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Issue No.46 December 29, 07 'EBENEZER' & 'JEHOVAH-JIREH'

#1 · December 29, 2007, 2:53 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on December 29, 2007, 2:53 pm
Posted by: gracepeaceu <gracepeaceu@...>
Grace & Peace

An e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,
edification and encouragement

Issue No. 046     December 29, 2007

gracepeaceu@yahoo.com
Subscription details in the end

In this issue

Perspective: 'EBENEZER' & 'JEHOVAH-JIREH'

Study Note: The Golden Lamp stand--The Flowers

Outline: Remember! Remember!

Anecdote: Liberator Lincoln

News & Views : Priest died to rise again on the third day!

Matters for prayer   Special Fund for Indian Evangelists

Perspective

'EBENEZER' & 'JEHOVAH-JIREH'

NTK

Praise the Lord! Thus we are coming to the end of another year. Many who began this year with much expectation and enthusiasm could not even see this day. Many others have gone through much troubles and turmoil that they have nothing to rejoice at this juncture. The Lord in His good pleasure has brought us thus far. It is the most appropriate time again to look back and reflect upon His wonderful dealings with us.

In the Old Testament the Lord often calls upon the people of Israel to remember and reflect over the past days. We remember the stone that Samuel erected and named 'EBENEZER' saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us." That stone was a memorial to God's help to
them.1Samuel.7:12

We ought to consider the kindness and mercies of God in which He endured us and carried us through out the year. In spite of all our limitations and even unfaithfulness He has been faithful in His promises and graciously protected us and provided for us.

Such sincere recalling of the past divine dealings will not only humble us but also inspire us to trust God for the days ahead. In 2Corinthians 1:10 Paul says "God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,..". Past deliverances assure him for deliverance today and tomorrow.

If we can say 'EBEENZER' with Samuel, then we will also be able to declare 'JEHOVAH-JIREH' –God will provide - with Abraham. Both the declarations are significant. One takes care of the past and the other future.

Beloved, do not be just ignorant and insensitive. God hates such indifferent attitude. In the book of Isaiah the Lord repeatedly condemns such careless and thoughtless people of Judah. With all sincerity come to the feet of Christ alone and ponder over the above matters. Spend much time before the Lord in meditation, prayer and praise. Sure, you will be restored, renewed and re-vitalized to enter in to a new year with a new vision, life and commitment.

Yes it's a wonderful occasion –a junction- to check the track, re-arrange and re-charge our life. May the Lord help all our readers to examine their spiritual life at the feet of Christ and experience new life and energy. Thus we may enter in to the New Year with renewed commitment and vision.

To all our esteemed readers we sincerely wish a very joyful, Christ centred, peaceful and prosperous Happy New Year.

Study Note

The Golden Lamp stand (Contd..) The Flowers:

Charles E. Wigg

The lamp stand's branches were in the form of an almond branch; this brings to mind the passage in Numbers chapter 17, where Aaron's rod that had been cut off, budded, blossomed and brought forth ripened almonds. The Almond is the first of the fruit trees to blossom, and the appearance of it's pure white flowers is a sign that the long winter during, which time the trees seem to be dead and dormant, is now over and signs of new life appear, life from the dead, thus denoting resurrection.

The flowers that are both beautiful and fragrant are the first sign of this new life. They then remind us of the beauty and fragrance of first love that is to be seen in the life of a newly converted soul. There is something very sweet and precious, very beautiful about a soul that has newly come to Christ. To them the love of Christ is so wonderful; everything about the life they have received is both new and wonderful.

However it seems that the original joy, fragrance and enthusiasm do not last for a long time. As with the tree, the flowers soon fall, this is of course a part of life, as development and growth takes place. If the flowers continued on month after month, there would be no fruit. Near to my home in Tasmania, there are some very beautiful flowering cherry trees, which when in full bloom are extremely beautiful, but there are never any cherries on those trees.

But with the lamp stand, the beautiful flowers are fixed in golden glory, the petals never fall. There should be in each local Assembly, representations of the different stages of spiritual growth and development. The Church at Ephesus began so well, with real sacrifice, the burning of those things that related to their old life, even though those books could have been sold for a large sum. But when the Lord Jesus sent his message to them through John, He has to tell them, "You have left your first love" God appreciates, and always remembers our brightest days, even when we forget them. He said to Israel through Jeremiah 2;2, "I remember (for) thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown, Israel was holiness unto the Lord".

