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Issue No. 029 October 20, 2006 Festive Mood of North India ; The Babylonian Captivity

#1 · October 19, 2006, 3:24 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on October 19, 2006, 3:24 pm
Posted by: gracepeaceu <gracepeaceu@...>
An e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,
edification and encouragement

Issue No. 029     October 20, 2006

gracepeaceu@yahoo.com        Subscription details in the end                      Archive

In this issue

Perspective: Festive Mood of North India

Study Note: THE BRAZEN LAVER

Article: The Babylonian Captivity: A Lesson to Remember

Anecdote: Monkey Tricks

Out line: The present ministry of Christ for His people

Worth Quotes: Knowledge & Wisdom

Perspective

Festive Mood of North India

NTK

It’s festival season in India, particularly in the northern states. With ‘Ganesh festival’ in August began the seasons for celebrations, which will continue up to New Year. It seems the peak period is now, with streets, buildings and shops are decorated with colourful lights, people crowded around sharing their joy, purchasing new items and giving away gifts to one another etc. Special bonus helps the employees to spend lavishly on this occasion. Altogether, a time of excitement and a break from the monotonous daily chores and tension as far as the general public is concerned.

What is this celebratory mood to do with a Christian?! Unbelievers need a particular day and a fixed festival to forget their woes and rejoice, but- praise God- a Christian can rejoice always. For him every day is a day of celebration in Christ.  When we trust Christ for forgiveness of our sins on the basis of His sufferings on the cross, He not only grants forgiveness and cleansing but joy unspeakable fills our heart. Freedom from self and sin gives a great relief, burden of sin and guilt is gone, believer begins to enjoy peace with God and peace of God. All these lead to too much joy. Apostle Peter put it poignantly, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…….you rejoice with inexpressible and full of glory….” 1Peter.1:6, 9.

Christian joy is not based on circumstances. Even in the midst of various trials, beneath heart of a Christian a kind of peace and joy lingers. Apostle Paul wrote from a Roman dungeon, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil.4:3. No circumstances can take away our joy in Christ. It is supernatural in nature. David wrote, “You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increase.” Psalm. 4:7. Do we have such happiness always? When the people of this world look at us let them find such an extra ordinary spiritual joy in us. In His high priestly prayer the Lord prayed, “..these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” John.17:13. It is His desire that we celebrate always the joy of the Lord. Yes, that is our strength. That is a testimony too to the world full of pain and sorrow.



Study Note

THE BRAZEN LAVER

Charles E. Wigg

Special Bronze:
We are told in Ex. 38; 8, that the laver was made of the bronze looking glasses, (mirrors,) that had been used by the women who served at the door of the Tabernacle. Three times in the New Testament, we are told that the word of God is like a mirror, 1 Cor. 13; 12, 2 Cor. 3; 18, and James, 1; 22-25. All this emphasizes that this cleansing comes through the word of God, Eph. 5; 26.

It works out like this: You read in the word of God, it becomes a mirror, and shows you, by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, things that are unclean, faults, sins in your life. The same Holy Spirit then convicts you through the word, and leads you to repentance. The sins are then confessed by you to the Lord Jesus, they are forgiven and cleansed away out of your life. The link of communion that the sins had broken is then restored, and you can go happily, without fear into the holy place, the immediate presence of God. are told in verse 2, (Ex..27,) that there were four horns, one on each of the corners of the altar, these were places where the guilty could come and plead for mercy, as we see in 1 Kings, 1;50, and 2;28.

The blood of the sacrifices was placed on those horns, and all represents our coming to Christ and His cross, when convicted of our sin, to plead for mercy, but mercy based on the righteous sacrifice of our Substitute. "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling".



Article:-

The Babylonian Captivity: A Lesson to Remember

Sheeba Thomas

The experiences of the Children of Israel, through the ages, can be seen to follow a distinct pattern-where their sins are followed by suffering (a result of God’s righteous indignation in response to their sins). From this sorrow arises repentance and they cry out to God for deliverance and begin to hope in His unfailing love towards them. As this hope turns into faith, they are restored to a state of joyful communion with God, their Jehovah. It is in this recurrence of their experiences as a nation, that the Babylonian captivity is best understood. While still at the threshold of the Promised Land, they were reminded by Moses, of their identity as a people chosen by God Himself, to be His worshippers and to lead a life of separation from the nations of the world. But, just as we often do, the Israelites too forgot the source of all their blessings and subsequently, the keenest commitments that their forefathers had made to serve the Lord were also forgotten. God raised from among them, several prophets, put His word into their mouth to coax the stubborn Israelites to depart from their sinful ways, repent and turn to Him. But they wouldn’t.

