Tag Archives: theology

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John MacArthur – Tempering Zeal with Sensitivity

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The twelve apostles included “James the son of Zebedee” (Matt. 10:2).

There’s the story of a Norwegian pastor whose motto was “All or nothing!” His life and preaching were stern, strong, powerful, uncompromising, and utterly insensitive. Reportedly the people in his church didn’t care much for him because he didn’t care much for them. In his zeal and ambition to advance the kingdom and uphold God’s standard, he neglected everything else–including his own family.

One day his little daughter became so ill the doctor warned him that if he didn’t move her out of the cold Norwegian air to a warmer climate, she would die. He refused, telling the doctor, “All or nothing!” Soon his little girl died. His wife was so grief-stricken she would sit for hours holding her daughter’s garments close to her heart, trying somehow to ease her pain.

When the pastor saw what his wife was doing, he gave away the clothes to a poor woman in the street. All that remained was a little bonnet, which his wife had hidden so she would have some reminder of her precious daughter. When the pastor found it, he gave that away too, lecturing his wife on giving “all or nothing.” Within a few months, she too died–of grief.

Now that’s an extreme example of insensitive zeal, yet there are many pastors, evangelists, and other Christian workers who are so zealous for the Lord and so task- oriented, they don’t see the pain their own families and congregations are suffering.

James could have been like that if he hadn’t yielded his life to Christ. He began as a zealous and insensitive disciple but God refined his character and used him in a marvelous way.

Examine your own ministries and motives. Are you sensitive to your family and the people you serve with? Zeal can be a wonderful quality but it must be tempered with love and sensitivity.

Suggestions for Prayer:

If you have been insensitive to those around you, confess that to them and ask the Lord to give you a greater sensitivity from now on.

For Further Study:

Eli the priest was negligent and insensitive to his family. Read 1 Samuel 3:1þ4:18.

What did the Lord tell Samuel concerning Eli?

What was the outcome of Israel’s battles with the Philistines?

How did Eli and his sons die?

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Greg Laurie – “You Shall Not Covet”

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THINK before You Speak

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” — Exodus 20:17

A Roman Catholic priest who had heard the confessions of 2,000 people said that he had heard every kind of sin and iniquity confessed—even murder—with one exception. He had never heard anyone confess to committing the sin of covetousness.

I think that is because we don’t really know what coveting is. Yet we do it all the time.

What does it mean to covet? Coveting is wanting something that never will be yours, should never be yours, and, in fact, belongs to someone else. The literal definition of the word means to set your heart on something. A better translation would be “to pant after something”—sort of like a predator pursuing its prey.

The apostle Paul said that of all the commandments, this was the one he struggled with the most. Why? Because all the other commandments involve external actions—”You shall not commit adultery” . . . “You shall not kill” . . . “You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.”

But then there is “You shall not covet.” That is more difficult to figure out. It is internal. It is wanting something that belongs to someone else and deciding you are going to get it, no matter what.

We read in Colossians 3:5, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

It is not a sin to admire something. It is not a sin to want to be successful in business or to make a good living. But if you become obsessed with it and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it, when that is the most important thing in life to you, that can become coveting and idolatry.

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Max Lucado – A Clear Vision

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The apostle Paul dedicates a paragraph to listing troubles, problems, sufferings, hunger, danger—the very difficulties we hope to escape.  Paul, however, states their value in Romans 8:35-37.  “In all these things we have full victory through God.”

We’d prefer another preposition. We’d opt for “apart from all these things,” or “away from all these things,” or even “without all these things. But Paul says, “in” all these things.

The solution is not to avoid trouble but to change the way we see our troubles. God can correct your vision. He asks, “Who gives a person sight?” then answers, It is I, the Lord.” (Exodus 4:11)  More than one have made the request of the blind man, “Teacher I want to see.” (Mark 10:51)  And more than one have walked away with clear vision.

Who is to say God won’t do the same for you?

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Ravi Zacharias International Ministries – Why Do You Look Up?