However after the first flush of joy passes, the new believer comes to realise that they have chosen to walk a path that is difficult. Often there comes opposition and reproach from without, and struggles with the sinful nature within, nevertheless these very things enable the believer to grow on, to develop in the character of Christ.



Outline

Remember! Remember!

1. The believer in Christ. Luke 22:19
2. The backslider from Christ. Rev.2:5
3. The stranger to Christ. Luke 17:32
4. The banished from Christ. Luke 16:25

Anecdote

Liberator Lincoln

In Springfield, Illinois, the birth place of Abraham Lincoln, the President of the USA who liberated the slaves, there is a museum which displays some relics closely connected with the life and history of the liberator. One of these museum pieces is an eighteen inch square of silk stained with blood in a glass case.

The story behind the blood- stained silk is this. The President was shot while seated in a large opera house. As he fell over, a young lady, seated in the next box, let him rest his head on her dress to make him as comfortable as possible. When she returned to her own home, her first impulse was to have her dress laundered, but on reflection she decided to cut out the blood-stained piece and sent it to the city fathers at Springfield.

This she did, and they put it in the museum, with the inscription, "To the man who liberated the slaves".
That is what the Springfield citizens thought of the blood of the man who freed the slaves. 1Pet.1
:19, 20.

___________________________________________________________

News & views

Priest died to rise again on the third day!

We have heard about people expecting their loved ones to come back to life after their death. But here is a Hindu priest consumed poison to die and rise again on the third day. Manoj Baghel of Raipur, India promised that he would return to life after three days. The relatives and followers did not allow the district administration to conduct a post –mortem, hoping that we he rise to life. They kept the body in a locked room inside the temple and continued with rituals and prayers. But on the third day he was cremated as he failed come back to life!

It seems Manoj Baghel heard about the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. Yes the Lord Jesus Christ was God Himself and His claims were true. He said, "…I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down and I have power to take it again."
John.10:17, 18. He did come back to life as He was the source of life. Christ alone could rise from the death and Him alone we have life eternal.

Matters for prayer

Special Funds for Indian Evangelists

It is a paradoxical truth that many evangelists in India are going through severe financial crisis when the Indian economy is booming like never before. Never in history there was such a huge remuneration for the young workforce as today. Yet the Lord servants are finding it hard to meet both ends! It has been reported that even the well-known service agency KEM fund that supports Indian evangelists regularly, struggling to find adequate funds.

It is heartening to notice that Gospel Mission of India (GMI), a service agency based in the US has a taken not of this situation and set up three special funds in India.

MEDICAL FUND - Some of our evangelists are withholding major surgeries thus affecting their health even their lives because they don't have the large amount needed by the hospitals for the urgent surgeries. Some of the hospitals ask the entire amount before the surgery. GMI gets several requests for medical needs and doing their best. Now a medical fund has been set up in association with Operation Barnabas, Bangalore.

Believers in USA and Canada may send earmarked gifts to GMI, P.O. Box 1043, Warren, MI 48090, USA and those who are in other countries may send the money directly to: Operation Barnabas, Benaiah, Kalkeri Road, Ramamurthy Nagar,
P.O. Box 1633, Bangalore 560016, Karnataka, India. Those who are sending it directly to OB may mention it is exclusively for the medical needs of our evangelists. The funds will remain in the special funds and be used as the urgent needs arise.

EDUCATION FUND - Many evangelists find it hard to send their children for higher education. GMI is burdened about this needs of the Lord's servants and have taken some steps. Plan to set up a fund in India is under way. For details contact GMI.

FUND FOR WIDOWS OF EVANGELISTS – The number of widows of evangelists are increasing every year. GMI has already set up a fund with Gospel Fellowship Trust of India, Chennai to help them with some periodic help. This is a meager amount at this point. They have plan to increase the funding for them. Those who are in USA and Canada can send the earmarked gifts to GMI and believers in other countries may send the funds directly to GFTI, 1 Bethesda Centre,
R.V. Nagar, Kodungaiyur P.O. Chennai, TN 600018

Saints every where are requested to pray for the efforts of GMIand contribute generously.

For details visit the website of GMI www.gospelmi.org

and write to Mr. Joseph Raju at <gospelmi@wowway.com> Cell: 586-306-5669

Worthy Quote

Today

                                 "Yesterday is a cancelled check
                                  Tomorrow is a promissory note,
                                  Today is the only cash you have,

                                   So invest it wisely."

