Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom

Charles Spurgeon said:

If you read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the word of God, the qualities of that word will be displayed in you.

By the non-trinitarian Baptists Spurgeon was a treasured guide. His words, from the time when he saw the only One God could bring the congregation to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the word of God, so that the qualities of that word would be displayed in the congregation.

He taught  the sin-pardoning God in Christ Jesus. For Spurgeon it was clear that we should come to the knowledge that Jesus was the man send by God to save us by a gift of grace.

Saint George Preca has been likened as a successor to Saint Paul's evangelical work on the island of Malta. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is grace upon grace. Observe that if we climb on high, the position may be dangerous; but if the Lord sets us there it is safe.
He may raise us to great usefulness, to eminent experience, to success in service, to leadership among workers, to a father’s place among the little ones.
If He does not do this, He may set us on high by near fellowship, clear insight, holy triumph, and gracious anticipation of eternal glory.

For the non-trinitarian baptist as the same for us Christadelphians we learned from Spurgeon how to go out into the world and give enough attention onto the preaching of the Gospel.

We should feel the same as the apostle Paul who felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. For us it is a privilege to be long to the chosen ones, to be a child of God but also a worker for God.

The Apostle Paul did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it sinks in the water.

Today we still can use many of Spurgeons teachings to inspire us and remember his works:

If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing for Jesus. If you would feel how utterly powerless you are apart from the living God, attempt especially the great work of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, and you will know, as you never knew before, what a weak unworthy thing you are.

Although the apostle thus knew and confessed his weakness, he was never perplexed as to the subject of his ministry. We should find an example in the apostle Paul, who always wanted to do the work for the Only One god, first as Saul, thinking the followers of Christ where worng, but than after he got more insigth given him by Christ, he became a speaker for Christ. We too should be such an ardent speaker in the name of Christ, and show the world that Jesus did not preach an other Gospel than the many prophets before him. Jesus was that fulfilment of the words of the prophets and the fulfilment of the Word of God having become into the flesh (John 1:1)

Jesus was not another one who claimed to be God. No he clearly indicated the Father was grater than him and that he could not do anything without his Father, the Only One God. We too, can not do anything without God the Father, who is in heaven. Like Jesus and the apostle Paul we should know that and be thankfull that God has drawn us near to Him and does allow us to work for HIm.

From his first sermon to his last, Paul preached Christ, and nothing but Christ. He lifted up the cross, and extolled the Son of God who bled thereon. Follow his example in all your personal efforts to spread the glad tidings of salvation, and let “Christ and Him crucified” be your ever recurring theme. . .

Only because God wanted to accept the Peace offering of Christ we can be saved for ever. By the acceptance of the Ransom we have no debts any-more and can trust the Good News of the coming Kingdom. This marvellous Good News we should proclaim all over the world, with gladness and full of grace.

If there is anyone who should be opposed to strife and bloodshed it is the man that names the name of Christ. Spurgeon considered the spirit of war to be absolutely foreign to the spirit of Christianity….
Modern conservative, fundamentalist, and evangelical Christians, all of whom might claim him as one of their own, have much to learn from Spurgeon, not only for his example of an uncompromising and successful Christian minister, but also for his consistent opposition to war and Christian war fever.--Laurence M. Vance [extended quotes and citations]

Spurgeon near the end of his life. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Our kingdom is not of this world; else would God’s servants fight with sword and spear. Ours is a spiritual kingdom, and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, and mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.

We as Christians should bring the message of peace, which Jesus brought into the world, and should let others know the Word of God, without forcing it on them with violence but with the word of love, the arrow of the cupid. Our war should be a continuous war of bringing peacefully the message Jesus proclaimed. We should display the work of God's Word in us. We should have become transformed so much by the Word of God that we can attract others with our righteousness.

