Sorry I have had such a hectic time since the Tim Keller talks (I had to preach myself that evening and today has just disappeared!) I got this on email today though that should keep you occupied whilst you wait for some notes of what were some GREAT talks:

Because he is no longer able to travel far from his home in the Upstate of South Carolina Dr. Adams has been able to turn his attention to writing a blog. Since he began around the first of the year it has quickly become a popular internet destination for hundreds of pastors and counselors around the world. Jay's subjects have included theology, preaching, writing, and, of course, counseling issues. He has also cracked open the door just a bit for a look into his life as a retired, rural southern gentleman. Bookmark the address of our blog and check it out daily.

I want to introduce you to a very unusual book by Mark Driscoll and his writing buddy and professor, Gerry Breshears. I would go so far to say that this is a unique book in that I have never seen anything quite like it.

If their first book together, Vintage Jesus, was a light cheerful book that offended some by its use of humor and at times edgy topics for illustrations, this new book by these two men is more of a grungy, almost dark book. The video over at the ReLit site leaves you in no doubt that this is a book that will wrestle with darkness, pain, and even demonization.

Certainly this book represents just a tiny sample of the ocean of pain that a pastor of a large church has to handle over the years. Some neoliberals argue that people who believe in penal substitutionary atonement do not engage with the real suffering found in the world. This book demonstrates emphatically that this is simply not true in Driscoll's case. Such critics also argue that the evangelical's gospel can become overly narrow, eventually focusing solely on the "felt need" of the feelings of guilt many still feel. Guilt, however, is far from the only reason people come to Christ. The New Testament is full of helpful ways we can understand what Jesus did on the cross.

Without in any way softening his commitment to the centrality of Jesus taking the punishment of sin in our understanding of the cross, Driscoll is far broader in his understanding of and application of the cross to hurting people's lives today. From convicted child molesters, to cheating husbands and raped women, Driscoll shares pen outlines of the destruction manifest in the lives of specific people to whom he has ministered. He then shows in a letter written to each individual how a specific aspect of what Jesus has done on the cross can bring wholeness and salvation to them.

This is a vital book that should be read by every Christian who is serious about reaching out with the gospel into this dark and damaged world. I will share a video of Mark speaking about the book, followed by an excerpt from one of those letters that particularly struck me. You will have to buy the book to see exactly how Driscoll and Breshears apply the gospel to Bill and his violent, abusive father.

"As a little boy you rightly felt angry at your dad, and that anger rightly compelled you to confront his injustice and protect the rest of the family. Therefore, anger can be a righteous virtue, which explains why God gets angry at sin too. The Bible is full of examples of God getting angry at sinners. A few examples will illustrate my point clearly, but a reading of Leviticus 26:27-30, Numbers 11:1, and Deuteronomy 29:24 for starters, speak of God's anger as being hostile, burning, and furious.

Flaccid church guys will often accept that in the Old Testament God did get angry, but they will say that Jesus was a nice, emotionless, flaccid church guy, just like them, who chose a hollow, fake smile over anger every day. But even Jesus got angry, furious, and enraged . . . [Here Driscoll cites Mark 3:5 and Revelation 19, but one could also add Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46, and John 2:13-17.]

In speaking of God's anger, I want to be careful not to give permission for us to lose our temper and rage, because that is a sin—the very sin your father committed repeatedly. However, because God is perfect, his anger is perfect and, as such, is aroused slowly (Exodus 34:6-8), sometimes turned away (Deuteronomy 13:17), often delayed (Isaiah 48:9), and frequently held back (Psalm 78:38).

Furthermore, God feels angry because God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19, Zechariah 8:17). Sadly, it is commonly said among Christians that "God hates the sin but loves the sinner." This is as stupid as saying that God loves rapists and hates rape, as if rape and rapists were two entirely different entities that could be separated from one another. Furthermore, it was not a divinely inspired author of Scripture but the Hindu, Gandhi, who coined the phrase, "Love the sinner but hate the sin" . . .

Regarding God's anger and hatred, it is commonly protested that God cannot hate anyone because he is love. But the Bible speaks of God's anger, wrath, and fury more than of his love, grace, and mercy. Furthermore, it is precisely because God is love that he must hate evil and all who do evil—evil is an assault on whom and what he loves.

Therefore, Bill, your anger toward and hatred of your father are justifiable and are the healthy response to seeing your dad beat the mother and siblings you love. However, in a mysterious conflict of deep emotions, you continued to love your father just as God continues to love unrepentant sinners whom he simultaneously hates . . .

I know this will be difficult for you to comprehend, Bill, but Jesus has fully experienced what you have, and much more. Jesus was mocked and beaten, though he was without sin. He willingly substituted himself for those he loved and wanted to save . . . "

From Death By Love by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, copyright 2008, pages 127-129. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

This Piper Friday I would like to share some reasons Piper gives us why we need not be afraid. The original article has biblical verses to support each of these glorious truths from God's Word. Here are his statements:

• We will not die apart from God's gracious decree for his children.
  
  
• Curses and divination do not hold sway against God's people.
  
  
• The plans of terrorists and hostile nations do not succeed apart from our gracious God.
  
  
• Man cannot harm us beyond God's gracious will for us.
  
  
• God promises to protect his own from all that is not finally good for them.
  
  
• God promises to give us all we need to obey, enjoy, and honor him forever.
  
  
• God is never taken off guard.
  
  
• God will be with us, help us, and uphold us in trouble.
  
  
• Terrors will come, some of us will die, but not a hair of our heads will perish.
  
  
• Nothing befalls God's own but in its appointed hour.
  
  
• When God Almighty is your helper, none can harm you beyond what he decrees.
  
  
• God's faithfulness is based on the firm value of his name, not the fickle measure of our obedience.
  
  
• The Lord, our protector, is great and awesome.

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

This from Terry Virgo's blog:

When you go through hard times, bitterness is waiting at the door, offering you fellowship. ‘What a terrible time you’ve had,’ it says. ‘How cruel they’ve been! How unjustly you’ve been treated.’ But bitterness isn’t a friendly companion; it’s a vile weed which puts its roots down deep into people’s personalities. Not content to disfigure just one soul, it grows up searching for others who might be willing to draw near. If you yield to its offer of companionship, a root will grow in your soul and you’ll defile many others.

The only way to withstand bitterness is to make sure that you don’t miss the grace of God. Grace, like an effective weed-killer, can get to the root of bitterness and destroy its power. But you must deliberately obtain grace. You must make a specific choice to refuse bitterness, not once but many times. Bitterness will repeatedly knock on your door and you must always send grace to answer it . . .

Yesterday, at two different times during the day, I was confronted with the idea of God granting success to people. The first time occurred while I was reading the story of David and Jonathan where, in one chapter, the idea is repeated several times.

1 Samuel 18:5 — And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

1 Samuel 18:14 — And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.

1 Samuel 18:15 — And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

1 Samuel 18:30 — Then the princes of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Then, later in the day, someone reminded me of a verse in Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 1:11 — O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

In fact there are also several other examples of God giving success to his people and/or them asking him for it.

Psalm 118:25 — Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Genesis 39:2 — The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

Proverbs 3:3-6 — Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

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.

It struck me that those of us who believe in the sovereignty of God have a common temptation to react so strongly against "faith" teaching that we feel fearful to ever follow this biblical example and ask for success. But it really does seem that a mark of the Lord being "with" someone is this surprising success that seems disproportionate to a person's natural ability. This is what the grace of God is all about. It means that God often chooses someone and plucks them from obscurity to be successful. It also means that we should not feel so shy about asking for God to grant us success.

God doesn't grant such favor in order for us to be proud. Quite the opposite, because it is his to give and he makes us look better than we are, the glory goes to him alone.

1 Corinthians 1: 26-29 — For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

I found this great quote about what the gospel is meant to do to our opinions of ourselves from Tim Keller on "theocentricview":

“The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”

— Timothy Keller, The Reason For God, New York, NY: Dutton, 2008, p. 181.

Here are notes from a sermon I preached on the 27^th April at Jubilee Church. The mp3 is available to download here or listen to using the following embedded player-

“You shall not murder.” (Ex 20:13)

Ok, right at the outset, do we have any murderers here? No? Anyone planning on committing a murder? No? Good, so then we can all go home, yes? We got it straight, since we live in a Christian country means its Chicken for dinner tonight rather than human. Lets go get some coffee.

Actually there is some more to this commandment than first meets the eye.

No careless killing ESV footnote "also causing human death through carelessness or negligence" so see for example Ex 21:28-29 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.”

Deuteronomy 22:8: “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring blood-guilt on your house if anyone falls from it.”

Risk assessment is biblical! “[The Jew] was to do everything humanly possible not to cause the death of another person” -The Master's Seminary, Master's Seminary Journal Volume 11, 11:206 (Master's Seminary, 2000; 2003).

- Therefore, human life is precious we should take good care of it. Every human is made in Gods image and therefore worth looking after. It is the Christian faith that teaches us we are not just the outcome of millions of years of chance reactions. We don't kill because life itself is a gift of God. We should also support initiatives that reduce the risk of death or serious injury.

eg car and road safety - 1 in 200 risk of dying on the roads! So driving at no more than 30 mph in built up areas is a good idea due to the dramatic risk of death if hit faster. 95% live if hit at 20mph, 90% die at 40mph. Also wear seat belts, pay for proper maintenance, and buy the safest car you can afford.

-also health measures, smoking in public bans is good as it will lead to less premature death. Form of Russian Roulette – 50% will die prematurely loosing ave of 16 years of precious God-given life. In country after country smoking bans have led to dramatic drops in the rates of heart attacks – 17% in Scotland for example in one year. Christians should support the provision of good health care and also simple social changes that can make massive impact by saving lives. Especially in developing world eg lack of clean water.

However, although this commandment applies to careless killing, there were clear distinctions made in the punishment depending on the intent “(1) the weapon used, (2) the enmity of the killer toward his victim, and (3) premeditation” (Numbers 35. 16–24) -The Master's Seminary, Master's Seminary Journal Volume 11, 11:205 (Master's Seminary, 2000; 2003).

Similar rules are still used today.

What other things that might be called murder?

-We have seen that negligence such as careless fighting or driving, is surely potential murder by the broader hebraic definition. But what of some areas that may be less clear to some. Lets be very clear here -

-Euthanasia or so-called “mercy killing”- so far even the unbelievers cannot bring themselves to legalize this in the UK. How could we know someone really understood what they were asking for and weren't coerced or depressed? Bible simply says "no killing". This surely even applies to some of the grey areas being discussed such as removing food and drink via tubes from brain damaged.

-Assisting Suicide remains illegal, but what about neglecting to prevent it?. Psychiatric services should be used appropriately... sadly the quality of our services vary. But people have a right to be treated against their will when they pose a danger to themselves and are not in their right minds.

-Abortion? We all agree that life exists after birth. We believe it is wrong to murder a newborn baby. So surely life exists just before. When then does it start? There is no logic to our current term limits for abortion- loosely based on when a child might survive "independently" outside the womb. But when technology improves will that mean the date changes? And, since a baby is not truly "independent" are they less fully human?

Our question should simply be is this a human? Does he or she have the image of God? If so we must protect, not kill. John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mothers womb whom when he met Jesus (Luke 1:44) and Psalm 139 makes plain God saw us and knew us there as he knit us together.

-Contraception? Pre conception fine, anything that definitely acts post conception is clearly not. Some methods are controversial as to their mode of action (eg oral contraceptive pill, coil etc). Christians should examine the evidence for themselves, pray, seek advice if needed then make the decision their conscience is happy with.

-IVF? Christians undergoing this procedure may wish to speak with their doctors about the fate of so-called "spare" embryos. Although they are routinely discarded, this need not be the case.

-War? The police? Romans 13.1-4 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”

In the end this boils down to a simple question. If you were holding an armed gun, and had a chance to kill someone who was definitely about to kill another, would you be wrong to pull that trigger? The balance of the bible strongly suggests that you would not be wrong to do that.

So far, though, for the vast majority of us, none of this will have touched us. Perhaps there are some in the room who have had an abortion, if so, please bear with me as there is forgiveness for you as we will explain later.

But for the rest of us there is a danger that we will feel morally superior and proud of ourselves. So we haven't murdered... Big deal! If we think that makes us worthy of praise by God we are deluded!

Jesus punctures that bubble by saying “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5.21-24

Words can kill!

“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 Jn 3:15

“It is not only the act, but also the sentiment underlying the act, which is evil” - Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Map on lining papers., 2044 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988).

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning” Jn 8:44

Actual murder is just the extension of anger and bitterness. Billy Grahams wife was once asked if she had ever considered divorce during their long marriage her answer- "divorce, NO! Murder, YES!"

If murder is sometimes the ultimate punishment for some imagined harm done by its victim, forgiveness is the opposite. Far from merely not murdering our enemies, God calls us to love them and forgive them.

We are told to forgive as we have been forgiven and warned that he will not forgive us if we do not forgive others.

Christians should be recognized as those who practice the reverse of murder. If murder is treating someone as sub-human and a less valuable object then the opposite is surely thinking of others as more important than you and selflessly loving them expecting nothing in return.

You can't murder someone you love. Jesus said love fulfills the law - love God covers the first few commandments, love your neighbor covers the rest.

God is the ultimate forgiver. We see this in the sad story of King David. We see the king who is described as the man after Gods own heart that the smallest sin can grow to become a major one. Most murders happen as a result of an argument between for example husband and wife. It is even possible that by causing us to stop and realize how dangerous anger is that this sermon might prevent a future murder.

Owen once said “be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

In Davids case, laziness led to a roaming eye. In our day he'd have visited certain websites or the top shelf at the news-agent. Then, he went on the roof to catch a glance at a woman bathing. That led to adultery. That led to deception and trickery. That led to murder.

Sin is sin. We stand before God bankrupt. When you are bankrupt it doesn't really matter if you owe a few thousands or a few million. You simply can never pay. An eternity in hell facing the wrath of God wont wipe away our sins.

The scandal of the cross is that on it, a man was murdered. Without removing the moral responsibility for that act, and the fact that we are all guilty of killing the son of God....ultimately there was something else going on.

The cross was a judicial killing. God the Almighty poured out his righteous wrath and punishment on his son. Jesus paid our debt. Not only did he cancel our debts, he credited our account with his righteousness. If you are a christian this morning he is as pleased with you not just as if you never sinned but just as if you were always righteous or put another way he is as thrilled with you as he is with Jesus!

