
Learning to do good

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. Titus 3:14, ESV
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Gospel of Luke 6:27–36, ESV
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Going It Alone Ain’t in God’s Plan

(Romans 15:30-33)
This got me thinking about ministry and pastors. At some level we understand the stresses of ministry, yet consider the following statistics:
75% of pastors report being “extremely stressed” or “highly stressed”
90% work between 55 to 75 hours per week
90% feel fatigued and worn out every week
80% will not be in ministry ten years later and only a fraction make it a lifelong career.
91% have experienced some form of burnout in ministry and 18% say they are “fried to a crisp right now”
One way that we as a church can ensure that our pastor doesn’t fall victim to these statistics is to “strive together” or to “struggle” or to “fight” – to “agonize” with Pastor Wally by praying on his behalf. In the movie, “The War Room,” Miss Clara said, “You’ve got to plead with God so that He can do what only He can do. And then you’ve got to get out of the way and let Him do it.” Does this characterize my prayer life? C.H. Spurgeon went on in his message to say “When we pray, we should make a point of praying for something distinctly. There is a general kind of praying, which fails from want of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anyhow; possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed…If you pray anyhow, if it be with sincerity, a measure of blessing results from it; but it will take a great deal of such praying to accomplish much. But if you plead for certain mercies definitely and distinctly, with firm unstaggering faith, you shall richly succeed.” He concluded his message with this thought: “Truth unknown, how can it enlighten? Truth not felt, how can it renew? There must therefore be the preacher to call attention to truth; but how shall they preach except they be sent? and how shall they be sent aright except in the power of the Holy Ghost? and how can we expect the Holy Ghost if we do not ask for his working? Wherefore, we pray you, wrestle together with us in your prayers that the Holy Ghost may go forth with the truth and by the truth. This will be to your profit. No man hears his pastor preach without deriving some benefit from him, if he has earnestly prayed for him. The best hearers, who get the most out of a man, are those who love him best, and pray most for him. God can make us dry wells to you if you offer no prayers for us. He can make us clouds that are full of rain, if you have pleaded with God on our behalf.”
We as the body of Christ can be of ONE HEART AND SOUL in “pleading with God” not only on Pastor Wally’s behalf, but on behalf of all who are laboring for the sake of the Gospel. We ought to be “praying for something distinctly” on a Pastor’s behalf. You can start by simply asking him how you can pray specifically for him and then to (as Miss Clara said) “plead with God so that He can do what only He can do. And then…get out of the way and let Him do it.”
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The Sufficiency of Scripture

As a believer, we don’t need other books to tell us how to interpret Scriptures, Scripture interprets Scripture, and “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17) The Bible is sufficient to answer ALL that troubles the world today. If it is not, then 2 Peter 1:4 becomes meaningless. If the Bible is no longer sufficient to deal with the issues of today then the precious and great promise is null and void. If the Bible is no longer sufficient then we are no longer partakers of the divine nature in Jesus Christ. If the Bible is no longer sufficient then we have not escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. If the Bible is no longer sufficient then it is sinful desire which reigns and there is no redemption for any one us and hope is destroyed. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor 2:14-16)
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The Harmony of One Voice

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The Perspicuity of Scripture…huh?

This morning in my devotional (Tabletalk, April 30) I read about the clarity of Scripture. The funny thing is that the word used for clarity is “perspicuous.” For most this sounds like a very old, technical and somewhat nebulous term, yet it is a term that we should all come to know and cherish. The first known use of the word is in 1570…53 years after the start of the Protestant Reformation. The use of the word arose in the defense of Christians having the Bible in their own languages, because up to this point, the Medieval Roman Catholic Church had fenced off the Bible from the average person by only allowing the use of the Latin Vulgate Bible. Their rationale was to protect the Bible from being misinterpreted by the common people. Only the most learned and schooled could read Latin.
The Reformers understood that God’s Word was the only authority for rule and life. Thus all other authorities were subject to the Scriptures and based on Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
All of God’s people have a responsibility to understand and teach the Scriptures in their own homes. It goes without saying that the Hebrews coming out of Egypt were not Scholars…they were slaves, brick layers, stone cutters, they were common people. Even the priestly class had only been in existence 40 years by the time they were getting ready to enter the Promise Land. So the question is, Can I understand the Bible on my own? The answer is yes.
Every believer in Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. If we approach the Scriptures prayerfully and dependent upon the Holy Spirit who will guide you into all truth (John 16:13) then you can have confidence that God’s gospel is spoken clearly and is not hidden from you. The message of salvation, of God’s character, of Jesus’ words, deeds, and promises are clear for all to see. As your pastor, one of the things that I find challenging is trying to convey to you some of the nuanced and deeper meanings of words in the original text without sounding like I have unlocked some secret lost for thousands of years. If you ever feel that way, remember this article, the Scriptures are clear and are made to be understood. Remember Paul’s words to Timothy:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Grace to You,
Pastor Wally
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