecked travellers. to show courtesy to the fellow believers. On the Day

of Judgment, surely Sheep and Goats would be Our love and care for the fellow believers should be a

separated. He will cause the sheep to stand at His natural corollary to God's love to us. “Beloved, if God

right hand, but the goats at His left. “Then the King loved us so (very much), we also ought to love one

will say to those at His right hand, 'Come you blessed another” (1 John 4:11). “You shall love the Lord your

of My Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with

from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry all your mind, you shall love your neighbor as

and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me yourself” (Matt 22:37,39). “You are My friends if you

something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought keep on doing the things which I command you to do”

Me together with yourselves and welcomed and (John 15:14). “He cares for you” (1Pet. 5:7).

entertained and lodged Me, I was naked and you As every believer who is a member of the Universal clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help church is an adopted child of God, he/she is a part of and ministering care. I was in prison and you came to the family of God. So we need to ask the question, see me… Truly I tell you, in so far you did it for one of “Am I showing that care and concern, helping hand to the least of these My brethren, you did it for Me.” He my co-believer who is my brother in Christ?” This will say to those at His left hand, “Depart from Me, care and concern which is called diakonia (serving you cursed into eternal fire prepared for the devil and one another) must be developed within the Church his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, and it should be extended to the society. Heart to heart I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink. I was communication is very much the need of the hour. Let stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain us try and start making a courtesy phone call or sms or Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick email, whichever communication mode is available. and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and It will do a great difference in the lives of others when ministering care. Then they also (in their turn) will they know that somebody is there to care for their well

CONTEMPLATION

Showing Courtesy to

Fellow Believers– Dr. Samuel Chandran &

Dr. Roselin Chandran

12


n a Bible Study group of students, one young questions relating to scientific discoveries on one Iperson said, “Why worry about Adam and Eve and hand and claims affirmed by faith on the other. things we are not sure about. Let us concentrate on Unfortunately, they were only told that the claims of Jesus and the gospel!” The Bible Study Leader the teachers were false, that the others were telling replied: “If we ignore Genesis 1 to 3, there was no lies, and that they simply had to believe the Bible and need for Jesus to die on the cross.” the word of the pastor. There was a clear division

between mind and heart. How strange this separation appears to us when we recall the great

Unfortunately, many evangelical Christians even Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all today take a similar attitude as the young man in this your heart and with all your soul and with all your issue. They have never deeply considered this issue mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30)...It and since they have often no base in science, they have would be better if we were living with the principle, no answers. One evangelical Theology Professor told “Every serious question deserves a serious answer.” If me, “You don't have to see Creation as from God and young people have questions, we should be willing to Evolution from the Devil.” I beg to differ. Yes, answer as well as we can… (March 1, 2010: 3)evolution is from the Devil to distract us from our

That was a true problem in those days I know since I view of God as the Creator and thus supreme. In the was a young college student then. We had to struggle 1960s Hal Lindsay in his best seller Late Great Planet to find our own evangelical answers then. The same is Earth identified several “bombs” the Devil used on true for youth today.human minds in the twentieth century. They included

Darwinism (Evolution), Marxism, Fascism, Humanism, etc. It was these that took the modern

Many Christians believe that the Bible is more than a mankind away from God. religious book that also answers to historical and

In his recent paper “Prospects of Pentecostalism” Dr. scientific data. But maybe that is not what God had in

Jean-Daniel Pluss of Switzerland identified several mind. Nowhere, do we read in the Bible that it claims

questions that the second generation Pentecostal to be authoritative in scientific matters. However, we

youth had in his country that were not answered by the do read the Bible as a book that speaks with

Church authorities and so they left the church because inspiration and authority about matters of faith and

they could not make sense of it all. One of them was life. (ibid)

questions relating to scientific claims. In his words:

This is what I would call a “cop out” and will not Especially by those that grew up during the student answer any young person today. The modern youth revolts around the year 1968 were suddenly asking are more knowledgeable than the earlier generation

The Problem

Unfortunately Dr. Jean-Daniel Pluss' solution is this:

– Peter S. C. Pothan

CONTEMPLATION

The Importance of Believing

in Creation -1


and they want genuine answers not 'wish-washy” statements. Yes, the Bible is not a “scientific text There are several reasons why we as Christians should book” but as God's Word, it is both authoritative and believe in Creation.trustworthy. How can it be “a book that speaks with

1. The Bible clearly teaches it as a fact and takes it for inspiration and authority about matters of faith and granted. Genesis starts with God creating the world. It life” if it cannot deal with Creation and the formation emphasizes both creation ex nihilo (out of nothing) of the universe? A God who is not a Creator cannot be and that human kind is a special creation in the image a Redeemer either! And to say “Nowhere, do we read of God. In the Psalms and other Old Testament books in the Bible that it claims to be authoritative in this is repeated. The Psalmist for instance says, scientific matters” is ridiculous. The so-called “When I consider your heavens, the work of your difference between Science and Religion is a 19th fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in century invention of a few atheist scientists and has no place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son credibility what so ever. The Bible is God's Truth and of man that you care for him? You made him a little therefore True Science will back it. On the other hand, lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with False Scientific Theories will try to discredit it. In fact, glory and honour. You made him ruler over the works I have found that when people try to bolster up of your hands; you put everything under his feet:” (Ps evolution with so called facts, they don't hesitate to 8:3-6) Jesus confirms God as the Creator who is still tell lies or use half truths. We need to use discernment currently working saying, “Look at the birds of the air; in this area.they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matt. 6:26 and In reality history shows that scientists in England from “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and Newton onwards were trying to discover the laws of I, too, am working.”(John 5:17). If then we claim to be the universe so as to discover what God had done. evangelicals and do not accept the written word we are They all believed in God. Sir James Simpson, one of being foolish.the most learned scientists of his time and the

