FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

But What Have I to Offer?

The little boy was only about 8 years old, bright-eyed, blonde, and so very cute.

He came up to me that Wednesday evening before the crusade service started and said, “I have something for you, Rexella!”

I smiled down at this vibrant little guy, knelt beside him, and asked, “What is it?”

He excitedly held out a brown paper bag for me to open. Inside was a freshly-baked, crusty-brown loaf of bread. “Oh, how nice!” I exclaimed. “Did your mother make this for me?”

“No, I did!” he said proudly. “I made it for you.”

I couldn’t keep from giving him a hug of appreciation for his gift that meant so much to me. To some it may not have seemed like much — a slightly misshapen, slightly overdone loaf of homemade bread. But behind it was an overflowing supply of generosity and love for my husband and me.

And even little is much when it is given with love.

Jesus confirmed this with His comments about the giving of a poor widow who dropped two tiny coins into the offering at the Temple. Contrasted with the large sums being given by the wealthy, her gift must have seemed insignificant to those who looked on. But the Lord said, “This woman has given more than all the others. They gave a portion of their abundant wealth — she gave all she had, even her very living” (see Mark 12:41-44).

I think it is very significant indeed that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took note of that small, sacrificial gift and said that, in His eyes, it was worth more than all the other gifts put together. The New Testament account doesn’t actually say so, but I wonder if God didn’t bless those two little coins and multiply their value many times over!

How God will use your gift

He did that one day with a little lad’s lunch of five loaves and two fishes. Jesus multiplied that simple sack-lunch into enough to feed a multitude of 5,000… with lots of leftovers.

I believe the Lord performed this miracle for more than one reason. Yes, He felt compassion for the multitude that had followed Him and listened to His teaching all day long. He wanted to meet their physical need and satisfy their hunger for food as He had satisfied their thirst for spiritual truth.

But I believe this miracle may also have been to encourage the faith of His disciples. Perhaps they may have been tempted to send the multitude away hungry (“what good is so little among so many?”) and use the few loaves and fishes as a meager snack for the staff.

But the Lord demonstrated in a graphic way that, in His kingdom, there is always enough to meet the need. He blessed and broke the bread and fish, then had them serve the hungry people. When everybody had eaten his fill, the disciples gathered up what was left. And there were 12 baskets full — one basket for each disciple!

What a great lesson! What a great miracle! Yet, it could not have happened without the unselfish giving of the little boy who handed over his lunch. What if he had said, “There are too many hungry people here, and I have barely enough food for myself. I can’t afford to give… and what little I have wouldn’t make much difference anyhow.”

But he did what he could do — shared what he had. And his gift fed a multitude… and taught Jesus’ disciples a great lesson. Plus, I’ve always felt the little boy must have ended up taking more food home that night than he’d started out with. So he had a chance to witness to his parents about what the Lord had said and done.

Who could have blamed the poor widow if she had said, “Look at all the rich offerings the wealthy people are giving at the Temple. I have only these two mites — worth less than a penny. There’s no way I can give. No one would even know if I did give, or miss my tiny offering if I didn’t.”

But out of love for God she gave — and Jesus himself noticed and called attention to her generosity!

What is in your hand?

What do you have to offer? Give that. For remember, to whom much is given, much is required. But even if you had absolutely no material possessions, you still could give your love, your encouragement, your prayers. It means so much to know our friends are standing with us.

What do you have to offer? What God has placed in your hands. What you are willing to give to His work. If all you have to give to God in Jesus’ name is a cup of cold water, then that is all God expects.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not (2 Corinthians 8:12).

Over the years the Lord has blessed my husband and me with many precious friends who have shared the burdens and the opportunities of this ministry. Occasionally, in addition to the support given for our work, we have received a card or a word of encouragement, or a small personal gift. I have appreciated all of them.

But I don’t think I’ll ever forget the night when that charming 8-year-old brought me the best he had to offer, a loaf of bread he baked himself!

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

What Must I Do To Be Lost?

