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“He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” Acts 11:23
There’s No Testimony Without The Test! I had never seen it before. It was a piece of wood about 36 inches long, 4 inches high and one half inch thick. It was sitting on a shelf in a Christian Book Store on the eastern side of our state where we had gone for a brief getaway after the Christmas holidays. Ann and I enjoy visiting unique shops and this one contained several quaint items, most of which we had seen before. But there sat this one piece of wood, really not so unique in itself, but the saying inscribed on it was what caught my attention – “There Can Be No Testimony Without The Test!”
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“He…..encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”Acts 11:23
Things! “Morrison of Wellington,” George H. Morrison (1866-1928), during his era was no doubt the most popular preacher in Scotland. A Presbyterian pastor, for twenty-six years he faithfully shepherded the flock at Wellington Church, Glasgow. Surrendered totally to ministry, he chose not to serve on committees, preferring rather to spend his time on what he considered were his greatest responsibilities to the church – mornings in study and afternoons in visiting his congregation, making an average of one thousand calls a year! Primarily an expository preacher, his Sunday evening sermons targeted the specific needs of his sheep and standing room only crowds gathered to hear him. Many of these sermons are in print and worthy of your reading. I like what Warren Wiersbe said of Morrison in his volume, “Living with the Giants,” a statement we preachers should take to heart: “Morrison’s preaching strength lay in his knowledge of the Bible, his knowledge of his people and their needs, and his ability to put both together in an imaginative way that reached the heart.” “He…..encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” Acts 11:23
“The Joy Robbers of Ministry!” Do you ever find yourself losing your joy in ministry? I mean, all the commitments, obligations, responsibilities, problems and unnecessary distractions become so overwhelming that you just slam the study door, turn off the lights, fall flat on your face on the carpet (if you are blessed enough to have carpet!) and cry out to God, “I just can’t do this myself! I am tired, I am mentally fatigued, my strength has failed e’re the day is half done”…..you know what I mean. “He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” 11:23
“Congregations will gather around a pulpit from which living water is flowing!” –E. Stanley Jones “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 Now, just because I quoted E. Stanley Jones, don’t go around saying that he is my favorite role model in ministry. I certainly do respect him for laboring 66 years as a missionary evangelist to the upper castes of India, but I do have a problem with much of his theology. But when he said that “congregations will gather around a pulpit from which living water is flowing,” I just had to say, “Amen!” “He…encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” Acts 11:23
The Glorious Account Of Easter! Luke Chapter 24 Though the term Easter is found but once in the King James Version (Acts 12:4), and is translated “Passover” in nearly all other translations of that text, it is a term that is commonly acknowledged as representing the day of the week in which our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave. Certain chapters of the Bible seem to bear a theme that helps us to recognize their content, such as Hebrews 11 is the “Faith” chapter; I Corinthians 13 the “Love” chapter; Luke 15 the “Lost & Found” chapter; Ephesians 6 the “Soldier’s” chapter; John 3 the “New Birth” chapter; and Luke 24 is often called the “Easter” chapter. In outline form, for your personal meditation, Luke 24 records some of the glorious accounts, or events, of the Resurrection story. Enjoy reflecting upon the wonder of all wonders, the miracle of all miracles and the glory of all glories. And may your heart begin to “burn within” as did that of the disciples on the Emmaus Road. The Actuality of Easter – Lk. 24:1-12 “He is not here but risen!” Lk. 24:6a The Afterglow of Easter – Lk. 24:13-35 “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Lk. 24:32 The Assurance of Easter – Lk. 24:36-43 “Peace to you….it is I myself.” Lk. 24:36,39 The Affirmation of Easter – Lk. 24:44-49 “These are the words….the Scriptures” Lk. 24:44,45 The Final Actions of Easter – Lk. 24:50-53 “By Christ – vs. 50-51 “He led them” “He blessed them” “He parted from them” By the disciples – vs. 52-53 Reverence – they worshiped Rapture – they had great joy Remembrance – continually in the temple (House of God) they praised and blessed Him. I love to hear the story how up from the grave He arose, And the moving of the stone could not be explained by His foes. I love to hear the story how the women came that morn, Wondering how to lift the stone, sweet spices, His body to adorn. I love to hear the story how the angel all dressed in white, Said to the trembling ladies, He’s risen! He’s not here! It’s all right! –M. H. Belt “He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” Acts 11:23
