Praying For Valleys

So there I was, panting like a dog after a 5 mile run in the middle of a hot Georgia summer. My nose was running, because unlike a hot Georgia summer- or winter for that matter- it was freezing. Freezing. Between the panting and the sniffling I probably sounded near to death. And then, there it was- a burly mountain goat- with that look on its face like, “What is your problem?” Twenty-three hundred meters up in the French Alps, I had my first ever stare-down with a real live mountain goat.

If you have been keeping up with our blog you know I have already been on one hiking trip in the French Alps. Last week, I added “le Grande Arche” to my list of conquered French mountains. It is a much longer and more difficult hike than the Belle Etoile.

At the point we encountered the goats, we were getting near the top. There was maybe another 100 to 150 meters to go. I was tired, chilled, and breathing hard. When I noticed the goat it was only about 100 yards away from me. No doubt, he had long-since seen me coming and concluded that I was no threat to him. So there we both stood, looking at each other for a minute. We were probably both wondering the same thing… “How did he get up here?”

While I can’t answer the question of how a hoofed creature with an over weighted head makes it to the top of a mountain (a mystery I am sure evolutionists would have an interesting explanation for), I can tell you how I got there. Two things: sweat and hard work.

Hiking in the Alps is not like hiking anywhere I have been in the US. I’ve found that the trails here do one thing consistently…go up. The climb is fine for the first 2 minutes and then you start feeling the burn in your legs. After 15 minutes of climbing you find yourself praying for a plateau or a valley or some other form of relief. After an hour, you’re thankful for every flat piece of ground you come across.

Praying for a valley makes sense when one is talking about mountains but, strange as it may be, I have found that I often pray for valleys in my life. Now, I know we usually liken valleys to the hard times of life, but the truth is that it is the exact opposite when hiking a real mountain. The valley is not what is difficult. The valley is part of what you are looking forward to. It is the climbing that is so hard, but it is the climbing that you have to do to get to the top. If all you do is run around the valley you will never make it to the top of the mountain.

All of this makes sense when hiking, but in everyday life it seems so hard. It is still so deeply ingrained in my thinking that if I am doing what the Lord wants, if I am really growing in Christ, then things should be easy, or at least nice. Nice. Nice, like a valley after a long hike up a big mountain. What I fail to remember is that it is not the easy or nice times that get me where I want to go. It’s not those nice, easy times that make me more like Christ. I want to be complete before Christ and when I go to be with the Lord, or He returns to get His children I don’t want to lack anything.

But how do I get there? Well, James says I am not going to get there by the easy road. Instead, he says to count it as joy when we encounter trials, because those trials test our faith. The testing of our faith produces perseverance, and when perseverance completes its work I will be complete, lacking nothing. So what does that mean? It means that the easy times of life may be the times of the least advance in my journey of sanctification. It means that the times of greatest struggle may be the times of greatest advance to the prize of being like Christ.

In James 1:2-4 there is one command given by James. The command is to think or to consider. James knows that one of the first steps to having joy in trials, and overcoming trials is thinking right. I am willing to suffer the pain of hiking up a mountain because I am ultimately looking forward to the summit that I know is above me. If you showed me a really steep mountain trail and then told me you were not really sure that it would get me to the top, I am not sure I would be willing to suffer much before I gave up. It is the same with trials in life. If I think right, or consider that God is good and in control and if I consider that without the pain there will be not gain, then I am much more likely to endure the suffering with joy and hopeful expectation.

So the challenge for me in all of this has been that I will stop praying for valleys and start persevering to glory.

“Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.”
-From Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers.

Eric Flintoff

How to Live Under the New President-Elect

Amanda Jones, 109, voted for Barack Obama in the presidential election on November 4, 2008. Mrs. Jones, the daughter of an emancipated slave, Emmanuel Alfred Roberts, was born in 1899. She is quoted as saying in response to the election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, “The white is over everything….I never thought the colored would rise up” and accomplish this (John Burnett, NPR). She went on to say that Barack Obama’s election is “a blessing.”

