Letters Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor Welcome to Volume 2.6 of MORNING STAR. In this month's Feature area we have a number of articles related to the theme of "Witnessing." You will find a few changes in the format of the magazine this month, (and expect more in the future!) We have moved the People Profiles and Book Review columns to the front of the magazine, immediately following the Feature articles. We will continue to do this whenever these two columns are related to the Feature theme. Our Jewish and Gentile testimony columns can now both be found in the Christian Life area. The Biblical area will be reserved for various studies and the Bible Quiz. Our Resource area has been renamed. We are now presenting an INTERNATIONAL section and hope to develop this as MORNING STAR finds its way into more countries. For now, we have placed CFI Reports, the Newsdesk and the revolving Ministry/Product/BBS Information columns here. We have also added a new MISSION FIELD column. Your ideas and contributions to this new area are most welcomed! Praise the Lord, MORNING STAR is now being read every month in Germany and Taiwan! Our readers in Germany are actually translating some of the articles into the German language for the local people. We are hoping in the near future to have MORNING star available in Holland, Belgium and possibly some of the former communist eastern-bloc countries. Please be in prayer for this! As always, I am expressing a serious appeal for articles and stories. Although we don't mind reprinting what we feel are the "best" articles from other magazines in MORNING STAR, we would certainly prefer to have more original material. The Ministry Profile, Mission Field and Education columns are always in need of stories and are "easy" to write for, and we certainly want to publish personal testimonies! Besides these columns, we depend on our readers to keep our Feature-theme area going strong. Here is the lineup of topics for the next six months: Volume 2.7 - Deliverance from Substance Abuse Volume 2.8 - Marriage and Family in the 1990's Volume 2.9 - Prophecy (Past and Future) Volume 2.10 - Revival (Personal, local church and national) Volume 2.11 - Local Church Ministries (Choir, Bus Ministry, Sick & Prison Visitation etc.) Volume 2.12 - The Feasts Of and Promises To Israel Please don't think "I'm sure someone else will write something ..." as this can leave us without any material. For example, the Feature area in this issue is entirely reprinted material. We did not receive a single article despite several months of requests. The subject, "Witnessing" was certainly one that all of us should have something to say about. Searching out articles to reprint takes a lot of time and our small staff is already at "maximum stress level". Please help us keep this magazine going by submitting something for one of the above topics. In Service to our Lord and Savior, Toby Commentary Commentary The Witnessing Believer " ... 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" (Matthew 28: 19-20). In this issue of Morning Star, we will look at some specific topics related to witnessing. But first, we need to step back. Let us look at the believer's responsibility of witnessing to the world. The importance of our testimony, (witness) starts with our acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Paul made this clear when he said: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). To confess is to witness to the work of Christ in your lives. Also, we must note that this witness is commanded at the very moment of salvation. Therefore, it is obvious that the believer's maturity level is not a factor in the qualification to witness. All believers can and must recognize that they are witnesses for the Lord. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that spiritual maturity is a criteria in effective witnessing. The call to witness is a call to all believers. This witness is not to be confused with the spiritual gift of evangelism. All believers are to witness. Not all are given the gift of evangelism. Testifying is not the responsibility of just the paid minister. Too often we think, "If only I can get somebody to come to church, then the pastor's words will convert them." Why aren't YOU talking to this individual? The Lord has placed him or her in YOUR life and he has given YOU the opportunity to be His witness. YOU are the one who has lived out the reality of Christ in front of this person. YOU are the one who is best equipped to speak for the Lord. And by the way, all of us are already witnesses for the Lord. The only question is, what type of witness? More often, with those we normally relate to, we are witnesses through our lives. This happens long before we testify with words. WE, all of us believers, ARE GOD'S WITNESSES TO A FALLEN WORLD. Haddon Robinson put it this way in his forward to the book, LIFE-STYLE EVANGELISM. "Making a place in your life for non-Christian neighbors demands effort, thought, and at times risk. Bridges are harder to construct than walls. But that doesn't alter this reality: Outsiders to faith are first drawn to Christians and then to Christ." 1 As Israel was a testimony her neighbors, we too are being watched by those around us. As we walk with the Lord, others see the blessings of a relationship with a loving God. When we strive to live on our own however, we give a false picture of God. Fathers, a lot of how you influence the lives of your children gives them an understanding of God the Father. Mothers, if your children observe your faith in the Lord, this will go a long way to build their own trust in Him. What do we say about the trustworthiness of God, as we keep or fail to keep our word to others? Consider all the aspects of your life and recognize what they say about the Lord. Again, we are witnesses to God, but whether positive or negative is up to us. But at some point we must move beyond just living out our witness. At some point, all of us are called to present the words of the salvation message. If we know enough to be saved ourselves, we know enough to give the basic Gospel. "But, I'm a brand new believer. I don't know what to say." First remember that the Holy Spirit is your teacher. "(B)ut God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). Second, it is vital to remember that we can't save anyone. It is the Holy Spirit Who quickens God's words, brings conviction of sin, and therefore the resultant salvation. Christ noted this when He said, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor (HOLY SPIRIT) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned" (John 16:7-11). Since the Holy Spirit, is the one responsible to save, we also can depend on Him to provide the necessary words. This is especially important for the new believer to remember. "Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:11). It is also the Holy Spirit Who empowers us to witness for the Lord. "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" (Acts 1:8). As you read the different articles on witnessing, you may be inclined to say, "I can't do that." While you may not be called to a specific type of witnessing, remember: you ARE called to witness. You do this through both your life and your words. The call to make disciples is a call to help all believers mature. The process begins by a sinner first becoming a child of God. You too have the basic message of salvation. "... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ..." and the result, "... man is destined to die once, and after that face judgment,..." "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 3:23; Hebrews 9:27; Romans 6:23). People need a savior for they are sinners. And we have the necessary words. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). May all our witnesses be worthy of the One of Whom we testify. 1 Aldrich, Joseph C., LIFE-STYLE EVANGELISM, Multnomah Press, Portland, OR, 1981, p. 11. Staff Listing Staff Listing MORNING STAR STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Toby Trudel - Nashua, NH SENIOR EDITOR - Biblical Department Geoffrey Kragen - Roseville, CA SENIOR EDITOR - Christian Life Department Teresa Giordanengo - Canonsburg, PA SENIOR LITERARY EDITOR Al Murillo III - El Paso, TX ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jerry Johnson - Modesto, CA Clark Stephens - Huntington Beach, CA Dale Strand - Dublin, CA J.C. Trudel - Naples, FL Mike Wilkinson - Citrus Heights, CA Dr. Charles Wootten - Matoaca, VA SENIOR PUBLISHER - DOS and WINDOWS Editions Steve Paulovich - Pembroke, NH NETWORK DISTRIBUTION AMERICA ONLINE Network: Jerry White - Germantown, MD COMPUSERVE Network: Jorge Lopez - Lubbock, TX GENIE Network: Mike Wilkinson - Citrus Heights, CA DIRECTOR OF BBS DISTRIBUTION - USA Walter H. Bauer Jr. - Sugar Land, TX INTERNET DISTRIBUTION Stephen Price 304 Hubert St. Webster, TX 77598 INTERNET: steve@kn5f.jsc.nasa.gov MORNING STAR is available on Internet via: anonymous FTP at kn5f.jsc.nasa.gov INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION ISRAEL Sharon Sanders c/o Christian Friends of Israel P.O. Box 1813 - Jerusalem, 91015 Israel Tel: 972-2-894-172 / 894-187 FAX: 972-2-894-955 CANADA John Vickers PO Box 511 Ucluelet, British Columbia Canada V0R-3A0 INTERNET: john.vickers@f715.n351.z1fidonet.org FIDONET: 1:351/715 NORWAY Lars Storstrand Lion of Zion BBS: 011-475-293009 Voice: 011-475-290554 PHILIPPINES Roger J. Obe P.O. Box 191 Iloilo City, 5000 - Philippines FRANCE Peter Cunliffe 5 Allee A. Croizat F-77186 Noisel, France UNITED KINGDOM Ted Day 18 Denton Drive Wilford Hill, West Bridgeford Nottingham - NG2 7FS 602-234047 GERMANY Hans-Juergen Thiess Angermuender Str. 12 1000 Berlin 49, Germany 49-30-7457796 INTERNET: 75470.3261@cis JAPAN Deane Hibbarb PSC 80, Box 12416 APO AP 96367-2416 NEW ZEALAND Shane Haney BBS: 635-62058 AUSTRALIA Mark Smith 4 Third Ave, Macquarie Fields, NSW 2564 Cross Beat BBS: 61-2-605-9438 TAIWAN David Hupp Christian Service Center Chung Ching Road. Chung Mei Ln #87 Taichung, Taiwan 407, Republic of China INTERNET: david.hupp@p0.f886.n2000.z12.misgate.gmi.org OFFICE SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN Patrick Auriemma - Nashua, N.H. ----------------------------------------------------------------- MORNING STAR is produced and published monthly, by a staff of born again believers in Jesus, located across the United States of America. Correspondence to MORNING STAR may be sent via the U.S. Postal Service or one of several computer networks. POSTAL ADDRESS P.O. Box 7755 Nashua, NH - USA 03060-7755 ELECTRONIC MAIL LINKS INTERNET: mstarmac@aol.com (Toby Trudel) AMERICA ONLINE: MStarDOS (Steve Paulovich) GENIE: M.Wilkinson1 (Mike Wilkinson) COMPUSERVE: 70743,603 (Jorge Lopez) FIDONET: 1:106/3118 (Walter Bauer) CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK: 8:3003/5 (Walter Bauer) CHRISTIAN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK: 8:2013/1 (Walter Bauer) POLICENET: 150:402/53 (Walter Bauer) To receive a free copy of the MS DOOR program, which allows viewers to read the magazine onscreen, contact: Alan Graff P.O. Box 131 Wheelersburg, OH 45694 INTERNET: alangraff@aol.com FIDONET: 1:2260/50 SPECIAL: Teshuvah Means Repentance Teshuvah Means Repentance TESHUVAH MEANS REPENTANCE By Josh Moss (From the JEWS FOR JESUS NEWSLETTER) [Publisher's Note] Due to publisher error, the following article did not appear in it's entirety in last month's issue. With apologies for any inconvenience to our readers, we are reprinting "Teshuvah Means Repentance" in this issue. The weekly sermon by a rabbi to his congregation is a comparatively modern custom. In earlier times a rabbi's role was not pastor of a congregation, but spiritual judge of the community. He was expected to deliver rulings in Jewish law, not homilies. There were two exceptions - two Sabbaths when the rabbi would address the congregation. The first was "Shabbat haGadol", the Sabbath before Passover. At that time the rabbi would explain the intricacies of the dietary laws pertaining to the Passover season so that no one would transgress the law through ignorance. The second was "Shabbat Shuvah", the Sabbath between Rosh Hoshana, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The rabbi would explain the meaning of TESHUVAH (repentance) and exhort the congregation to repent. He would take his text from Hosea 14:1: "O Israel, return to the LORD, your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity..." As taught in the Hebrew portion of Scripture, teshuvah contains a positive as well as a negative aspect. Teshuvah means "turning." The negative aspect focuses on turning AWAY from our sinful actions. However the positive aspect focuses on the concept emphasized in Scripture - turning TO God. In repentance one seeks reconciliation with the Holy One. In addition to turning, returning or repenting, teshuvah also has the connotation of responding or giving an answer. Teshuvah is our response to the realization of who God is and what He has revealed to us about His character. In Y'shua's parable about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) He taught the meaning of sin, repentance and God's love for sinners. The prodigal demanded his inheritance prematurely and went off to a distant country, where he lived wildly. He squandered one third of the wealth his father had saved throughout a lifetime. When a famine occurred, the young man had no resources left. Impoverished, humiliated, working as a slave to feed pigs, he was hungry. When he came to his senses he thought, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.'" That is teshuvah from the sinner's point of view. We see teshuvah from God's point of view in the rest of the parable. While the young man was still a long way off, his loving father saw him, felt compassion for him and ran to embrace him. The essence of teshuvah is found in the words of the young man when he said, "I will arise and go to my father." Or in the words of the Hosea passage, "O Israel, return to the LORD your God." Repentance is a turn toward our Creator. It so conceived is the substance of Y'shua's moral teaching and the purpose of our lives on earth. Repentance is the key to making sense of the Bible. Teshuvah or repentance is a challenge to all of us. Whatever our failures were yesterday, nothing can stop us from turning completely to God today. The opportunity afforded us by teshuvah is an obligation we cannot safely pass by. We cannot write off anyone as unredeemable, because they may still repent. Because of repentance, we cannot write ourselves off. If we will