Brother Thomas
Bro Rudolf Rijkeboer,
(The Netherlands)
Introduction
This exhortation is about our brother Thomas.
There is little we know about him, because not very much is written
about him. It is true that he is generally known outside our own circles,
in the world at large, but that is based largely on an undeserved reputation.
Yet what little we know about him does give us a clear enough picture,
if only we are prepared to take the trouble to see it. I am not of course
referring to the Brother Thomas of the 19th century, whom
we generally view as the founder of our movement; I am referring to
our brother of the 1st century, who was one of the chosen
twelve who were privileged to walk with our Lord. Most of us are familiar
with apostles like Peter, or John, or Paul. But Thomas? Thomas…?
The usual opinion about him: In your language, as in
mine, he is known as ‘doubting Thomas’, a byword of unbelief.
Commentators tend to describe him as a hypochondriac and a notorious
pessimist. A textbook case of how not to be a Christian in fact.
But is that correct? Let us see.
What do we know about him? In the Bible we find the
following list of references:
1. He is mentioned in the
synoptic gospels in the lists of the 12 selected apostles.
2. He is mentioned again
in the list of the 11 remaining apostles in Acts 1.
3. He occurs in a short list
of 7 apostles in Galilee, in John 21.
4. There are three specific
places in the gospel of John where he plays a part.
The places mentioned in 1-3: The lists of the synoptics
only mention his name, Thomas, without any further details - he was
only one of the twelve. Only one of the twelve? All twelve had
been chosen by Jesus! after a full night spent in prayer, as you well
know (Luke 6:12). All twelve (with the possible exception of Judas)
must have been men of exceptional qualities. If we call him unworthy
we are criticising Jesus, or in reality God Himself.
His name is Aramaic for ‘twin’. Where
was his brother? Was he no longer alive, or was he just not of a similar
mind to Thomas? In any case Thomas was not just anybody. Acts 1:13 confirms
that, with the exception of Judas, all to a man were still there, Thomas
included. And the short list in John 21:2 shows him as one of the smaller
circle of seven in Galilee, around Peter, waiting for Jesus.
The occurrences in the gospel of John: There are three passages
in John’s gospel which give us an insight into the character of
Thomas. In the first and third John gives us the translation of his
name as Didymus (twin). Does he do that to lift him out of the relative
obscurity of being just a name in a list? Or does he want to stress
the fact that he had a twin brother who was nevertheless not selected?
Is this a subtle echo of the principle that, even of seemingly identical
pairs, only ‘the one shall be taken and the other left’?
He is mentioned by name on three different occasions, although in the
first two of these cases there seems to be no specific reason for doing
so. Given the fact that nothing in the Bible is there without a reason,
this must mean that John wants to draw our attention to something: watch
this man. It is an open invitation to compare these three passages.
So let’s do just that.
Thomas in John 11: In John 11 Jesus tells
his disciples that he wants to visit Bethany because of Lazarus. The
twelve (all twelve!) protest: it is too dangerous. Then Thomas
is mentioned separately, by name: “Then said Thomas, which is
called Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples: ‘Let us also go, that
we may die with him.” The emphasis is usually laid on the second
half of his sentence to argue his ‘inborn pessimism’. But
is this correct? It really was not safe; all twelve had
said so (vs. 8). They point out the earlier attempts to stone Jesus
(John 10:31, 39). And after Lazarus’ resurrection Jesus does indeed
withdraw again, apparently for reasons of safety (John 11:54). In fact
the authorities did not even hesitate to plan the murder of Lazarus,
a man that God had brought back from death! They were prepared to fight
God Himself. So the conclusion must be that it really was not safe and
that on that account Thomas was not a pessimist, but a realist.
Next, note what he does not say. He does
not say: ‘If He wants to go, He can go alone; I will not join
Him’. What he does say is: ‘Let us go with Him and die with
Him’. What does he mean by that?
An aside: Peter too was prepared to die with Jesus.
He said so at the last supper (Matt. 26:31-35). But all were speaking
like that; only Peter is singled out and mentioned by name. Why? Obviously
because of what was going to happen later (his denial). Mentioning him
here by name prepares us for what we are going to be told later. Likewise
when John mentions Thomas by name, it prepares us for what he will show
us later.
But there is more that may be said about Peter.
Jesus tells Peter in the upper room that his faith will be put to the
test, and that he has yet to come to repentance (Luke 22:31-32). Yet
in the first instance Peter lives up to his words: against a complete
cohort of Roman soldiers (500-600 men!) he draws a sword and starts
fighting. He is really prepared to die, fighting for his Lord. But maybe
this was only his usual impulsive reaction; maybe he had not considered
the situation realistically? Later that night he could not resist the
temptation to avoid an inconvenient problem by being a little ‘flexible’
with the truth: “I know not what thou sayest”. But once
you have started on such a way, you cannot very easily go back (like“ well in fact on second thoughts I do seem
to remember him somewhat, as a matter of fact, after all”). And
so the order of events is: 1) deny 2) deny with an oath and finally
3) deny with cursing and swearing (Matt. 26:69-74). Once he had chosen
this road he was, not by accident of course, forced to follow it further
only to realise the true nature of his choice. He did not mean to go
that way when he made his first denial, but got into difficulties when
‘circumstances’ forced him to face the consequences of that
initial choice. And by the time he realised where he had gone wrong
it was too late. And the result was bitter remorse, but also the repentance
that Jesus had announced, and as a consequence his return to his master;
unlike e.g. Judas who, after a wrong choice, opted to depart and to
accept the final consequences of that decision.
Back to Thomas: In the reactions given
in John 11 Thomas too is ‘singled out’. Is this a similar
case? No, or at least not fully so. For he does not propose to die fighting;
he just wants to die when Jesus dies. Nor is this an impulsive reaction
on the spur of the moment. What then does he mean? May I make the following
suggestion? Thomas is fully convinced that life without Jesus is without
purpose or hope. Without Him there is no way out of the death-trap of
sin: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” In Isaiah
(22:13) this sentence was an expression of the people’s lack of
trust in their God. But for Paul (1 Cor. 15:32) it is the inevitable
consequence of a rock hard reality: without the resurrection (i.e. without
the Redemption) life is indeed without hope. So in that respect Thomas
was fully right again; in that case you might just as well die today.
He may not yet have seen the necessity for Jesus’ sacrificial
death, or the unavoidable necessity of His resurrection, but his perception
of the necessity of Jesus’ involvement in this Redemption was
fully accurate. Maybe it was still too hazy to have a clear view, but
his radar operated faultlessly: he could make an unfailing approach
to the only correct reconnaissance buoy (for those of you who do not
know what a reconnaissance buoy is: it is the first buoy you have to
locate, when coming from sea, to navigate your way safely into the harbour).
So he was not a born pessimist at all; he was a hard realist, who
was perfectly right!
Which poses the question: Do we have such
an absolute perception of the necessity of Jesus’ presence? And
if not, why not? In that case we’d better take a leaf out of Thomas’
navigation handbook.