This is a touching story, no matter what one’s politics. Living in the United States of America is an experience of race relations, hard fought politics, and the influence of Christianity. Slavery bound our nation in the shackles of a moral evil. But once its chains were broken, segregation and Jim Crowe laws captured much of society in the twentieth century. This cultural cancer was confronted by the Civil Rights movement under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King in the 1950’s and 60’s. Now, forty-five years after Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” message in August of 1964, America has elected its first African-American president. But many Christians have found themselves conflicted by this turn of events. President-Elect Barack Obama has taken positions on certain moral and social issues that conservative Christians find offensive and unacceptable. One African-American pastor has summed up the political and moral dilemma this way. “I am pro-life, and President-Elect Obama is the most anti-life senator to come to power in my lifetime. I also am pro-conservative justices (who limit legislating from the bench). I am pro-marriage – that is, pro-heterosexual marriage. In the end, I could not overlook these issues as I approached Election Day. But the temptation to justify voting for Obama was strong, for I did not want to be against the side of history – of an African American finally making it to the Oval Office.”

We can rejoice that history has been made. It’s a good thing that no matter what one’s ethnicity, it is possible to become President of the United States. But there are problems. Barack Obama, as indicated above, holds views on human life and homosexuality that are blatantly anti-Christian. In a speech the very night of his election victory homosexuality was mentioned as another form of morally legitimate diversity along-side of ethnic diversity. Even when they disagree with the political, social, and moral policies of the one occupying the Oval Office, Christians must know how to conduct themselves as Christ-honoring citizens. The following thoughts are designed to help believers in Jesus Christ to fulfill their responsibilities in such a time as this.

We are to live by confidence in the rule of God over all our circumstances, political and otherwise (Psa. 145:3; Dan. 4:34-35; Rom. 8:28). God in His infinite wisdom determines who will be the President of the United States. This does not mean that God approves of the policies and the manner in which a president governs. He does, however, hold office by divine appointment.

Christians are to submit to governing authorities and are to be law-abiding citizens (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). We are to know how to render “unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). Paying taxes and giving honor to whom honor is due are a part of Christian citizenship. This also means that in our political system, if we think we are paying too much in taxes we can work for reform of the laws, etc.

Never forget that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the crown jewel of God’s redemptive plan (Eph. 1:3-12). We are to live for the proclamation and spread of the gospel to all peoples. Human government cannot solve our moral ills or create a social utopia. Human nature is not perfectible. Those who ignore this and taut a political agenda that defies God’s moral law are a danger to humanity. The crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, is mankind’s only hope.

The church of Jesus Christ is to serve as the conscience within every nation in which it exists (Matt. 5:13-16; Titus 2:7-8; Phil. 2:15). The Holy Spirit indwelling the body of Christ constitutes a restraining force to moral evil. This is another reason why authentic Christianity seeks to protect the unborn, the weak, the elderly, and defends the divine institution of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Pray for our governing authorities (1 Tim. 2:1-4; Prov. 21:1). “Entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, (are) to be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority.” Our prayers affect decisions at the highest level.

God turns nations over to the folly of their defiance of the truth He has revealed about Himself (Rom. 1:18-32; Hab. 2:2-20). Scoffing at God’s moral law and substituting the creation for the Creator is a prescription for the ruin of a nation. The collapse of Western culture is evidence of God giving us over to the consequences of our arrogant disregard of transcendent truth.

Fear, worry, and anger must not become boarders in our homes (Phil. 4:6-7; Eph. 4:26). Anxiety regarding the state of the economy will devour joyful, generous Christian living. Anger toward those with whom we have serious political disagreements can turn us into very unpleasant people and poor advertisements for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don’t let the news-media determine your understanding of the way things really are (Rom. 12:2; Jer. 28:15). The Bible is the only “no-spin zone” in this world. Beware of the crisis-cadence of cable news. It can make you jumpy (e.g., “the sky is falling”) and pugilistic (looking for a fight). Be wise to the distortions and the moral and social agendas of those who package the news for you.

If you are a parent, prepare your children for the challenges of their adult lives (Eph. 6:1-3). The price of our current economy mess will largely be paid by our children and grandchildren. They are going to need all the instruction and training they can get in how to live in a collapsing civilization. Instruct them in wise decision making, respect for authority, how to stand alone for God, honesty, debt-free living, and the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all things. Let them see what authentic Christianity looks like.

Manage your personal finances according to biblical precepts (Lk. 16:1-13). Money and material things are a cruel master. In the words of one popular financial counselor, “Live like no one else. So you can live like no one else.” This does not mean hoarding and self-centered living. It means staying out of debt, living within one’s means, and supporting the work of God with generous giving.

In a recent column Albert Mohler has given us wise counsel regarding living under our new President-Elect’s administration. “There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama’s election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honor due to anyone elected to that high office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear biblical command….We must pray that God would change President-Elect Obama’s mind and heart on issues of our crucial concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light.”