turn to God, He can change us. In 1978 Rabbi Wiener of Temple Israel in New Jersey brought a message so unusual that it was quoted in several Jewish newspapers around the country. He said that with all the attention in the media at that time about born-again Christians, he wanted to talk about the Jewish way of being born again - teshuvah. His statement was widely quoted. He came very close to the truth. The idea, which is mentioned in the Tanach and called teshuvah, is the root idea Y'shua developed when He said, "You must be born again." However, the rabbi's concept of teshuvah was not the concept of teshuvah that we find in the Jewish Bible. He saw it merely as a decision to live a more Jewish life and to do more good deeds . In "The Condition of Jewish Belief", Rabbi Wiener wrote, "Most often and basically, I think of the 'mitzvoth' (good deeds) as the visible extensions of the Jewish soul. They are the means by which a Jew can connect himself with this soul and through this soul with the wellsprings of life, ultimate reality, God, or whatever you want to call it." No disrespect intended, but Y'shua did not come to bring us into a relationship with "whatever you want to call it." The goal of repentance is reconciliation with a person - the personal, holy God who has revealed Himself in the Scripture and in the Messiah Y'shua, not a mystical god or a god of our own imagination, however we choose to conceive him. Repentance is not a New Year's resolution to change this or that particular thing we do not like about ourselves. That would be a completely negative view of teshuvah. Repentance is a whole-hearted turning from self to the God of the Bible. Without faith in God, repentance in the biblical sense is impossible. Hebrews 11:6 says, "... he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." It doesn't matter if your faith in God is as small as a mustard seed. God will receive you if you come to Him. But a New Year's resolution, or search for enlightenment, or an attempt to find "whatever you call it," or a Jewish person trying to be more Jewish, does not constitute repentance. First and foremost, true repentance as spoken of in the Bible is a positive step, not a negative one. It is an approach to God - our response to the reality of His person. Yet repentance does involve turning from sin. This aspect is illustrated by the young man in Y'shua's parable. When he came to his senses, he realized that his basic problem was not the famine or that he had mismanaged his money. His basic problem, the root of all his problems, was that he had alienated himself from his father. If he had a right relationship with his father, his other needs would take care of themselves. If we are going to turn from our sin, first we must realize the true seriousness of sin. Sin at its root is alienation from God. Its cause is our pride and sell will - our desire to live for ourselves and be our own god. The various action we call sinful are merely manifestations of our condition of being sinners. The young man in the parable could never have demanded his inheritance from his father and left home if he had the slightest respect for his father's feelings. Likewise, all the sins we commit show our basic disrespect for the honor of God. We commit sins because we are sinners. We commit acts that displease God because we are alienated from Him. Sometimes people complain because God doesn't take a more liberal attitude toward sin. They say, "If God is loving, why doesn't He just overlook our sins? Why does He demand that we repent and receive Y'shua?" Imagine this question in the context of Y'shua's parable. What if, when the son demanded his inheritance from the father, that father had actually followed his son into the distant land? What if he had followed his son everywhere he went, just to be physically at hand in case his son needed anything? Would the alienation in that family have been in any way ameliorated? No. The son chose alienation, and there was nothing the father could do until the son chose to repent. God cannot reconcile us to Himself without our repentance. Unrepentance is proof that we do not want to be reconciled. Do you want to believe that there will be stealing, lying or greed in heaven? Do you think there will be gossip and unkind speech in heaven? If we will not repent of these things, how can God receive us into His presence? Sin is the cause of our alienation. God could not remain righteous and have a different attitude about sin. We cannot purge OURSELVES of our faults, but when we repent, we renounce our sin and allow God to begin to purify us. That is a lifelong work of repentance, which will only be complete when we get to heaven. If not for the famine, that boy in the parable might never have been forced to face up to his wickedness. He might never have repented. It took physical hunger to make him realize that he needed to be reconciled with his father. If I were that father, I might not be so compassionate. I might very carefully question the boy's motives for returning. Yet this father gladly received his lost son, as gratefully as though he had received him back from the dead. Likewise, God is not too proud to receive a sinner who comes to Him with less than ideal motives. If a person comes to God because loneliness, distress, financial reverses or other trials have shown him his need, that person will forever thank God for the trials that brought him face to face with reality. If life is comfortable and we feel no need to reach out to God, He may show us mercy by bringing famine into our lives. He may remove the things that distract us from dealing with what is truly important. He may bring us to the place where we realize that our most basic need is to be reconciled with Him, where we say as the prodigal did, "I will go to my Father and say, 'I have sinned against You.'" Some elements in the traditional Jewish High Holiday liturgy are very enigmatic. One, the 'Kol Nidre' recited at the beginning of the Yom Kippur service, states that all of our promises of self-reformation are vain and worthless, and we ask forgiveness for our impulsiveness in making them. After this confession, you would expect that the tradition would offer us an alternative, but it does not. The tradition does not KNOW any alternative. The rabbis rejected the alternative of believing that the sacrificial principles of atonement taught in the Torah were fulfilled in the Messiah, Y'shua. Therefore there is nothing left but an attempt to do better. Yet a mere attempt to do better is not teshuvah. Saying we will do our best to change is a deception. We have trivialized that phrase. We really mean we will do whatever is convenient for us, whatever will ease our conscience. Few have any idea of what doing one's best really could mean. Only when we place ourselves completely in God's hands can He take over and show us what our best can be. Teshuvah is not self-reformation. Teshuvah means turning away from sin and toward the living God. The third aspect of repentance is illustrated in the part of the parable where the son determines, "I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants'." The son determined to return to the father ON THE FATHER'S TERMS. He did not return to gain favor while retaining his independence. Ready to be reconciled, he gave up any preconception as to what his relationship to his father would be. He trusted only in his father's mercy. Teshuvah is abandonment of self into the merciful hand of God. In the parable we see the father coming out to meet his son while he is still a long way off. When we seek to reform ourselves but ultimately retain control of our lives, God cannot come in and transform us. But when we completely abandon our lives to the mercy of God in Y'shua, we have the promise that God's Spirit will come to live in us and give us the power to live a new life. True repentance does not ask "What am I prepared to do?"- but "What am I prepared TO LET GOD DO IN ME?" If there are any preconditions - things we will not allow God to do in our lives - if ultimately we wish to retain control while asking God merely to help us change certain things of which we are ashamed - we cannot expect His help. Repentance means coming back to God without conditions. The prodigal completely abandoned himself to his father's mercy. If he had dispatched a message asking his father to send cash it would not have been repentance. He would have been using his father. Likewise, expecting God's help to do what we want while we remain little lords in our own lives is not repentance. It is more comfortable to observe a hundred rituals than to face our sin in all its ugliness and admit there is nothing we can do to earn God's favor. It is much easier to be very religious than to repent in the biblical sense. To repent is to abandon ourselves totally to God. God's love for us is deeper than any human bond, and we owe Him our total selves in return. We may consider ourselves to be good, but if our relationship with God has broken down WE ARE NOT GOOD. Hopefully it will not require famine in our life to help us see that we need teshuvah. If we say in our heart. "I will arise and go to my father" - if we desire to be reconciled with Him more than we desire anything else, and without conditions - the good news is that the Father is already coming out to meet us! Theme: Witnessing Some Myths of Evangelism Some Myths of Evangelism SOME MYTHS OF EVANGELISM An excerpt from "Evangelism De-mystified" by Moishe Rosen A positive attitude in witnessing is very important. Before we ever meet with the person to whom we are going to witness, we must overcome some defeatist myths that may prevent us from being effective communicators of spiritual truth. 1. It takes time for a person to discover the truth of the gospel. Sometimes it takes a long time for a person to "come to faith," but usually it does not. Faith is generally realized after a person makes a personal spiritual inventory. This results from the Holy Spirit's touching a person ' s heart. That gospel seed could have been planted long before our encounter with that individual. To help a person past this stumbling block of wanting to take time, we can ask, "What does God want from you?" 2. People are saved as a result of being taught correct doctrine. People certainly are not saved by being taught wrong doctrine, but remember, it's not doctrine that saves. It's the person of Christ and relating to Him. Then comes the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth. Faith is a commitment to become a follower of Christ, not a conclusion reached after much study. 3. If the person doesn't respond to our witness, it y must be because we've done something wrong, or we have been inadequate. It is not normal for people to want to give their lives to Christ. They want to hold on to the reins as long as they can. Resistance to the gospel is normal, natural and to be expected. Yet sometimes, when we feel as if we've failed, we've really succeeded in planting a seed that will sprout later. Most people won't identify themselves as sinners. This is why we should always mention repentance and a life change. We can say, "You don't have the power to change. But God, through the Holy Spirit, can help you change. He can help you feel what you need to feel in order to motivate you to do the right things." 4. It takes a lot of Bible knowledge to be an effective evangelist. God can use us whenever we are willing to obey. It is amazing how He will direct what we say. In fact, often we find that we know more than the person to whom we are talking. And we end up knowing even more when we are finished. Not only is witnessing an opportunity to tell others about Christ, it is also a learning experience. Start witnessing and it will motivate you to learn more. 5. The person will probably ask questions to which I don't know the answers. This will prevent me from being a good witness. No it won't. Just tell the person that you cannot answer that specific question right now but will get the answer. Make a note of it and get back to him or her later about that point. It is amazing how Christians fear not knowing all of the answers. Yet we seldom do. God is the only one who has all of the answers. In the meantime, tell what you do know. 6. I am not very good with words. It would be easier and more effective if I just prayed for the person. You should pray. But if you want only to pray, then how do you explain Romans 10:14? How does the Great Commission apply to you? It is not your responsibility to make every word and phrase perfect. It is your responsibility to tell others about Jesus. I have seen a lot done by the most unsuspecting Christians. Some of the most powerful witnesses have been people whom you would never select to be your spokesperson. Yet God did and He does. 7. We can just invite our friends to church. They will hear a sermon on sin there. After all, it is the pastor's responsibility to be an evangelist. The pastor may be a good evangelist, but remember, the Great Commission wasn't "to go into all the world and invite people to church." The commission was to proclaim. We each have the responsibility of proclaiming. The Bible says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." Your own testimony is very important to this witness. 8. We should only witness when the Holy Spirit leads us to witness. He already did lead us to witness. Jesus said, "Go into all the world." He said, "Go to every creature." So what are we waiting for - a special revelation? Just believe and obey what Jesus said in the Bible. 9. If God knows who will and will not be saved, and since it is all predestined anyway, we can't really make a difference. Some people teach that salvation is predestined, others teach that it is not. But if indeed a person's salvation is predestined, God not only would have predestined the end, but also would have selected the means by which the salvation of that person would be accomplished. Either way, we believers have the great privilege of being obedient to the Lord and perhaps being part of another person's eternal destiny. 