(A Synagogue Symbol of the Ten Commandments, Wikipedia)
GOD, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:16
As the Cosmos/heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
To find hope in the Ten Commandments may seem a vain one. But God is described as being a jealous God: which implies that as your Creator He is passionate in His love for you, and strongly desires you to be a member of His family. There are two terribly frightening things about being Human: being made in the image of God, we have been given the right to choose to respond to God’s love – or not, and we are eternal beings.
What a great honour that the Creator of the Universe gives so much attention to us (Psalm 139).
What is often called the Bible in one verse has this from the Lord Jesus Christ:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Gospel according to John, chapter 3, verse 16
WE SHOULD, FIRST OF ALL, BE SURE THAT WE ARE SAVED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.
WE SHOULD THEN BE BAPTIZED IN WATER, RECEIVE THE LORD THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THEN SEEK TO KNOW WHICH GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN TO US, SO FAR.
My detailed notes follow the diagram.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY/HOUSE GROUPS
1. Each member to have printed copy of the notes – suitable for the first meeting or so
2. Members to be asked for their own thoughts on the subject to be studied, and to read Bible references, and the next part of the notes
3. Ask for any interesting experiences, which are related to the subject
4. Encourage any quiet participants to take part, if appropriate
5. The Leader should try to retire into the background
6 Announce the title in advance of the meeting, if possible
The Gideons International can provide a free New Testament ….
Here is a selection of the various subjects I have looked at, in sequence: Holy Spirit Gifts, Guidance, European Art: some key aspects, two novels, Revival and John Wesley, Archaeology and the Bible, Heaven, Hell, Enemies, Kenosis, Angels, The Communion Service.
At the end or start, of a particular Blog, there are more titles to be immediately accessed.
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The Holy Spirit – His gifts to the Church
The chart of the Gifts has been widely circulated over many years, and it should be possible to enlarge and clarify it by left clicking.
INTRODUCTION
The Tucano T1 turboprop training aircraft were coming in to land, one by one – the single powerful headlights sharp in the gloom. The low cloud base would mean the end of flying for the day, for both students and instructors. Suddenly came the roaring crackle of an engine that turned back the pages of history. At a height of just a few hundred feet came a World War II Spitfire fighter aircraft – on its way to a commemorative event. Here was an apt illustration for me: in warfare against modern combat planes, with complete avionics, precision attack and defence systems – the old Spitfire would have been history, in both senses. So for the Christian: the Holy Spirit has brought to the New Testament Church a set of gifts, which today give us supreme tactical advantages.
The curtain is raised
The Church, as a whole, struggles to come to terms with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The different understandings, throughout the Church’s history, would prove a fascinating study in itself; it has never been totally without the gifts. There is much more to the spiritual life besides the gifts – we must try to keep them in perspective; but we are ill equipped for our spiritual warfare, if we ignore them. Even at the beginning of the so-called Pentecostal Movement, there was talk of only “the nine gifts of the Spirit”, and not the twenty listed in the Scriptures. In the following pages I hope you will look at the full range of the ‘Charismata’, and some of the related problems, which face us in the church, because of them! Of course, they are intended to be of help to us, both individually and corporately; but essentially to bring glory to God. Derek Prince lists 22. Canon David White sees 27: which include Martyrdom, and I think Celibacy. What are the additional five? Answers in an email!
The illustrations are from my own limited collection. Main biblical passages are referred to; but numerous vignettes are found throughout the New Testament – especially for the Charisms, and the Kerugma (the Gospel Message).
2 Corinthians 2:9-13:6 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
8:8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
13:6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
2Timothy 2:5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.
1 Chronicles 13 tells how King David attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem; but because the details were not followed correctly there was great anger from God!
“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.” (Genesis 26:18)
This verse has stood-out for me, over many years apropos this subject. We need to watch, and examine, our use of terms and attitudes in our Christian walk: to see that they conform to the Apostles’ Doctrine and New Testament usage.
1 Chronicles 13:9 ff; 15:13-15 Keep to the instructions apropos carrying the Ark of the Covenant.
In my Blog work I will show how the current church use of terms and formulae, does not follow Scripture close enough!
Rev John Wesley wrote in his published ‘Journal’, for Wednesday August 15th 1750:
“By reflecting on an odd book which I had read in this journey, ‘The General Delusion of Christians with regard to Prophecy”, I was fully convinced of what I had long suspected, …. That the grand reason why the miraculous gifts were so soon withdrawn, was not only that faith and holiness were well nigh lost; but that dry, formal, orthodox men began even then to ridicule whatever gifts they had not themselves, and to decry them all as either madness or imposture.”
No member of our congregations will be perfect – without fault, however great their gifts.
There is a good current usage for many of the terms employed for the gifts, but in the other instances, I have attempted to project, into the language of our time, the meaning of the original word. To do this, I have born in mind the context, the relationship and possible differences with similar words, and my own selection of the possibilities suggested by scholars of New Testament Greek. For this, I obviously must take responsibility. If history runs true to form, research can only provide a stepping-stone for later researchers.
In particular, I long respected and have enjoyed the writing of The Rev Canon, Professor Leon Morris, one time Principal of Ridley College Melbourne. He has written admirably, and with great foresight on the subject – especially considering the date of publication (1964), in his book “Ministers of God”, presumably long out of print. He writes:
“But some things are clear. First, we can certainly say that there is no evidence that Jesus ever instituted an official priesthood. There is no record of any ordination conducted by Him. There is no occasion on which He is said to have set up an official ministry to which His followers must give due honour. On the contrary He said specifically ‘All of you are brothers’, and He forbade His followers to call one another ‘father’ or ‘master’ Matthew 23:8-10. The implication of these instructions seems clearly to be that the Christian Church was to be a society of equals, a fellowship in which all are brothers and none has special privileges. But the story does not end there” (p.18).
He looks squarely, and at some length, at apostles; and also devotes a chapter to “The ‘Gifts’ of Ministry”. A truly remarkable theological survey of “Offices” and “Gifts” in the Church; two terms which should be considered definitive.
The producer speaks.
Jesus taught us that the spectacular nature of the gifts, should not hide from us something far more important:
“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10 v20
Similarly, we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 13, that without love, the gifts amount to nothing, and that at best they are transient.
The Giver is always more important than the gift.
The popular modern chorus gives a fine perspective:
“Thank you, O my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit –
‘Till the work on earth is done.”
“And God verified the message by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose to do so.” (Hebrews 2:4)
We need Character as well as Charisms (Gifts); Fruit as well as Fullness of the Holy Spirit.
As I pointed out, the early Pentecostal Movement, in its books and sermons, listed nine gifts of the Holy Spirit; a careful study shows that there are twenty. The original nine were taken from the list in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. Lists are found in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 – there are two lists within the same chapter; Romans 12:6-8; and Ephesians 4:11 and 12. We find a general summary in Peter’s First Letter:
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10 and 11) Here the main purpose of the grace of God is underlined: to glorify Him. The range of gifts is divided into speaking, and serving. See also: (2 Thessalonians 2:17) “…in every good deed and word,” “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed” (Colossians 3:17).
There is a curious ‘triangular’ connection between the letters that deal with the gifts: 1 Corinthians was written from Ephesus, Romans was written from Korinthos, and Ephesians from Rome – in that order.
The following list is obtained by adding gifts, as they appear sequentially in the four New Testament passages, listed above. The second numbering reveals something of the order suggested for the first three at least, in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. The letters of the alphabet indicate the order, in which we shall look at them.
CONSIDERATIONS ORDER [A], ETC. AND APPEARANCE IN THE LISTS:
1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4
[N] Word of Wisdom 1
[M] Word of Knowledge 2
[Q] Faith 3
[R] Gifts of Healings 4
[S] Working of Miracles 5…..
[J] Prophecy (2) 6
[O] Discerning of Spirits 7
[K] Various Tongues 8
[L] Interpretation 9
[I] Apostles (1) 10……
[P] Teachers (3) 11
[E] Helpers 12
[C] Administrators 13
[H] Contributing Finance 14
[D] Leadership-Aid 15……
[G] Mercy Acts 16
[T] Encouraging 17
[F] Service 18
[A] Evangelists 19
[B] Pastors 20….
The last two are widely recognized and accepted today: to the point, sometimes, of using them as titles for people!
As I hinted earlier, we have the problem that, because translators and commentators have rarely had a knowledgeable experience of the gifts, there are limitations within the English translations of the Bible, and certainly in theological books and commentaries.
For instance, one influential professor of a northern university in the UK, explained Old Testament prophecy in terms of raving Arabic “holy men”. Presumably, this was all he had encountered in his travels and reading.
The “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament”, edited by Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, translated from the German by Geoffrey W. Bromiley, proves a useful asset – either in the full ten volumes, or as the abridged single volume. Well-worn copies of the full version may be best found in a university or college library. It is affectionately known as ‘Kittel’. Apropos Professor F. F. Bruce: he gave “valuable suggestions and corrections in the course of laborious proof reading… there is some consolation that Dr Bruce in particular has been able to correct not a few errors in the original German”[page x, Vol 1, Editor’s Preface].
The ten volume set was available to me for 100 GBP: but I preferred trips to the local university library.
Because we are returning to ground rarely studied openly, since the birth of the Church, let us make it our aim to be patient with those of differing opinions and ideas. It is inevitable that some members of the Church Family will have varying views from our own, and travel along different paths; pray that we may listen to what they say, and be willing to change – which is the essential mark of true wisdom (James chapter 3).
There is the question of supporting Christians financially in their work: we need to be quite clear about whom we are funding, and why; and who we are appointing, and why. To call people “pastors”, “vicars”, or whatever, and expect them to be apostles, teachers, prophets, and evangelists – in fact with all the gifts times ten to the power of six – and expecting them do all the work, is hardly sensible. I understand our Lord’s remarks on this subject to imply that there must be no titles, that is, besides Elders, Deacons, and Saints (this latter, being the word for every believer, see: Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Timothy 5:10; Hebrews 6:10, 13:24; Jude verses 3 and 14; Revelation 13:7; Paul is not impressed with the Galatian Church, and does not use the term ‘saints’ – sanctified).
Our Lord’s words on the use of titles: “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher’, for you have one Teacher, the Christ.” Matthew 23:8-10 (NIV)
To require people to address us with titles could well be asking them to act against the Messiah’s teaching: in other words to sin. Secular, academic, or courtesy address, such as: Doctor, Sir, Ma’am, or Professor, are not being referred to by our LORD.
For this reason, in my opinion, none of the gifts should give people a title; indeed, in some situations of outreach, they are a hindrance, both within a friendly country – with religious freedom, but even more so in a hostile nation of another faith (I am thinking of the use of the terms ‘evangelist’ if used in schools’ work, and ‘Pastor’, which makes a person vulnerable to persecution, and a Fellowship easily made leaderless by its enemies).
Answers to Questions
Just as the gifts are used as outward signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit – particularly tongues and prophecy, as we see in The Book of Acts – so they are not normally given, until we have first been born again of the Spirit (converted, made a new person in Christ, had our eyes opened, been turned from the power of Satan to the power of God, turned from darkness to the kingdom of light, received forgiveness of sins, and been sanctified by faith in Christ – to use a few of the many terms found in the New Testament).
When King David prayed:
Psalm 51:11 Do not …take your Holy Spirit from me.
This implies that the Holy Spirit can be given. Jesus is concerned here also: on the Cross He prayed:
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
For Jesus, God would be Father and Spirit; hence we have a separation of the Persons of the Divinity: a rupture of the Godhead at Calvary.
We are well advised to know what gifts the Holy Spirit has given to us: and what have not been given. In part: what are our responsibilities; and what we need to rely on our Brothers and Sisters for! We should be concerned, as was Paul the apostle, about how we shall need the help of Church members for the blessing of their gifts upon our lives and work (1 Corinthians 3:5-17; Romans 1:11, 12). Believers may have several gifts – but not all the gifts of course. All believers have gifts: Ephesians 4:7 (GNB), “Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given.”
Some charismata are given with prophecies and the laying on of hands, sometimes with numinous experiences, such as visions or dreams, and many without any kind of announcement – other than a growing awareness. At any time, God may sovereignly choose to give a new gift. Dr Billy Graham, when asked why God had used him so greatly, replied: “Shear sovereignty!” Hebrews 2:4: “…gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.”
He will never take them away: “For God’s gifts and call are irrevocable,” (Romans 11:29). This explains the following kind of situation: I heard a fine, accurate and polished teaching sermon given by a man who, although he lived a middle-class lifestyle and served God travelling widely, had failed to repay a loan of many thousands of pounds lent to him by an old man now living in penury – originally to be repaid over ten years. “A man can preach like an angel and live like a devil; and that is the most dangerous kind of man to have around.” (Derek Prince, in a sermon on: “Appoint Elders in every place”) Men and women of questionable moral character may still find that God blesses their work. Of course, it is the duty of the Church to discipline them, for their own good, and for the general good of the Ekklesia. King Saul still prophesied even when far from God (1 Samuel 18:10-12).
There may also be “seasons” of the soul: when times of great activity are followed by quieter harbours of rest (Psalm 1).
Holiness is closely linked with strong leadership. One only has to look at passages such as Leviticus chapters 19, 20 and 21. This was the great theme of the Methodist Revival. We must not be partakers in people’s sins, by being accessories – in not trying to make them face up to reality. The Paraclete is called the ‘Holy’ Spirit.
The Elders may identify a gift; it is in fact one of the duties of their position. They must instruct about, and encourage, their use. The gifts of one may be employed in making another aware of their anointing. We must talk to God Himself regarding our gifts. His peace in our hearts may make things clear. Paul, even, had to argue fiercely that he did indeed have the calling of an apostle.
With every recognition of a gift, there is the important issue of Dimension. One Believer will serve millions of people, globally: some will minister to one person, individually. When both these men were nearing the end of their lives, I wrote this observation: “Evangelists are a good example of dimension: Dr William Franklin Graham has preached to a crowd of a million at one event in Seoul, and to millions at one time via satellite. William Thomason has been a dedicated personal worker, talking to small groups of teenagers in Rochdale and Heywood – mill towns in Lancashire. Both men have been evangelists aiming to use their gift from God, to the full.”
To pastor, may be caring for a third former in the school Christian Union, or serving a senior executive in the House of Commons or in Industry. Such variation may fit almost all the gifts; and of course we should expect to grow, within our limits.
The dimension of our experience of gifts, may relate to our innate, or inborn abilities – not quite the same as our Education – some extremely clever people have never been to university; and it is nevertheless true that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (NIV). The variety of ways a gift may be used is also brought out in the passage: 1 Corinthians 12:4-5. This implies that there will be quite different individual and cultural styles and applications; some loud and flamboyant, a few, quiet and face-to-face. It may be true to say that no limits are set. In the realm of miracles, for example, we may sometimes be greatly surprised by new realms of greatness, and the New Testament is merely indicative. The miracles from Peter’s shadow, or Paul’s sweatbands, are not limiting precedents. As I suggested a few lines earlier, our innate ability will relate to the dimension and our use of the gifts. We are not given an anointing beyond our physical, intellectual, or innate capabilities – of a scale, which would break us. Something rather the converse is true: even if we have been to university to obtain degrees in Theology, there is no guarantee of any particular gift of the Spirit.
As Paul points out that there are not only varied services, but different kinds of “working”: we might think of people who use their gifts in academic circles, in flamboyant television programmes, an isolated primitive village community, a dilapidated urban parish, or in the atmosphere of the upper class and the diplomatic corps. One Brethren Elder always travelled First Class: that was the Evangelist’s calling he had received.
The gifts are not given so that we can show off to our friends, or hammer people we do not like, or even embarrass the Congregation: they are given to help those around us. All charisms are given for the service of our Brothers and Sisters – they are dependent on our gifts. Paul uses the analogy, in the first Corinthian letter, of the Church being like a human body: to show that each part is vital to the rest. He may have had in mind two features of Korinthos at the time. On the north side of the city, against the inner wall, was the large open area of the Gymnasium, where the city’s finest athletes could be seen each day developing their prowess. Immediately to its east, was the Asklepieion (the Medical Centre). Here there was the curious practice of votive offerings: as a form of prayer, or of thanksgiving, remarkable accurately sculptured models of the sickly parts were hung in the portico – some rather frank and embarrassing. Today they are displayed in a special room in the Main Museum at Ancient Korinthos. What a contrast between the lifeless dismembered parts in the Asklepieion: and the highly developed living bodies in the Gymnasium!
Numerous gifts have common areas, for example: the anointings for healing, miracles and faith. Unless you had additional information, you would not necessarily know which the Lord had employed in the healing of a sick person. Counselling could mean the use of almost any one, of the twenty!
With our gift, or gifts, we will need educating, through study of the Scriptures, experience, and teaching. A rather angry lady once told a Bible Study group, that with her gifts she had received full instructions; fortunately, she was quick to correct herself and apologize, from home over the phone. It is our duty to learn through the careful study of the whole Bible, and available teaching – within the local Church, study books, or attending further education. All members should have access to constant in-service training and instruction; so that there is no such thing as a separation between trained and un-trained Christians.
A close walk with God is vital; in order to know His sovereign will in the using of our anointing. However wonderful the power may be, God is still Sovereign. In conjunction with this, we can always rely on His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-24).
Each of us must know how to seek God’s will in everything. The primary guidance is Scripture, common sense is often the obvious – but not worldly wisdom, or we may be required to turn to the gifts themselves. When all else fails, there is the importance of His peace ruling in your heart: “Let the peace of Christ rule [umpire] in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”(NIV) It was appropriate for me that his truth was taught by Wing Commander Anderson of the Royal Air Force, and the Officers Christian Union, in Wimbledon – the home of Lawn Tennis, with its umpires and line judges (my boss played in the opening round of the Championships, each year). God’s peace in our hearts being a means of guidance relates quite closely to the Urim and Thummim of the High Priest’s equipment – in the times of the Tabernacle and the Temple. A small pouch, carried by the High Priest over the heart, probably contained two stones: one meaning “Yes”, the second standing for “No”. Even the King would seek the will of God, through the High Priest, using this method. Questions had to be asked to obtain “Yes” or “No” answers – unless, for some good reason, no answer was given at all. It was a binary system, if you like. The first enquiry in this “binary logic” would seem to be: “May I ask for guidance?” It is amazing to find quite mature Christians who are sometimes quite at sea regarding God’s will for their lives. (Colossians 3:15; 1 Samuel, 30:3-8; 2 Samuel, 2:1, 5:19)
Natural ability, or occupation, may confuse us slightly. Two men I knew, who certainly did not have the gift of “pastor”, were skilled sheep herders. A bank manager may not have the anointing of administration; a schoolteacher may not be called to teach doctrine within the Congregation.
Spiritual callings should, however, be used in all aspects of life: including secular occupation (if there is such a thing for a Believer, because all is done for God), as well as in the special life of the Ekklesia. Notice how the gifts of the Spirit are used in Paul’s journey to Rome as a prisoner, in the closing chapters of Acts.
There are those in the Church today who believe, on the basis of an unlikely interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, that the gifts are now finished with – apart from a few, such as evangelist and pastor, which they still, with a show of irrationality, happen to believe in. Firstly, the passage portrays two states of human experience, one imperfect and the second perfect: clearly referring to this present life, and then to the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven in its fulfilment – at the Lord’s Coming in Glory. Surely there can be no misunderstanding: this life has the sub-standard prophetic witness, tongues, and knowledge of this present world; we look, however, for the perfect: when “we shall see face to face” and “I shall know fully, even as I am known (by God)”. This false argument suggests, however, that the Scriptures – about to be completed within a few years of 1 Corinthians being written – are the “perfection”; but we can hardly claim to “know fully, even as I am known”, yet.
Romans 8:24-26 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Secondly, there is a self-destructing argument here. If the Bible is seen as “that which is perfect”, and prophecy, tongues and knowledge will immediately become obsolete, huge passages of the New Testament would also be rendered obsolete, and by definition imperfect: because they deal in considerable detail with these three aspects of Church life!
Several passages in Revelation make it quite clear that more is still to be made known at Christ’s return.
In the year 55 AD – or sometime in the period 53-56AD, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians from Ephesus, the Old Testament had been written for over four hundred years: four fifths of the Scriptures were available to Paul and the Church.
Finally, there is a misunderstanding of the legal nature of Scripture. Scripture is called “the Law of God”, “statutes”, and “the precepts” (Deuteronomy 8v11); as I understand this, only God Himself can amend these Laws, and only in the most formal, overt and obvious way. At one time, I worked in an office, which was responsible for placing amendments to military law. There were deletions and additions, but all changes were clearly announced. The Bible is no less important. We see the solemnity of our Lord’s amendments to the Law, in the Sermon on the Mount. This leaves no place for those who want abrogations in the NT like the two hundred or so found in the Qur’an during its mere twenty years of production. Some scholars attempt to create a complex matrix of an evolving theology, built on the time of writing along the lines: that because Paul wrote Romans after Thessalonians, we can therefore expect some kind of hidden amendment. This style of argument is an insult to the Mind of God: as though He were slowly thinking out The Truth, during the sixty years of New Testament production. The point of chronology is never a major issue in the Letters of the New Testament – it only vaguely becomes apparent after careful study, and is useful only in apologetics, and not as a basis for changing Doctrine.
Those who believe the gifts have ceased should look carefully at the list of twenty. I compute that 13 are still observed by them, one (Discernment) is uncertain, only six are in dispute: Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation, and Apostles. The Ceasationalists have to give the matter, careful, and prayerful, thought before Our Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
A person’s calling may be limited for rather understandable reasons: Paul was not to baptize converts (even though he believed in the correctness of it), Philip did not pray for the Holy spirit to fall on the new believers at Samaria (1 Corinthians 1:13-17, Acts 8:14-25).
THE MOST ACCEPTABLE GIFTS
Most of us, who are Christians, have been helped, and brought to faith, in some way, by an evangelist: speaking to us, or in reading an evangelistic book. Sometimes there are several links in the chain. A friend of long ago, said that leading someone to faith made obtaining an Honours Degree in the subject he loved, seem “like gravel in his mouth”. Evangelical is sometimes used as a derogatory term: the Head of Faculty in a local Secondary School, stung me with the question: “You’re not one of those Evangelicals, are you?” A lady who prided herself, I am certain, in not being in any way prejudiced!
[A] EVANGELIST, 19
[2099 Strong, euaggelistes, yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace, a preacher of the gospel – an evangelist; euangelizomai, to proclaim the good news; euangelion, the good news; proeuanglizomai, to proclaim the good news beforehand.] Double gamma in Greek is sounded as ng.
YOU CANNOT IMAGINE THE HUGE GOOD FORTUNE OFFERED IN THE GOSPEL.
The English Language word “evangelist”, as can be seen from the above note, is a transliteration of a Greek word. The Greek word for “the good news/the gospel” is “euangelion” – its beautiful sound being most appropriate for the great Message of Christ. If the early English translators had been pedantic, we would actually read: “proclaiming the good news”, “the good news”, or “the announcer of the good news”. The two words “good news” would appear on almost every page of the New Testament. It would then have been crystal clear how frequently these related words appear in the Gospels, Acts, and, especially, in the Letters of Paul. In fact, in the early days of the Church, the Four Gospels and the Letters were called, collectively: The Gospel.
The equivalent word in the Old Testament carried the thought of an announcement bringing the promise, powerfully into being: the creative Word of Yahweh. Sometimes it spoke of bringing good news of the birth of a son, or of victory from a battlefield, but it came to include the bearing of bad news. Its firm roots in the Old Testament are linked with the Davidic Messiah, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh, who brings salvation to both God’s Israel, and to the Gentiles. God commands it to be published. (Cf Gerhard Friedrich in Kittel, Volume II, pp 707 ff, 1 Kings 1:42, Jeremiah 20:15, 1 Samuel 31:9, Isaiah 40 – 66, Psalms 40:10, 68:11, 86:5, Isaiah 40:9, 41:27, 52:7, and 61:1 – read by Jesus in the Synagogue at Nazareth, but omitted in the synagogues of today!) The New Testament entered the new dimension of having the Holy Spirit initiate, and empower the giving of the message – with attestations, as we shall see.
What is the relationship between the preachers of the Evangel, and the Four Evangelists of the Gospels? We can say of the writing evangelists that: Matthew was an apostle, Mark wrote as an evangelist – giving us, in actual fact, Peter’s apostolic preaching of the Message, Luke writes as an evangelist and most able first century historian, and John as an apostle. The richly detailed Message of the Four Written Gospels covers the same ground as the Apostolic Preaching in Acts. The Old Testament teaches that multiple witnesses are required in any serious case (how this contrasts with the Qur’an).
The noun “evangelist” occurs three times in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament: Philip, whose work is described in Acts 8 (cf Samaria and Acts 1:8), is specifically called an evangelist in Acts 21:8; Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5); and the calling is mentioned in the fourth list of gifts (Ephesians 4:11). The preaching of the apostles in Acts is definitive of the Message of the Good News, and, today, every evangelist preparing for service should include a close study of these sermons; which are covered in the following analytical list:
Acts 2, Peter on the Day of Pentecost, to Jews
Acts 3, Peter at the Gate Beautiful, to Jews
Acts 10, Peter at the home of a Senior NCO, Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile
Acts 13, Paul in the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, to Jews
Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas at Lystra, to Gentiles
Acts 17, Paul in the Thessalonian Synagogue, Jews and God Fearers – three Sabbaths founded a lively church
Acts 17, Paul in the Athenian Areopagus Court – to learned Gentiles
[More speeches in Acts:
Peter, and other apostles in Court, to Jews (4:8-17, 5:29-32);
Stephen in Court, to Jews (6:8-7:60);
Peter and James to the Congregation (15:6-21);
Paul to the Elders of Ephesus (20:17-35);
Paul’s testimony-defence (22, 23:1-11, 24:10-23, 26:1-29);
Paul to the Jews in Rome (28:17-31).]
Paul’s formal summary of the Good News is found in this passage:
“I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures; that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures; that he appeared to Peter and then to all twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at once, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, and afterwards to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared to me … So then, whether it came from me or from them, this is what we all preach, and this is what you believe.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-11, GNB)
You will note that they spoke within the context of their particular hearers, were well briefed, and informed (researched).
See also Romans 10:8-13; 2 Timothy 2:8; and Hebrews 6:1-2.
Elements found in the evangelistic addresses, are as follows – as part of your study, you might like to write down which topics come in which sermons (forming a grid layout, with the occasions along the top and the sermon points down the side). A selection was usually given: and not necessarily the full compliment of gospel topics. When closing an open-air witness, I would usually check that the various speakers had covered the main points of the Kerygma.
THE FIRST PART OF THE MESSAGE:
- The point of departure – common ground, a recent event before the crowd, an issue for debate, etc
- God in Nature
THE MESSAGE:
- John the Baptist
- Jesus’s earthly ministry
- Selected Old Testament proof texts
- The indictment for the Crucifixion
- The Crucifixion
- The Resurrection
- A call to baptism in water
- Eschatology – the Return of Jesus
- Judgment before Jesus’s Throne
THE TWO ACTS OF RESPONSE:
- Repentance: by God’s grace, a turning from sin, as a result of godly grief for trespasses. A good answer to the question asked at the Belper Grammar School Christian Union: What is repentance? The Army Cadets outside on the yard were immediately commanded: “About turn!”
- Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ
THE RESULT OF RESPONDING:
- Forgiveness, Righteousness, Acquittal – Gospel Justification, Eternal Life, New Birth
WHAT IF PEOPLE REJECT THE MESSAGE:
- Christ is Judge There is some discussion about whether judgment on sin: as defined in the Ten Commandments, should precede the preaching of the Gospel proper. Romans 2:15, Acts 10:17, and 17:31 refer to judgment. For me it was certainly true that when shown a vision of falling into Hell, I pleaded guilty – I knew this was what I deserved. The Holy Spirit will certainly convince the World of sin, righteousness and judgment.
AFTER DEATH, JUDGMENT
Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
AFTER RESPONDING:
- Warning about suffering for Christ – it is sad when Christians are not aware of this. Suffering for our Faith may range from discrimination at work, and hostility from family, neighbours, law enforcement, judiciary, media and the arts, to Martyrdom. Martyrs are to expect special grace, and great joy – as has been observed. The moment after death, there is rapturous entry into Heaven, and the Martyr is the envy of all the faithful in Glory.
- An experience of the Holy Spirit – sealing, down payment, baptism in the Spirit, accompanied by some outward and obvious sign. This is not an optional extra!
- Water baptism by immersion
[20. Summary of the result of the preaching.]
This defines real Christianity.
One may like to consider two related issues at this point: election – that the Father has chosen people for the Kingdom (John 6:37, 44; Acts 13:48) The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, which must precede belief and acceptance of the gospel, is stressed in these two quotations – one from Paul and the second from Peter: “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief of the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14)
“…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling of his Blood …” (1 Peter 1:2) I certainly experienced the setting apart – so that I would be witnessed to, read the Bible, and seek for Truth. This explains, I think, the puzzle of 1 Corinthians 7:14, and the sanctifying in the family.
Canon David White (cf St Andrew’s Chorleywood, Archive) stresses the main meaning of Sanctification: the continuing work of the Holy Spirit after Conversion; but there is, I think, this special setting apart as the Spirit vitally leads us to faith in the Saviour.
Ladies are particularly mentioned apropos this gift: Psalm 68:11 The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host. (Amplified Bible)
Here is a simple diagram, which can be enlarged and printed. It forms an exercise to be completed by you!
Christians are not saved because they are good: they are good because they are first saved.
Scholars like to use the Greek word “Kerugma” (or the more common Anglicised form, “Kerygma”) for the evangelists’ Message. Preaching to unbelievers to convert them is “Kerugma”; by contrast, teaching Christians is called “Didache”. As I said, the apostolic preaching of the Gospel in the Book of Acts is found in the Four Gospels, in amplified form. Evangelists are the heralds of this Message throughout this current era.
Let us consider the Evangel again. We should find common ground for a starting point, such as: the moment after a miracle, the faithfulness of God in the cycle of the year, or the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures. Approaches will differ for Jews, Gentiles or Believers. The theme is the life of our Lord: perhaps beginning with John the Baptist, the Lord’s teaching and miracles, His Death, Burial and Resurrection, perhaps the Ascension, and lastly His coming again. Human response is demanded: repentance – turning away from a sinful life, in sorrow, and with God’s assistance and grace; and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to receive imputed righteousness – the forgiveness of sins. Judgment is the corollary of not believing. The sermon often leads to immediate water baptism – by immersion. The Message closes with teaching about suffering for Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit: as a Comforter, Teacher, bestower of gifts for service, and as a seal of God’s acceptance.
Our Lord gave this summary just before the Ascension:
Luke 24:44-49 “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
John 4:36-38 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Someone else has done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labour.”
Here are two parts to evangelism: Sowing and Reaping. I have sown the Gospel to many people, but it is a great sadness, when someone Reaps: with arrogance and thoughtlessness.
A good evangelist can introduce his theme in a minute, or enjoy the freedom of taking several months!
It is good to have a simple formula, such as my diagram – for serviette, painting, or blackboard. Hundreds of people have been introduced to the Gospel Message using versions of this diagram.
- Our lives have a beginning: but we are made in the image of God and existence can have no end.
- Guilt is added to by sin, once we become responsible for our actions, words and thoughts.
- The Gate into Heaven only allows perfect, sinless people in.
- Christ died and rose again, so that we can be perfectly forgiven.
- Our response: R and B – repent and believe.
- We take the consequences of ignoring or refusing, God’s offer of mercy and grace.
Gerhard Friedrich writes of Jesus: “His whole life was proclamation of the gospel.” Paul is the main user of the term “good news”. It is “absolute”: the only good news, and an observation with which his readers would be so familiar, as to require no further definition.
“Euangelizesthai is not just speaking and preaching; it is proclamation with full authority and power. Signs and wonders accompany the evangelical message. They belong together, for the Word is powerful and effective. The proclamation of the age of grace, of the rule of God, creates a healthy state in every respect. Bodily disorders are healed and man’s relation to God is set right.” (p 720, Vol 2, Kittel)
It is the World’s most important proclamation.
Do you want to see the baleful look in the eyes of a relative, friend, neighbour, or enemy, as they are condemned to eternity in Hell: “Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“The imperial cult [Emperor worship in the Roman Empire] and the Bible share the view that accession to the throne, which introduces a new era and brings peace to the world, is a gospel for men.” (p 725, Vol 2, Kittel) In the New Testament the Lord Jesus is the content of the message, elsewhere this would only be found in the imperial cult.
Another definitive comment in Kittel states that “euangelistes originally denotes a function rather than an office (cf Professor Leon Morris on Offices and Gifts, where the same point is made), and there can have been little difference between an apostle and an evangelist, all the apostles being evangelists. On the other hand, not all evangelists were apostles, for the direct calling by the risen Lord was an essential aspect of the apostolate. In all three NT passages the evangelists are subordinate to the apostles.” (p 737, Vol 2, Kittel)
In 1 Corinthians chapter 9:14, Paul wrote this about Gospel preachers: “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the good news should receive their living from the gospel.” He was quoting the teaching of Jesus that we have today in such passages as Luke chapter 10:7, and clearly accepting their role.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (19) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. (20) We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!” (21) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Professor J. I. Packer has a fuller definition of Christianity, as a whole, (Church Society/Reform Conference 2002)
Six Propositions from Colossians, my simple summary:
- God – the truth about Him, His Nature as Triune, Work and Plan
- Ourselves – related to God as lost sinners, or saved saints
- Kingdom – Salvation History – Jesus as LORD and Judge
- Salvation – Jesus redeems – we must repent and believe in the Cross and the Resurrection
- Fellowship – we are then baptised into the Worldwide Church – the Bride and Body of Christ
- Heaven – walking in this holy hope in the power of the Spirit
We may imagine the emergence of the written accounts, in the following way. At first the evangelists were obviously believers who knew the Twelve Apostles, or had seen the Lord Jesus and heard Him teaching. Later they were those trained by the first followers to tell the Evangel. Paul carried various documents with him – cared for by Silas and Timothy. These would include a valued scroll or two of the Jewish Scriptures, and his own notes written on small sheets of parchment or papyrus (Egyptian paper). The evangelists, also, were probably careful to keep written notes about the life and teaching of our Lord. My own opinion is that people made notes about what Jesus taught, perhaps before turning in for the night. In any case, the memory of those living in a society of mainly non-literary people can be phenomenal. Elizabeth Elliot, in describing her life among the Auca Indians of Ecuador, tells how, years after hearing her speak, they could reproduce and mimic her exact words.
