Living Word Magazine March 2015

Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me. (John 7:38 GW)

www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk

In this issue: 4.

Alert, Prayer Battalions!

Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

5.

United with Him in His Resurrection

Ken Legg (Australia)

6.

The Returning Lord (Part 3)

Reinhard Bonnke (CfaN)

9.

The Poison of Unbelief

Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

10.

Faith-builders Bible Study Luke 1:39-56

Derek Williams (UK)

12.

In Depth Study – Zechariah 8

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

15.

Andrew Brother of Peter

Haydn O. Williams (UK)

17.

Shirley’s Encounter

Bible Studies Online

19.

This Month’s Featured Book

Ken Bailey (UK)

Back:

Britain’s’ Cheapest Gospel Tracts

Bible Studies Online

Living Word is published in the UK by Sharon Full Gospel Church, 7 Park View, Freeholdland Road, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, NP4 8LP Editor: Mathew Bartlett

©Photos - above: Marcin Winnicki. Cover: © Daveallenphoto. Left from top: Elultimodeseo, James Steidl, Dvest, Jacob Gregory. Facing: © Amandee Back Cover: © A. J. Cotton

2

Faithbuilders Bible Study Guide – Mark

The Prophet of Messiah: Zechariah

Paperback £5.20

Paperback £3.93

Kindle £1.28

Kindle £3.73

The Prophecy of Amos

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Paperback £4.56

Paperback £6.95

Kindle £1.90

Kindle £0.77

Jubilant Jeremy Johnson (CHILDRENS)

The Blessings of God’s Grace

Paperback £3.99

Paperback £4.56

Kindle £2.54

Kindle £1.14

The Donkey Boy – Tales from the Life of Jesus (CHILDRENS) Paperback £3.83

The Pentecostal Bible Commentary Series: 1 Corinthians Paperback £7.60

Kindle £2.54

Kindle £1.90

Non-profit Christian books 3

Prices may vary

Alert, Prayer Battalions!

An extract from ”Kneeling We Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey BUY ON KINDLE! £3.86 Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers.

Image© Elultimodeseo

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (2 Cor. 10:4).

Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts (1 Sam. 17:45).

Prayer is the final armament.

Prayer is the all-inclusive strategy of war.

Prayer is the ultimate weapon of God’s people.

Prayer is to be persevered in.

Prayer is to be watchfully engaged in day and night.

The prayer battalions are to be ever on the alert. They are to be ever active. God’s army is to pray always with every form of spiritual prayer.

They are to use the sword of the Spirit and to pray in the Spirit.

the mighty victory of the Captain of your salvation go for naught? . . .

Prayer in the Spirit will obtain the strategy of the Spirit, His divine guidance for our spiritual warfare.

Prayer in the Spirit is to arm every warrior for God. Every Christian is to share in the prayer battle. The Spirit may guide in various spiritual forms of battle but prayer is the constant, all-inclusive, allconquering, form of battle.

God wants men and women today on whom He can depend, to stand as bulwarks and battlements against the shocks of hell’s artillery—men and women of whom He can say, “Upon this rock have I built my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Shall we, beloved, be not only conquerors, but trusted soldiers whom God can use as His battleaxes and His weapons of war, as His mighty iron-clads, to carry the battle to the very ships of the enemy, not fearing their hardest blows and hurling against them the thunderbolts of His victorious power?—A. B. Simpson.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication” is the message of God (Eph. 6:18). Prayer is a form of spiritual bombing to saturate any area before God’s army of witnesses begin their advance.

Prayer is the barrage to drive back the demon hosts which are determined to stop the triumph of Christ.

Prayer is the invincible force to break down every opposing wall, to open every iron gate and every fastclosed door.

Prayer penetrates every curtain of darkness. Prayer crumbles every bastion of darkness.

Prayer demolishes every fortress of hell.

Prayer is the all-conquering, invincible weapon of the army of God. Therefore Jesus, our victorious Captain, lives to intercede.—Dr. Wesley Duewel.

Satan’s weapons have been hung up in derision on the cross of Calvary and Satan himself put on exhibition there like the brazen serpent of old, as a mere empty, fangless thing, as powerless to harm as that metal figure hung up in the wilderness of Sinai.

Beloved, are you thus treating your spiritual enemy in the light of the cross of Calvary, or are you letting 4

Stand back!

The workman moves a lever, and The wrecker’s swinging ball Thuds on old halls.

Debris cascades In bludgeoned heaps, The wall is down.

Stand back!

With prayer The workman puts his hands On levers that direct Power tools For other shatterings.

Other walls go down.

Stand back and kneel!

—Elva McAllaster

United with Him in His Resurrection

By Ken Legg Image © James Steidl

When United with Christ in His

resurrection, Christians live by Image © Bernard Dunne grace. Grace is all about what God has done for us and is doing in and through us by His Spirit.

Legalism nullifies grace by making it all about what we attempt to do for Him, thus subtly promoting reliance upon the flesh.

It was no different in the days of the New Testament. For example, the Galatians fell into this error and Paul said to them, ‘Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?’ (Gal. 3:3). This is why it is so important for Christians to be clear about the doctrine of their union with Christ. In the last chapter we saw that our salvation is certain because we were baptised into His death.

