This poem and those directly following, single and by category, come from the Source Book of Poetry compiled by Al Bryant (1968)
note: the Jewish people, called out of Egypt by God to enter the promised land (the land area which God had originally promised to Abraham and his descendants, that the current nation of Israel occupies) came from ABRAHAM, his son ISSAC and his son JACOB, the last of whom fathered 12 sons, whose progeny became the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel in the time when the Old Testament was written. Jacob had tricked his older brother, Esau, out of receiving the birthright which belonged, always to the oldest son and then left for a foreign land when he heard the Esau was about to kill him. Genesis 32 recounts the return of Jacob into the land promised to Abraham's descendants and what happens when he hears that Esau is on his way to meet him with a sizable band of men. the account of that most crucial night in Esau's life begins in vs 20 as he is sending the last of his two wives, his sons, his servants and his flocks over the river..
'and say ye moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. for he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me and afterward I WILL SEE HIS FACE; PERADVENTURE HE WILL ACCEPT OF ME. (note - scared that this was his last night on earth. so went the present (animals) went over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. and he rose up that night and took his 2 wives and his 2 women servants and his 11 sons and passed over the ford Jabbok. and he took them and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. and Jacob was left alone and THERE WRESTLED A MAN (note - God) WITH HIM UNTIL THE BREAKING OF THE DAY. and when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. and he said, let me go, for the day breaketh, and he said, I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME.
and he (God) said unto him, What is thy name?
and he said, Jacob.
and he (God) said, THY NAME SHALL BE CALLED NO MORE JACOB, BUT ISRAEL (means 'one who strives with God): FOR AS A PRINCE HAS THOU POWER WITH GOD AND MEN AND HAD PREVAILED.
and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.
and as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him and he halted upon his thigh. therefore the children of ISRAEL EAT NOT OF THE SINEW WHICH SHRANK, WHICH IS UPON THE HOLLOW OF THE THIGH, UNTO THIS DAY: because he (God) touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.
Charles Wesley, the younger brother of John, used this event to as the topic of a hymn/poem entitled WRESTLING JACOB.
Come, O thou Traveller unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see!
My company before is gone,
and I am left alone with thee;
with thee all night I mean to stay,
and wrestle till the break of day.
I need not tell thee who I am,
my misery or sin declare.
Thyself has called me by my name;
look on thy hands and read it there.
but who, I ask thee, who art thou/
tell me thy name and tell me now.
in vain thou strugglest to get free;
I never will unloose my hold.
art thou the man that died for me?
the secret of thy love unfold:
Wrestling, I will not let thee go,
Till I thy name, they nature know.
wilt thou not yet to me reveal
thy new, unutterable name?
Tell me, I still beseech thee, tell;
to know it now resolved I am;
Wrestling, I will not let thee go,
Till I thy name, they nature know.
'Tis all in vain to hold thy tongue,
Or touch the hollow of my thigh:
though every sinew be unstrung,
out of my arms thou shalt not fly;
Wrestling, I will not let thee go,
Till I thy name, they nature know.
what though my shrinking flesh complain,
and murmur to contend so long?
I rise superior to my pain:
when I am weak, then I am strong:
and when my all of strength shall fail,
I shall with the God-man prevail.
My strength is gone, my nature dies;
I sink beneath thy weighty hand;
faint to revive and fall to rise;
I fall and yet by faith I stand.
I stand and will not let thee go,
Till I thy name, thy nature know.
Yield to me now, for I am weak,
But confident in self-despair;
Speak to my heart, in blessings speak:
Be conquered by my instant prayer:
Speak, or thou never hence shalt move,
and tell me if thy name is Love.
'Tis Love! 'Tis Love! thou didst for me;
I hear thy whisper in my heart.
The morning breaks, the shadows flee;
Pure, universal Love thou art:
To me, to all, thy bowels move;
Thy nature and thy name is Love.
I know thee, Saviour, who thou art,
Jesus, the feeble sinner's Friend;
Nor wilt Thou with the night depart,
But stay and love me to the end:
Thy mercies never shall remove;
Thy nature and thy name is Love.
The Sun of Righteousness on me
Hath rose with healing in his wings;
Withered my nature's strength; from thee
My soul is all laid above:
Thy nature and thy name is Love.
Contented now, upon my thigh
I halt, till life's short journey end;
All helplessness, all weakness, I
On thee alone for strength depend;
Nor have I power from Thee to move:
Thy nature and thy name is Love.
Lame as I am, I take the prey;
Hell, earth and sin, with ease o'er-come;
I leap for joy, pursue my way,
and as a bounding hart fly home,
through all eternity to prove
Thy nature and Thy name is Love. Charles Wesley
Monday, February 13, 2017
Saturday, February 11, 2017
2.11.2017 I ASKED A FRIEND...
yesterday I happened to see an old friend and, wondering how he was making out in selling their home in this area and, eventually, moving to a pastoral position in another state, was able to sit and chat awhile. soon 'caught up', I launched a question that has been coming to the forefront of my mind...WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE GREAT COMMISSION JESUS GAVE HIS DISCIPLES IN MATTHEW 28.18-20? (to be specific, I have been troubled over the fact that I can't point to one person I have discipled and was hoping for some enlightenment, encouragement...exhortation? in that direction.
these verses read, 'Go THEREFORE (ie. go (def - AS A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT) 'all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. v17) and TEACH (mathAtUate - aorist imperative, meaning make or be a disciple) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to OBSERVE (KEEP) all things whatsoever I COMMANDED YOU, and , behold (def. - 'look! see!) I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, even to the end of the age'.
my friend shared with me that this command was only given to the first 12 disciples and they carried it out, with the result that many, if not all of them were martyred and it no longer applies to us. he also shared that the first word, GO, was not an imperative (ie. command). these remarks led me to look again at the Greek New Testament resulting in the above discoveries. THE COMMAND IS NOT 'TO GO' (it is a participle which means, 'after going'). IT IS TO DISCIPLE.
the Apostle Paul, who met Jesus on the road to Damascus, was the thirteenth disciple who was directly given this command by Jesus. but the word 'disciple' is used several hundred times in the New Testament to describe the followers of Jesus. a good definition of a disciple is one who receives instruction and makes it the rule of his life....this may be wrong but, I think I have to go with the idea that every person who receives instruction from Jesus, given in the Bible, as well as, often, through the life and words of one of HIS DISCIPLES...and demonstrates this by consistently DOing WHAT JESUS SAYS...which would include teaching others to keep Jesus' commandments.
oh Lord, show me if this is wrong and if it is right, show me how to do this in such a way that other people will keep Your commandments too. in Jesus' name I pray. if I fail in this I am of all men most miserable, FOR THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WORTH LIVING FOR...BUT YOU DEAREST LORD JESUS!!!!!!
REPENT for the kingdom of heaven is at hand - MATTHEW 3.1...John the Baptist who acknowledged Jesus in 3.11,14
TELL SATAN 'BEGONE!' (following Jesus' example) when
he seeks to pervert the Bible's intended meaning MATT. 4.6 and
encourage obedience to himself rather than to Jesus only, MATT. 4.10
REPENT for the kingdom of heaven is at hand - MATT. 4.17
FOLLOW Me and I will make you fishers of men, v. 19
REJOICE and BE GLAD MATT. 5.12 for your reward is great in heaven (when men
cast insults at you and
persecute you and
say all kinds of evil against you falsely, ON ACCOUNT OF ME).
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE before men in such a way that they may
see your good works and
glorify your Father who is in heaven. MATT. 5.16
DO NOT THINK that I came to abolish the Law; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. MATT. 5.17
If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
LEAVE YOUR OFFERING THERE BEFORE THE ALTAR and
GO YOUR WAY;
FIRST, BE RECONCILED TO your brother and then
COME and
PRESENT your offering. MATT. 5.24
MAKE FRIENDS QUICKLY WITH YOUR OPPONENT AT LAW WHILE YOU ARE WITH HIM ON THE WAY MATT. 5.25
You have heard...YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY (but I say to you, that everyone who LOOKS ON A WOMAN TO LUST FOR HER has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
MATT. 5.28
and IF YOUR RIGHT EYE MAKES YOU STUMBLE , TEAR IT OUT AND THROW IT FROM YOU; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell. MATT. 5.29
and IF YOUR RIGHT HAND... (see above) MATT. 5.30
MAKE NO OATH AT ALL.. MATT. 5.34
... BUT LET YOUR STATEMENT BE, 'YES,(note- means) YES' OR 'NO,(note- means) NO' and anything beyond these is of evil. (note- DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO.)
'YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH'. MATT. 5.38 But I say to you, DO NOT RESIST HIM WHO IS EVIL' MATT. 5.39
but WHOEVER SLAPS YOU ON YOUR RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO.
'AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO SUE YOU AND TAKE YOUR SHIRT,
LET HIM HAVE YOUR COAT ALSO. MATT. 5.40
'AND WHOEVER SHALL FORCE YOU TO GO ONE MILE, GO WITH HIM TWO. MATT. 5.41
GIVE TO HIM WHO ASKS OF YOU
AND DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM WHO WANTS TO BORROW FROM YOU. MATT. 5.42
You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. but I say to you,
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES and
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU in order that you may be sons of your Father...MATT. 44-45
..YOU ARE TO BE PERFECT, AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT. MATT. 5.48
BEWARE OF PRACTICING YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE MEN TO BE NOTICED BY THEM; otherwise you have no reward in heaven. MATT. 6.1
WHEN...YOU GIVE ALMS, DO NOT SOUND A TRUMPET BEFORE YOU, as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets, that they may be honored by men...,MATT. 6.2
...WHEN YOU GIVE ALMS, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING. MATT. 6.3
...WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR INNER ROOM A WHEN YOU HAVE SHUT YOUR DOOR PRAY TO YOUR FATHER who sees...MATT. 6.4
and WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU ARE NOT TO BE AS THE HYPOCRITES; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men..MATT. 6.5
...WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR INNER ROOM AND
WHEN YOU HAVE SHUT THE DOOR PRAY...MATT. 6.6
AND WHEN YOU ARE PRAYING, DO NOT USE MEANINGLESS REPETITION as the Gentiles do for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. MATT. 6.7
THEREFORE 'DO NOT BE' LIKE THEM, for your father knows what you need, before you ask Him. MATT. 6.8
'PRAY', THEN, IN THIS WAY (MATT. 6.9)
Our Father who art in heaven,
HALLOWED BE Thy name
Thy Kingdom COME
Thy will BE DONE on earth as it is in heaven.
