Hello everyone from the Editor

I am sure that you will agree that drugs are one of the leading topics and problems today. Almost every day we hear of people taking and importing drugs, being arrested and tried for trafficking in them, and many people dying from using drugs.

Some countries have used opium for centuries; but does the Bible say anything about drugs? Drugs were used in Bible times, but they were mostly used in association with witchcraft and sorcery. People claimed to be able to talk to spirits and to have visions through drugs.

The Bible mentions drugs four times. Galatians 5:20. Revelation 9:21, 18:23 and 22:15. Each time the word is translated ‘sorcery’. The Greek word in the Bible is ‘pharmaceia’ which means ‘a mixer of drugs’, these were sorcerers. Today we are familiar with chemists or pharmacies. Those who provide medicines and prescribed drugs for sick people.

The Bible condemns the use of hallucinating drugs and says that those who do so are not Christians. Galatians 5:21.

No Christian can take party or street drugs, such as cannabis, heroin, marijuana, speed, or traffic in such drugs. These drugs are very addictive and people become very dependent upon them. They may give people some thrill and lift for a while, but then there is a craving for them that drives people to crime and ruin.

The Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we should keep that temple holy unto the Lord, to live for Him and serve Him. “Glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.

An unruly student

James Saunders of Bristol, England, was sent to Sunday School when he was a young boy but he was very unruly and hard to control. The teacher, Mr. Henry Poole, tried hard to teach him about the Lord, as well as to control him, but nothing seemed to correct him.

James disrupted the class, he talked, laughed, moved about and seemed to take no notice of the lessons. The teacher tried for a long time, but at last he had to tell his parents that James would have to leave the Sunday School.

Nothing was heard of James for about twenty years. By this time Mr. Poole had become a minister of a country church. One day a man called to see him. He said, “I suppose you have forgotten me?” Mr. Poole replied that he did not remember seeing him. “Do you remember James Saunders?” asked the man. “Yes, I do remember. He gave me much trouble and anxiety. Do you know him?” replied Mr. Poole. “I am that lad, I am James Saunders”

Mr. Poole was astounded and said, “You have completely changed. Tell me what you have being doing.” James then told him his story. After he had been put out of the Sunday School, he left that town and lived by the sea, where he existed by stealing and deceit. One day he obtained a position on a ship and later sailed to Honduras. There, one night, the ship was struck by a fierce storm and sunk. James swam for hours until he was almost exhausted, then suddenly he found a large rock just covered by water, there he found two of his shipmates. James was sure that he would die, and he began to think over his evil life, then he remembered some of the things he had heard in Sunday School. Then he knelt in the shallow water and cried to the Lord for mercy, and the Lord heard and saved him.

When it became light, he and his companions found some wreckage from the ship and managed to swim to the shore. He then found a ship that was sailing back to England, and his great desire was to tell his former teacher of the change in his life.

Mr Poole listened carefully to his story and wished him well when he departed. Mr. Poole had some doubts in his mind whether James was really telling the truth, so he wrote a letter to the captain of the new ship to which James belonged, asking if James was living a Christian life?

It was several months before a reply came saying that James had died of a fever. Before he died, he lived in a very godly way and read the Bible to the other members of the crew and exhorted them to turn from sin and trust in Christ as the only Saviour. The simple truths that James had heard as a child were blessed to him many years later.

Richly rewarded

When a husband died, he left his farm to his wife, who was a Christian. Their two sons now managed the property, but they were so careless that their mother realised that it would soon be lost; so she gave a large donation to a missionary society.

The sons were very angry and said that she may as well have thrown the money into the sea. She replied that God’s word says, “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1.

Soon the sons joined the army and were sent to India. The eldest son was sent many miles up the Ganges River. There he heard a missionary preach and he was converted. He sent a letter telling his mother. She was delighted and said, “Here comes my money back!” Later that son returned to Calcutta, but soon died of cholera. Before he died, he urged his brother to attend the worship of God, and he too was saved.

The news of his conversion arrived just before his mother died. She said joyfully, “Here comes my money back again!”

A false accuser

When Bibles were first distributed in France, a man went to a town selling Bibles, but he immediately met with violent opposition. A schoolmaster was extremely angry and threatened to stop him selling Bibles and have him ordered out of the town.

The Bible seller did not take any notice of the man, but one night, when he returned from visiting houses, two policemen were waiting for him. They asked him for his name and occupation; then they arrested him, saying that he was being charged with robbery with violence and must appear in court the next morning. So he was put in prison for the night.

The next morning he was brought before the judge and was accused of robbing a woman using great violence. The man tried to explain that this must be a case of mistaken identity as he was a Bible seller. He then asked the judge to call the woman to the court, as he was sure that the matter would be cleared.

The judge agreed to call the woman, but he would have to spend another night in prison. When the woman was called, she said calmly that the Bible seller was the man who robbed her and how much he had stolen. The man asked for permission to speak to the woman. He quietly told her what a serious thing it was to bear false witness and that God would one day judge her for telling lies.

