The Testimony of Richard Wurmbrand
Richard Wurmbrand testified that Moldoveanu was “one of the greatest saints I met in my 14 years of prison. He came smiling from the torture room. His approach was that of a lamb. While I was protesting against the guard’s abuses, against others, or myself, he never protested.”

Resistance Through Singing
Indeed, the steadfast faith of Nicolae Moldoveanu and his resistance to atheist indoctrination and communist torture came through composing and singing great Hymns of the Faith. Most of the hymns sung in Evangelical Churches in Romania today are Nicolae Moldoveanu’s compositions.

From Poverty to the Military
Nicolae Moldoveanu was born 3 February 1922, to a very poor family. He lost his father by the age of 3 and his only opportunity for education came through enlisting in the military programme, called The Army’s Children, at age 12. These destitute children lived on military bases to serve the soldiers. Due to his love for music, Nicolae Moldoveanu was soon enrolled in the Military Brass Ensemble. The band director recognised his extraordinary talents and helped him develop his musical abilities.

The Lord’s Army
Nicolae wrote: “I am now seeing God's hand in everything that has happened in my life…” He soon joined “The Lord’s Army,” a Reformed branch of the Greek Orthodox Church that emphasised the need for being born again, Repentance and having a personal relationship with Christ.

Conversion to Christ
Soon after joining The Lord’s Army, Moldoveanu experienced a conversion to Christ and began to publish musical compositions called Village’s Light. Nicolae Moldoveanu survived the Second World War, enriching the lives of fellow soldiers with great Hymns of the Faith.

Fasting for a Bible
During the war, for a whole month, he sold his daily rations of milk and bread, in order to afford to buy his first Bible.
Communist Persecution
In 1948, the communist regime of Romania, declared The Lord’s Army illegal and arrested all its leaders. Nicolae Moldoveanu continued to worship in secret, but in 1959, he was arrested and sentenced to twelve years in prison.

Look to the Sky
On the day of his arrest, Nicolae whispered to his wife, Lena: “Look at the skies. It will be the only thing we can share while separated.” For many months, Nicolae was not able to see the sky as he was incarcerated in an underground cell. When he was later moved into a cell that was above ground, it had a broken window, but in spite of the bitter winter cold, he rejoiced that he could share the view of the same sky with his wife, Lena, far away.

Fellowship of Prisoners
In prison, Nicolae Moldoveanu’s best friends were Traian Dorz, a prolific Romanian Christian poet from The Lord’s Army and Richard Wurmbrand, who would become the Author of Tortured for Christ and the Founder of the Voice of the Martyrs ministry. Both Richard Wurmbrand and Nicolae Moldoveanu praised each other for how their encouragement and ministry helped sustain them through excruciating torture.

Steadfast Perseverance Under Persecution
For more than 62 years, God enriched the faith of Romanian Christians through the uncompromising Christian testimony, courage and steadfastness of Nicolae Moldoveanu and the rich treasury of over 6,000 Hymns he gave to the Church. He stood fast during 45 years of Romania’s darkest years under communist persecution. Even when the communists broke the bones in his fingers, Nicolae Moldoveanu re-learned to play the piano later, despite his fingers being mangled.

Triumph Despite Torture
One of Nicolae’s compositions was entitled: Break my Will, Even with Heavy Blows. Other titles of Moldoveanu’s Hymns include: Only Grace; If We Gather Together in the Lord; Don’t Doubt, But Believe! Teach Me to Do Your Will; I Sing to You My God and Break My Plans. Christians in Romania are still singing the hymns God gave Nicolae Moldoveanu while in prison, sixty years ago.

A Sacrifice of Praise
"Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name." Hebrews 13:15.

Fanny Crosby – The Queen of Gospel Songwriters
Born in 1820, of Puritan ancestry, a descendant of Mayflower Settlers, Mustard treatment on an inflammation of her eyes led to damage of the optic nerves and life-long blindness for Fanny. Despite her blindness, Fanny Crosby became one of the most prolific Hymn writers in history, composing more than 8,000 Hymns and Gospel songs. More than 100 Million copies were printed in her lifetime. She was described as “The Mother of Modern Congregational Singing in America.”

Inspiring and Convicting
Ira Sankey attributed the success of D.L. Moody and Sankey’s Evangelistic campaigns, largely to Crosby’s Hymns, including: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour; Blessed Assurance; To God Be the Glory; Praise Him, Praise Him; Rescue the Perishing and many others.

Thankful for Her Blindness
She wrote: “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life and I thank Him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung Hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me. When I get to Heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of My Saviour.”

Phenomenal Memory
According to her biographer, Annie Willis: “Had it not been for her affliction, she might not have had so good an education, or so great an influence and certainly not so fine a memory.” Fanny Crosby memorised five chapters of the Bible each week from age 10. By age 15, she had memorised the four Gospels, the first five Books of the Old Testament, the Book of Proverbs and many of the Psalms.

An Accomplished Musician, Public Speaker and Activist
She learned to play the piano, organ, harp and guitar and became a good soprano singer. In 1943, Fanny Crosby became the first woman to speak to the United States Senate where she read a poem.

Inner City Missionary
She was a vigorous campaigner for the Temperance Society’s Campaign Against Alcohol Abuse and supported The American Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless. While Fanny Crosby is best known for her hymns, she was primarily a Rescue Mission worker in the inner city. For decades, Fanny Crosby lived in slum areas of Manhattan, such as Hells’ Kitchen, the Bowery and the Tenderloin. As soon as she received payment for contributions for publication or concerts, she donated all proceeds to Missions, to reach the poorest and most needy people in society. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night." Psalm 92:1-2.

Imagine Living in Darkness and Silence
When I lead tour groups to the Castle of Good Hope, it is most telling when I shut the door to the dungeon and switch off the light. Immediately there are gasps, shouts and screams from people being exposed to complete darkness for not even a minute. Imagine living your entire life in complete darkness and silence. That was how life was for Helen Keller.

Helen Keller – A Light in Darkness
Born, 27 June 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, an illness took away Helen Keller’s hearing and sight when she was only 19 months old. With her family not being able to communicate with her, they viewed her as wild and uncontrollable. However, in 1887, Anne Sullivan became Helen Keller’s teacher and through finger spelling w-a-t-e-r into Helen’s hand while pumping water over Helen’s hand for her to feel, had a breakthrough, which led Helen to learn how to communicate and read with her fingers. At age 24, she graduated from Red Cliff College in 1904 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Helen became a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. She travelled to over 40 countries and famously stated that deafness was a greater affliction than blindness.

