This is my commandment – love one another

Going Deeper into God’s Word

Issue 7 February 2012

Bible Studies by: Reinhard Bonnke, Ken Legg, Mathew Bartlett, Derek Williams, Edwin & Lillian Harvey & more!

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JOHN 2:11 THIS BEGINNING OF MIRACLES DID JESUS IN CANA OF GALILEE IN THIS ISSUE

©Photos above Marafilm CoverDanilo Ascione photo Back cover Peter Saharov

In this month’s issue: 2. The Marriage at Cana Carl Whorley (USA)

5. Revival Arfon Lloyd Thomas (UK)

9 The Theology of Pentecost Part Two Mathew Bartlett (UK)

11. Are You Stressed or Blessed? Ken Legg (Australia AG)

12. Gateway to God Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

13. Words of Love Mathew Bartlett (UK)

15. Christ Among Women Mathew Bartlett (UK)

17. Love in Harvest – The Book of Ruth 4. Derek Williams (UK)

19. In Depth Study – Revelation Chapter 12 Derek Williams (UK)

21. Guest Article: Divine Dining Reinhard Bonnke (CfaN)

©Photos Above © Joseph Sedmak (from Notre Dame Paris) Cover: © Andres Rodriguez. Back cover© maxfx . Left © from top: Phtoquest, Richard Thomas, and Willgame

Bible Studies Online International

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The Marriage at Cana Read John 2 Image: © Willgame

By Carl Whorley

The fact that the marriage took place on the third day is significant. In Genesis 1:9-13, God twice call the third day of Creation good.

It is the only one of the six days of

creation of which God pronounces a

double blessing.

For this reason many Hebrew

couples like to get married on the

third day of the week, traditionally

hoping it will add an extra blessing

to their marriage, and it would

appear that the couple in John 2:1-

11 might have followed this

tradition.

The marriage took place in Cana, (a

small town approximately eight to

nine miles north of Nazareth, the

home of Jesus and the birth place of

Nathanael). The guest list tells us a

great deal. Firstly, Mary the mother

of Jesus was there, along with Jesus

and His disciples. Clearly, one of the

newlyweds was at least close friends

if not relatives of Mary, Jesus'

mother. There has been much

conjecture about the identity of the

couple in question, but

John does not reveal their identity,

for the object of his history is to

demonstrate who Jesus is, the

Christ, the Son of God.

The events of the wedding take a

dramatic turn when in John 2:3, the

social horror of horrors takes place -

they run out of wine!

How much Mary understood at this

time of the capabilities of Jesus is

unknown. From Luke 2:47-49, we

see that Mary should have at least

known that Jesus possessed

superior insight in matters of

Scripture and Theology.

Although he had not yet performed

any miracle (John 2:11) , she knows

that she can turn to Jesus with her

concern about the bride's problem

and so she plaintively and earnestly

seeks His help.

This would not be the only time in

which Jesus referred to His mother

as woman or dear woman (see also

John 19:26), emphasising her

relationship to Him as Son of God

rather than ass Son of Man.

He does this firmly but very

respectfully, and then asks her a

very pointed question "what have I

to do with you?" Or how does this

concern me? This is a very polite but

firm way of asking "and what would

you like for me to do about this?"

Jesus refers to the fact that his time

had "not yet come"

Jesus was aware that He was on a

divine time schedule ordained by His

Heavenly Father even before the

foundation of the world.

In John 2:4, Jesus states that His

hour had not yet come.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says this

several His hour/time was not yet

come (e.g. John 2:4, John 7:6, John

7:8, John 7:30, John 8:20)

But by the time we get to John

12:27, the wording starts to change:

Now is my soul troubled; and what

shall I say?

Father, save me from this hour: but

for this cause came I unto this hour.

Christ's hour is now approaching.

Later, in John 13:1 & 17:1, the

wording changes again.

John 13:1...Now before the feast of

the Passover, when Jesus knew that

his hour was come that he should

depart out of this world unto the

Father, having loved his own which

were in the world, he loved them

unto the end.

February Reader’s Article – from USA

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John 17:1.These words spoke Jesus,

and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and

said, Father, the hour is come;

glorify thy Son, that thy Son also

may glorify thee.

Clearly we see that the hour

referred to by Jesus in John 2:4, is

the hour in time of His passion. The

hour in question would be His

Passion Week.

In the world's way of seeing facts,

Jesus was just another criminal

being crucified by Roman

jurisprudence. What mankind did

not realize is that it was not only the

greatest hour of triumph for Jesus,

and that this hour came for our

salvation.

This was the hour in which Jesus

finished the work which His

Heavenly Father sent Him to

accomplish. And it was the hour in

which mankind might have peace

with the Heavenly Father through

faith in the finished work of Christ

on the cross.

Mary was going to have to

understand, that though she was

Jesus' mother, the usage of His

divine abilities was set by the

Heavenly Father, and not by her.

Here, Jesus lovingly, yet firmly,

reminds her of this fact.

Jesus is telling His mother that this

was neither the place nor the time

in which Jesus wanted to start His

ministry which would show Him as

the Messiah, and culminate in His

death and resurrection.

In John 2:5, Jesus' mother, Mary,

gives the caterers the best advice

ever given to mankind. And that

being, whatever Jesus tells you to

do, do it! When God says that

because of what his son has done on

the cross, all we must do to obtain

eternal life is believe in him, then do

it! When it comes to being a success

in your walk with God the Father,

then whatever He tells you, do it.

However, even on God's timescale,

he is able to pause to hear and

answer the prayer of an earnest,

godly soul. In response to Mary's

plea, our Lord miraculously supplied

wine at the marriage feast in Cana

of Galilee in John 2:1-11.

There are many words used for

"wine" in the Old Testament, though

it is not clear which word would best

describes the wine that Jesus

produced on this occasion.

(Carl gives us a thorough

examination of these words and

their usage, which I have posted at

our contributor's blog

livingword.com - editor)

In John 2:1-11, the Greek word used

for the English word wine, is the

Greek word oinoV/oinos. From this

one Greek word we get the general

English word wine. However, this

one Greek word was used to denote

a number of items, from intoxicating

beverage, to unfermented wine,

grape juice, vinegar and even grape

skins and raisons.

Therefore, at the marriage at Cana,

what did Jesus miraculously create?

Did He make an intoxicating

beverage, or did He make a very

pleasant, family friendly, beverage

to be enjoyed by all? In truth, the

Bible never does tell us and neither

does the Greek New Testament.

However, emphatic warnings are

given in the New Testament against

excess in the use of wine (e.g. Luke

21:34; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 5:18; I Tim.

3:8 and Tit. 1:7).

As close as we can get to an answer

to this question, would be the

comments of the governor of the

feast in verse 10. He makes a

general statement that it is a

common practice at the start of the

feast, to serve the finest wines. He

does not say "strongest wine", but

"finest" or "best". His comment

does not infer any intoxicating

properties in the beverage created

by Jesus, but to its superior quality.

There is no mention of anyone being

intoxicated at the wedding feast,

and so we can assume they were

not. In a society where water was

not always pure, wine formed a

staple daily drink for the population,

and was necessarily lacking in

intoxicating properties.