We should not hesitate and wait until tomorrow but stand up in a hurry, before the End Times will surprise many, so that more people shall recognise when Jesus will return to the earth, and find us worthy followers of him, worthy to enter the Kingdom of God.
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Please do read also:

1. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
2. Church sent into the world 
3. If we, in our prosperity, neglect religious instruction and authority 
4. Are Christadelphians so Old Fashioned? 
5. Our relationship with God, Jesus and eachother 
6. God’s design in the creation of the world 
7. God’s reward 
8. God’s promises 
9. God is one 
10. God of gods 
11. God’s salvation 
12. Creator and Blogger God 3 Lesson and solution
13. Creator and Blogger God 4 Expounding voice
14. Creator and Blogger God 5 Things to tell
15. Statutes given unto us
16. Bible in the first place #2/3
17. Missional hermeneutics 1/5
18. Missional hermeneutics 3/5
19. Missional hermeneutics 4/5
20. Missional hermeneutics 5/5
21. Breathing to teach
22. Blogging for Jesus...

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Related articles

• The Apostle Paul - Persecutor, Convert & Evangelist
• Charles Spurgeon's Advice To Preachers
• Enemies of the Cross
• Authority Expressed in Care
• Smeagle and Jesus with a Side of Scotch
• False Teachers, Beware !
• What You Need To Know About Israel: They Killed Their Own Prophets and They Killed Jesus Christ Too!
• Spurgeon's Last Sermon from the Tabernacle
• Be an Example
• "His name is faithfulness" by Charles Spurgeon

United people under Christ

Last week the worldcommunity saw that the one who claims to be the follower of the apostle Peter stepped down from his position on what many call the 'holy chair'.

English: Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino (1481-82) Fresco, 335 x 550 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican. Ελληνικά: Λεπτομέρεια από την νωπογραφία του Πιέτρο Περουτζίνο, Ο Χριστός Παραδίδει τα Κλειδιά στον Πέτρο, 335 x 600 cm, Καπέλα Σιξτίνα, Πόλη του Βατικανού. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The church community should be found on a good faith base and have clear and undeniable grounds with people who live according to community rules which are according to the Law of God. They should try to be living by the standard of the “One Body” of Christ. The Nazarene man who did not appoint one or the other above one another. Though perhaps many might think that the apostle Peter was chosen to be a leader, he certainly was not the leader of the church community at the time of the first years after Christ his death. All apostles had their particular duties but worked together and even where not afraid to criticise each other.

In the Acts of the apostles is given a very clear picture of the working of the first church as one united body in Christ. when you read the chapters you shall not find any decent reason to believe that the Pope is the real acceptable leader of the Church of God.
Could it also be that the church became subdivided into local churches but that along the way into history that church their members (of each local church) still make up the universal body of Christ? There is no one church that monopolizes the body of Christ.

History proves that contamination was brought in very soon after Jesus' death. Several apostles warned the followers of Christ to be careful and to look out for false teachings. People also had to be careful not to mingle with weak or sinful men, who would love to see them being diverted from the unworldy ideas of their religion.

Though we are never to judge or condemn others; we just have to politely “stand aside” from them!

When we look at the world we should consider that there are many people with different beliefs, but that there might be different opinions between the many persons that does not mean they would not be considered as being part of one and the same united people under Christ.

Some teach that if you are not part of this denomination or that denomination then you cannot be part of the body of Christ. There exist many denominations which believe people do have to belong to them, because otherwise they would be doomed into damnation or when people do not belong to their denomination they would not be able to enter the Kingdom of God. What most of those denomination forget is that before they came into being ther where also people who loved God as the Most High, and honoured Him at their best. Those people are also saved by Jesus his offer and got the right to enter the Kingdom of God. It is he, Jesus who shall decide who is able to enter the Kingdom of God and not one world church organisation or denomination who is going to decide that. God knows the heart of each person and He shall see if that person is worthy or not to enter the Kingdom. Jesus as the mediator shall be the person who can mediate for those who tried to do their best on earth and who followed one or another path according to a path laid in front of them by one or another denomination. but the people themselves shall have to carry the responsibility of their choice. They also shall not be able to blame their congregation or denomination for the choices they have made.
As part of the body of Christ we should be people working under the guidance of the Bible, to serve each other and the body, not taking into account language, ethnicity, gender, nationality etc. When we are unified with One Spirit in One Body that means we are unified under Gods Spirit to have and show  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and awareness for each other, treasuring the same hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ together with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of his Father.

