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  1. (1) The Old Testament SCRIPTURAL PRECEDENT consort of Isaiah [isaiah 3]; and one of the returned Jews in Deborah was a judge and a prophetess. Though she would have preferred to remain behind in the military operations which freed her people, the man she chose as commander insisted that she participate: Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. The children of Israel came up to her for judgement. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lona, the God of Israel, commanded, Go ...? And Barak said unto her; If thou wilt go with me, I will go: but if thou will not go with me I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. [Judges 4.4-9]. Deborah was exceptional, but she represents something which the LORD permitted at least once. There were queens too. Athaliah was the sole ruler over Judah for a period, but she was a wicked woman and a usurper, and no one would wish to cite her as precedent, nor that of Jezebel her mother in the northern kingdom, the power behind the throne in the days of Ahab and for some time later [1 Kings 16.31ff; 2 Kings 11.1-20]. Esther was queen of Persia, though, and even in a Book which evidently by design does not specify the providence of God, we can have no doubt that it was with His blessing. This was a rare instance, too, but it was divinely accepted. There were other prophetesses. Miriam in the days of Moses [Exodus 15.20ff]; Huldah in those of Josiah [2 Kings 22.14+]; the unnamed the time of Nehemiah [Nehemiah 6.14]. Hannah the wife of Elkanah made a prophetic utterance which formed the model for those of Mary and Elizabeth in NT. Two Books are named after women, but rather describe their activities than suggest them as authors. Esther has already been discussed: Ruth the Moabitess appears in such an appealingly compliant guise that no one would wish to cite her as an example of a woman doing a "man”‘s job. That is all. There were, of course, far, far more prophets than prophetesses, and judges and kings than judgesses and Queens. And there were no priestesses at all. Still, the precedents are there. It cannot be said that OT rules out absolutely the participation of women in the public affairs of the old Israel. [Do we need another factor here, again to balance the picture? OT seems to direct attention to the great service rendered to the sons of kings by godly mothers, and the great disservice done by the other kind. "And his mother’s name was ...“ is a sort of refrain. See 1 Kings 14:21,31; 15.2,10; 22:42,52; 2 Kings 3.2,13; 12.1; 14.2; 15.2,33; 18.2; 21.1,19; 22.1; 23:31,36; 24.8,12,15,18; and others in Chronicles. And in all other cases, even when the mother is not named, we cannot doubt the fact of her great influence. Kings had to make up their own minds whether to serve God, of course, as everyone still does, but the mother’s parts in their training cannot be over-valued]
  2. WOMEN’S ACHEIVMENT IN OUR TIMES It would be tedious to expatiate. We have queens, and female presidents, prime ministers, members of parliament; we have professors, scholars, composers, conductors, poets, playwrights, writers of all categories; we have teachers, financial consultants; we have scientists at the head of their field. We have explorers and adventurers; we have barristers, lawyers, and judges; we have members of the armed forces (in some countries fully trained and on active service) and police. And, of course, as part of the background against which this chapter is written, we have ’bishops’, Priests’, incumbents of parishes, and ministers. In these and more humdrum fields of activity, there is nothing which is physically possible for women which they have not shown themselves capable of doing, [i am sure that this additional note has no relevance to movements for the religious emancipation of women amongst the people I know, but the ominous development in some quarters of allusions and prayers to God addressed as ’Mother’, and using the pronoun ‘She’, needs to be carefully watched as an indication of the excesses to which such movements can lead. Of course, Mary Baker Eddy was doing this a long time ago with her "Father-Mother God", but there has been a limited recrudescence of the habit in our time. It is not being chauvinistic, is it, to call attention to the 99.99% uniform references to God (and the Son of God) as ‘He’ in Scripture, and the entirely figurative character of the other 0.01%. As I say, this is not our danger, but it is well to be aware of it, and know how to answer it.] There may be fewer women in proportion, in the more exalted or physically exacting, vocations than their numbers in society at large would apparently have warranted. Reasons for this might include the fact that opportunities have in some vocations only recently been provided, or that education of women has until recently been weighted heavily in favour of a settled domestic life after school leaving or graduation; or even that, when the proportions finally settle down, many women will still prefer the vocation of housewife. But these are not fundamental reasons, and do not determine whether or not it is ‘right’ (or ‘wrong') for women to hold such positions if they choose to run for them. And as far as we have gone it would be perfectly possible to argue that, in religious communities as well as in other callings, women and those whom they serve should be the only arbiters determining the equilibrium between male and female incumbents. There is such relevance to religious affairs in the current achievements of women in such matters as medicine, business, and administration in general, to name no others, that it is no longer possible to argue that a woman cannot properly discharge the actual duties attaching to religious ministry. When, in addition, via radio and television, I have heard women read the Scriptures or preach the message they want to make known, I have often had to recognize that women may perform such services with a range of competence not inferior to that of men. If it was ever possible to argue that women cannot do such things with ability, even sometimes with distinction, it is not possible now. But that is before we come to consider the scriptural case. And my standpoint must be that this case, if it can be determined, will either strengthen or negate what this general survey has so far shown. And it will be decisive for me whichever of the two it does.
