The Biblical Heart Part 8

The Biblical Heart Part 8

By Wendy Wood

If you haven’t read The Biblical Heart Part 7, please go back and do that now. This blog is a continuation of the repentance process started in the previous blog.

In the process of repentance and change, only genuine heart change at the level of desires has eternal value. We aren’t after just behavior change. If the change of behavior isn’t coming from a change in what is loved most, the change is temporary and has no eternal value. Only a greater love and fear of God brings genuine, God-glorifying change.

The first step of repentance is contemplation:

How has a holy, holy, holy God thought about their sin? 

What attributes of God have been dismissed or disregarded as your counselee has pursued sin?

What lies have they believed about God in pursuing their sin?

Contemplate:

How has my idol forsaken God?

How has my idol been a broken cistern in my life?

For example, someone who seeks pleasure in pornography or excessive eating, is saying “God’s comfort is not enough, I have to get comfort somewhere else”. This person may be doubting God’s goodness in the circumstances of their life or doubting God’s wisdom as he withholds something that they want.

Someone who sinfully desires control is telling God his sovereignty and plan for the universe isn’t as good as their own plan is! They are doubting God’s power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, and love at the very least. 

As our counselees think about what their sin really is revealing about their beliefs about God and how much they distrust Him. This leads to a more complete repentance and a hating of sin.

Then Jeremiah 2 tells us that next our counselees made idols for themselves.  They were leaky, insufficient, unsatisfying and unlasting idols, but that is what they did.  They looked to earthly comforts of social media, food, alcohol, shopping, or even church activities to make them feel good.  They turned to yelling and being harsh in an attempt to gain a false sense of control rather than trust in the God who is sovereign.  We want our counselees to ponder and consider how their idols have been sin against God Himself.

Hopefully after spending time renewing their minds about God, they are seeing more clearly the foolishness of treasuring, desiring, and worshiping anything other than God.  They need to spend time with God confessing their idolatry and asking God for forgiveness and cleansing.

Repentance also needs to include contemplating the thoughts, words, and actions that were sinfully used to try to get their idol.  

Contemplate your sin against others:

What thoughts, words and actions have been sinful as I have sought my idol?

Maybe your counselee has yelled at their family when interrupted from a comfortable evening.  Your counselee needs to see the connection between desiring comfort and being willing to sin against family members to obtain that idol.  

The counselee needs to contemplate how that sin has impacted each family member.  

So maybe on their Ephesians 4:22-24 worksheet that first section looks like this:

What is my idol?

I have loved comfort more than God.

How has this manifested in my life?

I have yelled at my children when they interrupt me.

I have selfishly sat and done my hobbies rather than engage my family. 

I have wasted time that I could have served my friends and family

I have wasted money on food, clothing, games to increase my comfort.

As they have thought through their sin, now they look at their wrong thinking.  In order to “renew their minds”, they need to identify what thoughts they have that don’t line up with Biblical thinking. What are the lies they tell themselves that lead to sinful desires.

Wrong thinking/believing:

I deserve a break when I get home from work. I should have time to relax and enjoy myself.

I should not have to repeat myself. My children should just obey!

God has withheld what I need. This isn’t fair.

Once they have their wrong thinking identified, they can begin to renew their mind in truth. You will want to choose scriptures that encourage a high view of God and verses that deal directly with the idol and sin involved.

It may be helpful at this point to have your counselee renew their mind about specific commands and promises of God also. 

If their idol has been approval, it may be helpful to study Proverbs 29:25 and Galatians 1:10 or read about biblical characters who struggled with fear of man and the consequences suffered for their idol. 

It may be helpful to study how God calls us to speak truth in love to others even if the other person becomes upset with us. 

If the idol has been control, it may be helpful for your counselee to study scriptures about trusting God and the practical implications of faith.  

You want them to have “renewed thinking” about God and how He calls them to live out practically the truth He is God and there is None like Him.

Scriptures to Renew Mind:

Assign scriptures that address the idol and specific areas of sin your counselee struggles with.

Psalm 139:16 1 Corinthians 10:31

Job 42:2 Matthew 22:37-39

Proverbs 6:6-11 Philippians 2:3-4

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Philippians 4:19

John 3:30

Counselees should have a list of 6-10 verses to meditate on. Meditation is its own full teaching so please check out our website for homework assignments and articles on “Thoughts”. 

Our counselees should consider what the verses say about God, themselves and their sin.

We want to guide counselees to grow in their love and fear of God.

We want them to consider how they have failed to live up to God’s standard,

And what specifically they need to change in their lives.

Then they are ready to work on New Thoughts.

I want them to quote what new thoughts they will rehearse in their minds based on the scriptures studied. 

They should also commit a few verses to memory.

New thinking (Quote new thoughts)

God does not promise me an easy, comfortable life. I am called to shepherd my family, even when it’s not convenient.

Conflict in my home is a window into my heart. I will examine my desires when I am tempted to yell at my children.

God’s plan for my life is perfect in his wisdom and timing.

I am called to serve others as Christ humbled himself to serve sinners.

At this point, we want our counselees to plan to act on their growing love for God and the new, biblical thinking they have.

Change won’t happen if it’s not specific. The idea to “be kinder to my family” will not produce much change. The more specific the action can be, the better. This is preparing our counselees for the moment of temptation that will come. It is in that moment that they need to stop and pray, and ask God for help to obey Him and honor Him in their response.

After sin has been contemplated. The sin must be confessed, first to God and then to people who have been sinned against. The offender should be clear about what their sin was, how is was offensive to God and how it affected other person. It is helpful to include how the offender is committing to acting in the future. Confession should end with “will you please forgive me?” Forgiveness is transactional. One person asks for forgiveness, and the other must extend forgiveness.

Let’s use the prodigal son as an example of this change process. He is off in a foreign land working on a pig farm.

The Prodigal son contemplates first. He realizes he has blown all his money. He thinks about how he is feeding pigs and would be better off if he could eat the food himself. Scripture says, “when he came to himself”. He has thought through his sin and is ready to go make a confession of his sin.

The prodigal goes home to confess. He starts with admitting he has sinned against God, then he sinned against his father.

In the prodigal son example, the Prodigal says “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 

Confession will lead to restitution. 

Restitution is making things right in ways you have been wrong before.

The prodigal makes restitution by saying,  “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” “Treat me as one of your hired servants”

He is saying, “I accept the consequences for my sin. I am willing to pay a price for how I have sinned against you, taken your money, and dishonored you. I will accept the consequences for my sin”

Repentance must include contemplation, confession and change.  

Contemplation should bring remorse and godly sorrow over sin. Confession should lead to restitution and making things right with the people who have been sinned against. The goal is reconciliation as change becomes evident in the life of our counselees. Repentance should be not only the fruit of words and behavior, but of the very heart idol that led to the sinful behavior.

The final step of transformational change is putting on Christlikeness.

New Actions:

I will recite 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 each day and pray that I will trust God’s comfort and I will recite Job 42:2 when tempted to get comfort my own way.

I will not pick up my phone when I walk through the door until my kids go to bed.

I will spend time each day asking my wife and children questions about their day and how they are doing.

I will not buy comfort items impulsively. I will stop and pray about my heart and motive.

I will speak words of encouragement to my children and wife each day.

I will pray with my wife and kids before bed each night.

