VIRTUES FOR VICTORY

 

There is a trinity of Christian virtues—faith, hope, and love. Paul returns to these again and again in his writings. These are found repeatedly in 1 Thessalonians as the Apostle tells the church what they are to be: a people of faith, hope, and love. Nearing the close of this letter, he indicates that these virtues are vital for victorious spiritual warfare in 5:8. 

He points to THE SOBRIETY OF THE CONFLICT, “But let us of who are of the day be sober…”.  War is serious business. There is the need to face it with sobriety. The Christian life is not to be taken casually. Satan and his forces are ever seeking opportunity to attack. We are exhorted to vigilance of we would have victory—“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation,” is the call of Christ, (Matt. 26:41). Paul had just exhorted, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober,” (v. 6).  

Then, he stresses THE SECURITY IN OUR COMBAT, “putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”  While we must keep our eyes open, we also must have our armor on. 

This brings protection for our heart, “putting on the breastplate of faith and love…”.  The heart is the seat of affection. To protect our heart for God requires we wear the breastplate of faith and love. 

Faith is the response of the heart to the Word of God. We have heard the truth of the Gospel and by the work of the Spirit we have been drawn to Christ. Faith in Christ saves us and secures us. Satan seeks to undermine the Word of God. Recall in the first temptation in Eden how the serpent called Eve to doubt the Word of God and then to deny it altogether. 

Love is the response of the heart to the love of God. We love Him for He first loved us. God sent His Son to save us and seal us. Knowing this shields us. Again, we revisit the catastrophic choice in Paradise as the serpent basically told Eve that God was holding out on them by denying them the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He called into question God’s love for Adam and Eve.

If our heart does not rest in the Word of God and rely on the love of God, then we have no protection. Our doubt will defeat us.

Further, we have protection for our head, “and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”  The head is the seat of comprehension. Hope is the confident assurance of the promises of God. Satan seeks to undermine these by our circumstances. Consider Job’s devastating circumstances. Satan attacked him furiously. Even Job’s wife assailed him with a call to abandon God for God had surely abandoned him. 

There is what is called, “the fog of war.”  What we cannot see and the wrong conclusions based on that limited knowledge impacts our decision making and potentially can bring defeat. While, we may not fully grasp what is happening in the midst of Satan’s attacks, we can rely on what we have seen—the hope of salvation in the end. Have you not read the book of Revelation?  We win—and it is not even close!  Get this firmly fixed in your mind and press on. That blessed hope is your helmet. It is why Paul stresses the rapture of the church as Christ comes for His people.

The Apostle  would go on to say, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (v.8‬-‭11‬‬). 

Shane and Shane have a song that puts it:

So I can face tomorrow
For tomorrow's in Your hands
All I need You will provide
Just like You always have

 

I'm fighting a battle
That You've already won
No matter what comes my way
I will overcome
I don't know what You're doing
But I know what You've done
I'm fighting a battle
You've already won.

DELIVERANCE FOR THE DISHEARTENED

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. … Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:1,16)

Church ministry has its burdens. Sometimes a load is thrust upon us that is crushing. Paul certainly felt the weight of the work—such gravity in his accountability to the Lord and immensity of his responsibility to the church. In 2 Corinthians, he once more writes to a congregation that in its infancy showed all the signs of immaturity. 1 Corinthians addresses a plethora of problems that plagued the church, as the Apostle hit these matters head on and forcefully. Now, in 2 Corinthians, the man of God would like to move on to more celebration of what God was doing among them, than confrontation of what they were failing to do. Yet, their ongoing struggles, Paul’s own battles, and the wear and tear of his duties tempted him to be disheartened. He finds the load lifted, however, by God’s provision of mercy and promise of glory in 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:11. This is expressed in two key verses (4:1,16). Here is deliverance for the disheartened. 