10. I think that my testimony is rather dull. I know God loves me and has saved me, but nothing too dramatic has happened in my life. Will people really want to have what I have ? You might be surprised, but some people might find that the ordinariness of your life is something that corresponds to their own lives. It may be just what they are looking for. Isn't Jesus exciting? Doesn't He answer your prayers? Don't you love Him? Then can't you be willing to tell others of your love for the Lord, your answered prayers and how real He is to you ? Why Witness ? Why Witness ? WHY WITNESS ? (Originally uploaded to "THE SYSTEM" BBS - Nashua, N.H.) Why witness? Any blue-blooded, Bible-beat'n, fire breath'n evangelical would hasten to come back with the well-worn macro: "God has COMMANDED us to go!" While this is certainly true, it's not exactly the response I'm looking for here. Yes of course, God has commanded us to go. In the book of Matthew you will find the familiar reference: Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. This same reference from Mark sheds a slightly different perspective: Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." "Every creature". That's what He said. It can't be any plainer than that. Our Lord also said: Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." So, is this why we witness? It's unquestionably part of it. Obedience to God's commands should be very important to every Christian. But what is the real motivating force behind us when we "witness"? Oh yes, fear of disobedience is definitely a motivating force! But something much stronger than that empowered those first few disciples. Why witness? Is it because we want to make God happy? This is a good reason. After all, isn't that why we were born into this life in the first place? Don't all fathers have children in order to make them happy? I doubt they'd even have any children if they thought their children would not make them happy. But is this what really makes us want to witness? Why is it that those young Christians are always so "fired-up" about witnessing anyway? Let them "mature" in their faith awhile, and they'll cool off like the rest of us - right? Oh my! Just what do those new believers have that I don't have? Remember that day? Remember that day that you gave your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ? Oh what a glorious day! That fresh anointing from the Holy Spirit, and that "refreshing" presence of the Lord! I'll never forget that day. All I wanted to do was to go and tell somebody ... Yes, I remember what it was like. Wanting to witness. I didn't do it because I felt like it was my "evangelical duty". I really wanted to witness. I wanted to tell everybody on this planet about the wonderful presence in my heart. I wanted everyone to share in this overflowing joy that I had just found. It's sort of like ... hearing some news that is so very wonderful and fills us with such joy, that we want everybody else to share in this joy too. Yes, I think this is why we witness. And I suppose this is why it's always the new-born Christians who are so fired-up about doing it. They're the ones who have that "fresh anointing". They're the ones who have just experienced that refreshing that comes from the presence of the Lord: Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ..." Why is it that these young fires in the heart seem to cool? I think that every Christian who is honest and has been around awhile, must admit to a period like this. You know what I mean - it gets to the point where obeying God's word is such a chore. You have to do your evangelical duties, like ministering, witnessing, giving, and all that other stuff. Temptations seem like they get stronger by the day. Work starts to get you down, and you start feeling like its only a matter of time before ... why witness anyway? Who wants to share that kind of misery? I'll bet that most of you reading this know exactly what I mean. It could be, that some of you are in this kind of shape even as you read this. What should we do if we find ourselves in this repulsive state? If only we could return to that day when it was new and fresh ... The psalmist said it well: Psalm 51:7-12 "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. "Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. "Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 "Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit." Oh yes - that joy CAN come again! As a matter of fact, with only a few disciplines in just the right places, we can live in that refreshing presence of the Lord all the time! That fire doesn't have to die down, and our desire to tell everybody what God has done for us will never go away! Living the life of a Christian actually becomes easier. Walking that "walk" becomes ... obtainable. Keeping God's commandments becomes ... a joy! And just how, you ask, do you arrive at this kind of walk with the Lord? Well, it's very much like tending a fire in the "natural". My dad taught me how to build a campfire - you know, you lay the wood in order with some kindling underneath. Once you get it started, it doesn't end there - you've got to stoke that fire and stir it up. It isn't too long before it will need some more wood. As long as you tend the fire and put more wood on it, it will continue to burn. If you stop tending it, guess what happens? As Christians, we must each incorporate disciplines into our lives to keep that fire going. We must pray daily, in order to stir up and stoke that fire in our heart. We must also have some kind of study habits in order to learn from God's word (that's the wood). Don't let your prayer life become cold and lifeless - wait on God - seek after Him daily for that "refreshing" that comes from His presence. It doesn't have to take an hour - just a few minutes sometimes. It'll charge your batteries like you won't believe! Please don't confuse the joy that I am speaking of with worldly pleasures and fun. Many worldly pleasures are quite within the realm of holiness if taken in moderation, but the joy that I am speaking of is an overflow of the joy of being in God's presence. I'm not talking about some kind of daily "ritual" either. I am talking about coming into God's holy presence on a daily basis. I am talking about learning about Him from His word, by reading His word OURSELVES. If the only prayer and learning time we have is in church once or twice a week - that's not enough! I can hear it now - "But I just don't FEEL like praying or worshipping or reading God's word today!" - EXACTLY MY POINT! At the times when you really need that boost, you WON'T feel like doing it. Doing it will TAKE AWAY that feeling of not wanting to do it! Isaiah 61:3 "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." You've got to put on that "garment of praise" before that "spirit of heaviness" will leave! You've got to take on that "oil of joy" before that "mourning" will go away! Don't ever forget, the reason we need daily prayer and study is NOT so that we can earn some kind of brownie points with the Lord. Nor is it to make us some kind of "super Christians". It's so that we can worship in His presence, and be filled with that refreshing that comes from being in His presence. It's so that we can have the power to walk in God's Spirit, keeping His commandments in this evil and perverse generation. If you do this, and someone asks you, "Why witness?" I assure you, you WILL have something to share. Is Hell Fair ? Is Hell Fair ? Explaining the reality of hell can be a necessary part of witnessing to anyone. The following preface and article was taken from THE CHOSEN PEOPLE magazine and was originally presented to help Gentile believers witness to their Jewish friends. The material can certainly be used to witness to your Gentile friends as well. (Ed. TT) Preface from Sam Nadler, President of Chosen People Ministries... "Hell is a biblical truth that many find unacceptable. Just recently, 23,000 students at a conference in Urbana, Illinois, were given as part of their registration package a book that teaches that those who are "ignorant" of the faith would NOT go to hell. Similar teaching was given these same students through a video at a plenary session. (MOODY MONTHLY, Feb. 1991) How can these students be prepared to be missionaries for the Gospel and warriors for the Lord when the "nerve is cut" regarding the utter necessity for the Gospel? A recent article on hell (CHRISTIANITY TODAY, May 14, 1990) gives the impression that Christians in general and Christian leaders in particular are in great doubt and debate over the reality of hell. This is foolishness. Such writing clouds the issue, which the Bible makes perfectly clear. Without personal faith in Jesus the Messiah, neither Jew nor Gentile has any hope but only faces sure and eternal judgement for sin! To teach otherwise is not only to be unfaithful to God's Word, but to undermine the Gospel itself. The Bible clearly teaches that there is sure judgement for the unbeliever (John 3:36, 2 Peter 2:4-9, Revelation 14:11). Sure salvation is only in Jesus (John 3:16, Romans 8:1); there is no other way to God but through Him (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). Nor is there a second chance after death (Hebrews 9:27). Many Gentile Christians find it awkward to share Jesus with their Jewish friends. We as missionaries to the Jewish people face enough difficulties in encouraging these Gentile believers to overcome this sense of awkwardness, without having to overcome the added problem caused by some who would remove the urgent necessity that ALL people MUST hear the Gospel. Brethren, the enemy of God wants nothing more than to make us think that there is no urgency or necessity to get out the Gospel. Nothing could be further from the truth! While it may yet be called "today", help us get out the Gospel, because for some, there may be no tomorrow. "I tell you, ... NOW is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). IS HELL FAIR ? By SAM NADLER Will the Jewish people, who were persecuted for centuries "in the name of Jesus," be sent to hell for rejecting Him as the Messiah? The prophet Daniel tells us that everyone has an eternal future: "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2). The future of the believer in Jesus is everlasting life. The future of the unbeliever is also described as everlasting, but it is one of shame and contempt. The picture is clear: There are two destinies available for mankind - everlasting life and everlasting contempt. The Bible doesn't say everlasting death, because the word death implies annihilation, which the Bible doesn't teach. The truth of these two judgments is reiterated and expanded in the New Testament. The fact that Messiah, our gentle Savior, taught it so often emphasizes its reality and importance. Recall the Lord's words in Matthew 25:46: "They (the unbelievers who did not follow Messiah in response to Him) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Again He said in John 5:28,29, "All who are in their graves will hear his (the Son of Man's, Messiah's) voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." Heaven and hell do exist. Heaven will be populated by believers in Messiah Jesus, hell by nonbelievers (see John 3:16-18).* Sending nonbelievers to hell may seem unfair or unreasonable to some people. I've heard it said, "But my Jewish friends are as moral and good as any member of my church." True, many Jewish nonbelievers in Messiah Jesus are very loving, responsible, and moral. But by God's standard, which is the entrance requirement for heaven, all have sinned and fall short of the mark (see Rom. 3:23). What is His standard, His mark? The very character of God Himself (see Lev. 19:2; 1 Pet. 1:15,16). Since we all fall short of God's standard, we all deserve hell. So for any of us to go to hell is fair and just. When looked at this way, going to heaven is what seems unfair - for getting into heaven is a matter of God's grace and mercy in Jesus. God never disregarded our sin debt. Rather, He provided a payment for our sins in Messiah. He paid for it Himself and declared that His payment for sin would I be applied to any who would trust in His Son, who was the payment itself (see Jn. 5:24; 2 Cor. 5:21). Thus we see that there are two judgments - heaven and hell. But are there degrees of these judgments? God's judgment concerning the degree of punishment and reward is based on three criteria: works, knowledge, and position. Let's look at each in turn. WORKS Some people think that their good works count for something. And of course they do! They count, but they can never purchase an entrance into heaven. Rather, for the unbeliever, they can affect the degree of punishment received in hell. For the believer, they count regarding the degree of reward received in heaven. At the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), Messiah the Judge will judge the unsaved, not to see if any are worthy of salvation (for they wouldn't be at this judgment if they were believers in Him), but to determine the degree of punishment based on their deeds. Out of "the books" of their recorded works, their judgment is determined "according to what they had done" (Rev. 20:12,13). Simply put, if Bill and Sol, two unbelievers, die, and if Bill had stolen ten cars and Sol had stolen only one car, Bill's punishment might be greater than Sol's, for it would be "according to their deeds." KNOWLEDGE Often I'm asked, "What about those who never heard of Jesus, who never knew what God requires?" My answer is that all people have a conscience (Rom. 1:19-2:15) and guilt before God: no one, therefore, is "off the hook." However, according to Luke 12:47, 48, those who are ignorant of Messiah and His desires will be punished less severely: "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows." Using our previous example, if two unbelievers die - Bill and Sol - and if they each stole ten cars, Bill, who went to Sunday school and who knew the "facts of life," would receive greater punishment than Sol, who also stole ten cars but who was ignorant of the Gospel. The active principle here is "from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded" (Lk. 12:48). POSITION James gives us another principle of judgment for both believers and nonbelievers. He cautions us to be careful about seeking leadership or teaching positions, for people in these positions "will be judged more strictly" (Jas. 3:1). In other words, teachers are more responsible and more accountable because of their influence either to help or hinder others. (For those "in the kingdom of heaven," see Mt. 5:19; for those outside the faith, see Mt. 23:13-35.) Once more, to put it simply, two unbelievers die. Each had stolen ten cars. This time both had attended Sunday school, but Sol was the teacher and Bill the student. Sol's judgment will be greater than Bill's, for the former was in a position of greater responsibility and accountability. Thus, God's judgment, whether it is based on works, knowledge, or position, is not only fair and reasonable