Murderers are Invited to become Christians. Why? Because God can even forgive murderers, So he can forgive you.

This sermon was preached by me on the UK's Mother's Day, which was on March 2nd. The audio can be downloaded or played here.


It was based on a number of verses:

Isaiah 66:13
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 49:15-16 Good News Bible
“Can a woman forget her own baby, and not love the child she bore?
Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you.
Jerusalem, I can never forget you!
I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”

Luke 13:34
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”

Isaiah 40:1-2
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.”

Psalm 131:1-2
“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”


1. GOD IS LIKE A MOTHER, BUT HE IS A FATHER

We are right to talk of God as a father, for the Bible speaks of him repeatedly as a father. The verses we have read liken God to sharing attributes of a mother. There are, however, no verses that say God actually IS a mother; however, God is compared to a mother, and he is even likened to a hen brooding over her chicks. But we should no more worship him as “Mother God” than we should pray to God the Holy Chicken!

Since men and women are both created in the image of God, it should really be no surprise to us that God reflects attributes of mothers as well as fathers in his dealings with us.

Matthew Henry, writing more than 300 years ago, reminds us that God comforts us and he does so “not only with the rational arguments which a prudent father uses, but with the tender affections and compassions of a loving mother.” (Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete and Unabridged in One Volume, Isaiah 66:5 (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991).

Some things never change!


2. GOD IS COMPASSIONATE LIKE A MOTHER

Women tend to be compassionate, although one mum said when I spoke to her this week, “It depends on the time of day!”

When an accident happens in our home, my instinct is to ask what happened, how did the child get hurt, where is the bruise, was one of the other children somehow responsible? Andree often says, “Darling, please just pick them up and give them a cuddle.”

God created the world. Is it any wonder he should feel the same intense degree of warm love and care towards his children that a mother so clearly demonstrates to hers? In one of our verses God says in effect “no way would a woman reject her own baby,” before acknowledging that, then as now, sadly there are a few women who do indeed forget the child they bore. But God can NEVER forget! Why? Because of what happened on the cross when he “engraved our names on his hands.”


3. GOD IS SACRIFICIAL LIKE A MOTHER

Mother with a baby might say, “O-o-oh, do you need a nappy change, poor little boy?” But Dad might say , “O man, could you not have waited to do that? It was changed only a few minutes ago!”

Women put their careers on at least a temporary hold, and go through the pains of pregnancy and childbirth to have a child. Jesus once said when that “when a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (John 16:21)

God understands the pain that mothers go through, not just in labor but in the decades that follow. He has seen us his children go astray and reject him, but still he loves us. How amazing knowing that he was going to a city that had killed prophets before and would kill him, that he doesn't go in as a conquering manly warrior king. Rather, he says, “I am like a mother hen, cooing over you, wanting to gather you under my wings.” Surely God understands the thankless task of trying to win over kids when they are rebelling and think you hate them. The thousands of sacrifices the average mother makes for her children reflects upon the ultimate sacrifice of his life that Jesus would make.

Jesus died so he COULD gather his unwilling creation, like a mother hen would gather her chicks. He is hunting for them and searching for them right now to love them, forgive them, cleanse them from their guilt and shame, and make them into true children of God.

Jesus scorned the shame and pain of the cross because of the joy set before him— the joy of US as his children.

What a wonderful cry we heard from the prophet Isaiah—it was only made possible because of the cross. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.” (Isaiah 40:1-2).


4. GOD IS COMFORTING LIKE A MOTHER

When it comes to hugs and kisses, especially if they are upset, my kids look to their mum for comfort. They say I am prickly and need a shave! Do you think of God as prickly?

Just as a skillful mother is able to pacify and soothe the woes of her child, so is God with us. Who here is distressed? God will soothe you. Who is sorrowful? God will calm your troubles. Who here is stressed? God will cause you to rest in him.

God is the God of ALL comfort. Jesus told us he was sending “another comforter” to replace himself, which tells us that his role and that of the Spirit was to comfort us.

Our response to being comforted?

We feel understood, We feel calmed. Stress lifts. Anxiety passes. Our problem now belongs to the one whose wings we shelter under.

This is surely the perfect description of the mature Christian:

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:1-2)

If you feel you are not there yet, you are probably right! Which of us is? But, that is our goal, arriving at a place where we trust God so much that we are not worrying about the events of our life, where we are calm and able to face the day.


5. GOD WANTS US TO OFFER COMFORT TO OTHERS

Perhaps you struggle with the question, “Why, God?” when you question something that has happened to you. There are a myriad of different circumstances life throws at us that make us ask that question. Bereavement, divorce, abuse by others, disappointments, sickness.

There are no easy or complete answers to the question “Why?” One answer is that God wants you to quiet yourself, stop examining things “too lofty for us to understand,” and instead be comforted by him so that you, too, can comfort others. But perhaps you need the comfort of others today . . . maybe you are far from the place that you can help someone else. Who here needs a touch from God? Maybe you need a touch from your neighbor.

Who here already knows from bittersweet, personal experience the truth that “God is the God of all comfort” — it is time you learned to pass that on! He comforts us SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. "But," you say, "I am not a pastor or a theologian." "I say," "God tells us to comfort each other with the comfort he has given us!" Church, are our conversations seasoned with the salt of comfort? Do we listen to the troubles of each other and show that we care? Do we help each other to find the strength that only God can give?

RESPONSE: Salvation, need of comfort, need to comfort others.

More than once I have been accused of appropriating Lloyd-Jones to my charismatic cause. Today I want to restart my MLJ Monday tradition by sharing a quote which comes from a context where the Doctor is strongly disagreeing with one of my positions. He is talking about the so-called Ephesians 4 ministries. The Doctor divides these into two groups, believing that all but pastors and teachers are temporary. I believe that they all continue, although I think of modern-day apostles as being, in some important ways, different to the original. Anyway, the Doctor then goes on to speak into what is perhaps a less interesting discussion, but one that is worth opening up nonetheless. Does Paul have in mind two distinct groups, the pastors and the teachers, or one group of people who are both pastors and teachers? Let's see what he has to say:

The permanent offices are described as those of ‘pastors and teachers.’ This group is much simpler to understand, although there has been much dispute as to whether pastors and teachers are two different offices. I agree with those who say that they are one. Were they two separate offices we would expect to read, ‘He gave some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; some, pastors; some, teachers’; but the apostle writes, ‘some, pastors and teachers,’ linking the two together; and generally speaking, these two offices are found in the same man. They apply to a more settled state of the Church, and have persisted throughout the centuries. The office of a pastor is generally concerned about government and instruction and rule and direction. It is borrowed, of course, from the picture of a shepherd. The shepherd shepherds his flock, keeps the sheep in order, directs them where to go and where to feed, brings them back to the fold, looks after their safety and guards them against enemies liable to attack them. It is a great office, but unfortunately it is a term which has become debased. A pastor is a man who is given charge of souls. He is not merely a nice, pleasant man who visits people and has an afternoon cup of tea with them, or passes the time of day with them. He is the guardian, the custodian, the protector, the organizer, the director, the ruler of the flock. The teacher gives instruction in doctrine, in truth. The Apostle proceeds to elaborate this, showing that we need to be built up, and that we must not remain ‘babes.’ We must be protected against ‘every wind of doctrine,’ and the way to do so is to give instruction and teaching.

Although I say that these two offices generally go together and have done so throughout the long history of the Church, sometimes one man has had more of a pastoral gift than a teaching or preaching gift; at other times a man has more of a teaching and preaching gift than a pastoral gift. This is a matter of individual variation according to the gift of the Spirit. But in the Church you have these offices, these men who teach and preach and care for the souls of the members of the church."

— David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christian Unity, Studies in Ephesians (Chapter 4, verses 1 through 16), Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1972, p. 192.

For more information on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, see this summary post or the MLJ Recording Trust.

UPDATE
I have had an e-mail from a correspondent who strongly believes that Lloyd-Jones was wrong about pastors and teachers being one office. My correspondent cited the grammatical work of Dan Wallace (see p. 284 of his Greek Grammar—Beyond the Basics) and an article on the evangelist, which discusses this point (p. 30ff).

I also have had another e-mail on the subject which said, "We actually had to study a full-length technical paper on this verse by Dan Wallace as part of our second-year Greek course. He does not argue that they must be two separate offices—he does not go that far. What he says is that the Greek language does not demand that they be one office. We should determine the answer from the context. Personally I go with theoretically separate giftings which are very commonly held by the same person. (Apostles can also be teachers, etc.)"

Regular readers of my blog will remember that, together with my pastor, Tope Koleoso, we had the joy of being able to chat with Mark Driscoll when we went to Edinburgh to hear him preach live. We were deeply impressed with his graciousness and kindness to us. In this, he reminded me of a man who is one of my other living Christian heroes—Terry Virgo.

I know that many people were disappointed not to be able to make it to Scotland to hear Mark. So I am delighted to relay an announcement from Terry Virgo's blog today. Mark Driscoll has agreed to speak next July at the Newfrontiers Leaders Conference in Brighton, UK. Here is how Terry begins his post:

"The last time I checked, the Pope was still a Catholic, the death rate was still hovering at around 100%, and the chances of getting Mark Driscoll to speak at a conference in the UK in 2008 were averaging at zero.

It is therefore with great delight that I can announce that we have, with the aid of certain friends (for an inspired guess see Adrian Warnock’s blog), arranged for him to be our main visiting speaker at Together on a Mission in Brighton next year, 8-11 July 2008.

In recent months I have found myself listening to downloads of Mark Driscoll’s preaching, probably more than anybody else’s. I find him completely arresting, relevant, Biblical, funny, aggressive, and packing a real punch. I believe he will do us a lot of good.

I love his value system and I am impressed by what has been accomplished by God through his ministry based in Seattle, where a church of several thousand has been built in a few years, starting from almost nothing and largely not through church swapping, but conversion.

He is theologically reformed, Biblically orthodox, and culturally relevant, and particularly addresses the post-modern world with remarkable insight. I have just read his chapter in the Crossway publication, The Supremacy of Christ in a Post-Modern World. I found myself underlining sentence after sentence, and simply wrote ‘Wow!’ in the margin at the conclusion of the chapter. I am deeply grateful to God that he will be with us." Read more . . .

This is a fantastic piece of news. Terry and Mark are both pastors of pastors. Church planting is a major need of our world today. Leaders themselves need to be trained.

As an example of Terry's gifting in operation, he has recently finished a series of posts on the vital role of the pastor in the life of a church. He re-examines the biblical teaching. I will finish this post by giving you a taste of each post in the series, but do go and read them all; they are worthy of careful study.

Church Leaders

As a movement, Newfrontiers has tended to emphasise the role of apostles and prophets. The church was originally built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20) so they gave the people of God their fundamental identity. I have argued that we were not built on a pastoral foundation.

My argument has often been expressed by noting that pastors are called to care for and feed the flock and meet the flock’s needs. An over-emphasis, therefore, on the pastoral role can result in pre-occupation with needs. We could become need-centred instead of apostolic and prophetic, thereby missing God’s intention and forgetting the bigger picture, building churches that gradually become foreign to the atmosphere of the New Testament.

I have been alarmed at the possible danger of a church becoming introverted, developing a culture where personal preference dominates and shepherds major on discerning and serving people’s so-called ‘felt needs’. However, in taking this stance, we may have failed to bring adequate positive Biblical teaching about the vital role of pastors and teachers. They are, of course, the most visible ministers in the local church. They have the most ‘hands on’ role among the flock. Read more . . .

Shepherds of the Flock

Jesus didn’t say, ‘I am the good apostle,’ or ‘the good prophet,’ or even ‘the good evangelist,’ but happily claimed to be the Good Shepherd. . .

Although the Lord was their ultimate shepherd, it is clear that God actually enlisted men to fulfil the shepherding role on His behalf. . .

As the apostles go, their intuitive strategy in obeying the command was to plant churches, establish flocks and appoint shepherds to care for them. Read more . . .

Other Sheep I Must Bring

When Billy Graham came to the UK in the 1950's and ‘60s, the call to return to God would have been generally comprehended by that generation. Today we live in a different era and though people can be born again through encountering the simplest message, we must not assume that initial conversion will result in inevitable Christian maturity, or even basic understanding of Christian living.

Deconstructing people’s world view
The role of the modern shepherd includes a call to deconstruct people’s previous world view. Nothing can be taken for granted. Lives need to be re-formed. Coming from a fragmented and aimless society devoid of any trace of Christian values, people need to be re-socialised and taught how to relate in godly ways.

Raised on self-indulgence, consumerism and rampant individualism, the new convert won’t automatically be transformed into a mature Christian who knows how to conduct himself in the household of God (1 Timothy 3:15).

God has promised to give His people shepherds after His own heart who will feed them with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). This feeding requires a radical approach. We are not called to build on a false foundation with teachings that imply merely personal fulfilment or the grasping of the individual’s full potential, or how to love oneself. The shelves of many a Christian bookshop are filled with titles which appeal to personal fulfilment as the goal of the Christian life. Coming from a culture where demanding your personal rights seems to be the bottom line, new Christians hardly need that diet. Read more . . .

Spirit-inspired Preaching

. . . Holy Spirit-inspired preaching brings about an encounter with God that demands a verdict and produces a changed life based on revelation, faith and love, not cold obedience to external rules.

God’s flock will intuitively hear His voice and respond as truth is fed to them by called and anointed pastor/teachers. Gradually a culture of God-centredness will emerge characterised by worship, faith, grace, mercy, respect, service and the awareness of being an alien people whose fundamental citizenship lies elsewhere (Philippians 3:20) . . .

The shepherd’s ability to feed and be a channel of God’s grace will result in the gathering of a flock. The sheep gather to the gifted anointing of shepherding and thus a flock forms.

The responsibility of the shepherds is not simply to expound truth but to develop relationships of love and trust, and in some cases to ‘parent’ a flock often made up of those who have never been parented before. Read more . . .

Today I am going to do something I don't believe I have ever done before. I am going to publish an edited and expanded version of an old post of mine. Unlike certain Christian bloggers who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty (you know who you are!) I am going to be up front about it, and even place a link to the original 2005 post entitled "DON'T LISTEN TO ME—WHAT DO I KNOW?"