You Should Experience Blindness for a Few Days
Helen Keller said: "I have often thought that it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days for some time during his early adult life. It would make him more appreciative of sight and of the joys of sound." "Give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light." Colossians 1:12.

Do You Recognise the Many Blessings God Has Granted You?
Do you appreciate the incredible blessings of sight and sound? Surrounded by such wonderful nature, able to see sights like Table Mountain and to have the legs and health to climb these mountains. When did you last thank God for your hands, legs, eyes, ears, sense, sound, taste, for music, for sunshine, for nature, for the birds that sing, for the wild animals, the sea life, the whales and the dolphins, the eagles and the lions?

Have You Thanked God?
Have you ever thanked God for His mercy, grace and undeserved favour?
Have you thanked God for His matchless blessings through regeneration, repentance, faith and adoption as a child of God?
Have you thanked God for His forgiveness and for the privilege of being His servant and His soldier?

Sin is a Result of a Lack of Gratitude
People would not steal if they were grateful to God for His provision. People would not commit adultery if they were grateful for the spouse God has given them.

Appreciation for Our Parents
Civilisation is built upon gratitude to God and recognition of our debts to previous generations. My appreciation for my parents has only grown in leaps and bounds as I became a parent and for the first time came to understand something of what my parents had sacrificed for me. As Professor Martin Luther declared: “There is no love so sacrificial and unselfish as that of a parent.”

Reformation Heritage
We have a great debt to great Reformers such as Professor Martin Luther for championing the great principles of freedom of conscience, freedom of worship, freedom of thought and calling us back to the Bible as the sole foundation for all truth and education. Scripture alone is the ultimate authority.

Back to the Bible
We have so much to be grateful to Reformer Ulrich Zwingli for dispensing with the Latin mass and initiating Biblical Exposition, preaching through every verse, chapter and book of the Bible, applying the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life.

The Bible in Our Own Language
Everyone who has an English Bible should be grateful to William Tyndale, who gave his life, burned at the stake, that we could have the Bible available in our own language.

Life and Liberty
The people of India have a tremendous debt of gratitude to Missionary William Carey, who ended widow-burning, the burning of lepers and the sacrifice of infants; and for pioneering the first schools for girls, the first Christian college in Asia, for translating the Bible and New Testament Gospels into 35 languages!

Faith and Freedom
All of us are deeply indebted to Missionary explorer, David Livingstone, for opening up Africa for the Gospel and for exposing and campaigning to end the rampant Islamic slave trade.

Love in Action
All Nigerians should be grateful to Missionary Mary Slessor, for campaigning tirelessly to end the killing of twins, campaigning against the slave trade, cannibalism and drunkenness, for pioneering Christian schools and planting churches in remote regions of Nigeria.

Setting the Captives Free
We have much to be grateful for, to Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce for his life-long crusade to end the slave trade and to set the captives free.

Enriched and Empowered
All of our lives have been enriched by the Devotional writings of Andrew Murray and the Biblical preaching of Charles Spurgeon. There are so many inventors and innovators whose life’s work have made our lives richer and healthier.

Francis Grim of Hospital Christian Fellowship
As an author, I have the opportunity to dedicate books to people who have been a blessing to me. One of my first books, In the Killing Fields of Mozambique was dedicated to Francis Grim, the Founder and President of Hospital Christian Fellowship (now Healthcare Christian Fellowship International). It was my great privilege to receive my initial missionary apprenticeship under this great missionary pioneer, who proclaimed the Gospel and established missions in over 110 countries. It was Francis Grim who taught me to pray for world Evangelism, in days of prayer and nights of prayer. I am further grateful for his demanding high standards of excellence from all his staff. Francis Grim’s unwillingness to tolerate less than our best and his determination not to accept excuses has continued to inspire me to overcome all obstacles and achieve what others said was impossible.

Professor Fritz Haus
I dedicated the Old Testament Survey to Dr. Fritz Haus, who taught me to see Christ in every Book of the Old Testament. Dr. Fritz Haus was a God-fearing, dedicated Christian Missionary, a veteran of the Second World War, he led Bible studies and prayer meetings on the Eastern Front and in North Africa. For over 60 years, he planted churches throughout South Africa. As Professor of the Old Testament at Baptist Theological College, in Cape Town, Dr. Fritz Haus introduced me to the doctrines of the Reformation and the Christology of the Old Testament.

Brent Noebel and His Vision for Sudan
I dedicated the third edition of Faith Under Fire in Sudan to Brent Noebel, who was a good friend and great inspiration. Brent was a living testimony of perseverance and endurance under terribly adverse circumstances. Although blind for the last 21 years of his life, Brent’s vision for the suffering Christians in Sudan mobilised thousands of Summit students to become the greatest single sponsor of Bibles for Sudan and film Evangelism in Sudan. By God's grace, there are today, many tens of thousands of South Sudanese and Nubans, who have seen and heard the Gospel graphically portrayed through the Jesus film and/or through the God Story VCD presentations and many tens-of-thousands who received copies of the Scriptures, because of the vision of Brent Noebel and the sacrificial love and generosity of the students and staff of Summit ministries, who Brent inspired and mobilised to do without a few luxuries and donate the money that they would have spent on Starbucks coffee, etc. for Bibles, for Frontline Fellowship to deliver to Sudan.

“I Once Was Blind, But Now I See!”
Brent Noebel went to be with the Lord 18 July 2002, but the impact of his missionary vision and sacrificial generosity continue to echo throughout eternity. Brent did not allow his blindness to prevent him from reaching and blessing hundreds-of-thousands of Christians in faraway Sudan. As his favourite hymn, Amazing Grace, declares: “I once was blind, but now I see!”

The Nuba Evangelist Who Had No Feet
I think of the Nuba Evangelist in Sudan, who I met. Despite having had both his feet axed off at the ankles by malicious Muslims, he continued to walk on his knees, or ride on a donkey, to evangelise his neighbours. The Bible declares: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring Good News.” This brother had no feet and yet he did not allow that to prevent him from reaching, blessing and benefiting his neighbours and even his enemies with the Gospel of Christ. What excuse do we have?

