'The Day of the Gadfly'

Exodus 8:20-32

The fourth! In a series of judgments upon Egypt that will issue in salvation for the people of God. It is said by some, that up till this act of God’s judgment, the Hebrews were afflicted too. I do not say that it is so, but, if it is, one can only imagine the effect it would have had upon them, especially if they knew Moses was the indirect instigator of it. They weren’t exactly happy with him before (6:6-9). A bit of a gadfly, lampooning them with his persistent theme of freedom, some freedom they say! We forget that even regenerate believers have an old nature in them. That nature still hates God and has a propensity to blame God when things seem to go wrong for them. This is a people, do remember, who have been living amidst paganism for years, their thinking is hardly in line with God’s. For some it takes many years and lots of God’s grace to bring about the necessary reform. It is not unlikely that they are unaware of, hardly responsive to God at all. The danger of backsliding is just this, we lose our awareness of God and our sensitivity to him. It is only when we walk in the light with him we see things clearly and measure them truly (1John 1:5-7). The purpose of these acts is to prove the presence of the Lord, to show his “Is-ness”, in salvation, i.e., redemption to the Hebrews and in judgment to the Egyptians, by means of these mighty acts. The knowledge of God is always a life and death matter, to one life, to the other death. “God…maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life” (2Corinthians 2:14-16). In the first three plagues both Pharaoh and his magicians are left helpless, their utter impotence is made clear, unable to remove, even to imitate the plague sent by God. They were left without excuse and Pharaoh’s heart is hardened further, just as the Lord said it would be. He is more determined than ever, not to let God’s people go. We saw in these pages the time before last, that the reference to the finger of God, was not in any sense a responsible acknowledgement of the Lord himself, but simply some vague, but superior supernatural event that they could neither overcome nor copy. God is about to show them differently. They will learn here that God, the mighty Jehovah is in their midst, and he is there to save his people, and to destroy their nation in acts of divine judgment. The fact that God is ever-present is something that needs to be grasped by this generation of sinners. Many reams of paper have been wasted, sermons prepared and preached in vain, all seeking to prove to people what they already know, that God exists. Does God exist? That is not the question. What is God like, is the question. Why? Because they know he exists, “because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them“ (Romans 1:19). It is “in them” and it has been “shewed unto them”, that God is. When they say they are atheists, or agnostics, they are lying. There is no such thing. They may say in their foolish, sin-darkened minds, “there is no God” (Psalm 14:1), but in reality God himself says, they know better. So what is the ever-present God like to the ungodly and unbelieving? He is present, never far away, in wrath, he is a consuming fire. But he is not present with them in love, in mercy, they are separated from him as a God of love, “your iniquities have separated between you and…God” (Isaiah 59:2). In this plague we have a swarm of flies, dog-flies, or gadflies, is what they were. They apparently lived off the blood of men and animals. They could cause serious eye diseases, even blindness. The Egyptian leader, the Pharaoh is persistently warned by God, through his servant Moses, that should he fail to let the Hebrews go to serve him, he would let loose upon them a plague of these gadflies. They would, yet again, fill Palace, home, cattle-shed, the entire land. Only Goshen, where Israel dwelt, would be the exception. These gadflies, apparently attack people, pets, and agricultural animals, their bites are extremely painful to both man and beast. When hungry, they are quite persistent and will continue to pursue a blood-meal regardless of being swatted several times. The gadfly, in fact, its annoying behaviour has given its name to a person, or persons, who persistently provokes others. The gadfly, will bring to light certain unpleasant facts to the Egyptians, that they themselves had provoked the Almighty to the point of no-return, their cup of iniquity is full to the brim.

1. The Stinging Nuisance - Moses:--

Exodus 8:20-23 -- The temptation for God’s people, in a time of judgment, spiritual and moral declension is to give up in terms of persistent witness. What’s the use, we are just being a nuisance, we are like the gadfly just something to be swatted by the ungodly, we are just provoking them to more and more wrath and anger. Well, Moses is not to give up, regardless of Pharaoh hardening his heart. Moses is to be totally relentless, persistent in his presentation of God’s, not his own, demands. That demand is still for Pharaoh to let God’s people go, or God will let go a swarm of these gadflies upon Egypt. A commentator says that these flies are non-lethal, just annoying, irritating. Well, they may have been non-lethal in the sense that they did not immediately and directly cause death and destruction, but long term they did. They would have caused widespread disease, we’re not told, but much of it could well have caused death eventually. Then the effect on cattle and plant life would have been devastating. Bit by bit, here a little and there a little, one plague after another, the economy, the social life, the very fabric of the nation is being destroyed, the spirit of the people, their morale being undermined and weakened, till the final, the big one comes. Suffering and desolation are always the result of God’s judgment, “he sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them“ (Psalm 78:45). Moses is instructed here to take a definite and persistent position, to make a stand in the presence of Pharaoh, the ruler of this nation, and declare the word of God.

