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People, PresidentsPay TributeTo Their Pastor

Billy Graham, known variously as ‘the Peoples’ Pastor’, ‘the Presidents’ Pastor’ and ‘the World’sPastor’ has been remembered by the people in grateful prayer and a moving memorial service as wellas generally favourable reportage in the secular media.He has also been fondly remembered by President Trump and former Presidents of both major po‐litical persuasions, having been a spiritual advisor to all the Presidents from Truman to Obama. PresidentTrump, Vice President Pence and their wives attended the main memorial service at the Billy GrahamLibrary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at the service when Dr Graham’s body lay in state beneath theRotunda of the US Capitol in Washington.The Charlotte Observer reported that former President Clinton paid tribute to Dr Graham for theevangelist’s ‘open heart’. A native of Arkansas, Clinton had attended a crusade at the age of 11 and beenmoved by Dr Graham’s support of the Civil Rights movement there, even threatening to call off a crusadeif the local clergy continued with attempts to force blacks and whites to sit in segregated areas. ‘I think(Dr Graham) was a profoundly good man, who conveyed simple beliefs, that we can have kinship withGod by asking ... He showed his faith by his life and by his works,’President Trump paid tribute to Dr Graham by praying that, ‘all across this land, the Lord will raiseup men and women like Billy Graham to spread a message of love and hope to every precious child ofGod.’ (Continued on Page Three)

Franklin Graham preaching at his father’s funeral; Billy Graham’s childhood home and Billy Graham Library in back.Picture credit: ‘Chrisitanity Today’.

BILLY GRAHAMBILLY GRAHAM

PREACHERPREACHEROF THE WORDOF THE WORD

OF GODOF GOD

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page TwoNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Two

VOLUME 80 NUMBER 15

ISSUE DATE:15 March 2018

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It’s A Sad, Bad, Mad, Mad World– And Its Only Remedy Is The GospelI watched two very sad movies on the plane coming over to America: Man-chester By The Sea and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. They told ter‐ribly tragic stories about people trying to handle tragedy without faith, andsuffering dreadful consequences as a result.I've often driven home in the early hours of the morning from the AlfredHospital ICU after attending a dying person surrounded by a grieving family, andbeen thankful that I can face death and suffering without fear because of thoseEverlasting Arms, so praying for those to whom I've just ministered (gatheringthem around the bed, holding hands, reading the 23rd Psalm, briefly expoundingit, praying.) Like any minister, I’ve seen so many people struggling through life’sdifficulties without faith, or as Paul so elegantly put it: ‘Without God and withouthope in the world.’What struck me after watching the films, though, was the lack of any Chris‐tian content in the secular media today, leaving people to suffer and grieve anywhich way they can, except the Way of the only One who can really help them.This is one of the results of political correctness gone mad. Oh, we can’t havepositive Christian content in the secular media, we can’t share our faith, offerChristian consolation or pray for people in case it is offensive to someone. So wehave to leave people to the ‘mercies’ of Stoicism, whose consolation to the spir‐itually needy is: ‘grit your teeth and bear it.’The world today is in the grip of Stoicism when it comes to facing suffering.One common expression of this is the attempt to ‘comfort’ people by telling thesufferer: 'You can always find someone worse off than yourself.' Spurgeon calledout those who offer such 'comfort', saying, 'Only a fiend would would want tosee someone worse off than himself.' Christians are not looking for comfort bylooking to someone whose suffering is worse than theirs; they’re looking forcomfort to the One who bears our griefs and carries our sorrows, and longingfor others to look to Him too.Praise God that our comfort is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We do not grieve asthose who have no hope. We do not carry our cross alone. We can walk throughthe Valley of the Shadow of Death because the Lord walks with us, His rod andHis staff, they comfort us. God in His grace and mercy gives us abundant, eternallife the moment we come to Him in penitence and faith, and stays with us all theway.But we must pray that the Lord will awaken us to the enormity of human suf‐fering in the world today, and the lostness of the lost. and stir us up to re‐invig‐orated Gospel ministry on a massive scale to this poor, lost and perishing world.Billy Graham was so burdened, not only with the enormity of human sufferinghere on Earth, but of the terrors of Hell, that state of being entirely cut off fromGod both in His saving grace and in His common grace. Matthew Henry wrotethat ‘grace is not in the blood, but it is often in the line’. We may be thankful thatgrace is in the Graham family line, and not only there, but in the heart of a myriadChristians, slaves of Christ often toiling inconspicuously in a small, rocky cornerof the Vineyard, sometimes in the glare of publicity on a massive scale. Whoeverwe are, wherever we live, whatever our ministry might be, may God in His graceand mercy to us, enable us to be ‘steadfast, immovable, always abounding in thework of the Lord, forasmuch as we know that our labour in the Lord is not invain.’ (1 Corinthians 15.58) – Bob Thomas

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page ThreeNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Three