It was during the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign that the age-old prophecies concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of the house of Judah came true when, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (approx. B.C. 606). He took as captives to Babylon 10, 000 Jews and only the poorest were left behind to tend the vineyards and the farms. So, a king empowered by God Himself, conquered their land, desecrated their Holy Temple, plundered all its wealth and along with the Temple razed to the ground the royal palaces and the great buildings-all predominant symbols of the common Jewish heritage. Such was the desolation of Jerusalem, that Jeremiah the prophet, while lamenting the sorrow of Zion’s siege, calls its collapse ‘awesome’. With this began a period of prolonged suffering and agony for both the captives and the remnant left behind in Jerusalem. The intensity of their pain and the sheer helplessness of the people, when they realized that even God had shut out their cries, is best summed in Jeremiah’s words:
               Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
               Behold and see
               If there is any sorrow like my sorrow,
               Which has been brought on me,
               Which the Lord has inflicted
               In the day of His fierce anger. (Lamentations 1:12)

Living in a foreign land and separated from its local populace by their faith and its customs, the Jews soon became easy targets for persecution, as they refused to bow down to heathen gods or to partake of food offered to idols. Having realised the error of their ways, they

repented and turned to Jehovah, the same God that they and their forefathers had rejected, not so long ago. The greatest blessing to come out of their captivity in Babylon was that they turned from idolatry.

As a result of their repentance they were saved time and time again from those who sought to annihilate them. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshech, Abed-Nego and Queen Esther are all examples of people, who chose to serve God in adverse circumstances and they were duly rewarded

and used by Him. But only 70 long years after they had lived in Babylon amidst truly trying times, were they allowed to return to Zion, to walk those streets that their forefathers had treaded on and to taste freedom.


As the elect of God, bought with the precious blood of His Son, we too have important lessons to draw from the lives of Israelites. Living as we are even in an ‘Age of Grace’, we cannot afford to forget the impending consequences of turning away from His ways after having known it. And so, Apostle Paul reminds us in ICor10:11, 12, of the dangers inherent in a sense of complacency towards the high calling to which we are called. Even for those of us who have lost the joy of salvation, the way of return is simple-all we need is a penitent heart and a desire to be restored to the blessed state of communion with God. And we can rest assured that our Good Shepherd will take us back ever so lovingly with arms opened wide.

Anecdote

Monkey Tricks

A family visited a well-known zoo. The youngest boy was fascinated by the monkey and its acrobatics. He had his eye fixed on it and although his parents wanted him to move on and see the other animals and birds also, he cried that he wanted to see the monkey only. On returning home, his sister was talking about the king lion, the parrots, the flamingoes and other lovely creatures she saw in the zoo. Her brother was still uninterested. He spoke only about the monkey.

Always remember there are much more great things that God has made. Don’t just enjoy what is near to you. Need faith to go further.

Out line:-

The present ministry of Christ for His people

                           1. Guiding—As their Shepherd.           Heb.13:20
                           2. Ministering—As their High Priest.   Heb.2:17; 4:16
                           3. Pleading—As their Advocate.      1John. 2:2
                           4. Ruling—As their Lord.                     Acts.2:36; Rev.15

Worthy Quotes:-

Knowledge & Wisdom

                         “If you lack knowledge, go to school; if you lack wisdom, get on your knees!

                                                         Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.”
                                                                                                            --Vance Havner.

                        “Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
                                                                                                                                   --William Couper

  'Grace & Peace' is an electronic periodical, sent out on alternate weeks,
aiming the overall spiritual growth of the Christian Believers.
Please feel free to forward it to potential subscribers and encourage them to subscribe directly by

sending a blank message to: gracepeace-join@welovegod.org and then CLICK "REPLY"
and "SEND" or CLICK the link included in the confirmation mail you would receive from the List Server.

You may unsubscribe (to be removed from the mailing list) at any time by sending

a blank email to: gracepeace-leave@welovegod.org and then CLICK "REPLY" and "SEND" or

CLICK the link included in the confirmation mail you would receive from the List Server.