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It is likely that the day slipped by without much recognition. Not all holidays—a contraction for the phrase “holy days”—are regarded with the care the word itself necessitates. Sometimes the holiest moments come not with fanfare but like a thief in the night.

Forty days after the celebration of Easter and the resurrection of Christ is the remembrance of another eventful day, which happened to come yesterday. The gospel writer records: “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘See, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”(1)

Even to Christians, the ascension of Christ may not seem as momentous as the resurrection or as rousing as the image of Jesus on the Cross. It may seem like just one more detail tied up in the claims of Jesus Christ, a detail not worth professing on its own. But no action of Christ is without weight, and this, his last action on earth, is one of the great Christian hopes. The ascension was a living and public declaration of the dying words of Christ on the Cross: It is finished. The work God sent him to accomplish was finally completed. Ascending to heaven, Jesus only furthered the victory of Easter. Thus, Ascension Day, a holy day falling inconspicuously on a Thursday in May, is the remembrance that Christ, who went to the depths to reach us, is rightfully lifted on high.

But there are other reasons why the day merits our remembering of its mystery and import, and none is as simple as the fact that Jesus himself told us it was important. “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”(2) Curiously, mysteriously, Jesus describes his own departure as a gift to the world. As Jesus returns to the Father, a greater Comforter is sent, the Holy Spirit, the Counselor given in his name, who guides us into all truth, and testifies of all that is to come. Rising to life and then to the heavens, Jesus sends forth the one who leads us further into the kingdom, until he comes once again to take us home.

So, we are first reminded in the ascending of Jesus that the work he came to accomplish is finished; we are given in the ascending of Jesus the gift of the Spirit; and third, within his parting, we are given the assurance of his return. As the disciples were watching and Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, a cloud hid him from their sight. The text then refers to them “looking intently up into the sky as he was going” when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them: “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go.’”(3) In his resurrected body, Christ ascended to heaven, fully human, fully divine, and entirely glorified. We therefore carry in our own flesh a guarantee that Christ will bring us to himself. Which is to say, we are not left as orphans! Jesus ascended with a body and is coming back for those in bodies. He is preparing a room for us, which we know is real because he is real. The Christian profession is indeed uniquely, mysteriously full of what it means to be fully human: Christ will come again.

But until this day, the ascension of Jesus Christ means furthermore that we have in heaven today our advocate before the Father. Jesus is enthroned in glory and seated at the right hand of the Father as our righteousness today. That is to say, the work of Christ on the Cross is not only finished, it has been declared by the Father entirely effective, and the presence of Jesus in heaven is our guarantee. As John writes, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”(4) Thus, the ascension of Christ is a fitting reminder of all that God has declared and all of creation will one day profess: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(5)

Though it may have escaped attention, yesterday was a holy day indeed. As is their custom, the congregation of the Gloucestershire Cathedral celebrated Ascension Day by scaling the 269 steps of the cathedral and looking to the heavens. The choir sang from the top of the tower, looking up as they sang, singing to Christ the ascended, the name above every name. A worthy celebration.

Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

(1) Luke 24:49-53.

(2) John 16:7.

(3) Acts 1:9-11.

(4) 1 John 2:1.

(5) Philippians 2:9-11.

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Alistair Begg – Raised from the Dead

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But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:20

The whole system of Christianity rests upon the fact that “Christ has been raised from the dead;” for “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (verse 13).

The divinity of Christ finds its surest proof in His resurrection, since He was “declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.”1 It would not be unreasonable to doubt His Deity if He had not risen. Furthermore, Christ’s sovereignty depends upon His resurrection: “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”2 Again, our justification, that choice blessing of the covenant, is linked with Christ’s triumphant victory over death and the grave, for He “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”3

More than this, our very regeneration is connected with His resurrection, for we are “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”4 And most certainly our ultimate resurrection rests here, for “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”5 If Christ is not risen, then we will not rise; but if He is risen, then those who are asleep in Christ have not perished but in their flesh shall surely see God. In this way the silver thread of resurrection runs through all the believer’s blessings, from his regeneration onward to his eternal glory, and ties them all together. How important for believers is this glorious fact, and how they rejoice that beyond a doubt it is established, that “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”

The promise is fulfill’d,

Redemption’s work is done,

Justice with mercy’s reconciled,

For God has raised His Son.