1. Stand:--

   Exodus 8:20a -- To stand, that is, to hold his ground unyielding in his cause, his message, because his cause, is God’s cause, the authority in which he stands is God’s authority. The doctrine is God’s. The Pharaoh has learned nothing yet. He continues to worship his pagan gods. That is what he is doing by the river so early in the morning, worshipping it, it was yet another object of Egyptian idolatrous veneration, worship. And that is why Moses is instructed to “rise up early in the morning“, it is not just that the servant of the Lord must not lack discipline, that goes without saying, surely? No, the reason is, it is early in the morning by the river Nile, that he will find Pharaoh engaged in his idolatrous worship, and there, that he is to make a further stand against him, and his paganism, to confront him with the Lord’s persistent demand. God yet wants his servant Moses, and his servant the Church, even today, to continue to stand their ground against all that is false and contrary to his word, to the doctrine of God. The church of course, is called to make a stand in every generation. Here Moses is to make a stand against a pagan, idolatrous religious system that represents antichrist in his day. For the simple reason is, that if we don’t make a stand against it, it will invade and pollute the visible church. God’s insistent demand here, is that his people should be free of such. The children of God as they journeyed through the wilderness and even into the land of promise showed clearly how much of this pagan idolatry they had imbibed and carried with them. How hard a thing is it to prise it from the bosom even of God’s people. Idolatry is a worship in which the honour that is due to God alone, is given to some creature or created thing. Whether it is done in heathen temples, synagogues of Satan, or Christian churches, idolatry is idolatry, and we are told clearly to flee from it (1Corinthians 10:14). The Hebrews were guilty of it throughout their entire history, they who were given the oracles of God, the covenants, the true knowledge of God, have, historically, been the most idolatrous nation ever. They supposedly worshiped their idols in Jehovah’s name, they imagined that they hadn’t made any departure from God, but they had. They just never stood against it, against the idolatry of the Canaanites that remained in the land, they were persistently drawn to it, like moths to the flame. The post-apostolic church? It wasn’t long before it was defiled by similar idolatry, centuries of it. Only a few, a remnant, ever really make a firm stand against such. It’s that fallen nature, corruption, that remains with us as long as we travel through this world’s scene, and shows itself in a whole variety of ways (Mark 7:21-22). It is out of that same source that the false ideas about God and the worship that is due to him arise, “the works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:20). So, does it really surprise us to find a pre-Reformation church that smouldered with popish idolatry? That the worship of God had b Stand:--ecome so utterly filthy and corrupted? That all kinds of pagan celebrations, practices and festivals had been brought into the church? When so few people are willing to make a stand against it? Those that do so, are termed narrow and bigoted by most within the visible church, but God here would have his servant Moses to make a stand, like the gadfly, make a stinging nuisance of himself, unyielding in his declaration of God’s demands to Pharaoh. But in post-Reformation England with a like-polluted and hostile society that we are faced with, not to mention a recreant visible church, a firm and resolute stand is called for, is necessary. A holy stubbornness, persistence. To be labelled a nuisance for God is alright, it’s okay. Your stand may cause others to be stung in their conscience, well so be it. Our desire is not just to be holy gadflies, but to honour God and his truth, to show fidelity to the Scriptures, to stand in our Christ-given freedom, and perhaps, who knows, just maybe, to save some of those who are out of the way. We will not accomplish any of those goals by yielding, refusing to stand for Christian truth. Our Lord says, “ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13). The greatest threat to Christians today, does not come from our hostile, anti-God state and society, but from within our own ranks. The continual dripping sound of the enemy’s assault with words of love and peace, compromise and peace. To follow Jesus is to keep his word, to take a firm stand upon Bible doctrine. To be contrary to the Scriptures is to be contrary to Christ, is not to keep his word, is not to be a disciple of his. You can be young, you can be enthusiastic, you can be eager, you can be lots of things, but you cannot think as you please and be a follower of Christ! The early church was not large, but it progressed, why? Because it was salty. It preached the doctrine of Christ uncompromisingly! Bringing conviction! Like the gadfly, the early church’s preaching stung, it bit into the minds of people, the church was an holy nuisance. The Apostle Peter’s preaching was full of you’s, you took, you killed! What a tyrant of a preacher, how unloving, what abhorrent cruelty to remind those poor, nice respectable and religious Jews of their sins! But by the mercy of God they were pricked through in their hearts, and at least three thousand of them were saved. The attitude of that early church was one of steadfast devotion, to what? To doctrine, “they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Where did the Apostles get their doctrine, from Christ of course, they stood firmly upon the word of God. In spite of being harassed, persecuted, hated and despised. Even threatened with death they exclaimed, “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). They made a stand before the onslaught of an anti-Christian society. “Having done all, to stand. stand therefore” (Ephesians 6:13-14).

2. Speak:--

   Exodus 8:20 -- Moses is told once again to deliver the word of the Lord to Pharaoh, “say unto him“. But if you won’t stand, you won’t speak either. This was to be a clear warning to Pharaoh, he was to be left in no doubt that these events, were in no sense accidental or fortuitous. The Almighty was present, acting and speaking through his servant Moses, and he was waiting for a response. What was Pharaoh’s thinking when he saw Moses and Aaron by the river that morning? A sense of apprehension, irritation, here comes this Hebrew gadfly again, with more of his preposterous demands? Moses in his speaking to Pharaoh, made it plain that God was serious, very. Moses went as God’s chosen instrument, he was told to confront Pharaoh, to stand his ground, and speak, in the name of God. To demand the freedom of God’s people. These were not Pharaoh’s people, they belonged to God, Egypt had no right to hold, to keep them in cruel bondage, under forced labour. Nothing less than unconditional release would be acceptable to God, nothing. This was what the exodus was all about, God saving his people for his own glory. The freedom to leave Egypt and its paganism, its false, idolatrous religion behind, and in the wilderness atonement for their sin would be made, where they could freely worship the true and living God. This, of course, is our salvation in Jesus Christ. The redemption that is ours, God calls us out of our Egypt, the darkness of our past sinful lives. He by his Spirit looses us from the tyranny of Satan’s captivity. We hear the gospel, the call of God, and the demands God makes to sin and Satan, “let my people go” v20! It was the proclamation that emancipated us. The good news about Christ’s death and resurrection liberating us from sin and death. But it was faith, believing those biblical propositions about Christ, spoken to us, that set us free. Coming into God’s emancipating salvation is an intelligent business, one in which the mind is engaged, it has nothing to do with feelings, or even mystical experiences, but listening to, evaluating the truth spoken to us, those propositions about Christ, and believing this to be God’s own testimony concerning his Son, we are wonderfully and gloriously saved. But the call has to be made, the word of the Lord must be spoken by Moses in order for God’s people to be liberated, ”how will they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14). But if we do not speak today what will become of the church? False brethren, the foolishness of the world, or faithfulness to God’s word, what will it be, which will we choose? How many New Testament letters were written to warn the church of these very things? Deadly, menacing, deceptive peace. Don’t upset the church, don’t speak! Many Pharisees entered the early church (2Peter 2:1; Jude 1:4), they were not true Christians, they didn’t believe in justification by faith alone, apart from works. They believed they were saved by their own works. They were Christians in name. It was a serious case of leaven in the church, that was likely to spread like a malignant cancer, if not spoken out against and treated. Even the Apostle Peter was deceived on occasion. What line did Paul take, peace at any price, silence? No, Paul was yet another gadfly, a holy nuisance for the truth, he said, “I withstood him to the face”, why? “Because he was to be blamed” (Galatians 2:11). He spoke out against his brother, because in carnal fear of the Jews he was compromising the saving message of the gospel. The salt was in danger of becoming un-salty. The grace of God is challenged by the foolishness of the world being brought into the church in our day, more I think than in any other. What utter foolishness we see or hear of, being performed in churches! What stupidity, and it‘s claimed that it‘s all for the young people, to win them for Christ, what utter nonsense. This generation of young people need to hear very serious gospel preaching. Preaching of the truth, yes, in love, but serious, sober, clear and courageous. The youngsters of this generation, generally speaking, are drunk on foolishness. The same outspoken Paul, the holy nuisance, warns the church of the coming religious apostasy (2Thessalonians 2:1-12), a departure from the faith. Where did it originate? With an abridgment of the whole counsel of God, in part by traditions claiming to rest on supreme authority, the deductions of men’s reason and suggestions of will worship. It wasn’t long after the Apostle’s day that human tradition began to supersede the Book of God. Doctrinal and practical declension set in. Paul warns in the same passage, of “the man of sin”, not just the commission of sin, but its living personification, “that wicked one”, “lawless one”, “son of perdition”, the latter being an appellation given to Judas Iscariot, “a vessel fitted for destruction”. The Papal Antichrist was to be a fitting successor to him who betrayed the Lord of glory. This soft generation would even soften the divine record and substitute less severe, more polite, or political language than even God himself. But I remind you it is God himself who draws this word picture himself of the Antichrist. Moses is to speak, to place God’s demands before this representation of antichrist in his day, he is to protest in very serious terms. The Prophets and the Apostles did likewise in their day, they all saw themselves caught up in the mother of all wars, between good and evil, between God and Satan, between Heaven and Hell. In time of war there is no time for niceties. Sir Winston Churchill, our great and illustrious war-leader, during the second world war, was known to have explosive relations with his military staff. Having grossly upset the chief of staff of the Royal Air Force, who was a very agreeable and polite man, normally, exploded in a tirade of language not his usual style. At the end of it, he apologised to the Prime Minister if he seemed rude. Winston said to him with a breaking smile, “You know, in war you don’t have to be nice, you only have to be right”. This is a generation far to easily offended. Don’t be afraid to speak, don’t be cowed, be a holy gadfly, a nuisance for the truth. It is only as we preserve the truth in the church, protest against false and dangerous doctrines, and present the gospel of God’s grace to sinners, that the church will progress. Will you stand against the world? Will you shrink from controversy? Will you speak only of Christ where witnessing costs you nothing? Will you learn the lessons of Christian history? Will you recognise that which prides itself today in being modern (everything has to be modern, that‘s the mantra of today‘s church, and tradition, that which has been tried and tested, proved to be helpful, wholesome, good and even biblical is an anathema to such), as an enemy as old as the Garden of Eden?
   

