MAY Pastoral Letter - From AFRICA

Seeking First the Kingdom,

and His Righteousness

Matt 6:33

In this issue:

*  YHWH God is WONDERFUL!   Bro Robert

*  BRO ROBERT – MISSION ADVANCES in Kampala, Kigali and Bujumbura

*  MATT 18 – EXPOSITION CONTINUES 

                                    

My Beloved Brethren... be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.  

1 Cor. 15:58

                                                                                

Greetings from the Heart of Africa! 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! 

Praise the Lord!
Pray that all of you are BLESSED in JESUS Christ!

Yes... it's true.. am writing to you from Burundi Africa at this moment... it's a great story,  As you know, FBF has a footprint in 12 nations here and E India.   I started out in Kampala, Uganda, then into establishing my presence at our Vocational Tech School, which is just being completed (why I am here now)... and digging into the Open Air preach once again here... I love the people here!  They are soooo open to Jesus!  Imagine living in a nation that outlaws homo everything, and is currently debating outlawing mini-dresses! It is very different from western nations!  THANK YOU JESUS for some sanity and Godly Hunger!

Thank you for your prayers.  I could do nothing without the praying saints!  FBF is a praying mission force as well. Just before leaving Kigali, I was asked to preach at a morning service of about 200--41 came to conviction that they needed Jesus for their personal Lord and Saviour;  then starting in Bujumbura, Burundi, we preached at 3 market places... not the biggest, but that is where the local Team wanted to go... FBF is an equal opportunity preach... we go anywhere where there are people! Amen.  

 32 surrendered there lives to Jesus at the first place,  5 out of 50 (a very small place) at the 2nd street crossing... and 47 at the 4 pm evening rush hour market!  Team of 6, 4 preachers... I know you would love it!  Yesterday 57 came to Freedom out of about 120! It is the Power of Jesus Alone Bro.

Anyway.. am on a big mission that takes me all around the lake of Victory in E Africa... now in Bujumbura, Burundi, and traveling to another of our FBF bases in Geita Tanzania on Friday.  Will be preaching in 3 locations in Tanz and then off to Zanzibar, Kenya and E Uganda... with several places to preach.  Then back to Kampala in W Uganda for a HUGE preach of 47 disctricts... end of May ( was invited just after I purchased my ticket in the states for Africa... a nice affirmation)

From Kampala, I will be returning to the base camp in Kigali... where we will have 2 teams coming in June... and I have a brother and his wife coming over in July.  Again... THANK YOU for your vital prayer support.  This work could not be done with out it!  Amen.  

May the Lord Bless you and keep you in all you do...
     ALL Glory to our Father in heaven... Amen     1 Thess 1:5            

So PRESS ON Dearly Beloved in Christ!!  Go Forward!!  Demonstrate the Peace and the Joy of the Lord in you... that no one can take from you!  Rejoice Always!!!  Amen.  

 Bro Robert   FBF Staff

FBF would like to Thank you again for your prayers and encouragements as the Teams in East, Central, South and Western Africa are experiencing many advances and serious revival that continues in the East and Central sections... all Glory to God!  East India continues to open up new territories with the Gospel, and the Open Air preach continues in the US.  All teams are training new recruits at this time.  We thank the LORD for the good work of participating with His Kingdom advance... and with all His Church Bride who is eagerly awaiting His soon return.  This is the hour for all of God’s children to ‘rise up’ for the gospel of Jesus Christ!  It’s TIME to do all we can in Christ.  His return is more certain than ever before!    Amen.

The focus of the Pastoral Letter (PL) is along the lines of generally edifying and encouraging Preachers to establish more of Christ in our lives, promoting the Kingdom of God where ever we go, Establishing God fearing Churches, mission updates (Africa, India, US), missions reports, focus points, teaching, exposition, a short list of mail-ins (with some excerpts).  We are committed to the Great Co-Mission for all, as being salt and light are not an option in the church of Jesus Christ. Matt 5:13-16 ...  We continue to bless all those who are at work in the advancement of the Kingdom of God... for Jesus sake.  We continue to call all men to Jesus, and to the simplicity of Christ that we find in the Book of Acts Church...   to His Glory and Praise!

Acts 2:42, 46-47,   Mark 16:15-16

May the LORD leave His richest blessings upon each one of you as you Press On with Jesus!

"'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.

                                                        ~William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

FBF  THANKS YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS

BRO ROBERT IS IN AFRICA AT THIS TIME

 PIX AND VIDEO'S ARE COMING SOON

 

 

MATTHEW 18: AN EXPOSITION

Bro Renier

MATTHEW 18: AN EXPOSITION

Chapter 18 has been called the sermon on greatness and forgiveness.  It outlines principles of conduct that are right for those who claim to be subjects of Christ the King.

