For Those Seeking the Truth & Dynamic Living "Christ is Victor" January/February, 2022, Volume 35, No. 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
“Life is full of new beginnings” Life is full of new beginnings. There are some beginnings which are silently projected into the world scene. There are other beginnings which are greeted with fanfare, foundation stones, bunting and jubilation. We celebrate the birth of a baby, a wedding day, the opening of a new factory, the launching of a new ship, the inauguration of a new government and so on. What is new universally to everyone in the world is the birth of a New Year. Many people celebrate it variously and no one can be unaware of it. But to nearly everyone the newness of the New Year vanishes pretty fast. Though the old problems still exist, the old diseases still persist, the old tempers still rage and the old heart-aches still cloud the life of many, yet we all like to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. But the jubilation and rejoicing die out very fast indeed. The bunting and the decorations are removed and life returns to its old grind. The guests are gone, the dishes are removed, but the tears remain. The Lord Jesus Christ stands in the midst of these hollow celebrations and says, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:8). Yes, when we begin with the Lord Jesus Christ by repenting of our sins and becoming His disciples, life takes on a new and a great meaning. During the first part of our life we all like to pretend that we are grown ups and cannot wait to be eighteen; for the second part, we wish vainly that we can return to the days of youth. How many there are who actually say, “I cannot laugh”. Others say, “What is the point of existing cheerlessly?” So a new year only brings with it added new problems to many people, new tensions and fears. It is hard to see how people manage to live without Christ. There is a greyness and a darkness and insecurity and fatalism in their lives which makes their life either a boring one or one with unseen terrors. I do not know how many of you who are my regular readers have put the matter beyond all doubt— you have repented of your sins and have made the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord over your whole life. To you then life is truly beginning, a life free from greed, impurity and lust. A life of love and unselfishness and service. That is the life into which the Lord Jesus is now leading you. HE will never leave you nor forsake you; that is His promised Word. The Lord Jesus Christ is not a dogma, a theory, a thin wisp of air, a disproportionally blown up figure of history, adulated more because of tradition than anything else. No, He is a glorious person. He not only died for our sins but He rose again to make you and me forever free from the fear of death. When we believe in the Lord Jesus, and bring our sins to His feet and are forgiven, the new life which He gives makes each new day a glorious adventure. There are so many things He wants to teach you and give you. Above everything, He wants to melt you and mould your character in order that you may live like Him. . . . [W]hen your life is hidden in Jesus, you can say, “The best is yet to be”. The more I taste of the Lord, one thing is absolutely certain to me: I am just in the shallow waters of a mighty sea of matchless love and beauty. Every day as you study the Bible, you will discover new riches for yourself, new hopes and heart-cries come to you, fresh anticipations of greater joys, victories and soul-winning will burst on your heart. To the one who has given himself wholly to Jesus, there is no more existing, no more drifting, but only one abundant living. No, my dear reader, there can be no ending without the Lord Jesus being present with you. Whether it is the evening of life, when life appears to ebb away slowly or some sickness appears to threaten your well-being, know this, the ending is Jesus. He is there to lead you to the mansions above, to give you the place prepared for you in glory. You will very likely feel like you have left a dingy, putrid, polluted, pestilent hole, to enter a matchless dwelling of exquisite splendour. So while the world is full of apprehension and dread, we are full of hope and joy. Let us ask the Lord for a mighty wave of revival blessing and He will give it to us. I want you, dear reader, to be a sharer in this great blessing of revival and in this advancing work given to us to do in many nations. I send you all my greetings for a New Year, when all is really new, with your heart, thoughts, attitudes and motives. May the Lord Jesus do this for you! —Joshua Daniel
“The transformation of a rebellious heart” “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts” (Isaiah 65:1-2). “I have spread out my hand all the day unto a rebellious people.” God analyses human nature. It is a rebellious nature. We are a rebellious people but God's grace follows us, waiting for a chance to change us. We can see it in the life of Jacob. God's grace was following him. He was of a rebellious nature, always doing his will which was not God's will. God's thoughts are very high. As the grace of God is pursuing us and revealing to us new things, our thoughts are lifted up to His thoughts. Once our thoughts conform to God's thoughts, it is a great victory. It is always a fight with our human nature which refuses to conform to God's thoughts. God says in v. 12: “They did choose that in which I delighted not.” “I have not delighted in those things you have chosen,” says God. When a mother sees her child choosing a wrong thing, she feels sad. Children are not supposed to handle everything in the house. Years ago I left my shaving blade within reach of my toddler son. He played with the blade and cut his finger. We are apt to choose the wrong thing. In God's kingdom there are so many things you should not handle. There are great graces and great power. Somebody preaches a great sermon and you want to preach like that. Can you sustain the people who will be converted by that great sermon? Many who are touched by that sermon may attach importance to the preacher. Can you refuse that glory? Very often people connect my name with the sermon. I feel sad. They must give glory to God. Many wish to imitate great men of God. Can you maintain yourself at that level? When Sadhu Sundar Singh