Every person has received the gifts to think and to have his mind working to find out certain things. Every person, in his or her life shall get opportunities to be able to be confronted with certain values, certain truths, certain ideas ... and shall be confronted with the possibility to make a certain choice.

The 1st English edition of The Kingdom of God Is Within You. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is up to us to think about our faith, about what we do want to believe and about what we do have to believe.

Every transition in a movement should be followed up and registered, looked at in function of the Will of God and the Biblical writings. They are given to us to help us to direct the right way. We should listen to the voice of God and follow the directions given in the Holy Scriptures. They should be the most important guide for our life and way of life.

The guidance from the Bible should give us insight in what the world offers, also on religious matters and on actions of faith.
We must remember that the ecclesia does not exist to keep the Truth pure as a theory (i.e., “The purer our ecclesia, the better!”). The Truth (as an abstract principle, or set of principles, communicated from God) cannot be anything but pure! It might sound strange that the ecclesia does exist to help impure men and women (with imperfect beliefs and impure ways) to move toward purity, even if their progress is slow… Some expect that the people who enter the ecclesia or church-community would be already very pure from their baptism, but that is not so. The baptism is only the starting point to the way of purity to the small gate to the Kingdom of God.

Out of love for each other each member of the ecclesia should help each other to grow and to make every day a step closer to that set-apartness or holiness of purity.

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Read also:

1. Fellowship 101: A Short Course by George Booker – Class 5
   Those who believe the gospel and are baptised into Christ become ‘brethren in Christ’, without regard to nationality. They also become a part of the ‘one body’, with Christ as their head. God calls them His children, and they become partakers of His grace and love” (BASF 22).

2. Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith
3. Handbook to the Christadelphian Statement of Faith
4. Reasons to come to gether
5. Philippians 1 – 2
6. Look for your Refuge by God
7. A day without taking the symbols
8. Breathing to teach
9. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #1 Kings Faith
10. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God
11. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #1 Creator and His Prophets
12. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #2 Instructions and Laws
13. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously
14. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #4 Words in Scripture
15. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #5 To meditate and Transform
16. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #6 Words to feed and communicate
17. Jehovah in the BASF
     

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The work of the angels in guiding national affairs

Bible, l. 228v, initial A(nno tertio regni iochim) with Daniel in the lion's den. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

South African Summer Bible School

December 25, 2012 – December 31, 2012

Bible School

7 Days

Speaker: Ron Cowie, Pinetown, Australia

Sponsored by: South African Christadelphian ecclesias

Topics:

The final section of Daniel’s Prophecy takes us on an amazing panorama of the events from the days of Daniel to the Kingdom of God.Starting with the vision of the Man of One which portrays the process of resurrection and glorification , we will focus on the work of the angels in guiding national affairs , and the prophecies of the last days .We will also do a summary of the key time periods that we have in Daniel and the sure hope of the saints that we have in the words of the last prophecy.

BIBLE SCHOOL 1. Encounters with Christ In the early part of his ministry the Lord healed many thousands of sick folk indiscriminately. Later he ignored the multitudes of sick to focus on the SIGNS and lessons by selecting particular individuals . We will examine the impact of the Lord on a few chosen individuals , a Pharisee, a Zealot and 4 men with severe disabilities. These encounters not only reveal the unique teaching style of Jesus but have powerful lessons for all generations.

