Hoping well in suffering

Two months into this year, the Lord has had me serve those who have experienced death in their families. When death or any significant aspect of suffering comes our way, we can be as people standing before the Grand Canyon. We feel small and realize that there is something bigger at work.

I have learned much from those who suffer and more so from those who suffer as believers. There is something to be said when we hope well while under testing. While we may be stripped of friends, material comforts or health. what can not be stripped away is our hope in God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Hoping well in suffering means acknowledging that we are in anguish and that there is a balm for that. David said, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you in turmoil in me? hope in God"(Ps 42) We have to acknowledge the pain is there and then bring it to the one who is over all pain.

Hoping well in suffering also means having a future expectation of seeing our risen Lord who suffered well. Our living hope will be sufficient because it rest on the risen Christ.. Peter says we have a living hope that is beyond corruption and eternal. We in the midst of suffering, are being kept by God and wait to see our salvation.

Hoping well in suffering is the application to heart that God alone is our hope and provokes us to look forward to the day when we shall see with new eyes the hope of our soul; Jesus Christ.

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Servant Leadership: Declare the Full Counsel of God

Helpful words from Charles Spurgeon on Acts 20:26-27

The first thing that strikes us is the declaration of the apostle concerning the
doctrines he had preached. He had preached ALL the counsel of God. By
which I think we are to understand that he had given to his people the entire
gospel. He had not dwelt upon some one doctrine of it, to the exclusion of
the rest; but it had been his honest endeavour to bring out every truth
according to the analogy of faith. He had not magnified one doctrine into a
mountain, and then diminished another into a molehill; but he had
endeavoured to present all blended together, like the colours in the rainbow,
as one harmonious and glorious whole. Of course, he did not claim for
himself any infallibility as a man, although as an inspired man he was
without error in his writings. He had, doubtless, sins to confess in private,
and faults to bemoan God. He had, doubtless, sometimes failed to put a
truth as clearly as he could have wished, when preaching the Word; he had
not always been earnest as he could desire; but at least he could claim this,
that he had not wilfully kept back a single part of the truth as it is in
Jesus.

Now, I must bring down the apostle's saying to these modern times; and I
take it, if any one of us would clear our conscience by delivering the whole
counsel of God, we must take care that we preach in the first place the
doctrines of the gospel. We ought to declare the grand doctrine of the
Father's love towards his people from before all worlds. His sovereign
choice of them, his covenant purposes concerning them, and his immutable
promises to them, must all be uttered with trumpet tongue. Coupled with
this the true evangelist must never fail to set forth the beauties of the
person of Christ, the glory of his offices, the completeness of his work, and
above all, the efficacy of his blood. Whatever we omit, this must be in the
most forcible manner proclaimed again and again. That is no gospel which has
not Christ in it, and the modern idea of preaching THE TRUTH instead of
Christ, is a wicked device of Satan. Nor is this all, for as there are Three
Persons in the Godhead, we must be careful that they all have due honour in
our ministry. The Holy Spirit's work in regeneration, in sanctification and in
perseverance, must be always magnified from our pulpit. Without his power
our ministry is a dead letter, and we cannot expect his arm to be made bare
unless we honour him day-by-day.

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Helpful thoughts for the weekend

As you stand behind your pulpit, music stand or sit on your stool this week to speak the Word of God, here are some helpful reminders from Joel Beeke.

1. Speak the truth about God
2. Speak the truth about Man
3. Speak the truth about Christ
4. Speak the truth about sanctification by the Holy Spirit(my emphasis)
5. Speak the truth about eternal consequences

Do you see the thread in these reminders?

Taken from Feed my Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching, Soli Deo Gloria Publications

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Servant Leadership: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

The Gospel that raises up the church of God is not from men but from God. The impact of this is that men should be bold in the proclamation of it to the flock of God and the flock should equally be aware of how the Gospel is impacting our own lives.

What can we learn about servant leadership in the letter to the Thessalonians?

• Leaders in the face of conflict share Jesus Christ
• Leaders hearts are being weighed by God
• Leaders pursue the approval of God and will not be swayed by men
• Leaders who do not seek the approval of men will refuse to flatter, decieve or serve for the sake of money.
• Leaders share both the Gospel and their lives with their flock

A leader with the flock of God is a caring/nursing mother to the children of God. We are not self-serving, making demands because of position. We are men who are to have a great affection for the flock of God and so we share our very lives as well as the Gospel of God.

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Jesus Christ in Psalms 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the king, the Lord of Lords,
his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lamb, the offering of God,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To Christ alone who does great works,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who sustains all things,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who walked on the waters of Israel,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who is the Light of the World,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who is the Son of Righteousness,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who is the first born struck down,
his steadfast love endures forever.

He brought his bride and flock from out among them,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who unites both Jew and Gentile,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who overthrew Satan, Sin and Death,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who leads his people in green pastures,
his steadfast love endures forever.

To him who makes his enemies his footstool,
his steadfast love endures forever.

He is our land, our Israel,
his steadfast love endures forever.

A rest for all his chosen ones,
his steadfast love endures forever.

It is Christ who shared in our low estate,
his steadfast love endures forever.

And saved us from our sin,
his steadfast love endures forever.

He who is our food, the Bread of Life,
his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of Heaven,
his steadfast love endures forever.

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