FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

Count It All Joy – part 1

There is no easy road to satisfaction. One reason for this is that no one has ever lived a life free from difficulties. Everyone faces trials, and all of us know suffering in one way or another. I’ve noticed that wherever I am, in every culture and every geographical region, when I mention the subject of suffering, there is an instant rapport, a bond of mutual understanding.

Suffering: A Door to Finding Satisfaction

We can take comfort in the knowledge that Scripture teaches that God’s perfect plan for each of us includes suffering, trials, and pain. The wonderful truth is that our most frustrating trials can be a source of great joy. James wrote:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4). Trials will make us either bitter or better.

I know what it is like to be broken — literally. Jack and I experienced a terrible automobile accident in Brussels in 1979. We were in Europe for our wedding anniversary and planned to celebrate the joyous occasion with members of Jack’s family.

That particular afternoon, we had traveled to Brussels to shop for anniversary gifts. We leisurely walked and talked, truly enjoying our visit to this fascinating city. We even stopped for afternoon tea and shared a sandwich. (A cousin was preparing a feast for our anniversary dinner that night and we didn’t want to ruin our appetites!)

The afternoon ended all too quickly, and we soon found ourselves driving back to the home of the cousin with whom we were staying. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a bus traveling 50 miles an hour struck our vehicle with such impact that my side of the car was ripped away and the rest of the automobile completely demolished. I remember saying, “Jack, there’s a bus!” He attempted to swerve, but it was too late. My last thoughts as I fell out onto the busy street was, This is what it’s like to die.

Everything went black. I felt no pain until my husband’s warm tears falling on my face revived me. His voice was choked with emotion as he wept and prayed over me. “Lord, must it end this way? Don’t let it happen. Please work a miracle!”

I felt that I was slipping away from him, and I wanted him to know how much I loved him. “Honey, I think I am dying,” I whispered. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“Oh no,” Jack cried. “Oh, God, please help us, Somehow spare her life.”

I wish that in some way I could convey the peace that I experienced from God during this time. Even Christians sometimes wonder about and perhaps are somewhat afraid of the unknown — that valley of the shadow of death through which we must one day pass. I would love to stand on a mountaintop and call to every believer everywhere, “Don’t be afraid!” At the moment of departure, He is there to give us peace and sustain our hearts. What a comfort to know that we are the Lord’s most prized possessions and that He will never allow us to go through the transition from this world to the next in fear. I rejoice over this experience today because I can say with David, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4).

Suspended in God’s sweet peace, I was almost in the presence of the Lord. Then suddenly, I was pulled back from going over. A hand grasped my wrist and a man stood beside me. He tenderly placed a blanket over my body and in perfect English said, “Don’t move her. She will be all right.” Immediately, my mind began to clear and I knew that I would live.

As quickly as he had appeared, he was gone. The Lord had sent a man or an angel (only He knows) to provide perfect comfort and to minister to us in a special way Hebrews 1:14 says: Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

An ambulance rushed us to the hospital. I looked at Jack and was reassured to know that he was all right. I knew that somehow God was doing something special in our lives — something that would ultimately glorify Him if we would not faint (see II Corinthians 4:16).

I had sustained a severe head injury. X rays revealed that I had a broken collarbone and two broken ribs. I had also sustained numerous cuts and bruises, and fragments of glass were embedded in parts of my body. In fact, the doctor spent four hours removing glass from my legs, head, and ears. God had divinely and miraculously spared my face and eyes, for which I shall forever be grateful.

Because of my head injury, I was unable to receive any pain medication for 18 hours. In addition, I was told that if the bleeding from my head wound did not stop during the night, doctors would be forced to shave my head in order to suture the extreme abrasion. Jack remained by my side every minute of that entire night, praying with me, comforting me, and talking with me. We asked God for a miracle, and He gave us one. By morning, the bleeding had stopped.

Neither of us slept during that long, unforgettable night. As we talked about why it happened, I felt a kinship with Job. God had allowed Satan to test us but not destroy us or our ministry together. He allowed the test to go so far, and no further. I knew that my Father was in control and that my Saviour was not leaving me alone. Indeed, I knew that He was feeling my infirmity with even greater intensity than I.

Jack spent the next 48 hours trying to get the doctors to release me for our return to America.

British Airways agreed to fly us and graciously provided wheelchair and ambulance service all the way to Detroit. Still, the hours in flight were painfully long, Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me (II Timothy 4:17).

During the next three months, I received extensive medical treatment and stringent therapy. Adhesions formed as the damaged muscles and tendons in my crushed shoulder healed. Doctors said that without corrective surgery I would never use my arm again. Instead, I underwent months of excruciating rehabilitative exercises to correct the situation. Still, I would not want to look back upon this experience with anything but rejoicing and praise — rejoicing in the Lord’s protection and love in bringing me through this trial and praise that He counted me worthy to be put to the test.