GIVE us this day our daily bread.
and FORGIVE us our debts as we forgive our debtors
and DO NOT LEAD us into temptation,
but DELIVER us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.
AND WHENEVER YOU FAST, 'DO NOT PUT ON' A GLOOMY FACE as the hypocrites do. MATT. 6.16
...WHEN YOU FAST, 'ANOINT' YOUR HEAD WITH OIL
AND 'WASH' YOUR FACE. MATT. 6.17
so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father. MATT. 6.18
'DO NOT LAY UP' FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. MATT. 6.19
but 'LAY UP' FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal;
YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. MATT. 6.24 (note - not stated as a command, but rather as an impossibility, and therefore with the force of a command....'it's just not possible' in this case equals 'DO NOT SERVE MAMMON')
....'DO NOT BE ANXIOUS' FOR YOUR LIFE, as to what you shall eat and what you shall drink,
NOR FOR YOUR BODY as to what you put on..MATT. 6.25
'LOOK AT' THE BIRDS OF THE AIR..they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly father feeds them...MATT. 6.26
'OBSERVE' HOW THE LILIES OF THE FIELD GROW, they do not toil nor do they spin...MATT. 6.28
'DO NOT BE ANXIOUS' THEN SAYING what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or 'with what shall we clothe ourselves? MATT. 6.31
'SEEK' FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all these things shall be added to you. MATT. 6.33
therefore 'DO NOT BE ANXIOUS FOR' TOMORROW; for tomorrow will care for itself. each day has enough trouble of its own. MATT. 6.34
'DO NOT JUDGE', LEST YOU BE JUDGED. MATT. 7.1 for in the way you judge, you will be judged and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. v2
You hypocrite, FIRST 'TAKE THE LOG OUT' OF YOUR OWN EYE and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. MATT. 7.5
DO NOT GIVE WHAT IS HOLY TO DOGS and
'DO NOT THROW' YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces. MATT. 7.6
ASK and it shall be given you;
SEEK and you will find;
KNOCK and it will be opened to you. MATT. 7.7
THEREFORE HOWEVER YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TREAT YOU, SO 'TREAT' THEM,
these verses read, 'Go THEREFORE (ie. go (def - AS A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT) 'all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. v17) and TEACH (mathAtUate - aorist imperative, meaning make or be a disciple) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to OBSERVE (KEEP) all things whatsoever I COMMANDED YOU, and , behold (def. - 'look! see!) I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, even to the end of the age'.
my friend shared with me that this command was only given to the first 12 disciples and they carried it out, with the result that many, if not all of them were martyred and it no longer applies to us. he also shared that the first word, GO, was not an imperative (ie. command). these remarks led me to look again at the Greek New Testament resulting in the above discoveries. THE COMMAND IS NOT 'TO GO' (it is a participle which means, 'after going'). IT IS TO DISCIPLE.
the Apostle Paul, who met Jesus on the road to Damascus, was the thirteenth disciple who was directly given this command by Jesus. but the word 'disciple' is used several hundred times in the New Testament to describe the followers of Jesus. a good definition of a disciple is one who receives instruction and makes it the rule of his life....this may be wrong but, I think I have to go with the idea that every person who receives instruction from Jesus, given in the Bible, as well as, often, through the life and words of one of HIS DISCIPLES...and demonstrates this by consistently DOing WHAT JESUS SAYS...which would include teaching others to keep Jesus' commandments.
oh Lord, show me if this is wrong and if it is right, show me how to do this in such a way that other people will keep Your commandments too. in Jesus' name I pray. if I fail in this I am of all men most miserable, FOR THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WORTH LIVING FOR...BUT YOU DEAREST LORD JESUS!!!!!!
REPENT for the kingdom of heaven is at hand - MATTHEW 3.1...John the Baptist who acknowledged Jesus in 3.11,14
TELL SATAN 'BEGONE!' (following Jesus' example) when
he seeks to pervert the Bible's intended meaning MATT. 4.6 and
encourage obedience to himself rather than to Jesus only, MATT. 4.10
REPENT for the kingdom of heaven is at hand - MATT. 4.17
FOLLOW Me and I will make you fishers of men, v. 19
REJOICE and BE GLAD MATT. 5.12 for your reward is great in heaven (when men
cast insults at you and
persecute you and
say all kinds of evil against you falsely, ON ACCOUNT OF ME).
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE before men in such a way that they may
see your good works and
glorify your Father who is in heaven. MATT. 5.16
DO NOT THINK that I came to abolish the Law; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. MATT. 5.17
If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
LEAVE YOUR OFFERING THERE BEFORE THE ALTAR and
GO YOUR WAY;
FIRST, BE RECONCILED TO your brother and then
COME and
PRESENT your offering. MATT. 5.24
MAKE FRIENDS QUICKLY WITH YOUR OPPONENT AT LAW WHILE YOU ARE WITH HIM ON THE WAY MATT. 5.25
You have heard...YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY (but I say to you, that everyone who LOOKS ON A WOMAN TO LUST FOR HER has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
MATT. 5.28
and IF YOUR RIGHT EYE MAKES YOU STUMBLE , TEAR IT OUT AND THROW IT FROM YOU; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell. MATT. 5.29
and IF YOUR RIGHT HAND... (see above) MATT. 5.30
MAKE NO OATH AT ALL.. MATT. 5.34
... BUT LET YOUR STATEMENT BE, 'YES,(note- means) YES' OR 'NO,(note- means) NO' and anything beyond these is of evil. (note- DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO.)
'YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH'. MATT. 5.38 But I say to you, DO NOT RESIST HIM WHO IS EVIL' MATT. 5.39
but WHOEVER SLAPS YOU ON YOUR RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO.
'AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO SUE YOU AND TAKE YOUR SHIRT,
LET HIM HAVE YOUR COAT ALSO. MATT. 5.40
'AND WHOEVER SHALL FORCE YOU TO GO ONE MILE, GO WITH HIM TWO. MATT. 5.41
GIVE TO HIM WHO ASKS OF YOU
AND DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM WHO WANTS TO BORROW FROM YOU. MATT. 5.42
You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. but I say to you,
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES and
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU in order that you may be sons of your Father...MATT. 44-45
..YOU ARE TO BE PERFECT, AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT. MATT. 5.48
BEWARE OF PRACTICING YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE MEN TO BE NOTICED BY THEM; otherwise you have no reward in heaven. MATT. 6.1
WHEN...YOU GIVE ALMS, DO NOT SOUND A TRUMPET BEFORE YOU, as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets, that they may be honored by men...,MATT. 6.2
...WHEN YOU GIVE ALMS, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING. MATT. 6.3
...WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR INNER ROOM A WHEN YOU HAVE SHUT YOUR DOOR PRAY TO YOUR FATHER who sees...MATT. 6.4
and WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU ARE NOT TO BE AS THE HYPOCRITES; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men..MATT. 6.5
...WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR INNER ROOM AND
WHEN YOU HAVE SHUT THE DOOR PRAY...MATT. 6.6
AND WHEN YOU ARE PRAYING, DO NOT USE MEANINGLESS REPETITION as the Gentiles do for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. MATT. 6.7
THEREFORE 'DO NOT BE' LIKE THEM, for your father knows what you need, before you ask Him. MATT. 6.8
'PRAY', THEN, IN THIS WAY (MATT. 6.9)
Our Father who art in heaven,
HALLOWED BE Thy name
Thy Kingdom COME
Thy will BE DONE on earth as it is in heaven.
GIVE us this day our daily bread.
and FORGIVE us our debts as we forgive our debtors
and DO NOT LEAD us into temptation,
but DELIVER us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.
AND WHENEVER YOU FAST, 'DO NOT PUT ON' A GLOOMY FACE as the hypocrites do. MATT. 6.16
...WHEN YOU FAST, 'ANOINT' YOUR HEAD WITH OIL
AND 'WASH' YOUR FACE. MATT. 6.17
so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father. MATT. 6.18
'DO NOT LAY UP' FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. MATT. 6.19
but 'LAY UP' FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal;
YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. MATT. 6.24 (note - not stated as a command, but rather as an impossibility, and therefore with the force of a command....'it's just not possible' in this case equals 'DO NOT SERVE MAMMON')
....'DO NOT BE ANXIOUS' FOR YOUR LIFE, as to what you shall eat and what you shall drink,
NOR FOR YOUR BODY as to what you put on..MATT. 6.25
'LOOK AT' THE BIRDS OF THE AIR..they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly father feeds them...MATT. 6.26
'OBSERVE' HOW THE LILIES OF THE FIELD GROW, they do not toil nor do they spin...MATT. 6.28
'DO NOT BE ANXIOUS' THEN SAYING what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or 'with what shall we clothe ourselves? MATT. 6.31
'SEEK' FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all these things shall be added to you. MATT. 6.33
therefore 'DO NOT BE ANXIOUS FOR' TOMORROW; for tomorrow will care for itself. each day has enough trouble of its own. MATT. 6.34
'DO NOT JUDGE', LEST YOU BE JUDGED. MATT. 7.1 for in the way you judge, you will be judged and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. v2
You hypocrite, FIRST 'TAKE THE LOG OUT' OF YOUR OWN EYE and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. MATT. 7.5
DO NOT GIVE WHAT IS HOLY TO DOGS and
'DO NOT THROW' YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces. MATT. 7.6
ASK and it shall be given you;
SEEK and you will find;
KNOCK and it will be opened to you. MATT. 7.7
THEREFORE HOWEVER YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TREAT YOU, SO 'TREAT' THEM,
Friday, February 10, 2017
1.10.2017 GL#8 IDENTIFICATION
31 as our thinking moves along from the Substitutionary (birth) truths, on to the Identification (growth) truths, it might be good to consider briefly what leaders, honored of God through the years, have to say about identification, as centered in Romans 6.
