It's for you

 

When I was a schoolboy our headmaster (‘Boris’ we called him for some unknown reason) would regularly lead the morning school assembly. From time to time a dreadful scenario would unfold. The headmaster would spot someone engaged in a misdemeanour, point his finger and demand ‘That boy - out! Go to my room’. Lamentably, lacking the ‘gimlet eye’ of Bunter’s Quelch it was seldom immediately obvious at whom the headmaster was looking. Often he would be in apoplexy as a series of innocents murmured ‘me?’ while the guilty individual continued to sit there convinced he could not be the one intended.

The same sort of thing often happens on the Lord’s Day in many a church. The preacher denounces a particular species of sin. It is a great help to many. But there are still some innocent ones who feel guilty where they ought not to and some guilty ones who assume they must be innocent of sin. Or he preaches on Christian assurance. Again, there are those who take comfort where they should not and those who fail to take comfort where they should.

Now and again in the past as I have preached I have noticed one or two in the congregation nodding off. Rather than picking on individuals and embarrassing them I have said ‘some of us are bit sleepy tonight, let’s wake ourselves up’. Almost invariably the best responses to such words are from those who have been alert anyway and the worst responses have been from the dozing ones!

The story is told of a man who attended a rather traditional church somewhere and his parting words at the door following every sermon he heard were ‘Excellent sermon! Just what they needed to here.’ The minister concerned did not notice the exact phraseology at first but slowly it began to sink in and it really saddened him to hear it. After a few years of this, there happened to be a very bad snow storm. It transpired that on that particular Sunday evening only the man in question turned up to hear the preacher. ‘Ah’ thought the latter ‘Now I’ve got him. He won’t be able to miss the message tonight.’ And so he preached a sermon directed very pointedly to this man, the sole member of the congregation. As the minister stood at the door while the man put on his warm coat and galoshes he wondered what he would say as he left. Eventually he came out, shook the preacher warmly by the hand and said, ‘Excellent sermon! It’s a pity they weren’t here to hear it’!!!

Could that be you? It is so easy to apply the messages we hear to others and assume they cannot really be meant for us. Like Peter in John 21 we are more concerned about others than about ourselves, in quite a wrong way altogether. I heard someone preaching a short while ago on the importance of Christian love and forgiveness. At first I began to feel quite pleased with myself as I was sure the rebukes he was giving did not apply to me. However, as he proceeded I suddenly thought of a Christian brother who had been quite critical and whom, I suddenly realised, I had not really forgiven from the heart. It is a dangerous way of thinking. How much we can miss of God’s Word by such a misguided attitude.

Of course, some messages will not be as relevant as others. At times we will have to think a bit and apply a message in a slightly different way. He may be speaking of one specific sin that we are not guilty of, but is there a similar one of which we are guilty? He may be applying his message to a category of person to which you do not belong, perhaps never could belong. Yet with a little imagination we can easily see an application to ourselves. If wives are to be submissive to their husbands and their beauty should be of the inner self does that not say something to men about how they should treat the opposite sex and what they should consider the true hallmarks of beauty?

When the minister speaks against a certain type of sin do not be tempted to say, ‘Oh, I could never be guilty of that’. When he gives words of encouragement for various needs do not think ‘Oh, I will never need advice on that sort of thing’ or ‘This is my trouble but it can’t apply to me’. When he preaches the gospel, take a fresh step of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is vital that we realise that when the preacher says ‘You’ he means you, yes you. If the cap fits, wear it. If not, try it another way round and may be it will. This applies, of course, also to our own personal reading of Scripture. God has given us his Word. We must believe it and apply it, first, to ourselves.

A number of Scriptures drive this lesson home.

• The promise is for you and for your children, etc. Acts 2:39.
• The words ‘It was credited’ were not written for him alone but for us Romans 4:23, 24
• For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us Romans 15:4
• Surely he says this for us doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us 1 Corinthians 9:10
• These things happened to them for examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages is come 1 Corinthians 10:11.

Finally, think of all those wonderful whoever texts. I counted at least 45 just in the Gospels!  Yes, it’s for you. You better believe it!

Zeal

Fervour, earnestness, devotion, enthusiasm, commitment. Do such words well describe your attitude to the Lord and his work? Or would terms such as apathy, lethargy, half-heartedness and indifference be more appropriate? Are you zealous for the Lord?