but is also sure and final. Therefore, let us tell our friends while we can. Let us warn them that their "sins will find them out" (Num. 32:23). The awfulness of eternal separation from God (even if the judgment is not as bad as Hitler's) should fill our hearts with compassion and concern and motivate us to tell all the people we can, while we can, of the salvation available in Messiah Jesus. There is no second chance for any who die without the Lord (Heb. 9:27). So let us take the opportunity now, today, and not harden our hearts (Heb. 3:13, 15). Those who stand with us at Chosen People Ministries understand that the love of God moves us to tell the Gospel message. Thank you for helping us share the very heart of God, who desires that none perish (2 Pet. 3:9) and who stands all day long with outstretched arms toward Israel (Rom. 10:21), pleading with His people Israel to return while they can. * Hell is used to mean "final judgment," which is the common usage of the term. Technically, it means the "Lake of ire," which is the "second death, "into which even hell will be erupted (see Rev. 20:14,15). Paul's Method of Evangelism Paul's Method of Evangelism PAUL'S METHOD OF EVANGELISM By Fred Hartman From ISRAEL MY GLORY magazine The greatest missionary-evangelist of all time was the Apostle Paul. His ministry and methods put most of ours to shame. This servant of the Lord touched multitudes of people across the world of his day. His deeds were accomplished in a pagan culture, without the benefit of the modern means at our disposal today. He ministered to the throngs and established churches wherever he traveled, yet he always had time to reach out to and disciple an individual for Christ. This article examines the life and methods of this spiritual giant and encourages us to be more like him. Any worthwhile ordination council formed to examine a man prior to his entry into the ministry, usually questions the candidate relative to four areas: his salvation, his call to the ministry, his doctrinal position, and practical matters. In examining Paul's call we will learn something about the methods he used throughout his life and ministry. HIS CALL BY GOD WAS CLEAR In his defense before King Agrippa, Paul spoke of his conversion experience and also told him of his call. At the time of his salvation, Jesus said to this young man, "rise, and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:16-18). "But the Lord said unto him [Ananias], Go thy way; for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). When Paul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, he received his call directly from Him. The Lord then informed Ananias of Paul's call, so that he would receive Paul and present him to the other believers in Damascus. HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO WITNESS FOR HIS LORD At the time of his call, Paul made a total commitment to Christ. He had a prestigious educational background in Judaism, having sat at the feet of Gamaliel so he was ready to minister-or was he? Shortly after he came to the Lord, and just following his baptism, "immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed," for they had known him as Saul of Tarsus, the one who destroyed the Lord's work in Jerusalem. However, as he preached he gained confidence and confounded the opposition. Although he proved himself very capable, his enemies sought to kill him, and he had to flee the city, being let down the wall in a basket (Acts 9:20-25) HE WAS COUNSELLED IN THE WILDERNESS Although Paul preached and gave his testimony in Damascus, that was not his real training period. Before the Lord could use him in a mighty way, Paul needed preparation. Without going to Jerusalem or conferring with other people, Paul was led by the Lord into Arabia. There was no theological school in Arabia; neither is there evidence of a great teacher in residence in the desert. Rather, Paul went there to spend time alone communing with the Lord. According to Galatians 1:1518, he was in Arabia for approximately three years, learning from the Lord about His Word. While there, he developed the clear gospel explanation he gave in Romans and Galatians. He also learned the methods of evangelism that he used for the remainder of his life. HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS In Romans 1:16, Paul wrote, "to the Jew first," and this proved to be the pattern of his ministry. No matter where he went, he sought to touch Jewish lives first. When Paul launched out on his missionary journeys, he always began his ministry in a new location in the synagogue. "And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews" (Acts 13:5; see also 13:14;14:1;17:1-2,10,17;18:4, 26; 19:8). It is evident that a major part of his early ministry in each city was to the Jewish people in their own synagogue. He usually stayed as long as he could. On several occasions Paul was unable to find a synagogue. Once he went to the riverside and preached to some women who had gathered there for prayer (Acts 16:13). These Jewish women probably met there because there was not a minion of ten men necessary to conduct a formal worship service. It was there that Paul led Lydia to the Lord. Even though there was no synagogue, he ministered just the same. HIS VARIED METHODS OF MINISTRY ... HE USED MESSIANIC PROPHECY The Scriptures record that on several occasions Paul preached that Jesus is the Son of God. To prove his point, he demonstrated that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. A good example of this is found in Acts 13, where Paul preached in the synagogue at Antioch. He pointed out that Jesus was of the seed of David, according to God's promise (vv. 22-23). He also spoke of Christ's crucifixion: "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher" (v. 29). Later in the same message he used the messianic Scriptures to prove that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies concerning the resurrection (vv. 34-35). ... HE REASONED WITH MEN There are two classic illustrations in Acts 17 of Paul's reasoning with people. The first occasion was in the synagogue at Thessalonica. "And Paul as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ" (vv. 2-3). Later in the same chapter, Paul preached to the Athenian philosophers as he stood on Mars' Hill overlooking the city of Athens. This was a classic example of philosophical reasoning. Although most turned away from the truths presented and Paul departed from the area, certain people believed and followed him. They included "Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them" (v. 34). No matter where he went or to whom he ministered, this brilliant apostle was up to the challenge. He was a master with words and logic. The fisherman-turned apostle, Peter, recognized Paul's abilities in communication when he wrote, "our beloved brother, Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these thins. in which are some thins hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction" (2 Pet. 3:15-16) ... HE USED HIS OWN DEFENSE TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL In the Book of Acts (especially in the latter chapters), Luke recorded several occasions when Paul had to defend his ministry and position before the leaders of his day. He was fearless, and in each case his testimony clearly presented the gospel. The first such incident was before a multitude of the Jews (Acts 21:27-22:21).He explained that, while on his way to Damascus to persecute the Church of Christ, he met the Lord on the highway. The crowd clearly heard the gospel in his testimony. On another occasion (recorded in chapter 24), Paul stood before Felix, who, having heard his testimony, deferred a decision until Lysias, the chief captain, could come. He placed Paul under house arrest, "And after certain days, when Felix can e with his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, self-control and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (vv. 24-25). Again, in his own defense, Paul faithfully testified of Christ before King Agrippa, who said, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). ... HE USED HIS TEACHINGS TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL All of Paul's messages contained teaching, but his greatest teachings are found in the epistles he penned. For example, in the epistles to the Romans and to the church in Galatia, Paul presented a clear explanation of the gospel. PAUL'S GOAL WAS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND START CHURCHES Paul apparently preached daily to reach the multitudes. In some places his stay was very short, and he was literally forced to leave some areas. In other places he was able to minister for extended periods of time. But it was never the apostle's desire to evangelize people and then leave them on their own. And so, after beginning a ministry in a new location, he quickly organized the new converts into a church. In this way, the believers could grow, worship, and serve the Lord. By growing in the Lord, they could, in turn, begin their own outreach ministry. The local church is God's plan to reach the world. After leading people to Christ, Paul confirmed the new believers. "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:21-22). The confirmation spoken of here is not the same thing as a confirmation class today. Paul returned to the various cities where he had ministered to remind the believers of what had happened to them. He reassured them in their newfound faith, which was necessary for these new converts who were living in a pagan, idolatrous society. Paul also discipled the new believers, which is a completely different process from confirmation. Discipling a new believer requires spending time teaching him the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, how to live, and where to go from the point of salvation. The believer is then able to stand on his own two feet, spiritually, and become a productive member of the local church. "And when they had ordained elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed" (Acts 14:23). These elders were men who had met certain qualifications and could take over the leadership responsibilities in the church after the apostle moved on. In this way, the ministry continued and grew. Paul's epistles indicate his strong desire to return to each of the fledgling churches he had established. In some cases this was possible, but in others it was not. In some instances Paul sent other men, such as Timothy, to check on the progress of the church. On other occasions, having learned of either doctrinal or practical problems within a church, the Lord led Paul to write letters, seeking to correct the problems. This is the background of most of his epistles. CONCLUSION Paul had a tremendous ministry of evangelism. He used many and varied methods to accomplish several ministry goals. He wanted to reach people for Christ, ground them in the Scriptures, and establish local churches with dedicated leadership in which the new converts could grow spiritually. In this way the ministry could move forward and constantly expand. We would do well to learn from Paul's methods of evangelism and practice them today. What is Most Important to You ? What is Most Important to You ? WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU ? From the Bible Believers' Evangelistic Association Sherman, Texas 75090 If you were approached on the street and asked, "What is most important to you in life?" - what would you reply? Perhaps your answer would be like one on the cover of this tract... or perhaps you would say, "I never really thought about it, but I agree, it is worth thinking about." The most important thing in life to most of us is our QUALITY OF LIFE NOW and our ETERNAL DESTINY. Don't you agree YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE NOW and YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY are important TO YOU also? Aren't you glad that God did not make us ROBOTS? He gave us minds with which we can reason and choose. God wants our love and obedience, but ONLY as an act of our will and choice. The Bible, God's Word, declares, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) God is sinless and our sin makes eternal separation from Him necessary unless there can be some way of salvation. (Isaiah 59:1,2) Now comes our decision... we can choose to accept or reject God's terms for our salvation. Like most people, you may already have some hope of heaven. Upon what do you base that hope? In other words, why should God let you into His holy, perfect, spotless heaven? Please write your answer here: My hope of getting to heaven is: ______________________________ Date _______________ Signed ___________________________________ Are you depending on some form of your own human effort for salvation? YES ___________ NO ___________ PARTLY ___________ Now, you may be surprised as we compare your answers to the Bible, God's Word: All our righteousness (human efforts to help earn our own salvation) are as filthy rags -- in God's sight. (Isaiah 64:6) Many will say to God in the day of judgement: Lord, have we not done many, wonderful WORKS? But He will say to them, "I never knew you: depart from me -- " (Matthew 7:21-23) You may be wondering, WHY does God view our human efforts to help earn salvation as "filthy rags"? It is because He has already provided FULL PAYMENT for our salvation and when we try to help earn it, we are actually REJECTING HIS PAYMENT. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world (including you) that He GAVE His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ), that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth not on Him is not condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16, 18) You may be like many people who say, "No one ever explained this to me before!" And if you are wise, you certainly don't want to reject God's gracious, loving offer of salvation. It was paid for by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Your next question may be, "If I can't even HELP earn my own salvation, what must I do to meet God's TERMS for my salvation - what must I do to be saved?" The "GOOD NEWS" of this tract will answer your questions. God's terms are clear! