The responsibility to obey

On Sunday were looking at Matthew 7 and Jesus conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, the Parable of the two builders. We saw that the rock here is not a picture of Christ but obedience to his words. Charles Price, Pastor of the People's Church in Toronto provides the following challenge in his commentary on Matthews gospel,

'It has been well said that the greatest need of many Christians is not to know more, but to obey what they already know.' To listen without obedience is deception, says James when he writes, 'Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1.22). Spiritual growth is more than an intellectual process, it is a volitional process. The word of God is only effectively read and understood from a disposition of submission and obedience. The more we know the more our capacity for sin increases. James again writes, 'Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins (James 4.17). It is a sobering thought that every new lesson we learn that does not meet with a response of submission creates new possibilities of sin. Understanding carries responsibility. It is submission to the word of God and obedience to the will of God which are the foundation of security and stability.'

When trials come

It was great to attend the Getty concert in Ipswich on Friday evening. I continue to be impressed by their (along with Stuart Townend) ability to combine rich theological truth with great music that is singable by a variety of congregations.

Here is one example from their new CD 'Awaken the dawn' that helps to think about God's purposes in our trials.

When trials come

When trials come, no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And their His faithfulness is told x2

Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow x2

I turn to wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures; Your ways are good x2

When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I will run
Till You complete the work begun x2

One day all things will be made new
I'll see the hope you called me to
And in Your kingdom paved with gold.
I'll praise your faithfulness of old x2

A lily among brambles

'As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women'.

Song of Solomon 2.2

A lily among brambles is how every husband should seek to view their wives in relation to other women. Christian husbands should have eyes only for their wives. In our marriage vows we promised to forsake all others. This forsaking should be mental and visual as well as physical. Of course there are many enemies that seek to stop our eyes and mind expressing this exclusive, covenant love. So every day let us pray that by God's grace we may view our wives as a lily among the brambles. Few contemporary voices address these issues as boldly and wisely as CJ Mahaney. I highly recommend his book, 'Sex Romance and the glory of God. Here is a relevant excert,

He writes,

'Every wife wants to know that she is uniquely impressed on the heart of her husband...Do you wear that seal upon your finger as an external affirmation of the seal upon your heart? Do you truly treasure your wedding ring as a bold, unwavering, ever present assertion - to yourself and to the world - of your total, exclusive, utterly comprehensive devotion to your wife? It's really simple. No one should be more important to you than your wife or be the object of greater love and affection. So let us do two things. First, let us scrutinize our lives: Is there any other passion that may be eclipsing our passion for our wives? And second, let us give to our wives whatever resassurance of this unparalleled love they may need.'

Awaken the Dawn

Many of you know that I have a great deal of time for the music of Keith and Kristyn Getty. Their first album, In Christ Alone, featured songs that the church at Great Whyte are becoming familiar with . They have just announced the launch of their second album, Awaken the Dawn, of which you can find out more at the website. Just follow the link at the side to know more.

Holiday

The past few weeks have been rather busy. We had a very positive Holiday Bible Club through which we made contact with quite a few new children. I ask you to join me in praying that these children will continue to attend our regular club. The family and I are now off on holiday for a week to our regular holiday destination of Overstrand, just outside of Cromer. I am thankful for the opportunity of rest and the time it affrods with Amy and the children.

'From the pastors desk' 2

Letter writing from a pastor to his congregation has a long and noble history. I also believe that it enables the pastor to communicate with the congregation and address issues somewhere other than the pulpit. Therefore I am going to post the letters I write to Great Whyte on my blog.

'From the Pastor's Desk' – May/June 09

Dear members and friends,
Writing in his diary on February 15, 1835, Robert Murray M'Cheyne wrote, “Tomorrow I undergo my trials before the Presbytery (a board of ministers). May God give me courage in the hour of need. What should I fear? If God see me meet to put me into the ministry, who shall keep me back? If I be not meet, why should I thrust forward? To thy servant I desire to dedicate myself over and over again.” M'Cheyne words are a helpful reminder that only those aware of God's call upon their lives should consider pastoral ministry. The occasion of my induction service enabled me to re-affirm my belief that God in his grace has set me apart for this work. Indeed, were it not for this call upon me then I would most certainly seek another area of employment. However I find it impossible to escape a growing and enduring desire to preach and teach the Bible to others. Every pastor should to some degree sympathise with Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9.16, 'Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.'

