In over 32 years of ministry I have received a large share of compliments and criticism in my relationships with others. Oh how vulnerable we are to be influenced by man's opinions and words about us! Recently I have been the victim of some criticism and slander that has brought to my attention my failure in my response and the attitude and response that God would have me to have exercise towards my critics. I have learned the importance of what Charles Spurgeon calls having one blind eye and one deaf ear. It is good advice not only for pastors but for us all.
He bases this on Ecclesiastes 7:21, "Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you." When words are spoken do not let them weigh with you, do not notice them, or act as if you heard them. Spurgeon writes in his Lectures to My Students:
You cannot stop people's tongues, and therefore the best thing is to stop your own ears and never mind what is spoken. There is a world of idle chit- chat abroad, and he who takes note of it will have enough to do. He will find that even those who live with him are not always singing his praises, and that when he has displeased his most faithful servants, they have, in the heat of the moment, spoken fierce words which it would be better for him not to have heard. ..Tacitus describes a wise man as saying to one that railed at him, "You are lord of your tongue, but I am also master of my ears"--you may say what you please, but I will only hear what I choose.We cannot shut our ears as we do our eyes, for we have no ear lids, and yet, as we read of him that "stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood," it is, no doubt, possible to seal the portal of the ear so that nothing contraband shall enter. We would say to the general gossip of the village, and of the unadvised words of angry friends--do not hear them, or if you must hear them, do not lay them to heart.'
When stepping into a new congregation that is laced with backbiting and gossip, Spurgeon said,
It is the extreme of unwisdom for a young man fresh from college, or from another charge, to suffer himself to be earwigged by a clique, and to be bribed by kindness and flattery to become a partisan, and so to ruin himself with one-half of his people. Know nothing of parties and cliques, but be the pastor of all the flock, and care for all alike. Blessed are the peacemakers, and one sure way of peacemaking is to let the fire of contention alone. Neither fan it, nor stir it, nor add fuel to it, but let it go out of itself. Begin your ministry with one blind eye and one deaf ear.
Spurgeon encouraged for ministers to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear towards gossip, false reports, about yourself, and criticism. He applied this by warning those commencing on a new ministry that, “As soon as you enter your pastorate you may be waited upon by persons who are anxious to secure your adhesion to their side in a family quarrel or church dispute; be deaf and blind to these people, and assure them that bygones must be bygones with you, and that as you have not inherited your predecessors cupboard, you do not mean to eat his cold meat.”
He goes on to advise, “The blind eye and the deaf ear will come in exceedingly well in connection with the gossips of the place” ...Never hear what was not meant for you” ...To opinions and remarks about yourself, turn also as a general rule, the blind eye and the deaf ear”...In the case of false reports against yourself, for the most part, use the deaf ear” .
His advice was clearly given from personal experience drawn from years of pastoral ministry and those of us who follow in his steps would agree with his conclusion, “I have one blind eye and one deaf ear, and they are the best eye and ear that I have.
I recently read again the biography of another pastor who turned the blind eye and the deaf ear named Charles Simeon. He was wronged by Christians in so many ways during his 54 year service as the pastor of Trinity Church in Cambridge England. His policy towards compliments and criticism was the same: "My rule is never to hear or see, or know what if heard or seen or known, would call for animadversion from me. Hence I dwell in peace in the midst of lions"
In otherwords, it is best in life not to be too concerned what other people think or speak about us. When others speak well about us or flatter us, it can swell our heads with pride and self exaltation. Conversely when others criticize us or speak poorly of us we can become easily discouraged. If they lie or slander us, we can become angry and bitter. All these responses are sinful. Therefore, it is best for us to simply turn the blind eye and deaf ear and allow God, His word, and close friends to be the measure of our self assessment.
"Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God." 2 Corinthians 4:5
"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends" 2 Corinthians 10:18
Seeking to turn the blind eye and the deaf ear and desiring only commendation and approval from God alone,
Pastor Bill
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
LEARNING HABITUAL TENDERNESS FROM A MAN WHO WAS AMAZED BY GRACE
John Newton once said, "All I know is that I am a great sinner and Jesus is a great savior". Do you believe that? What does belief in my utter depravity and corruption and God's sovereign grace and mercy purchased by the blood of Jesus have upon my life and how I live? What affect does believing that I am a great sinner and Jesus is a great savior meant to have upon the way I relate to others?
Oh let us learn from John Newton! Born in 1725 and died in 1807, he is best know as the hymn writer of the great hymn Amazing Grace. He pastored two churches; Olney, for 16 years, and London, for 27 years. He was a contemporary and friend of John Wesley, George Whitefield, William Wilberforce, Henry Martyn, and Charles Simeon in the 18th century. In my opinion he was one of the greatest pastors in the history of the church. The reason that I feel this is because of what John Piper calls his habitual tenderness of spirit.
In scripture we are told to "not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises" ( Hebrews 6:12). " Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7).
John Newton was al leader exceedingly worthy for us to study and to imitate. He was a was a man who truly testified to the mercy of God towards him. He was throughout his life a man truly amazed by grace. At the end of his life his last will and testament reads:
I commit my soul to my gracious God and Savior, who mercifully spared and preserved me, when I was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel, and delivered me from the state of misery on the coast of Africa into which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me; and who has been pleased to admit me (though most unworthy) to preach his glorious gospel.
Have you, like Newton, gotten over the sheer wonder of Jesus Christ's amazing triumphant grace? Newton reminds us that a believer who has been shown such grace and mercy should be characterized by a life of habitual tenderness. In writing to a friend he describes the believer's life:
"He believes and feels his own weakness and unworthiness, and lives upon the grace and pardoning love of his Lord. This gives him a habitual tenderness and gentleness of spirit. "
Sometimes in my own life and in other Christians I have been appalled at the lack of tenderness and grace towards others. Oh how easily we forget don't we? I feel especially that my Reformed brethren who hold so dearly God's free, sovereign, unconditional, persevering, preserving, faith producing, electing grace towards corrupt sinners like us should exemplify habitual tenderness of spirit!
The effect of knowing God's love and grace should be lavish love, kindness, and mercy towards others. Newton says, "Humble under a sense of much forgiveness to himself; he finds it easy to forgive others." Another time Newton wrote,“Whoever has tasted of the love Christ, and has known, by his own experience, the need and the worth of redemption, is enabled, yes, he is constrained, to love his fellow creatures. He loves them at first sight.”
He puts it in a picture:
"A company of travellers fall into a pit: one of them gets a passenger to draw him out. Now he should not be angry with the rest for falling in; nor because they are not yet out, as he is. He did not pull himself out: instead, therefore, of reproaching them, he should shew them pity. . . . A man, truly illuminated, will no more despise others, then Bartimeus, after his own eyes were opened, would take a stick, and beat every blind man he met."
The default response of those shown grace is to love all people. When Newton speaks to unbelievers he speaks like this:
A well-wisher to your soul assures you, that whether you know these things or not, they are important realities. . . . Oh hear the warning voice! Flee from the wrath to come. Pray thee that the eyes of your mind may be opened, then you will see your danger, and gladly follow the shining light of the Word.
