In This Issue

• HAVE FAITH IN GOD
• THE OPENING OF LYDIA'S HEART
• THE SAINT BARNABAS’ REPORTER
• MORE INFORMATION...

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

During the week of the crucifixion, Jesus and His apostles spent each day in Jerusalem. At night, they stayed in Bethany. On Tuesday morning, as they made their way into the city, they noticed that the fig tree Jesus had pronounced a curse upon had withered and dried up from the roots. "And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.' So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Mark 11:20-24).

There are two aspects to what Jesus taught in this setting about prayer. First, there is the fact that Jesus was speaking to His apostles to whom He gave miraculous power through the Holy Spirit. By a special infusion of Power, they were enabled to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, etc. Such miraculous manifestations constituted what Paul called "the signs of an apostle," (2 Cor. 12:12). Obviously, most Christians never had such miraculous powers, else there would be no way to distinguish apostles from others. Such promises as that in our text of miraculously moving mountains belong to the category of the signs of an apostle. The "whoever" of Mark 11:23 did not include Christians in general, but the specific Christians to whom He was speaking, the apostles - those to whom miraculous powers were bestowed.

But the second aspect of Jesus' teaching on prayer involves a general and eternal principle. Our prayer is to be uttered in faith. "Have faith in God." "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe…" Since faith comes by hearing God's word, Rom. 10:17, each of us can ask in faith for the things God has authorized us to pray about: our daily bread, deliverance from temptation, comfort for the bereaved, healing for the sick, etc.

The apostles could ask in faith for anything God had authorized them to pray for, and we who are not apostles can ask in faith for the kinds of things God has authorized us to pray for. God has promised to hear and answer the prayer of faith.

Finally, we remind ourselves of one additional matter. The God to whom we pray knows better than we do what is best for us. When our petitions are not granted, it does not shake our faith, for our faith was not in our prayer, but in Him who answers prayer. "Have faith in God." 

--Clarence R. Johnson

THE OPENING OF LYDIA'S HEART

The Bible account of the conversion of Lydia can be found in Acts 16:5-15. In this text, verse 12 informs us that Paul and Silas (Paul now on his second Missionary Journey) had now traveled to the city of Philippi, the foremost city of that part of Macedonia. As was true in other cities, they had come to Philippi to preach the gospel. In verse 13 we find this account, "And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there." While there they met a woman who was away from home on business. Her name was Lydia. She had traveled from Thyatira and was a seller of purple. Thaytira, about 300 miles from Philippi, was a city well noted for its expensive purple dyes.

Immediately in our text we notice two outstanding characteristics about this woman named Lydia. (1) She is a worshipper of God. (2) Worship is very important to her. She is almost 300 miles away from home selling purple, yet, when the Sabbath arrived she put her business aside and went to worship her God. She went down by the riverside to pray. It was at this time that she came in contact with Paul. This would prove to be a very eventful day for this woman from Thyatira.

Notice the words of v. 14, `Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul." The last sentence of this verse has caused much discussion in years gone by. Our Calvinist friends would suggest to us that this is a proof text of one totally depraved and having her heart opened in a miraculous way by God.

Not to my surprise, yet to my disgust, this teaching was being voiced in a lectureship that I attended a few years ago in Canada by those who would claim to be New Testament Christians.

Was Lydia totally depraved as a result of inheritance from Adam to the point that she couldn't do right until God's Spirit by immediate and direct action opened her heart? Not only does this passage not teach this; it denies it. Before any mention is made of Lydia's heart being opened, she is said to have heard something. What did she hear? She had heard the preaching of the Word.

Notice with me briefly the conversion of others in the book of Acts. In Acts 2:4 we find that the apostles, on the Day of Pentecost were preaching "as the Spirit gave then utterance." The result? Some were cut to their heart v. 37. What brought these Jews to the point of repentance? "Now when they heard this" (v. 37).

In Acts 8 we find the conversion of the Samaritans. Notice what took place in verse 5. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them." What effect did this preaching have on them? "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized" (v. 12). Acts 8:13 tells us that the same thing is true concerning Simon. 