came, I wanted to go to Tibet with him and die there as a martyr. But as a matter of fact, I used to find the cold of Vijayawada a little difficult to bear. It is very easy to talk. But let us begin where we ought to begin. Jacob wanted many blessings. God has such blessings for you. He is following you with those blessings but you are not dealing with your rebellious heart. You are not eradicating those thoughts which are not God's thoughts. If God gives you much money, you would deck yourself with gold. Is that the use to which money could be put? Can you handle the gifts of God? God gave Jacob much skill in rearing sheep. But the fruit of that labour did not add to his peace or joy. When he was fleeing from home, God showed him a ladder reaching to heaven. He thought that he would, all of a sudden, be on the top. No. There are steps. He didn't even get on the first step. “Oh! This is God’s house,” he said. He never repented. He never felt the need of God who would always be with him. What is our need? It is God! If God is with us we have all things we need and even small things make us happy. What about Jacob's family? Had he come to that level where he could help his family? Had his thoughts become God's thoughts? After that night of prayer, Jacob returned to his family. Have you met God? The mother of Samson met the angel. She came and told her husband about it. Their thoughts began to rise higher and higher. When you and your wife pray together every day, one day you will pray only God's thoughts. Now as my wife and I pray we feel we are swimming in the current of God's thoughts. What a great blessing it is! When you pray, you will pray the will of God. David's beautiful son, Absalom, was never dealt with. He was full of pride. He daily looked at his reflection in the mirror. He never wanted to imbibe God's thoughts. His heart was full of rebellion. His father loved him. It was a kind of indulgent love. When Absalom had not repented for murder, David kissed him. It was a wrong kiss. God doesn't do it that way. He follows you. He followed St. Paul and one day He overpowered him. One day God's grace will overpower you. He is at your heels. All that you can think of is there with Him. David wanted to be the king's son-in-law, but God gave him kingship itself. Daniel's thoughts began to rise higher and higher. One day he prayed in God's presence to know about himself. He was right with God. An angel came and said, “You are dearly beloved.” As you begin to pray, answers will be coming. But on the way the powers of darkness delay the answer. There are powers of darkness around you, but you will conquer. The rebellion in your heart will die and God’s thoughts and your will will become one. It happened so to Abraham. When God asked him for his son there was no rebellion or resistance in him. The whole heaven rejoices when a human heart comes to that level. “I will bless the whole world through your family,” God told him. Do you expect that? Some of us have come from very bad districts. Are you sure that through God's grace rebellion in your heart will die and God's power will work through you to change the whole district? Do you believe it? [...] Do you believe these small children will one day be great witnesses? Many will come one day to see the work done here. Have you conquered? Has the resistance gone from your heart? When God says, “Go this way,” will you say, “Yes, I will go?” Isaiah 30:21. If rebellion dies, you will hear God's voice always. He will follow you with His guidance.
“Reality Check” “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not
give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). “The Judge and the Burglar” A large prosperous downtown church had three mission churches under its care that it had started. On the first Sunday of the New Year all the members of the mission churches came to the city church for a combined Communion service. In those mission churches, which were located in the slums of the city, were some outstanding cases of conversions—thieves, burglars, and so on—but all knelt side by side at the Communion rail. On one such occasion the pastor saw a former burglar kneeling beside a judge of the Supreme Court of England—it was the judge who had sent him to jail where he had served seven years. After his release this burglar had been converted and became a Christian worker. Yet, as they knelt there, the judge and the former convict neither one seemed to be aware of the other. After the service, the judge was walking home with the pastor and said to the pastor, “Did you notice who was kneeling beside me at the Communion rail this morning?” The pastor replied, “Yes, but I didn’t know that you noticed.” The two walked along in silence for a few more moments, and then the judge said, “What a miracle of grace!” The pastor nodded in agreement. “Yes, what marvellous miracle of grace!” Then the judge said, “But to whom do you refer?” And the pastor said, “Why, to the conversion of that convict.” The judge said, “But I was not referring to him. I was thinking of myself.” The pastor, surprised, replied: “You were thinking of yourself? I don’t understand.” “Yes,” the judge replied, “it did not cost that burglar much to get converted when he came out of jail. He had nothing but a history of crime behind him, and when he saw Jesus as his Saviour he knew there was salvation and hope and joy for him. And he knew how much he needed that help. “But look at me. I was taught from earliest infancy to live as a gentleman; that my word was to be my bond; that I was to say my prayers, go to church, take Communion and so on. I went through Oxford, took my degrees, was called to the bar and eventually became a judge. “Pastor, nothing but the grace of God could have caused me to admit that I was a sinner on level with that burglar. It took much more grace to forgive me for all my pride and self deception, to get me to admit that I was no better in the eyes of God than that convict that I sent to prison.” —Selected “New
