"To Go" or "Not to Go"?

God Speaks through Circumstances 

 I first learnt about the providence of God way after I became a Christian. Not that I was opposed to the idea but that I was not aware of the idea all together. At the youth group I attended we were considering the great Christian doctrine for the bible studies and divine providence was one of them. During that same time a book by Richard Belcher was released and made very good reading on the topic. I came to realize that God has not only created everything in the heavens and the earth below but is also actively upholding everything by his great power. Well that was about 10 years ago. This lesson was brought forth these past few days.

I had a great opportunity to relocate to a smaller town and take up a managerial position that would result in a career leap by light years! The subsequent events proved to me that the Lord had not approved this shift. 

Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson

My wife refused to move or even consider the matter! I pleaded over some good three days to no avail. I thought perhaps a discussion with the church elders would help when they came for oversight the following day. I woke up preparing to be very convincing as to why I thought taking up the job was in our best interest. However all my arguments were shatter by a sermon via a podcast I heard by Sinclair Ferguson on Jacobs funeral! Imagine, it was not on “God’s Will” or “Divine Guidance” and therefore I had no clue God would speak to me using this sermon. I was not really paying full attention to the sermon but this illustration brought home the point. He narrated of a young man whom he overheard discussing with his father over a mobile phone about an international job offer he had got to work in Iraq. He was requesting for his fathers advice. Sinclair indicated that this is very rare in our days and he thought that the young man must have been a Christian. He urged us to consult with our parents both physical and spiritual. At that moment, I knew what God wanted me to do that evening when we met with the elders. They agreed with my wife that now was not the best time to relocate and advised that I don’t take up the job.

I phoned the Director and turned down the offer. He was sad that I had wasted their time and was not serious with my career. He couldn’t understand why a decision regarding my work and career move was being made by others on my behalf. He asked me to reconsider and give him a call at midday. He further warned me that that was my last chance ever of working for that organization. In essence, he was blacklisting me and would never give me a positive reference in future employments. It was a great temptation for me but the voice of God was clear. With sadness of heart and pain I called him and told him that I couldn’t take up the job.

Various thoughts went through my mind after this decision. Both positive and negative thoughts. The Lord again spoke through a puritan sermon (William Gouge) on The Progress of Divine Providence which I listened to while driving to lunch and while on the line, I took out my phone and opened the Kindle Book “Trusting God Even When Life Hurts" to continue reading and to my shock, today’s section was about divine providence. In particular that God not only determines who governs but also rules in the decisions that they make. The lot is cast into the lap, but every decision is from the Lord (Prov 16:33)! This was most assuring that God is indeed a God of Providence and that the events of last week were all ordered by Him. As to whether these providence are planted to bear fruit for another generation or we shall live to see the fulfillment of God's plans, I don't know. All I know is that these events have encouraged my faith in God that he still speaks and had spoken to me! O what a joy to hear His voice in providence and to know that he leads. I feel very sinful and unworthy that He should take an interest in me and to speak to me through circumstance. Thank you Lord!

A PRIVILEGED GENERATION

Easy Access to Christian Literature

We are a privileged generation! The things which yester year were difficult, impossible, unavailable in our lives and environment are today’s realities. It’s like people are increasingly being preoccupied with their innovating, inverting and creating something that will enhance our enjoyment, satisfaction, pleasure and ease our lives and improve our comfort.  Just like everything made originating from human being is stained with sin, technological advancement is no exception. This poses a challenge to the Christians to swift through in isolating the wheat from the chaff. In this confusion, others are sailing at the cutting edge of technological advancement while others have decided to shy away and avoid it as much as possible and only when it is really, really necessary.

How can we preserve, advance the good old gospel in today’s technologically advanced world? We are indeed a privileged people who have so many advantages over the previous generations. When referring to the previous generations of Christians, the reformers and the puritans provides a shining example of the what, how, who, why’s of Christianity. Today’s generation is far more privileged than they were in terms of access to the means of grace. Below are just some of the things are I can highlight:

• ·       Copyrights: All the books that were written before 1923 are not copyrighted- This means that you can reproduce reprint download etc without breaking the law. What a blessing to have free access to all the works of the puritans, reformers, Spurgeon, and many many others who lived after them etc.

