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Glen Park Gospel Church >> Archive >> Editorial >> 1996
Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Some months include a topical article or report. We thought you might appreciate reading those previously published.
How to Support the Federal Election
"I urge you then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we amy live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness." I Timothy 2:2
With the Federal Election having been announced for early March, Australia has gone into election mode. So should we.
Politicians have put into top gear their election plans, media enjoy a news bonanza, advertising agencies anticipate extra business, investors have put their money on hold, and the average Australian wonders what to expect.
For the sincere christian, February is a month of opportunity, a time for strategic prayer. The apostle Paul calls us to intercessory prayer for our leaders and our nation. Prayer is a tool that we can use to bring the blessings of peace to the nation.
Good Weekend magazine, (Dec. 23rd) reported currently that 25% of Federal Parliamentarians are associated with the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship. We need to pray that God will bring men of godly conviction into the parliament for the next term, and that from them God will give us a government of principle and integrity.
As christians we may legitimately have a part in the election process by working for the party of our persuasion. However every christian should have a far greater role, that of prayer. Let us pray for our leaders, the election process and for the peace that comes from righteousness and equity in our land.
Another Christian Elected to Office
The Mundingburra by-election in Queensland has elected an active Christian to office.
Frank Tanti is a practicing Christian who worships at the Presbyterian Church in Townsville. Frank began working life as a cabinet maker, then a sales man and more recently managed a ceramic tile store. He has long been active in the community and was raised a Catholic. He met Rev. Arch McNicol whilst handing out leaflets and was introduced to Jesus Christ.
Frank kept a copy of Psalm 91 in his pocket, and would re-read it when slurs were cast apon him by political opponents. He regularly reads 'Daily Bread' and draws streangth from the scriptures.
When asked what he hopes to do he replied, " I want to do everything to oppose abortion and euthanasia, and help deliver what the people of Townsville voted for - a return to discipline in the schools, and a society where law and order is improved.
Frank joins with Mrs Liz Cunningham, who also is a devout Christian and had the onerous task of deciding who should govern in the state. Mrs Cunningham holds the balance of power in the state parliament and has indicated her intention to support the incoming Liberal government in matters of censure, but otherwise to vote in accord with her conscience.
This position of balance in government is not unknown, but it does place a considerable strain on one person. Although Queensland politics does not directly affect us as Victorians, nevertheless the influence of events may have impact on all Australians.
We urge you to support these folk in prayer. When you hear issues on the news, quietly commit them to our heavenly Father.
Christians Standing for Election
With the Federal Government election set for Saturday 3rd March a number of Christians are seeking election.
Murray Graham is standing for Deakin. He came to Christ at an early age and has spent time in Aboriginal mission, MMM and other work parties to PNG and the Solomon Islands. He is a candidate of Call to Australia.
Alasdair and Elaine Webster also with Call to Australia are seeking election to the NSW Senate. They plan to be in the Federal sphere what Fred and Elaine Nile are in the NSW State political life.
Philip Young, School teacher and Harvie Ladlow Assemblies of God pastor are seeking election to the Australian Senate for Queensland. They are campaigning on moral issues.
Bible Sales Double in Six Years
The Bible Society moved to new larger premises in 1988 and national sales were $2.6 million. Today the Society is moving to larger facilities and sales stand at $5.8 million.
Whilst there is no claim for Christian revival in Australia, the demand indicates a need for the word of God in this country.
In 1995 sales included 3,000,000 leaflets, 100,000 Scripture prtions, 250,000 New Testaments and 250,000 full Bibles. The 'Bible for Today' sold 41,000 copies making it a contender for the best seller list. The society serves many minority groups with publications in Braille, on audio cassette, CD ROM and computer versions, in comic form, and in over 80 national languages.
The move to larger facilities leaves a deficit of $700,000 and the Society is looking to Christians to assist with this added expenditure. They would appreciate our help.
The foundations of national glory are set in the homes of the
people. They will only remain unshaken while the family life of
our nation is strong, pure and simple.
- King George
IV.
Read this: Luke 10.38-42, John 11.1-5.
The Beauty of a Christian Home
There is nothing quite so beautiful as a Christian Home. Someone has said that the two most beautiful words in the English language are "Mother" and "Home". If the most tender is "Mother", the most beautiful is "Home".
In these days of redefined family units and domestic relationships there was never a greater need for a demonstration by the people of God, of the true Christian home.
The Bible has much to say in terms of patters. These concepts are not laws to obey. They are however good advice for those who are happy to model their relationships and arrangements upon them.
In Luke 10.38-42 we have six such characteristics. In verse 38 we are told that Jesus entered into a certain village. This was undoubtedly Bethany, where was the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Compare Matthew 21.17, Mark 11.11, and John 11,1.
1 It was a home where Jesus was welcome.
"...a certain woman named Martha received him into her house."
Lu 10.38 Jesus was always welcome here. The owners welcomed his
presence. Is He welcome at your home. Look up Jn 1.12, 2Cor 13.5,
Gal 2.20 and Rev 3.20.
