A Bug's Life

I don't know if it's the heat wave or what, but the last few days I've come across more bugs than usual. The latest encounter took place in my office bathroom. I saw the small insect making its way slowly across the floor. I don't know what kind it was, but it was the size of a lady bug.

Anyway, I watched it for a moment, trying to figure out what exactly it was, where it was going, and what it must have been thinking. But after thirty seconds or so I got bored and squashed it with my foot. Then somewhat to my own surprise I said, "Sorry, pal."

Afterwards I thought, "Boy, I'm glad I'm not a bug ... and I'm glad God is not like me!" Imagine Him sitting there in heaven thinking, "Who is this guy? What's he doing? Where does he think he's going?" Squish!

Thankfully, God is not like that! He knows me better than I know myself. In fact, He "formed my inward parts [and] knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Ps. 139:13). Furthermore, God knows exactly what I'm up to, every second of the day, every day of my life. He sees the good and the bad, my ups and my downs, my best days and my worst days -- and He loves me through it all. Why? Not because I'm great, but because of His grace!

God's understanding of me is so much greater than my understanding of a bug. His love for me is so much greater than my love of a bug. (Love of a bug? You gotta be kidding me! And let's not even talk about spiders!) My life won't end with a squish under some divine shoe. Rather, my great God and Savior will transform my lowly body so that it will be like his glorious body (Phil. 3:21).

Boy, I'm glad I'm not a bug.

Ligonier National Conference - 2010 (part two)

This is a continuation from last week’s blog about the Ligonier Conference that I attended two weeks ago in Orlando, FL. The theme was “Tough Questions Christians Face.”

You can view each session at www.christianity.com/ligonier/.

I suggest that you make time to watch each streaming video, especially the Pre-Conference Bits, Bytes, Blogs & Bibles: Christian Communication in a Hypersocial World.

The Pre-Conference focused on the so called new social media, yet attendees were reminded that it’s really not new, but how we actually “talk” and interact currently, via IPods, IPads, IPhones, Facebook, Twitter, Email, LinkedIn, RSS Feeds, Text messages, mobile phones, GPS devices and so on. The speakers made important distinctions gave clear warnings, cautions, risks and benefits to how we communicate, especially important for the church at large.

Al Mohler in his “The Hypersocialized Generation”, says there is a shift in our social engagement, the “most fundamental since the human language and the invention of the printing press.” He said there is a temptation to withdraw into our own private world, a propensity to over relate and withdraw simultaneously.

The digital revolution is here to stay and is interwoven in our lives. We’ve become reliant upon this relatedness and “not being connected” is thought of as worse than being dead! Mohler warns parents to take control and not forfeit responsibility and that the rules should not only be about usage of time, but content discussions as well. He said that adolescents shouldn’t have cell phones in their bedroom at night, or have Internet access in their bedroom. Parents must model this themselves.

Although there are Kindle and other e-book opportunities, the absence of reading and silence have created voids necessary for our souls. Multi-tasking is not something to “gloat over”, since our minds are not meant to participate that way, contrary to what we are told. Our lives are nourished by distraction. An interesting phenomenon has also resulted from multi-tasking – the loss of ability to read facial expressions.

We need to find the best use for these technologies and to establish boundaries. The risks seem to outweigh the benefits. The question is how to be connected and remain faithful? Mohler ended his session with, “May God give us guidance.”

In the earlier session with Ed Stetzer, he said that there are “drive-by posters” who are anonymous, others not accountable in relationships, still others who create false community. Also, that we have been reduced to a “sound-bite culture”, so that’s how we communicate, i.e. 140 character tweets! He also said that there’s a tendency to trivialize important things - simplism, reducing things beyond their capacity to be reduced. On the positive, he said that we could assist in inspiration, in introductions, in exhortation and creating community. His warnings included the enhancement of pride and a degree of narcissism in social media, e.g. rankings, the number of “friends”, blogs named after individuals – the creation of a “fake world.”

Tim Challies spoke about “texting/truthing in love”, actually how we should conduct ourselves and the principles of communicating in this digital frontier. Burk Parsons spoke about making the best use of our time and we should be kingdom focused, set our minds on heavenly things, edify the body of Christ, maintain unity and purity in the church and ultimately to glorify God personally and corporately. He ended with the question, “Why are you using this media, for the glory and kingdom of God or the advancement of our own empire?

Again, this is only a summary and brief recap just from the Pre-Conference sessions, so I still suggest that you view them in their entirety to grasp the importance of all of their messages. There’s a terrific Q & A session as well.

These speakers are gifts to the body of Christ. Listen to their warnings and advice and we can save ourselves and loved ones from potential harm and evil. We should all think about how The Lord would have us communicate via this “new social media”, to give Him glory, to preach His Word, to go into all the world and make disciples (not blog followers).

Joe Capozzi

Ligonier National Conference - 2010

Last week, I attended Ligonier Ministries’ 23rd Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The theme was ‘Tough Questions Christian Face”. The conference brochure states:

“Christians are bombarded with difficult questions every day about Scripture, theology, science, and many other topics. As believers in the one true God, we are not without answers to the hard questions of life, for the Lord has spoken and has given us a revelation that directs us to the One who holds the answers.”

A pre-conference seminar on the role of new media in the church and the world and the issues that confront us as believers was well attended. The main conference sessions addressed the origin of evil, the inerrancy of Scripture, the interpretation of the Bible, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the age of the earth, God’s command in the Old Testament for Holy War, and the resurgence of interest in Reformed theology. Here are some of the titles of those sessions and the speakers who were assigned the topics:

  • Why Did Jesus Have To Die? - John MacArthur
  • Does the Doctrine of Divine Decrees Eliminate Human Will? - John MacArthur
  • What is Evil and Where Did It Come From? - R.C. Sproul
  • Is The Bible Just Another Book? - Steve Lawson
  • Is The Exclusivity of Christ Unjust? - Alistair Begg
  • Why Do Christians Still Sin? - R.C. Sproul, Jr.
  • Why Does the Universe Look So Old? - Albert Mohler
  • Can We Enjoy Heaven Knowing of Loved Ones in Hell? - R.C. Sproul

The other speakers included Michael Horton, Derek Thomas and Burk Parsons, who spoke during the two and a half day conference!

Each meeting began with prayer and worship and ended with a few “infomercials”!

