Joel Hovey

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Larry Perkins

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Marta Shutt

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 George Müller Biography - George Müller was one of the early brethren in the United Kingdom who is known for his work of faith among orphan children by running his organization by faith to provide for their needs.

"May it not be the will of God that I should establish schools for these children, asking Him to give me the means?"

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Foundation Truths of the Gospel

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Are the “rests” of Matthew 11:28," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 11:28, 29 two distinct “rests”, or does it mean that the rest is not obtained by soul approach, but by taking the yoke, and learning of the Lord?

I judge that two “rests” are indicated, or perhaps I should say, two distinct stages of rest: the one, rest of conscience for the soul who has never known true rest in Christ; and the other, rest from a restless will, unsatisfied desires and self-seeking service. The word for “rest” is the same in both cases (anapausiS—or up-rest), which might be illustrated by the action of the Good Samaritan: first he relieved the smitten one, pouring in oil and wine, and then set him on his own beast, brought him to an inn (set him down there) and took care of him. This latter action may denote the “rest” (katapausis—down-rest) of Hebrews 3" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 3 and 4, where this root is always used, except in verse 9: “There remaineth, therefore, a rest for the people of God.” The word here means a “Sabbath rest” (Sabbatismos)—the true spiritual thought of the Sabbath—a resting from our own works. This does not describe a future heavenly rest, but a Christ-rest, to be enjoyed here and now by all the people of God.

W.H.

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Who was Saint Patrick and what is St. Patrick's Day?

Maewyn Succat is the real name of the man who the Catholic Church eventually declared to be Saint Patrick.  He was born in 387 A.D. in Kilpatrick, Scotland and died in 461 A.D.  He is known for his Christian missionary work in Ireland where he preached for 30 years.  It is said that over 135,000 people were converted due to his teaching and 300 churches established throughout the country.  

He didn’t appear to be born to greatness.  When he was 16 years old he was captured by Catholic invaders and became a slave in Ireland.  During his time in slavery, he learned about the non-Christian culture and customs of Celtic Ireland.  Later in life he returned and converted many of these Celts to the Catholic faith.  

He felt called by God because of a vivid dream in which God said “Your ship is ready.” St. Patrick jumped a ship bound for Britian where he received another message from God in a dream.  This time in his dream he received a letter which was the “voice of the Irish”.  Inside the letter he heard the people of Ireland asking him to return to teach them the Catholic faith.

Saint Patrick then studied to become an ordained Catholic bishop.  Later he returned to Ireland to begin his missionary work.  His preaching was met with great success.  Knowing the Celltic culture, he adapted symbols of Ireland to teach Christian doctrines, most notably the shamrock, a three-leaved clover, to represent the trinity.  It is also said that Saint Patrick introduced alcohol to Ireland which still affects the culture of Ireland today.  

Saint Patrick’s Day Observed

Saint Patrick died on March 17, 461.  March 17 is a national holiday in Ireland to commemorate their greatest Catholic missionary of all time.  With a significant Irish immigrant population, the United States celebrates the day, but not to the extent of making it a national holiday.  People wear green, claim to be Irish for at least one day of the year, drink green beer and in Chicago, dye the Chicago River green.  

While the Bible doesn’t mention a special class of people as saints (all believers are referred to as the saints - see note below), Maewyn Succat was an extraordinary man who dedicated his life to teaching the tenants of the Christian faith to another culture.  The main known as Saint Patrick made Ireland into one of the most ardent supporters of the Catholic Church anywhere on the planet.

Saints

The Bible refers to all believers as saints.  See the following list of saints mentioned in the Acts and the Epistles...

(Acts 9:13)" TARGET="_blank">Acts 9:13)  But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

(Acts 9:32)" TARGET="_blank">Acts 9:32)  Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

(Acts 9:41)" TARGET="_blank">Acts 9:41)  And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

(Acts 26:10)" TARGET="_blank">Acts 26:10)  And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

(Romans 1:7)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 1:7)  To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 8:27)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 8:27)  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

(Romans 12:13)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 12:13)  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

(Romans 15:25)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 15:25)  At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

(Romans 15:26)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 15:26)  For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.

(Romans 15:31)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 15:31)  that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

(Romans 16:2)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 16:2)  that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

(Romans 16:15)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 16:15)  Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

(1 Corinthians 1:2)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:2)  To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

(1 Corinthians 6:1)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:1)  When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?

(1 Corinthians 6:2)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:2)  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

(1 Corinthians 14:33)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:33)  For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

(1 Corinthians 16:1)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 16:1)  Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.

(1 Corinthians 16:15)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 16:15)  Now I urge you, brothers--you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints--

(2 Corinthians 1:1)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:1)  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

(2 Corinthians 8:4)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 8:4)  begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints--

(2 Corinthians 9:1)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 9:1)  Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,

(2 Corinthians 9:12)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 9:12)  For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

(2 Corinthians 13:13)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 13:13)  All the saints greet you.