The words zealous and jealous have the same root. We usually use the latter in a pejorative sense but jealousy is simply a desire to hold on to what one has. It should not always have a negative connotation. Envy is desiring to possess what belongs to someone else, a far more dangerous tendency. Zeal is more neutral, the desire to possess. It is always a strong emotion. Solomon’s Song says, love is as strong as death, its jealousy (ardour or zeal) is as strong as death. Such zeal can be good or bad.

 

The Zeal of the LORD Almighty

When giving the Ten Commandments, the LORD declared himself to be a jealous God. My name is Jealous he says later (Exodus 34), a consuming fire, a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4). His zeal burns against idolatry and sin. It brings salvation to his people. Isaiah speaks of God as Saviour wrapping himself in zeal as a cloak. Christ’s birth and the saving of the remnant are put down to the LORD’s zeal. Ezekiel talks about God bringing Jacob out of captivity in zeal for his holy name.

This zeal is seen in the Lord Jesus Christ, notably when he drove the money changers from the Temple. It reminded the disciples of Psalm 69:9 Zeal for your house has consumed me. Jesus’s whole life was characterised by burning energy, an eagerness to do good that led inevitably to his death.

We do not serve an apathetic God but one characterised by all consuming zeal. It is a zeal that all believers should emulate in service to him.

 

The wrong headed zeal of misguided zealots

However, not all zeal is good. Enthusiasm and commitment are not innately righteous. There can be wrong motives and wrong methods. Paul warns the Galatians against the false motives of zealous Judaisers. It is fine to be zealous he says provided the purpose is good. We admire the apparent zeal of ‘JWs’ but we must decry what they believe. There is plenty of religious zeal around. Some are fanatical in their devotion but, as with the Jews, it is too often not based on knowledge and so is counter-productive. It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way (Proverbs 19:2). Even when motives are right the zeal may be sinful. Paul himself had been zealous for the traditions of his fathers. That zeal had lead him to persecute Christians. He was not the last to make that mistake. Misguided zeal may do much harm, as when Saul’s zeal for Israel and Judah led him to try and annihilate the Gibeonites (2 Kings 10:16). It is important to remember too that it is not enough to be zealous simply in one area of life. Jehu is commended for his zeal against Baal worship but condemned for his failure to keep the rest of the Law of God with all his heart.

The right headed zeal of the true man of God

All believers are called to true zeal.

Do not let your heart envy sinners but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD Proverbs 23:17.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord Romans 12:11.

God has saved believers to be his own, a people eager to do what is good. Are you eager to do good? In particular,

 

Are you zealous for God’s Word?

In his zeal for the Word David penned Psalm 119, which extols Scripture in practically every verse . Verse 139 speaks of how his zeal wore him out as he sought to stand firm for it despite fierce opposition. The Bereans are also a great example to us of zeal. Like them we ought to receive God’s Word eagerly.

 

Are you zealous about your spiritual state?

If you profess to be a Christian, it is your duty to be eager to make our calling and election sure. If we are falling away we must Be earnest and repent as Jesus says to the Laodiceans. Be zealous not luke warm!

 

Are you zealous about other believers?

In Colossians we read of Epaphras who, like Paul, is an example of a man who worked hard on behalf of God’s people. He wrestled in prayer for others. Pray for your brothers earnestly and be eager too to have spiritual gifts that build others up. Desire for mutual edification should make us all eager to share God’s blessings with others.

 

Are you zealous about giving to God’s work?

Like the Corinthians we should be eager and willing to give. Such enthusiasm can stir others up to give also (2 Corinthians 8:11, 9:2).

 

Are you zealous for God’s honour?

Phinehas’s example is an outstanding one. Paradoxically it was Phinehas’s harshness against sin that saved the people from God’s wrath. The thing about him was that he was as zealous for God’s honour as God himself. Could that be said of us? It is worth pondering.

 

This article first appeared in Grace Magazine

Christ all in all

A recent publication has drawn attention to the way the Puritans can help us to better understand the sufficiency of Christ. It was pointed out that Jeremiah Burroughs, Philip Henry and Ralph Robinson (a 700 page work) all wrote on the theme Christ all in all. Colossians 3:11 was a favourite Puritan text. The recent reprint of Samuel Ward’s works includes a sermon on this subject. Amongst the translated sermons of Daniel Rowland from the 18th Century there is a sermon on this theme too. Perhaps it is a neglected one today.