To Be Lost: Trust In Water Baptism – part 2

2. The Epistles also help us to see the error of baptismal salvation. In the first century, every church had its own epistle or letter. The Romans did not know what was written to the Corinthians or vice versa. The Galatians did not know what was written to the Ephesians. Today we have all the letters, or epistles, in one book-the Bible. However, in the first century. each church had only its own letter, and only knew the plan of salvation as presented to them individually. Now each letter deals with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but not water baptism, and this is important.

Let’s take a look at all 14 epistles written by Paul to the various churches, and remember that these churches had only the letter written to them. The Romans had only the letter to the Romans. The Galatians had only the letter to the Galatians. So, Paul would have to include baptism in each epistle if it were an essential part of salvation. It is not found in every book. However, the plan concerning Jesus Christ’s blood shed on the cross is. I want you to see these words, “Christ,” “in Christ,” “the blood of Christ,” “belief in Christ.” “faith in Christ,” as we go through the various epistles.

Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him [Christ] that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

First Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! He is the foundation.

First Corinthians 5:19: God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.

Second Corinthians 5:21: For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us who knew no sin.

Galatians 1 :4: [Christ] gave himself for our sins. that he might deliver us from this present evil world.

Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law. then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Ephesians 1: 13: In [Christ] ye also trusted. After that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Ephesians 2: 13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood [not the water] of Christ.

Philippians 3:9, 10: And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness. which is of the law, but that which test through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know him [Christ), and the power of his resurrection.

Colossians 1 :20: And, [Christ] having made peace through the blood of his cross. Verse 27: Christ in you, the hope of glory.

First Thessalonians 5:9: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Second Thessalonians 1 :8: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Obey not what? The gospel. the good news. Concerning whom? The Lord Jesus Christ.

First Timothy 2:5,6: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all.

Second Timothy 3: 15: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 2: 14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity.

Philemon. verse 25: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace means unmerited favor. God gives us a gift, and it’s through Jesus Christ-not through a system of ordinances, not through sacraments, not through men’s efforts, not through works, but through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.

Hebrews 10: 10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I use all 14 letters which Paul wrote to 14 churches or individuals, and in every instance the plan of salvation is made dogmatically and emphatically clear as being in Jesus Christ, period.

As previously stated, baptism is a picture of the salvation experience, but not the experience itself. I have read hundreds of letters and theories but I have Gods letter, the Bible. as my masterpiece for guidance. I dogmatically state that any ordinance, sacrament, or man-produced effort tacked to the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ becomes another gospel and is under the judgment of God.

I was baptized twice. The first baptism was administered when I was a child. This supposedly was an act of grace to save my soul. However, there is no such teaching in God’s Word. Baptism is for those already saved and for those who are mentally capable of becoming saved (Matthew 16: 16 and Acts 2:41). Because I met neither qualification at eight days of age, I was rebaptized after I had received the Saviour. At this point I was mentally competent (some of you doubt that! Ha!) and I had already trusted in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for my salvation. I then went into the waters to declare my faith in Christ. It was an outward sign of the inward work I had experienced.

My first baptism did not change me. I still was a despicable sinner hating God and living for the devil. The “dry sinner” was only a “wet sinner.” Then I trusted Christ and was changed. I became a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1 :4). In Christ I became a new creature: old things [became] new (2 Corinthians 5:17). My baptism pictured this change as I was buried to the old life and raised to newness of life (Romans 6:4). This is the scriptural order.

Study Acts 8:36-38: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe … and he baptized him. This is scriptural baptism-believing and then portraying one’s belief to the world through baptism.

Every born-again believer should be baptized as an act of obedience for rewards, not as an act of salvation for eternal life. The baptism should also be after salvation and by immersion. If this has not been the situation, genuine baptism should imme­diately be sought. Sprinkling and pouring of water upon one’s head is unscriptural. It is by immersion and only by immersion.

Why?

Baptizo in the Greek means “to plunge into or dip.” Rhandizo means “to sprinkle. “Wherever baptism is found in the Holy Scriptures the word is always baptizo. The German translation of the Scriptures is accurate. They use taufen, which means “to put under.”

