I have never been as deeply concerned about the Church being able to discern false teachers as I am today. This danger is everywhere, not just in America. Over the years, I have watched the gospel of grace ‘repackaged’ so that sin, repentance, and forgiveness are more acceptable to humans and their need for “affirmation” is more important than truth.
I am not alone. Paul faced the same concern. “And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So, it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:12–15). Was Paul overreacting to the condition in his day? Not at all. Neither are we if we really care about two things:
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There are times when it is good to pause from our busy schedule and reflect on the amazing things God has done. As Tim, the man who founded New Foundations International, was commenting on the trip to Nepal in October, he made the following observation:
“I am really excited about our trip to Nepal with Terry and praying our Lord will do in Nepal what He is doing in other places around the world. Perhaps at a later date, we can get other people involved with our ministry so they can share what the Lord is doing around the world; Africa, South America, Asia, and elsewhere. I have been doing this ministry for 30 years and NEVER seen such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as today. God is laying new foundations for people’s lives, families, churches, and missions on the sufficiency and authority of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. I believe this is ‘Nepal's time’ as we see the Lord completing the task of the Great Commission and Matthew 24:14. May the Lord unite and knit our hearts together as one man in and under the Headship of Christ. Pressing on....” Tim I have worked with Tim for almost thirteen years and never seen him so excited, so focused and so committed to the Lord’s purpose in the gospel. When most at his age are slowing down, taking things a little slower, Tim is training more and putting his mind into leaving behind a legacy in every place a self-sustaining and self-propagating discipling and training ministry. Will we run with him? There is plenty of room! Can you imagine meeting with churches that have been ignored for over one hundred years and finally someone comes alongside them and helps them understand the gospel from Scripture? These Quechua believers are finding a new excitement and growing hunger for God’s Word they never had before. A few dear brothers in Ecuador are giving themselves to make sure this hunger is met with sacrificial training and follow-up. The picture below needs a little explanation. When a group of Quechua begin their study of God’s Plan for His Disciples, they cut a piece of red ribbon and place it as a marker and reminder of their commitment to finish this study of fourteen lesson. When they finish the book, a certificate of completion will be given to them. For a few who want to continue their training in preparation for leadership, they will go on to study God’s Plan for His Church. Please pray for these dear brothers and sisters. We CANNOT ignore them any longer. Can you imagine their impact, not just in Ecuador but also in surrounding countries? God is moving and we want you to join us in prayer for an explosion of His work to His glory. What a big vision and understanding Paul had about God’s call on his life. He introduces his sixth letter with the grand scope of his calling.
“Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:4b–6). From the tone of this greeting, we might think that Paul was present when Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the gospel to all nations. But Paul’s conversion was at least seven years after Pentecost and the letter to the Roman church another 20 years after his conversion. How was he so convinced about his calling? Paul was steeped in the grace of God that rescued him from a “former life in Judaism” and from “persecuting the church…and trying to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13). He received this “apostleship” to be a messenger of God’s grace that he received so all nations would obey the gospel by faith! His vision can be ours! It is for the sake of the name of Jesus and the glory of God! As Paul’s ‘grit’ for endurance challenges my own walk and ministry, I reflect on his life as a preacher, church planter, and missionary. He preached the gospel in places where his life was at risk because the opposition was so fierce. At times he was stoned and even left thinking he was dead, only to revive and go on to the next place and keep preaching.
Planting churches was hard work. It began with preaching the gospel of grace which was a foreign concept to all. Where it was received, he made sure the new converts were discipled so they understood their faith (Acts 14:21-22). Since these new believers lived in a pagan world, Paul made sure they were strengthened in their new walk with the Lord. In all this, Paul was humble and bold at the same time. He would admonish as a father and yet be tender as a mother. He spoke and wrote with firm conviction and when necessary, would confront those who walked a double standard. In addition, Paul carried “the daily pressure…of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). How could one man over about 10 years do all this. In his words to Timothy he said, “share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). It was not Paul’s natural ability that allowed him to endure as he did, but because of the One he served – the Lord Jesus. John wrote to Gaius in his third letter about itinerant preachers who went from place to place preaching the gospel. “For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles” (3 John 7). In the same way, Paul reminded the Corinthians that he “preached God’s gospel to you free of charge” (2 Corinthians 11:7).
Tom Steller observed that “we must either go out for the sake of His (Jesus’) name, or we must send and support such people who do and do so in a manner worthy of God.” If missions is done because of pleas from an organization, we will spread the gospel hoping to please those who sent us. If missions is done because we are stirred by poverty or hardships, we will go to alleviate the need and the gospel will be secondary. This will be true for thousands of reasons. But if persons go “out for the sake of the name,” the Lord will work with them, and the Spirit will give effectual power to their message. Our goal is the exaltation of Jesus name! It is always a delight to receive news from the field of what God is doing. Our “Timothy” in Myanmar (Burma) has taken 20 believers through God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD). In this study they learned the biblical truth about baptism and the Lord’s Supper. As a result, 4 of these disciples were baptized and then celebrated the Lord’s Supper this week. I can’t think of anything more exciting than for new Christians to immediately put into practice what they are learning from the Scriptures. This is what happened to the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:26-39 and the jailor (16:30-34). The fresh work of the Spirit takes God’s Word and causes obedience to follow. Actions like this are not the results of tradition. Persons are established and connected with their Savior through an act that Jesus commanded before He ascended to heaven. How important God’s word is to you, will be demonstrated by your obedience. It will also tell others how much God’s Word and the Holy Spirit has authority over your life. It is part of your witness to the world of the inner work of God. One of the most difficult times in our lives is when there is an urgent need and we have done all we could do to meet that need, but there is one more step in the process that is out of our control. How does the heart and mind wait for the Lord to answer our need and not be anxious?
Though we often quote these verses, we must review their instruction and apply its truth to our troubled emotions. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6). If we in simple faith trust the Lord, it would quiet our racing thoughts. In our Zoom Prayer time this evening, two of our team shared that their visas were being held up for several reasons. One of these countries is becoming more and more hostile to Christians. Should we fear a visa not being granted? NO! BUT waiting is not sitting idle and in a frenzy. Waiting on the Lord is being active in prayer and doing what we can until He answers. Be ready to accept His solution whatever it may be. Waiting on the Lord is also “acknowledging Him.” “Know” the Lord by reminding ourselves of His faithfulness, righteousness, sovereignty, and love for us. The more we fill our thoughts with Him the more we are able to “wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). Some of Paul’s statements about himself, only Paul could say, because they came from a deep commitment in his heart. Many of his sayings about his ministry no one else could say about themselves. They are recorded for a purpose – that we might learn from them and see them as a model to follow (1 Corinthians 11:1).
One such statement is found in 2 Timothy 2:10. “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Notice the purpose behind such a radical life:
I am afraid we go to great lengths to avoid suffering and prefer an easier path in ministry. The point is not that we should seek suffering but seek what will most effectively bring the gospel to those God wants us to reach. If that means suffering, let us accept it with joy in the Lord. Again, we look at the life of Paul with amazement for his dedicated service to the work of planting churches. These marks of a godly servant are what made him so effective.
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). That expression “affectionately desirous of you” means to “have a great affection for others with yearning desire” for their welfare. This was not just shown through his preaching, but the way he visited and lived among those he served. Note this in the following verses: “And when they came to him [the elders at Ephesus], he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews” (Acts 20:18–19). His statement is verified by verses 36-38. In a similar way, Paul reminded Timothy, his spiritual son, of what kind of example he was. “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” (2 Timothy 3:10–11). Have we followed this example? What difference would it make in our ministry if we did? |
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