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Issue No. 045 November 30, 2007 Departing Saints and Generation Next

#1 · November 30, 2007, 5:14 am

Quote from Forum Archives on November 30, 2007, 5:14 am
Posted by: gracepeaceu <gracepeaceu@...>

An e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,

edification and encouragement

Issue No. 045     November 30, 2007

gracepeaceu@yahoo.com
Subscription details in the end

In this issue

Perspective: Departing Saints and Generation Next

Outline: Marks of Discipleship

Study Note: The Golden Lamp stand (Contd..)

Anecdote: The Miner's Son

Worth Quote: Grief

Perspective

Departing Saints and Generation Next

NTK

During this year Indian brethren has seen so many senior Lord's servants leaving the scene. C.V. Baby,   T.A. Kurian, S.S. David, A.T Mathew, and Ambrose J are some of the well-known among them. All of them were godly men and very useful in their respective fields. There are number of others who are sick and unable to be active as earlier. The absence of these great men of God will definitely be a loss in the human point of view.

But, how does God view the death of His saints? We know, it is precious to Him. The Lord sends His angels to receive them that they may be with Him to rest from their labours. However the Lord doesn't stop there. When Moses died not only God buried His servant but also challenged Joshua to continue the work. "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them.."
Jos.1:2. In His sovereign will and perfect knowledge the Lord promotes one of His servants to glory, and brings another to continue His work.

Around 40 years before the death of Moses, he had found Joshua and under God's guidance prepared him to take the charge in future.

Are we aware of this fact that God is concerned about His work, even when He calls His servants to His presence? Is there any equipped next generation leaders to take up the challenge to continue the work of the Lord? If the Lord tarries to come, do we have godly men who will stand for the New Testament truths and principles as our forefathers did?

It's a sad thing to notice that the present generation is progressing so much in their studies and secular field but seldom are they interested in the service of the Lord. Even there are few who have turned their back to the assembly and its teachings!

History shows that declension and deterioration takes place by the 3rd and 4th generation. It has been well noticed that the first generation discovers and rejoices in the truth and the second is challenged to follow but by 3rd and 4th the enthusiasm is gone! Similar things happened among the Israelites too. " Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel." Josh. 24:31

How important it is to inculcate spiritual thirst and hunger in the lives of our young generation to be faithful followers of Christ in this hostile world! Inspire them to be zealous for the word of God. Paul had this in mind when he wrote to Timothy: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
2Tim.2:2

Let us have a burden for our generation next and the future of the local churches. Do not be just passive onlookers! The Lord Himself is showing us the grave situation by removing His chosen ones. He has kept us to carry on His work. Be faithful stewards of the mysteries and the manifold grace of God. Let our young generation be touched by our vision and passion and be motivated to uphold the word of God.

Pray with David, "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men." Psalm.12:1

Out line:

Marks of Discipleship

                  1. Obedience. John.8:31
                  2. Love.   John.13:34, 35
                  3. Lowliness. Matthew.10:24, 25; 11:29, 30.
                  4. Denial of self.
Luke.9:23; 14:27
                  5. Taking up the cross. Luke.9:23; 14:27
                  6. Following Christ. Luke.9:23; 14:27
                 7. Service & Hospitality. Matthew. 10:42; 25:40;           Hebrews. 6:10

                8. Fruit bearing. John.15:8

Study Note:-

The Golden Lamp stand (Contd..)

Charles E. Wigg

Of beaten work:
Now we notice that the lamp stand was not cast in a mould, but was made of beaten work. This was done by the skilful hands of Bezaleel, who is a type of the Holy Spirit. From that one block of solid, pure gold, with hammers of different sizes, by beating, he patiently laboured until the lamp stand was complete. The beating was a work of forming, as God said of His people, "This people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise", Isaiah. 43: 21. The fact that it was made from the one block of gold, reminds us of the perfect unity between the saints of the Church in the mind of God. The beating reminds us that it through the pressure, troubles. Disappointments, even the disasters of life, which the Holy Spirit is patiently forming us, or transforming us into the image of Christ, that is reproducing the image of Christ in our lives.

At the beginning of this work Bezaleel must have used big and heavy hammers, and as the work preceded, smaller hammers, until at the end. For the delicate formation of the knobs and flowers, with their petals, he must have used the finest hammers, but possibly all was done on the same anvil, which for us represents the anvil of truth, which truth is embodied in the word of God, 'Thy word is truth".

Let us remember this when we pass through life's trials and difficulties, God's Holy Spirit is beating us, seeking to conform us to the Divine pattern, to conform us to the image of God's Son. It is to this end that we have been predestined.

The base:
Though it is not mentioned here, this beautiful chandelier was not a candlestick, as translated in the Authorized Version, but a "Lamp stand", the Hebrew word in 'Menorah", thus because of its base, the lamp stand stood, unaided, un-supported, was not propped up in any way.