Newton had a firm grip on doctrine but he also knew how important it was to live and feel and speak what he knew and believed. What we believe can be discredited by failing to live and speak in the spirit of what we believe. Therefore, he says,
"The Scripture, which . . . teaches us what we are to say, is equally explicit as to the temper and Spirit in which we are to speak. Though I had knowledge of all mysteries, and the tongue of an angel to declare them, I could hope for little acceptance or usefulness, unless I was to speak 'in love."
Listen to what he says in this regard to his fellow Calvinists:
Of all people who engage in controversy, we, who are called Calvinists, are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness and moderation. . . . The Scriptural maximum, that "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God," is verified by daily observation. If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn, we may think we are doing service to the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit."
John Newton had drunk deeply from the fountain of grace, the cross of Jesus Christ. Have you? He was filled with joy and overflowing for those who weren't. His own self description of how he lived is days says:
Two heaps of happiness and misery; now if I can take the smallest bit from one heap and add to the other, I carry a point. If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if, by giving it another, I can wipe away its tears, I feel that I have done something. I should be glad to do greater things, but I will not neglect this"
The cross of Jesus is the source of all love, mercy, and tenderness of spirit towards others. We all need to live our lives in very close proximity to the shadow of the blessed cross. For when we live beneath its shadow gratitude, amazement, and humility will be pervasive in our souls. listen to the amazement that Newton felt at the age of seventy-two:
"such a wretch should not only be spared and pardoned, but reserved to the honour of preaching thy Gospel, which he had blasphemed and renounced . . . this is wonderful indeed! The more thou hast exalted me, the more I ought to abase myself."
He wrote his own epitaph:
JOHN NEWTON,
Clerk,Once an Infidel and Libertine,A Servant of Slaves in Africa,Was,by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST,Preserved, restored, pardoned,And appointed to preach the Faith He had long laboured to destroy,Near 16 years at Olney in Bucks;And [28] years in this church.
Glad-hearted, grateful lowliness and brokenness as a saved "wretch" was probably the most prominent root of Newton's habitual tenderness with people. The hymn we know as "Amazing Grace" was written to accompany a New Year's sermon based on 1 Chronicles 17:16, "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?"
"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me,I once was lost, but now am found,Was blind but now I see."
May amazement and habitual tenderness of spirit characterize your life as you see and savor the restoration and pardon that was blood bought and freely given to you by the undeserved grace of our great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bill
Oh let us learn from John Newton! Born in 1725 and died in 1807, he is best know as the hymn writer of the great hymn Amazing Grace. He pastored two churches; Olney, for 16 years, and London, for 27 years. He was a contemporary and friend of John Wesley, George Whitefield, William Wilberforce, Henry Martyn, and Charles Simeon in the 18th century. In my opinion he was one of the greatest pastors in the history of the church. The reason that I feel this is because of what John Piper calls his habitual tenderness of spirit.
In scripture we are told to "not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises" ( Hebrews 6:12). " Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7).
John Newton was al leader exceedingly worthy for us to study and to imitate. He was a was a man who truly testified to the mercy of God towards him. He was throughout his life a man truly amazed by grace. At the end of his life his last will and testament reads:
I commit my soul to my gracious God and Savior, who mercifully spared and preserved me, when I was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel, and delivered me from the state of misery on the coast of Africa into which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me; and who has been pleased to admit me (though most unworthy) to preach his glorious gospel.
Have you, like Newton, gotten over the sheer wonder of Jesus Christ's amazing triumphant grace? Newton reminds us that a believer who has been shown such grace and mercy should be characterized by a life of habitual tenderness. In writing to a friend he describes the believer's life:
"He believes and feels his own weakness and unworthiness, and lives upon the grace and pardoning love of his Lord. This gives him a habitual tenderness and gentleness of spirit. "
Sometimes in my own life and in other Christians I have been appalled at the lack of tenderness and grace towards others. Oh how easily we forget don't we? I feel especially that my Reformed brethren who hold so dearly God's free, sovereign, unconditional, persevering, preserving, faith producing, electing grace towards corrupt sinners like us should exemplify habitual tenderness of spirit!
The effect of knowing God's love and grace should be lavish love, kindness, and mercy towards others. Newton says, "Humble under a sense of much forgiveness to himself; he finds it easy to forgive others." Another time Newton wrote,“Whoever has tasted of the love Christ, and has known, by his own experience, the need and the worth of redemption, is enabled, yes, he is constrained, to love his fellow creatures. He loves them at first sight.”
He puts it in a picture:
"A company of travellers fall into a pit: one of them gets a passenger to draw him out. Now he should not be angry with the rest for falling in; nor because they are not yet out, as he is. He did not pull himself out: instead, therefore, of reproaching them, he should shew them pity. . . . A man, truly illuminated, will no more despise others, then Bartimeus, after his own eyes were opened, would take a stick, and beat every blind man he met."
The default response of those shown grace is to love all people. When Newton speaks to unbelievers he speaks like this:
A well-wisher to your soul assures you, that whether you know these things or not, they are important realities. . . . Oh hear the warning voice! Flee from the wrath to come. Pray thee that the eyes of your mind may be opened, then you will see your danger, and gladly follow the shining light of the Word.
Newton had a firm grip on doctrine but he also knew how important it was to live and feel and speak what he knew and believed. What we believe can be discredited by failing to live and speak in the spirit of what we believe. Therefore, he says,
"The Scripture, which . . . teaches us what we are to say, is equally explicit as to the temper and Spirit in which we are to speak. Though I had knowledge of all mysteries, and the tongue of an angel to declare them, I could hope for little acceptance or usefulness, unless I was to speak 'in love."
Listen to what he says in this regard to his fellow Calvinists:
Of all people who engage in controversy, we, who are called Calvinists, are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness and moderation. . . . The Scriptural maximum, that "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God," is verified by daily observation. If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn, we may think we are doing service to the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit."
John Newton had drunk deeply from the fountain of grace, the cross of Jesus Christ. Have you? He was filled with joy and overflowing for those who weren't. His own self description of how he lived is days says:
Two heaps of happiness and misery; now if I can take the smallest bit from one heap and add to the other, I carry a point. If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if, by giving it another, I can wipe away its tears, I feel that I have done something. I should be glad to do greater things, but I will not neglect this"
The cross of Jesus is the source of all love, mercy, and tenderness of spirit towards others. We all need to live our lives in very close proximity to the shadow of the blessed cross. For when we live beneath its shadow gratitude, amazement, and humility will be pervasive in our souls. listen to the amazement that Newton felt at the age of seventy-two:
"such a wretch should not only be spared and pardoned, but reserved to the honour of preaching thy Gospel, which he had blasphemed and renounced . . . this is wonderful indeed! The more thou hast exalted me, the more I ought to abase myself."
He wrote his own epitaph:
JOHN NEWTON,
Clerk,Once an Infidel and Libertine,A Servant of Slaves in Africa,Was,by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST,Preserved, restored, pardoned,And appointed to preach the Faith He had long laboured to destroy,Near 16 years at Olney in Bucks;And [28] years in this church.
Glad-hearted, grateful lowliness and brokenness as a saved "wretch" was probably the most prominent root of Newton's habitual tenderness with people. The hymn we know as "Amazing Grace" was written to accompany a New Year's sermon based on 1 Chronicles 17:16, "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?"
"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me,I once was lost, but now am found,Was blind but now I see."
