Barnabas Ministries UK

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

THE PRIORITY OF WISDOM

“Wisdom is the principal thing” – Proverbs 4:5-9

It is clear that this wisdom is more than intelligent agility, shrewd awareness or practical ability; it is spiritual insight resulting in deep understanding of the moral principles of true living and ethical behaviour; to know, to understand, to do the will of God, especially as revealed in His word.

·          The primacy of wisdom. The wisdom of God is incarnated in verbal form- “the words of my mouth”; men of understanding recognise its essence. Our attitude to God’s life-pattern determines the quality of our living. Negatively we are to “forget it not” by defective attention, nor “forsake her” by deserting action. Positively, we must “exalt-her” with adulation, and “embrace her” with affection. We must not merely praise wisdom, we must practice it. How interesting that “wisdom” is referred to as “her”. Is this a blow to masculinity? The meaning is that wisdom will be a mother to all who love her. Just as a mother’s breasts supply her offspring with a healthful, balanced and complete diet, so wisdom will nourish and nurture our souls.

·          The price of wisdom. “With all thy getting” means purchase at whatever price, for its worth exceeds all material riches. The price is in adopting sound doctrine, applying self-discipline and avoiding self-deception. We must deny self to follow Jesus - the Wisdom of God.

·          The profit of wisdom. Wisdom offers six gifts to those who gain her. “Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee” by guiding thee from evil paths; “love her and she shall keep thee” by guarding thee from evil powers; “exalt her, and she shall promote thee” by building thy life on sound moral foundations; “she shall bring thee to honour when thou doest embrace her” by creating confidence in thy ability and reliability; “she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace” by commanding the blessing of Heaven and the favour of the world; “a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee” by receiving praise from God and plaudits from men. When a man displays wisdom in his diction and in his direction, his friends and acquaintances, and even his opponents, tend to respect his judgments, rely on his promises and applaud his successes.

PRAYER: 

May I make thy will my priority today, 0 Lord!

THE DEVIL’S GRANARY

It was a dream. A puzzled Pentecostal found himself in a strange and weird place. Before him stood a large building. He tried the door. It opened into what looked like a vast storehouse. Piled on all sides were great sacks, most of them stuffed to bursting. But near the doorway lay one that was almost empty. He was about to investigate when a loud voice startled him; he turned, and found himself face to face with the devil.

“How did you get in here?” was his angry demand.

“I tried the door,” was the meek reply. “it was unlocked, so I walked in. Sorry if I trespassed.”

“You’ve no business here. Don’t you know it’s private?”

“All right, but I have apologized,” said the man, getting a little bolder. “Before I go, would you mind telling me what is in all these sacks?”

“No I” roared the devil. Then he hesitated, and con­tinued, “But since you’ve seen all this you may as well know the rest. This is my granary. Those sacks are full of seeds that I sow in the hearts of men. What a collection!” He rubbed his hands with glee. “Oh, what a collection avarice, malice, spite, falsehood, lust, greed, pride, arrogance, gluttony, laziness - ho! ho! ho!”

“But what of this sack that’s almost empty?” enquired the intruder?

    “Get out! That’s one of my deepest secrets,” replied the devil with great heat.

“But do tell me.” pleaded the Pentecostal as he made for the door.

“You cheeky — -. But hold on. For your impertinence I’ll tell you. These are my most useful seeds - seeds of discouragement. I sow them again and again - they seldom fail to spring up. Many a promising field has been blighted by this weed. It’s terrific!” The devil’s face glowed with evil delight as he uttered these words almost to himself.

“But begone!” he snapped, coming to himself.

“One last thing,” said the intruder. “Are there any hearts in which these seeds cannot be sown?”

The devil was silent for a moment. then went on: “You may as well know. I cannot sow the seeds of discourage­ment in a praising heart.”

The dreamer awoke: but he never forgot the lesson.

The late Rev. A. Linford

LISTEN TO FATHER

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father” –Proverbs 4: 1-4

A Hebrew home was more than a nest to rear the young, it was also a school to instruct the growing progeny. With father as teacher and mother as monitor, each member of the family is established in the laws of Jehovah - the God of Israel. Added to this were sacred festivals such as that of the Passover, which confirmed the family unit in its spiritual basis as part of “the commonwealth of Israel“.

Tender appeal: It is a proven fact that children learn more readily from those to whom they are emotionally attached: love creates a rapport that makes the transmission of knowledge flow smoothly and effectively. There is a strong link between communication and communion. A father-mother figure plays a vital part in education.