Persecuted Christians Provide Perspective on our Problems
For many people their problems consist of: What shall I prepare for supper? Many of the people that I have ministered amongst have no such problems as they have no food.
For many people the dilemma that consumes them is: What shall I wear? Many thousands of the people that I have ministered amongst have only one tattered garment to wear.
What Bible translation should I use? Well, for most of the people in the world, there is only one translation available and many millions do not even have access to that.
In Africa there are over 100 million churchgoers who do not yet have a Bible or New Testament.

“This is the Greatest Gift!”
On numerous occasions, I have heard persecuted Christians in Africa, declare: “This is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive! The Bible in my own language!” I have seen Christians in Angola, Mozambique and Sudan fall on their knees and weep to receive a copy of the Word of God. I have seen people dance, raising the copy of the Bible that I had just given them, high above their heads, while shouting out their thanksgiving and praises to God that their prayers have been answered now they have their own copy of the Word of God, in their own language!

Greedy, Demanding and Ungrateful
All too many people are consumed by the obnoxious habit of demanding! “Give me!” “You must give me!” Often, I have heard “What Christmas do you have for me?” As though Christmas was all about what others can give me, rather than what can I give, first and foremost to the Lord, Whose birthday we are celebrating and then to others, in honour of His great gift. All too many are greedy, demanding, ungrateful, entitled, self-centred and miserable.

Joyful Gratitude in War and Peace
In Leo Tolstoy’s classic War and Peace novel, one of the prominent characters, Platon Karataev, is a joyful Russian peasant who is always giving thanks to God, praying and sharing what little he has with a stray dog and with fellow prisoners around him. Leo Tolstoy stated that he had actually based this character on a poor, but joyful peasant he had met and it occurred to him that this man, who had so little, was far happier, more joyful and at peace, than all the rich men he knew. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Taught Thanksgiving Through Trials and Tribulations
I praise God for my times under fire, under aerial and artillery bombardments, in prison and under intense interrogation, in communist prisons. There is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for freedom, for health, for clean water, for clean sheets, for soap, for the freedom to move and to see God's magnificent creation. To climb Table Mountain and so many other blessings, which I was deprived of and prayed for when in chains and in prison cells. What does God have to do get your attention?

Blasphemous Lack of Gratitude
In typical blasphemous Hollywood fashion, a TV series scripted a line where after the wife had given Thanks for the food, the husband declared: “Why give thanks to God? I’m the one who worked and paid for the food and you are the one who cooked it. So, thanks for nothing, God!” Such foolish, blasphemous and short-sighted wilful blindness is sadly fairly common today. Behind the retailer is the wholesaler and the transporter, whether by vehicle or train, the farmer, the soil, the sun and the rain. Behind all of this is the Hand of God. We should also give thanks to God for our life and health that enables us to work and contribute to the needs of others, while also been able to meet our own family’s needs. "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:8.



Our Duty
"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." Ambrose

A Good Habit
"It ought to be as habitual for us to thank as to ask." C. H. Spurgeon

The Parent of All Virtues
It has been said that a thankful heart is the parent of all virtues.

The Root Sin
It is also true that a lack of gratitude is a root sin: "The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness... for although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:18-21. Here, failure to give thanks to God is the root sin that leads to futile thinking and foolish, darkened hearts.

The Sin of Ingratitude
In Luke 17:7-19, we read of the ten lepers that were healed by the Lord Jesus. When one of them, a Samaritan, threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him, the Lord Jesus asked: "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" In our missions' experience we have also found that barely 10% of those we help, or sponsor, will bother to express their gratitude either verbally, or in a letter, or card. Evidently gratitude is something of a rarity.

One of the Worst Sins
In 1 Timothy 3:1-5 the apostle Paul gives a list of some of the most terrible sins including: "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, traitorous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power." Here ungratefulness is listed in the middle of a litany of horrible sins.

A Fruit of Character
One of the first lessons good parents seek to teach their children is to say "Thank You". It takes character and courage to admit being in debt to others. It is humbling. However, those who cannot admit their indebtedness to others cannot learn, nor can they seek forgiveness.

Maturity
Failure to express gratitude is more than immaturity and rudeness, it is ungodly. We are commanded to honour our parents, our elders and our leaders. It is a sign of maturity to acknowledge indebtedness. Anyone who has learned anything is in debt to somebody else. We are all in debt, firstly and mostly, to God Himself, for our life, health, food, talents, family, friends, opportunities and for our salvation itself. We are also in debt to past generations who have sacrificed for the freedoms we now enjoy: Reformers, martyrs, pioneers, missionaries, soldiers, parents, teachers, pastors and so many others have sacrificed for our benefit.

Pride, Ingratitude and Unteachability
Those who do not take advice do not think they have anything to learn. They are often the same people who have a problem expressing a genuine heartfelt gratitude to others. It is a sign of pride to be ungrateful - it reveals an unwillingness to acknowledge a debt to others.

An Attitude of Entitlement
Instead of the Christian character of gratitude, our present culture prefers to promote an attitude of entitlement. This is the very opposite of gratitude. It builds on pride and covetousness. It is fuelled by bitterness, greed and envy. All too many in the present humanistic society take things for granted, demand to get, rather than seeking to give. "One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly but comes to poverty." Proverbs 11:24.

Taking God's Blessings for Granted
Dr. Martin Luther observed that we exhibit a degree of thankfulness in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessing we have received. In Tabletalk, Dr. Martin Luther wrote: "The greater God's gifts and works, the less they are regarded." The blessings of life, health, freedom and food are not really appreciated unless they are lost, or threatened. Because sunrises and sunsets occur daily, they are taken for granted.

Consider the Stars
Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that "If the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they are there every night, we barely give them a look."

The Hungry and Lonely are More Grateful
Similarly, the blessings of rain are barely appreciated unless one has been through a drought. A hungry man is more thankful for his morsel than a rich man for his heavily laden table. A lonely woman in a nursing home will appreciate a visit more than a popular person who has a party thrown in their honour. A Christian who has suffered under persecution for decades and receives his first copy of the Holy Scriptures will be more thankful for this one book than we are for all the Christian books, Bible translations and magazines that overflow our shelves.