‘TO GOD BE THE GLORY’‘TO GOD BE THE GLORY’It was a ‘bright and cloudless morning’ when 2,500people from 50 countries around the world gathered atthe Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina,together with many thousands who watched the live‐stream, on Friday 2 March 2018 to give thanks to Godfor His mercy, grace and gifting to Dr Billy Graham,whom He called to Himself on 21 February.Billy Graham, perhaps the greatest evangelist sinceApostolic times, was yet a humble, devout, holy man,clothed in that righteousness which is by faith in ChristJesus our Lord. He could surely say with the ApostlePaul, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store forme the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – andnot only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.’What a privilege and joy it was to attend Billy Graham's funeral. Billy Graham was remembered inso far as how the grace and gifting of God can take a humble farm boy and make him a powerful witnessto the Lord Jesus Christ as humanity's ONLY yet ALL‐SUFFICIENT Saviour and Lord. What was Billy'sstrength? The Word of God in its absolute truth, Divine authority, all‐sufficiency and abiding relevance;the personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord; the enabling of the Holy Spirit; the holinessof his life – his works matched and illustrated his faith. The Bible reading he himself chose said it all:Ephesians 2.1‐10. Far beyond the remembrance of the man himself was the predominant note of thanks‐giving to God as expressed in the Bible reading and the hymns he also chose himself: All Hail The Pow'rOf Jesus' Name and To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Hath Done. Amen and Amen!Tributes by Dr Graham’s pastor, Rev Donald Wilton, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Spar‐tanburg, his sister, Jean Graham Ford, and his children, Virginia, Anne Graham Lotz, Ruth and Ned allbore testimony to the exemplary, godly life he had lived. Pastor Wilton spoke of Dr Graham’s strong Bib‐lical faith and sound and deep conviction that the Bible teaches us the truth as it is in Jesus, and his desireto lift high the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sister Jean told of their life down home where their parentstaught them to love the Lord, pray, learn and love the Scriptures. Daughter ‘Gi Gi’ (Virginia) spoke ofher mother’s childhood prayer for the Lord to give her a godly man, and the joy they found together asthe Lord honoured the prayer of a little girl. Anne Graham Lotz, prominent and gifted teacher of theBible and author, told of the way in which their mother taught the family to love reading the Bible andtheir father taught them to think about the Bible; with Dr Graham’s Home‐call on 21 February, God issaying ‘Wake up world, Jesus is coming’ and she vowed to redouble her own efforts to proclaim the Gospelby every means the Lord enabled her. Ruth Graham told of her father’s love and understanding as sheexperienced great dificulties in her life, waiting on the porch of the family home as she drove up after adisastrous marriage beak‐up, folding his arms around her and saying ‘Welcome home!’ – just as ourloving Heavenly Father embraces us and welcomes us Home when we turn to Him. Rev Ned Grahamsaid that their father was FAT – Faithful; Available; and Teachable.Franklin Graham gave a heartfelt eulogy in remembrance of his father and his impact on the world.He reminded the congregation that his father had preached on Heaven, had told millions how to findHeaven, written a book about Heaven, and is now himself in Heaven. Emphasing the consistency of DrGraham’s life, Franklin said, ‘The Billy Graham that the world saw on television, the Billy Graham thatthe world saw in the big stadiums, was the same Billy Graham that we saw at home. There weren't twoBilly Grahams. He loved his family. He stood by us. He comforted us.’ Summarising his father’s message,Franklin said that Dr Graham believed the Bible to be the infallibe Word of God, and he believed it all.‘The Bible says ...’ was his authority. He believed in Heaven and Hell, and warned of sin, judgment andthe wrath to come. His favourite texts were John 3.16, Ephesians 2.8 and John 14.6.Franklin challenged anyone present who had not yet come to faith in Christ as their Lord and Saviourto do so now. ‘There could never be a better time,’ he said, than at my father’s funeral. If this were yourfuneral, would you too be in Heaven?’ – Bob Thomas

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page FourNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Four

‘FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH GO ON ...’‘FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH GO ON ...’

Iranian Gov’t Seeking To Shut Down House ChurchesWe’ve been hearing how the Church in Iran is the fastest growingchurch in the world. But the shape of the Church is actually under‐ground and in the form of numerous, individual house churches – andthe Iranian government wants to shut them down. Ironically, the Iraniangovernment created this underground movement when it made it illegalfor Farsi speakers to attend physical churches. When that happened,everyone became an evangelist and house churches began to pop upacross the country. (Photo courtesy of Heart 4 Iran)One of the leaders said, ‘I used to have 100 people that came to my church and when they closed theFarsi speaking churches, now we had 100 house churches and 100 house church planters’ … so whenthey shut one down, they just create five more.’ Now, those believers are being persecuted. Iran is ranked#10 on Open Doors USA’s World Watch List. But, there’s also a disconnect amongst believers in Iran. Mostof them think they’re alone. ‘We’ve found out that there could be a house church here and two, threeblocks away there’s another house church. They have no idea about each other,’ the leader explains. ‘So,there’s no common communication happening on the ground. So, through [our] satellite TV [channel],we’re able to get those resources to them, equip them, and train them to be more successful in theirhouse church.’For the last few years, Heart4Iran has been producing a house-church specific satellite TV pro-gram which teaches people how to start their own church. From the program reports, Heart4Iran hasfound that 70% of the people registered for the class are currently trying to start their own house church.And at least 30% of its total general viewers are trying to start their own house churches, too.Please pray for continuing growth in this Christian movement. – Heart4Iran via MNN

