B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 82

Fifty eight of our India brothers gathered for study in the Word and fellowship in Guntur. Reports were given on the work of the Lord in the BELC by D. Paul, Moses and Victor and in the CLCI by Jyothi and Nireekshana. The CLCI seminary has 32 students, while it is prayed the BELC can start a two year school in 2007. Nireekshana chaired the meeting, while next year D. Paul will chair it. It was approved to hold the next conference in Nellore. This is now our sixth conference. Nineteen essays were given by fifteen essayists. A communion service conducted by V. S. Benjamin concluded our time together.

A power point presentation was given on the “Book of Revelation” by Jyothi with illustrations to help in getting an idea of the various visions in that book and their meaning. There were essays of a practical nature such as: The Da Vinci Code/V.S. Benjamin, How to Stay Young/Nireekshana, Why Do the Righteous Suffer? – Job/D. Devasahayam, How to Make a Worship Center/V. Vemoori. In the Da Vinci Code essay it was stated, “The Da Vinci Code is filled with much anti-Christian content, seeks to turn people against Christianity and the Church and leaves the reader or viewer with the impression that God is some sort of a powerless has been, a liar and an imposter.” Another essay of a practical Indian nature was “Various Questions about Marriage” by Jyothi. India had and has the caste system. Questions about who to marry and when are important in this regard as in others. We heard that in “an opinion poll of 18-21 year olds, 84% declared they would prefer marrying within their own community. (India Today, 27 Sept. 1999)”

From the essay “How to Stay Young” here are some quotes. From an unknown poet, “You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your…confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.” The following is from a Telugu Christian poet, Count your blessings instead of your crosses; count your gains instead of your losses; count your joys instead of your woes; count your friends instead of your foes; count your smiles instead of your tears; count your courage instead of your fears; count your full years instead of your lean…Count on God instead of yourself.” In a series of five points the essayist quoted a Jewish proverb,” For

the ignorant, old age is as winter; for the learned, it is a harvest!” In considering how to serve God and people actively and joyfully the essayist said,”I read somewhere that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, traveled 250 miles a day for 40 years; preached 40,000 sermons; produced 400 books; knew 10 languages. At 83 he was annoyed that he could not write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes. At 86 he was ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning!”

Another point in staying young is to enjoy the fellowship of the church. “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear FRUIT in old age; they shall be FRESH and FLOURISHING” Ps. 92:13-14 ” Caleb at 85 referring to an incident that happened forty-five years before testified, ‘I am as strong this day as I was on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in’ (Josh. 14:11)” We all pray for this from God.  The essay was concluded with a quote from an unknown poet, “I shall not mind the whiteness of my hair, Or that slow steps falter on the stair, Or that young friends hurry as they pass, Or what strange image greets me in the glass–If I can feel as the roots feel in the sod, That I am growing old to bloom before the face of God!”

Prayer naturally received attention as so important to lay all on the Lord and to not neglect to praise Him. Two on this were: When We Pray/A. Isaiah, Prayer Gives Victory/D. Digal. The other essays were as follows: Philippians-The Secret of Rejoicing/Jyothi, Jeremiah-the Weeping Prophet/M. Barnabas, The Judgment/D. VIjay Paul, The Gospel/P. Ankineedu, The Lamb of God/D. Paul, The Truth of God/ B. Bhasker, The Joy of God/T. Sampath, God’s Divine Nature/M. Raghu, Grace/Rajamini, Privileges We Have Through Jesus/D. Paul, The Three Year Ministry of our Lord/Koenig.

In the Lamb of God essay we heard, “We live in a world filled with sorrow, heaviness, agony and fear. We are worried by a different problem each day. We are always pressed by the burdens of life, day after day, leaving tears in our eyes and fear in our minds. The mental agony experienced by us today has already been experienced by Jesus Christ.” The essayist pointed us to John the baptizer’s words, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” as the solution to all of this.

Let us continue to remember each other in prayer. Among our India brethren there have been serious problems with the chicken flu/fever. In Africa malaria as well as other diseases are a problem for many of our men. Though we are separate from each other by many miles, yet we are one with God and each other in our fellowship. By all means pray for one another that God would give release from these diseases that we might better serve the Lord. And pray that through these diseases we are reminded of Him who died for us that he will bring us through with an increased faith in Him.

The shortest letter of the New Testament was written to “the elect lady and her children” (v.1) which would seem to be to a congregation and its members. It has both great teachings of the Word: Law and Gospel. And it gives us insight into church life how responsible leaders do their best to counteract ruinous false teaching.

Outline

I Salutation – 1-3

II Counsel and Warnings – 4-11

III Conclusion – 12-13

The second shortest letter of the New Testament was written to an individual, Gaius. We don’t know if this is the same man or not as found in: Acts 19:29, 20:4, Rom. 16:23, I Cor. 1:14. What we do know is that Gaius is a leader in the church and this letter supports and encourages him in his work.

Outline

I Salutation – 1-4

II Encouragement for Gaius – 5-8

III Reproof for Diotrephes – 9-10

IV Commendation for Demetrius – 11-12

V Conclusion – 13-15

Jude is another half-brother of our Lord, like James. Jude’s attack is against the false teachers who would pull down to destruction with them those who follow them. Whether on earth with Korah, and Sodom and Gomorrah or in heaven with the devil, rebellion brings in its wake judgment. Apostasy(falling away) is faithlessness and without faith the shield is gone and punishment follows. Our task is to try to “…Convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Vv. 22-23

Outline

I Introduction – 1-4

II Character and Doom of False Teachers – 5-16

III Admonition to Hold the True Faith – 17-23

IV Benediction

Pastor Koenig –