Anchor of Truth

The subject of end-times is often a point of strong disagreement among many sincere believers. Should we be expecting the Rapture or is this a false expectation. Is the church destined to go through the Great Tribulation? Why is there so much confusion surrounding this subject? I think that one the main reasons there is so much confusion on end-times events is that we do not go back far enough to get a good foundation of God's purpose and plan. To just start reading the book of Revelation and try to understand the events without a foundation in other parts of the scripture leads to confusion. God has been moving with purpose from eternity past to eternity future. Our place is to understand His purpose as much as possible and then live in accordance with His purpose.

• Some basic foundations
  • God will deal with Israel again (Jer. 30, Ezek. 36-39, Rom. 9-11)
  • We are in the "Times of the Gentiles" (Daniel 9:24-27, Luke 21:24. Rom. 11:25)
  • The church is a "mystery" not seen by OT prophets (Eph. 3:8-11, Col. 1:24-29)
  • The revelation of the church as the Body of Christ is a New Covenant truth
  • The "Day of the Lord" is a general term and does not mean the same thing in every scripture
• God has two plans, one for Israel and one for the church. They are not the same
  • Israel is promised a land as a nation. They look for their King and Messiah
  • The Church's promise is as the Bride of Christ. He is their Lord and Husband
  • All saints from Genesis to Revelation are not in the church
• The "one new man" is Jews and Gentiles made one in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit
  • One new man (Eph. 2:14-18, Gal. 3:28)
  • Gentiles are grafted into Christ, not Israel (Rom. 11:16-25)
• The coming of the Lord
  • The rapture is us coming to the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:50-53)
  • The second coming is Christ coming to the earth as King of Israel and the world
  • The early church expected the soon return of the Lord
• The "Great Tribulation" is not the normal tribulation that Jesus told us to expect
  • Is the time of "Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7)
  • The pouring out of the wrath of God
  • People will come to the Lord during that time.
• God has promised to keep the church from the Great Tribulation (Rev. 3:10-11, I Thess. 5:9)
• God does not want us to know exact dates but to be ready at all times (Acts 1:6-8, Matt. 25:1-13)
• The enemy would try to rob of us our "blessed hope." (Titus 2:11-14)

Additional teaching on End Times issues:

http://www.ntchurchsource.com/literature/read/the-end-times/

https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Sealed-Book-An%C3%ADbal-V%C3%A9lez/dp/1490824170

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

How should Christians use the Law of Moses? This seems to be a major issue in our time. The law was given to Israel through Moses and takes a large place in the Old Testament. But most of us are not of Israel, so how should we use the Law? In our last program we introduced this subject but today we want to go farther. Most of us are very familiar with the teaching that the law came through Moses, but grace through Jesus Christ. But what does that mean to us in practical terms? Do we just completely discount the Law of Moses? What meaning does it have to us? How should we use the law in our personal lives, with our family, and in the church? How should we use it with those who are not in Christ? Many today are trying to go back and keep certain parts of the Law of Moses. Is this right?

• Why was the Law of Moses given?
  • To specify the moral requirements of a Holy God
  • To reveal sin (Rom. 7:7-13)
  • To minister Christ (Ceremonial-sacrifices, Tabernacle)
  • To structure the nation of Israel until Christ came (Gal. 3:19-25)
• When Christ came He fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17-20)
  • He kept all of the commands of God perfectly
  • He fulfilled all of the prophecies concerning the Messiah
  • He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin once for all
  • He made the way that the righteous requirement of God could be fulfilled in us (Rom. 8:1-4)
• How then is the law to be used today?
  • To convict the sinner (I Tim. 1:8-10)
  • As a basis for teaching the moral requirements of God (Matt. 5-7)
  • As a basis for civil law
• How is the law not to be used?
  • As a basis for our acceptance before God ((Rom. 3:19-20)
  • As a legal (literal) requirement for conduct (Col. 2:11-23)
• In the New Covenant
  • God writes His law on our hearts by the presence of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 8:7-13)
  • God writes His word on our minds by the Holy Spirit
  • The Holy Spirit will interpret and apply spiritual truth from the Law of Moses
  • Spiritual men and women will use the Law of Moses to minister Christ
• Should Christians today keep the holy days (Sabbath, Feasts) (Rom. 14)
  • Not to be approved before God or to be more spiritual (Gal. 5:1-6)
  • Could be used as a form of teaching (ministry of Christ)
  • The spirit in which we use these things is critical (must not be legal or condemning)
• The supreme test: Does our use of the Law of Moses minister grace? (John 1:17)
• Does our ministry always lead a person to union with Christ as our complete sufficiency? (Col. 2:10)
• Is our ministry using the Law of Moses a ministry of life or death (2 Cor. 3)

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

Is the church Spiritual Israel? We know that God has used Israel in a very significant way in His working in the past. In our time the instrument of His choice is the church. Is the church an extension of Israel in a spiritual way, or is the church a completely new work of God? This question seems to be a very critical issue in our time. Perhaps because the nation of Israel is the focus of much attention in the Mid-East today, many are directing their attention to Israel. In so doing, many are also going back to the Old Testament and becoming convinced that we should be keeping the Law of Moses as much as possible. A key issue at the heart of this debate is whether the church is a completely new working of God begun at the day of Pentecost, or whether the church and the New Covenant are really just an extension of God's working in Israel but in a spiritual way. Today we want to look at this subject, seeking to bring clarity that we may all walk in truth and love for God's purpose and glory.

