Category: Discipleship Essentials

How Strong Is My Anchor?

key

When a ship is being pounded in a storm, sometimes the best step is to anchor it until the fury subsides. This can also be our best action when life besets us with storms.

When we are in school, we look forward to the day when we will no longer be subject to pop quizzes, tests, and final exams. Even after graduation, we remain in what might be thought of as the school of life, which is full of challenges and tests. Tests and difficulties are woven into the fabric of life. If we are children of God, he uses them to reveal what is in our hearts and to help us grow in our faith and devotion to him. We can learn and mature as a product of testing, or we can flounder, profiting little. 

Jesus gave us some comforting words to help us.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)

No matter what happens to us, we have a promise from Jesus that we can always experience his peace. Some of us have already experienced the fulfillment of this promise first hand. Others of us will eventually, if we keep our faith and focus on the Lord. But what about those times when the storm that comes at us is so severe that we feel as if we are barely able to hang on to God and his promises? What can we do if we feel as if things are hopeless, confusing, and spinning out of control?

When life seems like a violent storm pushing us against deadly reefs, we need an anchor to help us ride out the storm. Consider these words.

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18-19 (NLT)

Jesus already successfully navigated the worst storm imaginable at Calvary. He endured the confusion of contradiction, the abandonment and betrayal of friends, false accusations by enemies, injustice, horrible suffering, and a humiliating death. Through the apparent hopelessness of it all, he did not waver in his faith in his loving Father and the promises in the Word of God. He made the decision to enter that vortex of suffering, knowing full well what was ahead, because he fully trusted his Abba Father to be his Keeper.

When Jesus rose from the dead, his’ victory over fear and hopelessness was complete. All who trust in him share in that victory.

When it is our time to enter into testing and trial, it is important for us to make some conscious choices. It is important for us to make a stand against any emotions of fear, doubt, and confusion that may arise in our minds and hearts. The devil, who is the father of lies, attempts to get us to believe his lies instead of God’s truth in order to gain an advantage over us. Satan tells us that God is not there, that he does not even care, or perhaps that he is unable to help us. He tells us that God and his promises cannot be fully trusted. He reminds us of our faults and failings, instilling in our minds the idea that we don’t deserve God’s help anyway. Others may be blessed, but not us. Therefore, faith is useless. We must either give up altogether or take matters into our own hands.

When Satan’s lies line up with our own false interpretation of reality, it creates a powerful pull to abandon our trust in God.

The Bible calls these lies “strongholds,” which are logical arguments we make that nullify the truth and impact of God’s Word. These devilish speculations must be destroyed using spiritual weapons. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Four of the weapons God has given us are:

  1. The truth of God’s Word,
  2. Our faith in God and his promises,
  3. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and
  4. Praise.

Unfortunately many of us have at one time or another succumbed to this temptation and have lost hope, surrendered to fear, and perhaps became quite angry at God and life. Perhaps you are in that place right now. There is hope in the Lord.

We dare not fail this test because it will engender negative consequences for us and those we love. Those we love are watching how we navigate life in relationship to our faith in the Lord. Our obedience will positively impact our friends and families, not to mention our own lives. 

The Bible encourages us by telling us what will be the outcome for those who refuse to abandon their hope in God and his promises.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 (ESV)

Our ability to survive and thrive in the midst of the strains and confusion of life depends on our holding to the following three convictions or anchors.

  1. God is loving and good. Satan seeks to cut the line to this anchor of faith, and, if he does, we have little to hold us. However, if we maintain our confidence that God is loving and good, despite our circumstances or past experiences, we will be able to overcome adversity. God is glorified when we make this choice.
  2. God is powerful. This anchor of conviction upholds that God is sovereign over all things. He is not in a struggle against evil in which the outcome is in doubt. He is not evenly matched against some evil foe. He is the Supreme Being in whom we can fully trust him at all times. Jesus’ resurrection sealed the doom of Satan and the certainty of our eternal inheritance once and for all.
  3. God is working all things for my good and his glory. This anchor is the logical outcome of believing the first two points above and is where the victory in our minds and hearts is won. Romans 8:28 states that everything is being worked out for our good by a loving and powerful God. He will be glorified in and through us if we maintain our confidence through the test.

These three anchors of faith give us a reason to make the choice to praise God for his goodness, his power, and for working all things out for his glory and our best interests. We can choose to praise God despite our natural inclination to wallow in fear, doubt, and self-pity. We are able to choose to praise him even when our emotions are flat or even depressed. We can praise him for who he is, what he has promised, and what we believe he will do on our behalf!

When we offer to God the sacrifice of praise in the midst of confusing and difficult situations, it is a God-glorifying act of faith and  a powerful spiritual weapon.

Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands— 7  to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8  to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, 9  to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD! Psalm 149:6-9 (NLT)

Through holding on to the anchor of faith and choosing to offer God praise we can transition from hopelessness and fear to a place of peace and victorious faith.

We can experience what it means to be an overcomer, all because we make the choice to trust God and his promises in spite of all that is opposed to us. We will have an anchor for the soul that cannot be moved!

Share this post...

Freedom from Shame

key

The fear of being put to shame can enslave and prevent us from courageously facing the challenges of life. God understands this and has provided a way for us to walk free of this insidious tyranny.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalms 34:5 (NLT)

Shame can be either a painful negative emotion resulting from having done something specific that was wrong of foolish, or it can be a general pervasive negative emotional state resulting from a chronic sense of self-reproach or failure. The latter may originate in childhood and is more difficult to alleviate. Some of our shame is well-deserved. If we sin against God and others, shame can be the just consequence. It certainly was for Adam and Eve.

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Genesis 3:6-7 (NLT)

Sin reveals the unseemly side of us that most of us wish to conceal.

When the shame of our sin is exposed, we usually try to hide.

This can make relating to others a big challenge, since we may go to great lengths to hide anything in us is connected to shame.  We may anticipate that, if we are truly known, we will be rejected, which is sometimes the case, as it turns out. As a result, sometimes we grow to like or love someone based on the façade presented to us, rather than the real person. This is unnerving to the person who is hiding because of the fear of one day being exposed. This kind of hiding can involve big issues or small. Eventually whatever is connected to our shame will surface, however, and that is when relationships are tested. This process can lead to a necessary disillusionment that forces us to face the truth, which is often a necessary step in building a strong relationship or marriage.