To ponder over

"Fear not, I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God,
I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. " Isaiah.41:10

___________________________________________________________
'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 (to be removed from the mailing list) 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

Posted by: gracepeaceu <gracepeaceu@...>

Grace & Peace

An e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,
edification and encouragement

Issue No. 046 December 29, 2007

gracepeaceu@yahoo.com
Subscription details in the end

In this issue

Perspective: 'EBENEZER' & 'JEHOVAH-JIREH'

Study Note: The Golden Lamp stand--The Flowers

Outline: Remember! Remember!

Anecdote: Liberator Lincoln

News & Views : Priest died to rise again on the third day!

Matters for prayer Special Fund for Indian Evangelists

Perspective

'EBENEZER' & 'JEHOVAH-JIREH'

NTK

Praise the Lord! Thus we are coming to the end of another year. Many who began this year with much expectation and enthusiasm could not even see this day. Many others have gone through much troubles and turmoil that they have nothing to rejoice at this juncture. The Lord in His good pleasure has brought us thus far. It is the most appropriate time again to look back and reflect upon His wonderful dealings with us.

In the Old Testament the Lord often calls upon the people of Israel to remember and reflect over the past days. We remember the stone that Samuel erected and named 'EBENEZER' saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us." That stone was a memorial to God's help to
them.1Samuel.7:12

We ought to consider the kindness and mercies of God in which He endured us and carried us through out the year. In spite of all our limitations and even unfaithfulness He has been faithful in His promises and graciously protected us and provided for us.

Such sincere recalling of the past divine dealings will not only humble us but also inspire us to trust God for the days ahead. In 2Corinthians 1:10 Paul says "God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,..". Past deliverances assure him for deliverance today and tomorrow.

If we can say 'EBEENZER' with Samuel, then we will also be able to declare 'JEHOVAH-JIREH' –God will provide - with Abraham. Both the declarations are significant. One takes care of the past and the other future.

Beloved, do not be just ignorant and insensitive. God hates such indifferent attitude. In the book of Isaiah the Lord repeatedly condemns such careless and thoughtless people of Judah. With all sincerity come to the feet of Christ alone and ponder over the above matters. Spend much time before the Lord in meditation, prayer and praise. Sure, you will be restored, renewed and re-vitalized to enter in to a new year with a new vision, life and commitment.

Yes it's a wonderful occasion –a junction- to check the track, re-arrange and re-charge our life. May the Lord help all our readers to examine their spiritual life at the feet of Christ and experience new life and energy. Thus we may enter in to the New Year with renewed commitment and vision.

To all our esteemed readers we sincerely wish a very joyful, Christ centred, peaceful and prosperous Happy New Year.

Study Note

The Golden Lamp stand (Contd..) The Flowers:

Charles E. Wigg

The lamp stand's branches were in the form of an almond branch; this brings to mind the passage in Numbers chapter 17, where Aaron's rod that had been cut off, budded, blossomed and brought forth ripened almonds. The Almond is the first of the fruit trees to blossom, and the appearance of it's pure white flowers is a sign that the long winter during, which time the trees seem to be dead and dormant, is now over and signs of new life appear, life from the dead, thus denoting resurrection.

The flowers that are both beautiful and fragrant are the first sign of this new life. They then remind us of the beauty and fragrance of first love that is to be seen in the life of a newly converted soul. There is something very sweet and precious, very beautiful about a soul that has newly come to Christ. To them the love of Christ is so wonderful; everything about the life they have received is both new and wonderful.

However it seems that the original joy, fragrance and enthusiasm do not last for a long time. As with the tree, the flowers soon fall, this is of course a part of life, as development and growth takes place. If the flowers continued on month after month, there would be no fruit. Near to my home in Tasmania, there are some very beautiful flowering cherry trees, which when in full bloom are extremely beautiful, but there are never any cherries on those trees.

But with the lamp stand, the beautiful flowers are fixed in golden glory, the petals never fall. There should be in each local Assembly, representations of the different stages of spiritual growth and development. The Church at Ephesus began so well, with real sacrifice, the burning of those things that related to their old life, even though those books could have been sold for a large sum. But when the Lord Jesus sent his message to them through John, He has to tell them, "You have left your first love" God appreciates, and always remembers our brightest days, even when we forget them. He said to Israel through Jeremiah 2;2, "I remember (for) thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown, Israel was holiness unto the Lord".