May amazement and habitual tenderness of spirit characterize your life as you see and savor the restoration and pardon that was blood bought and freely given to you by the undeserved grace of our great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
STEPS TO PRACTICING FORBEARANCE TOWARDS OTHERS?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, forbearing one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" Ephesians 4:2-3
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”Colossians 3:12-13
“Let your forbearing spirit be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand”. Philippians 4:5
One of Paul’s main concerns in Philippians is our witness. People around us should see the effect of our relationship with Jesus Christ, the way the Lord has impacted us and transformed our whole attitude to other people. What is the evidence that God has touched your life? Let your forbearing spirit be evident to all. Go out of your way to show others that you are gracious, forgiving, patient, not easily offended, that you’re quick to yield your rights and give preference to the other person. To whom? To all men, to all people. Everyone in your life should see this moderate, forbearing, gentle, great-hearted spirit. Everyone. Your wife, your husband, your kids, your boss and co-workers, fellow believers, your neighbors, your in-laws, all men.
HOW CAN WE PRACTICE FORBEARANCE TOWARDS OTHERS?
1. Instead of looking for something wrong in others, start looking for evidences of God’s grace working in others.
This means actively looking for ways that God is at work in the lives of others. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you--so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Paul recognized evidences of God’s grace working among the Corinthians who needed adjustment, and he therefore continually thanks God for them. Paul in his humility saw the Corinthians from a divine perspective, and he allowed this perspective to determine his attitude towards them.
First, Paul saw them as “called by God”. In using it, Paul is especially acknowledging and affirming God's sovereign grace and reminding us of His prior activity: We were acted upon by God before we ever responded to Him. We were called. God's prior activity has brought us to where we are today. The same is true of every believer we encounter. We must remind ourselves; this individual has been previously acted upon by God. He first loved us!
Second, God is presently at work in our brother. Paul says in Philippians 2:13 that God is actively working in us to both will and work for His good pleasure.
Third, Paul was confident for their future in the faithfulness of God’s future grace working in them: “Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful”. Paul’s confidence for the weak, immature, failing Corinthians was anchored in the faithfulness of God. “I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Oh how we need to catch sight of the work of God who by His grace worked, is working, and will work in your brother’s life. The divine perspective makes possible the deepest affection for others, as well as effective service and ministry of extending God’s grace in your attitudes, words, and ministry activities to them.
I love the story of the great 18th century English pastor Charles Simeon. He had many trials in his life. The most fundamental trial that Simeon had –and that we all have – was himself. He had a somewhat harsh and self-assertive air about him. One day, early in Simeon's ministry, he was visiting Henry Venn, who was pastor 12 miles from Cambridge at Yelling. When he left to go home Venn's daughters complained to their father about his manner. Venn took the girls to the back yard and said, "Pick me one of those peaches." But it was early summer, and "the time of peaches was not yet." They asked why he would want the green, unripe fruit. Venn replied, "Well, my dears, it is green now, and we must wait; but a little more sun, and a few more showers, and the peach will be ripe and sweet. So it is with Mr. Simeon."
2. Practice the Judgment of Charity.
This is the evaluation of others tempered with love. It is simply a judgment of love. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). It’s where in grace, mercy, and love we begin to make allowances for the weaknesses and ignorance of others and takes the kindest perspective towards them whenever possible because God is that way to you. The Christian loves to make allowances for the weaknesses of others, knowing how great need he stands in constantly having made allowance made for himself by both God and man.
Charles Simeon once said, “let us sit on the seat of love instead of judgment.” It is the golden rule with skin on it. The judgment of charity gives the benefit of doubt while fleeing the temptation toward heartless and cruel denunciation. I love the phrase "habitual tenderness" made by John Newton to describe the way a believer should live. In writing to a friend he describes the believer's life:
"He believes and feels his own weakness and unworthiness, and lives upon the grace and pardoning love of his Lord. This gives him a habitual tenderness and gentleness of spirit. The effect of this amazement is tenderness toward others…Humble under a sense of much forgiveness to himself; he finds it easy to forgive others."
Another time Newton wrote,
“Whoever has tasted of the love Christ, and has known, by his own experience, the need and the worth of redemption, is enabled, yes, he is constrained, to love his fellow creatures. He loves them at first sight.”
Oh Christian your relationships with others and your patience, faithfulness, obedience, and effectiveness is directly tied to the cross. We are saved by the grace of the cross of Christ, we live by the grace from the cross of Christ, and we therefore, must give to others the grace that comes from the cross of Christ. This means, God has forgiven me, so I can forgive others. God has been patient with me, so I can be patient with others. God’s grace is changing me, so I can trust that He will change others. God has been lovingly patient with me, so I can be more patient with my brothers and sister. We're all struggling with life's problems. And isn't that what we all want from others?
This is the rule our Lord Jesus gave us: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12). I would take it even deeper in light of the cross: Do unto others as Christ has done to us! Every one of us needs and longs for the patience of others. Probably all of us should have a big sign hanging around our neck that reads, “Be patient with me; God’s not finished with me yet.” C.H. Spurgeon said, "If you are tempted to lose patience with your fellowmen, stop and think how patient God has been with you."
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, forbearing one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" Ephesians 4:2-3
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”Colossians 3:12-13
“Let your forbearing spirit be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand”. Philippians 4:5
One of Paul’s main concerns in Philippians is our witness. People around us should see the effect of our relationship with Jesus Christ, the way the Lord has impacted us and transformed our whole attitude to other people. What is the evidence that God has touched your life? Let your forbearing spirit be evident to all. Go out of your way to show others that you are gracious, forgiving, patient, not easily offended, that you’re quick to yield your rights and give preference to the other person. To whom? To all men, to all people. Everyone in your life should see this moderate, forbearing, gentle, great-hearted spirit. Everyone. Your wife, your husband, your kids, your boss and co-workers, fellow believers, your neighbors, your in-laws, all men.
HOW CAN WE PRACTICE FORBEARANCE TOWARDS OTHERS?
1. Instead of looking for something wrong in others, start looking for evidences of God’s grace working in others.
This means actively looking for ways that God is at work in the lives of others. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you--so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Paul recognized evidences of God’s grace working among the Corinthians who needed adjustment, and he therefore continually thanks God for them. Paul in his humility saw the Corinthians from a divine perspective, and he allowed this perspective to determine his attitude towards them.
First, Paul saw them as “called by God”. In using it, Paul is especially acknowledging and affirming God's sovereign grace and reminding us of His prior activity: We were acted upon by God before we ever responded to Him. We were called. God's prior activity has brought us to where we are today. The same is true of every believer we encounter. We must remind ourselves; this individual has been previously acted upon by God. He first loved us!
Second, God is presently at work in our brother. Paul says in Philippians 2:13 that God is actively working in us to both will and work for His good pleasure.
Third, Paul was confident for their future in the faithfulness of God’s future grace working in them: “Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful”. Paul’s confidence for the weak, immature, failing Corinthians was anchored in the faithfulness of God. “I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Oh how we need to catch sight of the work of God who by His grace worked, is working, and will work in your brother’s life. The divine perspective makes possible the deepest affection for others, as well as effective service and ministry of extending God’s grace in your attitudes, words, and ministry activities to them.