In the upper room, John 14: In John’s account
of the discussions in the upper room, Jesus tries to comfort his disciples:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John
14:1-3). And He adds: “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye
know” (vs. 4). With the knowledge we now have about Thomas we
can perhaps better understand his reaction: “Thomas saith unto
him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”
(vs. 5). Jesus’ words unsettle him; he does not like what he hears.
Is Jesus really going to leave them behind after all? Note that Jesus
does not rebuke him even mildly (in contrast to e.g. Philip, in the
very next incident: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet
hast thou not known me, Philip?). He must have appreciated Thomas’
attitude, although Thomas had yet more to learn. Thomas is still navigating
in a fog, and now his radar image seems to disappear from his radar
screen. But his appreciation of the importance of Jesus’ involvement
is still undiminished. Again that is a lesson for us.
In the upper room again,
John 20: In chapter 20 of his gospel John relates the early appearances of
Jesus after His resurrection. At His first appearance to His disciples
in the upper room Thomas had not been present (John 20:24-25). Why not?
Apparently as he was the only one of the eleven missing. May I make
another suggestion? He may have been the only one who fully appreciated
the ‘disaster’ to its full extent: without Jesus they simply
were ‘having no hope, and without God in the world’ (Eph.
2:12). The others were looking for support and comfort from each other
in the loss of one exceptionally beloved, but Thomas seems to have realised
that there was much more the matter than that. Maybe he felt that he
had found insufficient appreciation of that view from the others. Anyway,
he had decided to try and get to terms with his loss in isolation.
Seen in that context he
refuses to be comforted at his return by what he sees to be a collective
hallucination of the others; there is far too much at stake. He reacts
like Ahithophel, who realised as clear as daylight that he had in fact
rebelled against God and that without God there is no hope. Like Judas,
Ahithophel stepped out. But where Judas acted out of desperation, Ahithophel
acted with a full realisation of the situation, making all necessary
arrangements for his house, and then drawing the inevitable consequences.
Thomas seems to have had the same degree of realisation. But where Ahithophel
had caused his own problem, Thomas was faced with a disaster beyond
his own control, though with no less drastic consequences. Jesus had
been ‘God (elohim) walking in their midst’. That was now
an irrecoverable past, as it had been for Adam when he had been expelled
from the Garden. What remained was: ‘dust thou art and unto dust
thou shalt return’.
And then suddenly, the
next week, he is confronted with his Redeemer! When we realise the full
extent of this situation we will also see the real meaning of his answer:
“My Lord (adonai, the one to follow) and my God (elohim, the mediator
between God and himself).” This is not the mathematical conclusion
in the sense of Jesus = God, that some theologians want to see in it;
this is the shout of joy by a man who sees his only hope in this life,
the Jesus on whom it all depended, alive again. It proclaims his joy
at the victory that had been won after all. He had not believed in what
he had regarded as vain hope, but now he is convinced. Seeing was believing.
John himself had come to believe when he had seen the empty grave, with
the empty linen clothes (John 20:8). Thomas had to see Jesus Himself;
but when that happened he actually had no further need to touch Him,
as he had earlier proclaimed to be his condition for believing. When
there had still been that fog, his radar had served him faultlessly;
after the fog had lifted he had left it too late to switch back to visual
navigation. But now he had made that switch nothing could shake his
faith any more. All the time there had been nothing wrong with his perception
of Jesus, and hence with his faith in that. His only possible
‘shortcoming’ had been that he had been late in switching
back from his ‘radar’ to navigation on visual observation.
In passing it is significant
that the three synoptic gospels all include Peter’s ‘confession’,
shortly before Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain. In John’s
gospel it is lacking. Are we to assume that Thomas’ confession
in chapter 20 is supposed to take its place?
The lesson: Jesus’ reply to
Thomas’ reaction is, in my opinion, one of the outstanding statements
of the New Testament: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed”
(vs. 29). That is a declaration that concerns (amongst others) us.
We are among those that are asked to believe without seeing, to show
a faith that is even greater than that of Thomas. So the lesson
of the three incidents in John’s gospel involving Thomas is: take
for an example the faith of Thomas in Jesus’ power to save, and
add the testimony of John himself to convince us of the reality of his
resurrection (‘the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to
Thomas’). Then Thomas’ radar will be our radar, and his
faith will stand there as a towering lighthouse for our navigation,
so that we do not have to navigate in a fog. Then we will be
able to take our bearing on the understanding he had before Jesus’
death, and upon his belief in the reality of His resurrection after
that had occurred.
Thomas a hypochondriac?
A born pessimist? A doubter and unbeliever? No way! Quite the contrary,
a shining example to us all!
What Is This
All About?
Do not be deceived
by the labels on the bottles, they are filled with sweet Nigerian honey.
When I was once in Nigeria I brought some home and it is far, far sweeter
than English honey. Bro Friday Enyiopgu is an Apiculturist (Bee-keeper)
in Ikwueke, Nigeria. This is one of the self help methods that may
be used towards making a living. I guess
I’d be scared of being stung, but in the right situation, with the right equipment
it can be a valuable contribution to providing a healthy balanced diet,
and also help pollinate the crops. Some farmers will even allow you
to put a hive, free of charge, on their land.MH
Bird Flu - Problem and Resolution
Even if bird flu does not mutate to become a
serious infectious human flu virus, it can have serious consequences
for Africa; already it is widespread in poultry flocks in Asia, Egypt,
India and Nigeria. The United Nations Food Organisation warns it can
have a devastating impact upon millions of people. In many cases in
Africa, poultry are a vital source of protein – they supply nearly
50% of protein in Egypt. The severe reduction of poultry in African
rural areas could have dire nutritional consequences.
Apart from being spread by wild birds migrating
from country to country, the virus is also spread by the movement of
poultry and poultry products and even by mud on vehicles and on people’s
shoes and the use of poultry and bird manure as a fertiliser.
The flu virus can pass from poultry to humans,
but so far as is known not from humans to humans; if it did, it could
cause a flu pandemic killing millions of people. According to the Economist
magazine (Feb 25, 2006), “the virus is certainly mutating –
genetic changes have already affected its biological behaviour, although
apparently not yet its transmission between humans”.
Bro and Sis Posiyano at Milambe ecclesia standing
at the goat-house built for the project. The goats were away roaming
for food
. As a precautionary measure, Christadelphian
Carelink Ministries have suspended its successful chicken-rearing project
for the time being. How can we help resolve the potential loss of the
nourishing proteins so necessary to healthy living the loss of poultry
can cause? For many, the loss of poultry meat could be replaced by
breeding rabbits; they can be fed on freely available local food. They
need hutches/cages which might be constructed from local surplus materials
so that the main initial cost would be the providing of a few rabbits.
They need to come from a good meat-producing stock from an established
breeder. They breed freely and some of the larger breeds can be eaten
at 12 weeks old.
Another suggestion is
the rearing of goats, but they need more attention. Goats are hardy,
drought and disease resistant animals and breed well, not
Bro Jonas Ngwanda (standing), George only producing
meat but a
(squating) holding one of the goats, regular supply
of nourishing
helped by another son at Chinguluwm protein-giving
milk which can
ecclesias goat-house.
also be used to make cheese,
soap etc. They also turn weeds, and scrub into valuable manure to fertilise
the garden.