3. Serve:--

   Exodus 8:20 --The reason for the release of the Hebrews is given also to Pharaoh, “that they may serve me“ I.e., worship God. You must keep in mind, that Pharaoh‘s not just a political figure-head, but he is seen by his people as a divine god-king. Pharaoh was a god office. But here, his divine authority is being challenged and subverted, destroyed even, by these acts of judgment performed by God. He, God that is, is the Warrior-God, on behalf of his people, he is the Liberator-God, who acts in power to bring his people out from the spiritual powers of darkness behind the idols of Egypt, so they can be free for true worship. Our power for true life and blessing lies in our worship. If we turn away from God towards idolatry then he will fight against us and bring us to judgment. This is the history of Israel. The end game is not just deliverance from spiritual bondage, but freedom for true worship. Compare, however, if you will, the two forms of worship. The worship of Pharaoh with its idolatry, it is bondage, it is hard labour, it is making bricks without any a straw. The devil’s always been a hard taskmaster, he still is. Pharaoh is the god whose service is slavery. God, on the other hand, the true and living God, his service is rest. “Come unto me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). It became an integral part of Israel’s life, the Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:12-15), the fabric of the nation was built around its Sabbaths. Rest in order to worship was, and is central to God’s purpose in delivering his people. Therefore, to forsake God and to return to idolatry is to return to slavery. It is an expression of rejection of God’s redeeming grace. An exchanging of the truth for a lie (Romans 1:25; Jeremiah 13:25). It is a deliberate forsaking of God, it is spiritual adultery against God. It is no small thing believe me, the Rome-ward trends in modern evangelicalism, it is perilous, it will, unless it is checked, by a strong stand against it, and courageous men speaking out, and retention of true gospel worship, spell the end of Protestantism in the Western world. The propensity towards idolatry as already stated comes from the corruption in man, the flesh. But it is also fuelled by ignorance of God and his true worship. Both carnal and extremely low thoughts about God and his character. Hence the downgrade in modern Christian worship, aesthetic, what pleases the flesh, the emotional, sensual as opposed to the spiritual. Service, worship that’s pleasing to man as opposed to God. It’s the religion of the natural man. There is and has always been an addiction in man towards what he can see, and feel and touch in his worship, a continual tendency to bring his god down to the lowest level. To the base level even of worship in the form of a rock and roll concert. A religion of sense and sight. God calls his people out to worship him, in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Idolatry is the produce of the church’s remaining corruption, “the law of sin, the body of death” (Romans 7). If these be, as some aver, the last of the last days, then I ask you are these days for drawing near to Rome, snuggling up to denominations that condone, promote, marry and even ordain Sodomites? If we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming is nigh, is it not a time to make a firm stand, draw back from such apostasy as we see in our day, to protest against all unscriptural worship of all descriptions. To stand firm in our Protestant principles of worship recovered at the time of the Reformation?

2. The Separation of the Peoples:--

Exodus 8:21-24 -- If Pharaoh thinks that Moses is a gadfly, he has seen nothing yet. He is about to meet a whole host of them, God-sent. But prior to that Moses, God’s faithful servant, courageously stands before Pharaoh and speaks, that which God had told him to say. We have nothing else to say to people, only the gospel, only that which God has entrusted to us, “our common salvation…that…once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3).