Traditions ancient: “I give you good doctrine”. The term “doctrine” (Heb. leqkach) means that which is received”, and represents not original teaching; but that which is transmitted from the past - tradition; precepts that had their origin in God, passed on from father to son. Alexander Maclaren aptly observed: “Reverence for traditional wisdom was characteristic of that state of society, and since a divine revelation stood at the beginning of the nation’s history, it was not unreasonable to look back for light. Now-a-days a beliefs being our father’s is, with many, a reason for not making it ours. But perhaps that is no more rational than the blind adherence to the old with which this emancipated generation reproaches its predecessor. Possibly there are some old lamps better than the new ones now hawked about the streets by so many loud-voiced vendors.” Amen to this!

Task full attention: “My words    my commandments” are not truths invented by the teacher but invested and imparted precepts given by God himself. The pupil is exhorted to memorise them - “Let thine heart retain my words” , to modernise them by bringing into an up-to-date experience, and mechanise them into living activity.

Tutorial Advice: “I was my fathers son”, better, “I was a son to my father”, that is a dutiful son, one who attended, observed and kept his father’s words. Such a son will heed his father’s words..

PRAYER: May I ever note and do Thy will, my heavenly Father.

HEAR MY PRAYER

God is revealed in the Bible as the Hearer of Prayer. “0 thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come”, exclaimed the Psalmist. What a wonderful exercise is prayer: it spans the distance between earth and heaven and brings God near; it gives wings to the spirit so that it can soar above its earthly ties; it enlightens the soul with glimpses of glory.

Escape from trouble. There are times when existence becomes an intolerable burden, when frustration and loss bewilder us, when we are nonplussed by life. Oh for a shoulder to lean on, an ear in which to pour our woes, a caressing hand to sooth our fevered brow ! We have them -infinitely - in God; effectively - in prayer. By seeking His face we may escape our troubles, vent our turbulent emotions and disburden ourselves of corroding care.

When all things seem against me To drive me to despair,

I  know one gate is open,  One ear will hear my prayer.

David Grayson in “Hempfield” tells the story of Anthy, a young girl left to run her deceased father’s printing office. To relieve herself of tension she used to write letters to Abraham Lincoln (long since dead) and “post” her epistles by putting them behind his portrait on the wall. of her office. She later discovered a friend in whom she could confide her worries and fears - and the letters to “Mr. Lincoln” ceased. She exchanged imagination for reality.

God’s great shoulder is real enough and His arm strong enough for us to lean on and be comforted. “Unto thee shall all flesh come,” says the Psalmist. Because we are “flesh” - feeble, fallible and faulty, heir to a thousand woes - we need to come. Our very humanity calls for help outside of ourselves. And wonderful to state, there is in our frail flesh a built-in instinct to seek after God. It is as though He made us weak on purpose that we might seek after Him.

Enjoyment of blessing. What blessings flow from prayer I Through so touching God we are “satisfied with the good-ness of thy house”, we are strengthened with great assurance, endowed with tranquility, visited with refresh­ing and enriched with fruitfulness.

Expansion of horizons. Prayer extends and clarifies our spiritual vision. Many years ago I bought my first wireless set; it was old but active. When it was switched on I could span a continent or cross a sea at the touch of a finger. Far off places I had never - nor could ever - visit was within my hearing range: my horizons spread in all directions.

Prayer is an even mightier instrument By its power we can span the universe, penetrate into the realm of spiritual realities, touch the very heart of God Himself. In prayer we can break the space-barrier and bring the glories of another world cascading around us.

Rev. A. Linford           

THE SEVEN-FOLD BLESSING OF WISDOM

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom”          Proverbs 3:13-18

Happiness in Proverbs is linked with blessedness; and blessedness implies more than a pleasurable feeling, it embraces that sense of well-being that springs from the favour of God: it is happiness plus moral complacency and joy. Its blessings are seven fold, as follows:

Perception. “Understanding”, insight into the meaning of life, is one of the great boons that wisdom confers. Mere knowledge can be but mental furniture; understanding is the machinery of life in operation. Knowledge is fact; understanding is discernment.

Prosperity. Wisdom trades in nobler things than material commodities; it has to do with character, with relationships, with moral worth. Gold cannot compare with heavenly love, nor silver with holy joy; no rubies are richer than the treasury of knowledge in Christ.

Potential. Wisdom adds to life not only length but depth, its principles help for greater as well as for grander experience. It enhances life, adding the ingredient of benediction to being.

Promotion. “Riches and honour” come to the wisdom-controlled person, not necessarily the mammon so sought after by many, but the true riches “that enhance our days on earth and eventually lead to promotion in heaven where the godly shall reign in life”

Pleasantness. Wisdom leads to a life of satisfaction, a life of fulfillment, a life free from worry and care. The heart of wisdom so trusts God that fretful fear is banished in the assurance that “all things work together for good to them that love God” - Rom 8:28.

