A Strange Encouragement

Philippians 1.14: Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

God is amazing in how He works. We might expect to hear how believers go into hiding or they keep their mouths shut. Instead we read that when Paul had been put in prison because of the gospel the brothers responded with more courage and less fear. The world's threat is nothing compared to God's power. Chains and prison cannot stop the advancement of the gospel and the proclamation of the Word.

A good lesson in our day. Despite opposition, God is able to plant in the believer's heart courage and boldness so that the world may hear the good news of Jesus. And, despite suffering in a believer's life, they still have opportunity to share God's Word.

Read a Good Book Lately?

Proverbs 13:20: He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Do you want to grow in wisdom? Do you want to grow in your ability to apply God's Word to everyday life? Pick up a good, Godly book and take a walk with the wise. As mentioned in the previous post, I am reading Getting the Gospel Right by a former professor of mine - Dr. Venema. I am really enjoying the book and it is bringing me further understanding on certain issues.

However, Proverbs 13.20 gave me another perspective about how I am spending my time - I am not just reading a book - I am walking with the wise. I am spending my time in the company of the Godly and learning the application of God's Word for my life. The result is growth in wisdom - growth in the understanding and application of God's Word.

We spend enough time being a companion of fools as we easily turn on the TV or sidle up to the computer. Take time to walk with the wise as you pick up a good book - and you will grow in wisdom.

Getting The Gospel Right by Dr. Venema

Dr. Cornelis Venema, a professor from Mid America Reformed Seminary, has written an excellent little book entiltled: Getting the Gospel Right: Assessing the Reformation and New Perspectives on Paul. Before Dr. Venema assesses the New Perspective, he solidly lays the foundation of justification as understood by the Reformers. Of course one of the arguments for those who hold to the New Perspective is that the Reformers never really understood the problem Paul was dealing with in the New Testament. As a result, the view of justification handed down by the Reformers is misleading and distorted.

Following chapter 2 in which Dr. Venema lays out clearly and succinctly the Reformation Perspective on Paul, he writes a chapter briefly outlining the 'New Perspective' on Paul by Sanders, Dunn and Wright. The final chapter offers a critical assessment of the New Perspective.
If you have struggled with understanding this issue or know others who would like to understand further, this book is compact (92 pages), profound, simple, concise, readable and above all Biblical. For Dr. Venema, this book is a condensed version on a much longer book on the subject which will be printed later by Banner of Truth Trust.

Any attack on justification must be taken seriously and understood Biblically. Dr. Venema has put together an excellent book which deals with these matters for everyone to read.

The Self Destructive Heart

Revelation 9.5-6: 5They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

In our evening services we are going through the book of Revelation. Revelation 9.1-12 tells us that demonic forces led by Apollyon (Destruction) come up unbelievers and torture them for 5 months. (I hold that the time this happens is between the first and second coming of Jesus and they are not a literal army of locusts). The torture will be so horrible on unbelievers that they will long for death but it will elude them.

What is John saying? Satan will attack his own people, torture them and then bring them to hell with him. Awful. We speak of the natural human heart in many ways - dead, deceived, hard, wicked, sinful - and it is all true. But when we read Revelation 9, we need to add another to the list: self-destructive. The human heart, in its rebellion, destroys itself as it follows its master - Apollyon.

The master unbelievers serve is Satan but this very master they serve seeks to destroy those who serve him - he is the Destroyer after all. And so those who live apart from Christ live thinking they have found life but in reality are destroying themselves. Satan is not kind to his people and all we need to do is look around and see the trouble and turmoil in people's lives.

This leads to two thoughts: First thank God for salvation, His gracious calling and His kindness. Is our God not good to send His Son Jesus to die for sins? We read in comparison to the destructive ways of Satan, Jesus has come so that your joy may be complete. (John 15.11) He is good.

Second the desperate need to be about the business of speaking to others about the goodness of Jesus. Without Jesus people will destroy themselves as they are deceived by empty words (Ephesians 5.6) and enter hell for all eternity. When have you been able to share God's goodness to a "ticking time bomb world" ready to blow itself up?

John 14.1-4: 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."