There is THE PROVISION OF MERCY, (4:1-15).  Paul had the opportunity to serve the Lord, because of the mercy he had received, (v. 1). The light of Christ had shone into the darkness of his sin as he travelled the road to Damascus. At that time, he hated the name of Jesus and all those who claimed to be his followers. He lived to obliterate that name by oppressing the church. That all changed when he met Jesus. He never got over that experience. When we are tempted to be disheartened by the difficulties we face in ministry—when we are tempted to complain, “God this is not fair. All I am trying to do is serve You, and now the people are biting this hand that feeds them!”—let us remember what we deserve. I should be in hell. All of us sinners should be. When we face problems here, let us know that they are nothing compared to perdition hereafter!  Yet, we have received mercy, so do not lose heart. And it was not just one time, but daily. We rejoice as did another disheartened preacher, Jeremiah:

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because God has laid it on him; Let him put his mouth in the dust— There may yet be hope. Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach. For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.” (Lam. 3:21-32). 

Paul renounced his Pharisaical disposition and embraced his Gospel declaration, (v. 2). Outwardly, he was a model of piety, but inwardly a man of depravity. Religion could not change him at the core—he needed regeneration. He knew the Scripture, but did not know the Author. All that would change on the Damascus Road. 

As, we preach to people, it seems at times that there is a veil over them, that keeps them in the dark, (v. 3-4). Indeed, it is a spiritual battle we are in when we preach. Satan has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, and our task is to open their eyes—and that requires a miracle. Yet, Paul knows such miracles can happen, for he was a recipient of such mercy. Let us then devote ourselves to the task, (v. 5-6).

Are we weak?  Of course we are. Paul is not some power of positive thinking preacher wearing rose-colored glasses. He admits to the struggle, but is resigned to the service, as he is reliant on the supernatural, (v. 7-15). As God works despite our frailty, He gets all the glory. The mention of glory takes us to our next truth that brings deliverance to the disheartened. 

There is not only the provision of mercy, there is also THE PROMISE OF GLORY, (4:16-5:11). Paul was pouring himself out day by day. But even though the wear and tear of life was taking a toll on him physically, he was gaining ground spiritually, (4:16-17). In light of the weight of glory he would know in eternity, the burdens of this world are light. They not only do not hinder the faithful preacher, but help him to gain in the reward to come. It reminds me of the old slogan that hung in our football locker room: “No pain; no gain.”

We become disheartened when we focus on the temporal, instead of the eternal, (4:18). Paul would not only be drained in Gospel work, he would die for Gospel witness—and he says, “So what?”  As Hebrews 9:27 declares, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” and Paul expounds that here, (5:1-11). It is the gravity of this that called him to preach with fervency and urgency. We will give account for our stewardship of the Word. Making excuses about how hard it is will not matter if we fail. Jesus told this parable:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matt. 25:14-30).

Judas was such a man. He finally came to the conclusion that following Christ was too great a cost, and decided to cut his losses—selling his soul for 30 pieces of silver. What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? He sold his soul for far less! That man was a preacher—yet, a spiritual casualty. He killed himself rather than shoulder his responsibility. I have known preachers who chose to take their own life. I am not judging their eternal disposition. That is above my pay grade. The truth is that one may become so mentally vexed that their reason leaves them. Suicide is not the unpardonable sin. What I will say is that it is not the way you want to go meet God. 

This is a terrifying thought. We can know about God, yet we must be known to God. Paul testifies to the reality his experience and is confident others would affirm it, (5:11).

When we preach eternal souls hang in the balance. Our next sermon could be the last one we ever preach or the last one they ever hear. How many will go to hell from a church pew?  There will be some who go from a pulpit. They talked the talk, but did not walk the walk. Have we, as Paul, “renounced the hidden things of shame,” and are we pursuing holiness; “not walking in craftiness,” using ministry for the comforts of earth as pious frauds; “nor handling the word of God deceitfully,” in telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear?  

Though it is possible that one who reads these words might be deceived, it is more probable that some are only disheartened. Certainly, we all face that challenge, as did so great a man of God as Paul. Oh, weary brother—are you disheartened?  Let is look to the provision of mercy and the promise of glory, and press on. Here is an old Gospel song to encourage us:

(1) Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Refrain
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.

