Death is a Waiting Room

Death is a Waiting Room

My wife and I were recently visiting a medical facility that had in the foyer a large and busy waiting room complete with a plethora of magazines, live-broadcast TV, a colourful play area for children and huge glass windows bathing the area in filtered and natural sunlight.

Young people talked, sent text messages or played games on their mobile electronic devices, couples chatted, some of those waiting read magazines or watched the TV while others waited with obvious frustration in impatient silence.

After a time of waiting in this waiting room we were ushered closer to where we had our appointment, to wait in a smaller waiting area deeper within the building.

Although we did not need to wait long there, the contrast was striking. This waiting area consisted of two rows of chairs in part of a corridor, illuminated by tiny overhead lights in the ceiling. It was comfortable, peaceful and quiet with only the faint murmur of voices heard from behind adjacent closed doors. There were no magazines, TV, children playing, people chatting nor electronic devices beeping. We, ourselves, were actually glad to be waiting for our names to be called, as we knew that the soon reward of our appointment was waiting for us.

As I thought about the contrast between these two waiting areas I was reminded of a question that I had been asked a few days earlier regarding what death is like for a Christian, and I came to imagine the difference between life and death as being like these two waiting areas.

Life is a like large, well-lit and busy waiting room complete with impatience and a superfluity of distractions and entertainments. According to a 2001 ‘Cake (band)’ song, “As soon as you're born, you start dying.” With that premise in mind, you could even extend it to say that from the moment of our conception, living is about being occupied (preferably productively) while waiting for the (sometimes frightful) final call of our name.

In striking contrast, death for the Christian is like entering a tiny silent, tranquil waiting room with no distractions, just a quiet intermission, anticipating the reward that comes with the wonderful final call of our name.

According to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, at the Second Coming of Christ the dead in Christ shall rise first (see Vs.13-17). Death for the Christian means simply waiting patiently for three closely consecutive rewards: 1) Resurrection, 2) A “front-row seat” to the awe-filled splendour and majesty of the Second Coming, and 3) the final reward of an eternity with the Redeemer.

-- Lionel Hartley 13 June 2013

Tests for a Prophet

Tests for a Prophet

 Pre-reading: I Kings 22

In 1857, in South Africa, a ‘primitive’ tribe were troubled by a vision that a member of their tribe, thirteen-year-old Nongqawsue, reported to have seen in the waters of the River Gxara. She told her fellow Xhosa that she had seen the faces of their dead elders staring up at her from the depths of the waters. Furthermore, she prophesied, if the tribe wanted to regain its dead leaders, then they must slaughter all their livestock on or before a certain date. Commentator David Frost tell us the date was February 18, 1857, and that as a result of following this advice the entire tribe starved to death.

How can we tell if someone is fatidical (gifted with prophetic power)?

There are only two types of prophets: true or false. The Scriptures abound with stories of false prophets – from the false prophets on Mt Carmel (I Ki 18) to the foolish ‘wise’ men of Babylon (Dan 4:7,18:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.... all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [Daniel] art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.)

The Four Tests

Malachi 3:18 KJV - [Ye shall] discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

1. Lifestyle

Look at the prophet’s life. It certainly will not be perfect but, in general, the prophet will be a spiritual, God-fearing person. Moses, for example, had two failures recorded against him, but the majority of his life, the record tells, us he lived in accordance with God’s Word. (Deut 34:10  And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.)

2. Biblical Harmony

The things the prophet says will harmonise with what the Bible says. Scripture clearly teaches that if the message is contrary to the Bible the speaker is not a true prophet. (Isaiah 8:20 KJV - To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.)

The fact that a prophecy is (or is not) written down, is not a test. The Bible gives examples of both:

Written: Matthew 13:14, Acts 2:16, II Peter 1:20, Revelation 22:10, etc.

Oral: Acts 11:27, 15:32, 21:9, I Corinthians 14:3, etc.

