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Yesterday we looked at the benefits of allowing truth to develop convictions in our minds and hearts that lead to repentance. When this God-designed process really works in us, we discover the release He gives through forgiveness. THIS IS FREEDOM!
There is another component of this process that we must not overlook. When David went through the repenting process, he specifically asked God for one more step. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvationand uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12). He once knew what that joy was, but it had been stolen by sin. When we know that JOY is taking control of our hearts, we can also be confident that the Holy Spirit is working in us (Galatians 5:22). Joy is His fruit! There is a test that proves whether the joy in us is real or not. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4). I write this blog so you can test how far you have come in the process of reaching genuine joy. My goal is for you not to fall short of complete joy
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When we are asked the question, “How are you?” we tend to give the generic answers such as “Fine,” “Great,” or “Things are good.” Our answers may depend on who is asking the question, but in general, we are never truly honest, especially when we are hiding sin.
David had a lot of experience in hiding his real inner condition and then learning to be truthful and honest about what was on the inside. “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah” (Psalm 32:3–4). Most don’t like to admit that a sleepless night is because the Lord’s “hand was heavy upon” them. But we do not need to stay in that “heavy” state of mind and heart. David learned the way of resolving this heaviness. “I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” (32:5). Freedom for the soul is never found in hiding our real condition. Even if there are consequences for sins we commit, we find true freedom from God through genuine repentance and receiving His forgiveness. How are you - REALLY? As I sit at my desk answering messages from persons who are going through a very low point in their lives – unspeakable pain, I agonize for them in prayer. I asked the Lord for words of comfort which led me to the Apostle Paul and how he handled such times like this in his life and minisrtry.
“We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:8–10). If you want to get more details, read chapter 11:23-29. Paul does not leave us to wonder if he lived in despair or crushed by circumstances. “So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:16–17). If you are going through a challenging season, allow Paul’s perspective to refocus your vision with this eternal outlook. Moments like this are a profound example that every prophetic mention of the Lord Jesus in the Old Testament was fulfilled. As crowd cries Hosanna in Mark 11:9, they also repeat the words of Psalm 118:26, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless You from the house of the Lord” (Psalm 118:26).
Jesus had come in His Father’s name, and almost all denied Him the place in their hearts and lives that He deserved. Whether their hearts felt an earnest cry for salvation or praise for His person, it is doubtful. Within a few days some of these same people would be crying for His crucifixion. The very next day after riding into Jerusalem with a royal reception, Jesus entered the temple and drove out those who misused the sacred place for commerce. Jesus’ words cut to the heart of the issue, “And He was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”” (Mark 11:17). How can we be saying words of praise one day and the next day we dishonor His sacred place – our hearts? Let us ask Him to cleanse our hearts so that our worship is genuine and pure, not just today, but every day! During this Easter season, the traditional church places particular emphasis on the death and resurrection of Jesus and the specific glories associated with these events, I would argue that these glories should be part of our regular meditation of His person. In fact, we will never exhaust the subject of Christ’s glory! If we ever think we have, it would be evidence that we have left the Holy Spirit out of our thinking and meditation.
John Owen says that “Christ’s glory is the ruin of Satan and his kingdom. His sin consists, as we can understand it, in two parts. The first part is Satan’s pride against the person of God’s Son.” The Apostle Paul who was arrested by the dazzling glory of Jesus (Acts 9) says, “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). Because we are tainted by the fall of Satan and his deception of the human race, we cannot fully grasp the awful injustice of assuming to know more than the Creator. Even this heinous sin cannot take away or diminish in the slightest degree the glory of Christ. It is through repentance and self-judgment that our spiritual vision becomes clearer, so we see His glory. As I have considered the expression and nature of sin in all its forms, it is the demand of our will to place what we want before and above the glory of God in Christ. I am horrified at even the thought of this. Are you? What I desperately want for myself, and others is the total submission of my will to God’s. In this submission the glory of Jesus will be revealed. One of the key lessons we have learned over many years is to be flexible with our schedules and let the Lord direct our ways. Many times, we have looked back on events and schedules that God changed and realized that He had something better planned than we did.
This is more information than what I posted yesterday about Randy and Moses. Moses had to return home suddenly because a leader at home suddenly was taken into the presence of Jesus. While this causes a gap that Moses must fill with someone who has gone through our training, it is also an opportunity for us to come alongside Moses and the family of this leader in prayer. Two training events in Thailand had to be canceled because of this change. In a very brief outline, this is Randy’s new schedule since he will not have Moses as his translator. Randy will return to Malaysia, March 26th to the 30th.
For those who have been praying for Randy and Moses and their schedule in S. E. Asia, plans have suddenly changed. The Lord has taken a key leader where Moses lives, home to glory. This is a great loss. We do not always understand God’s timing in events like this but can pray for comfort for all and strength to persevere in this difficult time.
This also means that a few of the planned training events in Thailand will not happen. Randy will leave tomorrow for Malaysia and be there until the 30th. Please pray for this new schedule to result in greater fruitfulness and glory for our Heavenly Father. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:28–29). It is one of the most amazing Scriptures and words from Jesus that is rarely referred to and overlooked. I will give the context below so you can see the setting Jesus puts this in.
““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:12–15). This is the only reference in any of the four Gospels that Jesus refers to His disciples as “servants” or “friends.” Looking at the larger context of John 13 to 16, Jesus is defining a new relationship they (we)were going to enjoy because He was going back to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit “to be with them (us) forever, even the Spirit of Truth” (14:16). It was the eternal plan that every member of the body of Christ would enjoy this close relationship with Jesus and know what He is doing in this world and our part in fulfilling His will. While in service to others, we are servants which follows the model Christ gave (Philippians 2:7), but our link to Him as head of the Church, doing His will and commands, is a relationship as His friends. By the Spirit, He is giving us His mind, will, and purpose that brings the Father glory.  Let me bring to your attention again the events in S. E. Asia where Randy is currently working. Each training and graduation has gone well to date, but there is more ahead.
March 25-27: MAE SAI, THAILAND - This city is in the most northern part of Thailand and was once called “the Golden Triangle.” It is full of immigrants from both Myanmar and Laos. We are praying that leaders from all three countries might join us for our GPHD graduation and so they can be launched into an in-depth study of GPHC. Please pray that God will bring the right leaders and that He might empower them to follow 2 Timothy 2:2. March 28 – April 1: CHIANG MAI, THAILAND - This visit is to follow-up the GPHC that was introduced two months ago. Our hopes are that the leaders will be half-way through the GPHC lessons, and our goal is to lead practical teachings and discussions about the early expansion of the church in Acts and how to develop servant- leaders today. Please pray that these faithful believers will begin discerning their role in training others! April 2-5: SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA - For the second year in a row, Randy will be with these brothers and sisters at Cornerstone Immanuel Church. Please pray that the meetings over the Easter weekend will draw all to Jesus and His mission for S.E. Asia. PLEASE PRAY!  This blog is about what God is doing in Zambia, Africa. Henry has always been a faithful servant who has taught our material throughout Zambia and parts of the Republic of Congo. He has been effective in training Timothy’s who are teaching others to be disciple-makers. This follows Paul’s instructions to his son-in-the-faith Timothy.
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1–2). The thirteen in this picture are a new group that Henry has just started training by using God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD). Please pray for Henry and for these students that they will grasp the biblical principles and rely on the Holy Spirit to put them into practice. Can you imagine what would happen if every pastor and church leader followed this principle? Multiplication would happen so fast that we would become like the Early Church. |
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