Homeward Bound

Volume 11 Number 11
since. He even stated that he had no intention
Why Not Today? of doing it ever again. He told me personally
that it must have been my God who touched his
(Editors Note: This article was written as a result of a
conversation between a very dear brother and myself heart to set me at liberty.) Now in my book
over the recent healing of my left arm and hand.) that rates as a miracle! He was a law and order
man who made examples of criminals and on
Why can not God heal or do other the morning of my sentencing he threw out my
miraculous things today as He has done from original plea bargain of five to seven years in
the beginning of Creation? I hear extremes of favor of the twenty year sentence. (I refer you
both positions and everything that lies in the to the tract, Escape
middle on this topic. Some teach that miracles From Apollyon,
and healings ended with the apostolic era and which describes
if they happen today they are certainly “of the this story in
devil”. On the other hand there are those who detail, please
teach that you should expect healings and ask for a
miracles, anything you can have faith to ask copy if you
God for is yours. Some even teach that should have not read
you be sick and have not received a healing it!)
from God that there is something wrong with When I
your relationship with Him. And believe me surrendered my life
there is every conceivable position in between to Jesus Christ on the
them all. evening of March 21,
I am a little jaundiced in all of this as I 1996, after having “played” church for almost
have personally been the beneficiary of a sixteen years, He literally opened my eyes to
number of healings which medical science says Truth in a way I had never known, seen nor
simply cannot happen and assorted other understood. I began reading the Bible again
Godly interventions in my life that most from cover to cover with great vigor and joy. I
definitely transcend the natural and qualify as had read it many times in those sixteen years
miracles. and knew it in my head, memorizing quite a
When I first came to know Jesus the bit, but this time there was power and
Christ in the pardon of my sin and I submitted understanding deep in my soul.
to His Lordship of my life He started it off with I threw out all I had learned in those
the second greatest “miracle” of my life. Not prior years and asked the Spirit to open my
only did He understanding as if it were the very first time.
redeem me He honored my request. I read His Word with
from sin and an open mind and heart looking to find
death, which whatever it was that He wanted me to know.
will always All denominationalism aside. All previous
and forever teaching aside. All preconceived ideas aside. I
be the greatest desired to know the Truth and His revealed
miracle in my or Truth set me free.
any other persons existence on this planet, but Therefore, why must we limit Him as to
He gave me my life back again, delivering me what He can or cannot, will or will not do?
from a twenty year prison sentence, serving not Who are we to suggest what “ended” as far as
one day of sentenced time! (Even the Judge in His gifting of and in His church? If you were to
my case said that he did not know why he did read His Word again and afresh this day you
what he did. He had never done anything like will find nowhere in it where the gifts and
that before. He hadn’t done anything like it miracles ceased, or a (continued on page two)

Homeward Bound Ministries – Post Office Box 3351 – Milford – Connecticut – 06460 – (203) 882-9661
 Homeward Bound – Volume 11 – Number 11