3. Accuracy

Do the prophecies come true? This question must be answered in regard to what the prophecy says, whether or not it is conditional. For example Jonah’s prophecy against Nineveh (Jonah 3:4 KJV - And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.) was not fulfilled because the people of Nineveh repented and turned to God. However Moses threats against Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1, 17:17, etc. - And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. /  Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. Etc.) came true because Pharaoh did not let God’s people go.

In general, if the prophecy is not a threat with a promise for leniency (in the actual words (eg. Moses) or in the context (eg Jonah), then the prophet can be identified by the fact that the prophecies come true.

4. Reflectors of Christ

Finally, the fourth test of a prophet is a check on whether or not their lives glorify & emulate Jesus.

Philippians 2: 5-9 

5  Let this mind* be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

*To have the mind of Jesus is to reflect God’s attitude:  (Jer 29:11 KJV - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.)

©2001 Lionel Hartley

Fasting

Fasting

Esther’s life was on the line. In fact, the whole Jewish community in Sushan and the surrounding area was in jeopardy. Esther had a unique God-given opportunity to intervene, but that would require courage and tact beyond that one would expect from one so young. But Esther didn’t lack wisdom. She said, ‘Go, gather together all the Jews in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day. I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and (then) will I go unto the king.’ Esther and her ‘family’ fasted and prayed, and the tide of history changed.

According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Clarendon Press Oxford 1976 p378), amongst other definitions unrelated to this topic, we have ‘to abstain from all or some kinds of foods as a religious observance or as a sign of mourning’ or to simply ‘go without foods.’

So fasting can be abstinence from all, some or certain foods for various purposes.

There are basically four types of fasting: Passive, Active, Interactive and Creative.

Passive Fasting
Abstinence is an example of passive fasting, however, forced hunger is not a true fast.

Paul describes forced fasting in 2 Corinthians: ‘Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; / But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, / in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, / by pureness, by knowledge, (and) by longsuffering.’ 2 Corinthians 6:3-6 and ‘I speak as concerning reproach... In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.’ 2 Corinthians 11:21, 27

Active Fasting
The second type of fasting is ACTIVE fasting.

This can be redemptive, excessive, or intercessive.

REDEMPTIVE fasting is to purify the mind to make one’s self more aware of spiritual things. This is the type of fast that was required by Jewish law on the Day of Atonement (the 10th day of the 7th month) as recorded in Leviticus 16:29,31; 23:31 and Jeremiah 36:6. Redemptive fasting may also be Medicative or Curative if used to cleanse the body of chemical impurities. Included in this category are fastings recommended by your physician.

EXCESSIVE fasting comes in several guises. It may be fasting (quote) ‘
to be seen of men’ as Jesus commented upon in Matthew 6:16: ‘Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.’

Isaiah also quotes God referring to excessive fasting in Isaiah 58:4,5 ‘Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. / Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down the head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?’

There may also be an inappropriate response to fasting such as by evil Jezebel as recorded in 1 Kings: ‘And it came to pass... that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, next the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. / And Ahab spoke to Naboth asking him for the vineyard in exchange for another distant vineyard or for money. But Naboth refused for it was part of the family inheritance. So Ahab in his sadness went to bed and fasted, eating no bread.’ We remember that Ahab’s wife Jezebel was persuaded by this display of fasting to take matters into her own hands and Naboth was killed. 1 Kings 21:1-4

Praying for others with fasting is INTERCESSIVE fasting.

In Matthew 17:14-21 we read that the disciples were unable to cast out a demon, When they enquired of Jesus why this should be so, He firstly challenged their lack of faith and then added that such miracles required also prayer and fasting.

As you may recall, King David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and she bore a son. David further sinned against God by having Uriah killed so he could marry Bathsheba. God sent Nathan the prophet to David to give him the opportunity to repent and to tell him that the child would die. In 2 Samuel 12:15 and following we read, ‘15 ... And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died...’

And then in verse 20 we read, ‘20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came to the house of the LORD and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, what thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread? 22 And he said, While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 24 And (then) David comforted his wife, Bathsheba...’