(2) Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

Refrain
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.

(3) Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

Refrain
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.

Amen? Amen and amen!

I BELIEVE GOD

 Do you believe God?

Preachers are supposed to be men of faith. We call on others to believe in God—to have saving faith. We comfort others in their time of trial to trust in God—to have sustaining faith. We challenge, even confront the wavering with this, “Believe in God!”

Do we believe God?

Saying it can be easy, but showing it is essential—and that is the test. There was David—who brought down a giant, yet often in the Psalms we hear him downcast, “My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, ‘Where is your God?’” (Ps. 42‬:‭3‬). Elijah stands alone on Mt. Carmel against 450 prophets of Baal, sees fire fall from heaven to consume the sacrifice in answer to his prayer, then slays those prophets. But, shortly thereafter we find him fleeing Jezebel and sitting under a juniper tree so despondent he prays to die. John the Baptist thunders a message of repentance and points to Jesus as, “The Lamb of God,” but later we find him imprisoned and feeling abandoned so that he sends words to Christ, his Cousin, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matt.‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬). As old Vance Havner put it, “It is one thing to stand on the banks of the Jordan and give it, and another to sit in the jail and take it!”

Do we believe God?

Some of the champions of faith have wavered, but they withstood in the end. Serving Christ will bring us into difficult, dark days. The devil will see to that. Paul was being tested in a storm, but his testimony was, “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” (Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭25).

HE LIVES—AND WE ARE WITNESSES!

We are in the season of STRESSING the Gospel message of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Yet, we must ever be SHARING that redemption story, “In season and out of season,” as Paul told Timothy (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2b). That is, every season is “in season”, even if it is considered by some to be “out of season”!  

The central truth of the Christian faith is that Christ is risen from the dead, for without it we have no hope. Apart from it, we have no message.  Should Christ not be risen, then the preacher should close his Bible, walk out of the pulpit, turn off the lights, lock the doors, and never waste his time, or that of anyone else ever again. Indeed, life itself would be “futile,” as Paul puts it, (cf. 1 Cor. 15:17). 

Yet, as the hymn says, “I serve a risen Savior!”  Every Lord’s Day is a reminder of the reason we gather as the saints of God. That is the day Christ rose from the tomb. We meet not just because of a commandment to do so, but for a celebration in doing so. 

The story never gets old. It must never fail to be told and retold. As witnesses we must be bold!

If the preacher is not faithful to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ consistently, then He is guilty of sermonic malpractice.

HERALDS OF HOPE

 

Preachers are to be heralds of hope.  A herald in John’s day was a messenger of the king who went ahead of his lord’s arrival to prepare for his coming. That is what preachers are and what we do. Our announcement is that, “The King is coming!”  We are to prepare the people. Their destiny is glorious. No matter their struggle now, despite the situation today, the promise is that some golden daybreak Jesus will come. John beheld this incomparable glory in Revelation 21.

We must preach THE HOPE OF OUR DELIVERANCE, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”  (Rev.21:1). John was isolated on a prison island. Surrounded by stormy seas, those waters shut him away from his church family. To think of that barrier removed was cause for rejoicing!  Captive to our challenging circumstances can get old. Yet, God will make all things new!

We must proclaim THE HOPE OF OUR DWELLING, “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Rev.21:2-3).  We must continually remind our congregation not to settle down in this world. If people are comfortable with their status, we are to remind them that it is passing away. God has infinitely better prepared. On the other hand, if people seem captive to their situation in the world, we are to reinforce that relief is coming.  We are not home yet!

We must herald THE HOPE OF OUR DELIGHT,  “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev.‭21‬:‭‭4). All that brings sorrow and suffering here is caused by sin.  The delight of a world of absolute holiness and its happiness awaits God’s people!  Let us be faithful as God’s preachers to remind our members to live for eternity!

OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL SLUGGISHNESS

How do you keep going when your get up and go got up and went?  Physical demand and emotional drain in Christian service can easily lead to spiritual sluggishness. You really do not have to do try to become sluggish. Call it “burnout,” if you will—a condition from burning the candle at both ends.  The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter six, verses ten through twelve, how to overcome spiritual sluggishness.  You will notice the three great Christian virtues are mentioned: faith, hope, and love.

