27 March 2024
Leadership and Authority
26 February 2024
The Wonder of God
"It is a weakness; for it is simply settling down permanently to believe what even the vain and foolish can only believe by fits and starts, but what all men wish to believe and are often found weak enough to believe; that they themselves constitute the supreme standard of things. Pride consists in a man making his personality the only test, instead of making the truth the test...It is pride to think that a thing looks ill, because it does not look like something characteristic of oneself...But the self as a self is a very small thing and something very like an accident. Hence arises a new kind of narrowness; which exists especially in those who boast of breadth. The sceptic feels himself too large to measure life by the largest things; and ends by measuring it by the smallest thing of all. There is produced also a sort of subconscious ossification, which hardens the mind not only against the traditions of the past, but even against the surprises of the future. Nil admirari becomes the motto of all nihilists; and it ends, in the most complete and exact sense, in nothing." (Ibid, pages 348-349)
It is good when we measure things by ourselves to discover we are frighteningly small, for this is God's grand design in revealing Himself as almighty and over all. It is in knowing we are nothing in light of a city, nation, this planet or the universe--a temporary blip of life here one day and gone the next--that God's loving pursuit and sacrifice for our salvation and eternal relationship with Him is magnified. The best of men see themselves in the worst light, and we are all granted the capacity by the warm light of God's grace to humble ourselves before Him and others. God did not put forth the challenge for people to prove their worth by ascending to heaven and to knock on His door: He implores us to bow the knee right where we are before Him in faith, worship and adoration. The love of Christ constrains us to remain consistent in our awe and gratitude towards Him.
22 February 2024
Communication With God
"Level Five: Cliche Conversation. This type of talk is very safe. We use phrases such as "How are you?" How's the dog? "Where have you been?" "I like your dress." In this type of conversation there is not personal sharing. Each person remains safely behind his defences.
Level Four: Reporting the Facts About Others. In this kind of conversation we are content to tell others what someone else has said, but we offer no personal information on these facts. We report the facts like the six o'clock news. We share gossip and little narrations, but we do not commit ourselves as to how we feel about them.
Level Three: Ideas and Judgments. Real communication begins to unfold here. The person is willing to step out of his solitary confinement and risk telling some of his ideas and decisions. He is still cautious. If he senses that what he is saying is not being accepted, he will retreat.
Level Two: Feelings or Emotions. At this level the person shares how he feels about facts, ideas, and judgments. His feelings underneath these areas are revealed. For a person to really share himself with another individual he must move to the level of sharing his feelings.
Level One: Complete Emotional and Personal Communication. All deep relationships must be based on absolute openness and honesty. This may be difficult to achieve because it involves risk--the risk of being rejected. But it is vital if relationships are to grow. There will be times when this type of communication is not as complete as it could be." (Roberts, Wes, and H. Norman Wright. Before You Say “I Do”®. Harvest House Publishers, 2019. Pages 62-63)
It is useful to consider the level of communication we typically use in our relationships with others, especially in preparation for a marriage relationship. People who are outgoing and view themselves like an open book may realise how reserved they are in expressing their feelings or emotions. If this is a useful consideration in our relationships with people, how vital it is for each of us to consider as we seek to cultivate a healthy relationship with God! An honest assessment may prove that we actually spend most of our time in prayer on surface level reporting and never move into real communication. Our prayers to God may be the equivalent of talking about news that concerns other people and the action we would like God to take--but never honestly share how we are feeling.
When Jesus came to earth, He revealed Himself as the promised Messiah through whom we can know God. The tender and intimate relationship Jesus had with His heavenly Father is the relationship God desires to have with us by faith in Jesus where nothing is hidden and the desires of our hearts are freely expressed in the safety and security of His love, grace and mercy. As we desire to grow in our relationship with God, may we be those who humble ourselves before God to share our thoughts and feelings in personal, prayerful communication, choosing to listen and respond to God's word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The LORD already knows our thoughts and hearts, but He will not force His way into them and make us share ourselves with Him. God's desire is for us by faith in Jesus to be enraptured in His love without fear of rejection or being ridiculed.
As we have this fellowship with God marked by open lines of personal communication, we will also benefit richly from fellowship with Christians. Jesus shared His heart for us when He prayed for His disciples in John 17:20-23: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." This is God's will for His people, that all Christ's disciples would be united by faith in God's love so His glory will shine bright in this world. Since God has freely given Himself to us through Christ, let us give ourselves freely to Him and one another in fellowship.