The copies of the Gospels would at first be simple collections, but eventually more informed evangelists would come to the fore. For a variety of reasons, the time would soon come when the “Gospels” would become quite “finished” and authoritative: so that scribes could be employed to copy them out, for wider circulation. There was the need for the early evangelists to be accurately briefed, to avoid legend, or fiction creeping in. It was crucial that the evangelists did not become too inventive in telling the history of the Lord Jesus. Also the first disciples would grow old and “scarce”. People, who could read, wanted the opportunity to borrow, or own, a “Gospel”, many to listen to them being read. The Holy Spirit selected the best of the Gospels to become Scripture: just as important as the Books of Kings, Chronicles, and Exodus, in the Jewish Sacred Scrolls. Like several great works in the history of literature, Luke’s Gospel and Acts were penned for a friend. It is interesting that although Luke is the only non-Jewish writer in the Bible, he uses a Septuagint-style of Greek, and is thought to have been closer to the Aramaic which Jesus spoke, that Matthew, Mark, and John. As the Septuagint was associated with Alexandria, so it is possible that this city was where he received his medical training, in the eminent Medical School.
The evangelists, then, are an exciting group of men and women. Evidence of the Spirit’s grace will soon show in their ability. This may be with a huge crowd, or speaking quietly to a little child. The integrity of the evangelist of the large crowds will always be seen in his giving of himself to the individual, in witness [Billy Graham visited a prison to speak to a huge crowd, but later he was sitting down by the grill of a cell door, talking to an inmate; a student buying a meal in a golf club, found himself at a table, in a spiritual conversation with Billy]. To the unbelievers, they portray the life and teaching of the Lord, in order to bring them to repentance and faith.
Among the Believers, their desire is to draw us to worship, and an informed assurance. They keep our eyes on the Lord. The nature of the written Evangels, and their place in human experience, compel us to see this two-fold use.
There may be special aspects of an evangelist’s calling, and character, which win them an audience. Although the content of their Message is uniform and unchanging, they will have a multitude of styles, which compel attention – there will hopefully be creativity; but the content is sacrosanct. It may be unique abilities, attainment, background, appearance, or way of speaking. A preacher I met at Machynlleth had his lower-left-two tooth missing, which gave him a most distinctive diction; he could speak of his fearlessness in walking round the exposed platforms of the British Telecom Tower in Birmingham – most men are going to listen to someone who can talk in those terms. In his testimony Harry Ramsden, a famous boxer, used to say,” When they took the Lonsdale Belt from Turpin, and put it on me.” James Irwin arrives in a Northrop jet fighter, and talks about his flight to the Moon, in his film, “The Moon and Beyond”. Some almost act the Evangel as they present it; there are those who give powerful explanations and applications of the Master’s teaching. Paul said that he, metaphorically, “placarded” the Gospel, in making it clear to the Galatians (Galatians 3:1). The exemplary evangelism in Samaria by Philip indicates that miracles may well be part of the evangelist’s service – God’s “Hall Mark” of attestation (Acts 8). In the end, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, in His sovereign will, which makes any of us what we are in God’s service.
The person who has the gift of evangelist in their heart will “go out weeping” to sow the Gospel seed (Psalm 126), and return rejoicing. I would say two things about healing in evangelism: if you have not yet seen any evidence of a healing element in your work, be prepared to pray for ailing people, perhaps privately at first, and be willing to see God witnessing to the authenticity of the Good News; and, secondly, do accept that with any of the gifts there may be a limit set by God – as mentioned earlier, Paul believed in Baptism, but he was limited to allowing others to baptize at Corinth, for good reasons – those baptized by him might have been tempted to become an elite. Along with healing, early preaching expelled unclean spirits/demons! Be ready for that also (see Acts 8:4 ff; 16:16 ff etc).
All of us, like the apostles and evangelists, possess that most valuable item: our testimony. The barristers in a law court are dependent on reliable witnesses; similarly the Holy Spirit relies on our confession of Christ. This is something that no one can take from us; and there are people waiting to hear. Testimony was always the final appeal of Paul, in the Book of Acts, when all else had failed, as mentioned above. Think about this: Leviticus 5:1 If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.
Jesus metaphorically referred to evangelising as fishing. This leads me to think of the fact that anglers use maggots; in evangelism we may need to introduce elements quite foreign to our own interests, in order to communicate with those who are far from God. The Church is unique as an organization that exists for the benefit of non-members – but for this duty, we could all go to Heaven now. All kinds of activities have been used under the guidance of the Spirit, to introduce the Message: Beach Missions, Adventure Camps, Rock Concerts, Christmas Parties, Impressive-Guest Services, Sports Fixtures, Men’s Breakfasts, Ladies’ Coffee Mornings, Dining Facilities, Patchwork and Craft Classes, Double Decker Bus Meeting Place, Puppet Shows, Bible Classes, House Groups, Sunday Schools, Postal Sunday School, City-wide Missions, Counselling, Correspondence Courses, Telephone Contact, Internet Sites, Television Presentations, Video Wall, Local Radio Programmes, Hospital Radio Slots, Personal Work, Survey Interviews, House to House Visiting, Open Air Preaching, Drama, Sketch Board, Escapology, Tracts, and hundreds more. Neville Knox, an eminent Anglican evangelist, felt it vital to be well informed about the Sports Pages, if he was to reach men through conversations. The founder of the YMCA movement was brought to hear the Gospel, through a specially arranged supper of whelks – his favourite meal! This illustrates the variety of the usage of the one gift: but the content of the Message is unchangeable.
This is a good place to return to the “opening” theme – the common ground, point of contact, or of departure, for our witness. Earlier I mentioned the biblical examples: “the moment after a miracle, the faithfulness of God in the cycle of the year, or the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures”. In our own culture we may have to use themes that are relevant. Generally, the area known as “Apologetics” may be apposite: explaining the reasonableness of the Gospel, to those who hold the opinion that society has no need of Divinity, that science has disproved the Scriptures – Evolution versus Creation (Genesis 1-11), that all religion leads to God, or that religion is out-dated and the root cause of wars and disputes. So we may be required to address such issues, before we start to deliver the Message proper.
A good exercise is to list the points of departure, or common ground, in Scripture (mainly in Acts), and in our own and contemporary experience.
Contrasting the false beliefs of heresies and World Religions, may clarify the truths of the Kerygma:
“The Jehovah’s Witnesses were round yesterday: why do you think they are wrong?”
“They do not believe in the eternal deity of Christ; they believe that salvation is by our own obedience to the Law, and not by faith in Christ’s atonement; they cause the deaths of children, and their own members by refusing blood transfusions!” Paul appears to see the use of heresies in this way (1 Corinthians 11:18-19). The common ground is the idea that a certain faith is wrong – we are discussing the issue from the same side.
Various gifts may work alongside the evangelist. Virtually every gift may be found assisting the witness; it may help to look at the list again to see how this would apply – caring, helping, miracles, tongues.
There are two aspects of evangelism, which we must never lose sight of: the sowing and the reaping mentioned by Jesus in John 4:34-38 – “that the sower and the reaper may be glad TOGETHER”. It is so easy for the “reaper” to forget the hard work of sowing which has often preceded his work. It is sad indeed, when we fail each other in this. A small boy sat next to me at a friend’s home. His parents had obviously explained the Gospel to him many times. When I suggested he might like to pray and ask Jesus to save him, he readily agreed. The parents had done the hard work.
The Gospel is called the power of God unto salvation; here is a story contained in a Prayer Letter from India, which illustrates this, so well:
“Later that day, Sunil and Paul travelled to a nearby village to hold a memorial service for Banabai who died at the age of 75. This dear lady became a Christian through a one-time visit of missionaries in 1929 when she was only 9 years old [64 Years before]. Except for one Christian song, she went until 1993 without any spiritual guidance or teaching from any human source. Sunil met her two years ago, and in that short span of time Banabai made an incredible impact on our lives! Last year when she requested a desire for baptism, our ministry team was honoured. Her amazing life in the spirit spoke volumes to us about ministry. The Holy Spirit, our true teacher, gave her all she needed to sustain her in life. Because of her beautiful testimony, 32 people from her village gave their lives to Christ during her memorial service.”
(Christian Discipleship Ministries, Sardar Newsletter, Christmas 1995, Sunil and Pam Sardar, Yavatmal, India.)
A relevant prayer: “… enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts 4:29 b)
The calling of an evangelist: “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16 (NIV)
“But in your hearts set Christ apart as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV). In our criminal courts today, not all are highly trained and competent Barristers, but anybody can find himself, or herself, called as a WITNESS: under oath. Similarly we are not all given the Gift of Evangelist: but we must all be ready and equipped to witness!
Five verses before the end of the Bible are these words:
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ’Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (NIV)
You may not be clever enough to answer all the hard questions that are thrown at you: but you can care for people, and you can find a wise Christian, or some reference source, to help. You may carry some helpful literature, and certainly a New Testament. There are many books to assist us in witness. Practise what you might say to a person – a Muslim for instance, or varied special groups. Know key Scriptures by heart, and where they come in the Bible – so you can turn to them.
There is a huge list of biblical references on this subject, but perhaps the simplest study is to read the New Testament again, with these words and topic in mind.
The following, incomplete, list of references may be studied – but at the very least they illustrate how the New Testament is really a book explaining the Evangel.
(Proverbs 24:11)
Matthew: 4:23-25, 11:5, 9:35-38, 11:5, 28:18-20
Mark: 1:14-15, 19, 2:10, 8:35, 14:9, 9:1-6, 16:15-16, 19-20
Luke: 4:18, 43, 5:31-32, 10:1-2, 16:16, 24:19-52
John: 4:1-42, 21:24-25
Acts: 1:8, 2, 3, 4:2,8-14,18-24,29-30, 5:12-16,29-32,41-42, 6:8-10, 7:1-8:3, 8:4-25, 26-40, 9:1-22,32-35,42, 10, 11:14,19-21,23, 12:24, 13:6-12,15-52, 14, 15:35, 16:13-34, 17:1-34, 18:4-11,24-28, 19:1-20, 20:17-35, 22:1-22, 23:6-11, 24:10-21, 26:1-29, 28:17-31.
Romans: 1:1-4,9,14-32, 2:16, 10:5-17, 11:28, 15:15-24, 29, 16:25-27
1 Corinthians: 1:17-31, 2:4, 5, 3:6-11, 4:1-5,15,20, 9:12-14,16-23, 14:24,25, 15:1-11
2 Corinthians: 1:16-22, 2:12,15-17, 4:1-6,13-15, 5:14,15,17-21,
8:18, 9:13, 10:14,16, 11:4-7, 12:12, 13:3
Galatians: 1:3-23, 2:1-21, 3:1-29, 4:13, 6:14,15
Ephesians: 1:13,14, 2:1-22, 3:1-12, 4:11,21-24, 5:16, 6:15,19-20
Philippians: 1:7,12-18,27-30, 2:6-11,22, 3:9, 4:3,15
Colossians: 1:5-7,12-29, 2:6,12-15, 4:3-6
1 Thessalonians: 1:4-10, 2:1-16, 3:2-4, 4:9,10
2 Thessalonians: 1:8,9, 2:13,14, 3:1
1 Timothy: 1:8-17, 2:1-7
2 Timothy: 1:8-13, 2:8-13, 4:5
Titus: 1:1-3, 3:3-8
Philemon: verses 6, 10,13,19
Hebrews: 2:1-4, 4:2,6, 6:1-3, 8:7-12, 10:1-7,32-34, 12:22-29, 13:8,11-16
James: 1:18, 2:5,23
1 Peter: 1:2-12,17-25, 2:21-25, 3:15-22, 4:11,17, 5:10
2 Peter: 1:1-4
1 John: 1:1-10, 2:1,2, 3:1-5,8,9,14,23, 4:9,10,14-16, 5:1,9-13,20
Jude: verses 3 b-7
Revelation: 1:5,6,9, 3:20, 7:9-17, 14:6,7, 21:6-8, 22:17
GO TO IT!
END NOTES ON EVANGELIST
There are several fine and most successful courses, with their inbuilt variations: Alpha Course – based at Holy Trinity Brompton; Christianity Explained – based at All Souls Langham Place; and Life in the Spirit Seminars – Roman Catholic.
I have experience of evangelism with various organisations: Church of England, Methodist, Baptist, Elim, Assemblies of God (British and American), URC, Salvation Army, Brethren, YMCA, Quakers, Scripture Union, ISCF, SASRA, UCCF, Beach Missions, National Young Life Campaign, Youth for Christ, Open Air Mission, Pilgrim Preachers, Operation Mobilization, Youth With A Mission, to name most.
[1] A MISSION VENTURE
I first of all request permission to ask the four questions of a church survey. If the person agrees, here are the questions:
Are you over 21? [I skip this one, if the answer is obvious!]
Did you have Religious Education lessons at school? [Surprisingly, most East Europeans and Albanians did.]
Do you have a Bible, which you can read easily? [If not, I have bought £200’s worth of Good News Bibles from the Bible Society – on condition that I give them away. An Albanian New Testament for an ice cream man was rather expensive – you can guess his token of thanks.]
Do you have any questions about religion? [The idea here is to leave the door open for further discussions.
“No, but what are denominations?” There followed my half-hour lecture.
“No! I’m an atheist! I’m not interested in religion.” Atheism is a religious belief, of course. The lady hurried away to attend to her work. Interestingly: behind her was the ornately painted sign at Matthew Wallis’s ‘Amusement Arcade and Rock Emporium’. This could not have made itself – it is the work of a skilled sign writer and the designer; human life is far more complex!
“No thank you, I have been born again. I was brought-up Eastern Orthodox, but became a Christian in a Pentecostal church. … British Christians are lazy! … I just love telling people about Jesus.” This has been one of the best responses; and we have had several fascinating conversations since.]
IN SCHOOL TEACHING, MEETING REBELLIOUS TEENAGERS, OCCASIONALLY, I DEVISED THIS SET OF QUESTIONS – WITH A BARB AT THE END.
A QUESTIONNAIRE
Draw a circle round your replies – there may be more than one for each question.
- Do you believe there is a GOD? Yes/ No/ Sometimes . . .
- Do you believe IN God? No/ Would like to/ Uncertain/Yes
- What has put you off, if that is the case? No evidence/ Religious people/ Evolutionary Theory/ It would mean giving up too much/ Would need more help than is available
- What is your opinion of the Bible? Ancient Mythology/ Good Literature/ I have no idea/ God Speaking/The most important book in the world/Good in parts, but I need to edit it
- Do you go to church? Never/ Occasionally/ Weekly/Several times a week
- Do you read the Bible? Regularly/Never/ Sometimes/ Often/Right through, each year
- What do you think about Jesus Christ? Deceiver/ Deceived/ Trickster/ Good Man/ Prophet/ God in Human Form/ Great Teacher/ A Legend who never really existed/An historical figure only/ Something else . . .
——————————————————————————————————————–
CHALLENGING QUESTIONS
- What is your belief about God?
- What do you mean by the word “God”, when you use it?
- What evidence do you have for your beliefs?
- How do you explain the complexity of the Universe and of living things such as the Human Body?
- If you do not admit there is a God; is Chance the good enough alternative explanation of living things in the world about-us? [Even beings from outer-space require some convincing explanation of their origin.]
- Do you think death is the end?
- What positive evidence can you offer for this belief?
- What would you say to convert a person to your beliefs?
- Do you think your ideas will make the World a better, or a worse place to live in?
********************************************
In the days when I had the health to walk round the Country Park, it was a pleasure to listen to Mike Kellogg, a broadcaster of the Moody Bible Institute, reading the New Living Translation of the Bible. On one particular day, it was the Book of Judges. A Park Warden stopped and asked me what I was listening to.
“Stand firmly, because you will be shocked! I’m listening to the Bible – and it’s about a lady killing a man by driving a tent peg through his skull!”
Not the best start to speaking about the Christian Faith.
Two good questions
- Are you certain you are saved, and going to Heaven?
- If someone asked you, “How do I become a Christian, now?” what would your answer be?
A longstanding friend was challenged by a member of his congregation to enter a church team in the local pub-quizzes. This led to many interesting chats over the meals which always followed. Eventually he was able to enter numerous television and radio competitions, and show clergy in a more favourable light than many TV plays. He is an Oxford MA, with a special interest in History and Archaeology.
[2] In my recent travels the following experience transpired.
I walked into a church charity shop. The two managers invited comments. After a chat, I asked what they would say, if someone came in and asked them: “How do I become a Christian?” To help, I went out of the shop and came in again – to act the part.
“This is a nice charity shop; it’s a church one, isn’t it? Could you tell me how I can become a Christian?”
“Yes. What do you already know about Jesus?”
“I have read the Gospels: about His life and teaching; and parts of the Old Testament.”
“You need to realise that Jesus died for your sins, on the cross, and rose from the dead. You then need to pray – giving your life to God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And ask for forgiveness.”
“I’m doing that, and I am starting to feel better, already!”
“You must learn more about the holy life, by reading the Bible.”
“Do I have to start going to Church?”
“It does help.”
“Oh dear! But someone once said: ‘Don’t judge the Star, by the Fan Club.’”
CAUGHT OUT
My friend John Isherwood knew that I valued the book:”The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul”, so he kindly presented me with his copy. The author, James Smith FRS, was an accomplish yachtsman, who lived at the end of the time when merchant ships were powered by sail – he held conversations with sea captains before writing his book.
And so I found myself on a flight to Malta. The leader of our foursome believed in arriving at checkout at the last moment – hence, we were spread out down the aircraft. I was by the aisle of the Boeing 737, next to a tall young chap, whose wife had the window seat. In our conversation I explained to him the research of James Smith into Paul the apostle’s shipwreck on Malta, fully supporting Luke’s description in the Book of Acts. There is a large bay named after the apostle, a huge statue, a church on the site of the famous bonfire, and an impressive annual celebration of the event – which we attended.
“You must have a high regard for the Bible,” came at the end of my “lecture”.
“Yes, it’s like the Instrument Panel of an aircraft, in a way.”
“What sort of work do you do?”
“I’m a Junior Officer on the Irish Ferries;” so much for my chat about a sea voyage!
[On the return flight, similarly, the gentleman in the next seat told me: The last time I flew over Trieste (as we were doing) I was in the rear gun turret of an air force Halifax heavy bomber.]
WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE
Rebecca Pippert had taken her seat on the flight. A quick prayer apropos talking about Jesus to the lady in the next seat: Sue loved travel and meeting new cultures too. But a conversation stopper was that Sue was fluid about gender – “If I want to be a man on Monday, and a woman on Wednesday, who cares?” She believed in Karma, but thought the World was falling apart, it’s a mess. People either need recovery programmes for addictions, or psychological therapy for being wounded. “Who in the World has the power to heal the heart?”
Rebecca told how she had come from Agnosticism to becoming a Christian.
At luggage retrieval: “Becky, I am embarrassed to say this, but if I emailed you, would you write back?” Then the real witness for the Lord Jesus Christ began.
[pages 24 and 25, “Idea” magazine, and Rebecca Pippert’s book, “Stay Salt”]
[3] BLAISE PASCAL’S WAGER
Pascal (1623-62), a brilliant philosopher and mathematician, who worked out how his father could win most of his bets, and invented the first calculating machine – often mentioned in the history of computers; proposed a challenge to all of us to place a bet.
If we live and believe that there is a God, and then find that we were wrong, and there is no God or afterlife: we have lost nothing! If, on the other hand, we argue that there is no God, and find out that we were wrong – then this is the greatest possible mistake, with horrendous everlasting consequences! Place your bet!
If there is truly a Divinity, then He is greater than the Cosmos and the complexity of Genetics. We are wise to respect such a Person, and find out what He has communicated to us in the Scriptures of Jews and Christians. To believe that the Big Bang and Evolution created all from nothing – all the energy, matter and information, is to believe in convenient fairy tales.
[4] USEFUL PARABLES
I was most disappointed that some of my friendly neighbours declined to accept a free Bible for their young children. They would probably say that, although they do not believe in God (which they did say), they do not wish to influence their kids; but let them think and chose for themselves. The Bible Society sells boxes of about £100 worth, on condition that there is no charge, in giving them out.
“I do not like the Nat West Bank – their cash machine ate my debit card! I wish my children to have a free choice of banks when they are old enough to decide: so I give them literature from: Barclays, RBS, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander, Halifax, Nationwide, Yorkshire, and TSB. My friends point out that I am shamefully intellectually dishonest by omitting Nat West!”
The Story of a Toy Yacht
In a fishing town, a small boy built a fine model yacht, with a little help from his Dad. He sailed it on the sea: from the sands, or from the steps of the harbour: using a ball of strong cord, to prevent its loss. One sad day, however, it somehow came loose,, and he lost his prized possession. Three months later he saw it being offered for sale, in a second hand shop in the high street. The shopkeeper told him it would cost him £25 (GBP), but he would reserve it until the boy had found enough money.
When eventually he regained his boat, he reflected: “Its mine, because I made it, and also because I paid the price for it.”
The two factors governing the sailing of yachts are: the keel (stopping the vessel from keeling over), and the action of the wind in the sails: giving momentum. In the Believer’s life, we have the power of the Holy Spirit, and the stabilizing effect of the Word of God.
[5] MOST PEOPLE HAVE A NOSE, A MOUTH, AND A LETTERBOX
Leaflets can reach an awful lot of folk: a whole street, parish, town or city CAN BE REACHED IN THIS WAY. Reinhard Bonnke attempted to cover the whole of the British Isles with a Gospel booklet, using the Post Office.
On delivering leaflets there are many opportunities to meet people and hold conversations about spiritual issues: in businesses, front gardens, washing cars, passing in the street, etc. Have a map of the area, and mark the streets covered, on it. An insert could give details of Church services, and contact details – with permission.
Just think of all the letterboxes in your area awaiting a gospel leaflet. Please cover your district with leaflets!
Have you evangelized your street/family, village, town, state/county, yet?
“Day One” organisation has a set of 33 well-written and varied leaflets. They are all available for extensive printing and use, via a CD-ROM, which costs GBP/£15. www.DayOne.co.uk or phone UK : 01568 613740
One of the best tracts in English is Roger Carswell’s: “God’s unfolding plan for you”. Order a trial selection from: chris@printbridge.co.uk Prices are reasonable, but postage abroad may be charged. www.tell-me-more.org He has many communications and books: “Grill a Christian”, Answers to tough questions, is a brave and very readable production, by 10Publishing, UK. Meet him on the Internet, including YouTube.
I beg of you to consider this challenge. Ask God to call you, or someone else, or your church, to dedicate time and effort to evangelise a particular area in your locality, and post a gospel leaflet through every door. To produce your own, with an attractive picture on the front, can be relatively cheap with modern technology. For the sake of Christ, and the lost!
On a more regular basis could be distributing the suitable church magazine to local homes. Evangelistic papers such as “New Life” can be purchased and given on a monthly basis – to established customers, and in new areas. http://www.newlife.co.uk
Some Fellowships produce their own using computer publishing; as for example “Lives Transformed” by Milnrow Evangelical Church in Lancashire, UK. This is one of the best I have seen.
A fine set of varied tracts/leaflets are published by http://www.10ofthose.com – based at Leyland, UK
You can lead a horse to water; but you cannot make it drink! True, but you can put salt in its oats. [The attractive testimony of our lives in Christ]
[6] In the last few years, two books have come into my hands containing bookmarks, both of which have been meaningful. Here is a means of evangelism – buy some bookmarks with helpful Gospel texts or thoughts, and leave them in library books or those going to a charity shop.
[7] Tim Tebow is a famous Quarterback in professional American Football – seen by millions on sports programmes around the World. When he wore “John 3:16” on his eye black during the 2009 Championship Game, over 92 million people looked-up the verse of Scripture on Google (Internet). Eye black consists of small patches of mat black colouring, high on the cheek bones, which reduces the glare of the floodlights.
Many people in sport witness by pointing to Heaven in gratitude, or crossing themselves.
We thank God for the life of former England footballer and Christians in Sport Trustee Cyrille Regis, who died yesterday at the age of 59.
Cyrille was a legend of West Midlands football and best known as a centre forward for West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.
Christians in Sport General Director Graham Daniels said:
“Cyrille was an outstanding footballer but much more importantly an outstanding man. His courage as one of the first famous high profile black footballers meant that he became a role model which has changed the canvass of professional football. His faith in Jesus Christ, which he arrived at after the death of his close friend Laurie Cunningham, became a fantastic encouragement to many elite sportspeople to consider their relationship with the God who gave them their talents. The man was a giant in his generation.”
Just the third black player to be capped by England, Cyrille was a pioneer in the fight against racism in football. He played 614 matches and scored 158 goals in a 19-year professional career, which also saw him make five appearances for England. Cyrille’s career highlights included winning the FA Cup with Coventry City in 1987 and scoring the goal of the season, while playing for West Brom in 1981-2. He also had spells with Aston Villa and Wolves, which cemented his popularity in the region.
It was the death in a car crash of his best friend and former teammate Laurie Cunningham in 1989 that prompted Cyrille to ask questions about faith. His search for answers ultimately led to him becoming a Christian after what he described as “a real encounter with Jesus”.
After Laurie’s death, Cyrille started attending church and soon a local baptist minister sent him a book called A New Dimension by Michael Green,
Cyrille said: “As I’m reading this book, the penny drops. It really sinks in that Christ loves me. He died for me and He rose again from the dead and this awesome sense of peace comes over me.”
Cyrille soon became involved with and supported by Christians in Sport as he looked to live out his faith as a professional footballer. Following his retirement in 1996, he became a sports agent and remained passionate about sharing his story of faith.
He said: “I meet people all the time, some famous, some not who are all looking for hope and peace. I have learned that money cannot buy peace of mind so I simply tell people how I found hope and peace in God. The great thing about it is that anyone can have the peace that I have, you just need to know God.”
A member of Renewal Christian Centre in Solihull, Cyrille was a keen advocate of Christians in Sport and joined our Board of Trustees in 2011. Cyrille was also the first interviewee when we launched the Christians in Sport podcast in 2016. On it he shared his story of faith and football with General Director Graham Daniels.
Christians in Sport prayer Letter
Reggie White, of the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, had a similar dramatic effect – BOTH CHRISTIANS.
Kirk Cameron is an American actor best known for his role as teen Mike Seaver in the US television sitcom Growing Pains (1985–1992), a role for which he won two People’s Choice awards and was nominated for two Golden Globe awards. Kirk’s acting career has included many subsequent TV roles and movies, including faith-based films such as the Left Behind series (2000–2005) and Fireproof (2008). To many, he is better known for his overt public stance on his Christian faith. See http://www.creation.com
[8] My friend FPW gave a critique of a popular tract – along these lines: the Apostolic Preaching did not start with the question of sin and guilt. In addressing Zaccheus (Luke 19:1ff), Jesus did not talk about the Mafia Tax Collector’s sin. The fact that this local dignitary climbed a tree indicates that he wanted to relate to Jesus in a serious way. Apart from this Jesus would have a total Spirit-led access to Words of Knowledge, as required – as we might have. Zaccheus was well on the way to grasping the Kerugma, and the mealtime would give time to explain. Jesus’s ministry was to seek and to save the lost – those who were “sick – sinners” (Mark 2:17).
Dear Douglas Thanks for the comments; it is interesting that you are looking at evangelism as I am speaking on the subject next week with our group. In 2009 when I was in Thailand I saw the fruit of what we missionaries had taught the people. When a group goes out to take a children’s meeting in the villages the songs they sing and the emphasis is on ‘you are a sinner’ needing to be saved. I did not like this and saw this culture not as truly biblical or the way that Jesus dealt with people. We were helping them to use puppets and one story they told was of Zacchaeus – at one point Jesus told Zacchaeus to repent and trust in Jesus – this is not the way that Jesus acted. In fact there is no example of his saying to any individual ‘you are a sinner needing to be saved’. The four spiritual laws and formularisation of the message comes under the same hammer. Jesus dealt relationally with people at the point they were at. He did not condemn the woman with the alabaster box who anointed him even though the evidence is that she was a prostitute. Even the woman at the well though he pointed out her lifestyle, he did it in a loving way that brought here to repentance. Jesus never gave people too many things to think about but emphasised often just one point such as ‘I am the bread of life’ ‘I am the loving water’ in the context of festivals that were involved with eating and drinking. We seem to want people to know ‘the whole gospel’ at once which Jesus never did. Anyway, I will be interested in the way that you approach the subject.
Perhaps my friend’s concern was with the point of contact: common ground, the starting places in our presentation of the Kerugma. Some of his leaflets have been simply aimed at making people think about their own life, and offer church times, and a website or two.
Some of his later tracts have briefly referred to topical events – like the high transfer fee of a famous soccer player – and followed this with a succinct statement of the Gospel. This was in the style of the golden age of the Victory Tract Club, in the late 1950’s – when Billy Graham, our minister O. G. Miles, and T. O. Chisholm, were writing.
[9] A most unusual method of evangelism is through novels, and the biographies of Christians
We must note the Amish community novels; such as those by Jerry S. Eicher, E. J. Hoff, Mary Ellis, and several non-fiction works about the denomination.
And what about Professor C. S. Lewis’s Narnia books, and his science fiction!
Or, the “Miss Read” novels, which gently portray English village life, including the part occupied by the church and missionary interest. (Dora Saint, MBE, was a prolific writer.)
“JANE EYRE”, BY Charlotte Bronte
Probably the most famous clergyman to serve at our Parish Church was William Grimshaw – although he only worked here as Curate for less than a year, before exchanging the position with a friend from St Mary’s, Todmorden. His real calling was to St Michael and All Angels, Haworth.
In fact the famous Rev Patrick Bronte (of the three daughters) was attracted to Haworth because of its association with Grimshaw fifty years earlier.
I started to read “Jane Eyre” because Canon David White of St Andrew’s Chorleywood pointed out, in a sermon, that it is most concerned with Mission, and the Return of Christ. As a daughter of the Rectory, Charlotte shows a sophisticated level of education, and an astute knowledge of the Bible. However, although the characters of Helen Burns, a fellow scholar in the charity school, along with the senior teacher Miss Temple, demonstrate the Christian life, never is it explained that entrance to the Kingdom of God is through the grace of Christ’s death on the Cross. What theologians call the Kerygma – The Apostolic preaching of the Cross – found in the Book of Acts. It is like describing the beautiful rooms of a palace, but never giving the password to take one passed the guards on duty at the entrance.
As you will know, the novel explores the nature of true love, and the meaning of life.
(There is displeasure apropos Calvinism – by default, supporting the Arminianism of John Wesley.)
Dorothy L. Sayers is famous for detection novels; but her Christian comments are weighty. Her play: “The Man Born to be King”, was read to us at school by our Form Teacher
Joel C. Rosenberg is an eminent writer, his political spy novels have been prophetic, at times.
A SHORT STORY
The Man in the Chippy (a deep fried fish, and potato chips takeaway)
He came in after me, and obviously ordered a large helping of chips, but no fish – salt but no vinegar. His appearance was interesting. I was curious to know what kind of business he did. He was average height; light grey hair, slightly curly, and thinning. He wore a dark suit, but his shoes were a discordant light brown. His glasses were expensive gold framed. All rather a mystery. After he had left, I went to the door to view his car, to see if it gave any clues. It was a black Range Rover (valuable), but I could not read the registration details to assess its age. So that was that: a conundrum.
It was ten years later that I saw him again: on the X47 bus in Heckmontwistle, Lancashire, UK. Like me, he was an OAP (Old Age Pensioner), who had given up driving, and started using his free bus pass.
The town had a special significance for me: years ago I knew the Vicar of the Parish Church. He had been a Sixth Form Prefect, wearing the regulation black gown, at the Royal Grammar School. I was a student on teaching practice. The Head Master insisted that I had to put on a gown to teach Religious Studies, so he had lent me his – ten sizes too big! I remember, there was a loquacious boy in one class called Abraham. When I chided him: “If you don’t be quiet, you will have had your lot,” the class saw the joke (in the Old Testament of the Bible, Abraham had a nephew called Lot). Not many school children today would understand the quip. When the Professor came to hear me teaching, he observed: “You cannot teach on being Born Again, in John chapter three, in only one lesson.” I had to agree: the school’s syllabus allocated three lessons – this was the third. Our Professor said, that the main point in teaching Religious Studies was to bring boys and girls to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The Prefect would pray for me as he passed the classroom. At that time the school saw a spiritual awakening. Fifteen boys returned to the school, having been converted on a day trip into the countryside, organise by a local teacher. The programme had included several testimonies by scholars, a short but clear presentation of the Christian Good News, and many conversations on the return journey. These fifteen boys told there their stories in the Christian Group, and fifteen more were added to their number.
Back to the man in the Chippy: on the bus, he turned in his seat to converse. “Nobody talks to you these days.” Earlier on a bus, everybody had their mobile phones switched on, the only person who didn’t was a young woman next to him – with her head in a book. We were both happy to chat. He was a retired businessman: children’s clothing and toys, which he dealt with wholesale throughout the region. Yes, he knew the local churches; but then all churchmen are not necessarily saved disciples, who know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. With this in mind, I offered him my business card – designed for such people. In twenty minutes, we reached his village, and parted company….
A SECOND SHORT STORY
Gold Rush Double Jar
Australia c 1884
We are looking westward in an area little better than desert scrub. There is a long, decrepit wooden and stone building, left by long-gone gold prospectors. The wind-etched boards rattle in the wind, and the roofing flaps and groans.
From behind us appears the main character: Double Jar. He ties his horse to a wooden bar – intended for that purpose. He is a muscular man, untidy, in reddish face and hair. There are two theories apropos his strange name – both probably correct…. He walks to the west, along the south side of the semi-ruin, assessing the possibilities of its usefulness to him; he knows that Troopers are tracking him. Although the sun is high, it still casts a shallow shadow. The first part of the ruin was probably a general store; the far end, which he approaches, a schoolroom.
As he disappears from view, a second horse is tied-up. The owner is most unusual: tall for a woman, her slimness accentuated by her long black dress. For these parts her complexion is remarkably clear. Her long attractive face is enhanced by her dark eyes. Why such gifted women link themselves with criminals is a great mystery. Her choice could have been the largest house in a hundred square miles, seek a position In Service there, and in two decades be the Lady of the House. The barrel of her rifle matches her dress; other features are more chestnut: the rifle’s stock, her horse, and her riding boots. Her name is Abigail, which can be shortened to Abby or Gail; her late drunken father made the choice – rejecting Alice, a popular name at the time…. Her mother liked the ecclesiastical sound.
With an effusion of sound, the Troopers arrive. The sound was not only of the animals, but also the crackle of random shots from all parties. They ride fast, and close to the sides of the ruin: one on the north, two on the south. They secure the horses in the shelter of the western end. For an hour the men search tentatively among the silent rooms. Abby holds her post at the eastern wall; a stray bullet has inflicted a flesh wound in her upper left arm – the material of her sleeve is torn but she manages to stem the flow of blood from her slender arm.
The Troopers are not known in the town by their baptismal names, only as Trooper One, Two and Three.
Suddenly, many events take place within the period of a minute. Trooper Three has climbed onto the roof and has Jug in his sights; but before he can fire, Abby’s rifle, held courageously, crackles, and he falls in a curious cartwheel to the side of the north wall. In fact, he slithers a few yards: to first planks of a solid wooden bridge over the dry creek which is parallel to the building. He lies still – with his feet to the north – as a pool of blood both congeals in large dark red lumps, and soaks into the timber. Jug has stepped out of cover to stand behind Number Two – ten yards from his back.
“Raise your arms to the side and drop your weapon!”
“Move towards your horse and ride away!”