I love the story of the great 18th century English pastor Charles Simeon. He had many trials in his life. The most fundamental trial that Simeon had –and that we all have – was himself. He had a somewhat harsh and self-assertive air about him. One day, early in Simeon's ministry, he was visiting Henry Venn, who was pastor 12 miles from Cambridge at Yelling. When he left to go home Venn's daughters complained to their father about his manner. Venn took the girls to the back yard and said, "Pick me one of those peaches." But it was early summer, and "the time of peaches was not yet." They asked why he would want the green, unripe fruit. Venn replied, "Well, my dears, it is green now, and we must wait; but a little more sun, and a few more showers, and the peach will be ripe and sweet. So it is with Mr. Simeon."
2. Practice the Judgment of Charity.
This is the evaluation of others tempered with love. It is simply a judgment of love. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). It’s where in grace, mercy, and love we begin to make allowances for the weaknesses and ignorance of others and takes the kindest perspective towards them whenever possible because God is that way to you. The Christian loves to make allowances for the weaknesses of others, knowing how great need he stands in constantly having made allowance made for himself by both God and man.
Charles Simeon once said, “let us sit on the seat of love instead of judgment.” It is the golden rule with skin on it. The judgment of charity gives the benefit of doubt while fleeing the temptation toward heartless and cruel denunciation. I love the phrase "habitual tenderness" made by John Newton to describe the way a believer should live. In writing to a friend he describes the believer's life:
"He believes and feels his own weakness and unworthiness, and lives upon the grace and pardoning love of his Lord. This gives him a habitual tenderness and gentleness of spirit. The effect of this amazement is tenderness toward others…Humble under a sense of much forgiveness to himself; he finds it easy to forgive others."
Another time Newton wrote,
“Whoever has tasted of the love Christ, and has known, by his own experience, the need and the worth of redemption, is enabled, yes, he is constrained, to love his fellow creatures. He loves them at first sight.”
Oh Christian your relationships with others and your patience, faithfulness, obedience, and effectiveness is directly tied to the cross. We are saved by the grace of the cross of Christ, we live by the grace from the cross of Christ, and we therefore, must give to others the grace that comes from the cross of Christ. This means, God has forgiven me, so I can forgive others. God has been patient with me, so I can be patient with others. God’s grace is changing me, so I can trust that He will change others. God has been lovingly patient with me, so I can be more patient with my brothers and sister. We're all struggling with life's problems. And isn't that what we all want from others?
This is the rule our Lord Jesus gave us: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12). I would take it even deeper in light of the cross: Do unto others as Christ has done to us! Every one of us needs and longs for the patience of others. Probably all of us should have a big sign hanging around our neck that reads, “Be patient with me; God’s not finished with me yet.” C.H. Spurgeon said, "If you are tempted to lose patience with your fellowmen, stop and think how patient God has been with you."
"Oh, that my tongue might so possess The accent of His tenderness That every word I breathe should bless For those who mourn, a word of cheer; A word of hope for those who fear; And love to all men, far and near. Oh, that is might be said of me, "Surely their speech betrayeth thee as friend of Christ of Galilee!" George Elliot
This is truly possible for every Christian to be forbearing and patient towards others. It has nothing to do with personality and temperament and everything to do with the grace of the triune Godhead working mightily in us. Colossians 1:11, “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Forbearance is an evidence of an inner strength that is not supported by outward things like people or circumstances. Paul is praying for something that only God can give. Paul is praying for God to do something for us. Today you can be forbearing as a gift of grace from the blessed triune God: From God the Father, who is kind, merciful, gracious, and forbearing towards sinners like us. From Jesus Christ the Son, who came as our gentle and forbearing Savior, putting up with offenses on every side and enduring such a contradiction of sinners. From the Holy Spirit who brings us the fruit of the Spirit, and one of them is forbearance.
Jesus says in John 15:8. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit (forbearance) and so prove to be my disciples”. Oh how essential is the work of the Spirit in our lives for us to be seen as forbearing in our relationships! Luke 11:13, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" May we join together and ask for a greater and fuller measure of the spirit’s work in our lives in making us a forbearing people.
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A SERIOUS CALL TO THE RELOCATION OF OUR JOY: REJOICE IN THE LORD!
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 ESV
The apostle Paul is calling us to the delightful duty of finding our true joy in the Lord. He is calling us to the single most important goal of the Christian life: the pursuit of our happiness in God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism in its very first line spells it out: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy (by enjoying) Him forever.” God is most greatly glorified when we find our eternal happiness in Him! The reason that I say this is because there is no greater way to glorify God than to root in Him the happiness that my soul so desperately craves.
This joy is so important to Paul and so important to what it means to be a Christian that in our text Paul repeats himself, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice.” That’s two commands: rejoice, rejoice. Do you know of any other place in Scripture where a command is repeated back to back like this? I don’t. Spurgeon said, “We are to joy, and then we are to re-joy. Joy is a delightful thing. You cannot be too happy, brother! ”
When Paul tells us to rejoice he is not giving us a suggestion or recommendation. He says, "Rejoice in the Lord always." This command is similar to 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Be joyful always.” This is a command sent down from the throne of God Almighty to us. Do you see how radical this is? It is a present, keep on rejoicing. It is all encompassing, always. This little word “always” takes this command to a whole new level: at all times, in all circumstances, even when we are suffering or afflicted. It is active, you are to do this; it is imperative, this isn’t an option for God’s people; it is in the 2nd person, you, not someone else; and plural, all of us! We don’t have to pray about this. Lord, should I rejoice today?
How can we rejoice at all times and in everything? First we need to see that…
Commands to Rejoice Are All Over the Bible-
Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord.”
Matthew 5:12, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven."
1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice always!"
1 Peter 4;13, "Rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings."
Romans 12:12,15, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer…Rejoice with those who rejoice”
C.S. Lewis understood these commands to be happy in God and said, "It is a Christian duty, as you know, for everyone to be as happy as he can."
How can we possibly do this?
The command to rejoice has reasons behind it.
1. First, because we ought to have it.
God is infinitely worthy of our delight. God made us to be joyful, to find our joy in Him. Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The root of joy is the presence of God. It is the supreme pleasure for which you were created.
Jonathan Edwards wrote: ‘How good is God, that he has created man for this very end, to make him happy in the enjoyment of himself, the Almighty
2.Secondly, because the only thing standing between the command of God to rejoice and our experience of that joy is a sinful heart, a bored heart, a heart that delights more in the things of the world than in God Himself.
This demand that we rejoice is not marginal or superfluous. It is a shocking wake up call to all who find their happiness in the wrong places. Paul’s solution to low level, superficial joy is that we be mastered by joy in a new reality: the Lord! Paul says the root of joy is in the Lord. My joy isn’t in me, it isn’t in things, people, or this world, nor is it in my efforts to be joyful, my joy is in Him! Paul is not preaching a health, wealth, and prosperity. It is joy in the Lord—who He is, His love, His power, His wisdom, His grace, mercy, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. So immerse yourself in His blessings. Bathe yourself in His presence. Posture yourself to hear His voice and see His face and hear His word and taste His goodness and feel His presence. Relocate your joy in Jesus Christ and satiate yourself in all God has for you in Him! Rejoice in the Lord!
The only way to overcome our enjoyment of sin is with our enjoyment of God. We minimize our delight in the pleasures of the flesh by maximizing our delight in the pleasures of our creator! Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! The joyful life that Paul demands is for us to be glued to the Lord.