This morning I sat at Tim's with a coffee in hand as I read this passage and thought: isn't it amazing that Jesus is preparing a place for His people? I wonder what it will be like? This world is filled with unbelief, rebellion, hurt, pain, trouble. I visited a Christian couple just a little while before and they were telling me of their pain - real pain. I think of my own physical house and how much work needs to be done - and yet Jesus says he is going to prepare a place for us and he will come back and it will be ready - completely perfect in all its splendour and glory. Isn't it amazing to think that he says I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Jesus wants me to be were he is - he is the bridegroom coming for His people.

As you can tell, meditative thoughts can be rather scrambled but what a blessing to my heart. My Jesus is preparing a place and I am invited. He will bring me to glory and I will be with Him because He desires my presence - a undeserving sinner saved alone by Him. One day this world will pass away and there will be no more tears or pain or sin or sorrow. What a place!

Do you know what was so encouraging? Taking a few moments out of a busy day, forgetting some of the troubles and the surrounding rebellion and simply to focus on my coming life with Jesus in His presence. And I found my heart at rest, ready to serve Him because one day this will all be gone and I will be where Jesus is.

Bring The Cloak Please

In 1 Timothy 4:13 we read Paul giving instruction to Timothy When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. I have often heard this passage used as a reminder that Paul, even though he was an apostle and late in his life, wanted to learn and grow spiritually. Good point.

But when I read this passage again, my mind turned to the coat. It would appear that Paul not only desired to learn but at the end of his life he did not have a cloak. He needed his one cloak brought to him. OK, he may already have had a cloak but he needed another one to keep him warm. The point is that at the end of his life, ministry had cost him everything - he was in prison, no possessions, not even enough clothing to keep him warm.

So - we need a life that is balanced - bring me the parchments - and please, bring me my cloak. What a great example as we read that Paul lived out Jesus' words in Matthew 6: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

A good reminder to live our lives so that at the end of our lives we ask for our parchments and a cloak.

Learning To Listen

In Mark 9.38 we read the disciples had a problem - a man was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. How horrible! Well, that was really not the problem. The problem was that this man who was actively serving Jesus, trusting that the power of Jesus could confront the powers of darkness and win - this man was not one of us. That was the problem.

So they take their problem to Jesus and Jesus uses it as an opportunity to explain that they do not need to be one of us, rather they need to be one with HIM.

Jesus explains that concept in verses 39-49 - to be one with Jesus in ministry is to be for Jesus (39-41); it is to not lead others into sin (42); it is to put to death sin in our lives (43-48); and it is to be salty - that is to be actively serving the Lord even though it will come at a cost (49-50). That is Christian ministry.

But there is a temptation and that is to think that we are the only ones doing true, real, vital ministry in the name of Jesus. There is a danger in how we speak about other Christians in becoming to narrow, to critical and to judgmental. We think we stand alone and if we die, truth dies. Jesus' response is do not stop him - there is no middle road. He is either for me or against me.

A good lesson in times when Christianity may seem to be sliding and doctrinal precision is a thing of the past. We are not the only ones serving the Lord. There will be diversity in the way people serve God and there will be true disciples of Jesus who are for Him who are honoring His Name.

How do we protect ourselves against the battle that wages in the disciples heart? There may be lots of ways but I think a beginning point is listen. We speak far too much and too freely. We love to hear our own voices as we articulate truth. But have we listened - understood - searched Scripture - been gracious and kind? Sure, this man may not have been one of the 12 but he was confronting the forces of Jesus in His Name.

Mark 9. 50 concludes with this instruction from Jesus: Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. Amen. We aim for salt but isolate ourselves because they are not one of us. Have you listened? Have you thought - they may be doing a work uniquely given them by God that we have not been gifted to do? After all, this man was casting out demons and the disciples a few verses before could not cast the demon out of the boy.

If we are to be at peace, humbly listen and graciously pray for your brothers and sisters. And if everyone in the church practiced "peace", much infighting would cease and active Christian service would begin. Amen?

Words Worth Reading from Pressing On

http://janicevaneck.blogspot.com/


Janice VanEck has posted a poem by Anne Steele on the great comfort of the Word and Grace in difficult times. One stanza reads as follows:

Though all the powers of nature fail,

And life’s pale, trembling lamp decline;

Thy grace can bid my faith prevail,

Can give me fortitude divine.

A great encouragement to seek the Lord in times of trouble!