discoverer of the anaesthetic properties of 2. If we refuse to accept the record of Genesis chapters chloroform, when asked what he considered the most 1 to 3 with the Creation and the Fall, and call it myths wonderful discovery he had ever made said without or fables, we really have no gospel. The death of hesitation, “The greatest discovery I ever made was Christ on the cross is based on the creation and the fall. that I had a Saviour.” He then set out to find out the Without these there is really no need for the Lord Jesus wonders that God had created. The same was true of to die a sacrificial death on the cross. This lays the scientists in Europe. They may have challenged the basis for the gospel of reconciliation to the Creator wrong teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, but whom we have been separated from by our first that did not mean they were heretics or atheists. For ancestor's sin. instance, Johannes Kepler, who set out the Kepler's

3. Our Gospel is that of the Creator who became man Laws of Planetary Motion following Copernicus' idea

to die for us. Only the Creator could be the Wounded that the planets (including the earth) revolved around

Saviour. That is the glory of the incarnation. Without the sun, said just before he died that he believed “only

that Jesus would be just a human. But the Bible insists and alone in the service of Jesus Christ. In Him is all

that He is both Creator and Sacrifice. That is why John refuge, all solace.”

starts with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was 2009 was designated by several evolutionists as the with God in the beginning. Through him all things “Darwin Year” as it was the 200th birth anniversary of were made; without him nothing was made that has Charles Darwin, who was born on February 12, 1809. been made. In him was life, and that life was the light So February 12 became “Darwin's Day”. If 201 years of men” (John 1:1- 4). In his first epistle he says, “That down the line we still do not have evangelical answers which was from the beginning, which we have heard, to the lie of evolution, then as Paul says, “we are to be which we have seen with our eyes, which we have pitied more than all men.”

The Reasons for Believing in Creation:


looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (1John 1:1). Why does John emphasize the Creation “in the beginning”? Because he sees the importance of the fact that the Saviour is the Creator. Paul emphasised the same fact to the Colossian Church saying, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. …For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1: 15-20). Paul clearly understood that Creation is linked to Redemption. The Creator is the Wounded Saviour! This truth only could defeat the Gnostic “Colossian Heresy”.

4. The Creation is the basis for all ethical lifestyle. The Creation rests on God's initiative and depends on God's activity. While the Creation accounts are not scientific theories of origin yet certain fundamental principles are enshrined there. Firstly, we are told that the earth belongs to God because he made it (cf. Ps. 24:1). At the same time it also belongs to humankind as God has entrusted it to our care (Gen.1:28, cf. Ps.115:16, Ps. 8:4-8). Therefore, we are responsible to God as stewards for what we do with it, which is the basis of all individual, social and ecological ethics. Secondly, we are told that God made man and woman in his own image (Gen. 1:26 - 27) and they are created to have fellowship with God. Thus the dignity of human beings is asserted in the creation account. The image of God is evident in their given ability to know God and exercise authority over all creation (Gen. 1:28, 2:19-20). Thus human beings stand in a special relationship to God. This therefore talks not only of stewardship but also of uniqueness. Thirdly, each human stands in relation to his or her fellow humans. Human rights, equality and freedom are God given rights to humankind. This, therefore, deals with problems of gender, marriage, caste and social inequalities, suicide, euthanasia, capital punishment, genetic engineering, etc. Hence, it can be seen that the Creation and especially the theological concept of humankind created in God's image is basic to most

areas of ethical reflection.

Fifthly, a failure to believe in the Creator leads to Secular Humanism. This is based on the belief that there is no Creator and humans evolved from animals and therefore humans can make all decisions by human reason based on desires and relative values of people. This causes disunity, dictatorship and oppression. Communism adopted this attitude and since they rejected the Creation they rejected the only basis for equality of all people and so evolved into an oppressive regime.

Sixthly, this view also leads to Post-Modernism with no belief in anything! It leads to lack of hope.

Therefore, if we fail to take Creation seriously, we fail in every aspect of our Christian faith.

(To be continued)

answer, Lord when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to You? And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least of these, you failed to do it for Me” (Matt 25:41-45).

As a Child of God, is there Christian love and courtesy in me? Am I showing that simple words or action of courtesy to my fellow brothers is a question to be answered?

Do I honestly communicate from the depth of my heart? Asking, “How are you? How things are going on?” These are examples for words of courtesy to begin with.

Am I using a word or action of kindness – Courtesy - without any expectations from my fellow brother, sister or family?

May the grace of God enable us to examine ourselves often, commit ourselves to show courtesy and act upon it!

[email protected]

contd. form 19

Showing Courtesy to Fellow Believers


READ:

KEY VERSE:

Ask someone to help

you find this verse

Acts 25: 13-22& 26: 13-32

Acts 26: 22

Story 1 Paul before the KingIn Acts 25: 13-22,

In Acts 26: 13-32,

Sometimes during holidays you may visit several different relations. They all seem to want to know how you are getting on at school. After you’ve told the third or fourth one you may think to yourself,“How many more times?" Paul may have felt like this as he had to stand trial before various officials who had been appointed to try him. Yet he didn’t mind because he used every opportunity to tell them about the Lord Jesus.