Rev. A. Linford

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

DIVINE DISCIPLINE

“Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth” Proverbs 3:11, 12

What a contrast between these verses and the previous two: here we meet with adversity - “the chastening of the Lord” - there the talk is of prosperity. But don’t the two go together?  A godly life has its ups and downs: the tapestry of a saint’s experience is like the veil of the Tabernacle, shot through with the scarlet of suffering and the gold of glory.

Adversity is painful. It can produce one of two reactions: it can be accepted as divine discipline intended to correct our ways; or it can be considered as an evil and defiantly rejected. The advice of the wise man is not to despise it or to resent it, but patiently to consider it as God’s fatherly care for us. The worst thing that God can do is to leave us to ourselves.

Adversity is profitable. “Sweet are the uses of adversity” if they teach us to mend our ways, if they stir us to seek the Lord, if they deepen our sympathy for fellow-sufferers The sufferings of the righteous are “chastenings of love”. They are the mark of sonship the corrective activities of a loving God. He chastens us to make us chaste. The writer to the Hebrews uses this proverb in exhortation to persecuted Christians - Hebrews 12:5-11 making the point that although chastening is hard to bear, the issues are productive of good. The “present” must ever be regarded in the light of afterwards”. Even our Lord “though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered” – Hebrews 5:8. Muscular development is obtained by resisting opposing force; roses are enriched by pruning; the vine is ruthlessly trimmed that grapes may grow to perfection: even children of God are made better by affliction. Paul found that losses for Christ’s sake were great gain - Philippians 3:8; it was like exchanging sand for sapphires.  The essence of discipleship is discipline, and no one can truly follow Jesus who does not accept His yoke If we love God we will accept His dealings with us with the assurance that the same hand that wields the rod is the hand that holds us up, the same hand that dispenses the blessing sustains our soul.

PRAYER:               Thank you, Lord, for every trial that brings me nearer Thee!

D .L. Moody

Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899) made a tremendous impact on the spiritual life of Britain during his visits to this country in 1873-5, 1881-4 and 1891 -2. Many thousands of converts were added to the churches, Christian institutions initiated and a general impetus given to church life throughout the British Isles. R. A. Torrey, in his booklet Why God used D. L. Moody, lists seven reasons for the greatness of this American evangelist.

Here they are. First, Moody was a fully surrendered man. Henry Varley, an intimate friend of Moody, once said to him; “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him.” Moody’s immediate response was, “Well, I will be that man!” Secondly, Moody was a man of prayer. He believed God would answer his prayers, and met every difficulty in this assurance. Thirdly, Moody was a deep and practical student of the Bible. He knew the Book through and through. His book Pleasure and Profit in Bible Study is a revelation of the delight this great-hearted man had in the Word of God. His life was Bible-enriched, his ministry was Bible-based. Fourthly, Moody was a humble man. His outstanding success did not turn his head. He moved among all classes, high and low, with a simple dignity and unaffected grace. Fifthly, Moody was entirely free from the love of money. He loved to gather money for God’s work; he refused to accumulate it for himself. In his time he handled millions of dollars, but they simply passed through his fingers and did not stick to them. Sixthly, Moody had a consuming passion for the lost. He not only preached to the masses, he witnessed to individuals. He could not sleep unless he had personally witnessed to at least one person during the day. Seventhly, Moody was endued with power from on high. A tremendous experi­ence with God changed his whole life: his ministry was galvanised, his preaching became irresistible.

So Dr. Torrey. But I would like to add two more points. One is that D. L. Moody possessed remarkable natural talents, which, when devoted to God, became the basis of a virile and forceful ministry. Secondly, he was a “chosen vessel”, a gift of Christ to His church, a man for the hour. There is a ripeness of time as well as a richness of personality that jointly make for epochal effects. When these two meet in the providence of God, the result is overwhelming.

You wish to be used of God? There is a part that depends on you - capacity for service developed by consecrated activities. There is a part that depends on God His empowerment, His sovereign will. Do your part by giving your life wholly to God; God will perform His part, to His own glory.

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

WORSHIP IS GIVING

“Honour the Lord with thy substance” - Proverbs 3:9, 10

God does not need our gifts, why then does He demand them? For three reasons: First, that we should acknowledge the source of all our benefits: the source of our very giving is God Himself. Secondly, that we should never take for granted the things we enjoy. Thirdly, that we should learn that life is giving and receiving. Giving is life in motion, life flowing and fresh, devoid of stagnation.

Give to God.  The writer evidently refers to the Law of Tithing, whereby Israel were expected to give God one tenth of all their increase - Leviticus 27: 30 added to this was the special offering of first fruits - Deut 18: 4, 26: 2. But before the law of tithing came the grace of giving. Abraham established the principle of tithing - Genesis 14: 20 and Jacob endorsed it - Genesis 28: 22. The law simply emphasized this ancient practice. It is evident that the rite of tithe - paying belonged primarily to the Melchizedek Priesthood and was adopted into the Levitical order. This latter order no longer obtains to Christian, but the former still abides. Tithing is still an act of gratitude to which the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham are wise to conform. It was God’s way of maintaining spiritual ministry, of sustaining the needy and of linking rich and poor in the fellowship of liberality. Like the magi of old - Matthew 2:11 we worship God when we open up our treasures and present unto Him gifts.          