Deep friendships and great marriages can happen when people take down the façade and continue to love one another despite knowing about the other person’s weaknesses and sin.

Conversely, friendships and marriages can rip apart if the deception and resulting disillusionment are too great. This can also happen to relationships in a church.

Most of the time we do not truly know a person until after we have a disagreement with them or go through a crisis together.

How we weather those storms can more perfectly reveal the nature and depth of our relationship. One of my mentors once told me that he never trusted a person until after he had a fight with him. Whenever a new person or family joins a church, it takes a while to get to know them. At first, we do not know if they will prove to be good friends and valuable assets to us or not. Time will tell. 

Disappointment and disillusionment are risks we take when we dare to love people.

There are countless numbers of believers who are drifting with no church home because at some point they were hurt and disillusioned by members of some local church.

Part of the problem is that they were not prepared to encounter disillusionment. If we are going to survive and thrive in a very sinful world, we must come to terms with the fact that people are not always who we pretend to be.

One person who is incapable of being disillusioned is God.

God knows us completely and anticipates every thought, world, and action we will ever take. Nothing we ever do surprises him.

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2  You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. 5  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT)

God’s omniscience makes it even more remarkable and encouraging that he chooses people to belong to him even before they are born.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:3-5 (NLT)

Adoption is never by accident. It is an intentional act of love. Every child, whether biological or adopted, is a treasure. Parents may have some idea of who their biological children are, but the full revelation comes over time. Adoptive parents have less of an idea of who their children may be, since they usually have no clue what family traits may have been passed down. But God knows everything about all of us up front. He will never step back in disgust or disappointment after we make a huge misstep or sin, thinking that he made a mistake in choosing you or me.

God knew ahead of time all we would ever think, say, or do, and still chose to love us. This is a big antidote to shame.

Abandonment and rejection are roots of shame. These two things signify that we are of little value, at least that is what the devil wants us to think. If we experience abandonment or rejection, we may know the reason or may be left to imagine it. Little children and some adults are quick to assume blame, even when it is not our fault, thinking that there must be something wrong with us that is responsible for others rejecting us. Left unchecked, this can lead to the development of a pervasive since of shame mentioned earlier in this article..

Sometimes shame can be associated with sinful things we have done or were done to us. People who sexually abuse others, for example, should feel shame for their actions; that is, until and if they experience the forgiveness and cleansing provided by our Lord Jesus. Children who are preyed upon by these abusers also may experience a sense of shame, even what happened was not their fault. In fact, many predators lay the blame on their young victims, establishing a “lie-based stronghold” of guilt and shame in that young one’s mind. This sort of lie must be replaced with the truth in order for shame to be eradicated.

Whether our shame was earned through our own sinfulness or improperly thrust upon us, Jesus has done everything necessary to set us free.

When Jesus hung naked upon the cross, enduring scorn, rejection, abandonment, injustice, and disgrace, he took that shame on our behalf, along with the shame attached to our sin. Just as He carried our sin and guilt to the cross, He also bore our shame there.

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)

Because He carried our shame, we do not have to bear it.

Here are some promises.

"Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more, 5 for your Creator will be your husband. The LORD Almighty is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. 6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband," says your God. 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. 8 In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:4-8 (NLT)

But the LORD will save the people of Israel with eternal salvation. They will never again be humiliated and disgraced throughout everlasting ages. Isaiah 45:17 (NLT) 

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 1 Peter 2:6 (NKJV)

Did Jesus liberate anyone from shame during his three-year itinerant ministry? The answer is “Yes!” He set free the demoniac, who endured the shame and disgrace attached to his condition. He was forced to live alone in the tombs away from society. Jesus healed lepers who had to isolate themselves and cry out “unclean” whenever they moved about. Jesus allowed the adulteress in John Chapter 8 to walk away forgiven and with dignity after rescuing her from those who would have stoned her to death for her publicly exposed sin. He forgave and restored Peter, who shamed himself and his Lord by denying him publicly three times. Jesus was big on delivering people from shame then and continues to be to this day.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

Therefore, we who follow Christ are able to know that our shame has been carried away by Our Lord Jesus Christ and we no longer must bear it.

We can throw off any oppressive weight of shame by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and can so honor the One who was shamed for our sake. We can make it our aim to honor and glorify God by putting our full trust in him and his promises and by boldly declaring the Gospel and name of Christ without fear of any shame the world may attempt to thrust upon us for doing that. If we are proud of our Lord, he will return the favor at the Last Judgment.

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)

Let’s trust the Lord to help us to be bold witnesses for Christ. Whenever we may fall short, let’s quickly repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing from our sin and shame and have another go at it.

See other articles in this series.
Share this post...

Being Habitually Thankful – A Big Key to a Happier Life

key

The Bible reveals that one of the most important keys to experiencing a joyful life is the practice of being habitually thankful. We can develop a thankful heart when we are grateful for the many blessings God has given to us. We can begin by making it a practice to contemplate the goodness and generosity of God. If this sort of thankfulness does not come naturally, we can learn to remind ourselves each day to be grateful for known blessings. One easy way to do this is by using the Bible as a starting point. For example, Psalm 103 was written by King David, who was a man of praise. In it he reminds himself of God’s goodness to him, which elicits praise from his lips.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Psalm 103:1–2 (NASB95)

If we read the entire psalm, we will see all things for which he thanked God. His list is a good one for us, too. If we prefer the New Testament, Paul gives us several passages that we can use as starters for being grateful, such as Ephesians Chapter One. I suggest that we read these verses slowly, giving thanks for each blessing listed. You will be amazed who this leads to genuine worship from the heart.

Sadly, many of us take God and blessings for granted, complaining about everything that doesn’t seem to go our way. Complaining is a sin that God punished severely during Israel’s wilderness journey. Those chapters were written to teach us a valuable lesson. If you want to check it out, read through Numbers and see how many times God came down hard on complainers.

When we gripe about our circumstances, we accuse God of failing to deal equitably and lovingly with us. It is an overt act of rebellion.