We want our counselees to be prepared with practical ways to apply God’s word and the truths about God they have learned in counseling.  We want them to spend several weeks in counseling putting these action plans into place.  We are helping them form new habits of responding in ways that honor God and their love for God grows.

The goal of repentance is reconciliation. Just as our contemplation of sin and confession to God results in His forgiveness and a reconciled relationship with Him, we want human relationships to be reconciled as well.

The prodigal son goes home and reconciles with his father. The relationship is restored and reconciled as they celebrate a feast together. 

Repenting of idols and sinful behavior will lead to reconciliation with God, both initially and on-going fellowship with God. And, it should lead to on-going Godly relationships with others. We cannot guarantee that human reconciliation will be complete. The older brother in the story of the prodigal son does not welcome his brother home or offer forgiveness. The story ends with the older brother refusing to go into the party and celebrate. Our counselees may ask for forgiveness from those they have sinned against and they may not receive the human forgiveness they are seeking. But our counselees can take comfort in honoring God in their own hearts by repenting and obeying God’s commands.

Some counselees will need to work through several action plans for different idols or patterns of sin in their lives.  They will be ready to graduate when they are consistently making choices to honor God, are quick to repent and seek forgiveness when they stumble back into old ways, and are continuing to pursue a greater love for God on their own and in community with fellow believers.

Our counselees have worshiped their way into their idol and need to worship their way out of their idol. 

Only a greater love for God will replace the love of an idol.

What Makes Saving Faith Saving?

By Wendy Wood

Years ago as I was parenting very young children, I read an article by Tedd Tripp called “A Child’s Call to Faith”. Tripp’s goal in the article was to help parents understand the difference between their children having head knowledge and assent to the truth of God and His word, compared to a salvific trusting in God.  The distinction between knowing, believing (assenting) and trusting is huge, though often mistaken.  Understanding where we, and our children,  fall on this spectrum is crucial!  It is the difference between spending eternity with God or apart from Him.  While we don’t know our own hearts perfectly, or other people’s hearts perfectly, examining the fruit of a person’s life will give insight to the depth of their knowing, believing, or trusting God.

Everyone who comes to faith in Christ must have knowledge.  A believer places their trust and hope in a Person.  Knowledge about God, His attributes, His purpose in all things to bring about His glory, His plan for salvation through Christ are essential truths that must be known.  Before a person can believe and trust in Christ as Lord and Savior, he must that he is a sinner, and he must know that Christ lived a perfect life, was fully human and fully God, and was the atonement for sins on the cross that satisfied God’s wrath against us sinners for all who would repent and follow Him.  Our job as parents is to continue to teach and provide knowledge of God through His word.

Our children need to know more about God.  They need to learn about God’s sovereignty and providence over all His creation.  They need to know how God’s holiness sets Him apart from all other beings and that His moral perfection is the very essence of His wrath and His grace.  God describes Himself in scripture and it is our job as parents to give our children a high view of Him.  In the midst of difficult circumstances everyone needs to be reminded (or taught) about how great God is.  Knowledge of Christ and His redemptive work is also essential to teach.  Christ, as the exact imprint of God, gives us a clearer view of God’s compassion and judgment on sin.  Knowledge must precede faith.  Faith is not to be in the absence of truth.  We place our faith in God.  

The Pharisees are a good example of people who stopped at knowledge.  The Pharisees were experts in the law.  They knew all of God’s law from the Old Testament and knit-picked every single one.  In Matthew 23 Jesus issues His seven ‘woes’ to the Pharisees.  Each ‘woe to you’ is about how they knew the law, but didn’t love God or others.  Knowledge was not enough for faith.  They focused on minutiae and ignored the larger Truth about God’s attributes and purpose.

In our children, this head knowledge might show up as a compliant child or teen.  Children who grow up in the church learn the behaviors and right answers to church questions.  They may gladly come to church or life group and be known as a “good kid” and yet not have a saving faith.  In our desperate desire for our children to be saved, we can rush into getting them to “pray a prayer of salvation” at a young age and cling to that.  One way to think about this is, a person can study space.  They can learn all about the planets and their atmospheres.  They can study the moons around each planet and learn about gravitational pulls and why each planet has a different number of moons. They might study asteroids and comets and learn the names and trajectories of each one.  Yet all this knowledge, all these “right answers” does not make them astronauts.  Head knowledge is never enough to make someone a true Christian either.  Knowledge is a necessary component of faith, but on its own, it does not produce salvation.

Believing is one more step down the road to saving faith.  Believing is giving assent to the knowledge.  Webster’s dictionary defines assent as  “to agree to or approve of something (such as an idea or suggestion) especially after thoughtful consideration : Concur”.  Where knowledge can say “I know that Jesus is the person Christians believe died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins”, someone who believes that truth would say “I am persuaded that Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins”.  Where some might reject the knowledge outright and say “I don’t believe that at all, it’s just a fictitious story”, a person who gives assent to this truth can approve and agree with what Christ has done.  This is still not saving faith.

The demons believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that He was sent into the world to be the Savior for all who would trust in Him.  In Mark 5 Jesus comes to the land of the Gerasenes and comes to a man who lives among the tombs.  As Jesus approaches this man, the demons cry out with a loud voice “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I adjure you by God, do not torment me” (Mark 5:7).  The demons know who Jesus is!  They address Jesus as the Son of the Most High God showing their belief in Jesus’ power and deity.  These demons know that Jesus can cast them out of the man they are dwelling in and are begging Jesus not to do that.  A few verses later the demons say, “Send us to the pigs, let us enter them’ (Mark 5:11).   The demons have given thoughtful consideration to Jesus and agree that He is truly God.  Yet, they do not have salvation.  The demons will spend eternity separated from God in hell because they do not have saving faith.

Because our children grow up hearing their parents affirm these truths, they may readily agree that Jesus is the Savior of the world and be able to see the difference in other’s lives who are truly redeemed and transformed into Christlikeness.  They will pray and ask God to do them favors, as the demons did in the story of Mark 5.  They will want the benefits of being a child of God without the sacrifice and commitment necessary to be a follower of Christ.  They may be confused as to why the fruit of their life is still producing anxiety, frustration, and broken relationships.  They may be confused about why they keep struggling with anger and feel defeated by the on-going, repetitive sins in their lives.  They will by trying really hard to get biblical principles to “work for them” but not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them to produce genuine fruit.  John Piper says, “But being persuaded that Christ and his promises are factual is not by itself saving faith.  That is why some professing Christians will be shocked at the last day, when they hear him say, “I never knew you,” even though they protest that he is “Lord, Lord”.  Believing that Christ and his promises are true, based on a testimony, is a necessary part of faith.  But it is not sufficient to turn faith into saving faith” (Future Grace, page 199).  This person is not truly in a relationship with God.

Saving faith comes when a person apprehends the truths about Christ in a different way.  Saving faith is a genuine trusting of the Lord where who God is and what He is for us in Christ changes the way we live every moment of every day.  John Piper is again helpful in explaining this truth.  “This different way is what [Charles] Hodge calls a ‘spiritual apprehension of truth’.  He says, ‘It is a faith which rests upon the manifestation of the Holy Spirit of the excellence, beauty, and suitableness of the truth… It arises from a spiritual apprehension of the truth, or from the testimony of the Spirit with and by the truth of our hearts’” (Future Grace page 199).  When a person has saving faith in God, God is treasured, savored, and delighted in.  