And God will give to you. it is not that we give to get, it is that an open heart can receive as well as distribute. Giving dispels the clouds of selfishness and lets God’s sunshine in. It is instructive to note how this increase comes. Full barns and bursting vats imply an abundant harvest - and harvest speaks of honest toil. The lesson is that piety, shown in acknowledgement of God’s providence, is profitable in that our labours are fruitful. And look at the cumulative affect; more produces more. Full barns endow the giver with more power to give; overflowing wine-presses provide greater opportunity to celebrate with others the bounty of God. This principle is seen in the fact that a second, and even a third tithe would be possible so that not only God’s ministers but many needy people would benefit.

PRAYER:

Make me a giver as well as a receiver, 0 Lord.

“FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE .

Spurgeon speaks of a couple on honeymoon as exhaust­ing the honey and leaving nothing but moonshine. Marriage can be full of disillusionment. You wed a vision; she turns out to be a dream: you marry a man, and find him a mouse. The person you felt you could not live without you now find it impossible to live with. What shall you do? Opt out? No. Remember your solemn vow - “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer; in sickness or in health, till death us do part.’, you meant it, of course, but at the time those words had a pink aura of romanticism; now you face them in stark reality. What you pledged at the altar must now be fulfilled in life.

The power that will take you through life is love -true love. The four elements of married love are first mutual physical attraction. This is the basis of the “one-flesh” union that makes a true marriage. Under­standing and acceptance of this side of marriage is essential to keep it afloat. But marriage is more than sex; there is also mutual respect. Where this is denied, living together becomes irksome. But respect must be earned. The normal courtesies of life should not be denied our partner in marriage. Acts of consideration help to smooth the frequent rugged path.

Then comes mutual trust. Jealousy in married folk is lethal to good relations. Whether husband and wives should hold secrets from each other depends on the nature of the secret. A wise woman will not pry too much; a shrewd man will respect the privacy of his partner. A fourth element is acceptance of the inevitable. We should be prepared to accept our spouses for what they are, not for what we think they should be. What can be improved, let us improve; what cannot be changed, let us accept: and let us pray for wisdom to know the difference. To dwell on what might have been can destroy the good that is.

These four elements supplement each other. If they are present, marriage will be a success. But what of a breakdown. Well, a pilot learns to keep his plane in the air if one or even two of his four engines fail. So if some aspect of your marriage breaks down, it is better to struggle on under difficulties than to crash-land in divorce. Divorce is not a solution, it is a catastrophe: for Christians it should be an unthinkable impossibility.

“For better, for worse.” If husband and wife truly love each other - accepting the responsibilities of marriage, without making undue demands; respecting each others personality; trusting each other implicitly; accepting each other for what we are - the marriage-tie can absorb the shocks of life, of adverse circumstances or cruel reverses. If added to all this there is trust in the One in whose Presence our vows were made, nothing can untie the bond.

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

WORSHIP IS GIVING

“Honour the Lord with thy substance” - Proverbs 3 :9, 10

God does not need our gifts, why then does He demand them? For three reasons: First, that we should acknowledge the source of all our benefits: the source of our very giving is God Himself. Secondly, that we should never take for granted the things we enjoy. Thirdly, that we should learn that life is giving and receiving. Giving is life in motion, life flowing and fresh, devoid of stagnation.

Give to God.  The writer evidently refers to the Law of Tithing, whereby Israel was expected to give God one tenth of all their increase - Leviticus 27:30 added to this was the special offering of first fruits Deuteronomy 18:4, 26:2. But before the law of tithing came the grace of giving. Abraham established the principle of tithing - Genesis 14:20 and Jacob endorsed it - Genesis 28:22. The law simply emphasised this ancient practice. It is evident that the rite of tithe - paying belonged primarily to the Melchizedek Priesthood and was adopted into the Levitical order. This latter order no longer obtains to Christian, but the former still abides. Tithing is still an act of attitude to which the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham are wise to conform. It was God’s way of maintaining spiritual ministry, of sustaining the needy and of linking rich and poor in the fellowship of liberality. Like the Magi of old, we WORSHIP God when we open up of treasures and present unto Him gifts – Matthew 2: 11.