Suddenly the woman burst into tears and admitted that she had not been robbed but that an enemy of the Bible seller had paid her to accuse him. The judge then told her that she would be punished for her action and demanded who had paid her to do so. She told him that it was the schoolmaster.

The Bible seller immediately pleaded with the judge to pardon both the woman and the schoolmaster. He said, “The book that I am selling teaches me to pardon my enemies and to pray for them.” After much pleading the man was able to convince the judge to drop the case. The schoolmaster was so terrified when he heard that the woman had confessed, he collapsed and was very ill for a time. But the Bible seller continued to spread the word of God without opposition.

The blessings of Christ

The Lord has many blessings for those who trust in Him. But did you ever think how different the Lord’s blessings are from every other blessing we have?

Every good thing we have only meets our need in one or two different ways, these things never fully satisfy us and they do not last very long.

If we take the good things such as our food, our clothing, our possessions or homes. These are good, but they only help us in one or two ways. Our clothes cannot feed us, our homes cannot clothe us, the things we own cannot teach us or strengthen us, food cannot clothe or heal us.

But Christ Himself has every blessing for every need that we have. In Him all fulness dwells. We do not have to go to another.

The Bible tells us some wonderful things about the Lord that encourage us to trust in Him alone.

He is bread, wine, milk, and living water to feed us, He is a garment of righteousness to cover us; He is a Counsellor to guide us; a Captain to defend us; a Priest to atone for our sins, a Physician to heal us; a Prophet to teach us; a Father to provide for us; a King to rule; a Brother to help; a Foundation to support; a Treasure to make rich; a Sun to give light; a Fountain to cleanse; a Root to give us life and many more..

The Lord has more grace, love and mercy to supply all our needs all the time. In fact He has more than ever we could need or even wish. His grace is called ‘abundant’ or ‘plenteous’. In fact the Bible calls His grace ‘super-abundant’ or overflowing towards those who trust in Him.

He has grace to pardon all our sins, to defeat all our evil desires, to overcome the devil and his temptations, to lead us in every difficult situation, to fully save us, to teach us His ways and truth. All these blessing are to be found in just one Person and that is Christ, the Lord.

No Christian can ever say that they have a need that the Lord cannot meet, or a situation in which the Lord cannot help them. So let us trust in Him and never despair.

Scripture puzzle

What king of Shinar did a battle gain

With other three, but all were chased and slain? Gen.14.

Where did the patriarch, with all his hosts,

First pitch his tent, when leaving Egypt’s coasts? Gen. 13.

What shepherd maid, with confidence serene,

Promised to marry one she had not seen? Gen. 24.

What heathen king rebuked a godly Jew

For saying that which was not strictly true? Gen. 20

What pilgrim mother feared her son must die,

Till God revealed a well of water nigh? Gen. 21

Who with a prophet went, and brothers twain,

To rescue Lot, and fetch him home again? Gen. 14

Mount where a youth lay on an altar bound;

God’s temple stood upon that sacred ground? Gen. 22

The first letters tell the honoured name

Of one who from the land of Haran came. ?

Smile a while

· Grumpy traveller: An angry man climbed into the back of a taxi. “Where are you going?” asked the driver. The man snapped, “You mind your own business!”

· Fowl geography: In a geography lesson, a teacher was asking where different places were. He asked one girl, “Where is Turkey?” She eagerly replied, “In the yard with the poultry.”

· Honest game: A politician happily announced to his wife, “Darling, I’ve been elected!” “Honestly?” replied the wife. He looked very angry and said, “Now, why bring that up?”

· Fair exchange: A woman went into a pet shop and said, “I’d like a parrot for my husband.” “I’m sorry,” said the shop owner, “but we do not do swaps in this shop.”

· Man of steel: What did the sword swallower eat while he was on a diet? He ate pins and needles!

· Fund raiser: “I have a special announcement to make today” a minister said, “It has some good news and bad news. The bad news is that this church has structural damage that will cost a lot to repair.” The congregation groaned. “The good news is that we have enough money to pay for the repairs.” The congregation clapped. “But there is a little more bad news. All the money needed is in your pockets.”

· Good artist: “What are you drawing?” a Sunday School teacher asked a little girl. “I’m drawing God.” “But no one knows what God looks like.” continued the teacher. The girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

· Tough fight: In one fierce battle between two Gladiators, one man had both his arms and legs lopped off. He decided to give up the contest because he was unarmed and defeated.

More about Africaner the Hottentot

Africaner was looked upon as the greatest trophy of grace by the famous missionary to South Africa, Robert Moffat. People of every race were terrified of Africaner, not only white people but other tribes people as well. Some fled their villages for a time to escape his rage and violence. There was a large price offered for his capture or death.

No one believed that he could ever change or be converted. But Africaner heard the gospel explained by Moffat and the Lord graciously worked in his heart and he became a humble child of God.

Eventually Africaner set off to go to Cape Town with Robert Moffat. On the way they stopped at a village and Moffat told a Dutch farmer that Africaner had been saved and was now a Christian. The farmer replied, “I can believe almost anything, but that I cannot believe. There are seven wonders in the world; and that would be the eighth.” Mr. Moffat assured that farmer that the violent man, Africaner, was now a changed man. “Well” he said, “if what you say is true; I would love to see him before I die. If you bring him with you next time, then certainly I will go and see him, even though he killed my own uncle.”

