ANSWERS TO ASSIGNMENTS FOR 1999

1. (a) Write out Deut. 18:22; (b) write out Deut. 18:20.

2. (a) The sermons are similar in that they both speak of Jesus being risen from the dead (13:30; 17:31); (b) they are different in that events in Israel’s history are reviewed (13:17-22) and the Old Testament Scriptures are quoted (13:33-35,41) in the sermon to the Jews but not to the Gentiles; Paul speaks to the Jews of the God they already know but to the Gentiles of who God is because they were worshiping the unknown God.

3. Write out Prov. 11:24 or 25.

4. (a) Write out Acts 16:16-18; (b) write out Acts 5:3.

5. God punished them because they lied and said they were giving all of the proceeds from the land sale to the apostles when actually they kept part of it for themselves. There was nothing wrong with keeping part of it for themselves, but it was wrong to lie about it.

6. Write out Mark 5:15,29,42.

7. Write out Col. 1:24; 1 Pet. 2:21; 4:13.

8. Describe an occasion when you felt the Lord giving you a message from himself to give to another person; answers will vary.

9. (a) Write out 2 Ki. 5:3,10, 13. (b) Who did God use to bring you to the Lord? answers will vary.

10. Write out Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13.

11. Write out Psa. 66:18 and Prov. 21:13.

12. Write out John 17:9 or 20 and Heb. 7:25.

13. Write out John 17:11,13,15, 17,21,24 (at least three).

14. (a) Write out Matt. 26:40,41, 43,45 (at least two); (b) write out Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60.

15-1. (a) Christ Jesus. (b) He spoke only those things that His Father gave to Him.

15-2. The teacher primarily explains the meaning of the scriptures while the pastor has the wisdom to apply the scriptures to peoples’ problems of everyday life.

15-3. The work of the exhorter is that of restoring the sinning, backsliding, wandering, or discouraged believer back to communion with the Lord and the joy of God’s salvation.

15-4. Describe two ways in which you have served the Lord; answers will vary.

15-5. Healing was immediate and complete; all who came for healing were healed by Jesus; dead were raised; they did not stage healing services but went to where the sick people were.

15-6. (a) Write out two verses of 1 Cor. 11:30; 2 Sam. 12:7-15; Gal. 6:9. (b) Write out two verses of Rom. 8:17; Job 42:6; Psa. 119: 67, 71; Heb 12:10; 1 Pet. 5:10; 1 Pet. 4:14,16; Jas. 1:3; Acts 12:5, 12; Acts 16:25,30; etc.

15-7. Write out one or more ways you do the work of an evangelist; answers will vary.

15-8. Speaking in tongues does not help one to grow in holiness and spiritual maturity. Rather, we grow in holiness and spiritual maturity by focusing on Christ and being changed into His image, by diligent, day-by-day praying, studying the Word of God and learning and doing God’s will, and by allowing the Holy Spirit to control us and produce His fruit in our lives. Write out 2 Cor. 3:18.

15-9. Write out two verses of John 15:7; 1 John 3:22; Psa. 66: 18; Jas. 5:16; etc.

15-10. Describe an experience in which the Lord answered one of your prayers; answers will vary.

15-11. Write out three verses of 1 Tim. 2:4; Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1,2; Eph. 6:18,19; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18; Jas. 5:14, 15; Luke 22:32; Matt. 5:44,45.

15-12. Write out three verses of Matt. 6:9-15; Col. 4:12; Phil. 4:19;
John 17:15; 2 Cor. 13:7; Acts 28:8; 2 Cor. 12:8; Jas. 5:14,15; Luke 10:2; etc.

Foundations of Faith

Running the Race

Foundations of Faith
PRAYER (IV)

In this series we have considered the moral basis for prayer, how we are to pray, how often we should pray, and for whom we should pray. Now let us learn from the Scriptures

For What Should We Pray?

We shall begin with the topics of prayer taught by the Lord to His disciples, and then list other themes of prayer found in the New Testament.

1. That God’s name be kept holy (Matt. 6:9), say, by not using it carelessly and by ourselves behaving in a holy way if we call ourselves Christians and children of God.

2. That our Father’s kingdom- which is the eternal state-might come (Matt. 6:10; Rev. 22:20), and that we might allow Christ to rule our lives each moment.

3. That God’s will might “be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10), starting with ourselves (Col. 4:12).

4. That God will continue to provide all that we need daily for body, soul, and spirit (Matt. 6:11; Phil. 4:19).

5. That God will restore us to fellowship with Himself after we have sinned, just as we forgive those who sin against us (Matt. 6:12; 1 John 1:9).

6. That God will keep us from trials and testings, and will keep us from responding in a sinful way to any trials and temptations that do come our way (Matt. 6:13-15; Mark 14:38; John 17:15; 2 Cor. 13:7).

7. That God will heal disease (Acts 28:8; 2 Cor. 12:8; Jas. 5:14,15).

8. That God will send Christian workers “into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).

9. That God will be merciful to us and forgive us and save us if we are not yet saved (Luke 18:10; Acts 8:22; Rom. 10:1; 1 Tim. 2:4). Are you saved?

10. That our faith, and that of others, might not fail (Luke 22:32).

11. That God will give us boldness (Acts 4:31; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3).

12. That God will deliver from prison (Acts 12:5; Philem. 22).

13. That God will open the way for us to visit certain people or assemblies (Rom. 1:10; 1 Thess. 3:10; 2 Tim. 1:3,4).

14. That God will give us wisdom, the knowledge of His will, fruitfulness, and growth of our love and knowledge of Christ’s love (Eph. 1:16; 3:14-19; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-11).

15. That His Word will have free course (2 Thess. 3:1; Isa. 55:11).

Why Should We Pray?

This question was posed at the beginning of our study of prayer (Sep99). If the God of all knowledge knows all of our problems and concerns and needs already, why should we pray to Him about them? Here are some suggested answers:

1. Prayer is an evidence that we realize our weakness and inability to solve every problem and handle every situation by ourselves. It shows our dependence upon the Lord rather than upon ourselves or other human beings.

2. When our prayers are answered, praise and thanksgiving to God will follow. Without prayer we would not be made aware of God’s power and wisdom and we would not be thankful (Phil. 4:6).

3. Prayer knits our hearts together with those with whom and for whom we are praying (Acts 12:5,12).

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
SOME EXAMPLES OF ANSWERED PRAYER (IV)

Prayer for Tomatoes

Hundreds of miles away from any doctor, the wife of missionary John Clark lay dying of a tropical fever. There was one unusual request she kept repeating: it was a call for three ripe tomatoes. But where could a tomato be found in the whole of the Belgian Congo? Only the prayers of the entire mission compound seemed to keep Mrs. Clark alive.

A tribeswoman suddenly appeared and wanted to see the missionary. No one had ever seen her before. John Clark looked into the crude basket that she carried: there were three ripe tomatoes!

The native had come for advice. Food was scarce in her village, but here was some queer fruit she had grown from seeds left her by a white man. Were these all right to eat? Mrs. Clark ate the tomatoes and soon recovered from her fever.

Prayer for a Son

The Scriptures tell us of a man named Elkanah who lived in the land of Israel between 1100 and 1200 B.C. “He had two wives;… Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children” (1 Sam. 1:2). One year when Elkanah took his family to Shiloh to sacrifice unto the LORD, Hannah “prayed unto the LORD … and she vowed a vow, and said, “O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life….

“And the LORD remembered her [and] she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD” (1:10,11,19,20).

Prayer Concerning Grasshoppers

This proclamation was made by Minnesota’s Governor Pillsbury: “In view of the threatened continuation of the grasshopper scourge, I do hereby appoint Thursday, April 26, 1877, to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer.”

In 1873 many farms had been ruined by the grasshoppers. The next year there were a thousand times as many, which stripped trees, gardens, and fields of everything edible. It was even worse in 1875 and 1876. Of course, conferences were held and experts were consulted, but no one could find how to get rid of the grasshoppers.

Now look at the timetable:

April 26. Day of prayer.

April 27. A day so hot that young grasshoppers hatched out in millions -enough to destroy the crops of half a dozen states. Not much sign of a miracle yet!

April 28,29. More warm weather.

April 30. Just when the grasshopper nation was really flourishing, a sharp frost occurred-which killed the lot!

