PROBLEMS AND PROVIDENCE

 

Is God sovereign?  Of course He is or He would not be God. That being the case, do we affirm that when problems come, they are according to His providence?  The Apostle Paul affirms it to be so. Writing to the Philippians, he does not merely resign himself to be confined in chains, but rejoices that he is. 

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:12-18 NKJV)

Joy is the note that sounds over and over in this small letter. Perceiving providence in his problems led to praise. How are you responding to your adversity and dealing with adversaries?  These are inescapable realities in ministry. Being a preacher does not mean we escape them, but assures that we will face them. You either recently faced trouble, or are in the midst of a conflict, or soon will be in one. 

Paul calls on us to STAND FAST, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast…” (Philippians 1:27a). This is a matter of conviction. I am at an age where I can no longer run fast…but I can stand fast!  The man of God dare not compromise. While we seek peace—it is not “peace at any price.”  The preacher who is surrendered to the Word must never surrender to the world.  In this sinful world, we will always face strong winds and surging waves.  Dig in your heels!  Providence has brought you where you are.

We stand fast when we STRIVE FEARLESSLY, “in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God,” (1:27b-28). This is a matter of courage. Satan whispers, “Flee!”  God speaks and says, “Fight!”  The providence that brought you to the problems will bring you through the problems. You can be fearless, when you recall that you are not in this fight alone. Of course, our Commander is there and He is more than sufficient, but it is also helpful to know we have other warriors alongside us. Paul calls for unity—to strive together. Too often we fight with each other. How many churches become a circular firing squad?  Do not see your fellow pastor as a competitor. See him as a fellow soldier!

To stand fast and strive fearlessly, requires a resolve that by the grace of God, we will SUFFER FAITHFULLY, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me,” (v.29-30). This is a matter of consistency. Whatever our circumstances—and problems will often be present and in seasons be powerful—we must consistently embrace that God’s providence has brought us there. He has supplies us with faith to come to Christ and therefore will give us grace to suffer for Christ. Paul was a great man of faith, yet still a man. The same Spirit that empowered him is with us. Others have suffered faithfully, so may we.  Old Isaac Watts asked us:

1. Am I a soldier of the cross,
   A follow’r of the Lamb?
   And shall I fear to own His cause,
   Or blush to speak His name?
2. Must I be carried to the skies
   On flow’ry beds of ease,
   While others fought to win the prize,
   And sailed through bloody seas?
3. Are there no foes for me to face?
   Must I not stem the flood?
   Is this vile world a friend to grace,
   To help me on to God?
4. Sure I must fight if I would reign;
   Increase my courage, Lord;
   I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
   Supported by Thy Word.
5. Thy saints in all this glorious war
   Shall conquer, though they die;
   They see the triumph from afar,
   By faith’s discerning eye.
6. When that illustrious day shall rise,
   And all Thy armies shine
   In robes of vict’ry through the skies,
   The glory shall be Thine.

SCRIPTURAL SATURATION

 

When first introduced to Stephen in Acts 6, we are told he was “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” (Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬‬). This fullness of faith came from a Scripturally saturated life. Paul stated that, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” (Rom. 10:17). So, it stands to reason that the more of God’s Word we have in us, the fuller our faith will be. Likewise, we are called to obedience, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” (James 1:22a). This yielding to Scripture is the emptying of self and the filling of the Spirit. Stephen sets the standard of a Scripturally saturated servant of God such as all God’s preachers need to be. 

He was BIBLICAL IN HIS EXPOSITION, (Acts 7:1-50). Stephen based his sermon on the Old Testament. He was able to speak spontaneously because he had studied scrupulously. Jesus promised, “A good man put of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things,” (Matt. 12:35). Yet, the Spirit can only bring out what we have put in!  Too many preachers have been like Old Mother Hubbard who went to her cupboard to get her poor dog a bone, and when she got there the cupboard was bare so the poor dog had none.”  We cannot feed God’s flock on Sunday morning, if we have not filled our soul with the Word during the week. 

He was BOLD IN HIS EXHORTATION, (Acts 7:51-60). Because His sermon was Biblical, his stand was bold. He did not waver from the truth. His communication confronted the congregants with the need for commitment to that truth. He was only responsible for being faithful; the hearers were accountable for their response. 