And God will give to you. it is not that we give to get, it is that an open heart can receive as well as distribute. Giving dispels the clouds of selfishness and lets God’s sunshine in. It is instructive to note how this increase comes. Full barns and bursting vats imply an abundant harvest - and harvest speaks of honest toil. The lesson is that piety, shown in acknowledgement of God’s providence, is profitable in that our labours are fruitful. And look at the cumulative affect; more produces more. Full barns endow the giver with more power to give; overflowing wine-presses provide greater opportunity to celebrate with others the bounty of God. This principle is seen in the fact that a second and even a third tithe would be possible so that not only God’s ministers but many needy people would benefit.

PRAYER:

Make me a giver as well as a receiver, 0 Lord.

MUZZLED OXEN

“Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn”, quotes Paul on two occasions. Both times have to do with the support of pastors. The original purpose of this injunction was that animals might receive humane treatment from their owners, but the apostle gives it deeper intent. It is that those who labour for others in the Gospel should be adequately provided for. They should be counted “worthy of double honour”, or as the Living New Testament has it, “Pastors who do their work well should be paid well.” The expression “double honour”, as the New English Bible points out, really means double stipend”. Does this mean double what he is getting, or double what the average member earns? Or should they be “considered worthy of ‘receiving double pay” (T.E.V.), whether they actually get it or not?

The ox is a type of patient, plodding service. With his shoulder to the yoke he treads steadily on, threshing the corn that others may eat. What benefits come to hungry bellies by this enduring toil. A vital part of a pastor’s ministry is preparing sermons. If he is to teach well, he must study well. Even the apostles with all their spiritual qualities found it necessary to give themselves to “prayer and the ministry of the word”. But if a pastor is to nourish his people, he must be nourished himself -”nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine”. A well-fed pastor is better able to feed his people. Have you thought of making your pastor an allowance for books? Must he be denied these expensive essentials for his mental equipment? Do you muzzle him?

But preaching is only part of a minister’s necessary equipment. He is a social figure and should be decently attired. Must your pastor look out of place among other social figures because of his lack of means? Is he embarrassed because he is a muzzled ox? Then again, another important segment of his ministry is visiting. Does your pastor receive an allowance to cover this expensive item? Why not do better still and put him on wheels? And what about the telephone? Every pastor should be on the ‘phone, and every church should pay for him to be so. In times of crisis this service is in­valuable.

“The ox that treadeth out the corn.” To be fair, these words are spoken of working pastors - not mere hirelings. Unless he treads out the corn of spiritual bread to feed God’s needy people, a pastor is not worth his wages. A farmer would not keep a work-shy ox, he would butcher it If ministers expect the remuneration and respect due to the ministry, they should work for it. The pastorate should not be regarded as a sinecure, but as a vocation. It is only as we work like an ox that we can ask to be unmuzzled. Diligent pastor; satisfied flock: satisfied sheep, prosperous shepherd.

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

LOVE AND LOYALTY

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee” - Proverbs 3:3, 4

There are elemental virtues that form the basis of all relationships, of which mercy and truth are chief.  “Mercy” is from the Hebrew word Chesed, often translated “loving kindness”. It has its roots in love, and expresses overflowing tenderness toward others. “Truth” here carries with it the thought of steadfastness, of faithfulness, of loyalty. These twin graces are characteristics of God’s relationship to man - cf Genesis 24:27, Exodus 34:6 and are also basic to human relationships Proverbs 16:6, 20:28. Love produces fellowship and loyalty preserves it, whether it is between God and man, or man with his fellow.

Relationships established. Men differ in thought, in temperament, it disposition, in gift. In many ways we are incompatible. But love can iron out these differences and become a catalyst that joins opposites together. The reason is that love supplies the things we all need and seek for: attention, care, recognition, appreciation. Basically we are emotional rather than rational beings. If our deep instinctive needs are met we can be happy. Reason may give meaning to life, but emotion gives colour; thought may direct our living, but feeling deepens it.

Relationships maintained. We should wear kindness and truth as an ornament, we should have them etched on our inner consciousness. If love settles relationship, loyalty sustains it. Peter speaks of binding humility on one’s person as a servant knots on an apron to serve his master -1 Peter 5: 5 gentleness and grace should adorn us as a garment and equip us to minister to others. Such holy demeanour and saintly service attracts God’s attention and radiates good will to men.

Relationships repaired. Those in whose lives mercy and truth dwell exercise an influence for good. They generate generosity, promote peace, resolve differences and mediate understanding. We live in a day of broken homes, broken lives, broken careers, broken hearts. Men and women full of “mercy and truth” become menders of broken things, their love and their loyalty influence people to pick up the pieces and start again, to build up a mosaic out of the shattered remnants of their painful past. God’s mercy can forgive, God’s truth can sustain.