(Matthew 18:1)  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

The disciples were still anticipating an earthly kingdom and wondering what great positions they would have.  Their self-seeking spirit found expression in the question, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  It doesn’t take a lot of insight to figure that the disciples seem to be on some kind of ego trip.  Notice the patience that Jesus has.

(Matthew 18:2-3)  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ reply indicated they were asking the wrong question.  They should have been concerned about serving the Lord, not asking about positions in the kingdom.  Their service needed to be directed toward people, for Jesus spoke about welcoming a little child… in His name.  Little thought was directed in those days toward children, but Jesus did not overlook them.  Placing a little child in their midst, He said that men must be converted and become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.  He was speaking of the kingdom in its inward reality; in order to be a genuine believer a man must abandon thoughts of personal greatness and take the lowly position of a little child.  This begins when he acknowledges his sinfulness and unworthiness and receives Jesus Christ as his only hope.  This attitude should continue throughout his Christian life.  Jesus was not implying that His disciples were not saved.  All except Judas had true faith in Him, and were therefore justified.  But they had not yet received the Holy Spirit as an indwelling Person, and therefore lacked the power for true humility that we have today (but do not use as we should).  Also they needed to be converted in the sense of having all their false thinking changed to conform to the kingdom.

(Matthew 18:4)  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself as a little child.  Obviously the standards and values in the kingdom are exactly opposite those in the world.  Our whole mode of thinking must be reversed; we must think Christ's thoughts after Him (see Phil 2:5-8).

(Matthew 18:5)  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Here the Lord Jesus glides almost undetectably from the subject of a natural child to a spiritual child.  Whoever receives one of His humble followers in His name will be rewarded as if he had received the Lord Himself.  What is done for the disciple is reckoned as done for the Master.

(Matthew 18:6)  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

On the other hand, anyone who seduces a believer to sin deserves enormous condemnation; it would be better for him to have a great millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the ocean's depths.  (The great millstone referred to here required an animal to turn it; a smaller one could be turned by hand.)  It is bad enough to sin against oneself, but to cause a believer to sin is to destroy his innocence, corrupt his mind, and stain his reputation.  Better to die a violent death than to trifle with another's purity!

(Matthew 18:7)  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Jesus went on to explain that it is unavoidable that offenses should arise.  The world, the flesh, and the devil are leagued to seduce and pervert.  But if a person becomes an agent for the forces of evil, his guilt will be great.  One such an agent was Judas Iscariot.  Psalm 41:9 predicted the betrayal, yet this does not take any responsibility off Judas.  Why?  Because of this verse here in Matthew 18.  The Saviour warned men to take drastic action in disciplining themselves rather than to tempt a child of God.

(Matthew 18:8-9)  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Our Lord does not imply that some bodies will lack limbs in heaven, but merely describes the physical condition at the time a believer leaves this life for the next.  There can be no question that the resurrection body will be complete and perfect.  Whether the sinning member is the hand or foot or the eye, better to sacrifice it to the doctor's knife than to let it destroy the work of God in another person's life.  Better to enter into life without limbs or sight than to be dispatched to hell with every member in one piece.  There are those who say: “My God would never create hell.”  They are actually right: their “god” would never create hell, because he couldn’t.  He doesn’t exist.  He is a creation of their imagination, a god they have created to suit themselves.  It’s called “idolatry,” and it’s the oldest sin in the Book.  Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God.  The one true God, however, could and did create hell for those who reject His mercy. 

(Matthew 18:10)  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Next the Son of God warned against despising one of His little ones, whether children or any who belong to the kingdom.  To emphasize their importance, He added that their angels are constantly in the presence of God, beholding His face.  Angels here probably means guardian angels.  According to Hebrews 1:14 there is biblical support for the concept of guardian angels for the saved.  It seems like the early church, too, believed in the concept of guardian angels.  When Peter was rescued by an angel in Acts 12 the believers who met for prayer said that “It is his angel” when Peter knocked on the door of the home where they were gathered together.  They could have said “It is his spirit” if they believed him to be dead. 

(Matthew 18:11)  For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

While omitted in most other modern Bibles, this verse about our Saviour’s mission is a fitting climax to this section, and it has wide manuscript support.

(Matthew 18:12-13)  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

These little ones are also the object of the tender Shepherd's saving ministry.  Even if one out of a hundred sheep goes astray, He leaves the ninety-nine and searches for the lost one till He finds it.  The Shepherd's joy over finding a straying sheep should teach us to value and respect His little ones.

(Matthew 18:14)  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

They are important not only to the angels and to the Shepherd, but also to God the Father.  It is not His will that one of them should perish.  If they are important enough to involve angels, the Lord Jesus, and God the Father, then clearly we should never despise them, no matter how unlovely or lowly they might appear.  This verse also provides comfort to parents whose little children died before the age of accountability.  There is scriptural proof that little children who died before the age of accountability is saved and will go to Heaven (see 2 Samuel 12:23 and Romans 7:9).  However, nothing in theology is free of controversy.  The rest of the chapter deals with the settlement of differences among believers, and with the need for exercising unlimited forgiveness.

