-------------------------<BrethrenVoice>------------------------- [which seeks to be guided solely by the NT Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian info. To God be the glory!] [eMail Moderator: brethrenvoice-owner@...] [<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> archives/read online: http://associate.com/groups/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <21 December 2002> Contents: ------------ 1) <Evangelism> "Building bridges for the Gospel" (Pt 1/5) - J. Studebaker 2) <Bible-Study> "The seige of Samaria" (Pt-37/37)-Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-108)- A.W.Pink 1) <EVANGELISM> "BUILDING BRIDGES FOR THE GOSPEL" (PART 1 OF 5)* John Studebaker As Christians, we are called by God to be Christ's ambassadors. Now that's quite a job description! In order to fulfill our glorious task, though, we are going to have to step outside of our insulated Christian circles and learn how to bridge the gap between Christ's church and today's world. WHAT IS A BRIDGE-BUILDER? In college I received a minor in civil engineering. In class we learned how to design one of our world's most important structures- -bridges. Bridges are fascinating, I think, because they are designed to bring things together--land masses, roads, and people. I've found my life as a Christian to be exciting for the very same reason--because now I get to be a bridge-builder for Christ. Of course, Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5); but, acting under His authority, Christians have the privilege of building bridges also. What kind of bridges are still left to be built? Non-Christians often have barriers that keep them from considering Christ: intellectual, cultural, and moral barriers. We can be their bridges to the gospel. Just as Jesus left heaven to come and mingle with the sinful world, He's left us with the glorious task of creatively penetrating our world with the good news. In a sense, then, there may never be a time when we are more like Jesus than when we are bridging this cultural gap with the gospel. How does one become a bridge-builder for Christ? While it's true we need to understand theology and the gospel message, we must also understand what non-Christians believe, how they think, and how they've been impacted by today's culture. And then, as ambassadors for Christ, we become the bridge between the church and the world by communicating the gospel into the context of the non-Christian mindset. I think most people today view cross-cultural ministry as something performed in a foreign nation. But America today has become very secular, developing a culture of its own in an ideological sense--one very different from the culture of the church. So today, we need to view our American culture as a place of opportunity for cross-cultural ministry! We do this by investigating the world views of our culture. According to David Hesselgrave in his book Communicating Christ Cross- Culturally, "understanding another person's world view (or belief system) is the starting point for communicating the gospel." (1) By showing an understanding of and interest in another person's beliefs, we gain credibility and integrity before that person--and probably even a hearing for the Christian message. One time, for example, I was sharing Christ with a Chinese student. After listening intently for forty-five minutes to his belief in Taoism, and asking several questions, he finally asked me, "What do you believe?" What an opening to share the gospel! As we learn to investigate the world views of our culture, we'll even begin to enjoy talking to non-Christians. A bridge-builder is one who has made a commitment to understand people with different backgrounds and beliefs in order to make Christianity relevant to these people. In order to become a bridge- builder, though, we have to go through a process--one we'll look at in this pamphlet. First, we need to examine the isolation problem found in many of today's churches. Then we'll look at Christ's model for ministry which overcomes our isolation. Next, we'll find out how our lives can build bridges to the world. Finally, we look at the need for education in order to construct better bridges. [To be concluded] ---- * [This data file/document is the sole property of Probe Ministries. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file and/or document must contain the copyright notice (i.e., Copyright (C) 1995-1997 Probe Ministries) and this Copyright/Reproduction Limitations notice.] _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> "THE SIEGE OF SAMARIA" (PART-37) Charles E. Wigg The remainder of chapter 6 of 2Kings, and all of chapter 7, is given to the description of the siege of Samaria, and the wonderful deliverance that God gave, according to His word. We may think that there is a conflict between what is said of the bands of Syria, and verse 24. The difference lies in the fact that it was not the bands of Syria; that came to besiege Samaria. But the whole host of Syria came under the leadership of their king. They came as a part of the judgment of God, upon a wicked people. They had turned away from Jehovah, and given themselves to idolatry, so God's disciplinary judgment must fall. I see many similarities in the situation that exists today in our society. The siege reduced Samaria until they were feeding on what was filthy, and paying a high price for things that were worthless. THE ASS'S HEAD. It is remarkable that this should be mentioned. The ass's head was the thinking part of the animal, and the part that made all the noise. There would have been much more flesh on the rest of the animal, but that is not mentioned. I would suggest that the head represents what is intellectual. In our society intellectualism is of great value. If one has been to college, or to university, if they have trained or studied in a theological seminary, and have obtained a degree, or diploma, or