Let’s allow an African American pastor to call us to our duty to President-Elect Obama. Pastor Eric C. Redmond, author of Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men’s Questions About the Church, and past Second Vice-President of the Southern Baptist Convention, says that “The question for me at this time is this: Can I continue to live Soli Deo Gloria under a President whose moral judgment already is questionable before he takes the oath of office? Yes I can, for I can be obedient to Scripture, praying for the one in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-3), honoring the one in authority (1 Pet. 2:13-17), submitting to the one in authority (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1), and seeking righteousness for the entire citizenry (Prov. 14:34). These I will seek to do by grace. I will “honor the good appointment of God.”

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Infants, the Government, and Voting

With a Presidential election breathing down our necks, it is in order to respond to some of the flawed thinking that has spread throughout the electorate. Sadly, even Christians have succumbed to some confused and patently unbiblical reasoning (if it is even that).

Some seem to have forgotten the importance of abortion-on-demand as a critical issue. Let’s briefly review the biblical teaching regarding abortion. One, God has made it very clear that the developing fetus is already human life (Jer. 1:4-5; Psa. 139:13-16; Ex. 21:22-24; Lk. 1:35, 41-42; 2:21). The embryo is a human being, not a tumor or mere tissue. As one observer has said, “Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound.” Two, fetal life is defenseless and will be vindicated by God (Psa. 10:17-18; 146:9; 68:5; Amos 1:13; Prov. 6:16-18; Jas. 1:27). Abortion is an assault on God, not just human beings. Woe to those who make God their adversary. A nation that legitimizes, through its legal system, the destruction of innocent human life is in for hard times. These two fundamental facts about the unborn should give pause to those who treat the unborn as if they are expendable.

The “pro-choice-for-government and pro-life-for-churches” position is one particularly troubling attempt to side-step the abortion issue. It has found some currency even among professing Christians. The idea is that churches, not the federal government, must take on the moral issue of the sacredness of human life. This has the appearance of getting one off the hook in the abortion debate. One can ostensibly vote for a presidential candidate who supports abortion on demand, while at the same time they say that they believe that abortion is wrong. But this is a morally and logically flawed argument. What good is a moral conviction if it has no implications in the public square? Not surprisingly, closely associated with this outlook is the argument, “What right do the pro-lifers have to impose their view of morality on others?” It is contended that you can’t legislate morality in a pluralistic society. The fact of the matter is that government has legislated morals quite regularly. Robertson McQuilkin in his book, Biblical Ethics, has said, “…to say that morals should not be legislated is foolish. Most of what is legislated is in the realm of morals. If one’s private religious convictions demanded that he hold slaves, have many wives, discriminate against blacks, or mutilate Orientals, these same liberal defenders of personal rights and freedoms would seek for legislation to stop him. The questions are Whose rights? (the mother’s or the unborn infant’s?) and, What rights? (the right to life of the infant or some lesser rights of the mother?).”

It is unconscionable that a Christian would knowingly vote for any political candidate who did not believe that life begins at conception and that life should be protected by appropriate laws. A critic might say, is this not one-issue voting? Yes. It is and appropriately so. Randy Alcorn has put it in sharp focus. “So is the candidate’s stand on the issue of shedding innocent blood important enough to disqualify him as a candidate? Yes. While a single issue can’t qualify a candidate, it can disqualify him….I don’t think someone is a good candidate just because he is pro-life. But he cannot be a good candidate unless he is pro-life. Personally, if he is committed to legalized child-killing, as a matter of conscience I must vote against him.” Christians who do not enter the voting booth thinking this way are contributing to the cheapening of human life. This is a moral consequence we cannot afford and for which our nation will pay a heavy price.