Why Not Today? (continued) addictions to drugs and alcohol, healing their
time frame for them ceasing. It simply is not bodies and delivering their souls.
there. I have read the arguments for both sides At a local health care facility over the
on this matter, neither of which are compelling past three years I have been witness to
enough to make a solid stand upon them and numerous miracles all brought about by the
say with resident’s faith and the laying on of hands by a
certainty that man who is just foolish enough and of simple
the gifts and though great enough faith to believe that God is
miracles have Who He says He is in His Word and lay His
ceased or they hands on these men and women to the end that
have not. So, they are healed. What do you say to the man
why limit who was dying of Hepatitis-C, whose body was
God? Who slowly dying from
are we to the years of drug
dictate to God abuse, whose
what He will or will not, can or cannot do? Or, liver was in
even more absurdly, tell the church worldwide the
for a certainty that He no longer does process
miraculous healing or intervenes in a of
miraculous way in a believer’s life?
What do you say to a man or woman,
especially a Spirit filled believer, who has had a
miraculous healing, one that cannot be
explained by the doctors? Do you dare tell
them it was not of God? Especially one where
there was the laying on of hands and a prayer
of faith. Do you proclaim with certainty that it
could not, would not have been from Him since
those things do not happen, have not happened
since the close of
the apostolic dissolving
age? What kind and then through the laying on of hands was
of reasoning is miraculously healed, and that immediately?
that? And, if you The doctors can find no trace of the Hepatitis-
teach such C, cannot find a trace of the Hepatitis-C
things, what is antibodies, cannot find the former levels of
the absolute liver enzymes in his blood that proved beyond a
scriptural basis doubt medically that he was dying? I
for it? personally know this man who is now the
I know picture of health and professes his faith in
many who have Jesus Christ as Savior. How do you account for
been healed all of this?
through prayer You can ignorantly throw out the
and the laying on evidence, call it all from the devil, dismiss it as
of hands. I have coincidence or whatever. To deny that God
seen it with my own eyes and have witnessed does these things today is similar to saying that
God’s miraculous power to heal and deliver. At God is a liar or that the devil is more powerful
the rescue mission where I volunteer I have and merciful than God! Do you see how utterly
seen God deliver men and women from (continued on page three)

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 Homeward Bound – Volume 11 – Number 11

Why Not Today? (continued) man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever
foolish it is to deny what He is still doing speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not
today? be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither
What purpose would there be in God in the world to come. Either make the tree
stopping those miracles and healings for today? good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree
Why would He cease from doing what He had corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is
done for thousands of years before simply to known by his fruit. O generation of vipers,
accommodate an erroneous teaching of men? how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for
Who are you or I to say, “God does not do that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
any more?” speaketh. A good man out of the good
Please take a few moments and read treasure of the heart bringeth forth good
with me from God’s Word. “Then was brought things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure
unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you,
and dumb: and he That every idle word that men shall speak,
healed him, they shall give account thereof in the day of
insomuch that the judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be
blind and dumb justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
both spake and condemned.” (Matthew 12:22-37)
saw. And all the Further, Isaiah prophesied, “Surely he
people were hath borne our griefs, and carried our
amazed, and said, sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
Is not this the son smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was
of David? But wounded for our transgressions, he was
when the bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
Pharisees heard our peace was upon him; and with his stripes
it, they said, This we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5) And see also
fellow doth not where Peter says, “For even hereunto were ye
cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of called: because Christ also suffered for us,
the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and leaving us an example, that ye should follow
said unto them, Every kingdom divided his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile
against itself is brought to desolation; and found in his
every city or house divided against itself shall mouth: who,
not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is when he was
divided against himself; how shall then his reviled, reviled
kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out not again; when
devils, by whom do your children cast them he suffered, he
out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if threatened not;
I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the but committed
kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how himself to him
can one enter into a strong man's house, and that judgeth
spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong righteously:
man? and then he will spoil his house. He that who his own self
is not with me is against me; and he that bare our sins in
gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. his own body on
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin the tree, that we,
and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: being dead to sins, should live unto
but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost righteousness: by whose stripes ye were
shall not be forgiven unto men. And healed.” (I Peter 2:21-24) Do you see any time
whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of limitation or expiration (continued on page four)

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 Homeward Bound – Volume 11 – Number 11

Why Not Today? (continued)