3. Thirdly, because we can obey this command. Joy is a duty and a privilege, but joy is also a gift! As we saw earlier, it is supernatural not natural. It is doable. It our duty to be happy in Him and we can be happy in Him! If joy is supernatural not natural, if joy is a demand of God and our duty is to rejoice in Him, then the Lord will give us grace of joy to rejoice in Him! “You have put gladness in my heart.” (Psalm 4:7) “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Here is how it works: We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord, and we cannot obey it because of our sin rooted willful, foolish, misplaced, and corrupted joy. So we have a serious problem. We must delight in the Lord. We must rejoice in the Lord always. And we can’t. This is a heart that loves and delights in God! This is where a huge disconnect happens with many Christians. We need a new heart that only Jesus Christ can give. We are thrown back utterly to Jesus. Jesus said that he wanted to have his joy fulfilled in his disciples "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11; read also 17:13).
Jesus told us that he wanted our joy to be full. In other words, he has not come to take away our joy, but rather to give us joy. Holy joy is the joy of heaven, and that, you can be sure, is the very finest of joy. Joy in Jesus Christ! It is His grace, because the best thing he has to give us is His joy. Christ not only offers himself as the divine object of my joy, but pours His capacity for joy into me, so that I can enjoy Him with the very joy of God.
May His joy abide in us, that our joy may be full. If that happens than we will experience what Habakkuk experienced in Habakkuk 3:17-18,
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, And there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult (jump for joy) in the LORD, I will rejoice (gheel – spin around, be joyful) in the God of my salvation.”
PRAYER
Oh Jesus, how our hearts soar with inexpressible joy and full of glory. Thank You that You offer a happiness that can come in the midst of our tears, our failures, our inadequacies, and our brokenness. Oh God let us know and experience in a deeper sense the promises of happiness that You can offer. Please make the feast of happiness flourish in our lives. Cause us to stop seeking happiness from this world and the things of this world. Waken us from the lies, the deceptions, and the illusions, that we can find heaven on earth. Instead, let Your precious Kingdom come down from heaven into our hearts and minds and let Your Word be fulfilled “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Let those who have not tasted Your happiness see Your light of joy in us and may that joy drive them to You the Happy God, full of inexpressible joy and glory. May You dwell in our hearts so that we may experience from glory to glory the promises You offer us on earth and may we savor the future hope that someday we will see You and enjoy them in their fullness forever and ever. Amen
The apostle Paul is calling us to the delightful duty of finding our true joy in the Lord. He is calling us to the single most important goal of the Christian life: the pursuit of our happiness in God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism in its very first line spells it out: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy (by enjoying) Him forever.” God is most greatly glorified when we find our eternal happiness in Him! The reason that I say this is because there is no greater way to glorify God than to root in Him the happiness that my soul so desperately craves.
This joy is so important to Paul and so important to what it means to be a Christian that in our text Paul repeats himself, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice.” That’s two commands: rejoice, rejoice. Do you know of any other place in Scripture where a command is repeated back to back like this? I don’t. Spurgeon said, “We are to joy, and then we are to re-joy. Joy is a delightful thing. You cannot be too happy, brother! ”
When Paul tells us to rejoice he is not giving us a suggestion or recommendation. He says, "Rejoice in the Lord always." This command is similar to 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Be joyful always.” This is a command sent down from the throne of God Almighty to us. Do you see how radical this is? It is a present, keep on rejoicing. It is all encompassing, always. This little word “always” takes this command to a whole new level: at all times, in all circumstances, even when we are suffering or afflicted. It is active, you are to do this; it is imperative, this isn’t an option for God’s people; it is in the 2nd person, you, not someone else; and plural, all of us! We don’t have to pray about this. Lord, should I rejoice today?
How can we rejoice at all times and in everything? First we need to see that…
Commands to Rejoice Are All Over the Bible-
Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord.”
Matthew 5:12, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven."
1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice always!"
1 Peter 4;13, "Rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings."
Romans 12:12,15, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer…Rejoice with those who rejoice”
C.S. Lewis understood these commands to be happy in God and said, "It is a Christian duty, as you know, for everyone to be as happy as he can."
How can we possibly do this?
The command to rejoice has reasons behind it.
1. First, because we ought to have it.
God is infinitely worthy of our delight. God made us to be joyful, to find our joy in Him. Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The root of joy is the presence of God. It is the supreme pleasure for which you were created.
Jonathan Edwards wrote: ‘How good is God, that he has created man for this very end, to make him happy in the enjoyment of himself, the Almighty
2.Secondly, because the only thing standing between the command of God to rejoice and our experience of that joy is a sinful heart, a bored heart, a heart that delights more in the things of the world than in God Himself.
This demand that we rejoice is not marginal or superfluous. It is a shocking wake up call to all who find their happiness in the wrong places. Paul’s solution to low level, superficial joy is that we be mastered by joy in a new reality: the Lord! Paul says the root of joy is in the Lord. My joy isn’t in me, it isn’t in things, people, or this world, nor is it in my efforts to be joyful, my joy is in Him! Paul is not preaching a health, wealth, and prosperity. It is joy in the Lord—who He is, His love, His power, His wisdom, His grace, mercy, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. So immerse yourself in His blessings. Bathe yourself in His presence. Posture yourself to hear His voice and see His face and hear His word and taste His goodness and feel His presence. Relocate your joy in Jesus Christ and satiate yourself in all God has for you in Him! Rejoice in the Lord!
The only way to overcome our enjoyment of sin is with our enjoyment of God. We minimize our delight in the pleasures of the flesh by maximizing our delight in the pleasures of our creator! Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! The joyful life that Paul demands is for us to be glued to the Lord.
3. Thirdly, because we can obey this command. Joy is a duty and a privilege, but joy is also a gift! As we saw earlier, it is supernatural not natural. It is doable. It our duty to be happy in Him and we can be happy in Him! If joy is supernatural not natural, if joy is a demand of God and our duty is to rejoice in Him, then the Lord will give us grace of joy to rejoice in Him! “You have put gladness in my heart.” (Psalm 4:7) “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Here is how it works: We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord, and we cannot obey it because of our sin rooted willful, foolish, misplaced, and corrupted joy. So we have a serious problem. We must delight in the Lord. We must rejoice in the Lord always. And we can’t. This is a heart that loves and delights in God! This is where a huge disconnect happens with many Christians. We need a new heart that only Jesus Christ can give. We are thrown back utterly to Jesus. Jesus said that he wanted to have his joy fulfilled in his disciples "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11; read also 17:13).
Jesus told us that he wanted our joy to be full. In other words, he has not come to take away our joy, but rather to give us joy. Holy joy is the joy of heaven, and that, you can be sure, is the very finest of joy. Joy in Jesus Christ! It is His grace, because the best thing he has to give us is His joy. Christ not only offers himself as the divine object of my joy, but pours His capacity for joy into me, so that I can enjoy Him with the very joy of God.
May His joy abide in us, that our joy may be full. If that happens than we will experience what Habakkuk experienced in Habakkuk 3:17-18,
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, And there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult (jump for joy) in the LORD, I will rejoice (gheel – spin around, be joyful) in the God of my salvation.”