1.In Acts 26: 24 Paul is described as crazy or __ __ __.

2.Who described him as this? .............................

3.Who captured Paul in the Temple? (26: 21)

...............................................................

4.What was the visitor’s royal title? (25: 13)

...............................................................

5.Where was Paul put on trial? (25: 13)

...............................................................

6.Who left Paul a prisoner? (25: 14)

...............................................................

7.In which city was Paul charged? (25: 15)

...............................................................

8.What is Jesus, or Messiah, sometimes called?

...............................................................

Governor Festus tells King Agrippa about the prisoner Paul. Agrippa then asks to be allowed to hear Paul for himself.

Paul defends himself before King Agrippa.

Q: Write in the answers to the following questions and then circle them in the Word Puzzle. (They are written backwards, forwards, diagonally, up or down.)

01/13 5 - 10 years


9.Who always gave a fair trial? (25: 16) ..........................................................

10. Who was the visiting king ? ...............................................................

11.Who prayed that the king would become a Christian? (26: 29)

...............................................................

12.Who accompanied the king? ...........................

......... / .............. / ............. / ............. / ...............

God helped Paul to witness. ........................

Paul only witnessed to great (important) people. ........................

What is your answer to the searching question,“Do you believe?”

Will you put off answering as Felix did? (Acts 24: 25) Or perhaps

like Festus, in this Bible Reading, you think it’s only crazy people

who become Christians. Or maybe like King Agrippa, you are

almost persuaded, but have never trusted in the Lord Jesus. All

these men had a wonderful opportunity to be saved, and

forgiven, but sad to say, they failed to come to the point where

they received the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. Make

sure you don’t do the same as they did and miss your

opportunity. Instead, be like Paul who could answer his own

question and say:

Q: Write out the letters that remain (from left to right moving down the Word

Puzzle) to find out what Paul spoke to King Agrippa about.

Q: From the Key Verse answer TRUE OR FALSE:

Q: What did Festus say as he heard Paul speak?

Q: What is the challenge Paul gave to King Agrippa?

“I know whom I have believed”. (2 Timothy 1: 12)

15Harvest Times for Your Family

READ:

KEY VERSE:

Ask someone to help

you find this verse

Acts 27: 13-14,20-44 & 28: 1-9

Acts 27: 25

January 2013 / Volume 10 Issue 01

Story 2 ShipwreckIf you want to enjoy fully this exciting end to Paul’s

adventures read a l l o f chapters 27

and 28.

Have you ever found yourself in a difficult

situation and felt worried or afraid? When we give

the Lord Jesus the control of our lives as Paul had

done, He doesn’t take all our problems away but

He does promise to help us through them.

Paul encouraged everyone on the ship with a special message from God.

Q:

island called... (Acts 27:13).

Q: Search the Word Puzzle and shade in the

two things they had not seen for many days.

Q: Now write out the remaining letters from the Word Puzzle in the order given, to

discover how everyone felt during the storm.

Q: Using Acts 27: 24, write IN YOUR OWN WORDS what it was God had said to him.

The storm hit them after they passed the

After God had spoken to Paul he encouraged everyone on the ship to eat. (See Acts 27: 33-44)

Paul gave thanks to God for the bread. ................

Afterwards, the men felt sad and angry. ................

The centurion wanted to save Paul’s life. ................

Everyone escaped safely to shore. ................

Q: Answer TRUE or FALSE:


Dear parents and Sunday school teachers,

You may make photo copies of Kidz Bible Time (4 pages) and distribute them among children. Please collect the answer scripts and send them to Candelina.

Editor

Answer scripts will be returned after correction.

Q: What was the name of the island on which they were shipwrecked?

Q: Take the first letter of each object to find out who looked after Paul on the

island.

Q: Write on the calendar the number of

days Paul stayed with him.

Q: Cross out the wrong answers to

find out what happened in his home.

Publius’ son / father / wife was sick

with a fever / broken leg / headache,

so Paul shouted / cried / prayed and

laid his hands on him and healed him.

After three months, Paul continued his

journey to Rome, where he was kept a

prisoner in his own home but was still

allowed to have visitors. You will see by

reading the very last verse of the book of

Acts what he did. Yes, right up to the end of his life he was still telling people about his

Saviour, the Lord Jesus. Once again, Paul had trusted the Lord through difficult

situations. He knew God would never let him down. If we, like Paul, trust the Lord Jesus,

He will forgive our sins and help us in every situation in life. He will also never let us

down.

Number ofDays:


- Cynthia John

hat do your friends put on Facebook? Pictures If Jesus Himself took the nature of a servant, and Wof their new gadgets? Holiday pictures? Minor wanted us to follow His example, how does that achievements? Read ten Facebook updates, and see change your view of being great?how many of them are motivated by pride. It seems so Here are some things that Jesus says. They are very natural and common to show off, or feel proud of different from what many people believe. Think about yourself. But God has a radically different way of them and see if you really believe them:seeing things.

“...learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, If we start thinking about the number of things that we and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29do and say, which have pride at the base, we could go

“...'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over on and on. All of us are guilty of pride. God gives us a them, and their high officials exercise authority over totally different view of being 'great.'them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to

Matthew 23:11, 12 says, “The greatest among you become great among you must be your servant, and will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as will be humbled, and those who humble themselves the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, will be exalted.” and to give his life a ransom, for many.' “ Matthew

20:25-28That's just the opposite of what people want to do. The common view of being great means to be “...I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22: 27honoured and respected, and to get others to serve us.