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The G5 Sahel Cross-Border Joint Force was officially launched in the Malian capital, Bamako, on 2 July 2017.Its mandate includes combating terrorism. The main terrorist entity in the region is Jama'at Nusrat al‐Islam wal‐Muslimin (‘Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims’). Formed in March 2017, JNIM is an alliance of four al‐Qaeda affiliates. On 1 July 2017 – ie, the day before the Joint Force launch – JNIM released a disturbing videoentitled The Correct Equation in which al‐Qaeda leader, Ayman al‐Zawahiri, explains the Islamic doctrine of retal‐iation (Qisas) ['eye for an eye']. It was in that context that JNIM provided proof‐of‐life of six captives: four Christianaid workers: Gloria Narvaez (Colombia), Sophie Petronin (France), Beatrice Stockly (Switzerland) and Ken Elliot(Australia), along with Romanian expatriate, Mr Iulian Ghergut. There was also one South African charity workerwho subsequently converted to Islam and has since been released. JNIM's message was clear: you kill our people,we will kill your people; we have six of yours right here; hostages you can redeem with cash.Since the Joint Force became operational in November 2017 violence has escalated markedly. As fightingescalates, so too does JNIM's need for large quantities of cash. On 29 January JNIM released a video featuring cap‐tive Colombian nun Gloria Narvaez. Presenting Narvaez as abandoned, JNIM directed its appeal first to Pope Francisand then to Narvaez's family.During the night of 13-14 February, French troops operating in north‐eastern Mali launched co‐ordinated at‐tacks on a jihadist base near Tinzaouaten on the border with Algeria. The assault, in which air strikes were followedby helicopter assaults and engagement on the ground, resulted in at least 20 senior jihadists being killed or cap‐tured and a large quantity of weapons and documents being seized. Among the dead were six high level JNIM com‐manders, including JNIM's co‐founder and senior leader, Hasan al Ansari. Retaliation was all but guaranteed.On 1 March JNIM released a short video featuring French hostage, Sophie Petronin. A doctor specialising innutrition and tropical diseases, Petronin founded and ran the medical charity 'Aide a Gao' (Help Gao). She hadserved the children of Gao, Mali, for 15 years before being abducted on 24 December 2016. Entitled S.O.S, SaveOld Sophie, the video shows Petronin (72) lying on a cot looking exceedingly frail with an improvised IV infusionbag and medications nearby. Over the images, audio of French President Emmanuel Macron saying 'I will protectyou' plays on a loop. The message is clear: Petronin's health is deteriorating; if you want her alive, you will needto ransom her quickly.Hours later, on Friday 2 March, JNIM staged a devastating ter-ror attack in Burkina Faso's capital city, Ouagadougou. At leasteight jihadists armed with grenades and firearms, working in twogroups of four or five, targeted the French Embassy and Armyheadquarters. Army headquarters was also struck with a massivecar‐bomb. The brazen co‐ordinated attacks in the city centre leftmore than 30 dead and 85 wounded. On 3 March JNIM claimed re‐sponsibility and confirmed that the attack was retaliation for the13‐14 February operation that killed JNIM leader Hasan al Ansari.On Monday 15 January thousands of local residents took tothe streets of Djibo in northern Burkina Faso to mark the secondanniversary of the abduction of their beloved doctor. The clinic DrKen Elliot (82) built and had run with his wife Jocelyn since 1972,which is still the only medical clinic in that remote, impoverishedregion, has been closed since Dr Elliot's abduction. Before he wastaken, Dr Elliot had been hoping to find someone to take over thepractice as the Elliots are long past 'retirement' age. Indeed, thefour Christian aid workers presently held by JNIM are not merelysuffering believers targeted for their faith. Each one represents afrontline Christian ministry that had been taking the very practicallove of God into a dark and desperately needy region. ‘How beau‐tiful in the desert are the feet of those who bring good news’ (in‐spired by Isaiah 52.7).

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page FiveNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Five

MATTERS FOR PRAYER:MATTERS FOR PRAYER:

MALI & BURKINA FASO: Captives Imperilled

Elizabeth Kendal is the author of Turn Back The Battle: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today (DerorBooks, Melbourne, Australia, Dec 2012) which offers a Biblical response to persecution and ex-istential threat; and After Saturday Comes Sunday: Understanding The Christian Crisis In TheMiddle East (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, OR, USA, June 2016). See www.ElizabethKendal.com

PLEASE PRAY THAT:• God Almighty will 'bare His holy arm' (rollup His sleeves) 'before the eyes of all the na‐tions, and that all the ends of the Earth shallsee the salvation of our God' (from Isaiah52.10).• The Lord would intervene to restore secu‐rity and liberty to the Sahel – ridding it of theIslamist‐jihadist threat – so Christian min‐istry might resume in earnest.• God will sustain – physically, emotionallyand spiritually – and ultimately deliverJNIM's five remaining hostages: Gloria Nar‐vaez (Colombia), Sophie Petronin (France),Beatrice Stockly (Switzerland), Ken Elliot(Australia) and Iulian Ghergut (Romania).• God will not permit the devil to have a vic‐tory here; may the Lord call, equip and sendout workers into this desolate and needyharvest field (see Matthew 9.35‐38). 'I willbuild my church, and the gates of hell shallnot prevail against it.' (Matthew 16.18 ESV)

SPREADING THE WORDSPREADING THE WORD

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page SixNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Six

Livewire New Teaching Pastor At Wattle Park ChapelThe leadership of Wattle Park Chapel in Melbourne has appointed Rev RichardCoombs as its Teaching Pastor. Richard has been a regular preacher at Wattle ParkChapel over the last ten years. He is currently the Australian Director for Middle EastChristian Outreach which will continue to be his fulltime role. When not travellingor speaking elsewhere in churches and Conferences, Richard will be leading theteaching ministry at the Chapel. Richard did his theological training for Baptist min‐istry at the New Zealand Baptist Theological College in Auckland. He pastored twoBaptist churches in New Zealand before arriving in Melbourne in 1988 where he hasalso pastored two Baptist Churches before moving into his role with MECO Australia.Wattle Park Chapel has had a significant ministry in Melbourne and is looking forward to taking upnew opportunities. The Chapel has had a decade‐long association with New Life Christian Fellowship(bilingual Mandarin/English) and a more recent association and collaboration with Grace Christian Com‐munity whose focus is on students and young families. It has significant outreach programs throughMainly Music, a Craft Group, Senior’s Leisure Club and Kid’s Club, and there are new links to nearbyDeakin University students. There is a Saturday morning English Club.In his role with MECO, Richard travels throughout the Middle East visiting missionaries and encour‐aging national church leaders and believers. Currently, MECO has work in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt andNorth Iraq (among the Kurds). Other work in Yemen, Syria and Iraq has been curtailed because of civilwars. Richard is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Melbourne School of Theology and teaches their Church His‐tory courses. He is Chairman of the Belgrave Heights Convention, which this year celebrates its Centenary.He is also doing Doctoral work on The Pastoral Influence And Ministry Of John Newton. Outside workRichard enjoys cricket; supports the All Black rugby team; (he played representative cricket and rugbyfor Canterbury) and enjoys golf. Margaret, his wife, works in the office at a local Primary School and inher spare time takes pleasure in helping with the grand‐children.