If the frost had come earlier, the grasshoppers would have been unaffected, and if it had been much later, it would not have hurt them.

Prayer for Rescue

A ship burned to water’s edge off of Cape Horn; 14 sailors in four lifeboats tossed in the ocean for days, praying frantically for rescue. Meanwhile, a whaling vessel was facing a strong south wind and making little headway. Suddenly, an idea popped into the captain’s mind: “There are probably as many whales in the opposite direction; why not run with the wind?” An hour after changing course, they came upon the 14 sailors, just in the nick of time. “By His power He brought in the south wind” (Psa. 78: 26).

Assignment 15: The following is a review quiz based on the 1999 issues of GROWING. Please refer back to the indicated issue when answering each question.

1. (Jan.) (a) Who was the greatest prophet of all? (b) What evidence did he give of being a prophet?

2. (Feb.) What is the difference between the gift of teacher and the gift of pastor?

3. (Mar.) Describe the work of one who has the gift of exhorting.

4. (Apr.) Describe two ways in which you have served the Lord.

5. (May) What are some differences between the way the Lord Jesus and the apostles healed people and healing services today?

6. (June) Write out (a) two verses about our suffering because of our own sin, and (b) two verses about our suffering for reasons not related to our sin.

7. (July) Describe one or more of the ways you do the work of an evangelist.

8. (Aug.) Does speaking in tongues help one to grow in holiness and spiritual maturity? If so, write out a verse that states this. If not, write out a verse that does show how we grow in holiness and spiritual maturity.

9. (Sept.) Write out two verses that give moral principles that must be observed in our lives if we are to expect answers to our prayers.

10. (Oct.) Describe an experience in which the Lord answered one of your prayers.

11. (Nov.) Write out three verses that tell for whom we should pray.

12. (Dec.) Write out three verses that tell for what we should pray.

Foundations of Faith
PRAYER (III)

How Often Should We Pray?

Pray always. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18). The apostle Paul was faithful in that which he requested other believers to do:”I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy” (Phil. 1:4; also Rom. 1:9; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:3; Philem. 4). May the value that we place upon prayer be no less than that shown by the prophet Samuel:”God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Sam. 12:23).

For Whom Should We Pray?

1. All people. “I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all [people],… for … God … will have all [people] to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1,4). How can we do this when we are personally acquainted with only a tiny fraction of “all people”? Well, can’t we begin by praying for all the people we do know, and adding others to the list as we get to know them? If you do this, you may soon become frustrated at not having enough time to pray for everyone you know at one “kneeling.” You may be able to cover only a portion of your “list” each day; but that is better than not praying for them at all!

2. All saints. The final piece of God’s armor for the Christian is “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18). The comments given above for “all people” apply equally to “all saints.”

3. Authorities. “I exhort … prayers … for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Tim. 2:1,2).

4. God’s servants. The apostle Paul-perhaps the boldest, most faithful Christian of them all-often requested prayer for himself. “[Pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:18,19;1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18).

5. Sick people. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. … And the prayer of faith shall save the sick” (Jas. 5:14,15).

6. Backsliders. Jesus prayed for Peter even before his three-fold denial of Christ (Luke 22:32); surely we should pray for our backsliding Christian friends. (See Assignment 14)

7. Enemies, persecutors. “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:44,45).

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
SOME EXAMPLES OF ANSWERED PRAYER (III)

Prayer for Protection (I)

We’ll let Ezra tell you the story himself: “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava … to seek of Him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him…. So we fasted and besought our God for this….

“Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go unto Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way” (Ezra 8:21-23,31).

Prayer for Protection (II)

My friend Jean H. was once a missionary nurse in Honduras. She had just helped to deliver a baby, but to the dismay of both mother and nurse, the baby was born dead. That evening, the baby’s father came into the clinic drunk, carrying a pistol, and blaming Jean for having killed his baby. He stood there, pointing the pistol at the trembling nurse, but suddenly he turned and walked away. Much later Jean learned that an elderly Christian lady back in the United States had been, that very hour, impressed by the Holy Spirit that Jean was in trouble and prayed for her. The Lord wonderfully answered that prayer.

Prayer for Protection (III)

In his four years of missionary work in South Africa, Andrew Murray’s ministry was characterized by his burning love for souls. Nothing deterred him from his duty. Once he set out to walk 12 or 15 miles across wolf-infested country to keep an appointment. When he arrived at his destination, a surprised farmer asked, “How did you do it? Where were the wolves?”

“They snapped at my ankles all the way,” Andrew calmly answered, “but they never touched me. I knew I was in the path of duty, so I prayed to God to keep me and He did.”

Praying for Oxen

Arriving one day at the ford of a river, Andrew Murray found a team of oxen with a wagon stuck in the mud on the river bank. The driver was furious. He lashed the animals unmercifully. He cursed and swore and fumed.

“Why do you swear so?” Andrew asked the man.

“Oxen cannot be driven without swearing,” the man replied.

“Give me the whip,” said Andrew. He lifted up his heart in prayer, cracked the whip, and encouraged the oxen. Presently he had the oxen and wagon out of the mud. The workman took back the whip and meekly drove away.

Prayer for Ice

A native of a tropical country had a terribly high fever. She said to the Christian doctor, “You say that God wants His children to have what is good for them: would not ice be good for me?” They were miles from any city; it was a full month before the rainy season and hail was unheard of in that region; there was no place where the doctor could get ice. But challenged by the woman’s faith, he called the workers together for prayer. As they prayed, a thunderous crash shook the house, followed by a deluge of large hail stones. The woman proved that our Lord is a God of miracles.

(To be continued.)

Assignment 14: (a) Write out two or three verses from the scene in Gethsemane in Matthew 26 that suggest why Peter’s faith failed in spite of Jesus’ warning to him. (b) Write out verses in Luke 23 and Acts 7 that illustrate praying for one’s enemies.

Foundations of Faith
PRAYER (II)

How Are We to Pray?

1. Pray believingly. “Whatever you shall ask, believing, you shall receive” (Matt. 21:22; Mark 11:24; Jas. 1:5,6).

2. Pray intelligently. “If we ask anything according to His will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14). This causes us to think before we act and before we pray. Sometimes we make plans and then ask the Lord to help us and bless us in carrying out those plans, when the Lord did not want us to do it in the first place. Similarly, Jesus tells us, “Whatever you shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13; 15:16). Asking in Jesus’ name does not mean mindlessly closing our prayers by saying, “In Jesus’ name, amen.” It means that we pray with the confidence that Jesus Himself is asking the Father for the same thing for us. Finally, we are to pray with our mind engaged, and not using empty, mindless repetitions (Matt. 6:7). (See Assignment 12)

3. Pray specifically. “Friend, lend me three loaves” (Luke 11:5-13). This was a precise request to meet a specific need of the moment. Another example might be:”Lord, even though I do not like the way he does certain things, help me to be patient and kind to my office mate.” The young driver in this month’s The Race did not pray to win the lottery or for some other windfall, but for just the amount that was needed, and the Lord answered his prayer. (See Assignment 13)

4. Pray fervently and earnestly. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah … prayed earnestly that it might not rain” (Jas. 5:16,17; Luke 11:5-13).

5. Pray perseveringly. “Continue [or persevere] in prayer” (Col. 4:2; Luke 18:1-8). This is different from praying in mindless repetition (Matt. 6:7). It means not giving up if our prayer is not answered immediately. Jesus prayed three times at Gethsemane (Matt. 26:34-44), the apostle Paul prayed three times concerning his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7,8), and Daniel prayed “three full weeks” for a certain matter (Dan. 10:1-13). George Müller prayed 60 years for the salvation of his brother; the Lord answered that prayer shortly after Mr. Müller died.

6. Pray unitedly. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:19).

7. Pray forgivingly. “When you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any” (Mark 11:25).

8. Pray thankfully. “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:17,18). It is good to mingle our prayers with thankful memories of the many ways the Lord has helped us and answered our prayers in the past.

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
SOME EXAMPLES OF ANSWERED PRAYER (II)

Prayer for Gas Money

A young man, when courting his future wife a hundred miles from home, prayed that he would have sufficient money to buy enough gas to get home. When the gas gauge was on empty and it was beginning to look desperate, the Lord led him to look on the floor and behind the seats of the car. The few coins he found there purchased just enough gas to complete his trip.