I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and was convicted, educated, edified, encouraged and challenged. I was equipped to answer some of these tough questions to, “…always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15b)

The most impact for me came from the pre-conference titled: Bits, Bytes, Blogs & Bibles: Christian Communication in a Hypersocial World. The session titles and their respective speakers were:

  • Session 1. The Brave New World of New Media – Ed Stetzer
  • Session 2. Principles for Conduct in Communication – Tim Challies
  • Session 3. Taking Captive New Media for the Church – Burk Parsons
  • Session 4. The Hypersocialized Generation – Al Mohler

I could have left after these sessions and still be enthralled by the content and challenged with the issues. Especially since the intention of the pre-conference speakers was to help those who are wary of the internet/ new media and to provide cautions/yield signs – do we rush headlong and embrace this new technology?

There’s so much I’d like to disseminate that I’ll continue in next week’s blog. There are inescapable trends in the new media that need to be highlighted and we need to realize that vast geographic distances have now been closed. Most importantly, The Lord has prepared technology over the course of history to break down the geographic barriers for the fulfillment of His purposes, “… to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had pre-destined to take place.” (Acts 4:28 ESV)

See you next week!

Joe Capozzi

Abraham's Greater Love

For the last couple of weeks, I've been holding on to an article that was written by one of our elders, Jason Mathisen, who recently underwent a nerve-wracking incident with his son Tristan. This crisis led Jason to some serious thinking about fatherhood, the gift of children, and the treasure of God Himself. Jason recorded his thoughts on paper, and at the prompting of his wife Lauren, passed them on to me.

The original title of Jason's article was The Love That Abraham Had for God Was Greater Than That for Isaac. May the Lord be pleased to challenge your hearts through the following testimony.
When my son Tristan was 6 years old he had spent the afternoon fishing with his “pampie” which is our term for grandfather on my wife’s side. (I guess that’s not as strange as "KeeKee," which is what my kids call my father which actually started out as "Kukie".) Well, anyway. . .

Pampie had picked up Tristan from school, and my wife dropped my daughter Peyton off to meet them so that the three of them could go fishing - or in my son's case feed the mosquitoes. (He can get a bite on the side of his forehead and end up looking like the sketches of Cro-Magnon man. I swear you could show a movie on his forehead and charge admission.)

As you can probably guess, Tristan got a lot of bites and had a pretty bad reaction, for we forgot to remind Pampie to put bug spray on him. Well, we were prepped and ready with Benadryl cream and kids' Benadryl liquid to administer to my son to keep him from looking like Quasi Moto or the Elephant man.

So the fishing expedition arrived with big smiles and tales of two fish, one that got away and the one that was caught which was respectably the size of my 6-year-old son's foot. Oh, and there were baby geese and turtles that peed on them and of course my son's trophy mosquito feedings…

Benadryl to the rescue.

We sat down to eat supper, and as the adults talked, the kids retired to the living room with cookies in hand to watch a cartoon.

Well about a half hour later my informant daughter came in to tell us that Tristan had crashed out on the couch. No big issue there, considering his long day at school followed by fishing.

After my father-in-law left, I was getting ready to take the dog out and heard my wife call my name from the living room. "Just a minute," I said. "I'm taking the dog out."

Now there are times when you can pick up on tone, and this was one of those times. She called me again, to which I replied (tone missed on this try), "Just a ..." - "JASON, COME HERE!" Tone received ... registered in brain ... dog can wait.

I proceeded to the living room to see my wife kneeling next to the couch where my 4-foot tall 67-pound son was lying. As I got to her side I could see the reason for the “tone” in her voice. Now when I say "tone" I'm not suggesting that there was yelling or sarcasm in her voice. It's hard to explain, but I new she was dead-serious. It was a tone that said, "GET IN HERE - I NEED YOUR HELP NOW."

To my dismay I saw what looked like vomit coming out of the corner of my sons mouth as he was lying mostly on his side. I grabbed his shoulder and shook him lightly and said his name. Then I shook him again - this time not so lightly - and raised my voice to the level of what we call in our house “loud talking”.

Tristan did not move, and at this point a cascade of triage from years of training went thru my head but emotions that I had not been prepared for took a hold of me as well. In discussing my feelings with my wife later, she remarked that she had never seen me this way before. Not outright panic, but definitely a look of "controlled fear" on my face.
After assessing the situation, I realized that my son was breathing normally was not choking or passed out. He was simply in a very deep sleep.
From the time my son Tristan was two years old, a bomb could go off in the next room, and he would sleep through it without batting a lid. Mix this with a little Benadryl and a half-chewed cookie, and that explains the sludge oozing from the corner of his mouth!

Well, now that my heart could be visibly seen pumping away at 180 beats per minute, I decided to clean him up and bring him to his nice comfy bed where the air conditioning was keeping things cool (unlike my body, which was producing mega-sweat on my forehead!).

With Tristan now safe and tucked into his bed, I knelt next to it and thanked God that my son was okay. I also thanked the Lord for this reminder I had just received that He is sovereign, and I am to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I realized how fragile life is and how undone I would be on a constant basis if I thought that the lives of my loved ones rested in my feeble hands.

Yes, we are to be good stewards of what God has given us: wife, kids, family, friends, job, etc. But are we careful to keep them in their proper place, putting our relationship with the Lord first?

Well, with all the drama of the evening now past, I decided to vacuum the house. Yeah so, 7:30 at night and I was going to vacuum. What of it? I had already gone for a run, so this was the best way to release the tension from all the adrenaline that had just rocketed through my body!
While I was pushing the vacuum around, the Lord spoke to me. Not audibly, but through His Word in my head. What came to mind was the story of Abraham and Isaac.
Abraham had a son who had been a long time in coming - a "miracle child" as it were. God promised that a great nation would come through him, and he and his descendants would have unimaginable blessings. The boy's name was Isaac, and oh, how Abraham loved him!
Imagine Abraham's shock and chagrin when one day God commanded him, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (Gen. 22:2).

What would you have done, had God directed this command to you? What would I have done? This is the question that weighed upon my mind. I thought about how much I loved my son Tristan, and like a wave crashing onto the shore, the thought occurred to me: "Is my love for the Lord in its rightful place?" Forgive me, Father, for putting anything - anyone - before You. An idol is anything that takes precedence over the Lord, and I needed to be reminded of this.
Now that the incident is passed and proved to be nothing serious, I can look back on it and almost laugh. Still, I can remember the heaviness of the moment. It left a mark on me - a mark of remorse for the love I had failed to show my Father in heaven.
I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice,
To worship you - oh, my soul, rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what you hear;
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

Afraid of the Captain's Voice?