Stephen saw the rejection of the message by the listeners. If everyone is pleased with what we say, then it is likely the Lord is not. “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets,” (Lk. 6:26). They extolled the false prophets for they told them what they wanted to hear instead of the truth they needed to know.

But, Stephen also saw the reception of him as messenger by the Lord. As Stephen sealed his testimony with his own blood, the Lord honored his man by standing up, ready to welcome him, when he arrived home in heaven. I think of the old Gospel song, William Willingham—one of my Bible professors at Fruitland—used to sing:

It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ. (Lyrics and Music: Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

This is the satisfaction waiting the man of Scriptural saturation!  Now, open that Book!  Digest the truth, so you may declare it faithfully and fearlessly!

LED THAT WE MIGHT LEAD

 

Joseph provides an example of how those in church leadership should be led by the Lord. We can only be effective if we are directed by Him. Unlike Joseph, we may not expect an angel to guide us, but we have God’s Word to speak to us and the Spirit of God to specifically apply the principles revealed in our current context. The issue in much of our leadership is not so much a failure of knowing what to do, but knowing it and failing to do it!  Certainly, we must ask God for clear direction, but my problem has often been knowing more than I have been doing!  

The three responses of Joseph, as underscored by Olford here are vital in being led that we might lead. Preacher, stand fast, shun fear, and show faith!  In these days of doctrinal and moral compromise, may God give us a backbone of steel—clarity and courage of conviction!

OPPORTUNITY FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY

The church at Philadelphia was a church with an open door. Every church needs to be!  By that, it is not meant that the door is open to invite people in, but to send people out. Inviting people to attend an evangelistic, Biblically grounded fellowship is a good thing. Yet, this is not what is meant. Rather, God had given the Philadelphian saints opportunity for Gospel ministry. They were sharing their faith and people were being reached. Now it seems that most churches do not go and tell or even invite people to come and see.

Pastors are not to blame—exclusively. This is not meant to make church leadership feel guilty—unless we are!  In these seven letters where Christ shows His vital interest in the affairs of the local church, it is the preacher who is first addressed. He is the angelos—“angel”—the messenger, for so the word means. His eyes will be first to read Christ’s words and his mouth will be the one to proclaim them. The saints at Philadelphia were seizing the opportunity for missions, and doubtless the pastor was leading them to do so.

Three traits enabled them to be successful in soul-winning, and we can experience these.

1.  THEIR FORCEFULNESS, “for you have a little strength.”  The power of the Spirit was the driving force behind their accomplishment.  The church’s witness began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them, with nearly 3,000 saved.  When any church is successful in reaching people there is a supernatural forcefulness possessed by pastor and people. 

2.  THEIR FAITHFULNESS, “have kept My word.”  They did not compromise the message to tickle the ears of the world. They were not driven by pragmatic reasoning to seek to reach people by stealth. When people come to genuine faith they are not manipulated by carnal methodology, but by Biblical accuracy. God has promised to bless His Word; do not be ashamed of it (cf.Rom.1:16).

3. THEIR FEARLESSNESS“have not denied My name.”  Those were days of growing hostility to the church.  As John penned this letter, he was imprisoned on an island for preaching the Gospel.  In many places in our world, following Christ is dangerous. This may soon come to America. Will we be fearless in the face of opposition?  The Devil will always oppose a missionary church. In the face of the Dragon, we must be fearless, whatever the cost.

Jesus promises reward if we are forceful, faithful, and fearless.  “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Rev.3:11).  No one can shut the door of opportunity, unless the church itself does so—and in that case we are no longer truly a church, but a country club with a steeple on top!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,”(‭3:13).‬‬

SUFFERING FOR SPEAKING TO THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.  Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”  (Matthew 14:3-4)

I heard of an evangelist who began revival services at a small church near Las Vegas.  In the first sermon, he let loose on the evils of alcohol.  After the service, the pastor met with the evangelist and let him know that many of their members sold alcohol, and that if they were offended, then the church would lose a lot of people and the offerings would plummet.  So, in the next sermon, the evangelist unleashed a broadside on greed and gambling.  You might imagine how that went over!  He was warned that such preaching might work in the South, but it would not go over in the Southwest, since virtually every member made their living directly or indirectly from a connection to the casinos.  The frustrated evangelist said, “Well pastor, what sins can I preach against?”  The pastor responded, “Preach about the sins of the Paiute Indians!  We don’t have any Paiute Indians that attend here!”