Prayer with Car Trouble (I)

A Christian woman related to me the following experience that took place in 1971: “The engine of my car began to ‘miss’ while driving home from the midweek prayer meeting. The next morning I had a baby sitting engagement, so I drove to the home where I was to work. The car got worse as I drove along. When the mother returned, she recommended a mechanic in a certain place about 20 miles away.

“I always ask God to take me safely to my destination whenever I drive the car. This time, of course, I asked God to get me safely to the repair shop without trouble. The car continued to ‘miss’ and ‘jump’ all down the highway, but finally I arrived at the repair shop.

“The mechanic picked up the distributor cap. There was nothing holding it on! A large piece had broken off.

“‘How did you get this car here?’ the mechanic asked.

“‘I drove it about 20 miles to get here,’ I replied.

“‘No car could run with a distributor cap like this,’ he said. ‘It was a miracle if you came 20 miles in this car.'”

No doubt it was a miracle. God performs miracles every day-we just need the faith to see them.

Prayer with Car Trouble (II)

A couple of years ago I set out on a trip early in the morning. I was scheduled to minister the Scriptures in Indianapolis that evening, nearly 600 miles away. About 50 miles into my trip, a terrible noise started coming from the engine. I pulled over and noticed the speedometer needle gyrating wildly between 0 and 80. I got off the freeway and went to a service station, but the mechanic would not be there for another hour. As I continued on the freeway to the next exit, I began praying that the Lord would heal the car. Within ten minutes the loud clatter diminished and stopped entirely and the speedometer needle settled back to normal. I spent the rest of the trip praising “the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psa. 107:8,15,21,31).

Prayer with Boat Trouble

The following incident was told me by a Christian brother who lives in the Bahamas: “It was a windy and rough day on the water. My dad and I went out in my boat fishing, quite far from land. Upon starting the engine to return home, we found we had lost the propeller.

“There we were, night coming on, in rough weather, and no propeller. I prayed to the Lord that we might find it. We then sculled into the wind to where we thought we stopped last. Dad looked in the water glass. There, about 20 feet down on the bottom, was the propeller! We were able to pull it out, attach it to the boat and get safely back to land. The Lord is our resource in all things.”

(To be continued.)

Assignment 12: How do we know Jesus prays for us? Write out a verse in John 17 and one in Hebrews 7 that answer this question.

Assignment 13: Write out at least three verses in John 17 that give specific requests made by the Lord Jesus to His Father for His disciples.

Foundations of Faith
PRAYER (I)

A Spiritual “Non-Gift”

We recently (Jan99-Jul99) completed a series on gifts of the Holy Spirit. Each gift defines a special area of service for the Christian to carry out in the power of the Holy Spirit, in subjection to the Lord, and for the building up of the Church. There are many different spiritual gifts:each believer has been given at least one gift, no one has all of the gifts, and no specific gift of the Spirit has been given to all believers (1 Cor. 12).

We now begin a series on spiritual “non-gifts”-first prayer, and then worship, praise, and thanksgiving. These are all areas of service to the Lord, but they are not given to a few select persons in the body of Christ. Every believer in Christ is to pray to God and to give praise, worship, and thanksgiving to Him. These represent the response of our hearts to all that God has done for us; they flow from communion with the Lord and require no special gift of the Spirit for their exercise.

Why Should We Pray?

God is omniscient, that is, He possesses all knowledge (Aug93). That knowledge includes everything about every one of His created beings. If God knows all of our problems and concerns and needs already, why should we pray to Him about them? As an informal assignment, think about this question and see if you have a scriptural answer to it. We will ask once again-and try to answer this question-when we complete our study of the scriptures on this topic of prayer.

What Is the Moral Basis for Prayer?

There are a number of moral principles that must be observed and practiced in our lives if we are to expect answers to our prayers.

1. We must be abiding in Christ. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). To abide in Christ means that we have a deep, living, permanent connection with Him. In other words, we must be saved or born again through trusting in Christ’s sufferings and death on the cross for our eternal salvation (John 3:3,7,16; Acts 16:31).

2. We must have Christ’s words abiding in us (John 15:7). We must keep the lines of communication between ourselves and Christ wide open by letting His Word instruct, reprove, and correct us (2 Tim. 3:16). Just as we can clog our coronary arteries by eating lots of junk food, so we can clog our spiritual “arteries” by reading, looking at, and listening to all of the junk that is out there in the world today. “Whatever we ask, we receive of Him because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

3. We must have no unjudged sin

4. We must be as willing to help others as we want God to be willing to help us (See Assignment 11)

5. We must be righteous-our lives consistent with what we confess with our lips. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16).

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
SOME EXAMPLES OF ANSWERED PRAYER (I)

Even though the Bible tells to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), it takes a lot of spiritual growth and experience before we learn the full scope of problems, decisions, and other matters that we can and should pray about. By giving some real-life examples of how God has answered prayer, perhaps our readers will be stimulated to commit more of the matters of their daily lives to prayer.

Prayer for the Conversion of a Young Man

The famous missionary to China, Hudson Taylor tells the following story (slightly abridged) of his conversion: “When I was about 15 years of age, my mother was absent from home and I had a holiday. In the afternoon I looked through my father’s library to find a book to read. Nothing attracted me, so I turned over a little basket of pamphlets and selected a gospel tract that looked interesting. I said to myself that I would read the story at the beginning and stop when it began to give a sermon.

“Little did I know at the time what was going on in the heart of my dear mother, 70 or 80 miles away. She rose from the dinner table that afternoon with an intense yearning for the conversion of her boy. Having more leisure than usual, she went to her room and turned the key in the door, resolved not to leave until her prayers were answered. Hour after hour did she plead for me, until she could pray no longer and began to praise God as she sensed that the Holy Spirit was telling her that her prayer had been answered.

“I, in the meantime, was so struck by the message of the tract that I fell down on my knees to accept my Saviour and His salvation. Thus, while my mother was praising God on her knees in her room, I was praising Him too.”

Prayer for Daily Food

The following is one of hundreds of answered prayers experienced by George Müller in his orphanage ministry in Bristol, England:

On one occasion, with more than 2,000 mouths to feed, not a drop of milk remained for breakfast the next day and not a penny was in hand to buy even a cupful. That evening, Mr. Müller gathered his staff of workers together and on their knees they told their Father that His children needed milk.

The next morning the children sat down at the table-with empty mugs in front of them. They bowed their heads while Mr. Müller simply, gratefully thanked the Father for daily bread-and for milk! As soon as the prayer ended, a loud knock was heard at the door. It was a dairyman. His wagon had broken down just outside and he could not get to town with his milk. Mr. Müller was welcome to it if he would help carry it in. Every waiting mug was filled with milk that morning!

Prayer for Mislaid Articles

Have you ever mislaid your glasses, keys, checkbook? Do you, like me, frantically run about from room to room, stopping to pray only when every option has been exhausted?

On one occasion, when I had mislaid my checkbook, I remembered to pray first before running around. The Lord rewarded me by flashing a picture on my mind of where to look. It was the last place I would have thought of looking, but there it was!

(To be continued.)

Assignment 11: Write out a verse in Psalm 66 that illustrates Point 3 above, and a verse in Proverbs 21 that illustrates Point 4.

Foundations of Faith
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES

There is a very broad range of teaching today concerning speaking in tongues. At one end there are those who teach that tongues and other “sign gifts” disappeared toward the end of the first century (see May99). At the other end there are those who teach that speaking in tongues is a necessary sign that a believer in Christ has been baptized by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says that “tongues … shall cease” (1 Cor. 13:8), but we cannot prove conclusively when this happened (or will happen). On the other hand, if there is real Spirit-led speaking in tongues today, there is no biblical evidence that it is linked with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and most likely it is limited to being a sign to unbelievers, as it was in Bible times (1 Cor. 14:22).

How did speaking in tongues (that is, foreign languages) serve as a sign to unbelievers? The following pattern is seen in Scripture:(1) God’s people refuse to listen to His message to them; (2) God causes tongues to be heard as a sign of judgment; (3) God causes the people to be scattered. This pattern is seen first at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 9:1,7; 11:1-9). Then the LORD through Moses warned the nation of Israel that if they failed to do what He told them to do (Deut. 28:15), He would send a nation against them whose language they would not understand (verse 49) and then would scatter them over the whole earth (verses 64,65). This prophetic warning is repeated by the prophets Isaiah (28:11-13) and Jeremiah (5:3,15,19).

