Homeopaths

by R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, England | Category: General | Jun 1989

In the New Testament, the Greek word homoiopathes is used as an adjective to describe men of like passions (nature) and occurs twice for our instruction and edification.

Barnabas and Paul

These two men formed a very close and abiding friendship from the day they first met. Paul owed much to Barnabas who declared to the apostles in Jerusalem the sincerity and boldness of his witness and testimony in Damascus. Their association developed under the Spirit's guidance into a bond of fellowship as they worked together in the Church of God in Antioch. Together they fulfilled an assignment on behalf of the disciples in Antioch to provide relief for brethren in Judea during a world-wide famine (Acts 11:29-30). Upon returning to Antioch, the Lord's purpose in their bond, which had been consolidated over some years, was now realized by the prophets, teachers and the Church of God in Antioch. They were called, separated to and sent on a joint mission among the Gentiles (Acts 13:2,3). From verse 13 of chapter 13, Luke is led to show that Paul began to adopt the major role even though Barnabas had seniority in respect of length of Christian experience. So we now frequently read of Paul and Barnabas instead of Barnabas and Saul.

Both were recognized apostles. Each had differing gifts. Under the leading of the Spirit they were pioneers for God. They shared their Spirit-given assignments and reported back faithfully and fully to the Church of God in Antioch on "all things that God had done with them, and how that He had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). We might be inclined in the light of so much success to consider these two brethren as supermen. In fact, this is what some of the multitudes at Istra actually did when Paul healed the cripple who was impotent in his feet from birth (Acts 14:8-10). At this point we see from Luke's record how balanced these two men were. Vigorous in the prosecution of the Lord's will and the preaching of the Word, they had a clear, incisive knowledge of the God they served while understanding fully that by nature they were no different from the multitudes to whom they preached (Acts 14:7,15). "We also are men of like passions with you" they said.

The Lord is still working Out the counsel of His will for today through men and women like Barnabas and Paul who were men of like passions with ourselves; who bring good tidings to those around them and urge them to turn from the vain (empty) things of this world to the living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that in them is.

Elijah

Elijah the Tishbite enters the scriptural record in a most dramatic way (1 Kin. 17:1). His mission concerned the king of Israel and his God-given message was delivered with clarity and brevity. What is not revealed in 1 Kings 17 is that the impending drought would last for three and a half years and would occur as a direct result, and in answer to the fervent prayer, of one man in the presence of the Father of rain (James 5:17; Job 38:28). Elijah did exploits for God in a day of spiritual decline in Israel. Please read 1 Kings 17:1-24 and 2 Kings 1. Before the Lord could use him in further public witness after his audience with Ahab, he had to learn from experience the hiding of self and dependence upon God at the brook Cherith. One would have thought that the days spent watching the brook gradually ebb away and the daily supply of food by the ravens would have been sufficient to teach this man of God the consequences of his fervent prayer in the presence of the Almighty. Cherith was only the beginning. Having begun to learn for some days or even months possibly, the effect of one edge of the Word of the Lord upon himself, he is commanded to undertake a 90 mile journey to Zarephath, there to learn the effect of the other edge of the sword of the Spirit upon others.

He asked for part of the handful of meal in the barrel and a few drops of the oil in the cruse saying, "Make me thereof' (17:13). She excelled in obedience and trust, so that "she, and he (Elijah) and her house, did eat many days" (v.15). The Lord's subsequent signs and wonders which He worked out through Elijah were possible because God's man for the day subjected his own self first, and his ways second, to the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2).

He did not only fervently pray that it might rain and was heard but he "prayed with prayer" ~VM) again that it might rain and was heard. Another superman? Not at all, but a man of "like passions with us" whom Scripture uses to show that "the supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working" (James 5:16). We often overlook the sentence which precedes the above quotation. Confession of sins one to another and prayer one for the other for forgiveness and healing are all part of right doing. Elijah was a righteous man, so much so that he was caught up (snatched away) from the banks of Jordan into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kin. 2:11). Possibly in our lifetime we too will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thes. 4:17).

R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, England | Jun 1989
General