I want to ask you today, "Are you too loyal?" I think being too loyal is a bigger problem than we sometimes realize. Generally loyalty is a good thing. For example, I am not surprised that many of my readers are the same people who keep coming back rather than total strangers just popping through. Indeed, I hope you are feeling quite loyal towards me as you read this, that in some odd Internet way you even consider me your friend. But that friendship with me or any other blogger—or for that matter preacher to whom you listen online—should NEVER become a replacement for your friendships with godly Christians. If it did, that would be one example of what I mean by being too loyal.

You can also be too loyal by being too trusting of someone, and by following them too closely. I strongly hope that I don't have any readers who read this blog uncritically; that would be foolish in the extreme. In real life I could be anyone. No matter how well you feel you know me from my blog writings, it's not possible to deduce the answers to all kinds of really important questions. Am I a Christian in good standing in a local church? Do I have the appropriate level of biblical understanding to support what I say? What is my character like? Do I treat my wife and children as well as I ought to? What theological degrees or qualifications do I have? I will give you the answer to that last question only—NONE!

It worries me a little that some readers of blogs look to those blogs for their teaching more than their own local church. Some might even feel that they do not need to go to a church, partly because of the biblical food they feel they are getting online. The challenge for some, no doubt, is that they attend a church whose teaching they believe is not biblically sound. There are definitely many Christians who continue, out of a misguided sense of loyalty, attending churches they believe teach blatant error. To listen to online teachers and get one's teaching there may seem wise when you feel that your local preacher is in some way deficient.

If you are in a situation where you don't feel you are able to agree with the vast majority of the preaching of your church, and instead you believe you are learning more online, I would strongly urge you to carefully consider your position. As I have said before, one of best things about of being in my church is the joy of being pastored by our elders, Tope Koleoso, Stuart Emsley, and as of last Sunday, Dave Pask. Those three men care for my soul. It is a delight to follow them. Bloggers, book authors, and TV or Internet preachers cannot pastor you.

It is often helpful to read a blog with discernment, even if you disagree with some of the author's ideas, if doing so helps you to examine the blogger and your own beliefs in the light of Scripture. I sincerely hope that you do not need to take that kind of critical approach to your pastor's sermons, or at least not to the same degree! We should be able to listen to our preachers without having to constantly mentally edit out the parts with which we disagree.

Incidentally, this is one reason why those of us who are preachers need to be careful that we do not go beyond simply explaining the Scriptures in our sermons. We should stick to preaching and explaining the Word of God, and we need to be very careful with our theological deductions. What we really must avoid when preaching is to take a deduction we have made from Scripture and build another deduction on top of that. It will not foster the correct attitude towards preaching in the hearts of our hearers if they are constantly having to decide whether what we are saying is mere speculation or the very Word of the living God!

If you cannot honorably submit to the leadership of your local church, either it is time to leave, or it is time for you to change your attitude towards them. While it is great to learn from blogging and other means, if it is pulling you in a different direction to your church leaders, you need to ask: "Am I reading too much content from the wrong kind of blogs, or am I in the wrong kind of church?"

There are, of course, two opposite errors that are both equally foolish. One is to leave a church for a minor and foolish reason and not have anywhere to go that is more suitable for your theological nitpicking. The second is to be too loyal to a church that has long since jettisoned the primary issues of the Gospel, or with whom you have strong disagreements on some of the key secondary issues; without such agreement we cannot honestly work together in a church.

What keeps you at your church or reading a blog or listening to an online preacher? Is it the kind of foolish loyalty that is little better than a bad habit or addiction? Or is it because serving in that church is good for your soul in a tangible way? Are you too loyal?

In this extract from the forthcoming Owen book, John Owen reveals just how distant he is from many modern-day Christians. How often do we talk about a conscious relationship with the living Christ? How much do we truly enjoy his presence? How much are we aware of how precious he is? Is our failure to truly pursue a conscious experience of Jesus part of the reason why we often struggle to fight against sin? Who would eat the moldy crumbs of pleasure that the world would offer us when we have feasted on the delights to be found in knowing Christ? Here are Owen’s words:

"When once the soul of a believer has obtained sweet and real communion with Christ, it looks about him, watches all temptations all ways whereby sin might approach, to disturb him in his enjoyment of his dear Lord and Savior, his rest and desire. How does it charge itself not to omit anything, nor to do anything that may interrupt the communion obtained! And because the common entrance of temptations which tend to the disturbance of that rest and complacency which Christ takes in the soul, is from delightful diversions from actual communion with him; therefore is desire strong and active that the companions of such a soul, those with whom it does converse, would not, by their proposals or allurements, divert it into any such frame as Christ cannot delight nor rest in. A believer that has gotten Christ in his arms is like one that has found great spoils, or a pearl of price. He looks about him every way, and fears everything that may deprive him of it. Riches make men watchful; and the actual sensible possession of him, in whom are all the riches and treasure of God will make men look about them for the keeping of him. The line of choicest communion is a line of the greatest spiritual solicitousness, carelessness in the enjoyment of Christ pretended is a manifest evidence of a false heart." (Communion with the Triune God, pages 238-239)

I'm back, but tired, and as usual, when I simply don't have anything to say myself and it's getting to the end of the week, I turn to one of the greatest living preachers—John Piper. Last Friday I quoted from his first talk in a series on suffering. Today I will quote from the second. It is striking how boldly he states that he believes in healing today, but in a context where this world in which we live is one in which we groan for heaven.

God’s Ordinary Way Today: Partially

Don’t misunderstand: I do believe in divine healing and miraculous rescues. God can today—and he does today—take away sicknesses and rescue miraculously. However, there is good reason to believe that his ordinary way of applying what he bought at the cross is to give it partially now. His normal path is that we arrive in the kingdom along the path of affliction.

A Groaning World—Even for Christians

Let me give you one passage on this: Romans 8:18-25. Paul says that now the whole creation groans. It is a groaning world. And then Paul adds: We ourselves, the ones with the Holy Spirit, groan, waiting for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Even people filled with the Holy Spirit groan—waiting, waiting, waiting. How long, O Lord, in this wheelchair? With this Alzheimer’s? Sometimes he heals now. But sometimes healing comes at [the] end.

John Piper has a glorious richness in his preaching repertoire. Almost every time he is invited to preach anywhere it seems he produces a brand new message. He makes the Bible fresh. Today I want to return to the habit of posting a quote from Piper on Fridays by sharing an astonishing quote from an amazing talk he recently gave:

Let me underline one of the statements I’ve already made: Suffering is an essential part of your Christian existence. I choose the word essential very carefully. Paul said to new believers in Acts 14:22, “Through many tribulations we will enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is Christianity 101. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 that we Christians are destined for suffering. This is your destiny—suffering. Think it not strange when the fiery ordeal comes upon you. And 2 Timothy 3:12: All who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted. And Romans 8:16: We are fellow heirs if we suffer with him. There is one God-appointed path to glorification—suffering. If you are making it your life ambition to avoid suffering, you will perish and suffer forever . . ." (emphasis mine).

Few readers of Christian blogs will have failed to come across Tim Challies, the uberblogger who will shortly become a Crossway-published book author. In fact, I'm almost willing to bet that no one will first hear of Tim's blog through this post. If I'm wrong, do leave a comment to that effect and/or drop me an email! Anyway, Tim has a bit of a tradition over at his place. Unlike lesser mortals such as yours truly, Tim blogs EVERY day. I really do mean EVERY day. Christmas, Easter, summer holidays—in fact, Tim has now blogged for 1396 days without a single day off!

So, like around twenty others, when I saw a group on Facebook dedicated to a campaign to give Tim a short rest, I simply had to join. Then I saw that Tim's pastor and wife had joined, and for a while, to be honest, I was getting a bit concerned. If one's pastor and wife are telling you it's time for a rest, you ought to listen. So, I even offered to send Andrew Fountain round to steal Tim's PC for a day or two! I know from personal experience how addictive the Internet can be, even when we are doing good things.

Anyway, Aileen Challies, wife of Tim, is also a Facebook friend of mine, and I was therefore really pleased to be able to discover that she had joined the group out of a sense of fun, rather than any real concern about her husband's addiction to blogging. This is what she said (she's given me permission to share it):

"You need to understand Tim's personality. For a long time he was not a disciplined person . . . and his attention span has always been well, flighty? That is one reason blogging has been so good for him. It allows him to stay in web design because blogging, and everything else associated with it, gives him a variety of things happening, which stops him from being bored. It has also been a vital part of his spiritual growth over the last four years. Blogging truly has turned my husband into a much stronger man and husband. He thirsts now after God's will and Word in a way that he never has in the twelve years I have known him. I'm not sure most people could carry what Tim does with the reading, writing and research, and work, and, of course, family, but it is necessary with his personality! He does read fast, writes in the mornings, from about 8:30 to 10:00 (one benefit of being self-employed) and still has plenty of family time. While I can understand where the concern is coming from (outside looking in) you all really need to spend a day in the life of our family to see that it is not anywhere near what you are imagining!"

UPDATE
My blog editor has started another group on Facebook to campaign for Tim to keep going and not miss a single day! It's called "I need my daily dose of Challies!" How could she????

Or, rather do nothing in your own strength. This post appears to be one of those rare posts that I and Dave Warnock (no relation) can agree on! It comes from Mark Lauterbach and is a post everybody should read carefully and fully.

In the last year I have become increasingly convinced that the Gospel makes no sense to the natural man. Not only is it counter-intuitive to the unbeliever but it requires constant reminders to the Christian. I am so deeply self-help oriented that I quickly move on from the Gospel and God's work to save me -- to myself and my work to improve my life.

. . . the Gospel is fundamentally a message that God has undertaken to accomplish by himself alone what the combined sweat and labor of the entire race of mankind has been unable to do -- to rescue us from the evil within us and its consequences. The Gospel comes to moderns with a massive, loud word of "CEASE" -- and it tells us that our efforts are in vain, that the problem is much deeper than we can even imagine. We do not need a better set of how to's, or a better teacher, or a better therapist. All of that is the equivalent to giving swimming lessons to people shipwrecked and floating in water 1000 miles from shore. It may give them a brief sense of power, but it is delaying the inevitable.

God does in Jesus life and death what we could not do for ourselves. Paul says it this way in gal 2:21 -- if righteousness was by the law, then Christ died needlessly. In modern words, if I can attain any measure of freedom from sin/evil in my heart and life, then I don't need Jesus . . .

If people leave my preaching confident in the rules and principles I have given them, I have preached a false Gospel. If they leave the room confident in the faithful grace and power of the Savior to work in them as they seek to obey -- I have preached the Gospel.

Gospel Driven Life

I love it when a new blog is formed. My dear friend, Andrew Cottingham, started blogging just today. I told him it would help him as much as those who actually read it. Blogging is not for everyone, of course, but since in less than 24 hours he has already written two posts, I hold out great hopes for this one! Here are his two posts, and I will end with a couple of great quotes from them. Pop over and encourage him — early bloggers need it!

• Matthew 5 v 6 cont.



• Hunger and thirst for righteousness

The better understanding of 'Blessed' which seems to carry more meaning in our culture is the word 'Happy'.

Here in verse 6 Jesus is preaching and teaches that:

Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

Immediately it becomes apparent that there is a double positive here. A verse with a blessing at both ends. Happiness and fullness are both being offered as the result of hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

The two verbs 'hunger' and 'thirst' are both the result of natural appetites. There could not be more familiar cravings. We all, on a daily basis, respond to our sense of hunger and thirst, we know where to go and what our bodies need in order to satisfy their demands...

The man who is beginning to walk in meekness (Matthew 5 v 5) is going to need something else to fuel his thinking. He is no longer fighting his own corner, he has deposed himself from the throne of 'self'.

The following set of sermon notes reflect a message that I preached today at Jubilee Church London In some ways this sermon was connected to the three-part series on Revival I recently preached if only because the last message God's Reviving Word was also based on Psalm 119. The earlier messages, "Revival" and "Reviving Prayer" are also available.

You can download the audio (you may need to right click and save the file onto your PC) or listen right here using the following embedded player:

INTRODUCTION

There is one word that is coming to us again and again at the moment, that it seems that God is wanting to drop into our hearts is the word “missional”

Often when I hear the word “Missional” I am afraid that I have to confess I think of a scene from one of my favorite films - “Blues Brothers”. In it the two rouges who are the stars go to church and “see the light” it is a little tongue in cheek to be sure but they conclude at the end of the sequence “We are on a mission from God!” Well we really ARE on a mission from God. Like so many great films, the rest of the film simply tracks the journey of its main characters - as they seek to complete the mission they felt God had gave them. You can watch the clip here on my blog below thanks to YouTube.

What is a mission? Well to me a mission feels a whole lot like a journey. I would like to take us together today to what we can think of as the map for the journey – our mission instructions if you were. We will learn today how to handle this Bible in such a way that it will help us on our journey – keep us going in the right way – so we can fulfill this glorious mission he is putting in front of us.

If you are not a Christian here this morning, we will give you a chance to join us on our great journey, but lets see what the writer of the longest chapter in the Bible had to say about making sure we don’t loose our way on this great missionary journey God has set before us…

Lets turn to Psalm 119

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it
according to your word.

It doesn’t say how can we keep pure – by sitting still and doing nothing…. We are meant to be “on a journey” doing something!


This book shows us the way – word is not just head knowledge we want to keep pure…by the word.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15)


James 1:19-27 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”


There is a guarding, but a DOING in those verses…


How do we keep pure – guard hearts by the word – not just about keeping self away from certain people – At least part of how we learn to guard our ways is in the reading of the mistakes of others. If the man who wrote this wonderful psalm can become an adulterer and murderer we should be alert and careful!!!


Flee temptation….Like Joseph.


But not just do nothing – withdrawal from world is not the answer – the cry of the missionary should be to be “in the world but not of it” too many Christians are “of the world but not in it”
Religion is I obey so I can be accepted. The gospel is I am accepted so I can obey." Tim Keller
But the Christian life is not merely about obedience and trying to guard and stop doing certain things. We are supposed to be looking for something positive too – lets see the next verse.
How then can we get this life-giving word into us? We will see in psalm 119 several ways in which we should respond to and appropriate Gods word. The first thing to note is that we have to have an attitude that when we come to God’s word we are in fact coming to him, and expecting to meet the risen Jesus through its pages. The psalmist says

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!(Psalm 119:10)

We must come to God’s word expecting to find him. We do not come merely to grasp some intellectual truths – to get our doctrine right – although of course that has its place. We come expecting the God of the Bible to leap off the pages of the bible to us. It is God we seek, and Him that we need. It is Him that our hearts long for! We try and fill our lives with all kinds of things.