1. God‘s Challenge:--

   Exodus 8:21 -- There is a play on words here, if Pharaoh doesn’t send the Hebrews out, God will send the gadflies in. And as we shall see in verse twenty four, God makes no idle threats, he does exactly that. Do remember, this is new age religion, or old age pantheism that God is challenging here. These people, with Pharaoh, as their god-king, worship, idolise just about everything and anything. They worshipped the river Nile, God turned it into blood, a river of death. They worshipped the frog, the goddess of fertility, but God triumphs over them, one after the other. These signs and wonders performed by God through Moses, are used to both challenge the authority of, and to demonstrate the power of God, over Pharaoh’s idols, the gods of Egypt. Now like many people in our society today, the people of Egypt trusted themselves, their land, their well-being to such superstitious idols. Is it not the case that God has often got to open the eyes of people to see the foolishness, the powerlessness of such things, for them to come to a knowledge of God himself. It was so, was it not, with the Thessalonians, “how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come“ (1Thessalonians 1:9-10). It was in hearing the faithful testimony of God’s word through the apostolic witness, their eyes were opened to see the folly of their idolatry. Consequently they turned to serve the true and living God. But their reception of the word of God, came with much affliction (1Thessalonians 1:6). God has often to afflict us in many ways for us to see the emptiness and powerlessness of the things in which we place our trust. The gadflies? Well, one explanation given, is that the Egyptians worshipped and trusted in Beelzebub as their protector and guardian. Beelzebub meaning lord of the flies. He supposedly protected their land from natural disasters and, would you believe, swarms of flies? A kind of an insurance policy. But how many people carry about with them today such superstitious insurance policies? But behind all such idolatrous superstition, is the “chief of the devils” himself (Luke 11:15). Idolatry is an instrument of Satan, to blind, captivate people, Beelzebub represented Satan’s power of Egypt and its people. In embracing idolatry they had bought into, opened themselves up to the kingdom and powers of darkness. It is not for nothing that God judges this idolatrous nation. “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils“ (1Corinthians 10:19-21). The kingdom of God is operating here amongst them, showing, demonstrating that power, ultimately belongs to God, not to Satan, the devil. The fight, as already stated, is between Heaven and Hell, God and Satan. Satan offers no one protection, he is a liar, the father of such, dirt, defilement and destruction are all he knows. He came to destroy men’s lives, but the Son of God came to destroy his works (1John 3:8). Beelzebub would not be able to stop these gadflies once God sent them, they would not be able to stop their destroying, ravaging power (v24), corrupting everything. When once the plague goes out, only God himself can stop it. Not Beelzebub, not the devil himself, no power. I witnessed, in London, some weeks ago what is called a ‘Gay Pride Parade’, it’s a parade of Sodomites, a revelation of filth and uncleanness. But as I watched the procession go past, I thought it would never come to an end, I was absolutely horrified, endless, thousands and thousands of them. This, in our capitol City. Besides other things, it made me weep, but it caused me to see just why God’s judgment is upon our nation, it is to this we have been given over (Romans 1:26). A plague has gone out from the Lord! Not all the politicians in the country put together, if they had the mind and will to do it, could stop it. It’s too big, it’s too late, God has decreed judgment for this our nation. There is but one antidote that will stop the plague, the message of the cross, the lifting up of the blood of God’s Son Jesus Christ. The Egyptians no doubt went out and bought fly-swatters in there thousands, the market traders would have made a fortune, but all the world’s implements, and all the self-effort in the world would not remove the flies. They were God-sent, it was judgment. But then the church has taken somewhat to some fly-swatting itself, has it not. It no longer trusts its God given message and means of saving souls, the emphasis is no longer on that of Scripture. The church’s power, authority is in the Scripture alone, that’s where the gospel is embedded, Christ died for our sins, “according to the Scriptures” 1Corinthians 15:3-4). This was the Apostles ministry, always appealing to the Scriptures. Even Christ himself. Satan wanted him to appeal to his personal experiences, he quotes the Scripture. Satan wants him to perform a miracle, he quotes the Scripture. Satan wants him to put his Father to the test, prove it’s true, jump! Christ quotes Scripture. Satan wanted Christ to worship him, avoid the suffering of the cross. Christ quoted the Scripture. The gospel is yet God’s power unto salvation, the message we have, but it’s what God himself has done in Christ historically for us, NOT IN US, that is our message of power. It is that alone that saves God’s people, that stems the plague of God’s judgement in the life of a nation, or individual, to save his elect.
   

2. God‘s Chosen People:--

   Exodus 8:21-23 -- God deals differently with his own people. But surely, even in these acts of judgement upon the Egyptian nation, God’s people are witnessing the power of God? I mean this is a genuine miracle. We get despondent, discouraged, God’s not working, or so we think. So we turn to methods and means not ordained of God, we’ll swat the flies ourselves, but it doesn’t work. We get depressed, we give up on work of mission, we don’t have tract societies anymore, why? Because God’s people don’t give them out anymore, doesn’t work. We are not seeing God working in salvation power, so we give up. But can we not see, do we not know that God is still working, perhaps not as we would like, or wish, but working he most certainly is. Look at our own nation, look at the way we’ve been taken, the fall, the awesome speed of the decline, the depth of depravity displayed in this nation. The decline in my lifetime alone, even the last thirty years, has been breath-taking. It’s God’s doing. It’s the amazing, astonishing power of our God at work, his righteous judgement upon a Christ-rejecting nation. And it is marvellous! All his works are! What are you doing being depressed, discouraged? Why have you given up? God hasn’t. Yes, he may be working predominantly in judgement here in the United Kingdom, but, he still has a remnant according to election (Romans 9:11). That the plague of God’s judgement hasn’t fallen upon you as one God’s people, ought to cause you to rejoice, to clap your hands in delight, it’s a miracle of divine grace. It’s God who has made the distinction, no one else. But what makes the difference? The Israelites are no better than the Egyptians, they‘re not a greater, bigger, nicer, more moral people, so what? In fact, the majority of them were not happy at all with God’s deliverance of them. They turned out to be fractious, rebellious, idolatrous, blaming Moses for every difficulty they encountered. They deserved, as the rest, to be judged of God. It’s election, is all, that makes the difference (Romans 9), God chose them above all others, he set his love upon them and so here, he makes a division (v23), distinction between them and the Egyptians. But then that relieves them, us, of any grounds for boasting (Ephesians 2:7-10), it relieves us of any grounds for despising other people. But it does give us much ground for praising and thanking God that he has made a distinction between us and the world. And surely it gives us the grounds for showing ourselves to be the people God has called us to be (1Peter 2:9), in gratitude living for him, to him in holiness, the obedience of faith. That God has formed and established his covenant with his people, it’s on that basis alone, his inviolable, unbreakable covenant, his faithfulness not ours, his love, not ours, his grace alone that makes us to differ, the covenant is the guarantee of our salvation, so all boasting is excluded. The sovereign grace of God is realised through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, and therefore the gospel is to be made known, presented to all without distinction, promiscuously. The distinction is made by God himself, in the call of the gospel. God calls, regenerates, justifies, sanctifies and glorifies. The picture here is one of the future and final judgement, when God will separate the believers from the unbelievers for all eternity. The sheep from the goats, the saved from the damned, those who enter his presence forever and those who are banished from that presence forever. That’s God action in judgement, what follows is a down-payment, a guarantee of what’s to come, that last judgement.
   

