The standard of practical holy living has been so low among Christians that very often the person who tries to practice spiritual disciplines in everyday life is looked upon with disapproval by a large portion of the Church. And for the most part, the followers of Jesus Christ are satisfied with a life so conformed to the world, and so like it in almost every respect, that to a casual observer, there is no difference between the Christian and the pagan.
Hannah Whitall Smith

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Issue No. 037 February 09, 2007 The Dead that Speaks!; God Crossing over the Sea

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#1 · February 9, 2007, 5:21 am

Posted by: gracepeaceu <gracepeaceu@...>

 
 
 

 

In this issue

  • Perspective:  The Dead that Speaks!
  • Brief Article:- :  God Crossing over the Sea
  • Outline:  The Life of Faith
  • Anecdote:  Skydiver forgets parachute
  • News & Views 1:  Rick Warren In India
  • News & Views 2:    Satan following rising in Mizoram

 
Perspective
The Dead that Speaks!
NTK
 
Can a dead speak? Yes, that is what the Hebrew writer says in Heb.11:4. While illustrating the faith of the great men of God in the Old Testament, writer begins with the faith of Abel, and says that because of his faith, “he being dead still speaks.”
 
We don’t read much about Abel except a very brief account in Genesis. (Gen. 4:4—8). Yet, notice how Christ and John the apostle referred to his righteousness (Matt.23:35; 1Jn.3:12) and here in Hebrews writer appreciates his faith and placed him first in the list of the heroes of faith. What a blessed testimony indeed!
 
It should be a challenging thought to us too. More than our wealth, health and intelligence our faith matters. It is our faith life that is going to influence the people around us and even the generations to come.
 
The most important asset that we can leave for the next generation is our faith. The hard earned money may be misused by the children but the hard earned testimony of a faithful parent can not be forgotten. How often we hear of the influence of parent’s faith on the children, who later became effective witnesses for the Lord.
 
Let our faith life be an example for people around us. Challenge them through our absolute dependence on the Lord.  If our children learn to trust God in every situation, that will take care all other burden.
 
What legacy we will leave as we shall come to the end of life. Is our faith life worthy of example to others? What message will be echoed quietly as we lay dead one day! Is it not worthy of consideration today? Let us have such a faith & testimony, like Abel.
 
By the way, what is the unique feature of his faith? He believed the spiritual lessons Adam taught. He believed that he is a sinner and needs to come to God with the blood of an innocent animal. By faith he offered a sacrifice according to God’s demand and found acceptance and justification.  Cain did not believe it but offered a sacrifice in his self-will. 
 
Even today millions approach God in self-will, with man made rituals, neglecting the truth of the -once for all- atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the cross of Calvary. True faith is not trusting in our own efforts or merits, but in the finished work of Christ and His grace. (Gal.6:14; 1Cor.15:10).  Believing God for His word, even if illogic and invisible and entirely obeying His precepts give value to our faith for today and tomorrow.
 
 

 
Brief Article
God Crossing over the Sea
Tom Johns, USA
 
Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded the event of Jesus Christ casting the demons out of a man into the herd of pigs. Matt 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20 & Luke 8:26-37. We seldom think how this event unfolded except for the fact of Jesus’ power over the demons. If we consider the background we see God in action while saving a man from desperation. This man was tormented day and night by many demons, a number that drove two thousand pigs into wild frenzy. Imagine that many demons in one body!
 
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee to the other side, to a non-Israeli territory called Gadarenes. From the account of Luke, we realize it was the Lord Himself initiated this trip across. While crossing over, He fell asleep and the disciples became terrified when the storm hit the Sea. Awakened by the disciples, the Lord calmed the Sea by His word, chided them for their lack of faith, and landed on the other side along with His disciples.
 
The only recorded event that happened in Gadarenes was the healing of this demon possessed man. We do not see anyone else being benefited by Jesus ministry there. But we see our God searching out for a lost one; just one person. Knowing his condition, it is hard to think he was even capable of praying to God. We do not know any of his acquaintance ever prayed for him either. But we see Jesus who was God and is God, making a trip across the Sea during a stormy night to meet with this lonesome helpless man.
 
My friends, this event speaks of the character of our God. He initiated the search for you and made His trip to a place called Calvary. He paid the penalty of your sin by giving up His life on the cross. All that is left for us to do is to trust in this redeeming work by Lord Jesus Christ, in order for us to receive the forgiveness of sins and become God’s children.
 
As children of God we have His blessed promises of provisions and protection while we are on this earth. He still crosses over the Seas on the stormy nights for His children. When they are deeply hurt and heavily burdened, by His own initiative, He crosses over the Sea to meet us. At times, we feel it is all darkness and there is no hope and it had been like this for ages! Yet, He did it for this man who never knew who Jesus was; how much more for would he do it for His redeemed ones? He still crosses over the Sea!
                                                                                                                                                                  

 
Outline
The Life of Faith
 
 
                            1. Obedience of Faith – Brings Salvation. Rom.16:26
                            2.   Living by Faith – For Sustenance. Gal.2:20
                            3. Walking by Faith – In Obedience. 2cor.5:7
                            4.  Praying in Faith – Brings Blessing. Jas.5:15
                            5. Fighting in Faith – Gives Victory. 1Tim.6:12
 

 
Anecdote
 Skydiver forgets parachute
 
In April 1988 the evening news reported on a photographer who was a skydiver. He had jumped from a plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes. On the film shown on the telecast, as the final skydiver opened his chute the picture went berserk.

 The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane with out his parachute. It wasn’t until he reached for the absent ripcord that he realized he was falling with out a parachute. Until that point, the jump probably seemed exciting and fun.
But tragically, he had acted with thoughtless haste and deadly foolishness. Nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute never buckled on.
Faith in anything but an all-sufficient God can be just as tragic spiritually.

 

 
 
News & Views 1
Rick Warren In India
 
Pastor Rick Warren the author of the best selling books, “The purpose Driven Life” and “The Purpose Driven Church” is in India with his team to conduct seminars on ‘The purpose Driven Church’.
 
Dr. Rick Warren is considered as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of America. TIME magazine listed Warren as one of “15 world Leaders Who Mattered Most”.   In 1980 he founded the Saddleback Church with one family and today more than 22,000 attend the weekly gatherings.
His burden is to minister in the area of ‘purpose driven church’; ‘Management principle’, ‘family issues’ and ‘evangelism tools’. 
 
We can pray and hope that these meetings will make clear the divine purpose for individual believers and the local Churches. And as a result saints may be edified and souls may be won for Christ.
 

 
News & Views 2
Satan following rising in Mizoram
 
Mizoram, the Indian state where most of the population are Christians, is witnessing alarming growth of Satan worshipers. Several incidents of burnt Bibles, vandalized churches and defiled cemeteries are reported from here. Few months ago some youths were caught filming semi-nude inside a non-functional church on the outskirts of Aizawl, the capital city. According to a survey conducted by a local weekly,  more than hundred Satan worshipers are found in the state.
It has been proved often that when people choose to resist the truth of the word of God they are forced to follow the false hood of devil. 
 

 
Worthy Quote
Prayer
 
                        “If God calls you to preach the Gospel, don’t stoop along the way to become a king.”    C.H. Spurgeon
 

 
To ponder over
Heb.11:1." 

 
                                          " “Now faith is the sub stance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 









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