Sydney Anglicans Reaching Out With Innovative MinistriesAn all-out mission to Wollongong, NSW, is set to involve 80 churches in March to reach the communityfor Jesus. The theme of the mission is Jesus Is ... Dozens of events will include concerts, dinners, talks andJesus Is … Living Water, where hundreds of people will take part. Organisers are expecting up to 1,000people to attend that event at Towradgi Beach Park on 10 March. Thousands of Jesus Is ... T‐shirts, wrist‐bands, signs and badges have been prepared, and training is ongoing to help people prepare for talkingabout Jesus. Moore College mission teams will join the outreach for a week from 18‐25 March.The Multicultural Bible Ministry in Rooty Hill, Sydney, is seeing what they are calling a ‘bumper harvest’of new Christians. Last year more than 90 new Christians were added to the church. The leader of missionat MBM, Dave Jensen, says one reason for the growth is that they don’t assume everyone in the pews isa Christian. A huge influx of refugees and immigrants in western Sydney means there are many peoplewho have never heard the Gospel. Mr Jensen says it is heartening to see a mix of ages coming to Christwith the new Christians including adults, teens and children. New people are directed into MBM’s ‘evan‐gelism pathway’ that seeks to guide people all the way from seekers to disciples – disciples who them‐selves invest into others on the pathway. The church’s mission is to pursue evangelism as much aspossible, in as many ways as possible.Waitara Anglican Church in Sydney’s Upper North Shore is renewing efforts to reach childrenwith the Gospel. The church was challenged by the burgeoning enrolment figures at the local publicschool, and the teaching of Jesus. The rector, Rev Martin Kemp, says the number of children in the districtmakes this an obvious area of focus. He told Sydney Anglican News that if our local context gives someimpetus for this, then Jesus Himself gives a whole lot more. Mr Kemp says regardless of full or emptyschools, Jesus sees children as capable of saving faith and as a means of teaching about humble disciple‐ship. He says Jesus exhibited great concern for children, extending grace and mercy to them as well asthose who were older. The Waitara church now with a sense of urgency is gearing up for an outreach tothe Waitara children. – Sydney Anglican News

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page SevenNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Seven

MAF To The RescueMission Aviation Fellowship is providing assis‐tance following the 7.5 earthquake that struckPapua New Guinea on 26 February. The quakecaused many landslides, damaging roads, build‐ings, power lines and communication systems. Atleast 16 people were killed and 300 injured. Therehave been several powerful aftershocks. MAF hasbeen providing medical evacuation flights anddoing fly‐overs to check on remote communities.While telephones are not working in many places, Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship’s radio networkis working and people are using it to call for medical assistance. MAF is also working with Christian radioto inform authorities of damage to infrastructure. Many rivers are blocked with debris, putting someareas at risk of flooding, and clean water is not available in several locations. – Mission Network News

FAITH NEWS FAITH NEWS ...... With Stan HuntWith Stan Hunt

Billy Graham – ‘To Boldly Go’Billy Graham, who died on 21 February, was oncelabelled ‘a witch doctor’ by North Korea, but heended up handing the nation’s leader Kim Il Sung aBible. Dr Graham drew 3,000,000 people for his1973 preaching event in Seoul, which angeredNorth Korea's authorities. The North Korean re‐sponse was the 'witch doctor from America cameand performed a witch act.’ In 1992 Dr Graham vis‐ited North Korea where he spoke with Kim Il Sung,grandfather of the current leader Kim Jong Un. Thepreacher was able to present the North Koreanleader with a Bible as a gift, in a country where sim‐ply owning a copy could send believers and theirfamilies to prison camps. Billy Graham was the firstforeigner to preach at Pyongyang's Bongsu Church,a government‐sanctioned house of worship.

– Christian PostHomes For The Homeless In BangladeshThe Salvation Army is helping to rebuild homes inthe remote Rangamati Hills district of Bangladesh,a tribal farming area on the border with India,where hundreds of people lost their lives andcountless more lost homes and livelihoods in afreak landslide last year. The Bangladesh Commandof the Salvos responded without hesitation. They

are working with the assistance of local govern‐ment and community volunteers, and in conjunc‐tion with The Salvation Army’s InternationalEmergency Services. Victor Mondel, Project Officerfor the Salvos in Bangladesh says the people wereready and willing to help one another, they justlacked the means to do so. Initially, 50 of the mostneedy families were selected for assistance.

– Salvation Army NewsOM – Reaching The Unreached Through DramaActors are portraying the likes of rebelliousteenagers, homeless people and prostitutes to helpChristians learn how to speak to the least reachedpeople in society. The Operation Mobilisation exer‐cise The Agency is a modern way of re‐inforcing themission of Jesus‐followers. An OM spokesman saysthat with good quality actors, it is very convincing.On hearing the pseudo story of a ‘homeless person’who fell from a high position in a company andended up on the streets, one participant immedi‐ately drew parallels with the story of Jesus comingto Earth to be a man. Participants learn that talkingabout God is not as stressful as they thought. Actorsin The Agency have witnessed many people, espe‐cially teenagers, gaining confidence in their faithand courage to share the Gospel. – OM

Asia Bibi – Set Her Free!