Picture the parable of the hidden treasure from Matthew 13.  When a person has the knowledge and belief of who Christ is, and is willing to sell all he has and pursue Christ alone, he has truly tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord through the Holy Spirit enlightening the eyes of his heart.  This love of God, this delighting in Him, comes from the Holy Spirit and produces the fruit of Spirit in a life that is unmistakable as saving faith.  The fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control replace the fruit of anxiety, frustration, broken relationships, and fear.  “Another way to say it would be that, in all the acts of saving faith, the Holy Spirit enables us not just to perceive and affirm factual truth, but also to apprehend and embrace spiritual beauty.  It is the ‘embracing of spiritual beauty’ that is the essential core of saving faith.  This is what I mean by ‘being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus.’ Spiritual beauty is the beauty of God diffused in all his words and works - especially in the saving work of his Son.  Embracing this, or delighting in it, or being satisfied with it, is the heart of saving faith” (John Piper, Future Grace page 205). Apprehending and embracing is the evidence of a new heart and a new creation.

A child who knows, believes, and trusts (and delights) in God is a joy to every parent.  There may be ups and downs along the journey of parenting, but there is a genuine desire to surrender their will to God’s will, a deep repentance for sin, a love of God’s word and enjoyment of spending time with Him. John Piper calls this “seeing and savoring” Christ.  As our children see the truth laid out for them in scripture and as the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to see and their ears to hear, they see God as beautiful.  As they see the beauty of His nature and understand His works at a greater depth, they savor the love, mercy, grace, and holiness of God more and more.  

Picture yourself sitting down to your favorite meal.  As you take a bite of your favorite dish you sit back, close your eyes, and experience all the details of the texture and flavors. You take time to think about how much you love this meal and even tell the cook how great it is.  That is what savoring God should be.  We should read His word and sit back, taking our time to appreciate how loving, compassionate, and merciful God is.  We should take time to think about all the blessings He has given us in Christ and then exclaim to God how great He is in praise and worship.  Giving voice to that enjoyment in prayer and praise grows our delight even more.  The evidence of saving faith is the treasuring of Christ that transforms the follower of Christ from one degree of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Here is an analogy that I often use to explain this concept.  

Nick Wallenda is a professional and famous tightrope walker.  He has walked across tightropes over the Grand Canyon and Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua  without a safety net below him. In 2012, Wallenda arrived at Niagara Falls on June 15, and there was a huge crowd waiting to watch him work. Picture themself in the crowd.  As the crowd watches the tightrope being laid out across the falls and secured carefully on the ends, what are they thinking?  They watch Wallenda walk across the tightrope and easily cross Niagara Falls 1,800 feet above ground.  As he comes to the end of the rope and safely gets down, they KNOW he can walk across a tightrope.  

Then, Wallenda asks the crowd, “Do you think I can walk across the rope while pushing a wheelbarrow?”  The crowd is cheers and screams “yes”.  The crowd is in agreement that Wallenda can do it and enthusiastically wants to see it.  Wallenda gets up on the tightrope with the wheelbarrow and carefully walks safely across again.  There are no wobbles or moments of doubt.  The crowd now BELIEVES Wallenda is the greatest tightrope walker of all time.

For his third pass across the falls, Wallenda asks the crowd, “Who thinks I can go across pushing the wheelbarrow while a person rides inside it?”  The crowd all cheers and replies “yes, we believe you can do it!”.  Nick Wallenda then points at you and says “get in and I’ll push you across”.  What would you do?  Do you get in the wheelbarrow or think ‘that’s fine for other people but there’s no way I’m risking my life for that!’.  

That is the level of TRUST.  Someone who knows the facts and gives assent to the truth is not really trusting until they are ready to give up their way of life for the truth.  Trust changes the way we live.  When we are trusting (seeing and savoring) Christ, we live in surrender and obedience to Him.  

Jesus said “If you love me, you will obey my commands” (John 14:15).  Treasuring Christ, seeing him as beautiful, glorious, and delighting in Him, leads us to want to please Him and live wholeheartedly for Him.  Trusting involves action and obedience.  

Counseling Through Jeremiah 17:5-9

By Wendy Wood

Several times throughout scripture God uses the analogy of a tree to explain the life of a believer or an unbeliever.  Psalm 1:3 says that a person who delights in the law and meditates on the Word day and night is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit and does not wither.  The picture created is that loving the Lord and His word produces a joyful, fruitful, newness of life that is evident to all around.  The fruit of this person’s life is healthy and plentiful.  It is vibrant and alive.  Psalm 1 goes on to say that the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Here the person’s life is unstable, easily carried away by changing circumstances (wind) and is not rooted in truth. Picture a tumbleweed being blown about the wind down a dusty road.  This is not a lively tree, by the remnants of an old life that floats away in the air, or a tumbleweed blown about by the current trends of this age. 

Luke 6:43-45 again compares a person’s life to fruit trees.  The “good” heart, the one who trusts and delights in the Lord, produces good fruit.  The good fruit is the fruit of the Spirit and this person’s life is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Others observing this person see the difference in how they respond to people and circumstances and notice that Christlikeness is present.  But Luke 6 also says that bad fruit comes from a bad heart, or someone who is trusting in themselves rather than God.  This person’s fruit is more like the fruit of “old man” desires and is anger, anxiety, conflict, lust, greed, and lies.  The ugly fruit comes from a hardened heart and is not a pleasant person to be around.  Typically, the people coming in for counseling are experiencing “bad fruit” in their lives but don’t know what to do about it.

God uses the word pictures of trees to show that what our hearts are worshipping determines the type of fruit or behavior will come out of us.  These pictures are very helpful to demonstrate and explain how the fruit in our lives comes directly from the heart.  I frequently use Jeremiah 17 as a teaching tool in counseling.  This helps the counselee connect the fruit of their life with what their heart (the root) is trusting in, either self or God.

Jeremiah 17:5-6  

“Thus says the Lord:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man

    and makes flesh his strength,

    whose heart turns away from the Lord.

He is like a shrub in the desert,

    and shall not see any good come.

He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,

    in an uninhabited salt land.”

Jeremiah 17:5-6 is a man who trusts in himself.  He is trying to control his life by working hard to produce the results he wants.  This may be a person who gets angry when things don’t go as planned or when someone inconveniences him.  Trusting in man can also look like needing respect or approval from others.  This person must have the love and admiration of his peers or superiors and lives life trying to make himself feel good by getting approval.  He is trusting in man to give him worth and value.  A person who trusts in man may be all about pleasure and comfort.  This person is trusting in what money can provide or what adventures he can pursue for happiness.  This man is trusting that temporary happiness is what will make his life meaningful and worth living.  The person who trusts in man is not trusting in God.  This person has committed two evils, says Jeremiah 2:13.  He has forsaken God and is hewing out broken cisterns for himself which holds no water (Jeremiah 2:13).  God must be ignored in order to trust in man.  Trusting in man will never lead to a full life.  It will be the empty pursuit of continually needing more and more of whatever he believes will satisfy him.