Resistance to Suffering is Counterproductive

It would have been easy, I suppose, to resist in my heart and be bitter against the Lord for allowing such a thing to happen. Yet it never occurred to me to question what God was doing. Years earlier Jack and I had committed ourselves to pursuing the Lord’s will whatever the cost — and when we made that commitment, we knew it could involve suffering. It has, but the rewards have been rich. God has filled our lives with blessings that exceed anything we could ask or think.

Unfortunately, instead of counting problems and trials as joy and allowing them to work patience and maturity, many people tend to follow their natural inclination, and the difficulties produce bitterness and resentment. That, in turn, only amplifies dissatisfaction, until finally they are caught in a never-ending cycle of devastatingly negative feelings.

The only effect resistance has on our trials is to make them more difficult to bear. When we rebel against God and turn from Him, we shut out the One who can enable us to carry whatever burden He gives us. How tragic it is to see someone who has gone through grief and pain who then turns sorrow into bitterness against God! That is not what God wants. He wants to make the burden light and the yoke easy to bear (see Matthew 11:30).

I know that it is normal to want to resist problems, and, of course, it is right and even necessary to resist some things. For example, we should not give in to immoral acts, so we must resist temptation. Scripture tells us to resist Satan (see James 4:7; I Peter 5:9). Nevertheless, when we are confronted with trials that are beyond our control, we need to see ourselves as Paul did — like clay in the hands of the Potter, submissive to His will for our lives. We must realize that through these trials He is molding us. shaping us. and perfecting us — until we become vessels that He can use.

Have you ever watched a potter work on a pottery wheel? He squeezes and pinches and applies pressure, and from what was an ugly lump of clay comes forth a beautiful, useful piece of pottery. The potter knows just where to poke and just where to rub — it is a fascinating process to watch. Occasionally, the potter will decide a radical change is in order, and he will smash a nearly molded pot and begin again from the beginning.

We will continue our study in counting it all joy in our next newsletter.

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

The Necessity of the New Birth

In the past two newsletters we defined and described the new birth, now we want to prove that this experience is demanded by God. Jesus said… ye must be born again (John 3:7). He did not say that the birth was worthy of one’s consideration or that one’s acceptance of His proposal would be admirable. No, He said… ye must be born again. Why?

Adamic Nature

First, we must be born from above or born again spiritually because, through our physical birth, we have inherited the Adamic nature. We are “chips off the old block.” Adam, as the head of the human race, passed on the “genes” of a corrupt nature to all his posterity. Paul spells it out clearly in Romans 5:12, 18, and 19. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned… Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

We conclude, then, that every member of the human race inherited Adam’s rotten nature at birth, making each of us what our first dad was-a disobedient rebel. This old nature within us makes us lie, cheat, swear, and desire sin. One is not a sinner because he sins. He sins because he is a sinner.

That’s what the psalmist meant in Psalm 5 1:5 when he said, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me. The sin in this text was not sex, for, Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled… (Hebrews 13:4). Instead, the “iniquity” refers to the old nature formed within one at conception. This old nature contains all the germs of every known sin. That’s why God declares in Psalm 58:3, 4; The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent….

In the light of this convicting evidence, only rebellious sinners would say, “I don’t need salvation,” or “I am saved because I was born into a Christian family” God disagrees. He says …here is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:20) . . .. there is none that doeth good, no, not one (Psalm 14:3). All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him [Christ] the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net (Micah 7:2).

Jesus said . . . none is good, save one, that is God (Luke 18:19). Paul also adds a stroke on the canvas of life by stating in Romans 3:10-18: There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth. There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher [grave]; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the ways of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

What a portrait of every member of the human race without God. Sinners possess naught but depraved natures passed on to them from generation to generation. They now need a “born again” experience that produces a “new nature” through “regeneration.” No wonder Jesus said …ye MUST be born again.

Spiritual Comprehension

Secondly the “born again” experience is compulsory if one is to understand God. 1 Corinthians 2:11-14 depicts this. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing the spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. What a text! Let’s dissect it.

No man is able to understand another man except by the human spirit commonly possessed. This human spirit makes daily communication possible with other members of the human race, Though human beings enjoy such privileges among themselves, they are unable to conduct intelligible conversations with the animal kingdom, because the human spirit is missing in birds and beasts. Supposing I went into a pasture and began reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to Bozo the bull. What would his reaction be if I looked into his eyes and said, “Bozo, here is one of England’s greatest masterpieces. Are you listening? ‘Oh, Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou, Romeo?”’ I think he might snort a little and give me a run for my money. In fact, I might fly over the fence faster than the Space Shuttle! The problem? A communication barrier. Now, Bozo might be the smartest bull in the herd and possess unusual qualities, but intelligible discourse would be an impossibility- he’s an animal.

