Printed by Maranatha Bible Church A Lesson from Yesteryear. A Faithful Few on Fire Dr. Vance Havner

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1 Volume 1, Issue 1 October 31, 2003 THE MARANATHA INSTA- TUTOR UPCOMING EVENTS BCSA Educators Convention November 14. Speakers will be John Stormer, Dr. Sam Horn, Dr. John Beck, and Dr. Linda Norell. The meetings will be held at Northside Christian School. Dr. Sam Horn will also have the final session at 7:30. All are invited to attend. For more information call Zanesville Christian School home basketball games in December will be on the 9th at 4:00pm and the 19th at 6:00pm. John Stormer will be speaking at Maranatha Bible Church at 7:00pm on the 17th, and 18th of November. He will be addressing government issues and will also do a session on the family. Inside this issue: Printed by Maranatha Bible Church A Lesson from Yesteryear. A Faithful Few on Fire Dr. Vance Havner This present unwieldy mass of nominal Christians is not making much impact. Mediocrity only produces more mediocrity. We must rally somehow in these last days a core of expendables and try to move this age; but not by criticism of it. It s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. You can t shovel the darkness out of a room There is only one way to get darkness out of a room, turn the light on. These dear people who are always fighting something! I don t want to get in the business of always stirring theological garbage; it rubs off. You know there are some things it doesn t pay to tangle up with in this world; when you win, you lose. After all, a bulldog can lick a skunk, but it just isn t worth it. We re not going to win the world by conforming with it; we re going to meet it by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God. A bond like that upsets the world one time. They didn t do it by hiring a liaison man in Jerusalem. They didn t do it by setting up a lobby in Rome. They were just Christians with all the glorious implications of the Word, a faithful few on fire. And we need that as never before. There weren t many of them, there were just a few, one hundred and twenty. They were faithful, they continued with one accord, and they were on fire, for cloven tongues lighted upon them. It is not enough to be just a few. I have been in some rather skimpy prayer meetings where some dear brother started off with the promise about where two or three are gathered, and I had a sneaking suspicion that he was more aware of the absence of the people than he was of the presence of the Lord, After the Wesleyan revival, little societies sprang up everywhere and changed the course of English history a faithful few on fire. The level of Christian living in the average church is of such a low level you would have to backslide to be in fellowship. The flag gets way ahead of the regiment, and instead of bringing the flag back to the regiment, we need to say to the regiment, The standard has been set, it s up to us to catch up with it. A Lesson from Yesteryear. Dr. Vance Havner Walking in Wisdom Pastor Chris Brown Around the World Pastor Ron Smith Gifts Pastor Dale McCallister Sell your Boots 4 Just a thought Walking Wisdom Pastor Chris Brown Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5 that their walk had once been a walk in the dark but now that they had been delivered from darkness, their walk should be a walk in the light and a walk that was a circumspect walk not as fools but as wise. I think that if we are honest, all of us must admit that one of the hardest areas for us to walk not as fools but as wise is in the area of the tongue. Who among us has not found ourself in a conversation with someone and as the words escape our lips we find ourselves thinking, I wish I could take that back? The Proverb writer says in Proverbs 13:3; He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that continued on p.2

2 Page 2 THE MARANATHA From Around the World. Pastor Ron Smith Acts 19:17-20 Paul Dawson and I went to the Philippines to help missionary Rick Searls while he battled a sever case of malaria. We were there for approximately two months. One of our journeys took us up,up, and up, to a village that had never heard the gospel. While hiking up this mountain Paul dropped our water bottle over the cliff! He is lucky I did not send him over with it! By this time I was almost dehydrated. As we continued up the mountain our eyes located a stream of water coming out of a rock. I told Paul I did not care if it would kill me or not I am taking a drink of it. Paul said, If you are going to die I am going to die with you, so he took of the water also. Boy, was it refreshing and it did not harm us at all. By the time we reached the village I was extremely exhausted and I could hardly stand. Then a little village boy climbed a tree a brought me down some bananas. I will never forget how good those banana s tasted. The Lord gave us some wonderful opportunities while we were there and I will share some of those with you in the next issue. A wise owl lived in an oak, The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard. Why can t we be like that old bird? Many persons might have attained to widsom had they not assumed they had already possessed it. -Seneca Walking Wisdom (Cont.) openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. The New Testament epistle of James has been compared to the book of Proverbs because of James direct, pungent statements on wise living. Many of those statements center on the use of the tongue. In every chapter in his epistle James has something to say about the tongue. (1:19,26; 2:12; 4:11; 5:12) But James devotes a large amount of attention to the tongue in chapter 3 verses In these verses, James addresses the tongue and its importance in a number of areas. And in this chapter James starts right where he ought to start. In verse 1 he talks first of all about the tongue s power of influence. Now the word master in verse 1 is a Greek word which literally means teacher or one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man. James was reminding his readers of this truth that the power of the tongue is great to influence others. That is both a often and recognize what an awesome thing great joy and a great responsibility. James reminds his Jewish readers here at the very beginning of this text that if they are not careful then that which has been given to them as an instrument to communicate and to influence can cause great harm. James comment about teaching reflects the principle of the New Testament that greater knowledge brings greater responsibility. And a teacher who sets out to teach takes upon himself the responsibility that goes along with it. As a young pastor, I read James 3 and verse 1 that it is to be a teacher of the Word of God! It causes me to understand that some day we are going to give an account for the accuracy of our teaching and the way in which we have used words to influence people. That thought ought to bring us to our knees regularly if we have a place of influence in the work of God. So, in verse 1 James teaches us that there is power in the tongue to influence many. To be continued.