This person is like a shrub in the desert.  Picture a dead, thorny bush in the heat of Arizona or Texas.  This dead bush is prickly and sharp.  The ground that this bush is planted in is dry, hard, and salty.  There is no life anywhere near this shrub.  What does this look like in a person’s life?  This “shrub” comes into your office as someone who is angry, sad, or anxious.  They have spent so much time working to achieve the life they want and cannot understand why things are working for them.  The idols of approval, money, pleasure, control, and comfort have not produced what your counselee thought they would deliver and you have a discouraged and frustrated person before you.  Relationships are difficult for this person.  Anyone or any circumstances that doesn’t meet their expectations rubs up against the prickly, sharp thorns of this bush and gets cut.  Others experience this person as an angry, quick tempered, difficult person.  The “shrub” person most likely has many broken relationships in their life and is frustrated that life is not going as they thought it should go.  They are looking to the wrong sources for life giving water and nutrients. Rather than trusting in God, this person is trying to work their way into joy.  Life feels like a parched wilderness.  They feel lonely and without hope.  There is nothing in their vision that can help their circumstances change.  They continue to look to themselves or others to make them happy.

Contrast this shrub with this description of a beautiful tree.

Jeremiah 17:8-9

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

    whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water,

    that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

    for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

This person is trusting in the Lord.  This person’s heart is planted in the life giving water of Christ and His gospel hope.  The one who trusts in the Lord spends time in God’s presence in prayer and in His word so that his thoughts, desires, and emotions are shaped by the glorious truths about God.  This person searches God’s word for God’s character, promises, and grace.  He spends time talking to God and committing to trust His will and plan for his life.  This person gets up each day and thinks and prays about how he can please God.  

This person’s life is characterized by the fruit of Christlikeness.  This person is patient in their speech and responses.  This person is loving and seeks to serve others.  This person is faithful to keep his word, even when it is inconvenient.  This person gives thoughtful, gracious responses when others are rude or unkind.  This person still sins.  Trusting in the Lord is never going to be perfect and complete while we live under the curse of sin.  But this person is quicker to repent and enjoys the freedom from enslavement to sin that Christ has purchased on the cross.  This person produces fruit consistently and others experience joy and grace in their presence.  This person is being transformed from one degree of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Whether his circumstances are good or difficult, in drought or plenty, this person experiences peace within his soul because he knows the One who is sovereign and good.  There is no need to be anxious when trusting in God.

Both of these trees experience heat.  Picture a sun shining on these trees.  The tree in the desert is already dead and the hot sun just perpetuates the deadness of the shrub.  The tree that is planted by the water uses the sunlight to grow and produce more fruit.  The heat or sun represents our circumstances.  The “heat” may be the inconvenience of traffic or a toddler having a bad day.  The “heat” may be an illness or the loss of a job.  The “heat” may be a huge blessing of a bonus at work or an unexpected promotion.  The “heat” may be a child’s success at school or the pregnancy that’s been hoped for for years.  The sun or heat represents all the different circumstances that happen throughout life.  

The person who trusts in man responds to his circumstances as if he is in control.  When circumstances are difficult, he is angry and anxious and responds with prickly behavior. He desperately tries to regain control by barking out orders to others or throwing himself into a new plan that will produce the wanted results.   When his circumstances are good, he takes credit for all the hard work he has done and glories in his own achievement, not giving thanks to the Giver of all gifts.  

The person who trusts in the Lord responds differently to heat.  When circumstances are difficult, the one who trusts in the Lord prays and digs into God’s word to understand their situation from a biblical perspective.  He talks to God, pours out his heart to God, and commits to trust God and His will for his life.  When circumstances are good and a blessing, this person who trusts in the Lord is thankful and gives God the praise and gratitude for His blessings.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things,

    and desperately sick;

    who can understand it?

Because we live under the curse of sin, our hearts are deceitful!  We are easily fooled into thinking we are trusting in the Lord when, in fact, we are trusting in man.  We read our bibles, go to church, and participate in a small group, so, of course, we are trusting in God.  Don’t be so sure.  Ask God to search your heart and reveal any offensive way in you (Psalm 139:23).  Prayerfully ask God to reveal to you where you are truly putting your trust in the moment to moment interactions and responses you have.  As you walk with your counselee through the first few sessions, it will be helpful to keep this passage in mind, and frequently ask these questions.

As you describe these two types of people, ask your counselee: 

Which type of tree characterizes your life most of the time?  

What is the “heat” you are experiencing right now in your life? 

What words and actions come out of you in the “heat” moments?

What emotions do you experience frequently?

What thoughts repeat in your mind when difficult situations arise?

How are you trusting in man?

The Gospel Motivates Obedience

By Wendy Wood

Scripture is written in “indicative” and “imperative” format.  An indicative is defined as “showing, signifying, or pointing out”.  An indicative is used to show the cause behind a behavior.  We are sinners, so we sin.  The phrase “we are sinners” is indicative.  It states what has already happened and is a foregone conclusion.  “We sin” is what the indicative points out.  An imperative is a command.  “Go clean up your room” is an imperative statement.  Scripture uses these two types of writing to show what the gospel (the indicatives) should produce in us (the imperatives). 

Colosians 3:12-13 is a concise example:

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

The indicative (the reasons behind the commands) are that we are already chosen by God.  We are holy and beloved.  We’ve been forgiven by the Lord.

Therefore (Scripture often uses “therefore” or “so that” to separate indicative from imperative)

The imperatives then state that we are to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, bear with one another, and forgive.

The only hope we have to live this way is what Christ has already done for us (the indicative).  Jesus came and endured every type of temptation and did not sin.  Jesus was mocked and beaten and hung on the cross without sin.  Jesus took all the sins of all believers of all time on himself and was crucified and forsaken by God satisfying the holy and just God’s wrath against sin.  He then arose, setting us free from death and sin, and ascended to heaven where He continues to be enthroned and is our Mediator before God.  He left the Holy Spirit to empower us so that we can be obedient to His commands to continue His work of glorifying God by the way we live. 

That’s why the gospel matters everyday.  What Jesus has accomplished and completed, allows us to put off our sinful ways through His Spirit, and put on Christlike desires, attitudes, words, and actions.

Look at Romans 6:5-14.

In Romans 6:5-10 Paul tells us what Christ has already accomplished.  Paul even “sandwiches” the rest of the passage by going back to indicatives in verses 12-14. Make a list of the “indicatives” about what Christ has done:

1. Vs 5 - we are united with Christ in death

2. Vs 5 - we are united with Christ in resurrection - raising from the dead

3. Vs 6 - our sinful self was crucified with him

4. Vs 6 - we are no longer slaves to sin

5. Vs 8 - we are raised from the dead and will not die again

6. Vs 9 - death has no dominion over Him

7. Vs 10 - He died to sin, once for all (only one time sacrifice was necessary)

8. Vs 10 - He lives for God

9. Vs 14 - Sin has no dominion over you

10. Vs - You are under grace, not law

As a result of the things listed above, what Christ has already accomplished for us, we are given “imperatives” or commands to be followed.  Make a list of what we are to do.

1. Vs 11 - So consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ

2. Vs 12 - Let not sin therefore reign in your body

3. Vs 13 - Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness

4. Vs 13 - Present yourselves to God as one brought from death to life

5. Vs 13 - Present your members to God for instruments of righteousness

These are only possible when we are saved by grace through faith in Christ for God’s glory.  All of what Christ accomplished is a gift (grace).  God opens our eyes to our need for Christ (faith) and we put our trust in Him.  It is only Christ, Son of God and Son of man, who could be the perfect sacrifice for our sin.  And our motive for being obedient, must be for God’s glory, that as we live God’s power and holiness is evident and others see it and give God praise.