Briefly, there is one other matter in this presidential campaign that has become the subject of much discussion, namely, the role of government in the welfare of its citizens. One candidate has said that increased taxes are necessary to “spread the wealth around.” The word “socialist” has been batted around. The Bible has been invoked as providing proof-texts for “taking from the haves and giving to the have-nots.” Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40, “to the extent that you did it (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, etc.) to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” are often cited as a mandate for so-called social justice. Mercy shown to those in need is certainly a way in which a Christian demonstrates love for his neighbor (Lk. 10:25-37). But to use this biblical text to support confiscatory taxation as the basis for establishing a welfare state is contrary to its meaning. Jesus was commending good works as the fruit of God’s work of grace in the hearts of believers. Increased taxation, a bigger government bureaucracy, and a government-knows-best spell trouble for personal freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Another passage of Scripture used to legitimize a welfare state is Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-37. It is the account of the early church pooling its resources to help those in need. It was totally voluntary and not designed to create financial equality among Christians. Believers in Jesus Christ were taking exceptional measures in a response to the need of the moment. It is a good reminder that all our time, money, and possessions belong to God (not to government). This is part of the witness of the church to the unsaved of the truth that the grace-clear streams of generosity find their source in the springs of new life in Christ. If churches everywhere would live out justice and mercy in their ranks, think of the impact this would have upon society.Christian, when you visit the voting booth this week, don’t check your brain and theology at the door. Vote for the candidates who best measure up to a Christian world view. The words of Albert Mohler are most helpful, “Have you cast your vote yet? If not, what could possibly be more important-on this one day-than taking your stand with those who defend the right to exercise democracy and fulfill the responsibility of citizens? How can you face your neighbors, or your children, and say that democracy just takes too much of your time. So go vote. Vote your convictions. Vote for life, liberty, and the cause of what is right. Let your voice be heard.” I would only add to this that part of what is right is recognizing the wrongness of denying the rights of infants in the womb to live and the wrongness of giving government the right to steal in order to put itself in the place of God.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

I Want to Vote

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is not authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1). These words are directed to Christians as a preamble to a section on the civic duties of the church. Human government has been instituted by God for the good of mankind. Our form of government provides privileges and freedoms unrivaled in human history. One of those privileges is the right to vote. In a few days we will have the opportunity to cast our ballot for the next president of the United States. For whom should we vote? Most registered voters have already made up their minds. What is offered here is a rehearsal of those principles that will guide this citizen at the voting machine. I want to vote for the presidential candidate who will come closer to providing the kind of leadership needed at this hour in our nation’s history.

I want to vote for a candidate who thinks and makes decisions based on a Christian worldview. A worldview is simply the way in which one interprets reality. Christian theism, for example, views reality through the lens of a belief in a God who is infinite and personal (triune), omniscient, sovereign and good. Ethics are seen as transcendent and based on the character of God as good (holy and loving). The reader is encouraged to consult James W. Sire’s book, The Universe Next Door, for a helpful development of what it means to think within the sphere of Christian theism. Moral absolutes, the sacredness of human life, and marriage as between a man and woman are some of the features of how consistently a presidential candidate adheres to a Christian worldview.

I want to vote for a candidate who will honor the founding documents of our nation. The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. Our form of government, with its rights and liberties for American citizens, is set forth in this extraordinary document. It is not perfect, but it is probably the best mankind can do this side of Christ’s kingdom. Sadly though, there are those who want to interpret the Constitution according to their subjective whims and whatever the popular consensus is at the moment. The original intent of the authors of our Constitution is set aside to our peril. The matter of the Constitution and how it is to be interpreted bears directly on how this citizen will vote.

I want to vote for a candidate who holds a high view of human life. Abortion on demand may be legal, but as a moral option it undermines society’s responsibility to protect the defenseless. It is unconscionable for a nation to look the other way while innocent infants are slaughtered in the womb. Laws and moral persuasion work to restrain a low view of human life. We should expect a candidate for the highest office in the land to uphold the value and worth of every individual. Social usefulness is not the criteria for whether one lives or dies. A presidential candidate who countenances abortion on demand is inviting the dissolution of the nation he must swear to defend.

I want to vote for a candidate who believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriages and so-called civil unions for same-sex partners are an insult to the God-ordained institution of marriage. Those who declare themselves to be homosexual certainly have inalienable rights (e.g., jobs and housing). “Nonetheless, legislation and public funds should not promote sinful lifestyles.” A presidential candidate who waffles on this important issue has declared war on the family as a “divinely-willed institution.”

I want to vote for a candidate who will appoint judges who are not hostile to Christianity. The appointment of Supreme Court justices and federal court justices is one of the duties of the president of the United States. Therefore, a presidential candidate who would likely appoint judges who will use their judicial authority to redefine marriage, deny rights to the unborn, and attempt to refashion America according to a secular social agenda will contribute to the ruin of our nation. Such a presidential candidate will not get my vote.