BIBLE SCHOOL 2 Jacob A very full record of Jacob’s life, his tribulations, his divine education , the prophecy concerning his sons and his death is given to us. Nothing about Jacob, also later known as Israel, was dramatic or impacted the world scene. Here was just a lonely man struggling with his Syrian nature , deceiving and being deceived and shepherding for all his life in harsh conditions .Jacob’s trials were all family troubles and sorrows that came constantly on him. We can learn so much from this very human patriarch who eventually overcame his own nature , clung to his God and so prevailed with God.

View Map

Deutche School (Private Boarding School) Hermansburg South Africa,This event is accessible to people with disabilities.

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• The Mayan Apocalypse Will Not Occur - But Bible Prophecy Will - Dates Withholding
• December 21 2012, the Mayan Apocalypse, and this blog post

With God All Things Are Possible

Genesis 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Jeremiah 32:16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;
21 And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
22 And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;
23 And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:
24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.
25 And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
26 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
28 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:
29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mark 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Bringing Good News into the world

Flemish or Dutch readers should be able to find the new WordPress site of the Brothers in Christ. the Christadelphian website of the Broeders in Christus shall mostly bring some more into depth articles concerning our faith.

Readers shall be able to find the history of the Brethren and Christian movement and how deviations and wrong ideas came into the Christian faith. In one of the pages we also try to picture why we are so eager to bring the message of the Bible all over the world. We reason why it are not only the Jehovah's Witnesses who witness, but that we also bring witness of the Good News and the Kingdom of God.

In De Bijbel of Heilige Schrift;Het woord van God of het woord van mensen (The Bible or Holy Scipture; word of God or word of people) we show how we do not agree with those people who say that the Bible is written by people talking about God. For us the Bible is the Word of God which is handed over by means of the Power of god and His chosen people like prophets, apostles but also fishermen, herdsmen and kings. All that is in those 66 Books of Books is given to our knowledge and to help us to find the way to the Kingdom of God.

Those who do believe in the Word of God and accept Christ Jesus as their Messiah, should follow their Master-teacher and should do as he told his disciples to do: to go out in the world and spread the Good News. Sometimes when people find us preaching they wonder if we are Jehovah's Witnesses. In the article Getuige of Broeder; Rabbi, Leider, Broeder, Verkondiger of Getuige (Witness or Brother; Rabbi, Leader, Brother, Proclaimer or Preacher, or Witness) we show the difference between the Witnesses and us, plus give the reason why we should not follow just one organisation (like the Watch Tower and Tract Society) or one person (like the Pope) and why we do not have any hierarchy or priests.

In Dutch you can find: / In het Nederlands kan u artikelen vinden over hoe wij moeten omgaan met de Heilige Schrift en anderen het Goede Nieuws moeten brengen:

1. Verkondigen van Evangelie opgetekend in de Bijbel
2. De Bijbel of Heilige Schrift
3. Getuige of Broeder;Rabbi, Leider, Broeder, Verkondiger of Getuige

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2015 august update:

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Exceeding Great and Precious Promise

Exceeding Great and Precious Promise
"For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:32,33
Let us seek the Kingdom as the preeminent matter of our lives. . . . If seeking the Kingdom seems to hinder some of our earthy prospects, so much the better. The Master said it must cost us our all. R5048:c2,p5 If the Kingdom was made first, all their earthly needs would be supplied. R5917:c2,p4

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Invitation to all who believe

Folio 27r from the Lindisfarne Gospels contains the incipit Liber generationis of the Gospel of Matthew. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the gospel there is an invitation to all who believe what God has  promised, to share with Christ in his kingdom, glory, and joy, which invitation is given on certain conditions well defined (1 Thess. 2:12; ; Matt. 25:21) faith in the things covenanted to Abraham and David, and in those taught concerning Jesus, in the Old and New Testaments; immersion into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and thenceforth a life of without which no one will be approved and promoted to the honour and glory of the kingdom ().

John Thomas. (1990; 2002). Comments from Brother Thomas (Pagina 2). Logos Publications.


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2013 update:

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