better still a doctorate, then that person will be sought after. It makes me think of the politicians of our day. They make so much noise, (like the braying of an ass), and claim to be the brains of the country. They enrich themselves, and vote themselves large salaries. They retire as millionaires, while a large section of the population live in poverty. Some of them have failed in business, and gone bankrupt, yet consider that they have brains enough to run the country. Ours is a society under siege! DOVE'S DUNG. This is filth, yet the people were paying a high price for it. We see a parallel today when we observe what is served up in the media. Visit the bookstores, and see what fills the shelves. Look at the magazines that people read, the vulgar advertisements, the T.V programmes. People are feeding their minds on what is filthy, and paying a high price for it. CANNIBALISM. The citizens of Samaria were in such a state of hunger, that they were eating the flesh of their own children. Men and women in our society have turned their backs upon God, they have gone into many forms of sin. They practice sinful habits, yet it is the little children that suffer. If a father experiences sorrow, then often they will turn to alcohol, they will selfishly drink away the family's income, it is the poor helpless children that suffer. They did not ask to be brought into the world, it is akin to eating their flesh. The mother may go out to work, and in that situation be thrown into the company of men other than the husband, to whom she has promised in a solemn oath before God, to be true and faithful. Lust is awakened in her heart, and she breaks her vow, is unfaithful to her husband, and runs off with another man. It is the little children that suffer. Every little child deserves the security of a loving mother and father, and to deny it to them is like eating their flesh. [Concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] _______________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-108) THE MILLENNIUM IN RELATION TO CHRIST Arthur W. Pink When Adam was created God said, "Let us make man in our image, and let them have dominion." At the beginning, earth's scepter was committed into the hands of man (see Ps. 8:4-8). But right on the scene of his creation came one who disputed Adam's right to earth's sovereignty, and who succeeded in wresting the scepter from his hands. Satan brought to bear upon him a diabolical temptation: Adam succumbed, and falling, he forfeited his dominion over the earth. As the consequence, Satan became "The Prince of this world," and as such approached our Lord in the temptation, when he took Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and "sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me" (Matt. 4:8, 9). But on the Cross, the Lord Jesus re-gained the scepter which Adam lost; and here is the key to Rev. 5. In the fifth chapter of the Apocalypse a remarkable scene is brought before us. The beloved apostle sees a book--"written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals"--in the right hand of Him that sat on the Throne. Then he hears an angel saying, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" Next we are told, "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon." Many have been the conjectures concerning this mysterious "book," but by comparing Scripture with Scripture we think there can be no doubt as to what is here in view. In Jer. 32:6-15 we read of a field being bought, and the receipt (the "evidence") of the purchase is termed a "book," and this book was "sealed." It is to a similar transaction that Rev. 5 refers. The book seen by the apostle contains the title deeds to this earth. These title deeds which Adam lost have been recovered by Christ. They have been recovered by "purchase," and the price paid was the precious blood of the Lamb. In Matt. 13:44 we read of a Man who "goeth and selleth all that He hath, and buyeth that field" and in verse 38 of the same chapter we are told "The field is the world." Hence it is that the apostle was told, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof" (Rev. 5:5). What is seen in vision in Rev. 5 becomes actual fact when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth. It will be at that time the "purchased possession"--the earth--is "redeemed" (Eph. 1:14). Hence, when He comes back, His first act will be to eject Satan from it, establish His Kingdom upon it, and exercise "dominion" over it. Another Scripture which throws light upon the Millennium in relation to Christ is 1 Peter 1:13. Here the second coming of our Lord (to the earth) is termed, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." This is in contrast to the first advent. When He was here before, His Divine glory was veiled and much of His power and majesty were concealed. But when He comes back again His Divine glory shall be fully manifested. Instead of appearing as the gentle Lamb, He will come as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Instead of standing before human tribunals to be judged of men, He will summon all nations before Him and sit in judgment upon them. Instead of appearing in humiliation, weakness, and shame, He will be revealed in regal power and majesty. Instead of coming to be the Victim, He will return as the Victor, to sit upon the Throne of His Glory. So, then, the Millennium is the time when our Lord enters into the exercise of His Kingly office, when He will reign in power and exercise dominion over all the earth, and when His personal Glory shall be fully manifested. We turn now to consider, [To be concluded] ---------------------------<BrethrenVoice>--------------------------- Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: www.brethrenvoice.com <eFellowship> Home: http://groups.msn.com/BrethrenChristiansForum/ "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5 _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963