17 February 2024
Mr. Hugh Kennedy
“Mr. Hugh Kennedy, an eminent Christian of Ayr, in Scotland, when he was dying, called for a Bible, but, finding his sight gone, he said, “Turn me to the eighty of the Romans, and set my finger at these words, I am persuaded that neither death nor life.” “Now, said he, “is my finger upon them?” And, when they told him it was, without speaking any more, he said, “Now God be with you, my children; I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my LORD Jesus Christ this night;” and so departed.” (Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible. Vol. 6, Hendrickson Publishers, 1991. page 345)
From this anecdote, it is likely Mr. Kennedy was a man who had placed his faith in God and also was a reader of the Bible during his life. On what proved to be his deathbed he requested a Bible be brought to him, and almost to his surprise he found his sight gone and was unable to find Romans 8:38 himself. With keen eyes of faith on God and His promise, Mr. Kennedy was persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities or powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth nor any other created thing would be able to separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We too, having placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, can retain such confidence even when our bodies fail and we go the way of the earth to our fathers.
The God Who was with Mr. Hugh Kennedy all his days would also be with his children after him, and all believers can have this same confidence and unshakable assurance. Mr. Kennedy was persuaded because of Christ's love for him that he could eat breakfast with his family, and after his passing would be eating dinner with Jesus in heaven. The end of life on earth would not be his end. The anecdote concluded, "And so departed." His spirit left behind his mortal frame and went to be clothed with a new body in the heavens with his LORD Jesus, united and glorified in the presence of God forever. His departure from his body meant his arrival in the presence of the LORD, free of pain, blindness and all sorrows of this world--because for him the former things had passed away.
That we would have such confidence in God and His promises to us in Scripture! The love of God demonstrated for us on the cross and ever since is a sound foundation to build our lives upon, for Jesus gives eternal life to all who repent and trust in Him. A day came when Mr. Kennedy was unable to see or speak, yet God continues to speak to this day and will continue to speak long after we enter into the LORD's presence. God remains faithful, and His active love never fails to pursue, bless and cause everything to work together for good to us who love God. The death of Jesus accomplished God's good purposes and plans, and when God calls us home to be with him we can have this confidence: nothing shall be able to separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus. He truly gives rest for the weary soul.
07 February 2024
Seeing Yourself in Christ
"'To hope to do better is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.' You say, 'I hope to do better.' You know you're not. You need to see yourself in Christ today and realise that only the Spirit of God moving through you can accomplish this. And then Newell says again, 'To be disappointed with yourself means you believed in yourself.' Somebody says, 'Oh, I'm so disappointed in myself.' Well, you had better be disappointed in yourself. You know no good thing is going to come out of the flesh, friend. Stop believing in yourself, and believe that the Spirit of God today can enable you through the new nature to live for God. Also Newell says, 'To be discouraged is unbelief.' My friend, that means you don't believe God. God has a purpose and a plan, a blessing for you. And you need to lay hold of it. Here is another statement: 'To be proud is to be blind.' We have no standing before God in ourselves. Oh, my friend, see yourself as God sees you. Here is the final gem: 'The lack of divine blessing comes from unbelief, not a failure of devotion.'...My friend, the lack of divine blessing comes because we do not believe God it is not because of a lack of devotion. Oh, to believe God today!" (McGee J Vernon. Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Volume 4. Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1981. pages 698-699)
Why should a believer in Jesus Christ be beating themselves up with self-condemnation when there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ? So you have failed! The Bible tells us all have sinned, and that includes me and you. Our call as failures and sinners is to humble ourselves, repent of our sin, and do what pleases God. Feelings of disappointment and discouragement are indications our expectations have not been met, our will has not been done, that we have put our trust in ourselves or something that is not God. As long as we rely upon ourselves and hold our belief we are able to do what only God can do, the cycle of disappointment will be perpetual. Believing our old man has died with Christ and we have been raised to new life in Jesus Who lives forever, the shield of faith extinguishes the fiery darts Satan or people throw at us. When we see ourselves in Christ because it is Gospel truth, through God's eyes it changes the way we see everything.
06 February 2024
Trusting the Life of Christ
"Besides a basic mistrust of people's competence, I think I also see among many Christians a tragic mistrust of the life of Christ in His people so far as their moral and spiritual commitment is involved. Some seem to think we must put all kinds of hedges around Christians to keep them on the "straight and narrow."
I don't understand that. My people don't want to sin. They love Jesus and they are trying to follow Him, just as I love Him and try to follow Him. My people don't need a warden to guard them; they need a shepherd to guide them. And when they do sin, they need love, acceptance and forgiveness, not suspicion and rejection...
The life of Christ is incredibly tenacious in a believer, and we need to trust it more. I'm sure someone could tell stories on the other side--how believers were drawn away by evil surroundings. That's where the fellowship of the believers comes in. That's what the collective gathering of the Body is for--to restore and strengthen one another. But that restoration and strengthening is so that we can then go back out as lights into the world, not so that we can stay insulated and isolated." (Ibid, pages 72-73)
Reading this passage reminded me we are saved by faith and to live by faith--and this means trusting God is doing a good work in the lives of other people in the church right now. It is entirely possible to be saved by faith and then lean on my own understanding, to follow my own thoughts or rely on what I see rather than seeking God and yielding to Him in trust and obedience. Cook pointed out the error of insulation and isolation within church ministry or a church building. While this can happen, the more common occurrence is insulation and isolation from meeting with other believers as the church, the Body of Christ, and when they fall there is no one around to help them back up. Online teaching keeps a person spiritually fed, but a lack of Christian fellowship leads to spiritual weakness, dullness and drifting coupled with self-confidence.