Ward calls it a magnificent title that ‘omnifies’ Christ. It is too high for man or angel and belongs to Jesus alone; King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He was set above his companions by being anointed with the oil of joy; he has the name above all names; he is at the Father’s right hand. In Colosse, as elsewhere, people tended to divide on race, religion, culture and social standing. People ask, who is best? Greek, Jew; circumcised, not; Greek, Barbarian, Scythian (those held in lowest esteem by Greeks); slave, free? But Paul asserts that what matters is Christ. He alone is ‘All’ and is ‘In all’.

All

1. Christ provides all the spiritual riches believers need. Robert Gromacki notes how he provides, Salvation - no need for angelic mediation (1:14-23)

Satisfaction - no need for human philosophy (1:26-2:8)

Sanctification - no need for legalism and asceticism (2:9-3.17)

Christ is the climax, centre, standard of reference, fount of honour, the sum of all we acknowledge and desire, says the 19th Century commentator Fairbairn.

2. Christ is all in all, in everyone who believes, of whatever background. Whoever you are, what matters is Christ. He is all in all. He is the common life and soul of his people, the substance of all we experience and possess (Fairbairn again).

The thought can be expanded to include the sense of every circumstance.

Of course we are used to superlatives being thrown around. Music collections once labelled The best of ... are now called The best ... album ever. Even the Bible uses them. But this is not mere rhetoric here. It is absolutely so that Christ is all in all.

Godward. All the Father can require for satisfaction is found in Christ. Many have been great with God. Abraham his friend; Jacob, prince with God; Moses who spoke to him face to face; Mary, highly favoured. But in Christ are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:3).

Manward. All we can desire or need for perfection is found in Christ. There is no need to look anywhere else. Many things are useful in different situations but in justification, sanctification and salvation, Christ is all. Whether times are good, bad or indifferent, both in life and in death Christ is all. He is sufficient.

Christ in all the Scriptures. Ward then points out that this teaching is everywhere in the Bible. The Tree of Life, Noah’s ark, Jacob’s ladder are all about Christ. Adam, Joseph, David; all point to him.

Christ in all the world. More, this is true, in one sense, of every ruler (and priest and prophet too), however perverse. Each, more or less remotely, points to the Prophet, Priest and King. In fact everything in the universe does if we can only see. The sun in the sky, the bread we eat, the water or wine we drink. All point to him.

Only one All. Ward goes on to make the point that there can only be one ‘All’. When Romanism sets up the Pope or Mary as it does, Christ is no longer all. So today evolutionists make ‘Nature’ or DNA, all. If you so adore a sportsman or an actress that they rival Christ, he is no longer all in all. He must be first and last, Alpha and Omega. He is All in all and he must be seen to be. For too many, pleasure, family, country, money or religion have become their all in all instead of Christ. This should not be. All around are those who make these things all. Believers must not.

Ward says further: Let Christ be all in

• All your desires. Think of the pearl merchant. Be willing to give up all to have Christ. It is worth it. It is not worth comparing what Christ has to offer with what the world offers. See Philippians 3.
• All your loves. See Matthew 10:37. Do not just hold his hand, embrace him with both arms. Think what Christ has done for you!
• All your relationships with others. Look at everyone in terms of Christ not in a worldly way (2 Corinthians 5:16). Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, wives and workers submit as to Christ. Choose and admire friends who have something of Christ in them. Seek to help the needy for Christ’s sake. Point unbelievers to him.
• All your joys. Seek not worldly joy but rejoice in the Lord always.
• All your thinking about justification. Rest only on Christ and no other. Only his work justifies. It is sufficient to save.
• All the graces of sanctification. Otherwise knowledge becomes mere ‘heathenish science’; faith ‘ungrounded confidence’; patience ‘stoical blockishness’. There are such things as Christless sermons, prayers, etc. Look for Christ. Go always to Christ for help not to books or techniques.
• All you do. Eating, drinking, etc. Always give Christ the glory. Think of Joab, the battle won, sending for David so he would get the glory.
• All you say and think. He should never leave our minds. He used the illustrations he did (light, bread, door, etc) to make it easy. Our conversation and thought should be filled with him. We should be like the legendary St Christopher, holding up Christ for all to see. Nothing but Christ, nothing but Christ. In this new year ahead, burn up for him!

First published in Grace Magazine