This brings to mind what Paul wrote to Timothy about the Church, that it is the "Pillar and ground, (base) of the truth", 1 Tim.3;15. What God does is solid, reliable, does not need to be propped up. Like the Church which the Lord Jesus is building. even though the Gates of Hell, (all the wisdom, cunning and might of Satan's system) is set against it, yet it will stand Hell's gates will not prevail.

The branches:
There were six branches and a central stem, all came out of the lamp stand, each was the same as the other, and all were of the same design. This is characteristic of the work and testimony of God. The six branches would remind us of how the Christian testimony has spread, through the agency of man, to every corner of the Globe. It began at Jerusalem, (the central stem), but has spread all over the world. Yet wherever that pure testimony is, there is sameness about it. This is brought about, not by men, or by organizations, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the word of God, by following the simple pattern set out for us in the New Testament, especially in the book of the Acts. Whatever men establish, by their own labours, following their own ideas, will always be confusion; there will be sad contradictions of practice and of doctrine.

Anecdote

The Miner's Son

In Ireland, a busload of miners was on their way home from the Mines. It was a particularly cold day, windy, with just enough icy rain to make the road down the mountain especially dangerous. The miners were all ready for warm soup and a good mug of beer. The bus driver, however, was understandably nervous about the weather and the condition under which he had to navigate the unwieldy bus on the ice in the wind. They were driving down a narrow road, which wound around hill, so that on one side was the sheer mountain face, on the other a drop into the valley.

As the driver came around a curve, some distance ahead of him, sitting in the middle of the road was a young boy, playing in the snow, his back to the bus. The bus driver had only a few seconds in which to make a decision what he must do. If he hit the breaks hard enough to avoid the child, he would send the bus into a skid on the ice, which would either land it over the cliff edge or into the rock wall, surely killing some if not all of the miners in his care.

If he used the breaks only enough to slow and not skid, he would not be able to break in time to avoid hitting, and surely killing the little boy. The bus driver had to decide. As the bus came to a slow grinding halt, the bus driver leapt from the seat and went barreling out the doors. Some of the miners followed after him. Several yards behind, in the snow, lay the body of the child. Dead.

The bus driver had bent over the little limp form and turned it up, cradling it in his arms. The miners gathered round and removed their hats, all speechless. The little boy was the bus driver's son!

Worthy Quote

Grief

"Grief drives men into the habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding and softens the heart."
  ---John Adams

"Grief is the agony of an instant; the indulgence of grief, the blunder of a life."
  ----Benjamin Disraeli

"Grief is itself a medicine."
  --William Cowper

'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
You may unsubscribe at any time by sending

a blank email to:
gracepeace-leave@welovegod.org

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

Edited and 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. 045 November 30, 2007

gracepeaceu@yahoo.com
Subscription details in the end

In this issue

Perspective: Departing Saints and Generation Next

Outline: Marks of Discipleship

Study Note: The Golden Lamp stand (Contd..)

Anecdote: The Miner's Son

Worth Quote: Grief

Perspective

Departing Saints and Generation Next

NTK

During this year Indian brethren has seen so many senior Lord's servants leaving the scene. C.V. Baby, T.A. Kurian, S.S. David, A.T Mathew, and Ambrose J are some of the well-known among them. All of them were godly men and very useful in their respective fields. There are number of others who are sick and unable to be active as earlier. The absence of these great men of God will definitely be a loss in the human point of view.

But, how does God view the death of His saints? We know, it is precious to Him. The Lord sends His angels to receive them that they may be with Him to rest from their labours. However the Lord doesn't stop there. When Moses died not only God buried His servant but also challenged Joshua to continue the work. "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them.."
Jos.1:2. In His sovereign will and perfect knowledge the Lord promotes one of His servants to glory, and brings another to continue His work.

Around 40 years before the death of Moses, he had found Joshua and under God's guidance prepared him to take the charge in future.

Are we aware of this fact that God is concerned about His work, even when He calls His servants to His presence? Is there any equipped next generation leaders to take up the challenge to continue the work of the Lord? If the Lord tarries to come, do we have godly men who will stand for the New Testament truths and principles as our forefathers did?

It's a sad thing to notice that the present generation is progressing so much in their studies and secular field but seldom are they interested in the service of the Lord. Even there are few who have turned their back to the assembly and its teachings!

History shows that declension and deterioration takes place by the 3rd and 4th generation. It has been well noticed that the first generation discovers and rejoices in the truth and the second is challenged to follow but by 3rd and 4th the enthusiasm is gone! Similar things happened among the Israelites too. " Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel." Josh. 24:31

How important it is to inculcate spiritual thirst and hunger in the lives of our young generation to be faithful followers of Christ in this hostile world! Inspire them to be zealous for the word of God. Paul had this in mind when he wrote to Timothy: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
2Tim.2:2

Let us have a burden for our generation next and the future of the local churches. Do not be just passive onlookers! The Lord Himself is showing us the grave situation by removing His chosen ones. He has kept us to carry on His work. Be faithful stewards of the mysteries and the manifold grace of God. Let our young generation be touched by our vision and passion and be motivated to uphold the word of God.