Goats require a house and tethering when out
feeding. We have conducted small experiments in two African countries
supplying in all 36 goats. The locals have first constructed a goat
house and then we have sponsored the provision of a few goats, making
it a joint effort.
We are keen on developing this rabbit/goat project
but need more information and ideas on how to operate and administer
it and also how to resolve any problems that could be encountered.
So we invite our readers to tell us how they see the possibilities of
such a project working so that we can consider helping those who are
willing and capable of helping themselves. We are not just interested
in providing protein, but in finding out how such a plan could generate
an income to provide for other things. Our endeavour is to generate
self-help, self-financing long-term, sustainable schemes. MH
Some “Goodies” to Consider
Sis Bevelyn Tembo (Lusaka,
Kenya)
The Bible says some amazingly remarkable things
about some of the great men and women but I cannot write about all of
them because they are many. I am only interested in the best of what
they did and what the Bible tells us about them. A lot of us already
know the weaknesses and failings of them, except Jesus Christ who committed
no sin. Putting all of the “Goodies” together make for a
happy and complete Christian life.
1. ABEL – The Lord looked with
favour on him and his offering and he accepted him (Genesis 4:4,7).
2. NOAH – A righteous man blameless
among the people of his time, a man who walked with God (Genesis 6:9).
3. JOB – A man who shunned evil,
was blameless, upright and God-fearing.
4. MOSES – A very humble man,
more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3).
5. ABRAHAM – He was called God’s
friend for his outstanding faith (James 2:21-23; Genesis 22:1-18).
6. DAVID – A man after God’s own
heart. For some remarkable things about him and what he did check 1
Samuel 15:28; 18:8; 16:12,13; 19:1,10,11; 23:7,8,23; 24:1-15; 25:42;
26:7-16; 27;1-4.
7. HEZEKIAH – A man God allowed to
live fifteen more years because he walked before God faithfully and
with wholehearted devotion; he had also done what was good in God’s
eyes (2 Kings 20:2-6).
8. EZRA AND NEHEMIAH – These two men who firmly
stood against intermarriage (Ezra chs 9 and 10; Nehemiah 13:23-31).
9. ESTHER AND MORDECAI – God-fearing cousins
(Jews) who worked hand-in-hand for their own good and for the good of
their people, fellow Jews.
10. DANIEL, HANANIAH, MISHAEL
AND AZARIAH - They were without any physical defect, handsome, showing
aptitude for every kind of learning, well-informed, quick to understand
and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. God gave them knowledge
and understanding; they were also humble and bold (Daniel 1; 3:16-18).
11. THE DISCIPLE TABITHA (DORCAS) – who was always doing good and helping the poor (Acts 9:36-42).
12. CORNELIUS – He and all his family
were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and
prayed to God regularly (Acts 10:2,28).
13. PAUL - A man whose way of life
was totally changed from that of a persecutor to a preacher and proclaimer
of the Gospel. The book of Acts from chapter 9 through to chapter 28
tells us of his conversion, his travels and troubles and the many other
things he did. The epistles show us how he spiritually helped many
ecclesias exhorting, encouraging, warning and instructing them. He
was a bold and powerful preacher. He fought the good fight, finished
the race and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
14. JESUS CHRIST – The only begotten and
beloved Son of God who was the child of the blessed woman Mary. He
was perfect and full of love, a man of prayer and our coming King.
15. LOIS, EUNICE AND
TIMOTHY – They had a sincere faith which lived in them (2 Timothy
1:5).
Signs Within
Sis Robin Jones
(Sydney, Australai)
In his book “Studies in the Gospels” Bro Harry Whitaker
made the comment that
“The Lord’s faithful remnant have eagerly strained their spiritual
sight, peering into outer darkness for signs that He is near, when one
of the best signs is within their own community.”
Bro Harry made these comments in the context of the unfaithful steward
parable in Matthew 24:
“But if that wicked servant says to himself, My master is
delayed, and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to
eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant
will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is
not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with
the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The word “beat” in this parable means to thump by repeated
blows. It is a very sad thing when we do this to our own brethren as
Jesus warned would happen. Perhaps one of the most worrying trends
in these last days is to use the bread and wine - the symbols of our
fellowship and participation in Christ’s death - as a weapon
against our brothers and sisters with which we beat them. This is never
what Jesus intended. Even though it was the night he was betrayed by
Judas, Jesus still broke bread and washed his feet.
The parable in Matthew also talks of another worrying trend, those
who do the beating of their fellow servants are caught up in a group
it describes as the drunkards. There is quite a theme running
through scripture of the drunkards… and it’s not talking
of literal drunkards but spiritual. They are the ones who get together
in groups and become intoxicated, but the wine is symbolic, they are
drunk with their own wisdom and call evil good and good evil as in Is
5 v 20-23
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness
for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet
for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever
in their own sight. Woe to
those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,
who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent”.
In scripture, spiritual drunkards and hypocrites seem to go
hand in hand as in these verses in Isaiah and Matthew 24.
The same word
that is used in Matthew for beating our fellow servants is used in Acts
23 v 2-3 when Paul was struck by the high priest, and Paul also connected
the beating that he was getting with the hypocrisy of the one doing
it.
“At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul
to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike
you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the
law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!’”
Paul was showing that the one doing the beating was a hypocrite.
Those in the parable in Matthew. who beat their fellow servants and
were caught up with their brethren in an intoxicating spirit, were also
condemned as hypocrites.
Matthew. 15 v 7-15 also talks of the hypocrites - those who worship
God in vain and teach as doctrine the precepts of men:
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about
you, These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far
from me. They worship me in vain, their teaching are but rules taught
by men.”
In the parable in Matthew
24 the beating of the fellow servant is interrupted by the return of
the Master… they “begin” to beat their fellow servants
and then the Master returns unexpectedly. I wonder how long before
God will say “Enough” and send His Son back. As I see the
continuation of disfellowships and defamatory things said on Christadelphian
websites and in chat rooms I wonder if Brother Whitaker is right and
the clearest sign of Christ’s return is the behaviour from within
our own community.
Progress Reort Fom Salima
(Malawi)
Bro. George E. Mayimba
Nkhoma
The
work of the Lord here in Salima is moving, though at a snail’s
pace. We thank the Lord, who never fails, for giving us strength to
cast the never-dying seed of His word. It is because of His empowering
that we can see numbers growing. Our efforts fail at times and we sometimes
feel discouraged, but God has always given us comfort and hope so that
we do not despair – our work is to sow. But as human beings we
tend to look back, calculate the time spent, and the area worked and
compare it with the harvest. Oh, what a total failure and we pack up
our spades and call it a day. That is, indeed what we do. However,
when we grow to maturity, that situation does not, and should not, make
us feel weak, or useless, or failures, or that we are not doing it right.
The apostle Paul says in 1 Cor. 13:8, “I have learnt to think
like a matured person, so that every situation
becomes
a learning tool, be it good or bad”. This should help us examine
carefully why the work is not progressing as expected, including self-examination.