Our judgement has taken place at the cross. Not only did Jesus die for us but we died with Him. The old condemned person we were in Adam has been crucified. Sadly, many stop there. But Paul says, ‘For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection’ (Rom.6:5).

Having died with Christ, we have been raised with Him as a new creation. He is now our life.

‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Gal.2:20).

As Paul said, if we have been united with Christ in His death, we shall also be united with Him in His resurrection.

If we believe the first statement is true, then let us believe the second is true also. Through the finality of the cross we are forever reconciled to God. By means of our union with Christ in His resurrection, we are empowered for life and godliness.

‘And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life’ (1 Jn.5:11-12).

Order ‘Grace: The Power to Reign’ PDF AUS $9 Print AUS $19 5

The Returning Lord (Part 3)

by Reinhard Bonnke Image © Grace21

In this Bible study I would like to share four aspects with you. The Bible tells us that these are, amongst others, signs of the impending return of Jesus.

1. All things will continue as they were from the beginning.

The disciples asked Jesus what these signs would be. He warned them not to consider disasters as such since they would always come – wars, rumors of war, nation against nation, earthquakes, and famines. Life would be normal not abnormal – people marrying, eating, drinking, sleeping, or working.

All these things would go on right up to the day of His coming, just as they have to this day.

2. Jesus especially emphasized that there would be false prophets, false teachers, and false messiahs.

Scripture speaks of the Antichrist.

Deceivers have always been an active part of this evil world. History is largely made up of such individuals, who use the truth in a distorted misinterpretation for their

sinister aims. Their satanic character has been constantly evident by their wickedness carried out blasphemously in the name of God. Wholesale murder, (which is the contradiction of goodness), became a pious act as an offering to God. The persecution of good men and women stains the pages of history with their blood.

“deceiving and being deceived” as Jesus said.

The 19th century saw an extension of errors. In the West, aggressive anti-Christian forces, calling themselves ‘liberal’, arose. Thousands of churches have become sources of unbelief, preaching against the Word of God, denying the power of God. Atheism, with its many unpleasant faces, is now rampant. Superstitions have taken deep root while the truth is suppressed. The horoscope has been edited in, and the Bible edited out. Spiritist, paranormal, pantheistic, and mind-power cults have multiplied by the hundreds. Others claim the to be Christians yet deny every Christian truth, such as the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and the Moonies. All of them

3. A revived Israel

6

The ground is well prepared for any kind of Anti-Christ. He can take into his system every Christ-denying cult, every manmade religion, and shape them into a single universal antiChristian organization complete with false miracles, signs, and wonders. Everything is ready.

In chapters 43 and 44 of Isaiah’s prophecy, Israel’s future is foretold. “I will gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’” Then it says “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD. Those who now put their trust in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, are also ‘chosen’, as Israel was chosen. Jesus said “you did not choose Me, but I chose you (John 15:16), and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). Jews are witnesses to the Lord (Jahveh or Jehovah), and Christians are witnesses to Christ, but both together become a sign of the times.

Jesus described it in this parable: Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors! (Matthew 24:32-33). We see today the fig tree beginning to show the signs of the coming summer of God. God has brought about what He said.

Israel is now a nation in its own right, and in its own homeland.

4. A revived Church Then Isaiah foreshadows the sign of a revived Church in chapter 44 verse 3 “I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.” The promised outpouring of the supernatural blessing of the Spirit of God is, according to Scripture, characteristic of the last days, when Israel is regathered. Joel chapter 2 describes the presence of Israel back in her homeland with the land once more changed from a desert to fertility. Then we read: “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men

shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:2729).

This special outpouring began on the Day of Pentecost. Peter declared “this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” At the beginning of the 20th century, the last century of the second millennium, these two things began to happen together – Israel becoming a gathered nation again, and the same wonders as on the day of Pentecost taking place, with ordinary people speaking with tongues and prophesying. There has been enormous world-wide development abundantly fulfilling God’s promise.

The Church in the twentieth century has seen its greatest world-penetration since this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in signs and wonders. At present reckoning about one in every ten people on earth has been touched by the Christian Charismatic-Pentecostal revival.

Jesus said that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). At that time, it seemed only a laughable hope, but today it is close to realization. With it has come the greatest witness to Christ, and also the greatest bloodbath of Christian suffering and martyrdom of all time. It is the satanic testimony to the 7

nearness of Christ’s return. He sees the signs of the times and that, with the coming of Christ, his freedom is coming to an end.

This tremendous twin sign of Israel and the Church is put in a nutshell in the book of James.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8).

The reference to early and latter rains relates to the rains of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:23). In Israel, the early rain fell in September, and the latter rain between December and May, with no rain from June to August. The two seasons of rain are those of the early church, and of the times immediately prior to the end before God puts in the sickle, with a dry season during those middle centuries. The latter rains fill out the seedlings and produce the final crop. This is the harvest that Christ is coming to gather. He will harvest the world. John the Baptist, the last of the great prophets of Israel said of Christ: “He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12).