  3. CHAPTER XLV: THE PASTORAL EPISTLES (continued) - THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY Digression XLV 1: THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC MINISTRY (Excerpt from AD Norris’ ACTS AND EPISTLES p 669 -682) PREAMBLE A misogynist hates women. A ’chauvinist’ in the original sense followed Napoleon's admirer Chauvin in an ‘exaggerated and bellicose patriotism’; but in the modem usurpatious sense the word is often preceded by male and followed by pig, and is regarded as one guilty of the smug, irrational belief in the superiority of his own race or sex. So, I do not hate women, and I do not, either rationally or irrationally, think male people are superior to female people. Any reader disposed to think otherwise of me cannot be offered proof, but my conscience is easy on this matter, if on little else in this complex subject. I have submitted this Digression in its earlier form to several believing Bible students. Reactions have varied from agreement with my thesis (in one case with the suggestion that I was a little too ready to see both sides!) to an uncompromising rejection of both my conclusions and my claim to impartiality. My late aunt, Emmeline Norris, was a vigorous advocate of a view considerably more conservative than the conclusions arrived at here, well over half a century ago. That very talented lady was no mouse, and as a schoolboy I was mortally afraid of her. But she decisively spoke up for a view of her station and that of her sisters which was totally opposed to the emancipation I am now to examine. "The Courts of the Women” is extinct these many years, but those who possess it still will know what I mean. I am painfully navigating between Scylla and Charybdis [** Being between Scylla and Charybdis is an idiom deriving from Greek mythology, which has been associated with the proverbial advice "to choose the lesser of two evils"]; but, suicidally in such circumstances, have burned my boats. I should like the problem to go away, with all its associated tensions, but it is too late for that. So, what I have done is to modify and abbreviate the earlier form of this Digression as well as I could, taking as full account as I was able of the adverse criticisms. I am sure that these represent the views of only a small minority of us, but since this Digression is meant to reply to their opinions, I have tried to present these fairly. Indeed, I had at one point thought of presenting both views in considerable detail but decided in the end that this would perhaps perpetuate the air of controversy in a matter which will sooner or later assume a dated air. While I think a private writer has every right and duty to examine acts and proffer exposition, I do not think he should trespass on matters of sanctions and discipline, and this I shall not do. I am in favour of the maximum lawful participation by believing women in the work of the congregation. But the examination of what is lawful must be scriptural, and this is what I am trying to do. Those who differ from me have subscribed to the same canons, so we reason from a common basis. Neither side of the discussion would admit to being moved by either contemporary or traditional opinions as found in Christendom. The Bible constitutes the admitted basis of the discussion.
  4. THE DUTY OF WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY (Excerpt from AD Norris’ ACTS AND EPISTLES p 365-366) 14.34-36 Women members of the congregation should not raise their voices to speak in the assemblies, among you as elsewhere. They must accept the subordinate position accorded to them under the Law of Moses also. There must be no pretence that one is only a question either: that, too, is forbidden, and the matter can be dealt with in the privacy of the home. It is a thing to be ashamed of that your women should address the public assemblies. And dare any of you go against the universal custom of the churches? Is it from you that the revelations of God issue? Or were you the only ones who received the message, so that your custom can prevail against the unanimous custom of the rest? [1 Peter 3.1; 1 Timothy 2.11,12; Genesis 116, and the general sense of the Law, as for example, in the right and duty of father or husband to ratify or rescind the vows of daughter or wife [Num 30:3-9]. But the matter is not easy: Paul has already apparently countenanced the ministry of prophetesses in 11.5 above. He may be saying that no other than a prophetess may raise her voice in the assembly There may be an implication that prophetic inspiration was not granted to married women with living husbands, too [cf. Luke 2.36-38; Acts 21.9, where Philip's daughters are specifically said to be virgins). It would be possible to achieve consistency by taking refuge in the view that, since a woman could not speak to be heard at all if she wore the veil customary in those days, therefore even 1 Corinthians 11.5 is tantamount to a prohibition, and the idea has been seriously put forward! We shall retain, though not without problems, the view that Paul is here referring to the generality of women, to which prophetesses were the only authorized exceptions, so that when they died out the custom would die with them. 14.37 Let me make one final point. A test which cannot be evaded by anyone who professes prophetic or other writings to you are the very commandments of God, then his claims may stand. But if he denies this, he condemns himself as ignorant of God’s ways. Nothing can, perhaps, then be done for him, but for the rest of you, my instructions stand. To sum it up, you do much better to seek for the gift of prophecy than for any other, but there is a legitimate gift of tongues which you should not prohibit, relatively minor though such a gift is. In whatever you do, though, see to it that due decorum is observed. It is hard to escape the feeling that Paul is dealing with the Corinthians as with children, in his treatment of their claims and ambitions to possess the gifts of the Spirit, more particularly that of tongues. It grows on me that, without actually saying to them that many of their supposed gifts are spurious and trumped up, he writes with such parental indulgence that they would need to have been particularly insensitive if they did not come to fee that Paul was treating them much as a parent treats children competing for toys. They must be allowed this until they have grown out of them, but then they will come to see in what a make-believe world they had been living. When that day comes, they will no longer feel that their childish ambitions amounted to much. They will have put away childish things. While there are, of course, genuine gifts of the Spirit, and some of them were no doubt still in evidence in Corinth, what the Corinthians most needed was to concentrate on the more excellent way, and then the fraudulent gifts would cease to be practised, and the genuine ones would be left, to be exercised with the wisdom and decorum which their true possessors would not fail to show.