“...For he who is least among you all – he is the But this verse clearly tells us that those who are the

greatest.” Luke 9:48greatest must be the servant of others, serving with

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child love.is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew

And our example is Jesus, “And being found in 18: 4appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became

In the light of Jesus' words, how can you change your obedient to death – even death on a cross!” life? Here are a few things you can do:Philippians 2:8w Ask God to remove pride from your heart, and help

Paul says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of you see your sin.Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not

w Reflect on your attitudes and actions that reflect consider equality with God something to be grasped, pride and confess them to God.but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a

servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians w Sincerely ask for forgiveness and ask Him to fill 2:5-7 your heart and live in you.

Proud to Be Humble?


1. Which disciples were witnesses to Jesus' transfiguration?

2. Who came visiting Jesus at that place?

3. What did Peter want to make?

4. Who spoke from the cloud at that place?

5. What did the disciples do when they heard the voice from the cloud?

6. Until when were the disciples not to tell others about the vision?

7. What was the problem with the boy whom the disciples could not heal?

8. For what did Jesus rebuke the disciples?

9. What did the authorities come to collect from Jesus at Capernaum?

10. From where did Peter get the money for paying the money?

For 11 to 14 year olds

?

Winners of BQNov. 2012

The answers and names of the winners will be published after two months. Answers should reach us before 7th February 2013. Answers to be sent only on postcards. The publisher’s decision is final. Answers received without name, address or age will not be evaluated. Send your answers with your name, age and complete postal address to:

HT-Explorers, GLS Publishing,

Udyog Bhavan, 250 D, Worli Colony,

Mumbai 400 030

BQ December 2012

Answers of Nov. 2012 BQ

w Depend on God to help you overcome the sin of to destruction in hell, we can't help feeling humble. pride. When we focus on God and His greatness, it will keep

w Focus on God, knowing Him, praying for His plan, our thoughts away from our selves, and help us realise and letting Him guide your life. the truth that we are nothing by ourselves; and

everything in Him.w Reflect on the greatness of God, His creation, His

When we do acknowledge the fact that we are work and His plans for eternity.nothing, when we empty our hearts of any pride in our

w Reflect on your sinfulness, and the fact that you own selves, we open the doors for God's blessing and

just can't do anything about it on your own.power to flow through us. Like Paul, we can also say,

w Reflect on the fact that you cannot even make a hair “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” from your head fall – without God, we can do Philippians 4:13nothing at all. There is a right way to boast, though. “This is what the

w Try to avoid situations where you may be tempted LORD says: 'Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or to focus on yourself or show off. the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of

their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about w Make a conscious effort not to show off, speak

this: that they have the understanding to know me, that boastfully, or think highly of yourself.I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and

When we realise that we can do nothing by ourselves, righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares and that when we follow our own path, we are doomed the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23, 24

[All Questions from Matthew 11 to 13]

1. Herod the Tetrarch [Matt. 14:1]

2. To a desert place [Matt. 14:13]

3. Fed 5000 people with 5loaves and 2 fish [Matt. 14:19-20]

4. Went up to the mountain to pray alone [Matt. 14:23]

5. A spirit [Matt.14:26]

6. Worshipped Him

[Matt. 14:33]

7. Transgressing the commandment of God by their tradition [Matt. 15:3]

8. What comes out of the mouth [Matt.15:11]

9. Blind leaders [Matt. 15:14]

10. Son of David [Matt. 15:22]

Sorry! No Winners!!


here are some good lessons we can learn from the prison years remains a worthy example of holiness Tlife of Joseph during his imprisonment years. and hard work for us to follow. Yet, this man Joseph had still a lot more to learn about God.

Those years were particularly tough for Joseph. Not just because he had been betrayed by his own brethren Notice his responses in two situations:but also because he was now put in the prison for First in Genesis 40:8, “Do not interpretations belong wrong reasons. When you read his words in his to God? Tell me them, I pray you.” Compare that with interaction with the chief butler, you see him trying to his response to Pharaoh in Genesis 41:16, “It is not in make some arrangements with the butler for his me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”release. Joseph was quite aware that God was with

Second in Genesis 40:15, “For indeed I was stolen him even in the prison as he was with him when he was away out of the land of the Hebrews…” Compare that sold into Egypt. But yet as any normal human, he was with his response to his brethren in Genesis 45:7, struggling to cope with the fact that he was in the “And God sent me before you to preserve you…”dungeon.

The change in Joseph is quite subtle. He's more He had done nothing wrong for to suffer a punishment dependent on God now than before. What he like that. We read in 1Peter 3:14 that happy are they professes about his God is not just facts but who suffer for righteousness' sake. But for that to be experiences. When he said, “Do not interpretations an encouragement for Joseph in such a time was far belong to God?” it was a fact he firmly believed in. beyond reality. As his days of unjustified But when he said, “God shall give Pharaoh an answer imprisonment went on from days into weeks and of peace,” he was not just telling that God is weeks into months, he would've certainly asked many responsible for interpretations, he was also attesting to hard questions to God in his lonesome moments in the fact through his experience of God in his prison that dungeon. It would've been a struggle for Joseph at years that God's answer will be one that satisfies and that time to overcome his emotions of dejection, brings peace. rebellion and depression and draw courage, patience

and strength from the faithful God he had experienced Joseph was able to see God more vividly through the thus far. situations he's going through. He realized that he was

not just a case of family conspiracy and kidnapping, Even in our Christian walk, it remains a challenge for but he was on a mission from God. Wow! I imagine us to cling on to the Word of God through the Joseph getting goose bumps all over as he testified hardships we face for righteousness' sake. Waiting for aloud this before his brethren. It was a great thing for the right time for God to fulfil his plans in our lives is a Joseph to say for he had all the authority to take greater challenge. Joseph tried to get his release done revenge against his brethren. But yet, being subject soon through the butler. But God's time for that to unto the divine counsel of God, he dealt kindly with happen was a good two years later.his brethren. I see that as a great challenge for the