In case of difficulty, please send a mail to: gracepeaceu@gmail.com

Edited & posted by Nelson Thomas Kumaramparampil for the glory of God & the joy of the saints.

Posted by: gracepeaceu <gracepeaceu@...>

An e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,
edification and encouragement

Issue No. 029 October 20, 2006

gracepeaceu@yahoo.com Subscription details in the end Archive

In this issue

Perspective: Festive Mood of North India
Study Note: THE BRAZEN LAVER
Article: The Babylonian Captivity: A Lesson to Remember
Anecdote: Monkey Tricks
Out line: The present ministry of Christ for His people
Worth Quotes: Knowledge & Wisdom

Perspective

Festive Mood of North India

NTK

It’s festival season in India, particularly in the northern states. With ‘Ganesh festival’ in August began the seasons for celebrations, which will continue up to New Year. It seems the peak period is now, with streets, buildings and shops are decorated with colourful lights, people crowded around sharing their joy, purchasing new items and giving away gifts to one another etc. Special bonus helps the employees to spend lavishly on this occasion. Altogether, a time of excitement and a break from the monotonous daily chores and tension as far as the general public is concerned.

What is this celebratory mood to do with a Christian?! Unbelievers need a particular day and a fixed festival to forget their woes and rejoice, but- praise God- a Christian can rejoice always. For him every day is a day of celebration in Christ. When we trust Christ for forgiveness of our sins on the basis of His sufferings on the cross, He not only grants forgiveness and cleansing but joy unspeakable fills our heart. Freedom from self and sin gives a great relief, burden of sin and guilt is gone, believer begins to enjoy peace with God and peace of God. All these lead to too much joy. Apostle Peter put it poignantly, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…….you rejoice with inexpressible and full of glory….” 1Peter.1:6, 9.

Christian joy is not based on circumstances. Even in the midst of various trials, beneath heart of a Christian a kind of peace and joy lingers. Apostle Paul wrote from a Roman dungeon, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil.4:3. No circumstances can take away our joy in Christ. It is supernatural in nature. David wrote, “You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increase.” Psalm. 4:7. Do we have such happiness always? When the people of this world look at us let them find such an extra ordinary spiritual joy in us. In His high priestly prayer the Lord prayed, “..these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” John.17:13. It is His desire that we celebrate always the joy of the Lord. Yes, that is our strength. That is a testimony too to the world full of pain and sorrow.

Study Note

THE BRAZEN LAVER

Charles E. Wigg

Special Bronze:
We are told in Ex. 38; 8, that the laver was made of the bronze looking glasses, (mirrors,) that had been used by the women who served at the door of the Tabernacle. Three times in the New Testament, we are told that the word of God is like a mirror, 1 Cor. 13; 12, 2 Cor. 3; 18, and James, 1; 22-25. All this emphasizes that this cleansing comes through the word of God, Eph. 5; 26.

It works out like this: You read in the word of God, it becomes a mirror, and shows you, by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, things that are unclean, faults, sins in your life. The same Holy Spirit then convicts you through the word, and leads you to repentance. The sins are then confessed by you to the Lord Jesus, they are forgiven and cleansed away out of your life. The link of communion that the sins had broken is then restored, and you can go happily, without fear into the holy place, the immediate presence of God. are told in verse 2, (Ex..27,) that there were four horns, one on each of the corners of the altar, these were places where the guilty could come and plead for mercy, as we see in 1 Kings, 1;50, and 2;28.

The blood of the sacrifices was placed on those horns, and all represents our coming to Christ and His cross, when convicted of our sin, to plead for mercy, but mercy based on the righteous sacrifice of our Substitute. "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling".

Article:-

The Babylonian Captivity: A Lesson to Remember

Sheeba Thomas

The experiences of the Children of Israel, through the ages, can be seen to follow a distinct pattern-where their sins are followed by suffering (a result of God’s righteous indignation in response to their sins). From this sorrow arises repentance and they cry out to God for deliverance and begin to hope in His unfailing love towards them. As this hope turns into faith, they are restored to a state of joyful communion with God, their Jehovah. It is in this recurrence of their experiences as a nation, that the Babylonian captivity is best understood. While still at the threshold of the Promised Land, they were reminded by Moses, of their identity as a people chosen by God Himself, to be His worshippers and to lead a life of separation from the nations of the world. But, just as we often do, the Israelites too forgot the source of all their blessings and subsequently, the keenest commitments that their forefathers had made to serve the Lord were also forgotten. God raised from among them, several prophets, put His word into their mouth to coax the stubborn Israelites to depart from their sinful ways, repent and turn to Him. But they wouldn’t.