3. God‘s Act of judgement:--

   Exodus 8:24 --The land was corrupted, destroyed. This was not a natural disaster, just a ‘happening’, accidental, but God Almighty was present and active, exercising vengeance against his enemies to the end that all might know that he is the Lord God, the sovereign over all (v22). He is not, nor like the idols of Egypt, they are created things, he is the Creator. The plagues is a grievous swarm, oppressive, heavy, burdensome, massive numbers, abundance of these gadflies. It is intense, severe. The land was ruined as a result, the economic consequences should be obvious to us, devastating! It was the custom of Egyptian people in general, in the midst of such crises, whether war, famine etc., to call upon their gods to deliver them from such. They would each have his or her own favourite god. It is not difficult to imagine that would be the case in the midst of this terrible ravaging of their land. But one sign after another, revealed that their gods were totally impotent, powerless in the face of the Almighty. Josephus, the historian says, “the land lay neglected and uncultivated by the husbandmen; it may be, the air was infected by the flies, which produced a pestilence that took off many of the inhabitants; so among the Eleans, as Pliny reports, a multitude of flies produced a pestilence; however, it is certain many of the inhabitants of Egypt perished by them; they might sting them to death, suck their blood, and poison them with their envenomed stings“ (Psalm 78:45). As Pharaoh this time realises only Moses can relieve them of this plague, he, instead of summoning his magicians, calls for Moses and Aaron. He suggests a compromise, half-way to paradise you might say, it’s not enough, it’s all or nothing, it’s complete freedom, God will have nothing less.

3. The Sin of Compromise:--

Exodus 8:25-32 -- The man’s a politician too, and a smart negotiator. A clever scheme, yes they can sacrifice, provided they remain in Egypt. They could make atonement, but not go into the wilderness (as God had demanded). It’s the kind of compromise the church today would probably settle for. Well, you know, it’s the best we can get, at least they are making some concessions, at least we can go and make atonement for our sins. It’s not quite the way the Lord wanted us to do it, but does it really matter, we can always have things the way we want them in church.

1. Concession or Compromise:--

   Exodus 8:25-26 -- With the period of time it took for all these plagues to be performed, about six months it‘s thought, that news of all the negotiations, the plaguing and lifting of the plagues, that it would eventually filter through to the Hebrews. And we would like to think that there was at least a stirring amongst them, a raising of hopes, God is really working on our behalf! I mean did they see beyond the workings of ordinary men in this? Sometimes God’s people can be quite blind. And worse still when they become aware that God is working to change lives and circumstances, to bring them to a more radical commitment of obedience, their reaction can be to simply turn away, or even compromise. After all their complaints under the Egyptian bondage, it’s a strange reaction is it not? But it happens. Of course when things are wrong in life, we tend to hide from God, like Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). But what a temptation is this for Moses, he wouldn’t have to keep coming back to this man, again and again, being a human gadfly, pestering him for the same thing over and over. It would have been easy to rationalise. And maybe he had Aaron at his shoulder whispering, “hey Moses, we’re not going to get a better deal than this, what’s important is we sacrifice, not where we do it, go for it man”! But that wasn’t what God wanted, a concession. God is the sovereign of the universe, he’s not into making deals with Satan, or his earthly representatives. God rules ok! It’s like when Israel eventually came into the promised land, they were told to rid it completely of all the Canaanites, once again in an act of God’s judgment. But they were to be the instruments, they were not to leave one, why? Because eventually they, Israel, would succumb to their idolatrous religious practices. And what happened? Yes, you guessed it. They didn’t do what God commanded, and the rest is a history of Jewish idolatry, exiled and finally in the time of Christ, abandoned, once and for all, by God. Compromise! There is of course a pragmatic issue that Moses wisely raises (v26). Were the Israelites to begin to sacrifice in Egypt, say, bulls and rams, animals which would have been sacred to the Egyptians, what would the reaction be? Riotous, for Pharaoh, political mayhem at least. It would be two civilisations on a collision course, and eventually there would be civil war, inevitable. The Lord’s people could not have remained amongst them and faithfully served the Lord, they would have compromised, and had they been strong enough not to compromise, their blood would have been shed by heathen Egyptians. We have a very similar situation here in the United Kingdom now. We have two incompatible civilisations living, no existing, together. For how long can this continue we wonder before there is widespread bloodshed, even civil war? We’ve had the peaceful civilising message of the gospel of Jesus Christ for some five hundred years. But now we find ourselves swamped with false, eastern, death-dealing religion, Mohammed’s Islam. The two cannot co-exist. If some action is not taken by politicians, one can see nothing but the outbreak of civil war at some point. The demands of Muslims are met constantly by fearful, cowardly politicians, more and more their demands are forced upon us. As I write, just last week, in Alsager High School, Stoke-On-Trent, here in Staffordshire, two boys were punished, given detention, why? Because they wouldn’t bow down and worship Allah, in a religious studies class. This in, no, not even a predominantly Muslim school, the philosopher’s saying, “whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad”, is not without some theological warrant. God in his judgment upon this nation has made our politicians, judges, policemen and educationalists, stark, raving mad. The final judgment will follow. Short of widespread Muslim conversion to the civilising message of the gospel, one can only see the future of Europe, let alone the United Kingdom, in yet another bloodbath of war. The wars in Europe are not over yet, not by a long shot. No says Moses, that won‘t work Pharaoh, the people of God must be completely free to worship where, when and how he, their sovereign Lord dictates. We settle for nothing less, no compromise. Why? Because God has issued the command.
   