Coming to the New Testament, the Jewish people would not listen to the Messiah (Matt. 23:37) and cast Him out (Matt. 26,27); for this reason Jesus pronounced God’s judgment upon the nation, including the destruction of the temple (Matt. 23:38; 24:2). This prophecy was confirmed, less than two months later, by a most remarkable event involving the speaking of foreign tongues in Jerusalem. People from many different nations, gathered for the feast of Pentecost, heard the disciples speaking in a variety of languages, including their own (Acts 2:1-11). This event had a two-fold purpose:(1) It served as a warning to the Jewish nation that judgment would soon come upon God’s chosen people and they would be scattered among the nations (which happened in 70 A.D.); (2) it signaled the birthday of a new people of God-the Church, the body of Christ, made up of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ from all the nations of the earth. This new people was indwelt by the Holy Spirit; God provided a miraculous sign for this special occasion to show that a new order of things had come in.

In Acts 10:44-47 we read of the Roman soldier Cornelius and others of his household believing the gospel and immediately receiving the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. The reason for the speaking in tongues is clearly stated:it showed that the very same Holy Spirit who came upon the Jewish believers on the day of Pentecost had come upon the Gentile believers (verses 45,47). There were not to be two Churches-a Jewish one and a Gentile one-but one Church made up of all true believers in Christ.

The 120 disciples (Acts 1:15) had to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit because the Spirit would not come until after Christ had risen (Luke 24:49; John 7:39; Acts 1:4,5). Now that the Holy Spirit has come, there is no need for a new convert to pray and wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit-and there is no instruction in the New Testament telling us to do so. The teaching in Paul’s Epistles is that all who are saved have been baptized by the Holy Spirit (that is, have the Spirit dwelling in them). (See Assignment 10)

There are three examples in the New Testament (Acts 2,10,19) in which speaking in tongues is linked with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But these were special because they signaled a change of God’s chosen people from Israel to the Church. There are many other instances in the Book of Acts of people becoming saved and receiving the Holy Spirit without mention of speaking in tongues (2:41; 4:4; 8:17; 13:12; 16:14,15,32-34; etc.). The apostle Paul instructs us that speaking in tongues was a gift of the Holy Spirit given to certain individuals and not to everyone (1 Cor. 12:10,28,30).

What can be said about the teaching in the Charismatic Movement that tongues provide the Christian with a quick and easy path to spiritual maturity and holiness?

1. Some charismatics are beginning to see that it does not work this way; more important, there is no biblical support for this teaching. It is only by focusing on Christ and being changed into His image that we grow in holiness and become spiritually mature (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 2:13,14).

2. The apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers against being too occupied with speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:1-25). He called it a sign of immaturity-not maturity (verse 20)!

3. People play the lottery in hopes of taking a shortcut to the “easy life.” Christians must be careful not to be seduced into looking for quick and easy ways to spiritual maturity. This can be attained only by diligent, day-by-day praying, studying the Word of God, growing in our knowledge of God and likeness to Christ, learning and doing God’s will, and allowing the Holy Spirit to control us and produce His fruit in our lives.

Running the Race
SERVING THE LORD (V)

As noted previously (Oct98, Jul99), the sisters are not free to speak in the assembly meetings. But God has given them plenty else to do, as seen in these examples from the Bible:

Helping and Encouraging. Rahab, Samson’s mother, the widow of Zaraphath, the woman of Shunem, Dorcas, Lydia, Phoebe, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis (Josh. 2; Judg. 13; 1 Ki. 17; 2 Ki. 4; Acts 9,16; Rom. 16).

Praying and Pleading. Abigail, Esther, Anna (1 Sam. 25; Esth. 5-7; Luke 2).

Prophesying and Teaching. Huldah, Mary Magdalene, Philip’s daughters, Priscilla, Lois, and Eunice (2 Chron. 34; John 20; Acts 18,21; 2 Tim. 1,3).

Giving. Hannah, the poor widow, Sapphira (1 Sam. 1; Mark 12; Acts 5).

Delivering from Enemies. Jael (Judg. 5).

Yielding Oneself to God. The virgin Mary (Luke 1).

Assignment 10: Write out verses in Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 1 that support the last statement about the Holy Spirit dwelling in all who are saved.

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (VII)

Speaking in Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues

As noted previously (May99), there is disagreement whether these “sign gifts” continue to exist today. Here are some principles and rules from Scripture for any who claim to speak in tongues, particularly in the setting of the local church:

1. The tongues are real languages (Acts 2:4,6,11), not repetitious syllables like “ka-ka la-la da-da imba-imba- imba.”

2. No more than three men are to speak in tongues in a given service (1 Cor. 14:27).

3. Those who speak in tongues are to do so one at a time (verse 27).

4. They are to pause after the first sentence or two to give room for a translation or interpretation (see point 1 below concerning interpretation of tongues); if there is no interpreter, they are to be silent (verse 27).

5. They are to pray for the gift of interpretation (verse 13), in which case, if everyone in the room speaks the same language, it would be preferable to skip the tongues and go straight to the interpretation (verses 19,24).

6. The women are not to speak but rather are to keep silence in the assembly meetings (verse 34).

Those who believe they have the gift of interpretation should bear in mind the following points:

1. A message in a foreign tongue that is ten minutes long cannot be credibly interpreted in two minutes, and vice versa.

2. The word “interpretation” really means “translation” (the Greek words in Matt. 1:23, John 1:38,42, and Heb. 7:2 are the same as those in 1 Cor. 12:10,30 and 14:26-28). Thus, the interpretation should be given after every sentence or two of the message in a foreign language.

3. If the original tongues message has may repetitious syllables, words, and phrases, the interpretation should include the same kinds of repetition.

More will be written about speaking in tongues, in connection with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, in the next issue of GROWING. Even though the original gifts of tongues and interpretation may no longer be present in the Church today, let us consider possible present-day applications of these gifts.

The gift of tongues was given, in part, to bridge communication barriers, as was evident on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Today, by studying foreign languages, we can prepare for the possibility of being led into foreign missionary work. Even if we all speak the same language, there may be cultural, social, economic, and educational barriers to be bridged in an assembly. Suppose there are blacks, whites, and Hispanics in an assembly; doctors and third grade dropouts; teenagers and senior citizens; relatives of mine and non-relatives. These diverse groups, even though every one is a born-again Christian, may tend to form little groups or cliques. So the Lord may raise up someone with the gift and ability to bridge the communication and fellowship gaps among these different groups.

A modified form of the gift of interpretation is sometimes helpful even when there is no speaking in tongues. I refer to an area of ministry in which one may not be specifically gifted as a teacher but is gifted in understanding teaching ministry and making it more plain to others. For example, a teacher may present a complex explanation of a particular doctrine. A listener who understands what has been taught, but who senses that it might have gone over the heads of simpler souls, may give some simple examples and illustrations to aid others in the understanding of that doctrine.

Running the Race
SERVING THE LORD (IV)

Evangelizing

Here are some examples from the Bible of serving the Lord in evangelizing or giving the good news of God’s salvation to others.

1. Peter, Paul, Stephen, and Philip preached to both large crowds and small groups of people, including leaders and common citizens, Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles, both at home and abroad (Acts 2-28).

2. Paul and Silas gave a good testimony in jail, praying and singing hymns of praise to God, resulting in the jailer coming to them and asking how to be saved (Acts 16:25-30). (See Assignment 9)

Most of us do not have the gift of evangelist; yet, as the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, we are all to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). Here are some suggested ways in which our readers might do the work of an evangelist:

1. Pray for the Lord to give wisdom and opportunities.

2. Obtain gospel tracts that present the gospel clearly and that are appropriate for your purposes. (Sample packets of tracts may be obtained from Christian Literature, P.O. Box 1052, Anoka, MN 55303; Moments With The Book, P.O. Box 322, Bedford, PA 15522; or your local Christian book store.)