A Biblical Command
There are at least 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of thanksgiving. We are commanded: "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name." Psalm 100:4.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

An Attitude of Gratitude
A grateful mind is a great mind. "Be thankful, therefore, for the least benefit and thou shalt be worthy to receive greater." Thomas a Kempis.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done... Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:8,34

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za
www.LivingstoneFellowship.co.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org.za

The Blessings of Being Hungry and Lonely
Similarly, the blessings of rain are barely appreciated unless one has been through a drought. We in Cape Town barely noticed what a blessing rain is until we were placed under severe water restrictions. A hungry man is more thankful for his morsel than a rich man for his heavily laden table. A lonely woman in a nursing home will appreciate a visit more than a popular person who has a party thrown in their honour. A Christian who has suffered under persecution for decades and receives his first copy of the Holy Scriptures, will be more thankful for this one Book than we are for all the Christian books, Bible translations and magazines that overflow our shelves. As we have heard in the field. “This is the greatest gift anyone could ever ask for – the Word of God in my own language!”
 
You Should Experience Blindness for a Few Days
Helen Keller said: "I have often thought that it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days for some time during his early adult life. It would make him more appreciative of sight and of the joys of sound." In my experience, imprisonment in Zambia and Mozambique and Sudan, greatly enhanced my appreciation for food, water, a clean pillow, soap, safety and freedom. I may appreciate a warm shower and clean sheets more than most, because over many years, I have spent many accumulated years sleeping on the floor, in mud huts, in caves, in bushes and prisons. That dramatically increases one’s appreciation of simple comforts and cleanliness.
 
A Biblical Command
There are at least 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of thanksgiving. We are commanded: "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name." Psalm 100:4.
 
"Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:8.
 
"Give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light." Colossians 1:12.
 
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15.
 
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.
 
A Sacrifice of Praise
"Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name." Hebrews 13:15.
 
Count Your Blessings
“Count your blessings,
Name them two by two.
Count your blessings,
Name them four by four.
Count your blessings,
Name them by the score.
And it will surprise you,
That there are millions more.”
 
Our Duty
"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." Ambrose
 
A Good Habit
"It ought to be as habitual for us to thank, as to ask." C. H. Spurgeon
 
The Parent of All Virtues
It has been said that a thankful heart is the parent of all virtues.
 
The Root Sin
It is also true that a lack of gratitude is a root sin: 
"The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness... for although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:18-21. Here, failure to give thanks to God is the root sin that leads to futile thinking and foolish, darkened hearts. Charles Dicken’s historic novel “A Tale of Two Cities” and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s books document how foolish and darkened hearts can immeasurably worsen life and destroy the lives of millions through futile revolution which began with a lack of gratitude and an attitude of entitlement.
 
The Sin of Ingratitude
In Luke 17:7-19, we read of the ten lepers that were healed by the Lord Jesus. When one of them, a Samaritan, threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him, the Lord Jesus asked: "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" In our missions' experience we have also found that barely one in ten of those we help, or sponsor, will bother to express their gratitude either verbally, or in a letter, or card. Evidently gratitude is something of a rarity.
 
One of the Worst Sins
In 1 Timothy 3:1-5 the apostle Paul gives a list of some of the most terrible sins including: "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, traitorous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power." Here ingratitude is listed in the middle of a litany of horrible sins.
 
A Fruit of Character
One of the first lessons good parents seek to teach their children is to say "Thank You". It takes character and courage to admit being in debt to others. It is humbling. However, those who cannot admit their indebtedness to others cannot learn, nor can they seek forgiveness. “Count your obligations. Name then one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord wants done!”
 
A Rich Heritage of Faith and Freedom
Failure to express gratitude is more than immaturity and rudeness, it is ungodly. We are commanded to honour our parents, our elders, our teachers and our leaders. It is a sign of maturity to acknowledge indebtedness. Anyone who has learned anything is in debt to somebody else. We are all in debt, firstly and mostly, to God Himself, for our life, health, food, talents, family, friends, opportunities and for our salvation itself. We are also in debt to past generations who have sacrificed for the freedoms we now enjoy: Reformers, martyrs, pioneers, missionaries, soldiers, parents, teachers, pastors and so many others have sacrificed for our benefit.
 
Maturity
Only once we experience the incredible responsibilities of parenthood, do we really begin to appreciate the sacrifices made by our own parents for us. Only since I began to venture into the mission fields of Africa, did I begin to really appreciate the dedication and sacrifices of missionaries like Robert Moffat, David Livingstone, Mary Slessor and C.T. Studd, who opened up Africa for the Gospel, laying solid foundations for us to build upon. Only since we have witnessed the compromise and cowardice of so many church leaders, have we come to appreciate the conviction and courage of Reformers like Professor Martin Luther, defying pope and emperor to make his bold stand on the unchangeable Word of Almighty God. Only since observing those busy breaking down civilisation, have we come to really appreciate those diligent pioneers who established the Rule of Law and built up civilisation in wild and savage lands.
 
Pride, Ingratitude and Unteachability
Those who do not take advice do not think they have anything to learn. They are often the same people who have a problem expressing a genuine heartfelt gratitude to others. It is a sign of pride to be ungrateful, it reveals an unwillingness to acknowledge a debt to others. That is why it is so important to sing the great hymns of the Faith. These excellent tried and tested hymns remind us of our heritage and our need to thank and praise God.
 
An Attitude of Entitlement
Instead of the Christian character of gratitude, our present culture prefers to promote an attitude of entitlement. This is the very opposite of gratitude. It builds on pride and covetousness. It is fuelled by bitterness, greed and envy. All too many in the present humanistic society take things for granted, demand to get, rather than seeking to give. "One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly but comes to poverty." Proverbs 11:24.
 
The Ungrateful are a Cancer Who Break Down Civilisation
What we sow is what we will reap. The ungrateful and ungodly will reap ruin. Zimbabwe is a vivid example of the national destruction an arrogant and deceitful man can cause. The RhodesMustFall, FeesMustFall and other mobs of agitators, evidence an evil heart and foolish mind that can be so dismissive of the great heritage and many benefits they have received from those they so ignorantly dismiss, slander and attack. Higher education is not a right. It is a privilege. Those who show no respect for the lives and property of others forfeit their own. Civilisation requires respect for life and property. Those who riot, burn, disrupt and destroy, have no place in civilised society. They are like a cancer which contributes nothing constructive to the health of the body, but only break it down.
 