Weaknesses! A sizable share of my ministry over the past several years has been to assist churches find pastors. The question that I am often asked regarding prospective candidates is, “What are their strengths and what are their weaknesses?” Strengths have a tendency to be more observable while often weaknesses more imperceptible. Strengths are generally visible while weaknesses are more hidden. Strengths often can be detectable through casual acquaintance, weaknesses, on the other hand, usually only surface when there is a more familiar relationship. It is not uncommon to converse about our strengths while discussing our weaknesses lies outside our comfort zone. A careful study of Scripture reveals the weaknesses of many of God’s most faithful servants. There is something about serving the Lord, and the enormity of the task, that makes us feel so inadequate. I have certainly felt that way in every ministry that has been placed on my doorstep. And that is the way we should feel for as our Lord declared in John 15:5, “….without Me you can do nothing.” Earlier John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). David, distraught after the death of Abner said, “I am weak today, though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me…” (II Sam. 3:39). You well recall the story of Israel’s battle with the Amalekites in Exodus 17, and how they were victorious when Moses’ hands and rod were raised, but how the Amalekites gained the edge when his hands became heavy and were lowered. So Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill to support his hands, which they did until the going down of the sun and thus Joshua defeated the Amalekites. Interestingly, each of these openly admitted their weaknesses. Any true servant of the Lord knows that his weaknesses are many. It is impossible to run away from them therefore we must run to the One who can help us. This is one purpose of the throne room made available to us in Hebrews 4:16 where we may obtain mercy for our failures and grace for our fears in the time of need, or more aptly, in the nick of time. The prayer of an unknown puritan preacher has been of great encouragement to me during times of weakness. May it also hearten you. O Spirit of God, help my infirmities; When I am pressed down with a load of sorrow, perplexed and knowing not what to do, slandered and persecuted, made to feel the weight of the cross, help me, I pray Thee. If Thou seest in me any wrong thing encouraged, any evil desire cherished, any delight that is not Thy delight, any habit that grieves Thee, any nest of sin in my heart, then grant me the kiss of Thy forgiveness, and teach my feet to walk the way of Thy commandments. Deliver me from carking care, and make me a happy, holy person; help me to walk the separated life with firm and brave step, and to wrestle successfully against weakness; teach me to laud, adore, and magnify Thee, with the music of heaven, and make me a perfume of praiseful gratitude to Thee. I do not crouch at Thy feet as a slave before a tyrant, but exult before Thee as a son with a father. Give me power to live as Thy child in all my actions, and to exercise sonship by conquering self. Preserve me from the intoxication that comes of prosperity; sober me when I am glad with a joy that comes not from Thee. Lead me safely on to the eternal kingdom, not asking whether the road be rough or smooth. I request only to see the face of Him I love, to be content with bread to eat, with raiment to put on, if I can be brought to Thy house in peace. “He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” Acts 11:23
The Power of the Midnight Song! But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25 George Morrison (1866-1928) was a Presbyterian pastor and preacher who was born in Scotland. The pastor of Wellington Church, Glasgow, for twenty-six years, his ministry primarily consisted of personal visits, postcards and letters for all those in his care who were sick or in sorrow or in trouble. He chose not to serve on committees, preferring to spend his time in what he considered the most important responsibilities to his church – mornings in study and afternoons in visiting his congregation. Many of his sermons and devotional thoughts have been put in print. In his volume entitled, Wind on the Heath, he has a sermon entitled, “Unconscious Ministries,” wherein he states that all of us exercise unconscious ministries. He references Paul and Silas, who sang at midnight while under adverse circumstances, not particularly paying attention that the prisoners were listening