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved --." (Acts 16:30,31) What does it mean to believe on Christ? It is more than believing ABOUT Him. We must abandon all other hope! We must no longer try to EARN our salvation. We must TRUST, DEPEND, RELY on the shed Blood of Christ ALONE, 100%, as the ONLY payment for our sins. By God's grace, I will stop trying to earn my own salvation and from this moment on, I will BELIEVE (TRUST, DEPEND, RELY) on the death of Christ ALONE, 100% as the ONLY payment for my sins and salvation. Date __________________ Signed ______________________________ Cannot Harvest What You Have Not Sown Cannot Harvest What You Have Not Sown YOU CANNOT HARVEST WHAT YOU HAVE NOT SOWN By Moishe Rosen From the JEWS FOR JESUS NEWSLETTER Summertime is a gift from God. We enjoy long sunny days, flowers, delicious fruit and well-earned vacations, with time to relax in a shaded hammock and sip lemonade. People in the northern hemisphere are enjoying summer right now, while those in the southern hemisphere look forward to it with anticipation. Yet in summer those who work the land do not rest. They must tend the crops, then gear up for the harvest soon to follow. Y'shua often used an agricultural model to describe the workings of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps He used the analogy because He knew that both take much time. The agricultural harvest is not a happening without antecedents. It requires elaborate preparation of the soil, careful planting of the seed, much watering, thorough weed removal, and protection from insects and marauding animals. Then comes growth and finally the harvest. A spiritual harvest of souls for God's Kingdom requires the same painstaking care a farmer gives his field if it is to yield a harvest. Yet many church and para-church programs fail, because in seeking a spiritual harvest they do not take into account the developmental nature of the gospel seed. You cannot harvest what you have not sown. It's a simple equation: NO SEED = NO HARVEST MUCH SEED = A GOOD HARVEST In the Jews for Jesus ministry we have committed ourselves to the principle of sowing much gospel seed, that there might be a good harvest. Our seed is plentiful, but it is of little value unless we spread it evenly and abundantly where it can grow. We hand out millions of tracts to get thousands of contacts, to find hundreds who are willing to continue to hear from us, so that dozens might come to faith. This harvest in Jewish evangelism is hand-picked fruit. Laboring in God's field requires effort and much perseverance, but it yields a great reward to those who toil. Indeed, God leads us to expect something for our diligence. The Bible mentions "reward" 78 times. In Hebrews 11:6 we read that God will reward those who diligently seek Him. Don't misunderstand the text. It does not imply that God is lost and we must search for His person so that we can find Him and collect our reward. The text means that God will reward those who seek to know His heart that they might serve Him. Those who have put this promise to the test can affirm that holy effort for God and His Kingdom does result in joyous rewards. Consider again the physical harvest. Just as sowing the seed and tending it requires much labor, harvesting demands even more. Harvest time requires an all-out effort. At that season the farmer must work harder than ever. It involves not only physical endurance, but a battle against time. If the crops are not harvested when ripe, they will rot in the field and be lost. The ancient Israelites under their agrarian economy understood this well. They knew when they had to labor and when they could take time to play. The land had to be worked hard. After harvest there was time for leisure in ancient Israel, but when the fields were ripe a family's prosperity even its survival- depended on the fast hands of the harvesters. Harvest time was hurry time. Whatever they neglected to harvest quickly would go to the gleaners or rot and be wasted. Often the fields were far from the villages where people lived, so the harvesters would set up lean-tos and sleep in the fields during harvest. Yet workers were not deprived of family life because, by divine decree, family plots of land were held adjacent to one another. Land was assigned to tribes. The tribal leaders apportioned it to clans and the clan leaders assigned it to families. During harvest, brothers, sisters, wives, children, uncles, aunts, indeed all the family, would be close by and equally busy. For ancient Israel bringing in the harvest was like a camping holiday. It took place in the fields, with rough provisions. The Israelites took joy in the bounty of the harvest, which they regarded as God's gift or reward for their efforts. They always acknowledged that the land and its fruits were the Lord's. Harvest always meant work now, have fun later. At the end of the harvest there came a great celebration. As with the agricultural harvest, there is also a harvest of souls for God. This harvesting of souls for the Kingdom is a time when we, the faithful, should all be working to the point of exhaustion. Some of us have been called to work in the field full time. Others, not called to full-time service, still ought to be tending their small gardens, that all of us believers might rejoice in His harvest together. In sending out His disciples, Y'shua said, "The fields are white unto harvest." Enslaved by Rome and by their very own human nature, many in Israel were hungering for God, ready to come into His Kingdom. If it was true then, how much more so now? Today there are other oppressors, but the worst of the human predicament still comes from within, and only Y'shua can save people, Jews or Gentiles, from ourselves and our sinful inclinations. Do you believe that? If you do, act as though you do! No conscientious farmer would allow himself much rest until all of the harvest was brought in. Nor can we who labor in God's field allow ourselves too much time or too much leisure, lest the crop be stolen or spoiled. If people are sincere about what they say they believe, they will work at it as though it is really true. As believers in Y'shua (Jesus) we promise, we preach and we ponder the return of Messiah, the Lord of the harvest. Yet sometimes we do not practice what we preach. We think we can gather a harvest while we lie on a hammock tied between two trees in the orchard. Then, should any fruit happen to ripen and fall upon us as we lie there, we reach out a hand to catch it and consider ourselves workers in God's harvest. We might fool ourselves, but we are not fooling Him. There is a harvest even now, and soon there will be the great, final ingathering-not of grain, but of God-harvested souls. Then we all will enter into the joy that can only come to those who have worked hard, believing that God will act. So don't get caught lying in your hammock, sipping lemonade. Get out and work in God's field, that others may come to know Him. Then what joy it will be to hear from the Lord of the harvest, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" In the Presence of the Wailing Wall In the Presence of the Wailing Wall A wonderful account of witnessing in the presence of the "Wailing Wall" in Jerusalem, Israel. By "ZVI" From ISRAEL MY GLORY magazine For many years, the people of Israel have been singing about the time of the Messiah's coming. Of course, we who believe in Christ according to the Scriptures know that He has already come, and so we look for His return. But not many Israelis are aware of this truth. That is why I try to tell as many people as possible about the Lord, and that is why I go to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem every Monday and Thursday. Those are days of great celebration as 13-year-old boys have their bar mitzvahs and assume all of the adult religious obligations of the Law, a ritual that has been handed down from generation to generation. One recent Monday, as I was preparing to go to the Wailing Wall to take part in the celebration, I decided to give something to the boys as a remembrance of this special day in their lives. I knew that each boy would receive a prayer book from his parents or friends, but there is not even a hint of the divine presence in that prayer book. Just as those young boys take upon themselves the obligation to observe the Law, so I have taken upon myself the obligation to bring the Word of the Lord to those who want to keep His Law. And so, on that Monday morning, I took with me a few Bibles, all of them containing the New Testament as well as the Old Testament. Before leaving home to fulfill my obligation before the Lord, I prayed, asking Him to guide me and give me the words to say. In Israel, you must go slowly and carefully when you approach people with the Word. When I arrived at the Wailing Wall that day, among the young boys celebrating their bar mitzvahs were a few Ethiopians. They were not new immigrants; they had been in Israel for several years and could speak Hebrew well. After the ceremony, I approached them and said, "I want to give each of you a gift in honor of your bar mitzvah. It is something I am sure you have not received before." Of course, they were curious and wanted to know what it was, and I gave each of them a full Bible. At first they were afraid to accept them, but I began to speak to them and explained, "There is a big difference between these Bibles and the prayer books you have received with such great joy from your parents and friends. Your prayer books were written by men-great rabbis, to be sure-but, nevertheless, just men. The Bible was written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God." Soon several other young boys joined the group, and they were very interested in what I was saying. Eventually one of their fathers came over, and he too was quite open. We spoke for a long time, and then he said to his son, "I think this is a very nice gift. Please accept it and read it." This gave me great joy and also more courage. There were many people gathered around us, and they all wanted to talk about the Lord. Most of them had never heard that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and their Savior. What a wonderful opportunity I had to tell them about Him. After a while, an ultra-Orthodox man approached us, and he was carrying a large shofar (ram's horn). I asked, "Why have you brought a shofar with you today? It is not a holiday." He said, "You are right." I then told him, "The Scriptures say that the shofar is symbolic of announcing the salvation of the Lord," to which he replied, "When the Messiah comes, I will use this shofar." I opened my Bible and read to him Isaiah 53:5-6: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." I then said, "You can see from this passage that the Messiah has already come, and someday He will come again." The man was very interested and took the Bible from me, reading for himself the remainder of this forbidden chapter. All of a sudden his countenance changed. He began to smile and was full of joy, saying, "Now is the time to announce the salvation of the Lord. Yes, I see, He has come, and now He must come back!" Then he began to blow the shofar loudly. Many people heard his trumpeting and came over to see what was happening. They could all see the great joy on his face. Of all the times I have gone to the Wailing Wall and witnessed for the Lord, I have never seen such a reaction. As the voice of that shofar sounded in my ears, all I could think of were the words of Isaiah 40:3: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." People Profile People Profile Morning Star Senior Editor, Teresa Giordanengo, conducted this interview with Toby Trudel, Editor-in-Chief of MORNING STAR magazine. Toby has been a member of the America Online Computer Network for the past two years. He hosts the BORN AGAIN ONLINERS discussion room every Sunday evening and also writes a weekly newsletter with prayer requests, praise reports and up-to-date information. This letter is received by over 500 people on America Online and on other networks by way of Internet, a global electronic mail link. Teresa: Toby, what are a few of the more modern avenues of getting the gospel out to the people of the world? Toby: The most dramatic developments of late are the use of fax machines, computers and computer networks. Christians are using these means to spread the Gospel, share prayer needs, disseminate useful information and coordinate big projects. I'm not involved with faxes at all, the work I do deals strictly with computers and the networks that link them together. Teresa: How do you feel about spreading the gospel and other helpful information using modern technology? Toby: It's really amazing what can be done, especially using the computer networks and electronic bulletin board systems. Morning Star magazine is the best example I can think of. Every month, a few people sitting in their living rooms in different parts of the country, put this magazine together using their computers. The articles and stories are exchanged by way of computer networks and the finished product ends up in countries all over the world by means of these networks and dozens of electronic bulletin board systems. No one has to drive to an office, and the magazine gets out regardless of rain, snow or what have you. There are other ways that modern technology can be used to great effect. Take prayer requests for instance, especially urgent ones. If I get such a request from someone on my computer network, within minutes it will be on its way to hundreds of believers across the country and overseas. I have a mailing list of over 500 names that includes people from Maine to Texas to California and as far away as Alaska, Germany and Taiwan. Using the network's electronic mail capability, I can send 50 letters at a time in less than a minute. The cost comes to roughly a penny per eight letters. Compare that to 29 cents postage each and several days to be delivered - or making 500 long-distance phone calls! Teresa: What prompted you to create a Christian "chat room" on the America Online computer system? Toby: I think I had better clarify what a chat room is for the readers first. The computer network I am on is called America Online. One of the things users of this network can do is participate in what are called "chat rooms". Chat rooms enable users of the network to converse "live" with other people that are also "online" at the same time by typing messages back and forth that appear on the computer screen. The messages onscreen are preceded by the person's "screen name", that is the name they have chosen to use as their "handle" when online, so we know who is saying what. The messages appear one after another onscreen and the screen automatically "scrolls" as it fills up. This scrolling feature enables the user to look back and review the conversation from the point they entered the chat room. Up