When things go wrong, such as they

did at this wedding feast, God is not

unprepared. He is able to intervene

and meet the need. Things went

wrong in the Garden of Eden. It was

not His will for Adam and Eve to

disobey Him, yet, they did.

It is not God's will for anyone to die

without Jesus Christ as their Saviour

and spend a Christless eternity in

Hell. Yet, at the rate, globally, of

approximately three per second,

people do die without Jesus and Hell

becomes their abode for all eternity.

This is not the will of God for

mankind:

2 Peter 3:9...The Lord is not slack

concerning his promise, as some

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men count slackness; but is

longsuffering to us-ward, not willing

that any should perish, but that all

should come to repentance.

In John 2:11, we see that it was here

that Jesus... manifested forth his

glory. Jesus would take this

opportunity to reveal the fact of His

deity. That He is in fact, the very

God in flesh form. Also, Jesus will

use this opportunity to illustrate His

teaching about being born again (or

regeneration).

Titus 3:5...Not by works of

righteousness which we have done,

but according to his mercy he saved

us, by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

John 3:3...Jesus answered and said

unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto

thee, except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:7...Marvel not that I said

unto thee, ye must be born again.

I Peter 1:23...Being born again, not

of corruptible seed, but of

incorruptible, by the word of God,

which lives and abides for ever.

What is Jesus attempting to point

out with His miracle at the Marriage

at Cana in John 2:1-11? Let us look

at the time line in His earthly

ministry. In John chapter 2, He is

just starting his earthly ministry.

Therefore, this miracle would be an

encapsulation of what He came to

do. When we compare Scripture

with Scripture, we see from

Matthew 26:27-28, that the cup, or

wine, represents the blood

Image: © Ingrid Heczko

which Jesus Christ gave and shed to

purchase this new regenerated born

again life on our behalf.

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that if Jesus

would not have shed His blood on

the cross, then this new life would

have been an impossibility. We

would have literally been born to die

and spend eternity in hell.

Jesus came to pay for this eternal

life in Heaven with His own blood

and life, that we might have

abundant spiritual life.

Our Heavenly Father wants to fill

and overflow us with this new life.

John 2:7

It is the finest life which a person can

live. John 2:9-10

It is the one and only way to Heaven.

John 3:5 & Titus 3:5

It is a gift from God. John 4:10 and

Ephesians 2:8-9

It issues from a source which will

never expire. John 4:14.

Through the miracle at Cana, Jesus

shows mankind, through the

symbols of water and wine, that

God our Heavenly Father is offering

new life to all mankind.

To have this new life means to know

for a certain fact (1 John 5:13) that

we can be at peace with God, and

know for certain that when we die,

we will go to Heaven to be with the

Heavenly Father (2 Cor. 5:8).

Jesus gave his life as a ransom for

many, so that we might obtain this

new life. The wine represents the

method of payment for this new

born again life. Our peace with God

cost Jesus His life and His blood.

Because He has paid the highest

price, when we leave this life, we go

immediately to Heaven to be with

Him for all eternity.

For Jesus, the Marriage at

Cana was an opportunity to

tell mankind that God

wanted to give them new

and more wonderful life.

Jesus died and rose again,

and it is His resurrection life,

abundant spiritual life,

which God wants to give to

you right now, and He will

give it to whomsoever will

ask.

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2CHRONICLES 7:14 “If My people,

who are called by My name, shall

humble themselves and pray and

seek My face and turn from their

wicked ways, then I will hear from

Heaven and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.”

This is the most significant passage of Scripture about the way of revival.

I believe that if this text was truly and humbly undertaken by every Christian today then the whole Church would be revived. It is God’s recipe for spiritual awakening.

What is revival? Perhaps it is easier to ask, “What is not?”

Billy Graham came to England and many people were converted – but that is not revival. It was a demonstration of God’s anointing on a chosen vessel, but it was not revival; evangelism is an expression of the Church, whereas revival is an experience in the Church.

Revival is not the restoration of back-sliders, wonderful though it is when a person returns to God. Some think of revival as a special touch from God, or an unusually powerful and exciting meeting; but according to the dictionary, revival is the process of bringing back

something to life, to

bringing back something to life, to full consciousness or to full strength. Spiritual revival can best be described as, “an inrush of divine life into a body that is threatening to become a corpse,” or “God bending down to the dying embers of a fire and breathing on it so that it bursts into flames.”

One might say that revival is the Church returning to Pentecost.

On the Day of Pentecost a high-voltage burst of spiritual energy flowed into all who gathered humbly in prayer. The effects of the outpouring in the upper room were felt by the entire nation, with many brought to their knees in repentance. God’s power broke down every barrier like a mighty wave of the sea, and everything it touched was changed; lives were transformed and the Church burst into being as souls were saved for Eternity.

This is God’s Revival.

History books record that revivals in later years have 3 distinct characteristics in common: an intense and extraordinary sense of God’s presence, a deep desire to be rid of all sin, and a powerful impact on the wider community.

We must never settle for less than what God wants to give us.

Christianity in the UK is on the decline, and after several decades of charismatic renewal we are still making very little headway.

The Church as a whole did not make much impact on the nation during the “Decade of Evangelism” which took us to the turn of the Century. Therefore, something much greater and more powerful is required if we are to experience the effect of revival in our nation. You might very well ask these questions, “Why does God not come now?” “Why doesn’t He do anything about it?” “Why are we having such little impact with our own members, never mind about impact into the community?”

I believe the answer can be clearly found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The text begins with a little word that is full of meaning. Just as a large door swings opens on considerably smaller hinges, so this word “if” unfolds the secret of spiritual awakening. We see that God is prepared to act, provided that we take our full responsibility.

For many years I have considered the point that: “Without God man can’t, but without man God won’t!” Although revival is a sovereign act of God, this does not relieve us of our personal responsibility. The great Welsh preacher Christmas Evans said, “Revival comes from God, but is borne to Earth on the wings of fervent prayer.”

“If” is a condition, and if we are in a lapsed condition as an individual, or as the Church, then we need to repent of that condition, and humbly open ourselves up to God, that He might restore us to our rightful position.

Joel, the charismatic prophet in the Old Testament calls for repentance: “Declare a Holy fast; call a sacred Assembly; summon the Elders and all who live in the land.” (Joel 1:14)

Revival

By Arfon Lloyd Thomas, UK.

Images: Desert © Paul Moore and Waterfall © Troy Lilly

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Whereas the prophet Hosea writes: “Sow for yourself righteousness; reap the fruit of unfailing love.” (Hosea 10:12)

Revelations chapter 2 verse 4 says: “I hold this against you, you have forsaken your first love, remember the height from which you have fallen, repent and do the things you did at first.”

The prophet Jeremiah records that we should: “Return faithless people; I will cure you of back-sliding.” (Jeremiah 3:22)

We discover then, through these Scriptures that God is speaking directly to His people.

“My people” means He is speaking to His own people. This also includes us because He chose us and saved us and made us His own.