But what does this mean for us?

Apart from these signs, life on our planet will proceed as usual.

Jesus made this very ‘normality’ a sign in itself. He said: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37-39).

Jesus also compared the last days with the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah: “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:2830). This double reference by Jesus to eating and drinking seems to be based on another prophecy: “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit” (Ezekiel 16:49-50).

Such words could be a perfect description of the world today.

Pride has exalted human thought above the Word of God. Never has there been such fullness of food - material affluence and satisfaction.

Leisure pursuits are multiplied into major preoccupations. This age has twisted them all into abnormal interests, and even perversions, as a means of pushing God out of life.

now? You will certainly meet Him one day. The Bible tells you to repent – in other words, to stop loving and practicing sin.

You cannot do this on your own, only God can enable you to turn to Him and away from sin. If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Coming One, yet know that you should be, then say the following prayer and you will be prepared to meet him.

God will not tolerate it forever.

In the days of Noah, God waited 120 years. In the days of Sodom, they had years of witness by Lot and Abraham. The coming of Christ will mean great tribulation for the godless, the Christrejecters, and even the plain indifferent. For the believer it means glory. Christ will gather together His elect, the dead and the living, from the four corners of the earth, to be with Him forever.

Dear heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

I come with all my sins, burdens, and addictions.

Wash me now with the precious blood of Jesus shed on Calvary.

Break the chains of sin and Satan in my life and family.

Mark me with your precious blood. I want to be yours, spirit, soul, and body, for my time on earth and in eternity.

I put my faith in you alone, Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Son of the Living God. I believe with my heart what I now confess with my mouth: You are my Savior, Lord, and God. Now I am born again – a child of God. I believe it and receive it in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

In this intellectual and arrogant age, our Gospel message becomes again the same as Paul preached in Athens: “God...now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.

He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:3031).

What now?

Do you know this Coming One? Are you prepared to meet Him 8

Article reproduced with kind permission of Christ for all Nations

The Poison of Unbelief Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

Photo: © Ellah

By kind permission of CfaN, an extract from Daniel’s new bookLive before you die. £9.99 BUY NOW. As we discussed earlier, one of the characteristics of God’s will is that God calls us to do the impossible!

But to face the impossible requires faith. Satan knows that if he can inject unbelief into our spirits, he can effectively rob us of God’s best for our lives. For this reason unbelief is a deadly enemy of God’s plan for your life.

I think many of God’s people don’t realize how sinister and dangerous unbelief is. Many pious and selfrighteous Christians look down their religious noses at people committing other, more visible sins. They criticize them sharply without realizing that the unbelief they harbor in their hearts, and in some cases enshrine in their doctrines, is more wicked in God’s sight than the sins they are condemning.

Jesus rebuked His disciples for unbelief more than any other thing. The reason unbelief is so dangerous is that not only is it a sin in itself, but it also can be a gateway for other sins as well.

There have been many wonderful books written and many powerful sermons preached about faith.

Indeed, faith is the currency of

God’s kingdom, and without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). However, I think many people have a basic misunderstanding about faith.

They pray and seek more and more faith. But what if I told you that you already have plenty of faith?

The problem is not that you have too little faith; the problem is something else. What if I told you that your faith is already enough to move mountains? Many people will find this hard to accept, but it is very biblical.

In Mark 9:24 a man said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (NIV). Notice that he didn’t ask Jesus to give him more faith. In fact, he said, “I do believe.” This man recognized that the problem was not too little faith but too much unbelief! Perhaps you don’t see the distinction I am making here. Some people think unbelief simply means “no faith.”

But it is possible to be an unbelieving believer. In other words, faith and unbelief could be present at the same time. Faith has the potential to move mountains, but unbelief will nullify the power of faith. Let me explain it like this.

When my wife was still in Bible college, her father bought her a 9

very special gift: a car! It was a brand-new, silver diesel Volkswagen Jetta. It was a wonderful car that served us well for a long time. One day she lent the car to a friend. On his way to return the car to us, as a courtesy he decided to refill the fuel he had used. He pulled into the gas station, inserted his credit card, opened the cap of the gas tank, and began to fill it—with gasoline!

How he missed the bold red warning on the tank that said to use “DIESEL FUEL ONLY” I will never know. But one thing is certain; his little mistake was costly for us and devastating for the vehicle.

After the gasoline was added, the vehicle would no longer run. It’s not that there was too little diesel in the tank. The problem was the injection of a substance that was incompatible with the vehicle’s design. This is exactly how unbelief works. The devil wants to inject unbelief into our spirits because he knows it will bring us to a screeching halt.

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. Some would conclude that if faith as a grain of mustard seed can move mountains, then they must not have any faith at all, because so far they have been unable to move even a thimble. However, Romans 12:3 says God has given everyone a measure of faith.

The Faith-builders Bible study series The ‘Faith-builders Bible study series’ has been developed a useful resource for today’s students of God’s Word and their busy lifestyles.

Pastors, home or study group leaders and indeed for anyone wishing to study the Bible for themselves will benefit from using Faith-builders studies.