Reaching Out - Reaching Up

This past week we had our Vacation Bible School. One of the great things about VBS is the singing and the children SANG!! They learned that God knows us, God is a friend, God helps us and God forgives us. Everytime one of these phrases was mentioned they would have to shout AWESOME GOD (because he is!). It was great to be in the building and hearing children sporadically shouting AWESOME GOD.

And that is our prayer. That they would see and know that God is an AWESOME GOD - from his life, death and life again. Tonight we have our wrap-up BQ and are expecting around 150 people. We pray that God will do AWESOME things in the hearts of the people.

Dr. Geoff Adams In Glory

Today I attended the funeral of Dr. Geoff Adams at Toronto Baptist Seminary. As I reflect on the events, a number of thoughts come to mind.

First, his son Doug gave an account of the faithful testimony of a father who lived Christ in front of his children. He was a man of God publicly and privately. Doug went on to tell how he observed his father's communion with Jesus through prayer and Scripture reading. As I reflect on my life, I call to God for mercy. How I need to show my children that walking with Christ is not only serving Him in the church but it is also those private moments of communing with God - an enjoyment of God's presence. I pray that God will grant me a greater desire and discipline in the coming days to grow deeper in my communion with Him.

Second, how in his long service as pastor, principal of the seminary, counselor, friend, husband, father and many other roles, he served faithfully. One passage which was read was 2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. This may sound strange but the funeral was a tremendous encouragement for me to live alone for Christ. It is so easy to fall into temptation or to become sidetracked with secondary issues. Am I living faithfully, striving to fight, finish and keep the faith? I pray that at the end of my life, I will have lived faithfully. Dr. Adams' life and death have encouraged me to finish well - may God be gracious!

Thirdly, the joy of the gospel of Jesus. Our brother is in Glory! The light of Christ shone as time and time again God's grace and glory were magnified in the life of a forgiven sinner and his faithful service. Dr. Adams is now in glory, experiencing unimaginable fellowship and joy in the presence of His Saviour and Friend. What a joy to hear of God's grace - a lost sinner, rebellious and wicked in his heart now, because of the love and faithfulness of Christ, in glory. Praise God for the saints who have gone before us. How we need to hear and see of more men and women who are living faithfully and passionately for God in our watered down, lethargic Christian culture.

My prayer is that the events of this day will not soon leave my heart and mind and when moments of temptation or distraction come, I will seek to live alone for God's glory and be conformed to His image. I pray that for my family, His church at Grace Bible and God's people. May God be gracious.

Psalm 19:1-4: The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard. 4 Their measuring line goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world.In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

We have been on vacation for the last two weeks and this year we did something different. We sold our small 8 foot pop-up trailer and bought a few canoes, paddles, tents, and other camping gear and went "wilderness" or "interior" camping. While we had to work out a few bugs (and keep a few more bugs away), we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

One of the things that struck my wife Eva and I was the amazing creation. We had campsites on rocks, beside the beautiful waters, surrounded by trees and birds and quiet. We said a number of times to one another: Isn't it great being a Christian and knowing who created this magnificent creation? Non Christians are out in all this beauty and giving praise to "chance" or the impersonal "mother nature." We found that part of the enjoyment of our vacation was giving praise to God for the beauty of His creation.

There are many things I will remember: canoeing and fishing early in the misty morning waters; a rain storm that lasted a whole day and part way through Eva and I watch as a river of rain water flows directly underneath our tent; watching the children jump off the jumping rocks; campfires and stories and marshmallows and hotdogs; and many more. But one picture that was really imprinted on my mind was when we were paddling to our sight in Algonquin. Eva was in one canoe with my daughter and our dog and I was in another with the boys. It was a fairly big lake and we were going against the wind so we were both paddling like we were being chased and barely moving. I looked over one time and we were a fair distance apart. When I looked over, I saw my wife paddling against the choppy waves, the magnificent trees standing proud and a big grayish cloud approaching. It was not only beautiful, it was humbling. Eva and the canoe looked so small and God's creation so glorious.

Later on in the week, we experienced the storm that passed through the area, knocking out power for many cottagers. We were huddled under a tarp by a fire reading Harriet the Spy to the children when the clouds rolled in and the rain started to come. We continued to read as the thunder and lightening rolled in and the rain poured down (yes, another river flowed under our tent!) We stood amazed (and fearful) as we witnessed God's power. And again we were humbled by His awesome presence in creation.