Summary:

Indicatives are facts. They are realities. And in the Bible, they are firm and secure because the Bible is the unchanging Word of God.

The imperatives are commands or implications. They are statements of direction, made with authority, that have a direct and expected act of obedience expected to follow.

Your turn.  The book of Ephesians is written in this format (as is most of the bible!).  Read Ephesians chapters 1 - 3 and make a list of ALL that God has done through Christ (indicatives).  You should have at least 25 things that have been accomplished by Christ for your salvation.

Then, read Ephesians 4 - 6.  Because of what Christ has done, therefore, you are to live obediently to God.  Make a list of God’s commands (imperatives) in these chapters.

As you practice obedience this week and for the rest of your life, you must recall what Christ has done for you.  Be awed, amazed, thankful, and excited to love God for who He is and what He has done.  That is where God glorifying lives come from.

Other passages to consider:  Make lists for these passages over the next few weeks.

Colossians 3:1-17

Romans 1-11 (indicatives) and 12-16 (imperatives)

Philippians 2:1-17

Be on the lookout for this pattern in Scripture.  It is only through Christ that we can be obedient, to His praise, glory and honor!

Self-Talk and Sanctification

by Chris McGarvey

We talk to ourselves. We counsel, advise, coach, and even command ourselves. Most of us are familiar with our internal monologue. It’s why we resonate with this quote by Martyn Lloyd-Jones,

“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. … Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you.”[1]

Perhaps you know your need to preach to yourself and not just listen to yourself, but are you aware of whose voice your inner voice imitates? Who do you sound like when you talk to you? I’m specifically referring to the tone of voice in your head. Does it sound like Jesus? Or does it sound more like a harsh drill sergeant, a hard-to-please father, or a hypercritical, disappointed mother?

Think of what the narrative in your head sounds like, especially when you fail.

• Are you often condescending, demeaning, mocking, or sarcastic in tone? (“Nice job!” “Way to go, idiot!” “What is wrong with you?!”)

• Do you often remind yourself that you’re failing at pretty much everything?

• Do you ever castigate and condemn yourself?

• Do you ever tell yourself you’re worthless and will never amount to anything?

Having believed Jesus’s gracious words for your justification, are you now seeking to be sanctified by bullying yourself into submission? Does your inner voice sound more like “the accuser of the brothers” (Rev. 12:10) or the gentle and lowly Lover of our souls (Matt. 11:28-30)?

Prosecuting or Defense Attorney

The name Satan literally means “accuser.” The devil is a prosecuting attorney bent on your condemnation. Jesus, however, is your defense attorney (1 Jn. 2:1). He is not your prosecuting attorney. Is your inner voice serving as a loudspeaker for Satan’s accusations or the Son’s gracious intercession (Rom. 8:34)?

We can be brutal with ourselves, can’t we? Even downright abusive. Where did we learn this? If you saw a counselor and he spoke to you like you sometimes speak to yourself, you might file a report. You’d certainly never go back!

Jesus never abuses his people. He is lovingly stubborn, relentless even, but he is never cruel. He is never annoyed or disgusted with us. He never rolls his eyes at us. He never lashes out at us. Of course, he had hard words for hardened, self-righteous hypocrites, but repentant sinners heard loving words of forgiveness, cleansing, and hope. Jesus is the suffering servant of whom it was written, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench” (Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20). A thrice-denying apostle was restored without browbeating and I told you so’s.

Sensitivity to the Spirit

If the Son of God is an advocate for us in heaven, the Spirit of God is the helper-advocate in us on earth. So, what does he sound like? How does God speak to us, by the Spirit, in the privacy of our minds and hearts?

Not with the saccharine sentimentality of self-esteem slogans. Not with flattery or the “power” of positive thinking. He tells us the truth. But he does so with the love and tenderness that is the heart of God for his children. We quench and resist and grieve the Spirit when we submit to the devil’s brutality in our self-talk. Part of what it means to be sensitive to the Spirit is to listen to the words of God to us, wedded to the heart of God for us.

God hates our sin because he loves us! He is tough on sin because he is tender with sinners. Satan only hates us. He leads us into temptation and then capitalizes on our sin in order to condemn us. Satan is soft on sin in order to be hard on us.

Oh, how we need to learn to tell the difference!

• The Spirit wants you to loathe your sin.

• Satan wants you to loathe yourself.

• The Spirit’s will is to redeem and renew you, convicting you to set you free.

• Satan’s will is to enslave and destroy you, condemning you to hold you captive.

• The Spirit says, “There’s something wrong with you. I’m here to help.”

• Satan says, “What’s wrong with you?! You’re hopeless.”

• The Spirit appeals to your identity in Christ to draw you back from wandering (“That’s not who you are. Repent and come home.”).

• Satan questions your identity because of your wandering (“And you call yourself a Christian?!”).

Taking Pages from Satan’s Playbook

In your experience, when someone (a parent, spouse, boss, coach, or spiritual leader) belittles you and beats you down, is it the most effective way to help you change? Of course not. Then why do we talk to ourselves that way? Why do we try to build ourselves up by destructive means?

Why are we taking pages from Satan’s playbook to accomplish God’s goals? Our ears need to be tuned, by the Spirit, to the voice of Jesus (including his tone), so that our inner voice will echo his. We are to hate our sin, but we are not to speak hatefully to ourselves. We are to deny ourselves, but we are not to despise ourselves.

Resist and Rehearse

Satan doesn’t want you to change (unless he can co-opt your success to make you proud and self-righteous). When you fail, he stands over you wagging his finger to keep you down. He starts up the beat-you-down broken record, increasing the volume.

God does want you to change. He’ll expose and convict you of your sin, because you’re precious and beloved. And when you fail (again), he’ll happily help you rehearse the gospel (again). This is your heavenly Father, teaching you to talk.

Resist the devil and his voice will flee your mind. Rehearse the words of God, tuned in to his tone. Counsel yourself not only with his words, but also with his heart.

[1] Spiritual Depression: It’s Causes and Cure (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1965), 20-21.

Chris McGarvey

Chris McGarvey (MDiv, TEDS) is the lead pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Wilmington, DE. He’s been in pastoral ministry for over 20 years. He and his wife have five children.

You Can Please God

KYLE GANGEL

Often in counseling, when asked specifically about how a counselee pleased God in a given week, he or she will say something like, “Well, I read my Bible every day, but I’m sure I just did it to be smart and impress my friends.” Or, “I shared the gospel with my neighbor, but after reflecting on it, I think I just did it out of duty, not out of a delight in God.” As a pastor and biblical counselor I appreciate the emphasis on the heart, and certainly don’t want to encourage outward obedience from a heart not directed towards God’s glory. My concern, however, with these types of responses is that they are often coming from an overemphasis on depravity and a corresponding underemphasis on our union with Christ. 

As believers, we want to hold biblical truths together and not allow one to trump the other. If we overemphasize depravity to the neglect of what Christ has accomplished for us, it results in a false humility that presents Christ as a weak savior. In our carelessness, we can begin to think of Christ only as the one who justified us legally (Rom 3:21-26) but not as the one who has overthrown the ruling power of indwelling sin (Romans 6:1-14).

IN CHRIST, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD

It is far better to hold to the totality of Scripture and affirm that, sinful though we are, we can please God in Christ. This is exactly what we’ve been commanded to do. Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 5:9, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please [Christ].” In context, the mention of “home or away” by Paul is a reference to his being in heaven with Christ or remaining on this earth. Paul asserts then that whether he is on earth or dies and enters the presence of the Lord, he exists for the good pleasure of God. Like the Apostle Paul, even as we await our future glorification, we can please Christ. 