This passage gives us some very interesting insights into the relationship between fasting and grieving and highlights one of the major reasons for fasting.

Fasting, with prayer, is our way of telling God and ourselves that we are really serious about the matter for which we are praying. It doesn’t persuade God; it doesn’t make us more pious or holy; it doesn’t even make us more religious. It does make us think about our relationship with God; it makes us think about the importance of prayer; it makes us think about our closeness to the needs in our petitions and the wonders in our praise.

Interactive Fasting
INTERACTIVE fasting is the act of sharing with others in intercession, such as the record in Acts 13:2,3 of prayer coupled with fasting when Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius and Saul were seeking for guidance prior to laying hands upon Saul and Barnabas for special ministry.

There was congregational prayer coupled with fasting prior to ordaining and sending out elders to the churches as written in Acts 14:23

Furthermore, the three metaphors of Mark 2:18-22: the bridegroom, the rent garment, and the old goatskin bottles, remind us that there are occasions when fasting is proper, but that it is out of place as a regular practice to advertise one’s holiness or to make a show of religion.

Creative Fasting
And lastly, fasting can be CREATIVE.

In Isaiah 58 the prophet firstly inscribes the Lord’s condemnation of conventional fasting: ‘1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me their ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure and exact all your labours. 4 Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down the head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the lord?

And then from verse 6 onwards, Isaiah recounts what the Lord really desires in fasting. I have taken the liberty of calling this creative fasting: 6 It not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9 Then shall thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness as the noonday: 11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and a spring of water, whose waters fail not.’ Isaiah 58:1-11

God desires of us a realistic motivation to fasting when appropriate; and realistic, appropriate fasting when motivated.

Creative fasting is three dimensional:

1. A day of fasting & Christian piety doesn’t make up for a week of Christian neglect,

2. God is more interested in the spirit, the tone and the temper of the fast than pedantic and meticulous fastidiousness and

2. when you fast, consider giving the food you would have eaten or it’s monetary equivalent to those in need around you.

Practicalities of Fasting
If you desire to fast, then please note these eight PRACTICALITIES of fasting.

Practicality number 1 - FLUIDS
Water taken in abundance during a fast will aid the body in the elimination of accumulated waste and serve to prevent dehydration, one of the major complications of indiscriminate fasting. Some people choose to have a teaspoon of honey in a cup of caffeine-free herbal tea.

Practicality number 2 - GLUCOSE
GLUCOSE added to your fluid intake or in the form of barley sugar confections may be recommended for those who must undertake physical labour during a fast.

Practicality number 3 - MEDICINES.
If it essential that medications be taken with a meal due, for example, to their effect on the stomach, then there are a number of options available. If you fast regularly, then many medications are available in a format that allows for fasting - for example: slow release capsules, certain types of enteric coated tablets, medication by injection, etc. Your GP may be able to recommend a substitute. If you fast only occasionally, for example, for prayer & meditation, then fasts may be scheduled to avoid you having to miss taking your medication. For example, a day of fasting from sunset to sunset would still allow an evening meal with your medication before the fast commences, and again the following night when the fast is broken. Alternatively, if your fast allows and your physician approves, your medication may be taken with milk, a glucose drink or a banana during the fast. As we have noted already today, God is more interested in the spirit of the fast than fine print perfectionism.

Practicality number 4 - DIETS
Persons with diabetes, bowel or stomach disorders or other medical conditions associated with digestion and metabolism are usually not prevented from fasting provided it is done under the supervision of a physician. In fact many people with these conditions are often recommended to adhere to a controlled fast occasionally as part of their curative or health management process.

Fasting is not an appropriate or practical method of loosing weight, and fad diets which recommend fasting for this purpose ought to be avoided. If for any reason your fasting causes a dramatic loss in weight or affects other areas of your lifestyle, for example, menstruation, then you ought to cease fasting immediately & seek medical attention.

Practicality number 5 - ENERGY
As mentioned earlier, those undertaking physical labour or strenuous work during a fast may need a glucose supplement to balance energy requirements and prevent fatigue, exhaustion or collapse.