Evan H. Hopkins: 'THE TROUBLE OF THE BELIEVER WHO KNOWS CHRIST AS HIS JUSTIFICATION IS NOT SIN AS TO ITS GUILT, BUT SIN AS TO ITS RULING POWER. in other wards, it is not from sin as a load, or an offense, that he seeks to be freed - for he sees that God has completely acquitted him from the charge and penalty of sin - but it is from sin as a master. to know God's way of deliverance from sin as a master he must apprehend the truth contained in the 6th chapter of Romans. there we see what god has done, not with our sins - that question the apostle dealt with in the preceding chapters - but with ourselves, the agents and slaves of sin. He has put our old man - our original self - where He put our sins, namely, on the cross with Christ. 'knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him'. Romans 6.6 the believer there sees not only that Christ died for him - substitution - but that he died with Christ - identification. (thoughts of life and godliness, p. 50)
Andrew Murray: 'Like Christ, the believer too has died to sin; he is one with Christ, in the likeness of His death. Romans 6.5 and as the knowledge that Christ died for sin as our atonement is indispensable to our justification; so that knowledge that Christ and we with Him in the likeness of His death, are dead to sin, is indispensable to our sanctification. (Like Christ, p. 176)
32 J. Hudson Taylor: 'since Christ has thus dwelt in my heart by faith, how happy I have been! I am dead and buried with Christ ay, and risen too! and now 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. nor should we look upon this experience, these truths, as for the few they are the birthright of every child of God and no one can dispense with them without dishonoring our Lord' (Spiritual Secret, p.116)
William R. Newell: 'to those who refuse or neglect to reckon themselves dead to sin as God commands, we press the question, how are you able to believe that Christ really bare the guilt of your sins and that you will not meet them at the judgment day? it is only God's word that tells you that Christ bare your sins in His own body on the tree. and it is that same Word that tells you that you as connected with Adam, died with Christ, that your old man was crucified, that since you are in Christ you shared His death unto sin and are thus to reckon your present revelation to sin in Christ - as one who is dead to it and alive unto God. (Romans, Verse by Verse, p227)
Lewis Sperry Chafer: 'the theme under consideration is concerned with the death of Christ as that death is related to the divined judgments of the sin nature in the child of God the necessity for such judgments and the sublime revelation that these judgments are now fully accomplished for us is unfolded in Romans 6:1-10. this passage is the foundation as well as the key to the possibility of a 'walk in the Spirit'. (He that is Spiritual, p. 154)
R. Paxson: 'the old'I' in you and me was judicially crucified with Christ. 'Ye died' and your death dates from the death of Christ 'the old man', the old 'self' in god's reckoning was taken to the cross with Christ and crucified and taken into the tomb with Christ and buried. assurance of deliverance from the sphere of the 'flesh' and of the dethronement of 'the old man' rests upon the apprehension and acceptance of this fact of co-crucifixion' (Life on the Highest Plane, Vol, II, pp. 78, 79)
Watchman Nee: 'our sins were dealt with by the blood, we
33 ourselves are dealt with by the cross. the blood procures our pardon, the cross procures deliverance from what we are in Adam. the blood can wash away myt sins, but it cannot wash away my old man: I need the cross to crucify me - the sinner'. (The Normal Christian Life, p.25)
L.E. Maxwell: 'believers in Christ were joined to Him at the cross, united to Him in death and resurrection. we died with Christ. He died for us and we died with Him. this is a great fact, true of all believers'. (Christian Victory, p.11)
F.J. Huegel: 'if the great Luther, with his stirring message of justification by faith, had with paul moved on from Romans 5 to Romans 6 with its amazing declarations concerning the now justified sinner's position of identification with his crucified Lord, would not a stifled Protestantism be on higher ground today? might it not be free from its ulcerous fleshiness?' (The Cross of Christ, p. 84)
Norman B. Harrison: 'this is the distinctive mark of the christian - the experience of the cross. not merely that Christ died for us, but that we died with Him. 'knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him'. Romans 6.6 (His Side Versus Our Side)
Alexander R. Hay: 'the believer has been united with Christ in His death. in this union with Christ, the flesh, 'the body of sin - the entire fallen, sin-ruined being with its intelligence, will and desires - is judged and crucified. by faith, the believer reckons (counts) himself 'dead unto sin'. Romans 6.3-14 (N.T. Order for Church and Missionary, p.310)
T. Austin-Sparks: 'the first phase of our spiritual experience may be a great and overflowing joy, with a marvelous sense of emancipation. in this phase extravagant things are often said as to total deliverance and final victory. then there may, and often does, come a phase of which inward conflict is the chief feature. it may be very much of a Romans 7 experience. this well lead, under the Lord's hand, to the fuller knowledge of the meaning of identification with Christ, as in Romans 6. happy the man who has been instructed in this from the beginning. (What Is Man? p. 61)
J. Penn-Lewis: 'if the difference between 'Christ dying for us' and 'our dying with Him', has not been recognized,
34 acknowledged and applied, it may safely be affirmed that the self is still the dominating factor in the life'. (memoir, p. 26)
William Culbertson: 'who died on the cross? of course, our blessed Lord died on the cross; but who else died there? 'knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him'. Romans 6.6-8 (God's Provision for Holy Living, p. 46)
Reginald Wallis: 'God says in effect, 'My child, as you reckoned on the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, now go a step farther and reckon on His representative worked for your victory day by day.' You believe the Lord Jesus died for your sins because God said so. now take the next step. accept by faith the further fact that you died with Him, ie. that your 'old man was crucified with Him.' (The New Life, p. 51)
James R. McConkey: 'because He died 'death hath no more dominion over Him', and because of our union with Him 'sin shall not have dominion over you', even though it is present in you. our 'reckoning' ourselves dead to sin in Jesus Christ does not make it a fact - it is already a fact through our union with Him. our reckoning it to be true only makes us begin to realize the fact in experience.
(The Way of Victory, p. 16)
Evan H. Hopkins: 'THE TROUBLE OF THE BELIEVER WHO KNOWS CHRIST AS HIS JUSTIFICATION IS NOT SIN AS TO ITS GUILT, BUT SIN AS TO ITS RULING POWER. in other wards, it is not from sin as a load, or an offense, that he seeks to be freed - for he sees that God has completely acquitted him from the charge and penalty of sin - but it is from sin as a master. to know God's way of deliverance from sin as a master he must apprehend the truth contained in the 6th chapter of Romans. there we see what god has done, not with our sins - that question the apostle dealt with in the preceding chapters - but with ourselves, the agents and slaves of sin. He has put our old man - our original self - where He put our sins, namely, on the cross with Christ. 'knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him'. Romans 6.6 the believer there sees not only that Christ died for him - substitution - but that he died with Christ - identification. (thoughts of life and godliness, p. 50)
Andrew Murray: 'Like Christ, the believer too has died to sin; he is one with Christ, in the likeness of His death. Romans 6.5 and as the knowledge that Christ died for sin as our atonement is indispensable to our justification; so that knowledge that Christ and we with Him in the likeness of His death, are dead to sin, is indispensable to our sanctification. (Like Christ, p. 176)
32 J. Hudson Taylor: 'since Christ has thus dwelt in my heart by faith, how happy I have been! I am dead and buried with Christ ay, and risen too! and now 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. nor should we look upon this experience, these truths, as for the few they are the birthright of every child of God and no one can dispense with them without dishonoring our Lord' (Spiritual Secret, p.116)
William R. Newell: 'to those who refuse or neglect to reckon themselves dead to sin as God commands, we press the question, how are you able to believe that Christ really bare the guilt of your sins and that you will not meet them at the judgment day? it is only God's word that tells you that Christ bare your sins in His own body on the tree. and it is that same Word that tells you that you as connected with Adam, died with Christ, that your old man was crucified, that since you are in Christ you shared His death unto sin and are thus to reckon your present revelation to sin in Christ - as one who is dead to it and alive unto God. (Romans, Verse by Verse, p227)
Lewis Sperry Chafer: 'the theme under consideration is concerned with the death of Christ as that death is related to the divined judgments of the sin nature in the child of God the necessity for such judgments and the sublime revelation that these judgments are now fully accomplished for us is unfolded in Romans 6:1-10. this passage is the foundation as well as the key to the possibility of a 'walk in the Spirit'. (He that is Spiritual, p. 154)
R. Paxson: 'the old'I' in you and me was judicially crucified with Christ. 'Ye died' and your death dates from the death of Christ 'the old man', the old 'self' in god's reckoning was taken to the cross with Christ and crucified and taken into the tomb with Christ and buried. assurance of deliverance from the sphere of the 'flesh' and of the dethronement of 'the old man' rests upon the apprehension and acceptance of this fact of co-crucifixion' (Life on the Highest Plane, Vol, II, pp. 78, 79)
Watchman Nee: 'our sins were dealt with by the blood, we
33 ourselves are dealt with by the cross. the blood procures our pardon, the cross procures deliverance from what we are in Adam. the blood can wash away myt sins, but it cannot wash away my old man: I need the cross to crucify me - the sinner'. (The Normal Christian Life, p.25)
L.E. Maxwell: 'believers in Christ were joined to Him at the cross, united to Him in death and resurrection. we died with Christ. He died for us and we died with Him. this is a great fact, true of all believers'. (Christian Victory, p.11)
F.J. Huegel: 'if the great Luther, with his stirring message of justification by faith, had with paul moved on from Romans 5 to Romans 6 with its amazing declarations concerning the now justified sinner's position of identification with his crucified Lord, would not a stifled Protestantism be on higher ground today? might it not be free from its ulcerous fleshiness?' (The Cross of Christ, p. 84)
Norman B. Harrison: 'this is the distinctive mark of the christian - the experience of the cross. not merely that Christ died for us, but that we died with Him. 'knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him'. Romans 6.6 (His Side Versus Our Side)
Alexander R. Hay: 'the believer has been united with Christ in His death. in this union with Christ, the flesh, 'the body of sin - the entire fallen, sin-ruined being with its intelligence, will and desires - is judged and crucified. by faith, the believer reckons (counts) himself 'dead unto sin'. Romans 6.3-14 (N.T. Order for Church and Missionary, p.310)
T. Austin-Sparks: 'the first phase of our spiritual experience may be a great and overflowing joy, with a marvelous sense of emancipation. in this phase extravagant things are often said as to total deliverance and final victory. then there may, and often does, come a phase of which inward conflict is the chief feature. it may be very much of a Romans 7 experience. this well lead, under the Lord's hand, to the fuller knowledge of the meaning of identification with Christ, as in Romans 6. happy the man who has been instructed in this from the beginning. (What Is Man? p. 61)
J. Penn-Lewis: 'if the difference between 'Christ dying for us' and 'our dying with Him', has not been recognized,
34 acknowledged and applied, it may safely be affirmed that the self is still the dominating factor in the life'. (memoir, p. 26)
William Culbertson: 'who died on the cross? of course, our blessed Lord died on the cross; but who else died there? 'knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him'. Romans 6.6-8 (God's Provision for Holy Living, p. 46)
Reginald Wallis: 'God says in effect, 'My child, as you reckoned on the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, now go a step farther and reckon on His representative worked for your victory day by day.' You believe the Lord Jesus died for your sins because God said so. now take the next step. accept by faith the further fact that you died with Him, ie. that your 'old man was crucified with Him.' (The New Life, p. 51)
James R. McConkey: 'because He died 'death hath no more dominion over Him', and because of our union with Him 'sin shall not have dominion over you', even though it is present in you. our 'reckoning' ourselves dead to sin in Jesus Christ does not make it a fact - it is already a fact through our union with Him. our reckoning it to be true only makes us begin to realize the fact in experience.