  5. Men do not take pride in the length of their hair, nor in the ordinary way of nature would they have any ground to do so, but a women’s hair is a lovely thing, given her as an adornment, but to be exposed to view only on the appropriate occasions, which do not include the official assemblies of the ecclesias. [This observation concerning the women who will not conform in the matter of covering her head, advising that she should also shave her crown, can only be seen as a piece of earthy but vigorous and effective irony. “If she herself realises that she should not appear bald, then let her see that she should also wear a covering.” There is no ground for supposing that the words of 11:15 “her hair is given her for a covering” means that the hair is adequate for the purpose at the meetings of the congregation, for this would make 11:5 meaningless, and the word for covering in 11:15, peribolaion, has nothing in common with the verbs and other parts of speech used in connection with a covering in the early part of this chapter. It might be well to give a more literal translation to bring this point out. "11.4-7,13,15: Every man praying or prophesying having something on his head (kata kephalés ekhOn) dishonours his head. Every woman praying or prophesying not veiled on to the head (akatalupto te kephale) dishonours her head... or if she is not veiled upon (ou katakaluptetai)... let her be veiled (katakaluptesthO)... For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled (katakaluptesthai)... Is it fitting for a woman to pray unveiled (akatakalupton)? But her hair is given her for a covering (peribolalou)." Apart from the general ‘having something on his head’, all the special words are connected with being, or not being, veiled. The reference to the woman’s hair being a covering has nothing to do with such veiling, in either context or vocabulary. The only other use of word in the NT is in Heb 1:12 “the heavens shall he rolled up as a vesture". Paul is plainly saying that the woman’s hair is given to her as an adornment, a mantle, and in no sense can we conclude that, because a woman has hair, this dispenses with the need for any other covering in public worship. 11.8-15 The difference in the positions of man and woman in the church is this: the man was created first, and the woman then created to complement and complete the man. It is therefore important that the woman in worship should wear on her head that which shows where the true authority in such a setting really lies, so that the ’angels’, or messengers of God, shall be able to report that His dignity and that of His Son are being honoured. But it is important to remember that, dependent though woman’s position is, man would be incomplete without her. Neither would exist without the other, and the existence of both is dependent on the will of God. 11.16 One word more. By some this reasoning may not be easy to receive, and some may wish to be contentious. Let such people know that neither I, Paul, nor the congregations of God in general, admit of any other custom. It was best to accept both reasoning and rule, but, come what may, this is the rule and it must be honoured. The words, "we have no such custom" are often understood as “If you disagree, then please yourselves what you do!" But this is not acceptable, as some other translations will show: ​ "If any man seems to dispute for some other custom. we have no other, neither do the congregations of God" (NWT); "We recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God" (RSV); Alford writes that Paul "cuts off all further disputation on the matter by appealing to universal Christian usage… “We have no other Practice, nor have the churches of God" (NASB) “If anyone is prepared to argue the matter, he must know that no such custom is found among us, or in any of God’s churches” (Knox)
  6. Excerpt from Acts and Epistles by Alfred Norris (ADN) DECORUM IN THE ASSEMBLIES OF THE COMMUNITY (an ADN Paraphrase of 1Cor 11:1-16 … pp.351-353) [1] My only authority to command you rests on the commission I received from the Lord Jesus, and the only things in me which you ought to imitate are those in which I myself follow my Lord Jesus Christ. But as to the former, you will only receive and deserve praise in so far as you take seriously the instructions which I give you from Jesus. These are not for you to do as you like with; they are instructions indeed, and it my duty to see to it that you, and the other congregations, carry them out. This is not always the case, and the reference I have just made to eating and drinking at the tables of the Lord provides an opportunity to refer to one of your shortcomings, and ask that you see to it that the matter is rectified. [2Thess 2.15; 3.6.] The word paradosis, rendered 'tradition' or (here only) ‘ordinance’ in AV, is used disparagingly of the traditions of the elders in the Gospels [Matthew 15,2,3,6; Mark 7 2,5,8,9,13], and of other false or outmoded traditions in other letters of Paul [Galatians 1.14; Colossians 2.8]. But there is nothing wrong with receiving ‘things given over’, provided that the things concerned are handed over with due authority by an authorized servant of God. [3] So let us begin with some undeniable facts. The first of these is that the Lord Jesus Christ really is the Lord, and that He is the head of the entire community of the faithful. The second is that, in the ordinance of God, the woman takes the second place in authority to the man, as the fact of creation plainly shows. The third, which is utterly self-evident, is that the Head of Jesus Christ himself is God. Note: the use of the word “head” to denote authority s not common in the NT outside the present passage, the only other examples being Matt 21:24; Acts 4:11; 1Peter 2:7; Eph 1:22, 4:15, 5:23; Col 1:18, 2:10,19 [4] We are now to compare this symbolic use of the head with our actual physical heads, so that from now on you are to regard the head of man as symbolic of his spiritual head which is Christ; and you are to regard the head of the woman as symbolic of her immediate head in the Lord’s scale of authority, which is the man. The result of this is… Every man who prays of prophecies with his head covered dishonours his spiritual head who is Christ. [5] Every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered exposes her immediate head, which is man. [7] The man ought not to cover his head because he is the image and glory of God for if he did he would be concealing the glory of his spiritual head who is Christ. But the woman should cover her head because she is the glory of the man so that the glory of Christ is not obstructed by the intrusion of the man. The man does not cover his head in the assembly so that its counterpart, Jesus Christ, shall be openly declared. The woman does cover her head so that her immediate head, the man, shall be concealed from view, so that it shall be plain that she too meets to call her Lord directly into remembrance, for “in Christ there is neither male nor female, and ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” You evidently accept this of your ordinary members, for it is only needful for me to write about the women who “pray and prophecy”, that is, who take part in the public functions of the congregation. It is easy to see that such women might imagine that they are differently placed in relation to other women, since they have the gifts of the Spirit; but I have to tell you that this is not so. A woman who prays or prophecies under the guidance of the Spirit of God is still a woman and is not exempted from the normal rules governing the behaviour of women in the congregation. [Gal 3:28; Acts 2:17;21:9] Any prophetess who insists on baring her head thereby wittingly or unwittingly allowing the man to stand in the way of Christ, had better go the whole consistent course and shave off her hair as well. For she is guilty of presumption, in baring her head in those circumstances, and if she will not learn that lesson, she might as well go the full length of her rebellion. [7:14-15] And if she stops short of this realising that this would be a shameful thing to do then let her learn the lesson and wear her covering as she should.