The message of revival is then a direct call from God to His own people. The response must come from us who are His body. We can see the desperately low state of the nation, but it’s the Church that we need to attend to.

We will never put the World right by looking at its sad and sorry state, because revival must start with God’s own people.

In the Old Testament we discover that God called Abraham to be His own. He promised that his descendants would be “Children of God”, a chosen race, a people belonging to God. However, the New Testament makes it clear that through Jesus Christ, both Jew and Gentile are accepted into the family of God. We are adopted into His family and through Christ become part of His Holy people. Paul the Apostle writes: “We also received the salvation of our souls when we believed in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:13) Furthermore, we receive the Holy Spirit as a guarantee to our inheritance.

The Apostle Peter confirms to us that we are “living stones”. We are being built up into a spiritual home (1Peter 2:5). “But you are a Royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a chosen generation.” (1Peter 2:9) John records the words of Jesus: “You did not choose Me; I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit that would last.” (John 15:16) The most wonderful promise follows that text - that as God’s children, chosen by Him, we may ask anything in His name.

In Matthew’s Gospel we find:

“Which of you if his son should ask for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? How much more then will our Heavenly Father give to us who are called by His name.” (Matthew 7:9-11)

Malachi urges us to test God in His goodness so that “He might throw open the windows of Heaven and pour out His abundant blessing upon us.” (Malachi 3:10) This is the very nature of God, that if we, His people, act according to His will then He will respond with His overwhelming presence, power and purpose.

“If My people who are called by My name” – quite simply this means those who call upon His name, who have a personal relationship with Him through Christ. Going to Church, or living a religious life, or keeping within the law, is not enough to make us a child of God. Going to Church does not make someone a Christian any more than going to a football match would make them a footballer.

God, in His wisdom, has chosen to begin revival within His Church as a whole and this puts an enormous responsibility on all His people. The world will often judge the Church by the behaviour of its individual

members. If one Christian acts in a way that is unfitting for the Church, then the whole Church is judged. The people of the world do not see us as individuals, but they do observe our ways and say things like, “Well, if that’s how Christians behave then I want nothing to do with them.”

On the other hand, if we act in a godly manner then this will serve to draw and win others for Christ. For this we need a heaven sent revival!

Let us then look at the action that we must take in order for God to visit us with revival. Our key text tells us that we are to humble ourselves. Humility is the ability to take a close look at yourself and discover in all honesty what you are. Humility turns from self and seeks the presence of God.

A humble person will always recognise that they are nothing without God.

The opposite of humility is pride, the first sin to enter into mankind. The Devil fell from heaven to Earth through pride. He tempted Adam and Eve to take the fruit, declaring that they would be like God. When we are full of pride we are like the Devil, when we are full of humility we are most like Christ.

God’s command for us today has not changed since the beginning of time. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves.”

We must be willing to evaluate ourselves, not by the standards of others, but by the standard of God’s Word. We must come under the authority of the Bible and submit to its truth. Our attitude is to be the same as that of Christ (see Phil. 2:1-11).

Pride is the enemy of God, and the Bible gives us a strict warning concerning this sin: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the

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The Initial Evidence With the increasing interest in the baptism of the Holy Spirit among Christians from traditional denominations, it is more vital than ever that we set out our distinctive Pentecostal testimony. A Baptist friend once said to me “I know when I received the Holy Spirit, for I felt a great peace.” In fact, he was speaking of the time when he trusted Christ as Saviour, and I am sure that he did enjoy great peace – the peace of sins forgiven and of being reconciled to God. But that is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The realm of the Holy Spirit is the human spirit, not human emotion. He does not reveal Himself through our feelings, but by supernatural signs and wonders.

My own baptism of the Holy Spirit was accompanied by the supernatural evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave me utterance, and I would maintain that this is invariably the case. Jesus told his disciples “these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall . . . speak with new tongues.” (Mark 16:17)

The Initial Evidence in the Scriptures There are only a few episodes in the book of Acts where Luke records the receiving of the Holy Spirit, yet in

each case the supernatural sign of tongues was in evidence.

In Acts 2, the whole group of 120 believers were gathered for prayer, and their receiving of the Holy Spirit was evidenced by their speaking with tongues and prophesying.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act 2:4

Peter later told the crowd that following their repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, (which would be evidenced by their baptism in water) they too would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 8, whilst we are not explicitly told that supernatural evidence accompanied the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Simon clearly saw that something genuine had been imparted to the new converts. Being used to the supernatural, and since he wanted to possess (for the wrong reasons) the power he saw demonstrated, it is clear that a supernatural manifestation had occurred which was different to any that he had previously witnessed in the healing and deliverance ministry of Phillip. It is reasonable to suppose that it was the miracle of speaking in

tongues. In Acts 10 when the Spirit was poured out on Cornelius and his household, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Act 2:4

In Acts 19 Paul met a company of believers at Ephesus who knew only the baptism of John. After further instructing them in the Christian faith, Paul prayed for them:

And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Act 19:6

The Pioneers of the Modern Pentecostal Movement All the Pentecostal pioneers of the 20th century testified to the miracle of speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Here are just a few:

Harold Horton “(tongues) is the gift manifested in each case when believers receive their baptism in the Holy Spirit, though other gifts may be evidenced as well as it”i

Donald Gee “The New Testament is clear that the gift of the Spirit in the beginning was invariably witnessed to by some physical manifestation — something others could “see and hear” (Acts II. 33). the most usual

The Theology of Pentecost By Mathew Bartlett Image: © Photoquest

Part Two:

The Initial Evidence

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and most persistent manifestation was speaking with tongues (Acts II. 4; X. 44; XIX. 6). The Pentecostal Movement has consistently taught that speaking with tongues is the scriptural initial evidence of that baptism.”ii

Smith Wigglesworth received “the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.”iii

George Jeffries wrote that “the great outpouring of the Spirit with the miracle of speaking in tongues is taking place all over the world.”iv

May I say that after twenty years in active Pentecostal ministry, I have never yet witnessed anyone being baptised in the Holy Spirit who did immediately begin to speak with tongues.

Jesus’ own experience is our example We may take valuable lessons about the supernatural ministry of the Spirit from the life of the Lord Jesus. Following His baptism in the River Jordan, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within Him. We do not read of Christ performing any miracle until after He was endued with power from on high, but from that time on His miraculous ministry began and never ceased.

Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is inevitably miraculous, the believer’s baptism in the Holy Spirit is always accompanied by miraculous signs, in particular the miraculous sign of speaking in tongues.

Christian friend, the answer to the question “do all speak with tongues?” is still “no,” (1 Cor. 12:30) but may I remind you of the apostle’s holy desire, surely the desire God’s heart, “I would that

you all spoke with tongues” (1 Cor. 14:5).

Scripture taken from the New King James

Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson,

Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

i Horton, Harold. 1954. The Gifts of the Spirit. London. Assemblies of God Publishing House. ii Gee, Donald. 1941. Croydon. Wind and Flame. Heath Press Ltd. iii Wigglesworth, Smith. 1924. Ever Increasing Faith. First Published 1924, but reprinted in the Pentecostal Evangel, September 13, 1924. iv Jeffries, George. 1933. Pentecostal Rays. London. Elim Publishing Co.