When we gather together as Christians, it is a wonderful opportunity God has provided to seek and worship Him together, to examine our hearts, to love and listen to others. There is opportunity to learn, grow, exhort, rebuke, correct and stand corrected, and all this is edifying for us. Just being in the same room or speaking in a conversation with other Christians does not mean we have experienced fellowship, for this happens when both or all parties before the LORD are willing to humbly receive from one another and to share with one another from the heart. This requires humility by the Holy Spirit, transparency about personal difficulties, willingness to share what the LORD is teaching us, and to love one another. Praise the LORD because Jesus is alive and at work in each one of us, He empowers us to do His will to love others as He loves us.
17 January 2024
The Reforming Paradox
"In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity; a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, "I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away." To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: "If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it."
This paradox rests on the most elementary common sense. The gate or fence did not grow there. It was not set up by somnambulists who built it in their sleep. It is highly improbable that it was put there by escaped lunatics who were for some reason loose in the street. Some person had some reason for thinking it would be a good thing for somebody. And until we know what the reasons was, we really cannot judge whether the reason was reasonable. It is extremely probable that we have overlooked some whole aspect of the question, if something set up by human beings like ourselves seems to be entirely meaningless and mysterious. There are reformers who get over this difficulty by assuming that all their fathers were fools; but if that be so, we can only say that folly appears to be a hereditary disease. But the truth is that nobody has any business to destroy a social institution until he has really seen it as an historical institution. If he knows how it arose, and what purposes it was supposed to serve, he may really be able to say that they were bad purposes, or that they have since become bad purposes, or that they are purposes which are no longer served. But if he simply stares at the thing as a senseless monstrosity that has somehow sprung up in his path, it is he and not the traditionalist who is suffering from an illusion. We might even say that he is seeing things in a nightmare." (Chesterton, G. K., and Dale Ahlquist. In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays of G.K. Chesterton. Ignatius Press, 2011. pages 173-174)
The principle illustrated here shows the impact faith in God has on our perspective and worldview. If we believe God created man and woman and instituted marriage between a man and a woman, we cannot reform these institutions without risk of deforming them. While it is true people do change over their lives, our basic need for God and His wisdom does not change. Having been illuminated by the word of God and born again by the Holy Spirit, we have learned that without God we are hopelessly adrift in the dark. To follow our hearts may be to disregard God and the wisdom He has passed down through generations. How blessed we are to have such a sure foundation in our God Who provides wisdom for abundant life and to be transformed by faith in Jesus into the people He intended us to be from the beginning. Staying the course requires constant reformation--not of God's institutions but of ourselves--being sanctified by God's grace.
12 January 2024
Peace Of Mind
Only God has the power to save us from ourselves. It is likely we ourselves pose a greater risk of ruin and fruitlessness than Satan and all his demonic minions could impose upon us by force. As long as our hearts are selfish, self-confident, self-reliant and esteems self over others, we will stumble in our aim to walk in the Spirit. While we can be focused on our tendency to do wrong, it can be what we neglect to do in obedience to God that hinders our spiritual growth and vitality. Unbelief and lack of love towards God and others in our hearts causes more trouble for us than the symptoms of sin everyone can see. I thought J. Sidlow Baxter made good points about the importance of examining our hearts:
"In the ultimate analysis there are just two things which prevent peace of mind--pride, and lack of love. Pride always carries the haunting fear of humiliating fall; and where love is lacking there can never be that rest of heart which comes only with perfect motive. I learned something about that years ago when I used to do a good deal of open-air preaching. At times, when Communists and other hostile persons in the crowd seemed likely to react violently, I would feel fear. Then I would say to myself, "If you were utterly down at the feet of Christ you could not possibly fear humiliation; and if you loved them as utterly as Jesus loves them you could not know fear, for 'perfect love casteth out fear' (1John 4:18)". It is a high point in the spiritual life when, cost what it will, we submit to the divine will; but the highest point of all is when the mind has become so renewed by the Holy Spirit that every desire is altogether one with that divine will. Oh, that is the way of "life and peace"!" (Baxter, J. Sidlow. His Deeper Work in Us: A Further Enquiry into New Testament Teaching on the Subject of Christian Holiness. Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1967. page 158)
In the classic rock song, "Peace of Mind" by Boston, the lyrics say the way to find peace of mind is to "take a look ahead." While the song makes no allusion to the eternal state in the presence of God, considering our eternal future in the presence of Jesus does bring peace of mind. But all those who are assured a glorious future can experience peace of mind now by humbling ourselves before Jesus Christ in faith, choosing to obey and rely upon Him to help us whether in our jobs or speaking to people who are hostile towards God. The perfect love of God casts out fear and guides us to sacrificial living for the glory of God and the good of others. There is no peace for the wicked, but those who submit self to the LORD to do His will find rest the world cannot know, for Jesus is our peace.