What sort of behaviour do we portray to those around our home, our work
place, during festivities or during sad times? How honest are we? Do
we boast at being more knowledgeable in the word of God? To count the
number of years one has been working and compare them with what one
has accumulated can be good to serve as a warning to either speed-up
or apply brakes. With time, we learn to be patient which can bring much
joy. For myself, I recall how I started alone, where there was not
even a mention of ‘Christadelphians’ as a church. I knelt
before the Lord and He gave me one to encourage me. Later on, my wife
learnt of the way and made her decision to join us. Now we are a congregation
composed of those who understand the teaching and embrace it. All this
has taken time, and not only time, but perseverance. An interesting
thing is that these trying times are interspersed with encouraging events:
those who at first stood against us on matters of doctrine come to join
us or invite us to their homes to share with them the truth as it is
in Jesus Christ. An encouraging example is the wonderful ceremony we
had on Sunday, 15th January, when we had five baptised by
Bro. Jonas Ngwanda at Sengabay ecclesia in the fresh waters of Lake
Malawi, they are our new Brethren: MPHATSO MAYIMBA, ROBERT PETANI, JOSEPH
MAKHAMADZI and CHAWALA KUCHIPALA and Sister E. CHAWALA (the last two
being husband and wife). I enclose photographs for the Magazine for
the encouragement of our family of Christadelphians world wide. Lastly,
may I encourage all of our dear fellow-labourers in the field of the
Lord to work hard and act with sense of maturity as we patiently await
his appearing.
Baptisms of Robert Petani, Sis E.Chawala & Bro Mphatso Mayimba
More Salima baptisms; Joseph Makhamadzi
and Chawala Kuchipala
Seven Links to Christ
Bro Sibangi Maka (Zuishavane,
Zimbabwe)
(1) LOOKING AT CHRIST is to realise our sinfulness,
as did Peter: (Luke 5:8; Rom 7:18-25) our need for forgiveness of sin
(Heb 12:1). We strip off our sin and have our eyes fixed on Jesus as
our Saviour from sin (John 1:29) and as our Lord and Master (Col 3:22).
(2) LEANING ON CHRIST it is trusting Christ
for everything, in old age, times of depression, against ravages of
war, safe and secure from all alarms, leaning on the everlasting arms,
resting on the only foundation (1 Cor 3:11).
(3) LISTENING TO CHRIST is learning of Christ
for daily direction and guidance (2 Tim 2:15; Ps 119:105).
(4) LOVING LIKE CHRIST walking in love (Eph
5:2) and leading lives of love, and having the compassion of Christ
for others (John 13:34,35).
(5) LIVING AS CHRIST John tells us that he
who calls himself a Christian “ought to be living as Christ lived”
(1 John 2:6). Christ must be our example
in humility, in self denial, in helping each other, in suffering wrongfully,
in serving each other (Phil 2:5-8; Rom 15:2; 1 John 3:14-17; 1 Peter
2:21-23; John 13:15).
(6) LABOURING WITH CHRIST Everything we do should
be done with enthusiasm as unto the Lord. Much spiritual barrenness
is due to spiritual laziness.
(7) LONGING FOR CHRIST We are waiting for Christ.
He is coming soon; but while we are waiting we must be working not sleeping
(Phil 3:20; 1 Thes 4:11; 1 Cor 4:12; Eph 4:28).
What Is Faith? …
Sorry we have mislaid the name of the African
Contributor
It is not just credulity.
God is a reasonable God. He does not expect
us to believe without any evidence. We today can see that God has acted
in the past: we have absolute proof from prophecies amazingly fulfilled.
Therefore Bible faith is faith for a reason. We can truly say, ‘God
has done this, this and this; therefore I believe (have faith) that
God will do this, this and this in the future’. Faith builds
on reason.
The cases of both Abraham and David conform to
this rough rule, as do all cases, when we think about them. Abraham
had miraculous visitations from God, by vision or angels, on which to
base his faith. David had the wonderful history of his nation (eg their
miraculous deliverance from Egypt by the ten plagues) plus some of his
own experiences (he was helped to oppose a lion and a bear to save his
sheep) on which to build his faith, before his supreme act of faith
in taking on Goliath!
Abraham’s faith is described by Paul in
these words, and this is an exercise to us – Rom 4:18-20 –
this is what real faith is like: “Who against hope believed
in hope … and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own
body now dead, when he was about 100 years old, neither yet the deadness
of Sarah’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”.
That is one reason why we need to show faith
– it gives glory to God. Jesus did many miracles, which his disciples
saw with their very own eyes! On one occasion Jesus criticised them,
because they thought he was worried about not having enough bread to
eat. He said to them, in effect, ‘You saw what
I did in feeding the 5,000, so why are you now so faithless?’
(Matthew 16:6-11). When God gives us reasons, He expects faith. It
is only reasonable!
Romans 10:17 tells us how we obtain faith: “Faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Once we
are convinced (by the many lines of evidence, including the resurrection
of Christ from the dead on the third day) that the Bible is indeed the
Word of God: and we read it with joy, then we develop stronger and stronger
faith in God and His purposes with us and the earth.
Today we have the whole history of the Jewish
race (their blessings, punishments, scattering and recent regathering)
as reasons for our faith, plus many other lines of reasoning. So Hebrews
11:1 sums up for us (NIV): “FAITH is being sure of what we hope
for, and certain of what we do not see”. Hebrew 11 lists many
of the great men and women who showed faith, some of whom died for their
faith. Verse 35 tells us that their HOPE was in a future resurrection
form the dead - “that they might gain a better resurrection”.
Life is a brief, fleeting affair. Total extinction
is not a pleasant thought though most people seem to prefer it. Our
only hope of being saved is to please God by having faith in Him, and
letting our faith lead us to action and obedience. “Now the just
shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no
pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb 10:38,39).
Disobedience
Bro James Ogbah (Aba,
Nigeria)
Dictionary definition of disobedience is “lack
of obedience, neglect or refusal to obey”.
The ‘Book of all Books’ (The
Bible) introduced us to the beginning of the creation in the Garden
of Eden. After God had completed the planting and decoration of the
garden, (Gen. 2:8-9,15) He handed it over to the man, Adam, “to
dress and keep it” with one command and a penalty if he disobeyed
it: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of
it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die”
(Gen. 2:16-17). We all know very well what went on between the man,
the woman and the serpent; how the serpent deceived them and encouraged
them to disobey their Creator (Gen.2 & 3).
Our Maker pronounced all the creation as “Very
good” (Gen. 1:31). All was ruined by our first parents, who refused
to keep the command He gave them. The conditions the human race find
themselves in, are as the result of disobedience. What a joyful place
this earth would have been if man had kept the commandment his Creator
gave him (Gen. 1:28-29; 2:8,9).
The generation of Noah was destroyed by flood
as a result of wickedness and evil (Gen. 6,7,8).
Naaman would have been cured instantly had he
obeyed the words of prophet Elisha, though he later did after persuasions
from his servants (2 Kings 5: 1-14).
The kingship was taken away from Saul because,
firstly, he hurriedly offered a burnt offering meant for Samuel to offer
on behalf of the nation thereby disobeying God’s commandment which
later brought him death (1 Sam. 10:8; 13: 8-14, I Chron. 10:13). He
also refused to destroy the Amalekites utterly as God instructed him
through Samuel (I Samuel 15).