to them. When I read that, it put a whole new light on the meaning of Acts 16:25. I often speak with pastors and missionaries who feel that their ministry is ineffective and their presence unfelt. They see so little fruit and become discouraged. I have felt that way myself many, many times. But we never know when someone might be listening, or watching, or critiquing how we respond to the trials and troubles of life. As Morrison goes on to state, “Be quite sure that the very humblest life is full of unconscious ministries. There is not a note of song we ever rise but the ear of some other prisoner will catch it.” The power of the midnight song! As Paul and Silas sang – others listened! Oh, how that should drive us to our knees in repentance when we respond to the difficulties of life and ministry without a song in our hearts. Paul and Silas sang in prison – and the prisoners were listening! The only time in Scripture Jesus is ever recorded as having sung is the night He left the upper room and headed towards Calvary. I am sure that others were listening! I certainly would have! David often sang when his heart was troubled. If I recall, Christian, in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” sang while going through the Valley of the Shadow heading to the Celestial City. We never know when others might be listening to our conversations, our prayers, our sermons, or even our singing. A song on our lips often means all is well in the heart. Have not most of us in ministry, somewhere along the line, had expressed to us how we had been a blessing to someone without ever knowing it? All of us, no doubt on a daily basis, exercise unconscious ministries. That is why it is so important to keep a song in our hearts, a smile on our faces and a twinkle in our eyes. This can happen, even during the “midnight” hours of life, when we saturate our souls with the Scriptures and scale heaven with our prayers of praise. Paul and Silas sang, and the prisoners listened! Today, as we go about business for God, people are listening. Something with God is always happening even though we may not think so. Our labors are not in vain. There are prisoners of some sort all around us. And they are listening. Maynard H. Belt State Representative Mich. Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches "He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord." Acts 11:23 The Glory of the Incarnation! In the Gospel of Luke, chapter nineteen, verse ten, we are reminded that Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost. Had man not been lost, He never would have had to come. Now here is a sobering thought — to our sin we owe the incarnation! As we contemplate the Christmas season and all of it's hustle and bustle, let us revel in the glory of the incarnation, that moment in time when God became man, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That time when God, the Invisible, appeared. Ponder it's mystery, slight not its history, glory in it's majesty and clarity, it is such a wonderful story to tell. One of my favorite advent poems is that by Charles Wesley, one of the great hymn writers of all time. It deserves our thoughtful meditation. Glory be to God on high, and Peace on earth descend; As I reflect upon Wesley's words, I wonder, "Why would He who dwells above want to dwell below? Why would He who is invisible want to appear? How can one whom heaven cannot contain be confined to dwell within an earthly body?" How, my friend, can we ever fathom an eternal, heaven-dwelling, immortal God becoming a mortal human being? It is beyond our comprehension, but not beyond our praise – "Stand amaz'd ye Heavens at This!" With Paul, in II Corinthians 9:15, we also say, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." Along with the incarnation texts of Scriptures, may we meditate upon these verses of Wesley's hymn. The glory of the incarnation is certainly worthy of our utmost contemplation. A Baby's hands in Bethlehem were small and softly curled. Maynard H. Belt
State Representative Mich. Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches "He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord." Acts 11:23 I'm So Thankful For His Grace! Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O LORD God." I Chronicles 17:16-17 Yes, I am so thankful for grace! As we approach another Thanksgiving Day and I ponder in my heart all of the blessings that have been mine, none exceeds the manifold grace of God which appeared to me when I was desperately lost in my sins. W.E. Best expressions my sentiments when he said, "The sinner, apart from grace, is unable to be willing and unwilling to be able." Grace represents both the helpless poverty of man and the unlimited kindness of God. Someone once said, "The grace of salvation is a gift and you can't boast about a gift. You can only be thankful." It was the word of "grace" that that brought salvation to me (Acts 20:32); it was "grace" that justified me (Rom. 3:24); His "grace" in saving me was not just sufficient but abundant (Rom. 5:7); my salvation was not through anything I could do but was a gift of His "grace" (Rom. 12:3,6,15:5); so like Paul, I can say, "By the 'grace' of God I am what I am" (I Cor. 15:10). But God's grace goes far beyond the provision for my salvation, it touches every area of my life as I make my journey towards the heavenly city. God's grace for the journey is available for every situation ever imaginable. There is strengthening grace (II Cor. 12:9); sustaining grace (II Cor. 9:8); serving grace (I Cor. 15:10); standing grace (Rom. 5:2); singing grace (Col. 3:16); speaking grace (Col. 4:6); and maybe not a specific verse, but there is also succumbing grace as manifested in the life of Stephen at death's door (Acts 7:54-60). We are so familiar with that great hymn "Amazing grace" written by John Newton, truly a sinner saved by grace (The text above prefaces his hymn in the Olney Hymnbook). Dr. Kenneth W. Osbeck, in his volume of hymn stories entitled, "Amazing Grace," states, "Until the time of his death at the age of 82, John Newton never ceased to marvel at the grace of God that transformed him so completely. Shortly before his death he is quoted as proclaiming with a loud voice during a message, 'My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!' What amazing grace!" Our hymnbooks usually only print five, six, at the most, verses of Newton's renowned hymn. Sometime ago, a friend at church, gave to me the complete text of Newton's hymn, "Amazing Grace," which, in it's entirely, contains thirteen verses. As I read them, I once again expressed to the Lord my thankfulness for His grace. I am sure that you will also. In evil long I took delight, unawed by shame or fear; Maynard H. Belt
State Representative Mich. Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches “He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” Acts 11:23
Failure Is An Event – Not A Person! Part 4 VI. During times of failure we must not forget the purpose of our call Note: Times of failure are gentle reminders to reexamine our call, renew our commitment, stop having pity parties and remember that failure is not a person – it is an event! From time to time it is very important for us to truly examine our hearts and be reminded of our call to ministry. In each of the lives of these three men who sensed failure and wanted to quit, “The Word of the Lord came…..” This is why it is so important for us to stay in the Word of God. God’s instruction to Moses was “Go teach….” – to Elijah, “Go touch….” and to Jonah, “Go tell…” This is about as simple as it can be explained. In fact, if I am not mistaken, this is basically, in reverse order, the Great Commission! 1. MOSES: Numbers 11:16 – “And the Lord said unto Moses, gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.” Feelings of failure should never interfere with our teaching and training of others to help in ministry! 2. ELIJAH: I kings 19:15-16 – “And the Lord said unto him (Elijah), Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus….and anoint…Elisha….to be prophet in thy room.” Feelings of failure should never interfere with our touching lives for the glory of God! Pouring yourself into the lives of a few will cure you of pouting because of the many! 3. JONAH: Jonah 3:1-2 – “And the Word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I Mid thee.” Feelings of failure should never interfere with our telling people about Jesus! God doesn’t want His star players on the bench because of feelings of failure. Failure is an event…we must look at it that way. We must keep recommitting ourselves to the call of God in our lives because there is just too much telling, touching, and teaching that still needs to be done! CONCLUSION – Helpful Hints For Desperate Times Note: Feelings of failure have been around for as long as sin but the Scriptures have been around forever (Psalm 119:89). Richard Halverson once said, “It is not failing that is the problem; it is what one does after he has failed!” Following are some of the Scriptures that have helped me in such desperate times. Maybe they will help you. 1. His prayer support: And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you are returned to Me strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:32. 2. His provision: “Many are the afflictions (failures) of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19 3. His presence: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God….” Isaiah 43:2-3 4. His power: “Now unto Him that is ABLE to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.” Jude 24-25 Amen? Amen! Failure is an event – not a person! Failure is not sweet, but it need not be bitter! Maynard H. Belt State Representative Mich. Assoc. of Regular Baptist Churches www.MARBC.net |
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