The child who feels lonely and does anything he can to please his classmates. When it fails he starts to long to grow up and leave the torment that school is for some people. Then, he longs for a girlfriend, then for a wife, then for a better job a better car, a better house. All along the emptiness doesn’t go away. It doesn’t go away because it was meant to be filled by God.

Some of us try and replace God with other things. Dare I say it we can even do this with “mission” and “doing things for God” our work for God should not come out of an emptiness and a lack of purpose. No, we must first seek God be satisfied in him and then begin to reach others out of an overflowing fountain that is within. How do we seek God? We pray. We worship. We thank him. And, in the context of this talk , we seek HIM in the Bible. People say theology is boring. But theology is simply the study of God. Since when was God boring? No he satisfies us and gives us joy! So how do we get theology from out of this book and into our hearts? Lets read the next verse

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)

How do we store it up? First we have to read it! Be systematic – both big overview “the woods” and focusing in on one verse “the trees” Who here has read the Bible through from cover to cover at least once in your life? It is God’s love note to us. PICK A SMALL BOOK – eg Mark or Ephesians, Read it chronologically or From cover to cover (start in New Testament if you have never read it) pick a book and keep a check on which ones you have read when but BE SYSTEMATIC

Scripture memorizing is what is referred to here. But note it is not just a case of storing it in our minds – it is about getting it into our hearts. Wesley explains this as follows “I have laid it up in my mind like a choice treasure, to be ready upon all occasions to counsel, quicken or caution me.” John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes One the Bible, Ps 119 Whilst Spurgeon says - “There laid up in the heart the word has effect. When young men only read the letter of the Book, the word of promise and instruction is deprived of much of its power. Neither will the laying of it up in the mere memory avail. The word must be known and prized, and laid up in the heart; it must occupy the affection as well as the understanding; the whole mind requires to be impregnated with the word of God.” C. H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Ps 119:11

Is it enough to know the word? I have met many Christians – no correct that – I have BEEN the kind of Christian who knew the word of God well but somehow it hadn’t affected my daily life as much as it should. Theology has to break out and show us how to live. The theology is where we start, but one thing I love about Tope’s preaching is he TEACHES us we need people to help us to learn how to live practically in the real world in light of this amazing book. We need teachers to help us, but ultimately our great teacher is God himself who has given us this book.

“Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!” (Psalm 119:12)

We need to be taught – taught by this book – which reminds me of a verse in the NT - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17)

We need nothing else for all matters of doctrine and ethical conduct. But, we can learn practical wisdom from elsewhere and we should read books that help us understand the Bible. What is more, the bible also doesn’t tell us how to choose between two equally good alternative choices. We need people to help us and teach us. But God wants us all to become someone who can teach others at least something from this book. In many ways that is what missional Bible study is all about – learning this message, living this message and then giving this message to others. – even if just on a one-to-one. To put it simply God wants us to learn the message, live the message, give the message. The next verse of the psalm states

“With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.” (Psalm 119:13)

To ourselves – lets not forget that’s where Who are we meant to declare God’s truth to? I believe we should start with ourselves. Reading it aloud can help in that process as the powerful impact of the words will be more clear. We can also use it like medicine - perhaps three times a day even - if there are verses that have spoken to you and that you know you have to get into your head to change- why not take it like a pill

We can also declare God’s word in prayer. God loves us to declare his word to him – and in spiritual warfare, and we can even imagine ourselves declaring them to the enemy of our souls in spiritual warfare. But, perhaps more importantly we can declare God’s word to others. Our mission is to share the very words of this book with others – that is why we learn it so we have something to pass on. Our mission is to share the very words of this book with others –learn it so we have something to pass on – USE THE ACTUAL WORDS IN OUR COUNSELLING AND EVANGELISM "Preach the gospel--and if necessary, use words." That's a falsehood and a misunderstanding of the gospel.

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:3)
"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts" (Psalm 145:4)

That second verse is an encouragement for all the children’s Sunday school teachers and perhaps more importantly to Christian parents. The word commend in that verse makes me think of the next verse back in psalm 119. If we want to learn how to pass on God’s word, it is vital that it is something we sound enthusiastic about – something we really believe in – something we love!

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all
riches. (Psalm 119:14)

Do we love the words of this book? If we are honest sometimes we don’t delight in it. If that’s true, that’s where prayer comes back into the picture. We need to pray and ask God to change us. Lets do all the things we have mentioned so far today, and one more that we will come to now, but I wonder if it is perhaps one of the most important ones of all. There is some But don’t wait for the delight to come before you begin to feed off God’s word. Instead read it, study it, memorize it, and declare it and you will find that you begin to value God’s word more.

Mediation on Gods word is the final thing that we can do with scripture and it is perhaps the most important of all in appropriating the resurrection-power of God’s word. Meditation helps us to guard our thinking, that will help us to seek God in a text, and will definitely help us to memorize and store up scripture, and will allow the words of the Bible to teach us, is in many ways simply about declaring . If we meditate often on Gods word it will help us to delight in the Bible and see its worth. Like good food God’s word needs to be chewed upon – it needs to be meditated on .

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. (Psalm 119:15)

Christian meditation is about filling our mind not emptying it. It is easier than we sometimes realize. If you know how to worry you know how to meditate. If you like meditation is about allowing the words of scripture to go through our minds and be examined from every possible angle in the way we would when we are worried about something. We must let the words run through our minds, both consciously repeating them, and as we go about our business letting them soak into us. I love to program my mind with a few verses of scripture, think on them for a while then go about my daily business. Often later that day, if I consciously come back to the same few words they suddenly make more sense. This is about letting Gods word shape our thought patterns, its about replacing bad thoughts with whatever it is we are meditating on, its about making his words a part of us.

When we are meditating we can ask the text questions – who? What? Why? When? How? Where? We can ask the vital question – So what? We are asking what do I need to do, think or feel differently as a result of this?

As an example of how meditation might proceed, lets suppose I had just read in the scripture that we have been adopted as Gods sons. This is how my stream of consciousness might flow - “I am adopted by God” - Who has been adopted? I have. By Whom? By God! What does adopted mean? It means he chose me. Why has he done it? I suppose because he loves me! When did he do it? Ephesians 1 says before the world was made. How did he do it? It was through Christ and his death on the cross. So what implications does this have? I suppose I should realize I am special after all if I am Gods adopted child- yes but remember you didn’t deserve it and it came at a great cost to Jesus- I guess I should be happy really – a child adopted by earthly parents would be how much more me if God has adopted me – wow – I should be really grateful too. You know what, I am grateful! What this day has in store for me doesn’t sound quite so bad after all….hey one last thought as I have to go now really – God never changes his mind – so I am safe, I am secure, he will never let me go! Wow….Thank you God! Later today when my boss is threatening me – I will remind myself “you are adopted by God!”

So we have seen that God's Word brings revelation, it revives us, it strengthens us, it gives us hope. Is it any wonder that this Word is so precious to the psalmist? Is it any wonder that the Bereans are honoured because of their diligent attitude to God’s word?

"They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Acts 17:11)

We too should receive this reviving Word with all eagerness, and in every way, allow ourselves to be moulded by this wonderful Book God has given us. It’s the only Book that can give life, can save us, can show us how to live. It really is God’s reviving Word. As we have seen then, if we want to be connected to the power of Jesus resurrection, there is no substitute for faith-filled Bible study and prayer. If your prayer and Bible study has become a chore, then may God himself thrill you once more and fill you with the ability to understand and apply his word and help you to pray. Since prayer and Bible study are so crucial if we are going to live a resurrection-empowered life is it any wonder the Apostles declared, "We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:4)

A dear friend of mine sent me this quote from G. K. Chesterton concerning what he calls the "dislocation of humility."

"What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert—himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt—the Divine Reason . . . We are on the road to producing a race of men too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table." (Orthodoxy, p. 31f.)

A Pastoral Response to Online Dating (Josh Harris). The balanced wisdom of the guys from Covenant Life Church is a real blessing. I commend this article written for members of their own church for all struggling with the issue of singleness and whether online dating is the answer. The last time I wrote about online dating, I speculated that blogging might lead to relationships that arose in a more natural way. Not sure if anyone out there would care to share any stories of love found in a comment box — or is that still a vision of the future that has yet to come?

Mind you, actual open courting on the Internet via the blogs is perhaps not a good idea. One blogger I know recently declared his secret crush for a certain other female Christian blogger in a blog post — I think it was perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek as otherwise it was really rather risky!

I preached the next sermon in our series on proverbs this morning. The message can be downloaded on the Jubilee Church London website or listened to right here in this embedded player thanks to odeo


Prov 23, Jer 2:13, Prov 14:27, 1 Cor 6:9-20, Eph 5:15-18, John 7:37
This chapter is about discipline – children mentioned in there but we can only discipline our kids to the extent that we are disciplined ourselves.

We see here that far from the modern advice to let it all hang out and pursue our rights for pleasure the writer is telling us to be careful of our appetites – and to tame them – to discipline them. He uses drink as an illustration of this –

The Evils of drink

The writer of proverbs asks us to consider what one must pay for excessive drinking -
Woes, pain, confusion, bruises, desperation – “give me one more drink”!

22% of UK men and 9% of women drink over the recommended amounts and are at risk of alcoholism and alcohol related sickness
Deaths due to Alcohol in the UK doubled in the last few years –
4,144 in 1991 to 8,380 in 2004 plus road deaths

What are you drinking?
Its not just drink….

• -88,800 deaths due to smoking in 2004


• In Great Britain in 2005, 72 per cent of current smokers aged 16 and over reported that they wanted to give up smoking, with health reasons being the most common reason given for wanting to stop.


• Almost 1 in 5 teens have taken drugs in the last year – significantly more than smoke, and just a little less than drink


• Drugs


• Porn


• Spending money

BUT ALSO seeking after anything other than God for ultimate fulfilment and pleasure:-

“for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Je 2:13).

• What is it that I believe I cannot be happy without?


• What is it that I crave?


• What is it that I believe I must have?


• What is it that I spend most of my spare time thinking about?


• What is it that I most worry about losing?


• What is it that I seek my happiness in the most? (or to use older language delight in?)


• What do I love more than God?

(Taken from John Piper) I added one more

• What is the one thing I am thinking of right now that he cant possibly mean

What keeps us drinking?
-Sense of need – the wine/cigarette/whatever is my friend- HAS A CONVERSATION WITH US – some friend! Give it a chance and it will steal all your money, take all your time, break up your marriage, cause others to look at you with contempt, make you stink, give you diseases, kill you and condemn your soul to hell!
"Be killing sin or it will be killing you." John Owen
-Pleasure
-denial
-helplessness

How to STOP drinking
-recognise the extent of the problem
-Turn to Jesus - AA "higher power … helpless..."
Prov 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death”
1 Cor 6:9-20
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. … Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

CAN YOU GLORIFY GOD WHILST WATCHING PORN WHILST DRINKING TO EXCESS WHILST SMOKING?

WRATH IS COMING – TURN TO GOD TO HIDE FROM HIS WRATH IN HIS SON

Then, having believed in Jesus, then what?
-just DO IT or rather DON’T DO IT!
- practical steps - flee, etc.. you CAN stop as you aren’t doing it right now!
God COMMANDS US to repent!

Legalism vs fleeing from sin – the decision needs wisdom for the alcoholic it is obvious….even for some who have not been alcoholics…

2 christian approaches to drink that are acceptable depending on the individual, their personal beliefs and situation – abstinence and moderation. Asked Tope and Stuart, both happy as our elders for people to hold either position – just NOT to be drunk or addicted!

Personally at different points of my own life I have lived by both approaches and I hold my current position on this issue very lightly – I would change in an instant if I felt it appropriate.

Someones story I found “I haven't touched alcohol since January 1st, 1996. I don't plan on touching it ever again. Several different reasons affect this decision. First, with Christ in my life, I have no need to fill the emptiness with drinking like I used to. Second, I do not want to give in to temptation and have that demon control my life again. Even though I have faith in Christ, I am aware that the flesh can be weak. I also am concerned that taking up drinking again could fall into the category of testing God. Third, I have friends who drink, many times to excess. I want to show them that life with Christ is the only dependency I need. I know and am the first to address that the Bible does not tell us to have a zero-tolerance for alcohol. Everything in moderation. That's why I don't tell anyone that they can't drink. For some people who I recognize as having a problem I will suggest they explore why they drink so much. This is my question: Can someone who is an alcoholic but has not had a drink since before baptism ever reach a point in life where he or she can have a glass of wine with dinner and treat it as if drinking a soda, glass of tea or water?”

MY REPLY TO THAT QUESTION - "I am sure that there are some recovered alcoholics who learn to be able to drink in moderation, I just haven’t met any yet. Every successful dry ex-drinker I have met abstains totally."

Same principle for all addictions. If you are not addicted but know you are seeking your joy in something good, a temporary fast can be of help….

NT puts it this way….

Eph 5:15-18 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

1, Be wise/careful
2. Do not get drunk – instead be disciplined (opposite of debauchery)
3. BE FILLED (or be being filled!)
4. IT’S A COMMUNITY THING – NOT AN INDIVIDUAL THING….

BUT more then that need to FILL self with something else….-DRINK from another fountain - fear of the lord is a fountain of life….

All sins are attempts to fill a void – if you are full of Jesus far from a void you will have a fountain inside welling up to bless others!
don’t get drunk get filled

“..when the soul is exercised to communion with Christ, and to walking with him, he drinks new wine, and cannot desire the old things of the world, for he says "The new is better." He tastes every day how gracious the Lord is; and therefore longs not after the sweetness of forbidden things, — which indeed have none. He that makes it his business to eat daily of the tree of life will have no appetite unto other fruit” John Owen. Temptation (144).