10 January 2024
Intentional Grace
"What I'm saying is this: people who are filled with the Holy Spirit are already basically equipped for ministry. What the church needs to do is help people to understand this truth, not mislead them into thinking they are somehow unqualified to serve.
Christianity is not difficult to communicate. It's simple. We make it hard by our extreme efforts. We give soul-winning courses that take eight weeks or eight months. This communicates to our people how difficult it is to win anyone to Christ.
As a result, Christians are scared to death to tell anybody about Jesus. They memorize every possible question any non-Christian could ask as well as the correct answers--they want to have all the bases covered. When they have done that we say they are equipped. They aren't equipped, they are incapacitated. We have them so intent on nailing people with the Bible, giving answers to them, that they forget there is a person there--hurting.
Maybe the correct answer does not help. Maybe what a friend or neighbor needs is a cup of coffee to drink and an arm around his shoulder. Someone to listen and care. Someone to exercise the greatest spiritual gift of all--love. It doesn't take a professional to love." (Cook, Jerry, and Stanley C. Baldwin. Love, Acceptance & Forgiveness. GL Regal Books, 1984. pg. 58-59)
I encourage people to sign up for courses and take classes offered by a church for the spiritual health and instruction of congregants. Rather than seeing these as a hindrance to ministry, they can enhance our understanding and ability. What is refreshing about Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness is not the institution of a pattern, but it is a timeless exhortation to be yielded to the Holy Spirit, know God rules over all, and a gentle reminder to examine what patterns have been established in our church or ministry and the unintended messages they might send. If the ministry and usefulness of the church is limited to what I can do, nothing will come of it. Yet if we walk together by faith in Jesus Christ, rely on His guidance and serve one another in love, God will never cease to do amazing things by His grace.
23 October 2023
Standing in God's Might
It is not enough to have grace, but this grace must be kept in exercise. The Christian's armour is made to be worn; no laying down, or putting off our armour, till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. Our armour and our garment of flesh go off together; then, indeed, will be no need of watch and ward, shieled or helmet. Those military duties and field-graces--as I may call faith, hope, and the rest--shall be honourably discharged. In heaven we shall appear, not in armour, but in robes of glory. But here these are to be worn night and day; we must walk, work, and sleep in them, or else we are not true soldiers of Christ. This Paul professeth to endeavour. 'Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience voice of offence toward God and toward men,' (Ac 24:16). Here we have this holy man at his arms, training and exercising himself in his postures, like some soldier by himself handling his pike, and inuring himself before the battle. (Gurnall, William, and J. C. Ryle. The Christian in Complete Armour. Banner of Truth Trust, 2002. pages 63-64)
Paul told believers to put on the whole armour of God because it is likely we have failed to appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit given to us to protect our minds and hearts. Many times we have walked around without traction and support of the Gospel of peace which is like combat boots or God's truth which is like a belt. We have wandered unwittingly into a conflict without the shield of faith or left the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God) in the sheath or at home. We are able to "be" strong because this rests completely on Who Jesus is and the new creations He has made us to be. Our identity in Christ does not mean we always or are currently using the full range of protection afforded us by God's grace, and thus we are called to put on the whole armour.
While soldiers sharpen their swords, knives and bayonets for hand-to-hand combat, we are told the manner which is to mark our preparing for and engaging in battle in Ephesians 6:18: "...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." If we are not praying, it is likely victory will be an ideal instead of the continuous reality in practice. We are told to pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." When it comes to the spiritual conflicts, the Holy Spirit is able and willing to protect us from all harmful defeats. If we are unwilling to pray, refuse to look to the LORD Jesus or yield to the Holy Spirit in obedience, we cannot stand in the power of God's might.
05 July 2023
Insight Into Reality
"Our beliefs and feelings cannot be changed by choice. We cannot just choose to have different beliefs and feelings. But we do have some liberty to take in different ideas and information and to think about things in different ways. We can choose to take in the Word of God, and when we do that, beliefs and feelings will be steadily pulled in a godly direction. One of the worst mistakes that can be made in practical ministry is to think that people can choose to believe and feel differently. Following that, we will mistakenly try to generate faith by going through the will--possibly trying to move the will by playing on emotion. Rather, the will must be moved by insight into truth and reality. Such insight will evoke emotion appropriate to a new set of the will. That is the order of real inward change...Belief is when your whole being is set to act as if something is so. And that is how the commands of Jesus finally come to us as we grow. We see them to be reality." (Willard, Dallas, et al. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Form, 2021. Pages 261-262)
Just this morning I read Paul's concluding remarks after establishing the proper order of the use of spiritual gifts in a church assembly in 1 Corinthians 14:37-38: "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant." Paul conveyed the divinely inspired Word of God, and if people refused to humbly receive it and apply it personally it was not his responsibility to make them change. Paul would not have them be ignorant of spiritual gifts and thus he held forth the truth. There was no reason to remain ignorant of God and His commands, yet if someone was intent to carry on in ignorance that was their choice. If they were blind leaders of the blind they would all fall into the ditch, and perhaps the experience would bring them to their senses of their need for God.