I want to vote for a candidate who will respect the right of the United States of America to exist as a sovereign nation and who will not subordinate our national authority to the United Nations or any kind of international socialistic world order. In a paraphrase of what one astute observer has said, beware of any presidential candidate who supports “treaties and conventions” that would empower international agencies to rule over a nation’s economic affairs or who will attempt to transform godless social theories into international law.

I want to vote for a candidate who will uphold a strong national defense and who will refuse to weaken us through any form of unilateral disarmament. Human government exists to promote the good and restrain evil (Rom. 13:4). Police departments and our armed services function to protect us from those who would seek to do us harm. Diplomacy and treaties have their place but never at the expense of an informed judgment about human nature. We are sinful human beings living in a fallen world. The belief that human nature is perfectible may set the stage for the next world war.

I want to vote for a candidate who supports Israel’s right to exist as a nation. There are terrorist organizations and governmental leaders who wish to destroy the nation of Israel. Will the next president of the United States contribute to the weakening of Israel’s right to defend itself? Listen carefully to what each candidate is saying about these issues.

I want to vote for a candidate who will not subvert our free enterprise economic system. There is a debate being waged at the present time about the role of government in a market economy. Many people are angry at certain financial institutions and are calling for more regulation. The basic idea of free enterprise, namely, putting men “on their own to make economic decisions, and let them reap the rewards or lack of rewards from those decisions,” is at its best when governed by personal integrity. Those who invite more government controls, thinking that this will ensure a healthy national economy, will wonder what happened when their personal freedoms have vanished.

I want to vote for a candidate who will not think that higher taxes is the answer to every economic and social problem we have as a nation. Government has the right of taxation. That is not the argument. Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mk. 12:17). If governing authorities are to fulfill their purpose in punishing wrongdoers and commending rightdoers, they will need some money to do it (Rom. 13:6-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). But the Eighth Commandment says, “You shall not steal.” Wise national leadership knows the difference between covering legitimate costs and stealing. Watch out for that presidential candidate who wants to take money by force to fund what he deems as “good causes.” In doing so, government undermines the charitable potential of its citizenry.

I want to vote for a candidate who views justice and mercy not as a means of power and control but as the means of correcting social and personal structures that are evil. The informed Christian voter knows that “the Bible denounces laws that are unjust.” Equal treatment under the law is a cherished value. We are to look for a president who sees himself as the president of all the people, not just the wealthy and the powerful.

I want to vote for a candidate who has personal moral strength. It is not necessary that he be a Christian to govern equitably and wisely. But he must be honest, just, merciful, wise, and tested. Who are his best friends? What is his political record? If he is a senator how has he voted on key issues? What is his vision for America? Does he tell the truth? What are his virtues? Character is king. A presidential candidate could be Machiavellian in his politics, even though he is a good administrator and makes grand promises. Voters beware.

Voting is not an easy thing. It takes preparation, information, and personal maturity to make an acceptable judgment at the ballot box. Even when we vote for the one who seems to be the best candidate, we may still be disappointed. But this is no excuse to stay home on voting day. We do not know what is in store for our nation. If government continues to be seen as the solution to all of our problems and an entitlement mentality (confusion of “wants” and “needs”) succeeds in driving the electorate to vote for the candidate who promises them the most, we will have lost the virtues that guard our freedoms and made us a strong nation.

I want to vote for the presidential candidate who has a profound sense of God’s sovereignty over all nations, whose integrity is not for sale, who is not an enemy of Christianity, who will not allow the systematic destruction of the family, who cherishes American liberty, who will protect the defenseless, who is committed to peace through a strong military, who repudiates the abuse of political power, who believes that God is the only absolute owner of all things, who insists on justice for the poor as well as the rich, who knows that religious and political freedom are God-given, not government-given, and who will execute the duties of the presidency in humility under God.

Perhaps you have felt a longing as you have read these qualifications for national leadership. The Christian knows that only the Lord Jesus Christ will bring a perfect government to this world. Our hopes are invested in the coming King of kings and Lord of lords and His universal reign of justice and compassion.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

How to Get the Most from a Sermon

All of us have been affected by sermons, but not everyone thinks so. The story is told of a man, writing into his local paper, complaining that all the sermons he had heard had not helped him.

He claimed that he had attended church for 30 years and had heard nearly 3000 sermons. Furthermore, he said, “to my consternation I can’t remember a single one.” Many responded to him in the “Letter to the Editor” column, but the following letter settled the issue:

“I have been married for 30 years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals - mostly my wife’s cooking. Suddenly, I have discovered that I can not remember the menu of a single meal. And yet, I received nourishment from every single one of them. I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago.”