An Attitude of Gratitude
A grateful mind is a great mind. "Be thankful, therefore, for the least benefit and thou shalt be worthy to receive greater." Thomas a Kempis.
 
Morning and Evening
"It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night." Psalm 92:1-2
 
Make Known Among the Nations What He Has Done
"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done... Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:8,34
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont 7735
Cape Town South Africa
info@christianaction.org.za
www.ChristianAction.org.za

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31 May is Pentecost Sunday.
 
God has promised "I will give water to the thirsty land, I will pour out My power on your children." Isaiah 44:3
 
"Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen One in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations." Isaiah 42:1
 
Commands to Christians
The disciple of Christ must learn and experience what it means to:
 
Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5: 18).
Be led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).
Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:26).
Pray in the Spirit (Jude 20; Romans 8:26).

Full Surrender
How then are we to be controlled or filled with the Spirit?
What we surrender to God; God accepts (Romans 12:1-2).
What God accepts (John 6:37); He cleanses (John 15:3).
What God cleanses (2 Timothy 2:21); He fills (Matthew 5:6).
And what God fills (Ephesians 3:19-20); He uses (Acts 1:8).
 
Thirst
Jesus proclaimed that "Whoever is thirsty should come to Me and drink ... whoever believes in Me, streams of life-giving water will pour out from his heart. Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit, which those who believed in Him were going to receive." John 7: 37-39
 
Abide in Christ
To be filled with the Holy Spirit we need to continuously come to Christ in faith. "If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to My Fathers glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples." John 15:7-8
 
To be filled with the Spirit, we need to:
THIRST - "He who hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be filled." Matthew 5:6
COME TO JESUS - Only Jesus can satisfy our thirst. It is Jesus alone who fills us with His Spirit (Matthew 3:11).
DRINK - Receive the Spirit - a step of faith is required.
BELIEVE - We are filled with the Holy Spirit when our hunger and thirst leads us to Jesus and we by faith receive the fullness of His Spirit through surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:13
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
Cape Town South Africa
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
www.frontlinemissionsa.org
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
www.ReformationSA.org

See also:
The Fire of Pentecost 
Supernatural Power for World Missions

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31 May is Pentecost Sunday. 

John the Baptist was "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight." Matthew 3:3
 
Unquenchable Fire
John said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:11-12

Consuming Fire
"For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29
 
Burning Torch
When the Lord made His Covenant with Abraham He revealed Himself as a burning torch (Genesis 15:17-18).
 
Burning Bush
God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-14).
 
Pillar of Fire
The children of Israel were led through the wilderness by the presence of God manifested by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
 
Fire on the Altar
When King David built an altar to the Lord and offered sacrifices, calling on the Lord, God answered him from Heaven by sending fire on the altar (1 Chronicles 21:26).
 
Fire from Heaven
"When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering on the sacrifices: and the Glory of the Lord filled the temple." 2 Chronicles 7:1
 
Mount Carmel
The Prophet Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel. They would each build an altar and lay on it wood and a sacrifice, "And the god who answers by fire, He is God." 1 Kings 18:24
 
The hundreds of false prophets called on Baal, dancing, crying aloud, cutting themselves with knives until the blood gushed out of them, for hours. "But there was no voice: no one answered, not one paid attention." 1 Kings 18:29
 
The Fire Fell
"And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the Prophet came near and said: 'Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am your servant and that I have done all these things at Your Word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God and that you have turned their hearts back to you again.' Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said: 'The Lord He is God! The Lord He is God!'" 1 Kings 18:36-39
 
A Live Coal from the Altar
When Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord enthroned in Heaven "High and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple… Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! And the posts of the door were shaken by the Voice of Him who cried out and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: 'Woe is me for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it and said: 'Behold this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away and your sin is purged.' Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying: 'Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?' And I said, 'Here am I! Send me'" Isaiah 6:1-8
 
Without a Vision a People Perish
Do you have a vision of the holiness of God?
Do you have an understanding of the depravity of man?
Do you repent of your own sinfulness?
Have you experience the fire of God purging your sin?
Have you heard the call of the Lord: "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?"
Have you answered: "Here am I! Send me."?
 
Power from on High
When the Lord Jesus commanded His followers: "That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations…" He promised power from on high. Luke 24:47-49
 
Receive the Holy Spirit
When the Lord commissioned His followers: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." He breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:21
 
You Shall Receive Power
At the Ascension, when the Lord commanded His followers to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth" He promised: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" Acts 1:8
 
Filled with the Holy Spirit
The Church was born in the fires of Pentecost. "When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:1-3
 
Courage
When the Sanhedrin threatened the disciples severely: "that from now on they speak to no man in this Name." Peter and John answered: "whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:17-20
 
United in Prayer
The disciples united in prayer: "'Now, look on their threats and grant Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word…' and when they had prayed the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the Word of God with boldness." Acts 4:29-31
 
Blinded Light
Saul, the persecutor of the church, encountered the Lord Jesus in a blinding flash of light which shone around him from Heaven, he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Acts 9:3-5
 
Quench Not the Spirit
Saul the persecutor became Paul the Apostle and Missionary of Christ. Later, the Apostle Paul would warn: "Do not put out the Holy Spirit’s fire" (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
 
A Vision of the Lord
The Apostle John had a vision of the Lord Jesus while in exile on the Mediterranean island of Patmos. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet, saying, 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last…'" Revelation 1:10-11
 
Flames of Fire
John had a vision of the Lord Jesus standing in the midst of the seven lamp stands, "His eyes were a flame of fire: His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace and His voice as the sound of many waters. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me "do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of death." Revelation 1:13-18
 
Personal Experience
Have you experienced the baptism of fire?
Have you seen a vision of the Holiness of God?
Do you know what it is to be led by the Lord?
Have you experienced His anointing?
Have you been purged and purified by the fire of God?
 
Anointing
Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest wrote: "The Holy Spirit must anoint for the work, fire me… nothing but the fire of the most Holy Spirit of God can make the offering Holy and unblameable and acceptable."
 