(Ephesians 1:1)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 1:1)  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

(Ephesians 1:15)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 1:15)  For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

(Ephesians 1:18)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 1:18)  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

(Ephesians 2:19)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 2:19)  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

(Ephesians 3:8)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 3:8)  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

(Ephesians 3:18)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 3:18)  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

(Ephesians 4:12)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 4:12)  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

(Ephesians 5:3)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:3)  But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

(Ephesians 6:18)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 6:18)  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

(Philippians 1:1)" TARGET="_blank">Philippians 1:1)  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

(Philippians 4:22)" TARGET="_blank">Philippians 4:22)  All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

(Colossians 1:2)" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:2)  To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

(Colossians 1:4)" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:4)  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,

(Colossians 1:12)" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:12)  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

(Colossians 1:26)" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:26)  the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

(1 Thessalonians 3:13)" TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 3:13)  so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

(2 Thessalonians 1:10)" TARGET="_blank">2 Thessalonians 1:10)  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

(1 Timothy 5:10)" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:10)  and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

(Philemon 1:5)" TARGET="_blank">Philemon 1:5)  because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

(Philemon 1:7)" TARGET="_blank">Philemon 1:7)  For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

(Hebrews 6:10)" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 6:10)  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

(Hebrews 13:24)" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:24)  Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.

(Jude 1:3)" TARGET="_blank">Jude 1:3)  Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

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How should an assembly of God act, according to the Scriptures, in the case of a member who has married a Roman Catholic?

To us it may seem worse that a professed Christian should marry a Roman Catholic, than that one should marry an unconverted Protestant; and generally it means much more in the way of trouble in the flesh to the one concerned. But we have to remember that, from the point of view of the Scriptures, and of the principle involved, the one act is as wrong as the other; and whatever may be said as to the assembly’s attitude in the case mentioned in the question, would be applicable in the other case also. Not only so, but since the evil in the act is that of being “unequally yoked together” (2 Corinthians 6" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 6: ) with an unbeliever, it would to a large extent be applicable to other cases of the unequal yoke as well.

A clear understanding as to all this would prevent an assembly from acting with undue harshness in the one instance, while perhaps entirely ignoring the others. Yet, that a member of an assembly of God’s people should at all wish to marry a Roman Catholic is very strange, and suggests some grave considerations. One may well wonder whether such a one has divine life; for if so, it is difficult to imagine what common interest there could ever be to bring the pair together in the first instance. At least there must have been much preliminary declension from God’s ways, ere such a thing could be possible. And that suggests another matter for thought, namely, what kind of guides were in an assembly where departure from God on the part of a member could reach to such a climax as this, without faithful warnings having been given at an earlier stage which might have prevented it.

But the most surprising feature of all would be if the one who had done this thing, afterwards desired, as the question seems to imply, to remain in the fellowship of the assembly. The Roman religious authorities exercise such pressure on their people in the matter of a mixed marriage, that it would almost certainly have taken place in one of their own places of worship, and only after the non-Roman party to it had climbed down very low in agreeing to all their demands. Therefore it is not easy to understand why anyone who has gone so far should wish to continue the former associations.

If, however, all this has occurred or should occur, the assembly should certainly not ignore what has taken place. I do not think that (unless other complications are present) the Scriptures would warrant putting away from the fellowship of the meeting on that account alone. But the guilty individual should be rebuked; and since it is an evil to which a large amount of publicity is necessarily attached, I suggest that the rebuke should in like manner be public, i.e. in the presence of the assembled saints (see 1 Timothy 5:20" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:20 and Galatians  2:14).

W.R.

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RULE
Do the Scriptures teach that an overseer is to rule the Church?

Does “obey them that have the rule over you,” imply that we have rulers in the Church to-day?

Three words are translated “RULE” in the New Testament in reference to oversight:

(1) P0IMAINO (from POIMN, a shepherd), used by our Lord to Peter—”Feed (better, ‘shepherd’) my sheep” (John 21:16)." TARGET="_blank">John 21:16). The word in vv. 1 and 17 for “feed,” is BOSKO; but feeding, though of the first importance, is only one item of shepherding.

(2) POIMAINO also occurs in Acts 20:28" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2," TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 5:2, “feed the flock”; also in Matt. 2:6," TARGET="_blank">Matt. 2:6, “RULE”—”that shall rule (marg. feed) my people Israel.” (z) PR0" TARGET="_blank">PR0I- STMI, as in 1 Timothy 3:5" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:5 “If a man know not how to RULE his own house, how shall he take care (EPIMELBOMAI) of the church of God?” This word for “take care” occurs only here and in Luke 10:34, 35," TARGET="_blank">Luke 10:34, 35, of and by “the good Samaritan.”

PROISTEMI is used too of the RULE OF THE CHURCH in 1 Timothy 5:17." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:17.

(3) HGEOMAI (from AGO, to lead), to be a leader, to rule (in New Testament this latter only in present participle), is used of Barnabas and Silas—”CHIEF MEN among the brethren” (Acts 15:22);" TARGET="_blank">Acts 15:22); of Joseph—”GovEiuoR over Egypt” (Acts 8:10);" TARGET="_blank">Acts 8:10); and in Hebrews 13:7, 17," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24 in the expression, “them that HAVE THE RULE OVER” (marg., in two latter verses, “guides,” which seems to do well).

Overseers, then, are shepherds, feeding, guiding, tending the flock; also ruling, but not inthese]fassetiye, domineering way of a Gentile king, “not as lords over God’s heritage,” but with gentle control for the good of the sheep, whom they love, because they belong to the Chief Shepherd who has entrusted them to their care (1 Peter 5:2-4)," TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 5:2-4), and it is for the sheep to be subject to this godly rule.

W.H.

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