For your soul

The promises we made at the induction service remind us that the the pastors relationship to the church is a partnership. The challenge for the pastor is found in the words of Charles Simeon, an evangelical minister from the nineteenth century, 'Watch continually over your own spirit, and do all in love; we must grow downwards in humility to soar heavenward. I should recommend your having a watchful eye over yourself, for generally speaking as is the minister so are the people.' This being the case the challenge for the church is to pray faithfully for their pastor in every aspect of his ministry. That is why on the 9th of May I gave the church six words beginning with 'p' to help you fulfil your responsibility to pray. Here they now are on paper as an aid to memory.

(1)Purity

It is striking that the qualifications for being an elder in 1 Tim 3.1-13 are overwhelmingly related to character. The man must 'be an example (1 Tim 4.12) his only necessary gift being that is that he is 'able to teach'. Pray that my godliness will always be greater than my giftedness.

(2)Preaching
Preaching in the church is not popular today, it is 'out of season.' It is my conviction I that the most important time of the week is when we open up God's word with a desire to hear him speak. Pray that God would help me to preach faithfully, clearly and with Spirit-empowered authority. Ask that as his word is proclaimed unbelievers will trust in Christ and disciples will become more like Christ.

(3)Pastoring
'Shepherd the flock of God that is among you,' so commands the apostle Peter (1 Pet 5.2). Pray that God will help me to discharge this duty through my example, teaching, discipline and personal relationships. Pray that God will increasingly fill my heart with love for you and enable me to faithfully keep watch over your soul as one who must give account.

(4)Prayer
'But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.'(Acts 6.4) Here is the apostolic heartbeat of gospel ministry and a reminder of the absolute necessity of prayer. Ironically, in the course of exercising his ministry prayer can so easily be neglected in a pastors personal and devotional life. Pray that I will be as equally faithful in my private devotions as in my public prayer.

(5)Pride
The greatest enemy of the Christian ministry is pride. If the Devil cannot get you down then he is very adept at blowing you up. A minster needs to daily keep at the front of his mind Paul's question, 'who is sufficient for these things.' Pray that God would help me to aim at obedience rather than success by remembering these words of the Scottish minister, John Brown of Haddington, 'I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small, in comparison with those of your brethren around you; but assure yourself on the word of an old man, that when you come to give account of them to the Lord Christ, at his judgment seat, you will think you have had enough.'

(6)Perseverance
Pray for wisdom as to how to balance sacrifice for the gospel with physical health. Ask for God's protection to be upon my marriage to Amy to for our children, Ella and Micah, to grow up to serve God. Spiritually, I want to finish the race not just start. I believe that becoming a Christian and serving God is not just the decision of a moment but the direction of a lifetime. Pray that God would enable me to finish as well as I intend to start.

For your diary

Please do not forget that I am making Thursday evening until 8pm available for anyone to visit me in my office. If you do want to see me please check beforehand that I am available. We are looking forward to our HBC running from Tues 26 – Fri 29th May and encourage you to bring your own children and encourage others to attend. We are planning to follow up this years club with a family service on Sunday 31st May with a goal to making contact with parents. On Sunday June 14th at 4.30pm we are starting a new venture called 'Tea and Talk'. Instead of having a standard evening service we shall be meeting in the hall for a testimony, a short gospel talk and a bite to eat. It is hoped that this half-way house will provide a forum to invite non-Christian friends and family members who may not normally attend a service. Again, its success is dependent on us thinking about who we may invite to come along. Look out for the invites that will be prepared. On Saturday June 27th we hope to go on a church outing. We want to give you the opportunity to offer suggestions as to its venue so put your ideas down on the sheet at the front table.

