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firstIMPRESSIONS
Soon the intense heat would cause impure particles to surface and these, too, were skimmed off of the liquid metal. Still not satisfied with the refinement, the worker turned up the heat with an even hotter flame by using his densest wood. Although this was a long process, the refiner never left his post. He doesn’t want to injure the silver by leaving it on the heat too long. “It is ready” he announced to his new apprentice. With a questioning look the young man readies the molds. The master refiner removed the pot from the heat and allowed the apprentice to look inside. He announced, “You know the silver is perfectly refined when you can see a reflection of yourself. Now it is ready for use.” Zechariah 13:9 says “This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ’they are my people,’ and they will say, ’the LORD is our God.’” When was the last time the “heat” was turned up in your life? Maybe your relationships seemed to burn your broken heart or a health problem felt like constant fire or the all-too-common financial hot coals were burning your pocket book. What knowledge or change of personality or insight did you gain from the experience? The intention of the high heat allowed God to remove the sediment from your character that kept Him from seeing His reflection in your life. He refined character with the blazing warmth of troublesome times in order to remove any particles of self-reliance or disobedience. The surface of a heated heart shimmered with hope. His image soon appeared, as an outline of The Refiner’s Reflection. That last bit of high temperature brought into focus a clear image of the Refiner. You are ready for his use. Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.19. Live for God, on purpose, knowing that the fires you pass through will perfect you in the image of our Lord. |
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 The Compassion of Evangelism If you have read many books on evangelism, or attended many seminars on soul-winning, then I am sure that you have heard and read your share of reasons for winning souls, scriptures to use in soul-winning, as well as steps and methods to winning the lost. Likewise, you have most likely been bombarded with messages designed to motivate you to witness, convict you for not witnessing, and inspire you to witness more and more. There are many ingredients necessary for effective evangelism to take place. There must be believers who are willing to share their faith. They should have something to say to others. They should have a reason for the “hope that lies within them.” And, of course, there must be people that need to hear the message! But the single most important ingredient for effective evangelism is often the least considered ingredient – compassion. In order for there to be truly effective evangelism, the heart of the believer must be filled with compassion for the lost. Effective evangelism doesn’t take place because you are driven to share out of guilt or obligation. It cannot be because of pressure placed upon you by others, or even by your own conscience. Effective evangelism happens because, like Jesus, you look at the people and you are moved with compassion, and see them as sheep without a shepherd. You grieve in your spirit because they are desperately lost, and crying out for hope. And, because you are filled with and led by His Spirit, you must – you absolutely must – share the good news that you have discovered. This week we will conclude our four part series through Acts 4 on Effective Evangelism. Don’t miss this week’s message, as we consider Acts 4:23-27 and “The Compassion of Evangelism.” (top)  Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven?
by Tom Barnard I didn’t create the question. Someone else did. But it’s a fair question to ask. The problem is not with the word, “purpose.” The problem is with the word, “driven.” In his chapter, “What Drives Your Life?” author Rick Warren states, “Everyone’s life is driven by something.” He explains, “Right now you may be driven by a problem, a pressure, or a deadline. You may be driven by a painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief. There are hundreds of circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life.” (The Purpose Driven Life, page 27) Then Warren lists what he considers to be five of the “most common” things in life that drive people: guilt; resentment and anger; fear; materialism; the need for approval. He may be correct. They surely are common among the un-redeemed. Are they also common among the redeemed, or does the author list them to introduce his theme, “purpose-driven living?” Probably the latter. Again, the question is the use of the word, “driven.” Does God “drive” his children, or does He “lead” them? In Exodus, Chapter 6, God promised deliverance to the Children of Israel by saying that Pharaoh will “drive” them out of Egypt. But when the Lord described how he will fulfill his promise, he said, “I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:6, 7 NKJV) Notice the action words in this paragraph: “bring... rescue... redeem... take.” Then the Lord concludes by saying, “and I will be your God.” There is nothing in Exodus 6 that suggests that God’s people were driven by anyone except Pharaoh. Do you remember how God led his people during their forty years in the wilderness? By day he led them with a “pillar of cloud” and during the long nights he led them with a “pillar of fire.” The Presence of God was ahead of them, drawing them – not behind them, pushing. The difference between being “driven” and “led” is not semantic. One suggests being forced; the other suggests being drawn. One implies being pushed; the other suggests being pulled. I like the comparison cited by one Christian writer: “I submit that Christians should be purposeful and Spirit led, not purpose driven.” Christians are not like cattle that are driven by a drover; Christians are like sheep that are led by a shepherd. God leads his people. And if necessary, he carries them as well. Consider these words from a song written by the gospel songwriter, Doris Mae Akers: I am weak and I need Thy strength and power, Help me tread in the paths of righteousness, I am lost if you take your hand from me, as seen in Dr. Tom Barnard’s “Tuesday Mornings” from May 8, 2007. To subscribe, write to Dr. Tom Barnard at barnard22@cox.net (top)  What are You Depending On?