The Bible clearly teaches that our Lord is working everything out for our good and his glory.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)

When we complain, we call God a liar.

Thankfulness is built upon the conviction that God loves us and consistently acts on our behalf in a way that is good, powerful, and wise.

It becomes habitual when we surrender to God all our demands and desires, believing that he is generous and will give us everything we need. It is complete when we would rather glorify God than do anything else, which means we let go of our demand to understand why he allows pain and difficulties to come into our lives.

Thankful people are happy people who bring honor and glory to their Creator and encouragement to others.

The practice of being thankful is simple to grasp but costly to put into practice. Our “flesh,” the residual part of us connected to Adam’s sin and not yet under Christ’s rule, is never grateful because it has no faith. We must resist this inner pull to complain and rely on our spirit within, which is connected with God’s Holy Spirit, to give thanks to God. At first, this may seem difficult, but as it becomes more of a habit, it will come more (super)naturally.

Are we willing to lay down our pride and become thankful in all things? If so, why not start now?

Rejoice always, 17  pray without ceasing, 18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Prayer

Father in heaven, thank you for creating me. Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for all the good things you have given to me over the years and your promise to provide and care for me forever. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise again, so that I could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with you. I also give thanks for the difficult things going on in my life right now. (List them out loud.) I believe you are working all things out for my good and your glory. Glorify yourself through my life, Lord, and through the situations and circumstances surrounding me. Let me bring glory to you by modeling trust and thankfulness to others. I believe you love me and always have my best interests in mind. Amen.

Share this post...

God’s Got This!”

key

In the weeks and months leading up to the 2020 presidential election, when it became increasingly apparent that the “fix” was in, I received a strong impression from God one morning: “God’s got this.” It brought rest to my heart, as you might imagine. However, I immediately I layered on top of that simple statement my expectations of what that meant, which is what we usually do when God speaks to us. We all tend to hear what we want to hear and project our hopes on to his words. Notwithstanding, I continue to hang on to those words, confident that God indeed “has this,” even though a lot time has passed.

I realize that God’s version of having things in hand is quite different from mine.

Since his power and authority is absolute, he is willing to let things play out far longer than I would. But then, he is God. This is a tremendous life lesson that all of us need to learn seemingly over and over again.

Since that morning, the Lord has spoken several other things to me that add layers to his first promise. Let me share those other messages with you, in the hope that it might encourage your heart, as it did mine.

The second thing I heard him tell me was this: “Let go and watch what I do.” This reminded me of a relevant Bible verse.

"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 (NASB)

This, of course, is an extension of the first word, “I’ve got this,” with the added promise that God is going to glorify himself in the midst of what is taking place on the earth. It reminds us that he has much more at stake than the survival of our Republic. His plan for the entire world and the glorification of his Son is playing out. His glory shall indeed fill the earth. We can be sure of that.

The third thing I heard the Lord speak to my heart came one morning as I was praying for our nation with a sense of angst. “Lighten up. I have already done this.” It was a gentle reminder that not only has he indeed “got this,” but that it is a finished deal from his point of view.

One of the most powerful spiritual weapons at our disposal is praise.

Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds. 6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7  To execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the peoples, 8  To bind their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron, 9  To execute on them the judgment written; This is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD! Psalm 149:5-9 (NASB)

I realize that many believers are very uncomfortable with the idea that we are to execute judgment in God’s behalf. Certainly, we must forgive our enemies, but we also have a call to stand with God in righteous judgment. That is one of the functions of the church – to execute judgment tempered with mercy. The way we do this in the here and now is by offering our praise and worship to the God of judgment. The two-edged sword is the Word of God. (Hebrews 4:12) As we worship the Sovereign Lord and declare his lordship over all things, we in essence bind evil plans and people over to the will of God. As Jesus taught us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,”

We are not to pray desperate prayers. Instead of pleading with God to do something, we are to stand in faith and declare that the victory is already won.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 (ESV) 

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV)

The fourth thing I heard him speak is elementary, but it bears repeating: “You have nothing to fear.” Fear is a natural response to the unknown, but it must be resisted. We are in the midst of a worldwide psy-op fear campaign designed to push people into abandoning sound judgment and doing irrational things. rollercoasterFear impairs our decision making ability. The children of Israel made some pretty terrible choices in the desert because they were afraid of their enemies instead of trusting God. We are no different from them, except that we who believe in Jesus have the Spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13) living inside us. (A huge difference!) We have no excuse for fearing, except that we still live in these fleshly bodies and are subject to temptation. (You may with to read another of my articles, entitled You Are Not Alone, to get help in this area.)

God wants us to make the choice to fear not, because He has things in hand!

The fifth thing God spoke to me was the following: “You have no idea how powerful I am.” There are three basic reasons why we should trust God. He is good. He keeps his Word, and he is powerful. In other words, he always does what he says. What he promises is always good, and nothing is able to thwart his plans. Plenty of well-meaning people make promises they cannot possibly keep, but never God. He always does what he says. Nothing is too difficult for him. Truly, we have no idea how powerful is the One who created the the heavens and earth out of nothing.

As we praise and worship the Sovereign One, who loves us beyond comprehension and always does what he says because no one and nothing can possibly stop him, let’s encourage our hearts that God’s got this!

All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ Daniel 4:35 (NLT)
Read other articles in this series.
Share this post...

Have We Betrayed Our Reformation Heritage?

deception

Protestant Christians received an valuable heritage from the courageous men and women of the Reformation, which can be summarized by the Latin Sola Scriptura. These words simply mean “by scripture alone.” That world altering revolution against the tyranny of Roman Catholicism began when daring men, often at the expense of their lives, translated the scriptures into the language of the common man. Before that, the Roman church veiled the Bible in the Latin tongue, insisting that the average person had no business reading or interpreting its meaning. Ignorance of the Bible allowed the Roman Church to enslave the masses with the chains of church tradition and papal authority, which often contradicted the Bible’s teachings and obscured the gospel. By putting the Bible into the hands of the common man and insisting that it alone was the supreme authority in our lives, the Reformation effectively wrested power away from the Roman Church, at least for those who believed the gospel.

