Preaching, Praying, and Just Plain Talking

“...for a shew [they] make long prayers.” (Lk. 20:47)

“...Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep...as Paul was long preaching. (Acts 20:9)

“...a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” (Eccl. 5:3)

 THE PRETENCE IN WINDY PRAYERS

A.W. Pink says of long prayers, “Wordy prayers are usually windy ones.” He goes on to say about the prayers of the Bible, “Not some, nor even most, but all of them are exceedingly brief. Most of them comprised in but one or two verses. The longest is only seven verses.” Martin Luther said about prayer, “Let thy words be few, but thy thoughts and affections many, and above all let them be profound.”

THE LONG-WINDED PREACHER

Just because Paul did it doesn’t mean we’re to do it. He shaved his head and took a Jewish vow and offered up an O.T. sacrifice, after preaching grace to the Gentiles. I have found in our day and age that the longer one speaks the more apt his audience (one or a thousand) is inclined to cease listening.

THE WINDS OF PARTICULAR CONVERSATIONS

To listen to some people you wonder where they get the breath. They seem to never stop long enough to get one. Admittedly, most of our problems come from our windpipe. The wise man warns, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Prov. 10:19)

We see then whether it be praying, preaching, or conversation, BREVITY IS BEST! This holds true of writing also. And so on that note I close. (1Peter 5:12)

Letting Down Our Guard

Throughout the Scripture God’s people are admonished to “Watch”; that is, to be on guard against the enemy of their souls and those he uses against them. But you would be hard pressed to find where we’re to do so with loved ones and friends. Yet many of us do, this being to our own detriment. Ruined relationships is the tragic result.

In youth to experience betrayal, physical and verbal abuse, sexual molestation, along with other deep wounds of the soul, one is always on guard no matter who they’re around. I remember a third grade teacher slapping us students on the cheek when we misbehaved. Each of us kept our guard up as she passed our desks.

Those among us who have been deeply hurt from childhood, in one way or the other, just can’t help putting up their guard. It comes naturally and unconsciously. The only possible cure for these scarred saints is a loving, trusting, understanding person to enter their lives- like Jesus Christ and saints who dare to emulate Him.

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

(Rom. 15:1)

The Spirit and the Flesh

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(Matt. 26:41)

When the Spirit of God comes into a believer’s body it does not cancel out the flesh. In fact, you will be more conscious of the latter than you ever were before. Paul tells us these two natures are diametrically opposed to one another, so that at times a saint cannot always do what he or she should do or what they would like to do (Gal. 5:17).

Before Pentecost Peter had a fearful temperament that could be intimidated by his peers. But he still possessed this weak trait after being filled with the Spirit (Gal. 2:11-14). Notice too that Barnabas was involved in this. We are told of him that he was a good man and filled with the Holy Ghost. Also the Holy Spirit played a great part in Samson’s life, but in spite of this the weaknesses of his flesh were manifest from time to time.

What are the lessons we can learn from this? One that I feel important is not to expect more than we should from Spirit-filled believers. I think some of us expect more from them than even God Himself does. We need to remember what God does about such:“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” (Psa. 103:14) And the second, being equally important, not to get discouraged when we fail to meet the high standard we have set for ourselves as Spirit-filled believers.

“God knows what we would do if we could do it.”

(rds)

Moving on With Your Life

"Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount...Ye have compassed this mountain long enough"

In the fifth book of Moses, in the first few chapters, he recounts and reminds God's elect of their past history. As another has written, "He gives a short account of their long stay in the wilderness." One of the things he brings to memory is the time spent at the holy Mount. "Many days," which added up to just two weeks short of a year. During this time they received the giving of the Law, the Tabernacle and the things pertaining to it were made by them, and both civil and ecclesiastical rulers were appointed. He also calls to their recollection how after these things were accomplished, God had told them, so to speak, to get a move on.

God also has temporary earthly stops as we journey toward our heavenly Mount Zion. But we are in danger of becoming satisfied and overstaying our visits at some of these memorial places. We are to always keep in mind there is something even better up ahead. This is what the book of Hebrews is all about, something better. Is it any wonder then that the writer continually admonishes his readers with, "Let us go on." We, like them, if not careful, are at risk of, "coming short," of our Kadesh-Barnea. The life-giving, life-satisfying, and life-energizing fruit of the Spirit is awaiting each of God's children who move forward in their Christian life, not those who stand still.

“To move on with one's life does not disannul all the good things of the past!”