Two thoughts: first, our God is an awesome God. We lose a sense of the awesomeness of God as we take refuge in our homes during storms. However, when placed against the backdrop of God's creation, we are insignificant. Second, our God is to be feared. We are going through the book of Revelation in our evening services and I kept thinking about the thunder and lightening and rumblings that surround the throneroom of God. It is a fearful thing to be in a great storm with only a tarp. One day all will stand before the presence of God with no tarp. Fear God and obey Him!

Developing Spiritual Character in our Children - I

When Jesus talked with his disciples about prayer, he could not help but talk about the generosity and goodness of God: 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11.11-13) Of course God could give us anything He wants because He owns all things - He is the Creator! However, the gift of choice is the Holy Spirit. Among other things, this tells us God is intimately concerned with the development of our spiritual character. God did not promise to give us nice houses and healthy bodies - His great gift was the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

This past Sunday was Father's Day and a good time to reflect on whether or not we as fathers are striving to develope spiritual maturity in our children. Are we focused and intentional in the devlopment of our children's spiritual character? Often the answer is - I would like to be but how? How do I as a father spiritually lead my children?

2 Timothy 1.2 reads: To Timothy, my dear son. 2 Timothy is not only a book for young pastors; it is a book where a spiritual father passes on spiritual lessons to his spiritual son. How do I as a father spiritually lead my children? Look to 2 Timothy as a father gently instructs his son to faithfully serve the Lord. What lessons can we learn from 2 Timothy on how to nurture our children in the Lord?

1. Pray for your children 1.3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

Paul begins quietly on his knees. Ephesians 5 bears witness to the fact that men can be extremely selfish. How can we argue when God says in Ephesians 5.28: In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. If we carried out this command, our wives would be the most loved women in the world! And so also our prayer lives can be so focused on our needs and our careers and our issues that we forget to pray for our children. Or, even worse, our hearts can be so filled with this world that we pray this world for our children and forget to pray for their spiritual needs.

Ask yourself how often do you pray for their salvation? When is the last time you prayed that your children would not only be saved but live lives that would be radically pleasing to God - alone. Even if your children are grown, do you pray for them as the world desires to take them into her arms?

How do I begin? Paul says - Timothy, I pray constantly for you. We begin on our knees, bowing before a gracious and sovereign God, pleading for the sake of our children.

2. Spend time with your children 1.4: As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. It is amazing to read the relationship between Paul and Timothy and how they delighted in one another's presence. It almost appears to be the David and Jonathan of the New Testament. Paul is longing to see his son so that he might be an encouragement to him and that he might know that Timothy is doing well.

Fathers - invest time into your children. Do not leave it to someone else to make sure they know their Bible and develope Godly character. In Deut 6.4-6 we are told we are to speak to our children about the ways of God and we are also told to tie them (God's commands or ways) as symbols to your hands and bind them on your foreheads. What does that mean? I think it means that when we invest time in our children, we not only talk to them about God but we "live God" in front of them. We mentor them with our actions. So as we spend time with them they watch a Godly man living for the Lord - how he loves his wife, fixes his house and relates to his neighbours.

Spend time with your children to reflect the glory of Christ and to show them the great joy of knowing the Lord.

Counsel Aimed At the Heart

David Powlison in an article entitled Idols of the Heart and "Vanity Fair" (Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol 13, Nu 2, Winter 1995). It is interesting to read how much of secular counseling replaces one "heart idol" with another "heart idol" - they simply switch idols on the "heart" shelf. At the heart of counseling is this question: Who will our hearts worship - idols or desires of the heart or God? Hence the importance and relevance of Powlison's words.

It is obvious that if idolatry is the problem of the “co-dependent,”then repentant faith in Christ is the solution. This stands in marked contrast to the solutions proffered in the co-dependency literature, whether secular or glossed with Christian phrases. That literature often perceptively describes the patterns of dysfunctional idols—addictions and dependencies— which curse and enslave people. The idols which enslave the rescuer or the compulsive drinker do not work very well for them.