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Gifts by Pastor McCallister Each believer has received gifts from the Spirit. These gifts are mentioned in Corinthians, Romans, and Ephesians. Many believers acknowledge this fact, but have no comprehension of their spiritual gifts. On the other hand there are many believers who feel, as though they have many gifts,when in actuality, they do not. How can we know what our spiritual gifts are, and how can we utilize them in the ministry for Christ? CALLING. (I Cor. 12:23; Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:7) Each one of us have been called to some particular service. In a local assembly there are many representatives of different Gifts (Cont.) CONFIDENCE. (I Jn. 5:14; I Cor. 1:26) There are three ways to obtain unadulterated confidence in the Lord; 1) Prayer. Prayerlessness is only an action of pride. 2) Poise. Philippians 4:6-8, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 3) Prospect. Philippians 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. COMPASSION. (I Pet. 3:8-10) There is a lack of love in the church today. Not a love for self, but a love for one another. The church can never experience calls, but each have the same Caller. So, what is the our responsibility in regard to His call? First, we must recognize the call. Second, we must rely on the call. I have heard preachers say over the years, When I wake up Monday morning, I am ready to quit. I can honestly say I have never felt that way because I recognize the call, and rely upon it. Thirdly, we must run in the call. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Abraham was called, but did not go until his father passed away. He was in sin (Acts 7:4). If you feel God is calling you to serve in the church or even in full time service, do not hesitate, but initiate. true unity unless each one prefers one another rather than themselves. CONSISTENCY. (I Cor. 4:2; Prov. 3:5-6) I have seen it over and over again in my ministry men receive a calling of God and go out like a ball of fire. They know they have been called and they expressed true confidence and compassion, but after five years in the work and only a few people saved, they die out. They lock the doors of the church and go back into the working world. Others feel God would have them go to another work, and after ten years of ministry they have tried their calling in four different churches. Believer, we must stay consistent. Whether you have two or twenty in your Sunday school class, be consistent. If you have witnessed to your neighbor and she has not been saved, stay consistent. Allow God to worry about the results, but continue thou. Dr. Ashbrook tapes from His fall conference are available. Contact Reta Collins for ordering information at: SERMON TITLES 1. Isms 2. Separation in the 20th century. 3. Separation in the 21st century. 4. The Church 5. Separation: Movies and T.V. 6. Separation and Parenting. Tapes are $2.00 each or $8.00 per set. Dr. Ashbrook s books are also available. Call the church office for details. Fundamentals for the Family. $3.00 Axioms of Separation $1.00 New Neutralism II $3.00 To check out true leadership look at the leaders greatgrandchildren.

4 This is a publication of Maranatha Bible Church. Maranatha Bible CHURCH Printed by Maranatha Bible Church 2400 Chandlersville Rd. Zanesville, Oh Phone: Fax: maranatha@saferinternet.com Study to show thyself approved All the views and articles have been checked by the church staff. If you have any questions or articles that you would like to see put in this newsletter, please feel free to send them to Pastor Treg Spicer at the church address, or them to the church. Letters and articles will be read over and used at out discretion. SELL YOUR BOOTS AND BUY ONE. (Logsdon) The sell your boots and buy one section will be an overview of books, both good and bad. Not all books mentioned will be read by the editors, but we will not promote any materials unless we have received a clear recommendation from others and have looked over the material ourselves. Just a thought The Cardinal Today the North American red finch is know as the cardinal. A cardinal is an high church official, ranking just below the pope, who has been appointed by a pope to membership in the College of Cardinals. Jim Roetzel writes on the Yahoo information site, The Northern Cardinal gets its name from the red robes used by cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church. Is it any wonder why St. Louis (a city heavily populated by Catholics) has a baseball team by the name of the St. Louis cardinals? Cardinals have become increasingly common in northern areas. This adaptable bird breeds and winters in the same place. Now the decision is yours. Will you continue to call the beautiful Red Finch a cardinal, or call it by its original name the red bird? JUST A THOUGHT HOUGHT

5 true unity unless each one prefers one another rather than themselves.

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