to two dozen people can be in one of these chat rooms at any given time and anyone can start one up. Needless to say, the topics of these rooms are varied and many aren't exactly filled with "Godly conversation". However, in the midst of these assorted chat rooms we will often find a Christian one. We have one that is created every Sunday night, from 9:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. eastern time - we call it Born Again Onliners. It's open to the public, which can make for some interesting evenings, but we have enough of a core of regular Christians that attend each week that the conversation usually remains "under control". The Born Again Onliners chat room serves as a place for fellowship, praise and prayer. People show up and pass along their prayer requests. Sometimes we even stop to pray while we are online. This may sound peculiar to people not experienced with computers and networks but it is a truly amazing and wonderful thing. One person will be designated to lead a prayer. This person will actually type their words to the Lord onscreen for the needs of the person making the request. Everyone else reads along and prays while sitting at their computers. You usually see a string of "Amens" at the end of the prayer. We don't do this for every request presented, only when the Holy Spirit moves us to. All requests are passed along however, first in the weekly letter I mentioned already, then monthly in the Praise and Prayer column of Morning Star magazine. Teresa: Who benefits by these up-to-date methods of evangelism? Toby: Well, first let me say that this is all still in its infancy stages. The Gospel has been preached for almost two thousand years, but using computers for this purpose is something no generation before this one has ever experienced. So we have yet to see what the Lord can do using these means but the potential is awesome as computers can be found in every country and they are being linked together more and more all the time. I know that this linking of computers makes some believers think of the book of Revelation and what is to come in terms of a one-world system, but Jesus did say the Gospel would reach every corner of the earth, and if we can use computers to accomplish this, well, praise God for the technology. Teresa: Why is it important to use every available opportunity to get the "Word" out to the people of the universe? Toby: Take the apostle Paul for example. He traveled by foot, by horse and by sea. He preached in buildings and outdoors. He wrote letters, both personal ones and to the churches. I would say he used every means at his disposal. I would venture to say that if Paul were with us now, he would have a computer and be sending out electronic letters on a daily basis! It would be a shame for us to not use every available opportunity. The proof is in the pudding too. Some of the articles in Morning Star are used by missionaries in remote places to preach and teach. Roger Obe, our brother in the Philippines does this. Teresa: When did you first publish Morning Star magazine and how did this come about? Toby: Our first issue was released in September of 1991. Since then we have put out eighteen monthly issues. The idea for such a magazine came from another brother online who sent me a letter asking me if I thought it was a "dumb idea". The funny thing is that I had been wondering what else we could do on the network besides the chat rooms and prayer requests that would benefit more people. Our original intent was to put out a small magazine over the America Online network only, but the Lord took over distribution as soon as we released our first issue. He has continued to amaze us over the year and a half we have been doing this. Never did I think the magazine within its first year would be read in countries as far away as Japan, Australia and Norway. Teresa: Where is the Morning Star magazine available and in what formats? Toby: We release the magazine in four formats each month. There are DOS and WINDOWS editions for the PC crowd, a MACINTOSH edition and a hard copy for those wishing to subscribe. People can find the computer editions on the America Online, Compuserve and Genie networks, plus dozens of electronic bulletin board systems across the United States and abroad. We publish a list of these bulletin board systems quarterly. The most recent list can be found in Volume 2.4. Teresa: What effect and impact will the "Evangelism of the 90's" have on the future? Toby: My personal hope is that Christians don't shy away from modern technology. Besides using it to get the Gospel out to greater numbers of people, it can be of great help to other believers in their daily walk. Scripture tells us that even though we sometimes feel that many of our problems are unique, they are actually common among us, we just don't realize it. We can use technology to let people know this fact and also to share practical help regarding such situations. That is something we try to do with Morning Star, particularly with columns like "Bible Study" and "The Word For Today". Teresa: Are there any plans or changes in store for the future? Toby: Yes, my hope is to double the number of countries that receive Morning Star by the end of 1993 and maybe to add a couple of new columns. Teresa: What final thought would you like to leave with our readers? Toby: I hope and pray that more people offer to help us out with this magazine soon. We are a handful of people doing a full time job around our daily full time jobs. It can be very stressful. We don't ask for money. The way people can help is to be aware of what articles and stories we need and to send them in! We are not looking for professional writers, just believers telling about something by which others can gain - whether that be salvation for an unbeliever or a closer walk with the Lord for a brother or sister in Jesus. Book Review Book Review In this issue, as we consider the need to present the Gospel to a fallen world, let us not forget our responsibility to give it "to the Jew first." One factor that often negatively affects our presentation of the Gospel to the Jew is the perception that Christianity is a "Western Religion." This misconception is held not only by the Jew, but even the Christian who frequently forgets that his faith is simply the culmination of the work started by G-d with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and continued through the nation Israel. The Jewish New Testament can be used to remind both the Christian and the Jew that the New Testament, like the Tanakh (The Old Testament), is a Jewish book. For this reason we offer the following review of The Jewish New Testament. JEWISH NEW TESTAMENT Translation by David H. Stern Jewish New Testament Publications, Clarksville, Maryland, 1989 Normally, I don't review Bible translations and paraphrases. I am not enough of a scholar to feel qualified to do so. But, due to the uniqueness of this work, I am making an exception. Like most translations, this work is not without flaws. But it has something special that should make it of interest to all believers. The intent of Mr. Stern was to remind his readers that the New Testament is a Jewish book. David Stern hopes that by presenting the Scripture in a form that restores its Jewish flavor he will accomplish several purposes. By restoring the cultural tone of the New Testament, he provides a strong counter argument against anti-semitism. As the readers see the Jewishness of both Messiah and his followers, the Jewish culture, from which the early church sprung, and the place of Israel in God's word, it will be much harder to maintain an anti-Jewish bent. Second, this work becomes a form of the New Testament that may be much more acceptable to the Jewish community. By being translated in a language that is much more Jewish in style, those within the Jewish community can be shown that to follow Y'shua Hamashiach, (Jesus the Messiah), is very Jewish. Finally Stern hopes that this work will help preserve the identity of the believing Jew within the Messianic (Christian) community. The fallacy that when a Jew follows Y'shua he is no longer Jewish, is unacceptable. This view that is often held by both the Christian and Jewish Communities must be counteracted, and the JEWISH NEW TESTAMENT may help. I highly recommend this book. But, I also must warn the Gentile reader, the going may be difficult at times. In recognition of this Mr. Stern includes: a Pronouncing Explanatory Glossary, Page-by-Page Glossaries, a "Reverse" Glossary and Maps. The following will give a flavor of this excellent work. It is from Matthew 2: 1-6. "After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y'hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim and asked, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."" "When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, "Where will the Messiah be born?" "In Beit-Lechem of Y'hudah," they replied, "because the prophet wrote," "6 'And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y'hudah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Y'hudah; for from you will come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel'" (Mattityahu 2:1-6). Read and enjoy for the first time the New Testament for the Jewish work it is. Biblical Studies New In Christ New In Christ MISSING HEAVEN BY 18 INCHES By Paul W. Empet Does this title startle you? How can anyone get so close and yet in the end hear the Lord say, "I never knew you: depart from me"? (1) However, this will be the terrible result of many in our churches today who are professing Christians, often with responsible positions, but who have had only a 'head' acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tragically enough, even teachers, preachers and religious workers are not exempt from the possibility of this chilling indictment. The distance between the head and the heart is 18 inches. Unfortunately, a 'head' (intellectual) knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, fully knowing and giving mental assent to the plan of salvation, without also a 'heart' acceptance that brings the personal relationship that the Bible demands, avails nothing to any man. Listen to Paul's heart cry concerning Israel as he spoke under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." (2) He was speaking about misdirected efforts, energies expended in the strength of the flesh but not under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The lack of power today in many of our churches as well as the lack of power today in the lives of many professing Christians can be laid directly to this. It is only as we see ourselves in the mirror of God's Word as without excuse and without hope, utterly lost and undone, that the truth of the Scriptures convicts us, for the Bible clearly reveals that this is how God sees man. (3) Then, when the glorious truth of the gospel brings us to recognition of our own sinfulness, and in true repentance we cry out to God asking forgiveness and help, asking Him to come into our 'hearts', not our heads, we experience the new birth. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (4) The Bible also tells us that "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life," (5) Furthermore, the Bible promises "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the 'heart' man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (6) Christ wants your 'heart', not just your head because "The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (7) It is vitally important that you make sure it is not just head knowledge and mental assent you have given to Jesus Christ. He needs the complete surrender of your heart and life so that you may be truly born again. Eighteen inches can mean an eternity with Christ or an eternity without Christ. Are you sure of your personal relationship to Him? Why not settle the question in your heart once and for all right now? Bible References: (1) Matthew 7:23; (2) Romans 10:2; (3) Romans 3:10-18, 21-23; (4) John 14:5; (5) John 5:12; (6) Romans 10:9-10; (7) 1 Samuel 16:7. New Testatment Study New Testament Study NEW TESTAMENT STUDY This issue features the sixth in a series on the Epistle of 1st John. Future studies will include Psalms, and books from both the Old and New Covenants. GET READY TO DUCK (1 John 3:11-18) Believers, at least in the United States, have not really understood the concept of being hated for the work of the Lord. For many years, it had been socially acceptable to be part of Christendom. Many involved in local churches were probably not believers. But at least it was considered appropriate to be attending a church in the community. Today, this general acceptance is waning. And while this isn't comfortable, nevertheless it may be beneficial. Society is becoming more liberal, or actually morally degenerate. Therefore, those who desire to be obedient to God stand against society's values. This stand isn't just taken against issues like abortion, pornography, and euthanasia. For example, Christian parents are fighting against the values clarification programs in schools. Believers have a tough time trying to be obedient to the Lord and be the salt and light within society. As a result, believers and social engineers are drawing further and further apart. Christians are perceived as impediments to what these people want to accomplish. Christians constantly remind people of God's definition of family, morality, of the appropriate way to raise children, and appropriate sexual behavior. They are reminders that God has absolute standards, which the world hates most of all. Society in general no longer accepts absolutes. In fact, most of what believers stand for is in direct opposition to how the world wants to live. I guess you better get ready to duck. Society is fighting back. Children are attacked for trying to present their Christian views. The laws are being used to try to tax, attack and make the work of Christians ineffective. But even society recognizes the difference between those who call themselves Christians and those committed to Biblical orthodoxy. These "Christians," as the false teachers of John's day, live anyway they want. The unrighteous correctly perceive the committed Christian as a threat to the society they are trying to create. They will do anything they can do to make the believer impotent. It isn't religion they hate. Look at the acceptance of paganism, Hindu, cultic views in the environmental movement. Look at how, under the guise of multi-culturalism, there is acceptance of polytheism and other teachings that are