We do readily admit, however, that we cannot do this in our strength, but only in the power which God supplies. The author of Hebrews takes up this theme in his benediction: “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb 13:20-21 emphasis mine). It is not hard to spot the active work of “the God of peace” in our works pleasing unto him. It is God who “equip(s) you with everything good” to do his will. It is God “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight.” Further, our doing of God’s will is “through Jesus Christ” to his glory. In Christ, we can live, think, and act in ways that accord with God’s will and therefore please him. So what about the sinful desires of the flesh? 

BEWARE THE FLESH

We don’t want to get out of balance in the other direction and disregard the maze of desires that is a sinful heart. We are warned in Scripture about the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13) as well as our inability to decipher the intentions of our hearts (Jer. 17:9). Even the Apostle Paul laments in Romans 7 that he does the very sinful acts he doesn’t want to do and doesn’t do the righteous acts he wants to do. We should certainly heed these warnings and be suspicious of our motives. However, the Bible does not assume that we can never please God even if we can usually point to a hidden motive lurking in our hearts.

WHAT DO WE MAKE OF MIXED MOTIVES?

How then are we to reconcile the truth that we are empowered to please God and that our motives are often amiss when we do the very things God is calling us to do? Not surprisingly, the answer is found in the work of Christ as our perfect representative and substitute. Our good works are acceptable and pleasing to God not because they are without mixed motive, but because Christ obeyed as our representative with nothing less than perfect motives. The Apostle Peter makes this point: “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). The spiritual sacrifices that Peter mentions are good works offered up to God. Notice that these spiritual sacrifices, or good works, are a delight to God because they come through Christ. It is Christ that makes our God-pleasing efforts acceptable, not the fact they are without any admixture of weakness, frailty, or impure motive. The English Puritan John Owen states it well:

“Believers obey Christ as the one whom our obedience is accepted by God. Believers know all their duties are weak, imperfect, and unable to abide in God’s presence. Therefore they look to Christ as the one who bears the iniquity of their holy things, who adds incense to their prayers, gathers out all the weeds from their duties and makes them acceptable to God.” 

Ultimately, we can please God because Christ takes our imperfect efforts and makes them acceptable to God. Holding these truths in tension we are free to exercise real humility. We will neither denigrate the Savior by being so introspective that we deny his sanctifying work in us, nor will we take credit for our good works or be afraid to admit that our striving after godliness is often mixed with weakness and imperfection. Instead, we make it our aim to please Christ and insofar as we do that, we recognize that it is only due to God’s grace, the work of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit (Philippians 2:12-13).

posted at: https://gospelmercies.com/2020/03/26/you-can-please-god/

Standing Strong in the Fight Against Sin

By Krista Paolino

Though most of us may not be engaged in physical warfare, God’s word tells us we are always battling “against the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph. 6:12). We sometimes forget this reality when day to day tasks consume us. We rarely take time to think about eternal things because we are caught up in the here and now. We are prone to forget that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Our forgetfulness leaves us vulnerable to attack. We need to remember that a war is waging, and a real enemy seeks to destroy us. Spiritual warfare is our ongoing fight against sin—anything that opposes God and his purposes. Though this sounds dramatic and a little scary, we need not despair because God is with us in the battle.

Psalm 144:1-2 says,

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

In physical warfare, a soldier must train well before he is ready to fight. And during battle, there are times when he must find rest in a safe place. This is also true for believers engaged in spiritual warfare. As Psalm 144:1-2 reminds us, we are called to both train for battle and to take refuge in God, our fortress.

Train for Battle

Throughout his Word, God has graciously warned us about the reality of spiritual warfare, and he has offered himself as the one who trains “[our] hands for war, and [our] fingers for battle” (Ps. 144:1). God also provides armor that will help us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” and be able “to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10). Putting it on means to practice using the tools that God has given: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer. Putting on the armor of God helps us to both train for and stand strong during attacks from our enemy.

In his first letter, Timothy reminds us of another kind of preparation for battle: training ourselves for godliness. We can do this by watching our teaching (1 Tim. 4:6-8). We must know what God’s Word says in order to determine if the teaching we receive is biblical. Listening to unbiblical teaching will not help us wage war on our sin. Since our hearts are naturally deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9), we can be easily overcome by the temptations of this world. Just as the powerful ocean currents cause the tides to shift, so our hearts can drift from the truth if we are not persistently training ourselves according to God’s Word.

Take Refuge in God

There are times when a soldier at war must take cover—find refuge in a safe place. Where do we go for refuge during spiritual attack? Psalm 144:2 says, “[the LORD] is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” God is our dependable refuge, unlike any other person or place on which we might be tempted to put our trust. He is steadfast, loving, strong, and able to save. This and many other Psalms proclaim God as a rock—a safe refuge. Here are just a few examples:

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (Ps. 62:8).

How do we take refuge in God? We do so by trusting him—putting our faith in him alone—and pouring out our hearts to him in prayer. Spending regular time in God’s Word and prayer will help us to trust him and will guard us from weariness. If we neglect these means of grace, over time our spiritual strength will diminish, and we will likely not stand strong under temptation. If we regularly hear from and call upon the Lord, we will be able to draw from a well of strength in the day of great battle.

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him (Ps. 18:30).

How do we take refuge in God? We do so by believing the truths of God’s word. Sin often begins when we listen to lies and believe the false promises that Satan makes to us. Instead, when we call to mind a promise of God, which is truth, it acts as a shield of refuge for us. God’s word always proves true. His word is dependable and strong to shield us.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1).

How do we take refuge in God? We do so by remembering that the Lord is with us. When we who are in Christ were born again, we “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). The Lord, who is the Holy Spirit, is now with us at all times. In moments of temptation and attack, the Holy Spirit aids us in the battle by providing strength and refuge with his presence. We can take rest by drawing near to him, knowing that we are not alone in the fight against sin.

Win Some Battles

For those who are born again in Christ, a war wages within us, and the greatest struggle is with our own sinful nature. Though we will always be battling sin on earth, we can make progress. Though we will give in to temptation at times, our goal is to win some battles. Our ability to fight well doesn’t come from our own strength or skill. Instead, our success is rooted in the reality that Jesus Christ has already won the ultimate victory through his death and resurrection. Through his Spirit, the Lord Jesus is training us into his image and offering himself as an ever-present refuge. We can stand strong because this Savior is on our side!

Posted at: https://unlockingthebible.org/2020/12/stand-strong-fight-sin/

Standing Strong in the Fight Against Sin

By Krista Paolino

Though most of us may not be engaged in physical warfare, God’s word tells us we are always battling “against the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph. 6:12). We sometimes forget this reality when day to day tasks consume us. We rarely take time to think about eternal things because we are caught up in the here and now. We are prone to forget that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Our forgetfulness leaves us vulnerable to attack. We need to remember that a war is waging, and a real enemy seeks to destroy us. Spiritual warfare is our ongoing fight against sin—anything that opposes God and his purposes. Though this sounds dramatic and a little scary, we need not despair because God is with us in the battle.