For your bookcase

In this letter I am only going to mention one outstanding resource. The ESV Study Bible is perhaps the greatest study Bible ever put together by some of today's best evangelical scholars. Abundant study notes, beautifully detailed maps and diagrams, articles on Christian doctrine and ethics are but a few of its treasures. While it is expensive (from £30) it offers a lifetime of usefulness in your attempt to grow in your knowledge of the word of God and the God of the word. If you would like to know more visit its website, www.esvstudybible.org or order it online from Amazon or pick it up at a local Christian book shop. I have a copy that I would be happy to show to you if you are having doubts about its purchase.

Thanking you in anticipation of your prayers.

Your friend and Pastor,
Paul.

Listen to Alistair Begg for hours

Alistair Begg is making available 1000 of his online sermons available for free.

Visit the truth for life website opposite to have a look.

The 'basics' conference for Pastors (its worth looking at even if you are not a pastor) can be discovered my clicking on the link to Parkside church from the 11th-13th May.

Induction service

My induction service on Saturday was a wonderful and humbling occasion. It was terrific to see so many friendly faces old and new joining Great Whyte to thank God for the past and trust God for the future.

I gave the church 6 things to pray for my ministry all beginning with the letter P. Please pray these things for me in the coming days...

(1) Purity - Pray that my holiness would be greater than my giftedness

(2) Preaching - Pray that God would help me to proclaim his word clearly, faithfully and passionately.

Pray that through my preaching unbelieving men and women may become committed followers of Jesus Christ. Pray for believers to be built up in their faith and equipped for works of service.

(3) Pastoring - Pray that God would help me as I shepherd his flock as one who must give account.

(4) Prayer - Pray that God would help me to make prayer a priority. Pray that I would be as committed to prayer in private as I am in public.

(5) Pride - The greatest danger in the Christian ministry. Pray that God would keep me close to the cross, reminding me that I am a sinner saved by grace. Pray that I would always remember that no one is equal to this task save for his strength and help.

(6) Perserverance - Pray that I may finish as well in the future if not better than I intend to start in the present.

Atheist converts

Here is an interesting article from the novelist AN Wilson who claims to have converted back to Christianity. Let us pray that he will truly come to know Christ as Saviour and Lord.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169145/Religion-hatred-Why-longer-cowed-secular-zealots.html

Courage, brother...

I have been thinking about what hymns to sing at my induction service. Here is one that we're going to sing as I find its words so appropriate and challenging. Written by Norman McLeod its a call to trust in God and do the right a rallying cry which is not just for ministers...

Courage, brother, do not stumble,
Though thy path be dark as night;
There’s a star to guide the humble:
Trust in God and do the right.
Let the road be rough and dreary,
And its end far out of sight,
Foot it bravely; strong or weary,
Trust in God and do the right.

Perish policy and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light!
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right,
Trust no party, sect or faction;
Trust no leaders in the fight;
Put in every word or action,
Trust in God and do the right.

Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Cease from man, and look above thee:
Trust in God and do the right.
Simple rule, and safest guiding,
Inward peace and inward might,
Star upon our path abiding,
Trust in God and do the right.

Pleasing the Father

True children of God will have a desire to please their Heavenly Father as Alec Motyer explains in his comment on Philippians 2.12,

‘Although the terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do there is a fear of God of which we know all too little and which we lose at our peril – a godly fear, growing out of recognition of weakness and of the power of temptation; a filial dread of offending God. This is not the fear of a lost sinner before the Holy One, not a fear of what he might do to us, but of the hurt we might do to him.’

Alec Motyer, BST, Philippians, pg.

Eric Alexander

Eric Alexander was minister at St George's Tron for over twenty years. Widely regarded as one of the best Scottish preachers of his generation his sermons and other resources will be well worth perusing.

To take a look visit www.ericalexander.co.uk/

What is Prayer? - 2

Prayer – What is it? – 2

John Bunyan

‘Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to his Word, for the good of the church, with submission to the will of God.’


Last week we considered the importance of sincerity in prayer. We now come to think about what John Bunyan meant by ‘sensible’.