• First the natural, then the spiritual (I Cor. 15:45-49)
  • In Christ there is a "new creation" (2 Cor. 5:16-19)
  • There is an "old man" (Adam), and a "new man" (Christ) (Rom. 6:5-7, Eph. 4:20-24)
  • The working in Israel was very physical or natural
  • The foundation and expression of the church is spiritual
• God's purpose in Israel
  • To reveal that He was the only true God (Exodus 7:5)
  • To reveal Himself and His ways to all the nations
  • To have a people through whom Christ would come
• God's purpose in the church
  • A Holy Nation (people) (I Peter 2:9-10, Mat. 21:43)
  • The Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:27)
  • The Household of God (Eph. 2:19)
  • A Temple of God (Eph. 2:21-22)
  • The Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-33, Rev. 21:1-3)
• The purpose of the Law of Moses
  • Specify God's moral requirements for mankind (law was good)
  • Laws which structured Israel as a nation
  • Minister Christ before Calvary (Tabernacle, sacrifices)
• The righteousness (of law, and of faith)
  • Mankind was dead in sin
  • The Law of Moses restrained sin and revealed the need of a Savior
  • The provision of God in Christ at Calvary brought the life of God within man
  • God in man gives ability to keep the righteous requirements of the law
• The use of the Law of Moses today
  • To instruct in the ways and character of God (brings out new and old, Matt 13:52)
  • To bring conviction of sin to the unbeliever (I Tim 1:8-10)
  • To minister Christ and the New Covenant (must be by spiritual men)
• The church is a new working of God in a New Covenant by the same God (2 Cor. 5:18)
• The church embodies spiritual truth spoken to Israel but is not a "spiritualized Israel" (Gal. 6:14-15)

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

What does it mean to commune with God? What does it mean to hear God? What lifts us out of only an intellectual agreement with certain truths into a living relationship with the God of this universe? Is our heart hungry for that? So often we read scripture or hear certain truths proclaimed and agree with what we read or hear, but we lack the experience and spiritual reality that both we and God desires. Are we content where we are, or are our hearts hungry for God and everything that He has provided for us? If our heart is hungry for more, I believe we will find some help in this ministry by Gordon Gentry given in 1989. May the Lord give us ears to hear Him and eyes to see the pathway of faith into a deeper communion with God. Jesus opened the door for us. Let us go through that door for the purpose and glory of God.

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

Many of us have heard a lot about God and what He has done in the past for others. We know the scriptures, and we agree that God has made full provision for us. But often we find ourselves still lacking in our own experience of the supernatural God. What is the answer? It is one thing to follow, it is another thing to learn, but it is still another thing to launch out and experience God for ourselves. Elisha is an example of "crossing over Jordon" and experiencing God for Himself. Today we share with you some ministry by Gordon Gentry given in 1989. His strong encouragement to us is to "crossover" and experience the fullness of God, both individually and collectively with other believers. Our prayer is that God will shed light on our pathway that we may step out in faith into all that God is and has for us for His purpose and glory.

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

What is the basis of our gathering together as believers? I think most would agree that out gathering should be on the foundation of Christ and unto Him as Head of the body. But what does that mean in practical terms? The gathering together of Christians in unity seems to be one of the most difficult areas we face. There is so much division because of different doctrines and different types of ministry. We know this should not be but so often we don't seem to able to achieve what God wants, namely that we may be one as the Father and Son are one as Jesus prayed in John 17. Today we share some ministry by Gordon Gentry on this subject. It was given in a home meeting in 1998. It is our prayer that the truth Gordon shared will be helpful in seeing our way into a greater unity and experience of God in our gathering together unto Christ as our Lord.

http://www.ntchurchsource.com/audio/

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

What will move us from a place of passivity into a place of passion for Christ and His purpose? Will more Bible study, meetings, ministry, and prayer do the work? These all have their place, but by themselves they will not produce what both we and God desire. What will? I think that there is only one thing that will move us and that is fervent love for Jesus. How do we get that? There are two things I see that are essential: 1) A fresh revelation of Christ's love for us, and 2) that same love deposited in our hearts by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Both require us to deal with God for that which comes only from Him.

Today we share some encouragement from T. Austin-Sparks on the object of Christ's travail at Calvary. In doing so, it is our prayer that God will use this to reveal afresh to all of us the passion that Christ had to secure us for God.