The Free Asia Bibi campaign has urged Christians around the world to pray during Lent for the imme‐diate and unconditional release of this Pakistani Christian woman. Asia Bibi, accused of blasphemy, hasbeen on death row in Pakistan since 2010. A spokesman for the Free Asia Bibi campaign told ASSISTNews Mrs Bibi has been behind bars for eight years and 248 days in solitary confinement. He says theyare deeply concerned about her well‐being. ‘Has she not had enough punishment already for the “crime”she says she hasn't committed?’ he asks. Mrs Bibi has five children who are growing up without motherlylove. The campaign especially urges all mothers and daughters around the world to pray for her releasefrom prison. The Christians of Pakistan, the poorest of the poor, are economically marginalized, sociallyostracized and are denied due representation in the parliament. – ASSIST News Service

What Is Truth?

Humanism says man is the truth; Pragmatism says whatever works is the truth; Pluralism says everyone has a piece of the truth; Relativism says each situation determines the truth; Mysticism says intuition is the truth; Skepticism says no one can know the truth; Hedonism says whatever feels good is the truth; Existentialism says self‐determination is the truth; Secularism says this present world is the truth; Positivism says whatever man confesses is the truth. This is the world in which we live: the rejection of the truth.

– Ligonier Ministries

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page EightNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Eight

ONESIMUS AND FRIENDSONESIMUS AND FRIENDS

Ramon A Wi l l iamsRamon A Wi l l iams– Wor ldwide Pho tos –– Wor ldwide Pho tos –

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Poet’s Corner:

‘PERHAPS TODAY ...’Perhaps today the clouds will part asunder,Reveal a glory brighter than the sun, And we shall view with transport, joy and wonder,The hope of Earth and Heaven's belovéd One.

Perhaps today the world's last taunt shall grieve us, And Satan, foiled, his final dart shall cast,And all our flesh's frailties shall leave us, And disappointment evermore be past.

Perhaps today from weary beds of anguishGod's suffering saints shall breathe their final sigh,In glory rise, no more on Earth to languish,To meet their great Deliv'rer in the sky.

Perhaps today the trump of God resounding,Shall wake the sleepers from their beds of clay,And we with them our longed‐for Lord surrounding,Shall see His glorious face – perhaps today!

Bible SocietiesHard At WorkBible Societies last year as-sisted in the completion ofScripture translations in 49 lan‐guages spoken by more than580 million people. Seven com‐munities received the very firstfull Bible in their language.Bible Societies are currentlyinvolved in 26 sign languageprojects, with 10 more in theplanning and preparationstages. But only 10% of themore than 400 unique sign lan‐guages that exist have anyScripture. No sign language hasthe full Bible. Thirty two coun‐tries ran Braille projects in2017 to meet the Scriptureneeds of blind readers.Christian Newswire reportsthat at the end of 2017, 209 mil‐lion people have no Scripture intheir language.

– Christian Newswire

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‘THE STONES CRY OUT’‘THE STONES CRY OUT’

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Ancient Mosaic Describing Jesus Christ As 'God' To Be Unveiled In IsraelAn ancient mosaic that ascribes divinity to Jesus Christis set to go on display for the first time. The 'God Jesus Christ'mosaic stands as one of the earliest‐known testaments toearly Christian belief in the divinity of Christ. It was foundin 2005 through excavations completed by the Israel Antiq‐uities Authority and the University of Tel Aviv, exploring theancient grounds beneath the British‐built Megiddo Prisonin northern Israel.The writing, dated to the year 230 AD, bears three Greekinscriptions, one reading: 'The god‐loving Akeptous has of‐fered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial'. Akeptousis reckoned to be a woman who had contributed her tableto the local Eucharist celebrations, according to Ha‐aretz.Dr Yotam Tepper of the University of Haifa, who led the original excavation, said the Roman‐eraChristian mosaic was probably part of a prayer hall in the Christian home. Such homes were the centreof Christian communities before established Church buildings were introduced in the 4th Century, fol‐lowing the conversion of Roman emperor Constantine. The survey uncovered the mosaic among one ofthe earliest‐known Christian houses of worship, part of what was the Jewish and Samaritan village ofOthnay.Images of fish – common early Christian symbols – are also present on the mosaic. The 'Icthys' (theGreek name for 'fish') was a 'visual pun' imbued with early Christian doctrine. As an acronym it is formedfrom the initial letters for the Greek phrase: 'Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour'.The findings are also believed to shed new light on the nature of Roman attitudes to the Early Church.Traditionally imagined as flatly hostile to the Christian cult, nearby Roman military encampments suggestmore tolerance to the new religion. 'Here the Romans had Christian officers,' Tepper said. 'The persecu‐tion may have been exaggerated later in the telling. But certainly the tales do not reflect the complexityof the reality, which is that there were Christians in the Roman army.' The donator of the Christian mosaicappears to be that of a Roman centurion named Gaianus, also called 'Porophrius, our brother'.The Megiddo Prison is currently being cleared of inmates to make space for the establishment ofthe archaeological tourist attraction, which will host the remains of the Christian home, the Roman en‐campments and seven flour mills from the Ottoman era. – Christian Today

Elizabeth Kendal’s New Book ...War! Destruction! Violent Persecution! Martyrdom! Forced Displacement!

For hundreds of thousands of now destitute Christian families, this is the new reality.Yet contrary to all appearances, God is at work in the Middle East.

‘Kendal’s book is a godsend to anyone who is at a loss to understand what lies behind the suffering in the Middle East. Drawing onauthoritative voices from the region, her clear-eyed analysis untangles the conflicts with the heart and insight of a prophet.