What does Bunyan mean here? - Dictionary – ‘aware not unmindful’

Bunyan is teaching us that true prayer involves more than words.

If we are to truly pray then there are certain things of which we must be aware.

Truth that we must know in our minds and experience in our hearts.

(1) We need an awareness of our sinfulness – Remember you are undeserving

(a) Remember that without grace you could not come to God

- Gen 3.22-24; Ex 19.12-13; 1 Sam 6.20

(b) Remember that without grace you would not come to God

- Gen 3.8-10; Col 1.21

(2) We need an awareness of our mediator – Remember you are dependent

In his mercy God appoints mediators – ‘umpires’ between a Holy God and sinful people.

Gen 18.16; Ex 19.21; Ex 28.1; Ex 33.12-22

Every mediator in the Bible pointed forward to the real mediator. 1 Tim 2.5

Jesus Christ is the only one who can represent sinners before God.

(a) If Jesus is to be your mediator he must be your Saviour

(b) If Jesus is your Saviour he must be your Mediator

(3) We need an awareness of our forgiveness – Remember you are welcome

(a) We are to come to God with boldness and confidence – Heb 4.16; 10.21-22

Derek Prime,

‘By nature we deserve God’s throne to be one of judgment, where we receive His just punishment for our sins and failures. But through the Lord Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, God’s righteous wrath has been turned away from us, and God is able to be gracious and kind to us, with no detriment to His justice and holiness. Instead of our having to view God as sitting upon a throne of judgment – as our sins deserve – we are encouraged to picture His throne as a throne of grace. He waits to be gracious to us! There is no limit to what He will do for our good, on account of our spiritual union with His Son, the Lord Jesus.’


Q - Why do justified sinners still need to confess their sins? – Matt 6.12; 1 John 1.8

(4) We need an awareness of our weakness – Remember you are children

We are to pray to God as children pray to a loving Father – Matt 6.9

Q – Think about your prayer life. Does your life reveal that you depend upon your Heavenly father for everything?

Q – In what ways might Jesus teaching about the Fatherhood of God encourage us to pray?

What does it mean to pray in a way that is sensible?

It is the awareness that while we are undeserving sinners dependent upon a Saviour we are at the same time welcome children.

A mature Christian will learn to pray with both great humility and great confidence.

‘No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown,
through Christ, my own.’

Spectators of a wonder

In the run up to Good Friday I wany to post some of my favourite quotes about the death of Christ.

The cross is,

'The most solemn spectale in all history, a spectacle unparalleled, unique, unrepeated and unrepeatable. The site of the most mysterious utterance that ever ascended from earth to heaven, "My God, my God why has thou forsaken me?" Beholding it, we are spectators of a wonder the praise and glory of which eternity will not exhaust. It is the Lord of glory, the Son of God incarnate, the God-man, drinking the cup given him by the eternal Father, the cup of woe and indescribable agony. We almost hesitate to say so. But it must be said. It is God in our nature forsaken of God. The cry from the accursed tree evinces nothing less than the abandonment that is the wages of sin...There is no reproduction or parallel in the experience of archangels or of the greatest saints. The faintest parallel would crush the holiest of men and the mightiest of the angelic host.'

John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied pg. 77-78

Learning lessons from being sick

I have not written a post for over a week. I have been unwell with a virus and felt as though I had no energy at all. While I felt too unwell to write anything helpful a number of thoughts came to me after being laid aside.

(1) It caused me to be thankful to God that I have never experienced serious illness.

(2) It reminded me of the importance of using my time wisely when I am feeling healthy and strong.

(3) Whenever I am sick, however small the problem really is, I am reminded that my body is mortal.