LABOR IN LOVE, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (v.10).  Ministry motivated by obligation alone becomes a drudgery and we look for ways to do the minimum. When we are driven by compassion, we discover a dynamic that maximizes effort.  We serve because we love God and love people. Even if we are not rewarded with man’s commendation here,  we know we will have the Master’s crowning hereafter!

ENDURE IN HOPE, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,” (v.11).  Diligence is the opposite of sluggishness. It is the assurance of hope that inspires such effort. Hope rests confidently in an unchanging God.  Marathon runners are victorious when a burst of energy rises as they near the finish line.  Do you want to finish as a sluggish whiner or a strong winner?

IMITATE IN FAITH, “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises,” (v.12). You must regularly take in the Word of God. As you ingest its principles and digest its promises, you will find faith nourished and growing. Others have done so and we can too!  Biblical stories are filled with the exploits of those who conquered by faith. Church history is replete with the examples of those who overcame by faith. Imitate them!  Such will inspire you and you will shed sluggishness like water on a duck’s back.

In closing, recall Paul’s charge, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart,” (Gal.6:9).

DRESSED FOR DUTY

 

This world is not a playground, but a battleground. Preacher, put your armor on!  You better be dressed for duty. There is never a time for “playing church.”  We have a deadly enemy, bent on our destruction. Yet, we have a Sovereign—the Lord of Hosts who leads us. Pastors have been appointed as field commanders, serving under His direction.

Paul stresses the three great virtues of faith, hope, and love repeatedly in his writings. These must be the focus of our ministry. All we do is to help the church to be a people of faith, hope, and love.  Through the preaching of the Word of God, faith is developed, hope is strengthened, and love is nurtured.  Here, this holy trinity of Christ-like character is depicted as pieces of armor for the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. 

There is armor to guard our heart: “the breastplate of faith and love.”  The two halves of the chest are protected by faith on one side and love on the other.  Our heart is the seat of our affections. Faith enables us to experience the power of God, while love equips us to express our devotion to God. Whether on the march to assault some enemy stronghold that can be conquered by faith, or standing our ground in loving commitment when the foe sweeps in like a flood, we wear the breastplate.

There is armor to guard our head: “and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”  Our head is the place where Biblical information is stored and Scriptural conviction is formed. The hope of salvation encases our minds with an assurance that wards off doubt, lest we waver in our doctrine and wander in our decisions. 

Never let us shirk our work to equip our band of believers for battle. May we exemplify what it means to be dressed with faith, hope, and love, then to expound the Word in such a way that we help them to be armed likewise as they go into the world.

DISHEARTENED IN MINISTRY?

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” (‭‭2 Cor.‬ ‭4:1‬‬)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”  (‭‭2 Cor. 4:16‬‬)

Paul warns us of the danger of being disheartened in ministry.  We answer the call with vision and passion for seeing God do a great work—thinking we have a contribution to make in Kingdom advance. 

Then, there is the confrontation from an angry church member that blindsides us. The event we planned falls flat. The sermon was a dud. We gaze upon a congregation week by week that seems asleep. A leader drops out. A solid family moves away. A former strong supporter moves their membership because they “were not being fed.”  There is the daily grind of the minutia of ministry, just like drops of water slowly eroding our zeal. We counsel with a young couple whose marriage is disintegrating. We weep with a family whose son has overdosed or whose teen daughter is pregnant. I hope you are not married to Mrs. Job who suggests, “Why don’t you curse God and die?” Dare I go on?  I think I have said enough. You could add to the list.

Disheartenment is a slow cancer that leads to pastoral death—not necessarily physically, though that can happen with sin, stress or suicide. I am speaking of it ministerially. The pastor walks out of the pulpit for the final time, convinced he has failed—dreams dashed—and on to other things with his life.  If you are struggling, please listen to Paul, “Do not lose heart!”