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Coming soon: New commentary on 1 Corinthians due out this March 2012.

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Image: ©Joyce Geleynse

Stress is a fact of life. All living involves some stress. Stress is simply the response your body makes to any demand you place upon it. Not all stress is bad.A certain amount of stress is necessary for renewal and growth. Efficiency often increases as stress increases. Many of us work best under stress.

But the problem is that continuous stress will lead to distress. When stress is prolonged it becomes harmful. The same adrenaline that prepares the body for action is also toxin and may lead to sickness.

The consequences of stress are serious. These include: illness(stress can cause illness in ups up to 80% of sufferers), insomnia (the inability to fall asleep), High blood pressure and even premature aging!

Let’s just consider the first of these consequences for a moment – sickness. It is a medical fact that prolonged periods of emotional tension may lead to hypersecretion and if persisted in result in sickness. What started in the mind ends in a harmful consequence to the body. For example, stress can cause the arteries to contract, restricting the flow of blood to the heart. This causes many kinds of problems. What is the answer? The medical world tries to bring the body into a state of rest through

medication, e.g. anti-depressants. The result is rest, but artificial rest.

Health and fitness industries try to manipulate health through diet and exercise. Yet, no amount of diet and exercise can provide wholeness when the soul is in turmoil. It’s not what you eat that determines the state of your health so much as what is eating you! (Matt.15:11).

Jesus knew the stresses that weigh upon the soul. He offers true rest to our souls by means of His yoke (Matt.11:28-30). A yoke, a wooden frame, was something that was placed upon a person’s shoulder to make his load easier by distributing its weight. The purpose of a yoke, then, is to enable the strain to be passed from one to another.

The yoke of Christ is described as being easy, meaning kindly, well-fitted, serviceable, pleasant and well-adjusted to the shoulders. In other words, there is nothing more natural than to come under the yoke with Christ. We were meant to live Christ-dependent lives. The first negative emotion, fear, was the result of Adam’s disconnection from God. The Bible likens the masses of those who have left God to the roaring sea of restless waves. The problem is that we too, His children, can live independently of Him and experience all the stress symptoms that the ungodly have because of

their disconnectedness from God. Christ never promised we would be free of trials and difficulties in this life. What He promised, though, is peace in the midst of the storm.

During WWII a competition was held for artists in USA to submit a painting that best depicted peace. Entries of sunsets, flowing streams, snowcapped mountains and pastoral settings abounded. But first prize went to a picture of a raging storm over a narrow valley. To the left a waterfall cascaded down a sheer drop, while lightening streaked across the raging sky. Growing precariously from the sheer face of the cliff was a small scrub tree, its few surviving branches bending to the pressure of the wind. Perched on one of these branches that protruded over the waterfall was a small bird, its head turned upward in defiance of the pounding rain, singing at the top of its voice. That’s peace! Inward peace defies outward circumstances.

Jesus could sleep in the midst of a storm. He had something the disciples did not have at that time. And He has bequeathed this same peace to us. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn.14:27).

Peace surpasses all understanding. It defies analysis. Peace is not deliverance from circumstances, but the ability to stand composed in the midst of a storm. The difference between Christians and non-Christians is not the absence of problems, but the presence of the peace of God in the midst of turmoil. That yoke of His sure looks inviting!

Ken Legg is pastor of New Beginnings Christian Church Gold Coast Australia. Article: http://www.small-groups-ministry.com/Grace_Roots-GraceRoots-18.html

Are You Stressed or Blessed? By Ken Legg

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Then began men to call upon the name

of the LORD (Gen. 4:26).

For the eyes of the Lord are over the

righteous, and his ears are open unto

their prayers: but the face of the Lord is

against them that do evil (1 Peter 3:12).

Prayer is the Christian’s greatest

resource and the one least used. It is his

greatest obligation and the one most

neglected. It is the most common form

of devotion, yet the one least

understood. Prayer is the gateway to

God’s presence, but few enter. Prayer

is the channel of God’s grace, but in

most lives it is clogged. It is commonly

supposed that anyone can pray, but

only those who are accepted in Christ

have full access to God. Many regard

prayer as optional, but God requires

prayer as the condition of His working

and where there is no prayer, there is

no power.—Slocum.

A prominent Christian leader,

acquainted with spiritual conditions

said:

“If I were to put my finger on the

greatest lack in our Christianity, I would

unhesitantly point to the need for an

effective prayer life among laity and

ministers.” And E. M. Bounds warns us

that past praying cannot suffice for

today’s needs: “The Church that is

dependent on its past history for its

miracles of power and grace is a fallen

Church.” Speaking of Hudson Taylor, D.

E. Hoste says:

“He was of necessity a busy man, but he

always regarded prayer itself as in

reality the most needful and important

part of the work. He practically

recognized that much time must be

spent in seeking God’s guidance if a

right understanding was to be obtained

of the problems and difficulties that

confronted him, in carrying on the work

of the Mission. He knew that in no other

way was the power of the Holy Spirit to

be obtained for himself and his

brethren, as they sought to develop the

work. I venture on this occasion not

only to impress upon myself but upon

you as well the importance of our

copying him in this respect.”

And Mrs. Howard Taylor, in her

biography of Hudson Taylor, quotes him

as saying: “Am hoping to give special

time to prayer and Bible study on the

voyage. I do want our whole life to be

an ascending plane—not resting in

anything we have learned or felt or

attained, but a pressing on and up. . . .

Do we not want more really to meditate

on God, to gaze on Him, to take in what

we are even now competent to take in

of His greatness, His resources, His

assurances and promises? Dwelling thus

on Him, should we not be enabled to

grasp more of the heights and depths of

His character and purposes and be more

ready and able to do His will?” One of

the Lammermuir party, writing home to

England, said: “Oh! that we may be

made capable of bearing much blessing.

Do pray that we may each be

drawn close to the Savior, and kept

walking with Him in such sweet

fellowship that for us to live may be

Christ. Then, what wonders should we

see! The destitution in the light of

eternity is awful. It stares us in the face.

Human effort cannot meet it; nothing

can, short of divine power. So do pray.

Oh, we need to lay hold upon God

about it. May He make us really in

earnest. How can we trifle, how can we

be listless in view of His unfailing

promise that what we ask in faith we

shall receive? . . . Why are we not

Israels? God grant that we may learn

how to pray.”

Prayer power is not only the most

direct, but also the most effective force

that can be brought to bear upon the

many difficult problems that exist in the

Lord’s work. Prayer is not only more

effective than other methods of

carrying forward the work of the Lord,

but it has also the further great

advantage of being free from human

schemes and carnal manipulations.

He who waits upon God, moves on in

quiet confidence and needs neither the

blare of trumpets nor press agents’

methods to announce his success, but in

godly fear, leaves until the day of

Christ’s return the record of

achievement. The whole tendency in

the life of prayer is to bring us to the

place of crucifixion, and to school us in

the great principles of righteousness,

justice, and love.—Unknown.