Each volume is the result of many years of group Bible study, and has been revised again and again to be relevant, challenging and faith building whilst remaining clear and easy to understand.

Each chapter has thought provoking questions to aid study and sample answers are provided.

Below is an extract from the study notes for Luke 1:39-56

COMING SOON

Luke Chapter 1:39-56

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem Mary's Visit to Elizabeth 1:39-40 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

After the angel Gabriel had departed from Mary she immediately set out on her journey to visit Elizabeth who lived in the mountainous area of Judea. On entering the house of Zacharias her greeting to Elizabeth had a startling effect.

1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

As soon as Elizabeth heard the greeting the baby leaped in her

womb at the voice of Mary who had now conceived the Messiah.

Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit; presumably because the child in her womb had been filled (John 1:15).

whom God had chosen to bear His Son should visit her. Elizabeth acknowledges that the child that Mary carries is her Lord.

Mark Chapter 2 (abstract)

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem

1:42-43 She exclaimed with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me?

Under this anointing of the Holy Spirit Elizabeth pronounces her benediction on Mary, that she was the most highly honoured among women to be the mother of the blessed baby in her womb. It seemed incredible to Elizabeth that she should share in the privilege accorded to Mary; that the woman 10

1:44 For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Elizabeth mentions that she knew Mary was the mother of her Lord because her baby had jumped for joy within her. Remember, John’s parents had already been told that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb.

1:45 And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Concluding her benediction, Elizabeth notes that Mary is greatly blessed because she had believed

what the Lord had spoken to her, and his promise would be fulfilled.

It is perhaps noteworthy that in Luke’s narrative Mary had not (so far as we can see) yet told Elizabeth about her encounter with Gabriel, giving us the impression that Elizabeth knew the facts of that meeting by the inspiration of the Spirit.

Mary's Song of Praise 1:46-47 And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior."

Mary responded with the words ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ which reveal that she was completely taken up with God at this time of divine influence in her life. She acknowledges God as her Saviour; although at this time she may not have understood this word in the sense Christians have since come to use it.

1:48-49 Because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed. Because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

The salvation Mary speaks of seems to be a reference to how God had chosen her, a woman of low position, for an important task. In the natural Mary may have had very little to rejoice in God about – but now that he had blessed her, she could not stop rejoicing and praising.

And what a way to be bring forth God’s Son, of the world; which generations would call

blessed - to the Saviour is why all her blessed

(not a reference to her position but her privilege). It would not be because of who she is or what she had done that people would call her blessed, but because of what God whose name is holy has done for her.

1:50 From generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

Mary knew that she was not alone in being a recipient of God’s mercy.

Throughout all time, God shows his compassion and kindness to all those who fear Him; who listen with tender hearts to believe and obey his word, as Mary had done.

Through the child Mary would bear, God would reveal his love and mercy for the whole world.

1:51-52 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position.

There is nothing God cannot do, and when he reached out his hand to do something by his mighty power, because he has willed to do it, there is no one who can stop him. The actions of God scatter and humiliate the haughty in spirit, for they do not have the control over their lives which they had thought – their every breath is in the hand of God. Mary exults in that God had not chosen some rich and powerful princess to bear his son, but an ordinary, poor and hard-working maid.

It is in the nature of the majestically exalted and yet lowly-hearted God to overthrow mighty kings and instead to lift up the humble (Isaiah 57:15, 66:2; 1 Peter 5:6), supremely by his action of sending his only 11

begotten son into the world, not to a palace but into a lowly family from Nazareth; into the arms of Mary.

1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

Those who are full do not look to be filled, and the people who consider they have enough do not receive from God. The poor however know that they are in need and are ready to receive. God gives the hungry good food, the kind that is spiritual and eternal (Psa. 34:10 and Psa. 107:8-9) but has sent the rich and complacent away with empty hands.

1:54-55 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Just as Luke has so far sought to place Jesus birth in the context of a believing Jewish family, so Mary also highlights that the promises God had made to them as a people were being fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Christ was the promised seed who would reconcile men to God. 1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth until the birth of John the Baptist (three months) and might have witnessed John’s birth, although Luke does not make this clear. Since no mention is made of Mary in the rest of chapter one, she might have left just before the birth of John.

Our In Depth Study Zechariah Chapter 8

By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Jacob Gregory

Scripture taken from the NET

Bible®.

This article is an extract from The Prophet of Messiah – a Zechariah Bible Commentary

Buy Paperback £3.73

Chapter 8 is a continuation of chapter 7 and eventually (8:19) the answer is given to the opening question about the observance of fast days. Having rehearsed why the people were taken into exile, the prophet now expounds on why they had been brought back and what were God’s intentions towards them.

people. When they reject him, he is stirred to chastise them; but when they repent he is equally determined to restore and bless them. Zechariah makes clear that the blessings he is about to speak of find their root in the loving and gracious heart of God – as do all things which happen to God’s people.

God’s Love Motivates His Actions vv. 1-2

God’s Sovereignty will Fulfil His Purposes vv. 3-8

8:1-2 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great fury.