Psalm 144:1-2 says,

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

In physical warfare, a soldier must train well before he is ready to fight. And during battle, there are times when he must find rest in a safe place. This is also true for believers engaged in spiritual warfare. As Psalm 144:1-2 reminds us, we are called to both train for battle and to take refuge in God, our fortress.

Train for Battle

Throughout his Word, God has graciously warned us about the reality of spiritual warfare, and he has offered himself as the one who trains “[our] hands for war, and [our] fingers for battle” (Ps. 144:1). God also provides armor that will help us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” and be able “to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10). Putting it on means to practice using the tools that God has given: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer. Putting on the armor of God helps us to both train for and stand strong during attacks from our enemy.

In his first letter, Timothy reminds us of another kind of preparation for battle: training ourselves for godliness. We can do this by watching our teaching (1 Tim. 4:6-8). We must know what God’s Word says in order to determine if the teaching we receive is biblical. Listening to unbiblical teaching will not help us wage war on our sin. Since our hearts are naturally deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9), we can be easily overcome by the temptations of this world. Just as the powerful ocean currents cause the tides to shift, so our hearts can drift from the truth if we are not persistently training ourselves according to God’s Word.

Take Refuge in God

There are times when a soldier at war must take cover—find refuge in a safe place. Where do we go for refuge during spiritual attack? Psalm 144:2 says, “[the LORD] is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” God is our dependable refuge, unlike any other person or place on which we might be tempted to put our trust. He is steadfast, loving, strong, and able to save. This and many other Psalms proclaim God as a rock—a safe refuge. Here are just a few examples:

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (Ps. 62:8).

How do we take refuge in God? We do so by trusting him—putting our faith in him alone—and pouring out our hearts to him in prayer. Spending regular time in God’s Word and prayer will help us to trust him and will guard us from weariness. If we neglect these means of grace, over time our spiritual strength will diminish, and we will likely not stand strong under temptation. If we regularly hear from and call upon the Lord, we will be able to draw from a well of strength in the day of great battle.

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him (Ps. 18:30).

How do we take refuge in God? We do so by believing the truths of God’s word. Sin often begins when we listen to lies and believe the false promises that Satan makes to us. Instead, when we call to mind a promise of God, which is truth, it acts as a shield of refuge for us. God’s word always proves true. His word is dependable and strong to shield us.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1).

How do we take refuge in God? We do so by remembering that the Lord is with us. When we who are in Christ were born again, we “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). The Lord, who is the Holy Spirit, is now with us at all times. In moments of temptation and attack, the Holy Spirit aids us in the battle by providing strength and refuge with his presence. We can take rest by drawing near to him, knowing that we are not alone in the fight against sin.

Win Some Battles

For those who are born again in Christ, a war wages within us, and the greatest struggle is with our own sinful nature. Though we will always be battling sin on earth, we can make progress. Though we will give in to temptation at times, our goal is to win some battles. Our ability to fight well doesn’t come from our own strength or skill. Instead, our success is rooted in the reality that Jesus Christ has already won the ultimate victory through his death and resurrection. Through his Spirit, the Lord Jesus is training us into his image and offering himself as an ever-present refuge. We can stand strong because this Savior is on our side!

Posted at: https://unlockingthebible.org/2020/12/stand-strong-fight-sin/

8 Ways Trials Help Us

KATIE FARIS

Catch us off guard? Yes. Expose fear, anxiety, anger, and self-pity? For sure. Bring sorrow and pain? Absolutely. Trials do a lot of things, but what good do they do?  

In his letter to dispersed Jewish Christians, James gives this imperative: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2–3).

These are great memory verses for a Sunday school class—but what about when we lose a job and can’t pay the mortgage? What good do chemotherapy, a NICU stay, a car accident, or persecution for our faith actually accomplish?

What good do chemotherapy, a NICU stay, a car accident, or persecution for our faith actually accomplish?

There’s a reason James unashamedly tells us to count it all joy when we encounter trials like these. He knows that when true faith survives their refining heat, the fruit is sweeter than the cost is painful. Here are eight ways trials help produce steadfastness.

1. Trials deepen our prayer lives.

When overwhelmed, we can pray like Jehoshaphat: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chron. 20:12). In response to devastating news, we weep, fast, and pray as Nehemiah did (Neh. 1:3–4). In the throes of worry, we “let our requests be made known to God” and cast all our “anxieties on him, because he cares for us” (Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7). When we lack words to pray, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness,” interceding for us “with groanings too deep for words” (Rom. 8:26). Humble prayer cultivates dependence on God, attacks our pride, and positions us to delight in the Lord who hears and answers in accordance with his wisdom.

2. Trials grow our knowledge of God’s Word and character.

A wilderness season invites us to internalize God’s promises, to learn as the wandering Israelites did that we don’t “live by bread alone” but by “every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3). The psalmist says, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Ps. 119:71), and Job confesses, “I had heard of [God] by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5). God often uses suffering to grow our knowledge of his Word and his true character.

3. Trials increase gratitude for our Savior.

When we taste sorrow, it reminds us that Jesus drank the full cup of God’s wrath on our behalf. He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42), and then he was “wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5).

Humble prayer cultivates dependence on God, attacks our pride, and positions us to delight in God who hears and answers in accordance with his wisdom.

Our pain makes us more aware of Jesus’s pain, increasing our gratitude for the agony he suffered on the cross. We also rejoice because through his sacrifice, our sin is forgiven and our salvation secured. We remember and cry, “Thank you, Jesus, for suffering in our place!”

4. Trials make us more like Jesus.

When Joseph’s brothers intended evil toward him, “God meant it for good,” to keep many people alive in famine (Gen. 50:20). Our redeeming God—who worked out our salvation through Jesus’s painful sacrifice on the cross—continues to work all things, including our trials, for the “good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28–29). One good thing God does through hardship is make us more like Jesus, who “learned obedience through what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8).

5. Trials equip us to comfort others.

In our trials, God means to comfort us so abundantly that we overflow with compassionate care for others. Paul writes that God “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction” (2 Cor. 1:4). It’s God’s intention that we be conduits of his comfort to suffering family, friends, and neighbors. Our experience of trials helps us understand what others might feel and need, and our experience of God’s comfort equips us to come alongside them to pray and serve in a gentle manner.

6. Trials prepare an eternal weight of glory.

Maybe we can’t see what our trials are doing, but they’re working. Each “light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” when we look to what is unseen (2 Cor. 4:17–18). Each car ride to the treatment center. Each pile of paperwork and signed check. Each sleepless night spent caring for sick children. Given to him, it’s all significant in the kingdom of heaven.

7. Trials remind us that earth isn’t our true home.

In loneliness, we yearn for God’s presence. Tears stir our hearts for a place with no “mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Rev. 21:4). Sick bodies wait eagerly for new ones. Death makes us long for resurrection. These trials remind us that earth isn’t our true home. They increase our hunger for heaven.

8. Trials test and strengthen our faith.

Trials prove the genuineness of our faith, which fills our hearts with joyful assurance of salvation and results “in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7). This strengthening of faith motivates us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and . . . run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, . . . who for the joy set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:1–2). 

God Is Doing Something Through Your Trials

Even knowing the good that comes through trials, I doubt we would intentionally choose suffering for ourselves or our loved ones. But God is wiser than we are. His ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55:9), and he uses trials for both his seen and unseen purposes in our lives.

You may not know what God is doing in a particular trial, but given the many options presented in Scripture, you can know he’s doing something. Given how much he loves you, you can know it’s for your eternal good. That is a reason for great rejoicing.

