SPY Magazine for
the Private Religious Investigator (PRI)
Hello
everyone
from the Editor
In Eastern countries
shepherds do not drive their sheep, but go before them and call them by name.
Sometimes shepherds in
Many years ago there was a
dispute in
The Judge listened to both men claim
that the sheep was theirs. He could not decide who was telling the truth. At
last he ordered the sheep to be brought to the Court. One man was placed in a
separate room, while the other man was to call the sheep to himself.
The first man tried and tried, but the sheep took no notice of him at all.
At last the man in the other room had
grown impatient and he made the special sound that he used to call his sheep.
The sheep immediately knew the sound, it pricked up
its ears, bleated loudly and bounded to where its owner was. The Judge then
declared that he was the true owner.
The Lord Jesus spoke of this very thing
in John 10:4-5. "The sheep follow him (the shepherd): for they know his
voice. And a stranger will they not follow." In verse 27 the Lord said,
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never
perish." True Christians know the Lord’s voice and follow Him.
A strange experience
One week a Scottish preacher named Rev.
Jamieson prepared his sermon for the Lord’s Day. However on the day he
was to preach it, he could not remember it nor make sense of it. He struggled
with this subject and tried all kinds of means to appreciate and commit the
sermon to memory. At last in desperation, he gave up the idea of trying to
preach that sermon; but what was he to preach? He tried to find some other
topic, but his mind seemed to be blank. This had never happened to him before,
so he was deeply troubled. At last the time for the service arrived; still he
had no sermon. He walked to the pulpit, opened in prayer, sang a Psalm, read a
portion of Scripture, but still no message came to him.
At last he felt that he must preach
something from the book of Psalms. So he just let his Bible fall open and the
first words he saw were Psalm 32: 1-2. “Blessed is he whose transgression
is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.” From these words he preached
with great ease. The texts seemed to be very wonderful and full of truths that
he could mention. Mr. Jamieson finished his sermon and went home, puzzled why
he had gone through that experience.
A few weeks later he learned the answer. A woman, who was a
member of his congregation, visited him and told him the following story. She
was very poor, and everyone around her seemed to be very happy and prosperous.
Then she began to think that God was unfair and did not care for those who
sought to serve and live for Him. These thoughts became so strong that she
began to think that all religion was false, the Bible was untrue, and that
there was no God, so she decided to become an atheist. On the Saturday night,
she went bed without asking for God’s blessing - something she had never
done since she was a child.
That night she was very troubled and
could not sleep, and the next morning she decided to say farewell to God and go
to Church for the last time. But she decided to make a bargain with God. She
prayed that if the Bible was true that God would make Mr. Jamieson preach on
Psalm 32:2 “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth
not iniquity.”
She told God that if the sermon was on
this subject, then she would serve God, but if not she would forsake Him
altogether. She told Mr. Jamieson, “I came to the Church very troubled and
distressed. You opened the Bible, read Psalm 32:1-2 and preached on them. My
heart was set free and I went home rejoicing. The Lord our God is merciful and
gracious, longsuffering and slow to anger. He has not dealt with me as my sins
deserve. He is kind to those who are weak and afflicted. For as the heavens are
high above the earth, so great is His mercy towards them that fear Him.”
Doubtless Mr. Jamieson also
rejoiced to hear, not only the reason why he could not preach as he planned,
but of God’s rich mercy to this woman. Sometimes God’s people have
very troubled hearts and the Lord uses strange ways to help and deliver them.
A word in season
Countess of
On one occasion she hired a man named
James, to repair a hole in a garden wall. As he was working she came and urged
him to think about eternity and the state of his soul.
Some years later she was speaking to
another man about his soul. She said, “Thomas, I fear you never pray, nor
do you look to Christ for salvation.” “Your ladyship is
mistaken” replied the man; “I heard what you said to James when he
worked for you on your garden wall, it
had a good effect upon me.” “How did you hear it?” replied
the surprised Countess. “I heard it through the hole in the wall.” Replied the man. “I was on the other side of the wall
and could hear all that you said, and I have never forgotten the impression
your words had on me.”
“Blessed
are they that sow beside all waters.” Isaiah 32:20. We never know when or how God will bless
His word when it is spoken to others, or distributed in some way.
.
Help in time of need
A very poor family once lived
in a rugged part of
The husband and wife knelt in
prayer and asked for God to help them and supply their needs. The husband was
so exhausted and troubled that he went to bed, but the wife decided that she
would spend the night remembering God's promises and praying that He would
fulfil them in their time of need.