The Roman Catholic Counter Reformation began in 1540, some 23 years after Luther posted his 95 theses, and was led by Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order. One of Loyola’s strategies was to win people back to Catholicism by focusing on education. If Roman tradition and papal authority could not overcome people’s new reliance upon the authority of the Bible, perhaps education could.

If we recognize that our spiritual battle is not primarily against people, I believe we can see Satan’s hand in this.

The devil has always insisted that education is more important than naive reliance upon what God says.

In fact, in Loyola’s lifetime, what is called the High Renaissance was flowering. It was a return to classic (pagan) roots of civilization, emphasizing literature, learning, and art derived from the Romans and Greeks.

At the same time that God was turning people to the scriptures, the devil was reviving paganism with a brand new twist – the Scientific Revolution.

Interestingly, this revolution is commonly believed to have begun in 1543 with the publication of Copernicus’ book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres). Copernicus derived some of his thinking from the pagan sun worshiper, Tresmegistus. Here is a quote:

copernicus quote

The introduction of the heliocentric theory of the “solar system” was every bit as transformational as the Protestant Revolution, perhaps even more so as far as the world is concerned, not in the least because it set in motion the abandonment of Sola Scriptura by the church. 

The Scientific Revolution led to breakthroughs in many areas and established science as an autonomous discipline set free from the “shackles” or limitations previously imposed on it by the Bible.

Since the temptation in the garden of Eden, Satan has pushed mankind to abandon God’s Word in a quest of for independent knowledge. He set up Eve to see God’s restriction from eating from the one tree in the garden as a much larger prohibition against enjoying fruit from any tree.

That evil spirit always wants us to view God as the Great Restrictor, keeping humanity back from reaching its potential.

This is exactly how those who embraced the Scientific Revolution came to see the Bible. Since that time, it has been largely viewed as an anachronism, perhaps a sort of fairy tale, sadly wanting in scientific accuracy. 

The early reformers, such as Luther and Calvin, rejected Copernicus’ heliocentric theory because they still adhered to Sola Scriptura. Luther used one verse of the Bible to reject Copernicus – Joshua 10:13.

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13 (NASB95)

luther flat earthWhen I bring up this argument against the heliocentric theory, my Christian friends usually counter with “God can do anything.” That, in my opinion, is a flimsy excuse for contradicting the plain meaning of the Bible.

Calvin wrote that Copernicus’ teaching originated from the demonic realm.

copernicus quote

 

But those adherents to the authority of Scripture over all other authorities died out, and the education system spearheaded by the Jesuits taught the heliocentric model to succeeding generations, insisting that Copernicus’ theory is a scientific fact, and so it is thought today by those who reject the supreme authority of the Bible.

Satan gained a significant victory over our heritage from the Reformation, Sola Scriptura, by convincing most Christians that we dare not resist the Goliath of modern science. Instead of Sola Scriptura, we now have Sciencia Prima – Science First. Having been intimidated by scientific theories proclaimed as facts, many Christians now find it obligatory to view such science defying passages as Genesis Chapter One through the lens of heliocentrism.

When we take the plain meaning of the Bible and deform it to agree with science falsely so called, it is a betrayal of the heritage we received from the Reformation and proclaims that we think God is a liar.

I believe this makes us like Saul after his battle against the Amalekites. Samuel told him to kill every living thing, but he spared king Agag and best of the livestock. When Samuel challenged him regarding his disobedience, he remonstrated, that he did obey the Lord. Samuel retorted, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears?” (1 Samuel 15:14) God likewise asks us who claim to believe every word of the Bible, “What then is this pagan heliocentrism?” We cannot have it both ways.

And just as Saul’s disobedience, according to Samuel, was as the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23); so, our departure from the authority of God’s Word has allowed a bewitching spell to be cast over the entire earth, blinding us to God’s truth regarding the world in which we live and the existence of the creator.

We cannot say that we believe the authority of the scripture is supreme when we make the Bible bow the knee to scientific theories.

I have talked to enough Christians who believe in heliocentrism to know that they believe that they still adhere to Sola Scriptura. They see no contradiction in believing Copernicus’ view of the heavens and earth and holding to the authority and truthfulness of Genesis Chapter One. However, they do not believe Genesis is literally accurate. They think that it contains truth but is not the truth and must be interpreted so that it somehow agrees with Copernicus. But this is not how the authors of the Old Testament saw things, and one of the fundamental rules of interpretation is that the scriptures must at least mean what the authors intended them to mean. They believed that Genesis is the literal truth.

Modern Christians who adhere to Sciencia Prima do not realize that Satan effectively undermined the validity of the entire Bible by convincing even Christians that Genesis Chapter One is not scientifically accurate.

Do we really think that unbelievers will be convinced that Christ rose from the dead when they find out we do not even believe that the Bible is literally true about something so fundamental as creation? Yet, we go about preaching the resurrection of Christ, the creation of humans (as opposed to Evolution), and the Noahic flood as being totally believable, while at the same time rejecting Genesis Chapter One. I find this odd.

It seems we have been so divorced from our Reformation heritage that many Christians today are embarrassed when someone stands up to say he or she believes those verses about creation and the earth and heavens are literally true!

Perhaps the biggest test we Christians in the West face today is whether we will be loyal to God’s word. Jesus reminded us that he expects for us to be unashamed of him and his words. (Luke 9:26) John the Revelator was exiled to the island of Patmos for his allegiance both to Jesus and God’s Word. (Revelation 1:9) It is time for us to embrace the Word and scorn the shame that will be heaped upon us by a disbelieving world and church.

Modern astrophysics stands against the Bible like a Goliath, daring anyone to have the courage to defy him publicly. Up to this point, most Christians have cowered in fear, but God is raising up a band of Davids who will take the challenge, disregard our fears of disapproval and persecution, and boldly reaffirm Sola Scriptura.

Share this post...

From Frustration to Fruitfulness

key

Nothing good comes from frustration unless we use it the right way. Have you ever wondered why God often chose barren women to become mothers of some of the important people in Bible history? It cannot be mere coincidence. Our Lord is using these examples to teach us something very important. A recurring theme is for a man to marry a woman he dearly loves only to discover she cannot seem to conceive – Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, Jacob & Rachel, and Elkanah & Hannah. In those days, God allowed men to have more than one wife, which is related to my point, because it set up a situation in which frustration, jealousy, mocking, and torment could come into play. Hagar mocked Sarah, Leah mocked Rachel, and Peninnah did the same to Hannah, producing in them a significant level of frustration. Frustrated people sometimes become bitter against God, but none of these women did that.