He did, and shortly, a distant cloud of dust showed the location of the fortunate man. Fortunate, because it was reckoned that Jug had killed seven men, in the pursuit of easy gold, and it was not sensible, or easy, to argue with his reputation.
Abby had concealed herself at the eastern end. Trooper One foolishly stood outside of the north wall. Jug slid off the roof like an agile cat, and stood behind him.
“March with your arms spread sideways, and drop your gun!”
Slowly the two shuffled towards the west end. As they drew level with the bridge, there was the slightest of movements. Number Three was not quite into the future life. With a last brave effort, he brought a successful end to his current duty. Steadily he aimed at Jug’s neck; and fired. The bullet brought relocation to the base of Double Jug’s skull, upper vertebra, soul, and spirit. His next appointment would not be with a Circuit Judge, but with The Judge of all.
The mother’s cottage and garden were remarkably attractive for the area. Abigail was told to rest and nurse her well-dressed wound. Her parent spoke musically with a gentle but authoritative voice. Several months of recovery had passed, and Abby was talking to her mother: “What was that favourite verse, which meant so much to you?”
The senior lady went for the old family Bible – although she knew the verse by heart. The book was the size of a small suit case, too heavy for small children to lift. In the front was a place for family records, which showed that her father had originated from Worcestershire in England. Some of the engravings were of paintings by John Martin. Unlike many examples of this kind of book, it was worn out, and ready to be made into firelighters. Her mother read the passage of two verses: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.”
Much later, when Abby was in her eighties, she remembered that day well. In spite of her considerable sins, she had felt herself washed deeply, and thoroughly clean. It was as if a great gate had opened to a wonderful new life of hope; full of good, kind, and meaningful adventures.
Inspired and influenced by the anonymous ballad, “The Old Bark Hut”, and selected works in “Classic Australian Verse”, Collected by Maggie Pinkney, The Five Mile Press, 2007, Australia
[10] As Santa Claus: explaining the Christmas History and its meaning
ON STANDING IN FOR SANTA CLAUS
There have been many interesting experiences in playing the part of Santa: in school, church Fayre, Public Library, and Prison.
“That’s not Santa, its Dougie,” my neighbour’s daughter in Castleton.
“Why do you want a Magician’s Set for Christmas?” “So I can make my brother disappear.”
My family pulled my leg about being Father Christmas, so I didn’t always tell them when I was on duty. At St Martin’s Fayre, one of my family came to enjoy the Vicar’s wife’s brilliant lunches. On returning home: “Where have you been – I didn’t see you at the Fayre?” “Well I was in my Grotto, wasn’t I?” To prove it, the “Observer” had my photo in the Wednesday edition.
At the local prison, the Chaplain was remarkably talented at selecting presents at the warehouse, for particular offspring. With a certain girl in mind, he bought a lavender coloured toilet/bathroom set. Unfortunately a boy chose it; gently – “Why did you pick that?” “So I can give my Mum a Christmas present.”
One little boy picked the large fire engine, as planned – he played with it all afternoon sending it across the floor to his Dad.
Acting the part, I could be quite outrageous: to a Governor – “What do you want for Christmas?” A voice from the back: “Early retirement!”
To the Roman Catholic Priest: “You do realize I am one of your Bishops.” “Yes, quite.” Santa was originally the Bishop of Myra.
“Whose Birthday do we celebrate at Christmas?” “Well its no-one in our family.”
“How do you cope with our gas fired central heating, and no chimney?” “I rely on Quantum Theory.”
“How are the reindeer, and where are they now?” “They are fine, thank you; and at twenty thousand feet, playing football.”
I always looked for chances to explain the true reason for the season; and that Jesus taught that giving brings more happiness than receiving. (Acts 20:35)
[11] Until recently, when using UK currency, the five, and ten pound notes, could start a conversation: Elizabeth Fry – the great Quaker prison reformer; Charles Darwin – the figurehead behind Evolution and Theistic Evolution: in contrast with Creationism.
Rather like this, at Easter Time, to start a discussion of the Gospel when buying Hot Cross Buns.
[12] Chaplaincies in many of the following, and some of their supports are listed
Hospitals, which must recognise their vital role in comfort and recovery: Gideon Bibles, Visitors. In the UK the road sign for a hospital used to be a Cross, and Sisters always started the day with kneeling to pray in the centre of the ward.
Schools: Sometimes official policies, Scripture Union, Gideon New Testaments, Visiting Speakers, various organisations such as Message Trust
Universities: several groups such as Agape and the Christian Unions, etc have a marked effect
Prisons – many are godly, some are not, Muslim Coordinators are found in some: Proclaim Trust with copies of Barry Woodward’s book “Once and Addict”, Visitors, local churches helping with services – some have seen conversions and baptisms, Alpha in Prisons has seen remarkably low re-offending rates
Armed Forces: David Pawson served as an Airforce Chaplain – publications, courses, visitors to on-camp meetings, externally financed visitors such as SASRA – Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association, Officers Christian Union, high ranking officers have been known to run Bible Studies in their homes
Sports Clubs: one clergy friend, within just a few years, saw 23 conversions among semi-professional players and staff, “Christians in Sport” run many schemes in schools, universities, and clubs in many disciplines, “New Life” Paper has sports pages at the back
“Chaplaincy brings a personal touch – people feel they can be listened to as individuals. If chaplaincy was established in every club, I believe it would be of huge benefit to the game as a whole”
Sir Ian McGeechan, OBE
Scottish Rugby Union,
Former Head Coach British and Irish Lions
A member of my Religious Studies Class
Among Royal Families, Leaders of Nations, and Local Leaders, there are some which have godly chaplains
[13] Your own Testimony, it is a good idea to write out your story – how you became a Believer is not the same as why you believe.
I was brought up in a keen Methodist family – attending church and Sunday School until about 19. I do not recall having clearly heard the Gospel in all this time.
With my Dad away in the Army and my Mother having to work, I was a very naughty child – the neighbours often shouted at me and slapped me. My Granddad was a kind of surrogate father: he was very generous, but his greatest gift was a hard smack behind the knee, when I was naughty.
When my father was on military service, during the Second World War, he ostensibly disappeared for a large part of a year – as he had warned us. Aged ten, I was praying a childhood prayer for him, when I became aware or a person in the room, and saw a bright column of light – in spite of the thick Blackout curtains. Although I was working on a copy of a Burne-Jones type of drawing of an angel, this was simply a column of light – not what I might have imagined. I heard a voice saying that on the following day we would receive a letter. At half-past nine, I went outside to see my mother’s joy as she showed the letter to a neighbour. My limited knowledge of probability reckoned that there was only one chance in about three hundred of the message coming true that day. It prevented me ever becoming “an honest atheist”.
As a student, I was standing at a bus stop thinking about the main issues of life. Would my ambitions really satisfy: to be top in sport, as a military pilot, and an artist? Someone would do better. Has anyone proved there is a Heaven or a Hell – life after death? Is there certain victory in temptation – my record was not good, and could land me being killed, or put in prison – there was one just two miles down the road. Has anyone proved to me there is a God? To be wrong on this would be life’s greatest mistake. I remembered the text: Matthew; 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” So I prayed along these lines: “If there is a God up there, and you said this; I am giving you a fortnight to prove your existence!” Within the day, I had indications; but the real proof was the vision of the angel.
Trying Theosophy and Séances etc offered ungodly guidance, and at the former, the leader said: “We do not know the way to God – that is why we come here.” Talking to a lady as I left, the words of Jesus came to mind: “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Compulsory military service brought much spare time – to read the Bible and pray, in the station church. One morning, I saw a clear picture of myself falling down a deep shaft – a true portrait of myself deserving Hell for my sins. But on a ledge was Jesus holding out His arms to save me: I grasped His hands, but it was His strength which held me! I heard the Holy Spirit saying: “You are prepared to trust Jesus as Lord and Teacher, but you need Him to save you!”
I have found following Christ exciting and thoroughly resolved, as to the true meaning of life and existence.
Many kind people helped me: two Christians on RAF Square-bashing, who argued with me, the pale girl via Hull Art College, who greeted me at an evangelistic rally “Nice to see you. Are you saved?” the chaplain, who let me use the station Church and his vestry, John Isherwood, who explained Justification by Faith from Romans, my Squadron Leader, who worried about me, and many more, over the years.
Years ago I lived near a picturesque Lake, I would take an early morning warm drink and sit by the shore. On one occasion, a youngish Asian couple walked out along the jetty in the distance and engaged in a romantic Hollywood embrace. When they returned, the lady went to sit in their car, and the fellow came up to me. “You look religious, what is your story?”
I had been well prepared to have my religious story ready at any time; so I told him about how I became a true Christian.
He had degrees in History and Islam; his wife’s father had been a confident of the old King of Jordan.
[14] Stories
It is always good to have a few stories ready, when starting a conversation.
The story goes that a man opened the local paper and read his obituary. In distress he phoned his close friend, who replied: “Yes I have seen it … Where are you ringing from?”
To make the point that I am a Church Member – what do you think of the Church? Trolley Token – I put mine in the collection, by mistake. Someone pinned it with a note, on the Church Notice Board.
To raise the question of the next life
I was placing an order by phone, using a Debit Card: the lady was attempting to be friendly, and instead of asking for the Expiry Date, asked “What is your Expiry Date?” My reply: “I have no idea; but I am looking forward to it!”
THE STRANGE DEATH OF SOMERSET MAUGHAM
Somerset Maugham was one of this country’s most successful writers. He led an exotic life: he was a spy without people knowing, he was married, but was ferociously gay … , he was fabulously wealthy – he famously ate off silver plates, with eleven servants waiting on him hand and foot (how unlike the home-life of a Vicar). He wrote: “I am content that with my last breath, my soul, with its aspirations and weaknesses, will dissolve into nothingness.”
The reality, however, was far from that. In 1965, at the age of 81, he died. His nephew describes what happened at his death.
“That evening, in the Drawing Room after dinner, Willie (Somerset Maugham) flung himself down on the sofa. ‘Oh, Robin,’ he said, ‘I am tired.’ He gulped, and buried his head in his hands. Suddenly, Willie looked up, and his grip tightened on my hands. He was staring at the floor, his face contorted with fear, and he was trembling violently. His face was ashen as he stared in horror ahead of him. He began to shriek: ‘Go away! I’m not ready! ‘I’m not dead yet; I’m not dead yet, I tell you!’ And his high-pitched terror-struck voice seemed to echo from wall to wall. And he died.”
Canon David White, in a sermon (Chorleywood,2011)
Queens Park Rangers Football Club was in the top division of the English professional game, in the 1990’s. Dennis Bailey was one of the few people to score a hat-trick against Manchester United at Old Trafford. One Christmas, the Chairman of the Club invited the Players and Staff, with their partners, to a black tie banquet. After the meal he gave a speech, and then invited the Captain to say a few words – he was a man with little to say, on such occasions. But then Dennis Bailey, aged 17, and very quiet and nervous, asked if he could say something. The Chairman gave him permission. Dennis explained that no-one had talked about the significance of Christmas. The team members were in hysterics. He was not a good speaker, but said he could sing a song. He sang four verses of: “Thank you Jesus.” The Chairman said a second rendering was not necessary.
This story was told to Christians in Sport by an ex-player, who is now the Manager of a well-known team. He had woken four times on that Christmas night, rocking with laughter at Dennis’s exploit. However, when he thought it over, he came to admire the boy’s courage and commitment to his Faith. In fact, it brought him to ask Jesus to be his Lord and Saviour.
(Taken from a talk by Graham Daniels for “Christians in Sport”)
There is quite a bit on Google about Dennis Bailey.
THE TYPING POOL
I was in the Typing Pool handing in some work. My job encouraged a discussion about all the evil in the World. Yes, I said, God would punish the wicked: Hell is for bad people and good people. Heaven is for perfect folk, like me! There were roars of laughter all round – perfectly forgiven through Jesus’s death on the Cross.
I worked with a man who was a famous rugby player and became a Head Teacher in a boys school in Batley, Yorkshire. He insisted on using the cane – in fact the boys called him: Instant Whipp. My friend Roger taught there. On one occasion he was faced with a case of caning a naughty fellow. “I will do a deal with you, if you will agree to it. I will take your place, and you can cane me.” The boy relished the idea, and made the most of it! “Now, that is what Jesus did for all of us, when he died on the Cross of Calvary!”
The teacher in Pudsey had a chatterbox called Rodney Sugden. A second caning was going to be too much for him. His friend Arthur Milner said “I spoke, Sir!”
“No you didn’t; but will you take the cane for your friend?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Rodney, will you let him?”
“Oh, yes, Sir!”
The teacher explained that Jesus took the “cane” for all our sins.
Mr Prideaux was a Sunday School teacher, and a fine preacher. He would hold his hands a few centimetres apart, and say, “I love you so much.” Then holding his arms outstretched, like Jesus on the Cross, would add, “Jesus loves you so much!” One day he stood at the top of a steep street, and recognised one of his scholars two hundred metres away at the foot of the street – too far away to speak to him. He simply made the two enactments: hands only a short distance apart; and then outstretched.
A village clergyman was holding Bible studies with a reluctant reserved man who had started attending services. After some time the fellow became slightly excited, saying, “You know I believe this is all true – am I now a Christian?”
The Vicar asked him several questions: “Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? …Do you know you are a sinner needing saving? …that Jesus died for you on the Cross, and rose again for your salvation?”
The chap replied in the affirmative to all these questions. “Then you are a Christian!” The man had great joy. Over the years he became a faithful, active, supportive, and trusted member of the congregation.
The story is told of a retreating SS Nazis Army Officer escaping from the Russian Red Army, towards the end of the Second World War: whilst hiding, he realised that the tattoo of his blood group in his armpit would make him a target for torture and a cruel death. He took a pocketknife and carved away the tissue with its dangerous tattoo.
So we must urgently be rid of our condemning guilt of our sins!
When the Rev Pat Ash was Vicar of Otley (featured in the soap “Emmerdale” as Hotten), he had a metre high banner along the railings of the church, in the main street: “This Church is for sinners only”.
I was travelling into town by bus, when I realized that the tall elderly man sitting behind me was a “Jehovah’s Witness”. I spoke: “Excuse me asking, but you aren’t you a Jehovah’s Witness? May I ask you a question? … What must I do to be saved?” He hesitated for quite some time. In the end he could not answer. “But the apostle Paul, in Acts 16, had a clear answer, when asked that question: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!”
A gentleman was selling raffle tickets for the British Heart Foundation in our local shopping mall. At best, my £2 might win me £1,000. I explained that my current investment earned me a return of capital plus 10,000%. This is Jesus’s promise and was guaranteed. His reply was that you couldn’t take it with you when you die. My retort: “No, but you can send it on ahead!”
A low-key type of witness to people who may have internet Access:
My name is Douglas Wilkinson. When I Googled my name, there were 13 million of us – an All-in Wrestler, and a supplier of agricultural fertilizer, to name two! Fortunately I have a middle name: Barrett. When I use this, there are only five hits; and they are all me.
A STRANGE YARN
I had returned from Military Service to complete the final Art College year. As a new Believer, I joined with others in starting a teatime Christian Group. On this particular day, we had a young Curate from Guiseley to speak – he was saying that as Followers of Jesus, who had found salvation and forgiveness through the Cross, everything would change – like if you fall for a new girlfriend, you might start parting your hair, and behaving differently. David Hockney, a most talented student, had arrived late, and ostentatiously sat beside the speaker and opened his packet of strawberry jam sandwiches. We all knew that Hockney had done just that: she was a very smart Commercial Art student – gone was his Stanley Spencer fringe, and obvious was a neat parting. Hearing the Curate’s words brought smiles to the group, and blushes to David’s face.
[15] Acts 1:8 encourages us to start where we are. Before supporting missionary work abroad, we should put money and effort, into reaching our own family.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Mark 5:18-20 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.
19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
[16] The heresy of: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words”
“Jared Cornutt is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned a BA in Political Science and a BA in history. He is currently pursing a Master’s of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has worked for LifeWay’s FUGE Camps for 3 summers and recently served as camp director. He enjoys discipleship, studying the Word and working Disciple Now’s with a little Alabama football on the side.
(Viewed 06FEB2014; email: “Feel free to use it! Jared”)
I am submitting Jared’s article from the Internet for consideration. It is an important issue, which needs to be looked at:
Context:
This quoted is credited by most people to St. Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Franciscan Order. The quote is essentially saying live you life in such a way that it just screams out Jesus. The truth of the matter is we have no way in proving St. Francis actually ever said this. None of disciples, early, or late biographers have this written down from his sayings. It also is not found anywhere in any of his writings. So when people quote St. Francis with this, they are flat-out wrong. There is zero historical evidence to support that St. Francis ever said this. The closest he came to saying anything like this would be:
“No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . All the Friars should preach by their deeds.”
Simply put, practice what you preach. If you look at his disciples, biographers, and his writings the credited quote to him is in no way how he lived his life. This quote does not line up in any way in the thinking and theology of St. Francis. So the first thing we must realize is St. Francis never said this to our knowledge.
Why it is wrong:
- The quote is wrong for many reasons, one way is that it spews arrogance. I live my life in such a way that people see Christ through my actions. Now, I do believe we should live worthy of the calling we have received as Paul put it in Ephesians. We must remember though that our righteous works are like filthy rags.
- It can be used as a cop-out sadly. People will use this justify not evangelizing. That the way they live tells people about Jesus. This simply not what the Bible teaches.
- If someone has not idea who Jesus, how will they gather who he is just by how you live your life? Duane Liftin said it best:
“It’s simply impossible to preach the Gospel without words. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.”
Also, Paul has a good word in Romans 10:14;
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”
- Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Simple enough.
- The gospel is the declaration of something that actually happened. That is why Jesus commanded us to go to the nations and tell them. He did not command us to go live among them in a holy way, and let our actions preach. And since the gospel is the saving work of Jesus, it isn’t something we can do, but it is something we must announce. We do live out its implications, but if we are to make the gospel known, we will do so through words. I can appreciate the heart and intent of why people post that quote, but let us not live our lives that way. Let the Gospel come out of our mouths truthfully and constantly. (credit Ed Stetzer to much of this point)
The gospel requires, demands even, words. So, let’s preach the gospel, and let’s use words, since they’re necessary. May they be clear and bold words that call those inside and outside the church to follow Jesus. I’ll leave you with this quote from Mark Galli:
“‘Preach the gospel; use words if necessary’ goes hand in hand with a postmodern assumption that words are finally empty of meaning. It subtly denigrates the high value that the prophets, Jesus, and Paul put on preaching. Of course, we want our actions to match our words as much as possible. But the gospel is a message, news about an event and a person upon which the history of the planet turns.”
[17] Wearing a badge
This should be done with care. Folk will recognise you to be a Christian, without you being aware of it; and they will watch your behaviour! A churchman was standing, on a crowded commuter train, when a personable lady asked him about the cross he was wearing. He was most pleased to explain the meaning of the Crucifixion to her. When they stepped out onto the platform, she said, “Actually I am a nun, but I wanted the other passengers to hear your explanation of the Gospel!” Take the famous “Fish Badge”: the Greek word for fish (ichthus/ixthus), can stand as an acronym for “Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour”.
Without being aware of our witness, reminds me of my wife Florence’s experience. As a little girl, she was taken to the home of old deaf Grandpa Farrar, a Sunday School teacher. He sat by the fire, reading his Bible aloud, quite unaware of the little girl curled-up, hiding under the drapes of the dining table. This was so impressed on her memory. Later she became a trained Methodist Local Preacher, at the age of seventeen. She subsequently preached from the pulpit where Smith Wigglesworth and the Jeffreys Brothers had ministered.
[18] Starting a conversation – jokes can help
Among the millions of ways, the placing of a quotation is one.
a.
The Professor Stephen Hawkins quotation:
Here is a quotation from one of the chief, and most admired proponents of this idea, Professor Stephen Hawkins:
“Our universe and its laws appear to have a design that both is tailor-made to support us and, if we are to exist, leaves little room for alteration That is not easily explained and raises the natural question of why it is that way … The discovery relatively recently of the extreme fine-tuning of so many of the laws of nature could lead at least some of us back to the old idea that this grand design is the work of some grand designer … That is not the answer of modern science … our universe seems to be one of many, each with different laws.”
Here is recognition of the evidence; but a denial of its implications: because of an already accepted World View.
(Professor Hawkins quoted by Professor John Lennox from “The Grand Design”, pp162, 164; “God and Stephen Hawking – whose design is it anyway?” p47, Lion
Hudson, Oxford, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7459-5549-0, £4.99)
The Gravestone quotation, initially humorous
In a graveyard south of Dublin:
Oh stranger pause as you go by;
As you are, so once was I,
As I am, so will you be,
So be prepared to follow me.
Someone had written below:
To follow you, I’d be content.
But hanged if I know which way you went.
On opening the morning paper, a man found himself reading his own obituary. He quickly phoned a friend to see if he had seen it. “Yes – where are you phoning from?”
d.
Ask a person to read Isaiah 53, and ask them what they think to it – I carry a printed page, as I am learning it by heart.
e. HOT-CROSS BUNS When paying for a packet: The Cross means everything to me (explain). “The Cross” was shorthand in the New Testament for Atonement and Salvation.
[19] A Challenge
The Two Lepers
2 Kings 7: 1-11 NLT
(1) Elisha replied, “Hear this message from the LORD! This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of fine flour will cost only half an ounce of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only half an ounce of silver. “
(2) The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!”
But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”
(3) Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other. (4) “We will starve if we stay here, and we will starve if we go back into the city. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.”
(5) So that evening they went out to the camp of the Arameans, but no one was there! (6) For the Lord had caused the whole army of Aram to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried out. (7) So they panicked and fled into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, and they fled for their lives.
(8) When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating, drinking wine, and carrying out silver and gold and clothing and hiding it. (9) Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is wonderful news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some terrible calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”
(10) So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened–that they had gone out to the Aramean camp and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there was not a single person around. (11) Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace.
[20] Try talking to folk about Jesus, as though you had just discovered Him yourself.
[21] In my view, every Believer should carry a Bible or New Testament, and be ready to read it in public places – as you would a novel or a newspaper; and be ready to give it away to someone who does not have a copy, and will read it.
Cancelled Train
Ten minutes gave me ample time to change platforms… but no need: the express out of Victoria had been cancelled.
The slow train would take me part of the way, and give a pleasant place to continue my reading: a charming gilt-edged edition of the RSV, New Testament and Psalms. I was at 1 and 2 Timothy.
The carriage filled just prior to departure, and, at the last moment, a tall young lady in a long black overcoat took the seat by me.
“Hello!” she said.
“Do I know you?”
“No.”
“It’s very kind of you to say Hello.”
For the next few minutes she was talking on her mobile. I deduced that both her mother and father were caring people, and that she had come towards the end of a long journey.
“Mobiles can be a mixed blessing,” she said. “Are you reading an interesting book? Well, you wouldn’t be reading it, if it wasn’t interesting!”
“It is the most interesting book in the World!”
“I believe that book; but I don’t like the Church.”
“I’m reading One and Two Timothy – and the Holy Spirit doesn’t think much to the Church either.” [He does love it, and has committed Himself to it, however.]
We talked about judgement and Heaven, the death of Christ for our sins, and resurrection. She wondered if Jesus was really the Archangel Michael [That is a Jehovah’s Witness heresy – like believing that conscience is the Holy Spirit].
I deduced that the positioning of her head indicated a hearing limitation – so I had to talk louder than normal…. An eminent Oxbridge retired vicar, who had been sitting further down the train, gave us an encouraging smile, as he left.
Cancelled trains, are not always disasters.
[22] Paul’s openings of the Galatian and Roman Letters
The importance of the Good News is made abundantly clear in this passage.
Firstly we have the use of the word euangelion – good news and its pronoun.
15 times 1:6 – 4:13
Then we have references to the content of the Message – the Kerugma.
1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
1:7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
1:9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.
1:12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
2:2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
2:5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
2:7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter (the Gospel – original Greek) had been to the Jews.
2:14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
3:8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
KERUGMA CONTENT
1:1; 1:4; 1:6; 1:15-16; 1:23; 2:6 (NIV); 2:16; 2:21; 3:5; 3:8; 3:13; 3:22; 3:24-26; 3:29; 6:14.
Romans 5:1-11 is similar. In this short passage I counted seven references to contents of the Gospel Message.
[23] Make the most of every opportunity
As far as we know, there will be no evangelism post our resurrection – in Heaven. The time may come in this life when evangelism is limited – by age or infirmity.
[24] Use of Heresies
As I said earlier, we can make use of local heresies.
A neighbour might ask: “The Jehovah’s Witnesses were round yesterday: why do you think they are wrong?”
“They do not believe in the eternal deity of Christ; they believe that salvation is by our own obedience to the Law, and not by faith in Christ’s atonement; they cause the deaths of children, and their own members by refusing blood transfusions!” Paul appears to see the use of heresies in this way (1 Corinthians 11:18-19). The common ground is the idea that a certain faith is wrong – we are discussing the issue from the same side.
Or this account of a meeting with Mormons: On the bus, I spotted two Mormon missionaries; one was witnessing to a lady sitting in front of us. (Shame on real Christians for not sharing their faith.) When the lady left the bus, the young fellow turned and started on me. Before he had spoken many words, I observed,
“Your religion is utter rubbish! The Bible tells us not to add to it; and you do!”
“Oh no we do not!” came his reply.
“Every time you go to Church on a Sunday, you carry two books: the Bible and the ‘Book of Mormon’. And another thing: you must have an uncaused, first cause!” (Mormons believe that God was originally a man). We had reached his stop….
A day or so later, the doorbell rang. There was a tall young fellow in a white shirt, dark tie, wearing a name badge, and carrying a black satchel. I laid into him: “I’ve told you that you must have an uncaused First Cause, you must not add to the Word ….”
“Who do you think I am, and why am I here? He asked.
“You’re a Mormon!” I stated.
“No… I’m promoting ‘n-Power’….”
We both had a good story to tell!
How do Muslims differ from Christians, they both have caused harm in the World, and both have a holy book? Currently it is the Islamists who are creating widespread murder and havoc in the name of their religion. The Qur’an is not an orderly book. The Medina and the Mecca halves are quite different in their ethos. It is quite a short book, and claims to have originated in Heaven; and yet there are about two hundred abrogations, or internal corrections. Whereas the Bible contains hundreds of precise literary cross-references between writers: the Qur’an has only vague uses of recollections of stories and characters – hearsay: as Arab peoples would not have access to the text of the Jewish Bible, not being able to visit synagogues where copies were kept. There is the cheap trick of claiming that Christians and Jews degrading the text cause any differences – quite the opposite will become apparent on careful study. Much of Islamic practice does not come from the writings of the Prophet, but from the Hadith – parts of which were written 200 years after the Qur’an.
I was travelling into town by bus, when I realized that the tall elderly man sitting behind me was a “Jehovah’s Witness”. I spoke: “You are a Jehovah’s Witness aren’t you? … May I ask you a question? … What must I do to be saved?” He hesitated for quite some time. In the end he could not answer. I pointed out: “But the apostle Paul, in Acts 16, had a clear answer, when asked that question: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!’” How can serious Bible Students not know the answer to this question?
A JW gentleman called at our house, we had a sympathetic chat, and he left me their current “Watchtower” magazine. It was well produced, with promising arguments on finding “Truth”. They still use the obsolete translation of the Divine Name YHWH, instead of the better “Yahweh”. The article on God and Christ is blasphemous. Their age-old promise of a glorious Kingdom is misleading, damming, incomplete in Doctrine: with no discussion of Judgment, the Millennium, Salvation, Grace, Forgiveness and Atonement.
Those with weak or bad arguments will resort to attacking the character of their opponent, and perhaps using physical force. The accusation that Religions have caused wars may be dealt with by pointing out that Stalin and Hitler, etc have also caused wars and atrocities. Claiming to be against all religions, even counting Communism as a religion, needs to be addressing: philosophies, World Views, and Ideologies.
A neighbour, who is not yet a Christian, makes the point that God is Love; but overlooks the fact that He loves the World, and He loves Justice.
[25] Philemon 1:6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Through tentative, nervous, unsure witnessing, we will find the Holy Spirit helping us miraculously; and our own understanding, faith and assurance, will develop. With hard objections, we can refer to Christians with experience in that field: “I do not know the answer to that, but I will ask around, and let you know ….”. Creation Ministries International has thousands of scientific papers on specialist areas, for instance.
[26] Witnessing can make enemies, and you may face danger!
[27] Giving or lending DVD’s or books
This impressive DVD programme can be investigated at www.Vision of World Translation and The Story Behind God’s Story. This Web Site give exciting details, including the 300 languages it has been adapted to – my contact is Info@word.org.uk
Bridge Builders encourage and assist people to carry copies of the Gospels to give to those we witness to, and long to help. www.bridge-builders.net UK.
[28] RUNNING SPECIALIST COURSES FOR SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS
This ancient photo serves to illustrate. Six Form students booked for a holiday in Holland, to visit many of the iconic Dutch galleries. They lodged at a Catholic facility (opposite a military airfield, and near the Royal Palace), the leaders were Christian Art Teachers and two Oxbridge students, under Branse Burbridge (DSO, DFC and Bar, MA[Oxon] – a WWII night fighter pilot), and the Principal of a Dutch Bible College. Professor Rookmaker gave Art History lectures, and the whole excellent course had a strong Christian content – organised by Scripture Union in Schools.
[29] A powerful argument against the Gospel is the false idea that Evolution has disproved the Bible; I feel this in witnessing. Much of serious science is based on the assumption of an ordered Universe; many of the West’s great scientists were Christians.
Here are two items offered to our Church Magazine:
“In Six Days” Why fifty scientists choose to believe in Creation, Edited by John F. Ashton, PhD, Master Books, 2012, USA
Perhaps not a good idea to allow it to become my Book at Bedtime – in some parts I was reminded of the most difficult Six Form Lessons in Physics and Chemistry, of schooldays. On average the articles are 7.68 pages in length, including references. I found it more gripping than a detective novel, and far more important. All the contributors are PhD’s, many are professors, and they write from a background of study, research, lecturing, and writing. With fifty of them, areas range from ecology to cosmology, medicine to microbiotics.
Professor Richard Dawkins, called the Apostle of Atheism and the Prophet of Evolution, complained recently about children being told fairy stories – because they were unscientific. Amazingly he quoted the example of the Princess, who kissed a frog, and it became a Prince Charming; and yet he believes that all the Princes in the History of the World came from nothing!
I offer a few examples from the essays.
Professor Andy McIntosh has retired from Leeds University, and worships at a church in Milnrow (UK). He lectures all over the World on the Christian view of Creation, and preaches in Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, UK, occasionally.
In Ecology: living systems are incredibly dependent on each other to be sustained. Similarly living cells resemble cities in the complexity of their arrangement. This gives rise to the concept of Irreducible Complexity – nothing could exist without all parts in place.
The basic First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics will not allow for evolution in our Universe. Great Intelligence must have written the complexity of Information in Genetic Coding. The ink and paper cannot write an essay by themselves.
Professor Baumgardner works in the area of Catastrophic Plate Tectonics, and like so many, finds his research in possible harmony with biblical creation and Noah’s Flood.
Explanation
There are only two real options. Godless evolution from Zero to Zoro: for which there is a stack of evidence against, and a paucity of evidence for. Secondly, Creation by the power of an Almighty, All Knowing God – for which the evidence is stacked up in favour for. Neither is strictly science, but are philosophies – beliefs.
A third possibility is Theistic Evolution – God created all by evolution over billions of years. This is tantamount to demythologising the Bible, rather like the Sadducees. Saying that “The Feeding of the 5000” was achieved by Jesus arranging the delivery of flour, and hard working bakers, over several weeks – clearly not true!
RELEVANT
It would be wonderful if young people were able to “evaluate scientific evidence”. Unfortunately the modern dumbed-down school science syllabus makes this unlikely; there is little scope for actual understanding.
On the contrary, I doubt if many professional biologists have actually evaluated the evidence for evolution. When they do, they may develop concerns about it, but dismiss these on the grounds that everyone else believes it so it must be true. The herd instinct is quite strong in science, and any biologist publicly expressing doubts about evolution would find it difficult to get a job. That means that serious research into alternatives has to be carried out by amateurs or academics in other disciplines.
There are good scientific reasons to doubt evolution, quite apart from what the Bible teaches. The apparently spontaneous creation of information, in flat contradiction to thermodynamics and information theory, is one of them. To get round this most biologists either ignore it or claim that life is not fully subject to the laws of physics (thus agreeing with creationists!). It suits atheists to pretend there are ‘God vs. science’ debates. These are usually actually ‘science vs. science’ debates. There can be no conflict between true science and Christian belief.
Dr Dave Kimber, via email
“In Your Words”, p 36, IDEA, The Magazine of the Evangelical Alliance; March/April 2014 [Adapted]
[30] ABBA
When as a child my father held me close, a common sensation was the rough stubble on his cheek. I had his full attention – his ear.
Abba is an Aramaic word, drawn from the everyday language of Palestine – often heard on the streets, its Hebrew base is often used in the Old Testament, but rarely of God. It is also a title for rabbis and a proper name. As the first word a child might learn, it is equivalent to our word Daddy [or Papa] and is laden with a warm sense of intimacy. The word is found in our Bibles in a combined form, “Abba, Father,” which links the Aramaic word with the Greek word for father (abba, ho pater). It may be that the Greek word is added to explain the unfamiliar abba to believers beyond Palestine. But even in Palestine in NT times, the combined formula was used in prayer and as a way family members addressed the head of the household. No slave or servant in the household had the privilege of using this formula to address his master.
This fact underlies the argument in Ro 8:15 and Gal 4:6, two of the three NT occurrences of abba. Paul wants us to grasp the dramatic change of relationship that comes with being a Christian. We believers no longer address God as would a servant or a slave. We come to the Lord in the full assurance that we are family.
The full intimacy of our relationship is sensed in the only other biblical use of the phrase. “Abba, Father” was the anguished cry of Jesus in Gethsemane, anticipating the agony of Calvary (Mk 14:36). When we hurt, we too can call on a God who welcomes us into his arms as dearly loved children. This closeness with our Father is indicated in two words: “Hesed” (the Hebrew word presented hardship for the early translators – “mercy” later becomes “loving kindness”); and “agape” – the overwhelming love of God!
Gerhard Kittel: “Jesus probably used abba for God not only in Mark 14:36 but also whenever the Gk pater occurs. It denotes childlike intimacy and trust, not disrespect. In Paul … it may be a liturgical reminiscence, possibly the opening of the Lord’s Prayer. It undoubtedly expresses the new relationship with God proclaimed and lived out by Jesus and then experienced by believers in him.”
Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
It is an indication that the child exists here, quite soon after birth
Our weakness and immaturity is being confessed
His supremacy is being acknowledged
It indicates closeness, intimacy, and dependency
We are greatly honoured to have this privileged position
God wishes us to use this word, because it gives Him pleasure
Jesus and the Holy Spirit use it
[31] STREET PASTORS
BOOK REVIEW
“STREET PASTORS” and “FAITH ON THE STREETS”
Les Isaac with Rosalind Davies
ISBN 978-1-84291-419-9 and ISBN 978 1 444 75009 6
These two books tell the history of STREET PASTORS, the first in the early days, the second to 2014. The work is honouring to all involved in its establishment in Britain: Church, Home Office, Parliament, the Metropolitan Police, and national Police Forces. It is effective in moving in to help the weekend clubbers and drinkers who land in trouble on our streets. Crime is noticeably reduced, and the witness of the Church in supporting society is made visible “ … an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. It was pioneered in London” (January 2003), following work done in Jamaica.
Les Isaac reckons that 75% of people will ask him to pray with them: from business managers, bouncers, and lads and lasses.
Besides the lengthy negotiations, there are marvellous testimonies of the work done by Street Pastors. There are nine groups working in the Greater Manchester area, in the UK – particularly in violent town centres on weekend nights and into the early mornings. Potential volunteers should try the Internet for more information; but please include them in your prayers!
The disrespect shown to Christians by a secular society is ignorant of the huge success of work such as this, and Alpha in Prisons – in reducing crime and re-offending.
[32] POSTERS Many church buildings are by main roads or thoroughfares, and so have a first class opportunity to hold forth the Word of God in poster form – often to thousands of people a day. Posters come in many forms: some quite basic, some picturesque and innovative.
What a terrible disgrace it is that many of us fail to witness through posters.
Philippians 2 verses 15-16 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Trinitarian
[33] Born Again A commonly misused expression. First used in the New Testament by the Lord Jesus Christ in a conversation with a Jewish Leader (John chapter 3). Also implied in the writings of Paul and Peter.
If there is a family where one member is particularly wayward and evil, how we might wish that they could be born afresh with a totally new DNA! Metaphorically and spiritually, they are when saved by Jesus.
You may find this farfetched, but here is one of millions of similar accounts.
From a sermon by Rev Miles Toulmin, Holy Trinity Brompton, London, UK
“TOM TARRANCE is a mentor to a friend of mine – they meet about twice a year; but he was not always the good guy. He was hunted and tracked down by the American intelligence agencies. In fact he was on Edgar Hoover’s list of the top ten most wanted men in America – for acts of terrorism. Eventually they tracked Tom down, and they decided they were going to take him, and arrest him. And a whole squad of the team were in place. They went to a gate with him, but he resisted. And in the darkness, at point-blank range, twenty-six snipers opened fire on him. They shot 367 rounds of ammunition at him. Amazingly Tom survived. They rushed him to hospital – he recovered, was prosecuted, and put in jail. Now being the sort of chap he is – he rapidly escaped from jail; so they had to do it all over again. And they put him, this time, in solitary confinement in a cell 9 foot by six foot. He was allowed out once a week for twenty minutes.
“Whilst in that cell, one day he noticed graffitied on the wall: the words from Matthew (’s Gospel), “What does it profit a man, to gain the whole World, yet lose his own soul.” There and then, Tom asked Jesus into his life. And he was filled with the Spirit. The agent who had orchestrated and the capture of Tom went to the prison to interview him. He said that in the first 60 seconds he knew that something had happened – such was the change in this man. He felt uneasy, and couldn’t work it out, and left. Within 2 weeks, that agent had become a Christian. Eventually Tom was let out early, and he tracked down 22 of the 26 snipers who had shot him. He tracked them down, to go and say to them personally, face-to-face, “I am sorry!” Such was the change in this man’s character that 21 of the 22 snipers came to faith in Jesus Christ. This life is there for us – not just when we get to Glory; but now!”
[34] ANGELS, DREAMS, AND VISIONS There are many accounts, from around the World, of God revealing Himself in these miraculous ways. These are seen in my own experience also. One Christian, who has worked in the Middle East and North Africa for thirty years, knows of hundreds who have been converted through a vision of the Lord Jesus.
I was sitting by myself in the corner of a railway carriage, reading my morning portions of Scripture. Half way through the journey, a lady with two teenagers came and sat down opposite me. She was rather agitated, and asked “Are you psychic?” I most certainly am not! But I wanted to understand more about her, and the question. The night before, staying in a YWCA, she had dreamed of entering a railway compartment, in which a man was sitting in the corner reading a Bible. We discussed religion – her sister annoyed her by asking: “Are you born again?” “Do you know Jesus in a personal way?” I explained that recently my sermon at a Baptist Church, near the route of the train, had been on Spiritual Regeneration – Being Born Again. She was a Baptist, and a schoolteacher. My friends think she had had a nightmare.
[35] The Engels Scale was devised by missionaries working in a South American country, as a means of identifying the process of evangelism.
No awareness of God
Some awareness of God
Awareness of Christians
Contact with Christians
Interest in Jesus Christ
Investigate Jesus
Grasp the truth about Jesus
Accept Christian truth
Awareness of their need
Become a Christian
Quoted in the reverse order by Rev Rob Frost. “Sharing Jesus in a New Millennium”. SU. UK. 2000.
[36]Old Age or incapacity
It is said that Smith Wigglesworth, in his aged years, used to visit a seat at a local bowling green in order to engage folk in spiritual conversation. A dear local lady witnessed to fellow residents in the Residential Home, and led several to salvation in Christ. An elderly businessman, Donald Daisley, in Leeds, always travelled First Class, because he saw a need to have a witness there.
Psalm 92:14 They will still bear fruit in old age…
[37] Bible read by David Suchet – GB£39.99 from church bookshops, or Amazon.
Internet Daily Bible Readings by Nicky Gumble of Holy Trinity Brompton (the home of “Alpha”).
New Living Translation – early edition, Moody Bible Institute
[38] CHRISTIAN CHARITIES AND ALTRUISTIC WORK
These show the love of God in practical ways:
World Vision and the similar TEAR Fund [The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund – both widely supported, and used, helping of the poor; including supporting individual needy children],
The Barnabas Fund, and Open Doors [two fine organisations which inform and stand-up for the Persecuted Church],
Dr Barnardo’s, Salvation Army,
Mission Aviation Fellowship – provides air transport to isolated places, for church workers – even the Archbishop of Canterbury!
Christian Blind Mission, Book Aid,
Pilgrims’ Friend Society [gives advice and support relative to the pains of growing old], The Leprosy Mission, Mercy Ships, Christian Aid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Victory Outreach UK,
Christians Against Poverty [a widely admired source of counsel and practical help for those trapped in poverty], Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) [presenting advocacy from grass-roots to Government],
The Hospice Movement [one of the glowing developments of recent decades, mainly initiated by church members], Samaritan’s Purse International, Sisters of Jesus Way (Wirrel, UK),
Redeeming Our Communities [based in Manchester UK, working together, particularly with the Police towards, safer kinder communities].
CitizenGO is a community of active citizens that seek to defend life, the family, and fundamental rights worldwide
Most of these have Web Sites and approachable offices.
39] PARA-CHURCH GROUPS
Spreading the teaching and good news of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Missionary Ventures – personnel, short-term mission teams, and offices in sending nations.
Church Army, Bible Societies – we must offer the Scriptures to our own country-people, and financially support the worldwide distribution, Byd Mary Jones World exhibition centre – near Lake Bala, North Wales, UK, Scripture Union [encouraging private Devotional Reading, working with youngsters in schools, and Summer Camps – which are often based on specialist interests],
Church Pastoral Aid Society – publishing support material for churches,
TEE Tools to Equip and Empower – International teaching courses to train church members to be informed and competent (Interserve)
Christian Television Association etc have joined for marketing as: the brilliant AOvision,
Premier Radio, Baptist Missionary Society etc, Christian Endeavour, Regents Theological College – and similar training facilities,
True Freedom Trust, Reachout Trust [dedicated to warnings against heresies], Reelife Recordings, United Christian Broadcasters etc, Evangelical Alliance [standing for Church Unity and church development and Mission], The Mission to Seafarers, Operation Mobilization [the huge and influential mission], Evangelism Explosion, Children’s Ministry, Language Recordings UK, Spring Harvest and similar conferences, Far Eastern Broadcasting Association, Bible Reading Fellowship, Torch Trust for the Blind, Crusade for World Revival, World Evangelisation Crusade, Church Mission Society, Alpha [based at Holy Trinity Brompton, London, UK. This has seen International and inter-denominational influence, resulting in wonderful conversions. Decried by a few, often otherwise fine Christians.] Word of Life (to World faiths), Bridge Builders (distributing the Scriptures), Scripture Gift Mission/Lifewords, Christian Enquiry Agency, Deo Gloria Trust, Release International, Christian Publicity Organisation – fine art work, Agape – work amongst students, Prison Fellowship International [started by Charles Colson – Special Council to US President Richard Nixon, and caught-up in the Watergate Scandal], Min-y-don, Christian Adventure Centre etc, Youth For Christ, Youth With A Mission, National Young Life Campaign – Beach Missions, The Message Trust (The Eden Project), Urban Saints (Youth Bible Teaching groups), Soul Survivor – a wonderful young people’s outreach, Creation Ministries International (critiquing Evolutionary hypotheses: a vital field), Open-Air Mission, Open Air Campaigners, Faith Mission, Agape Arabic Christian Centre, Asian Christian Books, Boys Brigade, Day One Publications – brilliant work, Our Daily Bread (Radio Bible Class, Day of Discovery TV), Sat-7 (TV to North Africa and Middle East), Far Eastern Broadcasting Association (FEBA), Fellowship of Christian Motorcyclists, Christian Motorcylists Association, “Friends and Heroes” children’s TV cartoon films, God TV, Gospel for Asia, City Missions, British Pakistani Christian Association, Canal Ministries, Bethlehem Bible College, Cliff College etc, Christian Medical Fellowship, Christian Police Association, Christian Resources Exhibitions, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Conservative (Party) Christian Fellowship, The JESUS film Project, Christians in Library and Information Services, Creation Research, Cross Rhythms, CLC Bookshops, Christian Dental Fellowship, Christian Endeavour, Crusade for World Revival (CWR), Hillsong London and Sydney etc., Keswick Conventions – UK and International – Clayton TV Keswick – for the Bible Studies, London School of Theology, Leeds Trinity University, Lee Abbey Fellowship, Maranatha Community – Charismatic/interdenominational, Moorlands College, Messianic Testimony, Reach Beyond (radio), Riding Lights Theatre Company, Soon Ministries – teaching on the Return of Jesus, Steve Legg (escapologist), SASRA (Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association, Storykeepers, The Pais Project – training during active youth work, Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF), Trans World Radio, Veggie Tales, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Hatikvah – Jewish and Christian concerns, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (Apologetics work based in Oxford, UK), evangelismideas.com 70 organisations including Trans World Radio, Jews for Jesus (and similar organisations – they offer 365 Messianic Prophecies [there are more]), Billy Graham on Youtube, Jay Smith on YouTube, Derek Prince Ministries – including YouTube. Derek was wonderfully blessed in Teaching, and in most of the miraculous Gifts – so had a wide experience. William Federer – “True Islam”, Most of the above have Web Sites, material to download, and approachable offices. BGEA – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on the Internet – “Searching for Jesus” 200 finding salvation every hour.
Counties UK, and their Neighbourhood Chaplains
Kensington Temple (Elim)
HOPE publishing
Bridge Builders – PTL.org.uk – handing out the Scriptures
United Beach Missions, Llandudno
Ffald-y-brenin This remarkable visitation of God and spiritual work in west Wales,UK, is worth looking into. http://www.ffald-y-brenin.org
Links to Azusa Street Mission, where the worldwide Holy Spirit Revival started; and Smith Wigglesworth – again people who were close to both, and an incisive ancient recording of George Jeffreys preaching in the great Pentecostal Revival (YouTube etc)
Most of the above have Web Sites and helpful Office Staff.
RECOMMENDED SOURCES GIVING TALKS AND SERMONS FOR DOWNLOADING: St Helen’s Bishopsgate, St Andrew’s Chorleywood, Holy Trinity Brompton, Christ Church Fulford, Sheffield, Simply Put, Talking Theology Cranmer Hall Durham University, Church Society Free Listening Sound Cloud,
Steve Clifford General Director of the Evangelical Alliance came recently to a momentous conclusion. “… it wasn’t the great Christian music that attracted me, or indeed stunning preaching or the amazing church I was to join. It was Jesus. Someone introduced me to Jesus. I heard about his life, his death, his history-shattering resurrection and deep down at the core of my being I just knew it was true, and because it was true it was to have a profound impact on every area of my life. At 17 years of age I became a follower of Jesus, the most amazing person who has ever walked the earth.” [Idea Magazine, September/October, 2015, page 34]
[40] HOSTILE WITNESS FROM ANOTHER RELIGION
In a medical waiting room, a forceful, hostile and frightening Muslim, in a bullying demeanor started a discussion. I made the point that until he had firstly read the Qur’an in a language he could read and write in, and similarly, read the Bible – I could not talk to him about these things. Many Muslims are disenchanted on actually reading the Qur’an in their Mother Tongue.
“IN THE LAND OF THE BLUE BURQAS” by “Kate McCord”
‘I lived in Afghanistan for five years, I learned the rules – I had to.’
All the names in the book have been changed for security reasons. Though in the midst of a high-powered career, the talented American writer left all, sold everything, and went to Afghanistan to start a non- government organisation (NGO) with the goal of helping Afghan women. She taught herself the local language and served there for more than five years; only leaving when it became too dangerous to stay. She wishes us to know the Afghan men and women she has come to love in Jesus’s name. The great chasm between Islam and the teaching of the Honourable Jesus Messiah was immense. This is one of the best, most significant books I have read for a long time.
Moody Press, Chicago, USA, 2012, £10
Purchased from Coopers Christian Bookshop, Church Street, Oldham. OL1 3AN. Phone: 0161 626 3547 (for those in the NW of the UK).
A STRANGE WAY TO WITNESS
The kind of honor shown to a man who decorated various locations with this word, in chalk, in his inimical style. A word which troubles the lost – making them think of the seriousness of their attitude to God. (Sydney Harbor Bridge, Australia)
OPEN AIR MEETINGS
These can range from the great rallies numbering a million or so: held by the famous Evangelists, to the small village green, city centre, or beach mission.
A fine face-to-face evangelist called Julian will also stand listening to a street preacher to help in starting a crowd.
It is good to stand at a short distance away, and hand leaflets to those who have decided to leave. Always be on the look-out for interested folk to chat to after the service.
Taking questions from the listeners draws people into the group.
A SECOND STRANGE WAY TO TELL FOLK
An Iranian, Christian husband and wife were driving through the central part of their country. They had committed themselves to witness to someone each day, and had a stack of Bible to give away, in the back of their car.
Towards the end of a day, they drove up to a petrol station to buy fuel and drinking water. A man leaning against the shop was obviously a Muslim extremist – he carried a gun. The husband said that he did not feel the Holy Spirit leading him to witness! The wife said that on Judgement Day, when this man was excluded from Heaven, she would tell Jesus that her husband had declined to witness to him. “If you want a martyr for a husband you can have it!” he shouted, as he slammed the car door.
After a fumbling start he started a conversation and offered the man a Bible. Whereupon, this tough looking fellow burst into tears. He told how he had been waiting for two days, after seeing a celestial being, in a dream, telling him to wait on this spot and someone would give him the book of life. He came to saving faith in Jesus.
Told by Amy Orr-Ewing, of All Saints Church Peckham, at the New Wine (South) Conference, 2007.
Here is an important article by David Garrison – taken from the highly respected Evangelical Alliance by-monthly magazine IDEA, July/August 2015, page 30
The greatest turning in history
Over the past three years, I travelled more than a quarter of a million miles into every corner of the ‘House of Islam’ – the name that Muslims have long given to an invisible spiritual empire that stretches across the Muslim world, from West Africa to the Indonesian archipelago – to investigate unprecedented reports of multiplying movements of Muslims who are turning to faith in Jesus. The House of Islam encompasses 1.6 billion Muslim men, women, and children. For nearly 14 centuries, Islam has been expanding, drawing into its orbit millions of followers. Today, for the first time in history, we’re seeing a change in this growing tide of Islamic advance.
My research revealed that we are living in the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims to Jesus Christ in history. Where is this occurring? How is it happening? And why is it happening today?
I interviewed Nadia, a 43-year-old Iranian widowed mother of three. She said: “From my childhood I have been very curious about Jesus. I felt there was an empty place inside of me. I learned that one of my cousins had become a Christian. I asked him for a New Testament and I read it. Inside I was in a revolution. So I prayed: ‘God, show me what is really true’. As I read it, I felt my heart open like an old door. From that time on, Jesus’ work started inside me. It was a strange happiness like nothing I’d ever known.”
Gathering interviews from more than a thousand Muslim-background followers of Jesus Christ like Nadia, I discovered that something historic, unprecedented, is happening. My core question to these Muslim-background followers was this: “What did God use to bring you to faith in Christ? “What I learned was that God is orchestrating something profound. God is using events and avenues that are unique to our day to bring about this turning. To understand the gravity of this historic moment, though, we need to look back over the past 14 centuries of Muslim-Christian interaction.
Since Muhammad first launched his monotheistic religion, tens of millions of Christians, as well as Buddhists, Hindus, and
Animists have been swept into the House of Islam. What I wanted to know was when the opposite occurred? When have we seen a movement of at least 1,000 Muslims from an Islamic community turned to faith in Jesus and been baptised? Baptism is important as an indicator of true faith; any Muslim will tell you that he or she loves Jesus. After all, the Qur’an exalts Jesus as a noble prophet. But to submit to baptism, an act that clearly indicates death to an old life and resurrection to a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ, one has to be firmly convinced. After all, conversion from Islam is a death sentence for Muslims. Apostasy is not an option if one wishes to continue to live with Muslim family and neighbours.
Perhaps this is why Muslim movements to Christ are so rare. My research revealed that the first hints of conversion did not occur until the year 982, which is 350 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The next don’t appear until the 11th and 13th centuries, and these movements were short lived, as Islam continued to expand. Then we see another five centuries of drought without a single movement to Christ.
Finally, in the closing decades of the 19th century, two movements appear: one in Indonesia (1870-1924) and the second in northern Ethiopia (1890-1910). The 20th
century saw the West embroiled in its own turmoil with two world wars and a great economic depression. At the end of the 20th century, however, things begin to change. With social and political upheaval in Iran, Algeria, Bangladesh, and the collapsing Soviet Union, Christianity sees the addition of 11 new Muslim movements to Christ. Something was happening.
Then, in the opening years of the 21st century, the monolith of Islamic resistance to the gospel begins to crumble. In just the first 12 years of the 21st century, we can identify and document a surge of 69 additional movements of at least 1,000 Muslims coming to faith in Jesus Christ and believers’ baptisms. Behind the veil of violence and conflict that so plagues the Muslim world, thousands of Muslims are walking away from Islam and placing their trust in Jesus as the Son of God and unique pathway to salvation.
How is this happening? On the one hand, it is the ageless story of men and women encountering the living Lord in humble submission. On the other hand, it is the unique confluence of Bible translations, the prayers of God’s people, the rise in global interconnectedness through the Internet, satellite television and radio, and the faithful witness of God’s people. God is orchestrating all of these factors together in our lifetime to bring about the greatest turning of Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ in history.
David Garrison’s book, A Wind in the House of Islam, is available now, published by WIGTake Resources.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 30
The laws in some nations, even western ones, do not support Christians in their witness – quite the opposite.
A recommended book: “THE WORLD ON OUR DOORSTEP” Evangelical Mission and other Faiths, by Dewi Hughes, Evangelical Alliance, London 2016
This gives a compendium of wise insights and advice.
[41] Evangelists advise
Roger Carswell is an evangelist who works with churches to put on weeklong missions involving evening meetings, where impressive testimonies are shared along with a gospel message. He regularly takes part in street evangelism and Beach Missions, writes on the subject, and produces tracts relating to the Gospel message. Here are nine tips on how to evangelise and gain confidence.
[1] Every day, pray God will lead you to someone with whom to share the Gospel
[2] Just talk about anything and everything – be chatty and not reserved. If you are on a bus or at a supermarket checkout, sometimes the conversation can naturally turn to talking about God.
[3] Carry booklets and tracts to give out when appropriate.
[4] You can’t just get into conversations time after time, with people all around you – colleagues and friends. Pray for the right moment; normally that comes in a one-to-time. Share something without forcing it.
[5] It is hard work until someone asks a question. But even if it is just: “You don’t believe that do you?” It’s an invitation to talk to them. [Or ask them for their own views – which gives you the right to explain yours. A group of apologists, based in Oxford, advocate asking questions. An eminent Australian lady was asked why she would not become a Christian – it was fear of death and judgement on her dear friends. This gave the opportunity to explain the perspective of salvation and judgment, and she joined her husband in the Faith of Christ.]
[6] Get it on the agenda. Churches should be discussing evangelism at every prayer meeting, and church business meeting, asking how we can reach people who don’t come to us.
[7] Any time you have a birthday, invite someone to come and give a 20-minute talk and share his or her testimony. I have buffet suppers where friends and neighbours join us. Think creatively: what can I do to reach out?
[8] Have confidence in the Gospel:
Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
It is not a philosophy to be debated – there is power to be unleashed. When we winsomely and lovingly share the Gospel, it is powerful.
[9] People I’m meeting are not my enemies! The aim is to love them into the Kingdom; it is very important that we don’t go into attack mode.
(“Christianity Magazine”, based on p45, c 2000)
Krish Kandiah, an enthusiast for evangelism – he has worked for various charities and is currently President of the London School of Theology (LST), the largest of its type in Europe:
“Courses like Alpha, Christianity Explored and Emmaus have been hugely helpful to the Church and have moved us on in a helpful way, but I don’t think there is a magic bullet when it comes to evangelism. I think one of the key things that the Church needs is a greater confidence in the gospel. Not as a formula, not as four bullet points, but the story of Jesus and who he was. The closer we are to him, the more likely we are to tell stories about him and the changes he is making in our lives and talk about the part of the scriptures that are really coming alive for us. If you have ever met someone who is passionate about an Apple product, they are amazing evangelists for those products and yet they have never had any training. They are not inviting you on a course to learn how to love the iPhone – they are just being incredibly enthusiastic and want you to have a go and experience it with them. I’m a big fan of courses, but I think we need courses plus a whole variety of different approaches.”
Pp20 ff, “Engage” Baptist World Mission magazine, Autumn 2015
Discussion on evangelism by Ben Francis (Associate Team Leader, and his team of Big Life Ministries, have planted over 13,000 churches in India in the last 15 years), and Chris Dunnett (former President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain) – they feel that people are well aware of their sinfulness and failure, and need to know that God is passionately loving towards them. Talk of repentance comes later. (Page 17ff Spring 2016: “Engage” magazine)
[42] Be prepared for the Long Haul – have patience
(From Jews for Jesus)
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Asaf, a 33-year-old drug addict had no interest in Jesus when he met Igal Vender during a street outreach. He accepted the invitation to a pop-up café for a free meal, but no sooner had he finished eating than he was ready to leave. “Wait, can I pray for you?” Igal asked. “You can do whatever you want,” Asaf shrugged, as he made his way back out to the street.
Igal kept an eye out for Asaf and gradually built a relationship with him. Asaf’s story was heartbreaking. He had immigrated to Israel with his father, leaving one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe, hoping for a better life.
Those hopes were dashed when Asaf could not find a job that would cover rent and other basic needs. Getting high with some guys on the street seemed like the only way to escape the harshness of his new reality. Eventually, Asaf became a heroin addict. Petty theft to pay for his habit landed him a two-year prison sentence. He was back on the streets and using when Igal met him.
Asaf refused Igal’s many invitations to his congregation’s ministry rehab house, but gradually began to welcome offers of prayer. Slowly but surely, Asaf’s heart began to soften. He finally came to the rehab house—where it became obvious that God was doing something remarkable! Asaf had clearly come to the end of himself. He accepted a copy of the Scriptures from Igal, and they read and discussed John’s Gospel.
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He also sat in on the daily study groups at the house, and eventually, he was able to smile.
Igal (right) serves with our Israel team in collaboration with Christian Witness for Israel
About three months after Igal began meeting with Asaf, he reported, “Today, we studied Matthew 8:23–27, where Yeshua (Jesus) calmed the storms. Asaf told me that from the moment he entered the rehab house, he felt someone calming his raging spiritual storm. He told me that he wanted to ask God to forgive his sin. He wanted Yeshua in his life. I had the joy of leading him in a prayer of faith in Yeshua as his Messiah and Lord.”
Please pray for Asaf as he takes his first steps in faith, that he will grow and mature and remain drug free. Igal asks for prayer as he continues to study the Bible with Asaf and as he prepares him for baptism.
Names are changed to protect privacy.
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Thank you for your
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the Gospel with
Jewish people
in the UK!
STAY CONNECTED
Mailing Address:
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Phone: +44 (0)207 267 5597
Email: enquiries@jewsforjesus.org.uk
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Pray that God will call and equip Believers to be evangelists, and every Christian to be a witness; to open doors for us, and push us through.
[43] BOOK REVIEW
“Story Bearer” How to share your faith with friends, Phil Knox, IVP, London 2020
As each generation of churchgoers has its inspirational book: “Sacrifice” by Howard Guinness, “Who Moved the Stone”, by Frank Morison, “God’s Smuggler”, by Brother Andrew, etc; this book could be the current one.
With almost four pages of recommendations by the eminent, to quote just one might have been sufficient.
This is a remarkable, entertaining, yet serious book which is to be read carefully. The theme is obviously “tell your story” to a waiting needy World, is balanced with anecdotes, factual and rational content. Its surveys are fascinating: Gutenberg Press to Google Browser, Old Testament, Jesus’s Story, the iPhone Age, and Social Media. If it does not change you, I will be surprised.
There is copious Internet support for House Groups: video sessions and outlines. www.storybearer.com Why not give this site a try?
Christian books can be purchased from www.eden.co.uk in Cheshire, UK
Currently Muslim people can look to God to guide through visions and dreams, and Pray to Jesus for healing and deliverance from jinn.
[44] The Ascension
The Ascension is not always mentioned in the Apostolic Sermons, and the Four Apostolic Gospels. It is important to discuss, however. Muslim Apologists make the point that “the donkey”, in the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, has a bigger profile than the Ascension. In this there is the attempt to deceive both Muslims and Christians. To admit to these two issues would be too much for their rhetoric! The misleading of hearers is a serious point against the Apologists’ case.
The Ascension was a most significant and awesome event.
Firstly: the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem has massive Messianic significance relative to fulfilled prophecy, and the Jewish expectation.
Secondly: the New Testament is peppered with teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ reigning in Glory: ASCENDED. The final achievement of the event is usually referred to: rather than the ten minute journey into Glory, we have the eternal residency in the Heavenly Glory. The Ascension is woven into Christian doctrine throughout the NT
Psalm 110:1-2 The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule in the midst of your enemies.
Psalms 47:5, 68:18,
Matthew 25:31-32 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him.
Matthew 26:64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 16:19; Luke 24:26; John 1:18, 6:62, 7:33; 13:1-3, 14:28, 16:5,28, 17:13
John 7:39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 12:15-16 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. [This passage mentions both the donkey and the Glorification in Heaven.]
John 12:23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 14: 2-4 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 16:5,7 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 14: 12, 28; 16:12; 17:5
John 16:28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
John 17:11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:13 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
John 20:17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’
Acts 1:1-2 I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
Acts 1:9-11 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:22 “Beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
[Peter’s Sermon the Day of Pentecost]
Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Acts 2:33-36 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” ’
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
[The sending of the Holy Spirit was proof that the Saviour had Ascended to the Throne of Heaven.]
[Peter’s Sermon at the Gate Beautiful]
Acts 3:20-23 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’
[Stephen’s Defence to the Jewish Court]
Acts 5:31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (and verses 26- end)
Ephesians 1:19-22 His incomparably great power for us who believe; that power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.
Ephesians 4:8-11 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, (and) some to be prophets.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
1 Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
1 Timothy 6:13…16 Christ Jesus …who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.
Titus 3:3-8 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Hebrews 7:24-26 Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Also Hebrews 8:1 ff,
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The whole Book of Revelation portrays Christ in Glory: ready to return to Earth at His Second Coming – which Muslims , incidentally, believe in.
For example:
Revelation 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. [As slain – crucified, standing – resurrected, within the throne – ascended in Heaven, and standing – watching over His people and ready to return]
Revelation 12: 5 She [Israel] gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
Revelation 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
[43] The Trinity
Although the word does not appear in the Scriptures, the revelation is clear in both Testaments. One World Religion, at least, ridicules the Christian Faith because of the Trinity – even though their concept of Heaven is one of an eternal brothel. A man-made religion would readily go down these two avenues of thought.
In reality, God is probably far more complex than this, but it is given as a concept to help humans. Religions which have a simple and attractive understanding of God are suspect.
A clever diagram of the concept of the Trinity – for example: stained glass window, half way along the south wall of St Andrew’s Church, Dearnley, Rochdale, UK
Humans are made in the “image of God” and we are tripartite: “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:26) 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim – a plural noun signifying thee or more (there is a form for dual).
God appears to Abraham represented as three beings in Genesis 18:2 ff.
In the Great Commission, one Name includes the thee Divine Beings: Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In the spirit realm, one being can have a plural manifestation also: the unclean spirits in the demoniac: Matthew 5:9.
44. Titles of the Lord Jesus Christ: Second Adam, Advocate, Almighty, Alpha and Omega, Amen, Anointed, Apostle, Arm of the Lord, Atoning sacrifice, Author of life, Author of salvation, Author and perfecter of our faith, Banner for the peoples, Beginning and End, Blessed and only Ruler, The Branch, Bread of life. Bridegroom, Bright Morning Star, Capstone, Carpenter, Carpenter’s son, Chief Shepherd, Chosen one, Chosen by God, Chosen and precious cornerstone, The Christ – Messiah, Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus our Lord, Christ of God, Christ of God, the Chosen One, Christ the Lord, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, Christ, the Son of God, Christ, the Son of the Blessed One, Commander, Commander of the LORD’s army, Consolation of Israel, Cornerstone, Counselor, Covenant for the people, David, Deliverer, Desired of all nations, Doctor, Eternal life, Everlasting Father, Exact representation of God’s being, Faithful and True, Faithful witness, Faithful and true witness, The First and the Last, Firstborn, Firstborn from the dead, Foundation, Fountain, Friend of tax collectors and sinners, Gate, Gift of God, Glorious Lord Jesus Christ, Glory of Israel, God, God and Savior of Israel, God of all the earth, God over all – forever praised, God the One and Only, God with us, Good Shepherd, Good Teacher, Great God and Savior, Great high priest, Great Shepherd of the sheep, Guarantee, Head of All Authorities, Head of every man, Head of the body – the church, Head of the church, Heir of all things, High priest, Holiness, Holy One, Holy One of God, Holy One of Israel, Holy and Righteous One, Holy servant Jesus, Our Hope, Horn of salvation, the I am, Immanuel, Indescribable gift, Innocent man, Israel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ our Lord, Jesus Christ our Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Nazareth – King of the Jews, Jesus the Son of God, Jesus, the Son of Joseph, Judge, King, King of Israel, King of kings, King of glory, King of the ages, King over the whole earth, Lamb, Lamb of God, Lawgiver, Leader, Life, Light everlasting, Light of the world, Light for the Gentiles, Light – true, Living bread, Living Stone, Lion of the tribe of Judah, Lord, Lord Almighty, Lord of all, Lord of lords, LORD Our Righteousness, Lord God Almighty, Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Lord Christ, Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus Christ, LORD mighty in battle, Lord of the dead and the living, Lord of the Sabbath, Lord’s Christ, LORD – your holy one, LORD – your redeemer, the Man Christ Jesus, Man of sorrows, Man who is close to Me [the LORD], Master, Mediator, Messenger of the covenant, Mighty God, Mighty One of Israel, Mighty one of Jacob, Mighty to save, Morning star, Nazarene, Offspring of David, Offspring of the woman, The One and Only, One and only Son, One He [the Father] loves, Only God our Savior, Overseer, Passover -Pascal Lamb, Perfecter of faith, Power of God, Physician, Precious cornerstone, Priest, Prince, Prince of Peace, Prince of Life, Prophet, Rabbi, Rabboni, Radiance of God’s glory, Ransom. Redeemer, Resurrection and life, Redemption, Righteous Branch, Righteous Judge, Righteous One, Righteous Servant, Righteousness, Rising Sun, Rock, Rock that makes them fall, Root of David, Root of Jesse, Rose of Sharon, Ruler, Ruler of God’s creation, Ruler of the kings of the earth, Ruler over Israel, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctuary, Saviour, Saviour Christ Jesus, Saviour Jesus Christ, Saviour of the body, Saviour of the world, Scepter, Seed of Abraham, Suffering Servant, Servant of rulers, Serves in the sanctuary, Shepherd, Shepherd and Overseer of souls, Chief Shepherd, Good Shepherd, Great Shepherd, Shepherd of Israel, Shiloh, Son God loves, Son of Abraham, Son of David, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of the Blessed One, Son of the Most High, Stone that causes men to stumble, Sun of righteousness, Sure foundation, Teacher, Throne above the Two Heavens – the Cosmos, True vine, Truth, Vine, Way, Who is, who was, and who is to come, Wisdom, Wisdom of God, Without sin, Witness, Wonderful Counselor, Word, Word of God, Word of life, all the thousands of thousands of Angels worship Him.
CHRIST’S PRE-EXISTENT DIVINITY:
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
Here we see the Lord Jesus as the uncaused first cause; who created everything that was made. Particularly in the New Testament, Gospel of John, do we find words such as: gave, came, sent, from, and going to. Such terms indicate Christ’s pre-existence.
John 16:28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’”
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim, three or more) created the heavens (two) and the earth (one). (Looking at the Hebrew nouns)
Genesis 18:1-3 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father
Isaiah 45:22-25 “Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.
They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone
are righteousness and strength.’ ”
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.
But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel
will be found righteous and will exult.
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.
Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
Tit 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Hebrews 7:1-3 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
Friend (Luke 12:4 f; John 15:14-15, 21:5)
Brother (Matthew 12:48, 25:40, 28:10; Mark 3:34; Luke 8:21; John 15:14-15, 20:17, 21:5)
Everything will be subjected to Him, Crowned with Glory and Honour, tasted death for everyone, brings many sons to Glory, perfected through suffering, rendered Satan’s power over death powerless, a merciful and faithful High Priest,
[Length of Genealogy shows importance: Jesus has 42 recorded in Matthew chapter 1; a typical family tree is of two or three generations.]
In Glory, our dear Lord will carry the marks of His Crucifixion.
John 20:19-20 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Revelation 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
The complexity of living organisms, and the huge size of our Milky Way Galaxy, point to the greatness of God and the Messiah. In 1929, the discovery was commenced that there are billions of galaxies containing billions of stars, having distances measured in light travelling for billions of light years. Why this huge extravagance? The answer is found in the last two words of Colossians chapter 1, verse 18: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and FOR HIM.
The majesty of Creation illustrates the colossal greatness of THE CHRIST for whom the Cosmos exists.
The Cosmos, which He fills (Ephesian 4:10)
Jesus is far more wonderful than you think!