Gateway to God An extract from “Kneeling we Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey

ISBN 1-932774-08-4. 128 Pages Price $6.00. Image © Margaret M. Stewart

Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. www.harveycp.com

(c) Ingrid Heczko

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(c) 1David Asche

In many countries, the 14th day

of February is observed as

Saint Valentine’s Day, with

Saint Valentine himself being

(probably) a legendary figure.

He is best known for falling in

love with an executioner’s

daughter before losing his own

life.

It is remarkable how much

money people spend on

chocolates, flowers, and cards

at this time of year. Heart

shaped gifts represent their

love for their spouse,

boyfriend or girlfriend. Each

gift is a way of saying “I love

you.”

The trouble is, the English

language is rather limited, and

so the word love can have

several different meanings. I

can say I really love popcorn, I

love my dog and I love my

wife, all with the same word!

In New Testament Greek, fortunately, we have four different words for love, each with its own particular meaning:

Philia Here is a word for describing

those feelings we have in a

close friendship. It might be

the love that we have for a

brother or a sister, or

someone close to us that we

confide in. It may be our love

for a best friend, someone we

feel we have a lot in common

with. We may have this kind

of love without any romantic

overtones.

Storge OK, this is the word I can use

when I’m talking about my dog

or my popcorn. Some people

might say “I really love ice-

hockey.” This word means to

have affection for, to really like

something or someone, whether

that is an activity or an object,

or even a person.

I may “love” someone in this

way without being deeply

attached to them

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Agape The literal meaning of this

word is “sacrificial love”. It is

the kind of love shown by

someone who gives up their

life in order to save another.

Jesus said of this kind of love:

“Greater love has no man than

this than a man lay down his

life for his friends.”

What seems strange about this

love is that is just keeps on

loving even when it gets

nothing back. It is not looking

for what it can receive but for

what it can give. It is the kind of

self-giving love which God has

for the world.

“For God so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten

son, that whoever believes in

Him should not perish but have

everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

In fact, in the New Testament,

whenever the love of Jesus or

the love of God is mentioned,

this is the word which is used.

Jesus illustrated this love in the

well-known parable of the

“prodigal” (or wasteful) son. In

the modern vernacular he was

a “waster”. This young men

turned his back on his father

and wasted all his father’s

money having a “good time”,

though actually it didn’t turn

out to be very good in the

end.

This boy’s father just kept on

loving him – with agape love.

When the son’s life was a

wreck and he was penniless

and starving he came home

to his father and was stunned

to find a warm welcome with

no word of reproach on his

dad’s lips. The reason? His

dad loved him with agape

love, and this said Jesus is the

love God has for every one of

us who have wandered away

from God, sometimes paying

a high price for our sin.

God will welcome you back.

The greatest demonstration

of agape love was seen when

the Lord Jesus hung on a

cross, bearing your sin and

mine, so that we might be

forgiven. Men buried the

Lord Jesus but three days

later he came back to life.

Today he is alive forever

more, and if you come to God

through him, you will receive

a warm welcome, instead of

words of reproach you will

receive words of forgiveness

and love. You will become a

child of God, and no one can

ever separate you from His

love again. Reader, this love is

really worth having, and by

trusting Christ you can have it

today.

Eros From this Greek word comes

our English word erotic. This

kind of love is the physical or

sexual attraction which Saint

Valentine’s Day is usually

associated with.

Most of the time, when we

hear pop, rock or country

songs about love, we can be

sure it is this kind of love they

are singing about.

This kind of love might make a

teenage girl blush or a young

man act kind of silly. It’s the

love that brings two people

together, a man and a woman,

in the life long bond of

marriage The world makes this

kind of love seem dirty and

guilt ridden when in fact it is a

beautiful expression of the

Creator’s will, even as He

blessed the first married

couple with the words “Be

fruitful and multiply”.

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John 2 Christ the Sovereign

To Mary Christ revealed himself as

the Sovereign -He is Lord.

At the wedding in Cana, when they ran

out of wine, Mary’s request is apparently

rebuffed: woman, what have I to do with

you. Mary had given birth to Christ and

so was his mother. But Jesus wanted her

to look deeper than this at the beginning

of his ministry, for she knew very well

that he was the eternal son of God. Her

relationship with him was no more to be

that of a mother with a son, but of a

servant with her lord and creator, for

only the creator can turn water to wine.

Has it occurred to you that Jesus Christ is

Lord? God has made this same Jesus

which you crucified both Lord and Christ,

has highly exalted him and given him the

name which is above every name, that at

the name of Jesus every knee shall bow

and every tongue confess that he is Lord

to the glory of God the father.

What is your relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you submitting now to his lordship, or are you a rebel refusing to bow the knee to the Lord of all. The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved. In other words receiving Jesus as Saviour means

recognising him as Lord of your life, and taking him from henceforth to be such. Mary recognised and received Christ as her Lord and sovereign. Will you?

John 4 Christ the Satisfier

To the woman of Samaria Christ revealed himself as the Satisfier.

At the well of Sychar Jesus meets a dissatisfied woman. She has tried it all but life has not been good to her. She had tried to fill her life with relationships, especially sexual relationships with men, but she could not find satisfaction for her soul.

Only Christ was able to satisfy her soul. The woman had a longing in her heart for something. She had not found it with one husband so she tried another. She had not found it with any of her five husbands, so now she was living with a man who was not her husband. How many people are like her, seeking satisfaction for their souls? We cannot find true satisfaction in merely human relationships. Some people turn to drink, but are not satisfied. They drink, take drugs and still must come back for more. Why? Because what they have had has not given them the satisfaction they crave.

This truth is conveyed by Christ's words "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again." In fact anything the world offers can only satisfy for a moment. "But whoever drinks the water I give him shall never thirst for the water I give him shall become in him a spring of water welling up to everlasting life" Continual joyous, eternal satisfaction for the soul.

The woman had been dissatisfied with religion, so she asks Jesus "Our fathers worshipped here, yours in Jerusalem. Which is right?” That is like of a lot of people today. Many are dissatisfied with religion, but the question on their lips is the same: "where can I go to find God?" This woman, in spite of her sinful, dissatisfied life knew that she needed

God. Where could she find Him? He

was standing right in front of her

proclaiming "God is spirit and they

who worship him must worship him in

spirit and truth."

Reader, to know Christ is to know God.

He said "I and the father are one; he

who has seen me has seen the father."

If you are seeking satisfaction for your

soul and spirit, then like this woman

from Samaria you will find it only in

the Lord Jesus Christ, the satisfier.

John 8 Christ the Saviour

To the Woman caught in adultery

Christ reveals himself as the

Saviour.

She was brought by the religious leaders who had caught her in the act of committing adultery. They did not ask or care about her situation, but were looking for a way in which they might accuse Jesus. And so this incident does not so much as reflect the first century attitude to women or sex as much as it reflects the religious rulers’ attitude to Christ.

Unknown to them when they brought

her to Jesus they did her the greatest

favor anyone ever did for her, for he is

the Savior.