PRAYER
Oh Jesus, how our hearts soar with inexpressible joy and full of glory. Thank You that You offer a happiness that can come in the midst of our tears, our failures, our inadequacies, and our brokenness. Oh God let us know and experience in a deeper sense the promises of happiness that You can offer. Please make the feast of happiness flourish in our lives. Cause us to stop seeking happiness from this world and the things of this world. Waken us from the lies, the deceptions, and the illusions, that we can find heaven on earth. Instead, let Your precious Kingdom come down from heaven into our hearts and minds and let Your Word be fulfilled “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Let those who have not tasted Your happiness see Your light of joy in us and may that joy drive them to You the Happy God, full of inexpressible joy and glory. May You dwell in our hearts so that we may experience from glory to glory the promises You offer us on earth and may we savor the future hope that someday we will see You and enjoy them in their fullness forever and ever. Amen
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A DESIRE TO PLEASE SUCH A WONDERFUL FATHER IN HEAVEN
"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him..."For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
2 Corinthians 5:9,14-15 ESV
What is the most God-honoring reason not to sin? Is it fear of consequences? Is it fear of punishment? John Calvin says, "the truly pious mind restrains itself from sinning, not out of dread of punishment alone; but, because it-loves and reveres God as Father, it worships and adores him as Lord. Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending him alone"
I am so very moved by this statement! Listen carefully again: "Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending him alone." This thought compels me to ask: What accounts for my obedience to God? Why do I fear sinning? Is it merely because I know that discipline awaits me if I don't obey but rather persist in sin? Is there nothing in God besides his wrath that awakens me to holiness? Am I more concerned about negative consequences and bad feelings than pleasing Him? Am I motivated to seek righteousness for purely personal gain? Is self-interest at the core of my decision to heed his commands?
On one level there is nothing wrong with seeking to avoid judgment and the pains of hell. But should that by itself account for how we live? I think that the root of holiness is being in love with Jesus! Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
For Paul the love of Christ evokes self-restraint and service and reverence and worship and adoration. Calvin asks, "Were there no hell, he says, should we still not find him worthy of our devotion?" Is there not something beyond the prospect of judgment alone that energizes our hearts to adore him and our wills to obey him and our affections to delight in him?
Yes, says Calvin! The truly pious soul "loves and reveres God as Father" and "worships and adores him as Lord" irrespective of all other factors." God's intrinsic and inherent beauty, his glory as Father, and his power as Lord ought to be sufficient to stir our hearts to love and admire and worship him as it did for Paul."
N.P. Williams said, "The ordinary man may feel ashamed of doing wrong: but the saint, endowed with a superior refinement of moral sensibility, and keener powers of introspection, is ashamed of being the kind of man who is liable to do wrong" That is what happens when we love God.
I think an excellent illustration of this is recorded in the autobiography of the great missionary to Vanuatu in the South Pacific, John Paton. He records of the day of his parting from his beloved father to go off on the mission field.
My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsel and tears on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been yesterday. Tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then. For the last half mile we walked in almost unbroken silence, my father, as was often his custom, carrying his hat in hand, his long, flowing yellow hair streaming down his shoulders. His lips kept moving in silent prayers for me, and his tears fell fast when our eyes met. We halted upon reaching the appointed parting place. He grasped my hand firmly for .a minute in silence, and then solemnly and affectionately said, "God bless you, my son! Your father's God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!"
Unable to say more, his lips kept moving in silent prayer. In tears we embraced, and parted. I ran off as fast as I could. When about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back and saw him still standing with head uncovered where I had left him. Waving my hat goodbye, I was 'round the corner and out of sight in an instant. But my heart was too full and sore to-carry me farther, so I darted to the side of the road and wept for a time. Rising up cautiously, I climbed the dyke to see if he yet stood where I had left him. Just at that moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dyke and looking out for me! He did not see me, and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for a while, he got down, turned his face toward home, and began to return. I watched through blinding tears till his form faded from my gaze.
Now listen to and feel the emotion of John Paton as he reflected on this precious and most moving moment. It graphically and poignantly illustrates what I am trying to say:
Hastening on my way, I vowed deeply and often to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonor such a father and mother as God had given me.
What a father John Paton had! The feelings Paton had for his father were a deep reflection of his fathers greatness as a father. I never had the privilege of having a loving father like this. But oh does this story evoke in me feelings and thoughts that I have a precious and most wonderful Father in heaven! Ought this response that Paton felt be not all the more to be true of our relationship with God? Is he not infinitely deserving of glory and praise and honor and obedience for who he is, in himself, even before we consider what he will do should we fail to respond as we ought? Do you "shudder at offending him"? Oh that we would vow deeply and often to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonor such a father like our Father in heaven!
Seeking to bring God nothing but glory and to live a life pleasing to Him,
Pastor Bill
2 Corinthians 5:9,14-15 ESV
What is the most God-honoring reason not to sin? Is it fear of consequences? Is it fear of punishment? John Calvin says, "the truly pious mind restrains itself from sinning, not out of dread of punishment alone; but, because it-loves and reveres God as Father, it worships and adores him as Lord. Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending him alone"
I am so very moved by this statement! Listen carefully again: "Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending him alone." This thought compels me to ask: What accounts for my obedience to God? Why do I fear sinning? Is it merely because I know that discipline awaits me if I don't obey but rather persist in sin? Is there nothing in God besides his wrath that awakens me to holiness? Am I more concerned about negative consequences and bad feelings than pleasing Him? Am I motivated to seek righteousness for purely personal gain? Is self-interest at the core of my decision to heed his commands?
On one level there is nothing wrong with seeking to avoid judgment and the pains of hell. But should that by itself account for how we live? I think that the root of holiness is being in love with Jesus! Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
For Paul the love of Christ evokes self-restraint and service and reverence and worship and adoration. Calvin asks, "Were there no hell, he says, should we still not find him worthy of our devotion?" Is there not something beyond the prospect of judgment alone that energizes our hearts to adore him and our wills to obey him and our affections to delight in him?
Yes, says Calvin! The truly pious soul "loves and reveres God as Father" and "worships and adores him as Lord" irrespective of all other factors." God's intrinsic and inherent beauty, his glory as Father, and his power as Lord ought to be sufficient to stir our hearts to love and admire and worship him as it did for Paul."
N.P. Williams said, "The ordinary man may feel ashamed of doing wrong: but the saint, endowed with a superior refinement of moral sensibility, and keener powers of introspection, is ashamed of being the kind of man who is liable to do wrong" That is what happens when we love God.
I think an excellent illustration of this is recorded in the autobiography of the great missionary to Vanuatu in the South Pacific, John Paton. He records of the day of his parting from his beloved father to go off on the mission field.
My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsel and tears on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been yesterday. Tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then. For the last half mile we walked in almost unbroken silence, my father, as was often his custom, carrying his hat in hand, his long, flowing yellow hair streaming down his shoulders. His lips kept moving in silent prayers for me, and his tears fell fast when our eyes met. We halted upon reaching the appointed parting place. He grasped my hand firmly for .a minute in silence, and then solemnly and affectionately said, "God bless you, my son! Your father's God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!"