3. Enclose gospel tracts in birthday, get well, sympathy, and other greeting cards to your friends and neighbors.

4. Hand out tracts on a street corner; put tracts under the windshield wipers of parked automobiles.

5. Mail out appropriate tracts to the bereaved (from newspaper death notices), survivors of accidents (from newspaper reports), taverns, abortion clinics, or to all the persons listed in your local community telephone directory.

6. Go door to door with gospel tracts and/or invitations to the assembly gospel meeting.

7. Hold Bible classes after school or Vacation Bible School in your home for the neighborhood children.
8. Start up a Bible study at work or school.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Six of our readers completed all 27 (15 regular plus 12 review) assignments for 1998, and all had scores over 93%. Drew Johnson and Daniel Kasper, both of Pennsylvania, led the way with scores of 98.9% for the year. Others included Kate Kauffman (Pennsylvania), John Hope (Virginia), Dickson Wanga (Kenya), and Lori Spielman (Pennsylvania). Ojukwu Jonah and Gabriel Ofagbe (Nigeria) completed 25 and 23 assignments, respectively. Joseph Amusak (Nigeria) completed all of the 1994 and 1995 assignments.

Assignment 9: (a) Write out verses in 2 Kings 5 that describe three different persons or groups of persons who helped Naaman to be healed of his leprosy. (b) Who were the different people that God used to bring you to the Lord?

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (VI)

Healing (Continued)

Some today claim to have the gift of healing, but the manner in which many use their “gift,” and the results of it, are often far different from the examples given in the Bible. For this reason, in May99 we gave points that ought to be considered by those who think they have the gift of healing.

Let us now consider this topic of healing from the standpoint of one who is sick or experiencing trouble. What if a sick or injured person is not healed, even after much prayer or laying on of hands by a “healer”? Some teach that all sickness is of the devil and that God wants everyone to be healed. Some may lay a “guilt trip” on the sick person and accuse him of not having enough faith if he is not healed. Scriptural responses to each of these teachings were given in May99. Let us follow Paul’s example when suffering:”I besought the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And [the Lord] said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:8-10).

For those who are sick, in pain, bereaved, or suffering in other ways, it is very important to learn God’s purposes for our pain and suffering. Why do so many women purposely try to have more children after having to endure all the discomforts of pregnancy and the intense pain of childbirth? I believe it is the anticipated joy of having, loving, and raising the baby that makes it all seem worthwhile. So when we are experiencing pain and suffering, it helps us to know that our suffering is going to result in benefit to ourselves or others. Here are a number of reasons from the Bible why God allows His people to suffer:

1. That we might be partakers of Christ’s sufferings (Rom. 8:17). (See Assignment 7)

2. That we might be purified and partakers of God’s holiness (Job 42:6; Psa. 119:67,71; Heb. 12:10; 1 Pet. 5:10).

3. That we might learn more of God’s grace and goodness and manifest the works and goodness of God (Psa. 107; John 9:3; Rom. 8:28).

4. That we might glorify God (Psa. 50:15; John 11:4; 17:5; 1 Pet. 4:14,16).

5. That we might realize our own weakness and learn to depend more upon the Lord’s strength (2 Cor. 1:9; 12:8-10).

6. That we might learn patience (Rom. 5:3; Jas. 1:3).

7. That we might be drawn closer to one another as children of God and members of the body of Christ (Acts 12:5,12; 2 Cor. 1:11).

8. That we might be able to comfort, encourage, and understand others who are suffering (2 Cor. 1:3-7).

9. That we might be a testimony to the unsaved (Acts 16:25,30).

10. That we might see the emptiness of this present world and be stirred up to have a real desire for the next one (2 Cor. 4:17; 5:4; Phil. 1:23).

11. That we might smite the consciences of evildoers by returning good for evil (2 Ki. 6:21-23; Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:19-21; 1 Pet. 3:6).

12. That we might be awakened to our sin or judged for our lack of repentance and persistence in sinning (1 Cor. 11:30).

13. That we might have impressed upon us the seriousness of sin, even after we have confessed it to the Lord (2 Sam. 12:7-15).

14. That we might receive the natural and just consequences of our sinful behavior (Gal. 6:9).

When we are suffering it is well to pray, “Search me … and see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psa. 139:23,24). At the same time, we can see from the list above that there may be many other reasons for our suffering that have nothing to do with sin in our life. Remember that God took Job who “was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and avoided evil” (Job 1:1) and put him through the fire of pain and suffering to purify him even more (Job 42:1-6).

Working of Miracles

“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them” (Mark 16:18). This does not mean we are to tempt God (Matt. 4:7) by purposely playing with cobras and drinking poison (as some way-out cults do today, often with dire consequences). But the life of a missionary can be made very hazardous by scorpions, tigers, polluted water, and hostile people. King Darius feared that Daniel would be killed by the lions (Dan. 6:19-22) and the people of Malta expected the apostle Paul to die from the snakebite (Acts 28:3-6). While neither Daniel nor Paul set out to perform miracles in these instances, the Holy Spirit saw fit to work miracles through them.

How might the working of miracles be applied today? Have you ever heard it said, “It will take a miracle for X to become saved [or for Y to be restored to the Lord; or for Z and his wife to be reconciled]”? Thank God for those of his faithful children who are willing to challenge “the impossible” and accomplish, through ministry of the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit, that which-humanly speaking-is impossible (Luke 18:27).

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
SERVING THE LORD (III)

Prophesying

Remember from Jan99 that prophesying is bringing a message of “edification, exhortation, [or] comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3) from the Lord to another person. Here are a few examples from the Bible:

1. Samuel, as a child, brought a message from the LORD to the high priest Eli (1 Sam. 3:11-18). Later, Samuel brought messages both of instruction and of God’s judgment to King Saul (1 Sam. 13:13,14; 15:1-3,16-29).

2. A man of God from Judah brought a word of warning to King Jeroboam (1 Ki. 13:1,2).

3. Elijah brought a message of doom from the Lord to King Ahaziah (2 Ki. 1:16), while Elisha brought a word of hope to the starving people of Samaria (2 Ki. 7:1).

4. The prophetess Huldah delivered a message of judgment to the nation of Judah, but a word of peace to King Josiah (2 Chron. 34:22-28).

5. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the minor prophets, the apostles Peter, Paul, and John, and others wrote down messages from God for the readers of Holy Scripture.

6. While the apostle Paul was a prominent prophet of the Lord, the Holy Spirit gave to Agabus a message to give to Paul (Acts 21:10,11).

(To be continued.)

Assignment 7: Write out verses in Colossians 1 and 1 Peter 2 and 4 that illustrate this point.

Assignment 8: Describe, if you can, an occasion when you strongly felt the Lord giving you a message from Himself to give to another person.

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (V)

The Sign Gifts

“These signs shall follow those who believe:in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; … if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17,18). This was part of the Lord Jesus’ message to His disciples when He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The signs mentioned here are like some of the spiritual gifts listed by the apostle Paul:”The gifts of healing … the working of miracles … divers kinds of tongues … the interpretation of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:9,10).

There is disagreement among Bible scholars whether these so-called “sign gifts” still exist in the present day or whether they ceased when Holy Scripture was completed at the end of the first century A.D. (as suggested by 1 Cor. 13:8). The arguments are long and involved and beyond the scope of this publication. There is strong historical evidence that these gifts had totally disappeared by the end of the century. One of the clear purposes of these gifts was to authenticate the teaching of the apostles-to get people to pay attention in an era in which the Holy Scriptures had not yet been completed and were not widely available. We cannot rule out the possibility that the Holy Spirit may still be pleased to use such gifts today in parts of the world where the Scriptures and Christianity are as yet unknown. For example, they may help missionaries to communicate the gospel to people of other nations and may help the people to pay attention to what they are trying to tell them.

It seems likely that these sign gifts in their original God-given form have essentially ceased in most parts of the world-including our own-where the Bible is well known. However, for any of our readers who believe they possess one of these sign gifts, I shall try to show from Scripture how such gifts are to be used. We shall also consider ways in which modified forms of the gifts of healing, miracles, tongues, and interpretations may be manifested by believers today -through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit-to minister to others.

Healing

The Lord Jesus healed people and so did the twelve disciples and the apostle Paul. We learn a number of things from their examples:

1. The gift was not used for personal benefit or gain. The apostle Paul could heal others (Acts 14:10; 28:8,9) but not himself (2 Cor. 12:8,9).

