In This Issue

• NOT ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER
• THE OPENING OF LYDIA'S HEART
• THE CHURCH IS GOING TO THE DOGS
• MORE INFORMATION...

NOT ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER

Mark chapter 13 basically parallels the 24th chapter of Matthew and the 21st chapter of Luke. Mark tells us that as Jesus “went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?’ And Jesus, answering them, began to say: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you’” (Mark 13:1-5).

To even begin to understand this passage and the next several verses, it must be kept in mind what the apostles were asking, and thus what questions Jesus was answering. Matthew’s account shows that immediately preceding this conversation, Jesus had been lamenting the up-coming fate of the city of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate’” (Matt. 23:37-38).

The nation whose center of operation was Jerusalem had rejected God’s prophets and now they were rejecting God’s Son. In the process, they were sealing their own doom. As Jesus lamented that fact, He declared the desolation of Jerusalem and its “house” or temple. His disciples called attention to the buildings that made up the temple complex. The temple was beautiful, well built, and strong. But Jesus foretold that the time was soon coming when not one of its stones would be left standing upon another. It was this prediction that prompted the apostles to ask, “When will these things [the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple] be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” And though Jesus may have touched upon some related matters, His answer was directed primarily to the question they asked.

Another important matter to remember is the time element. Jesus’ words in this chapter were uttered in 30 A.D., about three days before His crucifixion. He clearly indicated that all the things He had predicted in Mark 13:1-30 would be fulfilled during the natural lifetime of those then living – in that generation. “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Mark 13:30).

History has a tendency to repeat itself. In our own times events may occur similar to those Jesus predicted, but the specific events He foretold were fulfilled in that generation just as He said they would be.

-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. Thyatira, 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 increase." 

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

THE CHURCH IS GOING TO THE DOGS

[Editor’s Note: We received the following news item from Tim Smith. We do not know the original news source. Years ago there was a television sitcom called “The Life of Riley.” At the end of the program, Riley was heard to exclaim: “What a revolting development this is.” We think that pretty well covers it. -CRJ]

“A church in Connecticut is giving Holy Communion to pets and offering them special worship services.

“St Francis Episcopal Church in Stamford says it is part of a new monthly initiative.

“The Wall Street Journal reports some clergy are welcoming animals into the flock because of a fall in church attendance numbers.

“Some have created pet-friendly worship services, while others have started making house calls for sick animals.

“Some priests even accompany pet owners to the vet when the animal is being put to sleep, and others are officiating at pet funerals.

“But not all worshippers at St Francis are happy about the presence of the animals. One longtime parishioner sent an email to the church saying his son-in-law suffered an allergy attack because of the animals.

“The parishioner also said allowing dogs at the after-church coffee hour could lead to children being bitten.” 

--News item submitted by Tim Smith

We don't change the message; the message changes us.

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