We cannot pray that God will force people into the Kingdom: we must ask that they will hear the Gospel clearly.
45. THE CROSS
As an artist, I made the following observations: many “Crucifixion” paintings portray little of the real suffering: Christ Jesus is seen as uninjured, swooning figure, as in those by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (Painter and Ambassador), and El Greco, although Rembrandt did make studies in an abattoir before painting the Crucifixion.
Out of 127 reproductions of fine art, that I looked at: only ten showed Jesus injured seriously – 4 were actually on the Grunewald Altar Piece, and three were modern works; only 4 showed some sign of injury more than the five wounds of the Cross.
It is possible that when the Lord Jesus Christ had endured torture, and hung on the Cross, the following would be true of Him:
- Scalp, badly scared
- Beard torn-out, and would never grow fully again (Isaiah 50:6)
- Eyesight severely damaged
- Hearing now limited
- Body permanently scared with serious abrasions, and lacerations
- Horrendous disfigurement (Isaiah 52: 14b)
- Severe vascular damage and resulting loss of blood
- Jaw dislocated
- All other joints dislocated – neck, shoulders, wrists and hands, hips, knees, ankles and feet (Psalm 22: 14)
- Internal organs beyond healing
- The wounds of Crucifixion: feet/ankles, hands/wrists
Then there was the additional suffering: mental, emotional, and, above all, the spiritual – the bearing of sin and separation from the Father, which we cannot measure.
Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Psalm 22:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
The mention of the Cross in Scripture is a form of code: for all the countless blessings won for us by the Lord Jesus Christ, through His atoning death on Calvary.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 5:11, 6:12 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Ephesians 2:16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Philippians 3:18 for, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Colossians 1:20, 2:14 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Hebrews 12:2
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
- When I survey the wond’rous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory dy’d,
My richest Gain I count but Loss,
And pour Contempt on all my Pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the Death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his Blood.
3. See from his Head, his Hands, his Feet,
Sorrow and Love flow mingled down!
Did ever such Love and Sorrow meet?
Or Thorns compose so rich a Crown?
4. His dying Crimson, like a Robe,
Spreads o’er his Body on the Tree;
Then am I dead to all the Globe,
And all the Globe is dead to me.
5. Were the whole Realm of Nature mine,
That were a Present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my Soul, my Life, my All.
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
46. AN INTERESTING STUDY OF THE WORD OF THE LORD, IN ACTS
Acts 8:25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
13:49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
15:36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
16:32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
19:10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
19:20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
[1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.]
47. Harry Brearley, BEM
Written up by Douglas Wilkinson
In about 1960, attending Bridge Street Church, in the centre of Leeds, I was concerned to purchase a vehicle to use in open air preaching around Yorkshire, and to find someone to teach me to drive; I praise the Lord that both were accomplished. Harry Brearley became a good friend and driving instructor, and we worked together for many years.
When he was eighty-two, we met in October 1986, at his home at Prestatyn, North Wales, to record his autobiography, for the Cassette library I worked for as MD. We had not met for some twenty-two years.
The night before travelling, I noticed Psalm 66:16, “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” The very quotation he normally chose to introduce his testimony – he needed little prompting on this occasion. Although limited in eyesight and mobility, he still witnessed on the beaches, in market places and churches of the area. Often, as he told this story, tears ran down his cheeks.
He was born in 1904, in a rough quarter of Leeds, called “Little Hell”. There was no school for him … and at the age of 12, he turned to crime, caught by the police for petty theft, he was sent to a Reformatory School. It had little effect, and he was apprehended for gambling in the street and swearing. Court and a fine, led to bigger things. He watched neighbours’ houses so that he could burgle them. People and the police were on the look-out for him, and he hid in various lodging houses. Finally, in 1922, it was a case of join the Army. The Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment proved too strict for Harry – so he robbed the canteen and went AWOL. With his mates he robbed a shop on Crown Point Bridge, was arrested, sentenced to Armley Jail, before being transferred to a military prison, and Discharge with Ignominy. Even without a prison record, work was hard to find; home life was miserable, not helped with his parents being Spiritists.
Again he joined the Army, using his mother’s maiden name – the West Yorkshire Regiment. In trouble again he was placed in the very hard York Prison. By using his brother’s name, and a forged Birth Certificate, he yet again enlisted in the Army – the Eighth King’s Irish Hussars, at Canterbury. More trouble with the Police and a Discharge with Ignominy. In 1929 after much difficulty, he found work with Leeds Cleansing Department emptying trash bins. His mother told him to find a girl and settle down, so he drank in the “White Swan” pub, where all the lads and lasses went. Here he met Clara Winifred – Clara one night to his mum, Winifred the next night. Father was sent to spy on her to assess her: “My, he’s got a girl all right – she’s a real one; she’s a blond, and can drink him under the table!” When she became pregnant, they had to get married in 1930. They fought like a cat and dog – not caring for each other. They went down to his mother’s house to play cards, gamble, and drink. One night they caught the last tramcar home. At 6.15 the next morning someone knocked them up, to say his mother had collapsed and died of heart failure. The mother had a brother called Herbert, who was a Christian, so Harry asked him to arrange a funeral service at his church. “Have you ever been to church? Have you ever opened a Bible? Has your mother ever been to church? You just can’t treat God like a convenience. Well I’ll arrange a Memorial Service.”
At the Methodist Church they had Communion during the Memorial Service, and when the bread came round, his wife said, “Don’t touch it, we don’t know what it is!” Uncle Herbert said they were having a Campaign in a few weeks, would he come; Harry said he’d have nothing to do with it, but his wife promised to attend and bring Harry. When she told him, he slapped her across the face, “Don’t you promise to take me anywhere, where I don’t want to go! If it lasts after 8 o’clock, when I want to go for a drink, there will be trouble.” They were Cliff College Students on Trek, who made the Gospel plain from the words of the Bible: that Jesus had died for our sins. Before the end of the meeting, Harry and his wife went forward to the Communion Rail, and gave their hearts to the Lord. They could not hold themselves back. Harry said he could not go for a drink, because he had given his heart to the Lord. They had been heavy smokers, but on the way home their cigarettes would not light. They decided that it was wrong for them to smoke. Living for the Lord became their passion, with a particular call to preaching in the open air. Debts were paid off, and they were introduced to Bridge Street Four Square Church in Leeds (where I met Harry and Winifred).
Harry and Win realized that they did not have a Bible. So they prayed, and at work, he was sent to clear a house – number 8, Clarendon Avenue – of belongings piled in the yard. Among them was a large Bible with copious notes on the Return of the Lord Jesus, written by its owner – a subject which interested Brearley greatly. He then drove the horse and cart with one hand, and carried the precious book in the other, for seven hours. He was pleased to tell his workmates the reason for the prize: his conversion to Christ.
Prayer for some kind of vehicle led him to anticipate a fine car: in fact it was a tricycle built for selling ice cream from two large tubs – which were cleaned and used to carry leaflets. It was hard work, peddling up hills with this “Stop Me and Buy One” with a handy megaphone. Next, he purchased a second hand furniture van, and had texts painted on the sides. A bout of flue laid him low; the Minister traced his whereabouts via Harry Toft, a Church member, and an International Rugby Player – this led to financial help and a box of groceries – they were down to the last crust of bread. Harry was then taken ill with the child’s disease of scarlet fever and placed in an isolation hospital. Winifred was unable to draw any money to pay the bills, but Pastor T.H. Jewitt was able to visit the hospital and arrange the necessary transaction. Once well, they were back serving the Lord – and getting into many scrapes.
Preaching in a mission church on the text from Jeremiah 51:20: “Thou art My battleaxe”, he inadvertently pointed in his wife’s direction. She promptly stood up, and humorously shook her fist at him, much to everyone’s amusement.
At open air meetings they often played a popular recording of a singer called Jo Stafford, singing: “It is no secret what God can do, what He’s done for others, He can do for you”; When they returned for a second week, a lady came out of the Post Office and said, “Get that woman to sing that song again.” She pointed to Win, who had been quietly singing along with the record, and was virtually tone deaf. [The interesting story behind this song: Stuart Hamlin, a well-known radio personality, visited Billy Graham, the Evangelist, and his team in their hotel. After a long talk, he trusted the Saviour for salvation and immediately phoned his friend John Wayne, the film star. When Hamlin used these words, Wayne said, “You’ve got a song there.”]
A fellow, perhaps drunk, came up to Harry and threatened to floor him if he did not stop preaching. Starting to take his jacket off, Harry told him he had been the heavy weight champion of his regiment. The man quietly left.
A wealthy American businessman supplied them with an ample supply of extremely tasteful, well-designed leaflets.
Their pitch in Vicar Lane, Leeds, was outside Brown’s Wine Merchant’s. One Christmas the owner came out and demanded that they stopped. “Every time you start preaching my shop empties. When you stop it fills up again!” He returned with a Police Officer, but Harry showed them his police permit. Inside the shop the man drew a gun: “Get him out of this shop, or I’ll shoot him!” So Harry took the Police advice and moved further along the street. This placed them by a set of traffic lights, and every time a tramcar waited for green, there was a fine audience – sometimes folk gave them requests for hymns on the record player.
An old man would blaspheme when Winifred offered him a leaflet. Harry jokingly called him Win’s “Boyfriend”. There came a three month period with no sight of him. When he showed up it was to request a leaflet: he had been ill in Hospital. “All I could see, as I lay in bed, was your husband preaching the Gospel in rain and snow, all kinds of weather. I gave my heart to the Lord.”
One vehicle was a 15 cwt van with Bible quotations on the side, and full sized coffin surmounted with a wreath, at the back: inscribed, “Is this the end?” When he visited a friend in hospital, it caused many wry comments – such as, “The van’s come for you Brother.”
In Dewsbury, preaching to a good crowd, the Police moved him on, following a complaint. “Come on Brother, we’ll go to the cemetery and preach to the dead – they will listen to us.” They did, but there was no one in sight. Twelve years later, at a Convention at Bridge Street Church, a man approached Harry: “I know you, and you know me. Do you remember preaching at Batley Cemetery, when it was pouring down? Well me and my wife were listening behind the curtains, and we gave our hearts to the Lord, that day; we both serve as Readers in the Church.”
About this time, the Leeds City Elders realized that a centuries old law granted every Englishman the right of one square foot of ground on which to stand and express his beliefs. The answer was to place a square sectioned stone block in every park in the city. With some irony, Harry was given the task of choosing the locations, and seeing it through. I visited the one in Crossflatts Park, Dewsbury Road.
Eventually the Second World War came along, and he was conscripted into the Army. There was discussion apropos which regiment he should “return” to. The 8th King’s Irish Hussars was chosen. The posting was to France. In the retreat towards Dunkirk, they were surrounded and cut off. Thirteen of them took an Army lorry and found their way south to Marseille. An Arab cattle boat crew offered to take them home, but whilst helping with the 600 horses in the hold, Harry realized they were sailing eastwards. Six days later they disembarked at Haifa, in Palestine, and joined General Wavell’s army. This led to the campaign in Ethiopia, then Palestine, and finally Mount Olympus in Greece. On the battlefield here, they were surrounded and overwhelmed by the Germans and taken prisoner. In the Prisoner of War camp, situated at Korinthos (where the apostle Paul had founded a church), many of his friends died of dysentery; there was a lack of medical assistance. Another colleague died from consuming a large amount of hot bread, which he had stolen. The Germans said, “Leave him there, we can’t burry him, we have no Padre.” A man called Duff Cooper went to complain: “I want my friend buried.” “If you can find a man qualified to bury him, you can.” Duff said he had seen Harry preaching often in Leeds, he could take a funeral service. So the Germans made Harry the “Bible Puncher”, the Padre for the camp.
The British prisoners were marched from Greece to Austria – they were shot if they stopped for food – they were not formally registered as POW’s.
Stalag 17 A, at Wolfsburg, was the destination, where Swedish Authorities made the official register as POW’s (Prisoners of War). In charge was a man by the name of Stinker Steiner: “I hear you’re the Padre, can you preach? You’re the Padre until one is captured.” He gave Harry a copy of “Hymns Ancient and Modern” often called “Hymns Ancient and More Ancient”– the official Church of England hymn book at the time; which Harry still had. He didn’t know a lot, but God helped him, and they had some glorious times. The first sermon was on Mark 5, The Raising of Jairus’s Daughter, and the Healing of the Woman with the Issue of Blood. After the message one man gave his heart to the Lord. The Germans commanded him to hold a Bible Study every Wednesday. A violent man called Andrew knocked his Bible from his hand, every time they passed. One night Harry told him that if he did it again, he would forget he was a Christian, and take his coat off to him. To Harry’s amazement, Andrews agreed to attend the Bible Studies, but on condition that he could choose the passage to study. “One Chronicles, the first five chapters”, which are lists of Jewish names. Harry was stumped, but the Lord gave him a word. One midnight, Harry’s friend Pop Harley (an Australian), woke him – they were housed in three stable blocks – there was a rumpus and shouting. With the Germans threatening to shoot them, if it didn’t stop – shots were being fired. “Harry! Andrews is shouting out to the Lord.” Harry went to the Commander – being the Padre, he was the only prisoner allowed to speak to him. On being questioned, Andrews said he wanted to know the Lord. So after a chat they both knelt down, and he gave his heart to the Lord. Before he was taken away to a punishment camp, Harry gave him a scribbled note of his home address in England. There was no more news of him until after the War: Winifred received a letter from Eastbourne, where Andrews lived. It was from his mother – eighteen years a Pentecostal Believer, her husband a Baptist Lay Preacher – how thankful she was that after 18 years praying for him, to learn of his conversion.
A man arrived carrying a huge Bible. When asked where he had found it, he replied, “On the battlefield at Mount Olympus”. It was there that Harry had been wounded in the leg – for the rest of his life he suffered a weeping scar. The Bible had Harry’s Leeds address on the flyleaf. “You can have it for some cigarettes. I’ve had many blessings from it, but I’m not a Christian.” Harry did not smoke, but was to take a Bible Study with the Officers, on “Daniel’s Image”, and they often gave him some cigarettes. They did, and these he gave to the man, who was called Sanderson. Harry told him he could keep the Bible, if he came to their Bible Studies. He did, and many years later it immerged that Sanderson was the Band Leader in the Salvation Army at Basingstoke, still carrying Harry’s Bible. Pop Harley lent him his, until the people at Bridge Street Church sent him a new Schofield Bible, from which he was able to preach and take Bible Studies, and lead Prayer Meetings. At one of these, a New Zealander gave his heart to the Lord.
There was a division of barbed wire in the camp: to separate French and British POW’s. As Brearley walked by it one day, someone called his name, “Our Pastor wants to speak to you.” The German Commander was agreeable to them holding joint Bible Studies, in alternate camps, using an interpreter. They had marvelous times and men were saved. Eventually a recognized Pastor was captured, and Harry was no longer required. This was a Church of England Chaplain, a British Army Officer called Ledgerwood, but unfortunately a Modernist in his beliefs.
Harry was sent out of the Camp to do hard manual work. About this time a Red Cross parcel came for him; it contained two bars of soap – a rare commodity. When the Commandant found out, he wanted one, and when Harry refused, the German drew his gun. Another Officer came in and asked what the rumpus was about. “You’re a Christian, aren’t you? What are you doing fighting us – it’s voluntary in your country? I’ll get you out of this Camp.” At this second Camp, food was short; but a man was a good shot with a catapult. He only managed to kill sparrows – still a lovely meal. When the dog was missing there were suspicions. In the end, Harry decided to escape, and contacted the Resistance Underground Movement. A prisoner called Lock was dressed as a woman, and they escaped pretending to be a courting couple; unfortunately they were caught in a curfew, and placed in the slam-bin.
On one occasion, he had just left the toilet block, when it was blown to pieces by an Allied bomb – probably dropped by a low flying De Havilland Mosquito aircraft. He had several similar escapes, for which he thanked God for His protection.
Later, the prisoners were travelling – standing tightly packed in a cattle truck. When it stopped a guard would stick his bayonet through a knot hole near the bulkhead. The first time this happened, it pierced a man’s face, so they took turns at standing there. Harry’s turn came, and he stood reading his Bible. This time an eye looked in, and this guard asked him what he was doing in the Army, as a Christian. Christians in Germany had no option. But he kindly attended to their needs with warm soup, and visits to the toilets – the truck was awash with sewage.
They were sent to Auschwitz Extermination Camp, and were made to dig the graves for thousands of Jewish people killed in the Gas Chambers. Next they were taken to a POW Camp near the Cilician Border. The War was drawing to a close, and the advancing Russians took no prisoners – they shot the Germans, and gave the British a very hard time. Better still though; the Americans were overrunning the German forces.
When he arrived home, Harry, normally a large man, weighed only 5 stone, 9 pounds – 36 kgs. The medical diagnosis was that there was no hope of recovery; but Pastor Miles laid hands on him for the prayer for healing, and he recovered well. The Seacroft Hospital Doctor could not understand it, but discharged him on special rations. Harry resumed his work for the Lord: preaching in the open air, and joined with a young man – Stephen Fisher. They had little blessing in missions at North Shields, and Middleborough. Stephen went home and founded his own car repair centre in Horsforth. Winifred joined him, and the blessing started, with people being saved.
He found numerous occupations: Leeds City Highways Department, as a Ganger/Charge Hand; Auty Brothers, as a labourer on the Seacroft Housing Estate – when asked if he could lay a drain, he demonstrated that he could, and was quickly promoted to Foreman (he knew no Mathematics, but a man from Leeds University called at his home, and offered to bring his Maths up to scratch, for the reading of Plans); and later he worked on the Intake Estate.
In one of these jobs, as they were demolishing a house, Harry fell from scaffolding onto a sofa – which broke his fall to some extent, and may have saved his life, but he badly injured his back. He wore a steel brace, and a special collar to protect his neck. One morning as he woke, he felt that God wanted to heal him, and as he prayed his back was restored. The Doctor insisted on a small pension for Harry, who still has the brace as a souvenir.
The Labour Exchange/Job Centre found him a possible employment: working for the Government as a chauffeur, at a complex in Lawnswood. The Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture told him that people with a prison record could not be considered. When he explained his predicament – severe, but long-time-ago, incarcerations, followed by his conversion to the Lord Jesus, she advised him to write a full record of events. Firstly, he had to fulfill a Campaign in Holyhead with Evangelization Society, and another with an Assemblies of God Church. The job was to start on the 13th of October. A generous fiscal gift greatly encouraged, and helped him; a not uncommon experience, when folk saw his van with Bible quotation painted on the side. His meeting with the Chief Constable, a man by the name of Barnet, and a fine Christian, eventually resulted in a full list of his crimes, convictions, Court appearances, and imprisonments. He needed three extra sheets of paper to complete the long list; but with no convictions since 1932 until the present (1953). Harry was amazed to be offered the job. His Boss was a Believer, and told him: “Take as much time off as you need, to do your preaching.” He had missions in Rugby at the AOG Church, and at the Bible Pattern Church, Bradford. When his equipment failed, a financial gift bought him a new van. He was given an established post, on the Staff at Lawnswood, where he remained until 1960.
One morning, Christmas 1968, his wife called to him that he had a letter from the Prime Minister – he thought it was a joke. But it was to inform him that Her Majesty the Queen had awarded him a British Empire Medal. This was often given to ordinary people, who had done good work in their employment. Unfortunately, the Queen had a previously arranged engagement, but his Boss arrange for the Earl of Scarborough to make the presentation at Lawnswood, in 1969. All food, drink and photographs would be paid for. “You have to wet the medal with a strong drink.” Winifred replied, “Oh no we won’t; we’ve brought our own orange juice.”
How did he come to be recommended for the BEM? The theory was that he drove an interesting Jewish visitor to the British Government, who was a member of the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament), round the Jewish sites in Leeds – mainly Synagogues. They had interesting discussions on the Book of Ezekiel the Prophet, and the Old Testament/ Jewish Bible in general. He sent Winifred a beautiful set of photographs of his country.
In retirement, Harry continued preaching at markets and Race Meetings. In 1975, Win became ill; curtailing his preaching activities, as he looked after her, until her promotion to Glory in 1981.
Harry Brearley, BEM, is a great believer in Christ Jesus’s Return, as foretold in First Thessalonians chapter four, commencing at verse thirteen:
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Harry recommended several fictional books by Sydney Watson: “In The Twinkling of An Eye”, “Scarlet and Purple”, “The Mark of the Beast”, and “The Coming King”.
THE WRATH OF GOD
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
Colossians 3:6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
1 Thessalonians 2:16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
Revelation 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
Revelation 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
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WHAT IS A PASTOR?
[B] PASTOR, 20
[4166 Strong, poimen, poy-main, literally a farm-shepherd, or figuratively: the spiritual gift of shepherd/pastor, within a group of Christians.
Within the first few years of my preaching experience, I travelled to a nearby northern wool town to take a communion service at the Baptist Church. The apparent biblical terminology seemed most impressive: it had a Pastor in charge, and Deacons to help him. The Deaconate, mainly spiritual ladies, help officiate at the Lord’s Table. At first sight, the terms “Pastor” and “Deacons” looked correct, but the usage of the former was certainly not biblical.
“Shepherd/Pastor” is the Greek word “poimen”: 4 times it applies to the farming-shepherds of Bethlehem, 13 times to the Lord Jesus Christ – where it carries, among other connotations, the thought of Psalm 23, “The LORD is my Shepherd”; and only once to the gift in the Church, where the reference is a plural noun (Ephesians 4v11). “Pastors” is preferred to “Shepherds”, at the discretion of the translators. The infinitive of the verb is used in Acts 20v28; and second person plural in the aorist tense, is figuratively used, along with “flock”, in 1 Peter 5v2: this note is pivotal to the discussion which we are about to follow, because many English translations imply a noun, or title, when a verb is used in the original Greek. In the New Testament, “Shepherd/Pastor” is NOT found as a title for an Office in the Church. There are references, in which leaders are told, figuratively, to tend the sheep and feed the flock. Even in the Old Testament the word is used of leaders in this figurative sense: “the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people”. (1 Chronicles 17v6c)
Different answers will be given to the question, “What is a Pastor?” by Christians of various backgrounds: some will say that every Minister or Clergyman is a Shepherd or Priest, to some it is the special title within the more progressive non-conformist denominations; but to some of us it is a designation which requires a totally new appraisal and definition.
Significantly then, a digression must be made, to clear the ground by looking at the teaching I am going to outline: that Elders are the correct form of Leadership in the Church. All too familiar, in all kinds of congregations today, is the format of a single leader, often he, or she, is under intolerable stress, and the position is vestigial of the lowest point in the historical development of the Orthodox and Roman Churches.
In secular Classical History one sees the distinction between ruling by a single Despot – a Tyrant King; and, in contrast, by a College of Governors – called an Oligarchy. If one man, like a Despot, had ruled the Fellowship at Corinth, there might have been more order, but only at a price. The New Testament clearly teaches the alternative to a Despot (not necessarily despotic): an Oligarchy, in fact – a group of leaders – a plurality of Elders! I do want to say that we are ever grateful to hundreds of godly men who have carried these titles of Bishop, Reverend, Pastor, or Father, and been fine builders of the Church of Christ. Sadly, however, some holders of these positions, by their fruits, are seen as not yet converted.
“Anglican Elders?”, by Rev Ed Moll, Lutterworth Press, a concept endorse by the Church Society in its Podcasts and Conference expositions. This represents a strong stream within the Church of England: “Every Member Ministry”, Equipping God’s People to Live God’s Word, We are a Fellowship contending to Reform and Renew the Church of England in Biblical faith.
From the cover of the book: When John Stott wrote in 2007 that “There is no biblical warrant for the so-called one-man band, in which a single pastor, like a single musician, plays all the instruments,” he was not presenting a new idea; both he and David Watson had been saying this for decades. Is there an authentically Anglican and evangelical remedy to the unbiblical pattern of a solo pastorate?
Anglican evangelicals seem to be caught in a dilemma: on the one hand our biblical convictions persuade us that the leadership of the local church is rightly plural. On the other hand we espouse a church policy in which the prime ordained leader is normally a sole pastor over a congregation. Is it possible to be both biblical and Anglican with respect to plural leadership? Can it be done, and if so, how?
We must establish the names given to this leadership team, the qualifications to be considered for it, and its duties.
“Proistemi” in 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 refers to plural leadership. When the word “hegeomai” stands for leaders in Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 24, it is plural in each case, or implied. This chapter contains ten references to plural leadership.
But the following two important Greek words are normally used, and they are quite interchangeable – they are used synonymously:
- episcopos, ep-is-kop-os [Strong 1983, 1984, 1985], which is commonly translated in the English Versions as either “Bishop”, or “Overseer” – Acts 1:20, 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 2:25, and 5:2.
- presbuteros, pres-boo-ter-os [Strong 4245, 4850], which is translated as “Elder” (Presbyter) – 1 Timothy 5:1,17,19; 1 Peter 5:1,5; 2 John verse 1; 3 John verse 1; Acts 14:23, 15:2-23, 16:4, 20:17, 21:18; James 5:14, Revelation 4:4,10, 5:5-14, 7:11-13, 11:16, 14:3, and 19:4, and there are various references meaning the Sanhedrin, the Elders of the Jews (e.g. Luke 7:3).
Two mentions in which the terms are applied to the identical group of men are Acts 20:17-28, and Titus 1:5-9. Synonyms are a key element in the Hebrew poetry of the Prophets, and the Aramaic poetic form used by the Lord Jesus. This Old Testament poetic style is called Parallelism, which Luke, whose writing echoes the language of the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek, was obviously steeped in. Paul also, would be familiar with this form of expression. Indeed, all the Believers of a Jewish background, in the New Testament, would employ Parallelism in daily conversation – it would be part of their everyday speech….
Imagine, in connection with the James 5 reference: you are a first century Christian, living in a small Mediterranean township, and you are taken seriously ill. Your cousin kindly takes your message to a Church Elder, and quickly several Elders arrive at your home. They find some cooking oil in the kitchen, anoint and lay hands on you – praying for healing; and God graciously hears their prayer. This little story illustrates the set-up in the Early Church. A similar vignette is seen of local church life, in 1 Timothy 4:14. What about your fellowship? There is no question here about the format of the Elders being plural.
Some writers and speakers on the subject see the three words: “Overseers”, “Elders”, and “Pastors”, as synonyms. This is because the English Versions use the noun “Shepherd”, when the Greek text has the verb, as I have just demonstrated. (Cf Acts 20:28, and 1 Peter 5:2) So one has to conclude that the term “Pastor” is not in any sense to be equated with Overseer, Elder, or church leader.
There are indeed, three passages which link Overseers, or Overseer, with shepherding/pastoring the flock. The Elders in Acts 20:28, were told “to shepherd” the Church. In a second passage, Peter commands the Overseers to “shepherd the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:1-4), again the verb; here also Christ is called “The Chief Shepherd”. The third, also in 1 Peter (2:25), points to Christ: “For you were straying sheep, but now you are turned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” A most serious thought indeed: Christ alone is called: “The Pastor/Shepherd” – any other individual taking authority would be an antichrist! The idea of calling a Christian: “The Pastor”, is foreign to the Scriptures, and should be avoided at all cost. Practically speaking, where one person is seen as leader, the organization of proper Elders, even if not in name, must share the burdens of piloting.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. (Paul had also laid his hands on Timothy: 2 Timothy 1:6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.)
In the Epistle to Titus (chapter 1:5 ff) we see the apostle being instructed to appoint Elders – plural, in each city – plural. Today some would say: simply call all the church heads as the college of Elders for that town. I think not: only some qualify to be Overseers in the New Testament terms, and the concept refers to individual congregations, not a group.
When we come to the topic of Prophet, I shall argue that someone who prophesies is, by definition, a prophet; because the term, even from antiquity, has always had a narrow and specific meaning – we use such expressions as: “The expert was asked to prophesy the outcome of the Cup Final/Super Bowl.” We all know that “informed guess” is really intended. “Shepherding”, is widely used in a metaphorical sense: “The teacher gently shepherded her class into the gym.” No one would want to argue that she was therefore the pastor of a church, or that she should have used a sheepdog! (In education, the much-used term “Pastoral” is a hated word by some, because it appears to come from the Church.)
So it is, then, that I think “Pastor” cannot be used as a title for Church Leadership. Why is it used then? Partly it has grown into a tradition – our Lord did not rate tradition highly, or, ignorance, a desire for power and self-glory, or even the “doctrines/teaching of demons”.
If we asked the congregation at Korinthos, “Who is your Shepherd?” they would have shouted back: “JESUS!”
We may sometimes note that lone leaders in society resort to evil ways for holding their authority. They may use: cunning, temper, tantrum, moods, insult, innuendo, oppression, and all kinds of underhand manipulation, to bully those under them. Some who are the sole church-leader would see their position as one to be defended at all cost. There are Church Members, who so identify with their “Leader” and his authority, in an unhealthy basking-in-reflected-glory way, that they also would spill blood to keep his position in tact. I have certainly seen plenty of these.
At Korinthos, Paul would have done his best to appoint a fine team of Elders who were to guide the Gathering (Ekklesia), but the spiritual qualities he required, probably left some formidable men, not to say women, outside the leadership team. I refer to Corinth, because of the problems dealt with in the Letters to this City Church; they leave us asking: “Why did the Elders not do something about it?”
The word “Ekklesia”, is Greek for a gathering, or Assembly; its secular use is seen in Acts 19:32, 39, 40, 41. There are a variety of combinations as it became the Assembly referring to the Church: of God, of the Lord, a local Church – or one Church in many places. It is only common “Ordinance Survey”, to imply a building; originally it meant the Congregation – People. It could be: Jewish, Gentile, or both.
K.L. Schmidt, writing in Kittel, is particularly detailed and spiritual.
Let us imagine a conversation in the Church at Korinthos – one of the older Jewish Believers in Jesus is gossiping at the end of the First Day meeting. As they stand in the shade of the lime trees, and look northwards across the bay, to the far mountains near Delphi. His thoughts about the Elders were, that they should only be married men with children:
“Children are the crucial test of a man’s ability to shepherd the flock of God.”
“Do you mean by shepherd, that he must have the gift of being a pastor?” asked his friend, of similar journeyings in life.
“No, I use of the verb, and not the noun. You must always allow for the imperfections, and, limitations of human language; even God Himself has that problem. If the noun was used, we would only have to identify the spiritual gift of pastor, and make all those people the team of Elders. The position of Elder is for human appointment, under God, and we must know what calibre of individual to consider.”
“How many should we have?” his friend persisted with his questions, recognizing their virtue.
“As many as it would take to handle a revolt, of all the unpleasant Brothers and Sisters in the Congregation.”
“And how many is that?”
“You cannot have too many!”
Acts 15 shows the original apostles and Elders working together at the Council of Jerusalem.
Hermann W. Beyer, writes in Kittel: “It is significant … that there are several episkopa in one congregation, none of which takes precedence.” Commenting on the criteria for appointing Overseers, Beyer wrote: “In this respect Roman Catholic celibacy stands in direct contradiction to the Bible.” (Kittel, vol 2, p 617) We may note that there are many more inconsistencies in the Church leadership that need to be investigated!
Our Lord quotes from Isaiah, and adds His own comment: “‘For they replace God’s commands with their own man-made teachings.’
For you ignore God’s specific laws and substitute your own traditions.” (Mark 7:7-8, NLT, cf Matthew 15:3)
We ask the question: What constitutes this kind of tradition? Certainly all doctrinal alterations, and changing practices which are laid down in Scripture. Note that one step of reasoning can lead to heresy.
An order of helpers who alleviate the pressures on Elders, are the Deacons and Deaconesses. I think the Scriptures do show that women were allowed into this strata of Official – Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:11, NIV margin/footnote; and Phoebe of Kenchreae (in Romans 16:1-2). There is the possible thought (in 1 Timothy 3:8 ff) that they should be married people. Presumably they might help in care for the poor, as in Acts 6:1 ff (the first mention of Deacons), with secretarial and accounting duties generally, and officiate in practical, logistical, and many similar areas of responsibility. Here also, God requires an unbelievably high standard of Christian life, and we see that even the secondary level of office holders in Church life, are in the hands of well-accredited people – not just side-lined to hangers-on, or that ever-present danger: the volunteer.
In the Early Church – and ideally in the Body of Christ today – there was a tension between the apostles and the Elders: between the primary gift and the appointed leadership of individual Congregations. This is not unlike what occurs in the life of many Western nations: between the Government and the Judiciary. To over-simplify this: the Government writes the laws: the Judges make certain that everybody keeps them; even the Government members themselves! Similarly, Elders will need to stand against false apostles: apostles will be on the lookout for failure among the Elders.
Acts 14:21-23 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (Derek Prince pointed out that the disciples became a Church, when Elders were in position.)
Acts 15 shows the original apostles and Elders working together at the Council of Jerusalem.
Our current problem is that this century has seen the development of the usage of the term “Pastor” for the single, monolithic, Tyrant (in the Classical sense), Minister. It does not take much imagination to see the march of change from: the Roman Catholic Priest, to the Anglican Parish Priest, Methodist Minister, Salvation Army Officer, to the Baptist or Pentecostal Pastor. The obvious fact, that many spiritual and godly men have held such positions is not proof that this is the ideal; or that it is taught in the New Testament. One of our local Baptist Church leaders identified the issue succinctly: “Can you tell me the name of the Pastor of the Church in Ephesus, or at Rome, or Philippi?” Of course there was no such position!
The whole question is similar to the elitist Gnostic heresy countered in the New Testament Letters … do you have a title, have you been to a Theological College, do you wear special clothing?
The title “Father” is particularly hard for me to write about. When it is used in Scripture it is either of the obvious biological relationship in genealogies, of God Himself, in His grace, or of specific relationships. Joseph spoke of himself as being a father to Pharaoh, Paul of being a father to the Corinthian believers, and of Timothy: because he had brought them to faith in Christ, and mentored them. (Genesis 45:8; 1 Corinthians 4:15; Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2) Here we see simile and metaphor. This kind of usage refers to one group or individual, not to everybody, not as a over-arching title, as forbidden by our Lord. At no point does anyone request to be called “Father”. Who sins most: those who ask for the title to be used of an individual or rank, or those who use this form of address? We will answer to God for this. I think of fellow Christians as Brothers and Sisters; but I do not use Brother as a title in my correspondence.
Rev John Coles (a leader of New Wine Conferences) made these points: when discipling a group in his home he felt a different person to the vicar in his robes on a Sunday. World War Three almost irrupted when he dispensed with the robes; but he felt much more authentic and real. Similarly, he found the huge responsibility of a clergyman, being for a limited time frame only; until he developed a team of seven around him to share the burden together: the difference was incredible (a talk at a Fresh Expressions Conference, 2011).
Sadly, the only person in the Bible who resembles our use of the word Pastor, is an impostor named Diotrephes – who is mentioned in John’s short Third Letter. Fortunately, only a few leaders are like this.
The characteristics of Diotrephes are that he:
- Gossiped maliciously,
- Wanted to be top dog,
- Refused to receive the itinerant preachers,
- Prevented hospitality being shown to them, and
- Excommunicated those who did,
- Hated the apostles,
- He did not lead by an exemplary life
- Noted as an evil person who had not “seen God”!