What caused this difficulty? At the writing of the King James Version-and this is the greatest version in the annals of history-most religionists were baby sprinklers. In order to avoid difficulties, the translators left the word baptizo untranslated in the new version. They put the anglicized form “baptism” into the King James Version. In other words, they put the Greek baptizo into the English “baptism,” but this is not a translation of the meaning of the word-Just the English way of spelling baptizo. This compromise would not offend the king or the religionists because the meaning “to plunge under” or “to dip” would remain untranslated. Sad isn’t it? It happened! Let’s prove that this is God’s intended meaning.

[They] were baptized of him in Jordan (Matthew 3:6).

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water (Matthew 3: 16).

And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there (John 3:23). This is self-explanatory.

Again, They were come up out of the water (Acts 8:39). The Bible is clear on baptism.

The waters only become muddled when anti-dispensationalists distort and take out of context such texts as Acts 2:38, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was God’s way for rebellious Israel. They had to be baptized to receive the Holy Ghost.

The problem is easily solved by the time one gets to the Gentiles in Acts 10:47, Can any man forbid water; that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost?

In Acts 2:38, the Jews had to be baptized to receive the Spirit of God, but eight chapters later the Gentiles are baptized because they already have the Holy Spirit. This is God’s order today.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The study of doctrine solves all of man’s arguments when the totality of the subject is considered. In conclusion, let me emphasize that salvation is through the blood of Jesus. ‘Trust Him now and then be baptized because Christ has been received.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Hello Rexella,

No matter what is going on in the world around us your broadcasts and messages are always uplifting. 

Your example and reminders to live in faith with love in the Lord is just what the doctor (God) ordered.

God bless, Shalom, Shalom.

Krist P.

Dear Dr. Rexella,

I first heard Dr. Jack at the IMA Auditorium in Flint, MI in 1972. He was amazing with your scripture memory and Rexella’s God-talented voice. Nearly 20 years ago you spoke at BBC, Springfield, Mo., where I was a student. My new wife of 10 years, and myself, watched your program recently.

I told her how you preached the same “stuff” 40 years ago and still preach the same “stuff” now!!

Thanks for the servants of God that you have been, are and will be. If we never meet this side of heaven….one day wearing white robes…we will. Someday I plan to get your Prophecy Bible. Seems very interesting.

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Terry & Shirley D.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

The Bear, The Beast, and The Lion

“THIS IS JUST A ‘SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION'”

 

Even as Russian troops amassed on the Ukrainian border, Putin assured the nations it wasn’t a war.  Yet in February 2022, a full-scale invasion began.

Now, years later, this war has cost both nations greatly, in terms of war dollars and, sadly, lives.  And despite their own horrible losses in, Russia hasn’t relented.

What could possibly be driving Russia’s commitment to this prolonged and devastating war?

This is yet another rung in Russia’s ascent to world domination.  The Scriptures forewarn us of even greater aggression from this obstinate nation in the future.

In this booklet, Dr. Rexella Van Impe discusses the major players involved in that future war: a Bear, a Beast, and a Lion.

As we better understand biblical prophecy, we can take encouragement from knowing that God has already foreseen these world events.  And He remains firmly in control.

One day soon, the Lord Jesus will come again.  And when He does, He will bring an end to ALL war.

Jesus the Only Way

Jesus is! He’s so good, perfect, and kind! And He’s the only way to heaven Believe in Him Today!

We live in such a confused, chaotic world! And yet there is hope to be found in the person of Jesus Christ and in His completed work at Calvary

Let us never wash down the message or attempt to combine it with the false messages of other religions Jesus is God’s gift to us, and by believing in Him, we are assured an eternity in heaven!

This little booklet answers many of the questions Drs Jack and Rexella Van Impe were asked through the years about Jesus, the possibility of One World Religion and God’s divine plan through the work of His Son on the cross

May the truths presented herein bring hope encouragement and joyful anticipation for the future we’ll spend sitting at the feet of Jesus!