Our response may be, “Easy for you to say Mr. Super Apostle!  Look at your success!”  Paul did make an immeasurable impact, no doubt. But, he would not have had he lost heart. He struggled with it, but by God’s grace overcame it. The pressure that brought him to his knees drove him to God rather than away.  That is our choice. It is foremost an act of the will that affects the emotions, instead of waiting for the emotions to direct the decision. It is a command, “Do not lose heart.”

Should you protest, “if only Paul knew what I am facing,” … as soon as you speak the words, you know that you and I have never faced what that man did.

“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.” (2 Cor.11:23-33‬‬)

Paul was a basket case!

He was sustained in seeing his ministry, with all its misery, as a mercy from God (4:1). The sinner that he was merited hell, yet what he received was mercy. That is true of us all. It is tempting to evaluate our difficulties and say, “I don’t deserve this!”  True—what we deserve is hell. Yet, we have been spared. We should, as Christian comedian Mark Lowery points out, look at our circumstances, no matter how painful and say, “That sure beats hell!”

Paul pressed on because he looked beyond the immediate to the finish line (4:16).  Looking in the mirror of the present situation would lead him to conclude, “I am wasting away.”  Looking into the mirror of God’s Word at the future filled his lungs with the oxygen of hope, “renewed day by day.”  That, after all, is how Jesus told us to live—one day at a time.  Today’s load is quite sufficient without borrowing from tomorrow’s troubles, that may or may not materialize.

I think of old Jeremiah—whose ministry resume’ listed decline, opposition, pain—a complete disaster in the denominational records.  He battled disheartenment repeatedly. How did he make it through?  He lifted his eyes above:

“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”  (Lam.‬ ‭3:19-26‬‬)

If I can serve you, pray with you, support you—be a sounding board—whatever, please do not lose heart!  Contact me and we will cry together, but through glistening tears look up to our faithful God who has called us!  

DO NOT LOSE HEART!

CONFIDENT, COURAGEOUS COMMUNICATION

There is a wondrous work being accomplished when the Word of God is declared and digested. The Spirit of God has brought the one in the pulpit and in the pew into communion with Christ through the inspired Word. This is the glory of preaching—a courageous communication that leading to ingestion and application is of eternal significance. 

We are being changed, bit by bit, into the glorious image of the Lord. Truth unveiled brings us face to face with  Jesus. A sermon is meant to be more than informational, although principles are stated; it is more than inspirational, although passion is generated; it is meant to be transformational, with Christ being encountered.

The faithful preacher who immerses himself in the truth, living and breathing Christ,—Whom he grows to adore—can stand with a Bible in his hand  and confidently, courageously communicate Christ in His glory. This brings the congregation face to face with the One who is our blessed hope!  

Ultimately, the hope will be fulfilled when we see Him—not just spiritually—but literally and this is what John describes, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John‬ ‭3:2-3‬‬).

This is our hope and the glory of preaching! 

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #41

Lead the church to learn from the past, but refuse to let them live in the past. Honor tradition where it connects with Biblical principles, but reject traditionalism where it relies on personal preferences. Someone has said that tradition is the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism is the dead faith of the living!  When the fog of nostalgia for “the good old days” rolls in, this is a sure indicator that the church is in decline and needs to be reinvigorated with fresh vision. The more you hear about “how it used to be” the unhealthier the church has become and the more urgent the need for revitalization. 

Yet, there is much good we can learn from those who have gone before us. I have often said that if the church is blessed today, we enjoy the fruit of a tree someone else has planted, nurtured with their effort, and watered with their tears.  Never fail to respect that legacy, but those days are gone—never to return. The church will move on or slip back. 

The next step down from nostalgia is polarization, as people begin to argue for the heritage behind us versus those who look for the hope before us. Both groups may lose sight of the value of one another—the stability of an older generation combined with the vitality of a younger one. If they do not see that worth, then they will devour one another. Usually this ends with the younger departing and the church ages and dies.