  7. By One Man Main Book: By One Man - Available from thechristadelphian.com or lulu.com By One Man Supplementary Material – Download Here By One Man is a response to the challenge of Evolutionary Creation, or any view, which proposes that God evolved humans from primaeval life forms as His method of creation. By One Man reviews the evidence from both Scripture and Christadelphian writers and concludes that Evolutionary Creation is incompatible with Bible teaching and the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith (BASF). Evolutionary Creation conflicts with core Christadelphian teaching on creation, the first man and woman of the human race, the mortal and sin-biased condition of human nature that came in consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin, the meaning and origin of the devil, the atoning work of Christ and God’s purpose with humanity. By One Man furnishes easy access to the long-standing teaching of Christadelphians on these important subjects, and assures readers that our community’s beliefs are based on sound Scriptural evidence. By One Man is supported by a 575 page Supplementary Material pdf document. The Supplementary Material provides the full context of the eighteen Christadelphian writers, from John Thomas to Michael Ashton, cited in Section 6 of By One Man. The Supplementary Material contains further quotations, not included in the main document, that affirm each writer’s view on creation and the atonement to enable readers to understand more fully what they believed. Moreover, this document can be used as a resource to search on any specific subject or Bible verse to do with creation and the atonement. The Appendices to the Supplementary Material include the following relevant information: A chronology of key events over 1964 to 1967 concerning Bro Ralph Lovelock’s views on theistic evolution and the decision reached by the Watford Ecclesia to withdraw fellowship. The full context of the Watford Ecclesial statements published in the Christadelphian Magazine, including subsequent correspondence and “Letters to the Editor.” Two statements published in the early 1900s by the Sydney and Melbourne ecclesias, which underlined the importance of the physical consequences of Adam’s sin. A collection of articles on the relevance and importance of the BASF. A crucial article on the principles of fellowship by the Christadelphian Committee. It is hoped that By One Man and the Supplementary Material will prove to be a beneficial resource for ecclesias and individual brother and sisters. The ultimate aim of By One Man is to glorify our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and to establish true unity in the ecclesial world based on the truth of God’s word and an honest acceptance of the BASF as it was intended to be understood by those who wrote it. Colin Byrnes and Matthew Jamieson April 2021 ByOneMan_Supplementary_16April2021.pdf
  8. By One Man Main Book: By One Man - Available from thechristadelphian.com or lulu.com By One Man Supplementary Material – Download Here By One Man is a response to the challenge of Evolutionary Creation, or any view, which proposes that God evolved humans from primaeval life forms as His method of creation. By One Man reviews the evidence from both Scripture and Christadelphian writers and concludes that Evolutionary Creation is incompatible with Bible teaching and the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith (BASF). Evolutionary Creation conflicts with core Christadelphian teaching on creation, the first man and woman of the human race, the mortal and sin-biased condition of human nature that came in consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin, the meaning and origin of the devil, the atoning work of Christ and God’s purpose with humanity. By One Man furnishes easy access to the long-standing teaching of Christadelphians on these important subjects, and assures readers that our community’s beliefs are based on sound Scriptural evidence. By One Man is supported by a 575 page Supplementary Material pdf document. The Supplementary Material provides the full context of the eighteen Christadelphian writers, from John Thomas to Michael Ashton, cited in Section 6 of By One Man. The Supplementary Material contains further quotations, not included in the main document, that affirm each writer’s view on creation and the atonement to enable readers to understand more fully what they believed. Moreover, this document can be used as a resource to search on any specific subject or Bible verse to do with creation and the atonement. The Appendices to the Supplementary Material include the following relevant information: A chronology of key events over 1964 to 1967 concerning Bro Ralph Lovelock’s views on theistic evolution and the decision reached by the Watford Ecclesia to withdraw fellowship. The full context of the Watford Ecclesial statements published in the Christadelphian Magazine, including subsequent correspondence and “Letters to the Editor.” Two statements published in the early 1900s by the Sydney and Melbourne ecclesias, which underlined the importance of the physical consequences of Adam’s sin. A collection of articles on the relevance and importance of the BASF. A crucial article on the principles of fellowship by the Christadelphian Committee. It is hoped that By One Man and the Supplementary Material will prove to be a beneficial resource for ecclesias and individual brother and sisters. The ultimate aim of By One Man is to glorify our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and to establish true unity in the ecclesial world based on the truth of God’s word and an honest acceptance of the BASF as it was intended to be understood by those who wrote it. Colin Byrnes and Matthew Jamieson April 2021 View attachment: BOM_SupplementaryCover.png View attachment: ByOneMan_Supplementary_16April2021.pdf
  9. Fear vs. Faith JESUS TELLS US THAT just prior to his second coming men’s hearts would be failing them for fear. Today we find that men are full of fear and the psychiatrist’s couches are loaded with patients who are seeking relief for their fears, both real and imagined. Fear causes many organic diseases, especially ulcers, and those in the household of faith are not immune to the fears and anxieties that seem so prevalent today. While we are not immune, we have an antidote that will do away with fear as quickly as an antidote kills germs. What is it, and how does it work? Well, of course, we know that fear is a state of mind. Sometimes we are fearful when there is no danger and other times we could be in great danger and calm because we are not aware of the facts. Two people may react entirely differently in the same situation because of training, knowledge, faith or experience. Now we believe that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” This being true, our life is in God’s hands and we can say with David, “The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do unto me?” Paul said almost the same thing when he declared, “The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Why should Christ’s true soldiers be fearful? If God be for us, who can be against us? Nathan Hale, a patriot in the Revolutionary War, said as he died, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” His zeal for the cause he believed in completely cast out fear in the face of death. As followers of Christ we can cast out fear even as Nathan Hale did. “Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” This being true, why should we fear anything that concerns our personal safety? This doesn’t mean that we are justified in doing something foolish like running in front of a truck, but if we truly believe that the angel of the Lord is encamping around us, then why should we be filled with fear at the thought of flying or driving? Should we allow electrical storms and earthquakes to frighten us? Where is our faith? Are we not in God’s hands? If a sparrow does not fall to the ground without God’s knowledge, do we think that our plane could crash against God’s will? If God should allow us