It was during the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign that the age-old prophecies concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of the house of Judah came true when, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (approx. B.C. 606). He took as captives to Babylon 10, 000 Jews and only the poorest were left behind to tend the vineyards and the farms. So, a king empowered by God Himself, conquered their land, desecrated their Holy Temple, plundered all its wealth and along with the Temple razed to the ground the royal palaces and the great buildings-all predominant symbols of the common Jewish heritage. Such was the desolation of Jerusalem, that Jeremiah the prophet, while lamenting the sorrow of Zion’s siege, calls its collapse ‘awesome’. With this began a period of prolonged suffering and agony for both the captives and the remnant left behind in Jerusalem. The intensity of their pain and the sheer helplessness of the people, when they realized that even God had shut out their cries, is best summed in Jeremiah’s words:
               Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
               Behold and see
               If there is any sorrow like my sorrow,
               Which has been brought on me,
               Which the Lord has inflicted
               In the day of His fierce anger. (Lamentations 1:12)

Living in a foreign land and separated from its local populace by their faith and its customs, the Jews soon became easy targets for persecution, as they refused to bow down to heathen gods or to partake of food offered to idols. Having realised the error of their ways, they

repented and turned to Jehovah, the same God that they and their forefathers had rejected, not so long ago. The greatest blessing to come out of their captivity in Babylon was that they turned from idolatry.

As a result of their repentance they were saved time and time again from those who sought to annihilate them. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshech, Abed-Nego and Queen Esther are all examples of people, who chose to serve God in adverse circumstances and they were duly rewarded

and used by Him. But only 70 long years after they had lived in Babylon amidst truly trying times, were they allowed to return to Zion, to walk those streets that their forefathers had treaded on and to taste freedom.

As the elect of God, bought with the precious blood of His Son, we too have important lessons to draw from the lives of Israelites. Living as we are even in an ‘Age of Grace’, we cannot afford to forget the impending consequences of turning away from His ways after having known it. And so, Apostle Paul reminds us in ICor10:11, 12, of the dangers inherent in a sense of complacency towards the high calling to which we are called. Even for those of us who have lost the joy of salvation, the way of return is simple-all we need is a penitent heart and a desire to be restored to the blessed state of communion with God. And we can rest assured that our Good Shepherd will take us back ever so lovingly with arms opened wide.

Anecdote

Monkey Tricks

A family visited a well-known zoo. The youngest boy was fascinated by the monkey and its acrobatics. He had his eye fixed on it and although his parents wanted him to move on and see the other animals and birds also, he cried that he wanted to see the monkey only. On returning home, his sister was talking about the king lion, the parrots, the flamingoes and other lovely creatures she saw in the zoo. Her brother was still uninterested. He spoke only about the monkey.

Always remember there are much more great things that God has made. Don’t just enjoy what is near to you. Need faith to go further.

Out line:-

The present ministry of Christ for His people

                           1. Guiding—As their Shepherd.           Heb.13:20
                           2. Ministering—As their High Priest.   Heb.2:17; 4:16
                           3. Pleading—As their Advocate.      1John. 2:2
                           4. Ruling—As their Lord.                     Acts.2:36; Rev.15

Worthy Quotes:-

Knowledge & Wisdom

“If you lack knowledge, go to school; if you lack wisdom, get on your knees!

Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.”
--Vance Havner.

“Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
--William Couper

'Grace & Peace' is an electronic periodical, sent out on alternate weeks,
aiming the overall spiritual growth of the Christian Believers.
Please feel free to forward it to potential subscribers and encourage them to subscribe directly by

sending a blank message to: gracepeace-join@welovegod.org and then CLICK "REPLY"
and "SEND" or CLICK the link included in the confirmation mail you would receive from the List Server.

You may unsubscribe (to be removed from the mailing list) at any time by sending

a blank email to: gracepeace-leave@welovegod.org and then CLICK "REPLY" and "SEND" or

CLICK the link included in the confirmation mail you would receive from the List Server.

In case of difficulty, please send a mail to: gracepeaceu@gmail.com

Edited & posted by Nelson Thomas Kumaramparampil for the glory of God & the joy of the saints.