Our Greatest Need
The South African Dutch Reformed minister Andrew Murray taught: "The one thing needful for the Church and the one thing, which above all others, men ought everywhere to seek for with one accord and with their whole heart is to be filled with the Spirit of God."
 
The Fire of Unconquerable Zeal
Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote: "Oh God, send us the Holy Spirit! Give us both the breath of spiritual life and the fire of unconquerable zeal. You are our God. Answer us by fire, we pray to You! Answer us both by wind and fire and then they will see You to be God indeed. The Kingdom comes not and the work is flagging. Oh, that You would send the wind and the fire! And You will do this when we are all of one accord, all believing, all expecting, all prepared by prayer."
 
The Fellowship of the Flaming Heart
The Reformer John Calvin described the Church as "the fellowship of the flaming heart." His personal emblem was a heart aflame in the hand of God.
 
Are You on Fire for Christ?
In the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus revealed to the Apostle John His words of rebuke for the church of Laodicea: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot. I will vomit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3:15-16
 
Holy Spirit Fire
Lukewarm Christians make the Lord sick. We need to repent of half-hearted, worldly, superficial, materialistic, lethargic, self-centred, apathetic, cowardly, yellow-bellied, spineless, cheap grace and easy believism. We must repent of being evanjellyfish. We need doctrinal steel in our backbones and Holy Spirit fire in our hearts.
 
"'Is not My Word like a fire?' Says the Lord, 'and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?'" Jeremiah 23:29
 
Refining Fire
Ezekiel saw the fire of God. Daniel described God's eyes like fire. Hosea described God's coming inferno. Joel wrote of God's fiery presence. Obadiah saw the fire of God in the middle of His people. Micah saw the mountains melt like wax before the fire of God. Nahum foresaw the Day of God's fiery Judgment. Zephaniah saw the fire of God's Holy jealousy. Zechariah saw God's burning presence like a blazing wall, with His Glory revealed within. Malachi spoke of God's refining fire to purge, purify and strengthen His people.
 
Has Your Heart Burned Within You?
After they met with the Lord, the disciples on the road to Emmaus declared: "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road and while He opened the Scriptures to us." Luke 24:32
 
Have you heard the Word of God?
Has your heart burned within you?
 
A Perpetual Flame
The Lord God required that in the Tabernacle: "a fire shall always be burning on the altar: it shall never go out." Leviticus 6:13. This perpetual flame was to communicate God's purifying, penetrating, powerful presence with His people.
 
Let Your Light Shine
Jesus taught His followers: "you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and that gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
 
Do You Thirst for Righteousness
Jesus said: "'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit which those believing in Him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39
 
Fire! Wind! Water!
Three of the greatest natural forces in the world are fire, wind and water. These three forces reveal something of the power of the Creator. On the Day of Pentecost, the fire of God, the wind of the Holy Spirit and the living waters of Jesus Christ moved in great power and the Church was born.
 
Pentecost Power
As the missionary to China, Hudson Taylor wrote: "The power given is not a gift from the Holy Spirit, He, himself, is the power. Today He is as truly available and as mighty in power as He was on the Day of Pentecost."
 
Are You Filled with the Holy Spirit?
Do you know what it is have the fire of God's Word burn within you? Do you know what it is to have the wind of the Holy Spirit lead and guide you? Does the living waters of Christ flow from your heart?
 
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:17-21
 
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6
 
Our God is a consuming fire.​

Dr. Peter Hammond

This article is adapted from one of the chapters of The Power of Prayer Handbook and is also available on Audio CD from: Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place, 7450
Cape Town, South Africa, Fax: 086-551-7490,
Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
 

​The Power of Prayer Handbook is also available as an E-Book.

Sleeping Sickness
A widespread epidemic prevalent throughout large sections of the Church is sleeping sickness. It results in members being inactive, passive, neutral, lethargic and apathetic. Consequently, numerous blessings are lost, countless opportunities are missed and enormous dangers arise unnoticed. "How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler and your need like an armed man." Proverbs 6:9-11. “His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” Isaiah 56:10
 
Lockjaw
This condition paralyses the jaws of believers when the opportunity to witness arises. Sometimes silence is golden. Other times it is just plain yellow. "…always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…" 1 Peter 3:15
 
Amnesia
This tragic ailment usually occurs in worldly company when some Christians just forget who they are and what they are doing here. Consequently, they act like they are part of the world, laughing at the world's jokes, listening to the world's music, repeating the mantras of the world and behaving as if they are of the world. "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
 
Deafness
Some people are so spiritually deaf that they do not even know if God talks! They are deaf to God's Commandments and to the Bible's warnings. They do not hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through their conscience. They do not recognise the clear Words of God as recorded in the Bible. When God speaks, they look blankly and declare: "I never heard a thing!" "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:15
 
Blindness
This affliction affects an unexpectedly large amount of churchgoers who are blind to the dangers around and the traps of the devil right in front of them. In fact, they have a great difficulty seeing the difference between the lies, traps and deceptions of the devil and the will and Word and warnings of God. "But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. “We grope for the wall like the blind and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places.” Isaiah 59:10. “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Ephesians 4:18
 
Lameness
Then there are those lame disciples who experience some inexplicable paralyses of the legs when there is any activity to be undertaken in God's Kingdom. Where Jesus leads, they do not follow. "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Mark 8:34
 
Spinelessness
There is an incredible lack of moral backbone among all too many. Instead of being Evangelicals, they act like evanjellyfish, filleted of spine. These spiritual jellyfish do not stand for the principles of Scripture. Consequently, they fall for anything. "Finally My brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with Truth…" Ephesians 6:10-14
 
Scurvy
Due to a lack of spiritual meat (as found in the Bible) and spiritual fruit and vegetables (Faith and obedience); and an overdependence upon spiritual ice-cream (blessings) and sweets/candy (benefits), these spoilt, undernourished, self-indulgent, believers develop a scurvy that rots away their spiritual life. "And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it and even now, you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
 
The Cure for Spiritual Diseases
The Scriptural cure for all these spiritual diseases is a healthy dose of daily obedience to the Word of God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
 
Wholehearted
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart…" We must love the Lord our God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our mind and with all of our strength. We need to be wholehearted Christians, not half-hearted, or heartless.
 