Religion and morality

"Religion must precede morality if morality is itself to survive. Godliness is essential to ethics. Nothing but a belief in God and a desire to glorify Him, based upon our realization of our utter dependence upon him and our acceptance of his way of life and salvation in Jesus Christ His Son, can ever lead to a good society...Religion and spiritual revival have always led to moral and intellectual awakening and a desire to produce a better society. And coversely, ungodliness has always led to unrighteousness. A slackening in spiritual fervour, even though the zeal and fervour be transferred to a desire to improve the state of society, has always eventuated ultimately in both moral and intellectual decline. The great periods in the history of this country in every sphere are the Elizebethan, the Puriatn and the Victorian. Each followed a striking religious revival. But as religion was allowed to sink into oblivion, and men thought that they could live by morality alone, degeneration set in rapidly. Emil Brunner has said that this is so definite as to be capable of statement as a law of life in which there are distinct steps and stages. he puts it thus: "The feeling for the personal and the human which is the fruit of faith may outlive for a time the death of the roots from which it has grown, but this cannot last very long. As a rule of decay of religon works out in the second generation as moral rigidity, and in the third generation. Humanity without religion has never been a historical force capable of resistance. Even today, severance from the Christian faith, whenever it has been of some duration works out in the dehumanization of all human conditions. 'The wine of life has been poured out, the dregs alone remain.'"

Martyn Lloyd Jones, 'The Plight of man and the Power of God', 1942, Pg.29-30

What to do in the darkness?

'We are not to doubt in the darkness what God has shown us in the light.'

Warren Wiersbe

Transferring all our guilt

As we draw near to Easter I hope to share a number of quotes on what the cross and resurrection can mean for each one of us.

Here's Charles Simeon for starters,

'In Passion Week, as I was reading Bishop Wilson on the Lord's Supper, I met with with an expression to this effect - "That the Jews knew what they did when they transferred their sin to the head of their offering." The thought came to my mind, What may I transfer all my guilt to another? Has God provided an Offering for me, that I may lay my sins on HIs head? Then, God willing, I will not bear them on my soul one moment longer. Accordingly, I sought to lay my sin upon the sacred head of Jesus.'

Twice Mine

Every illustration used to explain what Jesus accomplished at the cross will always fall short. But I love this story that may help us to capture in our minds a small amount of what it means for Christ to be our redeemer.

In a city on the shore of a great lake lived a small boy who loved the water and sailing. So deep was his fascination that he, with the help of his father, spent months making a beautiful model boat, which he began to sail at the waters edge. One day a sudden gust of wind caught the tiny boat and carried it far out into the lake and out of sight. Distraught, the boy returned home inconsolable. Day after day he would walk the shores in search of his treasure, but always in vain. then one day as was walking through town he saw his beautiful boat - in a store window! He approached the proprietor and announced his ownership, only to be told that it was not his. For the owner had paid a local fisherman good money for the boat. If the boy wanted the boat he would have to pay the price. And so the lad set himself to work doing anything and everything until finally he returned to the store with the money. At last holding his precious boat in his arms, he said with great joy, "You are twice mine now - because I made you and becuase I bought you".

Has Jesus said over you life, "You are twice mine"?

How sincere are your prayers?

'Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assisatnce of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to his word, for the good of the church, with submission to the will of God.'

Prayer is sincere.

Dictionary definition...

'Free from pretense or deceit; the same in reality as in appearance...genuine, honest, frank.'

Why does sincerity matter?

God hates prayer that is insincere - Hosea 7.14

How might we detect insincerity in our praying?

(a) Praying to God while treasuring sin reveals a lack of sincerity - Ps 66.17-18

(b) Praying to God as a means of impressing others - Matt 6.1,5

Why should I pray with sincerity?

Praying to God with sincerity will be rewarded by God - Jer 29.12-13

Bunyan,

'Sincerity is the same in a corner alone, as it is before the face of the world. It knows not how to wear two masks, one for appearance before men and another for private use.'

Questions

What challenge does the importance of sincerity pose to both new and mature Christians?

Do I pray in a prayer meeting to impress others?

Spend time thinking about this hymn written by John Burton over the course of this week.

I often say my prayers,
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?

I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.

For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.

Lord, teach me what I need,
And teach me how to pray;
Nor let me ask you for your grace,
Not meaning what I say.