2. The persons healed were not sent home and told that they would be feeling better soon. Rather, the healing was immediate and complete (Mark 1:42; 2:12; 7:35; Luke 4:39; Acts 3:7,8; 9:34; 14:10). (See Assignment 6)

3. The persons were not healed selectively, but all who came to Jesus (Matt. 9:35; 15:30,31; Mark 6:56; Luke 4:40; 6:19) or to His disciples (Matt. 10:1,8; Acts 5:15,16; 8:7; 28:9) were healed of all kinds of sickness and disease.

4. Many of the persons healed were well known by relatives and friends to have been sick from birth or to have serious infirmities (Mark 2:3; John 9:1; Acts 3:2; 14:8).

5. The gift included power for the ultimate healing, namely, bringing the dead back to life again (Mark 5:35-42; John 11:43, 44; Acts 9:36-41; 20:9,10).

6. Neither Jesus nor the apostles staged healing services, but went to where the sick people were, where there could be ample testimony to the validity of the healing (Mark 1:21-2:12; 5:1-17; John 9:1-11; Acts 3:7-10; 9:38).

7. Often the persons were healed as an act of pure grace, without any particular evidence of faith on the part of the sick person or his/her relatives (Matt. 8:14,15; John 9:1-7; Acts 3:6). Also, there is no mention in Scripture of anyone failing to be healed because of his or her own lack of faith. Rather, Jesus rebuked His disciples, who had the gift of healing, for their lack of faith in failing to bring about healing (Matt. 17:14-21).

8. Contrary to the teaching of some, illness cannot necessarily be attributed to Satan. Satan could not touch Job without the LORD giving him permission (Job 1:12; 2:6). Some illness is a result of a person’s own sin (1 Cor. 11:30; Jas. 5:15,16; 1 John 5:16). Some trials come directly from the Lord, “for whom the Lord loves He chastens” (Heb. 12:5-11).

9. Scripture is clear that it may not be God’s will for a particular person to be healed (2 Cor. 12:8,9; 1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 4:20), at least for the present. Sometimes, the healer may even be led of the Lord to do just the opposite-to call down sickness in judgment upon a sinning person (Acts 13:11; see also Jas. 5:17).

There is a kind of healing needed in the Church today that, no doubt, is much more important than mere physical healing. I refer to healing the backslidings of God’s children (Jer. 3:22; Hos. 14:4) by faithful appeals and admonitions (Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1). I refer also to the healing of conflicts and breaches among Christians by those gifted as peacemakers (Matt. 5:9).

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
SERVING THE LORD (II)

Here are more examples of how the men and women of the Bible served the Lord.

Healing, Encouraging, Comforting, Counseling

1. Elijah (through the power of God) brought a young boy back to life (1 Ki. 17:22).

2. Elisha also brought a young boy back to life and healed Captain Naaman of his leprosy (2 Ki. 4:32-35; 5:14).

3. Joshua and Caleb tried to calm and encourage the people of their nation (Num. 13:30; 14:6-9).

4. Samson’s mother reasoned with and encouraged her husband (Judg. 13:22,23).

5. David played his harp to refresh King Saul’s troubled spirit (1 Sam. 16:14-23).

6. Solomon counseled and judged his people with wisdom (1 Ki. 3:16-28; 4:32-34; Prov. 1-31).

7. The old men wisely counseled King Rehoboam to be a servant unto his people and to speak good words to them (1 Ki. 12:7).

8. Barnabas helped the believers in Jerusalem to overcome their fear of Saul (Acts 9:26,27). He also encouraged the believers to “cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23).

9. The apostle Paul encouraged and counseled the crew and passengers on ship during a terrible storm (Acts 27:22,31-36).

Assignment 6: Write out three verses in Mark 5 that show how quickly and completely Jesus healed three different people.

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (IV)

We shall wait and deal with the so-called sign gifts of healing, working of miracles, tongues, and interpretation of tongues in the next issues of GROWING. This leaves two spiritual gifts to be discussed.

Helping and Serving

This gift is simply called “helps” in 1 Cor. 12:28 and “ministry [or service]” in Rom. 12:7. It is often linked with the gifts of ruling, giving, showing mercy, and other spiritual gifts. All of us have helped and served many times. Most of us will gladly lend a hand when asked. But the one gifted in helping and serving no doubt is distinguished by continually being sensitive to what needs to be done and goes and does it without being asked.

The Apostle Paul labeled Priscilla, Aquila, and Urbane “helpers [or fellow workers]” (Rom. 16:3,9). Martha and Phoebe were noted for their service to others (Luke 10:40; John 12:2; Rom. 16:1). The greatest of all examples of helping and serving is found in the Holy Trinity:”God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1). “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). “The Spirit also helps our infirmities” (Rom. 8:26).

The word “ministry” in Rom. 12:7 is related to the one translated “deacon” in 1 Timothy 3:12. It is also used to describe the activities of evangelizing and preaching and teaching the Word of God (Acts 6:4; 12:25; 20:24; 2 Cor. 5:18). So while there is a special gift of helping and serving, all spiritual gifts are ministries by which we serve the Lord (1 Cor. 12:5).

Discerning of Spirits

Scripture tells us that “in the latter times [today, certainly!] some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1-3; see also 2 Pet. 2; 1 John 4:1-3). All believers in Christ, including those who are but “little children” spiritually, have the power through the Holy Spirit to distinguish between truth and error (1 John 2:18-27; 4:6). But each one of us needs always to pray for wisdom and discernment whenever we are faced with new teachings or spiritual experiences. Sometimes we are troubled by a teaching or experience that does not seem to be quite right but we cannot put our finger on what is wrong with it. For example, a friend may describe to us with great enthusiasm the experience of being “slain in the spirit.” It is well to discuss these things with others in our local assembly. There may be many in the assembly who can help us; one who has the gift of “discerning of spirits” (1 Cor. 12:10) may be of particular help in this regard.

The Apostle Paul clearly had this gift. Not only did he discern what was false, but also recognized when there was true faith, such as perceiving that the crippled man of Lystra “had faith to be healed” (Acts 14:9). (See Assignment 4)

Running the Race
SERVING THE LORD (I)

Have you ever asked, “How can I serve the Lord?” Some young Christians get hung up on trying to learn what their spiritual gift is. They seem afraid to do anything for the Lord until they know their spiritual gift. But they have it backward. We are to imitate Saul of Tarsus who, when converted, asked, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). If we pray for opportunities to serve the Lord, He will very quickly show us plenty of them. If we are truly sincere about wanting to serve the Lord, He will show us needs and will burden our hearts to do something about those needs (see Jan99).

In the series on “Spiritual Gifts” we seek to define and describe each gift. In this series on “Serving the Lord” we approach the same subject from a different angle, namely, looking at how the men and women of the Bible served the Lord. Since we have studied the gift of helping and serving earlier in this issue, let us begin with this area of service.

Helping in Physical, Material, and Financial Ways

1. Noah built an ark (Gen. 6).

2. Joseph provided food for the nations in time of famine (Gen. 41-43).

3. Bezaleel, Aholiab, and others constructed the furnishings of tabernacle (Exod. 35:30-36:2).

4. The Levites erected and transported the tabernacle (Num. 3,4), and served as doorkeepers, treasurers, and musicians for the tabernacle (1 Chron. 24-26).

5. Rahab hid the spies (Josh. 2).

6. Jonathan helped and protected David (1 Sam. 20).

7. The widow of Zaraphath fed Elijah (1 Ki. 17:8-16).

8. The woman of Shunem provided housing for Elisha (2 Ki. 4:8-17).

9. Jehoshabeath hid the heir to the throne (2 Chron. 22:10-22).

10. Job helped the poor, orphans, widows, blind, and lame (Job 1:8; 29:4-17).

11. The widow gave her last two mites (Mark 12:42-44).

12. Barnabas, Ananias, Sapphira sold land and gave money for the needy (Acts 4:34-37; 5:1,2). (See Assignment 5)

13. Dorcas made clothing for the poor (Acts 9:36-42).

Praying and Pleading

There is no special gift for praying. All believers can do it (Eph. 6:18).