2. Command is Uncompromising:--

   Exodus 8:27-29 -- Moses cannot make any concessions, he knows, God has told him exactly what he requires. The feast is to held in the desert (Exodus 5:1), not Egypt. God’s plan is to remove Israel from Egypt altogether to the promised land (Exodus 6:11). So not even the smallest compromise can be made. Full obedience to the revealed will of God, anything else would be a violation of God’s command. This is the touchstone of the gospel though isn’t it? There are some willing to be Christian in name, to be religious, but no thought of leaving their sins behind, of coming out all the way. Don’t mind some sacrifice as long as they don’t have to leave Egypt altogether. As Spurgeon once said, “Christ did not come to make people less sinful, but to make them leave off sin altogether…The deliverance must be complete, or else there shall be no deliverance at all”. We are confronted with temptations every day as Christians, to compromise, stay in Egypt. To offer God partial obedience. To confess Christ as long as we don’t have to make a moral stand. As long as it doesn’t interfere with our financial prosperity. As long as we don’t have to talk to others about spiritual or moral issues. Being religious outside the four walls of a church is seen as being extreme, fanatical. In her book “Out of Egypt” by a converted lesbian, Jeanette Howard, she says, “Compromising the word of God is always a backward step in our Christian walk…What do we hear today?…Certainly, you can be a Christian. But you don’t have to stop being a lesbian just because you want to worship God. Do both. Don’t be so fanatical….after all you’re only doing what comes naturally……Some lesbians in a pang of conviction will walk away from their sin, but are loathe to walk too far away. They stay in touch with gay friends…continue to read gay books and magazines. These women stay close enough to return to their lesbian life once the the fright of conviction is over. They vacillate between conviction and corruption, trying to maintain a precarious balance between the two. But disaster comes….If we are to break free from the bondage of lesbianism, we must follow God with our whole heart, mind and strength. We must be women wholly committed to God. There is no place for compromise. God will not share your heart with the world and your flesh. Only a complete break with your past, leaving Egypt fully behind, will bring healing in your life”. That’s true of every sin. Sir Winston Churchill, knew the war against Germany’s Hitler couldn’t be won without the Russians. He worked with them though he knew, understood only too well what their agenda was. As the war was coming to an end he pressed the allies, to no avail, to go with speed towards Berlin, liberate Prague, Vienna, press on, take as much ground as quick as you can, before the Russians take it. The allies couldn’t see it, not even a superb political general such as Eisenhower, he failed to grasp it. “Berlin, 1945? No longer an issue” he said. The result? Only partial success. That won’t do in the Kingdom of God and his Christ beloved. Partial success is compromise, surrender. We need constantly as a spiritual nation (1Peter 2:9), to hear the rallying cry to battle, to stirred up fired-up preaching. One of Churchill’s great qualities as a war-leader was his obstinacy, unyielding determination. He roused this nation with his rallying speeches, he gave us courage and hope. In June 1940 the statement ran through Great Britain, “we shall never surrender”, it captured a magnificent defiance that put heart into a nation. Another mighty war-leader, The Tiger of France, Clemenceau, said, “fais la guerre - I make war”. Nations are led and ruled by words, the great men, who have led their nations to victory, conquest, were men, yes, they were learned, they had political gifts, but they were men with the gift of oratory, they mastered the art of speech. The church, God’s spiritual nation, need such men today, with like gifts, with oratory power, to make war against sin, to raise the cry amongst the people of God, we shall never surrender” to sin, to false worship, to compromise. Our only surrender will be to God. It is only as we are led by such men, by the word of God, because we are a nation likewise ruled, and led by words, God’s, that complete defeat of the enemies of God will be made, no surrender.
   

3. Command Disobeyed:--

   Exodus 8:30-32 -- No change with Pharaoh, no change with Moses either. The former yields because he needs Moses to pray, the latter because he is under the direct authority of God. What Pharaoh agrees to doesn‘t directly conflict with God‘s demand, so he agrees to pray that God will lift the judgment of the nation. The removal of the gadflies is as miraculous as the their being sent, it’s all God’s doing. But it brings responsibility to both camps, God reveals himself in his mighty acts, our response needs to be one of faith, trust at least, to begin with. Yet Moses warns him again, concerning his deceptiveness, but to no avail. It again highlights the deceptive attitude of many people in distressful situations. They make vows and promises to God, they offer him some kind of compromise, they seek to negotiate with him. If only he will get them out of their trouble, they will follow him, do what is commanded of them. But, as soon as God removes the trouble they forget all about God. It’s nothing new. But God is not mocked, deceived (Galatians 6:7). God knows them that are his. The one dividing line is Jesus Christ, his cross, the redemption that he purchased for God’s people, the cross stands between faith and unbelief, between the hard-hearted and the born-again, between the redeemed and the damned. Pharaoh was determined to have it both ways. He wanted to avert the interventions of God but he wanted his own will in regards to the Israelites. Like many godless rulers he tries to impose his dictates upon the church, its spiritual worship and its life. But when the state controls religion and dictates what believers may or may not do in terms of obedience to God, this must be resisted. Our forebears have through this, the early Protestants, who have given us the freedom we’ve long enjoyed. The Covenanter’s of Scotland, who would have died for the British Monarch, but at no price, would they allow the same to rule the church, “no king but Christ”, “no surrender”. Moses is only too aware of where Pharaoh is coming from, but his stance, his forthright, uncompromising speech before him manifests an holy stubbornness, we all need in our day and generation, when we face the situation where the church more and more has its back to the wall. How long before the European states declares, issues a religious dictate, a mixture no doubt of Islamic and Popish religion, and any who don’t bow the knee will suffer, maybe even to the extreme. Pharaoh, we know from the New Testament was a vessel fitted for wrath, raised up for that purpose (Romans 9:17), but he does highlight a great danger does he not? Of consistent blindness, stupid stubbornness, to the point of no return. Is it possible that people we find in this condition, have been fed with the goodness and love of God to the point where they think that God is weak and indulgent? Can they actually and foolishly believe that God is pleading with them? Can they not see that the goodness of God is supposed to lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4)? Do the repeated warnings and the visible acts of God’s judgment in the world today, not make such think sometimes with sober fear? It would seem not. They appear to grow harder and harder. The more God speaks, the harder they become. But, this doesn’t mean we stop preaching the gospel, including the judgment of God, no way! It’s always, in every generation, whatever we see before us, that God’s kingdom moves inexorably forward, in all the sufferings of the church, in all the setbacks, disappointments, the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. It is in the preaching of the gospel and by the instrumentality of preaching that both salvation and judgment are accomplished (Romans 10:14-17). The preaching of the gospel is the catalyst, it separates the sheep from the goats, the believer from the unbeliever, the saved from the lost. Which are you?

- A Letter to the Apostle -

Dear Paul:

We recently received a copy of your letter to the Galatians. The committee has directed me to inform you of a number of things which deeply concern us.

First, we find your language to be somewhat intemperate. In your letter, after a brief greeting to the Galatians, you immediately attack your opponents by claiming they "want to pervert the gospel of Christ." You then say that such men should be regarded as "accursed"; and, in another place, you make reference to "false brethren." Wouldn't it be more charitable to give them the benefit of the doubt - at least until the General Assembly has investigated and adjudicated the matter? To make the situation worse, you later say, "I could wish those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!" Is such a statement really fitting for a Christian minister? The remark seems quite harsh and unloving.