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #35

When a death comes to the church family—be there. The ministry of your presence is one of the chief means of comforting them. In the early days of my ministry, I thought I was there to say a lot of things—pious phrases and religious cliches—to defend God for why this tragedy had occurred. I quickly learned that God did not need defending and that I did not have all the answers.. Even more, their broken hearts were not ready to process theological truths. There were questions for which I did not have all the answers. I believe that God is omniscient, but I am not. A hug, a prayer, reading the Scripture, planning the funeral, mingling my tears with theirs. That is what people needed from me that I could give them. Job’s friends sat with him in silence after he experienced heartbreak after heartbreak. Then they began to talk and that is when they became “miserable comforters,” (Job 16:2).

A GRIEF OBTAINED

Years ago, the great Christian thinker, C.S. Lewis, wrote a book entitled, “A Grief Observed.”  In this brief, but poignant volume, he describes his struggle after his wife dies.  The pious platitudes and Christian clichés so often employed in the midst of sorrow were found to be hollow.  Lewis wavered in maintaining a faith that had seemed so rock-solid.  Once he spoke with such conviction about the things of God, as if he had all the answers.  Suddenly, he was thrust into an abyss where answers could not be found.

The reality of a loved one’s death was brutal…and it still is.  Have you ever watched a seven-year old granddaughter who had been so full of life a year ago be consumed with cancer?  Have you ever sat down with your son-in-law and your daughter to plan a funeral service that you will conduct?  I hope not—and pray you never do!  The pain is excruciating. I know that many of you who read this have been in similar times—a spouse, a sibling, a son—someone so dear and near and now all that remains are tombstones and memories.

I recall as a young pastor, visiting the hospital, seeking to minister by encouragement, Scripture, and prayer—and maybe somewhat effectively.  Nothing helped me be more helpful than when I was hospitalized for a week with a major operation, requiring a month to recuperate.  My sympathy factor increased exponentially and I believe my ministry was enhanced.  It was no longer theory, but experience that gave me a platform of compassion.

I believe that is what Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.   If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.  Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (ESV)

I have no idea how many hundreds of funerals I have officiated, and can truly say I have sought to weep with those that wept and bring them comfort.  People have told me that they have been helped by my ministry.  Yet, I know now what I have never known before.  In the space of a week I have spoken at my father and granddaughter’s funerals, and felt a heartache from which I will never recover until the great Resurrection Day.  That hope seems more precious than ever to me!  I can testify that God’s grace is enough—that His comfort is real—and He will do the same for you, no matter what trial may come.  “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21 ESV)

DON’T LOOK BACK

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:62)

In ministry, it is tempting at times to look back, but Jesus warned us about it.  He used the example of a man plowing a field.  The farmer must keep his eyes fixed on the ground before him, if his furrow is to be straight. To look back is to go astray and maybe worse—to run into a rock, tree or fence post!

We must not be LIMITED by our past.  We all have a past—some of it is good, some of it is bad.  There are decisions we ought not to have made—and we may still be living with the consequences.  Life has no rewind button.  Regret will only hinder us from getting where we need to go.  “Don’t cry over spilt milk!” is the old saying. On second thought, maybe you do cry with remorse, confess in repentance, but then claim forgiveness and move on.  Failure need not be final.  The pages of the Bible are filled with men of faith who messed up, but moved ahead.  I know as a pastor I have made sinful decisions and others that were just stupid decisions.  We must not cave in to the paralysis of analysis.  Learn from it, but do not be limited by it.  The past needs to stay in the past.

We cannot LIVE in the past.  This is the polar opposite of limiting ourselves by past failures—it is relying on previous successes.  This happens when we do not succumb to regret, but nostalgia.  It is, “The good old days” syndrome.  We idolize the way it used to be—which is seldom as good as we imagined anyway—and this hinders us from embracing the opportunity of the present time.

Paul had this wonderful resolve,

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  ‎Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:12-14)

If we are not alert, we can rest on the results of effective ministry, and in the present shift into neutral.  Ministry effectiveness slows and eventually stops when we do.  “The victory of yesterday becomes the sin of today if it keeps us from the challenge of tomorrow.” ((R.B. Oullette).  Let’s grab the plow handles firmly, look straight ahead, and go!  Don’t look back!