It was the apostle’s duty was to point him out by letter, and later in person – publicly.
SUMMARY: One of the most difficult, but essential, tasks facing the Church today is the re-establishing of the original leadership concept of the Early Church, given by the Holy Spirit – sadly, after only a few hundred years there had been the radical change. Near Derbe, visited by Paul on his First Missionary Journey, an inscription was recently found, dating from the fourth or fifth century; it reads: “The most God-loving Michael, bishop of Derbe” – suggesting that a single bishop had come to rule the Church, at the city where Paul had appointed a college of Elders. Today we have one Bishop over many churches: the first Christians appointed many Bishops (Overseers-episcopos) over one church.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Sadly, some in leadership try hard to be elite and DIFFERENT. I turned to a television transmission of a seasonal service and thought the clergyman was part of a film about Robin Hood, because he was in pseudo medieval clothes. We should all note this example of Paul: in dress, communication etc.
One of the saddest comments I heard on pastoring, was apropos a terribly sick lady: little help was on offer, and anger was shown to the family, when an outsider notified the church of a specific need. The family’s comment was: “Out of sight: out of mind!” There was a sequel: some church members put practical shoulders to the wheel.
The Manchester (UK) Diocese Budget for the year 2015 allocated 70.5% to “Clergy Stipends and Housing Costs (over 9 million GB pounds). True the biblical Elders were to be paid something for their ministry – alongside their secular employment, presumably. This balance would release considerable funds for the work of evangelism and care for the poor.
To continue this digression one logical stage further, here is a table of the required qualifications for Elders. The giving of this guidance by the Holy Spirit, implies that He expects the Leaders to be appointed along these lines – by existing office-holders, the Congregation, or apostles.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint Elders in every town, as I directed you (Titus).”
“If anyone sets his heart on being an elder, he desires a noble task. Now an overseer must be …” Kittel points out that the use of the singular is simply referring to the bishop as a calling, not that there was only one in each Church.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 Titus 1:5-9;
- Above reproach *(Repeated in Titus)
- Husband of one wife *
The unmarried are not suggested; but perhaps a widower, or divorcee (depending on how, why, and when), but with experience of his own children’s successful upbringing, and the running of his home.
- Temperate
- Self-controlled – sensible *
- Respectable – modest
- Hospitable – lover of people *
- Able to teach – to a greater or lesser degree
- Not given to much wine *no drunkenness
- Not violent. *
- Gentle – not a striker of people
- Not quarrelsome
- Not a lover of money – greedy of gain *no dishonest gain
- Must manage family well – an important reason is given
- Must see that children obey with respect *
(The word for child indicates between a baby and a young person; older offspring may stray away, and they are not indicated here, I think.)
- Not a recent convert – remember Satan’s fall
- A good reputation outside the Church
Children are believers/ or faithful, trustworthy
Not overbearing
Not quick tempered
Lover of good
Upright
Holy
Disciplined
Holding to the orthodox teaching, able to encourage and refute.
TOTAL: 16. *TOTAL: 16.
It may be too pedantic to isolate the special qualities in the Titus list – several are not all that different: self-controlled and disciplined, for example.
Children are an important aspect [well-behaved, believers]. 1 John 2:12 ff helps here.
Teknea = little children
Neanisoi = young men
Titus 1:6 and 1 Timothy 3:1 ff have Tekna = little children
DEACONS, 1 Timothy 3:8-13
- Husband of one wife – married people
- Worthy of respect
- Not indulging in much wine
- Not pursuing dishonest gain
- Must manage household well
- Must manage children well
Not double tongued – sincere
Holding the revealed mystery with a clear conscience
Tested first and found blameless – on probation
Wives/Deaconesses, must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in everything.
It is defined as an Office, which, if done well, brings dignity and assurance.
There are several further rules apropos Elders:
“Let the Elders (plural) who take the lead well be counted worthy of double honour (commonly taken to mean financial reward), especially those labouring in word and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox treading out grain’ – and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his pay.’”
“Do not receive an accusation against an Elder unless on the testimony of two or three witnesses. The one sinning, before all rebuke; that the rest also may have fear.” (1 Timothy 5:17-20, Green) One would expect to find some of the Eldership Team who are evangelists, and some who are teachers of the Word.
This is a required practice in Judaism and Christianity, in any serious issue [hence Four Gospel writers.]
Deuteronomy 17:6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Hebrews 10:28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you … Greet your leaders [and all the saints].” (Hebrews 13:17-24)
“To the Elders … shepherd(s of) God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4, NIV)
All these points are relevant, and particularly so at certain times. The plurality of the leadership is clear. Finance is involved; but it must not be paramount. The servant heart is vital, as is zeal for the calling. Extreme lording over people must not be part of the picture – as sometimes happens; in the 1980’s the “Shepherding Movement” aimed to succeed where pastoral care in the traditional churches left much to be desired; but it went too far, and those who fell for it, had to repent.
The apostles made the initial appointments, but perhaps later it may have been by any suitable means – by the membership voting, or more likely by the existing body of Elders making new officers. Leadership positions in university Christian Unions were filled by the votes of membership being made first, as a guide, but the final choice was by the outgoing leaders.
Does it seem unfair that only married men, with well behaved, believing, children can be considered for the post of Elder – and possibly, by implication, Deacons? A second reason may be that single men, or those without children, are particularly valuable as people who can move about more easily in the service of Christ. Perhaps Priscilla and Aquila, who moved about the Roman Empire in pivotal service, are an example of this: Rome (Acts 18:2), Korinthos (Acts 18:1-3), Ephesus (Acts 18:19), Rome again (Romans 16:3 ff), and back in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19). When they are noted in greetings in Paul’s letters, there is no mention of children …Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19. The premises they owned, perhaps for their businesses run by slaves, were most suitable as venues for the congregations. Their practical aid was always in evidence.
How do the two gifts of deacon and pastor relate to the Offices of Deacon and Elder? The two Offices fulfil for the larger congregation – but in a totally different sense, what the gifts do at a more individual level. If the gifts were equated with the Office, there would be no need for the careful selection procedure; as I said earlier, we would simply have to identify the gifts! There is a massive difference between the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the examination of character and life required of potential Elders. We have developed traditions; it is quite clear from the Gospels that Jesus is not in favour of Tradition, but strongly against it – we do well to have this in mind. In a sense our Lord was crucified by tradition.
In a climate of Church life where the Pastor, or individual leader, is the norm, it is difficult to break away from that pattern; and the way out will be different in each case. But the problem must be carefully dealt with and the Congregation fully instructed. One finds various sad inconsistencies, if not non-sequiturs, being employed: “First among Equals”, “All are equal, but some are more equal than others”, “Professional Elder”, “Paid Elder”, or “Leader of the Eldership Team” – simply to avoid grasping the nettle, and bringing about the necessary change. Government laws on charitable status may create a problem to be overcome. A person may take the title of Pastor to avoid the strict requirements of being an “Elder”. There is the obvious danger of a dynamic person being tempted to rule-the-roost – a leading businessman, a politician, a famous sportsperson. Here is a test of his constant humility.
In any organisation of some size there will be delegation of authority, and various people must be free to work within their calling. Finance must be found for some of them – Elders must clearly receive remuneration (1 Timothy 5:17,18). However, all workers in a Church should be answerable to the Elders, who must take responsibility for all major decisions. In the present climate, even churches that claim to have resolved the issue of Elders, must constantly review the state of affairs to see that there is no sliding back. The denomination known as Christian Brethren, has successfully endured for well over a hundred years in the care of Elders – it probably started in Dublin, in 1829. They do not eliminate all the problems, but the machinery is in place to handle them. For most churches to develop a more biblical leadership, there will be the need for: teaching, time, humility, bravery, and wisdom.
As I said earlier: “To pastor, may be caring for a third former in the school Christian Union; or serving a senior executive in the House of Commons or in Industry.” A definition of a pastor may be something like this: a Christian man, woman, or child, who has been given the ability by the Holy Spirit to help others grow in their spiritual life, by counsel and appropriate teaching. Their service will usually be to individuals or small numbers.
On the positive side, everyone needs someone to pastor them. If we ask the question: Who are the close friends we go to for advice? Our answer will indicate those who are pastors to us. For many years, mine have been: a senior family-friend, a medical doctor, and a college lecturer – only one has had academic theological training.
Proverbs 27:6 “Wounds from a friend can be trusted”/”faithful are the wounds of a friend” (AV)
“Secret” is the first part of the word “secretary”; similarly, the commitment of the counsellor to keeping secrets is vital! The first three letters of the word “PASTOR” do not stand for Public Address System. “PASTOR” could well stand for: Private and Secure, Trustworthy – Operating Responsibly. Much of what we call counselling, is pastoring – certainly where teaching is included; if support and practical help is given, more charisms will be used.
The antique communities had their city, town or village Elders – as we see in the Old Testament.
The spiritual leaders and mentors of Israel, in Ezekiel’s day, are collectively and metaphorically referred to as Shepherds. Here they are indicted for their failures: caring for themselves and neglecting their flock. “You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not care for the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for the wild animals. My sheep wondered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. “… For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness … I will bring them out [to safety] … I will pasture them … I will tend them in a good pasture … They will lie down in good grazing land, and they will feed in a rich pasture … I myself will tend my sheep and make them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them and be their shepherd … You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, my people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 34)
The metaphorical language of this chapter covers much more than human pastoring, there are also aspects of Divine Judgement, and of the Davidic Messiah. It shows what caring does not mean, on the one hand; and many of the key facets of the true calling to pastor God’s people, in contrast. Like other gifts, it shows something of God’s nature, the Body of Christ, working for the maturation of the Ekklesia.
The Twenty-Third Psalm, also, has much to teach us. The Divine Shepherd provides: all true needs, rest, food and drink, restoration at the deepest level, righteous guidance, his comforting presence in times of danger and threat, protection and rescue, his supply of provisions – unhindered by the presence of enemies, healing to the point of good health, the assurance of goodness and love, and a stable home. We know that the eastern shepherd leads his sheep – they willing follow him to good pastures; but by far the stress here is on the Shepherd’s care and loving provision. We can also consider Psalm 28:9, and Psalm 100:3.
The uniqueness of our Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who is dedicated to serving the sheep to the point of death, is seen in John 10:1-15, 27-30; in contrast with the hireling shepherds, and thieves and robbers, who run away from danger, or climb up some other way into the fold – to steal, kill and destroy. He talks of one flock and one shepherd!
We can often tell when the gift is clearly absent – where there is no searching for the straying ones, only dividing and scattering the flock of God. There is the story of a farming-shepherd who aspired to be a spiritual pastor. One day, five of his sheep escaped from his farm and ran down the village road. The husband of a Christian lady ran out and stopped their mad exodus, she telephoned the farmer, and he held them up until the farmer arrived – within four minutes. The lady attended the fellowship he pastored, but slipped away: he never visited her!
The pastoral gift means that we will always have time for the people we are given; there is always a cost – as with all the gifts, but also rewards.
The linking of “Pastors” and “Teachers” in Ephesians 4:11 should not be lost on us; the same thought is often present elsewhere. We have Jesus’s words to Peter in John 21:15-19: “Feed My lambs…Take care of My sheep…. Feed My sheep.” Feeding obviously indicates teaching.
It is said that we cannot relate closely to more than ten or twelve people, or families, and there are commentators on the subject who apply this to leadership, and to pastoring relationships among Christian friends.
There is a curious little test of the picture I have given of Elders: Peter is the only apostle who is also called an Elder. We do know that he was married – but there is no mention of any children. Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, and Titus, are not spoken of as being married. (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 7:7, 9:5; 1 Peter 5:1).
How could we change?
In my travels, I attended an Anglican church, which was facing a huge decision that would affect its work for a good half century. The vicar was under considerable pressure, so I encouraged him to allow the Church Council to share or even take the full responsibility – they would outlast the vicar’s term of office in any case. There was a huge success. This represents a gradual move away from monolithic leadership.
The term “Pastor” for a church leader should be stopped!
For example: we have moved into a new house, in a district that is strange to us, and select a promising church for worship and commitment. We discover, it is run by quite a large group of Elders, assisted by Deacons and Deaconesses, who employ several full-time workers. At the close of our first visit, someone who is slightly older than ourselves welcomes us, helps us to settle in, and over the weeks becomes our close friend and personal pastor. Miracles like this still do happen I can assure you!
In nations where persecution is rampant, having a Pastor or Vicar is often a severe weakness: the extremists who attack can easily reduce the fellowship to impotence, by taking the single leader away. A group of leaders is far more stable and practical, for many reasons. In about the year 2000, I spoke on the phone to a representative of Open Doors UK about this issue. Their attitude is to leave local doctrinal issues as they are. What do you think?
A WISE LETTER SENT TO THE EDITOR OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY (BMS) MAGAZINE “ENGAGE”, IN SPRING 2015: IN ANSWER TO AN EARLIER ARTICLE ON THE IDEA OF LONE CHURCH LEADERS – “SUPER PASTOR, DO YOU HAVE TO BE A SUPERHERO TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CHURCH LEADER? ”.
Dear Editor,
The super hero theory of leadership comes from a discredited management theory of the 1930’s taken up by, among others, Adolf Hitler.
The most successful leaders are humble people drawn from within the organisation who work with a team for the benefit of the organisation and not for their own benefit.
Since leadership cannot be taught, in spite of what some management schools claim, and leaders only succeed if they have people who are prepared to be part of their team. BMS needs to look at developing people who may never be leaders themselves but could play a key role in a successful leadership team (like Andrew, Philip, Matthew etc).
John R Hudson
[I know a local Pastor who had a valued biography of Hitler on his bookshelf! He was one who threatened to thump me. An American influential churchman started his series on this subject with a biographical reference to Hitler; not a biblical exposition.]
The ministerial systems in many denominations are open to abuse. Church Members of leadership abilities may have been in the congregations for decades – they know the congregation, the locality, and attributes well; and then a new Minister arrives to lead, and through lack of research and wise advice, imposes himself – often damaging God’s work irreparably.
Read Church History, if you are interested in seeing the sad degeneration of the Kirk in so many areas. Whilst on a military (Royal Air Force) course on spiritual leadership, a Scottish Chaplain recommended a fine book published by The St Andrew’s Press. My favourite, over many years, has been “The Story of the Church” by Professor A. M. Renwick, with additional material by A. M. Harman. [Inter-Varsity Press, ISBN 0-85111-590-X)
Mentoring has been discussed to frightening, complex proportions; far from the fine beautiful, trusting, simple, steel sharpening steel friendship, of the Holy Spirit’s Gift of the biblical pastor. At one time I could draw on my four pastors for: high-level medical advice and Eschatology, insight into Church History and New Testament Greek, blunt Yorkshire tell-it-as-it-is, and a wise Centurion (non-commissioned officer).
SIX OF THE EIGHT SUPPORTING GIFTS
For many years I attended a large, city, Pentecostal church (Bridge Street Foursquare Gospel Church, Leeds – 250 in the morning, 500 in the evening service). In earlier years, Smith Wigglesworth had often visited it – the older pastor knew him well – and I knew his great-grandson, Brian Wigglesworth, who finished his training as a doctor at the famous St James’s Hospital (“Saint Jimmies”). In Derby, Mr. Parker, a travelling Bible teacher, laid hands on me and prayed for gifts of the Spirit. At the time, I thought it might have helped me more, had he told me what gifts he was not confirming. The first time I heard tongues was in 1952. The experience of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit occurred in 1953: following the devotional reading of Acts chapter 10, in the quietness of the Royal Air Force Station Church at Driffield (North Yorkshire, UK). I confess that it seemed best to keep quiet about this in many of the fellowships in which I worshipped, subsequently.
My own version of the well-worn joke: A man fell over a lonely cliff, and was left hanging on to a slender, ill-rooted, tiny silver birch sapling. He called out for help, but as none seemed forthcoming, like many people when all hope is lost, he prayed!
Almost immediately, an air-sea rescue helicopter appeared, and a voice called over an amplifier offering help – which he declined.
He heard a second call: from a loudhailer on a RNLI lifeboat below him – this he also declined.
Thirdly, there came an offer from the cliff top: the mountain rescue team, who were willing to descend to his aid; he declined their help.
His grasp on the sapling failed – just as its roots pulled out of the thin soil. He fainted as he fell – and so had little sensation of the horrific end, which befell him on the rocks below.
At the Gates of Heaven he challenged St Peter – the theology is not too good here: “Why did God not answer my prayer?” St Peter turned to his computer terminal: “At 14.00 hours we sent you a helicopter; at 14.20 there was a lifeboat on station; and at 14.40 the full mountain rescue team were on the cliff above you; but you refused all our offers of mercy!”
SERVING GIFTS:
Administration,
Leadership-aid,
Helpers,
Servants,
Mercy acts, and
Contributions –
[In addition to Pastor, and
Encouraging – which will be looked at later].
We pray to God, but practical help often comes through people.
Stunning though it may be, the Church is like a body: where each person is a part that relies on all who make up the whole. Look at any average Congregation, and you will see few who are speakers (10% say some Bible College lecturers): most are helpers. As we have seen, Peter rounds off two main groups of gifts as: speaking and serving (1 Peter 4:7-11). This chapter is in honour of those who serve!
At least half of the twenty Gifts of the Spirit are anointings to serve. Characteristically they merge: when we look at the outside of a human body, it is difficult to see where the head finishes and the neck starts – or take the foot, and the ankle, however, if we note the structure of the skeleton, all becomes clear. We have already looked at the gift of pastor; now we turn to: administration, leadership-aid, helpers, servants, mercy acts and contributors.
There is a problem that faces police forces, from time to time: should the officers in the headquarters, receive the same remuneration as those in the front line of danger? The argument surfaced as early as 1000 BC – in 1 Samuel 30: the story of David’s troubles and their victorious outcome, at Ziklag. When 200 men were weary and remained with the baggage, 400 went on to fight the battle. David’s ruling was that all should share the spoils equally. The serving gifts should take heart from this!
[C] ADMINISTRATION, 13 1 Corinthians 12
(2942 Strong, kubernetes, koo-ber-nay-tace. The modern word cybernetics, the comparative analysis of management systems, stems from it – a tree or a transport system, can be analysed; analysis shows that Evolution as a system of Creation, will not work.)
The very idea of this gift, strikes terror into countless numbers of Christians – leaders and ordinary saints alike: how can we relate to people who are so remarkably efficient? Indeed Paul writes of his team of apostles: “Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He made us competent as ministers of a new covenant … ” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). These people are not like a super, well-tried, program on a mainframe computer, they may be blundering fools, who have been redeemed by the grace of God, and who walk in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout their days, they continually require the prompting of the Spirit – but the result is efficient planning and performance, in many areas of life.”
The Greek word could be rendered: “governings”, “administrations”, “steersman”, or “helmsman” – the sailor who is in control of driving the ship, for all practical purposes, but serving under the senior officers. The non-figurative usage is seen in Acts 27:11 and Revelation 18:17 – “pilot”, “ship’s-pilot”. Kittel points out that in Septuagint Greek, it is found three times in Proverbs – 1:5, 11:14, and 24:6: “right directing”, “clever direction”, and “wise counsel”.
The structure in the Greek text: “gifts of” (four words earlier), and the plural noun, obviously produces: “gifts of administrations” – singular gifts for special purposes, and much room for variety; the efficient running of a church coffee bar, does not mean we can run for Parliament in the next election.
So we would look for those in the Congregation, who are talented by God’s grace, in various departments of administration and leadership. It will be seen both inside and outside the college of Elders: in those who have special gifts of “organizing” – the word used by J. B. Philips in his translation.
May I suggest a short list, for starters: church secretaries, magazine editors, treasurers, and specialist organisers – of the youth group, ladies meeting, book library, audio-visual library, music group, junior church, and church events, leaders of meetings, worship leaders, bursars, administrators of para-church organisations, and anything which requires thorough planning, legal issues. It can be given to men or women, of course.
This is a most significant gift, which, if recognised and employed, will have great ramifications for today’s churches. In my church work I have often encountered very talented people who are totally disorganised; how they need the ministry of an organiser. The story is told of a most talented Bible College tutor who was so absent-minded, that a student was always delegated to carry a spare minibus key, because he was guaranteed to misplace it. Ironically, one of the most inefficient people I have encountered was called “The Church Administrator”. A successful executive was asked if he had an excellent memory, “On the contrary,” he pointed out, “I write everything down!
From the Elders, it will be a delegated leadership, based on an ability given by the Holy Spirit, and implying a fair degree of trust and freedom, but also accountability and subservience. There will be applications outside Church life – many have found this gift has taken them ahead in secular employment – they should not be slow to acknowledge the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Training – through study, mentoring by a more experienced Christian, college courses, or various kinds of in-service training – should not be excluded. Like the word “ministry” – “leadership” is a word lazily misused today.
“I … delight to see how orderly you are,” would be a good text for someone with this gift. (Colossians 2:5)
We may think of the great administrators in the Bible: the Lord Jesus, King David, Daniel, Joseph, Moses, Paul, Nehemiah and many more.
As with all the anointings, the continuum of our private Bible reading will give us further insights.
If, on sitting down to eat the first course of a meal, you start planning what the second course will be, this could be the gift of Administration.
[D] LEADERSHIP-AID, 15 Romans 12.
(4291 Strong, proistemi, pro-is’-tay-mee.)
English translations may feature either of the two words: the RSV has zealous “aid”, which is set against, and as distinct from, “contributing” with liberality; the NIV has diligent governing “leadership”. The confusion is caused by the Greek usage of the word being too complex to render simply. Here are the shades of meaning attached to it: to preside, to put oneself at the head of, to go before, to go first, “I went on before you”; and figuratively: going ahead of someone – by way of protection, to join with sponsors, curators, to assist, to care for, to look after, to be concerned with the needs in the Church – perhaps in legal affairs, to represent, assist, support, to give protective leadership, rule, to handle the affairs of, and to look after a church or household. It works well with the Gift of Helper, and could have dimensions ranging from Government of a Nation, to a baby, and is wonderful to behold.
So, to put it simply – and I can only make my own considered suggestion: it would seem that this enabling is to guide or pilot a person, or a group, through a particularly difficult time – to see people through a problem. It means being engaged for a limited period only, in connection with one issue. The Divine compassion of the Godhead is demonstrated by this anointing. The problems dealt with might cover such a wide range, to include: illness, convalescence, poverty, oppression, times and circumstances of temptation, lack of instruction, unusual catastrophes, or loneliness: when life presents us with overwhelming odds and becomes too much for us to bear. The picture could well be, of a person leading a blind man to his destination, or a port authority pilot boarding a ship in the roads, to bring it safely up the estuary to the docks. On the one hand: it is close to administration, on the other, there is a pastoral care. Because there is just a hint of the thought in the usage of the word, my suggestion that the service is for a limited time, is counter to the kind of help that imprisons a person in a state of permanent dependency on another. I hold the concept that there is a coming out of the wood – out of “the valley of the shadow of death”: to a place of spiritual healthy confident maturity. The word is used twice elsewhere, as I say: in connection with an Elder leading his own house admirably, and leading well in the Church, mainly in teaching (1 Timothy 3:4-5, 5:17). It includes an area, which might be covered by the rather vague secular term “counselling”, but it, goes much further than words.
We might think of well-known Old Testament examples: Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-24), and Elisha and the widow of a prophet (2 Kings 4:1-7). Nehemiah, when he led the citizens of Jerusalem through their rebuilding, but then handed over the ruling of the city to his brother Hanani, and the control of the citadel to Hananiah. (Nehemiah generally and 7:2) Queen Esther, as a member of the royal household, and along with her uncle Mordecai, led the Jews exiled in Media and Persia through the persecution envisaged by the wicked Haman, in the reign of King Xerxes (485-465 BC). (Cf. The Book of Esther)
We have no doubt thought of the gifts being employed by lesser mortals to help even the eminent in society, but here we have three members of the nobility experiencing the power of the Spirit of God to bring relief to national groups.
Perhaps we could include Ananias and Barnabas here – when they saw Saul of Tarsus through the difficult time of integration into the churches at Damascus and Jerusalem, following his conversion (Acts 9:10-28).
The word is used generally for any who are over us in the Church: perhaps in a way not limited to the Elders, but including apostles teachers, prophets, etc (1 Thessalonians 5:12). Obviously, it is a gift, which has changed the course of history.
I have had two notable experiences of benefiting from this gift. Several very close members of my family died within a decade – mother, father, grandmother and an aunt who lived with us. I had a new, demanding job, had stood out against declining standards of honesty at Bible College, and was heavily committed to Church Work – round about 1960. I started to collapse, with little warning: at which time, a most kind senior Christian (a Professor of Medicine) took me into his family for three months – until recovery was established.
In the early days of studying about this gift, I was viciously struck down with Menigococcal Bacterial Meningitis; within the team that helped to save my life, was a mature Christian nurse – who wore a Fish Badge – and who stood by me in a special kind of fellowship, until I was well through the journey to good health.
A Christian neighbour is helping a single mother to cope with her limited finances.
I have noticed some instances of the recipient falling out with the helper: as a way of releasing from what otherwise might have become an over-dependency. There is sometimes the tendency to be bossy.
We might think of those standing up for the rights of the under-privileged and exploited.
The admonition is to employ this gift “with diligence”!
- HELPERS, 12/6. 1 Corinthians 12
(484 Strong, antilepsis, or antilaimpsis (Kittel),
an-til’-ape-sis, relief, help, succour support.)
There is a great temptation for commentators to suggest that the serving gifts are not as miraculous as the rest, but the whole life of the Believer is caught up in the powerful working and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. My considered view is that all the gifts have to be miraculous.
The AV has “helps”, the NIV: “those able to help others”; there is also the inference of relief, relating to succour and support, taking up a need, grasping hold of – to help, to input, keep to, a loyal commitment to, and taking up a cause. Help in the general sense of loving actions (G. Delling, Kittel). Practical help in any aspect of life, sometimes quite remarkable: home, Ekklesia, work, and elsewhere. It has a close relationship with similar kinds of service: it is not as dominating and crucial as Leadership-Aid, and not limited to finance – perhaps quite separate from it. The word is used of the Spirit’s help in our prayers (Romans 8:26). Particularly in Psalms – as seen in the Septuagint – God is our help. Fourteen times in the Greek Old Testament, it refers to helping one’s neighbour; to share a task with someone; to help someone in his or her work (Exodus 18:22, Numbers 11:17).
We have here yet another gift, which shows God’s practical compassion. Its outworking might include: helping to care for a busy mother’s children; taking people on a needed holiday; collecting the older and infirm, and taking them to meetings; doctors, teachers, agriculturalists, and various “mission partners”, in poor countries – help in all areas of society. It could be arriving in time to do some urgent typing for a Member of Parliament, or noticing that an invalid needs a wheel chair lifting into their home. Our friend Mrs. Barbara Wood was led to visit a church family: just as the door opened, the lady collapsed into Barbara’s arms, seriously ill.
Without this gift, almost no Gospel work could be achieved – a footnote, which could follow every topic in this list!
Some possible examples:
Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, bringing food to King David (2 Samuel 16:1-4), Jonathan and Ahimaaz: two spies who brought information to King David, on his retreat from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17:15-22).
The ladies who helped the Lord Jesus and his apostles: Martha and Mary; perhaps the support of Mary of Magdala, Joanna, Susanna and many more, was both fiscal and practical (Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 10:38-42, 8:1-3).
There was the group of men, who, at various times, are seen helping Paul in the Book of Acts, and throughout the epistles, although their help might have been of the deeper commitment of the next anointing. We should also consider the assistance given to the apostles in the writing of their New Testament letters – Tertius helped with Romans, Sosthenes joined Paul with 1 Corinthians, Silas assisted with 1 Peter – and in the delivering of them: Phoebe carried the letter to Rome, Tychichus took letters to Ephesus and Colossae, and perhaps to Titus (Romans 16:22; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12; Romans 16:1-2; Ephesians 6:21-22; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12). The Scriptures abound with people, from all ranks of life, who helped their fellow humans in the name of God the Most Merciful.
These serving Gifts are quite beautiful; they see immediate results, and rewards, in that sense. There is a danger that in enthusiasm they over-rule the individual, and take away their self-respect – something to be guarded against.
What about this?
THE CHRISTIAN WHO WAS “Q”
Fans of James Bond will know of “Q” – the ingenious Quartermaster, who supplied Bond with cunning devices. Ian Flemming, the writer of the James Bond stories, served in Naval Intelligence during World War II; here he met the real Quartermaster: Charles Fraser-Smith.
In 1940 Fraser-Smith spoke at a Church in Leeds: telling of his inventiveness whilst farming in Morocco, and of the two orphanages he had founded there. After the meeting, he was approached by two Government officials who wanted him in a secret post in London. Here he worked for MI6, MI9, and SOE (Special Operations Executive).
There were: hair brushes which concealed maps; miniature saws hidden in bootlaces; fountain pens, cigarettes and false teeth, which contained magnetic compasses and telescopes. Cigarette lighters hid cameras, and shaving brushes stored film – to help pinpoint key targets for Bomber Command. Invisible ink maps for secret agents in Europe, and concentrated rations for resistance troops in Burma, were also his inventions.
He was a man of great missionary interest and a very active Christian (the Gideons and the Bible Society, etc) – right up to his 88th year.
(From an article by Richard Wilkins, of the Association of Christian Teachers [ACT].)
[F] SERVING, 18 Romans 12.
(1248 Strong, diakonian, dee-ak-on-ee-ah, service – of a servant.)
This must be very similar to “helping”, but, I think, more of an attitude which is manifested in a more dedicated and wide ranging service: like a servant to a person – perhaps to free them for more important service. There is an Office of Deacons, the second, and last, in the Church structure. This is the same name, but with the Office, appointed by the Congregation, will come the ability to serve the Assembly, in a similar way the primary Office of Elders includes gifts of healing and leading.
Quite separate from the Congregation’s appointment; here we are thinking of a gift found among ordinary church members. Ideas contained in usage of the word are: attendance as a servant, wait upon, host, friend, and personal service rendered to another, prepare and serve food. Many wives will have this gift – perhaps all brilliant ones do! Good husbands also! I have seen it as: acting as servant to another, especially helping practically to release them in their service of God. There is a remote danger of being taken advantage of. I visited an eminent and gifted friend, who was very busy for Christ; his household duties had fallen behind, and so I did ironing and various chores. When he called: “Come here my man!” I knew that the time for a reappraisal had arrived!
Jesus Himself came as a Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Matthew 12:18; Luke 22:27; John 13:1-17,etc). We are called, generally, to be servants of God and of our fellows (Matthew 20:27, 23:11; Mark 9:37, 10:44; Luke 2:29; John 12:26; Romans 1:1, etc). John Mark (who later wrote the Gospel According to Mark) was aide to Paul and Barnabas, on the First Missionary Journey, and later in Rome (Acts 12:25, 15:37-39; 2 Timothy 4:11). Timothy and Erastus had “ministered” to Paul, before being sent by him to work in Macedonia, in a far higher calling (Acts 19:22). Onesimus was thought of as a minister to Paul, on behalf of Philemon (Philemon verse 13). Phoebe of Cenchrea held the office, and obviously practiced the gift as well (Romans 16:1-2).
Onesiphorus ministered to Paul in Ephesus, he recalls (2 Timothy 1:18).
The Household of Stephanas ministered to the saints (1 Corinthians 16:15).
Paul and his associates, ministered in taking the financial gift from Achaia to Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:19). Paul collected firewood, as a prisoner, on Malta. Even here, there was a display of the remarkable and the miraculous (Acts 28:1-6).
One commentator notes that Paul may have been seen in the Greco-Roman world, as a man of substance and standing, because he had several men in attendance.
If we are tempted to react against being a servant, let us remember that, like our Lord and His apostles, we are called to be slaves! Often, the word translated “servant” in the English Versions, is “slave” (doulos) in the original text. However, this is much better than being a slave of sin – which we were before conversion (John 8:34, Romans 6). In Roman society, do not forget, the slave of the Emperor was much higher than an ordinary freeman.
Ministry, or serving, in the Bible is usually something practical: where you put on your pinny, or roll your sleeves up. 1 John 3:18 reads, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth.” This is one of the grounds for assurance listed by John, and it is a gift, which brings us very close to the Lord Jesus.
[G] MERCY ACTS, 16 Romans 12
(1653 Strong, eleeo, el-eh-eh’-o; AV and NIV mercy. Strong has: compassion, pity, showing mercy.)
Rudolf Bultmann, writing within the stricture of the Kittel brief – thankfully, thinks of: emotion roused by contact with suffering, concern for the welfare of others, pathos or phobia, a sense of awe, mercy, sympathy, relating to an area of justice, an attitude arising out of a mutual relationship of trust and loyalty – faithfulness, protection, security, faithfulness to a covenant – of a ruler protecting his dominion, obligation, love, grace, favour – coming undeservedly to another person to help them.
One would think of a specific and significant act of merciful assistance.
Stoic philosophy, thinking mainly of jurisprudence, saw mercy as a weakening of the law’s authority, and as a possible course of injustice. Fortunately indeed, God has revealed Himself, in both Old and New Testaments, as a God of mercy, and we are encouraged to show mercy in our relationships, because of this divine quality.
The chapters, or Surah, of the Qur’an all begin with the words: “In the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”; Islam has no revelation of that Mercy of God; indeed, He is seen as a capricious individual. In the opinion of some who have studied Islam at firsthand: the Allah of the Qur’an is viewed as being Satan in reality. One might say, in contrast, that the whole of the Bible is devoted to explaining the Mercy of God, one of His main attributes – fortunately for us! God’s mercy is based on His specific promises, is not vague, and is the very opposite of His wrath in judgment.
“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
(Isaiah 55:6-7)
The importance of mercy in the Christian walk, is constantly underlined: “… because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful,” and ” the wisdom that comes from heaven is … full of mercy….” (James 2:13, 3:17. Cf Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13, 12:7, 5:7)
Mercy is one of the three main aspects of the Law, along with justice and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). The utterly evil are “unmerciful” (Romans 1:31).
Most, if not all, of the gifts are expressions of parts of God’s Nature. To act in mercy, is therefore one of the greatest callings for a Christian. How marvellous when this great Mercy is seen conspicuously in Mercy Acts.
Our main text stresses the usage found in the Septuagint: that mercy must take a concrete form: in action. “Almsgiving”, as it appears in the Authorized Version, is really “mercy acts”, and obviously it must be done in secrecy. The requirement in Romans is: “with cheerfulness” – it is to be enjoyed.
Biblical examples might be:
Abigail bringing victuals to David in the Judean Desert (1 Samuel 25:14-35).
There were the various men who brought provisions and equipment for David’s army, on his retreat before Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:24-29) The love of one’s neighbour is illustrated in the merciful actions of the “Good Samaritan” in the parable (Luke 10:37).
Exorcism is seen in Jesus’s service as a showing of Divine Mercy (Mark 5:19), as is healing, post Ascension (Philippians 2:27).