In many churches today—contaminated by the corrupt culture—it makes people uncomfortable when the subject of sexuality and marriage is mentioned.  How are we to reach the young couples of this generation by demanding chastity, when so many are shacking up?  It is a judgmental turn-off to them to preach on such a topic we are told.  Lest we think this confined to a younger generation, we might be shocked to find the number of older couples doing likewise because of financial considerations.  How are we to preach on adultery and divorce, when so many of our members have gone through this?  Is it not sticking a Bible into a hornets’ nest?  It used to be you could at least preach against homosexuality, but now that the courts have legalized homosexual marriage and the media promotes it, church folk are listening to voices reinterpret Scripture with hermeneutical gymnastics.  Love wins!  How can you preach against love?

You will suffer if you speak to the sanctity of marriage.  That is a given.  Just ask John the Baptist.  He could have preached on a wide array of sins, and avoided this one.  One man had the power to take his life—Herod.  Why didn’t he just look the other way?  Surely, John was too judgmental! 

I suppose that he feared God more than man.  That is always the pivotal point in our preaching is it not?   Whose approval are we trying to gain?   I am not calling on us to be cruel or hateful.  We are to be compassionate and helpful.  If sinners cannot be forgiven, then this preacher will be the first one barred from the church.  Yet, a doctor who avoids diagnosing a disease and offers a placebo is guilty of malpractice.  We cannot cure the malignancy of sin by putting a band-aid over it.  The painful probing with pointed precepts, and the cutting with the scalpel of Scripture are needful, along with a bitter pill of repentance to swallow.  Let us rather die than to be guilty of ministerial malpractice that brings the death of the patient!

ANGELS IN THE PULPIT

The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.  (Revelation 1:20)

One of our deacons stood before our congregation and proclaimed, “Our pastor is an angel—he’s always up in the air, harping about something!”  Of course, that remark met with uproarious laughter—and I joined in.  The reality is, however, that the pastor is an angel!

The Greek word literally means a messenger.  It is true that the dominant use of the word is in reference to a heavenly messenger, but in the first three chapters of Revelation, I believe the term applies to a human messenger.  That suits the context better.

The glorified Christ appears to old John, suffering exile on the rocky island of Patmos—his sole crime being faithfulness to the Lord.  Jesus has a message for His churches—seven of them will receive letters, dictated to John by Christ Himself.  Each letter begins with the expression, “To the angel of the church….”  Who better to be the recipient of the letter than the pastor who will be responsible to share the Word of God?  His eyes would be the first to read the message—and applying the truth to his own heart, then, proclaims it to the congregation.

Men, we are messengers of God!  We do not have to search for something to say.  People do not need our opinions.  Our aim is not to enchant them with our eloquence.  We are simply a conduit to carry living water to thirsty souls—and that is the Word of God.  Be faithful to read the text so that the message is fully understood.  Having grasped the content, let the content grasp you!  Integrate its truth into your own life lest you be a hypocrite—and that drains the sermon of its effectiveness.  People want to see a sermon and not just hear one.

Stand with boldness as a herald of heaven; do not mealy-mouth.  Christ did not.  He had commendable things to say of most of the churches, but He did not refrain from confronting the churches where false doctrine and sinful lifestyles were present.  The “angels” in the pulpit were not to dilute the strong medicine Jesus prescribed.

Will everyone like the fact that the pastor is, “Always up in the air, harping about something”?  No—and the threat of retribution from the members is always possible.  John knew such pain—on that island for preaching the Word faithfully.  Always remember this comforting truth: Christ holds the seven stars in His hand!  Jesus holds His angels—His messengers.  We are secure in His grip; preserved by His power and love for His purposes.  Sure, we may be rejected by our current congregation, but, if so, God has another place of service for us.  We are not necessarily immune from facing the fire of opposition and the heat of hatred, but it will be filtered through the refining purposes of God, and will work for His glory and our good.  So, tune up that harp, and sing the lyrics of heaven.  You are an angel in the pulpit!