The literature may even use “idolatry” as a metaphor, without meaning “idolatry against God, therefore repentance.” The solution, without exception, is to offer different and presumably more workable idols, rather than repentance unto the Bible’s Christ! Secularistic therapies teach people eufunctional idols, idols which do “work” for people and “bless” them with temporarily happy lives (Psalm 73).

So, for example, self-esteem is nurtured as the replacement for trying to please unpleasable others, rather than esteem for the Lamb who was slain for me, a sinner. Acceptance and love
from new significant others, starting with the therapist, create successful versions of the fear of man and trust in man rather than teaching essential trust in God. Self-trust and self-confidence
are boosted as I am taught to set expectations for myself to which I can attain. The fruit looks good but is fundamentally counterfeit. Believers in false gospels are sometimes allowed to flourish temporarily.

Therapy systems without repentance at their core leave the idol system intact. They simply rehabilitate and rebuild fundamental godlessness to function more successfully. The Bible’s idolatry motif diagnoses the ultimately selfdestructive basis on which happy, healthy, and confident people build their lives (eufunctional idols), just as perceptively as it diagnoses unhappy people, who are more obviously and immediately self-destructive (dysfunctional idols). (p. 37)

True Friendship

In 1 Samuel 23 we read while David is on the run from Saul he inquired of the Lord whether or not he should attack the Philistines at Keilah. The Lord told them to attack. Obviously David's men were not impressed because this would give away their location to Saul.

After the victory, the very people whom David delivered ratted him out and David and his men were forced to leave and live on the run once again. It is during this time we read of another incident of David and Jonathan meeting. In verse 18 we read: And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horeb and helped him find strength in the Lord.

Jonathan shows us how a true friend acts. David is tired, on the run, and discouraged - after all Saul wants to kill him. So what does his friend do? He helps him find strength. Where? In the Lord. Jonathan points to the Lord's faithful promises: My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel .... God made a promise and he will deliver.

We ought to thank God for friends who build us up in the Lord during difficult times. We also ought to seek to be a friend, not with vain words or false encouragements, but rather by pointing to the Lord's faithful promises, especially as found in Jesus Christ.

Take a Break

The disciples had just returned from a missions trip with a crowd following them, keeping them so busy they are not even able to sit down and eat. Jesus, showing compassion, says Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6.31)

Jesus not only said to them take a break, he also instructed them (and us) about Biblical rest. While we can feel guilty about rest, Jesus encourages us to take a break. What do we learn about rest in this passage?

First rest comes after busyness. Leisure is not leisure if you are in leisure mode all the time - that is laziness. Rest or leisure comes after work - hard work. The disciples had worked hard and now it was time to enjoy some rest.

Second rest is quietness. I don't think this means keeping the children quiet or going into the deep forest were there is no noise. Quietness, if we can put it this way, is to be quiet from the noise that makes you busy. It is separation from busyness. So, for example, if you are working, quietness would be separating yourself from work where you do not hear the noise of work.

Third rest restores us for further service for Christ. I believe this is where there is much confusion about rest. You may think, well, does that mean all I do is read my Bible and pray? Is that rest? Well - no. There is rest in God's creation as you garden, play with your children, date your wife, read, exercise, knit, play the piano, listen to music, watch TV, and enjoy a hockey game. The question to be asked is do you enter your work and your service for God with a greater desire to serve Him for His glory and His kingdom after you rest? That means we must chose our rest wisely. For instance, if you chose some rest that leaves you physically exhausted, that will not restore your body. ANother example is if you rest while watching TV that dishonours God, your body may be rested but your soul is not ready to serve. It is good to be intentional about our rest and ask God to bless it so we may serve Him with greater passion!

Why is rest so important? I believe rest is essential because the spiritual battle demands physical strength. Remember when your body is weak that the attacks seem to be the greatest. And so those who never rest or exercise - they become spiritually tired and sluggish.

This also emphasizes the importance of Sundays when two great blessings meet - spiritual rest as we worship together and physical rest as we spend time apart from our work. While not being a Sabbatarian, I believe a major reason we are so spiritually lethargic is because we scrimp on spiritual rest. We think 1 hour of public worship a week will cut it but in fact we become tired with the cares of this world and the burdens of this life.

Jesus says - come with me, to a quiet place and get some rest so that you may be better able to serve the master. Come, rest and be restored for the glory of God.