On Memorial Day I was standing on our back deck with my son Ethan who had his BB gun in hand. He said, "Hey, Dad, watch this." Ethan took careful aim and hit a tin coke bottle that lay on the ground at least fifty feet away. He nailed it three times straight!

Impressed by Ethan's sharp-shooting, I remarked, "You should go into the military!" To which Ethan replied, "No ... I'd be afraid of the captain's voice."

Not enemy fire. Not parachute jumps. Not minefields. Just the captain's voice! I thought that was so funny. I would have never guessed that one in a million years!

Praise God, this is one fear we never have to face as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ! Did you know that in Hebrews 2:10, Jesus is referred to as "the Captain of [our] salvation"? The idea being presented in this particular context of Scripture is that Jesus has gone ahead of us as the author, the founder, the pioneer of our salvation.

This came at a great cost, for the writer of Hebrews explains that God, "in bringing many sons to glory, [made] the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Heb. 2:10). The next verse goes on to say that we as believers are united to Christ, which is why "He is not ashamed to call [us] brethren." Jesus laid down His very life for us, counting us as His brothers.

Simon Kistemaker writes that as a result of Jesus' successful mission, "He received the appointment to lead the elect out of a life of slavery in sin to a life of eternal happiness in which they are considered sons and heirs with Christ." (New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, pp. 70-71).

Jesus Christ is one Captain whose voice we as His followers never need to fear! He has won our hearts through His selfless love, and therefore we make it our aim to be well-pleasing to Him (2 Cor. 5:9). God, help us to be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3)!

"Amazing Grace" As It's Meant to Be Sung!

This Thursday I'll be conducting a funeral for a lady I've never met. Her son is a professing believer and wanted to be sure that a "salvation message" was preached. I assured him that I always make it my aim to preach the Gospel wherever I go, and this funeral would be no exception.

As we thought through other aspects of the service, it was decided that we should sing a hymn. But since most of the people there would be nonChristians, we decided to go with - you guessed it - "Amazing Grace." That hymn is probably the most famous of any that's ever been sung.

No doubt many of you know who wrote it and also the history behind it. But do you know the full story? And have you ever heard this hymn sung in a way that honors its historical context? I first saw this video at The Gospel Coalition website, where it had been posted by Thabiti Anyabwile. It takes nine minutes to watch. It's worth every second. Enjoy!

The Second Coming: Comfort or Conflict?

Do the following terms mean anything to you?
  • Dispensationalism
  • Preterism
  • Amillennialism
  • Postmillennialism
  • Historic Premillennialism
  • Pretribulational Premillennialism
All of these are schools of theological thought, interpretive approaches to Scripture, and/or particular views of eschatology (the study of the end times). When and How Will Jesus Return? is a question that has produced much interest, discussion - and often heated debate - within the evangelical church.

Despite the many disagreements that exist over the manner and timing of the Second Coming, there is one truth concerning this doctrine on which all evangelical Christians agree:

There will be a sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Christ!

Can you say "Amen!" to that? Every true disciple of Christ exclaims with the apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). The reality of Jesus' return motivates us "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12-13).

I have a pastor-friend who is currently preaching through the book of Revelation. He has admitted how difficult it is to exposit the Apocalypse! The other day I sent him a portion of a blog by Dr. Hershael York, professor at Southern Seminary, wherein he offered some good thoughts on eschatology. My brother was encouraged by this, and I hope you will be too, regardless of your eschatological views.

I often think we have missed the purpose of eschatology. We are not encouraged to be convinced of a system but to be comforted by a promise. Paul told the Thessalonians that he didn’t want them to be uninformed so they wouldn’t grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13) and they were to use his words to comfort and encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18). The reason Paul explains the resurrection of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15 is because it ensures our resurrection. The entire book of Revelation was written to a persecuted and suffering church to hearten and cheer her with the good news that the Bridegroom is returning. In spite of whatever trouble we may be enduring, we have the assurance that Jesus reigns and will vanquish all enemies—especially death!

When I, as a pastor, hold the hand of a parent whose child cannot breathe and is dying in an incubator, eschatology matters desperately—but not necessarily a system or school of eschatology as we often debate and discuss. That grieving mother needs to know that Jesus has taken the sting out of death, that He is one day returning and is going to right the wrongs and defeat our enemy. That father beside her needs to have confidence in a big God who is absolutely in control and will one day send His Son to gather to Himself the very people He has redeemed from the sin that escorted death into this world.

Eschatological investigation and systemization has its place. We might find profit in studying the way events surrounding Christ’s return will unfold or the nature of the tribulation period. But when everything in life but life itself has been stripped away, when believing families huddle in grief beside a dying father, the reality of the resurrection of Christ matters far more than the identity of the 144,000. The things that the Scriptures most plainly teach are the very things we most urgently need. I do not know if my historic premillennial beliefs are more correct than my father’s dispensationalism, but this I know: my Redeemer lives!

Christian Encouragement

This morning just before leaving the house I got a text message on my cell phone that read, "Thinking about you and praying for you. May GOD give you his power and strength. Good word on Sunday."

Talk about an instant high! My spirit was immediately encouraged, and I walked across the street to the church with an extra skip in my step.

This text message was timely, because last night as I walked home after an evening meeting, I turned back and looked at the church building. (I know the church is not actually the building but the fellowship of believers who gather there to worship and serve the Lord. Nevertheless, the building represents the visible presence of our church in this community.) In looking back at the empty church building and parking lot, I was subdued by a melancholy spirit. I felt insufficient for the task of pastoring my congregation. I wondered what the future held for us. So many opportunities before us, yet so much sin that easily besets us.

The irony is that just a couple hours before this, I had received a very affirming message on facebook by a gentleman who is fairly new to our church. He told me how moved he has been by the preaching of God's Word, how he hangs on to every word (after so many years of non-attendance and disinterest), and how much he was looking forward already to this coming Lord's Day.