1 Romans 1:4

2 Romans 14:9

3 Romans 4:25

4 1 Peter 1:3

5 Romans 8:11

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C.H. Spurgeon – Salvation of the Lord

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“Salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah 2:9

Suggested Further Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

“Salvation is of the Lord,” in the application of it.“No,” says the Arminian, “it is not; salvation is of the Lord, inasmuch as he does all for man that he can do; but there is something that man must do, which if he does not do, he must perish.” That is the Arminian way of salvation. I thought of this very theory of salvation when I stood by the side of that window of Carisbrooke Castle, out of which King Charles, of unhappy and unrighteous memory, attempted to escape. I read in the guide book that everything was provided for his escape; his followers had means at the bottom of the wall to enable him to fly across the country, and on the coast they had their boats lying ready to take him to another land; in fact, everything was ready for his escape. But here was the important circumstance; his friends had done all they could; he was to do the rest; but that doing the rest was just the point and brunt of the battle.It was to get out of the window, out of which he was not able to escape by any means, so that all his friends did for him went for nothing, so far as he was concerned. So with the sinner. If God had provided every means of escape, and only required him to get out of his dungeon, he would have remained there to all eternity. Why, is not the sinner by nature dead in sin? And if God requires him to make himself alive, and then afterwards he will do the rest for him, then verily, my friends, we are not so much obliged to God as we had thought; for if he requires so much as that of us, and we can do it, we can do the rest without his assistance.

For meditation: The converted are alive and can open the door to the Saviour (Revelation 3:20); but he had to open it himself the first time when they were still unbelieving and dead (Acts 16:14).

Sermon no. 131

10 May (1857)

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John MacArthur – Building a Leader: The Right Results

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The twelve apostles included “Simon, who is called Peter” (Matt. 10:2).

God makes leaders by taking people with the right raw material, putting them through the right experiences, and teaching them the right lessons. That’s how he trained Peter, and the results were astonishing. In the first twelve chapters of Acts we see Peter initiating the move to replace Judas with Matthias, preaching powerfully on the Day of Pentecost, healing a lame man, standing up to the Jewish authorities, confronting Ananias and Sapphira, dealing with Simon the magician, healing Aeneas, raising Dorcas from the dead, and taking the gospel to the Gentiles. In addition, he wrote two epistles that pass on to us all the lessons he learned from Jesus. What a leader!

Peter was as much a model of spiritual leadership in death as he was in life. Jesus told him he would be crucified for God’s glory, and early church tradition tells us that Peter was in fact crucified. But before putting him to death, his executioners forced him to watch the crucifixion of his wife. As he stood at the foot of her cross, he encouraging her by saying over and over, “Remember the Lord, remember the Lord.” When it was time for his own crucifixion, he requested that he be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die as his Lord had died. His request was granted.

Just as God transformed Peter from a brash and impulsive fisherman into a powerful instrument for His glory, so He can transform everyone who is yielded to Him.

You will never be an apostle, but you can have the same depth of character and know the same joy of serving Christ that Peter knew. There’s no higher calling in the world than to be an instrument of God’s grace. Peter was faithful to that calling–you be faithful too!

Suggestions for Prayer:

Praise God for the assurance that He will perfect the work He has begun in you (Phil. 1:6).

Ask Him to use the experiences you have today as instruments that shape you more into the image of Christ.

 

For Further Study:

Read John 21:18-23.

How did Jesus describe Peter’s death?

What was Peter’s reaction to Christ’s announcement?

What misunderstanding was generated by their conversation?