This Is Rich!

Paul writes to a troubled church in Corinth: And this is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul had just listed what some of the people were - sexually immoral, homosexuals, male prostitutes, thieves, drunks, slanders and swindlers. What is incredible about this passage is how Paul pastors his people. If you have just been reminded of your past sins- which all too often affect your present struggles and failures- what is it that you need to hear?

First, you need to hear what has changed. Paul did not mess up on the order of salvation when he put washed first, sanctified second and justified last - he was ministering to hurting people, not writing a systematic theology. What would bring maximum joy, amazement and peace to their hearts as they struggle? He had just listed who they once were and now he says to them first - you, who were stained with sin, have been washed. Exactly what we need to hear first: that the dirt of the past has been thoroughly washed away. Further, you have been sanctified: to be made holy in the sight of God. We read in the Old Testament God's people were call to be holy while in the New Testament, God's people are holy. They are made a member of God's people. Finally, they are justified: declared righteous in the sight of God. They have a right standing with God through Jesus - alone.

Second, you need to hear it again and again, in different ways. This is also the value of Paul's pastoral verse. He did not just say - you were justified - period. Rather, Paul lingers as he expresses God's blessing to the people - he stays a while. You are washed - think about it - amazing - but that is not all - you are sanctified - yes, we linger there but we are not done - you are justified in the only name that is worthy, the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that not rich?

Struggle with sin? Guilt? You have been washed, sanctified and justified. What is more amazing? Can money buy this rich treasure? How many people live with supressed guilt and dissatisfaction with earth's so called treasures? Here lies the answer.

Finally, this verse shows us how to minister to others. Paul is writing to a struggling people and what does he do? Reminding them of their sin, he lingers on the grace and mercy of God. Imagine the Corinthians' reaction - if this is what has happened and who I am, I want to live more for Jesus! Not out of guilt but love and thankfulness. And by the Spirit, I have the power.

Paul, the pastor, comforts the hurting and teaches the church how to minister to those who once were - but are no longer.

A 2 Corinthians Ministry

This past week at the Sovereign Grace Fellowship Pastors' Conference, Brad Powers spoke on The Pattern of Pastoral Ministry in 2 Corinthians. The paper was unique because it took Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth and surveyed how Paul pastored.

People today talk about counter-culture ministry and then seek to be empowered with new techniques or end up being burdened with guilt because of their own lack of success because they have not followed the program and the leaders. 2 Corinthian Pastoral Ministry is counter-culture in our church age.

Brad pointed out under the heading Perspectives of Pastoral Circumstance that Paul ministered in weakness. He identified with a crucified Christ (10.1; 13.4); he refused to push himself forward (chapter 11-12); he was under the constant pressure of "parenting" a church (12.14-15); he refuses to use weapons of the flesh in the battle (2.17; 10.1-4); and he recognizes the power of the enemy who has blinded the minds of those who do not believe (4.3-6). In other words, he recognizes his own lack of power, Satan's limited power and God's unlimited power.

But does this mean that Paul's ministry is weak? Absolutely not as all this leads to a ministry of great strength. It forces Paul to rely on God who raises the dead rather than his own strength (1.9-11); it results in Christ being pushed forward rather than a mere man (4.5); it results in the edification of the church through the hardships and overwhelming task of parenting a people (12.19); it allows the use of weapons that are actually effective rather than the impotent weapons of flesh (10.3-4); and it focuses attention on God who makes the light shine rather than on the deep darkness of the enemy (4.4-7).

So many weapons given to pastors today actually make them weak and ineffective. There can be so much self and sin in ministry. On the other hand, ministry can be ineffective because we do not rely on God's power. Maybe that is the reason why the church seems to impotent today - we have not carried out a 2 Corinthians ministry which relies alone on God's great power but have substituted it with programs, egos, and pathetic human effort. Search 2 Corinthians and seek to carry out a powerful ministry because we serve a powerful God.

God's Goodness

A famine had hit the land and we read in Genesis 47, the people of Egypt had spent all their money for food and now were forced to give up their land and finally themselves. There was nothing more they could give. The amazing contrast are God's people, namely Israel (Jacob) and his family as they are satisfied with the abundance of God. God in his good providence had sent Joseph many years earlier so God's people and promises could be preserved. When Joseph sends for his family, he provides them with a variety and abundance of food to eat and carts for them to ride into Egypt. You can imagine the procession as they travel in their limousines and ask to one another to pass the shrimp.