– Jeff M. Sellers, Editor, Persecution News Service, Morning Star News.For more information go to: www.ElizabethKendal.com

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Who Do You Say I Am?If Jesus were to ask you today, ‘Who do you say I am?’, what would your answer be?‘Who do you say I am?’ This is the most important question to which our answer is so cru‐cial. Our response determines what our relationship to God is like, how we live our lifehere and where we will go hereafter when we die.In my church Bible study, we have begun to study the Gospel According To John. The first chapter speaksof Jesus’ deity and power. John describes Jesus as the Word, the true light and the life. John says thatJesus is God incarnate. Therefore, the disciples walked with God Himself and spoke with God Himself.The disciples touched God, breathed in the same air as God, and saw the smile and frown of God.Jesus is God, but the world doesn’t know it. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Himnor knows Him (John 14.17). Many religious people have thoughts on Jesus and some even claim to wor‐ship Him. A Hindu prays to a Jesus statue that sits on his shelf. His Jesus statue is just one of the manygods he has ornaments of and prays to. A Buddhist might honour Jesus as a great moral teacher and eventry to follow some of His teachings, such as, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ A Muslim also puts Jesushigh up on a pedestal. Yet Jesus, sitting close to Mohammad, is only a great prophet. A historian likes toinvestigate the period in which Jesus lived and is curious about the fact so many of his followers died forJesus. An atheist believes Jesus existed but sees Him as a threat to their way of life. No matter their back‐ground, all these people believe they have got it right. They therefore don’t take time to ponder the ques‐tion, ‘Who do you say I am?’The Bible is clear about such people; they have rejected God. Yet there is hope for unbelievers, thevery same hope that we received when we, believers, turned to God. Let us not forget that we once didnot know Jesus.As believers, we are all on a journey of discovery as we get to know Jesus more. Jesus is our friendwho we meet with daily so we can ask questions of His character, morals and beliefs. Jesus is our Kingwho directs us to understanding Himself. Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity through whomwe are given access to God. Jesus came to show us who God is and what God is like.Believers in Jesus say, ‘Jesus is God’. Therefore, as believers, let’s proclaim our Friend, King and Saviourto the world so everyone else can answer the question, “Who do you say I am?” in the way that we do.C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a mad‐man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon;or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God’.When Jesus returns in all His glory, He will not appear as a moral teacher, minor prophet or littlestatue. He will appear as a mighty warrior and king. Therefore, those on Earth who refuse to tackle andwrestle with the question, ‘Who do you say I am?’ will suffer the eternal punishment and wrath of God.So I encourage you, if you haven’t spent time formulating a considered and backed‐up response to themost important question in the universe, I suggest you do so now.

– Renee Jenner, Press Service International, Christian Today

YOUTH VIEWYOUTH VIEW

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page TenNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Ten

Glorious Things – A Protestant’s Guide

To London

• Revised! • Updated! • Illustrated! • Now Available As An e-Book!Glorious Things will help visitors to London arrive well prepared to make the most of their time there.

The guided tours will take you to places like Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral,but Glorious Things will take you to important sites linked to our Protestant heritage.

COST: $10 for the PDF version, with the right to print two hard copies.PAYMENT OPTIONS:

1. Cheque for $10 payable to New Life Australia. Mail to: PO Box 457, Mitcham Vic 3132.(Please include a letter with your name and email address so that we can email the PDF to you.)

2. Direct deposit $10 to Bank: Westpac; A/c name: New Life Australia LtdBSB: 033-112; A/c No: 16-8239 (Please also notify us by email).

FROM ALL QUARTERSFROM ALL QUARTERS

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International Women’s Day 8 March:This is a day to respect and honour women andcelebrate their achievements. One ministry cele‐brating is Trans World Radio as they continue to bringhealing and hope to hurting women all over the world.TWR empowers women and girls through theirWomen Of Hope radio programs and prayer groups,touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of women.The radio programs are broadcast for more than 500hours each week, covering issues, such as pregnancy,loving their husbands, growing gardens, and the mes‐sage of Jesus. The prayer movement has more than65,000 intercessors in 4,000 prayer groups globally.TWR is celebrating the achievement of bringingpurpose and encouragement through Jesus to womeneverywhere. – Mission Network News

SGA Faces Financial Need For Summer Camp MinistryThere still might be snow on the ground in some areas, butSlavic Gospel Association is already thinking about summer.And not because the ministry workers are cold, but becausethey’re prepping for summer camp ministries in Russia, FarEast Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia. ‘Those summer campsare developed by the churches we support. These are nationalchurches in the countries we serve who are working with theyouth in their church to conduct a series of summer campsthroughout the summer,’ SGA’s Eric Mock explains.The purpose of these camps isn’t just evangelism, but also toopen the door for year‐round discipleship in the form of Sun‐day school at a local church. SGA helps these churches put onsummer camps to achieve this through the form of scholarships.Last year SGA saw and helped more kids attend partner churches’ summer camps than in any of its previousyears. Please, always be praying for these camps. Pray for open doors, open hearts, protection from raids andshutdowns. Ask God to guide the national churches as they make plans to bring these camps to life. Finally, praythat these kids would respond to Christ, that their parents would respond, and for the necessary resources to beprovided to send all kids requesting to attend these camps. – sga.org via Mission Network News

New Minister On The HastingsThe Rev John Forbes (38) of Bonar Bridge andLairg Free Church of Scotland, has accepted thecall of the Hastings Congregation of the Presby‐terian Church of Eastern Australia to be theirminister, and immigration formalities are nowin process. Mr Forbes was born in Blantyre,Malawi, took a degree in engineering at Cam‐bridge University after leaving school, and after‐wards was employed in accountancy work inPaisley and Inverness before deciding to trainfor the Free Church ministry. He began a three‐year course in the Free Church College in Edin‐burgh in 2005, where he obtained a Bachelor ofTheology degree in 2008 and was ordained andinducted at Lairg on 1 August 2008. Mr Forbesis married to Mary from Shawbost in Lewis andthey have five children under 12. The visit of thefamily last year around Synod time was a realencouragement, and we pray for their safe ar‐rival in due time. – Presbyterian Banner, PCEA

Mark & Darlene Zschech – Standing One With ThemOpen Doors reports that on 28March, an incredible group ofpastors, artists and leaders arejoining with Christians all overAustralia and New Zealand tobring hope to the persecutedchurch this Easter, a time of in‐creased persecution, by stand‐ing as One With ThemAmbassadors.One With Them is a movement of Christians workingan ordinary day and devoting a day’s wages, having anextraordinary impact for persecuted Christians allaround the world. To join these ambassadors, like Markand Darlene Zschech, go to odaustralia@od.org

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page TwelveNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Twelve

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TURN BACK THE BATTLE: TURN BACK THE BATTLE: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today.Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today.With persecution escalating globally, Elizabeth Kendal calls us to revisit the prophecy of Isaiah,

maintaining that Isaiah 1-39 provides an unambiguous treatise on how God's people are to respond to persecution, suffering and existential threat.