Christ Among Women By Mathew Bartlett. Images from top left to bottom right: Kamil Macniak, Podius, Leloft1911

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the Savior. If you are telling someone about Jesus, don't give up, for you are doing them the biggest favor you ever could.

Christ knew all about this woman’s sin just as he knows all about the entire sinful condition of the world. This is the reason he came.The angel announced to his mother Mary: You shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The fact that we are all sinners is illustrated by the woman’s accusers. When Jesus challenged them, the men left convicted of sin by their conscience. How would any of us stand up to the scrutiny of the all seeing eye of the Son of God?

With no word to offer in her defense, unable to lie or make an excuse to the One who knew all things, she stood alone in front of Jesus. What a terrible day it will be when every man and woman must stand alone before God to answer for their sins. We will not be able to give Him any excuse then either. The word of God says "Every mouth shall be stopped and the whole world becomes silent before God." But if we are ready to admit our guilt and ask for mercy then we can find forgiveness now. Whoso covers his sins shall not prosper. Whoever confesses and forsakes them finds mercy.

As the woman owns up to her guilt, Jesus brings to her the word of salvation: “neither do I condemn you.” How could this be?

Jesus knew the law of God was right -

the soul that sins shall die, so why did

he not carry out the sentence of the

law? The answer to that question is

found in the cross. Jesus had come to

fulfil the law, firstly by keeping it

himself and then by laying down his

sinless life, to take the death penalty

for guilty sinners. Jesus died for our

sins, was buried and rose again. He is

alive and is "able to save completely

and forever those who come to God

through Him." The woman caught in

adultery found forgiveness in Jesus the

Saviour. Will you?

John 20 Christ the Source of Life

To Mary Magdalene Christ revealed

himself as the Source of life.

Mary Magdalene has been in the

headlines recently due to a fictional film

depicting her supposed relationship with

Jesus. The author imagined her marrying

Jesus and having children. It is important

to remember that even the author

declared his work to be complete fiction.

In reality, Mary found relationship to

Jesus that was far more wonderful than

marriage as Christ revealed himself to

her as the Source of Life

It was at Jesus’ empty tomb that Mary Magdalene that Mary Magdalene wept for the missing body of her Lord, only to discover that He was alive!

The fact that Jesus is alive from the dead means that all His work has been accomplished. If Christ had left anything uncompleted that needed to be done in order to take our sins away and give us eternal life, God the Father would not have raise him from the dead. But now we see that heaven’s gate is opened wide to us - for Jesus is alive. He is everything we need.

Because he has taken our sins away he has brought us back to God – this is reconciliation.

Because he has paid the price for our sin he has bought us for God – this is redemption.

Because he is alive forever he has made us to be born of God – this is regeneration.

Jesus lived a human life, yet he always fully possessed the divine life. Now that he has been raised from the dead he imparts that eternal, immortal, and spiritual life to us. Whoever receives Jesus the source of life receives eternal and abundant life in Him.

Receive him into your heart and he will come to dwell within. The secret of spiritual life is to have Christ in you. But if any does not have the Spirit of Christ then he or she does not belong to God.

Mary Magdalene did not receive Jesus as her husband, but she received the risen Lord into her heart. She was born again of God's spirit and Christ lived in her. This is the privilege of every believer. Mary Magdalene was eternally united to Jesus Christ - that is eternal life she received.

Will you receive it too?

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being despised and rejected He suffered outside the gate of Jerusalem (Heb. 13:12).

4:2 Boaz called ten elders to witness what was about to take place. With himself and the close relative this made twelve, the number of the tribes of Israel and of the Lord's disciples. The elders of the community were given the authority to confirm legal transactions and to act as judges.

4:3-4 The situation concerning Naomi and Ruth is put to the closer relative and his right to the first choice of buying back the land (which had belonged to Naomi's husband) is explained to him in accordance with the law (Lev. 25:25). Boaz points out that the only two who would be able to redeem the land were this man and himself, but that he, Boaz, being second in line, could only do so if the first relative refused. We know that there was no one else except Jesus Christ who could redeem us for God only had one Son (John 3:18 and Acts 4:12). The initial response of this nearer relative was to jump at the chance of adding to his inheritance, but this was before he had heard all the details.

There are times when we too, like the disciple Peter, act before we thinks thing through. In Luke 14: 28 Jesus illustrates the need to count the cost of our actions before committing ourselves. In that instance in was commitment to follow Him.

4:5-6 On learning that if he wants to redeem the land then he must also marry Ruth the Moabitess, the other relative realizes that the land would not belong to him, but to any son born to himself and Ruth, the reconsiders his position and refuses the opportunity to redeem the land,

A Harvest of Love

The Book of Ruth

Chapter Four. A brief Bible study by Derek Williams. Photo © Rtimages

immediately to the gate of Bethlehem to set in motion what needed to be done in order to secure Ruth for himself.

The gate of the city was where legal and business transactions took place. Boaz knew that this closer relative would come to the gate to conduct his business and so, he sits and waits for him to come along. God sent His Son into the world to walk, talk and sit among sinners, to seek and to save that which was lost (Matt. 9:13 and Luke 19:10). God did not send Christ to speak to kings and princes of our redemption nor did He sit at the gate to settle the legal requirements for redeeming lost souls, but instead,

Redemption Completed 1 - 12.

4:1 At the close of chapter three we saw that God had brought Ruth and Naomi to the place where they had to sit still and trust in Him to complete the work of redemption on their behalf through Boaz the kinsman-redeemer. So we have to put our faith and trust in the completed work of redemption obtained for us by the Lord Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection (Col. 1:14 and Col. 2:10).

Having promised Ruth that he would undertake to redeem her, Boaz wastes no time but goes

18

citing commitments within his own

family. It is likely that he thought

having more children would stretch

his resources too far. He therefore

he foregoes his rights and hands

over the opportunity to redeem to

Boaz.

4:7 It was the custom in the days of

Ruth to seal an agreement made

between two parties by the one

taking of his sandal and giving it

over to the other. This symbolized

the surrendering of all rights and of

what went with them.

4:8 In handing over his sandal to

Boaz, the relative was handing over

all his rights, and this is what the

Lord requires of us, a complete

voluntary surrender of our heart, life

and everything. God sees every step

that we take to yield more of our life

to Him, no matter how small it may

be.

God takes a hold of the surrendered

life and blesses us so that we may

realize (as Paul did) that the things

we hold on to are worth nothing

(Phil. 3:7-8).

4:9-10 Boaz calls on the elders and

the people in the vicinity of the

town gate to bear witness to this

legal agreement.

We too have witnesses, as we have

made confession to our believing

and receiving Jesus Christ as our

Savior, we have given open

testimony to this fact both by word

of mouth and by the action of being

baptized in water (1 Tim. 6:12).

4:11-12 The people rejoice with

Boaz for what God has brought

about for him, and they offer their

blessing, praying God to bring him

many children through Ruth (as

Rachel and Leah did for Jacob) so

that he would prosper and become

famous in Bethlehem.

When one considers the genealogy

of Boaz and Ruth's family and the

offspring eventually born to that

family, it appears that the blessing

came true more abundantly than

anyone could have imagined.