Through it all, Joseph came out a more refined man of children of God who go through immense sufferings God after his prison years. Already his life prior to his to count it all as a mission from God towards

Joseph in Prison- Abey Kuruvila


Answers should reach us before 7th February 2012. The Answers and Winners will be published only after 2 months. Answers should be sent only on postcards. The publisher's decision is final. Answers received without name, address or age will not be evaluated. Send your answers with your name and

complete postal address to: HT-Challengers, GLS Publishing, Udyog Bhavan, 250 D, Worli Colony, Mumbai 400 030.

CROSSWORD15 - 19 years

Across

1. He cheated his brother and had to flee from his home. [5]

6. Teacher [5]

7. Place where God confused the language of the people. [5]

8. Paul calls the Corinthian believers these because they had refused to grow up. [5]

10. Jacob hid all the strange gods under this tree. [3]

12. When David became king, Mephiboseth was living in the house of this man's son. [6]

14. One kind of people Jesus healed [4]

15. In Damascus governor of this king tried to arrest Paul. [6]

17. The bronze serpent Moses had made in the wilderness later came to be known as this. [9]

Down

1. At this ford a man fought with an angel. [6]

2. One of the Midianite prince Gideon killed. [4]

3. A prophet who was rebuked by an ass. [6]

4. David cried to the LORD not to remember these of his youth. [4]

5. One of the names of the Sav iou r men t i oned by

January2013

Nov. 2012 Crossword Winners

Nov. 2012 Crossword Answers

something beautiful. today?”

Finally, in both on these situations, notice also how the It's an important lesson that we need to learn from 'I' loses importance in the latter response. Indeed he Joseph's life. To have a heart of love in ministry is was learning a lot about God! equally important as being faithful in ministry.

Without which ministry becomes dry and This man Joseph was loved by all. He was unproductive. Notice that word 'today'. It shows the trustworthy, hardworking and faithful in all his regularity in Joseph's love. Not a Sunday affair alone. matters. But these qualities came not from a Joseph made it a daily practice to love his fellow-responsibility-driven or work-driven life. It was prisoners. He showed diligence even in his love for something that came out of a true heart. He had a them because of which they were free to open up their character that was lovable and attractive because he hearts to him and tell him their dreams.himself showed concern and love for all people. When

in prison he was put in charge of all the prisoners. Yet Joseph is yet a beautiful example for us to follow. he ruled not over them but interacted with them in love Even though it was a dungeon he was put in to, yet his and concern. We see that in his words he asked the life never stopped radiating the beauties of a child of butler and the baker, “Why are your faces so sad God.

Prophet Isaiah. [9]

9. Son of this man rebelled against Abimelech a son of Gideon. [4]

11. Moses' sister Miriam died here. [6]

13. This part of Jesus' body was not broken by the soldiers. [3]

15. One of the letters of Hebrew alphabet used in Psalm 119. [3]

16. Jesus went riding on this animal to Jerusalem to a rousing welcome. [3]

Mandeep Kaur, Mukandpur, Punjab

Michael Jacob, Belgaum, Karnataka

Rubie Antony, Ankleshwar, Gujarat

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13

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P E A C E C L A PA E O L

P R I D E C O M EE A A K IR O A R I N G A

L M A D

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Spiritual Mothers and Special Sons

hen Samson consorted with Delilah, would he strengthened Samson. His Spirit of power began to Whave ever dreamt that 3000 years later, his move in him.affair would be made into a Hollywood movie? The Self willed young Samson walked into the enemy world craves for sordid stories and honours persons country and chose a Philistine bride. He had no involved in them as celebrities. respect for his father's disapproval or mother's God honoured Samson's mother by personally giving pleadings. His sorrowful mother must have thought her instructions about the future judge of Israel. The her careful upbringing was in vain. En route to the angel appeared to her twice and only later on to her wedding Samson made a detour into a vineyard and husband, Manoah. Spiritually discerning, she broke his Nazarite vow. Empowered by the Lord, he recognised the messenger as the Angel of the Lord. killed a roaring lion. Later he took honey from its The Lord revealed that she would have a special son, carcass and broke another vow. He gave some honey who all his life would be a Nazarite. He would begin to to his parents but did not reveal its source.deliver Israel from the Philistine rule. She too was a Not only had he lost respect for his parents, but part of the Nazarite vow by abstaining from any part stopped communicating with them. Could Samson, of the vine during pregnancy. who was to deliver Israel from Philistine rule, marry When Manoah mistook the Angel to be a man and one of them? His mother must have claimed the asked his name, He replied 'Wonderful' (Isaiah 9:6). Angel's promise and cried out to the Lord. Samson, by Only when their offering went up in flames and the his own pride and folly, never consummated the Angel ascended did he realise who their visitor was. marriage. God accomplishes His purposes either with The couple threw themselves face down. Manoah was us or in spite of us!sure they would die. His wife's faith triumphed. She Samson found many reasons to avenge himself. He assured her husband that after revealing such a kept fighting, killing and destroying the Philistines. wonderful message God would fulfil His Word. He had some novel ways – he caught 300 foxes, tied 'Samson' means 'sunny'; doubtless the child brought torches to their tails and let them burn Philistine joy and delight to his parents. All precautions were cornfields, vineyards and orchards. He killed 1000 taken to bring him up as a Nazarite. Time and again men with the jaw bone of an ass. The Spirit of God she restrained him from eating grapes or its juice. used to come on him powerfully. He was a one man Lovingly she explained that he was special and God army fulfilling God's purpose. Twice we read of him had a great purpose for his life. From childhood she calling on the Lord for help. He was a man of faith but must have cared for his seven locks of hair. not a faithful one! He gave in to his passions of lust,