Achan perished with all his family and everything
he had as a result of his disobedience in coveting the accursed thing
(Joshua 7).
The Isrealites wandered in the wilderness for
forty years as a result of their refusal to keep the commandments of
God through Moses. This could have been a journey of four days from
Egypt to the promised Land. (Caanan).
Pharaoh and his army all perished in the Red
sea for his refusal to honour God’s call and allow the Israelites
to go (Exodus 14).
God commanded the Israelites saying, “Thou
shalt not bow down thyself to them (idols of the nations) nor serve
them, for I the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children…of them that hate me” Ex.
20:5-6. “And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me
and keep my commandments” Ex. 20:6. These scriptures speak of
both the curses and blessings depending on disobedience and obedience
respectively.
This truth followed Israel wherever they went
or whatever they did, either in their fatherland or in the Land of their
captivity. They were facing these curses (troubles) not because of what
they did in the present time but also for the disobedience of their
fathers centuries ago.
Are we today to follow the daily desires of the
flesh and perish as did the fathers or are we to listen to the words
of advice as we read them in this everyday life “encyclopeadia”
and amend our lives and live to His glory ?
Disobedience brought about disagreements in the
family, children refusing to listen to their parents (2 Tim. 3:2; Rom.
1:30); even today telling their parents and seniors that they must tolerate
their views for they are best. The evils and sufferings in the present
dispensation are the result of disobedience. The works of the flesh
as we know are a result of disobedient (Gal. 5:19-21). But we thank
our Father that without looking on our sinfulness and disobedience to
His words, “He commended His love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Fellow brethren and sisters, “Let us hear
the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments;
for this is the whole duty of man.”
(Eccl. 12:13).
Sin and Its Consequences
Bro Moses Dhlakama (Beira,
Mozambique)
Adam and Eve were instructed that they could
eat of any fruit tree they wished apart from just one, the fruit of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By the very act of eating
of that tree, Adam and Eve learned what evil was. God had clearly told
Adam what the consequences of eating would be: “But from the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day
that you eat the fruit of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).
God did not want them to serve Him slavishly, but gave them free will
to choose to obey or not to obey, to fulfil the reason for their creation
or not to do so. The result of Adam and Eve choosing the path of disobedience
was that the consequences followed.
No matter where people live they are bound by
laws. The reason for law is to maintain order in society and regulate
the behaviour of individuals within society. These laws are at times
just or unjust. Whatever individuals may think of laws, they know that
breaking them brings the consequent punishment.
Human laws are, however, imperfect, often benefiting
one branch of society over another. Further, who is to decide what is
right or wrong, since perceptions of justice, and what is acceptable
or unacceptable, varies according to society or culture. To me there
is no consistency in the world regarding what is right or wrong and
no perfect means of declaring ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’
of a crime. As a result, miscarriages of justice can occur. So why
does society have rules and laws? Because without law, society degerates
into anarchy. That is why society accepts laws, despite their imperfections.
God is our Creator and as such He demands that
human beings fulfil the purpose for which they were created. God does
have a purpose with His creation, and has decreed laws for man to live
a true life. Disobedience of God’s laws is what the Bible terms
sin, and the consequence of sin is punishment. The laws and commandments
of God are impartial and without favouritism. They are equally applied
to all individuals no matter what society they live in.
Brethren and Sisters outside the Makhonge Ecclesia
Hall (Kenya)
The Gospel of Christ
Bro Joseph Oppong (Shama
Junction, Ghana)
The word ‘gospel’ means good news
“glad tidings”. “How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
and how shall they preach except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14-15).
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”.
It was first preached in promise and then as fact. The gospel has power
to save all who believe and obey it. Paul said, “For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”
(Romans 1:16).
Lest another gospel be
preached, the apostle Paul warned, “Which is not another; but
there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you…let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:7-9). But it might
be reasoned, Surely a person would not dare preach another gospel?
Well, many have and many continue to do so. There is the ‘gospel’
of faith only, the ‘gospel’ of many churches, the ‘gospel’
of worship as you please, the ‘gospel’ of grace only and
the ‘gospel’ of prosperity and many other – but all
of these are false gospels. There is only one true gospel: “And
he said unto them, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,
but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).
Later, Paul warned that the Lord would eventually come and
take vengeance on all of those who do not obey the gospel. He said:
“and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire,
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power”
(2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). But how can one obey the gospel? That is
something we are going to find out.
First,
let us consider the facts of the gospel. They are the death, burial
and resurrection of Christ. We read, “Moreover, brethren, I declare
unto you the gospel, which I preached unto you, which also ye have received,
and wherein ye stand: by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory
what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered
unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died
for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and
that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Now everything else is based on these facts.
This is the foundation of Christianity, and of hope. Naturally, those
facts must be believed.
Secondly,
there are commands of the gospel that must be obeyed. The Bible teaches
that each one must hear the truth: “So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). One must believe
it or have faith in it. We read further, “But without faith it
is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”
(Hebrews 11:6). After faith, one must repent of his sins, or turn away
from them. Christ said: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Again, “And
the times of this ignorance God winked at: but now commandeth all men
everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Then what? The confession
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is necessary. Christ himself said,
“ Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall
deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in
heaven”. (Matthew 10:32,33).
At
a later time, the eunuch said that he believed that Jesus Christ was
the Son of God and straightway Philip baptized him (Acts 8:37,38).
The last command to be obeyed is the act of baptism: Peter told the
people on the day of Pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). And
Christ said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that beliveth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). By obeying
these commands, one obeys the gospel of Christ, is to the ‘church’
and can be saved (Acts 2:47). There is just one way to be saved, and
that is the way Christ has ordained it in God’s word: “If
ye love me, keep my commandments”. (John 14:15). “Be ye
doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto
a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself,
and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he
was” (James 1:22-24).
Thirdly,
through belief of the gospel we receive forgiveness of our past sins.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Peter also
said: “’Repent ye therefore, and be converted that your
sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from
the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before
was preached unto you’” (Acts 3:19). “But the hour
cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father
in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and
in truth”.
Truly,
without obedience and faithfulness, man has nothing. So this is the
gospel of Christ with facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and
promises to be received. The Lord is gracious to those who love his
will and who strive to obey it. He has invited all to come and obey
him. It is now man’s responsibility to take advantage of what
the Lord has to offer.
As
servants of the Lord, let us all hold fast until the day of our Lord’s
coming by preaching the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that
we may receive a good reward on judgement day.
Shama
Ecclesia, Ghana
Good News
18 Years Later
Bro Peter Fry ( Wales)
"The
Truth comes to different countries in unusual ways, and on each
occasion God is in control.
He
uses those who are useful to him. In 1987 the first contact was made
with people in Nepal about the Truth. There was one man who played
an active part. His name was Rajendra Rai. When I was in Kathmandu
he, knowing I was there somewhere, searched many of the hundreds of
hotels till he found me. He then took me by the hand to meet his friends.