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Campus Crusade – Bill Bright – We Shall Never Lack

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“Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing” (Psalm 34:10)

“When you have nothing left but God,” a Christian leader once observed, “then for the first time you become aware that God is enough.”

With every command of God is a specific or implied promise to enable us to do what He commands us to do. He always makes it possible for us to fulfill the conditions to obey His commands.

Rarely, will some of us see a check for a million – or even thousands – of dollars. But here is a check for millions of millions, waiting to be cashed by those of us who know and love the Lord, who love Him enough to obey His commands.

Here is a promise of God which is great enough to meet our needs, our wants, even our deepest desires and distresses.

As you and I go through our day, how reassuring it is to know that our reverence for the Lord will be rewarded by provision of every good thing we need. That means the strength, the peace, the courage, the love I need to get me through the decisions, the trials, the testings.

That also means a new consciousness of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, the one through whom I find the supernatural, abundant life. That means a tender conscience toward God, so that I make a supreme effort to avoid yielding to temptation in any way, lest I grieve my wonderful Lord.

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-9

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I shall not be afraid to go to the bank of heaven today and cash a check for all my needs, enabling me to share the supernatural life with all whom my life touches.

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Presidential Prayer Team, J.R. – Undeserved Invitation

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Author Nicholas Allan has written a book that is quite intriguing…though certainly of dubious virtue. “The Complete Guide to Gatecrashing” instructs readers in the fine art of gaining access to parties to which they have not been invited. According to Allan’s guide, the Gatecrasher “is a marvelous figure. Enigmatic, seductive…and extremely economical. You, too, can hobnob with the great, the good and the famous!”

Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. Romans 5:10

It is a wonderful thing to rejoice in God’s presence, especially when you consider that on your own merits you are hopelessly lost and undeserving. No one is worthy of an invitation to experience Christ’s love or a home in Heaven. But because of His vast grace, you have been invited! And unlike a gatecrasher – who must slink around hoping to go undetected – you can be confident that your place at the party is secured and irrevocable. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving,” says Psalm 100:4-5, “and his courts with praise!…For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Today, pray that more of America’s leaders, along with your loved ones and neighbors, will accept the invitation of the Savior to rejoice in Him.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 84:1-12

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Greg Laurie – A Widespread Problem

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Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.—Ephesians 4:28

Stealing is such a widespread problem in our culture today. And among those who know stealing is wrong, it is interesting why they think it is wrong. A study was done among those who stole or thought about stealing, and the question was asked, “Why don’t you steal?” The number one reason given was, “I might get caught.” Number two was, “The other person might try to get even.” And reason number three? “I might not need the item.”

How about this reason? God says it is a sin.

Here’s what the Bible has to say about stealing: “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28).

“Steal no longer.” It’s a no-brainer. Don’t steal. If you have stolen, stop. If you took something from someone, give it back. Don’t just confess your sin of stealing and then keep what you took. Give it back. It’s called making restitution.

“Rather let him labor, working with his hands. . . .” Do something useful. God wants you to go out and be responsible and work for a living. The Bible says that whoever doesn’t work shouldn’t eat (see 2 Thessalonians 3:10). News flash: The world doesn’t owe you a living. The government doesn’t owe you a living. Be responsible and work if you can.

“That he may have something to give to him who has need . . .” Share what you have so that you may share with those who are in need. When you work hard and save your money, you are able to help others.

“You shall not steal”—it’s one of the Ten Commandments. Don’t take things that don’t belong to you.

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Alistair Begg – Partial Knowledge

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The man who had been healed did not know who it was.  John 5:13

Years pass quickly for the happy and the healthy; but thirty-eight years of disease must have seemed like forever in the life of the poor impotent man. When Jesus, therefore, healed him by a word while he lay at the pool of Bethesda, the man was delightfully aware of a change. Even so the sinner who has for weeks and months been paralyzed with despair and has wearily sighed for salvation is very conscious of the change when the Lord Jesus speaks the word of power and gives joy and peace in believing. The evil removed is too great to be removed without our discerning it; the life imparted is too remarkable to be possessed and remain inoperative; and the change is too marvelous not to be perceived.