anger and pride.In his youth Samson's long hair must have been cumbersome. She encouraged him to tolerate it by Samson's own nation did not approve his destroying reminding him that he was dedicated to God. She kept the Philistines. Judah had become so complacent, that instilling in Samson that God would use him to deliver they never cried to the Lord for forty years of Israel from their enemies. The Lord blessed and Philistine domination. A spiritually dark time, yet his

- Mrs. S F Alva


“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Col.3:25). disobedience to God's command. It is a distrust of God's care and ability. Pretty severe, right? But it's “Stress” is a very commonly used word these days. true.People often confess that they are “stressed out.”

“Stress management” has become a much sought after With the command not to worry comes a command to skill. Some fallouts of a stressful life are physical do something else: 'in everything, by prayer and ailments like high blood pressure and heart problems. supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be Reports shows that heart attack, which used to be made known to God' (Phil.4:6). Thus we are not associated with older men in earlier generations, expected to be passive but active. The antidote for afflict much younger men now. Besides, many women worry is trust in God and prayer. And this action suffer from heart diseases that used to be considered produces a happy result: 'the peace of God, which gender selective. surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts

and minds through Christ Jesus' (Phil.4:7). So we can Overwork is one reason for stress. Most of us have too stop worrying and start living.much to do, with too little time and energy. We often

feel that we just can't cope. 'Are you moving so fast The other day, someone narrated an incident. Fire

that you feel you're spinning your wheels?' asks a broke out in a train and the passengers panicked. But

country gospel song. We would answer 'yes', wouldn't an elderly woman sat peacefully, with no sign of fear.

we?A young man in the same compartment noticed her

Another cause of stress is worry. Worry over reaction and asked her how she could keep so calm. circumstances, worry over the future, worry over the She explained that her life was in God's hand and she children. There never is dearth of reasons for worry. had nothing to fear. Then she shared the Gospel with And worry is second nature to many of us. So you him. He was converted and later served God in his have a fatal combination there. hometown, resulting in many others coming to the

Lord.This is why the word of God specifically commands us to not worry. 'Be anxious for nothing' (Phil. 4:6) Before leaving the world, our Lord told his disciples rings out loud and clear. I remember reading a book “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you” titled How to Win over Worry and Care many years (Jn.14:27). Let's gladly take hold of this gift and let it ago. In it the author, Dr. Edmund Haggai, control our lives.emphatically states that worry is a sin. It is

Stress Management - Malsawmi Jacob

mother's faith shone brightly. A sword must have gone God chooses spiritual mothers to have special sons. through her soul when 3000 Israelites tied and handed We have numerous examples – Hannah, Jochebed, Samson to the Philistines. Elizabeth, Mary and Lois. These mothers endured

heart rending sorrow, exercised strong faith and hoped Only some of Samson's deeds are rewarded, for he against hope before and while their sons were truly did begin to deliver Israel from Philistine rule. accomplishing God's purposes. Former slave trader Samson's mother was not aware that he was fulfilling John Newton's mother prayed for him till her death. God's purpose, but in an unobtrusive way.Similarly, Samson's mother may not have Samson's tragic yet triumphant end completed God's comprehended her son's achievements till the end. mission. All the lords of the Philistines and 3000 Believing, praying mothers need never despair of important men had gathered to celebrate their god their children's ultimate spiritual well being (Proverbs Dagon's festival. The temple was full of men and 22:6). Our promise keeping, faithful God never fails.women. They rejoiced ascribing victory to Dagon.

With a last cry to the Lord Samson pulled down the temple pillars and killed all of them.

Practical Tips


here is a class of subjects that, while not disagreement as to the mode and meaning of baptism. Tfundamental is nonetheless important. Jesus Some practice baptism by immersion, some by implied such a distinction when He said to the immersing three times and some by sprinkling. Some Pharisees, “You pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, see baptism as signifying identification with Christ in and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: His death, burial and resurrection. Others see justice and mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23). In other sprinkling as a picture of the descent of the Spirit. words, some parts of the law are 'weightier' than You can be a true believer and hold any of these views others. But Jesus reminded them that even the less and this should not be a bar to fellowship. But once an weighty matters of the law require obedience; “these assembly has adopted a position on the subject no one you ought to have done, without leaving the others should cause trouble by pushing alternate views. undone.”