[H] CONTRIBUTING, 14 Romans 12
(3330 Strong, metadidomi, met-ad-id’-o-mee; AV – he that giveth; AV Newberry margin – imparteth; NIV – contributing to the needs of others; Green Interlinear – sharing.)
The injunction is: with liberality, generosity, and simplicity.
Acts 4:32-37, is one of two great examples in the Early Church. Out of all the serving gifts, this deals uniquely with money. Some people are gifted to earn or obtain legitimately, large or relatively large amounts of money, for helping God’s people. We may recollect the ladies in Luke 8 again, Priscilla and Aquila in Acts – who gave hospitality to individuals, and indeed, to whole congregations, and the Great Collection of the Macedonian and Corinthian Churches, for famine relief in the Judean Believers (Luke 8:1-3; Acts 18:1-3, 24-26; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15). Paul could say: “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak.” This would imply a continuing fiscal help (Acts 20:34-35).
1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him.”
There must be no strings attached, and the applicable and associated adjective is: “generous”.
God’s work might well not progress without this gift; a vital ministry in America was given a great boost, with a donation from a millionaire Believer, of half a million American dollars to purchase a Headquarters Office building.
It amazes me, and is surely salutary, that the apostles saw that there were so many similar, but distinctively separate, supporting gifts in the Church; and we have the great need to develop our own understanding and experience of them. They are all part of the Church’s anointing by the Holy Spirit, and, individually, of our being filled with the Spirit.
TITHING
Tithing was covered in Old Testament Law; but Jesus enforced it also. It surprises me that even those with a legal background fail to see the implications of our Lord’s words. It is for all Believers, quite separated from the special gift.
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Here is clear instruction on the correct perspective, but still requiring tithing to be retained. A tithe is obviously a tenth. In Balderstone, our Vicar had been an Accountant, and was a good person to discuss the subject with. The church tithed its own income: giving to worthy causes. We decided that tithing should be before government taxation, but minus Superannuation (for a Pension); this encouraged tithing of the Pension after Retirement. A careful Account Book could be kept. Tithing is a floor not a ceiling – a minimum, not a top amount. There are more causes for giving: special thanksgiving, and Firstfruits from some new venture or “harvest”.
A local church had severe financial problems, so having in mind the cars in the car park and the fashion statements, I gave a short word on tithing, as part of my sermon. And that was it; except for a lady who was at odds with my advice about keeping an account book, to redress withholding tithes in times of poverty. The lady would tithe, even if it meant starving her children! I disagreed. The reverse can be true: in years of plenty we can give well in excess.
If our giving is limited: a mere tip to God – as apposed to an investment for eternity, we will be embarrassed on reaching Glory!
A gentleman was selling raffle tickets for the British Heart Foundation in our local shopping mall. At best, my £2 might win me £1,000. I explained that my current investment earned me a return of capital plus 10,000%. This is Jesus’s promise and was guaranteed. His reply was that you couldn’t take it with you when you die. My retort: “No, but you can send it on ahead!”.
Again: Tithing came before the Law, even before Abraham became a Jew – Genesis 14:18-20.
For every ten people, their average income, will become the church’s.
A very tragic story, if I understood it aright: a Believer, who had experienced prison and a disastrous life before his conversion, found himself blessed with this gift. Sadly he started to spend on an affluent lifestyle of cars and property – much to the amazement of his ex-social worker, and his own excitement. This appeared to set a bad example, and indicated a lack of understanding – soon to be remedied, I hope.
FAILURE TO ENCOURAGE GIVING CAN ROB CHRISTIANS OF REWARDS IN THE NEXT LIFE.
WHERE FEELINGS RUN HIGH!
[I] APOSTLE, 10 1 Corinthians 12 (Second List), Ephesians 4
(652 Strong, apostolos, ap-os’-tol-os, a delegate, ambassador, messenger, a person who is sent)
Some readers will passionately hold to the view that apostles finished with the death of the last of the Twelve; some will attend fellowships, which are awash with apostles! This is where we grasp the nettle: if all the charisms of the Epistles are for today, then how do we view the gift of apostle? The story is told of an American Congressional Candidate who was asked a difficult question on the hustings. He replied that some of his friends were of one opinion, some were of the other: “Personally, I’m for my friends.” Some of my brothers and sisters would say that, apart from a figurative use of the word, apostles finished with the Twelve – to suggest otherwise, is to imply that the Bible is still being written; some will say they have apostles today in their denomination. An airline pilot does not take a vote among the passengers as to what to do next: he concentrates on his instruments. Similarly, the Christian must follow the Scriptures: not opinions. Cockpit instruments do need regular checking, as I know from experience, similarly, we must research for precise and accurate translation and meaning.
Some are all too ready to claim “apostleship”, by contrast it wise not to mention it.
In his most significant book, “Ministers of God”, Canon Principal Leon Morris seconds the words of Bishop J. B. Lightfoot (one time of Durham, and eminent New Testament scholar): that the term apostle “is not so used as to lend any countenance to the idea that it is in any way restricted to the Twelve” – the word is not confined to the Twelve and Paul, in the later parts of the New Testament (ibid p. 42). Also of significance are the dates of the two books: “Ministers of God” 1964, “Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians”, by J. B. Lightfoot, 1902. Professor C. K. Barrett, the Durham University, Methodist academic, says: “It is implied that there is a distinct group of persons known as apostles, which is not unlimited, so that anyone may claim, truly or falsely, to belong to it, and that this claim may be tested; it is implied too that false claims were in fact made” (“The Signs of an Apostle”, 1969). On the question of false apostles, the argument is never offered, that there could only be The Twelve. “It must have been well known throughout the Church that there was a class of apostles and that this class was considerably wider than the Twelve, else to affirm oneself to be an apostle would be immediately to discredit oneself.” (Leon Morris p. 45; 2 Corinthians 11:11-15, 12:11; Revelation 2:2)
To admit to more apostles than The Twelve, is still a long march from accepting the concept that there are apostles in the Church today.
An Assistant Bishop in Manchester, a long time ago, observed that people, like himself, might be the apostles today! In his case of extreme unorthodoxy, it was most appropriate to underline, that we must always be on guard against false apostles who bring a different Christology – such as denying the Virgin Birth, the Eternal Sonship (that Jesus was God come down from Heaven), and the Bodily Resurrection of Christ; and offer a salvation which is based on the works of the Law, as opposed to grace and faith.
Ancient Corinth is now simply a small tourist village, dominated by the ruins of the archaeological site. In mid-September 1991, I visited the last shop on the right as one walks through the main street towards the museum – near to where Paul may have served in the workshops of the North Market. The owner of this shop spends his time painting small modern vases and artifacts. The ubiquitous radio amplified a most significant Greek Orthodox service – it was in fact celebrating the Festival of the True
Cross. The eminent Bishop was preaching about the Church’s need for apostles today! I was told.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND COMFORT
- There can be no adding to, or changing of the Scriptures
This is why the Qur’an, the writing of Mohammed, cannot be of God. There are Muslim theologians who recognise the problem of Revelation 22 :18, 19: that the pages of revelation from God, closed forever on earth, at this point. Within the Qur’an there are abrogations without number, even though the work of one person and about the same length as the New Testament, and the Medina chapters are in opposition to those written in Mecca – peaceful, versus warlike.
The authority in the Congregation should always be the Elders
- Academic institutions, denominational hierarchies, and local-church leaders, cannot take upon themselves the sole distribution of any of the Gifts; the Spirit of Grace is sovereign. This is not to say that during a course of training, the Spirit may not anoint, and there is always much to be learned about our gifts and their uses through study. We have a duty, before God, to be fully educated for His service: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Similarly, some form of ordination” – the laying on of hands and commissioning, may be most valid.
- As with all gifts, there is the question of scale: from the minuscule, to the worldwide
- The Twelve Apostles are, and will always be, special (Matthew 10:2, 19:28; John 20:24; Acts 6:2; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Revelation 21:14 – by way of examples). J. W. Bowman noted: “Wherever our Lord would appear with His band of ‘twelve’, the number in itself would be proclaiming the Gospel message…. ‘Can’t you see’, it would be saying to Jewry, ‘this is the Remnant spoken of in the prophets. Open your eyes and see; this is the Messiah and the new Israel!'” (Leon Morris gives this quotation in “Ministers of God”, p.15) They were a critical part of the eschatological fulfilment of Israel. The Twelve – and the inner Three – remind us of the Warriors of David: the Three and the Thirty. (2 Samuel 23:8-39)
- There has been little recent use of the term apostle, except in a metaphorical sense for special missionaries such as: Smith Wigglesworth, John Wesley, William Carey, David Livingstone, David Brainard – who did remarkable work among the Native Canadians, and those who hold our attention in the pages of Church History.
APOSTLES IN THE CHURCH ARE EQUATED WITH WITH THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
Now I wish to establish an important point as a basis for our study: apostles are the equivalent of the Old Testament prophets. Here are nine objective reasons why this is the case, looking at the text:
- Apostles were “The Generals Next To God”: the highest of Gifts to the Church – “in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, secondly prophets…” (1 Corinthians 12:27-31): similarly, the Old Testament prophets were the highest rank in their day.
- The calling of an apostle covers that of the ancient prophets, as is demonstrated by the eschatological passages, and prophetic elements, in the epistles – similar to those in the Major and Minor Prophets, and by the occasional promoting of prophets to be apostles: as in the case of Barnabas, Paul, and Silas. (Acts 13:1-4, 14:4, 15:32)
The following list of the elements in Old Testament Prophecy demonstrates an affinity with the apostles’ writing and ministry, rather than with New Testament Prophecy:
- Revelation of God’s Character and will
- Indictment of wickedness, even among God’s People
- Judgment is spoken of as imminent
- Exile and Return – the course of future events
- The Messianic Hope
- The Golden Age – Eschatology, the Millennium
- Instruction, Strengthening, Comfort and Encouragement
- Everyday issues – such as 1 Samuel 9, “Where are my father’s donkeys?” “This will happen if the king does not repent…”
- The New Testament prophets are clearly stated to be second in status to the apostles, and the evidence of their ministry indicates a role, which is distinctly less than that of their forebears under the Old Covenant.
- The Old Testament written revelation was mainly given through prophets; mainly apostles set down the words of the New Testament.
- Jesus taught: “… God in his wisdom said, I will send them prophets and apostles…” (Luke 11:49 in its context)
- Peter also makes it clear: “I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles” (2 Peter 3:2, 14-16). Paul also: “… the Jews, killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us (apostles) out.” (1 Thessalonians 2:6,15)
- Jesus is both The Prophet, in the Old Testament sense, and The Apostle of the New Covenant.
- The call of the apostle, certainly in Paul’s case, resembled that of an ancient prophet – his initial reaction on the Damascus approach road, would have been to think that God was calling him to an Isaiah-like duty. The Twelve had the impressive honour of a calling by God Incarnate during His earthly ministry.
Karl Rengstorf suggests this important line of thinking in the Kittel article on the “apostle” word group when he notes in a parenthesis: “It should be obvious that the NT “prophetai” … do not correspond at all to those of the OT. It should also be clear why they do not play a very prominent part, though they are highly respected in the time of the great Pauline Epistles.” (Kittel, Volume I, p 441)
THE PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
To learn several key lessons, we too must enter into a parenthesis on this subject, and look at the service of these ancient men of God.
Who were the prophets of the Old Testament? There are twenty-eight, which most church goers, could probably reel off immediately: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, Elijah, Elisha; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
Only about nineteen of these twenty-eight are known as Writing Prophets – those who wrote part of the Scriptures. Incidentally, Elijah wrote a letter: 2 Chronicles 21:12 ff.
(References: Genesis 15:1, 13-16, 20:7, 49:1, 50:24; Exodus 7:1; 1 Samuel 3:20, 9:6-14; 2 Samuel 7:2; Amos 7:14; Habakkuk 1:1; Haggai 1:1; Ezra 5:1; Zechariah 1:7; 1 Kings 18:36, 19:16.)
Now for some of the lesser-known Old Testament prophets and prophetesses:
Miriam (Exodus 15:20),
Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:27),
Joshua (Joshua 1:1 ff; 3:10 ff etc),
Deborah (Judges 4:4),
An unnamed prophet (Judges 6:8),
A procession of prophets (1 Samuel 10:5),
King Saul (1 Samuel 10:6),
A group of prophets led by Samuel (1 Samuel 19:20),
Three groups of King Saul’s men (1 Samuel 19:20-21),
The prophet Gad (1 Samuel 22:5),
Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh (1 Kings 11:29, 14:2),
The man of God (1 Kings 13:1),
An old false prophet of Bethel (1 Kings 13:11),
Jehu son of Hanani (1 Kings 16:7),
The larger number of the Lord’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4 ff,
19:10 ff),
A hundred taken and hidden by Obadiah (1 Kings18:4 ff),
450 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings18:19),
400 false prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19),
A prophet who came to King Ahab (1 Kings 20:13),
One of the sons of the prophets (1 Kings 20:35-36),
400 false prophets of Israel, including Zedekiah son of Kenaanah,
(1 Kings 22:6-28; 2 Chronicles 18),
Micaiah son of Imlah (1 Kings 22:7-8; 2 Chronicles 18),
The company of prophets (2 Kings 2:3-18, 4:1-41, 5:22, 6:1, 9:1),
[The prophets of King Joram’s father and mother (2 Kings 3:13)],
The false prophets of Baal in King Jehu’s time (2 Kings 10:18 ff),
Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe – she lived in Jerusalem, the second district: an upper class family (2 Kings 22:14),
Some of the sons of Asaph[4], Heman [14], and Jeduthun [6] – who prophesied to music – 24 in total (1 Chronicles 25:1-5)
Shemaiah (2 Chronicles 12:5),
Iddo – who wrote annotations on King Abijah (2 Chronicles 12:5),
Azariah son of Oded the prophet (2 Chronicles 15:8),
Hanani the seer (2 Chronicles 16:7),
Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani (2 Chronicles 19:2 f) cf above,
Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph
Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:14,37)
A prophet sent to King Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:15),
Oded (2 Chronicles 28:9),
Gad the King’s seer (2 Chronicles 29:25),
Nathan (2 Chronicles 29:25),
Prophets of God with Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra (Ezra 5:1-2),
The false prophetess Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14),
False prophets who tried to intimidate Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:14),
False prophets of Baal in Israel’s history (Jeremiah 2:8,28),
Israel’s false prophets in Samaria were of Baal (Jeremiah 23:13),
Some prophets in Jerusalem, in Jeremiah’s time, were evil (Jeremiah 23:14),
In the reign of Zedekiah, there were false prophets (Jeremiah 27:14,15),
False prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, from Gibeon (Jeremiah 28),
[Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36)]
The full total must be well over a thousand!
So, to summarize: the OT prophets, did not all write notable letters and books like Isaiah and Jeremiah; nor did the prophets all perform spectacular miracles, such as those of Elijah and Elisha. We find the “schools” of prophets, and a whole class of prophets in the background, of whom we hear very little in detail.
There were prophetesses, and when men failed to serve God in one period – in the days of The Judges – Deborah took the lead.
Have in mind the point already made, that most of the New Testament is the work of apostles, just as the OT is mainly the writing of prophets.
The significance is therefore: if we accept the premise that the post-ascension apostles equate with the prophets of the Old Covenant – that a similar pattern of lesser, ordinary, apostles will be seen in their background; and that there will also be an undesirable presence of false apostles. The apostles of the Church will follow a similar pattern to the prophets of the Old Testament.
THE APOSTLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
JESUS IS CALLED “THE APOSTLE” (Hebrews 3:1).
There are the original Twelve:
Simon (Peter), and
Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James (son of Zebedee), and
John (the brother of James), Boanerges – Sons of Thunder,
Philip, and
Bartholomew,
Thomas, and
Matthew (the tax collector),
James (son of Alphaeus), and
Thaddaeus, or Judas son of James (Is this the same person, or a replacement of one who had dropped out?),
Simon (the Zealot), and
Judas Iscariot (who betrayed him).
Matthew 10:2-4, (the synoptic parallels are Mark 3:13-19, and Luke 6:12-16)
What do we make of “The Seventy” (or 72): are they to be called apostles – (Luke 10:1-24)”apostello” (to send, verses 1-3 a related verb is used)
Two disciples who were present at Lake Galilee are included as apostles by some. (John 21:2)
Matthias was chosen by God to replace Judas Iscariot. (Acts 1:23-26)
James, the Lord’s brother, by implication (1 Corinthians 9:5, 15:7; Galatians 1:19, 2:9-12)
Brothers of our Lord – at least two; possibly Jude and James, but there could be more. (1 Corinthians 9:5)
All the apostles – a sizable group, as contrasted with the Twelve, Paul, and James the Lord’s Brother, all of whom are already in the list. (1 Corinthians 15:5-7)
Paul (Acts 14:4,14; 1 Corinthians 9:1,5,6, 15:7; Galatians 2:8 etc)
Barnabas (Acts 14:4,14; 1 Corinthians 9:5,6)
Apollos – some would see 1 Corinthians 4, as including this gifted lawyer from Alexandria.
Silas (1 Thessalonians 1:1, with 2:6)
Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:1, with 2:6)
Titus (1 Thessalonians 1:1, with 2:6 – I can find no clearer reference in my notes, but the implications are clear in such passages as the letter to Titus, and in his work within the apostolic team)
Epaproditus, the Philippian messenger – “apostolos” (Philippians 2:25)
Two or more “apostoloi” of the Macedonian Churches, sent to Corinth with Titus. (2 Corinthians 8:23) Were church apostles – Epaphroditus and these others – apostles who were commissioned by the Congregation to act on their behalf, commissioned by the
Congregation to Christ’s service, or sent to the Congregation, originally, by Jesus? I think, not the first, as the word has a technical usage in the New Testament Church – meaning specifically “an apostle of Christ”.
Andronicus (Romans 16:7)
Junias (or feminine Junia) (Romans 16:7) These last two had the following commendation: they were relatives of Paul, had been in prison with him …, were outstanding among the apostles, and were converted before him.
Pseudo (false), super, apostles in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:11-15, 12:11)
False apostles in Ephesus (Revelation 2:2)
In total, we must be thinking of an unknown figure, but in my opinion we might be thinking of about fifty New Testament apostles – 24 unequivocally named, some unnamed, several open-ended plural references, and the false ones. The true calling is never proved by a reference to being in the original Twelve; there is clearly an understanding that there would be new post-ascension apostles. Derek Prince, in his research, saw at least 28, in addition to the Twelve. (Recorded talk: “The New Testament Evangelists”)
The New Testament is quite clear that the calling of apostle did not end with the Twelve: as the eminent Christian theologians, noted earlier, stated.
What further can be learnt from the words and academic notes?
It is not my intention, even if I could, to present a theological summation. Considerable surprise may be experienced, that university faculties and scholarly publications have seen such thorough consideration of the apostle’s calling: the fifty pages of Kittel, and the publications of Morris, Lightfoot and Barrett, serve only as a hint.
Karl Heinrich Rengstorf, of Tubingen University, is the writer who deals with this word group in Kittel. (Vol. I, pp 398-447 [50 pages]) He sees the verb as suggesting “the impartation of full religious and ethical power”; the commission and authorization link the sender, the person sent, and the recipient; rulers of provinces were sent “from Rome as an impressive concretion of the empire” – in secular and religious terms it was a mission.
In the Greek translation of the Old Testament it is found over 700 times as a “technical term for the sending of a messenger with a specific task”, as in the experience of Isaiah. (Isaiah 6:8) We should consider the subservience of the person sent: “Even in the consciousness of the bearer of the commission, the emphasis lies in its author, as we can see from such cases as Abraham (Genesis 12:1 ff), Eleizer (Genesis 24:1 ff), Moses and above all the prophets…” The Gospel According to John is especially rich in the concept of sending. One verse obscured in English Versions is 13:16: “I tell you the truth, no slave is greater than his master, nor an apostle greater than the one who sent him.”
The remarkable fact is that, although the verb was commonly used in secular Greek: the noun had only a limited and specific use – for maritime commerce and military expeditions; that is, until its introduction as a calling, by our Lord. Jesus and the early church uniquely use it! There was no common Latin equivalent, hence the taking over of the Greek term as a loan word in translation. Hebrew had a similar term in “sheluhin/shaliah” (agent), which they did not in any sense borrow. Leon Morris rejects the idea found in Kittel, that “apostolos” relates to “shaliah”, of the Old Testament.
As a basis for “apostle”, Kittel settles for: “an encounter with the risen Lord and reception of the commission from Him”. They are seen, not as officials in the Congregation, but messengers of Christ, through whom the Assemblies are formed, built up, instructed, guided and disciplined. “It could not be hardened into an office.” Nevertheless, one must note a clear possessive link with sending Congregations: apostles of specific churches. The most likely inference being the question of accountability: the messengers had to report back to their sending Congregation, much as Paul did in Syrian Antioch, after his First and Second Missionary Journeys. (Acts 14:26-28, 18:22-23) This relationship to Syrian Antioch rather defines against the profile of apostles belonging to individual churches as their private apostle, who ministers to them: as opposed to being sent out from them. In this sense Paul was “the apostle of the Gentiles” and Peter the apostle “of the circumcision”, but he was also, like Peter, “an apostle of Jesus Christ”. (Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1, 2:8 (AV); Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1)
The term “pseudo-apostle” is special to the New Testament, also. “Whatever the debate about whether the apostles died off in the first century, it’s clear the ‘super apostles’ didn’t, Rob Warner notes somewhat wryly.” (“Christianity Magazine”, p 26, April 1998)
Although the ordination of apostles fell to the spiritual church, they were still very much “apostles of Christ”. This method of appointment has its roots in Rabbinical Judaism, says Kittel.
New Testament teaching about the apostles’ work
A look at key passages
In Matthew 10:2-4, (the synoptic parallels are Mark 3:13-19, and Luke 6:12-16) there is a significant pairing of the names: notice that the brothers are sent out together – and what about the zealot and the patriot together! If they could not work well together as brothers in the family business, they would hardly fare well as travelling preachers together; and similar ideals might oil the machinery of travelling evangelism. Derek Prince has clearly shown in his lectures, that they moved about in teams, if possible. Apart from practice established by Jesus in the original appointment, we have Peter and John at the Gate Beautiful, and in Samaria (Acts 3:1, 8:14-25, also Mark 11:1, 14:13), and Paul with his companions, as seen in Acts 13 ff and the epistles – note the plural pronouns in 2 Corinthians 10:3-18; 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 21-20; Galatians 2:1, 9 (two teams).
Also for the Twelve there was the commission: to announce the Good News, to heal, exorcise, receive limited payment and hospitality, to move on in the face of expected persecution – persecution would come, but there was to be no macho heroics – and to bring blessing. They were to herald (kerussein), rather than teach in depth, at this stage; but the whole of Jesus’ revelation was to be passed on, in the wider sense of the Good News, eventually. Their commitment was to the death.
In Jesus’s original appointment there is the important feature of Limitation: in this case, they must not go outside the House of Israel. (Matthew 10:5-6) Similarly Paul was restricted: from ‘following his instinct’ into Asia and Bithynia; from baptizing disciples in Corinth – even though it was very much part of his message; from straying outside his brief (as Apollos also, presumably, respected) and from entering the territory of fellow apostles. “What, after all is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” This is a marvelously clear picture of all Christian service. That is, he saw himself as integrated with the work of others, in God’s great plan. To re-emphasize the point: there will be some significant limitations in the apostolic calling; they are not free agents with total authority, working in isolation, or without accountability. (Acts 16:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:14-17; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 2 Corinthians 10:13-18)
What is often called The Great Commission is found at the end of The Gospel According to Matthew: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything, which I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the Age.'” (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-18)
There was no doubt that Judas had forfeited his place in the apostolate, and so, on the authority of Psalms 69:25 and 109:8, Peter organized the replacement with these words: “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Matthias was chosen by the archaic method of lots, and officially became the twelfth apostle. (Acts 1:20-26)
The Twelve initiated the choosing of the Seven Deacons, but gave the actual choice to the full democratic gathering of the Disciples. They were to devote themselves to prayer and the service of the Word. (Acts 6:2-4)
Peter and John showed the seniority of their calling over that of the evangelist Philip, when they came to Samaria to literally put the seal on his activity there. One might ask: “How can one tell an evangelist from an apostle? They both preach the Gospel in fresh regions, often with miracles of authentication. What is the difference between Philip, on the one hand, as an evangelist, and Peter and John, as apostles, on the other?” By way of reply, we might say: “There is a point here. Perhaps some evangelists are all too ready to claim a higher appointment than God had given. Of course, to have a vision, to perform a miracle, or to claim a calling, is not necessarily the proof of a genuine call.
There is no piece of paper – although some may have carried letters, which were of little value, or obvious human badge of rank. Timothy was an apostle, but he was nothing like Paul. Perhaps only an apostle, really understands the calling, or needs to.” (Acts 8:4-25; 2 Corinthians 3:1)
Paul, during his first days in Damascus, demonstrates the gift of evangelist; he is then seen as a teacher, and later as a prophet and teacher, before rising still further to the premier calling of apostle. Here we might be meant to see a steady promotion. (Acts 9:19 a-25, 11:26, 13:1, 14:4,14, 15:2)
Peter’s trilogy of visions at Joppa brings him guidance of pivotal significance (within the tradition of the Apocalyptic Vision, this indicates something of national or international importance, fixed in God’s purposes, and soon to be executed – Genesis 37:5-10, 41:32; Daniel 4:24).
As an apostle, Peter had to defend his actions in Caesarea, in the face of general criticism from “the apostles and brothers throughout Judea”. He was not granted infallibility! (Acts 11:1-18)
When James “the brother of John” was martyred he was not replaced: he remained one of the Twelve – the first to reach Glory. (Acts 12:2; Revelation 21:14)
Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the prophets and teachers of Syrian Antioch, and sent by the Holy Spirit also (not “apostello” in either case, although the first word is a distant relative). Does this constitute the Holy Spirit’s commissioning of the two apostles? There is echo here of the words of David about the return of the Ark of God, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide.” (Acts 13:1-4; 1 Chronicles 13:1-3)
Paul is very careful to stress that suffering is basic to the commission. There are two key passages in his sensitive letters to the Corinthians – as contained in the New Testament. The first (1 Corinthians 4:8-13) describes how apostles are like the prisoners at the end of a Roman Triumphal Procession: destined for extermination in the city theatre or arena. Their suffering includes: being a spectacle to angels and men, being fools, weak, dishonoured, undernourished, ill-clothed, brutally treated, homeless, labourers, cursed by enemies of God, persecuted, wrongly spoken against, the scum of the earth, and refuse of society. In the second passage (2 Corinthians 11:21-33) Paul details his own suffering: he preached free of charge in Achaia, worked very hard, was frequently imprisoned, experienced severe flogging, faced death several times, five times he received the Jewish beating of 39 strokes, suffered three beatings with rods, was “stoned to death”, had three shipwrecks, was twenty-four hours lost at sea, lived an unsettled lifestyle, faced various dangers (from rivers, bandits, fellow countrymen, Gentiles, in cities, in the countryside, at sea, from false Brethren), endured the indignity of labouring exacerbated by sleepless nights, starvation, fasting, excessive chill, shortage of clothing, in the sealed city of Damascus he had to escape from the wall in a basket – perhaps it was through the sewage outflow that he “slipped” away. Besides all this, he shared the constant heartaches of church members. Jesus is still being persecuted in the suffering of His People. Perhaps Paul and the Holy Spirit are stressing to us, that these are the true accreditation and signs of an apostle!
Most of the Twelve died for their testimony; indeed, the verb “to witness” (martyreo) gave us the term “martyrdom” (to die for one’s beliefs). This is hardly a glamorous job description, which will produce queues at the town’s Job Centre.
There must also be a sense of being “sent” as the term implies. This could be through some clear numinous call, or through the church with its Elders and prophets, or even a visionary sight of the risen Christ. Some will say that an appearance of the Risen Lord, and a direct order from Him, is essential; some that the Church at prayer can be the instrument of the Divine commissioning. Leon Morris limits it to the former: Derek Prince includes the latter. Scripture certainly stresses the divine appointment. (Acts 1:23-26; 1 Corinthians 1:1, 9:1, 12:28, 2 Corinthians 1:1, 11:5-13, 12:11; Galatians 1:1,15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; Jude verse 17)
The holiness of life, doctrinal authority, and doctrinal orthodoxy, will also mark out the true calling.
The authority of apostles must be looked at with care. Professor Morris deals incisively and extensively with variant academic opinions (ibid p 51 ff). They could not claim automatic infallibility: Paul’s lost letter to the Corinthians contained a misleading statement (1 Corinthians 5:9-11), Peter and Barnabas were party to the Galatian heresy (Galatians 2:11-16), the Jerusalem Church, with its Elders and apostles, waited to hear Peter’s account for his fellowshipping with Gentiles (Acts 10 and 11). Paul, whose life illustrates so much of the calling, has constantly to establish his authority – as in the Corinthian letters, although he sees it as being no less than that of fellow apostles, including the Twelve. (2 Corinthians 11:5 AV; Galatians 2:6) It would seem to me that the tension between the appointed Elders, and the called apostles, was a good safeguard of orthodoxy.
Paul’s reference to signs, wonders and miracles, may well be in the spirit of irony which he is employing in the letter. (2 Corinthians 12:12; with chapters 10, 11 and 12) “To appeal to them is part of that folly in which Paul permits himself to indulge, in this chapter.” (C. K. Barrett, note 80) The Jewish Christian readers, and the rapidly informed Gentile Believers would be well aware that something more than the miraculous was required as credential: both in the Law, and in the Gospels (Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Matthew 7:21-23 (GNB); see also Matthew 24:24). In the Law, anyone who taught the worship of false gods, even though they worked wonders and signs, were to be put to death – close relatives were to show no quarter in reporting them, and be the first to stone them; whole communities were to be exterminated. Our Lord taught: “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do what my Father in Heaven wants them to do. When Judgment Day comes, many will say to me (a proof of Christ’s divinity), ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!” It is not miracles or even conservative preaching, but a close acquaintance with Our Heavenly Father, which is the evidence of real Christian conversion, let alone of apostleship.
One of the finest summations of the apostolic ministry is found in the farewell speech to the Ephesian Elders. Here may be seen the nearness to the Old Testament nabi (prophet – also found as a Muslim name): his relative innocence and integrity, because he has been faithful in declaring the Message, his charge to the spiritual rulers, the prophetic warning of imminent dangers, but in addition the quality of his own life and sacrifice, and a saying of Christ not found anywhere else. (Acts 20:25-38)
To stir the Jews, Paul magnified his service; we may say he: felt a sense of honour and privilege, rejoiced in it, made it paramount, to the fore of his mind, developed a consuming passion, did not hide his gift from hourly use. Paul could speak humbly of being the “least of the apostles”, but in defense as “not a whit behind the very senior apostles”. (Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 11:5) This sense of pride and honour is found in 2 Corinthians 10:8, For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
In a sense, I believe, the calling is a conglomerate of all, or many of, the gifts; but there is still the interdependence on the Church members who are prophets, or who have the gift of faith, and so on. Apostles were never one-man-bands, self-sufficient. The Twelve had the help of the godly ladies; Paul received much support: financial, secretarial, prophetic, etc. There is also the humility of allowing others to find their leading from God. (Acts 21:10-14; 1 Corinthians 16:12)
Paul wanted to retain a reasonable amount of freedom, as a Believer, when the Corinthian Church might want to impose its own rules on him. (1 Corinthians 9:1 and 19) Paul in Acts, and in his epistles, gives an exemplary portrait of the calling.
His relationship to God, and to his fellow Believers, was as their slave; indeed he saw in his scars, the brand marks of his slavery in Christ’s household. (1 Corinthians 9:19; Galatians 6:17 Moffatt)
The failure of the pseudo-apostles in three key areas, gives us a clear indication of the orthodoxy of the truly called: an accurate portrayal of Christ, genuinely walking in the indwelling Holy Spirit, and offering a true representation of the Good News. (2 Corinthians 11:5)
It is comforting to note that the true apostles were not perfect; Paul had to rebuke Peter and Barnabas. (Galatians 2:11 ff) Neither was the Church perfect ….
The foundation of the Church is apostles and prophets; and the revelation of the mystery is to apostles and prophets also. This has perplexed Bible students down the years: are the prophets Old or New? “Since apostles are mentioned first, it is probable that Christian prophets, not Old Testament prophets are in mind”, writes C. K. Barrett (note 123), and he is not alone in this opinion. (Ephesians 2:20, 3:5)
All that is said about the gift of evangelist is implicit in the apostolic call. Timothy is reminded precisely: “Do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
They often carried the responsibility of appointing the Elders in new churches. Peter was both an apostle and an Elder. (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 2 Peter 1:1, and 5:1)
Jesus alone is perfect, and is the leading example given to us: “Therefore my holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed Him…” (Hebrews 3:1-2)
The prayer of our Lord to the Father, for the Twelve: “As you have sent me into the World, I have sent them into the World.” (John 17:18)
A summary of the signs of an apostle
- They have seen the risen Lord, in reality, or in a visionary call. This cannot imply that all who have “seen” the Lord are apostles, because we have the 500 witnesses of the resurrection. (1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:6; Acts 22:14)
- Called by Jesus to a specific area of high-ranking service, with limitations
- Orthodoxy of belief and doctrine, which they must responsibly defend
- God’s attestation by miraculous signs, at some time. This is one of the weakest accreditations, and was obviously NOT paramount for all the Old Testament prophets – some were essentially Writing Prophets: though the miraculous was not far away (cf above).
- A willingness to suffer for Christ and His people
- Acceptance by those who are already apostles
- Acceptance by some Congregations. (1 Corinthians 9:2)
- An inclusive endowment with several primary and secondary spiritual gifts for their work, such as prophecy, teaching, evangelism, administration, and so forth.
- A seal of approval in the lives of those they have built up. (1 Corinthians 9:2)
- Commissioned by God through a Congregation, to which they are accountable.
- An inner conviction of being called by Christ to this work.
- They will most likely operate in a team – some will be younger in the Faith, and in process of training. (Acts 15:4-16:6; Galatians 1:2, etc)
- A pioneering spirit. (C. K. Barrett p.40)
- Occasional loneliness: Paul’s stand against the church at Corinth, and fellow apostles at Antioch. (Cf Jeremiah’s suffering of persecution as he stood against a nation – Jeremiah 13:17 b, etc)
It may be helpful to look again at the scope of Old Testament Prophecy in a way which makes it relate to the present work of an apostle:
- Teaching about God’s Character and will
- Indictment of sin among God’s people, and among pagans
- Judgment of God’s people, and those who are unbelievers
- Exile and Return – the course of future events, judgment and restoration of sinners
- Messianic Teaching: the Good News about Jesus – evangelism
- Teaching about The Golden Age – Eschatology
- Instruction, Strengthening, Comfort and Encouragement
- Everyday issues – 1 Samuel 9.
There are most likely many people in the Church today doing the work of an apostle: many just recognised as preachers, as an international teacher and evangelist, with a message of discipline for the Church, a national influence, or even a local or specific anointing. How do apostles come to know their calling? We have noticed Paul graduating through being an evangelist, a teacher, and a prophet, before the call to an apostle. Really the problem is the same as was found apropos prophets in the Old Testament: there is a fair mixture of true and pseudo; the Church has to make its decision!