God does not hold us responsible to change other people, but He does require us to embrace personal change as we follow Jesus as disciples. He has compassion on the ignorant, but our good God and Teacher does not keep the children of light in the dark about His will and ways. Ignorance does not work in our favour but ultimately leads to destruction. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, and is the revelation of God that directs us to seek and know Him, to ask for forgiveness and salvation, to obey His commands and do what pleases Him. It is by exposure to God's Word, the Holy Spirit within us and the fellowship of the saints that prompts positive change of our beliefs to think more like Him, the humbling of our will by faith in Jesus with intent to do God's will and find rest in Him.
29 June 2023
Faith and Feelings
"One night, when preaching in Philadelphia, right down by the side of the pulpit there was a young lady, whose eyes were riveted on me, as if she were drinking in every word. It is precious to preach to people like that; they generally get good, even if the sermon be poor. I got interested in her, and after I had done talking I went and spoke to her. "Are you a Christian?" "No; I wish I was; I have been seeking Jesus for three years." I said, "There must be some mistake." She looked strangely at me, and said, "Don't you believe me?" "Well, no doubt you thought you were seeking Jesus; but it don't take an anxious sinner three years to meet a willing Saviour." "What am I to do then?" "The matter is, you are trying to do something; you must just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." "Oh, I am sick and tired of the word, 'Believe, believe, believe! I don't know what it is." "Well," I said, "we'll change the word; take 'trust.'" "If I say, "I'll trust him,' will he save me" "No; I don't say that; you may say a thousand things, but he will if you do trust him." "Well," she said, "I do trust him; but," she added in the same breath, "I don't feel any better." "Ah, I've got it now! You've been looking for feelings for three years, instead of Jesus. Faith is up above, not down here." People are always looking for feelings. They are getting up a new translation of the Bible here, and if the men who are translating it would only put in feelings, instead of faith, what a rush there would be for that Bible. But if you look from Genesis to Revelation you cannot find feelings attached to salvation. We must rise above feelings. So I said to this lady, "You cannot control your feelings; if you could, what a time you'd have! I know I would never have the toothache or the headache." (MOODY, Dwight Lyman, and John LOBB. Arrows and Anecdotes of D.L. Moody. Henry Gurley, 1877. Pages 149-150)
Moody is spot on in saying our salvation is by faith in Jesus: it is not by our works or seeking we are saved but by trusting in Him who has done all for our salvation and redemption. It is also true that many people seek an arbitrary feeling (or one that matches the experience of someone else they have heard about) for conversion, forgiveness or baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is faith in God and His word that enables us to consciously lay aside sinful or improper feelings and to choose to believe God despite how we currently feel. We can choose to love and forgive others because God has commanded us to, not because we feel like doing it. As Corrie Ten Boom said in an anecdote about her own struggle to forgive others, feelings of love can follow obedience by faith.
It seems to me the feelings the seeking woman experienced were quite different from the feeling of a toothache or headache. She had been feeling spiritually lost and emotionally frustrated by not experiencing a physical feeling that proved elusive. It is true we cannot control whether we feel the pain of a toothache or headache, but there can be things we can practically do to prevent and relieve them. The same is true concerning all manner of feelings that we have--even those that seem stubbornly part of who we are. When God asked Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry?" it reveals the way we feel can be right or indicate a fleshly and sinful perspective that requires correction. The psalmist asked when overwhelmed, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope in God." The main reason for even asking this questions is because such a one has already been made aware of God's goodness and power to save. Anyone else would have justified feelings of hopelessness and despair because of circumstances.
Praise the LORD He has given us feelings, for our feelings have been the impetus from the LORD to prompt us to desperately seek Him, to repent, to cease from doing wickedly and do what is right. How many times has gratitude and thanksgiving been accompanied by feelings of happiness and a profound sense of joy. Instead of rejecting feelings, we ought to embrace them and keep them in their proper place. Seeking feelings rather than the LORD Jesus is a snare, but a walk of faith with our Saviour involves processing many feelings and experiences He allows us to have. He that redeems our souls from destruction is able to redeem even bad feelings or lack of feelings for good, like in the case of this young seeker in Moody's day. Praise the LORD we serve a willing Saviour who makes us new creations by His grace.