Year” As a New Year dawns, we stand before an open door. Looking through its arch, we see all things new. Every New Year is an adventure into which we must, as Abraham of old, go out, not knowing whither we go. [...] As it is entered, no one knows what will have happened when the end is reached—decisions, new responsibilities, and disappointments perhaps. Much can occur in 365 days. How desirable it is to begin the New Year with God! God makes your year a happy one—not by shielding you from all sorrow and pain, but by strengthening you to bear it if it comes. Not by making your path easy, but by making you sturdy enough to tread any path. Not by taking hardships from you, but by taking all cowardice and fear from your heart as you meet hardships. Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, but by keeping your face bright even in the shadows. Not by making your life always pleasant, but by showing you where man and his cause need you most and by making you zealous to be there and to help. Not by keeping you from battle, but by bringing you off every field more than conqueror through Christ who loves you. Yesterday’s mistakes and failures can teach us wisdom and yesterday’s triumphs can suggest what is possible. We can make the year ahead glorious by following the footsteps of our Guide faithfully and steadfastly. —Selected
“Peace in a Damaged Ship” During a sea voyage from Southampton to New York, the evangelist D. L. Moody was suddenly startled by a crash and shock. The shaft of the
vessel had broken, causing serious damage. That first night was a dark experience for the ship’s several hundred passengers. Crowded together in the saloon of the first
cabin were Jews, Protestants, Catholics, and sceptics—although Moody doubted if there many sceptics among them at that time. —William Revell Moody, The Life of D. L. Moody “Keep on Knocking” How often people become discouraged, and say they do not know whether or not God does answer prayer! In the parable of the importunate widow, Christ teaches us
how we are not only to pray and seek, but also to find. If the unjust judge heard the petition of the poor woman who pushed her claims, how much more will our Heavenly
Father hear our cry! Prayer is hardly ever mentioned in the Bible alone; it is prayer and earnestness; prayer and watchfulness; prayer and thanksgiving. It is an instructive fact that throughout Scripture prayer is always linked with something else. ... Then the highest type of Christian is the one who has got clear beyond asking and seeking, and keeps knocking till the answer comes. If we knock, God has promised to open the door and grant our request. It may be years before the answer comes; He may keep us knocking; but He has promised that the answer will come. I will tell you what I think it means to knock. A number of years ago, when we were having meetings in a certain city, it came to a point where there seemed to be very little power. We called together all the mothers, and asked them to meet and pray for their children. About fifteen hundred mothers came together, and poured out their hearts to God in prayer. One mother said: “I wish you would pray for my two boys. They have gone off on a drunken spree; and it seems as if my heart would break.” She was a widowed mother. A few mothers gathered together and said: “Let us have a prayer-meeting for these boys.” They cried to God for these two wandering boys; and now see how God answered their prayer. That day these two brothers had planned to meet at the corner of the street where our meetings were being held. They were going to spend the night in debauchery and sin. About seven o’clock the first one came to the appointed place; he saw the people going into the meeting. As it was a stormy night, he thought he would go in for a little while. The Word of God reached him, and he went into the inquiry room, where he gave his heart to the Saviour. The other brother waited at the corner until the meeting broke up, expecting him to come; he did not know that he had been in the meeting. There was a young men’s meeting in the church nearby, and this brother thought he would like to see what was going on; so he followed the crowd into the meeting. He also was impressed with what he heard, and was the first one to go into the inquiry-room, where he found peace. While this was happening, the first one had gone home to cheer his mother’s heart with the good news. He found her on her knees. She had been knocking at the mercy-seat. While she was doing so, her boy came in and told her that her prayers had been answered; his soul was saved. It was not long before the other brother came in and told his story—how he, too, had been blessed. ... I heard of a wife in England who had an unconverted husband. She resolved that she would pray every day for twelve months for his conversion. Every day at twelve o’clock she went to her room alone and cried to God. Her husband would not allow her to speak to him on the subject; but she could speak to God on his behalf. It may be that you have a friend who does not wish to be spoken with about his salvation ... and pray to God about it. The twelve months passed away, and there was no sign of his yielding. She resolved to pray for six months longer. ... The six months passed, and still there was no sign, no answer. The question arose in her mind, could she give him up? “No,” she said, “I will pray for him as long as God gives me breath.” That very day, when he came home to dinner, instead of going into the dining-room he went upstairs. ... Finally she went to his room, and found him on his knees crying to God to have mercy upon him. God convicted him of sin; he not only became a Christian, but the Word of God had free course, and was glorified in him. God used him mightily. That was God answering the prayers of this Christian wife; she knocked and knocked till the answer came. — D. L. Moody About Us This newsletter is produced six times per year by the Laymen’s Evangelical Fellowship International. It is printed and distributed in the US, UK, Germany, Singapore, Canada, and Australia and is supported by unsolicited sacrificial gifts of young people. For a free subscription or for other enquiries, please contact any of the addresses below. This Fellowship is an inter-denominational missionary and prayer group working for revival in churches and amongst students in several countries. We invite every layperson to become God’s ally in changing his or her corner of the world. We train people in evangelistic work and to be self-supporting missionaries.
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Laymen's Evangelical Fellowship International 46200 West Ten Mile Road, Novi, MI
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