actually Satanic. Christianity is always unacceptable. "It is bigoted, self-righteous and elitist. Christians must be made to make their sacrifices to the gods of this age. Then they can be allowed to be part of society, as second class citizens." John recognized this problem. The false teachers were trying to subvert the truth of the Gospel. They were encouraging believers not to be so obsessive, but to live anyway they wanted. Apparently, as John and others stood for God's truth, they experienced the hatred Christ had warned them of. These are the concerns John is speaking to in this next section of this letter. A significant change from the age of Law to the Church Age, is the movement from Law and Sacrifice to the Law of Love. Christians are motivated by God's love given to them and in turn, through them to others. Christ lived out this truth as He gave out the gospel of the kingdom. He also showed it when he healed and fed the crowds. Jesus saw not only the spiritual needs of the Jews, but their material needs as well. He lived out truth and love in practical actions. John was dealing with the false premise that said "nothing done by people matters." How they live isn't an issue. Knowledge in and of itself is the basis of salvation. John, in this passage, focuses on the place of love and actions in the life of the believer. He contrasts this with the life of the unbeliever. vs. 11: John returns to one of the basic calls for Christians. They are to love one another. His readers had heard this from the beginning. He is probably referring to the beginning of their exposure to the Gospel. The message of salvation is the account of God's love for mankind. It is the promise of that love one for another. The message of salvation is the promise of relationship, relationships with God and relationship with brothers and sisters in the Lord. vs. 12: The love of believers one for another, is contrasted with the hatred that Cain had for his brother. John shows that the basis of Cain's hatred was his own evil nature. When he was confronted with the righteous quality of his brother, he hated Abel and slew him. "In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering" (Genesis 4:4). Isn't hatred and murder where it all began? Christ said of Satan: ... "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). The real spiritual battle is the stand for truth in the church, truth expressed in love. This passage doesn't show exactly what was going on. Abel offered a sacrifice of an animal, a blood sacrifice. In contrast, Cain offered up produce. Abel's sacrifice was accepted, Cain's rejected. Cain could have gone to Able and traded for an animal. Cain acted as if God should consider Himself lucky that he offered Him anything. Cain, faced with Abel's righteous, became murderously angry and instead of turning to God, he killed his brother. vs. 13: John uses this example to show the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous. Evil, when brought up against righteousness, is forced to face itself. As a response, evil hates goodness. John tells his readers that they shouldn't be surprised if they are hated by the world. As Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" (John 15:18). When John speaks of the world, he is talking about the system ruled by Satan. The children of Satan hate the children of God. It is important to remember that when believers serve God as He desires, they will experience interference. If they are committed to obedience, they will accept this as a fact of life. vs. 14-15: One contrast between the righteous and the unrighteous is love of God and others, versus hate of God and His children. A second difference is a changed spiritual condition. When believers accept Christ, they move from life to death. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). John identifies the proof of the Christian life: the love that is shown. This is contrasted with the unbeliever who is dead. The proof of this is the sin of Cain, hatred of his brother. "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness" (1 John 2:9). By the way, notice John says that anyone who does not love "remains."... So if God comes into the life of the unbeliever, he will love, and he will also no longer be spiritually dead. Remember the words of Jesus during His sermon on the mount? "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell" (Matthew 5:22). The ultimate testimony of rebellion against God is hatred of ones brother. vs. 16-18: It isn't enough not to hate your brother. Remember while hatred is proof of unrighteousness, its absence isn't proof of righteousness. What is the proof of a proper relationship with God? Love for a brother is a demonstration of God's presence in the life of the believer. John gives some examples of how to care for one the world. First he shows the ultimate example of godly love. Christ laid down His life for people. He gave up everything to restore them to fellowship with the Father. And that is to be the primary motivation behind the life of the believer. They are to help others come to a saving knowledge of Christ. And after that, they must come along side and help new Christians grow in that relationship. Caring for one another, brothers and sisters, goes further. It means Christians need to do what they can to help with a fellow believer's spiritual, emotional and physical needs. The example John gives is sharing material possessions with another brother who is in need. Additionally, he makes it clear that words aren't enough. If believers truly love, actions must be included. This is similar to what James said . "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ... But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. ... You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:14, 18, 20, 26). John again makes his argument against the false teachers. He reiterates that if people claim to be believers it does matter how they live. The reality of God in their lives is shown by works. They are done not from duty, but from love. And all this must be done in truth. It not only matters what we as believers do we must also hold to truth. John's implicative statement to the readers is that the false teachers are guilty of manipulating the truth. All that they do is of the spirit of anti-christs. The most important principle we can take from this passage isn't that we are going to be hated. While we are not to be surprised, this isn't to be the primary focus of our lives. We hear much today about the attack of society on the church. A lot of discussion is carried on about how we can fight back and protect ourselves. Because we live in a representative form of government and therefore have appropriate ways to affect law, we can try to slow some of these attacks. They do have a detrimental effect on society. Therefore, we have an obligation, as salt and light, to try to slow the process of corruption. Our primary responsibility isn't to try to institute Christian values into a fallen society. John's point is that the distinguishing characteristic between the believer and unbeliever is our love versus their hate. We must relate with love, even to those who hate us. "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," (Matthew 5:44). Our responsibility is to present God's truth, that is, the message of salvation to a fallen world. That truth must be presented in love. Remember that John called us to love by what we do. If the gospel is the message of love, "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." (John 3:16), then it must be given in love. Yes, we must make it clear that people need to be saved because of their sins. "... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," ... "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 3:23, 6:23). We need to have God's love for the lost, His pain at the reality of their eternal destiny. The message of sin and damnation should be given out of love, with the desire to help the lost escape their bleak future. The message of judgment shouldn't be preached judgmentally, but with a spirit of compassion. No matter how wicked we perceive someone to be, our desire should be for their salvation and escape from damnation. Remember what Paul said to the believer in the church at Corinth. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). As we give out the message of salvation, let us do so in remembrance that we too were one spiritually dead because of our sins. Therefore, we have no right to judge. Instead, let us present the message of hope and love, God's divine plan to save the lost from His imminent judgment. In the final analysis, we are not be used to save anyone by our Biblical orthodoxy, as important as that is. Our witness isn't dependent on the fact of whether our life looks Christian or not. After all, the Pharisees were religiously orthodox. The factor in our lives that will turn others towards Christ is the real presence of God's love. We must unselfishly reach out toward those who hate us and allow the love of God to flow through us. Then people will be faced by the supernatural presence of the Lord in our lives. Being exposed to God in that way, they will react with either hatred or openness to the Holy Spirit. They will react with hatred because of a heart that is rebellious against God. Or, they will react with acceptance because of the Spirit's power. We are called to move in love, regardless of the person's response. This is why John says "don't be surprised by the world's hatred." When surprised, we frequently respond in like manner. When prepared, we will depend on the Lord to persevere in love. The most uncomfortable aspect of being Christian is not expecting a just or fair response from the lost. Instead, we are to move with God's love towards them. We are to only desire that which is best for them. And, by doing so, we fulfill the command of Christ. "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," (Matthew 5:44). Yes, stand for the truth at all costs. And as you stand, stand in prayer for those who come against you. You will please the Lord and force the individual to face the living God. "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you" (Prov 25:21-22). A second point needs to taken from this passage. Our responsibility to care for one another means we are to use what the Lord provides for others. Whether this means we give our money, possessions, time, etc., what the Lord gives to us is in turn to be used for Him. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew 25:35-40). Special Studies Special Studies THE REVELATION OF GOD IN HIS CHARACTER AND GENEALOGY Dr. Charles A. Wootten Whole Counsel Ministries, Inc. The Apostle Paul wrote concerning the Revelation of God in the New Testament. He used allusions which were based on facts known in detail by his readers. He wrote of the birth of Jesus under the Law, (Galatians 4:4) "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, of the Seed of David after the flesh." Paul wrote of the Seed of David born of the flesh, the Son of God and the Messiah (Romans 1:1-4) "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." The writings continue with the public ministry of Christ. Paul notes its limitation to the Jews, (Romans 15:8) "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers." He shows the humiliation of our Lord (II Corinthians 8:9) "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that through his poverty you might be rich." The writings continue showing the miracles wrought by the apostles, (II Corinthians 12:12) "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. Paul had evidently taken pains to learn exactly the teachings of Jesus so that he could treat the revelation of God as authoritative, (I Corinthians 7:10) "And . . . I command, yet not I, but the Lord," distinguishing carefully between Christ's teaching and his own opinions, (I Corinthians 7:25) "Now . . . I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful." The revelation of God in the New Testament continues to be shown in the character of Jesus, as the IDEAL OF WISDOM (I Corinthians 1:30) "But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," the IDEAL OF TRUTH, (Romans 9:1) "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost," the IDEAL OF SELF-SACRIFICING SERVICE, (Romans 15:1-3) "We then who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached You fell on me," the IDEAL OF GENTLENESS AND MEEKNESS, (II Corinthians 10:1) "Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you," and the IDEAL OF LOVE (Galatians 2:20) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The details of the Last Supper, which Paul gives more exactly than the synoptists also reveal that character of God that is revealed in the New Testament, (I Corinthians 11:23-25) "For I have received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" The attitude of the rulers also reflect His character, (I Corinthians 2:8) "Which none of the rulers of this age knew: for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." The betrayal, the crucifixion, and the burial and resurrection was known by everyone again reflected His revelation in the New Testament (I Corinthians 11:23), ". . . the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed . . .", (II Corinthians 13:4) "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you," (I Corinthians 15:4) "And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." Even after His appearances to the disciples after the resurrection, the apostle Paul deemed it wise to recount the event as if to remind his readers of something they already had an intimate acquaintance, (I Corinthians 15:5-8) "And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that He was seen by about five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as by one born out of due time." The facts agree perfectly with the entire Gospel story and Paul is nowhere in disharmony with the synoptists. He used allusions that were common to all who read his writings at the time. In harmony with the Jewish tradition (Matthew 1:1), "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" starts with the genealogy of Jesus Christ. the primary reason for revealing the Son of God in this fashion was that the Jews set the greatest possible store on the purity of lineage. This was due to the early Levitical law (Leviticus 20:7-8), "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy: for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctifies you" wherein God commanded them to be separate and holy from all other nations. Anyone who married into other