Bible-Based
"…and lean not on your own understanding." We must never trust in just what we think we know. We are not to follow our heart, we are to follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit, as our conscience is captive to the Word of God.
 
Prayerful Study of God's Word
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." We need to put first things first. The Bible before breakfast, Scripture before supper. Humble prayer and seeking God's guidance through diligent study of His Word before making any important decisions.
 
Wisdom from Proverbs
"Do not be wise in your own eyes…" The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God alone is all knowing, everywhere present and all-powerful. We need to study the Word of God daily. There are 31 Chapters of Proverbs, one chapter for every day of the month. It is wise to begin our days with readings from the Book of Proverbs. Wisdom for the decisions of each day.
 
Fear God Alone
"Fear the Lord and depart from evil." We must not fear man. We must fear God. When we fear the Lord then we are freed from the fear of man. Either we will fear God and not man, or we will fear the opinions of man and fail to truly fear God. It is either or. We must choose. Either we will seek to please God, or we will seek to please man. Either we will fear man, or we will fear God. If we fear God, then we will discover it is the beginning of wisdom and this will enable us to choose wisely and depart from evil.
 
Spiritual Health
"It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones." Holiness is to our spirit what health is to our bodies. The body, mind and spirit are intricately linked. Our spiritual health will have an effect on our physical, mental and emotional health. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
 
Backward Christian Soldiers
As a critique on the shameful plight of all too many Christians and churches today, one believer wrote this scathing adaptation of the famous Christian Hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers:
 
"Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight,
With the Cross of Jesus, nearly out of sight.
Christ, our rightful Master, stands against the foe,
Others have been battling - must we also go?
 
"Like a mighty tortoise, moves this church of God;
Brothers were we are treading where we've often trod.
We are much divided, many bodies we,
Having different doctrines, not much charity.
 
"Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus neutral does remain.
Gates of hell should never against that Church prevail,
We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail.
 
"Sit here, then, ye people, join our useless throng,
Lend with ours your voices, in a feeble song.
Blessings, ease and comfort, ask from Christ the King,
With our modern thinking, we won't do a thing!"
 
Lukewarm Believers Make God Sick
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say 'I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked… as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." Revelation 3:15-19
 
Biblical Repentance
Repentance deals with the root of all of our problems, dryness and failure – because Repentance deals with sin. We are not helpless victims. We are guilty sinners. God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin separates us from God.
 
Sin Separates Us From God
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity." Isaiah 59:1-3
 
Disgraceful
It is this disgusting habit, of tolerating and excusing our sins, that keeps us in this half dead, disgraceful condition. Our sin needs to be rejected, confessed and forsaken.
 
Ensnaring
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set out before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith…" Hebrews 12:1-2
 
Frustration
We have been made in the image of God. We were created for fellowship and union with our Creator. Therefore, unless we are enjoying constant contact and communication with God, we are inwardly restless, frustrated and unfulfilled. He is the Vine, we are the branches.
 
Poison
Now it is our personal guilt that has caused this rift and which constitutes the root of the problem. It is because of our sin that our fellowship with God has been disrupted, our Christian walk hindered, our moral judgment corrupted and our principles corroded. Our prayer life has been wrecked and worship made ineffective. Our witness has become impotent and our spiritual lives polluted. We need to recognise the irreconcilable and destructive nature of this poison of sin.
 
What Has Sin Done?
Sin has made man a transgressor. "And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins." Ephesians 2:1.
 
Sin has made satan the master of unrepentant sinners. "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8
 
Sin made punishment a necessity. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
 
Sin made hell a reality. "Then death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Any one not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14-15
 
We Reap What we Sow
Just as sugar in a petrol tank interferes with the running of a vehicle engine, so too sin in our lives adversely affects us, spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. The inevitable results of sin include an uneasy conscience, unsettled emotions, emotional and physical exhaustion from seeking to suppress guilt, fear, anger, despair and depression.
 
The Need for Thorough Repentance
Repentance can be compared with the demolition work on a condemned building and the excavations that follow in preparation for the laying of a new and firm foundation for a new building. "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test each ones work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss… Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:10-16
 
Separation
Repentance is separating ourselves from what separates us from God. We must do a thorough work of Repentance. A hasty, or half-hearted, Repentance makes a shallow and unstable foundation for spiritual life. The joy and freedom of forgiveness is well worth the cost of Repentance and restitution. "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith…" Colossians 2:6-7
 
Those Who Will Be Condemned
The Word of God warns us: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderous, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the Second Death." Revelation 21:8
 
Repent
The Lord Jesus Christ began His public ministry with these words: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17
 
This was the message of the early Church, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
 
Full Repentance
The Bible emphasises three aspects of Repentance:
Conviction: A change of mind.
Contrition: A change of heart and
Conversion: A change of life.
 
Head, Heart and Hands
Repentance involves a change of mind, a change of attitude and a change of conduct. Head, heart and hands. Repentance is more than a change of mind and a change of heart, it involves a change of habits, lifestyle and behaviour. "God… now commands all men everywhere to Repent." Acts 17:30
 
The Traps of Peer Pressure
We need to recognise sin and temptation for the poison and deadly dangers they represent. We need to reject the world's ways, social pressure, public opinion and peer pressure. "A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet," Proverbs 29:5
 
Two Ways
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in His Law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in season, its leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalm 1:1-6.
 
A Call to Confession
"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declared to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us." 1 John 1:5-10
“Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14
 
“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6
 
He Gives More Grace
"He gives more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sends more strength when the labours increase.
To added affliction, He adds His mercy.
To multiplied trials - His multiplies peace.
 
"When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed before the day is half-done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving has only begun.
 