THE PROMISES ARE FOR PASTORS TOO!

The works of His hands are verity and justice;

All His precepts are sure. 

They stand fast forever and ever,

And are done in truth and uprightness. 

He has sent redemption to His people;

He has commanded His covenant forever:

Holy and awesome is His name.  (Psalm 111:7-9)

How often pastors have sought to lift the downcast with the assurances of God’s promises and reminders of the faithfulness of His love.  We open our Bibles and read to the suffering and sorrowing those eternal truths, to give them an anchor of hope in their present storm.  It would be well if we preached the same sermon to ourselves!  When the difficult seasons of plowing hard ground have come, as weeds seem to grow, but believers do not, and when the sun turns the soil to dust and tender ones wither, let us remain steadfast in our confidence.  God has promised to bless His Word.  He commands, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  (Gal.6:9)  The promises are for pastors, too! 

There were times that people forgot all that Moses had done for them, rebelled against him—even wanted to kill him.  David’s own wife ridiculed his exuberance in worship.  Elijah had to be reminded that conditions were not as dire as he thought; there were more following the Lord than he supposed.  Jeremiah saw little positive response to his preaching, but much hostility, yet, he was God’s man for the hour.  Ezekiel had a congregation of skeletons in a graveyard, but God worked through his sermon to raise the dead.  John the Baptist saw diminishing crowds, and in the end lost his head over his sermon, but Jesus commended him for his greatness.  People will be fickle; God will be faithful.

I am preaching to myself when I say, “Pastor, trust the promises of God.  His character is immutable when our popularity with people may change with the weather.  Look to His Word, and do not be a hypocrite in offering its counsel to others, but disdaining it yourself.  Trust Him and do not let discouragement diminish your service.”

Can I get an amen?

RAISING HOPE

 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  (Philippians 4:8)

Do we have hearts brim full of hope?  If so, then out of that reservoir, we as preachers will share hope each Sunday—and how our people need it!  They are beaten down daily by the desperate conditions they find themselves in, traveling on Sunday morning—trudging might be a better word—through the desert places of their lives, thirsty souls looking for an oasis.  Brothers, don’t let your message be only a mirage!  We will share from our mouths what our minds have meditated on during the week.  Have we been obsessed with the truth, the things that are majestic, focused on that which is just, morally pure, satisfying to the senses in a way that creates awe, admiring that which inspires, celebrating achievement and concentrating on that which glorifies God and elicits praise?  Paul, imprisoned in body, yet liberated in mind and heart tells us to meditate on these things!  Make God, His glory and His good news your magnificent obsession!

There will always be sins to confront, false doctrines to expose, and a host of demonic evils to battle.  Yet, is that to be the continual subject of our sermons?  Should we focus on the evil or the good?  Do we curse the darkness or light a candle.  Bad news is only meant to set the stage for the good news—and that is what the Gospel is!  Grace-filled and Gospel-focused preaching is demanded!

Our flock faces plenty in the world to depress them.  Do we drive them farther into that mental state?  It is a message that raises hope and inspires hearts that is called for, since God is the God of hope, and Jesus is the bringer of hope—blessed hope He is!

I am not calling for some Osteen-ism—of paste on a smile and think happy thoughts, and “think your way to prosperity” nonsense.  That is worse than nonsense—it is heresy.  Reality must be faced.  The Old Testament prophets surely thundered against wickedness.  But, they didn’t stop there.  God would break the clouds, and send a beam of hope’s light piercing through each time.  If we must use Scripture as a scalpel to cut today because some spiritual malignancy is present, even so, our object is to heal, not to hurt.

Reality is not to be denied by “positive thinking.”  But, I am positive that God is the ultimate reality!  This is what enabled a woman whose darling son was dead to respond in faith to the prophet Elisha’s inquiry about her state, “It is well.” (2 Kings 4:26b) 

Do our sermons lead to worshippers raising their hands, or worriers wringing them?  Let’s go out today and raise some hope!