Practicality number 6 - DURATION
How long do I fast for? 1 Corinthians 7:5 tells us that husbands and wives may give themselves to fasting and prayer for a short time only, and then come together again. This phrase, ‘for a short time only’ may be hard to define, as Moses, Elijah and Jesus all fasted for forty days and nights (Eg. Matthew 4:2).

Luke 2:36,37 recalls that ‘There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age... / And she was a widow of about 84 years, she departed not from the temple but served God with prayers and fastings day and night.’ - so Anna fasted almost continually; we remember that King David fasted for seven days and in the urgency of her situation, Esther recommended a three day fast.

Is there a rule of thumb about duration? There surely is - for as a rule, fasting should not adversely affect our health. We saw this earlier in Isaiah 58:8 - When you fast as God desires, He promises: ‘Thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.’

Prolonged partial fasting may be considered under medical advice if green vegetables are permitted and consumed as these provide necessary vitamins, help in the movement of the bowels and allay feelings of hunger.

Hunger, incidentally, does not usually constitute a serious problem in fasting. It is a minor inconvenience during and after the first day, but after the second it is hardly noticeable.

If a fast of more than two days is planned, then medical specialists recommend nowadays, especially for those accustomed to the rich western diet, that a prior consultation with a physician is in order.

When your fast is broken, the consumption of food should at first consist of light meals eaten slowly to allow for your body to re-adjust to eating & digestion.

Practicality number 7 - PUBLICITY
On the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 6, Jesus said, ‘16 Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:16-18). The Pharisee recorded in Lk18:12 bragged that he fasted twice each week.

Zechariah Chapters 7 & 8 are all about fasting. For 70 years the Jewish Nation had been fasting on the 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th month (8:19) mourning the destruction of the Temple. Now that it looked like they were going to have a temple again, the question arose as to whether these fasts should be continued. In reply, Zechariah reminds them that there had been good reason for their fasts, in penitence for their disobedience and consequent affliction; but now there fasts had become a mere outward pretence of exhibiting their own holiness, and their religious feasts were for their own pleasure.

Then, following prophetic custom of alternating scenes of present distress with scenes of future glory, Zechariah draws a picture of an age when fasts shall be joyful feasts. (8:19)

The Jews, once a might nation, with traditions from old that they had been designed of their God to be the leading people of all the world, were now a remnant - insignificant and despised, existing in their own land only by the permission of the Persian kings. Zechariah tried hard to encourage them by repeating over and over that it would not always be like this; that by and by the mighty empire that ruled them would be broken, and God’s people could come into their own.

Jesus referred to the modern parallel of this hope when, as recorded in Mark’s Gospel: ‘18 And the disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast; and they come and say unto him (Jesus), Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days.’ Mark 2:18-20

We earlier made mention of the occasion when the disciples were unable to cast out a demon and Jesus said that such miracles required prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:14-21).

Fasting is still a relevant personal expression of our intimate desire to come close to God.

Practicality number 8 - Personal questions
There are many other practical considerations to take in hand when contemplating a desire to fast. One is how we will cope with the preparation of meals for other family members who are not fasting. A second consideration is the abstinence from other things during the fast, for example tobacco, alcohol, television, or confectionary. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 talks about abstaining from sex during a fast when Paul tells us, quote ‘Husbands and wives, do not deprive one another of sexual relations except by mutual consent for a short time so that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and then come together again.’

Another consideration is how the fasting time will be spent. Do we consider hourly prayer times, Bible study, devotional or inspiration reading, sharing with others, or simply life as usual?

Again, do I tell anyone I am fasting?

And finally, is fasting the best way I have of telling God and myself that I am really serious about the matter for which I am praying. What is my reason for desiring to fast?

These are questions only you can answer.