to be struck dead by lightning or earthquake, our days of probation would be over. How wise to develop the philosophy of Esther who did all that she could do. She fasted and prayed, and she was reconciled to what ever happened. She calmly said, “If I perish, I perish.” Queen Esther’s faith was rewarded and God delivered her and her people out of their trouble. If it is God’s will for us to continue our work in His vineyard, no force on earth can harm us. If God is ready to give His beloved sleep, nothing can stay the hand of death. Peter was miraculously brought out of prison by an angel of God the night before he was to be slain. Later he was crucified with his head down. God does not always intervene, but all things are working together for our ultimate good. How long we live is not important. Looking back we realize how insignificant it is that Jacob lived 147 years while Joseph died when he was 110. What difference does it make now that Joseph lived 37 years less than his father? He would be dead now anyway. Hezekiah would have been better off if he hadn’t lived that extra 15 years. At the judgement seat, it won’t matter how long we lived, but what we did while alive. If we serve the Lord, we need have no fears, for we are in God’s hands. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10.
  10. 29 March 2021 "We are used to thinking of Hebrews 11 as the chapter of "faith", but the key word in this chapter is not "faith" but the word "by". The evidence for this is that Hebrews 11 is a chapter of works and not of beliefs. It shows us what God’s servants did by faith. By faith Abraham left Ur, sojourned in the land of promise, and offered up Isaac. By faith Sarah conceived Isaac. Theirs was a living faith, a faith by which they lived their lives. The apostle James describes it as showing faith by works (James 2:18). A profession of beliefs without a consistent way of life will only serve to condemn us as hypocrites. Without the works which Abraham performed, in particular the offering up of Isaac, there was no evidence that his belief was anything more than an intellectual conception. A living faith inevitably works out into actions: "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect" (James 2:22)." - Stephen PalmerGreat and Precious Promises (1993)
  11. 29 March 2021 Numbers 11 Proverbs 7 Luke 21 "BUT WATCH YOURSELVES ... " Today’s 21st chapter of Luke is very familiar. Can some words become so familiar causing one’s thoughts to simply travel along well-trodden paths and maybe miss some of the intriguing “flowers” along the way? Imagine you were reading this chapter for the first time! Luke 21:20-24 were definitely fulfilled about 40 years after Jesus spoke them when the massive structure of the Temple was destroyed [Luke 21:6] and the nation ceased to exist. Words that always catch our attention is that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” [Luke 21:24] In Luke 21:29-32 we read of the budding of God’s fig tree, Israel [Joel 1:7] and Jesus’ words, “When you see these things taking place you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.” How long is a generation? We will soon read in Numbers that “the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.” [Numbers 32:13] But that does not conclusively prove that the period of a generation is just 40 years. We read in Psalm 90 that “the years of our life are seventy …” [Psalm 90:10] So from when Israel was again established as a nation in 1948 for the first time since AD70, is the climax to come at the most 70 years from then? But the Jews did not possess the old city of Jerusalem until 1967, so could that be the starting date? Many have exercised their minds greatly on the dates in Daniel 12 and watch movements among the nations of the Middle East. But Jesus says, “Watch yourselves” – look at the particular points he makes, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” [Luke 21:34] The hearts of many people around us are weighed down for many reasons such as the tottering uncertainty of the money ‘God.’ Let our Master’s words in Luke 21:36 be ones we really take to heart, “stay awake at all times, praying you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Strength? How strong is your faith? Read 1 Corinthians 16:13 ------- - DC
  12. 28 March 2021 "Time must be spent on the devoted way in which to read and contemplate the Bible every day; on how to pray; on the true value and meaning of the Breaking of Bread; on the real meaning of fellowship in our brotherhood and with the Father and His Son; on our family relationships; on our living companionship in Christian marriage; on holiness as distinct from sterile separateness; and, on what it means to live in faith and hope. And each member of Christ must be a living and willing witness to the faith he holds." - Harry Tennant A Living Faith
  13. 27 March 2021 Galatians 6:9 - "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." "It looks as though not to be weary is not to faint. We must understand what weariness is. It is not tiredness. Tiredness is a blessed thing which comes from working and which makes us rest so that we are restored and ready to work again. But weariness is different - it is not a blessing but a curse. It is losing heart. It is a feeling that things are not worth doing. It means beginning each task with a sigh instead of a smile. It is being dispirited, without motivation. It is losing hope. The Alternative is Prayer - Luke 18:1 - "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" Jesus says that if disciples desire to avoid fainting they must pray. He does not seem to admit of any middle position. It is one thing or the other. If men pray they will not faint and if they do faint it will be because they have ceased to pray." - Dennis GillettThe Genius of Discipleship
  14. Foot and Mouth Disease No great idea has ever entered the body through the mouth. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open the mouth and remove all doubt.” Mr. Lincoln was loosely quoting Solomon, the wise man who said, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” It has been said that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so therefore we should listen twice as much as we talk. Instead, some people appear to have two mouths, and sometimes they speak out of both sides of each one. Right now the British Isles are alarmed over the spread of hoof and mouth disease in their cattle, but we have had an epidemic of this terrible malady in humans for years. Most of us have been guilty of putting the tongue in gear before engaging the brain. If only we would stop and think before we speak, we would have a great many less sins to take to our Heavenly Father in prayer for forgiveness. We read that in a fit of anger Moses spoke “unadvisably with his lips,” and, as a result, was kept out of the promised land. We need to guard our tongue. It was David who said, “I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” James warns us of the dangers of the tongue. He tells us: We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. It ought not to be so, but it is. We need to realize that our tongue could keep us out of the Kingdom. Jesus tells us, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” If only we could just remember that we never learn anything while we are talking. There is a course that no college curriculum offers that we would be wise to take. Paul tells us about it when he exhorts us to “study to be quiet.” Isaiah tells us, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah’s message projects an image of peaceful pastures, of quiet, of comfort and security from living under God’s guiding hand – until the picture is shattered when Isaiah adds four more words. “And ye would not.” Will we? Are we willing to be quiet, to quietly wait and hope for the salvation of our God? Let us be wiser than those Isaiah wrote about. Let us guard our tongue. Let us study to be quiet and trust in the strength of the Lord of Hosts, and let us learn by listening to the Lord. “The LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him”.