Two encouraging messages within a span of 13 hours, yet in between them my heart still sunk temporarily into discouragement (even if only for a moment). In fact, before turning out the light for the night as I lay in bed, I read the final chapter of Kent Hughes' book, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome - a scripturally rich book that I had been reading for the last few weeks in my battle against despondency. This, coupled with the psalms, has buoyed my spirit and kept me focused on what success truly is in God's eyes: faithfulness.

This morning I had a sister in Christ weeping in my office over her wayward child. We prayed together, lifting him up - and the whole family - before the Lord. I encouraged her to be strong in faith, giving glory to God by clinging to His promises.

The bottom line in all of this (and I know I've been rambling somewhat) is that Christians need encouragement. And I can find nothing more encouraging than that personal touch of kindness and especially knowing that I am being prayed for.

The prophet Samuel, who was mightily used of the Lord in his generation, spoke these assuring words to the despairing people of Israel:
The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth wih all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
- 1 Samuel 12:22-24
Samuel saw not praying for God's people as a sin against the Lord. How many times do we think of it that way? Notice, too, that Samuel's commitment to pray for the people was accompanied by encouraging words to the people.

May we be typified by such love and grace in our relationships with one another. The Bible tells us to "comfort and encourage one another daily" (1 Thes. 5:11). The Lord knows we all need it. By His grace let's be sure to give it!

A Good Word for Would-Be World-Changers

Last evening I returned from the Spring Conference of the New England Center for Expository Preaching (NECEP). More than 120 ministry leaders (most of them pastors) participated in this conference. The theme had to do with the primacy and power of preaching in the local church. Our two keynotes were Drs. Derek Thomas and Mark Dever.

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Thomas preached a message on "Christ's Design for the Church" from Matthew 16. One of the outstanding features of the sermon was the tremendous price Jesus paid to purchase His church: His own blood. Those who would be true followers of Christ and be involved in the building of His church must also pay a price - what Paul referred to as "filling up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church" (Col. 1:24). Dr. Thomas, who serves as Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, pointed out that one of the prevailing challenges that seminary faculties face in regards to incoming students is that they stride in with an air of entitlement.

Today I read a one-paragraph article that captures the essence of the problem that Dr. Thomas was describing. Those pastors who were middle-aged and older knew exactly what he was talking about. It is amazing how many aspiring young pastors have a mouthful, when they have yet to be faithful! On the other hand, I had the privilege of interacting with many pastors attending the conference who have persevered in their place of ministry for many years. For the most part, they struck me as "faithful plodders" - and I thank God for them!

A Call for Faithful Plodders

POSTED BY JUSTIN TAYLOR

From Kevin DeYoung's Tabletalk article:

"My generation in particular is prone to radicalism without followthrough. We have dreams of changing the world, and the world should take notice accordingly. But we've not proved faithful in much of anything yet. We haven't held a steady job or raised godly kids or done our time in VBSor, in some cases, even moved off the parental dole. We want global change and expect a few more dollars to the ONE campaign or Habitat for Humanity chapter to just about wrap things up. What the church and the world needs, we imagine, is for us to be another Bono -- Christian, but more spiritual than religious and more into social justice than the church. As great as it is that Bono is using his fame for some noble purpose, I just don't believe that the happy future of the church, or the world for that matter, rests on our ability to raise up a million more Bonos (as at least one author suggests). With all due respect, what's harder: to be an idolized rock star who travels around the world touting good causes and chiding governments for their lack of foreign aid, or to be a line worker at GM with four kids and a mortgage, who tithes to his church, sings in the choir every week, serves on the school board, and supports a Christian relief agency and a few missionaries from his disposable income?"

Retreat Reflections

Last weekend approximately fifty of our ladies trekked down to the Cape for their annual retreat. The theme verse was, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21; Luke 12:34). The keynote speaker was Diane Schreiner, who serves with her husband Tom at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where Tom serves as Preaching Pastor. (He is also the Professor of New Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.)

In the days following the retreat, I heard many positive comments from our ladies - through hallway conversations here at church, e-mail, facebook messages and the like. I was quite encouraged by hearing these, and I thought it would be good for the TruthWalk readership to be blessed as well (especially since so many of our readers are members here at First Baptist Church). So without further ado, here are some comments (with little to no editing) that were passed on to me by various retreat participants:

The Ladies' Retreat was such a blessing to all of the ladies that attended. It was a real ministry to my sister Joan, a new believer...she even shared her testimony with all of the ladies!

I loved Diane's simple style of getting out the fact that we are all at different stages in our lives.... I like how she taught us to use the verse "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14) as a stepping stone ... as we rise out of bed [and] begin the day before us. I also really loved the small gathering after each of the teachings where we shared our favorite Bible verses that helped us in our daily walk. And the bonus, which I really needed was the six hours of girlfriend time, just having some fun exploring on the Cape which was quite restful!! Although I came back tired, I was refreshed spiritually as well as mentally. I hope we continue to have retreats like this. Again, the simplicity of it made it possible for me to reflect on the teachings and put it into practical use.

It was a long two weeks building up to what was supposed to be an exciting time away. The reality of going to a weekend event seemed like one more thing that was on a never ending list. The moment I walked into that room the worlds problems disappeared and women who I get a friendly "hi" in the hall from became eternal friends. The schedule was wonderfully balanced with worship, quiet time, free time and small group time. We watched as Moms and daughters, daughter-in-laws and sisterss, new believers and old all shared their heart and their laughter ... so much laughter! What an inspirational goal to strive for as I someday hope to share the time with my girls. God was ever present this weekend.. I am home very excited to apply the simple truths that were brought to the forefront and the ease in which we are to carry them out. To pass His love on to my family I feel equipped, refreshed and looking forward to next year.

I really loved the retreat. I thought the speaker was a wonderful Titus 2 role model. She had a meek and quiet spirit, she was warm, loving and approachable, and her teaching was very sound. She encouraged us in our devotion to Jesus. I also appreciated the quantity and quality time we all got to spend together. We got to share together in small groups after the talks, and we got to laugh a lot together during the game times. Also, I enjoyed getting to know my roommate and riding home with her, too. It was really nice to get to spend time with her. It is a blessing to see her willingness to deny herself and follow Christ. She acknowledges how the Lord is rewarding her lately. When she won the raffle we were all so happy for her. She said her 20th anniversary is coming up. The Lord is good!