1. Abraham pleaded with the LORD to spare Sodom (Gen. 18:23-33).

2. Moses prayed for the nation of Israel (Exod. 17:4,11,12; 32:11-14,30-32; Num. 21:7).

3. Abigail pleaded to David to spare her household (1 Sam. 25:14-35).

4. Esther pleaded to King Ahasuerus to spare her people (Esth. 5-7).

5. Job prayed for his sons and his friends (Job 1:5; 42:10).

6. Daniel prayed for his people, the Jews in captivity (Dan. 9:1-19).

7. Anna prayed night and day in the temple (Luke 2:37).

8. The Lord prayed often (Matt. 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18,28; 11:1; 22:32,41; John 17).

9. The apostle Paul prayed for nearly everyone he knew (Rom. 1:9; 10:1; Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:4; Col. 1:9; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1;3; Philem. 4).

10. Epaphras prayed for the assembly at Colosse (Col. 4:12).

Do these examples give you any ideas yet as to how you can begin to serve the Lord?

Assignment 4: (a) Write out a passage in Acts 16 that demonstrates the Apostle Paul’s ability to discern spirits, even when being flattered. (b) Write out a verse in Acts 5 that shows how another apostle had the gift of discernment.

Assignment 5: Ananias and his wife did a good work in selling some land and giving some of the money to help the poor. So why did God punish them with death?

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (III)

George and Mary Smith just experienced a horrible tragedy. A tornado whipped through their neighborhood, demolishing their house and car, killing their baby daughter Stephanie, and leaving both of them with serious injuries. To make matters worse, George had been out of work for several months and had no health insurance and only partial home and auto insurance. Worse still, he had ignored the warning siren that might at least have preserved Stephanie’s life and kept them from being injured. Because of this, George fell into a deep depression and wished he had died too. Mary grieved greatly over the loss of her daughter.

However, George and Mary’s fellow believers in the local church quickly moved into action. Brother Armstrong organized a group who sifted through the debris for valuables and then cleared away the rubble. Brother Holmes organized and directed a team that built a new house.

Sister S. immediately recognized the great need and anonymously donated $20,000 from her retirement fund to help with the funeral, hospital, and home refurnishing expenses. Sister McCandless spent many hours with Mary, talking, listening, praying, sympathizing, reading the Scriptures, organizing, and decorating as she helped Mary both to work through her grief and to get her life, body, and new home in order.

Even after George and Mary recovered from their injuries and moved into their new house, George went into seclusion, so ashamed and depressed was he over his negligence in his daughter’s death. But Brother Barnaby visited him several times and shared how the Lord had lifted him up from his own failures on a number of occasions. Brother Barnaby encouraged George in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6) and exhorted him to resume his responsibilities at home, at work, and in the local assembly.

This scenario illustrates the use of several gifts of the spirit.

The Gift of Ruling, Governing

“He who rules, with diligence” (Rom. 12:8). “God has set some in the church … governments” (1 Cor. 12:28). Many activities and ministries of the local church are carried out by individuals, such as the work of a pastor, teacher, or evangelist (although these all surely need the prayer support of the rest of the congregation). But matters come up that involve a more united effort or the involvement of the entire assembly. Examples include such things as (1) planning to paint or repair the building; (2) disciplining a sinning brother or sister; or (3) planning a conference, vacation Bible school, or summer camp. One with the gift of ruling or government will typically be the one who takes the lead in organizing such group efforts. In our story above, Brothers Armstrong and Holmes may have had such a gift.

The same word “rule” is used in connection with those who carry out the work of an elder or overseer and the work of a deacon (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 3:4,5,12; 5:17; see Nov98); thus its application clearly includes dealing with spiritual problems and helping the assembly to make decisions.

The Gift of Giving

“He who gives, let him do it with simplicity” (Rom. 12:8). All Christians at times give of themselves, their time, and their money to help others. But some are especially gifted in this area. They are very sensitive to the financial and material needs of others and are quick to meet those needs. They do not complicate and delay their giving by asking whether or how they can get a tax deduction out of it. They “do it with simplicity.” If one wishes to borrow from them, they give without expecting to be repaid (Luke 6:30-35). Sister S. in the story above may have had the gift of giving. The Lord is faithful in replenishing the funds of the giver so that the one so gifted may be able to give to others in need. (See Assignment 3)

The Gift of Showing Mercy

“He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom. 12:8). One with the gift of mercy does not say, “I am sorry you are having so much trouble; let me know if there is anything I can do.” Rather, he/she says, “I am sorry you are having so much trouble; would it be convenient for me to bring over supper tonight? or would tomorrow night be better?” When we see a car with its hood up and a man or woman standing helplessly beside it, we may think, “I really feel sorry for that person,” and then drive right on by. However, the person with the gift of mercy will not only feel sorry for those in distress, but will stop and help them (see Jan94). Sister McCandless in the story above probably had the gift of showing mercy.

The Gift of Exhorting

“He who exhorts, on exhortation” (Rom. 12:8). Exhorting is one of the features of prophesying (1 Cor. 14:3; see Jan99). However, it is important enough in its own right to be mentioned separately, even though the gift of prophecy is mentioned two verses earlier. An example of an exhortation is found at the beginning of the chapter:”I beseech [or exhort] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice … unto God” (Rom. 12:1).

The exhorter finds himself in good company. The words “exhort” and “exhortation” are closely related to the words “Comforter” used of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) and “Advocate” used of the Lord Jesus (1 John 2:1). A comforter or advocate is literally one who is called to one’s side to help. The Holy Spirit, not merely at our side but dwelling in us, seeks always as “the Comforter” to direct our heart and thoughts to the Lord Jesus (John 16:14,15). Jesus Christ, as our “Advocate with the Father,” seeks to restore the sinning saint to full fellowship with God the Father.

Just so, the work of the exhorter is especially that of restoring the sinning, backsliding, wandering, or discouraged believer back to communion with the Lord and the joy of God’s salvation (Psa. 51:12). The exhorter does not do this by shouting harsh words at the sinner. Rather he goes to the sinner’s side and gently, humbly, and earnestly ministers Christ to him through the Scriptures.

In the story above, Brother Barnaby displayed the gift of exhorting. This gift seems to be implied in the following verse:”Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness” (Gal. 6:1).

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
Assignment 3: Write out a verse in Proverbs 11 that supports the last statement.

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (II)

Evangelists

“And He gave some evangelists” (Eph. 4:12). Those with this gift have a real love for lost souls, hate the thought of their being separated from God for eternity, and long for their salvation. They see other people first and foremost as those who need Christ, whether they be friends, relatives, or total strangers.

Evangelists have the ability to discern a sinner’s condition of soul, probe the conscience, and answer questions or objections (John 4:5-26). They study the Word to know the best ways to present the gospel clearly and accurately to different classes of people, just as the apostle Paul used different approaches in addressing Jews and Gentiles. (See Assignment 2)

Evangelists are persons with much courage, energy and perseverance (2 Cor. 11:23-27). They realize the tremendous importance of prayer, both before and during each gospel opportunity (Eph. 6:18,19). Once evangelists have delivered their message, they depend upon the Lord to bring fruit from it, and give all glory to God when a soul comes out of darkness into light (1 Cor. 3:6).

Not all believers are gifted as evangelists; however, all of us should “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). The more we grow in our appreciation for the price the Lord Jesus paid to save us, the more earnest we will be in seeking to reach lost souls for Christ (2 Cor. 5:14,15).

Teachers

This gift is mentioned several times (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:12), along with a closely related gift called “the word of knowledge” (1 Cor. 12:8).

Teachers are gifted to unfold, expound, and explain clearly and accurately the Word of God to the people of God. They are dedicated students of the Bible. They make themselves familiar with all of Scripture and make use of the many kinds of helps available, such as Bible commentaries and English, Greek, and Hebrew concordances and dictionaries. They seek to interpret each phrase, verse, and chapter of the Bible in a way that fits with the immediate context and is consistent with every other part of Scripture.

Teaching is regarded by many as a prestigious gift; believers with other gifts tend to desire it. Perhaps for this reason, James exhorts, “My brethren, be not many masters [literally, teachers]” (Jas. 3:1). In the list of gifts in Romans 12, emphasis is placed on our being faithful to exercise the particular gift God has given to us. Thus, for example, if we have the gift of “ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he who teaches, on teaching” (Rom. 12:7).