It is a different matter when a person believes in So in the New Testament, there are matters which baptismal regeneration, that is, that a person must be aren't fundamental, but which require obedience. baptized in order to be saved, or that by baptizing an They are matters on which the Bible speaks. Some are infant, you make the child a member of Christ and an described as commandments of the Lord inheritor of the kingdom of God. This is a false gospel, (1Corinthians 14:37). We should not treat them as a denial of the truth that salvation is by faith alone. non-essentials or treat them as such. Because it is contrary to a fundamental of faith, it These subjects include baptism, divorce and precludes the fellowship of Bible-believing remarriage, the outline of prophecy, the eternal Christians.security of the believer, women's head covering, women's public ministry in the church, the gifts of the

Some say, "No divorce. PERIOD." Some say, Spirit and the topics related to divine election and "Divorce, but no remarriage." Others say, "Divorce human responsibility. for unfaithfulness, but no remarriage.” Still others

The problem is that Christians hold differing views on say, "Divorce for unfaithfulness with freedom for the these matters. While there is only one right innocent party-to remarry: Some even say, "Divorce interpretation for each of these matters, believers do for desertion." There is no end to the different views, not agree on which interpretation is correct. Great and and it's doubtful that there will ever be unanimity on godly believers don't see eye to eye. Let's look at some this subject as long as we are here on earth. of these issues.

Sooner or later, every local assembly must adopt a position on this subject and adhere to that position in

In the Christian church, there is considerable the fear of God. Individuals may hold other

Divorce and Remarriage

Baptism

Important Though Not Fundamental

STIMULUS

- William MacDonald


interpretations, but they must not press their views instructions concerning head coverings were just for publicly or privately lest they cause division. the culture in which he lived. Others insist that they

are the commandments of the Lord. Paul bases his It should be added that even after an assembly adopts a instruction on the order and purpose of creation. position, the elders will still have to consider each While praying or prophesying, a woman “ought to case individually. Such complex situations arise today have a symbol of authority on her head because of the in the marriage relationship that no stated policy will angels.” For these reasons, the instruction applies to cover every case. all time and not just for the culture of Paul's day.

Questions arise such as whether the head covering is Some believers are pre-millennial, others are post- just for meetings of the church (and if so, what is a millennial and still others are a-millennial. Even meeting of the church?) and what constitutes a proper among pre-millennialists there are four major views: covering? If the elders of an assembly don't adopt a pre-tribulation rapture, mid-tribulation rapture, pre- policy on the subject, there is bound to be confusion. wrath rapture and post-tribulation rapture. There are They owe it to the saints to state clearly what they problems connected with every position. A person can believe the Scriptures teach. hold any of these views and still be a good Christian.

It is proper that we know what we believe and rejoice When may a woman sing or speak in a meeting of the in it. But it is also proper that we remember there are church? The answers given today are too numerous to godly, sincere believers who hold other views. Honest list. With a sincere desire to obey the Scriptures as differences should not prevent us from breaking bread closely as possible, elders should adopt a clear, united together. On the other hand, those who hold alternate position. These prayerful conclusions become the views should respect the prophetic stance of an policy of the assembly. assembly and not push their views, thereby causing

dissension. When someone insists that everyone must agree with his minority view, there is bound to be

Another issue that holds the potential for trouble is the trouble.

charismatic question. Tongues, healing, and prophesying seem to be the gifts around which the most controversy has swirled. The differing Many Christians believe that when a person has been viewpoints, even among Charismatics themselves, truly born again, he or she will never lose their are legion. salvation. They believe that to deny the eternal

security of the believer questions the sufficiency of We can and must love Christians who disagree with the work of Christ and mixes faith and works. us, but we must not allow this issue to cause division.

Therefore, an assembly must decide what the Bible There are other people who love the Lord and yet they really teaches on this score. The elders have both a sincerely believe that Christians can forfeit their right and a responsibility to deal firmly, with any who salvation through sin. To refuse fellowship with these insist on teaching views that conflict with accepted saints means that you would not break bread with John teaching and threaten the peace of the assembly. Wesley and men of that spiritual stature.

Again, we say to the elders of each assembly, "Know what you believe and why you believe it." Say to those A Five-point Calvinist believes in man's total who believe differently, "You can hold a different depravity, Cod's unconditional election, limited view, but don't teach it in public or in private. If you atonement (i.e. only for the elect), irresistible grace, would like to discuss it, please speak to the elders." and the perseverance of the saints. Accurate definition

of these terms is essential before an intelligent judgment can be formed.

On the one side are those who hold that Paul's

The Outline of Prophecy

Women's Ministry

The Sign Gifts

Eternal Security

Divine Election and Human Responsibility

Women's Head Covering

26

January 2013 / Volume 10 Issue 0125Harvest Times for Your Family

hanksgiving is not an option. It is compulsory. TIt's indicated in the following commands. These commands must be obeyed. If not, we are ungrateful and disobedient.

This is a sacrifice, no doubt. Any sacrifice is costly. We should offer to God that which costs us something – in terms of money, privacy, physical discomfort, mental and emotional drain, inconvenience, etc. David refused to offer to God a sacrifice which cost him nothing (2Sam. 24:24). The presenting of our bodies to God as a living sacrifice is not only costly but painful also (Rom. 12:1). As priests of God, we offer spiritual sacrifices to God (1Pet. 2:5).

When we offer to God sacrifices of thanksgiving, we honor God and open the way for him to do wonders and miracles in our lives (Ps. 50:23). We think mistakenly that we can thank God only when we are happy, peaceful, cheerful and joyful. But the truth is, we can also thank God when we are tearful. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17).