However, if a veterinarian were able to “transplant” a human spirit within the breast of the beast, communication might become a reality Of course this is totally absurd. It could never happen. However, by way of analogy there is something that occurs at conversion which makes good “horse sense.” The “new birth” allows humans to become partakers of God’s nature (see 2 Peter 1:4). His nature enters a believer immediately as the “Great Physician” performs the miraculous transplant. Because of it, MAN, now possessing God’s Spirit, can, for the first time, understand God.

From this point onward he is able to grasp the truths of the Bible. The Scriptures are no longer mythological legends or contradictory pronouncements. God’s Spirit, present in the “new-born” convert, makes spiritual truths unbelievably comprehensible. This is the meaning of the text which bears repeating. …the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:11-13).

It is evident at this point that no human, regardless of I.Q., scholastic attainments, or academic degrees can by mere intelligence understand God. That’s why 1 Corinthians 2:14 adds, (Get it all you college students who have been brainwashed and misled by educated pagans) But the natural man [or unsaved man] receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, because they are spiritually discerned (emphasis mine).

The lost, even those with PhD’s, are hopelessly incapacitated when it comes to the Bible. They have no spiritual equipment to investigate the Spirit’s teachings. This takes a “supernatural” transplant by the Holy Spirit and is called the “new birth.” Then, the believer partakes of the “divine nature” and God’s Spirit within makes God’s writing understandable. You see, one must know the Author of the Bible to understand the Author’s writings. Until then, the Bible is as difficult and dry as Egyptian hieroglyphics to a Chinaman.

Heaven’s Entrance

Third, one needs a “new birth” experience to enter God’s presence. Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And again, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:3 and 5).

Is it any wonder that the Saviour vehemently says in verse 7, Ye must be born again. None will ever see the light of the Holy City who reject Christ as personal Saviour. Instead, unbelievers and Christ-rejectors join the legion of the doomed for all eternity! Revelation 21:8 states, But the fearful, and UNBELIEVING, and the abominable, and murderers, and whorernongers, and sorcerers and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN? He who has been born once dies twice, but he who is twice born, dies once. What strange language, you say? Not really If one is born but once-physically-he dies twice. First, the grave, then the lake of fire which is the second death (see Revelation 20:14). On the other hand, he who has been born twice-physically and spiritually-dies but once. For on such (the born again) the second death (lake of fire) hath no power! Will you die once or twice? Will you exit this earth instantly-via disease or disaster-and then enter the regions of the doomed forever? Why wonder? Why procrastinate? Eternity is ahead.

There is only one way to become spiritually born. That is . . .Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved… (Acts 16:31). Romans 10:13 adds … whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Do it now!

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Thank you for your life’s work to honor and serve our mighty God! You bring joy and such knowledge to us, and we love the DVD’s you create also. Thank you for your compassion, Rexella. You model humility for me with your love of people and of God.

Bill S.

I saw and heard you preach for my first time this morning over the internet on your web site. I am 70 years old and haven’t heard that kind of preaching in years this is what our world needs to hear now not feel good sermons. Our country could be set on fire for God if only we had preachers who would tell the truth about what God says and what happens to sinners who refuse to listen. So many people see grey with God not black and white so they can justify the wrong in their lives. It scares me to think of our young people. I hope to hear more of your sermons soon.

God Bless you both

Jeanette W.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

Raised by Wolves: Five Lies From the Pulpit

“Love is Love”

“No Justice, No Peace”

“All Roads Lead to Heaven”

You expect to hear loaded (and deceptive) messages like these on the culture — from celebrities, media, politicians, college professors, business leaders…

But the lies have burrowed in so deeply, you’ll even hear them from a place you’ve come to expect only God’s truth: The Pulpit.

Dr. Rexella Van Impe and her team have condensed Dr. Jack Van Impe’s teaching on five of the most pernicious and culturally significant lies being echoed by pastors and Christ leaders today — and expose each one with the truth of God’s Word.

You may come away thinking differently about some of the popular shepherds leading their flocks astray by giving voice to these lies.  And you will certainly come away better prepared to spot the counterfeits by measuring them against the real deal, Jesus Christ.

Get ready for the eye-opening truth!

God’s Good Plan: A Look at Revelation

Christ’s end-time plan is good … for those who have committed their lives to the Lord.

In fact, believers will be called up to the heavens with Jesus before any of the “bad stuff” begins! Are you ready for the trumpet sound?

Bible prophecy can be confusing … even scary. But if you understand God’s Word, it’s clear to see. He wins in the end! And His beloved children will stand victorious with Him in the days to come.

This booklet contains explanations and details about the most important events found in the book of Revelation, all compiled from Bible prophecy experts Drs. Jack and Rexella Van Impe’s decades of study … to give you hope and fill your heart with anticipation! Yes, evil will rule for a time … but it will be destroyed, and God’s children will be safely removed from the earth before the trouble begins. So delve in, and share this booklet, too! Let’s reach as many souls as possible with the Good News of Jesus, before it’s too late.