  15. 28 March 2021 Numbers 10 Proverbs 6 Luke 20 "THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED WORTHY" In one sense, no man or woman can be “considered worthy” by God to be in his kingdom “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23] . But we have that marvellous chapter on FAITH in Hebrews 11, men and women who demonstrated their faith by what they did in serving God and doing his will. Abraham and Moses are outstanding examples of this, but remember Hebrews 11:29 in that chapter; “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land” – what a challenge to their faith as they stepped out although they saw the water towering on either side! This was their baptism, said Paul – see 1 Corinthians 10:2 But we are about to read in Numbers of how most of them failed to maintain their faith and “fell” in various ways in the wilderness. Maintaining faith is essential to being “considered worthy.” This brings us to what Jesus said to the Sadducees, as we read today in Luke 20. They refused to believe in a resurrection. In some ways they were like the modern humanists. They posed to Jesus a story of a woman who had 7 husbands in succession, which all died, so if there is a resurrection, they asked, who would be her husband “for the seven had her as wife.” [Luke 20:33] “Jesus said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons (children) of the resurrection” [Luke 20:35,36] We noted his final words in correcting the Sadducees; he said God “is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to him” [Luke 20:38] If we “live to him” as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did, then we, like them, will not die, but sleep a timeless sleep to awake (instantly, not having sensed the passage of time) “equal unto the angels.” So let us walk with an ever stronger faith as we travel through the wilderness that is the world scene today - conscious of the failure of those who “by faith … crossed the Red Sea” in baptism - but their wilderness destroyed their faith. ------- - DC
  16. 27 March 2021 Numbers 8; 9 Proverbs 5 Luke 19 "BUT NOW THEY ARE HIDDEN FROM YOUR EYES" We read in Luke 19 of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on the back of a colt when “the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! …” [Luke 19:37,38] But “when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” [Luke 19:41,42] Tragedy was coming on Jerusalem “because you did not know the time of your visitation.” [Luke 19:44] They had marvelled at “all the mighty works they had seen” [Luke 19:37] but soon “ … the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” [Matthew 27:20] Yet only a day or two before, “all the people were hanging on his words” [Luke 19:48] How two faced is human nature, so often their commitment has no substance, no depth, and this is a warning for those of all ages who claim belief in Jesus. In today’s chapter of Proverbs [Proverbs 5] is a warning that is all too applicable in today’s grossly permissive atmosphere. Beware lest we be as fickle as those who praised Jesus with their loud voices. Solomon asks, “Why should you be intoxicated my son with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s (and woman’s) ways are before the eyes of the LORD and he ponders all his paths” [Proverbs 5:20,21] Today, is this fact “hidden from your eyes?” The reality of this is hidden from nearly every eye today. Solomon repeats the point in Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and on the good.” The greatest tragedy is when those who make an outward profession of serving the Lord are blind to this fact. If “he (or she) is held fast in the cords of his sin” [Proverbs 5:22], the result is they are “at the brink of utter ruin” [Proverbs 5:14]. Any that are in this situation, must appeal to the Lord from their hearts to unbind the cords that hold them fast and utter “the prayer of faith” of which James writes [James 5:15] and not be ashamed to ask others to pray with and for them. ------- - DC
  17. 26 March 2021 "If you compare the list of Old Testament people who were saved by faith in Hebrews 11 with the list of those who were saved by works in James 2 you will find that all those in James 2 are also found in Hebrews 11. All the examples of salvation by faith in Hebrews 11 are examples where that faith was shown in action. The conclusion: Faith isn't something you think, or even something you feel. Faith is something you do." - John ThorpeEcclesia-Discuss (1998)
  18. 25 March 2021 "It is not through the exercise of reason's powers that faith becomes weak or that those who have run well begin to stumble. It is through the cramping cares of life, or the search for pleasure, or perhaps even the narrowness of friends. And when believers grow weary, their drift from faith is nearly always with mere half-hearted negatives. The habit of self-examination with a continued insistence on the simple positives might have saved them. Life itself is an affirmation. When hearts do not beat, and lungs do not breathe, their day is over. And when we cease to have a positive belief by which to guide our lives, we might as well not live at all." - Islip Collyer Conviction and Conduct
  19. Foolish Fears “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened.” Mark Twain We are all a lot like Mark Twain in that most of the things we have worried about never happened. All that worrying wasted on things that never happened! Many have spent sleepless nights listening for non-existent burglars. Others have endured endless agonies over terrible automobile accidents that never took place. Certainly there is enough real trouble in the world that has happened that we should not allow ourselves the luxury of becoming distraught over things that might happen. We certainly believe that “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about. them that fear him, and delivereth them.’ Worry over things that haven’t even happened is clearly a lack of faith. There is a great difference between being cautious and worrying. It’s foolish to take unnecessary chances but to allow our imaginations to run wild in all the horrible things that might take place is very foolish. Solomon tells us that “whoso harkeneth unto me (God) shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Isaiah declares, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Now we see it becomes a matter of faith and trust. God will do his part. He will keep us in perfect peace if our mind is filled with His thoughts. When we become disturbed over what might be, we are not acknowledging that the angel of the Lord is encamping around us. This does not mean that we will be free of all trouble and tribulation, but it does mean that nothing that happens will be outside the providence of our Heavenly Father. Therefore even the troubles that do come upon us need not disturb our peace of mind. Jesus tells us, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Yes, our Saviour wants us to have peace even while having tribulation in the world. He wants us to be cheerful even while in the midst of our troubles. It surely was this attitude that caused Paul and Silas to be singing in prison at midnight after being beaten. No wonder Paul could cry out, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We need to remember that we can too. It’s a great comfort to know that God will never allow us to be tried or tempted beyond that which we can bear but will always provide a way of escape so that we may be able to bear it. When we turn our life over to God, He directs it in every way so that all the good things and all the trials that come to us are ordered by Him and His angel is there to see that all goes well with us. When we fully realize this and believe it, we truly are filled with peace. As David put it, “Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing will offend them.” The key to this happy and successful life is to love God’s law and fill our minds with His thoughts. This can only come through constant reading of His Book and prayer. It is then that God takes over and keeps us in perfect peace. When this happens we, with Paul, will be able to view the troubles that come upon us calmly and rejoice in them. Paul said, “I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” This is the goal we must seek. When this happens we will certainly cease to be bothered by troubles that never happen. Mark Twain’s problem will no longer be ours. Not even the troubles that do happen will get us down for we now live unto God therefore with Paul we say, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
  20. 24 March 2021 "Early Christians refused to look at representation of Christ on the cross because they had seen men crucified. Our hearts fail and our pen falters as we force ourselves to look at the events of the next six hours. It is a sight too terrible to gaze upon for long: yet to refuse to look at him steadily for a few moments before we wait for the first day of the week, is to deny ourselves the consolation of his love. We cannot linger in the shadow of the cross, but we must approach, lift our reluctant eyes steadfastly to his, and pass on our way with bleeding but strengthened hearts determined that for us, that sacrifice shall not be in vain." - Melva PurkisA Life of Jesus
  21. 26 March 2021 Numbers 7 Proverbs 4 Luke 18 “THAT YOU MAY GAIN INSIGHT” Solomon’s proverbs in today’s reading of chapter 4, reflect on how his father David had taught him. “When I was a son with my father … he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commandments and live; get wisdom.” [Proverbs 4:3-5] As we started the chapter we noticed an interesting word, the word “insight” – “Hear, O son a father’s instructions and be attentive, that you may gain insight” [Proverbs 4:1] Other modern versions render it as gaining “good sense” – looking “inside” a matter. How do you do that? How deeply do we think through the decisions we make, weighing up all the pros and cons? Where do we get our “scales” from so as to ‘weigh up’ the major decisions in our lives? Often they begin with small things! Do we consider God’s principles – or are we totally motivated by human desires? “Hear my son,” Solomon continues, “and accept my words that the years of your life may be many” [Proverbs 4:10] He adds, “be attentive to my words … Keep them within your heart … keep your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life … ponder the path of your feet then all your ways will be sure” [Proverbs 4:20,21,23,26] But the tragedy is that Solomon in his old age failed to complete the preparation of his son Rehoboam for the kingship, nor is there any indication that he had a godly wife who played her part in training the next generation. But remember this, in drawing lessons from the Bible we are instructed just as much by the failures, as by the successes. So many take hardly any notice of instructions of how to operate the machines they purchase and only look at them when they find they are not working properly, if at all. But that approach is fatal in human relations, when they break down they are often extremely difficult to repair. Of course, the relationship that matters above all else is our relationship with God and with His Son, and that needs to be a relationship which grows and glows. Look at Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the righteous is like the dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” So “ponder the path of your feet then all your ways will be sure” [Proverbs 4:26] Reading the Bible every day is an essential part of walking that path. ------- - DC
  22. 25 March 2021 Numbers 6Proverbs 3Luke 17 "WHOEVER IS ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS" Our reading in Luke 17 intrigued us with the answers of Jesus to a question by the Pharisees as to “when the Kingdom of God would come?” [Luke 17:20] Jesus gives two apparently different answers – first to the Pharisees and then “to the disciples” [Luke 17:22] He tells the Pharisees “the kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” [Luke 17:20,21] What does he mean? We concluded, after comparing these words to what he said to the disciples, that he means, in effect, don’t expect to see signs that will alert you - because the kingdom will come so suddenly to be dramatically unexpected in your midst. He explains to his disciples that first there will be a long period “when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.” [Luke 17:22] He warns them, “they will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day.” [Luke 17:23,24] He likens this event to the suddenness of the flood (for the ungodly) in the days of Noah [Luke 17:27] and the dramatic overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah when only Lot and his daughters escaped because the angels came. His wife could have escaped too – but she tarried too long! Note how Jesus says [Luke 17:32,33] “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it” What does Jesus mean? In the parallel passage in Mark there is an explanation so that we understand that those who are intent on preserving their lives, lacking faith in God’s word, as Lot’s wife did to God’s words through the angels, they will lose eternal life. In Mark’ gospel we read, “whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man (or woman) to gain the whole world and forfeit his (eternal) life? … whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him (or her) will the Son of man also be ashamed when he comes …” [Mark 8:35-38] Let us not be ashamed!-------- DC