(The Way of Victory, p. 16)
1.10.2017 GL#7 APPROPRIATION
27 here is an important subject that has to do with faith and the practical reception of that for which we are able to trust Him. appropriation (def - suitable for a particular person, purpose, occasion ..from latin appropriatus made one's own) does not necessarily mean to gain something new, but to set aside for our practical possession something that already belongs to us.
to appropriate something for our daily walk in Christ, we face 2 essentials: to see what is already ours in Christ; and to be aware of our need for it. on these 2 factors rests the ability to appropriate, to reach out in steadfast faith and receive what belongs to us in our Lord Jesus Christ.
regarding the first essential, to SEE what is already ours, William R. Newell wrote: 'Paul does not ask a thing of the saints in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians but just to listen while he proclaims that wondrous series of great and eternal FACTS concerning them and not until he has completed this catalogue of realities about them does he ask them to do anything at all!
'and when he does open his plea for their high walk as saints, everything is based on the revelation before given - the facts of their high character and destiny as saints: 'I therefore... beseech you that ye walked worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called ( ephesians 4.1). let us cease laying down to the saints long lists of 'conditions' of entering into the blessed life in Christ; and instead, as the primal preparation for leading them into the experience of this life, show them what their position, possessions and privileges in Christ already are. thus shall we truly work with the Holy Spirit and thus shall we have more and much more abiding fruit of our labors among the people of God.'
once we see what is ours in Christ Jesus, practical need will cause us to appropriate, to receive the answer to that need. 'there was a supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ' for paul and that made it possible for Christ to be magnified in him. it was a supply which was always available, but only appreciated and appropriated as and when the Apostle came to know his need. life is meant to bring a succession of discoveries of our need of Christ and with every such discovery the way is opened for a new inflow of the supply. this is the explanation of so much that we cannot otherwise understand - this plunging of us into new tests where only a fresh supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ will beet out need. and as our need is met, as we prove the sufficiency of Christ to meet our inward need, so there can be a new showing forth of His glory through us. (HF)
these two realities of seeing and needing bring us from childish meandering into a responsible, specific walk of faith. they take us from the 'help me' attitude to that of giving thanks; from begging to appropriation...
30 ..now we have seen a third element involved in our appropriation. after we have seen our possessions in Christ and become aware of our need, then we must give Him the necessary time to work the appropriation into our everyday walk. if we are looking for our needs to be met in the next interview, the next devotional book, the next series of special meetings, the next hoped-for 'revival', then reality will never come.
in this matter of christian development, there is no shortcut, no quick and easy way. the Husbandman builds into the believer that which He intends to minister through him to others. to minister Life to others, what one does and says must flow from what he is. 'for it pleased the Father that in Him (Christ Jesus) should all fullness dwell'; 'for we are made partakers of Christ'; 'that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God'; 'for your life is hidden with Christ in God'; 'that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh' (Col. 1.19; Heb. 3.14; Eph. 3.19; Col. 3.3; II cor. 4.11b)
how often we simply admire and talk about truths the Holy Spirit reveals to us in the Word, whereas His primary purpose in giving them to us is that we might stand on them in faith, waiting confidently for Him to make them an integral part of our life. 'A prophet is one who has a history, one who has been dealt with by God, one who has experienced the formative work of the Spirit. we are sometimes asked by would-be preachers who many days should be spent in preparation of a sermon. the answer: at least 10 years and probably nearer 20! for the preacher matters to God at least as much as the thing preached. God chooses as His prophets those in whom He has already worked what He intends to use as His message for today'.
to appropriate something for our daily walk in Christ, we face 2 essentials: to see what is already ours in Christ; and to be aware of our need for it. on these 2 factors rests the ability to appropriate, to reach out in steadfast faith and receive what belongs to us in our Lord Jesus Christ.
regarding the first essential, to SEE what is already ours, William R. Newell wrote: 'Paul does not ask a thing of the saints in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians but just to listen while he proclaims that wondrous series of great and eternal FACTS concerning them and not until he has completed this catalogue of realities about them does he ask them to do anything at all!
'and when he does open his plea for their high walk as saints, everything is based on the revelation before given - the facts of their high character and destiny as saints: 'I therefore... beseech you that ye walked worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called ( ephesians 4.1). let us cease laying down to the saints long lists of 'conditions' of entering into the blessed life in Christ; and instead, as the primal preparation for leading them into the experience of this life, show them what their position, possessions and privileges in Christ already are. thus shall we truly work with the Holy Spirit and thus shall we have more and much more abiding fruit of our labors among the people of God.'
once we see what is ours in Christ Jesus, practical need will cause us to appropriate, to receive the answer to that need. 'there was a supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ' for paul and that made it possible for Christ to be magnified in him. it was a supply which was always available, but only appreciated and appropriated as and when the Apostle came to know his need. life is meant to bring a succession of discoveries of our need of Christ and with every such discovery the way is opened for a new inflow of the supply. this is the explanation of so much that we cannot otherwise understand - this plunging of us into new tests where only a fresh supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ will beet out need. and as our need is met, as we prove the sufficiency of Christ to meet our inward need, so there can be a new showing forth of His glory through us. (HF)
these two realities of seeing and needing bring us from childish meandering into a responsible, specific walk of faith. they take us from the 'help me' attitude to that of giving thanks; from begging to appropriation...
30 ..now we have seen a third element involved in our appropriation. after we have seen our possessions in Christ and become aware of our need, then we must give Him the necessary time to work the appropriation into our everyday walk. if we are looking for our needs to be met in the next interview, the next devotional book, the next series of special meetings, the next hoped-for 'revival', then reality will never come.
in this matter of christian development, there is no shortcut, no quick and easy way. the Husbandman builds into the believer that which He intends to minister through him to others. to minister Life to others, what one does and says must flow from what he is. 'for it pleased the Father that in Him (Christ Jesus) should all fullness dwell'; 'for we are made partakers of Christ'; 'that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God'; 'for your life is hidden with Christ in God'; 'that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh' (Col. 1.19; Heb. 3.14; Eph. 3.19; Col. 3.3; II cor. 4.11b)
how often we simply admire and talk about truths the Holy Spirit reveals to us in the Word, whereas His primary purpose in giving them to us is that we might stand on them in faith, waiting confidently for Him to make them an integral part of our life. 'A prophet is one who has a history, one who has been dealt with by God, one who has experienced the formative work of the Spirit. we are sometimes asked by would-be preachers who many days should be spent in preparation of a sermon. the answer: at least 10 years and probably nearer 20! for the preacher matters to God at least as much as the thing preached. God chooses as His prophets those in whom He has already worked what He intends to use as His message for today'.
1.10.2017 GL#6 COMPLETE IN HIM
23 We continue to deal with foundational facts, since the life can be no better than its roots, its source. youth and immaturity tend to act first and think later, if at all. maturity has learned to take time to assess the facts. our patient Husbandman is willing for us to take time and learn the eternal facts, without which we cannot be brought to maturity.
our Lord Jesus so often uses natural facts to teach us the deepest spiritual truths. He first teaches us about our natural, Adamic life before we can understand and appreciate our new spiritual, Christ-life. this involves the vital source principle -'after his kind'. every believer first learns that he is complete in Adam - he sprang from him: he is like him. 'for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. Romans 5.19a 'for I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing'. Rom. 7.18a when, through our failures and struggles, he has taught us about the natural, we will be ready to learn of our spiritual Source. 'by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. 5.19 'for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. and ye are complete in Him. Colossians 2.9-10a
there are two main aspects to this source principle. first, the Lord Jesus is the Source of our Christian life - we were born into Him; God has made us complete in Him. this truth we are to hold by faith; it is true of each of us. 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...'II corinthinans 5.17a second, as we hold to this fact by faith, we are brought into the practical reality of it day by day in our experience. little by little we receive what is already ours. the important thing to know and be sure of is that all is ours, we are complete in Him NOW. this fact enables us to hold still while He patiently works
24 into our character that life of ours which is hid with Christ in God.