(rds)

A Paralyzing Possibility

“Our God… is able…and he will…But if not…we will not.” Here is the testimony of three of God’s choicest saints. These men had the courage of their convictions; they stood for the God of Heaven, when all others were kneeling down to the god of this world. You’d think that if anyone would be delivered from the dire situation they were in, they would be. But God preferred to deliver them in it, rather than out of it. They were the “others” of Heb. 11 (verses 35-40). Notice they had the same faith as the rest in the chapter who were delivered.

They believed not only God could, but would, come to their aid. I think the addendum to their statement of faith is one of the greatest confessions in all the Word of God; “But if not…we will not.” This is a paralyzing possibility in all cases of prayer, “But if not.” All prodigals do not return, all illnesses are not healed, and all problems are not resolved. And there are legions of other things that may not come to pass the way we desired or imagined. At such times, we need to be resolute with a “…we will not.” That is, not blame God or quit on Him, or go back to the world.

Christ’s enemies taunted Him on the Cross with, “He saved others; himself he cannot save…let him come down now from the cross” It was not a weak faith that kept Him on the Cross; on the contrary, it was just the opposite. It was not that His faith was too weak for Him to come down from the Cross; it was that His faith was so strong that it kept Him from coming down!

A dear friend of mine, who has been confined to a wheelchair for many years (since the age of eighteen), gives testimony to the fact that if Christ gave her the choice to walk or remain in her condition, she’d choose the latter. For, says she, “I believe this chair is God’s will for my life.” This, my friend, is the victory that overcomes the world!

Enduring to the End

God’s Word emphasizes endurance. The word has a legion of associated meanings, some of which are: perseverance, staying power, determination, sticking it out, stamina, resolve, keeping on, plodders, and grit. The old timers crudely, but correctly, called it guts.

There is much theological debate over the meaning of Jesus’ words, “[H]e that endureth to the end shall be saved.” But there is no question as to what it says. We are told of our Lord that He set His face like a flint. He had Divine determination.

We need a new generation of Christians with what old Dr. Bob Jones Sr. referred to as, intestinal fortitude-backbone, if you please. The Bible speaks of professing Christians who, “…dureth for a while.” In other words, they have an evaporating endurance.

A hero is not a hero because their bravery exceeds others. They’re heroes because he or she is braver five minutes longer than anyone else. Of such it is said, “…we count them happy which endure.”  And how does one endure those difficult times in life? Ask Moses, “...he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

It’s always too early to give in.

Tribulation

“...we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” This is the other side of the coin of Christianity. So many speakers and writers are drawing a happy face on being a Christian in our day. I personally believe we need to get back to presenting the rough side of our Faith. The flip side of joy, peace, and happiness is chastening, attacks from unseen satanic powers, a daily war with the flesh, periodic times of darkness, resisting despondency, and all the other negatives that soft, velvety saints cringe to hear of.

Being a Christian is not a bed of roses; it has its problems. No believer is exempt from the ills of humanity. Suffering, arguments, family squabbles, temptations, bad habits, spurts of anger, and a score of other unpleasantries are our lot in this world. We are not promised a trouble free life. No Christian should think it strange when he or she passes through tribulation. Some spend all their time diagnosing themselves when trouble comes. With morbid introspection, they skin themselves to the raw, thinking they have done something wrong, not realizing God is grooming them for something greater.

“If we were kept from tribulation, then we would miss all God’s benefits in tribulation---glory, comfort, and joy.”

(rds)

What Could Be Better?

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

“To obey is better…” There is no addendum to this; it has no equal. Not even sacrifice will suffice. Offering external, spiritual, temporal, or ceremonial substitutes will not get us off the hook with God. We can’t impress Him with anything we try to replace obedience with. He will not excuse disobedience. Is it any wonder then that Martin Luther said, “I’d rather obey than work miracles”? I believe it was he who also said the three greatest words in the Bible are, "Obey! Obey! Obey!"

If we are to be loyal to Jesus Christ, we must be obedient. Loyalty and obedience are like Siamese twins. If separated, the result, as in this case, can be disastrous. Loyalty to Lordship demands obedience. “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” We need not fear the afterward consequence of obedience. Leave that to God. But know this for certain - He promised to give the power of His Spirit to those who obey Him.