nations, i.e., had strange wives, were declared apostate and were not in the body (Ezra 10:10-11), "And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have transgressed, and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives." Thus, the Jews, especially the Sanhedrin who kept the records, would be especially keen on His genealogy. It was hoped that the tracing of the genealogy of Jesus Christ would be all the more impressive if it were at least traced back to Abraham. In looking at the genealogy listings of both Matthew and Luke we find that Jesus is forty-first in line from Abraham but, as in Luke, seventy-fourth from Adam. In any event, the genealogy of Jesus Christ is a pure unbroken line. Matthew's genealogy reveals Jesus Christ as God in a special way. Therein is listed the names not only of Mary, but also those of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. The average Jewish genealogy does not list women despite the precedent of the inheritance for women (Numbers 27:1-11). What is even more unique here is that three were tainted with sin and one was a foreigner! The reason God wanted their names within the eternal genealogy was to show that He who came to "save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10) is "no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34) thus not scorning such a descent. This is one of the Great Gospel Truths in that it reveals the entire gracious character of the Christian message. The discussion of the Messianic line, among other doctrinal truths, will continue next time. Messianic Studies Messianic Studies G-d is the source of eternal life. He made the plan of salvation (the way to receive life) known first to and then through Israel. Paul tells us, "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.' As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarches," (Romans 11:25-28). G-d has used Israel as His instrument to "graft" in the Gentile. Therefore, all believers are responsible to give the message of salvation to the Jew. The following article is directed to that purpose. Remember however, G-d is the source of life for both Jew and Gentile. The following is applicable to all who do not have a relationship with G-d, be they Jew or Gentile. L'CHAIM - TO LIFE! (From American Messianic Fellowship - Copyright 1974) More than an exclamation, more than a song from Fiddler on the Roof, here are the words of eternal life. If you would like to know how to have a relationship with God through Messiah, here is all you need to know ... God is the source of a satisfying, worthwhile life; "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11). This kind of life is the result of a close personal relationship with God. "In thy presence ... at thy right hand" speaks of a personal relationship which can be as intimate as the one between Abraham and God: "Abraham my friend" (Isaiah 41:8). Deep down, just about everyone wants a life and relationship like this. As a Jewish scientist put it: "The Jewish nature and soul need to know God. This is its purpose on earth. Our souls are looking for God and we are trying to know God." Why, then, aren't most people experiencing this life and relationship? Man has separated himself from God. God's character is the standard by which man is to live: "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Anytime man deviates from God's holiness, he violates God's standard, and this is called sin. Obviously, then, all of us have sinned. "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20; see also Psalm 53:3,4). Since God is holy and just, He will not establish a personal relationship with anyone until his or her sin is dealt with because He cannot allow sin in His presence. "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:13). Because sin is a violation of His standard and character, God must judge man's sin and reject it. Thus sin causes spiritual death and results in separation from God: "But everyone shall die for his own iniquity" (sin) (Jeremiah 31:29; see also Ezekiel 18:20). As long as sin separates us from God, we can't enjoy the life and relationship God wants us to have: "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). But can't we solve the problem by living properly, by prayer, repentance and good deeds? No, we cannot remove the sin barrier by our own efforts: "And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified" (Psalm 143:2; see also Ezekiel 33:13). Human effort is not adequate because, in God's sight, "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (good deeds) are as a filthy garment" (Isaiah 64:5). Human effort is not adequate because man cannot do enough to solve the problem. "No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: For the redemption of their soul is precious" (Psalm 49:8, 9). But, then, how can this problem of spiritual death and separation from God be solved? God must take the initiative; He must provide the solution. "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave" (Psalm 49:16). The sin barrier can be removed by believing God's Word (faith) and by having the blood of the atonement. Abraham was an example of how the sin barrier can be removed. "And he believed in the Lord; and he (God) counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). We must follow the same pattern. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever" (Isaiah 26:3,4; see also Habakkuk 2:4). But Moses said that one more thing is essential - the blood of the atonement. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11; see also Leviticus 4:35). But why would God want man to go through the awful procedure of killing an animal? When the offerer saw the sacrifice suffering and bleeding for the sins which he had committed, he was impressed with the awfulness of sin and the penalty of death the sinner deserved. The sacrifice showed him God's HOLINESS (because of His hatred of all evil, JUSTICE (because He does not leave sin unpunished), and MERCY (because of His readiness to pardon the truly repentant and believing by providing a substitute for him). The animal sacrifice thus provided the blood of atonement and was an act of faith acceptable to God. But without a priesthood and without a temple, there can be no sacrifices. How can we have the blood of atonement today? God has provided the blood of atonement for today. "All we like sheep have one astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him ... For he was cut off out of the land of the living; through the transgressions of my people was he stricken ... And he took off the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:6,8,12). In the prologue to Isaiah 53 (Isaiah 52:13-15), the author identifies the "he" of these passages. He is described as God's Servant who will be exalted. In other parts of his work, Isaiah equates this Servant of God with Messiah (e.g., Isaiah 42:1). God's provision of the blood of atonement through the Messiah follows the same principles God set up in the sacrifice system: * Sin-offering, atonement FOR A MAN by means of a sacrifice * Pesach, atonement FOR A FAMILY by means of a sacrifice * Yom Kippur, atonement FOR A NATION by means of a sacrifice * Messiah, atonement FOR ALL by means of a sacrifice As we have seen, under the sacrifice system personal faith was necessary along with the blood of atonement. So also faith is necessary with the sacrifice of Messiah. He should be the object of our faith today. But how can we know who Messiah is? God made sure we could recognize Messiah by certain specific identifying marks. These are described by the prophets of Israel: * His ancestry was from the family of David (Jeremiah 23:5, 6). * The city of His birth was Bethlehem (Micah 5:1). * He had a supernatural nature (Isaiah 9:5, 6). * The manner of His execution was crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-17). * He rose from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10,11). * The time of His coming was before the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 C.E. (Daniel 9:26). Do you have any idea if anyone has fulfilled these prophecies or has even come close? History tells us that Yeshua ("Jesus" is the Greek translation) of Nazareth fulfilled these and many other prophecies. There are at least 48 specific prophecies concerning Messiah which Yeshua fulfilled. The probability that one person could fulfill all 48 prophecies is 1 out of 10 with 157 zeroes after it! During his lifetime many people called Yeshua the Messiah ("Christ" is the Greek translation) and believed in Him (Matthew 16:16; John 1:45-51; Acts 6:7). Many people since that time, both Jews and Gentiles, have had their sins forgiven and have gained a personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through Messiah Yeshua. Through Him one becomes a completed person; e.g., a Jewish person becomes a completed Jew. Since the blood of atonement has been provided through Messiah Yeshua, there is only one thing left for you to do. You must by faith receive Messiah Yeshua into your life in order to have a personal relationship with God and a satisfying, worthwhile life. "To all who received him (the Messiah), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Receiving Messiah Yeshua involves a moral decision to turn to God's way and from your own, to trust Messiah Yeshua to forgive your sins and bring you into a right relationship with God. When you receive Messiah Yeshua by faith (trusting what He has done for you), He comes into your life and gives you the power to live a satisfying, worthwhile life. Yeshua says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). Some people think that receiving Messiah Yeshua by faith means they're no longer Jewish. That's not true. As Yeshua put it, "Do not think that I have come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). The apostle Paul felt the same way. He said when he was in jail, "It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain" (Acts 28:20). Are you still lost in your sin? Don't let anything hold you back from God - why not invite Messiah Yeshua to give you a right relationship with God right now? Remember, 1. God is the source of a worthwhile life. 2. Your sin has separated you from God. 3. God's provision through Messiah Yeshua is the solution to the sin barrier. 4. The only thing God asks you to do is trust in Messiah Yeshua to forgive your sins and give you a right relationship with God. You can receive Messiah Yeshua by faith right now through prayer: "Messiah Yeshua, I admit that I have sinned. I believe that You have provided the blood of atonement for me. I receive You as my Messiah. Thank You for forgiving my sins and coming into my life as You promised." If you've prayed that prayer or want more information, call or write: The Chosen People Ministries, 1300 Cross Beam Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217-2800 (704) 357-9000. The WORD for Today The WORD for Today In Hebrews 10:25 we read "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The responsibility of all Christians is to encourage one another. This series is intended to help provide some guidelines in the process of encouragement. The book, ENCOURAGEMENT, THE KEY TO CARING, by Lawrence J. Crabb, Jr., and Dan B. Allender, is recommended reading with the series. Each message can be read in conjunction to the related chapter in the book. The series can be used as the basis of a group study in your church. Please let us know if you find the material helpful or if you have any questions or suggestions. The article presented here is the third of fourteen messages given by Pastor Geoff Kragen. They were presented at Foothill Bible Church in Lincoln, California. HIDING IN A BODY "Encouragement is the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.1 In the last article, (Morning Star, Vol. 2, Number 5), we saw that the way we frequently communicate, or actually don't, may be a detriment to the process of encouragement. Our tongue, going without our brain in gear, puts out words that are either self-protective or insensitive. We noted that we need to observe our communication style. This allows us to reach out to people focusing on our concern for them, rather than the need to protect ourselves. In this article, I want to examine another area that interferes with our ability to encourage one another. The problem is superficial fellowship. Superficiality obstructs encouragement. When it is practiced, we aren't aware of the deep hurts and needs of those around us. I want to focus on two specific factors behind the problem. Both conditions are products of long term practice and environmental factors within the church and our lives. We are not always aware how our perceptions, interfere with our ability to serve the Lord. These conditions need correction. The first problem is institutional to the church. The historic church has created an environment where the "laity" is discouraged from service. As a result, our involvement in ministry tends to be superficial. Anything serious is to be taken care of by the professional, not the "average" believer. If situations get difficult we feel in over our heads, so ... "Let's not get too serious." People in the pews are historically spectators, not players. Even when given the opportunity to play, they perceive themselves as nothing more than talented amateurs. This does not encourage a feeling of personal responsibility for ministry. The result of this perception can be superficiality. The second hindrance to real fellowship is personal. We live in a society that prides itself in the importance of privacy and self-protection. After all, the basis for the killing of the preborn is the woman's right to her privacy. Larry Crabb identifies the result of this focus as "surface community". 2 Even within the church, we frequently share our public personae, and not our inner selves. We tend to be superficial because we don't fully understand the seriousness of our own place in the church community, and/or because we want to protect ourselves from pain. "I'm a private person, and by the way, what do we pay the pastor for anyway." I'd like to comment briefly on each of these areas to help us, first, to understand our responsibility to encourage, and second, the need to create a real community where we are able to encourage each other. I suspect that each of us sometimes looks at our situation and believes that only the clergy, a professional, can handle the problem. The primary fallacy here is that Scripture makes no distinction between clergy and laity. In fact, the concept of clergy is fore