Paul, we really feel the need to caution you about the tone of your epistles. You come across in an abrasive manner to many people. In some of your letters you've even mentioned names; and this practice has, no doubt, upset the friends of Hymenaeus, Alexander, and others. After all, many persons were first introduced to the Christian faith under the ministries of these men. Although some of our missionaries have manifested regrettable shortcomings, nevertheless, it can only stir up bad feelings when you speak of these men in a derogatory manner.

In other words, Paul, I believe you should strive for a more moderate posture in your ministry. Shouldn't you try to win those who are in error by displaying a sweeter spirit? By now, you've probably alienated the Judaizers to the point that they will no longer listen to you.

By your outspokenness, you have also diminished your opportunities for future influence throughout the church as a whole. Rather, if you had worked more quietly, you might have been asked to serve on a presbytery committee appointed to study the issue. You could then have contributed your insights by helping to draft a good committee paper on the theological position of the Judaizers, without having to drag personalities into the dispute.

Besides, Paul, we need to maintain unity among those who profess a belief in Christ. The Judaizers at least stand with us as we confront the surrounding paganism and humanism which prevail within the culture of the contemporary Roman Empire. The Judaizers are our allies in our struggles against abortion, homosexuality, government tyranny, etc. We cannot afford to allow differences over doctrinal minutiae to obscure this important fact.

I also must mention that questions have been raised about the contents of your letter, as well as your style. The committee questions the propriety of the doctrinaire structure of your letter. Is it wise to plague young Christians, like the Galatians, with such heavy theological issues? For example, in a couple of places, you allude to the doctrine of election. You also enter into a lengthy discussion of the law. Perhaps you could have proved your case in some other ways, without mentioning these complex and controverted points of Christianity. Your letter is so doctrinaire, it will probably serve only to polarize the differing factions within the churches. Again, we need to stress unity, instead of broaching issues which will accent divisions among us.

In one place, you wrote, "Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing". Paul, you have a tendency to describe things strictly in black and white terms, as if there are no gray areas. You need to temper your expressions, lest you become too exclusive. Otherwise, your outlook will drive away many people, and make visitors feel unwelcome. Church growth is not promoted by taking such a hard line and remaining inflexible.

Remember, Paul, there is no such thing as a perfect church. We have to tolerate many imperfections in the church, since we cannot expect to have everything at once. If you will simply think back over your own experience, you will recall how you formerly harassed the church in your times of ignorance. By reflecting on your own past, you might acquire a more sympathetic attitude toward the Judaizers. Be patient, and give them some time to come around to a better understanding. In the meantime, rejoice that we all share a common profession of faith in Christ, since we have all been baptized in his name.

Sincerely,
Charles Phinney
Coordinator, Committee on Missions

---

Taken from, 'Against the World', The Trinity Review 1978-1988
The Trinity Foundation,Unicoi, Tennesse 37692

www.trinityfoundation.org
email: Jrob1517@aol.com

- Fole Reformed Evangelical Chapel -

The work continues on an even keel as we say. Since the last Newsletter we‘ve had some visitors who drop in on occasion, but it’s like most places in our land today, just plodding, the long-haul. But we are happy in our fellowship together. We continue in our studies in Genesis and Luke’s gospel.

One item of good news is that our sister Pat is back with us, she has made much progress in her recovery from the loss of her dear husband Colin. It’s lovely to have her back and to be playing the organ too, she has shown great courage through what has been a very difficult time for her. Please continue to pray for her.

We had our annual May Rally as it’s termed. Our preacher this year was Kyle Paisley from Lowestoft. We enjoyed his fellowship very much and his ministry was very encouraging. For myself personally, I benefited very much from his ministry on the Sabbath morning when he exhorted us not to be weary in well-doing. The numbers were down a little this year, but that wasn’t surprising to me to be honest, that is affected by many factors beyond our control. But it was a good, enjoyable, spiritually beneficial weekend. Kyle and I finished the weekend in Hanley on the Monday preaching in the City centre there. We’re thankful to God for his goodness to us. The weekend’s ministry has been requested by a number of people, if you would like copies then contact me, or download them from our website if you please.

I’ve done another interview with my friend Ralph in Wisconsin in the USA. It’s always an encouragement and I trust may do some good to some soul listening to his radio programme. On that note I said in the last Newsletter that I was going to preach for Ralph, at his camp meeting late August, while we were on holiday out there. Well I decided to cancel that arrangement, not that I wanted to, believe me it was an awesome temptation, I’d love to go. But with the situation at Fole, myself the only preacher, I don’t want to be away too long. Plus, I’m not an international evangelist, nor want to be, God has given me Fole and I want to be faithful there where I’ve been put. So maybe another time another day.

We’ve just recently had a visit from the Protestant Alliance, Chris Richards, preached all day Sunday for us and again that was an encouragement we enjoyed both his fellowship and ministry. The numbers were very encouraging, particularly in the evening. Please pray for Chris’s work with the Alliance, his travelling, a heavy schedule and for fruitfulness in ministry. Our Protestant stance is not much cared for in today’s climate.

We look forward to our brother Peter Cotton coming to us in August, while I’m on holiday. Then David Allen (TBS), in November, if your around these parts, come and join us.

Our ministry continues to be recorded and if anyone would like copies they have but to contact us. Or if you have the technology, it can be downloaded via the website.

- Report -

You will perhaps notice the schedule above has been altered a little. Two reasons for that, one is I’ve had a problem again with my voice and had to cut back a little, take things a little gentler, not always easy. But the other thing I’ve noticed is that people get a bit too acquainted with me being in the same place, time and day all the time, So a change around now and then, catches folk off guard.

On a Thursday in Hanley. It started of bad as though I had mouth full feathers, I was ready for giving up and going home. Nothing was coming out right. About two thirds on through the message, something sparked, ignition, and one after the other, people stopped and began to listen. Two ladies to my left with children. Another single lady beside them. A man to my right, then another. Some stopped briefly and began to move on, I stretched out a gospel towards one and she took it. When I stopped, the single lady came over and we talked, she was a Christian. But while we talked, others came over, another Christian lady told me she had just been witnessing to the ‘Big Issue’ man. I gave her a testimony CD. Another man stopped and read the text on the board, he took a gospel leaflet. Another man stopped and said could he have another gospel, he said I’d given him a Luke in Newcastle, I gave him a Mark, and CD message to go with it. Meanwhile, the single lady, Katie, her name was, we carried on conversing while all this was going on. She was from, what I call a kind of happy-clappy church, bags and bags of music, you know, and not much on preaching. I challenged her on this, as to whether it was a biblically permissive form of worship. We disagreed, unquestionably, but that’s not the point, it was a good, healthy, reasonable conversation, we shook hands and went our separate ways afterwards. But I gave her something to think about. I mean, we should be thinking about what we are doing in Church, no? Yes, It turned out alright that day. It was ok.