·       The audio books: Most books have been converted to audio and therefore some of us with bad eyesight can easily have the books read to us. There are tons and tons of Christian audio books available on the internet for free. Imagine how wonderful it is to listen to John Owen’s book “The death of death in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ” while stuck in traffic, or on a queue waiting to be attended to.

·       Ereaders- With the advent of technology, there are many Electronic Readers that enable you to read documents, books electronically. My favorite is ereaders is the Amazon Kindle. With access to about a 1 million books to choose from, a battery that lasts for a month after charging, ability to buy and begin reading a book in under a minute are enough reasons to have this gadget! It is also not very expensive compared to the wealth books that you shall be able to access.

·       The mobile phone- most mobile phones will have internet, ebook reader and mp3 player. While a few years ago it was considered as worldly to buy a smart phone just as it was considered worldly for a Christian to wear Jeans and sneakers in some cultures. Now you can buy a smart phone for godly reasons! Bibles, various books are all available for your use.

Our generation surely has no excuse for not utilising these means for our edification and the glory of our God and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strategies for Withstanding the Devils Temptations

Lessons from John Flavel
If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you will acknowledge something about your heart and cry out with the hymn writer “prone to wonder Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I Love.” This is the reality we face time and again, “fighting and fears within and without.” For some Christians this struggle result in great distress and causes them to conclude that perhaps- “I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN!” Others come to that sad realization that their heart, yes, that Christian heart, is capable of yielding to temptation and sin against their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom they love so much. At times this comes so late after you have compromised your faith already. We are in the battle field and temptation is this warfare is the greatest weapon of attack that the devil uses and Christian are often tempted and tried this side of heaven. There are many solutions that have been offered on how to deal with temptation including– “binding and loosening” praying with “dangerous prayers!” In this struggle many reach that point where the apostle Paul cried out- “O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death??????” How can we remain faithful to our calling amidst overwhelming floods of temptation? How can we keep our faith during these times of trial?
The puritan John Flavel in his treatise Keeping the Heart or Saint Indeed- The Great Work of a Christian answers this question of how you can keep your heart from not yielding to temptation.

John Flavel (1628-1691)

Flavel brings out some of the common arguments or schemes the devil will use in tempting you. When I first read this, I was so shocked and thought Flavel had been listening to the devil tempt me! Flavel exposes these tricks and then provides some very compelling strategic responses that are helpful in the hour of need. When tempted most times I hear Flavel saying to me, “my friend before you yield, ask yourself these questions.” These are good arsenals to have in your armory as you battle it out in the good fight of faith. Below are the arguments and their responses (paraphrased):
1. Argument one- The pleasures of sin: "here is a chance for you to enjoy these pleasures". Temptation will come with an attractive appearance and a charming voice. "Are you so dull as to see these pleasures being offered? Who can’t take advantage of such pleasures?"
Rebuttal: sin is pleasant but what about the scourges of the conscience after I sin? Is it pleasant also to feel the wounds of the conscience? If sin is enjoyable, why then did Peter weep so bitterly? Why did David cry out of broken bones? What about the terrible effects it had on David? The truth is that if I yield to sin I must feel the pangs of the conscience or the flames of hell. Will you prefer the gratification of some unhallowed passion, with the deadly poison which it leaves behind to the sacred pleasure which arises from fearing and obeying God, complying with the dictates of conscience, and maintain inward peace?
2. Argument two: The secrecy of the Sin: this sin won’t disgrace you. No one will know about it
Rebuttal:: is there a place without God’s presence? Isn’t His presence everywhere? Doesn’t God see you? If you manage to hide from the eyes of the world, are you able to hide from God? What is done in secret shall be proclaimed on the rooftop. Don’t you have reverence for yourself? Is not your conscience more than a thousand witnesses? When I sin won’t my conscience record everything even my most secret actions?