PERSONAL PENTECOST

It was on April the 3rd, 1925, on a Friday night, that the Lord baptized me in the Holy Spirit. I had been seeking for over three months - but now at last the blessing had come. It was a normal weeknight service, but toward the end opportunity was provided for anyone seeking the Lord, and I was among a small group who knelt at the front of the hall. I was desperate. “Let your English go”, counselled the Elder who prayed with me. I did. I felt strange words coming into my thoughts, then on my lips. I articulated these unusual sounds. Then it seemed as if the Lord stood above me pouring liquid glory into my soul. I could feel it rising within me. The more I was filled the louder I spoke, ranging from a voiceless whisper to a vociferous, triumphant shout. I had been baptized with the Spirit - a positive experi­ence. I knew - others knew - for they heard me “speak with tongues and magnify God”.

Looking back over 45 years of Pentecostal experience, what things stand out? What has the baptism in the Holy Spirit meant to me?

First, His coming into my life added reality to my Christian experience. The presence of the Lord became excitingly near. Prayer, often accompanied with speaking with tongues, was a delight, fellowship with other Pentecostals, a strength and joy. I attended as many meetings as possible. We did not have special meetings for youth in those days: we did not seem to need them; there was no distinction in our worship and service between old and young.

Secondly, there was revelation. The Bible became a new book. I knew its stories before and could quote some popular texts, but now I had a yearning to know, an eagerness to search after, and a delight to discover the truth of God. For many months I read nothing but the Bible, which became to me a book of wonders. Of course, I couldn’t keep it to myself. I began to preach. At 16 years of age I gave my first address: simple, brief, direct, but blessed - to me at least.

Thirdly, there was power. No, I did not become a miracle-worker. But there was power: power to help me overcome a crippling shyness, power to enable me to persist through the stress and strain of teenage and young manhood, power that gave my life a sense of direction. I was studying for a career, but there came a strong pull from my chosen calling. I responded, gave up my secular studies for sacred pursuits. The outcome was inevitable; I became more and more absorbed in the things of God. There came a missionary call, a period in Hampstead Bible School, then adventure into pastoral ministry.

All that I am today I owe to that Friday evening when God filled me with His Spirit. My personal Pentecost -still as real as ever - has meant everything to me.

PRAYER:

Make me an instrument of love, a messenger of truth, 0 Lord!

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

LIFE AND PEACE

“Long life, and peace, shall they add to thee” – Proverbs 3:1 2

“Forget not my law”, a son should ever keep in memory his father’s words, so we should have etched on our minds the law of God. “Laws” implies a law giver, an authority we should obey. The laws of God are the very principles of being: we should honour them. “Let thine heart keep my commandments”. A true son not only obeys his father in principle but also in practice particular directions should be enacted from the heart, with attention and affection. Such active response always commands God’s approval. Life takes on a different meaning when we do the will of God.

A pure life. The Word of God keeps us clean from debasing habits, from corrupting ideas and from debilitating ways. 1′Length of days1′ implies the connection of holiness and health: to live by the principles of scripture is to enjoy richer physical existence: purity is therapeutic.

A plus life. “And peace”. The Hebrew for “peace” (shalom) is a very rich term. To quote Rabbi A Cohen: “Shalom” is a comprehensive term meaning ‘Wholeness’, all the factors which make existence complete and worth while. Health, prosperity and a happy domestic life lose that value when conditions threaten their destruction. Consequently the supreme blessing which God can bestow is peace, since it is the foundation upon which everything desirable rests”. The experience that God grants us on obedience to his word is life and peace, a plus life, a life of boundless benefits.

A positive life. “Length of days and long life”. Is this tautology or is it rather a divine indication to look at life from different angles. “Length of days” equates life with quantity: we live longer when we serve the Lord, for he who follows divine precepts helps to preserve good health.  But “long life” adds another thought. To obey God’s laws is the secret of happiness, giving to life quality. “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim 4:8). To belong to Christ is not merely to know forgiveness of sins, it is also to be assured of spiritual benefits throughout this life and hope of still fuller enjoyment in the life to come. Eternal life is not mere long-lasting existence, it is the life of God - intense and deep.

PRAYER:        

May my life be filled with thy peace today and alway, 0 Lord.

LIFE IN DEPTH

It so happened that once, during the course of my reading, each book covered the same historical period. They were: “A History of English Literature” by Legouis and Cazamian, Warner and Martin’s “Groundwork of British History”, and “The Reformation in England”, by d’Aubigne. It was quite an experience to view history from the three dimensions of politics, culture and religion. But is not this how history should be studied? History is life; and life has many dimensions.

How often we judge people by a superficial encounter The man I meet at business, on the golf course, or at the social is not the whole man. An urbane clerk may be an irascible father, a precise secretary an indulgent mother. Man is such a complexity that he can only be understood by a multi-dimensional appreciation. Victorian biographies often suffered from a selection of flattering incidents and honeyed comments. How easily were they debunked. No saint is without flaw. The superiority of Bible biography is that it paints its characters “warts and all”.