In fact, I’ve had number of good days in Hanley, where several interested listeners have taken gospels and testimony CD’s. Please pray God to use them.

Another Thursday in Haney. Ian, a Christian man from Crewe he came to me a couple of months back. He was converted through street ministry. He seems a nice sensible lad, he has come back on a Thursday or two, and given out literature and spoken to people as I’ve preached. It has been quite fruitful, he has had some good conversations and a good deal of gospel stuff given out. His opening gambit he told me was asking people what they thought about me. I said that was a pretty dangerous thing to do. I think the majority thought I should be hung, and then cut up into little pieces, Something like that anyway. One chap proceeded to tell Ian that I was despicable, unfit to live, I had called the Queen, all our doctors, nurses and para-medics murderers. He was thinking of phoning the chief of the police to complain about me spreading hatred. At least he was thinking? What they think of me, is no account, I just hope and pray a day will come when some of them at least, as a result of the seed sown in their minds, will come to see what a wonderful Saviour Jesus is.

A young man came to me in Hanley, he said could he ask a question. I said if it’s a sane one yes. He said it was, what was meant by divine intervention? I asked him why he was asking such as that? He said he didn’t know, he had heard it but couldn’t remember where, but it had stuck with him and he just wondered what was meant by it. I said, to keep it simple, ‘God interfering’. Anyway, he seemed a pretty reasonable, sensible young man. When offered a gospel and CD, he took both with the promise to both read and listen. Pray for Lewis.

Same day a really nasty piece of work approached me. He said he had been in the jail for twenty two moons (his term), I must have looked stupid, because he went on to say, that means twenty two months, I thought being as we’re not Red Indians, why didn’t you say that. But anyway, he apparently had heard the gospel in his jail, and didn’t take kindly to it then, and didn’t think much more of it now that he was out. His language was both blasphemous and vile, unrepeatable. Boy, and was he angry, he expressed a wish for me not to be there, using different terminology of course. Have mercy upon him dear Lord!

Gil, from the USA, the State of Maryland, picked up one of our sermons via iTunes. Don‘t ask me what that is, or how works, I don‘t know either. The Creed of Evolution it was called, based on Psalm 14:1, it was a mid-week Bible Study in fact. He wanted to enlighten me, evolutionists don’t have a creed. I said they did and he could find it in Psalm 14:1. But, it resulted in some good conversation via e-mail (I know what that is), we too’d and fro’d a bit. He was getting a bit heavy for me, and I thought he needed to talk to somebody, so I passed him on to my friends at Trinity Foundation. Please pray for Gil.

In Newcastle, a lady seemingly under some conviction, howled at me to get such stuff off the street. Whilst a black man stood and listened for some time, then took a gospel and CD. A Grandmother received the same. Then a young girl asked what I was doing, I said I was preaching. “What’s that”, she asked. I said I was telling folk about Jesus. “Is Jesus real”, she asked. I said he was realer that she was. I invited her to have a read of Mark’s gospel. She promised me she would read it. She was only about nine I guess, but you know what the Lord says about kids.

I was asked if I would do a debate on TV would you believe? On the Revelation TV Channel, it was to be about eschatology, last things, opposing views. I’m no debater for one thing, I’d not stay cool under fire. And another, I don’t have a good enough memory. Then thirdly, they would have been completely in control, I could have easily been marginalised, made to look stupid, I can accomplish that without going on TV believe me. I passed.

Again in Hanley, a kind Christian lady stopped to encourage. She said each time she saw me she was greatly encouraged and convinced the need for Christians to be more expressive of their faith. Amen to that! She thought I did a good job. The Lord bless her.

In Stafford, I had two policemen listening, seemed rather ominous?

I preached on two or three occasions with Pastor David Carson this year. It’s been encouraging, fellowship with his folk too. There was the Martyrs Memorial witness in Chester. Some good preaching, conversations and some opposition too. Then we did a stint in Wigan at the behest of a local believer, our friend Muriel. There was a lot of young people about, amongst which there were some good conversations. I remember one lady with a bunch of kids, who really thought we were on the mark. She took a gospel. But loads and loads of crazy, crazy young people. Pray for the seed please.

Then I went to the Shrine at Walsingham with David and his team too. Amazement! Anglo-Catholic, droves of them. Bishops, Vicars, Priests, male and female, long frocks drinking outside the ale-house. The Dolly is fetched out of the church and paraded up the street, while all and a sundry worship it, then go and celebrate the Mass. Two points, one, I was gutted, my voice broke down and I couldn’t do the preaching I wanted to do. But two, it was a good opportunity. David was able to hold a debate with some of them, in full public hearing for over an hour, He touched on all the relevant subjects, from idolatry to transubstantiation, giving biblical refutation for them all. Then they came up the road with Dolly again singing Avi Marias, thousands of them. But when it was all finished, three of those men involved in the debating session, came and shook hands with David. It was good to be there and it was a good testimony.

Then last of all, again with brother David and his team. I went to London to protest against the Gay Pride Parade. The police gave us a good spot and looked after us very well indeed. We had a good two hours of preaching to many people before the parade actually began. It was good. There were many good conversations, David spoke at some length to a young lesbian. I myself had some good conversations. One man in particular, I leave you with him, I really felt he was looking for something. He asked me, what I thought about someone who was ‘that way’, but didn’t actually do it, was celibate? Well I said, that’s exactly what God requires of any sinner, that they stop doing the deed, it’s the doing that’s the sin. But of course I pointed out to him that in itself didn’t make a person right with God. There had to be the new birth, a renewed heart, with new inclinations. It was a really good conversation, he went away with the appearance of being satisfied with what he had been told. And as said, I felt he was looking for something. Pray the Lord finds him.

Well there’s others, just a taste of what’s been going since January. But we press on, trusting the Lord will take and use our labours in some way to bring glory to his name, and so doing saving some souls along the way. Can I take the opportunity again of thanking you for your prayers, for the kind gifts some of you have sent. The Lord has been very gracious to us, in providing in so many ,marvellous ways. The Lord be praised. Thank you again and God bless you.

James R. Hamilton