3. Argument three: benefits and gains: Look at the advantage and benefits you will get. Now is your time to benefit also
Rebuttal:: And what would it profit you, if you should gain the whole world and lose your own soul? What can a man give in exchange for his soul? Shall I endanger my soul for the sake of something nice in this world, the soul that Jesus Christ shed his precious and invaluable blood? What can be compared with the value of your spiritual interests?
4. Argument four: It’s a small matter: It’s not a big deal. This sin is so small, petty and trivial
Rebuttal: Who has given the commandments however small they might be? Is God small as well? If you commit this sin you will offend the great God. Is there a small hell for minor sinners? No; the least sinners in hell are full of misery. There is great wrath kept up for those whom the world regards as small sinners. Will you provoke God on account of minor sins? Why should you destroy your peace, wound your conscience, and grieve the Spirit, all for small sins?
5. Argument five: The mercy of God and the hope of pardon —God is merciful, he will pass by this as an infirmity, he will not be severe as to not forgive

Rebuttal: Where do you find a promise of mercy for deliberate sinners? Of course if you sin unintentionally and genuinely repents, there is pardon but where is the promise to a daring sinner that sins with the presumption that God will pardon him? If God is so merciful, how can I abuse such a good God? How can I make so glorious an attribute as the divine mercy an occasion of sin? Will I wrong him because he is good? Rather let his goodness lead me to repentance, and keep me from sin. There is forgiveness with you that you may be feared (Psalm130:4).
6. Argument six: The Sin of other Christians: Bad examples of good and holy men- that one and that one sinned, and were restored; therefore you may commit this sin and you will still enter heaven and be saved.

six part volume published by banner of truth

Rebuttal: If good men have committed sins similar to that with which you want to commit, did any of them ever sin because of such reasons and encouragement? Did God make their examples to be recorded for you to imitate, or for your warning? Are they not set up as warning signs that you may avoid the danger? Are you willing to feel what they felt for their sin? Are you able to follow them in sin, and plunge yourself into such distress and danger that they went through?—
This is how you keep your heart in the hour of temptation.
7. Lastly, (not from Flavel), the devil present an argument that repentance is hard- God wont forgive you for such a wicked thing.
Rebuttal: If you have been reading this and thinking that its too late “damage has already been done” then you are probably in the midst of the fight. You need to ask yourself these questions: Why should I keep running away from God as though running away will drive the sin away? Will he cast me away when he has promised that he will nowise drive away any who goes to the Lord Jesus Christ? Isn’t he faithful and just to forgive sin, if we confess? Doesn’t the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ avail for all our sins? Why should I not try to make things right with my Saviour?
What other arguments does the devil use and what are the counter arguments to respond to such?

STILL THE THINGS MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US?

In reference to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Charles Haddon Spurgeon called it as the “most excellent epitome of the things most surely believed among us.” Needless to say that there are many who are uninformed of the contents of the Confession and yet their church subscribe to it. I am not ignorant of the fact that reading the confession of faith alone won’t take you to heaven. Neither being a Baptist for that matter. It’s only through repentance and faith in the death of Lord Jesus Christ. However, if the church you belong to subscribe to a confession of faith or some Church Constitution, surely won’t you, at least try and read the contents? This is a challenge the church of our day is facing- ignorance! I am not talking about the pastors and elders, these of course are not ignorant but the average Church member. Brethren we are not reading!
The art of reading among this generation has been lost. The experiences and habits gained from SMS, movies, emails, instant messaging, Skype and Facebook are not helping matters. These are tailored towards immediate consumption. We are leaving in “instant times,” when everything happens in a moment. Technological advancement enables people to get what they want immediately. You think of a friend, you can immediately call them up, Skype them, send them a message or post on their Facebook wall, send them an SMS, MMS, email and you shall be in touch immediately. However when it comes to reading Christian literature, there is no instant! How on earth can you read John Owen in an instant? The guy writes as though its Rocket science meant for Phd's and professors only. This calls for much study and hard work. The young Timothy was told to “Study to show himself approved, a workman able to divide the word.” There is no excuse to studying if we are going to be well grounded in the faith. We are further exhorted to “guard your doctrine and practice carefully.” Peter tells us that some stuff that we have to read won’t be easy to understand (2 Peter 3:16) and yet we need to persevere.
It is said of CH Spurgeon that he had 12,000 books and loved them all. It is further said that he would read six substantive books per week! It is very sad for some in our number who can remember reading a 100 paged Christian paperback, not in a week like Spurgeon, but in the last 2 years. I remember about 10 years ago hearing of the Junior Youth Group visiting a lady of church at her home. In the cause of the visit, the young people asked her what book she was currently reading. She narrated that she felt challenged because at that time she had been reading the bible only. They gently encouraged her to read other Christian books if she was to grow in her Christian faith. The following Sunday she went straight to the bookshop to buy a Christian book. Such was the zeal! The youth leaders would place a book in your hands on Sunday and give you two week to give a book review at the youth meeting.
There is need to slow down and recheck our habits that have been formed around the gadgets! We need to set aside time to read good well tested Christian books especially of the previous generation- the puritans and reformers. There is need to keep challenging one another what book/s your colleagues are reading- apart from the bible. Let us lend each other books. Lastly, we need to practice what we read. Remember, doctrine and practice always go hand in hand. May the Lord truly bless us and cause that we may love to read His word and also the Christian literature for our sanctification.