John Newton's Evangelistic Appeal

'Are there any here that have added sin to sin through despair of mercy, thinking all hope was past - O say not so, see how God has loved the world - there is indeed forgiveness with him...The Lord in the gospel proclaims a free pardon to all who believe in the Son. Will you, despite the gospel and the spirit of grace, make your damnation sure by refusing to hear his voice? O Lord God, prevent it and rend the heavens and come down and touch the stony heart, that it may stand out no longer.'

Quoted, J Aitken, John Newton - From Disgrace to Amazing Grace, pg.186

Gossip and flattery

Sins of the tongue come so naturally to us. How concerned are we to avoid the twin evils of of gossip and flattery?

I have always found the following definitions of gossip and flattery helpful.

Gossip is saying behind someone's back what you would not say to their face.

Flattery is saying to someone's face what you would not say behind their back.

These two quotes may also help us to ponder the correct use of our speech.

Blaise Pascal the famous French Scientist said this,

'I lay it as a fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world.'

A rhyme by William Norris,

'If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care: To whom you speak, of whom you speak

My apologies for not posting for some days. It has been a particularly busy week which has included a really encouraging trip to speak at the Leicester University CU on Romans 8.28-39. It was great to spend time with young Christians with a passion for spreading the gospel in an antagonistic setting. Some of you will be aware of Michael Ots, formerly the Minister of Evangelism of Lansdowne Baptist Church, now in an itinerant role. Michael (visit his website) now spends a significant amount of his time equipping students and conducting CU missions. Why not take a look and pray for his work?

It is encouraging that there are politicians (like Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve) who are speaking out against the dangerous encroachments of the militant secular lobby. The analysis of Melanie Phillips on the legislation that has created this climate is also very perceptive and worth a read.

Where is the weaker brother today?

In our Sunday evening services at Great Whyte we have been looking at Romans 14. Understanding and applying this neglected part of Scripture is essential for both unity and harmony in the church.

Here Paul addresses the relationship between the weak and the strong.

The weak were Christians whose conscience forbid them to eat meat offered to idols and compelled them to strict observance of Jewish holy days. The strong, whose ranks included the apostle Paul were those believers who had understood the liberating implications of being right with God. These believers had no problems eating meat that had been offered to idols and treated every day the same. How could these Christians cope with their differences over issues where the Bible's teaching was not decisive?

Paul addresses this situation by appealing to both the strong and the weak to accept one another. The weak were to avoid being judgemental of the strong and the strong were to avoid being dismissive of the weak. Paul calls on them to avoid these attitudes by considering the character of God who is portrayed as a welcoming father, a soveriegn Lord and a coming judge. Furthermore they needed to treat each other with great respect and needed reminding to keep the gospel central.

I believe that we would do well to think long and hard about this chapter for the good of our church and churches. How different would our history be if the evangelical church in the UK had paid as much attention to Romans 14 as it did to Romans 4?

I want your help. Without being too specific (I do not want names of individuals, churches or ministries!!) can you provide suggestions of where this debate still rages? Where is the weaker brother today? What do you think? I want to hear from you.

The Valley of Vision

The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions that I invariably turn to for spiritual food. The first entitled, calls us to renew our spiritual perspective by entering into 'The Valley of Vision to survey the glorious paradoxes of the Christian life.

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 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.

A philosophy with no foundation

Every day we rub shoulders with those who have come to think that life has no ultimate meaning or purpose. In our conversations we come across the belief that 'truth' cannot be discovered but is rather determined by an individual. This explains how two opposing and contradictory positions can be regarded as equally true. Part of apologetics (the reasoned defence of Christianity) is to help people see the flaws inherent in their worldview. A useful question in seeking to show somebody the implications of their philosophy of life is to ask, 'Can we live it'? The following story might illustrate the point I am making.

Ravi Zacharias was visiting Ohio State University when he was taken to visit the 'Wexner Center for the Arts'. When he arrived in the building he was confronted by the strange sight of staircases that led to nowhere and pillars that served no purpose. He asked his driver to explain the sight before him. The driver replied, "this is America's first Post-Modern building". The philosophy of the building was further explained to him when he was introduced to the architect of the Wexner. The architect said, "If life has no meaning and purpose then why should our buildings"? Hence the staircases leading to nowhere and the pillars that served no purpose. Zacharias replied, I have one question for you, "Did you do that with the foundations"?