However after the first flush of joy passes, the new believer comes to realise that they have chosen to walk a path that is difficult. Often there comes opposition and reproach from without, and struggles with the sinful nature within, nevertheless these very things enable the believer to grow on, to develop in the character of Christ.

Outline

Remember! Remember!

1. The believer in Christ. Luke 22:19
2. The backslider from Christ. Rev.2:5
3. The stranger to Christ. Luke 17:32
4. The banished from Christ. Luke 16:25

Anecdote

Liberator Lincoln

In Springfield, Illinois, the birth place of Abraham Lincoln, the President of the USA who liberated the slaves, there is a museum which displays some relics closely connected with the life and history of the liberator. One of these museum pieces is an eighteen inch square of silk stained with blood in a glass case.

The story behind the blood- stained silk is this. The President was shot while seated in a large opera house. As he fell over, a young lady, seated in the next box, let him rest his head on her dress to make him as comfortable as possible. When she returned to her own home, her first impulse was to have her dress laundered, but on reflection she decided to cut out the blood-stained piece and sent it to the city fathers at Springfield.

This she did, and they put it in the museum, with the inscription, "To the man who liberated the slaves".
That is what the Springfield citizens thought of the blood of the man who freed the slaves. 1Pet.1
:19, 20.

___________________________________________________________

News & views

Priest died to rise again on the third day!

We have heard about people expecting their loved ones to come back to life after their death. But here is a Hindu priest consumed poison to die and rise again on the third day. Manoj Baghel of Raipur, India promised that he would return to life after three days. The relatives and followers did not allow the district administration to conduct a post –mortem, hoping that we he rise to life. They kept the body in a locked room inside the temple and continued with rituals and prayers. But on the third day he was cremated as he failed come back to life!

It seems Manoj Baghel heard about the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. Yes the Lord Jesus Christ was God Himself and His claims were true. He said, "…I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down and I have power to take it again."
John.10:17, 18. He did come back to life as He was the source of life. Christ alone could rise from the death and Him alone we have life eternal.

Matters for prayer

Special Funds for Indian Evangelists

It is a paradoxical truth that many evangelists in India are going through severe financial crisis when the Indian economy is booming like never before. Never in history there was such a huge remuneration for the young workforce as today. Yet the Lord servants are finding it hard to meet both ends! It has been reported that even the well-known service agency KEM fund that supports Indian evangelists regularly, struggling to find adequate funds.

It is heartening to notice that Gospel Mission of India (GMI), a service agency based in the US has a taken not of this situation and set up three special funds in India.

MEDICAL FUND - Some of our evangelists are withholding major surgeries thus affecting their health even their lives because they don't have the large amount needed by the hospitals for the urgent surgeries. Some of the hospitals ask the entire amount before the surgery. GMI gets several requests for medical needs and doing their best. Now a medical fund has been set up in association with Operation Barnabas, Bangalore.

Believers in USA and Canada may send earmarked gifts to GMI, P.O. Box 1043, Warren, MI 48090, USA and those who are in other countries may send the money directly to: Operation Barnabas, Benaiah, Kalkeri Road, Ramamurthy Nagar,
P.O. Box 1633, Bangalore 560016, Karnataka, India. Those who are sending it directly to OB may mention it is exclusively for the medical needs of our evangelists. The funds will remain in the special funds and be used as the urgent needs arise.

EDUCATION FUND - Many evangelists find it hard to send their children for higher education. GMI is burdened about this needs of the Lord's servants and have taken some steps. Plan to set up a fund in India is under way. For details contact GMI.

FUND FOR WIDOWS OF EVANGELISTS – The number of widows of evangelists are increasing every year. GMI has already set up a fund with Gospel Fellowship Trust of India, Chennai to help them with some periodic help. This is a meager amount at this point. They have plan to increase the funding for them. Those who are in USA and Canada can send the earmarked gifts to GMI and believers in other countries may send the funds directly to GFTI, 1 Bethesda Centre,
R.V. Nagar, Kodungaiyur P.O. Chennai, TN 600018

Saints every where are requested to pray for the efforts of GMIand contribute generously.

For details visit the website of GMI http://www.gospelmi.org

and write to Mr. Joseph Raju at <gospelmi@wowway.com> Cell: 586-306-5669

Worthy Quote

Today

                                 "Yesterday is a cancelled check
                                  Tomorrow is a promissory note,
                                  Today is the only cash you have,

So invest it wisely."

To ponder over

"Fear not, I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God,
I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. " Isaiah.41:10

___________________________________________________________

'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 (to be removed from the mailing list) 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