Pastors

“And He gave some pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:12). The Greek word here translated “pastors” is elsewhere translated “shepherd” and several times applies to the Lord Jesus (Matt. 25:31; John 10:11;14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25).

Phillip Keller once shepherded a literal flock of sheep in Africa. In A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, he lists four requirements that must be met before sheep will “lie down in green pastures” (Psa. 23:2):They must be (1) free of all fear, (2) free from friction with other sheep, (3) free from flies or other pests, and (4) free from hunger. The shepherd’s work is to help his flock to achieve these requirements.

The Christian with the gift of pastor applies the Word of God to the “flock” of believers in ways that will relieve them of their fears and anxieties (Phil. 4:6; 1 John 4:18), help them to resolve conflicts and be reconciled with one another (Matt. 5:24; Jas. 5:16), help them to deal with opposition from unbelievers (1 Pet. 4:12-16), and direct their hearts to the Lord in whom is found all rest and satisfaction (1 Pet. 5:10).

The work of an elder or overseer (Nov98) is closely connected with the gift of pastor. The apostle Peter instructed the elders to “feed the flock of God” and then commended them to the “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:1-4).

While the gift of “the word of knowledge” is associated with the gift of teaching, “the word of wisdom” (1 Cor. 12:8) and the gift of exhortation (Rom. 12:8) are linked with the gift of pastor. The teacher primarily explains the meaning of the scriptures while the pastor has the wisdom to apply the scriptures to peoples’ problems of everyday life. The one cannot do without the other. In fact, the wording in Eph. 4:12, “He gave some pastors and teachers,” suggests that the Lord may sometimes help pastors to develop some teaching skills and teachers to develop some pastoring skills.

The Purpose of These Gifts

Having studied the five gifts listed in Eph. 4:12, let us note what is to be accomplished through these gifts:”For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (verse 13). First, these gifts are to be used for, literally, the “perfect joining together [see 1 Cor. 1:10] of the saints.” This fits in with the value God places on the Church as the body of Christ (Jul98-Sep98). Second, these gifts are used to instruct and train other believers in the Word of God, to equip them to develop their own gifts in service for the Lord. In this way the body of Christ will be edified or built up.

Faith

Another of the gifts of the Spirit is “faith” (1 Cor. 12:9). Every believer in Christ must have faith in order to be saved (Eph. 2:8). One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, manifested by every believer, is “faith” (Gal. 5:22). Our entire lives as Christians should be characterized by the exercise of faith, that is, trust and dependence upon the Lord (2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:20; 2 Thess. 1:3). The Lord wants us to trust Him for every matter and care of our daily lives and to count upon His guidance and supply for our every need (Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 12:9).

Yet above and beyond this, some believers are gifted with an extraordinary measure of faith. The Lord shows them a great work that needs to be done, and they launch out in faith with no idea where the necessary funds and help for this work will come from. All they know is that the Lord who led them into this work will provide for every need along the way. This gift of faith is well illustrated in biographies of George Müller who established an orphanage in Bristol, England and Hudson Taylor who was a missionary in China.

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
Assignment 2: Read the apostle Paul’s gospel sermons to the Jews in Acts 13:16-41 and to the Gentiles in Acts 17:22-31. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different?

Foundations of Faith
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (I)

As pointed out previously (Oct98), every member of the body of Christ has a role to play in the body as a whole and especially in the local assembly. For this purpose, one or more spiritual gifts have been given to every believer in Christ (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11,28-31; Eph. 4:11,12).

Let us discuss a few general points concerning spiritual gifts. First, just as the human physical body has many different members (eyes, ears, arms, legs, heart, liver, muscles, nerves, etc.), so the body of Christ has many members, with many different gifts and many different roles to play. In order for the local church or assembly of believers to function properly, each member must be ready and willing at all times to use his/her spiritual gift for the benefit of the whole assembly.

Second, you may be wondering, “How can I know what my own spiritual gift is?” The Bible does not tell us, but a good starting point is found in the question asked by Saul of Tarsus when he had just been converted:”Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).

Each believer in Christ should be asking this same question. If we are truly sincere about wanting to serve the Lord, He will show us work to be done and people with needs and will burden our hearts to do something about those needs. A person with one kind of gift will often be especially sensitive to one kind of need or work to be done, and a person with a different gift may be sensitive to a completely different area of need. If you keep track of the persons and situations that concern you each day, and what you do to help in each situation, after a while you may see a pattern forming that will help define your spiritual gift.

Third, it is well to see that the entire Trinity is involved in this matter of spiritual gifts:”There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of [services], but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations [or effects], but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Cor. 12:4-6). So while the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, the person who receives a gift is not free to do whatever he/she wants with this gift. Rather, the person is to be subject to the Lord in the use of that gift in service for the Lord (verse 5) and for building up the body of believers (verses 7,25). Finally, each time we faithfully use our spiritual gift as directed by the Lord Jesus, we are to leave the results with God who “works all in all” (verse 6). It is He who brings about the desired effect in the heart and life of the one to whom we have ministered. We are not to be discouraged if the use of our gift does not immediately yield positive results. God’s timing is perfect.

We are ready now to describe briefly each of the spiritual gifts mentioned in Scripture.

Apostles and Prophets

These two gifts are often linked together (1 Cor. 12:28,29; Eph. 3:5; 4:11; Rev. 18:20). They were prominent in the first century A.D. during the formation and building up of the Church:”You … are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:19,20).

The apostles were, literally, “sent out ones.” The greatest Apostle of all was Christ Jesus (Heb. 3:1), the One sent by God “to be the Saviour of the world” (John 3:16,17; 5:36; 6:57; 8:42; 17:3; 1 John 4:9,10,14). Jesus sent out His 12 disciples “to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2). When they returned from their mission, they were referred to as “apostles” (verse 10). On other occasions Jesus sent both the 12 apostles and others to preach and to prepare the way for Him (Luke 9:52; 10:1; 19:29; 22:8); after His resurrection He directed His disciples to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Matt. 28:19; Mark 14:15; Luke 24:47).

The apostles were men who had seen Christ in resurrection (Acts 1:22-26; 1 Cor. 15:8). They were granted authority over demons and diseases (Luke 9:1), to deliver evildoers to Satan (1 Tim. 1:20; 1 Cor. 5:5), and to tell people what they should do (2 Cor. 10:8-10).

The prophets were those who, literally, “spoke for another”; more specifically, they brought messages to the people from God. Again, the greatest Prophet of all was the one prophesied in Deut. 18:15,18, the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 7:16; John 6:14; 7:40; Acts 3:22-26), the One who spoke only those things that His Father gave to Him (John 8:28; 12:49; 14:10). The first century prophets were those who received fresh revelations and teachings from the Holy Spirit that have come down to us as the New Testament.

Most Bible scholars agree that the gifts of apostles and prophets, as known in the first century, have passed off the scene. With the completion of the Holy Scriptures there are no fresh revelations from God.

However, in a secondary sense, today’s foreign missionaries might be considered as apostles or “sent out ones.” As souls are brought to Christ through their preaching in a certain place, they teach the new converts and instruct them in coming together as an assembly of believers. This is much like the work of the apostle Paul, though today’s missionaries do not seem to have the authority that God gave to the early apostles.

Similarly, while there are no prophets today who bring new revelations of truth from God, there are prophets in a more restricted sense who bring the truth of God’s Word, the Scriptures, to the people. Jesus gave Mary Magdalene a message to deliver to the disciples, which she did faithfully (John 20:17,18). If we are daily in close communion with the Lord, He may similarly lay on our hearts a message of “edification, exhortation, [or] comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3) from the Scriptures to deliver to relative or friend or fellow believer. In an assembly meeting for ministry of the Scriptures (Oct98), two or three “prophets” may speak (1 Cor. 14:29). This means that the Lord may give to these brothers a message from His Word that gives just the needed teaching, warning, exhortation, encouragement, or comfort to the believers who are gathered together.

Prophesying may also include foretelling the future (2 Chron. 18:11-22; Jer. 14:15,16; 19:14,15; 25:30; 27:16; Ezek. 6:2; 20:46,47), and this type of prophesying is popular in some Christian circles today. But one must make certain that the message is from the Lord.

(To be continued.)

Running the Race
Assignment 1: From Deuteronomy 18 write out a verse that tells how to distinguish a false prophet and one that describes the punishment of a false prophet.