We are prone to forget all the blessings and benefits bestowed on us by our all benevolent God. We take his blessings for granted. So we fail to be thankful to him and give him our thanks. There are four benefits that the Psalmist records here – Forgiveness, healing, redeeming and crowning. We can count our blessings, name them one by one, add them to this list and thank God for each one of them, without forgetting anyone of them.

Sexual immorality, all impurity and covetousness must not be even named among us. They are not

Offer to God a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving Psalm 50:4

Forget Not All His Benefits Psalm 103:1-3

Let There Be Thanksgiving Ephesians 5:4

proper among the saints. There should not be filthiness or foolishness or crude joking among us. These are out of place. Backbiting, gossiping, lying, cursing, complaining, grumbling, abusive language or corrupt talk should not come out of our mouths (Eph. 4:29). These neither glorify God nor edify the saints or the sinners. What should come out of our mouths is only thanksgiving (Eph. 5:4).

Giving of thanks to God should be natural to us. It should come to us naturally. We should give thanks to him always, not only once in a while when it is convenient and when we feel like. Giving of thanks should be for everything – even hurtful things. He is in sovereign control. He is a good God. He always wants his best for us. Thanksgiving is something which we give to the Lord. Other times, we are at the receiving end. In thanksgiving, we are at the giving end. When we are giving thanks we are honoring God, glorifying God and expressing our gratefulness to God.

When we apply butter and jam on the bread it goes smoothly down our throat. When we mix ripe banana with peanut butter, it becomes smooth to swallow. Otherwise, it is sticky. Mixing our prayer requests with thanksgiving has that buttering effect. Our prayer and intercession become smooth, enjoyable and easily operable. Thanksgiving has that lubricant effect which keeps the wheels of prayer easily rolling without any friction or sparks. Thanksgiving creates faith in us and gives us confidence to call upon God.

Another translation puts it as 'overflowing with thanksgiving.' Our thanksgiving should not be shallow like Elijah's brook which eventually dried up by the passing of time (1Kings 17:7). It should be

Give Thanks Always and For Everything Ephesians 5:20

Make Your Requests Known to God with Thanksgiving Philippians 4:6

Abound in Thanksgiving Colossians 2:7

THOUGHT

- Richard Masih


rather like the river Jordan which overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest (Josh. 3:15). It should be like the widow's oil which kept overflowing when it was poured from one vessel to another (2Kings 4:5). Our thanksgiving should be like the spring of the living water, welling up to eternal life (Jn. 4:14). We should not be miserly but generous in our thanksgiving.

Unless we are thankful we cannot give thanks or overflow with or abound in thanksgiving. Being thankful is the basic requirement for thanksgiving. If we are not thankful, even saying 'thank you' will be painful if not impossible. Being thankful is the spring from which the streams of thanksgiving overflow.

As we meditate on the goodness, greatness and the mercies of God that our hearts begin to overflow with thanksgiving. As we meditate on the word of God, the Spirit of God fills the dry river bed of our hearts with cooling and soothing water of thanksgiving, like the ever deepening river of Ezekiel's vision (Ez. 47:1-5).

Of course, it could go with 'Make your requests known to God with Thanksgiving'. But I have put them separately to separate Philippians from Colossians and to bring Philippians first, then the Colossians, as they appear in the Scripture.

Yes, we should be steadfast in prayer. In other words, we should be constant in prayer (Rom. 12:12). If we are lax in maintaining prayer and prayer time, we will find that our prayer life is dwindling and evaporating. It will become dull, dry and finally dead. It will be a hard chore and a burden to be borne. The same is true of vigilance. We should be vigilant all the time. We do not know when and from where the enemy of our soul will attack. Watch and pray is the Scriptural injunction (Matt. 26:41). It's not just watch but pray also. It's not just pray but watch also. And both the watching and the praying must be combined with thanksgiving, or they will become drudgery.

May God enable us to be grateful and thankful, and give thanks to him all the time, always and in everything!

Be Thankful Colossians 3:15

Combine Prayer and Vigilance with Thanksgiving Colossians 4:2

Of these five points, many believers accept only the fifth, perseverance of the saints, although they would prefer to call it the perseverance of Christ. They insist that Christ's atonement was for all in its sufficiency and availability. They also point out that Calvinism rules out man's free will, whereas Christ constantly appealed to man's will in the matter of salvation.

Spiritually minded, soul-winning Christians are found On both sides of this issue. The fireworks begin when someone insists on pushing his own view when it is not welcome, or when he harps on one subject as if it were the only doctrine in the Bible. When silenced, he leaves the assembly and influences others to leave with him.

The path of wisdom is to enjoy privately one's convictions on the subject, but not to force them as if they represented the whole truth.

On all these subjects that are important though not fundamental, an assembly, under its leaders, should adopt a clearly stated position. This should be done after careful study and research, after much prayer, and with a sincere desire to adhere as closely as possible to the Scriptures. Since each assembly is autonomous, that is, responsible to the Lord alone, no other church or outside individual can dictate policy with regard to these important doctrines.

If an assembly adopts a position that is not Scriptural, it is conceivable that some believers will want to withdraw. If so, they should do so graciously and without seeking to draw others away with them.

We should have a spirit of love toward those who disagree with us. Some Christians are poorly taught and simply do not know any better. And we should always remember that if we could see ourselves in the light of God's perfection, we would realize that wisdom will not die with us. All should walk humbly before the Lord.

contd. form 24

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