THE NEED OF THE HOUR

My pastor posted on his Blog about the reflections of some Zambian pastors of Reformed persuasion about 2010 and the challenges of 2011. It was not surprising to notice that their heart beat was on the need for more evangelism and church planting. They also expressed desire that more Christians would live lives that are fruitful and exemplary in character and morals. The responses sent me thinking about the need of the hour. Why is it that there is a general lack of zeal among our numbers? There is a general coldness of heart, where once we "burned with fire". In the previous years, prayer meetings and cooperate evangelism were attended with much zeal and dedication. But there is a general slothfulness that is evident in our numbers. Times have really changed! Why should all our pastors talk about similar things? Why is there this coldness of heart and general lack of zeal among us? What can be done to remedy this situation?

There are many reasons that could be advanced in order to understand why things are like this in our times. These might include worldliness, career demands including school and work, familiarity of the doctrines and the feeling that nothing new that one can learn, monotony of some church programs (we always meet on Tuesday for outreach and Youth Ministry on Saturday). These reasons and many others valid reasons explain why we are lacking zeal and fervency.

Upon my reflections on the same issue what I read that week from Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones about the 1900 Welsh Revival in his book Preaching and Preachers (page 225-226) was very instructive. In trying to illustrate that there are special periods in the life of the Church when the Holy Spirit is poured out in extra ordinary ways during a revival and there are also ordinary times when His operations are ordinary, he says that during these ordinary times there is need for hard work (in sermon preparation) and much prayer among God’s people in order that the work of the Lord might progress. Its sad to say, (and I hope am wrong,) that I think in Zambia, we are towards the tail end of the mini revival which begun towards the late 1970s to about 1990. Without claiming to be a prophet (of doom) but I think this is the situation that we are in! Times are becoming exceedingly difficult for the propagation of the gospel. Yes, the gospel opportunities are many and many of God's people are engaged in God's work. But there is a reduction in intensity, our zeal is drying up.

What ought to be done? Critical is to appreciate the demands that have been placed on our hands. We churches need to acknowledge that the “love of many will wax cold”. We ought not to think it strange that men are turning away from the things that once used to warm our hearts.

The need of the hour is to pray as elder Charles Bota sung many years ago. If there was any time when we really needed to pray is now. What ought we to pray for? We need to pray with fervency that God will revive us again. We need to pray that God by the power of the Holy Spirit will have mercy upon us and rend the heavens and descend upon us. We need to pray that this season of dryness might not continue but that we might know once again the blessings of His presence among His people. We need to pray that once again our prayer meetings will be filled and evangelism will no longer be a duty but a joy. That we shall once again evangelize on the minibus, at the office, to our neighbors with joy.

We also need to pray for our pastors and preachers! Over the years, the Lord has blessed us with many preaching points and lots of churches have been planted. God forbid that these pulpits might be dry and without power from above. We need to plead that God will preserve the pulpits and many will continue to be saved through the preached word. We should pray that our pastors and preacher would- like Richard Baxter put it- “preach as a dying man to dying men”. That our pastors might remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and that they might proclaim Him and the Cross to their dying day.

We need to pray that God would preserve them from the wails of the evil one. These are really precarious times and as the love of many wax cold, may our pastors and sheppard’s of God’s people continue to be shining examples and leaders of the flock of God.

We need to take Paul’s exhortation seriously that we walk “circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:15-16. O that the Lord might grant us grace for His name's sake!