Yet the poor man was ignorant of the author of his cure; he did not know this person, or the part that he played, or the plan that had brought Him among men. Hearts that feel the power of His blood may still be ignorant of His ways. We must not be too quick to condemn men for lack of knowledge; but where we can see the faith that saves the soul, we must believe that salvation has been bestowed. The Holy Spirit makes men penitents long before He makes them ministers; and he who believes what he knows shall soon know more clearly what he believes.

Ignorance is, however, an evil; for this poor man was much tantalized by the Pharisees and was quite unable to cope with them. It is good to be able to answer our critics; but we cannot do so if we do not know the Lord Jesus clearly and with understanding. The cure of his ignorance, however, soon followed the cure of his infirmity, for he was visited by the Lord in the temple; and after that gracious discourse, he was soon declaring to all “that it was Jesus who had healed him.” Lord, if You have saved me, show me Yourself, that I may declare You to the sons of men.

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John MacArthur – Building a Leader: The Right Experiences

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The twelve apostles included “Simon, who is called Peter” (Matt. 10:2).

Stan Carder is a dear brother in Christ and one of the pastors on our church staff. Before coming to Grace Church he pastored a church in Montana. While there, he was riding one night in a truck that was involved in a very serious accident. Stan suffered a broken neck and other major injuries. As a result he underwent months of arduous and painful therapy.

That was one of the most difficult periods in Stan’s life, yet God used it for a specific purpose. Today, as pastor of our special-ministries department, Stan ministers to more than 500 physically and mentally handicapped people. God needed a man with unique qualifications to show love to a group of very special people. He chose Stan and allowed him the necessary experiences to fit him for the task.

God doesn’t always permit such serious situations, but He does lead each of us into life-changing experiences that heighten our effectiveness in ministry.

Peter had many such experiences. In Matthew 16:15-16, for example, God gave him special revelation about the deity of Christ. In Acts 10 God sent him to preach the gospel to Gentiles–something unheard of at the time because Jewish people resisted any interaction with Gentiles. Perhaps the most tragic experience of Peter’s life was his denial of Christ. But even that only increased his love for Christ and his appreciation of God’s grace. After His resurrection, Christ forgave him and restored him to ministry (John 21:15-19).

Peter’s many experiences helped prepare him for the key role he was to play in the early church. Similarly, your experiences help prepare you for future ministry. So seek to discern God’s hand in your circumstances and rejoice at the prospect of becoming a more effective Christian.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for both the good and bad experiences you have, knowing that each of them is important to your spiritual growth (cf. James 1:2-4).

For Further Study:

Read Acts 10, noting what Peter learned from his experience.

What vision did Peter have?

What was the point of the vision?

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Charles Stanley – The Blessing of Loving Others

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1 Peter 1:22

If we responded simply out of natural impulses, we would probably be nice when people were kind. At other times, though, we’d most likely be vengeful, angry, or hurtful.

Yet Jesus clearly teaches us to love even when the people around us seem unlovable. And He lived out what He taught: Christ loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Surely, by acting out of His strength and with gratitude for what He did, we—His followers—can love others (1 John 3:14).

While it can certainly be challenging to respond to unkindness with love, such godly behavior can lead to great blessing. First, the Father is pleased; this realization should bring His children joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment. Next, believers ought to feel excitement and anticipation to watch how God will move in the relationship. Finally, there will be an awareness that the Holy Spirit is working from within, enabling divine love to flow through yielded human lives.

John 13:35 tells of another important benefit: Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Since unconditional godly love is uncommon in our world, people will notice.

Treating others the way that we want to be treated is what builds the deep, satisfying connections that all people desire. Without significant relationships, life lacks meaning—regardless of how many possessions or acquaintances we may have. So think about the people you come in contact with throughout the week. Are you treating them in the way that Jesus modeled?