Before she opened her Bible,
she lifted her heart in prayer that the Lord would guide her in looking for His
promises. Strangely, Psalm 50:10, seemed to come into
her mind, “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a
thousand hills”. She did not think that those words were very suitable to
her, so she tried to forget them and think on other portions of Scripture, but
these words kept coming into her mind.
As she had determined, she
prayed and meditated all night. Then about five o'clock in the morning, there
was a loud knock at the door. She asked, “Who's there?” “A
friend’ was the reply. When asked again who was there, a man replied,
“I am a cattle dealer and I need help.” She opened the door and saw
a man with a large herd of cattle.
He
explained that one of his cattle had fallen and broken its leg, and he had
managed to get it so far, but could not go further. He was asking someone to
accept the beast. Soon the husband
arose and was overjoyed to see a large beast that would supply them with meat
for a considerable time.
Soon
bread was supplied also. The wife had once worked for another lady, who was
very pleased with her work. She had heard of their poverty and decided to send
the family a sack of flour. The
whole family rejoiced in the goodness of God, and trusted in the Lord and His
word.
Have a
good laugh
Agile person: One needs to be very agile, if not a contortionist,
to get on in life these days. He has to keep his eye on the ball, keep his nose
to the grindstone, keep a level head, keep his ear to the ground, keep his
shoulder to the wheel, keep his feet on the ground, grab
every opportunity and a dozen other similar things.
Over polite: An
overly polite gentleman tried to hold a revolving door open for a lady.
Difficult task: Parents take eighteen months trying to
get their children to stand up and talk, and the next eighteen years trying to get
them to sit down and listen.
Good tutor: A son asked his father, “Dad, will
you help me with my homework?” “I’m sorry the father
answered, “but it would’nt be
right.” “I know, but at least you could try.” replied the
son.
Lowest dog: A man ordered a hot-dog
from the bottom of the pile. “Why from the bottom?” asked the
puzzled vendor. “I always go for the underdog.” the man explained.
Drug puzzle: A man phoned the police and reported that
his neighbour had drugs hidden in the firewood. The
police rushed to the scene, but found nothing. Then they split all his wood and
still finding nothing, they left. Soon the neighbour
phoned, “What were the police doing at your place?” he asked.
“They split all my wood.”
“Happy birthday mate.” The neighbour laughed, and then hung up.
Rock time: Driving
along a road, a man sees a sign. “Watch for fallen rocks.” When he saw some fallen rocks, he
collected them and took them to the road maintenance office and placed them on
the counter. “Here are your rocks.” then he waited for a while and
said to the puzzled officer, “Now where is my watch?”
The devil’s
attacks
Sometimes the devil attacks
Christians by reminding them of all their past sins and failures. On one
occasion Martin Luther records how the devil reminded him of all his past sins.
Then the devil said, “How can you
claim to be a Christian with such a great list of sins. Luther agreed that all
those sins were his and he was guilty of them all. Then he said, “Write
over that great list, ‘The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1. John 1:7. Immediately
the devil left him and Luther rejoiced in the Lord.
Many years ago, two girls, Eliza
Fletcher and Marjory Smith, were the closest of friends. But Eliza was not a
Christian and Marjory was.
Marjory tried many times to gently
encourage Eliza to trust in Christ, but she was troubled with doubts about God
and His word. Later these two girls drifted apart, Eliza moved to
Then Marjory became very ill and sent
for her friend to visit her. The next morning after she arrived, Eliza was
called to come quickly to see Marjory who was very ill. She rushed to her
bedside. Marjory asked the others who were present to leave, and Eliza to sit
by her side, She said “Eliza I am dying and I
wish to speak to you. Often you have spoken lightly of Satan, heaven and hell.
Last night Satan came to my bedside. He held up before me all my past sins, and
how unworthy I am. I told him that the Lord’s blood cleanses from all
sin. “But are you washed?” the devil argued, “look again at
your sins, you cannot deny them.”
At
last Marjory admitted that she was guilty of all these sins, and far more.
“But I am not worse than Mary Magdalene, and she is in glory. The Saviour
that took her there will also take me.” Then the devil pointed to the
cold grave. He said, “Look at that dismal dark grave, how will you like to be there?” Marjory replied, “My
dear Saviour has lain there before me, and the bed whereon He lay will be a
sweet one for me.” The devil then left her.
“Now,
dear Eliza, I tell you as one that is dying, there is a hell, there is a devil;
and blessed be God, there is a heaven, and there is a Saviour. I speak to you
solemnly; let my death be life to you.” Marjory was exhausted and said no
more. Eliza was overcome with grief at the thought of losing her best friend.
Marjory urged her to come to Christ.
These words were not in vain. Eliza was saved by the Lord’s
grace and became a well- known Christian worker, and later died trusting in
Christ.