27 June 2023
The Sanctification Struggle
"Christians should want trans people--whether non-transitioned or transitioned--to flood our churches. The more the merrier, I say. It'll create loads of beautifully complex pastoral opportunities, and some Christians will get uncomfortable and leave. So be it. I don't think church should be limited to squeaky-clean Christians who (think they) have all their stuff together or keep their porn, their greed, their pride, and their lack of concern for the poor hidden behind dusty hymnals. I want churches filled with those who know their brokenness, who don't hide their pain, who ask very hard questions. If a trans person who has transitioned is coming to your church, praise God. I hope they are treated with the utmost kindness and respect. All the difficult questions about what to do now are secondary to creating communities that embody God's kindness which draws people to himself (Romans 2:4)--especially those who've been marginalized by the church." (Sprinkle, Preston M. Embodied: Transgender Identities, The Church & What the Bible Has to Say. David C Cook, 2021. Page 194)
As someone involved in pastoral ministry, I am not personally on a quest for "beautifully complex pastoral opportunities." My preference would be people wouldn't struggle with anything, and in this and countless ways God proves Himself wiser than me. When an earthquake or disaster occurs, emergency workers go looking for signs of struggle--for people who are crying out, banging on a pipe or clawing through debris. The struggles are there in every person who is being sanctified by God's grace, and these will persist over the course of our lives. Seasons come and go, but people stay the same: always needing help from God and support from one another to walk wisely in love, grace and goodness towards all. It will not do to be callous over people who are struggling with sin in the church, nor be cavalier over people who leave the church. The Pharisees worked to maintain a squeaky-clean image but were dead inside. The proverb goes a living dog is better than a dead lion (Ecclesiastes 9:4): better to wrestle with sin and cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" and go home justified than to pray to ourselves, proud we don't sin like others and have our sin remain--and stay blind to it.
It can be trendy to almost rejoice in our brokenness--not in the sense of humility or contrition--but to bask in the glow of our sinful struggles together. It used to be people sharing their Christian testimony would go into great detail about their sinful lives before Christ, and the more extreme the better. Very little if any time was spent sharing what God had done in them since their conversion, what they were experiencing presently on their journey of sanctification, and how He was leading them. Our current sinfulness or the devastation it has wreaked in our lives ought not to be the common ground we share with other believers but our Saviour who has found, forgiven and redeemed us. The truth of God's word, the fellowship of believers and being Christlike is to mark our lives as we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Jesus as His disciples. Embracing our sanctification can be a struggle to endure with joy, but what is impossible with man is possible with God. By faith in Him we can praise God despite the toil, and thank God He is our Life who strengthens us.
01 May 2023
For Christ's Sake
"And as someone in this situation, what Jesus calls me to do is exactly what he calls anyone to do. Take another well-known saying of Jesus: "Then He called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34)
It is the same for us all--"whoever." I am to deny myself, take up my cross and follow him. Every Christian is called to costly sacrifice. Denying yourself does not mean tweaking your behavior here and there. It is saying "no" to your deepest sense of who you are, for the sake of Christ. To take up a cross is to declare your life (as you have known it) forfeit. It is laying down your life for the very reason that your life, it turns out, is not yours at all. It belongs to Jesus. He made it and through his death he has bought it.
Ever since I have been open about my own experiences of homosexuality, a number of Christians have said something like this: "The gospel must be harder for you than it is for me," as though I have more to give up than they do. But the fact is that the gospel demands everything of all of us. If someone thinks the gospel has somehow slotting into their life quite easily, without causing any major adjustments to their lifestyle or aspirations, it is likely that they have not really started following Jesus at all." (Allberry, Sam. Is God Anti-Gay?: And Other Questions about Homosexuality, the Bible and Same-Sex Attraction. The Good Book Company, 2015. Pages 11-12)
Christians are called to love one another, to forgive, serve and speak the truth for the sake of Christ. Instead of rallying around political, social or even moral issues, we are to identify ourselves as the followers and servants of Jesus. All careers, hobbies, relationships and pursuits are to bow before our LORD, and He leads us to navigate all the situations of life with grace, mercy and righteousness. It is impossible to earn or live up to the standard of the Gospel by the efforts of our flesh, but being born again by faith in Jesus changes us from within by the Holy Spirit. Knowing Jesus is our life, we are enabled to deny ourselves and experience the abundant life He promises.
06 April 2023
Feelings and Self-Control
In his book Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard made astute observations of humans concerning our reliance upon feelings to direct and govern our actions:
"Often they cannot distinguish between their feelings and their will, and in their confusion they also quite commonly take feelings to be reasons. And they will in general lack any significant degree of self-control. This will turn their lives into a mere drift through the days and years, which addictive behavior promises to allow them to endure.
Self-control is the steady capacity to direct yourself to accomplish what you have chosen or decided to do and be, even though you "don't feel like it." Self-control means that you, with steady hand, do what you don't want to do (or what you want not to) when that is needed and do not do what you want to do (what you "feel like" doing) when that is needed. In people without rock-solid character, feeling is a deadly enemy of self-control and will always subvert it. The mongoose of a disciplined will under God and good is the only match for the cobra of feeling." (Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Form, 2021. page 130)
During His lifetime and in the days as His crucifixion approached, Jesus remains the perfect example of self-control, yielded entirely in submission to the will of His Father in heaven. No human being ever voluntarily looked forward to being cruelly tortured and crucified, but Jesus for the joy set before Him embraced and endured the cross. In Gethsemane Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42 "...saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." If Jesus had been led by His feelings, He would have run from the cross. He did not "feel" like being crucified on that particular day. By knowledge of God, His rock-solid character and total obedience, Jesus was able to overcome the draw of doing what He felt like doing--avoiding crucifixion.