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but... it leads to death.” – Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) There’s a broken rope on display at the Alpine Museum in Bern, Switzerland. It’s associated with a tragic story. Seven climbers who scaled the Matterhorn roped themselves together for the return descent, but one slipped and dragged three others with him into an abyss. The three remaining climbers braced for the shock on the rope that linked them together, expecting it to halt their companions’ fall. The tug came, but then to everyone’s horror the rope snapped, plunging their four friends to their death. Nobody knows why an inferior rope was used for such a hazardous venture, but they do know it wasn’t genuine Alpine Club rope which was guaranteed and distinguished by a red strand running through it. Just as reliable equipment is crucial in preparing for the life-and-death adventure of mountain climbing, it’s even more essential in preparing for the most important journey you’ll ever make; the one from here to eternity. And an ‘anything goes’ attitude ... loose connections to the church ... casual claims that you’re doing your best ... and fuzzy notions about God’s indulgence won’t cut it. Solomon said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but ... it leads to death.” And Peter says: “Jesus is the only One who can save” (Acts 4:12 NCV). Assurance of a place in heaven comes only through accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour, believing that He died for your sins and rose again to give you everlasting life. No more will be asked; no less will get you in. Today Jesus is waiting to save you – will you let Him? as seen in “The Word For Today from May 7, 2007. To view any more information please visit The Word For Today website at www.thewordfortoday.com.au (top)  Mother
by Ken Pierpont “Her children rise up and call her blessed...” – Proverbs 31:28 She dreamed of you from the time she was a little girl cradling a baby doll in her arms. She always saw you playing around the little cottage in her childhood dreams. She carried you in her body and you made her sick every morning for weeks and weeks. She bore you into the world through intense pain but when she heard you cry and saw your wrinkled face she forgot all about it and wept tears of joy. She fed you at her breast and her whole world revolved around you. She stole into your room at night just to watch you sleep and she was sure you were the most beautiful child on earth. She sat up through the night to bathe away the fever and at breakfast your dad said: “Sleep well, honey?” oblivious of the all-night vigil. She somehow always knew when you needed her, even in the middle of the night, and she came to your room and changed your bedding and made sure you were warm and dry. She covered your ears and gave you your coat and checked your homework and made you practice the piano and set through all your ball games and recitals like they were the seventh game of the World Series and a debut at Carnegie Hall. She nagged you to brush your teeth with words of wisdom like: “Be true to your teeth or they will be false to you.” She changed your diaper and cleaned up when you were sick and washed underwear no one else would touch without a chemical suit. And who do you think always cleaned the gunk out of the kitchen sink and bathtub drain? She made sure you had the drumstick and your dad had the breast and acted like she preferred the wings. Her oatmeal cookies made you forget the beating you took from the neighborhood bully. She listened to you and didn’t laugh when others would have mocked you. She believed in you when you didn’t believe in yourself and prayed for you even when you didn’t think you needed it. She made you think you could do things you were sure you couldn’t do. She was tough enough to call your bluff and discipline you and give you a sense of boundaries and the security that comes with it. She spanked you when “Spocking” was all the trend with lesser mothers. She knew when you needed a spanking or just a nap and she didn’t always give you candy though she longed to indulge you. She was always waiting when you came in late. When you complained about it, she pretended to be asleep the way you always did when you wanted her to carry you in from the car after a long trip. She read the Bible to you and read the Bible in front of you and did what mothers have to do to make sure the family is faithful in church. She made your dad a much better man than he ever would have been without her. She mended clothes as a labor of love and it broke her heart to see how quickly you grew out of them. She knew you were loaned to her from God and soon the house would fall silent again. She washed mountains of dishes and truckloads of laundry. She put up food on the hottest summer days and didn’t complain. Her most sincere prayers were the ones she sent heavenward in gratitude for you. Sh | ||
A refiner in Biblical times had a special way of purifying his silver. Using a large pot, he placed ore (with a high silver content that was mined from the earth) inside. He would build a huge, blazing fire underneath and carefully waited and watched as the contents started to melt. First he skimmed large amounts of sediment from the top with a wooden spoon. Knowing the silver was not pure he made the fire hotter by add more wood to the already bright flames.