Pray with David, "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men." Psalm.12:1

Out line:

Marks of Discipleship

                  1. Obedience. John.8:31
                  2. Love.   John.13:34, 35
                  3. Lowliness. Matthew.10:24, 25; 11:29, 30.
                  4. Denial of self.
Luke.9:23; 14:27
                  5. Taking up the cross. Luke.9:23; 14:27
                  6. Following Christ. Luke.9:23; 14:27
                 7. Service & Hospitality. Matthew. 10:42; 25:40;           Hebrews. 6:10

8. Fruit bearing. John.15:8

Study Note:-

The Golden Lamp stand (Contd..)

Charles E. Wigg

Of beaten work:
Now we notice that the lamp stand was not cast in a mould, but was made of beaten work. This was done by the skilful hands of Bezaleel, who is a type of the Holy Spirit. From that one block of solid, pure gold, with hammers of different sizes, by beating, he patiently laboured until the lamp stand was complete. The beating was a work of forming, as God said of His people, "This people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise", Isaiah. 43: 21. The fact that it was made from the one block of gold, reminds us of the perfect unity between the saints of the Church in the mind of God. The beating reminds us that it through the pressure, troubles. Disappointments, even the disasters of life, which the Holy Spirit is patiently forming us, or transforming us into the image of Christ, that is reproducing the image of Christ in our lives.

At the beginning of this work Bezaleel must have used big and heavy hammers, and as the work preceded, smaller hammers, until at the end. For the delicate formation of the knobs and flowers, with their petals, he must have used the finest hammers, but possibly all was done on the same anvil, which for us represents the anvil of truth, which truth is embodied in the word of God, 'Thy word is truth".

Let us remember this when we pass through life's trials and difficulties, God's Holy Spirit is beating us, seeking to conform us to the Divine pattern, to conform us to the image of God's Son. It is to this end that we have been predestined.

The base:
Though it is not mentioned here, this beautiful chandelier was not a candlestick, as translated in the Authorized Version, but a "Lamp stand", the Hebrew word in 'Menorah", thus because of its base, the lamp stand stood, unaided, un-supported, was not propped up in any way.

This brings to mind what Paul wrote to Timothy about the Church, that it is the "Pillar and ground, (base) of the truth", 1 Tim.3;15. What God does is solid, reliable, does not need to be propped up. Like the Church which the Lord Jesus is building. even though the Gates of Hell, (all the wisdom, cunning and might of Satan's system) is set against it, yet it will stand Hell's gates will not prevail.

The branches:
There were six branches and a central stem, all came out of the lamp stand, each was the same as the other, and all were of the same design. This is characteristic of the work and testimony of God. The six branches would remind us of how the Christian testimony has spread, through the agency of man, to every corner of the Globe. It began at Jerusalem, (the central stem), but has spread all over the world. Yet wherever that pure testimony is, there is sameness about it. This is brought about, not by men, or by organizations, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the word of God, by following the simple pattern set out for us in the New Testament, especially in the book of the Acts. Whatever men establish, by their own labours, following their own ideas, will always be confusion; there will be sad contradictions of practice and of doctrine.

Anecdote

The Miner's Son

In Ireland, a busload of miners was on their way home from the Mines. It was a particularly cold day, windy, with just enough icy rain to make the road down the mountain especially dangerous. The miners were all ready for warm soup and a good mug of beer. The bus driver, however, was understandably nervous about the weather and the condition under which he had to navigate the unwieldy bus on the ice in the wind. They were driving down a narrow road, which wound around hill, so that on one side was the sheer mountain face, on the other a drop into the valley.

As the driver came around a curve, some distance ahead of him, sitting in the middle of the road was a young boy, playing in the snow, his back to the bus. The bus driver had only a few seconds in which to make a decision what he must do. If he hit the breaks hard enough to avoid the child, he would send the bus into a skid on the ice, which would either land it over the cliff edge or into the rock wall, surely killing some if not all of the miners in his care.

If he used the breaks only enough to slow and not skid, he would not be able to break in time to avoid hitting, and surely killing the little boy. The bus driver had to decide. As the bus came to a slow grinding halt, the bus driver leapt from the seat and went barreling out the doors. Some of the miners followed after him. Several yards behind, in the snow, lay the body of the child. Dead.

The bus driver had bent over the little limp form and turned it up, cradling it in his arms. The miners gathered round and removed their hats, all speechless. The little boy was the bus driver's son!

Worthy Quote

Grief

"Grief drives men into the habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding and softens the heart."
  ---John Adams

"Grief is the agony of an instant; the indulgence of grief, the blunder of a life."
  ----Benjamin Disraeli

"Grief is itself a medicine."
  --William Cowper

'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
You may unsubscribe at any time by sending

a blank email to:
gracepeace-leave@welovegod.org

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

Edited and posted by Nelson Thomas Kumaramparampil for the Glory of God & the Joy of the saints.