Holy Boldness

Ray Ortlund in his blog, 'Christ is deeper still' quotes from Horatius Bonar's preface to John Gillies' Accounts of Revival. In the preface Bonar provides nine characteristics of men God has used in revival and is well worth the read. However it is his sixth comment on boldness that struck me most powerfully,

"Timidity shuts many a door of usefulness and loses many a precious opportunity; it wins no friends, while it strengthens every enemy. Nothing is lost by boldness, nor gained by fear."

Let us not forget in praying for opportunities to speak to others about Jesus, to ask for the boldness to take them.

A Tinker's definition of prayer

Have you ever taken time to define 'prayer'? The simple answer to this question is talking to God.

However sometimes it is helpful to push the bounds of our understanding a little further. John Bunyan, famous for writing 'A Pilgrim's Progress', also wrote a book on prayer. In this book he penned what must be regarded as one of the finest (if not the shortest!) definitions of true prayer in the English language.

'Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to his word, for the good of the church, with submission to the will of God.'

Not bad for a tinker as I am sure you'll agree!!

Over the next few weeks we are going to break this definition down into its component parts. Our goal, to move us forward in our understanding and practice of prayer taking upon our lips the disciples request, 'Lord teach us to pray'.

Right from wrong?

The Daily Telegraph reports on the government's recommendation to parents not to teach their children right from wrong when it comes to sex. Here is another indication of the ever increasing encroachment by the state into territory traditionally belonging to parents. What assumptions can we make from this about the moral framework governing sex education in our schools?

How should Christian parents react? To whose voice shall we listen? We must remember that it is our duty to bring up our children in the 'fear and instruction of the Lord'. At the very least this includes helping our children to distinguish between right from wrong (See 1 Sam 3.13). We must teach them how to live in a way that pleases God when it comes to sex and relationships.

Does it make any difference? Listen to these words highlighting the value of hearing and heeding biblically informed parental instruction.

Proverbs 1.8

'Hear, my son, your father's instruction and forsake not your mothers teaching, for they are a graceful garland around your head and pendants for your neck.'

Here is Proverbs 6.20-30. Note the link between parental guidance with the avoidance of sexual immorality.

'My son, keep your father's commandment,
and forsake not your mother's teaching.
Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
to preserve you from the evil woman,
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,
but a married woman hunts down a precious life.
Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?
Or can one walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?
So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
none who touches her will go unpunished.'

Two claims to be the voice of wisdom. Let's choose the wisdom of Solomon.

Listen to Sinclair Ferguson for hours

Here is a collection of sermons from Sinclair Ferguson on a whole variety of subjects. This webzine from the folks at Sovereign Grace looks like it will be very helpful in the months to come.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have been enjoying reading Jonathan Aitken biography of 'John Newton'. It is a well written book that neatly interweaves historical fact with spiritual insight. Aitken's work also has the freshness you would expect from a man who has recently experienced God's amazing grace in his own life.

I have been struck by the numerous times that the life of John Newton was preserved by God before his conversion. Knowledge of such events gives new meaning to the line in Amazing Grace, 'through many dangers toils and snares'.

Consider the following brushes with death he experienced,

• At the age of twelve, Newton fell from his horse narrowly avoiding being impaled by a sharp spike protruding from a hedgerow.
  
• Newton had arranged to visit a man-of-war with a friend anchored of the coast of Purfleet. He was delayed in his journey and missed his quayside rendezvous with his friend. However his disappointment turned to relief when the Man-of-War's longboat hit an underwater obstacle and capsized.
• Harsh experiences as a sailor caused him to contemplate suicide by throwing himself into the sea.
• Near starvation and exposure to the elements while held captive on the Plantanes.
• While in Africa, on Cape Lopez, Newton and a number of other companions made a journey inland. During this hunting expedition they became hopelessly lost in territory renowned for its predatory animals. Thankfully the moon and stars emerged from behind the clouds enabling the party to find their way back to the ship.
• Almost drowning on the Greyhound as a result of the ship being battered by North Atlantic gales.