"Would you want to watch a football game where all the players were no better than you? Or watch a movie where the actors could act no better than you and were no better looking than you? Or go to a museum to see pictures by painters who could paint no better than you?" Why are we willing to be exposed in all these places as utterly inferior? How can we get so much joy out of watching people magnify their superiority over us? The biblical answer is that we were made by God to get our deepest joys not from being superior ourselves but from enjoying God's superiority. All these other experiences are parables. God's superiority is absolute in every way, which means our joy in it may be greater than we could ever imagine.” PIPER

“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,  'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' " (Jn 7:37).

When you have a river flowing from inside of you, self control becomes easy!

Hi, my name is Adrian Warnock and I am a blogaholic...it's been three days since I last posted on my blog ...

Yes, I know posts have been appearing in this time, but I cheated by writing them earlier and having my editorial assistant publish them and post a couple of links whilst I was away!

Anway, despite my addiction to the written word, I am a great believer in the power of the SPOKEN word. I believe that there is a reason why the Bible says that faith comes by HEARING the word of God.

As such, I want to give you today two great clips from John Piper - one audio and one video. They are both fairly short excerpts, and it will take just a few minutes of your time to listen to them both. Between them, they could change your life forever. They have the power to impact you emotionally and spiritually in a way that merely reading the words would most likely entirely fail to do. It really won't take long to listen/watch. Please, take up my challenge and do so!

But just before I share these with you, I would also like to open the opportunity to you, my faithful readers, to comment on this post over the weekend in one of the following ways:

• To link to a quote or excerpt from a Piper sermon that you have loved.
  
  
• To share a quote or thought that these Piper quotes spark in you.
  
  
• To talk about or quote from any source that discusses how we can make Christ our source of pleasure and how to wean ourselves from the pathetic idols that this world offers us - drink, drugs, sex, food, money, power, and the rest.

OK, so the main reason for this request is that I plan to speak on Proverbs 23 and Ephesians 5:15-18 at the weekend, and I am wondering if there is anyone out there who wants to suggest any thoughts that might be helpful! There's no shame in asking, is there? Some prayers would also be greatly appreciated!!

Just so you know (if you don't already) it is quite okay to add a link to a related site here in my comments section - just type something that looks like the following <a href="http://www.yourlink.com/text.htm">Here is my link</a> into your comment.

Anyway, back to these two clips which could change your life. I pray the Holy Spirit will grip you as you listen to them. The first comes from the recent DGM conference and may be of some interest to you as during it Piper refers to Driscoll in a very positive way. Listen to this one first (just right click on the word listen and click save if a normal left click doesn't work.

Enjoy that? Well, here comes the video. When you have watched this, I will give you the links for the transcript, and better yet, the full audio and/or video of both sermons!

Well, again, I hope you liked that! The transcripts and further media files for both talks are available at Desiring God. I do hope you now want to go and read/listen/watch the first as well as the second. Then, when you have done so, please don't forget to come back and contribute to my open blog mic - perhaps you might just share a snippet that will help me prepare!

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of listening to my favourite preacher preach on anger from the book of Proverbs. I would urge you to listen to it, but I thought I would share a few thoughts I had and quotes I found on anger.

The first place I want to start is actually the American Psychology Association who asked, "Is It Good To Let it All Hang Out?" — this is in light of the old notion that it is important to "lance the boil" of anger and let it all out. You might be surprised to read what this secular organisation had to say:

"Psychologists now say that this is a dangerous myth. Some people use this theory as a license to hurt others. Research has found that "letting it rip" with anger actually escalates anger and aggression, and does nothing to help you (or the person you're angry with) resolve the situation.

It's best to find out what it is that triggers your anger, and then to develop strategies to keep those triggers from tipping you over the edge.

Over on the Desiring God website, there is a great article, "Is It Ever Right to Be Angry at God?, which says:

" . . . when we get angry at a person, we are displeased with a choice they made and an act they performed. Anger at a person always implies strong disapproval. If you are angry at me, you think I have done something I should not have done."

This is why being angry at God is never right. It is wrong — always wrong — to disapprove of God for what He does and permits. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" (Genesis 18:25). It is arrogant for finite, sinful creatures to disapprove of God for what He does and permits. We may weep over the pain. We may be angry at sin and Satan. But God does only what is right. "Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments" (Revelation 16:7)."

Because of this definition of anger from Piper above, it becomes immediately clear why even our anger with other people is rarely anything other than sinful. Who are WE to say that we strongly disapprove of what someone has done? Are we God? Are we their Judge? If they have said something we found hurtful, how can we be so sure that they meant it the way we thought they did? What if they had said it innocently? How can we read their hearts? If they sinned, who are we to judge the severity of that sin given the upbringing they may have had? And most of all, what about the log in our own eyes? What gave sinners the right to suddenly be the judge and determine the guilt of another and so to disapprove of them strongly and angrily?

It is only to the extent that our anger is inspired and in line with the revealed anger of God towards sin rather than our own indignation at being slighted or let down that we can hope to be angry and not sin. We actually have NO RIGHT to be angry on our own account with another because the other person is answerable to God and not us!

Piper also says: "harbored anger is the one thing the Bible explicitly says opens a door and invites the devil in." We must make sure that even if our anger really is justified, we do not nurse it, as that will destroy us. Elsewhere in the same article Piper says:

"In marriage, anger rivals lust as a killer. My guess is that anger is a worse enemy than lust. It also destroys other kinds of camaraderie. Some people have more anger than they think, because it has disguises.

When willpower hinders rage, anger smolders beneath the surface, and the teeth of the soul grind with frustration. It can come out in tears that look more like hurt. But the heart has learned that this may be the only way to hurt back. It may come out as silence because we have resolved not to fight. It may show up in picky criticism and relentless correction. It may strike out at persons that have nothing to do with its origin. It will often feel warranted by the wrongness of the cause. After all, Jesus got angry (Mark 3:5), and Paul says, "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26).

However, good anger among fallen people is rare. That's why James says, "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20). And Paul says, "Men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling" (1 Timothy 2:8). "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you" (Ephesians 4:31).

Therefore, one of the greatest battles of life is the battle to "put away anger," not just control its expressions. To help you fight this battle, here are nine biblical weapons . . ."

I will let you read the rest of the article for his biblical weapons. But I do want to leave you with one more thought of my own. Are we angry because God's honor has been slighted? Even then that righteous anger should be tempered by the realisation that we, too, have angered God by our own sin.

Let's call our anger what it is — sin. Remember, sin destroys relationships by the recriminations it prompts. Sin destroys people by the guilt they feel. Sin kills, steals, hurts, and divides. To Christian theology sin is something to be battled against in our own personal minds, and indeed this war never stops. John Owen said, "Be killing sin, or it will be killing you."

It is possible to be angry and not sin, but hard. Our own sense of our violated rights drives much anger. How often do we meditate on the wrongs we have done to others rather than the wrongs they have done to us? How much does anger contribute to sadness in the world? Recriminations and a tit-for-tat mentality lead to conflict in the home and on the world stage. Sooner or later someone needs to stop the cycle and forgive.

The sad truth is that sin produces wrath, partly because it should do. We are, in one sense, right to be angry at the damage sin has done. So is God. It is just for sin to be punished. So, a consideration of sin should leave us slightly despairing of ourselves. It should leave us aware that we deserve nothing but punishment from the hands of God.

God disapproves of what we have done wrong ourselves with the same righteous fury that He disapproves of the other party. Even if we feel the other one has got God's anger coming to them first, we better realise we are not far off — unless we have truly hidden in the God who is a refuge from His own wrath.

Psalm 2:12
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Last Sunday, I preached on controlling the tongue. At the time I shared a number of proverbs with the congregation. I thought that today I would share the entire collection of proverbs on the subject that I worked through as I prepared the sermon. This list was easy to produce — I just thought of a few key words and put them into my Logos Bible Software and let it go searching for me!

Once again it would be good to see some blog posts on some of these verses!

---

WORDS AND ANGER IN PROVERBS

Prov 1:2
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight …

Prov 1:6
… to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Prov 1:23
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Prov 2:1
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you …

Prov 2:12
… delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech …

Prov 2:16
So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words …

Prov 4:4
He taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live."

Prov 4:5
Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Prov 4:10
Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

Prov 4:20
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

Prov 4:24
Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

Prov 5:3
For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil …

Prov 5:7
And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.

Prov 6:2
… if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth …

Prov 6:12
A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech …

Prov 6:17
… haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood …

Prov 6:24
… to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Prov 7:1
My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you …

Prov 7:5
… to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.

Prov 7:21
With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

Prov 7:24
And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

Prov 8:8
All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

Prov 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Prov 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Prov 10:20
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Prov 10:31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

Prov 12:6
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

Prov 12:18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Prov 12:19
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Prov 12:25
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Prov 13:13
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Prov 14:7
Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Prov 14:29
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Prov 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Prov 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Prov 15:4
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Prov 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Prov 15:23
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

Prov 15:26
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.

Prov 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Prov 16:20
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Prov 16:21
The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Prov 16:23
The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Prov 16:24
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Prov 16:27
A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Prov 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Prov 17:4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Prov 17:7
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

Prov 17:20
A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

Prov 17:27
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Prov 18:4
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Prov 18:8
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Prov 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Prov 19:1
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Prov 19:7
All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

Prov 19:11
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Prov 19:27
Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Prov 20:2
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

Prov 21:6
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

Prov 21:14
A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

Prov 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Prov 21:28
A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.

Prov 22:11
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Prov 22:12
The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

Prov 22:17
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge …

Prov 22:24
Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man …

Prov 23:8
You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.

Prov 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Prov 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

Prov 24:18
… lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

Prov 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Prov 25:15
With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

Prov 25:23
The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Prov 26:22
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Prov 26:28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Prov 27:4
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Prov 28:23
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.

Prov 29:19
By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond.

Prov 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 29:22
A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Prov 30:1
The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.

Prov 30:5
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Prov 30:6
Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Prov 30:33
For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

Prov 31:1
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him …

Prov 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

This morning I preached on the need for us to control our tongues. Jubilee Church has made the audio available to download. I thought I would share with you the outline I preached from:

---

KEY VERSE

Prov 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

See also James 3:1-12: “…the tongue is a fire …”

---

1. DON'T SAY TOO MUCH

Prov 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Prov 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 18:13
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Prov 18:6
A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

---

2. DON'T SAY TOO LITTLE

Prov 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Prov 12:18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Prov 12:25
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Prov 15:23
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

Prov 22:11
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

---

3. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING

Prov 2:12

. . . delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech . . .

Prov 4:24
Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

Prov 26:28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Prov 12:19
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Prov 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Prov 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Prov 19:11
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

See also 1 Samuel 25: David, Nabal, and Abigail.

---

4. THINK ABOUT WHO YOU ARE SPEAKING TO

Prov 17:4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Prov 18:8
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Prov 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Prov 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Prov 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Prov 9:8
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

See also Luke 8:31-2: And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

In our introduction to the book of Proverbs at Jubilee the preacher mentioned the fact that proverbs are not promises, they are principles. I have been thinking a lot about that since. My new friend, Dan Phillips, has some great posts about proverbs that, among other things, help to unpack that. I am sure he won't mind if I extract some quotes and interact with them here. The first post is where we find the reason why proverbs are not general cast-iron promises.

Dan reminds us of some definitions to begin with:

“A simile is the comparison of A to B, and a metaphor says that A is B. Virkler describes the former as an expressed comparison and the latter as an unexpressed comparison (p. 158)

Proverbs 15:19 gives one example of each:

The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns [simile], but the path of the upright is a level highway [metaphor].

That's hardly original. But then Virkler observes that a simile, if extended, becomes a parable; and a metaphor, if extended, becomes an allegory. I'd never thought of it that way, and it's worth a thought.

Then Virkler goes on to observe that if the parable or the allegory is compressed, it becomes — you guessed it — a proverb . . .

This compression factor highlights both the genius and the peril of the proverb.

Genius, in that it simply won't do to read the book of Proverbs in a hurry. It isn't fast-food. Proverbs are meant to be chewed over, savored, relished slowly and thoroughly. We have to see through its brief statement, and unpack the larger story — the parable or the allegory — that lies behind it in the writer's thinking . . .

But this compression factor is perilous to the interpreter, too. If we try to force the compressed form to say everything, we miss its point. It isn't always supposed to be a guarantee or an exhaustive statement on any given subject. Rather, it is a pithy pointer, usually designed to drive one truth into the mind. Ryken says it well: "The aim of a proverb is to make an insight permanent" (Leland Ryken, How to Read the Bible as Literature, Zondervan: 1984, p. 122).

An insight; not all insight

This is nothing less than brilliant. It expresses perfectly what I have instinctively known, but probably not known how to clearly express before — the fact that proverbs are not always true in my experience does not mean that they are somehow flawed.

This is why, for example, we are foolish to take a proverb like 18:21 which says — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” — remove the second clause, and turn it into a magical statement that means we must be careful about what we say or we may curse ourselves to death.

I remember a man who, when I asked what the doctor at the hospital had said about his sick son said, “Well, I will not use my tongue to name what the doctor said was wrong with him.” This is not what this proverb means at all!!

It is well worth reading the rest of Dan’s series. In the second one he gives a fantastic illustration of how you can start with a story or two — even a true story — that seems to make a point and then condense it down into a pithy proverb that almost sounds like it belongs in the Bible (no cessationist cracks about the canon being reopened for Dan at this point, OK?!)

In his final post of the series, Dan uses his own proverb to explain some principles we can use when interpreting proverbs. He has a number of steps we can use.

1. ASK THE AUTHOR

I knew I couldn’t talk about Dan for a whole post without mentioning the issue of modern impressions. Amazingly, right in the context of this post on proverbs, he argues my case for me. Thanks Dan, I couldn’t have said this better myself! After explaining that, of course, we cannot ask Solomon what he meant by a proverb, he goes on as follows:

However, behind Solomon is the Spirit of God, who does still live. It would insult the truth of the sufficiency of Scripture to ask for further direct revelation, but it honors that same sufficiency to ask God to open our understanding. It is as we think hard and analytically about Scripture that the Lord gives us understanding (2 Timothy 2:7). We won't ask for new law, but we will pray that God opens our eyes to behold wonders out of the revelation already given.

What Dan is telling us to ask for is essentially what I call a prophecy or a revelation with a small "r," or perhaps more acceptably to Dan, an “illumination”. Anyway, back on track . . . His second step is as follows

2. HONOR THE GENRE

I love the way Dan says the following here:

“A proverb communicates a truth. It does not characteristically communicate all truth. It is a sage insight; it isn't a legal contract.”