In [chapter 8] verses 35-39 we find that Philip taught Jesus to the one referred to as an Ethiopian eunuch. Notice in the text the result of this teaching.

Saul of Tarsus (cf. Acts 9:1-20; 22:6-16) was told to continue into Damascus and there it "will be told what you must do" (9:6). He went and waited as he had been instructed to do. Sure enough, just as the Lord had said, one by the name of Ananias joined himself to Saul and told him what he needed to do (cf. Acts 22:16).

Cornelius in Acts 10 heard the preaching of Peter. Soon, Peter by the authority of Christ commanded them to be baptized.

In Acts 16:30-33 we read of the one called the Philippian Jailer. In verse 30 he had asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" In verses 31-34 we find the answer to his question. But take special note of verse 32: "Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house."

What about Lydia? Did the Lord open her heart? Yes, certainly he did! How? First, he sent Paul into Macedonia (cf. Acts 16:9). Second, through inspiration he had given Paul (and others) a wondrously saving message to teach and preach (cf. I Cor. 2:1-16). Thus, through the Word that had been taught by this great preacher, the truth of the story of Christ pierced any and all prior misleading and preconceived notions that this seller of purple may have had. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

The conversion of Lydia, is but another instance of the pure seed finding a good and honest heart (cf. Lk. 8:4-15). However, as a good friend of mine used to say, "We've got to get the seed out of the barn and plant it so that God can give the in-crease." 

--Randy Reynolds, Guardian of Truth, April 1, 1993

THE SAINT BARNABAS’ REPORTER

The Saint Barnabas’ Reporter is the monthly journal of the St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church in Annandale, Virginia. It crosses my desk regularly and gets read occasionally.

The October issue contained an item of particular interest to me in light of the Episcopal Church’s recent decision to ordain as a Bishop a wife-deserting homosexual. Some in the church have announced that they will leave the group (the national church) because of it. The Rector (a cleric in charge of the church), Linda Wofford Hawkins, spoke to the issue and said some rather interesting things. Let us note:

“Like any parish, St. Barnabas’ has some members who are homosexual. For some, this is an issue that causes great pain, for others, this is an appropriage decision by a church seeking to be faithful to Christ.

“Last spring I attended a workshop on youth ministry which featured materials developed by a church to respond to questions of teenagers. I picked up a booklet of ‘lesson plans’ based on the question, ‘What did Jesus say about ________?' Each page gave a different topic, followed by a summary statement and a list of scriptural passages. I happened to open to the page, ‘What did Jesus say about homosexuality?’ Answer: ‘Nothing.’

“Upon reflection, I have concluded that if Jesus had said more we would be saying less. We do well to remember that he had a great deal to say, however, about matters like the Kingdom of God, money, the poor, love, forgiveness of sin, and healing. It is crucial that we seek as followers of Jesus to base our actions upon the main ideas of the gospel, to pray that we might live out the love of Christ in our time. One bishop has aptly quoted Yori Berra: ‘The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’ That sums up well what we are attempting to do at St. Barnabas’, seeking to be a congregation that conveys the love of Christ and serves faithfully.”

Wow!

Her first comment was as wrong as it could be. Jesus had much to say about homosexuality. Homosexuality fits under the category of fornication which is shown in the Old Testament to include homosexuality (read Lev. 18 and focus on verse 22 which identifies homosexuality specifically). One need only look at Matt. 5, 15, 19, Mark 7 and John 8 to know that Jesus regarded the various forms of fornication to be sin. Add to that fact that He said He would send the Holy Spirit to reveal His further teaching, John 16:13. The writings of Paul specify sodomy as sin (see Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9). She dismisses these passages not because Jesus isn’t behind them, but because she believes differently than does the Lord. The epistles are viewed as inferior.

But not really, for she will dismiss ANY passage from the word of God that does not permit her deviancies. The word of God has no place in the Episcopal church today and its ordination of a gay bishop proves it. Jesus said “nothing” about it, indeed. Jesus condemned it in His word and those who accept it have shown they have no regard for the Word or Jesus Christ. Now would be a good time for all God-fearing people to exit the Episcopal denomination.   

--Floyd Chappelear, Stand, Vol. 39, Number 6

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