Unable to say more, his lips kept moving in silent prayer. In tears we embraced, and parted. I ran off as fast as I could. When about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back and saw him still standing with head uncovered where I had left him. Waving my hat goodbye, I was 'round the corner and out of sight in an instant. But my heart was too full and sore to-carry me farther, so I darted to the side of the road and wept for a time. Rising up cautiously, I climbed the dyke to see if he yet stood where I had left him. Just at that moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dyke and looking out for me! He did not see me, and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for a while, he got down, turned his face toward home, and began to return. I watched through blinding tears till his form faded from my gaze.
Now listen to and feel the emotion of John Paton as he reflected on this precious and most moving moment. It graphically and poignantly illustrates what I am trying to say:
Hastening on my way, I vowed deeply and often to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonor such a father and mother as God had given me.
What a father John Paton had! The feelings Paton had for his father were a deep reflection of his fathers greatness as a father. I never had the privilege of having a loving father like this. But oh does this story evoke in me feelings and thoughts that I have a precious and most wonderful Father in heaven! Ought this response that Paton felt be not all the more to be true of our relationship with God? Is he not infinitely deserving of glory and praise and honor and obedience for who he is, in himself, even before we consider what he will do should we fail to respond as we ought? Do you "shudder at offending him"? Oh that we would vow deeply and often to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonor such a father like our Father in heaven!
Seeking to bring God nothing but glory and to live a life pleasing to Him,
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT IN ORDER TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT IS REALLY THERE
"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis 28:16
So often in my life I have found myself blind to stupendous realities. Blind because I didn't know how to see. Blind because I was too busy and hurried. Blind because my mind was caught up in myself. Blind because of living in the world I call "someday". Have you ever lived in the world of "someday"? To live in "someday" is to be so busy trying to get to where you want to be that you forget where you are and what is being offered by the kind grace of God at this present moment. Living for someday has often caused me to miss a lot of "today's".
How much have I missed because I have been so blind? Have much have I missed because I was just too busy to look? In my case it has been both. That is why in my spiritual journey, I have needed so much help. I am eternally indebted to C.S Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, Ken Gire, and John Piper who have opened my eyes to see more of life than I ever knew could be seen.
I have felt often like Jacob after awaking from his dream in Genesis 28:16-17, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Have you ever felt like this before?
B.B. Warfield in thinking about what the scriptures teach on predestination wrote,
"A glass window is before us. We raise our eyes and see the glass; we note its quality, and observe its defects; we speculate it's composition. Or we look straight through it on the great prospect of land and sea and beyond."
Ken Gire writes that the most rigorous of disciplines is the discipline of awareness. We must always be looking beyond what we see if we are going to truly see and listening beyond what we hear in order to truly hear. The sinfulness of man blinds him to the most wondrous and stupendous of realities! Our Lord spoke often of spiritual blindness and deafness. That is why the scriptures say that salvation is the gift of sight from God by the Holy Spirit that enables us to be able for the first time to see Jesus for who He is and to savor Him for all that He is worth.
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
We now have been graced with the capacity to see but are we looking and listening? Jesus always has something to say to us and always shows us something we need to see and always offers something we need to receive. But even with this gift of sight, we have to cultivate awareness. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we all, with unveiled face, (as we continue to be in the word of God) beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (My translation)
We have to cultivate awareness in our life. The poet Elizabeth Barret Browning wrote,
"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries."
Have you ever passed a bush plucking raspberries and thinking raspberries were all that was there? How many times have we failed to see the heavenly blaze in earthly bushes we brush by on our way to somewhere else?
John Piper spoke of being around Clyde Kilby who he described in this way: “When he spoke of a tree he saw on the way to class in the morning, you wondered why you had been so blind all of your life…I sat there and for the first time I saw things. I felt. I was drawn into the bright day of wakefulness out of my self-preoccupied, adolescent slumbers”.
Oh to see things! oh to be awake and alive to God, to people, to nature, to culture, to the present moment! Brother Lawrence called it "Practicing the Presence of God" and in that light Mike Mason added a second practice that he called "Practicing the Presence of People".
There is no time, no place, no moment, no event, that God is not there and is not speaking something for me to hear and showing me something for me to see. Our lives are full of stupendous realities aren't they? But these moments will go unnoticed if we do not take the time to stop, look, and listen. C.S. Lewis wrote,
"To see what is in thee moments we first have to stop, and then we must look and go on looking until we see exactly what is there."
It means we must learn to "be still and know that I AM God" (Psalm 46:10). Anne Morrow Lindbergh called it striving to be the still axis within the revolving wheel of relationships, obligations and activities. the still axis. It is to be able to maintain its center no matter how fast our lives are turning. Ask God to give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive this day beyond what you see, hear, and receive. Ask Him to help you to stop plucking blackberries and to take off your shoes for this moment is holy ground!
Longing for eyes to see more of life than I ever knew could be seen!
Pastor Bill
So often in my life I have found myself blind to stupendous realities. Blind because I didn't know how to see. Blind because I was too busy and hurried. Blind because my mind was caught up in myself. Blind because of living in the world I call "someday". Have you ever lived in the world of "someday"? To live in "someday" is to be so busy trying to get to where you want to be that you forget where you are and what is being offered by the kind grace of God at this present moment. Living for someday has often caused me to miss a lot of "today's".
How much have I missed because I have been so blind? Have much have I missed because I was just too busy to look? In my case it has been both. That is why in my spiritual journey, I have needed so much help. I am eternally indebted to C.S Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, Ken Gire, and John Piper who have opened my eyes to see more of life than I ever knew could be seen.
I have felt often like Jacob after awaking from his dream in Genesis 28:16-17, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Have you ever felt like this before?
B.B. Warfield in thinking about what the scriptures teach on predestination wrote,
"A glass window is before us. We raise our eyes and see the glass; we note its quality, and observe its defects; we speculate it's composition. Or we look straight through it on the great prospect of land and sea and beyond."
Ken Gire writes that the most rigorous of disciplines is the discipline of awareness. We must always be looking beyond what we see if we are going to truly see and listening beyond what we hear in order to truly hear. The sinfulness of man blinds him to the most wondrous and stupendous of realities! Our Lord spoke often of spiritual blindness and deafness. That is why the scriptures say that salvation is the gift of sight from God by the Holy Spirit that enables us to be able for the first time to see Jesus for who He is and to savor Him for all that He is worth.
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
We now have been graced with the capacity to see but are we looking and listening? Jesus always has something to say to us and always shows us something we need to see and always offers something we need to receive. But even with this gift of sight, we have to cultivate awareness. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we all, with unveiled face, (as we continue to be in the word of God) beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (My translation)
We have to cultivate awareness in our life. The poet Elizabeth Barret Browning wrote,
"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries."
Have you ever passed a bush plucking raspberries and thinking raspberries were all that was there? How many times have we failed to see the heavenly blaze in earthly bushes we brush by on our way to somewhere else?
John Piper spoke of being around Clyde Kilby who he described in this way: “When he spoke of a tree he saw on the way to class in the morning, you wondered why you had been so blind all of your life…I sat there and for the first time I saw things. I felt. I was drawn into the bright day of wakefulness out of my self-preoccupied, adolescent slumbers”.
Oh to see things! oh to be awake and alive to God, to people, to nature, to culture, to the present moment! Brother Lawrence called it "Practicing the Presence of God" and in that light Mike Mason added a second practice that he called "Practicing the Presence of People".