(Matthew 18:15)  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Clear instructions are given concerning the Christian's responsibility when wronged by another believer.  First, the matter should be handled privately between the two parties (Lev 19:17; Gal 6:1).  If the offender acknowledges his guilt, reconciliation is achieved.  The trouble is that we don't do this.  We gossip to everyone else about it.  Then the matter spreads like wildfire and fighting is multiplied.  Let us remember that step number one is to “go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”

(Matthew 18:16)  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

If the guilty brother does not listen, then the wronged one should take one or two others with him, seeking his restoration.  This emphasizes the growing seriousness of his continued unbrokenness.   But more, it provides fit testimony, as required by the Scripture: “that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established’.” (Deut 19:15).  No one can measure the trouble that has plagued the church through failure to obey the simple rule that a charge against another person must be supported by the testimony of two or three others.  In this respect, worldly courts often act more righteously than Christian assemblies.

(Matthew 18:17)  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

If the accused still refuses to confess and apologize, the matter should be taken before the local church.  The disciples probably would have understood Jesus to mean the matter should be brought before the Jewish assembly.  After the establishment of the church, on the day of Pentecost, these words would have had greater meaning for them.   It is important to notice that the local assembly is the body responsible to hear the case, not a civil court.  The Christian is forbidden to go to law against another believer (1 Cor 6:1-8).  If the defendant refuses to admit his wrong before the church, then he is to be considered a heathen and a tax collector.  The most obvious meaning of this expression is that he should be looked upon as being outside the sphere of the church and as an object of evangelism.  Such discipline is a serious action; it temporarily delivers a believer to the power of Satan “for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor 5:5).  The purpose of this is to bring him to his senses and cause him to confess his sin.  Until that point is reached, believers should treat him courteously but should also show by their attitude that they do not tolerate his sin and cannot have fellowship with him as a fellow believer.  The assembly should be quick to receive him back as soon as there is evidence of godly repentance.

(Matthew 18:18)  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Verse 18 is linked with what go before.  When an assembly, prayerfully and in obedience to the Word, binds disciplinary action upon a person, that action is honoured in heaven. When the disciplined person has repented and confessed his sin, and the assembly restores him to fellowship, that loosing action, too, is endorsed by God (see John 20:23).

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

The question arises, “How large must an assembly be before it can bind and loose, as described above?”  The answer is that two believers may bring such matters to God in prayer with the assurance of being heard.  While verse 19 may be used as a general promise of answers to prayer, in the context it refers to prayer concerning church discipline.  When used in connection with collective prayer in general, it must be taken in light of all other teaching on prayer.  For instance, our prayers must be:

1. In conformity to the revealed will of God (1 John 5:14-15).

2. In faith (James 1:6-8).

3. In sincerity (Heb 10:22 a), etc.

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Verse 20 should be interpreted in light of its context.  It does not refer chiefly to the arrangement of a New Testament church in its simplest form, nor to a general prayer meeting, but to a meeting where the church seeks the reconciliation of two Christians separated by some sin.  It may legitimately be applied to all meetings of believers where Christ is the Centre, but a specific type of meeting is in view here.  To meet “in His name” means by His authority, in acknowledgment of all that He is, and in obedience to His Word . No group can claim to be the only ones who meet in His name; if that were so, His presence would be limited to a small section of His body on earth.  Wherever two or three are gathered in appreciation of Him as Lord and Saviour, He is there in the midst.  Notice the “omnipresence” of the Lord Jesus.  Since only God can be “omnipresent”, that is everywhere at the same time, then Jesus is God because where two or three are gathered in His Name … He is there in the midst of them … whether the believers are in Mexico, China or Kenya. … He is there!

(Matthew 18:21-22)  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

At this point Peter raised the question of how often he should forgive a brother who sinned against him.  He probably thought he was showing unusual grace by suggesting seven as an outside limit, for the traditional Rabbinic teaching was that an offended person needed to forgive a brother only three times.  Jesus answered “not ... seven times but up to seventy times seven.”  He did not expect us to understand a literal 490 times; this was a figurative way of saying “Indefinitely.”   In other words, Jesus is saying that if you’re still counting, then it’s not enough! 

(Matthew 18:23)  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Jesus then gives a parable of the kingdom of heaven to warn against the consequences of an unforgiving spirit by subjects who have been freely forgiven.  The story concerns a certain king who wanted to clear his bad debts off his books.

(Matthew 18:24)  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

A “talent” was a very valuable ancient coin.  It was supposedly equal to a year’s wages.  10,000 talents are equal to about $12 million in today’s currency.