In the days when the Old Testament accounts were being lived out, the ability to have children was supremely important and used as a measurement of God’s blessing. Conversely, childlessness was viewed with disdain or pity and regarded as a sign of God’s judgment or lack of favor. Indeed, children are a blessing from the Lord in so many ways. They bring joy and fulfillment to their parents and others. In Old Testament times, they helped out with the enormous work load around the home and farm. In addition, children were viewed as a form of security in old age in the days before there were government programs for the elderly. Childlessness could leave you insecure and alone in your old age. Being childless also opened a couple up to being looked down upon by family, friends, and neighbors.

What could make matters worse for many barren women in those days was the presence of another wife who was able to bear children for their husband. The fruitful wife proved that the problem did not reside in the husband. It was all the “fault” of the barren wife. This would be difficult enough in itself, but, if the childbearing wife used her own fruitfulness to mock and accuse the barren wife, it could become intolerable, as in the cases of Abraham & Sarah, Jacob & Rachel, and Elkanah & Hannah.

In every case previously mentioned, the barren wives were dearly loved by their husbands. This is very important, because fruitlessness is often interpreted as being a sign that we are not loved or that God has withdrawn his favor from us. Elkanah and Hannah provide the perfect example. Peninnah was the fruitful wife. Hannah was the greatly beloved barren wife. Here is what the Bible says about that triangular relationship.

Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the LORD at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. 4  On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. 5  And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the LORD had given her no children. 6  So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children. 7  Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. 8  “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” 1 Samuel 1:3-8 (NLT)

There are many childless wives who are dearly loved by their husbands; nevertheless, their fruitlessness still gnaws at their souls.

There is something inside us that longs to be fruitful. This is true in the natural realm and the spiritual one.

In a sense, we give birth to spiritual children when we share the gospel and people are born again into God’s kingdom. When God uses us to be part of that miracle by acting as a sort of midwife in the birthing process, it brings us great joy and fulfillment. If we are not able to lead anyone into a new life in Christ, over time it wears on us, especially if we see others having great success. We begin to ask the same questions Hannah asked. What’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t God give me success? Has God turned his back on me? What am I doing wrong? Peninnah made matters infinitely worse by mocking her rival, just as Hagar mocked Sarah and Leah mocked Rachel.

When we try to measure our own success or failures against the perceived failures or successes of others, we are not wise. This is a form of legalism.

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)

Comparing ourselves to others often produces frustration. Hannah fell into that trap. She was already frustrated, but Peninnah’s mockery threw gas on the fire. It got so bad that Hannah was inconsolable. Fortunately, she knew what to do. If we, like Hannah, take our frustrations to God, it can produce great fruitfulness.

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10  She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11  And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 1 Samuel 1:9-11 (ESV)

When things come easily to us, we may undervalue them or think we did it on our own. The more important a promise is to God’s plan, often there is a greater wait and struggle for us to receive a miracle by faith.

Abraham had to wait twenty-five years for God to fulfill his promise to give him a son. In the interim, he grew weary of waiting and attempted to “help” God by resorting to a man-made solution by producing a child with Sarah’s servant, Hagar. When we do that, we may end up with an “Ishmael,” an ongoing complication and source of sorrow. For another example, consider David, who had to wait about fifteen years after being anointed by the prophet Samuel to actually become king. He went through some very dark and lonely places along the way when he was probably tempted to “throw in the towel”.

Consider Joseph, about whom the Bible says:

The LORD'S promise tested him through fiery trials until his prediction came true. Psalm 105:19 (GW)

Those who fought in the American Revolution on the patriot side also went through some very dark and trying days. When things were extremely bleak and many were ready to give up, Thomas Paine printed a pamphlet that turned the tide, entitled The American Crisis. These memorable words are found in it.

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

In Abraham’s case, much more was at stake than his having an heir: a nation was being birthed which would produce the Messiah and Lord.  In Joseph’s situation, his own destiny was not the only thing God had in mind. Rather, Joseph would be instrumental in the preservation of his chosen people, the line of the Messiah. And God was going to use Hannah’s frustrated desire to have a son to bring into the world one of the greatest prophets of Israel, whom God would use to install its first and second kings.

God seems to enjoy bringing his greatest blessings in miraculous ways, against all odds, using very unlikely people whom the world despises and judges to be worthless.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27  Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28  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. 29  As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT)

So, if we are frustrated and discouraged that promises God made to us look as if they will never come to pass, we should not listen to the mocker and the accuser. Instead, like Hannah, let us seek the Lord.

But, like Hannah, we should be prepared to hold on to the fulfillment very loosely, because God may want to use the long awaited answer for his kingdom. If we give back to God that for which we have waited for such a long time, he will make it up to us. Hannah gave her long awaited son, Samuel, to God’s service, and God gave her more children to call her own. Imagine how proud and fulfilled she was to know her son was such an important man!

We should never give on God’s promises, even if we are not allowed to experience their fulfillment in our lifetimes.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Hebrews 11:13 (NLT)

What if God wants us to be faithful so that the next generation can experience the fulfillment?

Moses got Israel through the wilderness, but Joshua led them into the Promised Land. Abraham fathered one son of promise, but that son and grandchildren would become the fathers of a multitude culminating in the Messiah. God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled through his descendants. We are in this for the long haul, which may include multiple generations.

We cannot properly measure the value or significance of our lives and ministries. Only God can do that. Ours is to be faithful to God over a lifetime.

Let us not cave to discouragement, frustration, or fear. As Winston Churchill so famously said, “Never, never, never give up!” We must not give up on God’s promises. He is absolutely faithful to his Word. He will never let us down. He prizes faith, especially faith that keeps going when the chips are down. In the meanwhile, we rest in knowing that we are loved.

Share this post...