"His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.
His power no boundary known unto men.
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
He gives and gives and gives again!"
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
www.LivingstoneFellowship.co.za

 
See also:
Reclaiming Surrendered Ground
Spiritual Warfare
​

​Truth is Under Attack
“Justice is turned back and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter. So truth fails and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey…” Isaiah 59:14-15
 
Deception and Theft Go Together
“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” Leviticus 19:11
 
Truth is Being Killed
“…This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.” Jeremiah 7:28
 
Deception is Pervasive
“Everyone will deceive his neighbour and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.” Jeremiah 9:5

The Spirit of This Age Has Blinded Many Minds
"Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." 2 Corinthians 4:4
 
Many Will Turn Away from the Truth and Prefer False Teachers
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
 
We are Involved in a World War of Worldviews
“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  James 4:4
 
People Pleasers Make Traitors – Strive to Rather Please God
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
 
The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
 
A Fountain of Evil
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matthew 15:19
 
God Hates Lies
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22

God Will Punish False Witnesses
“A false witness will not go unpunished and he who speaks lies shall perish.” Proverbs 19:9
 
Deal with Deception
“Let the lying lips be put to silence…” Psalm 31:18
 
God Will Destroy Those Who Promote Falsehood
“You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:6
 
Remove Deceptive Books, Films and other Media Promoting Lies from Your Home
“He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” Psalm 101:7
 
Beware of the Influence of Deception on Your Own Life and Conversation
“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.” Psalm 120:2
 
Communities Built on Lies Exhibit the Fruit of Robbery and Violence
“Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. Its victim never departs.” Nahum 3:1
 
Toxic Tongues Poison Lives
“Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips” Romans 3:13
 
Evolutionists Reject the Truth of God to Embrace the Lie of Satan
“Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” Romans 1:25
 
Those Who Refuse to Obey the Truth are Self-Seeking and Self-Destructive
“But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish…” Romans 2:8-9
 
Men Who Suppress the Truth Incur the Wrath of God
“For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18
 
Those Who Refuse to Receive and Love the Truth Will be Enslaved by Strong Delusions
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Test Teachers by the Truth
"You have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars."  Revelation 2:2
Have the Courage to Speak the Truth
“…I will speak the truth…” 2 Corinthians 12:6
 
The Truth and Justice of God are the Solid Rock Foundation
“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4
 
The Word of God is True
“And now, O Lord God, You are God and Your Words are true…” 2 Samuel 7:28
 
Be Diligent in Understanding the Word of God
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
 
Truth Glorifies God
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your Name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.” Psalm 115:1
 
God Preserves Truth
“Who made Heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever.” Psalm 146:6
 
God is Truth
“…the God of truth…” Isaiah 65:16
 
Jesus is Truth
“Jesus said… ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’.” John 14:6
 
Jesus Came to Embody and Testify of the Truth
 “…Jesus answered, ‘…For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice’.” John 18:37
 
Trust God and His Word – Distrust People Who Contradict His Word
“…Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar…” Romans 3:4
 
God Cannot Lie
“…God, who cannot lie…” Titus 1:2
 
God is Light – There is No Darkness in Him
“…it is impossible for God to lie…” Hebrews 6:18
 
Truth Leads to Godly Living
“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the Faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness.” Titus 1:1
 
The Gospel is the Power of God Unto Salvation for All Who Believe
“Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth…” James 1:18
 
Obeying the Truth of God's Word Purifies our Souls
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” 1 Peter 1:22
 
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” John 15:26
 
The Spirit of God Leads us Into All Truth
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth...” John 16:13
 
Truth is Precious
“Buy the truth and do not sell it…” Proverbs 23:23
 
God’s Way is a Highway for Truth
“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth…” Psalm 86:11

Truth Does Not Fear Investigation
“…I have walked in Your truth.” Psalm 26:3
 
The Truth Will Preserve You
“Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.” Psalm 40:11
 
Reject the Lies of the World and be Transformed by the Truth of God's Word
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
 
The Carnal Mind is Hostile to God and His Word
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:6-7
 
Lies Enslave – The Truth Sets Free
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8
 
It is Never a Virtue to be Gullible
“The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.” Proverbs 14:15
 
The Battle for Truth
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
 
Put Off Deceitful Lusts and Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind
“…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Ephesians 4:22-23
 
The Truth Shall Set You Free
“Then Jesus… ‘If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’.” John 8:31-32
 
The Law of God is the Gold Standard for Truth
“…Your Law is truth.” Psalm 119:142
 
The Scripture Provides us with the Light to Discover Truth
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
 
Knowledge of the Scriptures is Essential to Know the Truth
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
 
Meditate on Whatever is True, Noble, Just, Pure, Lovely and Virtuous
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021 689 4480
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org.za

See also:
Dealing with Deceit
How Propaganda Changes People and Perceptions
How Marxists Subvert Churches and Society
The Battle for the Mind in the News Media
Compromise and Cowardice in an Age of Deceit

4.  Redemption
Redemption is the language of purchase and ransom. Because of our bondage to sin, Christ died to set us free. Christ gave His life "as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). A ransom is the price paid in order to secure a release. The sinner has been bound to the law of sin and death.
​
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." Galatians 3:13
 
Christ has redeemed us from the necessity of keeping the Law as the condition of acceptance before God.
 
"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19
 
Our Redemption from sin embraces several aspects:
 
†  JUSTIFICATION - Colossians 1:14
We were redeemed from the Penalty of our sins. This deals with our guilt. We are fully forgiven for our sins.
 
†  SANCTIFICATION - Titus 2:14
We are being redeemed from the Power of our sin. This deals with our nature. We are progressively delivered from our sin.
 
†  GLORIFICATION - Romans 8:23
We shall be redeemed from the Presence of all sin. This deals with the very presence of sin. We shall be eternally freed from sin.
 
"We wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our Great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness." Titus 2:13
 
"God our Saviour… wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth… Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all men." 1 Timothy 2:4-6
 
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2
 
"You are worthy… because You were slain and with Your Blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." Revelation 5:9
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont 7735
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689 4481
Fax: 086-494-8070
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Web: www.christianaction.org.za

See also:
The Blood of Christ (for the audio, click here.)
Who Killed Jesus? (for a PowerPoint, click here; for the tract in English, click here; for the tract in Afrikaans, click here.)
The Illegal Trial of Jesus and the Verdict of History (for a PowerPoint, click here; for the audio, click here; for the video, click here.)
How Can I Know that Jesus is the Messiah? (for the audio, click here; for the tract, click here.)
Christ is Risen Indeed! (for a PowerPoint, click here; for the audio, click here; for the tract, click here.)
 
The audio CD of this message and other Livingstone Fellowship sermons and Reformation Society lectures are available from: Christian Liberty Books, P O Box 358 Howard Place 7450, Cape Town South Africa, Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za, Website:www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.