date on this? God has spoken in His Word the Billy Graham on Repentance
fact that Jesus would and did suffer, receiving
stripes that we might be healed. Isn’t this “What did Jesus mean by the word
simple enough proof, right from His own heart repent? Why does it appear over and over
and Word to us? throughout the Bible? If you look in a modern
See, then, just how dangerous it is to dictionary you will find that repent means "to
dismiss so lightly what God has done or is feel sorry for, or to regret." But the original
doing? I am just foolish enough to believe that words that Jesus spoke meant a great deal
this is real, so very real that there is evidence more than that. They meant a great deal more
God reaches His holy and precious hand into than just regretting and feeling sorry about sin.
the lives of those who by faith believe Him for The biblical word repent means "to change, or
the miracle they have received through the to turn." It is a word of power and action. It is a
power of His Spirit and the meritorious act of word that signifies a complete turnabout in the
His Son Jesus who willingly gave His life on the individual. When the Bible calls upon us to
cross at Calvary, receiving stripes and suffering repent of sin, it means that we should turn
for our healing! What could be more powerful away from sin, that we should do an about-face
and truthful than all of that? Do YOU dare and walk in the opposite direction from sin and
stand in His face and say that He cannot, will all that it implies.”
not nor does not do miracles or healings any “Too many modern Christians have lost
more? If you do, you are dangerously ignorant sight of what the Bible means when it talks
in the least and potentially a fool at the about repentance. They think that repentance
greatest. Let us not limit God in any way! is little more than shaking their heads over
John Payne their sins and saying, "My, but I'm sorry I did
that!" and then continuing to live just as they
have lived before. True repentance means "to
change, to turn away from, to go in a new
direction." ”
Billy then points out that
repentance is not mere
emotion. There are three
aspects of true turning from sin
to God. He says, "First, there is
a knowledge of sin. Second,
emotions are involved. True
emotions and depth of feeling.
Third, repentance involves the
will . . . and only the Spirit of
God can give you the
determination necessary for
true repentance."
Billy regretfully states:
"There are thousands of people
in America who have their
names on church rolls . . . but
they have never really expressed
true repentance."

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 Homeward Bound – Volume 11 – Number 11

election with damnation. Conversely, the

Predestination vs. Free Will Scriptures teach that God elects for salvation, but
that unbelievers are in hell by their own choice.
By Charles Missler
Every passage of the Bible that deals with
election deals with it in the context of salvation,
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God,
not damnation. No one is elect for hell. The only
but the things which are revealed belong to us
support for such a view is human logic, not
and to our children forever..." - Deuteronomy
Biblical revelation (which John Calvin did teach).
29:29
The concept of total depravity is
From the beginning of time, thinkers have
consistent with Scripture, but the doctrine of
puzzled over the paradox of fate vs. free will, or
limited atonement, that Jesus did not die for the
predestination vs. free choice. In theological
sins of the whole world, is clearly contrary to
terms, this leads to the struggle between
Biblical teaching. The Bible clearly teaches that
Calvinism and Arminianism. As we explore this
Jesus died for everyone’s sins and that everyone
paradox, we find that examining the fruit of each
is able to be saved if they will repent and turn to
position reveals that the River of Life seems to
Christ. Limited atonement is a non-Biblical
flow between these two extremes, and that once
doctrine.
again, truth involves a careful balance.
Election and predestination are Biblical
At the heart of the controversies between
doctrines. God knows everything and therefore
Calvinism and Arminianism is the emphasis on
He cannot be surprised by anything. He is
the sovereignty of God by the Calvinists and on
beyond the constraints of mass, acceleration and
the sovereignty (free will) of man - or human
gravity, therefore He is outside time. He knows,
responsibility - by the Arminians. Calvinism
and has known from “eternity past,” who will
emphasizes that God is in total control of
exercise their free will to accept Him and who
everything and that nothing can happen that He
will reject Him. The former are “the elect” and
does not plan and direct, including man’s
the latter are the “non-elect.” Everyone who is
salvation. Arminianism teaches that man has free
not saved will have only himself to blame: God
will and that God will never interrupt or take that
will not send anyone to hell, but many people will
free will away, and that God has obligated
choose to go there by exercising their free will to
Himself to respect the free moral agency and
reject Christ.
capacity of free choice with which He created us.
On the other hand, no one who is saved
Both doctrinal positions are reasonable
will be able to take any of the credit. Our
and both have extensive Scriptures to back them
salvation is entirely God’s work, and is based
up. Both are, in our opinion, both partially right
completely on the finished work of the Cross. We
and partially overextended. As Philip Schaff has
were dead in trespasses and sins, destined for
put it, "Calvinism emphasized divine sovereignty
hell, when God in His grace drew us to Himself,
and free grace; Arminianism emphasized human
convinced us of our sin and our need for a Savior,
responsibility. The one restricts the saving grace
and gave us the authority to call Jesus Lord. Is
to the elect; the other extends it to all men on the
this grace, this wooing, this courtship,
condition of faith. Both are right in what they
irresistible? No, we have free will and we can
assert; both are wrong in what they deny. If one
(and do) resist, even to the damnation of our
important truth is pressed to the exclusion of
souls, but God does everything short of making
another truth of equal importance, it becomes an
us automata (preprogrammed puppets) to draw
error, and loses its hold upon the conscience. The
us into His forever family.
Bible gives us a theology which is more human
than Calvinism and more divine that
Arminianism, and more Christian than either of
them."
Certainly, the Bible does teach that God is
sovereign, and that believers are predestined and
elected by God to spend eternity with Him.
Nowhere, however, does the Bible ever associate
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 Homeward Bound – Volume 11 – Number 11

