JURONG OUTREACH - FEB 03

PATTERN RELIGION by Victor M. Eskew
2 Feb 03

God has given us a pattern for obedience, a pattern for the church, a pattern for worship, and a pattern for work.  Strict compliance with that pattern produces Christians only, Scriptural worship only and Scriptural work only.  The real legitimacy of Christianity rests in strict adherence to the pattern.

“Either God’s Word is that pattern or there is no pattern… If God’s Word is intended to be a pattern it is a perfect pattern, for God cannot be charged with imperfection, and following it is important—– yes, absolutely essential.  If God’s Word is not intended to be a pattern, then it doesn’t matter what we are or what we do, in religion, nor does it matter whether we are anything, or do anything.”

When the above words were written, most members of the church agreed with this teaching.  Since then, however, many have departed from the above thinking.  They would ridicule the idea of “pattern” religion.

GOD ALWAYS HAD A PATTERN.  God’s giving man a pattern to follow is not a new concept.  In the days of Noah, God gave this righteous man a pattern to follow wher eby he and his house could be saved.  “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it without with pitch.  And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.  A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it” (Gen 6:14-16).  Here God gave Noah a specific plan to follow.  Noah did not rebel against God.  He did not speak evil of God’s pattern.  Rather, he yielded himself completely to God’s instructions.  “Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen 6:22).

God also gave a pattern to Moses by which the tabernacle was to be built.  In the book of Exodus, we read of God’s command to Moses to make the tabernacle according to the pattern he had been given.  :And the Lord spake unto Moses saying ...let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the Pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it: (Exo 25: 1-9) Moses, like Noah, complied with the Lord’s pattern without murmuring and complaining.  In Exodus 40, the tabernacle was erected.  Verse 33 closes with these words: “So Moses finished the work.”

A PATTERN TODAY.  God has not left man without a pattern today.  That pattern is found in the Scriptures.  “All scriptures is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Tim 3:16-17).

God has given man a pattern to follow so that he can be saved from his sins.  That pattern includes hearing the Word of God, believing that Jesus is God’s Son, repenting of sins, confessing the name of Christ, and being baptized for the remission of sins.  He has given a pattern for worship, church organization, Christian living, and the home.  The list is endless.

CONCLUSION.  God did not intend for man to grope about in darkness with no pattern to follow.  He did not intend for each man to make his own pattern.  Therefore, He gave man the pattern He wanted men to follow.  Man’s responsibility involves his doing all things according to that pattern.  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt 7:21).

CAN A SENSIBLE MAN BELIEVE THE BIBLE?
9 Feb 03

For twenty centuries the enemies of the Bible have filed every objection possible (nothing new has been presented for generations) and yet the Bible proves itself adamant to all attacks.  Many a hammer has been beaten to frazzles on the anvil of God’s Truth.

Following are some universally accepted proofs of historical accuracy:

The writings of a contemporary considered credible.

The writings of those who obtained information from eyewitnesses.

Writings based upon corroborative traditions of hostile nations. 

The testimony of independent writers when matters are mentioned incidentally.

An objection has been raised to the effect that during the time Jesus is supposed to have lived, practically nothing is said about Him in the secular press or by the historian.  The fact that but little is said is perfectly natural and altogether human.  At that time the world was engaged in military affairs and only heroes and heroines on the field of battle received publicity.  Worldly glory and deeds of valor occupied the pages of publications.  The weapons used by Christ and His disciples were not carnal.  He had no great armies clad in brilliant uniforms to unfurl His banner.  There was no great political power nor men of wealth to shout His praise. He lived in a despised town and belonged to the common people.  Why waste ink and space in telling about the carpenter’s Son?

But there were a few references made by some of his enemies, and while not intended, these but confirm what the Bible says.  Among the Jews, Josephus is the outstanding historian.  He was born only four years after Jesus was put to death.  He was seven years old when James was beheaded and lived until the end of the first century.

At the age of nineteen years, he took his stand with the Pharisees, the leading denomination of his day.  As a historian he could have said but little about Jesus and his teaching without uprooting his own sect.  He tells of the war between Herod the Tetrarch and his father-in-law, Aretas, and of the intrigue between Herod and Herodias.  Herod was defeated in the war and Josephus says: “But some of the Jews were of the opinion that God had suffered Herod’s whole army to be destroyed as a just punishment  on him for the death of John who was a just man, and had called upon the Jews to be baptized and practice virtue.”

The details of the above-mentioned war are not given in the Bible, but Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of John the Baptist’s rebuking Herod for taking his brother’s wife.  Thus between the historian of opposite faith and the writers of the New Testament there is perfect harmony.