Not all Christians have such
spiritual battles, but some have an intense fight with the devil’s
suggestion, especially when they are weak and feeble.
Honouring parents
When
George Washington was sixteen years old, he was determined to leave home and
join the navy as an officer.
Everything was arranged for him to go; the navy sent a vessel near his
father’s house, and a rowing boat came ashore to take him. His trunk had been packed and taken to
the small boat. Then George went to say goodbye to his mother.
When he saw that she was
weeping and deeply distressed, he said to the waiting servant, “Go and
bring back my trunk, I will not break my mother’s heart.”
His mother was struck by his decision,
and said to him, “George, God
has promised to bless children who honour their
parent; and I believe He will bless you.”
This decision of George Washington
changed the whole direction of his life. We would probably have never heard of
him being the President of the
A
Jewish story
Cedrenus a Jew, who lived in Old
Testament times, was reading the words of Solomon, “He that has pity on
the poor lends unto the Lord, and that which he has given will He pay him
again.” Proverbs 19:17. Cedrenus decided to try
whether God would be as good as His word, so he gave away all the money he had
to the poor, except two silver coins, then he waited expecting his money to be
repaid to him. But the money did not come to him as he expected. Then he grew
very angry and decided to go to
He asked a goldsmith if the stone was
valuable. who told him that it was of great value. It
had fallen from the breastplate of the High Priest. So the man took the stone
to the High Priest and received a large reward for it. When the Priest heard
the man’s story, he rebuked him for doubting God’s word and urged
him to trust God fully.
Know Your Bible
IN GENESIS the world was made
by God’s creative hand,
In EXODUS the Hebrews marched
to gain the promised land,
LEVITICUS contains the law,
holy and just and good,
NUMBERS records the tribes
enrolled, all sons of Abraham’s blood,
Moses in DEUTERONOMY recounts
God’s mighty deeds,
Brave JOSHUA into
Canaan’s land the host of
In JUDGES their rebellion oft
provoked the Lord to smite,
But RUTH records the faith of
one well pleasing in His sight.
In First and Second SAMUEL,
of Jesse’s son we read,
Ten tribes in First and
Second KINGS revolted from his seed.
In First and Second CHRONICLES
see
But EZRA leads a remnant back
by princely Cyrus’s aid.
The city walls of
While
ESTHER saves her people from the plots of wicked men.
In JOB we read how faith will
live beneath affliction’s rod,
And David’s PSALMS are
precious songs to every child of God.
The PROVERBS like a goodly
string of choicest pearls appear.
ECCLESIASTES teaches man how
vain are all things here.
The mystic SONG OF SOLOMON
exalts sweet
Whilst Christ the Saviour and
the King the rapt ISAIAH shows.
The warning JEREMIAH apostate
His plaintive LAMENTATIONS
their awful downfall mourns.
EZEKIEL tells us in wondrous
words of dazzling mysteries,
While King and Empires yet to
come, DANIEL in visions sees.
Of judgment and of mercy
HOSEA loves to tell,
JOEL describes the blessed
days when God with man shall dwell.
While OBADIAH prophesies of
JONAH enshrines a wondrous
type of Christ, our Risen Lord.
MICAH pronounces
NAHUM declares on
A view of
Next ZEPHANIAH warns the Jews
to turn, repent, and live.
HAGGAI wrote to those who saw
the temple built again,
And ZECHARIAH prophesied of
Christ’s triumphant reign.
MALACHI was the last who
touched the high prophetic chord;
Its final notes sublimely
show the coming of the Lord.
Know your Bible = New
Testament
MATTHEW and MARK and LUKE and
JOHN the holy Gospels wrote,
Describing how the Saviour
died, His life, and all He taught.
ACTS proves how God the
Apostles owned with signs in every place;
Paul in ROMANS teaches us how
man is saved by grace.
The Apostle, in CORINTHIANS,
instructs, exhorts, reproves,
GALATIANS shows that faith in
Christ alone the Father loves,
EPHESIANS and PHILIPPIANS
tell what Christians ought to be;
COLOSSIANS bids us live to
God and for eternity.
In THESSALONIANS we are
taught the Lord will come from Heaven;
In TIMOTHY and TITUS a
bishop's rule is given.
PHILEMON marks a
Christian’s love, which only Christians know,
HEBREWS reveals the Gospel
prefigured by the law.
JAMES teaches holiness
without faith is vain and dead.
PETER points the narrow way in
which the saints are led.
JOHN, in his three Epistles,
on love delights to dwell,
JUDE gives awful warnings of
judgment, wrath, and hell.
THE REVELATION prophesies of
that tremendous day,
When Christ, and Christ
alone, shall be every believer’s stay.