What a manifold creature is man! He may be described from seven aspects. First, there is economic man, for men must live; then comes political man, men must live together, and to do so requires laws of society; then scientific man, men must live widely, increasing knowledge expands his experience; then recreational man, for if life is too tense it is unliveable; then aesthetic man, with literature, music and the arts enriching his life; then ethical man, for men must live wisely in addition to living well To all this we must add religious man, for as good be­haviour enhances the quality of life, so belief in God helps man to see meaning in life and to fulfill his mission on earth.

And all these must co-exist. This composite man is the only complete man. If he is dominated by economics, he merely exists he does not live; if by politics to the exclusion of other interests, his life may have breadth but not depth; if he lives for art alone his life may be colourful but dread-fully unreal; if science possesses him, he may be intellectu­ally alive but emotionally sterile; if all he thinks of is. recreation, he may have fun, but there will be more froth than substance about his behaviour. All these things play a part, but to them must be added morality to make life worth living, and spirituality to give it piquancy and purpose.

The teaching of Jesus offers these latter ingredients to complete human-hood. In His great Sermon on the Mount He lays down the principles of the “Blessed Life” - humility, sensitiveness, meekness, passion for justice, mercy, sincerity, pacification. What a catena of loveliness! These qualities may excite hostility in a sinful world - for what exposes moral crookedness so much as upright living! - but to enjoy them is to know “the Kingdom of Heaven”, the rule of God in one’s life - heaven upon earth.

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

THE WAY OF GOOD MEN

“Walk in the way of good men” - Proverbs 2:20-22

Admonition has its uses, its oftimes negative approach is a preservation. It tell of ways we should not go, and warms of moral cul-de-sac, paths that lead nowhere. We should obey spiritual road signs on the way to Glory.

Wisdom’s call is spatial, it adds new dimension to living. Those who respond are upright, that is morally perpendicular and righteous, that is straight, or morally horizontal: a life that reaches upward and a life that stretches outward. Men of principle are men of influence.

Wisdom’s call is “settlemental“, it produces not only motion in “the way of good men” and “the paths of the righteous”, but it promises settlement “in the land”. To walk in the way of good men brings us into the “land of promise” where God’s blessings permanently abide. The Christian life is both progress and rest. The same epistle that exhorts us to enter into God’s rest also exhorts us to run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb 4:11, 12:1). Resting and running may be concomitant.

Wisdom’s call is separational, it divides men into responders and rejecters. On the one side are the “good”, that is, those whose disposition inclines them to follow the Lord, and the “perfect”, that is those who are steadfastly loyal to God and resolute against all temptation to unfaithfulness. They make the right decision and maintain it devotedly. On the other side are the “wicked”, whose disposition is evil, whose morals are distorted, whose character is bent, and “transgressors” who actively cross the line from decency to indecency, from the will of God to the whim of the flesh, from moral truth to moral turpitude. These “shall be cut off from the earth”, that is, they will forfeit all the benefits that God promises to those who love him and be “plucked up” from all those blessings that make godly living so enjoyable.

Those who seek to live after God’s order are often accused of avid negativism; but there are things a follower of Christ cannot do, should not do, will not do. The first principle of discipleship is a negative denial of self - Matt 16:24, 25 but it leads to a very positive experience of spiritual benefits. Self-abnegation is a prelude to self-absorption in God: t( thus lose our life is to gain it to life eternal.

PRAYER:   May I answer wisdom’s call, 0 Lord, to walk in the way of good men.

DOUBLE THINK

George Orwell, well-known author of Animal Farm, wrote: ‘Double think means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously and accepting them both.” I don’t know the context of this definition, but the concept has tremendous implications.

Double think is a denial of logic, which asserts that a thing cannot both be and not be at the same time. But life is larger than logic. We need to systematize thought, but concepts were there long before they were regi­mented.

But it is as we approach spiritual things that logic becomes less valid. To reason-bound pedants the actions of Christians border on mania. Jesus was accused of being “beside Himself”, that is, out of His mind. Paul’s passionate seeking after the lost and the appalling risks he took to reach them was regarded by some as sheer lunacy. His testimony before Agrippa wrung from Governor Festus the scornful ejaculation, “Paul, you are mad I”" I am not mad, most noble Festus”, was the nonchalant reply, “but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.”

And yet Festus had a point. Christians live in another world, under the laws of Christ. Judged by the lesser laws of men - we are mad. We see the invisible, we hear voiceless words, we know the love of Christ “which passeth knowledge”, we enjoy “peace that passeth all understanding”, we rejoice with joy unspeakable. The nearer we get to spiritual things the less logic seems to apply. Paul could describe himself as “less than the least of all saints”. Illogical. Ungrammatical. I But it was the only way he could express his feeling of humility. At the other end of the scale he could speak of seeing things “which it is not lawful for a man to utter”. Spiritual life is fraught with experiences too much for words, experiences beyond the power of logic to analyze or the reason to define - but real enough.