'progress is only advancing in the knowledge, the spiritual knowledge, of what we really possess at the outset. it is like ascending a ladder. the ladder is grace. the first step is, we believe, that the Lord Jesus was sent of god; second, that in the fullness of His work we are justified; third, we make His acquaintance; fourth, we come to see Him in heaven; we know our association with Him there, and His power here; fifth, we learn the mystery, the great things we are entitled to because of being His body; sixth, that we are seated in heavenly places in Christ; seventh, lost in wonder and in praise in the knowledge of Himself. (JBStony)
since we are complete in our Lord Jesus, it will not do to try and add to that finished work. it is now a matter of walking by faith and receiving, appropriating, from the ever-abundant source within. walter marshall is concise here: 'Christ's resurrection was our resurrection to a life of holiness, as Adam's fall was our fall into spiritual death. and we are not ourselves the first makers and formers of our new holy nature, any more than of our original corruption, but both are formed ready for us to partake of them. and by union with Christ, we partake of that spiritual life that He took possession of for us at His resurrection and thereby we are enabled to bring forth the fruits of it; as the Scripture showeth by the similitude of a marriage union. romans 7.4; 'Married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God'.
our part is not production, but reception of our life in Christ. this entails Bible-based fact finding; explicit faith in Him and His purpose for us in Christ; and patient trust while He takes us through the necessary processing involved. no believer ever fell into maturity, even though he is complete in Christ. SPIRITUAL GROWTH NECESSITATES HEART-HUNGER FOR THE LORD JESUS. determination, based on assurance, to have that which is ours in Him, plus meditation and thought. we will never come into the knowledge of our spiritual possessions through a superficial understanding of the Word. how can we ever expect to have intimate fellowship with One of whom we know little?
25 the following truth may be a good opportunity to exercise and develop some of that meditation and thought. 'what is needed is a mediation, in which God concentrates His own peculiar Spirit and Life as a principle in a human individual to be personally appropriated. in a revelation, which is really to translate the divine into man's individual personal life, in truth, to form men to God, the divine as such - that is, as a personal life - must first be embodied in a personal center in humanity. for this reason, as soon as something strictly new is concerned, something that in its peculiarity has not yet existed, every new type of life, before it can multiply itself to a number of specimens, must first have its full contents combined in perfect unity, in an adequate new principle. and so, for the making personal of the divine among men, the first thing needed is one in whom the principle of the divine life has become personal.
'christianity concentrates the whole fullness of revelation in the one human personality of Jesus Christ as Mediator - that is, as the mediating central principle of the new Divine organism, in its fullness of spirit and life, in and for the human personal life. with the entrance of Christ into the human individual, the Divine life becomes immanent in us, not in its universal world-relation, but as a personal principle, begotten of God. and with the growing transformation of the individual into the life-type of Christ there is perfected the development of the personal life out of god, in God and to God - the development not only of a moral or theocratic communion, but a communion of nature. (JT Beck)
a seed embodies in full the reproduction of the life from which it came. that much is complete and can never be added to. 'being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible. (I Peter 1.23a) 'thou shalt not sow that field with mingled seed. leviticus 19:19 it is to be 'not I, but Christ.'
the Seed has been implanted - now the entire question is one of growth and maturity. this alone will bring forth fruit that abides. 'the development of the divine life in the Christian is like the natural growth in the vegetable world. we do not need to make any special effort, only place ourselves under the conditions favorable to such growth.
26 only those who have sought to grow by effort and failed are in the position to appreciate the fact that God is the aggressor in the realm of development. 'all the powers of Deity which have already wrought together in the accomplishment of the first part of the eternal purpose, the revealing of the Father's perfect likeness in the man Christ Jesus, are equally engaged to accomplish the second part and work that likeness in each of God's children. William Law agrees: 'a root set in the finest soil, in the best climate and blessed with all that sun and air and rain can do for it, is not so sure a way of its growth to perfection, as every man may be whose spirit aspires after all that which God is ready and infinitely desirous to give him. for the sun meets not the springing bud that stretches toward him with half that certainty as god, the Source of all good, communicates Himself to the soul that longs to partake of Him.
not only is our life complete in Him, but likewise the essential victory in all the many exigencies of that life. 'when you fight to get victory, then you have lost the battle at the very outset. suppose the Enemy assaults you in your home or in your business. he creates a situation with which you cannot possibly deal. what do you do? your first instinct is to prepare yourself for a big battle and then pray to God to Give you the victory in it. but if you do so defeat is sure, for you have given up the ground that is yours in Christ. by the attitude you have taken you have relinquished it to the Enemy. what then should you do when he attacks? you should simply look up and praise the Lord. 'Lord, I am faced with a situation that I cannot possibly meet. Tine enemy the Devil has brought it about to compass my downfall, but I praise Thee that Thy victory is an all-inclusive victory. it covers this situation, too. I praise Thee that I have already full victory in this matter'.
PS. Don't rush - He won't. 'the japanese artist, Hokusai, said, 'from the age of 6 I had a mania fro drawing the forms of things. by the time i was 50 I had published an infinity of designs: but nothing I produced before 70 is worth considering'. He died at 89, declaring that if he could have only another 5 years he would have become a great artist.
our Lord Jesus so often uses natural facts to teach us the deepest spiritual truths. He first teaches us about our natural, Adamic life before we can understand and appreciate our new spiritual, Christ-life. this involves the vital source principle -'after his kind'. every believer first learns that he is complete in Adam - he sprang from him: he is like him. 'for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. Romans 5.19a 'for I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing'. Rom. 7.18a when, through our failures and struggles, he has taught us about the natural, we will be ready to learn of our spiritual Source. 'by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. 5.19 'for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. and ye are complete in Him. Colossians 2.9-10a
there are two main aspects to this source principle. first, the Lord Jesus is the Source of our Christian life - we were born into Him; God has made us complete in Him. this truth we are to hold by faith; it is true of each of us. 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...'II corinthinans 5.17a second, as we hold to this fact by faith, we are brought into the practical reality of it day by day in our experience. little by little we receive what is already ours. the important thing to know and be sure of is that all is ours, we are complete in Him NOW. this fact enables us to hold still while He patiently works
24 into our character that life of ours which is hid with Christ in God.
'progress is only advancing in the knowledge, the spiritual knowledge, of what we really possess at the outset. it is like ascending a ladder. the ladder is grace. the first step is, we believe, that the Lord Jesus was sent of god; second, that in the fullness of His work we are justified; third, we make His acquaintance; fourth, we come to see Him in heaven; we know our association with Him there, and His power here; fifth, we learn the mystery, the great things we are entitled to because of being His body; sixth, that we are seated in heavenly places in Christ; seventh, lost in wonder and in praise in the knowledge of Himself. (JBStony)
since we are complete in our Lord Jesus, it will not do to try and add to that finished work. it is now a matter of walking by faith and receiving, appropriating, from the ever-abundant source within. walter marshall is concise here: 'Christ's resurrection was our resurrection to a life of holiness, as Adam's fall was our fall into spiritual death. and we are not ourselves the first makers and formers of our new holy nature, any more than of our original corruption, but both are formed ready for us to partake of them. and by union with Christ, we partake of that spiritual life that He took possession of for us at His resurrection and thereby we are enabled to bring forth the fruits of it; as the Scripture showeth by the similitude of a marriage union. romans 7.4; 'Married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God'.
our part is not production, but reception of our life in Christ. this entails Bible-based fact finding; explicit faith in Him and His purpose for us in Christ; and patient trust while He takes us through the necessary processing involved. no believer ever fell into maturity, even though he is complete in Christ. SPIRITUAL GROWTH NECESSITATES HEART-HUNGER FOR THE LORD JESUS. determination, based on assurance, to have that which is ours in Him, plus meditation and thought. we will never come into the knowledge of our spiritual possessions through a superficial understanding of the Word. how can we ever expect to have intimate fellowship with One of whom we know little?
25 the following truth may be a good opportunity to exercise and develop some of that meditation and thought. 'what is needed is a mediation, in which God concentrates His own peculiar Spirit and Life as a principle in a human individual to be personally appropriated. in a revelation, which is really to translate the divine into man's individual personal life, in truth, to form men to God, the divine as such - that is, as a personal life - must first be embodied in a personal center in humanity. for this reason, as soon as something strictly new is concerned, something that in its peculiarity has not yet existed, every new type of life, before it can multiply itself to a number of specimens, must first have its full contents combined in perfect unity, in an adequate new principle. and so, for the making personal of the divine among men, the first thing needed is one in whom the principle of the divine life has become personal.
'christianity concentrates the whole fullness of revelation in the one human personality of Jesus Christ as Mediator - that is, as the mediating central principle of the new Divine organism, in its fullness of spirit and life, in and for the human personal life. with the entrance of Christ into the human individual, the Divine life becomes immanent in us, not in its universal world-relation, but as a personal principle, begotten of God. and with the growing transformation of the individual into the life-type of Christ there is perfected the development of the personal life out of god, in God and to God - the development not only of a moral or theocratic communion, but a communion of nature. (JT Beck)
a seed embodies in full the reproduction of the life from which it came. that much is complete and can never be added to. 'being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible. (I Peter 1.23a) 'thou shalt not sow that field with mingled seed. leviticus 19:19 it is to be 'not I, but Christ.'
the Seed has been implanted - now the entire question is one of growth and maturity. this alone will bring forth fruit that abides. 'the development of the divine life in the Christian is like the natural growth in the vegetable world. we do not need to make any special effort, only place ourselves under the conditions favorable to such growth.
26 only those who have sought to grow by effort and failed are in the position to appreciate the fact that God is the aggressor in the realm of development. 'all the powers of Deity which have already wrought together in the accomplishment of the first part of the eternal purpose, the revealing of the Father's perfect likeness in the man Christ Jesus, are equally engaged to accomplish the second part and work that likeness in each of God's children. William Law agrees: 'a root set in the finest soil, in the best climate and blessed with all that sun and air and rain can do for it, is not so sure a way of its growth to perfection, as every man may be whose spirit aspires after all that which God is ready and infinitely desirous to give him. for the sun meets not the springing bud that stretches toward him with half that certainty as god, the Source of all good, communicates Himself to the soul that longs to partake of Him.
not only is our life complete in Him, but likewise the essential victory in all the many exigencies of that life. 'when you fight to get victory, then you have lost the battle at the very outset. suppose the Enemy assaults you in your home or in your business. he creates a situation with which you cannot possibly deal. what do you do? your first instinct is to prepare yourself for a big battle and then pray to God to Give you the victory in it. but if you do so defeat is sure, for you have given up the ground that is yours in Christ. by the attitude you have taken you have relinquished it to the Enemy. what then should you do when he attacks? you should simply look up and praise the Lord. 'Lord, I am faced with a situation that I cannot possibly meet. Tine enemy the Devil has brought it about to compass my downfall, but I praise Thee that Thy victory is an all-inclusive victory. it covers this situation, too. I praise Thee that I have already full victory in this matter'.