  23. 24 March 2021 Numbers 5Proverbs 2Luke 16 " ... WATCHING OVER THE WAY OF HIS SAINTS" The 2nd chapter of Proverbs is one of the most thought provoking in the entire book. Meditate on the sequence of ‘ifs’ in the first 4 verses. “IF you receive my words … IF you call out for insight and … understanding …. IF you seek it like silver and search for it … then you will find …” [Proverbs 2:1-4] What will you find if you have tried to do this? The answer in verse 5 is, “then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” [Proverbs 2:5] That is, experience a state of awe in your mind as you start to grasp the enormity of what the Creator must be in his existence and actions! This is far different from an academic understanding of the nature of God, even from a scriptural perspective. A truly seeking person must develop “the knowledge of God,” that is, a knowing insight into what God is – it is ‘seeing’ and as a result possessing an overwhelming vision of that which overwhelms normal human thinking. When the LORD first spoke to Job, after all Job’s reasoning with his friends, God says, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” [Job 38:2] It is the “knowledge” Solomon is speaking of in our Proverbs reading. Job confesses, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know … but now mine eye sees you” [Job 42:3,5] Notice how Paul expresses it; “having the eyes of our hearts enlightened that you may know …” [Ephesians 1:18] So, in our Proverbs chapter Solomon wants us to experience the awe of seeing God and then to be ready to grasp the relationship we can have with God, as Job ultimately did! We read “the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding … he is a shield to those who walk in integrity … watching over the way of his saints” [Proverbs 2:6,8] So, if we seek in this way then “wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” [Proverbs 2:10]; furthermore, “ … understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men (and women) of perverted speech … who rejoice in doing evil … who are devious in their ways.” [Proverbs 2:11-15]. Today we encounter such people more than ever, also those who have no spiritual strength to fight off these influences, so we need to be conscious every day that our Lord is “watching over the way of his saints” looking for them to find more and more of “the knowledge of God.” Reading and meditating on God’s word every day lays a foundation for that consciousness.-------- DC
  24. Flag or Rudder Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Most people are willing to take the Sermon on the Mount as a flag to sail under, but few will use it as a rudder by which to steer.” The teachings of the Master are not just a creed to be believed but a life to be lived. It’s one thing to sail under a flag of high ideals, it is quite another to use these principles as the rudder of our ship. It is incredible that people will put their hand upon a Bible in being sworn into office when in that very Bible in the very Sermon on the Mount that Oliver Wendell Holmes mentioned, Jesus says, “Swear not at all.” He tells us to let our “communications be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” This is an excellent example of just how much this Sermon on the Mount is used as a rudder. It isn’t even used as a flag to sail under! Jesus meant what he said. He meant for us to practice what he preached. His words are easy to understand. Why are they ignored? He said, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them.” Why then do we paste stickers on our doors saying “We Gave” to this charitable organization and wear a little red cross in our buttonhole to show that we contributed to that one? Why do we find plaques in the halls and on the doors of rooms of hospitals and colleges stating that this room was furnished by so and so and that wing was built by such and such? We hear Jesus saying “Resist not evil” but we find those around us fighting for their rights. We listen as Jesus says, “If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.” Why then do we discover the court dockets jammed with pending law suits? We all know Jesus said to turn the other cheek but we find that even killing is justified if done in self defense. We know that Jesus said to “love your enemies” but evidently few believe that he really meant for us to do it. Why are these plain teachings of Jesus ignored? The answer is so simple it is missed. These things are just the opposite of what we want to do. After all, when we give, we want everyone to know how great we are. When someone wrongs us, we want to fight back. When there is a conflict between what we want to do and what Jesus has told us to do, it is obvious that most people cater to their own designs. We can look around and see that the Sermon on the Mount has never been hoisted up the flag pole, let alone used as a rudder. Now it’s time to stop looking around to notice how everyone else is ignoring Christ’s commands. It is now time to look within our own hearts. How do we fit these easy to understand principles into our everyday life? There is no satisfaction in knowing that everyone else ignores them. Noah’s drowning neighbors could see their friends choking, gasping and sinking too, but that is no comfort to one going down for the third time. Misery may love company but we don’t want to be miserable and we don’t have to be either. True happiness, true peace comes from obeying from the heart the things Jesus plainly taught. If we truly belong to Christ, then we “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Crucifying the flesh has never been easy or popular but it brings great rewards. Let us follow our Master who not only taught us how to live but showed us. With him we say to our Heavenly Father, “Not my will but thine be done.”
  25. 23 March 2021 "Hearken diligently unto me," how can we do it now? There is no prophet; we cannot go to a Samuel and say, "Pray to the Lord for us; what does the Lord reveal concerning us?" God is accessible in his book, and in reading the Bible prayerfully and carefully, and endeavouring to live up to it, we are hearkening unto Him, and this is life." - C.C. Walker God’s King and Kingdom (1928)
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