Double think: Is it too illogical to accept two contra­dictory propositions at the same time? Relativity poses that if we proceed in a straight line far enough we shall describe a circle. Is light a series of waves or a procession of particles? Why not both at once! Apply this double think to doctrine. Jesus is God: Jesus is man. He is completely both at the same time without diminishing the perfection of either. A mystery? Yes, but faith grasps hold of what logic gasps at. Take the age-old controversy between fatalism and freedom, determinism or free-will, Calvinism or Arminianism. Are not both sides true - but only true together and not apart?

And so we could go on. Logic is essential, but its use is relative. There are areas in which it ceases to be valid. We must serve God “with all our mind”, but there are planes of experience that rise above reason.

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

JIGSAW PUZZLES

Jigsaw puzzles have been with us for 200 years. They were originally used to teach history, geography and religion to children; the earliest jigsaws were maps cut into pieces. They took on. Jigsaw puzzles left the strict realm of education for that of entertainment. Their popularity is such that 1 7 million were sold last year.

The name ‘jigsaw” comes from the type of fretsaw used to cut the early puzzles. Modern puzzles comprise hundreds of interlocking pieces. Their fascination lies in creating order out of the chaotic jumble of apparently meaningless bits, the skilful matching of shape and colour until the complete picture finally emerges.

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Its many pieces often seem to bear little relationship to each other, and it is some­times difficult for us to trace any purpose in what happens to us. But to those who love God there is a purpose, often concealed from us, but silently working all the time.

How blessed to see this purpose unfolding. There are times when piece fits piece so aptly that we know that we are on the right way to solving the puzzle. Prayer and answer link together so closely, promise and fulfil­lment hang so nearly, precept and experience prove so bound together. It is not always so, alas! But do not try to force the pieces together. God’s plan, when revealed, fits easily. It is good, and perfect and accept­able.

A practised jigsaw fan always follows closely the picture that comes with the puzzle. This is what the finished product looks like: it is his guide to completion. By following the indications thus provided he is able to add piece to piece and approach the perfect image of the pattern. How good to see the picture grow, to see semblances of recognisable features, indications of rational shapes I We have our pattern of life. It is the full-length portrait of Jesus in the Bible - the Living Word embodied in the written word. As we follow this, we shall see God’s predetermined purpose for us taking shape - “to be conformed to the image of His Son”.

We may not see all the pieces in position in this life, but the “puzzle” of our being will be completed one day, the last bits being added at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Then we shall say with A. R. Cousins:

I’ll bless the hand that guided,  I’ll bless the heart that planned,

When throned where glory dwelleth   In Immanuel’s land.

DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL WOMEN

“To deliver thee from strange women” -Proverbs 2:16-19

God made male and female so that a man and a woman might fulfill His will in holy wedlock, enjoying sweet companionship, sharing life’s benefits, yoked in happy service, finding complete fulfillment in each other. But sinful women, for personal advantage, exploit the God-endowed instinct of sex, and set a trap for unwary males.

Five evil qualities mark this immoral woman. First, she is “strange”.  That is, she belongs to another, for all women in those days were pledged to some man. She is also a stranger to virtue, her chastity bartered for illicit pleasure. She certainly is a stranger to God. Secondly, she is a flatterer. With soothing tongue she beguiles her victim into submission to her passion. As Delilah lulled Samson to sleep and robbed him of his strength, so this woman exerts those tender wiles that make females so attractive, to lure the passing stranger to her den of shame. Thirdly, she forsakes her husband, whose lordship she despises, and forgets the covenant of marriage made in the presence of God. A woman who yields to the passion of sexual desire loses all sense of morality and religion. She is prepared to sacrifice the boon of married bliss and the blessing of God to gratify her lust. Fretting at the yoke matrimony, she contrives a life of deceit and infamy. Fourthly, her house becomes a brothel. What should have been a love-nest is now an immoral resort, what was a home has become an annex of hell. Foul deeds, fetid disease and spiritual death issue from the place that should have been the site of chastity and love. Fifthly, her grip on her patrons is deadlv. It is easy to take the first step on the road to immorality, but the path is slippery, and once set on this downward track there is little hope of return. “Neither take they hold on the path of life” - sexual diversion is damning to the soul, ruinous to the reputation, destructive of character and shattering of real personality into a form of slavery, a subservience to our baser selves.

The disciple of wisdom is expected to live a chaste life, for chastity is part of that sanctification that enables us to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, acceptable in His sight.

PRAYER

Keep me clean, 0 Lord, that I may serve thee with untarnished love.