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.