Caius Cornelius Tacitus was a heathen writer of the first century.  He rose in the realm of Rome to become consul in the year 97.  His reliability and superior style are recognized by the fact that some of his texts are used in many of our colleges to this day.  He hated the Christians of his time because they would not worship his idol gods.  But in writing the story of affairs, the acurracy of the accounts in the Bible is affirmed.  The following is a summary of what he says regarding Christ and His disciples:

1.    Christ was the founder of a sect of Christians.
2.    Christ was put to death as a criminal.
3.    He was executed by Potius Pilate.
4.    Tiberius was emperor of Rome; hence, 
5.    Jesus was born in the reign of Augustus. 
6.    This “pernicious superstition” was checked for a time by the death of its founder. 
7.    This “pernicious superstition” broke out again and spread not only over Judea but reached the city of Rome. 
8.   Christians were persecuted in Rome as early as 64. 
9.    Vast numbers were discovered and condemned because they were accused of burning the city and because of their accusers’ hatred for mankind. 
10.  They were hated as the offscouring of the earth and the filth of all things. 
11.  They were destroyed to gratify the cruelty of one man.

Pliny, the younger, was another great Roman writer and was made Proconsul of Bithynia from 106 to 108.  Upon entering this district to assume the office he found a great persecution being waged by the government.  He continued it for a while and finally wrote a letter to the Emperor Trajan at Rome to know what to do about the matter.  From the letter he wrote, the following facts were stated:

1.    Many Christians of every age and rank and of both sexes were then in Bithynia. 
2.    Their teaching and influence were such that heathen temples were almost deserted and the victims for sacrifices could, hardly find a purchaser. 
3.    None who were really Christians could by any means, be compelled to make supplication to the image of Caesar, or the statue of the gods. 
4.    After the most searching inquiry, including torture to force confessions, he had found no vice among them. 
5.    They suffered for the name “Christian” without any charge of crime. 
6.    They were accustomed, on stated days, to hold two meetings; one, for singing “in concert” hymns to Christ, and for making vows to live righteously; and the other, for eating a “harmless meal.”
7.    Those who were Roman citizens were sent to Rome for trial.

This testimony comes from writers who lived in the first century of the Christian Era.  They were all enemies of our Lord but they wrote as historians an accurate account of things then going on.  Scholars and infidels have never questioned the authenticity of their statements about secular affairs.  I must insist that but for prejudice and downright hatred of Christianity they would be forced to accept the Bible, seeing its statements are so perfectly corroborated by those who lived with the apostles and early disciples and knew whereof they spoke.  Were the whole New Testament blotted out, the world could get a pretty fine idea of its teachings and influence upon the hearts and lives of men from these and other historians who, though enemies of the cross of Christ, in giving the story of their day, confirm the words by inspiration given.

The period covered by New Testament history was characterized by frequent and complicated changes in the political affairs of Judea and of the countries around it. Josephus gives a detailed account of all.  This fact affords a most excellent opportunity to test the accuracy of sacred writers. The New Testament reader who has no other source of information is left in great confusion.  In the history of Matthew and Luke we read of “Herod the King.”  In Matthew 2, we find that Herod the King dies, yet in chapter 14, Herod the King beheads James.  In these statements not a word of explanation appears yet by consulting Josephus, all is in harmony with the fact of history.  The Herod under whom Jesus was born died and was succeeded by his son Herod as ruler of a part of his father’s dominion with the title of both king and  tetrarach.  The Herod who beheaded James was a grandson of the first, and was made king by Claudius Caesar.  Herod the tetrarch was deposed by the Romans and procurators were sent to rule in his stead.

Thus it appears that the Bible is absolutely accurate in all these matters pertaining to political changes so frequently made.

Examples we should follow by Oran Rhodes
16 Feb 03

Peter said, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1Pet. 2:21).  Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Cor 11:1).  He also said, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Tim 4:12). We can better imitate something we see, for we can better understand its relationship to man.  For many years, there has been the saying, “I’ll rather see a sermon than to hear one any day.”  Of course much depends upon what is being preached in either case.

The book of 1 Thessalonians has much to say in regard to the kind of examples we should follow, as we shall see by the following points:

(1) We can see the example of a faithful servant.  “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (1 Thess 1:2-3).  The faithful servant, then, is one with a working faith, working because of love for the Lord, for the hope that was found in Jesus Christ.

(2) The brethren in Thessalonica were a good example of what a good congregation should be.  “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that we were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but  also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything (1 Thess 1:6-8).  This was an evangelistic body of God’s people, doing the work God has given His church to do.