Like this man, we are nourished by every sermon we hear, but I want more for us. I want us to get the most from our sermons. But before we talk about how to do that, let me give you some good reasons to do it.

1. Listening is an act of worship. Worship involves declaring someone or something worthy. When we listen to God’s Word we declare it to be worth listening to, but only to the degree that we listen well to it. The more effort, the more worth.
2. It is our job. In Matthew 28:18, we are told to make disciples. The word disciple means learners. Jonathan Edwards said, “If it is the business of some to be teachers, then God has made it the business of some to be learners. If He has appointed some to be pastors and teachers, then He has appointed some to be listeners and learners.”
3. The primacy of preaching - In 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul is charging young Timothy in pastoral ministry and he says, “I solemnly charge you… preach the word.” In season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort. It’s clear that Timothy’s primary ministry focus was preaching. We should be willing to listen as carefully as we would want our pastors to prepare and preach their sermons.
4. The uniqueness of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:21, “but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” What we need to understand is that the Bible is like no other book. It is God’s Word. B.B. Warfield said, “The Bible is the Word of God in such a way that when the Bible speaks, God speaks.”

As in all things Christ is our example. Just after the Lord was baptized He was led, by the Holy Spirit, out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Forty days passed and Satan came and tempted Him to turn stones to bread, but Jesus responded, “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3; Moses is exhorting Israel, in light of their past failures and God’s faithfulness, to be obedient. Israel never learned this lesson, but Jesus did. No doubt he heard sermons preached from this text and heard the story of the Exodus and wilderness wanderings at Passover, and even in His home the story must have been a part of His family’s devotions. He got the most out of those sermons and He was prepared when temptation came.

So how do you get the most out of a sermon? Here are a few suggestions that I trust will be helpful.

1. Continually renew your love for God’s Word - I recommend that you spend time in Psalm 119. God loves His Word. And His love for His word is contagious. As you see how David treasured God’s Word above all things, your own love will grow.
2. Prepare ahead of time - Pray that God would be exalted, both in the preaching and the listening. Pray for undistracted sermon preparation time and delivery. Pray that the pastor would have insight into the needs of the congregation. Pray for clarity in the pastor’s vocabulary and pray for understanding in the congregation and pray that people would practice the sermon. Review last week’s notes in Saturday’s family worship or private devotions.
3. Listen carefully - It has been estimated that most people only hear about 20 percent of what’s being said. I can’t verify this percentage, but if they hold true we could be missing as much as 80 percent of the blessing that God intends for us to have. At any rate, listening doesn’t come naturally. Effective listening means not thinking about what you want to think about, but rather thinking about what is being said with effort to understand it. This takes self discipline. 1 Tim. 4:7 says, “train yourself to be Godly.”
4. Take notes strategically - listen to the main points fully. Take notes only during sub-points and illustrations.
5. Discern truth and error - this is done after the sermon. While God’s Word is inspired and infallible, preachers are not. In fact, the best preachers recommend that their hearers go back and fact check to make sure they got it right. I am thinking of Paul in Acts 17:11, “Now these were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures to see whether these things were so.”
6. Believe it - after discerning we must believe it to profit from it. Hebrews 4:2 says, “For indeed we have good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”
7. Do good works - James 2:14-17, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warm and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works is dead, being by itself.”
8. Personalize the sermon - Psalm 27:8 says, “When you said, ‘seek My face,’ my heart said to you, ‘Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.’” If we understand that when the Bible speaks, God speaks, and we personalize the sermon, we will greatly increase the impact of the sermon. In a recent message, Justin made the point that “the Gospel sets us free from the treadmill of religious performance.” After the discernment work is done and the point found true, we can personalize it and we can be encouraged as though God were saying to us, “I have set you free from the treadmill of religious performance.”
9. Teach it - Whatever you learned in this process, teach to someone else. “You only keep that which you give away.”
10. Repair relationships - “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matt. 5:23-24) No amount of good listening will overcome the barrier that broken relationships put in front of you.

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you, who for refuge, to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, oh be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

Vic Glymph
Berachah Bible Church

Walking Down Wall Street

How are Christians to think and live at this time of national financial crisis? Let’s review some of the ways faith is to walk through such a time as this.