(Revised Version)

8:3 The Lord says, 'I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called "truthful city," "mountain of the LORD who rules over all," "holy mountain." '

Despite having punished their fathers for their sin and wilful rejection of his message through the prophets, God remained ever mindful of his covenant with Israel (Zion), through which he had made them his own people. The underlying meaning of the words ‘jealous’, ‘jealousy’ and ‘fury’ carries the idea of the deep emotion or intense love by which God is motivated to act on behalf of his

God asserts that he had already returned to the people, that he might once again dwell among them. They should have already realised this, since they had returned from exile in fulfilment of God’s promise. Once more the city of Jerusalem, though now a ruin would be called the faithful city; the holy place where God dwelt and where he could be worshipped (a reference to the rebuilding of the temple). When people came to the

12

rebuilt temple at Jerusalem to humbly seek God he would be found by them. God’s promise to continue dwelling among them implies that Israel, as a result of God’s mercy, would become faithful and true to his covenant; from this we understand that the spiritual as well as the national restoration of God’s people is attributed to divine grace and sovereign action.

8:4-5 Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says, 'Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age. And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing.

Baldwin suggests that since many elderly people were not considered fit to travel the 3 ½ month journey from Babylon to Jerusalem there were very few of them living among the returned exiles at that time. But now God would show his blessing to Israel in two ways – the old would live to a ripe age, and the streets would be filled with young children playing. The picture is of one of peace, prosperity and freedom; for the aged being unafraid to walk the streets, and the children being unhindered at play indicates the

absence of anything like conflict or tyranny.

be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.'

8:6 And, 'says the LORD who rules over all, 'though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?' asks the LORD who rules over all.

God here indicates the way in which he will bring his purpose to pass. He will call his people to return to Israel from all parts of the earth (from sunrise to sunset) and they will settle in Jerusalem. Nor will this be merely a physical return, for the returning exiles will become true worshippers of God, returning to him with all their hearts, not falsely as their fathers had done; calling on him in truth and seeking to obey his will.

For the small band of returned exiles, the idea that the city of Jerusalem would soon become full and prosperous seemed farfetched. All around them were the ruins of the houses which had been abandoned during the Babylonian invasion. However could such devastation be restored?

But God gives his Word that it will be so. He had already revealed to Zechariah that his purposes would be accomplished ‘Not by might or power but by my Spirit’ (4:6). When God has purposed to do something it shall be done for, as Jeremiah says ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’ (Jer. 32:27) As the church of Jesus Christ in our own nation appears spiritually weak, rent by false doctrines and deceptive spiritual manifestations; and as it decreases its adherents annually to ever fewer numbers, one might think it incredible that God in his sovereignty might decide to grant repentance, revival and blessing to the whole nation; but it will not be remarkable or too hard for God. In fact God would rather accomplish great things with minorities and nobodies than with the great and strong, for then all glory goes to him (1 Cor. 1:29).

8:7-8 "The LORD who rules over all asserts, 'I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west. And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will

Obedience Brings Blessing vv. 9-15 8:9 "The LORD who rules over all also says, 'Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the LORD who rules over all, so that the temple might be built.

Whilst it is true that God sovereignly does his own work, it remains important for his servants to perform theirs in cooperation with him. The people had begun to build the temple, but by inference from Haggai (Hag. 1:2-4), we see that they had temporarily stopped.

Now Zechariah urges them to let their hands be strong to do the work; it is a call to action.

8:10 Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted everybody — each one — against everyone else.

It was God’s Spirit who moved the people to begin the building of the house of the Lord, and as they obediently did so, God had 13

responded by blessing them. God specifies the day when the foundation of the temple was laid as the day when he began to turn their curses to blessings (Hag. 2:1819). Until then he had robbed them of peace and brought adversity on them; but when they heeded his voice to go up and rebuild the temple he began to bless them. The application of such teaching to God’s people today is evident – it is obedience which leads to blessing.

The pause in building had led to a temporary reversal in Israel’s fortunes (Haggai 1:7-11) but now the prophet encourages them to persist in the work, for as they did so God would restore his blessings.

8:11-12 But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,’ says the LORD who rules over all, 'for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit and the ground its yield, and the skies will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things.

Unlike during the days of exile, God’s people in Judea would be blessed with peace and harmony, fruitfulness and prosperity. The picture is one of God’s overflowing blessings in every area of life.

8:13 And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!'

When God’s wrath was upon the nation, they had been derided and cursed by all other nations; but now they would be considered blessed, for God was with them. With this encouragement they were to be

strong and keep up the work without giving way to fear.

The act of worship required by God from the nation of Israel on this occasion was the rebuilding of the temple. What is your act of acceptable worship to God (Rom. 12:1)? The blessing began when they were prepared to put God first and make him the centre of their lives. It always works that way. Are you putting God first in your life; are you fully surrendered to him?

8:14-15 "For the LORD who rules over all says, 'As I had planned to hurt you when your fathers made me angry, 'says the LORD who rules over all, 'and I was not sorry, so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah — do not fear!

