This post is motivated by the text from 1 Peter 4:12-13, building on the message from Sunday, April 28th:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
So this is a rather long one, but it's sort of three (3) devotions in one.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
So this is a rather long one, but it's sort of three (3) devotions in one.
Peace and Joy in the Midst of Chaos and Turmoil
There’s a natural tendency to portray the Christian life as “hard” and “arduous”. Not to detract from the fact that it is true that persecution is not a fun activity - it is NOT! And some of the things we have to endure until the time we’re called home to be with our Lord, are taxing and not easy.
However, the fact is, that our lives are meant to be sold out for Christ’s purposes - that is THE only way our foresight will be able to be aligned with a future that is unknown; meaning, we don’t know how our end will be; but we know beyond that end, which is what enables us to embrace the present times that may be filled with turmoil or persecution.
That sold out attitude is also how the Lord imputes His happiness, blessing & Joy in our life in the midst of this present “arduous” life - the here and now!
That is what enabled Him to tell us, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)
And that is also what give us the motivation and energy to say with the Apostle Paul, and mean it, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). And hey, if Paul, who endured so many offenses for Christ, could rejoice, shouldn’t we be able to all the more?
There’s a natural tendency to portray the Christian life as “hard” and “arduous”. Not to detract from the fact that it is true that persecution is not a fun activity - it is NOT! And some of the things we have to endure until the time we’re called home to be with our Lord, are taxing and not easy.
However, the fact is, that our lives are meant to be sold out for Christ’s purposes - that is THE only way our foresight will be able to be aligned with a future that is unknown; meaning, we don’t know how our end will be; but we know beyond that end, which is what enables us to embrace the present times that may be filled with turmoil or persecution.
That sold out attitude is also how the Lord imputes His happiness, blessing & Joy in our life in the midst of this present “arduous” life - the here and now!
That is what enabled Him to tell us, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)
And that is also what give us the motivation and energy to say with the Apostle Paul, and mean it, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). And hey, if Paul, who endured so many offenses for Christ, could rejoice, shouldn’t we be able to all the more?
Excerpt from a monthly newsletter that accompanies the Creation Magazine, from CMI International, March 2019.
We Can’t Go Back—But Would We Want To?
Some people wish we could go back to the days when the culture was explicitly Christian, and laws reflected that consensus. But while that was better in a lot of ways, it also tended to blur the distinction between Christians and non-Christians, because your average, law-abiding, moral, patriotic citizen could look like a good Christian. While that may reap some cultural benefits, having ‘Christian’ governments or Christian laws are not enough to save someone.
Today, Christians are being forced to stand up for biblical morality that was taken for granted even in the recent past. This means that we are opened up to criticism and even persecution, but it also clarifies who is a Christian and who is not, and thus, who needs to be saved. The means that Christians who are prepared to present the Gospel in a compelling and winsome way in a hostile culture may have unprecedented Gospel opportunities.
So rather than going back to the days of cultural Christianity, Christians should prepare to go forward into the Christ-less culture and present the Bible’s teaching, and share the Gospel to sinners just like Jesus did—our ultimate example. We can have confidence that the Gospel will win out, because God’s truth will always withstand the false world views which oppose it. [Plus, Jesus told us that every Word would be fulfilled; and not one Word would fail.]
. . .
2,000 years ago, with the enabling of the Holy Spirit, twelve men that God chose to take the Gospel across the known world . . . began a spiritual revolution even in the midst of a culture hostile to Christ’s message. They did this not by seeking political office or trying to influence powerful people, but by sharing the Gospel and changing lives one person at a time, in one city at a time. We should not be daunted by the task and depressed or [downcast] by the culture, but consider what sort of results might we see if Christians today took that to heart? After all, the Bible says there is rejoicing in Heaven every time someone gets saved (Luke 15:10).
We Can’t Go Back—But Would We Want To?
Some people wish we could go back to the days when the culture was explicitly Christian, and laws reflected that consensus. But while that was better in a lot of ways, it also tended to blur the distinction between Christians and non-Christians, because your average, law-abiding, moral, patriotic citizen could look like a good Christian. While that may reap some cultural benefits, having ‘Christian’ governments or Christian laws are not enough to save someone.
Today, Christians are being forced to stand up for biblical morality that was taken for granted even in the recent past. This means that we are opened up to criticism and even persecution, but it also clarifies who is a Christian and who is not, and thus, who needs to be saved. The means that Christians who are prepared to present the Gospel in a compelling and winsome way in a hostile culture may have unprecedented Gospel opportunities.
So rather than going back to the days of cultural Christianity, Christians should prepare to go forward into the Christ-less culture and present the Bible’s teaching, and share the Gospel to sinners just like Jesus did—our ultimate example. We can have confidence that the Gospel will win out, because God’s truth will always withstand the false world views which oppose it. [Plus, Jesus told us that every Word would be fulfilled; and not one Word would fail.]
. . .
2,000 years ago, with the enabling of the Holy Spirit, twelve men that God chose to take the Gospel across the known world . . . began a spiritual revolution even in the midst of a culture hostile to Christ’s message. They did this not by seeking political office or trying to influence powerful people, but by sharing the Gospel and changing lives one person at a time, in one city at a time. We should not be daunted by the task and depressed or [downcast] by the culture, but consider what sort of results might we see if Christians today took that to heart? After all, the Bible says there is rejoicing in Heaven every time someone gets saved (Luke 15:10).
Tozer on Christian Leadership, April 29:
On Prayer
Perhaps worst of all is the fact that our failures in prayer leave the enemy in possession of the field. The worst part about the failure of a military drive is not the loss of men or the loss of face but the fact that the enemy is left in possession of the field. In the spiritual sense, this is both a tragedy and a disaster. The devil ought to be on the run, always fighting a rear guard action. Instead, this blasphemous enemy smugly and scornfully holds his position, and the people of God let him have it. No wonder the work of the Lord is greatly retarded. Little wonder the work of God stands still!
Men, has God chosen you? If you count yourself a discipleship of Jesus Christ, by all the facts and precepts of the Word of God, then the answer is, YES, He has.
I exhort us all to be the man God wants each of us to be!
No more excuses! No more letting the enemy roll in and over my life or the lives of those who I love and hold dear!
And I also exhort you with the words of Paul:
. . . brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you [is] faithful, who also will do [it]. (1 Thessalonians 5:14-24).
On Prayer
Perhaps worst of all is the fact that our failures in prayer leave the enemy in possession of the field. The worst part about the failure of a military drive is not the loss of men or the loss of face but the fact that the enemy is left in possession of the field. In the spiritual sense, this is both a tragedy and a disaster. The devil ought to be on the run, always fighting a rear guard action. Instead, this blasphemous enemy smugly and scornfully holds his position, and the people of God let him have it. No wonder the work of the Lord is greatly retarded. Little wonder the work of God stands still!
Men, has God chosen you? If you count yourself a discipleship of Jesus Christ, by all the facts and precepts of the Word of God, then the answer is, YES, He has.
I exhort us all to be the man God wants each of us to be!
No more excuses! No more letting the enemy roll in and over my life or the lives of those who I love and hold dear!
And I also exhort you with the words of Paul:
. . . brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you [is] faithful, who also will do [it]. (1 Thessalonians 5:14-24).