Blessings of Redemption 13 - 17.

4:13 “The LORD gave." All this was

of God's doing; He had brought Boaz

and Ruth together, and it was He

who gave them a son.

In a similar way, it was the Holy

Spirit working in our lives who

brought us to Jesus Christ, and God

who saved us by His grace: 'by grace

we are saved through faith, and that

not of ourselves; it is the gift of God,

not of works, lest anyone should

boast"" (Eph. 2:8-9).

4:14-16 The blessings given at the

time of their announced betrothal

were not only for Ruth and Boaz,

but for Naomi too.

The Lord had not left her desolate

but had provided her with a

redeemer, a "restorer" (Ps. 23: 3);

that is, one who had given back her

life (just as God has given us eternal

life through Jesus Christ John 1:4,

Rom. 5:21 and 1 John 5:12).

A "nourisher” or sustainer is one

who will maintain, provide, hold up,

protect, support and defend.

Who better fits this description than

our Lord and Savior!

4:17 It was not unusual for

neighbors to give names to other

people’s children and so they called

this one Obed, which means

Servant, and so the Lord Jesus Christ

became a servant first in order to

become our Redeemer and Restorer

(Phil. 2:7).

4:18-22. Having given the narrative

up to the time of the birth of Obed,

the remainder of the chapter tells us

the family line of King David, from

whom the Messiah-Redeemer

would come (Math. 1:5-16). From

foreigner, heathen and outcast,

Ruth had become a member of the

commonwealth of Israel, and her

greatest significance was found in

her being an ancestor in the family

tree of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Israel, Jesus Christ and Satan. v1 - 6.

1-2 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labour and in pain to give birth."

Chapter twelve is the start of a new section of Revelation, the beginning of a new series of visions. In the first of these John sees portrayed events which have been, events which are to lead to "The Great Tribulation" or the time of Jacob's trouble in the future (Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:15 - 22).

The first sign or wonder that appeared to him is of a woman clothed with glory, her feet standing on the moon and her head adorned with a crown of twelve stars. This vision represents the nation of Israel who were chosen by God as His own peculiar people for the purpose of fulfilling His plan of redemption (Deut. 14:2).John saw her pregnant and about to give birth to her child.

3. "And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads."

Even before the birth takes place John sees another sign in heaven, a great fiery dragon, which is the Devil (Rev. 12: 9). He is described as having seven heads (expressing complete wickedness), each having a diadem (crown) and ten horns, representing worldwide rule. (Satan is called the god of this world 2 Cor. 4:10).

In Rev. 13:1 the beast is described in the same way except that he has ten crowns on his horns, one for each horn, rather than seven crowns on each of his seven heads.

4-5 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

John saw the Devil in rebellion against God, dragging down one third of the angels, the stars of heaven, to the earth (Jude 1:6). It is likely that this happened before the creation of man. On earth, Satan stood before the woman waiting for her to give birth to her child so that he might destroy it (Matt. 2:13 & 16).

She gave birth to a male child destined to shepherd (proper meaning of rule), all nations with might and power (Ps. 2:7 - 9; Rev. 19:15), which is Jesus Christ. The vision glances over Christ's years of ministry, His crucifixion or resurrection and focuses immediately on His triumphant entry into heaven having defeated death and hell and having bruised Satan's head (Gen. 3:15). The vision illustrates that the Devil failed in his purpose to destroy Christ and that Christ had in fact defeated Satan.

6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place

prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,266 days.

The events of this verse do not immediately follow the ascension of Christ but refer to the time in the future when a defeated Devil, knowing his time is short, seeks to destroy the faithful in Israel. They flee from him to a place that God has prepared for them, where they are kept safe and provided for, for three and a half years (see verses 13 - 17). Some have taken this verse to refer to Mary and Joseph fleeing with Jesus into Egypt, but it is clear from verse five that the events depicted in verse six happen only after Christ's ascension. It should be noted that Jews, as well as Christians, have been persecuted at the instigation of Satan to this present day.

Satan Cast out of Heaven. v 7 - 9.

7. "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,"

It is difficult to determine the time of the events of verses 7 -9. We must refer to other Scriptures in order to get a right perspective. According to Isaiah 14:12 - 15 Satan was cast down from Heaven when he attempted to take the throne of God, which must have happened before the Creation of man, for Satan was present in the Garden of Eden. Jesus Christ said that He had seen Satan fall from Heaven (Luke 10: 18). This would have been before He came from Heaven. In verse ten the Devil is referred to as the accuser of the saints who accuses them before God day and night. Job 1:9 -11 tells us that Satan came

Our In Depth Study. Revelation 12. By Derek R. Williams. Photo © Godfer

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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before God to accuse Job and in Zech. 3:1 he is seen standing by the Angel of the Lord to accuse Joshua the High Priest. We can conclude that Satan was cast of Heaven when he rebelled before the creation of man and it is no longer his dwelling place. He came down to earth when he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1). He is called the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2, Eph. 3:10) which suggests that he is in the heavens, not Heaven itself. Yet up until the time of Christ's ascension he was still able to come before the presence of God. The JFB commentary states that "when Christ ascended into heaven and became an advocate, Satan, the accusing adversary, could no longer appear before God against us, but was cast out judicially." (Col. 2:13 - 15, John 12:31).

The war breaking out in heaven could be understood to refer not to the time before creation when Satan was cast out of God's immediate presence, but to a war yet to be finally fought in the heavens, the air, where the Devil and his angels, the principalities and powers are at present. The archangel Michael leads his angelic host in this fight against the Devil and his angels. This war has special significance for Israel since Michael is referred to as the angel who protects Israel (Dan. 12:1). This war would then be seen as the immediate prelude to the Great Tribulation.

8-9 But they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

In the Name of the Lord, Michael defeated Satan and his forces. (Jude 1:9)

The Devil for all time is cast down from the heavenly realms. He is defeated as the "prince and power of the air" and his angels with him. Hence to maintain his power over men it must be manifested on earth in a new and frightening way.

The Shout of Victory. v10 - 12.

10. "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of

His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."

Christ has once and for all defeated Satan at the cross of Calvary. Now comes a shout of victory as heaven rejoices that the time had come for God's salvation to be manifested by His power that His Christ might begin to reign on earth. The first step in this was that the enemy who continually made accusations against God's people had been cast down and confined for now to the earth.

11-12 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.

Christ's people overcame the Devil by virtue of the blood of Jesus Christ and the word of their testimony (1 John 2:14). They did not love their own lives but gave them up for Christ's sake. Because Satan has been cast down from the heavenlies and is confined to the earth, to the human sphere all that are in heaven whether saints or angels are exhorted to rejoice. But for those who live on the earth and the sea, misery and suffering is about to begin for the Devil, infuriated by his defeat and the prospect of his impending doom will vent his great anger on mankind.

The Great Tribulation. v13 - 17.

13. "Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child."

When the Devil realizes that he has been thrown down from the heavenlies and confined to the earth he will try to destroy all the faithful Jews. He cannot defeat Christ, but would seek his revenge against the nation who brought Christ forth. This is the time of great tribulation which Jesus referred to in Matt. 24:15 - 22.