God once again assures the people of his sovereignty. When the people did wrong he punished them; they were carried away into exile even when they believed such a thing could not happen. But it did happen, for God had purposed it. In the same way, since God had now purposed to restore and bless them, they were not to be afraid; for who can hinder God? Perhaps you have recently come back to God, or at least you have decided you want to be closer to the Lord, but find it hard and fear that you will not be able to keep it up. Do not fear, for the fact you are trying to return is evidence that God has purposed to bless you and that he will help you to stand.

Ethical Responsibilities vv. 16-17 8:16 These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts.

Once again, as in chapter seven, God reminds the people of their ethical responsibilities. God cannot punish the sins of the fathers and overlook the same sins in their descendants. The returned exiles must hear and obey the voice of God. The commands are the same as those given earlier, with the addition ‘do not lie to each other’ (Eph. 4:25).

8:17 Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath — these are all things that I hate,’ says the LORD." This verse reveals the basis of all Christian ethics. God’s people strive to do what pleases him, and avoid certain things not simply because they are ‘wrong’ but because God is displeased with them. The good pleasure of God is what decides every Christian’s moral compass.

Forget the Former Things vv. 18-19 8:18-19 The word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: "The LORD who rules over all says, 'The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.'

The prophet now returns to the original question of fasting (7:3).

Having explained the purposes of God relevant to their return from exile, involving the forgiveness of the nation’s sin and their restoration to both spiritual and material prosperity, Zechariah concludes that the fasts commemorating the destruction of the temple and the events which accompanied it (see notes on 7:3) should be changed into a celebration of the return and restoration. The former things were 14

to be forgotten, and God would wipe away all the tears of those days from their eyes.

A Future Ingathering of All Nations vv. 20-32 8:20-23 The LORD who rules over all says, 'It will someday come to pass that people — residents of many cities — will come. The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, "Let's go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD who rules over all. Indeed, I'll go with you." ‘Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. The LORD who rules over all says, 'In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of — indeed, grab — the robe of one Jew and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." ' " God gives Zechariah a glimpse of his greater purposes for Israel. He had restored Israel because of his love for her – but also that through her he might show his love to all nations. Israel was never allowed to lose sight of this overarching purpose of God throughout the ministry of the prophets – so it is strange that they did so by the time of the early church! Many Gentiles from all nations (apparently more in number than the believing Jews) would eagerly come and seek the Lord and be joined to faithful Jews in their worship of God. This promise was not entirely fulfilled until Jesus came and the church began; then as the word of the Lord went out from Jerusalem, many were brought to God, who would from that time on be worshipped not in Jerusalem only, but by people everywhere in Spirit and truth (John 4:24).

Andrew Brother of Peter John 1:29-42 Brief extract of a forthcoming book based on studies by the late Haydn O. Williams. Image © Dvest Andrew was the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter; a fisherman by trade he came from the town of Bethsaida near the Sea of Galilee. His name means manliness, and conveys the idea of being upright and strong.

He was chosen to be an apostle Andrew was personally called and appointed by Jesus (Matthew 4:18) together with Peter to become a fisher of men.

He was numbered with the twelve and shared in the apostolic ministry of the early church. He was called to follow and serve, just as we have all been chosen to follow and serve Jesus.

He does not appear to have been as prominent as his brother Peter in the early church. Although he had been sent out by Jesus with miraculous authority, no details are recorded of any miracles he worked or of any great sermons he preached; nor is there an account of his leadership

abilities. Yet there are a few things we can remember him for.

His Personal Experience We will first of all consider Andrew’s personal experience in relation to the Lord. Although in Acts 2 we read of 3000 people being saved following Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, and later of 5,000 conversions following Peter’s healing of a man at the beautiful gate (Acts 4), none of this could have happened unless Andrew had first led his own brother – Simon Peter – to the Lord.

Andrew’s case reveals that God deals with each person individually. We must all have a personal experience with Christ.

He was a Son of Israel As a Jew, Andrew would have been brought up to know something of the history of his people and the Law of Moses.

This would be one way of preparing his heart for the lord.

Those people who were taught 15

in childhood about God may be more prepared to receive the good news of his salvation than those who were not. Personally, I recall that learning the Bible truths about the birth, life, death, resurrection, and second coming of the Lord played a great part in preparing me for my encounter with Christ.

Looking back, I can see the hand of God throughout my life.

Andrew had originally been a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35). John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, the herald of the King. He called people to repentance and baptism that they might be prepared for the coming of Jesus. John pointed his disciples to Jesus, acknowledging that he was only a voice, but that Christ was far greater than he.

One day, Andrew heard John proclaiming Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and so he decided to find out more. As he encountered Jesus for the first

time, the Lord invited him to his home, where he stayed that day.

Andrew must have received significant revelation during this meeting with Jesus, for following this encounter, he sought out his brother Peter and said to him ‘We have found the Messiah’ and brought him to Jesus (read this story in John 1:29-42) Just as Andrew led his own brother Simon to Jesus, so we can lead others to Christ too. In fact, many people and various experiences can be used by God to bring people to Jesus: a loving mother’s prayer, a kind deed, a word of testimony, a campaign led by an evangelist, or even the direct leading of the Holy Spirit.