• The object of His Travail
• It's Infinite Value to God
• Our Difficulty in Believing it
• Christ's Infinite Love for His Own
• The Infinite Importance to Him of the Church
• The infinite Motive for our Response

Link to Austin-Sparks ministry in this podcast:

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/000899.html

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

In the Old Testament, when the sacrifice on the altar was prepared, God sent fire from heaven as a sign of His acceptance and approval. On the day of Pentecost the people saw tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each of the disciples in the upper room. We are also told that our God is a consuming fire. What does all of that mean to us today? Fire is used throughout the scripture as a sign of the presence of God. The tabernacle had a pillar of fire that burned above it. The priests were commanded to keep the fire inside the tabernacle burning day and night. Jesus said that He came to send fire on the earth. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. The judgment of God is very often referred to in the context of fire. Ministers are described as a flame of fire. Jesus is described in Revelation as One who has eyes of fire. John said that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.

In November 1984, G.W. North, a minister from England, visited a gathering in West Palm Beach, Florida for a few days. One evening his subject was "Burning for God." Those who were present in that meeting will never forget the ministry and the impact on their lives. Today we share a recording of that ministry with the prayer that you also may benefit and be strongly encouraged to "burn for God."

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

When Adam sinned, he took himself and the human race that followed into death. When Christ came He conquered Satan and his host of evil forces and opened the door for us to partake of God's life. But if the victory has been won, why is there still a battle in this world between God and Satan? I think this is a very real question to many of us. We hear that Christ won the victory at Calvary, but yet our experience is that we are in a warfare. And Paul says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against a host of wickedness in heavenly places. If this is true, then what did happen at Calvary and how does that relate to our experience today?

• Sin brought death
• • Spiritual death (separation from God)
  • Physical death (the process of death begins early in our bodies)
  • Sin reigned in death (Romans 5)
• Christ came that we may have life (John 10:10)
• • He took on human flesh
  • He became sin for us at Calvary (2 Cor. 5:21)
  • He died (physically)
  • He rose from the dead thus conquering death (I Cor. 15)
  • He is seated at the right hand of God in heaven (authority)
  • Christ gives life to those who come to Him (John 5:39,40; John 20:31)
  • The risen Christ dwells within us by the Holy Spirit (life)
• We are called to possess what God has given
• • Israel was given the land but they had to possess (Deut. Ch. 1 & 7)
  • We have been given all spiritual blessing in Christ but we must possess (Eph. 1)
  • We would like to "overcome" without a fight, but that would leave us weaklings
• Spiritual ascendency comes through spiritual enlargement
• Spiritual enlargement comes through faith and obedience
• Spiritual territory can only be taken with spiritual weapons (Eph. 6)
• Spiritualty (God's life) is revealed in and through physical vessels
• Prayer (intercession) is a critical part of spiritual warfare

A very good booklet that expands on the subject today

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/battle_for_life_the.html

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]

After God had created Adam, He said it is not good for man to be alone so He created Eve as a suitable helper. God's plan is for a husband and wife to function as one in the family for His purpose and glory. It is a perfect plan but requires each to take their place. Today we focus on the place of the wife. When God created woman, he took something out of the man. God views the husband and wife as one, so what was taken out of Adam is brought back together in a relationship. Thus the challenge in the marriage is to see a harmonious relationship where each member is able to contribute their part. Neither man nor woman is superior to the other, but there is a God-ordained place for each. To accept the place that God has created and function in that place is the key to a harmonious marriage and a fulfilment of God's ordained purpose in the family.

• As a child of God
• • Created by God (taken from Adam) as a suitable helper
  • Has her own relationship with God (no male or female, Gal 3:28)
  • Has a unique place in God's creation but not "second class" (I Cor. 11:3)
  • Is different from a man in her makeup (disposition)
• As a wife and mother
• • One with her husband (union, Eph. 5:31)
  • Functions in a place of submission as unto God (I Peter 3:1-3)
  • As a helper to her husband (in his vision and calling, Prov. 31)
  • A household in which the life of God is seen (I Tim. 5:14)
  • To teach the children (Prov. 1:8-9, 6:20-21)
  • To teach in their households (Priscilla, Acts 18:26)
• As a sister in the Family of God
• • A member of the Body of Christ with a God-given function (I Cor. 12)
  • An adornment that glorifies God (I Peter 3:3-6)
  • A quiet and meek spirit that is precious to God (I Peter 3:4)
  • To adorn the gospel with good works (I Tim. 5:9-10)
  • Older sisters have a unique ministry to younger sisters (Titus 2:3-5)
  • A ministry of power in weakness (John 13:14-15, I Cor. 1:27, 2 Cor. 12:9)

Two good resources on this subject:

http://www.ntchurchsource.com/literature/read/the-godly-woman/

http://www.ntchurchsource.com/literature/read/woman-an-honored-vessel/

• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song "Will Your Anchor Hold" sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]