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Our Daily Bread — We Can Trust Him

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Matthew 10:32-38

Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who . . . persecute you. —Matthew 5:44

I know very little about persecution. My physical well-being has never been threatened because of what I believe or what I say. What little I “know” about the subject comes from what I hear and read. But that is not true for many of our brothers and sisters around the world. Some of them live in danger every day simply because they love Jesus and want others to know Him too.

There is another form of persecution that may not be life-threatening, but it is heartbreaking. It’s the persecution that comes from non-Christian family members. When loved ones ridicule our faith and mock us for what we believe and how we express our love for God, we feel rejected and unloved.

Paul warned believers that following Jesus would result in persecution: “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12), and we know that sometimes rejection will come from those we love (Matt. 10:34-36). But when people we love reject the God we love, the rejection feels personal.

Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44), and that includes more than strangers who hate us. God is able to give us grace to persevere through persecution even when it comes from those we love. —Julie Ackerman Link

Lord, give us grace to pray for those

Who seek our harm and not our good;

And teach us how to show them love

In ways that will be understood. —Sper

People may mock our message but they can’t stop our prayers.

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Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Holding On and Letting Go

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It is not very difficult for me to spend significant amounts of time dwelling on the past. Sometimes it is a rehearsal of conversations once had replaying in my mind; what should have been said and what could have been said. Or I ruminate on past regrets of what might have been had I chosen another path, or taken a different turn in the road of my life. Often I sift through memories of individuals who are long gone—either through death or some other forced absence from my life—wishing for more time with them or another opportunity to commune together. Regrets, nostalgic remembering, and wearying analytical thoughts collude to keep me bound in a place to which I can never return in real-time.

Dwelling in the past, as if one could take up residence there permanently, is a strategy I often employ when I find the present or the future daunting. Rather than face what it is I need to face, I retreat into my past searching for comfort, or numbness. Part of the reason I do this lies in the simple fact that to move forward is to leave behind that which has become dear—whether that is a cherished memory or a cherished grudge. More important, however, to leave something of our past behind is to actually let go of part of our identity. It is the call into the wild and into becoming something—and someone—currently unknown to us. For most, it is a call too frightening and too challenging to heed. For some, however, it is a call that woos us to consider what more we are capable of doing, and who we are capable of being, both now in the present and as we journey into an unknown future.

To be sure, remembering is a very important discipline of heart and mind. The ancients called the people to remember the past as a way of connecting them to an aspect crucial to the formation of their present identity. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. Ancient writings also bear witness to a God who remembers; You have remembered all of my wanderings; put my tears in a bottle, are they not in your book? But remembering is very different from making one’s home in the past, or seeing the past as the place of refuge, or the sum total of one’s identity in the present. To remember is to draw forward into the present what has been learned from the past. It is not the clinging to the past as one does with nostalgia; it is, as one ancient writer put it “letting go of what lies behind and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

Perhaps Mary Magdalene was lost in the past when she entered the garden where her beloved Jesus had been entombed. Perhaps she was lost in the grief and the pain that had overwhelmed her with his death. Whatever the case, she is so blind to the present that she doesn’t recognize Jesus when he first speaks to her. Rather than seeing into a future in which resurrection could be the last word, she immediately assumes that someone has stolen his body. “Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’”

When Jesus calls Mary by name, she recognizes him as ‘Rabboni’ (my teacher) and lunges towards him to embrace him. But, in a strange response, Jesus says to her, “Do not hold onto me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father…” Do not hold onto me. How could she not hold on to the dearest, purest and most wonderful love of her life? Yet, in trying to hold on and not let go, might it be that she too was afraid to go with Jesus into all that was new, and all that laid ahead. For in his resurrection, the new creation had begun, and now Jesus was going on to be with God. For Mary a new mission is begun as well. She is to go to the disciples and to tell them that Jesus is raised from the dead and will ascend to the Father. She goes and tells them, “I have seen the Lord.” No longer was he simply Rabboni, Mary’s teacher, but now he is the Lord of life.