THE CHURCH WAS NOT MEANT TO EXIST WITHOUT PROPHECY
[1 Samuel 9:1-10v2; Numbers 12:6-8; Acts 21:1-16; 1Corinthians 12:27-31]
Another stinging nettle!
[J] PROPHECY 6 All four passages
4394 in Strong: propheteia, prof-ay-ti’-ah, prophecy, prediction
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. [Within its context, this passage can only refer to the regular use of the gift in the congregations – not to the great books of the Old Testament figures.]
There is a story in the Bible, which you most people have never read, simply because it is hidden in two parts of the New Testament. When Paul was in Lystra, on what we call the Second Missionary Journey, he chose Timothy to join his team. The Elders of the church there, prayed for the young man and laid hands on him, by way of commissioning him, and committing him to God’s grace: as they did so, someone gave a significant prophecy concerning God’s gift for his coming service. Paul and Timothy so felt the gravity of this word from God, by His Spirit, that they never forgot it, and considered it to be of the greatest importance – even though no one knows the words of it today. (Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14)
We in the Church have been reluctant to engage with the subject of prophecy: the very idea of further spiritual revelation is seen as a threat to the high, and correct, view of Scripture – in actual fact, to be without an active prophecy, is to live contrary to that very high view of Scripture. Like all of the gifts it demands hard work: in this case, in particular, puts responsibility on the shoulders of the Elders and Congregation to test all examples. Then there is the embarrassing problem of what to do about foretelling-prophecies, which do not materialise, and doctrinal elements, which are in error: what do we do with a seemingly “false” prophet? As I first wrote these notes, in a church in our town there is a prophecy, written on a poster, hung on the wall after being given by an eminent local minister, which is eminently wrong, and did not come to pass. It is probably seen as well meaning and charmingly innocent.
The world has no such problem: whereas the ancient pagans used the word openly, today it is hidden behind a plethora of terms. To make a rhetorical observation: if people do not seek help from God in the Bible, they will search for guidance from all kinds of unsavory spiritual sources; it is suggested that virtually all in national leadership will either listen to God, or open their lives to satanic communication. A recent American President (Ronald Regan) had his diary arranged by his wife’s spiritualist medium, according to Derek Prince. A whole History Channel series was devoted to the Nazis and the Occult. At best such revelation is fake, at worst it is very dangerous and damning. Occult religion has always had its prophets and foretellers of the future; today; again, there are some television channels have almost continuous phone-in programmes allowing consultations with a medium, or fortuneteller – with tarot cards or runic tiles – they are the modern Delphic Oracle! Is the Church challenging these with godly prophecy?
To attempt an investigation into “Prophecy” is virtually impossible in a talk or in the chapter of a book; the simplest approach is to read the Old Testament, followed by the New Testament, with the subject in mind. Here we will see the scope of method, and content. There were the prophetic groups or schools, the men who made models, or acted to illustrate their words to an unperceptive audience, those who prophesied to music, and those whose lives were prophecies – Hosea in particular.
On the question of acting I came across this curious story. In the 1980’s, a committee of clergy in Rochdale was discussing Canon David Watson’s use of dramatic enactments: “Drama was never used in the Bible,” said one Pentecostal leader; “Neither are trousers,” said a Methodist leader, “but you still wear them!” Of course both are found in the Old Testament, and it was the Levi tribe who had the trousers! (Exodus 28:42-43 (AV); 1 Kings 11:29 ff; Isaiah 20:2 ff, Ezekiel 4:1 ff, 5:1 ff; 1 Chronicles 25:3; Acts 21:10-14.)
Unlike “pastor/shepherd” (Greek: poimen [poymane]) – which normally means a keeper of sheep: the word “prophecy” is not used in the New Testament in a metaphorical sense – a sports commentator on television might ask the expert to “prophesy” the outcome of the tournament: this would be the metaphoric or poetic use – really meaning an inspired and entertaining guess.
The Old Testament period had both the true prophets of Yahweh, and the false prophets: alongside the true, there was always the presence of the pseudo. In the previous notes, whilst laying the foundation for the study of the apostolic calling, I have shown the surprising picture of this wide scope of prophecy – no doubt unknown to the cursory readers of the Bible (I listed possible references to well over a thousand prophets of varying classifications – which could be noted on your next reading through the Old Testament).
There is plenty of instruction on the work of prophets, in the Jewish Bible then, but I have already suggested, at great length, that the Old Testament prophets find their equivalent in the apostles of the New Testament. If you like: both are “Generals Next To God”; the apostle is now the senior gift, and prophets in the Church are subservient; but prophecy is still high in the list of gifts. It is second only to apostle; so we should not retreat from the recognition of the high calling of prophecy in the present-day life of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The importance of this verse in the book of Revelation should be considered:
“At this I fell at the angel’s feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony (witness) of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'” The whole message of the Lord Jesus equates with the whole revelation of Scripture; Scripture is Jesus’s expression to us.
I think we should now look at the prophet’s work under the Old
Covenant, and then see how there is a lesser scope under the New
Covenant. Here again is the suggested scope of the OT prophets, as eight areas:
1.* Revelation of God’s Character and will
2.* Indictment of the wicked
3. *Judgment promised
4.+ Exile and Return in the immediate future
5.* The Messianic Promise
6.* The Golden Age – Eschatology
7.* Instruction, Strengthening, Comfort and Encouragement (Psalms in particular)
8.* Everyday issues – 1 Samuel 9 and similar passages:
“Where are my father’s donkeys?” and “This will happen if the king does not repent…” – the scope is from donkeys to dominions. The last two – g. and h. – would most likely comprise the work of the main body of the very minor unknown prophets.
The high status of the Old Testament prophets of God is shown in this key verse: “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
The Revelation of: God’s Immediate Will, Indictment, Judgment,
Comfort and Encouragement, and Everyday Issues, are the domain of the New Testament prophets. The Revelation of the Greater Will and Character of God in Christ, and Eschatology: these are areas dealt with by the apostles, during the writing of the Church Scriptures (a, e, and f, marked with an *).
The Apocalyptic Vision – that most colourful style of prophecy found from Genesis to Revelation, and communicated in a language of strange symbols (e.g. the twelve stars representing Israel, and mis-applied to the European Union; and battles between preternatural animals) – is with the Writing Apostles: we might compare the threefold vision to Peter – which was pivotal to the opening of the gospel gateway to the Gentiles – with the twofold dreams of Joseph and the Pharaoh in Genesis, and consider the significance of the multiplicity. (Acts 10:9-23; Genesis 37:5-11 and 41:1-40; cf passages in Daniel and Zechariah). Notice how they were given to the Pharaoh and the Emperor Nebuchadnezzar – for interpretation. To understand the meaning of The Apocalypse (The Book of Revelation) we would do well to study the instances, which precede it in the Scriptures, beginning with Joseph’s dreams in Genesis.
The main areas of prophecy are contained in the New Testament in the teaching of the Lord Jesus, and in the writings of His apostles – Paul, John, Peter and James, and we might add Jude and the unnamed author of Hebrews (d. Exile and Return in the immediate future – this is the equivalent of Jesus’s teaching on the imminent fall of Jerusalem to the Romans – but in the Church today it is an exception, really because there is only room now for the very Last Days of God’s fulfilment of Scripture Prophecy).
Eschatology still forms an important element – in the New Testament, and we do well to remember that prophecy is both forth-telling God’s word, and foretelling the future.
Both the old prophets and the new apostles can be divided into Writing and Non-writing. The latter included the workers of miracles such as Elijah and Elisha, the Lord Jesus, and most of the listed apostles. The Levitical Priests were the teachers of the Old Covenant, incidentally. Perhaps all the writers of the Gospels and Letters should be thought of as apostles, because they correspond to the Writing Prophets.
Prophecy in the Church is mainly found to cover the areas:
- Indictment of the wicked;
- Judgment promised;
- Instruction, Strengthening, Comfort, and Encouragement; and
- Everyday issues.
What can be learnt from the Greek word group?
Within pagan or profane Greek, the noun is seen in writing from the fifth century BC onwards, and comes from the root “to say”. The regular feminine form is similarly extant from the fifth century BC. “To proclaim openly in public declaration” is behind the words, and is later linked with: “telling in advance”, “before”, and “to predict”. In pagan Greek (outside the Testaments) the idea of false-prophet (pseudo-prophet) is not found – perhaps, as in modern New Age thinking, there was the lack of a critical framework. That is: anything goes!
(In contrast with this we have Jeremiah 14:14 speaking of “false prophet” or “prophet of lies”.)
The grand interest in pagan Greek was centred on the “Delphic Oracle”; this has had serious implications for biblical scholarship and translations of the text, by those who have little or no experience of real ecclesiastical prophecy, or speaking in tongues, and who therefore draw all their insights from pagan religion. The Delphic cultus seems to have followed this pattern: Zeus transmitted his thoughts through the lesser god Apollo, who in turn spoke through the snake Python (Puthon) – long since killed by him, which communicated through a hole in the ground to one of the possessed ladies – often in an undignified position, she gave a confused utterance, which was proclaimed in its final sophisticated and philosophical, yet often obscure, form by officiating male prophets. Another significant facet is that the process was only offered in response to an enquiry (most likely accompanied by silver). Evidence suggests that often questions required a Yes or No answer: rather like the simple binary form of the Urim and Thummim of the Levitical priests. Although one may assume that non-literary (primitive/ animistic) religion had oracle prophets before the fifth century BC, the Old Testament gives a wide and detailed literary picture of prophecy from a much earlier date.
The Delphic cultus probably came from Asia Minor. Luke’s description of the casting out of a Pythonic spirit in Philippi uses two of the technical terms: for oracular spirit, and for divining fortunes – Python and mantis (Acts 16:16-18). “Python” could mean: snake, soothsayer, or ventriloquist – perhaps because of the association of a strange voice. In stressing the demonic influence, Werner Foester, writing in Kittel (Vol. VI, pp 917 ff), questions whether a ventriloquist could shout (Acts 16:17). The title may have been used in Philippi, rather like “Gypsy Rose Smith” is used in fair grounds and sea fronts, today – claiming the authority of some original proponent. The predictions may have been as accurate, at times, as they were expensive (remember that a broken analogue clock is correct on two occasions each day); but in the final analysis, they were spiders’ webs to trap the unwary. When the Delphic Oracle was at its most popular, two women worked alternate shifts, with a third in reserve. By the second century AD, one woman was sufficient; no doubt the Good News had taken effect in Achaia, and more people were turning to God for His faithful guidance.
In Greek culture, the poet offered himself to the Muse to be its prophet; there was also a close link with the past, and an endowed power of presentation. Within the biblical tradition of prophecy, there is the use of poetry – the parallelism of the Old Covenant seers, and of Our Lord (in first century Aramaic). (Highly recommended is Professor F. F. Bruce’s article: “The Poetry of the Old Testament”, pp 39-41, “The New Bible Commentary”, IVF/IVP, 1st and 2nd editions, etc.) All biblical prophecy is highly conscious of its roots and its continuum: to the point of referring to previous revelations, and quoting from them in detail, and by name (e.g. Daniel 9:2; Romans 9:14-33, 10:18-21). Apart from Aaron’s assistance to Moses, and the various use of secretaries by Paul and Peter, all were quite capable of expressing God’s message unaided. In comparison with these characteristics, we see The Qur’an as a poor attempt at a replacement.
(The pagan aspect of the word group, in Kittel is by Helmut Kramer, of Bethel University.)
Gerhard Friedrich, who also edited this volume (VI), is one of several contributors to Kittel on this subject. The eighty-one pages illustrate his point that the subject, particularly in the Old Testament, defies definition. “Nabi”, one of the Hebrew words for prophet, is also found in Akkadian and Arabic – as I say, it is a first name given to some Muslim boys today. Stressed examples of uncontrollable or frenzied prophesying are mentioned in the Jewish Bible as exceptions – not typical of Yahwehistic prophecy, but quite likely the rule for pagan outbursts (1 Samuel 10:3-13, 19:18-24, where an overwhelming spirit of prophecy descends on Saul and his soldiers; 1 Kings 18:26-29, depicts false prophets praying and prophesying wildly). Although many references are given by some theologians, ostensibly to support the thought of an ecstatic content in Yahwehistic revelation: there is absolutely no case, and this is clearly the influence of pagan practice on academic theology. There are even texts from the archaeological site of Mari, in southeast Syria, which show no element of the ecstatic in native nabi.
Somewhat ironically, a list of references is found in the article on Apostles.
The schools or groups of prophets working together in the Old Covenant era are reflected slightly in the group that came to Antioch from Jerusalem (Acts 11:27, 13:1).
Josephus, the 1st century Jewish historian, observed that the Essenes and Pharisees had seers and prophets; he saw himself as a prophet of Israel’s doom. In the inter-testamental period, and in the days of the Zealots and first to second century revolts against the Romans, Judea was never lacking in prophets of some kind.
Important biblical teaching
The foundational teaching on prophecy is in Deuteronomy 13 and 18:20-22. Even the coming true of predictions is no guarantee of the bona fide, although it is obviously the simplest test. Sound doctrinal truth is of far greater consequence in a prophet. Careful examination of prophecy was a sign of love for the Lord – including words given in the privacy of the home, or those risking the corrupting of a town. Within Israel’s theocratic culture, false prophecy, which incited turning from God, received the death penalty – a clear sign of the seriousness with which God views heresy. The ultimate penalty in Jewish law implied “the maximum fine” principle: King David and Bathsheba were not executed for adultery; but the penalty was always available if required – for a very wide range of sins and crimes. This should make us think twice about being certain of the prophetic gift!
“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or the prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.” (Deuteronomy 18:20)
Biblically, the most serious sanctions of the Church are: “delivering to Satan” and “excommunication” – hopefully for only a brief time, in each case. I think here of the man guilty of incest (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). Paul’s judgment was that he be “put out of your fellowship”, and that the Elders, or an apostle should “hand this man over to Satan”. The pleasanter sequel seems to be preserved for us in his welcome back (2 Corinthians 2:5-11). Satan’s activity of introducing suffering is also seen in the life of the good man Job, although for the specific purpose of Job’s spiritual development.
In practice, the seriousness of each incident would be reviewed: in terms of the content, and the maturity, or otherwise, of the aspiring prophet. No one should ever be allowed to prophesy, in the Church, who claims to be above the critical responsibility of the Elders and the Congregation. Submission to this kind of examination is integral to the operation of the gift in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 14:29); Derek Prince is particularly emphatic about this. There is the possibility that someone is always wrong. Then again, no one is perfect in this life – all will be wrong at some time. Paul, as an apostle, was not always clear in what he said. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) Mohammed, if the Islamic tradition of his life is true, does not manifest the orthodoxy required – the Qur’an may be poetical, but the doctrine is far from that of the Bible. It also reveals incompleteness: in that the Hadith is also a body of expanding doctrine for Muslims, extra to the Qur’an. Many people, perhaps not Muslims themselves, will see this as a collection of prophecies; with the provision of its being assessed against the Jewish-Christian background which is claimed for it in any case. One cannot claim that Islam has true prophecy, without submitting it to the criteria of the established teaching of the two Testaments.
The Good News Bible has “preaching” for “prophecy”, which although not necessarily the complete meaning, it does remind us that within Preaching, there can often be an element of foretelling and forth telling.
Telling God’s message (the second aspect of prophecy) is today found in areas such as indictment, judgment, and more pleasantly, in building up, encouragement, exhortation, strengthening and comforting (1 Corinthians 14:3,24). The evangelistic thrust of prophecy should not be overlooked! Forth telling now, refers to non-doctrinal revelation: in the sense that the giving of the Word of God is complete in the Bible. It must not, and cannot, be added to, or subtracted from: either by congregational prophecy, theological textbook, or the Qur’an (as some Muslim theologians recognise); church prophecy must always be tested by the measure of Scripture – so must academic theology, when it assumes the mantle of prophecy! There are examples of heresy being introduced through unchecked prophetic utterances: The Secret Rapture, Separation from local Fellowships, etc.
With all the gifts, there is the need to develop. Even after many years of front-line service, Timothy received this advice from Paul: “Earnestly (study to) show yourself approved to God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, Green).
Isaiah 30:9-10 These are rebellious people, deceitful children,
children unwilling to listen to the LORD’S instruction.
They say to the seers,
“See no more visions !”
and to the prophets,
“Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
New Testament examples of prophecy
- The Gospels show Jesus as truly The Prophet of the Old Testament genre, and The Apostle of the New. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, which is quoted in Acts 3:22-26; and Hebrews 3:1) The full calling of the prophet is perfectly shown in the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. The entire range of prophecy is seen – although, strangely, he was not a “Writing Prophet”. Note again: section 4. in my list: “Exile and Return in the immediate future”, this is replaced by the warning of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, and a full return and spirituality, only when the Time of the Gentiles is fulfilled. The incisive character of his words form a pinnacle to all that is fine in both Testaments. The Aramaic origin shows that, at times, he spoke in the poetic form of his “predecessors”, made ample reference to them, and communicated with utter clarity and competence. The very fact of his incarnate nature, takes prophecy into a unique realm. He is the fulfilment and object of all prophecy. He is the only prophet who can receive our worship.
References: Matthew 13:57, 14:5 (John the Baptizer), 21:11 and 46; Mark 6:4 and 15; Luke 1:76 (John the Baptizer), 4:24, 7:16 (a great prophet), 13:33, 24:19; John 4:19 and 44, 9:17 – a Prophet and The Prophet.
- The New Testament begins with a group of godly people who are the culmination of prophecy in the Old Covenant sense: Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, John the Baptizer, Simeon and Anna in the Temple. (Luke 1:46-55, 67-80, 2:28-38, 3:1-20), (John the Baptizer: Matthew 11:4-19, 21:26; Mark 11:32; Luke 7:24-30, 20:6)
- (Acts 22:12-16, the story is first told in 9:1-31) Ananias prophesied at Paul’s conversion: “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth. You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on His Name.” Here is both foretelling and forth-telling.
- Acts 10; 11:10. In the narrative of the conversion of Cornelius, the Roman and gentile centurion, the vision given to Peter – on the rooftop in Joppa – is truly in the tradition of what is known as “Apocalyptic Prophecy”. The giving of the picture three times is indicative of its huge significance and immediacy: the opening of the Kingdom of God to the Gentiles.
- Agabus is one of the named prophets of the New Covenant, and serves as an exemplar – both his revelations tell of future events; and we also have the group of prophets who worked with him (reminiscent of the “schools” of the Old Testament), the whole group came from Jerusalem, to Syrian Antioch. His foretelling of a famine about to strike the Empire, led the Believers to make, and send, a large relief collection for the Jerusalem Church – in the care of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:27-30). This, according to Professor F. F. Bruce, was the famine of AD 46. Notice the practical implications of his prophecy, for many years to come: about ten years later Paul was still raising money – from the Greek Churches.
- Next we have the important incident in the life of the Church: the sending out of Paul and Barnabas on the First Missionary Journey – as we like to call it. The two apostles were appointed, in the ethos of prayer and fasting, from within the group of prophet-teachers (again in the tradition of the Old Testament “schools”) consisting of: Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (foster-brother to King Herod Antipas the son of Herod the Great), and last of all Saul – very much the junior at this time. (Acts 13:1-3) The two missionaries were from among the most gifted people in the church!
- Judas and Silas were prophets, who “said much to encourage and strengthened the brothers”. Notice two of the key aspects of the prophetic gift (Acts 15:30-35).
- The call to evangelise in Macedonia is a good example of a revelation in the form of a vision. (Acts 16:6-10)
- Prophesying sometimes accompanied tongues as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s arrival in a person’s life (Acts 19:6).
- Why did the four “prophesying”(Greek) teenage daughters of Philip the evangelist not give the message to Paul? Is the adjective simply a synonym to vary the texture of the report, or is it a technical term – in a rather European sense – to mark them off, as less than fully active prophets of stature. These young ladies will no-doubt have prognosticated within small groups of their family – perhaps even to the whole ecclessia. The text does appear to contrast them with Agabus. He is not only of the Second Rank of Gifts (as a prophet), but is of a senior grade, within that Rank – prophesying about a national disaster, and an issue of international missionary significance.
Acts 20:23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. [Many messages from God about Paul’s immediate future.]
Agabus made the journey down from Judea, especially to bring this warning about Paul’s immediate future. The account is vividly given: “Coming over to us” – we see him approaching Luke, Paul and perhaps others, with quite a presence. In true tradition of the gift, he used acting to enforce his communication! Unlike the “prophets”, or whatever, in verse 4, he did not draw the corollary that Paul ought not to continue into danger and give it under the guise of prophecy. (Acts 21:1-14)
There is an important lesson here: well-intentioned and kindly comments, as additions to a prophetic word, may be from our own spirit, and not the Holy Spirit – even a whole prophecy can be well-meant kindly wishes. This is the most common kind of false-prophecy: not evil, but ambitious, kindly, a positive response to our growing faith, but wrong. Several Churches, near to where I live, are awash with such foretellings, which never materialise. Rob Warner says: “… we have the spurious prophecies about revival. I’m not saying that by definition every prophecy about revival is spurious, but I’m well aware that in the last year or so, at least four different Christian groupings have announced which month revival’s going to happen in. Each of these months have come and gone without any marked difference in the spiritual temperature of the nation, or the church. It seems to me that people have to be grown up about this and say that if prophecy is going to be taken seriously, the ones that are duff have got to be acknowledged as duff and dealt with accordingly.” (“Christianity Magazine”, p 26, April 1998.)
Although Paul had received the gift of prophecy early in his Christian life: as a member of the “Body of Christ”, he accepted a communication from God through another member of the “Body”. We must never feel that we are totally self-sufficient: not needing the service of our brothers and sisters. Similarly King David, one of the greatest of the prophets, was addressed via Samuel, Nathan, and the ministering priests.
- As already noted, both Paul and Timothy respected the prophecies which had structured Timothy’s life: “I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight.” (1 Timothy 1:18) “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” (1 Timothy 4:14)
Here is an insight into the life of the Church: the group of Elders commissioned Timothy by laying hands on him, and at the same time a prophecy of binding and strengthening significance was given about him. The first Pentecostal Church I attended had a lady in the congregation who took down in shorthand, all spiritual messages. These were printed and available for all members, on the following Sunday. We do well to approach the gift with that kind of seriousness.
- Paul was willing to quote well-known pagan prophets (Titus 1:12 and Acts 17:26-28; “A Hymn to Zeus” by Callimachus, and Epimenides, or probably Aratus). John even quotes the corrupt Caiaphas: when he prophesied about Jesus’s death. (John 11:49-53)
Specific New Testament teaching on prophecy
- The Lord Jesus warned that many deceiving false prophets would come: “By their fruits you will recognise them.” (Matthew 7:15-20; 24:11 and 24; Luke 6:26; 1 John 4:1-3)
- Prophesying in Jesus’s name is no guarantee of being His. He will say to some, on Judgment Day: “I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
- The church at Thyatira was beset by the problems brought by the false prophetess Jezebel – the whole letter to this church is devoted to countering her evil influence; and no doubt the same threat will come throughout the history of the Church (Revelation 2:18-20).
- In the Last Days there will be The False Prophet, who will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 16:12-14, 19:19-21, 20:10).
- More positively: both the Old Testament prophet Joel, and the apostles Peter and Paul, confirm that prophecy will continue in the last days – through both the young and the mature (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14).
- 1 Corinthians 11:5. Women should cover their heads when prophesying – and generally in the corporate life of the Church. Conversely, a man should bare his head in the congregation – particularly when praying and prophesying. George Bernard Shaw made a sarcastic reference to this: asking what kind of Father, would not allow His daughters to remove their hats in His presence. They offer much more than this: they offer themselves as living sacrifices in His service. It seems a shame that some ladies will gladly wear a Christian badge, but decline to wear a hat! You have no idea how hard the command to men would be to Jewish males; ask a man who is not Jewish, to enter a synagogue today, and refrain from taking his hat off; I did! I like to count in congregations I visit, how many are obedient. Once, in a Keswick morning Bible Reading, a careless man wore the only hat – a naval style. The size of the crown does not always indicate the domain of the Empress. Even a Brigadier has a General above him….
There is also the teaching about ladies “remaining silent” in the congregation. Professor Bruce seems right in reading the Greek text as referring only to the Jewish practice, still seen in synagogue worship today, of allowing women to chatter during the service. Men do quite a bit as well. Professor Leon Morris, along with Moffatt takes it to mean arguing or debating during the worship. (1 Corinthians 14:33-35) It must be allowed that some will not agree with this more liberal understanding, in which case the prophetic ministry of ladies will exclude ministry to the Congregation; but still include: the family, small groups, individuals, large groups of children, and large gatherings of women. One presumes that when the gift includes instruction, it is not doctrinal education.
- It is the only charism mentioned in all four lists. The Romans 12:3-8 list, has a marginal reading: “If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith” – NIV margin: “in agreement with the faith”, which would show the massive importance of orthodoxy. 1 Corinthians 12:10 portrays it as one of the many manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:28 shows prophets to be second only to apostles. Ephesians 4:9-13 indicates that Jesus gave prophets to the Church: so that it might be prepared for service, be built up to a unity in the faith – the unifying effect of prophecy – and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, “attaining to the full measure of the fulness of Christ”. The implication being: without prophecy we will not mature fully, and so be vulnerable.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2 ff. Prophecy must be given in love – it is nothing without love; it will cease one day, like knowledge – eschatologically. It is incomplete – compared with our understanding when we reach heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 14. We must read the whole of this classic passage on the use of the gift in the Church:
verses 1, 5 and 39, prophecy is something we should all desire to offer to the Church
verses 3-4 and 12, prophecy speaks clearly to people and is dedicated to three key areas – well defined by Derek Prince in his talks on prophecy –
1) Edifying (related to edifice – a building) which implies building up the spiritual life of the Congregation, strengthening, making more effective, and improving the mind
2) Encouraging: with the meaning of exhorting, stimulating, giving advice, admonishing – severe warning or rebuke, but never condemnation, confusion or discouragement (Derek Prince feels very strongly that these should never be part of prophecy to the Church)
3) Bringing real consolation and comfort in hard times.
The last two words are closely related to the title Comforter, given by Jesus to the Holy Spirit. The general term “encouragement” refers also to a specific gift of the Holy Spirit verses 24-25, the unconverted will be impressed: “But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying [not that everybody should, says the context], he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare – the indictment element. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you!” Here is a higher gift than uninterpreted tongues, but, like tongues, can have a part in evangelism
verse 22, normally, however, prophecy is for Believers
verse 26 the word “revelation” (Greek, apokalupsis), which implies “unveiling”, seems to be used here as a synonym for a prophecy
verse 29 ff prophecy should be limited, in ordered worship, to two or three: the common practice in all the churches of the early years. Church members, and particularly the Elders, must “weigh carefully” – test, assess, measure – what is said. It is a good idea to inform the Elders of all prophecies given, even those in private. A prophet who will not submit to this scrutiny should be banned from exercising the Gift. People may come to you with suspect “words from God” – to which you could reply: “I was speaking to Him this morning, and He never mentioned it! But I will ask Him tonight … I am to thank you for your kindness and courage – but He has had second thoughts!”
verse 30, logistically, a first must give way to a second; the implication is that the congregations were seated, and that the speakers would stand – which may indicate something of the size of meetings, and the length of prophecies
verses 32-33, prophets are in control of themselves: because God is ordered and peaceful
verses 36-38, acceptance of this very piece of instruction (1 Corinthians 14) is insisted on by the Holy Spirit. It is a third test of orthodoxy, and accreditation in the use of the gift.
- Prophecy in the book of Revelation appears to be the whole scope of prophecy: Old Testament, Ecclesiastical, and the element in the apostolic gift. The book of Revelation is called “Prophecy” (Revelation 1:3, 22:7, 10,18,19). The two Witnesses/Prophets in Revelation 11 are very much miracle working prophets in the style of the Old Covenant; and there is a similar general reference in chapter 11:18.
Prophets hold an important place – second only to apostles, in the ranks of the Church – but submissive to the Elders.
I am not convinced that there is an office of prophet, different from the gift – as some argue.
That prophecy continues in the Church is a witness against Islamic teaching: that Mohammed was the last of the prophets. When the mosques teach about the return of Jesus, they overlook the fact that he will then become the “last of the prophets”!
“Florence, my wife, is a prophetess!”
The logistics of the prophetic in the Church
- Preachers can easily combine some special word for today within their sermon; and it is not unknown for prophecy to be contained in prayers.
- In many churches part of the service is set apart for congregational participation: open for prayer, prophecy and tongues, etc. It is a sad fact that in many fellowships, which believe in this gift, no provision is made for its practise.
- There is the individual use, such as Agabus bringing the warning to Paul.
- The Prayer meeting may include the occasion of foretelling or forth telling.
- A House Group, our family, or circle of friends, would be a good place to start – rather like swimming in the shallows, to begin with. Be ready to seek help, criticism, and encouragement from the fellowship. It is not necessary to start: “Thus sayeth the Lord….” The Elders may have to say: “No, He did not!” “I feel that God may be saying to us….” might be better.
- Committee Meetings/the Elders at prayer are an excellent place to expect a word from God!
- a) We need to find out whether, or not, we have this gift,
- b) Then to develop our knowledge and practice of the anointing,
- c) Be comfortable with its mature use, in our church life.
The often referred to passage, Colossians 3:15, teaches us about the peace of God umpiring in our hearts. This is relevant to deciding whether we should give a word, and to assessing a message in the congregation.
We should never act on prophecy without testing it – either on your own, or by the Elders. Cf [“Thank you, I will seek the Lord in prayer about it,” is a good parry. We need to discern between true prophecy and clairvoyance. We always answer to GOD for our own actions. The answer: “I was talking to God earlier,” or, “He has not shown me,” can be arrogance, because, in the Body of Christ, God will speak to us through fellow saints.]
How does the message come? We may receive the words of the prophecy clearly in advance, or as we speak – sometimes even as a song (1 Chronicles 25:1); or there may be the need to interpret a vision or dream into an accessible form. It may suddenly come, as a surprise to us – “Goodness me, I know what is going to happen!” or, “I know what God is saying, and I must speak!” – a calculated insight. Sometimes, people who do not know they have the gift – perhaps do not even believe in it – will say something, and you just know it is a word from God.
Sub-sets of prophecy are: speaking in tongues, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, discernment (which may have a sub-set itself – discernment of spirits), and encouragement.
I was leading a House Group Bible Study, and wanted to test for any gift of prophecy. I asked, “If God were here, what do you think He would wish to say to us?” Immediately an older teenager gave a good reply. This was probably the gift.
Cf [Fortunately, there are some people, who do not believe in the prophetic gift, who nevertheless unwittingly and wonderfully, give prophetic messages in their sermons and conversations with Believers.]
The Church was not meant to exist without prophecy!
ILLUSTRATIONS
Guidance on how to think:
26 JAN 2015 saw the dramatic, and widely covered by TV and Press, ordination of the first lady bishop in the Church of England.
That night I had three vivid, clearly remembered and significant dreams.
(1) Some Americans had erected a huge mile-high pole, from which a mile-long jib extended. At the extreme end, two men were conducting a television broadcast. It was hair-raising; and I felt very much to be present with them. A trolley returned everybody to the pole, and subsequently to the Earth.
[The two men were the two Archbishops of the C of E, of which I am part. The structure remained as a liability open to dangerous uses by vandals.]
(2) A couple had given birth to a deformed child: its head faced the wrong way; but this did not limit their love for the child!
(3) Florence was again carrying shopping bags. She did on the following day; and interestingly, workmen were attending to the lighting pole in the village.
Ray Navotny, speaking at Rob, Glen, and Florence’s House Group, went round giving words of Prophecy etc to the people present. He told Rob Moorfoot he would preach to thousands. In June 2005 Rob walked the Coast to Coast (St Bee’s Head to Robin Hood’s Bay) to raise money for Smithy Bridge Methodist Church. Before setting off, and on his return, the local newspaper ran articles; the second, in particular, gave a clear Christian witness, without being too pushy.
At St Mary’s, the Vicar’s wife was invited to read out to the congregations some thoughts she had about God’s care for the Church. John confirmed to me, later, that it was indeed a prophecy – something the congregation would not have readily accepted.
A prophecy given to a people which were not Christian, at the time: the Karen People of Myanmar. “It involves three brothers and truth hidden within the pages of a golden book. The prophecy states that the book will reach the Karen people in the hands of the youngest of three brothers. A white man. It is said that through the book, the Karen people will know God.” Their bondage to dark spirits was symbolized by the wrist bands they wore, and which would be cut off when deliverance reached them. In the 1800’s a Baptist Missionary arrived with the Gospel Message, and carrying a Bible, with gilt edged pages glistening in the sun. (The Baptist World Mission magazine, Issue 43, 2018, page 12)
The article on Apostles has a detailed look at Old Testament Prophecy.
THIS IS THE END OF PART ONE. PLEASE CONTINUE READING THE PAPER ON PART TWO
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BATTLESHIP – all on board are active serving crew – there are no passengers, under the Rules of War. Concerned with other parts of the World SUBMARINE – almost invisible, but all the crew are active and serving – no passengers – often very successful in hostile areas
ROWING BOAT Poor attendance, expected to work hard – like the condition of the seats; not advancing anywhere, no concern with Missions
YACHT Hard work, not massively serious. Mainly given to leisure and competition with others. It requires the effect of the keel, and wind in the sails – Scripture and the Holy Spirit.
FERRY Limited progress, and difficult to settle down for any length of time; full of passengers and their gear – always achieving its two objectives, however.
THREE MASTED SCHOONER Rather behind the times – making good progress with hard work – few passengers – not always serious.
HOVERCRAFT Too liberal with secular World View not a true Church (ship) – heavy on compromise with the zeitgeist
LIFEBOAT The crew work in life-threatening conditions, saving those at risk and in great need of saving – often a para-church organisation. A dedicated brave crew.
PLEASURE BOAT Gives much pleasure and happiness; but just a Darby and Joan club, in effect.
TRAWLER No passengers, all working in sometimes dangerous conditions – geared to evangelism – often in a para-church mode like Youth With A Mission.
FIRE TENDER A very dedicated Kirk, focusing on saving congregations and individuals in great need.
A MODEL CHURCH A small imitation of the real thing – grossly under-powered: a fake in effect.
ISLAND FERRY Essential to everyday life in the community – passengers soon leave; reaching all its destinations – brilliant and efficient crew.
MALTESE FISHING BOATS Churches in different locations may have their own special devout worship, and be equally committed to evangelism. 
CONTAINER SHIPS Very dedicated to the Digital Age, with courses such as Alpha, Christianity Explored, and The Bible in One Year – online fellowship and communication. 
CARGO SHIP Delivering accurate well-presented Doctrine to many congregations, worldwide, besides its own.
NAMED BOATS With wide economic and ethnicity – often concentrating on the named Doctrines of the Faith: Resurrection, and Biblical Wisdom. 
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