Lionel Hartley, ©1988, 2013

My ideal image of a great church is very selfish

One of the first books that I wrote was published in 1965 in New Zealand (Stereo Publishing). It was called ‘The Gospel According to Jonah’. At that time I was an Anglican. When the book was republished in Australia by Philadelphia Publications in 1985, I changed references to Sunday to use the word Sabbath, which for the biblically literate is the seventh day, and Sunday for others.

At the close of chapter 3 on pages 16-18 I wrote the following prose-poem, with the heading: 
My Ideal Image of a Great Church is Very Selfish.

My ideal image of a great church is very selfish:
It will be composed of ordinary people just like me.
It will epitomise family fellowship if I treat each member as a much-loved brother or sister.
It will welcome visitors if I make the effort to talk and listen to strangers.
It will be friendly if I am friendly -- I will only make friends by being one.
It will have reverence if I remember always to respect the sanctuary.
It will help me to grow if I am amenable to counsel.

My ideal image of a great church is very selfish:
It will do a mighty work for God if I also work, volunteer, participate and become involved.
It will have filled-to-capacity prayer meetings and evangelistic programmes if I support them.
It will be humble if I don’t brag or seek kudos for myself.
It will make munificent gifts to many worthwhile causes if I am generous.
Members will be true saints if I uphold them daily in prayer (and if they are not, I must continue to pray for them and me).
It will be a true Sabbath-keeping church if I honour the Sabbath, especially at the opening and closing of God’s gift in time.
The rustle of pages will be heard if I, too, open my Bible and read along with the preacher.

My ideal image of a great church is very selfish:
It will have a vibrant Sabbath School lesson if I balance participating in the discussion with keeping quiet to let others contribute.
There will be an authentic and personal concern for the welfare of attendees if I am genuinely sincere in my concern for them.
It will have the best possible pastoral and leadership team if I daily pray for them.
The leaders will feel valued if I tell others of their virtues and give to them personal words of affirmation and acknowledgement.
It will bring others into its fellowship if I help to bring them also.
It will have seats that are full if I attend regularly and invite others to fill them.
The neighbouring community will want to be involved in my ideal church if I go door-to-door and invite them.

My ideal image of a great church is very selfish:
Nothing negative will ever be heard about it if I only talk about the ‘positives’.
It will be a place of nurture if I stop to listen to people and help them where I can.
It will be a witness to the community if I do my part in telling others about Jesus.
It will resonate with joyful music if I join in the singing.
Absent members will feel valued if I notice their absence and contact them during the week to let them know that they were missed.
Visitors will want to come back if I radiate warmth, genuine love, diplomacy and tact.
Pleasant conversations will fill the foyer if I let others talk about themselves rather than me talk about me.
It will stay alive if I am faithful to its mission.
It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these qualities.

My ideal image of a great church is very selfish:
I will get much from my ideal church if I contribute much to it.
Therefore, through the power of God, I must be everything that I want my church to be.

-- Lionel Hartley, The Gospel According to Jonah, Philadelphia Publications, 1985, Pp16-18

Blessings After the Creation of Man

The first seven blessings after the creation of Man - Genesis 2 Vs 7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1. Good surroundings - Vs 8) And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

2. Good food - Vs 9) And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food;

3. Good labour - Vs 15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

4. Good rest - Vs 21) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

5. Good companionship - Vs 22) And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

6. Good salvation - Ch 3, Vs 15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

7. Good covering (atonement) - Vs 21) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

-- Lionel Hartley

Degrees of Honesty

(Luke 16:10-12)  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12) And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Yesterday afternoon I was making a purchase in a local shop and the checkout girl was about to undercharge me 50¢. When I drew her attention to this she remarked that I was 'very honest'. I responded by saying that there is no such thing as being very honest. Either a person is honest or they are dishonest. There are no degrees of honesty, just as there is no such thing as a white lie or a black lie, as all lying is dishonest. She remarked that I could have just forgotten about the 50¢ and walked out of the shop. 'Oh no, I couldn't', I replied, 'If my God-given sense of honesty didn't stop me, my conscience would.'