14. "But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into

the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent."

God miraculously aids the Jews in escaping from Satan and takes them to a secure place in the wilderness where He provides for them for three and a half years. Note: "two wings of a great eagle" denote the intervention of God Himself. In Exodus 19:4 the LORD declares concerning His deliverance of Israel from the Egyptians 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.'

15-16. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

As Pharaoh pursued the Israelites, so the Devil pursues these faithful Jews. In Moses' time the Israelites were stopped by the Red Sea until God parted it for them to pass over. On this occasion the Devil causes a mighty river to flood so that it would drown these Jews, but God causes an earthquake to open the ground and swallow up the river, thus ensuring their escape. Note: Some commentators suppose that this incident alludes to a nation or nations coming to rescue Israel from its enemies. This does not bear up to scrutiny, for although there are nations who are Israel's allies at the present time, at the time of Great Tribulation all nations will be under the control of Anti-Christ. At that time, only God will protect Israel, according to His promise.

17. "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Since Satan cannot get to these faithful Jews who have escaped he becomes even more enraged with Israel and now turns his attention on those who did not flee. Who are these Jews who flee from the Devil and those who remain? We are not sure, but since they are faithful to God's Word and have the witness of Jesus we suggest that they belong to the 144,000 sealed by God in Rev. 7:4.

21

From The Revelation of Jesus Christ by Derek Williams (paperback £6.99)

“Here I am! I stand at the

door and knock. If anyone

hears my voice and opens

the door, I will come in

and eat with him, and he

with me” Revelation 3:20

Some unusual things in this verse

made me take a closer look at it.

The Lord is asking us to give Him

an invitation when normally He

does the inviting or at least that is

what we might expect.

But before anything else, the

message sets a condition: “If

anyone hears.” The passage from

which this verse is taken closes

with a reminder of that condition:

“He who has an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the

churches.” (Verse 22).

The offer is open to "anyone" and

that means you or me. The Lord is

waiting for us to invite Him in; the

only precondition is that we have

to hear him knocking … and let

Him in.

In this particular case the Lord is

addressing believers; people in

the church at Laodicea, not

outsiders. It seems to indicate

that there are two brands of

Christians, those who leave Christ

Jesus and those who don't. We

don’t like to think of a two-class

Christianity, but there is a real

difference between those who

out and those who welcome Him

in. Those who don't open the door

when He knocks are the kind of

Christians Christ calls "lukewarm."

He warns that He will spit some of

them out of his mouth (Verse 16).

Preachers often toss out the

example of early believers for us

to emulate, but Christ thought of

the Laodiceans as inedible.

I began wondering why the Lord

said, “I will eat with him, and he

with me.” Was eating with the

Lord the same as the Lord eating

with us? If so, why put it like that?

It seems to me that an exchange

of roles is assumed; in the first

instance, we are the hosts and He

is the guest and in the second He

is the host and we are the guests;

two different sittings at two

different tables.

The Lord is Our Guest

Let's look at the first scenario: we

serve Him as the host and He is

our guest. A very literal example

of this can be found in Genesis 18

where Abraham invites the Lord in

for a meal. The account begins like

this: The Lord appeared to

Abraham. Abraham looked up and

saw three men standing nearby.

He bowed low to the ground and

said, “Lord, do not pass your

servant by.” (Genesis 18:1-3).

If I may digress for a moment, this

appearance of God was very

strange: Abraham addressed the

three men as if they were a single

person. Then he asked them to

wait while he prepared a feast. In

true eastern style, it would take

hours, but that wouldn't worry

them. Abraham butchered and

cooked the fattest calf and Sarah

ground some corn and baked

some bread while her husband

went to fetch milk and curds. It

took some time but the Lord is a

patient God!

The meal was served, but

Abraham did not eat with them.

The three men were his guests

and he showed them the greatest

respect, calling them Lord. They

showed their greatness by

rewarding him with the promise

of a son.

Prepare Meals for Strangers?

Another man to prepare a meal

for a passing stranger was

Manoah, the father of Samson

(Judges 13). One day a "very

awesome" being turned up at his

home with information about the

son that was to be born to

Manoah and his wife. In a gesture

of true hospitality, Manoah

22

slaughtered a young goat to

prepare a suitable meal and it

became a burnt offering to God.

Like Abraham and Sarah, who had

given up hope of having any

children, the "angel" promised

Manoah and his wife a son,

Samson.

Sacrifices made on the altars of

Israel were described as "the food

of God": “Priests must be holy to

their God … because they present

the offerings made to the Lord by

fire, the food of their God.”

(Leviticus 21:6).

True, God did not eat their

offerings, but He accepted them

when they were worthy of Him, as

we see in the story of Manoah

and his wife. When these food

offerings became a mere religious

rite offered up by men with hardly

a scrap of moral decency about

them, God was nauseated. He

said, “If I were hungry I would not

tell you for the world is mine, and

all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of

bulls or drink the blood of goats?”

(Psalm 50:12-13).

Let Us Reason Together

The Lord turns what is offered to

Him into something for us. In Old

Testament times the people

brought their tithes of grain and

cattle to the temple and then ate

their tithes before the Lord.

This is echoed in Isaiah 1:11-19:

“The multitude of your sacrifices,

what are they to me?” says the

Lord. “I have more than enough of

burnt offerings, of rams and the

fat of fattened animals; I have no

pleasure in the blood of bulls and

lambs and goats. … Stop bringing

meaningless offerings! Your

incense is detestable to me. …

Your New Moon festivals and your

appointed feasts my soul hates. I

will hide my eyes from you. Come

now, let us reason together,” says

the Lord. “Though your sins are

like scarlet, they shall be as white

as snow. … If you are willing and

obedient, you will eat the best

from the land.” Jeremiah 14:12

also warns Israel (and us!):

“Though they offer burnt offerings

and grain offerings, I will not

accept them. Instead, I will

destroy them with famine.”

Unless we bring something to God

that He can stomach, we shall

experience emptiness; spiritual

famine.

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke is

principally known for his Great

Gospel Crusades throughout the

Continent of Africa. He is the

Founder of the International

ministry Christ for all Nations,

reaching out with the gospel to

millions of people worldwide.

(c) Stephaniemohrphotography

Jesus is knocking to

give us an invitation

to dine with Him,

but are we listening

and responding to

His invitation?

Enjoy this month’s

featured Bible study

– Divine Dining by

Evangelist Reinhard

Bonnke.

To find out more, or to support

the work of CfaN visit their

website:

http://us.cfan.org/?lang=en-US

This article reproduced with the

kind permission of Christ for all

Nations.

23

i Horton, Harold. 1954. The Gifts of the Spirit. London. Assemblies of God Publishing House. ii Gee, Donald. 1941. Croydon. Wind

and Flame. Heath Press Ltd. iii Wigglesworth, Smith. 1924. Ever

Increasing Faith. First Published 1924, but reprinted in the Pentecostal Evangel, September 13, 1924. iv Jeffries, George. 1933. Pentecostal

Rays. London. Elim Publishing Co.

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