We cannot interpret proverbs the same way we would a letter, or the books of the Law! Dan explains that proverbs often simply compare to things with the aim of making it clear that one of them is better than the other. This does not always mean that the better one is best or even at all times better! Some proverbs seem to contradict each other — if we understand the purpose of proverbs, this should not surprise us!

3. ESTABLISH THE AUTHOR'S CONTEXT

Allowing the rest of the book to effect our interpretation of individual proverbs protects us from obvious errors!

4. FIND THE LARGER CONTEXT

For those of us who believe the Bible to be God's Word in its entirety, it is not wrong for us to interpret Proverbs against the backdrop of what the rest of the Bible says — a proverb cannot be intended to contradict the clear teaching of Scripture elsewhere!

5. PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

When we synthesise our efforts, we should find (since we believe in the clarity of Scripture) that the meaning pops out at us and hits us between the eyes the way only a proverb can!

This past Sunday I was privileged to listen to the second part of our series on Proverbs. This time we focused on the topic of work and, of course, the sluggard featured heavily in the sermon. It is a sermon that is well worth a listen, and I commend it to you. What better time than for me to share with you a collection of proverbs related to the sluggard.

I would love for some of my readers who have blogs to take one of these proverbs and use it as a springboard for a post. In a sense, the book of Proverbs is a book of sound bites. To me these sound bites just cry out to be blogged. My favourite blog posts always are those which take a sound bite from somewhere and react to it in some way — either ask it a question, challenge it, applaud it, explain it, expand it, apply it, or whatever. Play with these words a bit and may God use them to bless others!

Please pray for me as I prepare to preach the next sermon in this series on Sunday.


Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Proverbs 6:9
How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

Proverbs 10:26
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 15:19
The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.

Proverbs 19:24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 21:25
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

Proverbs 22:13
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

Proverbs 24:30
I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense . . .

Proverbs 26:13
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”

Proverbs 26:14
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

Proverbs 26:15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Last Sunday I posted the first in a series of posts I am planning which will be a collection of Proverbs by subject. Today I thought I would share with you proverbs about the scoffer. As Tope pointed out in his sermon (linked to in last week's post), the scoffer is one of two types of “fool” mentioned in Proverbs. A quick search of the Bible will reveal that there are few mentions of the scoffer outside of the book of Proverbs, and that, not surprisingly, all mentions are negative. That might not seem surprising, but in our culture I suspect that the scoffer would, in fact, be honoured. He might be called the cynic, the self-assured, the realist or the independent thinker.

One of our society's favourite songs is “I Did it My Way . . . .” How many of us seek out correction and welcome it? Do we not instead inwardly smart and find ourselves secretly hating the person who dared to correct us? “It's my life,” we say, “I didn’t ask you for your advice!” Sadly, we are often only too willing to criticise others, often in an angry dismissive way — we who ourselves hate the notion of others correcting us!

When you read of the scoffer, don't think about other people. Instead, ask yourself: “Am I like this — even just a little bit?” For the character of the scoffer is not set in stone. God intends for us to change, and provides us with all that we need for godliness. This is both through the Spirit in us and through our Christian brothers and sisters. How does this work? Quite simply by the scoffer understanding he cannot go on living this way and seeking out someone he trusts enough to whom he can open his life — someone to whom he can say, "Please be honest. What do you see in me that I ought to think about changing?"

As I was reading these proverbs through again today, I fear that we could easily switch the word “scoffer” for the word “blogger.” These proverbs have so much in them to challenge the Christian blogging community. How easily could we write — “Bloggers set a city aflame,” or “. . . a blogger doesn’t listen to a rebuke,” or “whoever corrects a blogger gets himself abuse,” or dare I say it — “Blogger is the name of the arrogant haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.” I do not say this merely to rebuke other bloggers — I am only too well aware of these tendencies in myself.

I would love to issue a challenge to any blogger willing to take it up to mention one of these proverbs on their own blog and discuss how we can avoid falling into this kind of behaviour — both online and in our off-blog lives.

The Scoffer in Proverbs

Prov 1:22
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Prov 9:7
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

Prov 9:8
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Prov 13:1
A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Prov 14:6
A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

Prov 15:12
A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Prov 19:25
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Prov 19:29
Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

Prov 21:11
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

Prov 21:24
“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

Prov 22:10
Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarrelling and abuse will cease.

Prov 24:9
The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Prov 29:8
Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

People often say that common sense is not common. Last Sunday Tope began a sermon series at my church. His sermon is available online and forms a fantastic introduction to this amazing book of the Bible. The audio of this sermon is available online.

To me, it seems that as well as simply reading the book through, this book lends itself well to collecting verses together by subject. I have had some fun using my Logos Bible Software to do just this with the book of Proverbs, and thought I would share some of the results of my searches here. So to begin with, here is what Proverbs says about wisdom . . .

Wisdom in Proverbs

Prov 1:2
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

Prov 1:3
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

Prov 1:5
Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Prov 1:6
to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Prov 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 1:20
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;

Prov 2:2
making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;

Prov 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Prov 2:7
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Prov 2:10
for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

Prov 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Prov 3:13
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

Prov 3:19
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

Prov 3:21
My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Prov 3:35
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Prov 4:5
Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Prov 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Prov 4:11
I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

Prov 5:1
My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,

Prov 6:6
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Prov 7:4
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,

Prov 8:1
Does not wisdom call ? Does not understanding raise her voice?

Prov 8:11
for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Prov 8:12
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

Prov 8:14
I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.

Prov 8:33
Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

Prov 9:1
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.

Prov 9:8
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Prov 9:9
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Prov 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Prov 9:12
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Prov 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Prov 10:8
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Prov 10:13
On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Prov 10:14
The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Prov 10:23
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Prov 10:31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

Prov 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Prov 11:29
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

Prov 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

Prov 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Prov 12:18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Prov 13:1
A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Prov 13:10
By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

Prov 13:14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Prov 13:20
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Prov 14:3
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Prov 14:6
A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

Prov 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Prov 14:16
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Prov 14:24
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

Prov 14:33
Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

Prov 14:35
A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Prov 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Prov 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Prov 15:12
A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Prov 15:20
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Prov 15:31
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Prov 15:33
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Prov 16:14
A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it.

Prov 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Prov 16:21
The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Prov 16:23
The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Prov 17:2
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

Prov 17:16
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

Prov 17:24
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Prov 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Prov 18:4
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Prov 18:15
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Prov 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Prov 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Prov 20:18
Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

Prov 20:26
A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

Prov 21:11
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

Prov 21:20
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Prov 21:22
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

Prov 21:30
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.

Prov 22:17
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

Prov 23:15
My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

Prov 23:19
Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.

Prov 23:23
Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Prov 23:24
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Prov 24:3
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

Prov 24:5
A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

Prov 24:6
for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Prov 24:7
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.

Prov 24:14
Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Prov 24:23
These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.

Prov 25:12
Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

Prov 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Prov 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 27:11
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.

Prov 28:11
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

Prov 28:26
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Prov 29:3
He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Prov 29:8
Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

Prov 29:9
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Prov 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Prov 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Prov 30:3
I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

Prov 30:24
Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

Prov 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

I have been looking through the archives and found an old series of tag blogging David Wayne and I did on counselling- I miss those days of tag blogging with the Jollyblogger! We began by looking at What is Christian Counseling and personality types then Joolyblogger asked about "What about depression?" we were both eager to point out that whilst depression can have biological causes, false expectations can be a major contributory factor. I also spoke of Addiction , the ability to change and the vital need to approach Christian problems in a holistic manner.


Update

Over at Counseling notes is a post by a gracious blogger who has gone to the trouble of listing all our posts on counselling in an organised manner. He also highlighted one of the important divisions between us brits and you Americans- I say counselling and you say counseling!

So here is the counselling series in order of posting-

Counseling series from assorted blogs
Biological basis for behaviour�.
A Christian AND a Psychiatrist?
Review of �Shattered Dreams� by Larry Crabb
Biblical counselling #1 What is counselling?
Biblical Evidence For Four Temperaments?
Biblical counselling #2 What about personality types?
Holistic counselling and pastoring (Biblical counselling #3)
On Christian Counseling
On Christian Counseling - II - Can Depression Ever Be a Good Thing
The ability to change - biblical counseling #4
A BRIEF WORD ON DEPRESSION
Addiction- illness, choice or a bit of both? (Biblical counselling #5)
Idolatry as a Paradigm for Christian Counseling
Idolatory or depression (biblical counselling #6)
Should I have counselling or a psychiatrist or both? (Biblical Counselling #7)

From Counseling Notes
Biological Basis for Behavior
A Christian AND a Psychiatrist?
Adrian Warnock�s UK Evangelical Blog: Biblical counselling #1 What is counselling?
Personality Tests and Inventories
Christian Counseling: Aspects of People�s Problems
Depression
Counseling and Change
Addiction

What thoughts do you have on Christian Counselling? What resources or links have you found helpful? To follow the conversation on Christian Counselling, I have created a Google Blogsearch - you can even add it as a RSS feed to your newsreader.

Proverbs 3:5-6
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 [some translations: make straight] your paths.

Thought I would repost an old set of sermon notes here:

Intro
How can I know God's will? What if I make a mistake? if my life is in such a mess at the moment can I really be in God's will? Shall I give up and go somewhere else where it will all be alright?

The bible says without vision the people perish or alternatively cast off all restraint. SO it is critical for us as Christians to be convinced that we are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing in the right way, with the right people under the right leadership and for the right motives.

Only that certainty will keep us going when things seem hard or people question why we are doing something.

So the key question of our life and of this talk is 'How can I know that I am doing the right and best thing' or alternatively 'how can I know God's will'? The too are of course identical- a fact which many miss.

The aim of this message is nothing less than that you will go out of this room understanding the steps needed to receive God's guidance and be enabled to practice them with complete confidence of being in the centre of God's will and the very best place that you could be.

In these verses, are a promise. God says if we fulfil certain conditions, he will direct us. Direct v straighten or make pleasant- examples in the bible of each. Refer to Job 37:3 'sends it forth'.

God is more ready to guide you than you are to be guided. Jn 7: 17 If anyone desires to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself. Ps 25:12 What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall teach him in the way that he shall choose.

The starting point is not our ability to hear God. Many Christians go wrong at this point. We only know in part, and our hearts are deceptive so if it was to depend solely or even mainly on our ability to hear God we would be in trouble.

A famous American preacher tells us that very regularly men will come to him and say something like this 'God has told me that I have made a mistake and married the wrong woman for me. To get back into his will I must divorce my wife and marry this other lady in the church'. To us that seems obviously wrong, but it rests nonetheless as a strong warning against relying too much on 'hearing God' only for our guidance. In fact, hearing God and learning how to do that, as important as that is  the wrong place to start.
So: How can we hear God?

There are only three conditions outlined here, and if we meet these, we can have an absolute confidence that God wont let us make a mistake. We may start off down the wrong path, but if we follow these conditions, we will be brought back on track- to use the NIV word he will straighten our path.

1 Trust in God with all your heart

heart does not equal emotions, but the centre of our being- the decision making, and constant part of us that doesn't change. We may not feel like trusting God but must preach at ourselves that we are to trust him and have every reason to.

Trust him in the bible

v1-4 outlines this. We must come to the conclusion that his word is truth.

Jn17:17- Jesus said it- can we believe it. Here we have absolute guidance which never fails. Do not go to God to speak to you if the answer is found in the word. Immediately you fall down at the first hurdle and give the devil a field day and permission to speak to you.

A command in the bible does not need to come to you specifically in revelation for it to be binding on you ! Do not wait for God to speak to you about baptism- if you want to follow him, obey what he already has said.

A leading Christian gynecologist, made the mistake of seeking God for a sign regarding abortion. He was given a sign alright that it was fine what he was doing- but I am sure it wasn't from the same God who said 'In the womb I knew you' Jer 1:5. A deceptive vision is a key reason why we face the abortion problem in the UK to the degree we do.

Trust his ways

Mercy and truth are always the best way of handling a situation- maybe simply asking yourself what is the most truthful and merciful way of dealing with this will answer the question.

Trust him with your money lets not get complacent about this! v9

Trust him in difficulties v 11- Gods chastening isn't about punishment however- rather correction and training, also as with Paul, a problem can be granted us to prevent us getting proud or whatever. Will you believe he really has your best at heart and is working for good (ro 8)

Believe that he is the strong all powerful God who's decisions are infinitely better than ours

Trust him in others-

    * Your husband
    * Your leaders
    * Even that he will change the hearts of unbelievers where necessary

This is one way he guides us separate from us hearing God


2. Trust not in your own understanding
Do NOT trust

    * The worlds ideas foolishness
    * Man- even Christians ultimately- we put no trust in flesh- we are to trust God in people though!
    * Ourselves = 2nd point ie We are not the clever ones!

What seems reasonable is not necessarily right!

Solomon the worlds wisest man wrote this. But Solomon, God gave you your common sense. Surely you should follow it. This way makes sense, so God must be in it. If you do that you will get more money to give to the kingdom of God, so God must be in it. Solomon replies 'No- I will not depend on my great wisdom and understanding- don't you realize how puny that is- I know in part, God knows fully- God may seem foolish at times to me- but even that foolishness is far wiser than the wisest I could be- God gave me my brains yes, but I will trust in him first. I do know what I am talking about- after all I didn;t always do that- Kings have lots of wives and it seemed reasonable to me that I should marry to extend treaties with my neighbours. When the wives wanted me to join them in worshipping their gods it seemed sensible to me to do so- after all if I went with them, perhaps they would come with me to God's temple and would be converted- how wrong I was!'

This is not to say that reason is always worthless. Principles are important, but just sometimes God will act outside our principles. It is a good principle to be very wary of giving prophetic words that speak of God promising children to people. I stand by that. But one day recently God spoke to me with such clarity to tell the couple we were praying with who were struggling to conceive that soon he would give them a child and it was to be a picture of the fruitfulness of their ministry. My reason said- don't be silly, what if you are wrong. But I knew God had spoken. So I said it. A few months later we found out that the woman was pregnant and had become pregnant immediately on us praying. Now don't go out and do this unless you are absolutely sure God has spoken, and even then as I did you must show there is room for weighing and it being wrong- but this is an example where good reasoning in a certain situation was wrong.