Finding Contentment in a Discontented World

key

Is it possible to find contentment in the discontented world in which we live? I have reached the age when I find myself assessing my life, as if we could properly do that! Even if I should reach the age of my parents, I am now in the last quarter of my earthly existence. The hope is that we can make the most of our remaining days. In this Solomon and his father King David agree. Hopefully we do not look backward in nostalgia or regret, but to learn. Finishing our life journey well is important. As Solomon said, the end of thing is better than its beginning. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Anyone who has lived for many years understands the following words.

Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. Ecclesiastes 1:8 (NLT)

When Solomon wrote these words, he showed a tremendous lack of contentment, despite his great wisdom or, perhaps, because of it. With much wisdom comes much sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18) because we understand what is really going on.

I see people who are not content in their lives, their marriages, their jobs, their ministries, or their churches.

It is impossible to satisfy the desires of discontented people because only God can fill that void.

What does it mean to be content? Are there any secrets? Solomon shared what he thought about it.

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19  And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 (NLT)

Some of us are so engrossed in the pursuit of what we do not have that we fail to enjoy and appreciate what we do have. What a waste! 

Contentment begins with appreciation for what God has given to us.

This is a huge key to relational happiness as well. It is a serious mistake to focus on another person’s faults because, if we are not careful, that is all we will be able to see. Likewise, we can fault find at work and at church. Faultfinding never ends well because we always reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7)

Contentment rests in the knowledge that we are loved.

When we know this, it enables us to make it our goal to love others, which increases our level of contentment.

John wrote about this in his first letter.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19  We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:16-19 (NLT)

When we are not sure if we are loved by God for who we are rather than for what we do, it creates discontentment. Picture a cat purring as it nestles up next to its owner. That is a great example of contentment.

God wants us to be completely content in his love for us, which is the foundation from which we can do the work of the kingdom properly.

John Piper once said that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.

There is a reason that Jesus rose from the dead on the day after the Sabbath. We begin our week resting in Christ’s victory. We start from a place of rest.

We are not trying to earn our victory or rest: it is God’s gift to us.

Jesus invited us to join him in his position of perfect contentment and rest.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

This is God’s invitation to the discontented. Come to him to be set free from your wearisome pursuit of what cannot be found outside of our Lord Jesus. If we learn what it means to be content in God’s love, we can let that love overflow to those around us, including those who still searching for what we have found.

Share this post...

A Cure for Hopelessness

key

Have you ever felt hopeless? If that is that where you are right now, or if you know someone who is despairing, this article reveals a sure cure for hopelessness.

Hopelessness shrivels the soul and saps our vitality and joy in living. If things get dark enough, we may be tempted to give up entirely. Suicide is the last decision made by some who conclude that death is preferable to continuing without hope. There are many ways to commit suicide that don’t involve actively ending our physical lives. We can self-medicate and “check out” with drugs, alcohol, sex, sports, entertainment, etc. We can withdraw into a hollow shell of our true identity, alienating ourselves from those who love and could help us. Some of us become angry and lash out. When we have no hope, we can be dangerous because we feel that we have nothing to lose.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they alienated themselves and all their descendants from the life of God and gave the keys of authority and dominion over the earth to Satan. Since then, the devil, who is the father of lies, has stolen, killed, and destroyed, keeping untold millions in a dark prison of hopelessness.

But even though Adam and Eve rejected God’s rule in their lives, the Lord did not abandon them or us their descendants.

In that extreme low point, God injected hope into the human story by promising that someone in Eve’s line would rise up to defeat Satan.

The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.  15  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15 (ESV)

When Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, he arrived as the fulfillment of that promise!  God’s light dawned on humanity!

the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. Matthew 4:16 (ESV)

Jesus understood that his mission was to liberate those imprisoned by sin and hopelessness.

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,  18    “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me  to  proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  19    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  20  And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21  And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21 (ESV)

Jesus came to lay down his life for those who had no hope. He surrendered himself to the seeming hopelessness of death in full confidence that his heavenly Father would raise him from the dead! When he rose again, he lit a torch of hope that burns brightly to this day.

All who put their faith in Jesus always have hope, no matter how bleak things may seem, because Emmanuel, God with Us, lives and rules forevermore!

The Gospel is a beacon of hope to those in darkness. We who have believed in and follow Christ, are messengers of hope to those around us who live in darkness still.

For those of you readers who may not yet know Jesus, the Restorer of Hope, today could be your day to surrender your heart to the only one who can deliver you from hopelessness. What is stopping you? Don’t be among those who refuse to acknowledge his right to rule over all things!

If we surrender to the God of Hope, hopelessness will be extinguished in our lives!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV)

Perhaps you are already a follower of Christ, but have wandered from your steadfast devotion to the Lord? If this is the case, all we need to do is repent, ask for and receive forgiveness, and once again declare our trust in and allegiance to Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I repent for trying to live a self-directed life. I now surrender my will to you as best as I am able. Holy Spirit, help me to do this! I receive all the blessings you died to give me – hope, forgiveness, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, and the privilege of being God’s child! I exchange my hopelessness for the joy of trusting in you. Thank you that you are working all things in my life for good (Romans 8:28). Hopelessness has no place in my life. Amen!

Click here to learn about more keys to a happier life.
Share this post...

Faith in God’s Sovereignty – A Gateway to Peace

key

 The document Faith in God’s Sovereignty – A Gateway to Peace delves into the profound concept of trusting in divine providence as a means to attain inner tranquility. By exploring the intricate relationship between faith and peace, it sheds light on the transformative power of unwavering belief in God’s supreme control over all aspects of existence. Through a meticulous analysis of spiritual principles, the text elucidates how embracing the sovereignty of God can serve as a guiding light in navigating life’s myriad challenges, ultimately leading to a state of profound serenity and harmony.I have found that faith in God’s sovereignty is a gateway to peace. Does the Bible teach that God is indeed sovereign over everything? If so, how does his rule affect our lives?

There is a popular theology that seems to be gaining traction recently that holds that God is not in control. As best I can tell, the reasoning goes something like this.

  • To claim that God is in control means that he is responsible for evil and suffering and sometimes chooses for us to suffer.
  • Evil and suffering are contrary to God’s nature; therefore,
  • God cannot be responsible for evil and suffering; therefore,
  • He is not in control.

I appreciate the apparent desire to protect God’s honor that motivates those that push this view, but I believe that it is partially incorrect, as is the case with most errors.