For purchasing options, visit: www.turnbackthebattle.com

VISITING MELBOURNE?You’re welcome at The Faith Factory:

ST KILDA: Cnr Alma Rd/Barkly St. Every Sunday 11am & 7pm;Living Stones Korean Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday 1pm;

BALACLAVA: Cnr Hotham St/Denman Rd. Every Sunday 9.30am.MINISTER: Rev Bob Thomas 0417 592 646

You’re Welcome At The Faith Factory– A Friendly, Caring, Bible-Believing Christian Fellowship –

NEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page ThirteenNEW LIFE – 15 March 2018 – Page Thirteen

PERSECUTION WATCHPERSECUTION WATCH

Church Dedicated To Honour 21 Coptic Christians MartyrsA new Coptic church in Egypt this month is being dedicated tothe 21 Christians murdered by ISIS on a Libyan beach. It hasbeen three years since the world watched a horrifying video show‐ing the deaths of these men.But the video also included their Christian testimonies andhow they refused to renounce their faith. People who havewatched the video have been exposed to a powerful Gospel mes‐sage.The reaction to the murders by Christians offering forgivenesshas left its mark on Muslims in Egypt. ISIS has done irreparabledamage to Islam, as Muslims are tired of the senseless violence inthe name of God. The new Coptic Church building was funded bythe Egyptian Government. – Mission Network News

NIGERIA: Fulani CrisisThe most disturbing aspect of the 'Fulani Crisis' is theway in which it is inflaming Nigeria's ethnic‐religioustensions. Despite this being a law‐and‐order issue per‐taining to the right to private property, it is evolving intoan ethno‐religious conflict which is threatening Nige‐ria's unity. Nigeria's Minister of Defence has publiclyblamed Christians for the crisis, saying it stems fromtheir refusal to accommodate their 'fellow Nigerians'. Itis a claim being echoed by other Muslim leaders, includ‐ing Prof Ango Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of Ah‐madu Bello University in Zaria, northern Kaduna. Asspokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Abdullahijustified the Fulani killings as pre‐emptive killings com‐mitted in self defence. Totally ignoring the issue of pri‐vate property, Abdullah asserted that if an Igbo can setup his business in the north, then a Fulani should beable to graze his cattle in the south. It is not difficult tosee where such a claim could lead. Clearly, the sugges‐tion is that if the Fulani [Muslims from the north] arenot permitted to graze their cattle in the south, then theIgbo [mostly Christians from the southeast] should notbe permitted to set up business in the north. Such lan‐guage threatens to re‐ignite the threat issued in theKaduna Declaration of June 2017. Watch and pray.Conversion Crisis: On 11 January Nigeria's Department

of State Security Services arrested Simput Dafup (engi‐neer) and Daniel Hassan (driver) in relation to the al‐leged 'forced conversion' of Miss Nabila Sanda (19), thedaughter of a powerful Muslim elder in Borno State.After being interrogated in the DSS office in Jos, Dafupand Hassan were transferred to Abuja where they weredetained on charges of 'forced conversion'. ViewpointNigeria reports that the leadership of Christian Associ‐ation of Nigeria worked with the president of Evangeli‐cal Church Winning All, Rev Jeremiah Gado, to pressurethe DSS. Eventually, on 27 January, Dafup and Hassanwere released into the custody of Rev Yakubu Pam, theCAN Northern Chairman, one of the sureties for Dafup'sbail. The men travelled immediately to ECWA headquar‐ters in Jos, where they were welcomed and prayed for.Legal battles loom. The plight of convert Nabila Sandais unknown; presumably she was forcibly returned toher father's custody. Please pray. – Elizabeth KendalSomalia: Growing Number Of OrphansOrphans in Somalia, whose parents were killed for theirfaith by Islamic extremists, are becoming more numer‐ous. An underground church leader says Al Shabaabrebels are on a killing rampage, and are now even hunt‐ing down children in the capital, Mogadishu. The pastorhas started a care centre for orphans as the numbercontinues to grow. – Morning Star News via MNN

CHINA: House Churches TargetedChinese officials are targeting house church members in the Central Henan Province with threatsand fines. A new initiative explicitly forbids any kind of religious gatherings in people’s homes. Anyonecaught attending or hosting meetings outside of a registered religious venue will be subject to a fine of$A6,000.All Christians in the area are ordered to join an officially registered church. Because most of thesechurches are instructed to teach loyalty to the Communist Party and the Chinese government, manyChristians choose to meet outside of the official religious system.One Christian told ChinaAid some brothers and sisters have been too scared to gather, while oth‐ers split into smaller groups and continue to meet.ChinaAid reports on instances of religious persecution in order to promote religious freedom andrule of law for all Chinese citizens. – ChinaAid