Katie Faris is married to Scott, and her greatest works in progress are their five children ages 2 to 13. She is the author of Loving My Children: Embracing Biblical Motherhood. She worships at Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton, New Jersey. You can read more of Katie’s words on her website, blog, Instagram, or Facebook.

Posted at: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/8-ways-trials-help-us/

Some Learn and Never Grow

A Lost Remedy for Spiritual Immaturity

Article by Afshin Ziafat

If you grew up going to church youth camps, you may remember that kid who would seem to have a spiritual breakthrough every summer, only to go back to his former way of living soon after. No matter what he did, he failed to make lasting progress. Maybe you were that kid. Maybe you feel like that kid today.

The book of Hebrews addresses the danger of not living up to what we know is true. The author writes to a group of Christians struggling to continue pursuing Christ. They probably felt the pressure to return to their former Jewish faith, especially after facing persecution for not doing so. So, the author urges them (and us) to continue following Christ, to pay closer attention to what they have heard, lest they “drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1), to not turn back to a life of mere pointers when they have seen the reality itself.

As the author exhorts, warns, and woos, he stops mid-discussion to address something serious that hinders our continuing on in the faith. While reasoning with his readers not to return to the old covenant — because Jesus, of a new priestly order, is better than all the high priests of that covenant — he abruptly pauses to make an observation about his hearers: they suffer from spiritual arrested development.

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11–14)

“Biblically speaking, to hear is not just to listen but also to understand and obey.”

They were grown-ups sipping bottles. Once they had enjoyed spiritual steak, but now they were regressing. Once they had learned “the basic principles of the oracles of God” — that the Old Testament Scriptures point to Christ, and are fulfilled in him — but now they needed someone to teach them again. Once they had heard and obeyed and acknowledged Jesus as Lord; now they had “become dull of hearing.”

Lazy Listeners

The author says that what he wants to teach them is hard to explain. Notice the reason he gives for this. It isn’t because the teaching is too technically deep and difficult to understand. It isn’t some esoteric mystery that only an enlightened few can comprehend. It isn’t because he considers himself a poor teacher. It isn’t because he considers them to be intellectually inferior.

The diagnosis he gives is that they “have become dull of hearing.” Once their spiritual ears were in tune; now they are not. This is something that has happened to them over time. The word that is used for dull is the same word used for sluggish a chapter later (Hebrews 6:11–12). They have become lazy in their ability to hear truth.

Biblically speaking, to hear is not just to listen but also to understand and obey. Earlier in Hebrews, the author speaks of the Israelites who heard God’s word but fell away and didn’t inherit the Promised Land. “Good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened” (Hebrews 4:2). They heard the very promises of God, in all their lavish mercy and grace, and yet they did not endure. They heard but did not continue in obedience. They heard God’s word, but fell away from their Lord.

Moving On from Milk

Lazy listening led to stunted development. He says that although by this time they should be teachers, they still need milk instead of solid food. They should be ready to graduate from college, but now they need to go back to elementary school. They should be enjoying steak, but instead they need spiritual milk, to learn again “the basic principles” of God’s word.

“Submit all your life to God’s word — to know it, love it, cherish it, and live it.”

It is important to note that the author isn’t downplaying the necessity of milk in extolling the virtues of solid food. A diet consisting merely of milk is not bad in itself. Diapers are not bad. Crawling on all fours everywhere you go is not bad. These things aren’t bad in themselves — not for an infant. What makes them bad is the phrase “by this time.” They aren’t babies anymore, and so behaving like one is a sign of concern.

I remember when my youngest child was an infant. We would celebrate all the little things he would do, from crawling to his first mumbled words. But if my daughter, who is six years older, did the same things, we would not celebrate. We would be seriously worried. Similarly, the author of Hebrews is concerned that they seem to be returning to spiritual infancy. He defines this further in Hebrews 6:1–2:

Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Remember that the readers felt the pressure to return to their former Jewish faith, especially after facing persecution for not doing so. Now that Christ has come, Hebrews wants his readers to cling to the maturity of the new covenant, whatever persecution they face. They cannot go back to Judaism. They must leave it behind and go on to the maturity that is uncompromised life in Christ.

It is very important to clarify what he means here by “leaving.” Leaving does not mean to throw away or dispense with and abandon. It is similar to the elementary student who has learned the alphabet: he doesn’t do away with the alphabet; the letters are essential to the communication of the most advanced learning.

Whether in redemptive history, or in our own spiritual lives, progress to maturity is cumulative. The same is true of Christian doctrine. The first principles are foundational and are essential to every stage of development. The beginning foundation (the old covenant) is not the stopping point but rather the springboard to the new. So too the Christian life is not static. It progresses and grows and matures. Regression is reason for concern.

How to Grow Up in God

What about for us today? Most of us are not tempted to go back to Judaism apart from Christ, but many seem mired in stagnant or even regressed spiritual lives.

“The pathway to Christian maturity isn’t just to become a more educated person, but a more obedient person.”

Notice that Hebrews doesn’t suggest that they simply start eating solid food. It is dangerous to start feeding solid food to infants who cannot process that food. When my son was an infant, there was a period of time when he wasn’t keeping up with a healthy weight for his age. The problem was due to the fact that he wasn’t keeping milk down well. The solution wasn’t to start trying out steak, but to work toward his keeping the milk down. This is exactly how it works with our spiritual growth and maturity: we need to keep down what we already know.

In the Western church, we too often make the mistake that spiritual maturity comes from obtaining more information. We sign up for Bible studies and theological classes to meet this need. While those classes may have much to offer, they don’t necessarily fix the problem of dull hearing. On their own, they don’t move you on to maturity. This is not merely an intellectual or educational issue.

The author says the mature are “those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). The issue isn’t a lack of knowledge but a lack of practice. Through obedience, we grow into maturity in order to be able to take in solid food. The pathway to Christian maturity isn’t just to become a more educated person, but a more obedient person.

If God Permits

Practice trains our powers of discernment to distinguish good from evil. Like an athlete who develops muscle memory, when we put God’s word into practice we train our muscles of faith to believe God and refuse sin. We train ourselves by tasting and seeing that God in fact is good when we follow his commands, and our powers of discernment continue to grow. This is what growing in Christian maturity looks like.

But we do not achieve maturity by ourselves: “And this we will do if God permits” (Hebrews 6:3). This is a reminder to all of us that this work of maturity is one that is dependent and directed by God. At the end of the day, we can’t just pull ourselves up by the bootstraps to become mature. We turn to God in full dependence.

Do you feel like you have a stunted or even arrested development when it comes to your spiritual growth? Do you long to go on to maturity in your faith? If your answer is yes, turn to God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and submit all your life to his word — to know it, love it, cherish it, and live it.

Afshin Ziafat (@afshinziafat) is lead pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas. His passion is to teach the word of God as the authority and guide for life, to preach Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Redeemer of mankind, and to proclaim the love of Christ as the greatest treasure and hope in life. He and his wife, Meredith, currently reside in Frisco with their three children.

Posted at: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/some-learn-and-never-grow?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=a0023e62-4a7f-4666-ac6e-cf09d22045ed&utm_content=article&utm_campaign=new%20teaching&fbclid=IwAR2or5ZAIzHgdtfyN60nSEJrsmRz9WpuuAIVFyTh6Fbpae73-CB81tCMPtw