Five years later in 1992 his friends were baptised but Rajendra was
not. God is never in a hurry. In December 2005, he gave a good confession
of his faith and was
immersed into the Saving Name of the Lord Jesus.
He
writes about his baptism in the following manner:
Brother
Peter,
I
have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
on 17th December, 2005. This is a piece of news of great
importance in my life so I e-mailed you today. Please transfer this
rejoicing message to brothers Ivan, Joseph since I have no e-mail address
of them. I will do it to Brother Elvin myself and his family as his
mail address is already available to me.
I now have a feeling of peace in
my heart after my baptism which is, incredibly incomprehensible indeed.
I have never had an experience like this before for many people explained
and described regarding the peace. But it was a wonderful moment God
offered me to be experienced on my own. In Jesus word in John 14: 27
not a worldly peace, he gives us then definitely a heavenly one. No
other more words of explanation can explain my joy and peace at this
time
Your brother
in Jesus
Bro Rajendra Rai>
Some Principles of Prayer
Bro James
Mwangomo (Mbeya, Tanzania)
In our Bibles we read about God’s people
who had some powerful beliefs in their prayers, people like Elijah,
but I am sure that they followed the laid down principles from which
God was ready to answer their requests.
1) You must have faith. “Whatever you
ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22).
It means one must believe that God is able to do what you ask Him to
do. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. “For whoever
would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards
those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
1.
2) You must be thankful. “Have no anxiety
about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God” (Phil.4:6). Thanksgiving
is a worship state of mind which is as important as believing in God’s
power to help.
3)You must be at one with God, says Jesus Christ: “If
you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and
it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). There is the same meaning
in the Psalm: “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and
his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). Thus identification
with God’s righteous purpose is very important.
4)You must be resigned to His will. “And this is
the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything, according
to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14). “O my Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will,
but as thou wilt … Thy will be done” (Mat 26:39-42). Therefore
it is reasonable to yield to His will before you pray.
5)You must be patient. As David said: “I
waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry”
(Psalm 40:1). “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall
strengthen your heart” (Ps.27:14). If all prayers were answered
immediately under the urgency of our pleading, we would probably be
sadly disillusioned. Our vision is so limited that it is always wisest
to wait for God to answer as and when His wisdom may deem best.
6) You must cherish no sinful desire. “If I regard
iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).
This does not mean that a person has to be perfect before he can pray
over and over again; God invites sinners to call upon Him. But you
must be sorry for your sins, and be willing to be free from every evil
thought, word and deed for your prayers to be effective, and you must
pray in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus said, “Whatever you
ask in my name, I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the
Son(John14:13). God has given us opportunities to come to know him,
talk to him, and to grow into his likeness through prayer. Let us keep
on praying without ceasing as our Lord Jesus did.
The Defeat of Aids
Bro David Yelulani (Banket,
Zimbabwe)
AIDS differs from some
other epidemics in one important respect: it is preventable. If individuals
are prepared to adhere to basic Bible principles, they can in many,
perhaps all, cases avoid contamination. The Bible’s moral standards
are clear:
·
Those
not married should abstain from sexual intercourse (1 Corinthians 6:18)
·
Married
people should be faithful to their partner, and not commit adultery
(Hebrews 13:4)
Those who are already infected can find great joy and comfort through
learning about the disease-free world promised by God for the near future,
and then through conforming to God’s requirements. The Bible assures
us that in due course all mankind’s woes, including disease, will
come to an end. This promise is made in the book of Revelation: “I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying: ‘Look! The tent of
God is with mankind and He will wipe out every tear from their eyes,
and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain
be any more. The former things are passed away’” (Rev 21:3-4).
The assurance is not just for those who can afford
costly medication. The prophetic promise of Revelation chapter 21 is
confirmed in Isaiah 33:24: “No resident will say ‘I am sick’”.
Then all living on the earth will abide by God’s laws and will
enjoy perfect health. Thus, the deadly march of AIDS and all other
diseases will be halted for ever.
The Body Cries Because the Parts Quarrel
Bro George Kum and Sis
Quinta Ngah (Limbe, Cameroon)
. We are all one body - head, eyes, nose, mouth,
heart, hands and all parts. But what happens if, instead of sharing
ideas in common, they begin to disagree.
First, the legs complain: “We carry the
whole weight of the body and even keep you out of danger by running
fast”.
The arms were very angry with what the legs said
and replied, “You carry us along, even to work on the farm but
we are the ones who weed, till the soil, do the harvesting, carry the
food to the house and even cook for you. How can you think we do nothing?”
When the eyes saw this, they said to the arms
and legs, “Remember us: if we did not exist to show you the direction
of all the places you visit, would you find your way to the farm, streams
or market? Without us, you could not sort out ripe or unripe fruit”.
The mouth was not happy and said to the legs,
arms and eyes: “If I close up and refuse to eat, you will all
die. Am I not important?”
The nose said, “If I close up my nostrils
for even a few minutes, you will die because you need oxygen to keep
you alive, and I am the only one who takes in oxygen”.
The head laughed and said, “You legs, arms,
eyes, mouth and nose do not reason before you talk. Do you not know
that I am the one who directs your activities? I am the one who asks
the legs to run from danger, and ask the arms to work for us while directing
the eyes to see and the mouth to eat”.
The ears were not so happy: “We are the
ones who hear all the sounds about danger, and love, yet you try to
ignore us”, they complained.
The heart heard all these and was very sad and
angry: “You are making a lot of noise for nothing. I have never
rested since I was born. I tick day in and day out, year in and year
out. If I stop ticking, you will all die”.
In conclusion, the head said “I have seen
that none of us can exist without the others. We must live together
and love our whole self, protect each other from diseases, hunger, harsh
weather and poverty”. After the long quarrel, the head said,
“Dear brothers and sisters, let us unite and work together for
a better tomorrow. Unity is love, strength is understanding. The greatest
is love (1Cor.13:13).
We have written simply to come to an understanding
that the parts of the body were quarrelling over who was the most important.
God is so kind to us, that we are equal. Just as when Jesus was with
his disciples and they were asking, “Who shall be the greatest
in the Kingdom of Heaven?” He then brought a child and declared
to them, If you make yourselves like this little child, the Kingdom
of God is for you”.
Jesus is our Head, and we are all just parts,
incapable of functioning without each other (Matthew 18:1-6 and 2 Corinthians
8:15).
18 Reasons That Jesus Was Not God
Bro. Mikael (Denmark)
1)
When Jesus had been baptized,
he immediately rose from the water and a voice was heard from the heavens,
which said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Who is who? God speaks from heaven to God standing on the ground?
2)
God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13). Jesus was tempted by evil
(Matt. 4:1-11). If Jesus was God, how could Jesus be tempted by evil?
3) Jesus worshipped God (John 20:17, Mark.
12:29-30, Matt. 4:10). How can Jesus worship God if Jesus is himself
God? Does God worship Himself?
4) Jesus cried out, when hanging on the cross:
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46).
If Jesus was God, then God had forsaken God! How can that be? How can
God forsake God?
5) God cannot die! (1 Tim. 6:16). Jesus died.
If Jesus was God, then how could he die?
6) Who ran the universe during the three days
that Jesus was dead in the grave? Was God dead for three days? Did the
universe vanish for three days?