One of the features of Luke’s writing is the significance he attaches to last words.For example, in the introduction to his Gospel (Luke 1.1–4) where he addressesTheophilus, the last word in the Greek text, where Luke wants the emphasis to fall,is ‘certainty’. He wants Theophilus to have certainty.In the Greek text of Acts, the last word is the word ‘unhinderedly’ (v 31). Thisadverb is used to qualify the participles ‘proclaiming’ and ‘teaching’. Luke wantsto emphasise that the proclamation and teaching of the Word of God continuesunhinderedly.The Word of God has come to Rome. We know from Romans 15.20ff thatPaul’s ambition was to take the Gospel where Christ is not known – to take itas far west as he thought he could go, to Spain (Romans 15.24).Paul makes it clear that he bears no ill will towards his own (Jewish) people. Rather,it is because of his steadfast commitment to the hope of Israel that he is in chains (v 20). The brothers atRome have not received any bad reports against Paul (v 21). However, they know that many people arespeaking against the Christian sect (v 22).The consistency of Paul’s persuasive ministry (v 23) is matched bythe Jews consistently obstinate response (vv 24,25). Paul warns themabout a hardened non‐response to the Gospel (vv 26,27). Here, at the endof Acts, the Gospel has reached Rome, as God said it would. Did Paul makehis appeal to Caesar? Was he released? Did he get to Spain? ‘Luke hasreached the objective of his history by bringing Paul to Rome, where heenjoys complete liberty to preach the Gospel, under the eyes of the im‐perial guard. The program mapped out (in Acts 1.8) has been carriedthrough!’ (F.F. Bruce) ‘But at the point where Luke laid down his pen,Paul – though in chains – and the Gospel of God’s Kingly rule were irre‐pressibly surging ahead without let up or hindrance in spite of humanopposition or nature’s storms.’ (David Gooding)

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ACTS ACTS –– A JOURNEY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTHA JOURNEY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH –– DAVID COOKDAVID COOK

Paul’s Earthly Journey Ends; The Gospel’s Goes On ACTS 28.17-31

FORREFLECTION:At the end of his commen‐tary on Acts 1.8, ProfessorE. M. Blaiklock sums up thebook in this way: ‘To pressbeyond the fringe is alwayssound policy, provided it isdone with vigour and devo‐tion.’

Content taken from 'ACTS –To The Ends Of The Earth' by Rev David Cook, published by 10Publishing, used with permission.We thank David Cook for contributing these Bible studies to ‘New Life’, and look forward to a new series commencing shortly.

R o m a n s 8 . 3 1 - 3 9R o m a n s 8 . 3 1 - 3 9H i s L ove . . .H i s L ove . . .

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CHRISTIANITY AT THE CROSSROADS: How The Second CenturyShaped The Future Of The Church, Michael J. Kruger, London:SPCK, 2017. ISBN 978-0-281-07131-9Michael Kruger argues that the Second Century was a crucial period forthe survival and shape of Christianity, neither of which was a foregone conclu‐sion at the start of that century, considering the contending forces both internaland external to the early Christian movement. The Apostles were dead and theNew Testament writings were not yet fully assembled as a clearly demarcatedcanon. Kruger shows that a series of significant transitions took place duringthis century, that Christianity at the end of the century was different in a number of ways from what it was at the start, and had taken a pattern we wouldrecognise today. For example, the church was less Jewish and more gentile, hav‐ing become ethnically and socially diverse. Christianity was popular among women and the well-to-do, on the otherhand, the oddity of Christianity evoked persecution and condemnation (foratheism, cannibalism and incest!). Both forms of opposition found a counter‐response in the work of the Christian apologists. Famous martyrs of the periodinclude Polycarp and Justin Martyr. Over the century, church leadership evolvedfrom New Testament style plurality of elders‐bishops in a local church to onebishop, such as promoted by Ignatius of Antioch. Private homes, large and small, remained the standard Christian meetingplace in the Second Century, or in some cases structures such as a barn or bath‐house were used. Kruger discusses the standard features of early Christiangatherings for worship. Kruger effectively disputes the thesis of F. C. Bauer that there was really no such thing as orthodoxChristianity in the Second Century. Though there was a diversity of heretical groups claiming the title‘Christian’, this does not mean that ‘orthodoxy’ is merely the religion of the victors in this struggle fordominance. In fact, what we would regard as the essential truths of Christianity have an ancient pedigreethat goes back to Jesus and the Apostles, and these truths were summed up in what is known as the ‘Ruleof faith’. Orthodox and mainstream Christianity represented by its bishops and found at major churchcentres, dominated the landscape of this century. Though most Christians could not read, second‐century Christianity was a bookish movement, withthe public reading of Scripture occupying an important part in gatherings for worship. Early canonicaltexts were punctuated and paragraphed to assist those who read out loud as these gatherings as well asthe understanding of hearers.Kruger provides an exposition of other Christian literature being written (e.g. the so‐called ApostolicFathers, apologetic works, published sermons) and the many apocryphal works excluded from the NewTestament. Early Christian book production favoured the codex over the scroll, as a way of binding dif‐ferent canonical books together and in order. Early Christian literature was copied by professional scribesand widely disseminated among a close network of churches. At this time, we begin to recognise theemergence of the core of the New Testament canon, and this helped the church to combat heresies likeGnosticism and Marcionism. Kruger effectively counters the arguments of those who want argue that there was no canon until theFourth Century. This is also strong evidence that ‘orthodox Christianity’ was not an invention and resultof fourth‐century debates. In other words, the Second Century was decisive in shaping what the ChristianChurch was to be, and this century has much to teach the church of today that (in the West at least) findsitself in a post‐Christian world. As in the second Century, the required response today is bold apologetics,devotion to Scripture, Christ‐centred worship and a willingness to suffer.This well-researched book will be a boon to all who seek clarity about early Christianity. In it we hearthe voice of reason amid a cacophony of wild contemporary claims about the church supposedly havingtaked a wrong turn in the Second Century. – Greg Goswell

‘This well-researchedbook will be a boonto all who seek clar-ity about early Chris-tianity. In it we hearthe voice of reasonamid a cacophony ofwild contemporaryclaims about thechurch supposedlyhaving taken awrong turn in theSecond Century’.

BOOKS WORTH READINGBOOKS WORTH READING

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