Anytime we have a problem in our relationship with God, it can be traced to our questioning God’s commands to us. To debate them is to disobey. Our intellectual reasoning, like Saul, gets in the way of obedience. To obey one Scripture is better than a knowledge of the whole of it that is not obeyed. Remember the devil knows the Bible. May our testimony be that of Paul: “I was not disobedient…”

"The Christian life flourishes when obedience is preferred before being spiritual. "

(rds)

Making Sense of Suffering

I am no C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, or Bible scholar. Nor do I profess to be on the same plain with even the least of the philosophers of old. I am simply saying I am neither in the major or minor leagues - not even among the little leaguers. But I do confess rubbing shoulders with the common kids in the neighborhood and on my block where I live. We’re just a bunch of unorganized sandlot players. Nevertheless, we have all the joys, hurts, and perplexities the aforementioned have.

One of the confusing issues in the game of life, for all the above parties, is making sense out of suffering. This deeply profound question has baffled mankind both in general and in particular throughout these long ages. “Why do good people suffer and bad people prosper?” David faced the same perplexing problem in Psa. 73. When he attempted to understand it he tells us it was too painful. Then he adds, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”

God’s Word at times answers our questions fully, at other times only in part, and still at others not at all. We just have to wait. I’m sure Jesus’ mother and loved ones were puzzled watching the Man Christ Jesus suffer the way He did. Especially looking back on His kind, gracious, loving, and exemplary Godly life. But all was made clear later on by His own testimony and the writings of His disciples. IT WAS FOR OTHERS' BENEFIT, not His own, that He tasted the bitter dregs of that cup. And so it is with many of us and our own.

This is my personal opinion of only one facet of why the righteous suffer. It may be of some help in your own sufferings, or that of your loved one. I truly hope so!

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.”

(Jn. 19:25)

“And Simeon...said unto Mary his mother...(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)  “

(Lk. 2:34-35)

Did You Forget Something?

I am well aware of how often I call attention to the subheading to our title, The Journal: “Brief, Biblical Essays for Thinking people.” The reason for this is that some years ago I became conscious how God’s people had been sold a bill of goods, buying into it 100%, that real thinkers are to be found only among the educated. Most certainly having both are best, but you can possess the one without the other.

To believe a formal education is necessary to be a thinker one must admit the Lord, who had none, was not a thinker, “And the Jews marvelled, saying, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” You can include the disciples in this also, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men.” Paul would have been a great thinker had he never set at the feet of Gamaliel.

Recently I saw a plaque that said, “Follow your heart but take your brain with you.” I find far too many Christians forgot to take theirs with them. My wife loved Winnie the Pooh. One of her favorite sayings of his was, “Think, Think, Think.” O, beloved, don’t let someone else do your thinking for you. God gave you a mind, USE IT! Thinking people are threats to tyrants. That is why they try to keep you cowering in a corner, dependent on their brains. Thinkers are always free, even when chained.  

In closing, allow me to give you an illustration of what I believe to be the right balance in what I’ve been discussing. In dealing with my extreme grief, I am reading two books, one to the heart the other dealing with the intellect. Both men lost their wives, and that is what the books are about. The former is by an old country preacher by the name of Vance Havner. It is to the heart and is titled, Though I Walk Through the Valley. The latter by C.S. Lewis, titled A Grief Observed, and it provokes thought. Interestingly the one’s wife was named, Sara, and “Salle" is derived from this name. The second, C.S. Lewis wife, was Joy. You who knew my wife personally are aware she was known as, “Joybell.” I have received great comfort from the one and great insight from the other. I NEED THEM BOTH!

Don’t sacrifice the one for the other, it is not necessary. And it could be dangerous.

On Which Side of the Cross Do You Live?

“This man [Apollos] was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

(Acts 18:25-26)

Most all televangelist and anemic Christians live on the other side of the Cross. That is, they live their lives and minister pre-Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension. Whereas the media and cults have all set up their camp there. They major on the historical Christ, but know little or nothing of the heavenly Christ. The former has to do with the past whereas the latter with the present. QUESTION-ON WHICH SIDE OF THE CROSS DO YOU LIVE?

Apollos was such a man as mentioned above but, unlike many today, did not choose to stay that way. He was humble minded and did not take offence when two tentmakers, a husband and wife, opened to him a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. He had a zeal (boiling) for God, but not according to knowledge. He used the light he had but there was more to come. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more…”

There are untold numbers of professing Christians who know absolutely nothing about: being blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places; their union with Christ; being seated in the heavenlies with Him; being accepted in the Beloved; justification; sanctification; and our coming glorification, along with a host of other gems included in our inheritance in Christ. How sad and how unnecessary!

“You’ve crossed the river and are now in your inheritance. Don’t look back and desire the things of Egypt or the wilderness. Let God feed you and satisfy you with the harvest in the inheritance.”