As women, it is very easy to feel isolated and alone trying to juggle the demands of being a wife, and mother, of working outside the home, church ministry and many other responsibilities. Satan loves to discourage us through, guilt, lonliness and feeling that we are the only ones messing up or feeling overwhelmed. When you put all those women together who share similar stories and exeperiences you get 1) uncontrolable fits of laugher and 2) encouragement that we are facing the battle together as sisters in Christ. We have other women to offer advise, give encouragement, share scripture and hold us accountable. The fellowship was very sweet!

In reflecting on the Retreat this past week-end, the number one thing that jumps out at me is the sweet fellowship and unity that was so evident. I totally echo another sisters sentiment when she passed along how she could sit down at any of the 10 tables and enjoy just talking and being with them. If you have been here for any real length of time you are aware of the fact that it hasn't always been that way! God has done a work in our midst and words can't express how thankful I am!! May God continue to have his way in each of our hearts and lives so we will continue to grow even closer and more like Christlike in every way.
Praise God for His work among these women and numerous others who joined them for this retreat! May each of us be spurred on in our walk with Christ, having been encouraged and challenged by these testimonies!

God Will Never Send His Children Packing

By now you've probably heard about Torry Hansen, the woman from Tennessee who sent her adopted 7-year-old son back to Russia. AolNews reports,
Last week Hansen placed the child, unaccompanied, on a one-way flight from Washington, D.C., to Moscow, where she had hired a man to pick him up and take him to the Russian Science and Education Ministry Building.

"I adopted this child, Artem Saveliev, on September 29, 2009," Hansen wrote in a note stuffed into the boy's backpack. "This child is mentally unstable. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues/behaviors. I was lied to and misled by the Russian orphanage workers and director regarding his mental stability and other issues."
An investigation is underway to determine if Hansen's actions violates any laws and thereby constitutes a crime. So far no charges have been filed. However, Russian officials are outraged and have threatened to suspend all adoptions of Russian children by U.S. parents. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called Hansen's actions a "monstrous deed."

One of my friends, who provided a link to the above article on his facebook profile, passed on a remark made by another pastor who said, "This is a tragedy. But, it gives one new appreciation for our adoption into God's family, where we are NEVER 'sent back.'"

I remember thinking the very same thing as I watched the story unfold on the news the other night. The New Testament says that as a response to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God adopts us into His family.
Galatians 3:26: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."
John 1:12: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name."
A few contrasts can be made regarding Hansen's adoption of the Russian boy, and God's adoption of His children:
  1. Based on her claims, Hansen didn't know what this boy was like before she adopted him. God, on the other hand, did not adopt any of His children in ignorance. He knew we were a bunch of dirty rotten sinners, yet in His mercy and grace He adopted us anyway. This leads to the second point:
  2. Whereas Hanson's acceptance of her adopted son was conditioned on his behavior, God's love and acceptance of His adopted children is unconditional. "God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
  3. Hanson's adoption of the Russian boy was temporary - she sent him packing. But God's adoption of His children is permanent. Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
  4. All the boy got out of the deal was two hundred bucks and a one-way ticket back to Russia. As God's beloved children, we get to share all the riches of Christ. "But you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Rom. 8:15-17).
As I think on these blessed truths, a wonderful old hymn comes to mind. It's entitled I am His, and He Is Mine. If you'd like to sing it with a musical accompaniment, click here. Or you can simply read the lyrics below:

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.
O to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.

Timeless Truth from an Aged Saint

Earlier this week I paid a visit to an aged saint (he turns 93 next month). I hadn't seen him for quite some time, and there was a noticeable decline in his health. Though he lives in a rather large house, his living quarters have been reduced to one room on the first floor. He sleeps a lot and is nearly stone deaf. His mind is fading as well. He repeats things, often just a moment or two after he said them. Much of the time he doesn't talk at all - even when company is present - but simply dozes in his chair.

This man has been a Christian nearly all his life. He has a great heritage and has left behind a great legacy. I would tell you his name, but that's not important, for he represents a vast majority of men and women who have walked with the Lord for many, many years and have almost reached heaven's shore.

As I visited this dear friend the other day, I found it hard to get a conversation going. He seemed simply to want to sleep. The nurse came over and yelled (rather loudly) into his ear, "Mr. ______, Pastor Matt is here! What would you like to say to him?" He responded,

"I'm glad he's still in the faith."

Wow. So am I. That fact meant a lot to this man. He himself has been a dedicated servant of the Lord for many, many years - nearly all his life. Now he sat there dozing.

That was fine with me. I was content to sit there and thank God for this wonderful man and the godly influence he's had on my life over the last eleven years that I've known him. When my mom died back in 2000, this dear friend wrote to me one of the most meaningful handwritten letters I have ever received. I still have it. In it he spoke of the glory that awaits us in heaven, where we will dwell with our Savior and loved ones in Christ forever and ever. Now this dear brother is almost there himself. Soon he will be "absent from the body" and "at home with the Lord."

My friend has always loved the old hymns, so as he lay there dozing, I told him that we had concluded our Easter service by singing "Christ Arose." Though I don't have a great voice, I attempted for the sake of my friend to sing that first stanza nice and loud:

Low in the grave He lay - Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day - Jesus my Lord!

I was just about to sing the chorus, when to my utter surprise, my dozing 93-year-old friend lifted his head, opened his eyes, and sang with more lung power than I could have imagined:

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

I am not kidding when I say that his booming voice resonated throughout the entire house. The nurses were peering in through the glass doors. (They later said that at first they thought he was yelling at me!) What a joy it was to hear my friend sing with such "gusto" unto the Lord! I grinned from ear to ear and almost laughed from sheer joy.

Not wanting this musical exchange to end, I informed my friend that earlier in the Easter service, the children had sung:

He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today! . . .

At this point my friend joined in and sang:

He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way. . . .

Of course I continued with the words,

He lives! He lives!
Salvation to impart . . .

But instead of continuing these lyrics with me, my friend went back to booming out:

He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Talk about an impromptu hymn medley! Now I did laugh. This was great!

Yet my friend no sooner finished the chorus and he lowered his head and began to slumber once again.

I just sat there looking at him with great love and admiration in my heart. After a few moments I decided that I should quietly slip away and allow him to rest. I was just about to do that when he lifted his head and said out of the blue:

"God is faithful."