There is a sinful desire in mankind that motivates us to go beyond what God has revealed and figure out things for ourselves. The allurement of such “hidden” knowledge brought down Adam and Eve, and it has a very strong pull today.

God designed us to accept what he tells us without our always having complete understanding.

The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. Deuteronomy 29:29 (NLT)

The essence of faith is our complete trust and allegiance in God, even when we do not understand things. Contrary to humanistic thinking, man is not the measure of all things. Since we cannot understand some things by God’s design, we depend upon what God has revealed to us in the Bible.

Our theology must be built solely on God’s Word, rather than our own understanding.

The problem of evil always trips our mental circuit breakers. In our attempt to grasp this immense issue, we may ask questions such as the following.

  • Why did God allow the serpent to tempt Eve?
  • If God knew beforehand what Adam and Eve would do and the tragedy it would bring to the entire earth and generations of humans, why did he give them the option of sinning?
  • Why doesn’t God simply end all forms of suffering and death right now, if he is able?
  • If he is not able, what does this say about God?
  • If he is able, but chooses not to stop it, what does that say about God?

Perhaps you can think of other such questions. Before we know it, we may get so confused and/or offended, we may be tempted to give up on the Bible and God, which many have done. What are we to do? Should we apply our minds to figure things out or simply go back to the Bible to see what it says and be satisfied with that?

The first thing we can do is go back to the previously mentioned verse and remind ourselves that God has reserved secret things that are outside of our purview. In other words, we need to remind ourselves that God did not give us the insight or mental capacity to figure out everything. That is what Satan tempts us to do.

Instead, God asks us to relate to him via childlike faith.

Secondly, we can remind ourselves of what we do know from the Bible. God has attributes. Some are communicable, which he shares with us. Others are incommunicable, meaning they belong only to him and are beyond our experience and sometimes our comprehension. Here are a few things we know about God. I have given you links to articles in which I go into more depth and scriptural support than in this one.

If God is sovereign, it means that ultimately he is in control. However, the Bible makes it clear that sin and evil do not come from God, even though he does allow it within certain parameters. 

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13–15 (NASB95)

Evil came into this world through the agency of Satan and Adam’s betrayal of God. Did God allow this to happen? Yes. Why did he allow this? I do not know. His motivation is a “secret thing” he has not chosen to reveal to us; although, he appears to give us hints.

How can God allow evil and suffering within his set bounds, as was the case with Job, without his being responsible for it? This is another “secret thing” that belongs only to God. We can either accept it or be offended by it.

If we are going to be sound Bible theologians, we must come to terms with holding seemingly contradictory truths without needing to resolve them. For example, God is in control, and we are responsible beings. God elects or chooses who will belong to him, but we must do our part by responding to his grace. God did not create evil, but he allows it, at least for now. 

If we are determined to resolve the tension created by seemingly contradictory truths, we will have to decide which side of the equation we will eliminate. In the case of election, we may decide that it is entirely up to God, and we have no part to play. Or, we may decide that it is all in our hands. Both of those positions are errors which ignore part of God’s revealed truth. If we attempt to resolve the issue of God’s sovereignty versus the presence of evil and suffering by declaring that he is not in control, we have made the same error.

If God is not in control, who is? To say that no one is in control means that God cannot possibly know how things will turn out in the end because he is not in charge or able to make things happen as he wills.

However, God clearly demonstrates his control by foretelling the future and causing his plan to unfold flawlessly.

Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Isaiah 46:9–10 (NASB95)

Therefore, to claim that God is not in control is to deny the testimony of the Bible.

God is in control, but he is not responsible for suffering and evil. He is working an amazing redemptive plan to ultimately set us free from all that. We do not know why it is taking so long, which is another area in which we must trust his wisdom.

When suffering enters a person’s life, it is only natural for us to wonder why. Why me? Why now? Did I do something wrong? Is God still in control? Does he still love me? Did he abandon me? Can I really trust him? In the book of the Bible that bears his name, a man named Job asked these kinds of questions when God allowed his life to be wracked with physical pain and the emotional suffering of losing his family and fortune and even his good name. He and his friends believed that “bad” things did not happen to “good” people. If we keep the rules, we get blessed, right?

After chapters that recount his struggle to understand why God allowed him to suffer and his anger against what he believed was God’s injustice, eventually Job was granted what he asked for – an encounter with God. Face-to-face with his Creator, he became speechless. All his arguments and offenses dissipated in the presence of God’s glory. These were the first words he spoke.

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6  therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6 (ESV)

God never answered Job’s questions or gave any sort of explanation for the suffering he had endured. Instead our Lord revealed to Job his absolute sovereignty and greatness, and that was enough to ignite his faith and give him peace.

Why is it that faith in God’s sovereign power and wisdom is a gateway to peace? I know a man who went through a terrible ordeal with his wife, who had an advanced stage of cancer. Eventually she was healed and delivered from the cancer, but in the middle of the crisis, his testimony is that God spoke to his heart, saying, “I know about this.” Knowing that God knew gave him peace and revitalized his faith to believe for a healing. To the logical mind, this may not make sense; but, faith’s rationale resides in the heart, not the mind.

We don’t need to have all the answers. We simply need to know that God knows about our situation and has things under control, even when it does not seem so.

Faith in God’s sovereignty means that we believe he ultimately controls everything and is working all things out for our good and his glory.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB95)

Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NASB95)

This is a strong foundation for experiencing God’s peace. This, by the way, presupposes that God loves us. We dare not interpret what he allows to come into our lives as a lack of love. 

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NASB95)

When we choose to worship God in the midst of tribulation and suffering, we glorify the Lord by acknowledging his loving sovereignty over our lives in spite of the apparent contradiction.

We follow in the footsteps of those men of faith of old – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who stood before King Nebuchadnezzar. He threatened them with a fiery death unless they bowed down to the idol of his own glory and sovereignty, but they refused.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)

Those who firmly believe in God’s loving sovereignty over their lives will make seeking God’s glory their top priority,  whether it results in deliverance or death.

When such faith is coupled with the understanding that God’s love for us is beyond comprehension, our peace is unshakeable.