2. A home where Jesus was given chief place.
See verse 39 It is significant that Mary sat at His feet, and
possibly Martha too for some time. He was a very special visitor
and they gave him chief place.
When Jesus has chief place He guides the conduct of the home. i) He guides the conversation, the topics. Ps 50.23. ii) He selects the reading matter. Do you know what the children are reading? Col. 3.16. iii) He controls the radio, TV or computer. Ps 101.3. iv) He apportions the money. The family have real needs, not the pokies. There is a place for the family and the tithe. 1 Cor 16.2. v) He decides vexing moral questions and conduct. Look up 1 Cor 6.12.
3. A home in which the Word of God is read and followed.
Mary sat at His feet and heard His word. Verse 39. Do you have
a family altar in your home? Does the word of God settle arguments?
Does your family spend time in prayer?
4. A home where common tasks are performed out of love for
Him.
We are told in verse 40 that Martha was
concerned about the service to be performed. The meal had to be
just right for the Lord. Unfortunately she often gets the wrong
end of the moral, whereas she was given to the ministry of hospitality,
a real gift to offer. Col 3.23.
5. A home where the friends of the Lord are welcome.
Verse 38 and Martha's "much serving" tells us that when
Jesus came he brought his disciples with Him. Is your home one
where the Servants of the Lord are welcome also? See Rom 12.13,
Tit 1.8.
6. A home where problems and troubles are solved by the
Lord.
See verses 40,41. Martha brought her
problems to the Lord. He answers the problem, or gives grace to
bear them 2 Cor 9.8. When Christ is the Head, he is also the answer.
In John 11.5 we are told that Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary and Martha. He loved them because they loved Him. As far as we know they were the only members of the house. We cannot all live in a house where all the occupants are Christian, that is not possible, for all people have a will of their own. It is a blessing for those who do. Acts 16.31 tells us that household salvation is God's plan, and we should pray and work together for that end. Are we doing all we can to bring each member into the enjoyment of the Lord and His great salvation? look up Mark 5.19 and Luke 8.39.
Creation
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1.
These are the opening words of the Bible. They are so simple that a child can understand them.
They do, however, provoke questions. Read them to a child and you will get the question, 'How?' The mere fact that the child asks the question shows that he understands.
Science students understand them too, because they ask the same question, and then seek to impose their own answers. The child (sometimes) waits for an answer, and believes what he is told.
These same words are profound. The set the parameters for any study of the origins. Yet, they do not pose as the beginning of scientific investigation and analysis, but a statement of divine revelation.
First, there is time. When creation was not, there was no time. Simultaneous with time is space. It is impossible to have space or time without the other; the concept is meaningless.
Second we have energy, creation as an act. There was the power to bring all this into being. There is the concept of energy within creation and the capacity of energy to create.
Third, there is intelligence. Creation demonstrates design, as indicated by reference to the heavens and the earth. Design presupposes meaning, purpose, coordination. In short, it demands intelligence.
This leads us to God. Our simple text is a statement of revelation by God about the origins. It does not tell us 'how', but who made the heavens and the earth.
There is a current debate amongst the men of science as to the meaning of design within creation. These men do not deny their belief in the theory of evolution, but in the incidence of design. There are those who recognise that the universe is too well ordered to have been occasioned by spontaneous and random chance. Others sense in such reasoning a glimmer of the presence of God, and are resisting with all their power any such suggestion.
The Christian however denies any concept of evolutionary process which detracts from the simple statements of Scripture.
Moreover we are content with the statements as they are, not only because we know who made them, but because we have a relationship with Him. We trust Him, and He cares for us.
Proving The Validity of Our Faith
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." Psalms 26:2
Every commodity needs to be proven. Performance guarantees are based on testing. A pressure boiler is built to withstand a designated pressure. To prove this it is tested to a greater pressure. The validity of any product, design, concept or idea must be, "Does it work?"
God used the experiences of the people Israel in their journey from Egypt to Canaan.
Deuteronomy 8:2
"And thou shalt remember
all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years
in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know
what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments,
or no."
The word 'prove' has the concept of an assay, or a test of verification. In any real test there has to be the possibility of failure, if the terms of the test are not met. Therefore we have the unusual concept of God 'not knowing' the outcome. This is not a comment on the omniscience of God, but the free will of man.
We are also invited to prove the trustworthiness of God in
our obedience to Him
Malachi 3:10
"Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove
me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there
shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]."
This concept of testing is also true for the Christian today
I Corinthians 3:13
"It will be revealed
with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work."
This is a sober thought for any believer. Our lives spent for Christ must be put to the test, and we will answer for our decisions and the merit of our actions.
One way we can prepare for that event is for us to do a little testing of our own. Let us put our lives to the test. Listen to the encouragement of the apostle Paul
2 Corinthians 13:5
"Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be
unapproved?"
Remember the purpose of testing is to verify as true. If however we find things in our lives which are inadequate, then we take corrective action. Having corrected our limitations, we know that our lives will be approved on the day of God's assessment. Thus the text is true:
1 Thessalonians 5:21
"Prove all things;
hold fast that which is good."
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