Then he dozed a bit more. After a minute or so, he said it again:

"God is faithful."

Another pause followed by a new phrase:

"The fellowship of the saints."

Amen. Precious.

I hated to leave but knew I must. He needed his rest, and I needed to get home. Before I left, I asked him in a loud voice, "Mr. ________, do you have a favorite Bible verse?"

"Yes," he replied.

"What is it?" I asked.

Without hesitation he said,

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."

I sat there letting the words sink in. Clearly there was a connection in what my aged friend had said throughout this conversation. Stringing it all together, I thought:

I'm glad he's still in the faith. . . .
God is faithful. . . .
God is faithful. . . .
The fellowship of the saints. . . .
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The lesson is clear: God is faithful; therefore let us be faithful. We are called to faithfulness. "Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2).

This man before me had not only said it; he himself has lived it. As I parted with a prayer, I thought, "Imitate his faith."

By God's grace, I will.

Gym Hours versus Jesus Hours

This morning I went to my local gym to do some exercise. While going through my workout regimen, I listened to some great Gospel-centered songs and sermons on my iPod. Truly the spiritual workout met or exceeded my physical workout!

I left the gym physically exhausted yet spiritually enriched. But as I made my way through the main doors out into the parking lot, I saw a sign that said:

Easter Hours:
7:00 a.m. - Noon

Instantly I felt a deep agitation within my soul. The only hours they would be open on Easter Day would be the very hours that corporate worship would be taking place. To them this was not a "holy day" but a mere "holiday" in the secular sense. It was not a time to worship; it was a time to work out. Once noon rolled around, the staff and whoever got in their a.m. workout would be free the rest of the day to do their thing.

Yet in my anger I remembered that Jesus died to save sinners like these. Sinners like me. The Holy Spirit brought to mind the words of Titus 3, which instructs us as believers
"to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures.... But when the kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
- Titus 3:2-7, italics mine
The Spirit that moves me to anger at man's disregard of the Savior and the greatest demonstration of sacrificial love which shaped the course of history and eternity, is the same Spirit who reminds me that my redemption is not owing to my own righteousness. It is a gift of God's grace. And the grace God extended to me He can and does extend to those who are still enemies of the cross of Christ.

God help me to hate the sin but to love the sinner, and walk in humility with my Savior before a watching world.

"With His stripes we are healed."

At home we have an updated revision of Spurgeon's most popular work, Morning and Evening. As indicated by the title, each day has two devotionals - one for the morning and one for (you guessed it!) the evening. This morning's devotional was especially moving in light of this being Holy Week, as our thoughts are centered on Jesus' death and resurrection.

In meditating on the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53:5, "With His stripes we are healed," Spurgeon writes,

Pilate delivered our Lord to the Roman officers to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen. Sharp bones were intertwined here and there among the sinews, so that every time the lash came down, pieces of bone inflicted fearful lacerations and tore the flesh from the bone. The Savior was, no doubt, bound to the column, and thus beaten. He had been beaten before, but this beating by the Roman soldiers was probably the severest of His flagellations. My soul, stand here and weep over His poor stricken body. Believer in Jesus, can you gaze on Him without tears, as He stands before you the image of agonizing love? He is at once fair as the lily for innocence and red as the rose with the crimson of His own blood. As we feel the sure and blessed healing that His stripes have worked in us, do not our hearts melt at once with love and grief? If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely we must feel that affection glowing now within our hearts.
See how the patient Jesus stands,
Insulted in His lowest case!
Sinners have bound the Almighty's hands,
And spit in their Creator's face.
With thorns He temples gor'd and gash'd
Send streams of blood from every part;
His back's with knotted scourges lash'd.
But sharper scourges tear His heart.
We would gladly go to our rooms and weep; but since our business calls us away, we will first pray for our Beloved to print the image of His bleeding self on the tablets of our hearts throughout the day. At nightfall, we will return to commune with Him, and grieve that our sin should have cost Him so much.

"Just kill the bugs, Jerry."

Actually, my friend's name is spelled Gerry, but I thought the two J's in the title looked better. Gerry is a member of our church who came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a number of years ago.

On the spur of the moment, Gerry joined me and a couple of other men in our church for lunch. The other two guys work about an hour away, so on our way out to see them, Gerry and I enjoyed a good conversation. He shared with me how he came to know Christ, and how his life was forever changed. So much so that Gerry switched jobs. Previously he was in a managerial position that pretty much required him to work every Sunday morning. Corporate worship became such a priority to Gerry, that he switched jobs, taking a cut in pay. At least in this new job, Gerry didn't have to work Sundays, for the parent company was founded by Christians who did not conduct business on the Lord's Day.

Gerry is an exterminator. He kills bugs for a living. And he loves it. Not because he has anything against bugs, but because Gerry loves people. He enjoys getting to know his customers and taking care of their "pesty" problems. Most of all, Gerry looks for opportunities to share the gospel with them. Some folks are interested in what Gerry has to say; others aren't.

One time, Gerry attempted to share the gospel with a woman who was dying of cancer. Apparently she wasn't interested in listening, nor was her husband. After a moment or so he said, "Just kill the bugs, Gerry." So Gerry courteously continued his work.

Gerry could have given up, figuring few if any of his customers would be interested in hearing the gospel. They would probably just get offended or think he was weird. But Gerry knew better than that. Gerry is fully persuaded that the gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). So as Gerry goes about his business killing bugs, he continues to share the gospel wherever the opportunity presents itself.

On another occasion Gerry got to talking about spiritual matter with another customer. As he opened his Bible, the client said, "Man, I wish I had one of those!" Gerry said, "Here, take this one! I've got three more at home!" Maybe we'll see that man in heaven someday.

The more I listened to Gerry, the more I perceived and appreciated his love for God and for people. It was so encouraging to know that this brother was being so faithful in sharing his faith with others. I was challenged and motivated to be more consistent in my own gospel witness.

Gerry just doesn't kill bugs. He tells people about Jesus. I love that. Don't you?

A Peek at Saint Patrick

A few days ago I received via e-mail this wonderful article on Saint Patrick posted by Jim Elliff, founder and president of Christian Com-municators Worldwide (CCW). How much do you know about this missionary to Ireland named Patrick? Read on!