7) God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 5:30).
How could God raise Himself when He was dead?
8) Jesus is a messenger between God and man
(1 Tim. 2:5). How can a messenger (middle man) be the same being he
is the messenger for?
9) Jesus saidf "But of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only"
(Matt. 24:36). If Jesus is God, then how is it Jesus does not know what
God knows?
10) If Jesus is God, then how can he stand next
to God? (Acts 7:56).
11) If Jesus is God, then who was he praying
to in Gethsemane? (Matt. 26:39).
12) How can Jesus receive "honour and glory"
from God when he is himself God? (2 Pet. 1:17).
13) The Bible says about Jesus: "Though
he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;"
(Heb. 5:8) Why would God need to learn obedience?
14) Jesus "sat down on the right hand of
the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). How can God sit down with Himself?
15) Jesus himself will be subject to God (1 Cor.
15:28). How can God subject Himself to God?
16) How could Jesus, if he was God, go to
God? (John 14:28)
17) How can Jesus, who was "sent" by
God, be God who sent him? (John 3:34; 17:3)
18) How could Jesus ascend to God when he was
himself God? (John 20:17)
Above: Riga Ecclessia (Latvia) which consists
predominately of Sisters. Below: Malawian Sisters at the special Sisters
Health Seminar based on the book “Where Women Have No Doctor”
available free to Ecclesias and Sisters in isolation from the CAT.
A Generation of Deaf Ears
(Jer. 25:3)
Bro. David Banda Yelulani
(Banket, Zimbabwe)
Parents complain that their children will not
listen to them. Teachers have the same lament. Sometimes politicians
and journalists wage an endless battle to get people with power to change
their policies, but are just ‘voices crying in the wilderness’.
Jeremiah, too, was a lone voice, warning, pleading,
denouncing and prophesying for years while no one took a scrap of notice,
as he spoke God’s word. It was God they refused to hear and heed.
That is the lot all too frequently of the preacher,
the evangelist and the missionary. A fire burns in their bones, the
word God sends, but no one will listen. Some spend a lifetime pleading
with their hearers to repent, to obey God, to accept Jesus, to forsake
their evil ways, to be born again - but to no avail. Many come to the
end of their lives wondering if all the sacrifice was worthwhile, why
all the patient pleading was in vain and querying whether they were
really called by God in the first place.
The present generation is no different: the word
is spoken faithfully, clearly and strongly. The gospel is preached
and the good news is announced, but all too often it goes unheeded,
falling on deaf ears, and the murder, the adultery, the futility, despair
and emptiness go on. What will those people, who have not listened,
do when Jesus comes?
Two Tabernacles
Bro. Andrew
Lucas (Australia)
The scriptures are quite specific with
reference to: (1) The Tabernacle of the wilderness and (2) The Tabernacle
of the Body – “this tabernacle of flesh.” So clearly
related and integrated are these that one is the spiritual reflection
of the other.
Unless the Israelite in his wilderness worship
could visualise two tabernacles and their significance, his service
to God was valueless. Unless the discerning mind could look beyond
natural and material things to spiritual realities (where the tabernacle
of the flesh was a living reality, a spiritual replica of sanctification
and consecration divinely demonstrated in the wilderness tabernacle),
the Israelite worshipped God but in vain.
God was rightly insistent that His people “begotten
unto a lively hope” should mould their lives according to the
pattern demonstrated before them.
In the Hebrew the word ‘tabernacle’
is rendered “dwelling place” – and each was designed
as a house in which God would dwell.
FIRSTLY, the wilderness tabernacle was a reflection
of divine power, diffused into spiritual majesty as the ‘shechinah
glory’ which shined forth above the mercy seat and between the
cherubim – a glorious portrayal of the visible majesty of the
divine presence.
SECONDLY, the tabernacle of the flesh was to
evidence the principles of righteousness sponsored by enlightened behaviour
in accord with the divine injunction to shine forth as “the Light
of the World”.
In the first century this manifestation was not
found in the splendour of Herod’s temple but in the Lord Jesus
Christ. God, in His infinite wisdom, disdained to reveal Himself any
longer in curtains, gold and silver or costly array – but in flesh
– “A BODY PREPARED”.
John 1:14 records, “the word was made flesh
and dwelt (tabernacled RV) among us and we beheld his glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and Truth”. It was
through Christ that God chose to tabernacle with men.
In the Mosaic dispensation, when the discerning
Jew looked upon the High Priest resplendent in his robes of office and
performing the will of God in sacrifice and worship, he beheld his ideal,
the various garments and appurtenances representing godly characteristics
and spiritual qualities; but more than these, he beheld the symbol
of God manifested in the flesh.
When Jesus came in the fullness of his work of
sacrifice and worship, he needed not to wear outwardly these characteristics
of God in symbol as garments - he was “all glorious within”,
being clothed in humility and righteousness – perfect qualities
of love and obedience. Thus Jesus rightly could say, “He that
hath seen me hath seen the Father”. He was, indeed, “God
manifested in the flesh”.
Each tabernacle – the wilderness dwelling
and the body – was created specifically to show forth “the
praises and goodness of him who has called us to his kingdom and glory”.
Each tabernacle was a radiant lightstand verifying that God is the author
of light and truth.
With each tabernacle, and justly so, the accent
was on holiness; and anything that tended to defile was cast out –
the basis of divine acceptance being “worship the Lord in the
beauty of holiness”.
Each was sojourning as in a strange land –
a weary pilgrimage to Zion – “no continuing city”
– a wandering in the wilderness.
Each tabernacle was to be constructed to the
divine specifications by instruction and guidance to a preconceived
pattern, emphasis being that there was no permanency in this existence
– it was but a probationary experience.
The tabernacle moved forward by divine counsel;
and the Israelites journeyed with it in progress physical and spiritual
to the promised land, the natural corollary being that there is not,
nor can there be, any standing still in spiritual progress.
All that came out of Egypt, the tabernacle MATERIALS
and the people, had to be changed in character. The Egyptian image
had to be hidden from view, as that state related to sin and ignorance
– an ignorance that God formerly winked at, but now a transformation
was required on a divinely-accepted basis of knowledge and spiritual
reform. So today the requirements of God are the same; we, as His
creatures, must transform ourselves in harmony with the great transformation
which is soon to take place on the earth; we must become new creatures.
Finally, the FURNISHINGS of the tabernacle were
few and simple, nevertheless wholly adequate to the spiritual needs
of worship. There was no lack – it was “thoroughly furnished”;
furthermore there was not the unsightliness and impracticability which
comes from being over-furnished – crowded and cluttered.
Paul reminds us of the bare essentials of the
fundamental furnishings of mind and body: “Be ye thoroughly furnished
unto all good works” – those basic qualities with which
Jesus was furnished. “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
temperance, patience, brotherly kindness” – “for if
these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
These qualities enumerated above are essential elements of the godly
character.
In Psalm 118:15 we read, “Salvation is
in the tabernacle of the righteous”.
The lesson of the two tabernacles, with its scriptural
eloquence, teaches us that to constitute the true Israel of God, we
must live “righteously, soberly and godly in this present life”.