(Matthew 18:25-27)  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

One servant, who owed him ten thousand talents, was broke, so his lord ordered that he and his family be sold into slavery in payment of the debt.  The worried servant begged for time, promising to pay him all if given the chance.  Like many debtors, he was incredibly optimistic about what he could do if only he had time (v. 26).  Galilee's total revenue only amounted to 300 talents and this man owed 10,000!  If one talent is equal to a year’s wages then this man will have to work for 10,000 years to pay his debt!  The detail about the vast amount is on purpose.  It is to shock the listeners and so capture their attention, and also to emphasize an immense debt to God.  Martin Luther used to say that we are all beggars before Him.  We cannot hope to pay.  When the master saw the repentant attitude of his servant, he forgave him the entire 10,000 talents.  It was an epic display of grace, not justice.

(Matthew 18:28)  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

A 100 pence is only about $17 in today’s currency.  He was just forgiven $12 million dollars and yet he demanded $17 from one of his fellow-servants!  Rather than forgive him, he grabbed him by the throat and demanded payment in full.

(Matthew 18:29-30)  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

The unfortunate debtor pled for extra time, but it was no use.  He was thrown into prison till he paid the debt—a difficult business at best, since his chance of earning money was gone as long as he was imprisoned.

(Matthew 18:31-34)  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

The other servants, outraged by this inconsistent behaviour, told their master.  He was furious with the merciless lender.  Having been forgiven a big debt, he was unwilling to forgive peanuts.  So he was returned to the jailers' custody till his debt was paid.

(Matthew 18:35)  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In Matthew 18:21-35, we have the most exhaustive teaching in the Bible on this subject of forgiving others who sin against us.  In those fifteen verses, many things are observed as one would ponder them.  Some observations are:
(1) Jesus never even suggested that some of His disciples would not be sinned against in this world.  This is very basic, but nonetheless, an important point to stress.  Dear reader, YOU are not the only one who has been "stabbed in the back" by others who should never have treated you badly!  One preacher made this point well by saying, if you are alive in this world for five minutes; you have already been stabbed in the back by someone!  Though this is an exaggeration, he made this point well.  Without exception, everyone alive today has been sinned against multiple times, even if they are saved.  Furthermore, if you continue to live much longer, you'll soon be sinned against again!  This age is rampant with this kind of thing.  There is no avoiding being mistreated by others, if you stay around people.  Many godly people were unjustly sinned against: JOSEPH by his own brothers, Potiphar's wife and the chief cupbearer (Gen. 37-50); MOSES by his brother and sister (Num. 12:1-13); and DAVID by King Saul who personally tried to kill him more than once (1 Sam. 18:11; 19:10) are just three examples.
(2) At the point of our salvation, our mountainous sin debt that was forgiven is likened to "ten thousand talents." When someone sins against us, it is likened unto only "a hundred pence." That is about a 700,000 to 1 ratio between these two values! In other words, we offended God 700,000 times more severely over the years by sinning against Him, than people do when they sin against us!
(3) The man who received personal forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35, but refused to forgive the man who owed him a mere "hundred denarii," was labeled a "wicked servant"!  This same description is used in Matthew 25:26 and there we learn that such people will be thrown into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (25:30)!
(4) The same way that "wicked servant" was treated is how the heavenly Father will treat YOU unless you forgive your brother from your heart, v. 35!  God expects, even demands, those who received incredible mercy from Him which came at the point of their salvation to afterwards show mercy by forgiving others.

   FBF Staff - Renier      {Ref sources:  The Holy Spirit, W McDonalds, Walvrood & Zuck, Evidence Bible}

Much emphasis is given by our LORD and the Apostles in their teaching on the importance of the PREACHING or DECLARING the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  It is the POWER of God on earth as given to men (Rom 1.16)... as it provides the most coverage in every area.

The words used for PREACH, PREACHING carry with it the Open Air Proclamation just as a TOWN CRIER!  It is never a 2 way conversation... but a DECLARATION TO ALL!  The Church Bride of Christ is to be the VOICE of the Bride and the Bridegroom in this untoward generation.

It has been, and remains the privilege of this ministry to expose men to this dimension of the Gospel as prescribed by our LORD JESUS CHRIST!   May we present the Truth in Love... as Jesus did.  Amen.

Mark 16:15-16, 1:14,  Matt 9:35, 24:12-14,  Luke 4:18, 4:43, 24:47, 

Acts 5:42, 10:42, 1 Cor 1:18

FBF Admin Staff, Bro Robert edit

FBF - Sons of thunder - Time for Christ

www.timeforchrist.org

www.sonsofthunder.cc

________   *   ________

~  we welcome all your comments and inquires  ~

fbfsonsofthunder@gmail.com