(Warren Wiersbe)

Why So Many Anemic Christians?

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine of office.”

Jesus’ ministry was distinctively Jewish, as were the apostles; the exception being Peter’s initial opening the door to the Gentiles. Church truths are to be found in the Pauline epistles. As it has been said “All the Bible is for us, but not all the Bible is to or about us.” In the Gentile’s classroom, our professor and teacher is Paul, “Whereunto I am appointed ...a teacher of the Gentiles.”

Lift Paul’s fourteen letters (I include Hebrews) from their setting, and you’re left with utter confusion. He is the one person ordained by our Lord to reveal to the Gentiles all the truths Jesus Himself was not able to communicate to His followers while here on earth. The Gospels tells of the earthly historic Christ, but Paul’s epistles reveal the eternal heavenly Christ.

Without Paul’s writings we would know nothing of great doctrines like justification, sanctification, adoption, regeneration, etc. We’d be totally ignorant of such things as the Holy Spirit’s ministry, and our in-depth relationship to the risen Christ. Such as being “in Him” and “raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus.” It is Paul alone who explains all these intricacies, along with a host of other blessings that belong to Gentile believers in the Body of Christ.

O, my friends, I am aware I have written on this theme on several occasions, but know this; I will continue to do so till taken Home. After seeing the Lord, I want to meet this “little Jew” who saved me from so great heartache and anguish on my pilgrim journey. Francis A. Schaeffer has a book entitled, “How Then Shall We Live?" If you want to know the answer to this, begin now to read Paul’s letters. And then, continue to do so!

Take His Arm

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” Only a man can know that special feeling when his spouse takes his arm. To be sure, it shows her reliance upon him for support and confidence in him as her guide. But it also manifests something much deeper. It reveals a familiarity with him and her fervent affection toward him, while, at the same time, displaying before all her true femininity. This man is the love of her life.

How much more should this be true of the Lover of our souls and us! Not only should we lean upon that everlasting Arm as the weaker vessel in total dependence upon Him, but we should cling to our Beloved, lovingly, adoringly, and with all the affection and adoration of our beings. As we walk down the aisle of life, holding on to our Beloved’s arm, all those who observe should hear our refrain, “My beloved is mine, and I am his.”

Love doesn’t know how to let go.

(rds)

Instructional Suffering

“Though He were a son, yet learned He obedience by the things He suffered.” Whatever else this mysterious and perplexing verse teaches, one thing is for sure, suffering can be educational. A saint’s suffering is not for his or her destruction, but rather their instruction. Therefore, our first question should not be a “Why?” but “What?” That is, “What can I learn from this.”

The “man” Christ Jesus learned obedience; Job, patience; Paul, grace; David, the Word. There is no such thing as purposeless pain to God’s elect. Someone has said, “Present pain can bring us eternal profit.” This is true, but it can also be beneficial both to us and others in this life. Suffering need not be a limiting handicap; it can be made an invaluable advantage. Like the old saying, “Make your stumbling stones your stepping stones.”

As our dear Lord and Paul found, God may not answer our request to remove the bitter cup of suffering, but He will use it for our good and His glory. And so, as my dear old Granny used to say, “We need to make the best of it.” I read of a precious child of God who suffered her life-long with no answer from her Lord as to removal of her ailment. It was said of her, “She made magnificent bouquets out of the refusals of God.” My dear wife Salle did this before her Homegoing. The fragrance still fills our home!

Do you think maybe some of us need to pick some flowers from our garden of refusals today?   

Tell Them-God Answers Prayer

I believe it was the day prior to my wife slipping into unconsciousness that she began her discussion with her friends. My blessed daughter-in-law, Sharon, who was with me and Salle constantly the last few days can bear witness to what I write. I am not exaggerating when I report Salle repeatedly said if not once a hundred times, “You need to tell them God answers prayer,” or, “They need to know God answers prayer.”

As A.W. Tozer says of such saints, “They are otherworld minded.” Her friends she talked to, as Sharon called them, were always at the foot of her bed. I once stood there to talk to her, but she motioned with her hand for me to move saying, “I can’t see them.” We laughed on one occasion when she only used her index finger for me to move without saying anything. God answering prayer was a subject both she and I spoke of often in our morning talks after our personal devotions.

If I remember correctly, these were her last words on this earth. How scriptural to the end was this Godly woman who spent some sixty-five years in the King's Book! “Call unto me and I will answer thee”... “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon the Lord, and He answered them”... “The God that answereth-let Him be God.” Salle believed such texts as these, as well as all other kindred Scriptures.