Let us therefore “present our bodies a living sacrifice,
holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom.
12:1).
One of the Causes of Human Failure
“this one thing I do”
Philippians 3:13
Bro Stanford Khuuza (Magungi,
Zimbabwe)
It is easy to make excuses for our failures and
to blame our heritage, lack of opportunity, difficulties and other things,
but other people with similar disadvantages have triumphed over them.
Why should some people fail while others succeed?
On closer examination, in many cases the person
who failed never really expected to succeed. He lacked the inspiration
that comes from possessing a single objective. To see our worthy goal,
and to keep that vision clear and bright, even in moments of doubt and
discouragement, enables us to break through to success. If we vacillate
and keep changing our ultimate objective, the power of inspiration can
never be fully released into our life and affairs.
We cannot succeed without a goal in our life.
The goal is not easily realized, and for a time it may seem as if we
cannot find our true vocation for we move from one thing to another.
This is understandable, even excusable, if we realize that our aim in
life is to find our true goal. When we feel we have found our vocation,
hold fast and pray for the grace of perseverance. Too many people are
quick to surrender their visions at the first breath of opposition.
I refuse to allow past failure or dilatoriness to rob me of my spiritual
progress and power. Keep a clear vision of your goal, work towards it
and it will become a reality.
Christadelphian Farm, Berbice, Guyana. Above:
Looking East from the main Farm House: Below: Years of effort have failed
to transform all the land to a modern farm, mainly because of lack of
workers and funds. Though a few have really worked hard. On the other
hand it has been a shining light for the Truth bringing forth much
fruit.
Humanism or Christianity
Bro Isaac Kapa (Tongaren,
Kenya)
“What man of you if his son ask bread
will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish will give him a serpent”
(Mat7:9-10). “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts” (Mat
15:19-20). “I say unto you, swear not at all” (Mat 5:34).
“Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew
them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
I tell you Nay: but except you repent, you shall all likewise perish”
(Luke 13:4,5). For the humanist, man is essentially good; for the humanist,
sin is a quaint archaism which he prefers to translate into modern idiom
as anti-social behaviour. Social good and ill become the criteria of
right and wrong.
Jesus on the other hand “needed not that
any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man” (John
2:25). To the founder of Christianity, however, there is something
pathetically ridiculous in man’s high-sounding oaths. With withering
realism he calls attention to man’s impotence to change the colour
of one of his own hairs. For the humanist, man is good; maladjusted
perhaps, but essentially in control, and on his way to Utopia. For
Jesus, man is evil, sinning from his heart against God, woefully weak
and assigned to destruction unless he repents. Here are two philosophies
opposed to each other. We must choose between them; we cannot have
both. Our needs cannot be met if we refuse to acknowledge their opposition.
The early church fathers, ignoring Christ’s
warning that “we shall all likewise perish” attempted a
compromise with Platonism and welcomed into the church the totally unchristian
doctrine of the immortality of the soul. Since then, humanism has narrowed
its platform. This is not to deny beauty and greatness too much of
man’s achievements nor assert that man is incapable of any good
whatsoever; that would be unbalanced and unnecessarily severe. Jesus,
we must remember, had a heart of compassion: he knows how to give good
things to his children. But he insists that man is a broken reed as
far as his own salvation and corporate weal are concerned. Paul says
“When they knew God, they glorified him not as God…Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools…who changed the truth
of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature instead of
the Creator; who is blessed for ever” (Romans 1:21-25).
The Psalmist says: ”They that trust in
their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a
ransom for him … that he should still live for ever and not see
corruption” (Psalm 49:6,7,9). “For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish, foolishness... For it is written, I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding
of the prudent… and God has chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty; and the base thing of the world
and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and the things which
are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory
in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:18,19,27-29). “The wages
of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Five Tips to Make Life Easy
Bro Amos Odali Minjo (Gisambai,
Kenya)
1. Love is patient and kind,
it’s not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered
or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love
is not happy with evil, but happy with the truth; love never gives up
and faith, hope and love never fail.
2. The world is near to being
consumed and the danger is almost here. Let us stop doing things that
belong to the dark. Let us take “weapons” to fight in the
light and stop paying attention to our sinful natures and satisfying
their desires.
3. None of us should be proud
of one person and despise another. So we should not pass judgement on
anyone before the right time comes. Final judgement must wait until
the Lord comes; He will bring to light the dark secrets, and expose
the hidden purposes of people’s minds.
4. When we are persecuted,
we endure; when we are insulted, we respond kindly. We are not better
than this world’s garbage.
5. In every thing we are
doing, we should remember that we are in this world: runners do not
always win the race and the brave do not always win the battle; wise
men do not always earn a living; intelligent men do not always get rich
and capable men do not always rise to high positions. Like birds suddenly
caught in a net, we can be trapped at some evil moment when we least
expect it. And it is better to listen to the quiet words of a wise
man, than to the shouts of a ruler at a council of fools.
Naboth’s Vineyard
(I Kings 21)
Bre Moses Ajiweka &
Chakumanda Kondowe (Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe)
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was
beside king Ahab’s palace. Ahab eagerly requested the vineyard
for money or exchange for another vineyard. Naboth refused, saying
that the Lord did not allow him to sell his father’s inheritance.
King Ahab could not eat or drink because of his
anger, but became bedridden with the refusal. Jezebel, Ahab’s
wife, made a plan She wrote a letter with Ahab’s name on it, to
the elders and nobles. In this missive, they were told to accuse Naboth
of cursing God and the king; therefore he was taken outside the city
and stoned to death. As soon as Jezebel was told of Naboth’s
death, Ahab was told to occupy the vineyard.
What do we learn from this incident? God was
very much upset by the king’s behaviour as shown by his prophet
Elijah, (1 Kings 21:17-19). Murder is a grave sin; we are exhorted
not to kill (Exodus 20:13), it was one of the commandments God gave
to rule Israelite society.
Another commandment given by God was not to covet
his or her neighbour’s house or property (Exodus 20:17). Covetousness
leads to theft and possible destruction of life – hated by God.
The ten commandments were designed for Israelites,
so that they could live at peace with one another and with God. Jesus
showed us the type of life we should follow. Killing, stealing, covetousness
and such like, were things Jesus never committed. As long as we are
in Christ and have invited him to take full control of our lives, we
should follow his example.
We must serve the Lord whose life was peaceful.
In contrast, Ahab failed to please God and his punishment awaited him
(1 Kings 21:19-23).
Are there still possibilities of entering the
kingdom, after we have sinned? Ahab the king gives us a good example.
Having heard the trouble that God intended to impose on him, Ahab tore
his clothes, put on sackcloth, fasted and went about dejectedly (unhappily).
These were tokens of humility. Here we learn that God wants us to be
humble people. We find God withdrawing His punishment at that juncture
and the punishment would not be faced by Ahab, but would be imposed
in his son’s days (1 Kings 21:27-29).
Acts 17:30,31 challenges us to trust in God our
Heavenly Father who forgives and gives us the opportunity to make a
fresh start, or turn over a new leaf, today not tomorrow. God has set
a day to