Summary
  1. If we determine to bring glory to God through our response to whatever life throws at us, then we don’t need to have any particular outcome, except that God be glorified. He can be glorified by delivering us from evil or by our going through suffering without wavering in faith. Either way, God and we “win.” (Philippians 1:20)
  2. If have confidence that God is sovereignly overseeing our affairs and is ultimately in control, it allows us to yield ourselves completely to his will. Nothing can happen to us that he does not oversee or allow. The devil cannot slip something in on us behind the Lord’s back. (Daniel 4:34-35)
  3. If we also know that he loves us beyond comprehension, we understand that we have nothing to fear. Perfect love casts out all fear. Paul wrote that no test or trial can separate us from God’s love. (Romans 8:37-39)
  4. None of the above should be interpreted to mean that we should passively accept attacks from the devil or do nothing to remedy our situation. Consigning ourselves to God’s will includes doing everything reasonable, as led by the Holy Spirit, to stand on God’s promises, fight against evil, and trust God for our deliverance.

Now here is a bit of wisdom.

Desperately clinging to the answer we want God to give us works against our peace. However, when we surrender ourselves to our sovereign God who loves us past comprehension and works all things for good in our lives, our peace will be rock solid. As we stop demanding a certain answer from the Lord, our hearts can more easily hear what the Spirit is saying to us. When that happens, we can pray in line with God’s will in a specific way, all the while remaining at peace.

When we trust in God’s loving sovereignty and hold on to the Bible’s precious promises, while letting go of the fear that he will not work things out as we want, we will have peace beyond comprehension.

This brings to mind a couple of women with whom I did some counseling who had been sexually abused as children. As we would expect, they had difficulty trusting that God would be their protector how and in the future. Rather than argue against the seemingly solid logic of this experience-based reasoning, which the Bible calls a “stronghold” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), I asked them to do what might have seemed unthinkable. I asked both of them to thank God, not for what happened to them, but for promising to work all that evil done to them for good. (Romans 8:28) Amazingly, both agreed. One of them lifted her hands and began to praise. Her face literally began to glow with God’s glory. I have never seen anything like it before or after. The other began to prophecy how God would use her to help other damaged women, which, by the way, happened in about a year’s time. They successfully bypassed their arguments against God’s loving sovereignty by acknowledging his ability to work out everything in a way that produced good in their lives and brought glory to him. 

Praising God’s ability to sovereignly work things, even horrific things, for good releases faith and power in an incredible way. 

Application

So, how do we get started on our journey to greater peace and joy? Here are some steps I encourage you to take.

  1. Surrender to the Lord Jesus. This means we can let go of all “rights” to direct our own lives, figure things out, and make demands from God. Whoever heard of a slave making demands? We give God the reins and relax as he drives. We can only do this if we believe he is loving, kind, wise, and sovereign.
  2. Worship God in all situations. We can thank God even for the most difficult, confusing, and challenging things in our lives. We thank him not because those things are good in themselves, but because we believe that he will work them for good in his loving sovereignty. (Romans 8:28)
  3. Listen to the Spirit as we worship. The Holy Spirit will give us insight as we worship. When this happens, we can pray and act according to those specific instructions. It is a good idea to proclaim aloud what God tells you in your heart. Prophetic proclamation is a big part of the prayer of faith. It goes without saying that what the Spirit tells us will always agree with God’s written word in the Bible. We have to opportunity to put into practice what he tells us to do. For example, when I had cancer years ago, I went through the surrender process and began to worship God, no matter what the outcome might be. It was then that the Spirit spoke specifically to me that I would be completely delivered. Surrender plus worship can lead to incredible clarity and faith in God’s promises.
  4. Hang on to God as we wait for the answer. Faith immediately receives God’s promises and hope is willing to wait as long as it takes for the fulfillment. 
  5. Enjoy God’s Peace!
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB)
Click here to learn about more keys to a happier life.

SeeingGodsSmile nooksize

If you want to read more about how to survive and thrive in the midst of life’s difficulties, you can purchase my book on the subject: Seeing God’s Smile When Life Is Difficult. It’s available on Amazon.

Share this post...

Finding Significance

key

Most everyone has a deep longing to find significance in some way; yet, most of us live in relative obscurity and impact few people. Are we supposed to focus on being significant to a small group of people, such as our family and close friends, or should we hope for something more? 

If we were given the choice between preaching to a thousand people or making a disciple of one, which would we choose? Few of us would be comfortable being that preacher, but most of us who follow Christ, hopefully, can see ourselves taking on a single disciple. In the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit recognized that Barnabas was significant enough to mention several times. His name means encourager, which was his main ministry. He came alongside two men in his his lifetime who were operating in relative obscurity. One was Paul and the other was John Mark. God used Barnabas to help lift those men into major ministries that eclipsed Barnabas’. Paul became perhaps the greatest of all the apostles and the author of much of the New Testament. John Mark wrote one of the gospels and became a faithful co-laborer with both Peter and Paul. We do not know much about anything else Barnabas did in his life. His reward and significance will be forever connected to those he encouraged.

Our own significance probably will be linked to those we help along the way, too.

Barnabas was able to encourage others because he was full of faith. (Acts 11:22-26) 

The ministry and art of encouragement hinges on our having faith and vision for people beyond what they currently have for themselves.

With God’s help, parents can see things in their children and help them develop. Husbands and wives can do the same for each other. This is also true for others whom God brings into our lives. If we can let go of our own quest for significance and focus on investing in others, our joy and significance can be increased. Seeing a disciple eclipse us can be viewed as our crowning achievement.

For the majority of us, personal significance will be derived from how well we love, encourage, and develop those around us.

Parents’ most important disciples are their children. The future of the kingdom of God somewhat rests on the shoulders of the upcoming generations. How well parents invest in their children will have a great impact. God blessed my wife and I with four amazing offspring. They have greatly expanded our impact in the world beyond anything we could have done personally. We fully expect their children and grandchildren to keep the chain going.

What if all of us decided to narrow our focus to disciple and encourage at least one person to fulfill his or her calling in God in the coming year? How would that impact the world? Perhaps, as did Barnabas, we can leave an indelible mark on the world through the people we mentor and encourage.

Click here to see other articles on Keys to a Happier Life.
Share this post...
Share this post...