His Personal Response We discover from John’s gospel that Andrew was personally guided in the direction of Jesus

by John the Baptist. John stood on the bank of the river Jordan with two of his disciples, one of whom one was Andrew, and seeing Jesus, he pointed him out to them: ‘Behold the Lamb of God’.

What a great man John was, what humility he showed. He didn’t seek to build his own empire, but rather pointed people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

John’s message was that Jesus is the Lamb, the greatest one, the Baptiser with the Holy Spirit.

John confessed to being unworthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. ‘You have followed me,’

he said, ‘but now you must follow him!’ So in this way Andrew was personally pointed to Jesus. Evangelism is not all about large missions or crusade meetings. It is about one heart at a time, individuals being pointed in the direction of Jesus by other individuals, friends, neighbours, work colleagues or family.

He Became a Follower of Jesus When Andrew and the other disciple (possibly John son of Zebedee) followed Jesus, they found themselves personally invited to spend time with Jesus.

There is nothing like a personal experience with Jesus! To meet Jesus personally is everyone’s deepest need. What knowledge, what revelation must have been received in that encounter! John had pointed Jesus out to them, Jesus had invited them to spend time with him and now they were fully convinced. ‘We have found the Messiah’ was their cry.

It is vital that others point us to Jesus, but even more vital that we have a personal encounter with Jesus for ourselves. When you meet Jesus you will want to follow him for the rest of your life. There is a great need in these days for Jesus to be revealed to sinners, and he can be revealed to them through your life if you will follow him.

I’m sure Andrew’s experience would have lived with him 16

always. Do you remember when you first met Jesus? Our first experience of the Lord is when we come to him ‘at the cross’; that is, when we come confessing our sins and find forgiveness by believing in his name.

I will never forget how I first came to meet Jesus, and I will follow him all my days.

His Personal Witness One of the great things that stand out to challenge us about Andrew’s life is his personal witness. Having found Christ for himself, he immediately sought to bring his brother Simon Peter to Jesus.

He may not have seen many thousands of people converted to Christ, but it was his concern for his brother Peter and his personal witness to him, bringing him to Christ, that played a vital part in a chain reaction which brought salvation to thousands.

If we only brought one soul to Christ during our lifetime, who knows but that they might lead many more to Him as Peter did in his ministry. Don’t just look for the big crowds! Take the little opportunity and may God help us all to go out into our workplace, our community, among our friends and bring someone to Jesus. In fact, the best place of all to start is exactly where Andrew started – at home among his own family.

Our latest Gospel tract Free UK delivery.

Image Š Bernard Dunne

Then she met a strange man - a foreigner. On any other day she would have ignored him; and no one in her town ever so much as spoke to one of the hated "immigrants". But on this day she couldn't help but notice him. He was different, somehow. Not good looking, you might say, but he had a captivating presence.

Shirley had no luck in love. As Mick Jagger croaked, she could get "no satisfaction".

She'd had five husbands and a string of other men, and was living with a new partner the day she met someone who would change her life...

It was not that her relationships were abusive; her partners were not manipulative - she knew how to stick up for herself!

But as each affair ended, it left an empty feeling inside.

Her love life had been good, and the money was helpful, but she needed something more. She wasn't sure what it was, just something she longed for deep inside.

He sat by a deep well at the road side. As she approached, he asked her for a drink of water. Despite herself, she spouted a few racist taunts, but even that could not disguise her curiosity. Just who was this polite foreigner?

By his tone and manner, she was sure that he was asking for something more than a drink.

"If you knew the gift of God," said the man, "you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

Shirley felt a little confused, but in no way alarmed by the man. Was he offering her a drink now? He had no bucket to draw from the well, and no bottle in his hand. So just 17

where was this drink he was offering her?

"Whoever drinks of this water will be thirsty again," the man continued. "But whoever drinks of the water which I give him will never be thirsty again. For the water I give him shall become in him a spring of living water welling up to everlasting life."

Now this was something; a water supply that never ran dry. No more carrying heavy buckets to the well! But piped running water was unknown in Shirley's hometown. What could he mean? Shirley knew he had something to offer, and wanted to know more.

Where was it leading, this talk of God and of never thirsting again?

A sudden stab of conscience touched Shirley's heart and made it stand still. "Go and bring your husband," the man had said. It wasn't that Shirley regretted her marriage break ups; it was just that she was conscious of her weakness when it came to holding down a relationship. Just as stolen water always seems sweeter, so illicit love was always more

exciting for Shirley. So she blurted out that right now, she didn't have a husband.

The man spoke again, "You are right. For you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband."

There was something in the stranger's voice which told Shirley that he had been watching her all her life - and knew everything about her, even the secrets she had hidden from her lovers. "But only God knows the thoughts of our hearts," thought Shirley, with some halfforgotten memory of her religious upbringing. Clearly, this man was no polite foreigner, but a messenger of God. The man continued to draw Shirley closer to himself - but not physically. Neither of them had changed their position, it was her heart which he had captivated. All the emptiness and pain of her wasted life, a life of failure, was brought into focus, and the stranger offered to exchange it all for a new beginning - a new life within that would never end. It was clear that he was not offering to satisfy her sensual desires, but to meet the desperate need of her soul. To be forgiven for her sin! That

was too good to be true! To be given another chance to be right with God, and able to hold her head up high? Only one person could offer her such peace and satisfaction.