PS. Don't rush - He won't. 'the japanese artist, Hokusai, said, 'from the age of 6 I had a mania fro drawing the forms of things. by the time i was 50 I had published an infinity of designs: but nothing I produced before 70 is worth considering'. He died at 89, declaring that if he could have only another 5 years he would have become a great artist.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
2.7.2017 GL#5 PREPARATION
18 Once we know His eternal plan and purpose for us, plus His method of preparation and process to that end, there is rest and confidence. now it so happens that GOD'S BASIC INGREDIENT FOR GROWN IS NEED. without personal needs, we would get nowhere in our christian life. the reason our Rather creates and allows needs in our lives is to turn us from all that is outside of Christ, centering us in Him alone. 'Not I, but Christ'.
for both our growth and service it is all-essential that we see and understand this principle, which JB Stoney sets forth in a sentence: 'THE SOUL NEVER IMBIBES THE TRUTH IN LIVING POWER BUT AS IT REQUIRES IT'. as for our growth, needs cause us to reach out and appropriate by faith, from our Lord Jesus, what we require. and in the matter of service, in witnessing and helping others, WE MUST WATCH AND WAIT FOR THE HUNGRY AND NEEDY HEART, if there is to be abiding fruit. again Stoney says, 'the true value of anything is know only when it is wanted. JN Darby makes this doubly clear by writing, 'wisdom and philosophy never found out God; He makes Himself known to us through our needs; necessity finds Him out. I doubt much if we have ever learned anything solidly except we have learnt it thus.
in this light, our needs are invaluable ! we must face up to the fact that without spiritual hunger, we cannot feed on the Lord Jesus Christ. from our personal experience, Matthew 5.6 should mean much to every one of us - 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.' all too often believers are exhorted and even pressured to grow before there is an acute awareness of need,
19 before there is true spiritual hunger. and, sad to say, in most instances when there is real heart-hunger, very little spiritual food is offered. one of the main reasons for so much evangelistic effort and personal work coming to little or nothing is that truths are forced on the 'victim' to be saved before he is aware that he is lost. the work will soon come to naught unless an overpowering conviction of sin causes the lost to reach out with the grip of personal faith and find their need fully met in the Savior.
Watchman Nee puts first things first in saying, 'the Lord does not set us here first of all to preach or to do any work for Him.
THE FIRST THING FOR WHICH HE SETS US HERE IS TO CREATE HUNGER IN OTHERS.
no true work will ever begin without a sense of need being created. we cannot inject that into others; we cannot drive people to be hungry. that hunger is to be created and that hunger can be created only through those who carry the impressions of God'.
IN PREPARATION,THERE IS A TEARING DOWN BEFORE THERE CAN BE A BUILDING UP
'come and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn and He will heal us; He hath smitten and he will bind us up'. hosea 6.1 this applies to both growth and service.
JC Metcalfe faithfully writes: 'it is more than comforting to realize that it is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. this is not a call given to the gifted, the highly trained or the polished as such.
'WITHOUT (a) BITTER EXPERIENCE OF THEIR OWN INADEQUACY AND POVERTY THEY ARE QUITE UNFITTED TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF SPIRITUAL MINISTRY. it takes a man who has discovered something of the measures o f his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others. such a man also has a first hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd and his ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust in Him and Him alone. therefore HE DOES NOT EASILY DESPAIR OF OTHERS, BUT LOOKS BEYOND SINFULNESS, WILLFULNESS AND STUPIDITY, TO THE MIGHT OF UNCHANGING LOVE. The Lord Jesus does not give the charge, 'Be a shepherd to My lambs...to My sheep', on hearing Peter's self-confident affirmation of undying loyalty, but He gives it
20 after he has utterly failed to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem.
yes, there must be deep, thorough and long preparation if there is to be reality - if our life is to be Christ-centered, our work controlled by the Holy Spirit and our service glorifying to God. sooner or later the Holy spirit begins to make us aware of our basic problem as believers -the infinite difference between self and Christ. 'there are other laborers besides those who are seeking for pardon - for justification. there are laborers for sanctification - after personal holiness - after riddance of the power of the old Adam; and to such, as well as to those who are seeking after salvation, Christ promises, with this great 'I will. Matt. 11.28-30 it is highly possible for a man, after having found justifying rest in Christ, to enter upon a state of deep need as regards sanctifying rest. we think we shall not go far wrong if we say that this has been the experience of almost every believer who has ever lived.' PBPower
much of His preparation in our lives consists of setting up this struggle - our seeing self for what it is and then attempting to get free from its evil power and influence. for there is no hope of consistent abiding in the Lord Jesus as long as we are under the dominion of the self-life, in which 'dwelleth no good thing'. Romans 7.18a 'not in babyhood are we able to continually abide in His presence, regardless of our surroundings and that which we are doing. NOT WHEN WE SERVE HIM WITH INTERMITTENT ZEAL DOES OUR OWN SOUL GROW AND THRIVE; not when we are indifferent are we watered from the presence of the Lord. IT IS AFTER WE HAVE BEEN SUBDUED, REFINED AND CHASTENED; when love of self and the world is gone, that we learn to abide in touch with Him at all times and in all places or surroundings.
the value of both the struggle to free ourselves from the old Adam-life and the equally fruitless efforts to experience the new Adam-life, the Christ-life, is to finally realize that it is utterly futile. our personal, heart-breaking failure in every phase of our christian life is our Rather's preparation for His success on our behalf. this negative processing of His finally brings us into His positive promise of philippians 1.6, 'being
21 confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. His 'good work' in us is begun through failure and this includes our strongest points, which continues on into His success., by His performance and not ours. 'for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. philippians 2.13 there is no question but that we all began in sheer grace and we must continue and arrive on the very same basis: 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. galatians 5.1
charles trumbull said, 'the effortless life is not the will-less life. we use our will to believe, to receive, but not to exert effort in trying to accomplish what only god can do. our hope for victory over sin is not 'Christ plus my efforts', but Christ plus my receiving'. to receive victory from Him is to believe His Word that solely by His grace He is, this moment, freeing us from the dominion of sin. and to believe on Him in this way is to recognize that HE IS DOING FOR US WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES'. WE LEARNED THIS PRINCIPLE AT THE TIME OF OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH
AND IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF US HAVE TO LEARN IT ALL OVER AGAIN FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SERVICE. fear not, dear friend; just hold firm to the fact of His purpose for you in Christ and He will faithfully take you step by step into all the necessary preparation - He will do it. once you are sure of the purpose you can be equally positive of the preparation. simply remember that Romans 8. 28 and 29 go together and thank Him for philippians 1.6.
'the Lord is glorified in a people whose heart is set at any cost, by any road, upon the goal which is god Himself. a man who is thus minded says, 'By any road!' here is a very difficult road; a road beset by enemies, but the passionate desire for the goal will hold him steadfast in the way. it is the man who lacks the yearning to know Him that will easily be turned aside. along that road the Man Christ Jesus has already gone before, and at every point has overcome for us. we have not to climb up' we are to be brought through in the train of His triumph. every enemy has been met; every for as been overcome; there remains nothing in this
22 universe that is able to overcome the least child of God who has taken the hand of the Lord and said: 'Lord, bring me through to the place where Thou art, in virtue of the blood which Thou hast already taken through in victory'. there is great glory of the Lord in a quiet, confident walk in a day of adversity, a day of dread, when things about us are shaking and trembling (GP)
for both our growth and service it is all-essential that we see and understand this principle, which JB Stoney sets forth in a sentence: 'THE SOUL NEVER IMBIBES THE TRUTH IN LIVING POWER BUT AS IT REQUIRES IT'. as for our growth, needs cause us to reach out and appropriate by faith, from our Lord Jesus, what we require. and in the matter of service, in witnessing and helping others, WE MUST WATCH AND WAIT FOR THE HUNGRY AND NEEDY HEART, if there is to be abiding fruit. again Stoney says, 'the true value of anything is know only when it is wanted. JN Darby makes this doubly clear by writing, 'wisdom and philosophy never found out God; He makes Himself known to us through our needs; necessity finds Him out. I doubt much if we have ever learned anything solidly except we have learnt it thus.
in this light, our needs are invaluable ! we must face up to the fact that without spiritual hunger, we cannot feed on the Lord Jesus Christ. from our personal experience, Matthew 5.6 should mean much to every one of us - 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.' all too often believers are exhorted and even pressured to grow before there is an acute awareness of need,
19 before there is true spiritual hunger. and, sad to say, in most instances when there is real heart-hunger, very little spiritual food is offered. one of the main reasons for so much evangelistic effort and personal work coming to little or nothing is that truths are forced on the 'victim' to be saved before he is aware that he is lost. the work will soon come to naught unless an overpowering conviction of sin causes the lost to reach out with the grip of personal faith and find their need fully met in the Savior.
Watchman Nee puts first things first in saying, 'the Lord does not set us here first of all to preach or to do any work for Him.
THE FIRST THING FOR WHICH HE SETS US HERE IS TO CREATE HUNGER IN OTHERS.
no true work will ever begin without a sense of need being created. we cannot inject that into others; we cannot drive people to be hungry. that hunger is to be created and that hunger can be created only through those who carry the impressions of God'.
IN PREPARATION,THERE IS A TEARING DOWN BEFORE THERE CAN BE A BUILDING UP
'come and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn and He will heal us; He hath smitten and he will bind us up'. hosea 6.1 this applies to both growth and service.
JC Metcalfe faithfully writes: 'it is more than comforting to realize that it is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. this is not a call given to the gifted, the highly trained or the polished as such.