~Shorter
Catechism~
Question 16: ‘Did all mankind fall
in Adam’s first transgression?’
This is a new section of our Catechism. It begins by asking: Who
has been affected by what Adam did in the garden of
Eden? Was it only himself'? Eve? Their children? Most people? All people? Who is
affected when a boy or girl takes something that doesn't belong to them? Only a
small handful of people - possibly even only two! But unlike naughty boys and
girls Adam had a very special role in God’s Garden when he did wrong.
The Bible calls it being
in covenant. It means that Adam represented
us much like our MP does in Parliament. When our MPs make a decision it
affects all of us. When Adam did his sinful deed it affected the whole human race!
We may not like this. We may even think it is unfair. But this is how God would
have it [see Romans 5:12-14]. The only exception is the Lord Jesus who was born
of the Holy Spirit.
Question 17: ‘Into what estate did the fall bring
mankind’?
Adam's sin in taking the forbidden fruit is called the ‘Fall’. It is called this because he went from pure
happiness to utter misery. Our Catechism describes it as sin and misery. And we don't have to look far to
discover the effects of Adam’s wrong-doing. Every ache and pain, every
tear we shed, every bad word, every wicked thought, every broken home, every
instance of crime and much else besides proves what sin and misery Adam brought upon all mankind.
Like Humpty Dumpy who fell and nobody could put him back together
again, so Adam, and all of us with him, are now
spiritually wrecked. Only God can repair the damage he caused. That is why the
Lord Jesus came into the world. He can bring back to our lives all the
happiness, peace and hope Adam knew before the Fall.
The question you have to face is: ‘Have I asked the Lord Jesus to do this
for me?’ Thousands of other
boys and girls throughout the world ask this of Jesus every day and He delights
in repairing the damage Adam created, 1 Timothy 1: 15:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Putting things
right
Two
farmers lived close together and they were very good friends. Neither of them
believed in God or the Bible and mocked Christianity, but one of them attended
a gospel meeting, where he heard the message of salvation and came to know
Christ as his Saviour.
In a
short time, he went to visit his unbelieving neighbour.
He said, “I have come to have a talk with you; I have been
converted.” “Yes, I
heard that you attended a meeting and now claim to be a Christian,”
replied the neighbour with a sneer. “I was surprised, because I
thought you were as sensible a man as any one around here."
“Well’
replied the Christian, “I have a duty to do towards you, and I want you
to quietly listen to me. I have hardly slept for two nights thinking about
it. I have got four sheep that
belong to you. They strayed onto my
property six years ago. I knew they
belonged to you by your mark on them. I removed your mark and put mine on them.
You searched and inquired everywhere for them, but could not find them.”
“Now
that I am a Christian, I want to put this matter right. What do you want? I will do just what you say. If it is money, I will pay what you
ask.”
The unbelieving neighbour was amazed;
he began to tremble and said, “If you have got those sheep, you are
welcome to them. I don’t want
anything for them, if you will only go away. For you to come to me as you have done,
something has happened to you that I don’t understand.”
“No,”
said the Christian, “I must settle this matter and pay for the sheep
– I shall not be satisfied without it. Tell me how much!”
“Well,”
replied the unbeliever, “if you want to pay; give me what they were worth
when they strayed on your property, and six percent as interest.”
The
Christian immediately counted the value of the sheep and interest, and then
gave him double that amount. He
then went home with a happy heart and a clear conscience, while the unbeliever
went home with a puzzled mind, but convinced that his neighbour
was now a changed man from what he was previously.
Augustine
(360-430) rightly said, “If we do not restore that which we have wrongly
taken from another person, our repentance is not real but feigned and
hypocritical.”
Employing the
enemy’s possessions
Sometimes
God uses the possessions of those who are opposed to Him, to fulfil His
purposes and spread the gospel.
Just
like David when he slew Goliath, he used Goliath’s own sword to do so, so
God sometimes uses those things that belong to His opponents to spread His
word.
Voltaire
(1694-1778) was a French philosopher and atheist. He boasted that he would destroy
Christianity and prove that the Bible was not true. He purchased a printing press that was
used to spread his ideas and attacks on the Bible. However, when Voltaire died, this
printing press was used to print copies of the Bible that he had so vigorously
attacked.
The historian Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) who wrote ‘The
decline and fall of the
Adolph
Hitler (1889-1945) built a large radio transmitter tower in
Throughout
history God has often turned the achievements and possessions of those who
opposed His word, to later spread that message which they opposed. We should pray, not only that God would
overthrow evil works, but bring
good out of those evil works and plans, that he may be glorified and the gospel
published throughout the world.