This is so vital. We must truly believe that God's way is best.  But what about.....If God speaks trust him with the what abouts!
Finally

Acknowledge him every step you take.

Even if you are absolutely sure you are in God's will, as you go down a path we must say. 'Not my will but yours'. If I am wrong Lord, show me. Speak to me. Tell my husband/ leader. Shut a door. Do whatever you need to to keep me on track.

We will often have a prayer time like that about an important decision, and then ask each other has God said anything. If he hasn't, or if he has, then I will make the decision and say. 'Right, this is what we will do'. At that point it is easy to panic and not do anything. But it is easier to guide a moving ship. DO something. Make a step. Don't commit yourself though emotionally or in any other way initially. Instead hold it lightly. Better to look a fool by withdrawing an offer on a house, or fouling up at an interview or whatever than end up bludgeoning your way into something that is not of God.

Maybe you feel that you've already blown it. You've made your path crooked already. God spoke about something and you ran away. You went into something without having these attitudes. Perhaps up to this point you feel God hasn't been absolutely free to take you where he wants and do with you as he wishes. Well theres a promise here for you too.

Fulfil these criteria today. From today on resolve to surrender to God's ways. Perhaps talk to one of us, and God will restraigten you path. The inheritance can be redeemed. You can get back into the centre of God's will. And amazingly when you do so (and not before!) God can even change your mistakes and sins around to be part of his purpose for you and his world. We spoke of Solomon. Not many of us may realise that his mother was Bathsheba the same woman David committed adultery with and murdered her husband. A product of this very wrong relationship became an ancestor of Christ.

So fulfil these criteria and know with all certainty that whether by prophetic revelation or by common sense or by circumstances or by whatever means God will keep you on the right path.    

Many Christians struggle with finding God's will for their lives. I though I would share with you an old sermon I preached on this matter......

Proverbs 3:5-6

by Adrian Warnock

Introduction

A changing, uncertain world. Cast off tradition and Christian ways of doing things now what do we base decisions on?

Illustrate from politics. Tony champions even a britain where the elite is finnished. Family values, but a foreign minister can be trusted to keep his promises to his country when he cant to his wife.

Confusion in workplace- different options our fathers never had. Which is right for me?

Confusion in leisure- too much choice.

For Christians- how can I know God's will what if I make a mistake. if my life is in such a mess at the moment can I really be in God's will Shall I give up and go somewhere else where it will all be alright Some of my friends have apparently heard God and now moved on- how can I know I havent missed him speaking to me

As a church- should we buy a building- if so which one How far along the cell route should we go How should we prepare for revival How will we see more leaders raised up?

The bible says without vision the people perish or alternatively cast off all restraint. SO it is critical for us as Christians to be convinced that we are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing in the right way, with the right people under the right leadership and for the right motives.

Only that certaintly will keep us going when things seem hard or people question why we are doing something.

So the key question of our life and of this talk is 'How can I know that I am doing the right and best thing' or altenatively 'how can I know God's will'? The too are of course identical- a fact which many miss.

The aim of this message is nothing less than that you will go out of this room understanding the steps needed to receive God's guidance and be enabled to practice them with complete confidence of being in the centre of God's will and the very best place that you could be.

In these verses, are a promise. God says if we fulfill certain conditions, he will direct us. Direct v straigten or make pleasant- examples in the bible of each. Refer to Job 37:3 'sends it forth'.

God is more ready to guide you than you are to be guided. Jn 7: 17 If anyone desires to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself. Ps 25:12 What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall teach him in the way that he shall choose.

The starting point is not our abilty to hear God. Many Christians go wrong at this point. We only know in part, and our hearts are deceptive so if it was to depend soley or even mainly on our ability to hear God we would be in trouble.

A famous American preacher tells us that very regularly men will come to him and say something like this 'God has told me that I have made a mistake and married the wrong woman for me. To get back into his will I must divorce my wife and marry this other lady in the church'. To us that seems obviously wrong, but it rests nonetheless as a strong warning against relying too much on 'hearing God' only for our guidance. In fact, hearing God and learning how to do that, as important as that is is the wrong place to start.

So: How can we hear God?

There are only three conditions outlined here, and if we meet these, we can have an absolute confidence that God wont let us make a mistake. We may start off down the wrong path, but if we follow these conditions, we will be brought back on track- to use the NIV word he will straighten our path.

1 Trust in God with all your heart

heart does not equal emotions, but the centre of our being- the decion making, and constant part of us that doesnt change. we may not feel like trusting God but must preach at oursleves that we are to trust him and have every reason to.

Trust him in the bible

v1-4 outlines this. We must come to the conclusion that his word is truth.

Jn17:17- Jesus said it- can we believe it. Here we have absolute guidance which never fails. Do not go to God to speak to you if the answer is found in the word. Immediately you fall down at the first hurdle and give the devil a field day and permission to speak to you.

The heresy of the concept of the rhema word of God, where a word has to come to you specifically in revelation for it to be binding on you is wrong. Do not wait for God to speak to you about baptism- if you want to follow him, obey what he already has said.

A leading Christian gynaecoligist, made the mistake of seaking God for a sign regarding abortion. He was given a sign alright that it was fine what he was doing- but I am sure it wasnt from the same God who said 'In the womb I knew you' Jer 1:5. A deceptive vision is a key reason why we face the abortion problem in the UK to the degree we do.

Trust his ways

Mercy and truth are always the best way of handling a situation- maybe simply asking yourself what is the most truthful and merciful way of dealing with this will answer the question.

Trust him with your money lets not get complacent about this! v9

Trust him in difficulties v 11- Gods chastening isnt about punishment however- rather correction and training, also as with Paul, a problem can be granted us to prevent us getting proud or whatever. Will you believe he really has your best at heart and is working for good (ro 8)

Believe that he is the strong all powerful GOd who's decisions are infinitely better than ours

Trust him in others-

• Your husband
• Your leaders
• Even that he will change the hearts of unbelievers where necessary

This is one way he guides us separate from us hearing God

We thought we had the right house and God made the vendor refuse our offer and decide they wanted more money than they had asked for at first. When we heard this we said to the agent we are fed up of all this, and to be honest at that moment we almost felt like giving up. The next minute the agent said- well there is something just coming onto the market....and we got the cheapest and nicest place we had seen all year! Do NOT trust

• The worlds ideas foolishness
• Man- even christians ultimately- we put no trust in flesh- we are to trust God in people though!
• Ourselves = 2nd point ie We are not the clever ones!

What seems reasonable is not necessarily right!

Solomon the worlds wisest man wrote this. But Solomon, God gave you your common sense. Surely you should follow it. This way makes sense, so God must be in it. If you do that you will get more money to give to the kingdom of God, so God must be in it. Solomon replies 'No- I will not depend on my great wisdom and understanding- don't you realise how puny that is- I know in part, God knows fully- God may seem foolish at times to me- but even that foolishness is far wiser than the wisest I could be- God gave me my brains yes, but I will trust in him first. I do know what I am talking about- after all I didn;t allways do that- Kings have lots of wives and it seemed reasonable to me that I should marry to extend treaties with my neighbours. When the wives wanted me to join them in worshipping their gods it seemed sensible to me to do so- after all if I went with them, perhaps they would come with me to God's temple and would be converted- how wrong I was!'

This is not to say that reason is always worthless. Principles are important, but just sometimes God will act outside our principles. It is a good principle to be very wary of giving prophetic words that speak of God promising children to people. I stand by that. But one day recently God spoke to me with such clarity to tell the couple we were praying with who were struggling to conceive that soon he would give them a child and it was to be a picture of the fruitfulness of their ministry. My reason said- dont be silly, what if you are wrong. But I knew God had spoken. So I said it. A few months later we found out that the woman was pregnant and had become pregnant immediately on us praying- in fact the scan even seemed to suggest she had become pregnant a couple of weeks before. Now don't go out and do this unless you are absoulutely sure God has spoken, and even then as I did you must show there is room for wieghing and it being wrong- but this is an example where good reasoning in a certain situation was wrong.

This is so vital. We must truly beleive that God's way is best. But what about schooling for my children- well if God calls you he will sort that out. But what about.....If GOd speaks trust him with the what abouts!

Finally

Acknowledge him every step you take.

Even if you are absoulutely sure you are in God's will, as you go down a path we must say. 'Not my will but yours'. If I am wrong Lord, show me. Speak to me. Tell my husband/ leader. Shut a door. Do whatever you need to to keep me on track.

We will often have a prayer time like that about an important decision, and then ask each other has God said anything. If he hasnt, or if he has, then I will make the decision and say. 'Right, this is what we will do'. At that point it is easy to panic and not do anything. But it is easier to guide a moving ship. DO something. Make a step. Don't commit yourself though emotionally or in any other way initially. Instead hold it lightly. Better to look a fool by withdrawing an offer on a house, or fouling up at an interview or whatever than end up bludgeoning your way into something that is not of God.

Maybe you feel that you've already blown it. You've made your path crooked already. God spoke about something and you ran away. You went into something without having these attitudes. Perhaps up to this point you feel God hasnt been absolutely free to take you where he wants and do with you as he wishes. Well theres a promise here for you too.

Fulfill these criterea today. From today on resolve to surrender to God's ways. Perhaps talk to one of us, and God will restraigten you path. AS Ian said yesterday- the inheritance can be redeemed. You can get back into the centre of God's will. And amazingly when you do so (and not before!) God can even change your mistakes and sins around to be part of his purpose for you and his world. We spoke of Solomon. Not many of us may realise that his mother was Bathsheba the same woman David committed adultery with and murdered her husband. A product of this very wrong relationship became an anscestor of Christ.

So fulfill these cirterea and know with all certainty that wether by prophetic revelation or by common sense or by circumstances or by whatever means God will keep you on the right path.

The reverberations continue. 'in the outer' reports his experiences of counselling,. and asks can a Christian be depressed? The answer to this question is of course yes.

Proverbial Wife has done a great job of sharing her own experience of different types of christian counselling.

It futher highlights how different models are used by Christians. If you are considering counselling for yourself then always ask what model is being used and consider whether if fits with your own understanding and what you are looking for.

Also, ensure that your counsellor will be willing to refer you on for a medical assessment if necessary. Reasons to ask for a biological psychiatrist assessment would include (but not exclusively)

-An inability to function socially as you used to be able to (eg unable to work, do housework, relate to your family, etc)
-Suicidal thoughts or feelings
-Hallucinations or thoughts that others believe to be bizarre
-Erratic or dangerous behaviour
-Urges to harm others
-Depression that is overwhelming
-Mood swings
-Previous history of mental illness
-Family history of mental illness

I find that many Christians are too reluctant to go to their doctors and say 'I may need help'. There is absolutely no reason why someone receiving Christian counselling ought not to have a Psychiatric assessment alongside it. Far better to ask for one and be told you are well and don't need a biological psychiatrist's help than not ask when you do.

Jollyblogger believes that depression can be sparked by idolatory: "idols begin as desires which may be good, bad or innocuous. But we often raise the bar on desire and call it a need. Once we elevate something to the status of 'need' it becomes something on which our well being depends. "

There is no doubt in my mind that much depression in Christians is caused by false expectations. We believe that being a Christian should mean all our problems disappear. We think God owes us a good life. When things go wrong Christians both blame God and lapse into depression if they are not able to recognise the sovereignty of God.

To my mind a solid belief that God is in change and ordering even the 'bad' events of our life for our good is very protective against depression.

As I have said previously though, not every case of depression in a Christian will be caused by faulty theology or dashed expectations. But casting ourselves onto God will be of help in lifting depression for anyone (even if other treatments are needed alongside)

Is addiction simply an illness as Doctor in the house feels?

The simple fact is that medical science is rock-solid in conclusion that alcoholism and addiction are well-established disease processes, comprised of genetic, physiologic, and mental illness components. As a quick MEDLINE search will demonstrate, there is a vast amount of medical literature addressing this disease in its many medical, psychological, behavioral and social aspects.

Is it rather a social phenomena where we are all to blame for the downtrodden seeking a way out? Is it simply a matter of choice?

My view is it is rather more complex than any one of those answers. There is definitely an element of choice at the begining, and it does have social dimensions, but some of us are physically more susceptible than others. Many of us will have dabbled with alcohol without becomming alcoholics or have smoked the odd cigarette without becoming a smoker.

It is interesting that the 12 steps of the AA, which have much dependence on biblical principles have led to many people being set free. Sometimes utilising medical help alongside such a process will give the best chance of success. Over here there is definitely not enough help on offer for people with addictions.

Becoming free is often a rather a slow process though, and I wonder how many churches have enough grace and patience to help people in this need

I have already spoken in my earlier posts about the vital need for us to recognise that Christian's should expect to be able to change. Some types of counselling seems to focus on trying to find explanations for why we are the way we are. This is only ever useful if it is the first step to enabling us to change.

The bible is full of commands that we are expected to fullfill. It is no use us simply saying 'but I cant do that'. God never commands us to do that which is impossible. Whilst we will have a lifetime's struggle, we should expect it to be an ever more victorious one (even if there are setbacks along the way)

It is my belief that one of the areas we should focus on most as christians is our thought life. It is vital to distinguish between thoughts and feelings here. People often say something like "I feel inadequate" or "I feel inferior". This is wrong of course as these are not emotions but cognitions. We must learn to question our thoughts and the rational basis for them. Ironically of course sometimes these are accurate assesmments- you feel like a failure because you ARE one! It is no use pretending you are not- but fortunately you are not the only failure- we all are!

God is in the business of changing failures into successes. One of the ways that needs to happen is in our thought life. Also, we sometimes need to just start behaving in the ways we would if the problem was solved. So, if struggling to forgive a close family member, taking a step to bless them by buying a small present might be hard to do, and we might be feeling like a hypocrite as we do it, but the act of doing the right thing will begin to change our thoughts and feelings.

As Jay Adams puts it (Christian Counsellors manual, p 118) one of the devils most cunning tricks is to pursuade men that "they cannot do what God requres because they do not feel like doing it. or that they must do what they feel like doing and cannot help themselves"

We live in an age that fosters our desires and turns them into "felt needs" and then proceeds to try and sell the satisfaction of those needs to us. The gospel teaches us to die to our desires and live for others.

Perhaps the best example of this is the biblical command to love one another- or particulalry ones wife. The biblical response to someone saying they have fallen out of love with their spouse is to teach them how to act in such a way as to rekindle that love.