Reflecting upon what he called these 'calls, warnings and deliverance's' was one of the means God used to bring him to Christ.

His scrapes with death continued after his conversion. For example, Newton narrowly avoided shooting himself with a rifle while attending a shooting party with the mayor of Londonderry.

God's preserving grace brought John Newton safely through all these dangers. Too often we are unaware that the same grace is necessary for each one of us.

May we live our lives with the awareness that at all times we are dependent on God to keep and sustain us.

As Newton said,

'Thus when we think of ourselves in the greatest safety we are no less exposed to danger than when all seems conspiring to destroy us. The divine providence that is sufficient to deliver us in our utmost extremity is equally necessary in the most peaceful situations.'

Bible on the top shelf

The Daily Telegraph has an interesting article on Muslims, the Bible and public libraries.

Follow the link to read...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4687077/Bible-put-on-top-shelf-in-move-to-appease-Muslims.html

How many people would you like in your church?

As a young Pastor of a relatively small church it is easy to envy those leading bigger congregations. Pride tempts every Pastor to measure their success by counting heads. So please pray for me and others in Christian leadership that we would aim for faithfulness rather than success. Perhaps we will be helped by remembering the words of John Brown (described by Mark Dever as his single most influential quote on leadership),

“I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small, in comparison with those of your brethren around you; but assure yourself on the word of an old man, that when you come to give an account of them to the Lord Christ, at his judgment-seat, you will think you have had enough.”

Prayer - Where is your confidence? -

Every week I hope to post something that will help us to grow in our understanding and practice of prayer.

Before we begin I want to make two introductory points,

(1) I am not writing these words as an expert. I simply want to pass on what I am learning from others.

(2) I am not wanting to make you feel spiritually inadequate or increase your guilt. Is there another area of life where Christians feel more guilty?

I am convinced that much of our guilt stems from our confidence about prayer being in the wrong place.

Derek Prime reminds us where our assurance about prayer should lie,

'Our confidence in prayer is not in our understanding of it, or our methods of discipline in it, but in God's character and revelation of himself in our Lord Jesus Christ.'

What to expect?

In order to encourage you to read my blog I now want to give you some idea of the content I hope to post.

(1) Insights from my reading of the Bible and others Christian books that might stimulate and challenge others. My primary intention is to stand on the shoulders of giants and so pass on the wisdom of others rather than my own.

(2) Comment on contemporary affairs that impact the lives of Christians and the Church in the UK.

(3) Posts that will cause us to think about elements of our culture through the lens of the Scriptures. What does it mean to be a discerning Christian in the news we hear, the films we watch, and the books we read? I want to grow in my own discernment by interacting with you.

(4) Book reviews and recommendations. I want to get people reading great books. After Bible Reading, prayer and the support of other Christians the reading of good books has helped me to grow spiritually more than anything else. It is also an essential trait for anyone who might think about preaching for in the words of John Wesley, 'A man who will not read will not preach'.

(5) Lessons I am learning about preaching and pastoral ministry.

On "this being a few thoughts"

I have thought about writing a blog but have resisted the temptation for the following reasons...

(1) The sheer number of Christian blogs out there.

(2) The fact that many of these bloggers are able to write with greater ability than I am capable.

(3) Initial indecision about what I wanted to do with this blog.

(4) A mild fear of simply 'multiplying words'.

However I have decided to give it a go for the following reasons...

(1) Many Christian blogs are based in the US and therefore have limited value to Christians living in the UK.

(2) That while I might not write helpfully for millions I might be able to inform and encourage at least one. And even if nobody chooses to read it, writing down my few thoughts will enable me to order my mind.

(3) Finally understanding what it is that I want to do with this blog which I will explain below.

(4) Realising that while in blogging lies the danger of 'multiply words' it also has the potential to glorify God.