There is no time, no place, no moment, no event, that God is not there and is not speaking something for me to hear and showing me something for me to see. Our lives are full of stupendous realities aren't they? But these moments will go unnoticed if we do not take the time to stop, look, and listen. C.S. Lewis wrote,
"To see what is in thee moments we first have to stop, and then we must look and go on looking until we see exactly what is there."
It means we must learn to "be still and know that I AM God" (Psalm 46:10). Anne Morrow Lindbergh called it striving to be the still axis within the revolving wheel of relationships, obligations and activities. the still axis. It is to be able to maintain its center no matter how fast our lives are turning. Ask God to give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive this day beyond what you see, hear, and receive. Ask Him to help you to stop plucking blackberries and to take off your shoes for this moment is holy ground!
Longing for eyes to see more of life than I ever knew could be seen!
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
REFORMING OUR WORSHIP: LEAVING CULTURE AND MOVING TO THE SCRIPTURES
"Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." John 4:21-23 ESV
Over the years I have heard many statements that reveal most Christians view of worship. For example: "The worship was so good today." "I love the worship at that church". "That was the best worship I have ever experienced!" "My wife and I want to find a church where there is good worship?" "I didn't get much out of the worship today." "I am not really that into worship, I like good teaching." "I go to church for the worship not the preaching." "I really look forward to the worship time on Sunday mornings."
I could go on and on in what I have heard over the past thirty two years I have been a pastor. Most Christians seem to confine worship to a place, or a day, or an event and worship to singing. What does the New Testament say about worship? To be more specific, what does Jesus say about worship?
In John 4:24 Jesus has a conversation with a Samaritan woman. The Samaritans viewed worship in terms of outward forms and geographical locations. Jesus says an astonishing thing when He addresses the woman: "The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father...the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." Here Jesus takes the word proskuneo - that dominant Old Testament word for worship - and transforms it into a concept that is mainly inward rather than outward, and mainly pervasive rather than localized. Instead of being in this mountain or in Jerusalem, it is "in spirit and in truth."
What Jesus is doing is giving us the true view of authentic worship. Not that it will be wrong for worship to be in a place like a church building or a mountain top or that it will be wrong for it to use outward forms; but rather he is making explicit and central that this is not what makes worship worship. What makes worship worship is what happens "in spirit and in truth" - with or without a place and with or without outward forms.
True Authentic Worship is worship "in spirit" and "in truth". What does this mean? I believe that "in spirit" means that true worship is enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit and happens first as an inward, spiritual event, not mainly as an outward bodily event. And I believe that "in truth" means that this true worship is a response to true views of God and is shaped and guided by true views of God.
Romans 12:1-2 portrays all of life as worship. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). All of life is the outshining of what you truly value and cherish and treasure. Therefore all of life is worship.
Over the years I have heard many statements that reveal most Christians view of worship. For example: "The worship was so good today." "I love the worship at that church". "That was the best worship I have ever experienced!" "My wife and I want to find a church where there is good worship?" "I didn't get much out of the worship today." "I am not really that into worship, I like good teaching." "I go to church for the worship not the preaching." "I really look forward to the worship time on Sunday mornings."
I could go on and on in what I have heard over the past thirty two years I have been a pastor. Most Christians seem to confine worship to a place, or a day, or an event and worship to singing. What does the New Testament say about worship? To be more specific, what does Jesus say about worship?
In John 4:24 Jesus has a conversation with a Samaritan woman. The Samaritans viewed worship in terms of outward forms and geographical locations. Jesus says an astonishing thing when He addresses the woman: "The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father...the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." Here Jesus takes the word proskuneo - that dominant Old Testament word for worship - and transforms it into a concept that is mainly inward rather than outward, and mainly pervasive rather than localized. Instead of being in this mountain or in Jerusalem, it is "in spirit and in truth."
What Jesus is doing is giving us the true view of authentic worship. Not that it will be wrong for worship to be in a place like a church building or a mountain top or that it will be wrong for it to use outward forms; but rather he is making explicit and central that this is not what makes worship worship. What makes worship worship is what happens "in spirit and in truth" - with or without a place and with or without outward forms.
True Authentic Worship is worship "in spirit" and "in truth". What does this mean? I believe that "in spirit" means that true worship is enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit and happens first as an inward, spiritual event, not mainly as an outward bodily event. And I believe that "in truth" means that this true worship is a response to true views of God and is shaped and guided by true views of God.
Jesus radically redefines worship as being significantly de-institutionalized, de-localized, de-ritualized. The whole thrust is being taken off of ceremony and seasons and places and forms; and is being shifted to what is happening in the heart - not just on Sunday, but every day and all the time in all of life.
This is what it means when we read things like, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). And "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17). This is the form of worship commanded in the New Testament: to act in a way that reflects the value of the glory of God. The inner essence of worship is the treasuring of God as infinitely valuable above everything. When we worship God will be duly praised, because he is duly prized. -So worship is not about place, form, event, or environment. Worship is about God and lived out and expressed from the heart in life.Romans 12:1-2 portrays all of life as worship. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). All of life is the outshining of what you truly value and cherish and treasure. Therefore all of life is worship.
I think that there is no group in church history that better understood the teaching of Jesus on worship than the Puritans. Patrick Collinson summarizes Puritan theory and practice by saying, the life of the Puritan was in one sense a continuous act of worship, pursued under an unremitting and lively sense of God's providential purposes and constantly refreshed by religious activity, personal, domestic and public.
Inner spiritual reality is the key to true and authentic worship. We see it in Matthew 15:8-9 when Jesus says, "This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me." Worship that does not come from the heart is vain, empty. It is not authentic worship. It is no worship. Matt Redmond says, “No one can speak of things they have not seen…worship starts with seeing, our hearts respond to your revelation.” Worship is our response to seeing and savoring the preciousness and greatness of God from our hearts. Therefore, the essence of our worship is prizing Christ, being satisfied in Christ, cherishing Christ, and treasuring Christ in our hearts.
So everything we do alone, during the week, and when we gather together as the people of God is meant to outwardly express the loving, cherishing, and treasuring of Christ that is in our hearts. The outer forms of worship on Sunday mornings when the people of God gather together are all of the acts that show how much we treasure God. And the forms of worship they take are in singing, in the offering, in the preaching and hearing God’s word, in serving and encouraging one another, and the partaking of the Lord's Supper.
Nothing makes God more supreme and more central than when a people are utterly persuaded that nothing - not money or prestige or leisure or family or job or health or sports or toys or friends - nothing is going to bring satisfaction to their aching hearts besides God. This conviction breeds a people who worship in spirit and truth. Authentic worship means that all during the week and with God's people on Sunday morning what we do is to go hard after God: we are going hard after satisfaction in God, and going hard after God as our prize, and going hard after God as our treasure, our soul-food, our heart-delight, our spirit's pleasure.
During the Reformation a slogan was cried out, "semper reformanda", meaning “always reformed, always reforming.” The Puritans held onto this and so do I. The the point of the slogan is that the church is always to be reforming its doctrine and practice according to the Scriptures.
To be reformed means to be “always reforming” by shaping what I know about God against what He has revealed about Himself. May we listen to Jesus and the apostles and "reform" our cultural views of worship and become true worshippers in "spirit" and "in truth" every day and together on Sunday.
Pastor Bill
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