Mr Moffat took the farmer to his wagon and pointing to the chief, and said “This is Africaner!” The farmer was astounded and backed away. “Are you Africaner?” he asked. The chief raised his hat and bowed respectfully, and said “I am;” then he explained to the farmer what the Lord had done for him in saving him from sin and misery.

The farmer stood in amazement and said, “O, God what a miracle of Thy power. What cannot Thy grace accomplish?”.

A lonely believer

Robert Moffat, the African missionary, once went on a long trek to a distant part of Africa. He and his companions walked for several days. At last they ran out of food and water, but they continued their trek, hoping to find some village to obtain food.

At last, near night, they came to a village occupied by people who were fierce and unfriendly. They met a person who told them that it would be very dangerous for them to go near the people. He pointed to a hill near that village and said that they would be safe to sleep there.

Moffat and his friends were so hungry that they tightened their belts so that they would not feel the hunger so much. At last a person came by and they asked him for some water but he refused. Moffat offered him the buttons off his coat, but the man laughed at the offer. It appeared that the men were in real danger, so they went to a quiet spot and sat down and prayed to God for protection.

As they sat and gazed, a woman came down the hill, she had a bowl of milk in her hand and some wood. She quietly set them down and then returned. Soon she came with a vessel of water in one hand and a leg of mutton in the other. She sat down and cut up the meat for them. Moffat asked her name, but she did not answer. He then asked if any of her friends knew the missionaries, but she did not answer. He asked several times for her name.

At last the woman replied, “I know whose servants you are, and I love Him. He has told me that whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of His disciples shall in no wise lose his reward.” Her words seemed to glow, while she wept freely to see one of the servants of Christ. On asking her about her life, Moffat found that she was the only Christian in that whole village. He asked her how she had come to know the Lord and to keep her faith in the midst of heathen darkness. She took out a New Testament and said, “This is the fountain from which I drink; it is the oil that keeps my light burning in this dark place.”

Moffat looked at the Testament. It was written in Dutch and had been given to her by a missionary when she left school. She had come to know the Lord and to live for Him from it alone.

Cleansed from sin

An old English farmer was taken to hospital where the doctors said he would soon die. His little granddaughter visited him every day and read the Bible to him. He had now become blind. He deeply appreciated hearing the word of God, but he did not fully understand the way of salvation.

One day she was reading to him the first chapter of the first epistle of John. When she reached the seventh verse, “And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,” the old man raised himself up in bed and stopped the little girl, and said very earnestly, “Is that there, my dear?” “Yes, Grandpa.” she replied. “Then read it to me again. I have never really heard that before.” The little girl read it again clearly, “And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

“Are you quite sure that is there?” asked the old man. “Yes, quite sure.” “Then take my hand and place my finger on that verse, for I should like to feel it.” She took the old man’s hand and placed his bony finger on the verse, then he said, “Now read it to me again.” The little girl read the verse with as much emphasis as she could, “And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” “You are quite sure it is there?” “Yes, I am absolutely sure.” “Then if any one asks you how I died, tell them I died in faith in these words.”

With that, the old man withdrew his hand, his head sunk softly on to the pillow, and he silently passed away. He had found the way of peace and forgiveness in the last minutes of his life and died trusting in the Lord who shed His blood to cleanse us from all sin.

Saved by rain

A merchant, who was a Christian, rode his horse to a market, several miles from his home.

He had a successful day selling goods at the market, and at last, he placed all his money in a saddlebag and mounted his horse to ride home.

He had not ridden very far when the rain began to pour down. He was completely drenched. He was almost frozen with the cold and rain. Then he began to wish that the rain would stop, and to think how dreadful was his journey. He felt so miserable that he began to grumble and complain to the Lord about the rain and almost felt angry with God because it did not stop.

After a while he came to the edge of a thick forest; then to his terror, he saw a robber standing on the side of the road among the trees with a large musket gun aiming directly at him. He immediately spurred his horse and galloped away. The robber tried several times to fire his gun, but it would not fire. The rain had made the powder damp in his gun and it would not fire.

As soon as the man was at a safe distance from the robber, he began to say to himself, “How wrong I was to complain about the rain that God sent in His providence? If the weather had been fine as I so desired, I probably would not be alive now. My wife and children would have been waiting for my return in great distress. The rain and cold that caused me to murmur and complain was the very means God used to save my life and to preserve my property.” Doubtless his heart was filled with thankfulness to God and he asked the Lord to forgive him.

Very often Christians complain about their afflictions and troubles, and forget that the Lord sends them upon us for our good. Many times we are kept from evils and danger because of something that seemed to be hurtful to us at the time.

A preacher, who had been dangerously ill for many weeks, said that during his illness, he had learned more about the Lord, His word and His ways, than he had ever learned during his years of college study and his ten years of preaching to others.

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” Psalm 119:71.