We can begin with a paradoxical thought. Though we should not be conducting our lives any differently than we always do (assuming that biblical wisdom is ruling our thoughts, interests, pleasures, and plans), we ought to be living differently in the sense of a heightened awareness of our circumstances. It was said of the sons of Issachar in the time of king David that they were “men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1 Chron. 12:32). This tribe of Israel was known for its good sense in having cast their lot with David rather than Saul. The point of this for us is how critical it is that we know what is happening around us, discerning shifts in the winds of culture, politics, and the economy. We are to watch the development of current events with a biblically keen eye. How does God want me to respond to what I see taking place in my nation?

We ought to be living by the Scriptural standards of financial stewardship. Jesus has told us to “make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Lk. 16:9). Invest for eternity. That’s what ought to be guiding our financial lives. Are you living within your means? Do you carry credit card debt? Why? What are you doing about it? Have you taken on a mortgage which is beyond an affordable range? Reevaluate your spending and saving habits. This is a good place to begin.

Don’t panic. If you have investments in the stock-market don’t take unwise action. Making rash decisions at this time is like jumping out of a roller coaster. You will get hurt. Hiding money under the mattress is not wise money management. John Wesley’s advice is still valuable. Make as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Give as much as you can.

Inform yourself. What is going on in our national economy? Read and listen to wise people, though even this can be a bit confusing given the conflicting opinions of smart people. But there are sources of accurate information that you will need to locate and access. There is not virtue in sticking one’s head in the sand when ill winds are blowing.

Don’t be angry after dark. “Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph. 4:25-26). There is a righteous anger, but it can easily degenerate into bitterness. Wall Street did not get into the financial mess it is in without the contributions of a lot of people. Greed, fraud, and the failure to hold financial and governmental institutions accountable have all entered into our present economic debacle. But be careful. Nursing a grudge toward individuals, lending institutions, liberals, conservatives, or particular presidential candidates will poison the well of one’s heart. There is a larger issue that must rule our thoughts and responses to pain and suffering. God is wisely and lovingly sovereign over all our losses and gains. Job is a worthy model. Job lost almost everyone and everything near to him. What did he do? He worshiped God (Job 1:20).

Beware of placing confidence in our political system to solve our social, moral, and economic problems. Election season fever is infecting millions of minds. Politicians are making promises which will be easily forgotten when power is gained. It is quite unsettling to see so many carried away by utopian dreams. If a certain candidate is elected, so the rhetoric goes, he will solve our problems. The gullible are easily mesmerized by promises for change. The older and wiser have seen all this before. It is the moral character of a nation that determines its strength and stature in the family of nations. Go to the polls and vote, but don’t be deceived by those whose worldview will only ensure greater suffering for coming generations.

The current crisis in the market place is a painful reminder of the fragile and temporary nature of earthly kingdoms. Governments come and go. Their stories are told in our history books. The prophet Daniel’s account of the story of human kingdoms leaves us in stunned silence. A stone, the Son of Man, is seen smashing into the kingdoms of this world. They will be destroyed and in their place will come Christ’s kingdom that will endure forever (Dan. 2:44). The nations have a rendezvous with Jesus Christ. The city of man awaits its fiery destruction. The business world will lament the loss of the commercial empire they have built (Rev. 18:11-16). A catastrophic stock-market crash on a world wide scale will one day occur. All of this precedes the second coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

We must live prayerfully and evangelistically. A time of economic instability serves as a “road-block to hell.” God sends disasters to warn all who are worshiping lesser gods of the eternal disaster of hell. Will those who are worshiping at the altar of materialism come to their spiritual senses and repent? Will Christians who have been drawn into the sins of the culture have their eyes opened and repent? These are responses for which we can pray. The church of Jesus Christ must show the world how to walk down Wall Street.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Am I A Legalist?

Like bad breath, legalism has a way of being obvious to everyone but the person guilty of it. Self-deception blinds us to its presence in our lives. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in Jesus’ dealings with the Pharisees in the twelfth chapter of Matthew. As a reader, we observe so clearly the ugliness and absurdity of self-righteousness and legalism. It astounds and offends us, yet the Pharisees were so oblivious to it.

We, too, can be blind to this tendency in our own hearts towards legalism. We can trick ourselves into thinking our slavish rule-following makes us more spiritual. We can convince ourselves that our condescension towards those who live differently than us is right, good, and even godly.

Legalism is not about “rules” per se. It is much deeper than that. It is about our orientation towards God and how we relate to Him. Legalism is relating to God as though our forgiveness from Him and acceptance by Him is dependent on our obedience to Him (adapted from The Cross-Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney, p. 25). It is the lie that says God’s pleasure and joy in me is dependent on my behavior or external conformity to some code of conduct.