Tiny tablet provides proof the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, 595BC, 12

years before the siege of Jerusalem.
for Old Testament Evidence from non-Biblical sources of
By Nigel Reynolds - Arts Correspondent - The Telegraph
people named in the Bible is not unknown, but
The sound of unbridled joy seldom Nabu-sharrussu-ukin would have been a
breaks the quiet of the British Museum's great relatively insignificant figure. "This is a
Arched Room, which holds its collection of fantastic discovery, a world-class find," Dr
130,000 Assyrian cuneiform tablets, dating Finkel said yesterday. "If Nebo-Sarsekim
back 5,000 years. But Michael Jursa, a visiting existed, which other lesser figures in the Old
professor from Vienna, let out such a cry last Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the
Thursday. He had made what has been called Old Testament turns out to be accurate and
the most important find in Biblical archaeology true. I think that it means that the whole of the
for 100 years, a discovery that supports the narrative [of Jeremiah] takes on a new kind of
view that the historical books of the Old power."
Testament are based on fact. Cuneiform is the oldest known form of
writing and was commonly used in the Middle
East between 3,200 BC and the second century
AD. It was created by pressing a wedge-shaped
instrument, usually a cut reed, into moist clay.
The full translation of the tablet reads:
(Regarding) 1.5 minas (0.75 kg) of gold, the
property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief
eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the
eunuch to [the temple] Esangila: Arad-Banitu
has delivered [it] to Esangila. In the presence
of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard,
[and of] Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni. Month
XI, day 18, year 10 [of] Nebuchadnezzar, king
of Babylon.
Searching for Babylonian financial
accounts among the tablets, Prof Jursa PREACHER BURNS HIS SERMONS,
suddenly came across a name he half
remembered - Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, described
THEN CATCHES FIRE HIMSELF!
there in a hand 2,500 years old, as "the chief (Note: It is with great thanks to my dear Sister Cindy Whitmore in
eunuch" of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of North Carolina, who passed it along, that I can place this in your
Babylon. Prof Jursa, an Assyriologist, checked hands. Cindy has sent me a quote by Chadwick in an email which
stung me in my heart. Here’s the quote and a brief bio on this man of
the Old Testament and there in chapter 39 of God. JP)
the Book of Jeremiah, he found, spelled
differently, the same name - Nebo-Sarsekim. “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians
Nebo-Sarsekim, according to Jeremiah, was from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless
Nebuchadnezzar II's "chief officer" and was studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He
with him at the siege of Jerusalem in 587 BC, laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles
when the Babylonians overran the city. when we pray.”
The small tablet, the size of "a packet of
10 cigarettes" according to Irving Finkel, a Samuel Chadwick was zealous for Jesus, but
British Museum expert, is a bill of receipt God had more in store for him: the power of the Holy
acknowledging Nabu-sharrussu-ukin's Spirit's fire! Samuel Chadwick was born in the
payment of 0.75 kg of gold to a temple in industrial north of England in 1860. His father worked
Babylon. The tablet is dated to the 10th year of long hours in the cotton mill (continued on page seven)