Like Mary, it is so easy to want to hold on to what has gone, to dwell in the past, to want things back the way they were. If she had done so, what might have been lost of the future? In her willingness to let go of the Lord, she leaves the past behind and moves into a whole new world. But she does so with a new vision of what is to come, and what in many ways already now is, for she has seen the Lord…the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Margaret is a member of the speaking and writing team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Seattle, Washington.

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Charles Spurgeon – Peace at home, and prosperity abroad

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“He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” Psalm 147:14-15

Suggested Further Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1

Suppose the pulpit in our land gives an uncertain sound. As a result God’s people begin to forsake the assembling of themselves together; no crowds gather to hear the Word; places begin to get empty; prayer-meetings become more and more deserted; the efforts of the Church may be still carried on, but they are merely a matter of routine; there is no life, no heart in it. I am supposing a case you see, a case which I trust we never may see. Things get worse and worse; the doctrines of the gospel become expunged and unknown; they that fear the Lord no more speak one to another. Still for a little time the money continues to be brought into the Society, and foreign missions are sustained. Can you not imagine in the next report, “We have had no converts this year; our income is still maintained; but notwithstanding that, our brethren feel that they are labouring under the greatest possible disadvantages; in fact, some of them wish to return home and renounce the work.” Another year—the missionary spirit has grown cold in the churches, its funds decrease. Another year, and yet another; it becomes a moot point among us as to whether missions are absolutely necessary or not. We have come at last to the more advanced point which some divines have already reached, and begin to question whether Mohammed and Confucius had not a revelation from God as well as Jesus Christ. And now we begin to say, “Is it needful that we should extend the gospel abroad at all? We have lost faith in it; we see it does nothing at home, shall we send that across the sea which is a drug on the market here, and distribute as a healing for the wounds of the daughters of Zidon and of Tyre that which has not healed the daughter of Jerusalem?”

For meditation: A healthy church is the light of the world; an unhealthy church will be as much use to the world as the seven churches of Revelation are today (Matthew 5:13-16).

Sermon no. 314

7 May (Preached 9 May 1860)

 

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John MacArthur – Building a Leader: The Right Raw Material [Peter]

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The twelve apostles included “Simon, who is called Peter” (Matt. 10:2).

Peter is a good illustration of how God builds a spiritual leader. He begins with a person’s natural traits and works from there. Natural traits alone don’t make a spiritual leader–the person must also be gifted and called by the Holy Spirit to lead in the church and be a model of spiritual virtue. But often God endows future leaders with natural abilities that constitute the raw materials from which He builds spiritual ministries. That was certainly the case with Peter, who demonstrated the leadership qualities of inquisitiveness, initiative, and involvement.

Peter was always asking questions. In fact, the gospel records show he asked more questions than all the other disciples combined! People who aren’t inquisitive don’t make good leaders because they’re not concerned about problems and solutions.

Initiative was another indicator of Peter’s leadership potential. He not only asked questions, but also was often the first to respond when Jesus asked the questions (e.g., Matt. 16:15-16; Luke 8:45).

Also, Peter loved to be in the middle of the action, even when it got him into trouble. For example, we might criticize his lack of faith when he sank after walking on water, but remember, the rest of the disciples never even got out of the boat.

Peter was inquisitive, showed initiative, and sought to be involved. How about you? Are you inquisitive about God’s truth? Do you take the initiative to learn about Him? Do you want to be involved in what He is doing? If so, you have the raw material for spiritual leadership. Continue to cultivate those qualities, allowing the Spirit to use you for God’s glory.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Pray for your spiritual leaders.

Ask God for opportunities to lead others in the way of righteousness. Use every opportunity to its fullest.

For Further Study:

Read the following verses, noting the kinds of questions Peter asked: Matthew 15:15, Matthew 18:21, Matthew 19:27, Mark 13:2-4, and John 21:20-22.