The Prophet of Messiah

"When the Christ comes," said Shirley, "he will tell us all we need to know about this." "I who speak to you am he," replied Jesus.

Reader, are you dissatisfied with life? Outwardly, all may be well, but is it well with your soul? Do you have peace with God, are your sins forgiven?

Do you have the joy and satisfaction of being in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? The Lord Jesus died for your sin on the cross, and rose again from the dead so that you might be forgiven. By accepting Him as your Saviour you will begin a life which will never end.

Shirley encountered him at the well of Sychar. You too can encounter him, just where you are today!

For further please contact:

information

[LARGE SPACE HERE TO LABEL OR PRINT YOUR CHRUCH CONTACT DETAILS] Tracts are A5 folded to A6 finish, full colour double sided. £1.99 per 50 includes UK postage (MAINLAND UK ONLY).

18

The encouragement which Zechariah's prophecies brought to the Jews at the time of their return from exile helped them to rebuild not only their temple but also their national identity.

Yet Zechariah's message of hope pointed beyond the glory of the temple to one greater than the temple: the Anointed One (Messiah) who would become both priest and king forever over all nations.

Available at Amazon The Prophet of Messiah: The Book of Zechariah Paperback: £3.73 & free UK delivery.

KINDLE: £2.96 members of unlimited)

(free to KINDLE

This month’s featured book is a simple and honest collection of personal testimonies about answered prayer by one of our local authors Ken Bailey (Cardiff).

His new book ‘Where is Your Faith?

Just Believe!’ will encourage the reader to pray and trust God for the difficulties in their lives.

Price £7.99 + shipping.

It is currently only available from Ken’s website: 3G Ministries Here is a brief extract:

I was worried.

The last time we’d travelled a long distance, Christalla’s skin had turned blue due to her oxygen levels dropping dramatically following a heart malfunction. The medics told me that if they had been a few minutes later arriving at the scene, Christalla would have been dead. When we phoned Dr Julu to relay to him what had happened, he was livid. He told us that travelling was far too dangerous for Christalla and gave her strict instructions not to attempt any further travel.

Two months prior to incident Christalla attempted to travel to organic food festival which

this had an was

taking place in Bristol. Christalla and I attended this festival every year.

This was a treat for her because virtually all the food Christalla ate was organic but also because we would invariably return home with a car laden with ‘freebies’. We both knew that travel wasn’t advisable but given the good weather forecast we decided to take a risk and make the journey. The trip usually took around an hour. The plan was that following our arrival Christalla would remain in her wheelchair throughout the time we were there. During previous trips she would walk some of the way, rest and if needs be, use the wheelchair.

The best laid plans? We got caught in a traffic jam during the journey and Christalla became very poorly. The heat was unbearable and the air conditioning in the car was malfunctioning. I quickly pulled off the main carriageway, lifted Christalla out of the car onto a blanket and lay her on the hard shoulder of the motorway.

I was frantic with worry and rang the emergency services.

Christalla’s heart was struggling to cope with the heat and the fumes would eventually begin to cause breathing problems.

However, during that awful situation, God demonstrated that He was with us, He was still in control.

A pick-up truck towing a car came slowly towards us on the 19

hard shoulder. The driver put his indicator on to signal that he wanted to get back onto the main carriageway so that he could negotiate his way around my car. I watched as the truck passed us and noticed that when it was a few yards away from us it turned sharply off the motorway. I hadn’t noticed that our car was a short distance from a large open area which led to a slip road. I immediately put Christalla back in the car and drove off the carriageway. I opened every door in the vehicle to keep her cool whilst we waited for the medics. A short while later help arrived and Christalla was taken to hospital.

As I followed the ambulance I realised that where I had positioned the car had saved us valuable time. The next exit from the motorway was several miles away.

So, when Christalla informed me that it would take two and a quarter hours to get to Ffald-yBrenin and the scheduled prayer service was of five hours duration, I was beside myself with indignation and fear.

‘You cannot go, you’re not well enough to travel that far and cope with such a long a day,’ I said. ‘It’s a crazy idea.’

Christalla, who has always had great insight and wisdom, looked me in the eye and said, ‘Where is your faith?’

Copyright © 3GMinistries October 2014.

Reproduced by kind permission.

Contact us for details:

Britain’s Cheapest Gospel Tracts!

Buy Tracts Now – choose from 20+ titles Available now for £1.99 per pack of 50 (includes UK postage) Rest of world, contact for shipping price.

Request samples.

Contact Us Editor: Mathew Bartlett Living Word Magazine and Bible Studies Online are ministries of Sharon Full Gospel Church. UK Reg. Charity No. 1050642 www.sharonchurch.co.uk Tel: (+44) 01495 753561 Lines open 9am-5pm Mon to Fri with answerphone.

Living Word digital magazine is available free of charge. Print copies also available at cost price from: www.biblestudiesoline.org.uk

20