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 Homeward Bound – Volume 11 – Number 11

Samuel Chadwick bio (continued) week of prayer. The following weekend most of the
and, when he was only eight, Samuel went to work church was baptised in the Holy Spirit and revival
there, too, as a means of supporting the impoverished began to spread through the valleys. In the space of a
family. Devout Methodists, they attended chapel three few months, hundreds were converted to Jesus, among
times on Sunday, and as a young boy, Chadwick gave them some of the most notorious sinners in the area.
his heart to Christ. Listening to God's word week by The pattern was repeated over the next few
week, he often felt the inner call to serve Christ. It years as Chadwick moved to various places. 1890 saw
seemed impossible, as he was poor and uneducated, him in Leeds, where the power of God was so strongly
but in faith he made preparations. After a twelve-hour upon him that the chapel was full half an hour before
factory shift he would rush home for five hours of the service began, and police had to control the
prayer and study. crowds. The river of God moved strongly, and
At the age of 21 he was appointed lay pastor Chadwick records: "We were always praying and
of a chapel at Stacksteads, Lancashire. It was no fighting [the devil], singing and rejoicing, doing the
dream appointment! The congregation was self- impossible and planning still bigger things. The
satisfied. newspapers never left us alone, and people came from
Yet Chadwick threw himself in with great far and wide." Opposition was swept away and within
optimism. He had been trained to prepare well- a few years the chapel had to be demolished and a
researched and interesting sermons as the sure way to substantial Mission Hall built.
bring in the crowds. He recalled later: "This led Always a man of the people, Chadwick would
unconsciously to a false aim in my work. I lived and spend his Saturdays mixing with local workers. Once,
laboured for my sermons, and was unfortunately more when his wife was away, he teasingly invited anyone
concerned about their excellence and reputation than who was lonely to come for Saturday tea. He expected
the repentance of the people." about a dozen. Six hundred turned up! Yet God had
Soon, however, his sermons were exhausted catered: one church member was a baker and had been
and nothing had changed. Staring defeat in the face awoken by the Lord with the order to bake for all he
and sensing his lack of real power, an intense hunger was worth!
was kindled within him for more of God. At this point The final phase of Chadwick's life was spent
he heard the testimony of someone who had been as Principal of Cliff College, a Methodist training
revitalised by an experience of the Holy Spirit. So, school for preachers, and it was here that he wrote his
with a few friends he covenanted to pray and search famous book, The Way to Pentecost, which was being
the scriptures until God sent revival. printed when he died in 1932.
One evening he was praying over his next In it we read: "I owe everything to the gift of
sermon, when a powerful sense of conviction settled Pentecost. For fifty days the facts of the Gospel were
on him. His pride, blindness and reliance on human complete, but no conversions were recorded.
methods paraded before his eyes as God humbled him Pentecost registered three thousand souls. It is by fire
to the dust. Well into the night he wrestled and that a holy passion is kindled in the soul whereby we
repented, then he got out his pile of precious sermons live the life of God. The soul's safety is in its heat.
and set fire to them! The result was immediate: the Truth without enthusiasm, morality without emotion,
Holy Spirit fell upon him. In his own words: ritual without soul, make for a Church without power.
"I could not explain what had happened, but it "Destitute of the Fire of God, nothing else
was a bigger thing than I had ever known. There came counts; possessing Fire, nothing else matters."
into my soul a deep peace, a thrilling joy, and a new
sense of power. My mind was quickened. I felt I had
Thank you for taking the time to read this issue of
received a new faculty of understanding. Every power
Homeward Bound! As usual, your questions and
was vitalised. My body was quickened. There was a
comments are most welcome. Do you write? Do
new sense of spring and vitality, a new power of
endurance and a strong man's exhilaration in big you have something you’d like to share with the
things." readers of Homeward Bound? Please consider
The tide turned. At his next sermon seven sending it in for review. Until next time . . . may
souls were converted ("one for each of my barren God bless you and use you in the Harvest of souls!
years"), and he called the whole congregation to a
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