There is nothing wrong with discipline or rules for yourself and your family. Because someone lives life according to strict standards, even extra-biblical ones, does not mean they are a legalist. Making decisions to abstain from alcohol, television, or work on Sundays does not make someone a “Pharisee.” Legalism has to do with our attitude towards God and others. Are we obeying man-made rules or abstaining from certain things because we think that we are earning God’s approval by doing so? Or do we expect others to share our convictions and live accordingly? If they don’t, they must not be godly.

Because self-righteousness and true righteousness often look similar on the outside, it is important to ask God to expose ways in which we internally manifest legalistic tendencies. Use this list of questions as a tool to help you see where the “little Pharisee inside you” is making himself comfortable. This is a self-test I shared last Sunday night to see what ways self-righteousness manifests itself in our lives.

1. Do I have theological, ethical, or moral positions that I adamantly defend based on my personal definition of godliness, but cannot justify from the Scriptures? Have I attempted to turn a family tradition, schooling option, diet choice, or lifestyle decision into the 11th commandment?
2. Am I more than happy to fill in the gaps for people when the Scriptures do not provide enough detail regarding certain Christian behaviors? I reason, "If you’re not sure about the correctness of some non-biblical issue, just ask me. I can tell you the mind of God on that.”
3. Do I find myself, because of my commitment to my preferences, separating from other believers who have committed no sin before God, but have violated my own conscience or convictions? Have I formed a clique of people who share my commitment to some personal standard? Do I only spend time with people who are like me?
4. Do I have a vast knowledge of Scripture (even memorization) and yet don’t give much serious thought to what the text actually MEANS? Am I an expert on the Bible who is not changed by the Bible (much like the Pharisees)?
5. Am I more concerned about what people think than what God thinks? Do I fear man more than God? Is my standard of righteousness horizontal rather than vertical?
6. Am I known by people for what I am against rather than for what I am for or Who I serve? Is what sets me apart and makes me distinct the rules that I live by? Or is it my love for and devotion to Christ?
7. Do I continue to do things which have long-since lost their meaning in my life simply because I am afraid that to do otherwise would be wrong? For example, do I think that the ONLY acceptable time to have your daily devotions is early in the morning?
8. Do I struggle with assurance of salvation because I think that salvation depends on how good I am at any given time? Does my poor spiritual performance cause me to question how God thinks about me? Do I feel that God is angry with me when I fail? Or does my “good” performance make me feel good about God’s estimation of me?
9. Do I live a secret life? Am I really quite different from the shell of piety everyone else sees? Inside I struggle with sin and am unable to gain victory over it because I am unwilling to admit to people that I’m not as good as people think I am.
10. Do I find that people don’t ever come to me for help or advice? Does my pursuit to appear to “have my act together” repel those who are struggling with real sin issues? When people do come to me for counsel, is my standard answer for every problem that they simply need to work harder?
11. Do I find it difficult to fellowship with other Christians? Is it hard for me to hang around people who are “rough around the edges”? Or will people not come around me for fear of condemnation or at least condescension?
12. Am I unable to worship in certain contexts because things don’t happen as I prefer them to happen? Can I “not worship” because of a certain music style, volume level, or preaching style?
13. If a person’s expression of reverence and worship looks different than mine or doesn’t match up to my standard, do I immediately react by questioning their devotion to God? “That person raising their hands and swaying is trying to draw attention to herself.” Or, “That man can’t be truly worshipping God. He’s just sitting there mouthing the words to the songs.”
14. Am I excellent at pointing out the errors in others but clueless about my own faults? If I was asked to name my top 3 weaknesses in 10 seconds, I couldn’t do it. But if you asked me to name someone else’s top 3 sins in 5 seconds, I could do.

If you answered “yes” to every one of these questions, then there is a serious problem. But if you answered “no” to every question, there is an even bigger problem. You are more self-deceived than you could ever imagine. Most of us probably fall in the middle somewhere. As you are exposed to areas in your life where self-righteousness and legalism have taken root, attack them violently with the gospel. Study, memorize, rehearse, and sing the good news of God’s salvation through faith in Christ’s finished work to damage and destroy those legalistic tendencies in your heart. Indeed, “We all have a little Pharisee inside each one of us.” But let’s starve and work to kill that “little Pharisee” with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ!

Justin Culbertson
Berachah Bible Church