Even further, upon arrival Pharaoh says to Joseph's family: settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. It is as if Pharaoh is scratching his head, running through the various parts of the land - Where is the best land? Where? They have livestock, they need lots of room, they need water - where? Goshen - give them Goshen.

Isn't this a great picture of how God cares for His people? Even in struggles and pain and suffering, God's goodness is always abounding. In Revelation 2 we read of the suffering church in Smyrna that they were poor - the Greek word meaning they had nothing - zero in the bank. But immediately Jesus says - yet you are rich. In contrast, the church in Laodicea was rich in material possessions but were poor and in danger of being spit out.

We have a hard time with this but it is God's truth. In the midst of suffering, God's goodness outmatches and outlasts the world's best. Our God, who simply astounds us day after day with His abundance, is worthy of praise because in a land of famine, he has provided a feast for us.

To Cast or Not To Cast (Out Demons)

Tonight in our Bible Study, we are going to begin a study on Demon Possession Today: To Cast or Not To Cast. David Powlison has an excellent book entitled Power Encounters which is extremely helpful and my study on this subject has been helped greatly from his insights.

When the Bible speaks about evil or the powers of evil, it speaks about it two ways: situational and moral, seen succinctly in Ecclesiastes 9.3: This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun [situational]: the same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil [moral] and there is madness in their hearts while they live and afterward join the dead.

Moral evil is what people believe and do. It is sin, wickedness, unrighteousness which we are responsible for before God. Situational evil is what happens to us as we live in this fallen world or to put it another way, it is the result of living in a broken creation.

This is necessary to understand because when we read the Gospels and Acts, we read Jesus confronts demon possessed people who are, among other things, blind, deaf, convulsing, cutting, screaming, and foaming. Jesus is confronting those who are experiencing situational evil, the sad fruit of life under Satan's kingdom, the one who seeks to destroy and bring pain, tears, and torment. A classic case is Job as his possessions, children and finally health are all taken from him so he curses the day of his birth because of his suffering.

When Jesus casts out demons, he is meeting the kingdom of darkness head on and in a spectacular way he is reversing the curse of Genesis as he gives relief of suffering (thus showing His love); he is revealing that HE is LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and we should pay attention and believe; and he is giving an object lesson for the coming blessings of the kingdom for all who repent and believe.

Flipping through Mark's Photo Album

Reading Mark is like flipping through an old photo album - the pictures describe the events. In Mark 4 Jesus is sailing across the Sea of Galilee when the winds pick up and the waves begin to flow over the sides. Jesus' disciples are panicking while Jesus is sleeping on a cushion. It is a picture you stare at for a while, trying to grasp the moment. Waves are submerging the boat, disciples are panicking as they run with buckets trying to undo the damage of the storm, the winds are gusting wildly, and Jesus is sleeping, not on a hard bench but comfortably on a cushion.

As we close the photo album, we are struck with this precious truth: God's care is so great that we may be in the middle of the storms of life and fall asleep on a cushion, resting in God's sovereign gracious care. In the middle of the storm, Jesus trusted God's care and could find rest.

We have seen this picture before many times. David writes in Psalm 23 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Elisha is surrounded by an army of Midianites but they do not compare to the army of heavenly angels sent by God; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have an angel in the fiery furnace; and so on.

You may say, Well, Jesus is God so he should be able to sleep. But Mark gives another picture and that is, if you were to watch them go into the boat, Jesus would look like all the rest. In fact Mark writes: Leaving the crowd behind, they took [Jesus] along, just as he was, in the boat. Mark makes sure we understand that Jesus slept, not because he was God, but slept just as he was - in other words, fully as a human.

The question the disciples asked was: Jesus, do you care? Jesus not only stood up and said, Be still to the wind and the waves, he also slept on a cushion in the midst of the storm. Jesus' care comes not only in power and strength as one who controls the wind and the waves, but in a deep faith that His Father cares. Does Jesus care for you as His child? Enough to allow us to flip through his photo album and see him sleeping on a cushion when the waves and winds blew.