Consider the impact of Jesus not confusing feelings to be reasons to do what He wanted: in becoming a sacrifice for sin Jesus provided eternal life to all who trust in Him, having provided through crucifixion necessary atonement. In was in laying down His life in obedience to the Father we have pardon and eternal life. For those born again by faith in Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit who provides knowledge of God's will and produces spiritual fruit--which includes self-control. It is the power of our risen Saviour Who provides the strength and ability to remain in submission to God rather than being mired as a slave to feelings that prompt us to go our own foolish, disobedient way.
18 March 2023
Having Peace With God
"When you apologize to someone else, you hope the apology will remove the barrier between the two of you so that your relationship can continue to grow. When you apologize to yourself, you are seeking to remove the emotional disequilibrium between the person you want to be (the ideal self) and the person you are (the real self). The greater the distance between the ideal self and the real self, the greater the intensity of the inner emotional turmoil. Being "at peace with oneself" occurs when we remove the distance between the ideal self and the real self." (Chapman, Gary D., and Jennifer Thomas. The 5 Apology Languages: The Secret to Healthy Relationships. Northfield Publishing, 2022. page 158)
While some may find this helpful or insightful, this perspective is not presented or sustained anywhere in the Bible. There is no division between an "ideal self" and the "real self," for our real self (which is inherently fleshly and sinful) cannot ascertain what our ideal self even is or how to become that person. It is not in us to be anyone other than we are. The only Person who can measure up to God's level of perfection worth emulating is Jesus Christ, and being God it is we who have transgressed and wronged him by our sinful thoughts, attitudes, words and conduct. Our problem with sin is not merely an emotional one but a spiritual one, for our sin separates us from God.
Never in scripture is it put forth as our aim to "be at peace with oneself," but the Gospel has been provided so we lost and doomed sinners can have peace with God. It is Jesus who is our Peace. Romans 5:1-2 says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Being "at peace" suggests a transitory condition that can change based upon our circumstances or how we feel, but having peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ is a constant. It is not about us spanning the gap by our own apologies or forgiveness that provides perfect peace, but by faith in Jesus Christ. We confess our sins to Him, repent, receive forgiveness and access grace in which we stand.
God rejoices over one soul that repents, and we can also rejoice in hope of the glory of God. How blessed we are who were once far from God because of our sins, yet have been brought near to God by His grace. Inner peace is a fleeting mirage, and peace with God is what matters most to our spiritual growth and well-being.
16 March 2023
Christ Is All Good
"I want you first to consider the very singular fact which you cannot understand, that holy children should be often placed in ungodly families. God's providence has arranged it so, yet the consequences are painful to the young believer. You would think that if God loved a child he would not suffer it to be born unto Jeroboam's court, and that he would not send his own chosen down to be surrounded by everything that will grieve its tender heart; and yet God does send his dear children into such places. Why is this?Well, first they are God's protest against sin where no other protest would be heard—a tender touching message from God to let the ungodly know that there is something better than the sin in which they wallow. Holy children are as angels and demons, by their innocence rebuking sin. Does not God send children there also to make a display of his divine grace, that we may see that he chooses whom he wills and takes one of a family according to his good pleasure? Does he not also show us that he can keep grace alive in the most unlikely places where all things war against the soul? The grace of God can live where you and I would die. The life of grace can continue under conditions, which threaten death. Some of the brightest and most gracious people have been found where there was nothing to keep them, but everything to hinder them. Does not the Lord permit this to show what his grace can do? and is it not intended to be an encouragement to each of us to be faithful? for if this dear child could be faithful to God with such a father and mother, and in such a court, ought you and I to be afraid? Oh, you big man, let a child shame you—you were afraid to speak out before your work-mates the other day! What a coward you must be, when this child displayed his love to the Lord God of Israel where all opposed!Is it not remarkable how God distributes his people, as we scatter salt? He sets one of them down in each den of evil. Saul the king is a great rebel against God; but close at his side is Jonathan: thus the sweetest flower that ever bloomed is found growing near the roughest bramble that could be found. What a sty of filthiness was the court or Ahab! and yet he had for his chamberlain Obadiah, who hid the servants of God by fifties in a cave, and fed them from Jezebel's table; Nebuchadnezzar must not be left without three holy champions who can go into the fire for God. Look at Belshazzar drinking wine out of the cups of the sanctuary, and yet a Daniel is employed in his court. Even in the court of Ahasuerus, Esther is placed to confront that wicked Haman. Oh, I think there is never an Uz without a Job, nor a Chaldea without an Abraham, nor a Sodom without a Lot, nor an Egypt without a Moses, nor a house of Eli that has gone astray without some little Samuel sent of God to bear his protest. Think over the ways of God to man and admire what you cannot understand."