'WITHOUT (a) BITTER EXPERIENCE OF THEIR OWN INADEQUACY AND POVERTY THEY ARE QUITE UNFITTED TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF SPIRITUAL MINISTRY. it takes a man who has discovered something of the measures o f his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others. such a man also has a first hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd and his ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust in Him and Him alone. therefore HE DOES NOT EASILY DESPAIR OF OTHERS, BUT LOOKS BEYOND SINFULNESS, WILLFULNESS AND STUPIDITY, TO THE MIGHT OF UNCHANGING LOVE. The Lord Jesus does not give the charge, 'Be a shepherd to My lambs...to My sheep', on hearing Peter's self-confident affirmation of undying loyalty, but He gives it
20 after he has utterly failed to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem.
yes, there must be deep, thorough and long preparation if there is to be reality - if our life is to be Christ-centered, our work controlled by the Holy Spirit and our service glorifying to God. sooner or later the Holy spirit begins to make us aware of our basic problem as believers -the infinite difference between self and Christ. 'there are other laborers besides those who are seeking for pardon - for justification. there are laborers for sanctification - after personal holiness - after riddance of the power of the old Adam; and to such, as well as to those who are seeking after salvation, Christ promises, with this great 'I will. Matt. 11.28-30 it is highly possible for a man, after having found justifying rest in Christ, to enter upon a state of deep need as regards sanctifying rest. we think we shall not go far wrong if we say that this has been the experience of almost every believer who has ever lived.' PBPower
much of His preparation in our lives consists of setting up this struggle - our seeing self for what it is and then attempting to get free from its evil power and influence. for there is no hope of consistent abiding in the Lord Jesus as long as we are under the dominion of the self-life, in which 'dwelleth no good thing'. Romans 7.18a 'not in babyhood are we able to continually abide in His presence, regardless of our surroundings and that which we are doing. NOT WHEN WE SERVE HIM WITH INTERMITTENT ZEAL DOES OUR OWN SOUL GROW AND THRIVE; not when we are indifferent are we watered from the presence of the Lord. IT IS AFTER WE HAVE BEEN SUBDUED, REFINED AND CHASTENED; when love of self and the world is gone, that we learn to abide in touch with Him at all times and in all places or surroundings.
the value of both the struggle to free ourselves from the old Adam-life and the equally fruitless efforts to experience the new Adam-life, the Christ-life, is to finally realize that it is utterly futile. our personal, heart-breaking failure in every phase of our christian life is our Rather's preparation for His success on our behalf. this negative processing of His finally brings us into His positive promise of philippians 1.6, 'being
21 confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. His 'good work' in us is begun through failure and this includes our strongest points, which continues on into His success., by His performance and not ours. 'for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. philippians 2.13 there is no question but that we all began in sheer grace and we must continue and arrive on the very same basis: 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. galatians 5.1
charles trumbull said, 'the effortless life is not the will-less life. we use our will to believe, to receive, but not to exert effort in trying to accomplish what only god can do. our hope for victory over sin is not 'Christ plus my efforts', but Christ plus my receiving'. to receive victory from Him is to believe His Word that solely by His grace He is, this moment, freeing us from the dominion of sin. and to believe on Him in this way is to recognize that HE IS DOING FOR US WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES'. WE LEARNED THIS PRINCIPLE AT THE TIME OF OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH
AND IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF US HAVE TO LEARN IT ALL OVER AGAIN FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SERVICE. fear not, dear friend; just hold firm to the fact of His purpose for you in Christ and He will faithfully take you step by step into all the necessary preparation - He will do it. once you are sure of the purpose you can be equally positive of the preparation. simply remember that Romans 8. 28 and 29 go together and thank Him for philippians 1.6.
'the Lord is glorified in a people whose heart is set at any cost, by any road, upon the goal which is god Himself. a man who is thus minded says, 'By any road!' here is a very difficult road; a road beset by enemies, but the passionate desire for the goal will hold him steadfast in the way. it is the man who lacks the yearning to know Him that will easily be turned aside. along that road the Man Christ Jesus has already gone before, and at every point has overcome for us. we have not to climb up' we are to be brought through in the train of His triumph. every enemy has been met; every for as been overcome; there remains nothing in this
22 universe that is able to overcome the least child of God who has taken the hand of the Lord and said: 'Lord, bring me through to the place where Thou art, in virtue of the blood which Thou hast already taken through in victory'. there is great glory of the Lord in a quiet, confident walk in a day of adversity, a day of dread, when things about us are shaking and trembling (GP)
2.7.2017 "THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME I WILL TALK TO YOU IN MY RIGHT MIND"
in Voice of the Martyrs, February 2017
The Prison Pastor
'you will serve 10 years of hard time', the investigator said solemnly.
the elderly pastor would be almost 80 by the time he completed his sentence, and part of it, he learned, would be spent in a psychiatric ward.
Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev knew that prisoners in the psychiatric ward were routinely drugged, causing them to lose the abilities to even think or move. they would drug him to a point of losing his mind.
his heart sank. while he was not afraid to die, he didn't want his seven grandchildren to see him in that condition. death didn't scare him, but losing his mind did.
the 'Crime'
in may 2013 Pastor Kashkumbaev was arrested after being accused of harming the health of a church member at Grace Church, a legally registered church in Kazakhstan. authorities filed 5 charges against the pastor, including a charge of inciting religious hatred.
although the church member defended the pastor, saying the charges were unfounded, these were just the latest in a long series of allegations that had been hurled at the church and its pastor. state officials had previously accused the church of espionage, fraud, money laundering, distributing extremist texts and using hallucinogens during Communion. in 2012, officials had raided the church and confiscated computers, DVD's and books that the government considered extremist literature.
since gaining independence from the former Soviet union, Kazakhstan and other Central asian nations have tried to create a unified identity, in part by establishing islam as the prevailing societal influence, ethnic Kazakhs are expected to be muslim.
in 2011, the country adopted laws that required religious groups to re-register with the government
unregistered religious education and proselytism became illegal and the activities of registered groups were closely monitored and regulated. then, in 2012, new regulations were imposed on religious literature, resulting in the arrest and imprisonment of more christians.
any form of proselytism or distribution of literature that the government considers 'religious extremism' is strictly forbidden. therefore, churches and christians who actively witness for Christ are easy targets. and Pastor Kashkumbaev, as a 1995 convert from islam to Christianity, was an especially attractive target.
The Psychiatric Ward Pastor Kashkumbaev was filled with dread as the day approached for his transfer from the prison in Astana to the psychiatric ward. but before he left he received a visit from a good friend and brother in Christ. the pastor, with tears in his eyes, told his friend, 'THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME I WILL TALK TO YOU IN MY RIGHT MIND.
'WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? ' his friend replied.
that simple question was just the encouragement the pastor needed. 'I FELT LIKE I WAS UNDER THE COVER OF THE RISEN LORD', he said. Pastor K's outlook on his imprisonment changed completely, enabling him, with God's help, to lead almost 100 fellow prisoners to Christ during his 9 month imprisonment.
the psychiatric ward was located in an old building that likely housed criminals when Kazakhstan was part of the soviet Union. the clinic, where the pastor was taken, was located in the basement. a small window offered the only natural light entering the corridor, and the cells were dark. the pastor was given no clothing but a robe before being locked in a cell with violent criminals suffering from psychiatric problems. some of the prisoners were murderers, including the pastor's bunk mate, who was convicted of killing his brother but had no memory of it.
one night as P K's slept, he felt a hand grip his throat to strangle him. as he instinctively grabbed the hand and tried to pull it away, he saw the darkness and evil in his bunk mate's eyes. at the same time, however, he felt at peace. 'WHAT DO YOU NEED?' he asked the man.
suddenly the man's appearance and behavior changed. 'when are we getting out of here? he asked.
after climbing out of his bunk, the pastor tucked the man back into his bed and prayed over him.
after the incident with his bunk mate, P K BEGAN THINKING OF HIS CELLMATES AS SICK CHILDREN.
he had compassion and love for them,
he cried and prayed for them and he did what he could to help them.
'THEY WERE LIKE FLOWERS PLANTED IN DRY GROUND THAT HAD WITHERED, he said. knowing he might be given mind-altering drugs any day, the pastor took every opportunity to share the gospel with them.
when the day finally came for HIS FIRST INJECTION, THE PASTOR TURNED TO HIS CELLMATES FOR HELP. as he began to lose consciousness, he cried out, 'I AM DYING'!'
the other inmates who didn't want to lose him, began calling for the guards. 'the old guy is dying! they yelled.
the guards rushed into the cell and carried the pastor into the hallway. after helping him regain consciousness, the doctor ordered that no more drugs be given to the pastor.
The Confession when prison officials ordered him to write down how he had become a christian, P K GLADLY SHARED HIS TESTIMONY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT JESUS. in his prison 'confession' he wrote in detail about what Jesus had done for him. and, being a pastor, he made sure that he included a sermon.
most of the inmates in the psychiatric ward were summoned to meet with the psychiatrist only once or twice, he was called 18 times. 'why are you so concerned with me? he asked the psychiatrist during one visit. 'you call in other inmates just once or twice.
'you are such an interesting character, she replied. 'we don't sense any evil in you. this isn't normal. 'christians are not supposed to answer evil for evil, he told her. 'we are called to bless people. we are called to bless friends and enemies with a sincere heart'.
the clinic finally called in an independent expert to evaluate p K. 'I don't understand how you ended up here, the expert told the pastor. 'you are a completely adequate person.
authorities decided that the pastor should be returned to the prison in Astana, but before he left the psychiatric ward he was able to lead several more people to Christ.
The Addict a young heroin addict was brought to P K's already crowded ward shortly before the pastor returned to Astana. the young man, who had been imprisoned twice before, endured 7 sleepless nights as he suffered from withdrawal symptoms.
the pastor shared the gospel with him, even though another inmate told him that someone in the dell was reporting on him. 'ONLY JESUS CAN HELP YOU! he told the addict while holding his hands. the young man clung to him as if he were drowning.
'don't think that no one needs you, P K continued after sharing Jeremiah 29.11. 'from these words from God Himself you can see that He needs you.
you are needed.
God keeps His word.
it is as good as done!
for Jesus, you addiction is nothing.
all you have to do is believe that He can heal you.
He is alive; He is risen from the dead to help you, to justify you',
what do I need to do? he asked the pastor.
'we are going to pray together right now, the pastor replied.
but you have to believe that God hears your every word'.
the addict repeated the prayer after the pastor.
after saying the prayer, the young man slept for the first time in a week. knowing that evening roll call was just an hour away, the pastor prayed that he might somehow be allowed to continue sleeping.
when the officers finally came for roll call, P K stood between them and the bunk of his sleeping friend. 'why is he sleeping? an officer asked the pastor. 'he should be standing during the roll call'.