As Attila the Hun prepared his first attack on Roman provinces and Augustine secluded himself in his study writing The City of God, Patrick's parents worried about their son. At almost 16 years old, he hadn't professed faith in Christ, even though his father Calpornius was a deacon and his grandfather Potitus was a pastor in the church. Something of a rebel, Patrick had already committed a serious sin that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

One night shortly before his 16th birthday, Patrick stayed at his father's country estate in Britain with the household servants while his parents traveled to a nearby town on business. While everyone slept, a party of Irish slave traders surrounded the estate. All the able-bodied members of the household were kidnapped, bound with chains and loaded into boats to be transported to Ireland. Those who resisted were killed outright.

After a two-day journey in an open boat, chained to the other captives, Patrick was sold to a farmer and given the menial task of watching the sheep. Three days before he had been a nobleman's son commanding slaves, now he was a slave. Patrick wrote about this time in hisConfession:

But it was here in Ireland that God first opened my heart, so that—even though it was a late start—I became aware of my failings and began to turn with my whole heart to the Lord my God. For He looked down on my miserable condition and had compassion for me, young and foolish as I was. He cared for me even before I knew who He was, before I could tell the difference between right and wrong. He protected me and loved me even as a father does his own child.1

Patrick prayed constantly during these years, alone with the sheep, and remembered the Godly teaching of his parents and his pastor. Patrick also learned to speak the language of the Irish people, gradually learning their customs and about the gods they worshipped. In learning to protect and care for the sheep, Patrick was for the first time forced to think of something other than his own selfish desires. Patrick said:

God used the time to shape and mold me into something better. He made me into what I am now—someone very different from what I once was, someone who can care about others and work to help them.

After serving as a slave for six years, Patrick twice had a dream in which he heard a voice say, "Your ship is ready." Taking this as a sign from God, Patrick ran away from his owner and traveled "maybe 200 miles" on foot as a fugitive. Patrick was utterly alone for weeks and yet said he was never afraid until he came to the port city. There, he summoned up his courage and asked a ship's captain if he might sail with them to Britain as a member of the crew. The Captain initially refused his request, but as Patrick breathed a prayer for guidance, the officer changed his mind. Patrick was going home.

Can you imagine the celebration as Patrick walked into the courtyard of his home in Britain? The son they had thought twice lost, both to this world and the next, was twice found. Patrick said, "They took me in—their long-lost son—and begged me earnestly that after all I had been through I would never leave them again."

We know little about the next few years of Patrick's life—how long he stayed at home or what plans his parents had for his future. We do know that as a result of a series of dreams, Patrick was convinced that God wanted him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick's parents would lose him yet again.

After receiving the proper training and the blessing of the church, Patrick obeyed God and returned to the land of his captivity, preaching among the people there for the next 40 years. Thousands of people came to know Christ and the church in Ireland was established. InConfession, a letter Patrick wrote late in his life, he said:

My final prayer is that all of you who believe in God and respect Him—whoever you may be who read this letter that Patrick the unlearned sinner wrote from Ireland—that none of you will ever say that I in my ignorance did anything for God. You must understand—because it is the truth—that it was all the gift of God.

____________

1 Quotes from Patrick's Confession were taken from the translation of Philip Freeman, St. Patrick of Ireland (Simon and Schuster, 2004), pages 176-193.
______________________________

Copyright © 2006 Susan Verstraete
Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright. Other uses require written permission.

"The Humble Will Rejoice in the Lord"

In The Spirit of Revival, pastor-theologian R. C. Sproul wrote, "A study of both Scripture and history shows that God usually brings revival through 'nobodies from nowhere,' humble people who lived in little-known places who in their own time were not considered celebrities."

Does this thought encourage you? It does me! It coincided perfectly with what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers:
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who thing they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
- 1 Cor. 1:26-29, NLT
Sunday after the morning worship service, I was talking with a Christian brother who was sporting a T-shirt that communicated a biblical truth (offhand I can't recall exactly what it was). I mentioned a few ties that my wife had gotten me for Christmas in years past. One had the Lord's Prayer written on it; another had a beautiful script of John 3:16 (I wore that tie just yesterday, in fact); another shows the books of the Bible. My friend mentioned another T-shirt he owns that says,
I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody
about a Somebody who can save anybody.

Such a perspective quells pride, promotes holiness, exalts Christ, and enhances our Gospel witness.

We are in the midst of a Week of Prayer at my church. Our theme for this week is repentance. One verse we've considered is Isaiah 57:15:
For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
C. J. Mahaney got it right when he wrote, "God is decisively drawn to humility.... This is the promise of humility. God is personally and providentially supportive of the humble." I close with the following prayer taken from the Puritan devotional classic, The Valley of Vision:

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.

Self-Denial, Prayer, and Fasting

The following article was written by Pastor Paul Tessari, in preparation for our upcoming Week of Prayer (March 7-13):

There are several things which might facilitate prayer and fasting in God’s people. Most notable in Scripture are those exhibiting repentance for sin[1] and those who are seeking God’s help, guidance and protection in a given situation.[2] No matter the cause, the believer seeks to move the heart and hand of God to action on their behalf. We are, as Isaiah 58:4 states, trying to “make [our] voice heard on high.” These petitions are to be done in humility knowing that God only looks to the one who is humble and contrite of spirit.[3] God, Scripture attests, does not hear the prayers of a sinful man.[4]

So what is the posture of fervent prayer? How do we make known to Him the importance of our prayer? Surely, as Scripture teaches we should “pray without ceasing.” We should be active in our daily lives communing in prayer to the Almighty King. But what of those special circumstances, when we run to Him in emergency, when our need is dire, our hearts heavy, and our hope slim? Times like that of Esther the queen who discovered a plot by Haman to murder her people and wipe them off the face of the earth. Or times like that of Jonah when he preached to the wicked people of Ninevah and proclaimed the impending judgment of God upon them. How did they pray then? In what way did they emphasize the degree of their prayer? They did it with fasting! The people willingly denied themselves life sustaining nourishment in an appeal to make known to the Lord the serious nature of their petition. “We shall deny ourselves and seek the Lord,” they said.

The concept of self denial is not new to Scripture. Indeed, Scripture is filled with its references. As a Christian it is foundational to our faith, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24).

The apostle Paul, ever the impassioned writer, compares the Christian to a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Each of these vocations conjure images of self abstention. Can you imagine a soldier who fights only when he wants to? Or breaks for lunch whenever he’s hungry? What sort of athlete stops when he’s tired or quits when he’s behind? What befalls the farmer who wakes up at mid day when the notion suits him?