Lionel Hartley 18 January 2013

One Another Ministry

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another. (Rom 12:5)

The phrase One Another appears 234 times in the Bible. For it to appear that many times suggests that it is important enough to seek for a lesson. One Another Ministry is that lesson. As brothers and sisters in Christ, how should we regard one another? Here is a truncated version of One Another Ministry, by Lionel Hartley. (Quotations are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible)

The very first reference to One Another in the Bible introduces the aspect of team work: And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. (Gen 11:3) This is the same as God saying to God, “Let us make man in our image (Gen 1:26). It is this teamwork that forms the basis of One Another Ministry. This One Another Ministry is not outreach, but reaching within—reaching to one another. Here are a few other things One Another Ministry entails (in alphabetical order):

Admonish: And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Rom 15:14)

Care for one another: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care for one another. (1 Cor 12:25)

Comfort: Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Th 4:18)

Compassion: Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1 Pet 3:8)

Confess faults to one another: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (Titus 3:3), Confess your faults one to another(James 5:16)

Consider one another: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Heb 10:24)

Eat together and wait for latecomers before eating: Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. (1 Cor 11:33)

Edifying: Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Rom 14:19)  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (1 Th 5:11)

Envy not: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal 5:26)

Exhortation: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb 3:13) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb 10:25)

Fellowship: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

Forbearance: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Eph 4:2) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Col 3:13)

Gentleness: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Gal 5:15)

Greeting: And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept with one another, until David exceeded. (1 Sam 20:41) Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. (Rom 16:16)  All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss(1 Cor 16:20) Greet one another with an holy kiss. (2 Cor 13:12) Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Pet 5:14)

Grudge not against one another: Grudge not against one another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)

Help: For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (Eccl 4:10)

Honesty: Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another (Eph 4:25) Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Col 3:9)

Hospitality: Use hospitality to one another without grudging. (1 Pet 4:9)

Humility: And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. (1 Cor 4:6)

Judge not: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. (Rom 14:13) There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? ? (James 4:12)

Kind, tenderhearted, forgiving: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Eph 4:32)

Kindly affectioned: Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; (Rom 12:10)

Likeminded: Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (Rom 15:5)

Look one to another for support – and then support on another: And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exo 25:20)

Love: there are at least fourteen verses that admonish us to love on another. These are so important that they have been listed separately at the end of this booklet.

Minister: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Pet 4:10)

Not to steal nor or lie: Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (Lev 19:11)

Not to oppress: And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another: (Lev 25:14 KJV) Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God. (Lev 25:17)

Not to rule one over another with rigour. (Hebrew: perek (peh’-rek): severity or cruelty):  And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. (Lev 25:46)

Have peace: Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. (Mark 9:50)

Pray one for another: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Pray together: Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. (Mal 3:16)

Question together: And they … questioned with one another what the rising from the dead should mean. (Mark 9:10)

Receive one another: Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. (Rom 15:7)

Remembering:  [Therefore the name of it was] Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent from one  another. (Gen 31:49)

Respect  one another and think of others, other than yourselves And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? . (2 Ki 7:3) … For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. (2 Ki 7:6) … And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. (2 Ki 7:8) … Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household. (2 Ki 7:9)  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. (1 Tim 5:21)

Same mind: Be of the same mind toward one another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Rom 12:16)

Serve: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Gal 5:13)

Shared responsibility: And they said to one another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. (Gen 42:21)

Sharing gifts:  As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.  (Est 9:22)

Speak joyously: And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? (Luke 24:17) And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Vs32)

Speak not evil: Speak not evil of one another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (James 4:11)

Subjection and submission: Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Pet 5:5) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Eph 5:21)

Teaching and admonishing:  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16)

Worshipping together: And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isa 6:3)

And finally the thing which sums it all up, loving one another: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12). These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:17) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (Rom 13:8) And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: (1 Th 3:12) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (1 Th 4:9) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Pet 1:22) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (1 John 3:23) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 4:7) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:11) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12) And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. (2 John 1:5)


From One Another Ministry, by Lionel D C Hartley, PhD ©2000