(3) The church in Thessalonica demonstrated their love toward all men.  “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you brethren, that ye increase more and more; (1Thess 4:9-10).  Oh, how we need to examine every example of brotherly love and follow the Biblical example in each of our lives!

(4) Paul entreated them to be the right kind of example in the life they lived before the Lord and before their fellow man.  “Futhermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus” (1Thess 4:1-2).  In expanding upon this, Paul also says, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing: (1Thess 4:11-12).  The upright life of the saint determines so much of the time whether or not our neighbours are willing to listen to the Truth.

(5) We should also follow the example that Paul sought to instill in the Thessalonians, and that is to look forward to the Second Coming of Christ.  “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1Thess 4: 13-14).  We thus should joyfully live expectant lives in anticipation of His return.  “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him” (1Thess 5:9-10).  When we live looking forward to Christ’s Second Coming, we will live lives according to the other examples which have been set before us.

Let us follow the right examples God has given us that we set the right example for others to follow after us as we have followed Christ.

A good example indeed!!!! by Sharon Chan

One day last week, I was talking to a new babe in Christ, a precious young soul, regarding the 6 fold increase in our land rent. This young student’s reaction impressed me so much that I thought I must share it with you. She said” Nevermind, I will make a 100% increase in my contribution.” Her mother was so moved by her faith that she too committed herself to a 50% increase. “I can only afford to increase 50%” she said.

Let’s follow these good examples and meet whatever challenges that will come our way.

“Lord, increase our faith” by Robert Dodson
23 Feb 03

The apostles on one occasion were dissatisfied with their faith and asked, “Lord, Increase our faith” (Lk 17:5).  The request of a father who brought his epileptic child to Jesus was, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:17-24).   They recognized their lack of faith and the need for a stronger faith.  From the Bible we learn that:

(1)   Worry demonstrates a lack of faith.

(Mat. 6:25-34).  Little faith caused the people to worry about food, drink and clothing at the expense of God’s kingdom and His righteousness.  “Are we not more important than the birds? Than the lilies?”  Jesus argues, “Can worry change anything?” and reminds them that God is not like the gods of the Gentiles.  He is consistent, He keeps His promises, and He will provide for our needs.  (Phi. 4:4-19).

(2)   Fear demonstrates a lack of faith.

(Mat. 8:23-27).  In the storm the disciples’ lack of faith caused fear.  Losing our jobs, nuclear war, inflation, illness, etc. are some of the storms we face.  True, we do not know what the future holds, but we do know the One who holds the future (2Tim 1:12; 4:6-8)

(3)   Doubt demonstrates a lack of faith.

(Mat 14:24-33).  On the sea, Peter’s “little faith” had caused doubt.  We too are often tossed to and fro by the waves of error and deceit because we do not take God at His Word and trust in His commandments.  “I hope in thy word” wrote David (Psa 119:114).

(4)   Failure demonstrates a lack of faith.

(Mat. 17:14-21).  The disciples were unable to accomplish God’s will because of their “little faith.” We fail to preach the gospel to the whole world because we have little faith in the power of the gospel (Rom 1:16) and in God’s help (Mat 28:20).

Commands of our Lord require faith to obey. 

It takes a lot of faith to forgive some folks (Mat 6:15; Luke 17:3-4);
To give cheerfully and liberally (Rom 12:8; 2Cor 8:1-7).
To not forsake the assembling of the saints   (Heb 10:24-26);
To seek the kingdom first (Mat 6:33);
To be a loving servant to others (Mat 20:25-28; John 13).

Faith without obedience is not “little faith.”  It is dead! (Jas 2:14-26)

Worry, fear, doubt and failure can all be traced back to “little faith.”  We must do three things:-

1.   1.    Desire more faith
2.   Go to the source of faith, God’s Word (Rom 10:17)
3.   Apply the teachings of the Bible to our hearts and lives.

“Lord, Increase Our Faith.”

MY PRAYER
by Omega Pearl Thomas

Hear, oh hear my soul, dear God,
As out of the depths it cries:
The courage to help me rise
Above the sorrow that has laden my heart
And filled my eyes with tears;
Above the storm and strife within
That grip my life with fears.

Give me Thy light to guide my steps
As my path I tread alone:
Let me walk closer by Thy side,
My hand within Thine own;
Give me thy strength to lift me up
For sorrow burdens my heart;
Give me Thy balm to heal the wound
Inflicted by death’s cold dart.

I ask Thee not for earthly wealth,
Nor power, nor fame, nor might;
But I ask for knowledge and wisdom to know
How to live my life a-right-- -
That I may hear on that final day,
Above the tumult wild,
“You have run the Race; you have kept the faith:
You may enter in, my child."