Someone asks, “How could she believe God answers prayer in her dire condition?” My answer, she was following in the footsteps of her Master. “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” When on the Cross, suffering as no human ever had, has, or will, He left her this example. In excruciating pain, and having a sense of being (temporarily) forsaken, He still addressed His Father as “MY GOD.” And in spite of everything, still He believed God answered prayer. By Him asking the question, He showed He expected an answer.

“THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM”

(Job 13:15)

On Being a Spiritual Realist

In J.I. Packer’s excellent introduction to John Owen’s enlightening book, Sin and Temptation, he pens the following: “Owen taught me how to understand myself as a Christian and live before God in a morally and honest way, without pretending either to be what I am not or not to be what I am.” He goes on to say, “It is not too much to say that God used him to save my sanity.” Packer says that Owen helped to make him a realist in every area of his life.

Aren't the two things mentioned above the problem in most of our lives today? That is, do we not spend a lifetime pretending to be what we are not? Or go to the other extreme living a life of constant denial as to who we really are? The latter invariably leads to the former. It is then we enter the actors' studio so to speak. I spent most of my early Christian life in this quandary. The Scripture the Spirit used to help me out of this is Romans 9:20-21, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”

“Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.”

(Isa.44:2)

Ineffective Intercessors?

In a recent conversation with my son Andrew, I mentioned a thought I had concerning the subject of intercession in the life of a Believer. He encouraged me to write on the subject. I have been hesitant because of the fact, personally, I have never heard or read anything on the topic. But as the old saying goes, “There’s a first for everything.”

Some weeks ago I was mulling over in my mind the ministry of intercessory prayer. How it works so effectively at times, but at other times seems so ineffective. Because of this, many of God’s dear saints lose heart thinking something is out of sorts in their life. Though this can be the case at times, generally speaking, it is not. The problem lies with the one prayed for.

I believe this perplexing difficulty is solved by a little saying I think the Lord gave me. “There must be a cooperation with the intercessor for his or her prayers to to be answered.” When Jesus interceded for those at the Cross, asking God to forgive them, God did so AFTER they repented and asked for forgiveness at Pentecost. This truth is seen throughout the Bible.

Samuel's intercession for Saul was ineffective because Saul was unwilling to cooperate on his end. If you ask someone to pray that you’ll get work, you need to get out and hit the pavement. A young man hearing Hudson Taylor’s testimony on prayer asked, “Mr. Taylor will you pray I’ll get up at 5a.m.?” To which he answered, “Yes, if you’ll put one foot on the floor first.”

So How Am I Doing? You Ask

Beloved Friends,

Personally I didn’t intend to write anything for a while, but for all of you who want to know how I’m doing the following is for your information.

Yesterday (Friday Sept. 8th) was the one month anniversary of my beloved’s home-going.  So I thought I would do something she always loved, as most women, and go shopping.  I drove a couple of hours toward the Bay area to Livermore to the San Francisco Premium Outlet Mall.  It has 189 stores, ladies.  Obviously, it is an all-day excursion.

Since it is individual stores, and not under one roof, I took my time.  The first thing I did, as was our habit, was to go to the food court.  I had a sandwich at a deli she liked.  Then outside I drank a cup of tea at a little table under the sun as we use to do together.

As I entered some stores passing by others, I was so reminiscent of our holding hands as we would stroll together.  It could truly be said of me, as it was of Job of old, "His grief was very great", but no one suspected.  No one one heard the deep groanings of my soul.

As always, generally speaking, I didn’t buy anything.  I loved buying for her.  As she would boastfully tell others, “My husband picked 75% of my wardrobe."  Not because of dominance, but she knew I had an eye for the outfits she would make look good.  Yes, I know what I just wrote.  You see clothes didn’t make her look good; she made the clothes look good!  As I walked through some of the stores, I would say under my breath as I did audibly in past shopping sprees with her, “O, hon, you would be a knockout in this.”

On my trip back home, as on my journey there, I was able to settle some more important matters with the Lord concerning these recent happenings.  I found a renewed peace of mind and heart.

When arriving home, upon unlocking and entering the door, as I do consistently now since her departure, I said, “I’m home, hon.”  Soon I will say it for the last time – I will truly be Home!  And I will enjoy the sweet fellowship with her around HIM that we both enjoyed so much on earth.

Alone But Not Alone (John 16:32b),

Salle’s Husband, Richard