Our counselling should focus on our responsiblity to make wise choices and act in according to Gods ways. A detailed self-examination for hidden sin, followed by confession and repentance goes a long way to solving many problems. Repentance and change are the hallmarks of the maturing Christian.

God really has given us what we need for this process to occurr.

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Recommended reading
If this post has interested you, why not by some books by Jay Adams from the USA or UK
amazon stores

Once again Jollyblogger and I are playing 'tag' with a subject- others are welcome to jump in. I am a great fan of the 'nouthetic' teaching that Jollyblogger explains so well.

I think that when people argue as to what degree should we integrate with psychological theories they perhaps sometimes miss an important aspect of people and their problems.

In my view most peoples problems are actually rather complex and have different aspects to them. I have seen Christians lurch from one model to another, putting all their hope in the latest focus for them, and wondering why they havent obtained the freedom they were aiming for.

I like to think of people and their problems as multifacetted. All too often secular and christian counsellors both make the same error- they focus on only one of these aspects. Sometimes it is helpful to address more than one facet of the problem at the same time.

The bible obviously addresses all of the facets of our problems, but in all honesty it addresses certain aspects more than others. People and their problems have the following aspects-

Biology
Back in January I spoke about the fact that there is a growing evidence base for the biological basis of behaviour.

Happy Husband had discovered that having a bad thyroid had impacted on his mood and behaviour negatively. Many other illnesses will have similar effects. We all know that brain damage, dementia and some illnesses that are increasingly being recognised to have a physical basis (like schizophrenia) can make a difference to how we think, feel and behave.

We should never allow biology to totally replace our responsibility, however. The evidence is strong for genetic inheritability of some of these conditions, and also for a complex interaction with many of the other facets of our life.

Medication can thus often be of help, but should never be seen as the sole solution to a Christian's problem. Also, meeting our physical needs like food and sleep is also important to our well being

Volition (or choices we make)
Christians should be clear about their own responsibilities for their problems. We make choices, and whilst these choices are not entirely free- they are influenced by each of the other areas of our life we are addressing- they are none the less choices.

It is for these choices that we must repent when they are wrong. It is this area that above all others a Christian pastor or counsellor should be an expert in dealing with.

The gospel directly addresses our failure to choose correctly, how there are consequences in this life and the next for this, and how we can repent and receive forgiveness.

I am not really aware of any area of secular counselling that even begins to address this- if we are not careful our focus on other areas outlined in this post can lead to us totally absolving ourselves of responsibility- something we should never do!

Cognition (thought life)

Interestingly it wasnt even a Christian who said that The essence of all cognitive theories is that we are not controlled by events,but by the meanings we give to events. "

We actually make choices about how we think. It is true that thoughts can spring up in our mind from nowhere, but it is also thue that we can decide whether to dwell on the thought, challenge it or dismiss it. The bible has a lot to say about taking every thought captive, and about us reprogramming our minds to recognise the truth.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is now widely used in the secular world. Some of its 'common sense' suggestions about replacing negative patterns of thinking with positive ones can definitely be of help to the Christian.

The 'go away and meditate three times a day on this scripture' approach may even have a place here. Good preaching should challenge our thinking but also by doing so may well alter our feelings and behaviour. Sometimes we should listen to a helpful sermon over and over again until it 'sinks in'.

Getting our doctrine right is vital to a Christians progress in the faith and to solving their problems. I once heard a preacher say, he preached in such a way as to minimise the amount of pastoral counselling he would need to do.

But we must never imagine that reprogramming our thinking is a quick job and will immediately help us when we are in trouble. Actually what we tell ourselves before troubles start is probably more important than what we can do in this area at the time of difficulties. A well meaning 'don't you realise God is in charge' for example can sometimes be less than helpful to the sufferer!

Behaviour or actions
Even secular literature has recognised that it is not always best to concentrate exclusively on feelings and has recognised the need to at times ask �How are you doing� and �What do you need to do� rather than �How are you feeling�. (Summerfield, Asylum-seekers, refugees and mental health services in the UK , Psychiatric Bulletin (2001) 25: 161-163)

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do for people is help them to become active- �unemployment is associated with early death, divorce, family violence, accidents, suicide, higher mortality rates in spouse and children, anxiety and depression, disturbed sleep patterns and low self-esteem� SMITH, R. (1992) "Without work all life goes rotten." British Medical Journal, 305, 972).

Often a Christian counsellor will want to encourage people to simply act in a certain way even if they don't feel like it. Behavioural theories are often advocated by secular counsellors as well as Christian parenting experts.

Certainly thinking of behaviours as habits, and examining the rewards we get from them is an approach that can be godly. The bible is full of talk about rewards and it is not wrong as a Christian to do something so we will be rewarded.

Do something once and it may be very hard to do, the second time its easier and often by the third time its an automatic habit! In many ways behavioural habits are the best way to explain what many describe as 'personality'.

Feelings
The bible view of feelings is that they are not to be trusted. Influenced by all other aspects, we certainly shouldnt let them rule us. Much of society seems to want us to do just that. If we 'feel' we need something, it doesnt necessary mean we should have it

The feelings are often the last to 'come in line' and we will often have to encourage people that their feelings will catch up.

Unchristian ideas like 'ventilation' and 'releasing my pent up anger' in my view have almost NO place. Sometimes, people become so used to supressing their feelings that providing a safe environment to be emotional is appropriate. Solutions to problems are rarely found that way, however.

Much 'counselling' seems to be about allowing someone to express their feelings in their entirity and simply validating them whilst sympathetically nodding. The concept of feelings as something to tame is alien to many in our society.

Relationships
There is nothing more certain to cause depression than broken relationships, whether caused by sin, relocation or death. Even secular psychologists recognise that man was never meant to be alone.

The bible has clear instructions about peacemaking We have much to teach the world on this one. All too often counsellors will take sides with their counselee, and even encourage relationship breakdown.

Not doing everything in your power to live in peace will have signicant impacts on all aspects of your life. Couple therapy and family therapy have been attempts at approaching this area from secular counsellors. Forgiveness is probably more powerful than any other intervention that might be proposed.

Much psychotherapy, particularly of the psychodynamic sort is actually about the relationship that is formed when counselling is undergone. We should be very aware of how we relate. Should a pastor ever relate in a purely professional way to a member of his church? In my view they should not. We are family, not a business. The loving church family by simply befriending the friendless can bring great sollace and healing.

The past
The victim mentality is very prevalant. Certain experiences are so bad that people are expected to be permanently damaged by them. PTSD and trauma debriefing therapy often seeks to get people to relive their bad experiences- sometimes that can even make things worse.

Consigning an event to the past and making sense of it can sometimes be a very hard task. I have seen people still haunted by events they experienced many years before. We must not be defined by our past however, and I believe there is always hope for an ability to make sense of events and continue with our lives- even if it does take a very long time. Forgiveness can help here also.

The future
Solution focussed therapists encourage people to think of a preferred future. Remoralisation is one way of describing what is thought to often be the most imporatant aspect of any psychological intervention. To move someone from a helpless, hopeless position to one where they believe that just maybe the future may be better for them is priceless.

The bible is very clear that we as Christians have a hope. We must not be afraid to explore with people their dreams for the future and then help them develop a sense of vision and purpose that can be earthed to the next step they can make tomorrow. I have at times asked the miracle question "if a miracle happened tonight whilst you were asleep and all your problems were solved, how would you know tomorrow morning? What would be the first thing you would notice when you woke up that was different? And the next? And the next??"

Encouraging a kind of specific prayer that asks God to do a small thing in someones life is really helpful.

It reminds me of Jesus' question " do you want to be well?"

Supernatural
Christians do believe unlike many modern secular people in the personal reality of the devil and in the work of the Holy Spirit in an individual. We must not underplay the vital roll of prayer ministry and all the means of grace at the disposal of the Christian.

At the end of the day we are dependent on the work of the Holy Spirit bought for us by the work of Christ. A true revelation of the gospel, the rebirth, a conscious ongoing filling with the Spirit and an undertanding that God loves me goes a long way to leading me to wholeness.

Proverbial wife has a post detailing the possible links between modern concepts of 4 personality types and various things in scripture, including the presense of four gospels. Parableman is not so sure but acknowledges the intreging nature of this.

We all love taking tests and categorising ourselves. In some ways this is largely harmless and may even be of some use in our understanding ourselves, and our dominant ways of interacting with others.

This concept of personality can have some important weaknesses, however. Firstly if applied to rigidly it can actually diminish our individuality. In truth there are not four personalities out there. We may share certain attributes with another person who shares a personality label but we must never make the mistake of thinking that means we understand that person.

Thankfully there are as many personalities as there are individuals God has made. Our efforts to categorise should never serve to undervalue individuality.

Also, the very concept of personality as commonly understood today is problematic. To most, especially but not exclusively when speaking about 'personality disorder' a personality is "an enduring disposition to act and feel in particular ways that differentiate one individual from another. These patterns of behaviour are sometimes conceptualized as different categories (see personality disorder) and sometimes as different dimensions (see extroversion, neuroticism)."

There is a strong tendancy out there to believe that personalities are largely constant and may even be strongly genetically predetermined (whilst heavily influenced by early experiences). Thus a personality cannot be changed.

In the first post in this series I asked the question what is counselling? One of the important ways in which Christian counselling should differ from some types of counselling offered by the world is in the expectation of change.

Christians need to recognise that personalities can and do change. This is the essense of the gospel and must be central to evangelical counselling. If someone uses personality as an excuse for misbehaviour (lets call it sin shal we?) then we need to challenge them to recognise the need for them to become more like Christ. The fruit of the spirit are for all of us- there may be some of them that we find come more naturally to us, but the Christian should expect the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to transform him into Christs image

2 Corinthians 3
¹⁸And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,^[1] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Well, I don't think I can avoid it any longer. After a brief conversation that begun 'how can you be a Christian and a psychiatrist?' I went back into my self-imposed silence on the subject of counselling.

This is kind of strange as oviously it is an area that interests me. So here goes with a series on Biblical counselling. I want to start by speaking of the boundaries of counselling, and how it relates to other things we do. What is counselling? This depends entirely on who you speak to!

Psychologists might define it as follows-

The practice or profession of applying psychological theories and communication skills to clients' personal problems, concerns, or aspirations. Some forms of counselling also include advice-giving, but the dominant ethos is one of providing facilitation without directive guidance. Counselling psychologists work with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings, including counselling agencies, general practitioners' surgeries, educational establishments, business organizations, and private practice.
"counselling n." A Dictionary of Psychology. Andrew M. Colman. Oxford University Press, 2001. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.

or

A method of approaching psychological difficulties in adjustment that aims to help the client work out his own problems. The counsellor listens sympathetically, attempting to identify with the client, tries to clarify current problems, and sometimes gives advice.
"counselling n." Concise Medical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2002. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.


These definitions are rather different from an older way of using the word which is defined as follows

Advice, guidance, direction, recommendation, information; opinion, suggestion, warning, admonition, caution or consultation, discussion, conference, deliberation, dialogue
The Oxford American Thesaurus of Current English. Ed. Christine A. Lindberg. Oxford University Press, 1999. Oxford Reference Online

One immediate problem that a Christian has with counselling as defined in the first way is that we do not really believe that people can work out their own problems. The essense of Christianity means that we are helpless and needed someone to come and not even just tell us the way out of our problems (something many counsellors would never dream of doing!) but actually pick us up by the scruff of our neck and do something to us to make us change.

A Christian counsellor will often find themselves telling their fellow Christian 'This is what you need to do.....' To me true counselling is actually closely related to preaching. Rather than saying 'Don't preach at me' when we are in trouble, a preacher is exactly what we need (provided they are able to sympathetically communicate on a one to one level!)

Eph 2:8-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience� 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body [1] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But [2] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ�by grace you have been saved� 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

UPDATE
Part two now available

A reader asked "How can you be a christian and a psychiatrist? Does the methodology and beliefs of psychiatry not conflict with those of being a christian for you?"

Psychiatry often gets a bad press these days. Sometimes its the failure of services to prevent a suicide or even a murder. Sometimes its about psychiatrists trying to 'medicalise' bad behaviour and straying away from their territory. Sometimes the accusation is the opposite- that they are refusing to treat someone who is 'obviously' mentally ill because they have decided that the person doesnt suffer from a treatable mental illness.

Any Christian working in any career should find that there are methodologies and beliefs that conflict with theirs. We have a very different world view to those around us.

So how do I cope with that?

Firstly, most of my career was spent treating very sick people with medication which often transformed their lives. When someone is so depressed that they have stopped eating and drinking and are lying in bed almost comatose antidepressants can quite literally save lives.

The medical community are increasingly united around a belief that some if not much of what an acute psychiatrist deals with represent underlying brain diseases. There appears to me to be very little conflict in this area between Christianity and biological psychiatry.

I suspect that this reader was thinking about psychotherapy and such things. There is a lot that could be said about that but my taxi has arrived! For now, lets just say that there is much in modern psychological thinking that is indeed antichristian, but there is much that can be seen as consistant with biblical principles.

As a Christian we should recognise that we are people made up of a body a mind and a spirit who are in relationship with others. Clearly things that go wrong in one area can affect the others. Even if we are very spiritual we might well find that problems in other areas of our life have a significant impact on us.

Much so-called 'Christian counselling' concerns me greatly both as a bible student and as a psychiatrist. We need to learn a lot more about the bible, biology and the way our thinking works and apply this knowledge to our pastoral interactions as appropriate.

UPDATE
I have now started a series of posts on Biblical Counselling

�Love for God and ones neighbour constitutes the sum of Gods requirements for the Christian. The man who loves needs no counselling. Love cements relationships between God and man and man and man. While love attracts, fear repels. When love gives, lust grabs. What love builds, hatred destroys. With love communication flourishes; with resentment it withers. Love is the ultimate answer to all the problems of living with which the Christian counsellor deals. Love therefore is the goal� Jay Adams The Christian Counsellors Manual p 141

Mental health professioals necessarily act as prophet-theologians who define human nature and the meaning of life while typicaly excising God.They...shepherd the human soul to find refuge in itself, in other people, and in psychoactive medication, because they construct a universe baen of the living God....What kind of thing do these..'professionals' in counselling actually do? Church work.
David Powlison j.bib.counselling, 2000,19,19ff