 

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Joyce Meyer – Be Humble

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Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. —1 Peter 5:6

Joseph dreamed of having authority and being a great man. However, he was young and impetuous. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. God used the situation as an opportunity to test and train Joseph. He even spent thirteen years in prison for something he didn’t do, but whatever happened to Joseph during those years definitely equipped him for his God-ordained role in history. Joseph rose to power with only Pharaoh himself being greater. He was placed in a position to feed multitudes of people, including his father and brothers during seven years of famine.

Peter had to be prepared by going through some very humbling experiences; he was a powerful man but a proud man as well. The Lord had to humble him before He could use him. Most strong leaders have a lot of natural talent, but they are also full of themselves (pride) and have to learn how to depend on God. They have to trade in their self-confidence for God-confidence.

Your pain can become someone else’s gain. Your mess can become your ministry if you will have a positive attitude and decide to let everything you go through prepare you for what is ahead.

Lord, I humble myself before You and recognize I can do nothing of lasting value apart from You. Work through all that’s going on in my life to prepare me for what is ahead. Amen.

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Charles Stanley – How to Love Others

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Matthew 22:35-40

Jesus told His disciples, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matt. 7:12). Most of us refer to this code of conduct as the “Golden Rule.”

In theory, we would probably agree that this is a good foundation for a healthy relationship. Yet it’s tough to live up to such a standard. If we made a list of the ways we hope to be treated and then compared it with our own behavior, we would likely fall short.

And of course, it’s easy to love when others are treating us well. But how do we respond when their behavior is hurtful or unpleasant? The truth is, Jesus meant for us to love others all the time, not just when they are lovable. Regardless of their attitude toward us, we are to think about the relationship qualities we value—like loyalty, trust, encouragement, forgiveness, acceptance, and protection—and let these flow from us in their direction.

Unfortunately, our society encourages selfishness, greed, and pride, which are enemies of the love Jesus commanded. But when we care for others in the way the Lord prescribes, relationships can deepen and thrive.

Treating others with this kind of love isn’t natural or easy, especially when people are unkind. In fact, loving as Jesus commanded is impossible—on our own. But when we trust Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit empowers us and lives His life through us (Gal. 2:20).

Take time to list the ways that you hope others will treat you. Now ask, Is that how I treat people? Pray for God to reveal one area where He will help you to apply the Golden Rule.

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Charles Spurgeon – Terrible convictions and gentle drawings

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“When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.” Psalm 32:3,4

Suggested Further Reading: Acts 16:11-34

I have met with at least a score of persons who found Christ and then mourned their sins more afterwards than they did before. Their convictions have been more terrible after they have known their interest in Christ than they were at first. They have seen the evil after they have escaped from it; they had been plucked out of the miry clay, and their feet set on a rock, and then afterwards they have seen more fully the depth of that horrible pit out of which they have been snatched. It is not true that all who are saved suffer these convictions and terrors; there are a considerable number who are drawn by the cords of love and the bands of a man. There are some who, like Lydia, have their hearts opened not by the crowbar of conviction, but by the picklock of divine grace. Sweetly drawn, almost silently enchanted by the loveliness of Jesus, they say, “Draw me, and I will run after thee.” And now you ask me the question—“Why has God brought me to himself in this gentle manner?” Again I say—there are some questions better unanswered than answered; God knows best the reason why he does not give you these terrors; leave that question with him. But I may tell you an anecdote. There was a man once who had never felt these terrors, and he thought within himself—“I never can believe I am a Christian unless I do.” So he prayed to God that he might feel them, and he did feel them, and what do you think is his testimony? He says, “Never, never do that, for the result was fearful in the extreme.” If he had but known what he was asking for, he would not have asked for anything so foolish.

For meditation: The important thing is not how we are brought to Christ, but that we are brought to Christ. The wind sometimes blows fiercely; sometimes it blows gently (John 3:8). But we should not presume upon God’s kindness, forbearance and patience—they lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Sermon no. 313

6 May (1860)