'he has not slept the entire week, he quietly explained to the officer. 'he asked me to pray for him. God gave him this sleep that he needs desperately.
the officer ordered the pastor to wake him up. 'who gave you the right to break procedure? the officer demanded.
the pastor stood firm, 'I am not going to let you wake him up, he told him. 'you can put me in solitary confinement. do anything to me.
the officers were shocked. 'you seem to be a normal person. why are you trying to break the rules?
'I am not trying to break the rules, he told them. 'I am just asking you to be humane. you are checking to see if we are all here, whether we are all alive. look, he is alive. but he is sleeping and he needs his sleep so he can heal.
after receiving the pastor's assurance that he would never ask something like that again, the officers finally agreed to leave him alone.
when the young man awoke 20 hours later, the pastor prepared tea and something for him to eat. 'do you remember that you asked Jesus to come into your heart? he asked him.
'yes, I do', he replied.
'where is Jesus?'
'in my heart'.
the pastor then taught him how to pray.
'you are now a member of God's family, he told him.
'you are a new creation and you have to view yourself as a new creature.
you are not addicted to any drug, he continued, knowing that drugs were freely sold in the prison, even by the guards.
'satan will try to attack you, but you have to remember that you are not addicted.
you can say no.
P K taught and encouraged the young man 4 days before being transferred to another cell.
as he was leaving , the former drug addict began to cry.
'what am I going to do without you? he asked.
'are you alone? the pastor replied.
'Who is in you?
Hold onto Jesus; you are not alone, you will do fine'.
The Release P K was released from prison in february 2014 and 4 of the 5 charges against him were dropped. although he was allowed to return home, he remains under house arrest and must check in with police once every 2 months.
he continues to minister to his congregation.
...the pastor said he does not regret his time in prison. 'in prison the Holy Spirit opened one dimension of prayer (to me), he said. 'we need to pray the same prayer for both friends and enemies: Pray that they will know God and sincerely love Him and Jesus Christ, Whom He sent, His only begotten Son.
The Prison Pastor
'you will serve 10 years of hard time', the investigator said solemnly.
the elderly pastor would be almost 80 by the time he completed his sentence, and part of it, he learned, would be spent in a psychiatric ward.
Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev knew that prisoners in the psychiatric ward were routinely drugged, causing them to lose the abilities to even think or move. they would drug him to a point of losing his mind.
his heart sank. while he was not afraid to die, he didn't want his seven grandchildren to see him in that condition. death didn't scare him, but losing his mind did.
the 'Crime'
in may 2013 Pastor Kashkumbaev was arrested after being accused of harming the health of a church member at Grace Church, a legally registered church in Kazakhstan. authorities filed 5 charges against the pastor, including a charge of inciting religious hatred.
although the church member defended the pastor, saying the charges were unfounded, these were just the latest in a long series of allegations that had been hurled at the church and its pastor. state officials had previously accused the church of espionage, fraud, money laundering, distributing extremist texts and using hallucinogens during Communion. in 2012, officials had raided the church and confiscated computers, DVD's and books that the government considered extremist literature.
since gaining independence from the former Soviet union, Kazakhstan and other Central asian nations have tried to create a unified identity, in part by establishing islam as the prevailing societal influence, ethnic Kazakhs are expected to be muslim.
in 2011, the country adopted laws that required religious groups to re-register with the government
unregistered religious education and proselytism became illegal and the activities of registered groups were closely monitored and regulated. then, in 2012, new regulations were imposed on religious literature, resulting in the arrest and imprisonment of more christians.
any form of proselytism or distribution of literature that the government considers 'religious extremism' is strictly forbidden. therefore, churches and christians who actively witness for Christ are easy targets. and Pastor Kashkumbaev, as a 1995 convert from islam to Christianity, was an especially attractive target.
The Psychiatric Ward Pastor Kashkumbaev was filled with dread as the day approached for his transfer from the prison in Astana to the psychiatric ward. but before he left he received a visit from a good friend and brother in Christ. the pastor, with tears in his eyes, told his friend, 'THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME I WILL TALK TO YOU IN MY RIGHT MIND.
'WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? ' his friend replied.
that simple question was just the encouragement the pastor needed. 'I FELT LIKE I WAS UNDER THE COVER OF THE RISEN LORD', he said. Pastor K's outlook on his imprisonment changed completely, enabling him, with God's help, to lead almost 100 fellow prisoners to Christ during his 9 month imprisonment.
the psychiatric ward was located in an old building that likely housed criminals when Kazakhstan was part of the soviet Union. the clinic, where the pastor was taken, was located in the basement. a small window offered the only natural light entering the corridor, and the cells were dark. the pastor was given no clothing but a robe before being locked in a cell with violent criminals suffering from psychiatric problems. some of the prisoners were murderers, including the pastor's bunk mate, who was convicted of killing his brother but had no memory of it.
one night as P K's slept, he felt a hand grip his throat to strangle him. as he instinctively grabbed the hand and tried to pull it away, he saw the darkness and evil in his bunk mate's eyes. at the same time, however, he felt at peace. 'WHAT DO YOU NEED?' he asked the man.
suddenly the man's appearance and behavior changed. 'when are we getting out of here? he asked.
after climbing out of his bunk, the pastor tucked the man back into his bed and prayed over him.
after the incident with his bunk mate, P K BEGAN THINKING OF HIS CELLMATES AS SICK CHILDREN.
he had compassion and love for them,
he cried and prayed for them and he did what he could to help them.
'THEY WERE LIKE FLOWERS PLANTED IN DRY GROUND THAT HAD WITHERED, he said. knowing he might be given mind-altering drugs any day, the pastor took every opportunity to share the gospel with them.
when the day finally came for HIS FIRST INJECTION, THE PASTOR TURNED TO HIS CELLMATES FOR HELP. as he began to lose consciousness, he cried out, 'I AM DYING'!'
the other inmates who didn't want to lose him, began calling for the guards. 'the old guy is dying! they yelled.
the guards rushed into the cell and carried the pastor into the hallway. after helping him regain consciousness, the doctor ordered that no more drugs be given to the pastor.
The Confession when prison officials ordered him to write down how he had become a christian, P K GLADLY SHARED HIS TESTIMONY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT JESUS. in his prison 'confession' he wrote in detail about what Jesus had done for him. and, being a pastor, he made sure that he included a sermon.
most of the inmates in the psychiatric ward were summoned to meet with the psychiatrist only once or twice, he was called 18 times. 'why are you so concerned with me? he asked the psychiatrist during one visit. 'you call in other inmates just once or twice.
'you are such an interesting character, she replied. 'we don't sense any evil in you. this isn't normal. 'christians are not supposed to answer evil for evil, he told her. 'we are called to bless people. we are called to bless friends and enemies with a sincere heart'.
the clinic finally called in an independent expert to evaluate p K. 'I don't understand how you ended up here, the expert told the pastor. 'you are a completely adequate person.
authorities decided that the pastor should be returned to the prison in Astana, but before he left the psychiatric ward he was able to lead several more people to Christ.
The Addict a young heroin addict was brought to P K's already crowded ward shortly before the pastor returned to Astana. the young man, who had been imprisoned twice before, endured 7 sleepless nights as he suffered from withdrawal symptoms.
the pastor shared the gospel with him, even though another inmate told him that someone in the dell was reporting on him. 'ONLY JESUS CAN HELP YOU! he told the addict while holding his hands. the young man clung to him as if he were drowning.
'don't think that no one needs you, P K continued after sharing Jeremiah 29.11. 'from these words from God Himself you can see that He needs you.
you are needed.
God keeps His word.
it is as good as done!
for Jesus, you addiction is nothing.
all you have to do is believe that He can heal you.
He is alive; He is risen from the dead to help you, to justify you',
what do I need to do? he asked the pastor.
'we are going to pray together right now, the pastor replied.
but you have to believe that God hears your every word'.
the addict repeated the prayer after the pastor.
after saying the prayer, the young man slept for the first time in a week. knowing that evening roll call was just an hour away, the pastor prayed that he might somehow be allowed to continue sleeping.
when the officers finally came for roll call, P K stood between them and the bunk of his sleeping friend. 'why is he sleeping? an officer asked the pastor. 'he should be standing during the roll call'.
'he has not slept the entire week, he quietly explained to the officer. 'he asked me to pray for him. God gave him this sleep that he needs desperately.
the officer ordered the pastor to wake him up. 'who gave you the right to break procedure? the officer demanded.
the pastor stood firm, 'I am not going to let you wake him up, he told him. 'you can put me in solitary confinement. do anything to me.
the officers were shocked. 'you seem to be a normal person. why are you trying to break the rules?
'I am not trying to break the rules, he told them. 'I am just asking you to be humane. you are checking to see if we are all here, whether we are all alive. look, he is alive. but he is sleeping and he needs his sleep so he can heal.
after receiving the pastor's assurance that he would never ask something like that again, the officers finally agreed to leave him alone.
when the young man awoke 20 hours later, the pastor prepared tea and something for him to eat. 'do you remember that you asked Jesus to come into your heart? he asked him.
'yes, I do', he replied.
'where is Jesus?'
'in my heart'.
the pastor then taught him how to pray.
'you are now a member of God's family, he told him.
'you are a new creation and you have to view yourself as a new creature.
you are not addicted to any drug, he continued, knowing that drugs were freely sold in the prison, even by the guards.
'satan will try to attack you, but you have to remember that you are not addicted.
you can say no.
P K taught and encouraged the young man 4 days before being transferred to another cell.
as he was leaving , the former drug addict began to cry.
'what am I going to do without you? he asked.
'are you alone? the pastor replied.
'Who is in you?
Hold onto Jesus; you are not alone, you will do fine'.
The Release P K was released from prison in february 2014 and 4 of the 5 charges against him were dropped. although he was allowed to return home, he remains under house arrest and must check in with police once every 2 months.
he continues to minister to his congregation.
...the pastor said he does not regret his time in prison. 'in prison the Holy Spirit opened one dimension of prayer (to me), he said. 'we need to pray the same prayer for both friends and enemies: Pray that they will know God and sincerely love Him and Jesus Christ, Whom He sent, His only begotten Son.
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