Amen! Think over the ways of God and admire Him, for He does what we cannot predict or imagine. When we were sinners deserving of death He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, to pierce the darkness and bring life and liberty to all who believe. He was pierced and wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed. We all went out of the way, yet Jesus has been sent as the Way, the Truth and the Life so we might know God, receive the Gospel and eternal life. By God's grace He has ordained His people to be scattered throughout the world so His grace and goodness would be known by all. Believers are compared to salt that keeps its savour, light that shines in darkness and the fragrance of Christ. In Christ we can be exactly who God in His wisdom created us to be and flourish in His presence wherever He leads.
09 March 2023
The Will and Unbelief
"They will find their place in the "outer darkness" of what Jesus spoke (Matthew 8:12). but the fundamental fact about them will not be that they are there, but that they have become people so locked into their own self-worship and denial of God that they cannot want God...The ultimately lost person is the person who cannot want God. Who cannot want God to be God. Multitudes of such people pass by every day, and pass into eternity. The reason they do not find God is that they do not want him or, at least, do not want him to be God. Wanting God to be God is very different from wanting God to help me..."
We should be very sure that the ruined soul is not one who has missed a few more or less important theological points and will flunk a theological examination at the end of life. Hell is not an "Oops!" or a slip. One does not miss heaven by a hair, but by constant effort to avoid and escape God. "Outer darkness" is for one who, everything said, wants it, whose entire orientation has slowly and firmly set itself against God and therefore against how the universe actually is. It is for those who are disastrously in error about their own lives and their place before God and humanity." (Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Form, 2021. Pages 55-56)
As we seek to lead others to saving faith in Jesus, we cannot overlook the power of the Holy Spirit to soften hearts, open eyes and the willingness of people to submit to Him. Paul dealt with this issue of hardened hearts when he spent an entire day sharing scriptures concerning the kingdom of God and provided evidence Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah to Jews who willingly gathered for that purpose. Some were convinced but others would not believe: it was a matter of the will. The NIV rendering of Paul's response is very insightful concerning their responsibility to choose to listen and receive the truth in Acts 28:25-27: "They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26 "'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." 27 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'"
Without faith in God as revealed in scripture, facts are regarded by the unbelieving as foolishness. We, like Jesus and Paul, are called to speak the truth as led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus came as the Light of the World into a world of darkness to seek and save the lost, and He has given His own life's blood so people might be redeemed. Faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven and eternal life, and God does not prevent anyone from entering in His Way. Only God can raise the spiritually dead to life eternal and bring those who are willing to submit to Him in faith out of darkness and into His marvelous light. From Adam and Eve onward humanity is chronically bent into blaming God rather than accepting we are in the wrong and He is always right. It isn't that God has obscured the truth, but people are unwilling and thus unable to receive it.
22 February 2023
Conflict Creates Opportunity
07 February 2023
Obedience For Our Good
"We sometimes get a wrong perspective of sin and our actions. We think only of the effect that it is going to have. There are many men and women in our churches who will not take a stand on certain issues. Why? Well, the little crowd they run with may not accept them. They are with a little clique, and they don't dare stand for anything that the little clique wouldn't stand for. It is never a question of whether it is right or wrong; it's a question of whether it ingratiates them to the crowd. God have mercy on Christians who shape their lives by those who are around them and who are constantly looking for the effect their conduct is going to have on others. They do not look on whether this is the right thing or the Christian thing or whether as a child of God this is something they should or should not do...It is a wonderful thing to stand for the truth, and when you stand for it, then you don't have to compromise." (McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee. T. Nelson, 1983. page 140)
How sin negatively impacts our own lives can be a deterrent to sin, but it is not enough of a reason to change us; as Christians it ought not be our primary reason. We miss the point if the main thing that restrains us from hitting a co-worker in a rage is because we want to avoid jail, or we cut down excessive alcohol drinking every night because we don't want to lose our job or have a spouse leave us. It is true sinful behaviour has negative consequences, and on the flip side God's commands are for our good. The child of God ought to obey God our Father in light of His goodness, righteousness, sovereignty, justice and wisdom rather than motivated by fear of personal, negative repercussions for our sinful violence or the embarrassment someone will find out we're an alcoholic. God goes beyond the surface evidence of words and actions and hones in on the condition of our hearts we ought to submit in faith by obedience to Him.
By God's grace we can go beyond justifying why God's commands are sensible and beneficial to childlike faith--even when we suffer for it and obedience is costly. In the fear and love of God we have the privilege to know Him and walk in His ways, to serve Him with our heart and all our being. As we obey the word of God we are kept in the right way, and all God's commands are for our good.