Be assured that this soldier will never win the battle, this athlete will not see victory, this farmer will never enjoy the fruit of his labor nor eat of its bounty. Winning the battle, seeing the victory, enjoying the fruit of your labor never comes without first laying aside self. And neither does the Christian walk.

Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 9 when he says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

When we fast we are denying our body the very thing it needs to survive. In so doing, we are subjecting the desires of the flesh to the will of the spirit. In earnest humility we are appealing to our heavenly Father and making known to Him the importance of our petition.

Such commitment in prayer is rare today. In an age where we are encouraged to yield ourselves to our flesh, Scripture exhorts us to deny ourselves and pray to a holy God. This goes contrary to everything our culture embraces. At every turn, our society incites us to submit to the appetites of our flesh and “just do it.” Satisfy your every impulse and “Go for it.” Yell from the rooftops, “It’s my money and I want it now!”

Yet, this is not the way of Christ.

Self denial should be a distinguishing mark of all those who name the name of Christ. We are bought with a price. We are not our own. As bondservant of our Lord Jesus Christ we do not do our own will, but the will of Him who has saved us.

In a little over a week, First Baptist Church in Weymouth will be having our week of prayer. O, how beautiful and encouraging it will be to see brothers and sisters in Christ united in prayer. How “counter culture” it will be to band together and deny our earthly impulses and present ourselves before the throne of grace in humility. I, for one, am looking forward to it.

[1] Jud. 20:26; 1 Sam. 7:6; Neh. 1:4, 9:1; Dan 9.

[2] 2 Chr. 20:1-4; Ez. 8:21; Est. 4:3; Ps. 109:19; Dan. 6:18; Acts 13:2, 14:23

[3] Ps. 35:13; Is. 66:2

[4] Jer. 14:12

How Hungry Are You for God?

On March 7, our church will launch its annual Week of Prayer. The Elders and Deacons are encouraging the congregation to fast the final three days of this week-long prayer watch.

Why? Because fasting is a biblical way of reminding ourselves that God is the center of the universe, not man. If God is truly our number-one love, then we will exalt and desire the Giver above His gifts. Consider the following Scriptures:
  • Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. - Psalm 73:25
  • As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. - Psalm 42:1
  • I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. - Job 23:12
  • Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4; cf. Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3
That final statement was made by Jesus at the end of a forty-day fast in the wilderness. Jesus did not command His followers to fast; He simply assumed they would. (In giving them instructions He said, "When you fast..." not "If you fast...." - see Matthew 6:16-18).

There is a danger in fasting. The Word of God warns us about people who "require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth" (1 Tim. 4:3). The fact is, "food will not commend us to God' we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat" (1 Cor. 8:8). God accepts us on account of His own mercy and grace, on the merits of His Son Jesus Christ. Whatever we do in relation to food or drink is done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). It is an act of worship, God accepts us solely on the merits of His Son, Jesus Christ. In his outstanding book, A Hunger for God, John Piper points out,
In the heart of the saint, both eating and fasting are worship. Both magnify Christ. Both send the heart - grateful and yearning - to the Giver. Each has its appointed place, and each has its danger. The danger of eating is that we fall in love with the gift; the danger of fasting is that we belittle the gift and glory in our willpower.
Earlier in this same book (on the very first page, actually) Piper notes, "The discipline of self-denial is fraught with dangers - perhaps only surpassed by the dangers of indulgence."

Frankly, I believe that's the extremity toward which most of us gravitate ... by far. We are slaves to our appetites. Paul warns us about those "whose god is their belly" (Phil. 3:19). As Piper quips, "The stomach is sovereign."

I understand that the point of fasting is not to diet; it's to die - to self! Food itself is not the issue per se; it's our fleshly appetite. An idol is anything that becomes a substitute for God. An idol can range anywhere from sexual pleasure to a T.V. show to a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship to making money to seeking the praise and approval of others.

There is such a thing as true and false fasting. Read Isaiah 58. If you abstain from food while clinging to the other idols of your heart, then forget it. You might as well go ahead and gorge yourself; your fasting isn't acceptable to God anyway. But if you abstain from food as an expression of your hunger for God, desiring His righteousness, His presence, His power in your life - if you "take delight in the Lord," He will "make you ride on the heights of the earth" (Isa. 58:14). He will prove Himself to be the greatest pleasure that you can possibly experience.

So while it may be appropriate to abstain from sex, or a certain T.V. show, or your favorite hobby for the sake of seeking the Lord, there's nothing like abstaining from food that brings our fleshly cravings to the surface. This is a point that Arthur Wallis stresses strongly in his classic book, God's Chosen Fast. Without mincing words, Wallis writes:
When people do not like the plain, literal meaning of something in the Bible they are tempted to spiritualize it and so rob it of its potency. Once the truth becomes nebulous it ceases to have any practical implication. They have blunted its edge; it can no longer cut. In the main this is what the professing Church, and evangelicals in particular, have tended to do with the biblical teaching on fasting.

"To fast," we are told, "is not simply nor necessarily to abstain from food, but from anything that hinders our communion with God." Or they say, "Fasting means to do without, to practice self-denial." We have only to widen the meaning enough and the cutting edge has gone.

It is true that there are many things besides food that may hinder our communion with God. It is also true that we need to practice self-denial in general. The fact still remains that "to fast" means primarily "not to eat."
John Wesley declared, "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have disregarded it." As was stated earlier, the prevalent error of our day is not self-denial but self-indulgence. We tend to feast and play rather than to fast and pray.

But I also believe that God in His grace brings us to the place where we get "fed up" (pun intended) with the junk food of this world and long to feast in fellowship with Him. As Wallis states so eloquently,
... God be praised, a new day is dawning, and a new thirst for the Spirit is beginning to awake the slumbering Church. It is a day of spiritual renewal. There are searchings and inquirings, burdens and longings on every hand. The heart-cry of the Church is ascending to heaven. The Spirit of God is stirring.
Is He stirring in your heart? I hope so. I pray that you will be so hungry for God that you will say to Him, through fasting, "God, this is how badly I want You; this is how badly I need You! I do desire You more than my necessary food! Come to me, Lord, and fill Me with the fullness of Yourself!"