"Thy Way is in the Sea"--Psalm 77.19

        Psalm 77 tells us that trouble turns us to the Lord!  "In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord." 77:2  And verse 3 "I . . .  was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed."

        So the Psalmist cried out to the Lord and what does God do? "He gave ear unto me." He listened to me! What a privilege for the great God who created this mighty universe and each one of us individually listens to us and answers our prayers. He doesn’t always give us the answer we would prefer, but He is the omniscient, all-wise God and we are not. He certainly demonstrates that "His grace is sufficient for us"–as you have seen in your own life.

        Have you ever had Asaph’s experience, "I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. . . . I am so troubled that I cannot speak." vv.3-4 Sometimes we can simply "rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." Other times we feel overwhelmed with the events that are "coming down on us."

        So what does Asaph do about it?? [5] "I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."

        He remembers God’s faithfulness in the past and the mighty deeds He did in "days of old, the years of ancient times." Then he remembers how God had put a new song in his heart, even praise unto the Lord and had given him joy and made his heart sing. He didn’t feel like singing now, but he knew he would again because "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

        Then he remembered some more things: "I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." Notice how Asaph suddenly quits talking "about" God and begins talking directly to God Himself: "I will remember Thy wonders of old" and meditate on "thy work" and talk about "thy doings."

        We don’t always understand God’s ways, but we can see God’s Providence in our lives. "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." Psalm 103:7  And yet Asaph, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us something of God’s ways. He says two things about them: v.13, "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders. . . ." And in v. 19, "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known."

        We see God’s way "in the sanctuary" in the holiness of God so we know His ways are always just and right and good and best. Asaph goes into the sanctuary of God to worship Him. Worship of the Lord is our first consideration always as a way of life. Acknowledge God’s providence and thank Him for it. View everything in the light of God’s purposes and grace and wisdom, then we can see that the ends, the end results will be right. We have an immediate problem but God is accomplishing His purposes through it.

        But His way is also "in the sea" where His "footsteps are not known," they leave no tracks so we don’t always know where God is going. But we do know that His way is holy and that it is right and that one day that which is hidden will be made clear. There is mystery in life, but God is in control of that mystery. God will accomplish His purposes but the means by which He does so are often hidden from us.

        And we do know that through it all God is leading us: "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." We are His people, the sheep of His pasture and He has obligated Himself to take care of us. And so He does and so He will. That’s why we trust Him. Notice that it was not Moses and Aaron who led the people, but it was God who led them. There is but one who is the "great shepherd of the sheep." Heb. 13:20 Focus on Him and not on your problems, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

                                                                                                                                                               

"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" 2 Cor. 9:15

Recently we studied 2nd Corinthians chapter 9 with its emphasis on giving and ministering, not out of compulsion or pressure, but with a willing heart and a kind, generous spirit.  And Jesus, as always is the example who, you remember, told us, "It is MORE blessed to give than to receive."  Acts 20:35  We were "ordained to walk in good works" Eph. 2:10 so we should live a life of good works with a willing heart, serving the Lord.

        The chapter ends with this marvelous verse of God's grace, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" 2 Cor. 9:15  How can it be that Christ not only saves us and takes us to glory, but actually comes to live within us:  "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. 1:27

"Christ liveth in me." Gal. 2:20

        Listen to John Piper, writing in Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ:

1. "Christ does not exist in order to make much of us. We exist in order to enjoy making much of Him. . . . To know the glories of Christ is an end, not a means. Christ is not glorious so that we get wealthy or healthy. Christ is glorious so that rich or poor, sick or sound, we might be satisfied in Him.    "He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:9   He quenches the deepest soul thirst of all humans--that he is ultimately what all people long for."

2. The glory of who Christ IS in Himself–His excellencies, His attributes, His perfections and His beauty, e.g.  "The first particular glory that upholds all the rest is the . . . eternal existence of Christ. If we will simply ponder this as we ought, . . . Sheer existence is, perhaps, the greatest mystery of all. Ponder the absoluteness of reality. There had to be something that never came into being. Back, back, back we peer into endless ages, yet there never was nothing. Someone has the honor of being there first and always. He never became or developed. He simply was. To whom belongs this singular, absolute glory?  "The answer is Christ, the person whom the world knows as Jesus of Nazareth. . . . ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almghty" Rev. 1:8  ". . . There is no ‘before’ God and no ‘after’ God. He is absolutely there, no matter how far back or how far forward you go. He is the absolute, ultimate Reality. He has the honor of being there first and always. To Him alone belongs this unique glory. He is the Great IAM. The very name for God Yaweh is built on the verb "to be."

3. . . . Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Jesus Christ the Person, never had a beginning. He is absolute Reality. . . .He never came into being. He was eternally begotten. He is God, the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature. Heb. 1:3

4. Seeing and enjoying Christ and His glory is the goal of our salvation. "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me" "which I had with you before the foundation of the world. John 17:24 To feast on this truth forever is the aim of our being created and our being redeemed."

5. Think of the works of Christeternal life. The life of joy (15:11; 16:24; 17:13) and peace (14:27; 16:33) and purposefulness (17:18; 20:21) which we have begun with him in this age will be perfected for ever and ever and ever.

6. He has given us eternal life. The life of joy (15:11; 16:24; 17:13) and peace (14:27; 16:33) and purposefulness (17:18; 20:21) which we have begun with him in this age will be perfected for ever and ever and ever.

7. Jesus removes our guilt and makes us a completely new creation.  He takes away the guilt of all who trust in him; he takes the sting out of death and offers eternal life and resurrection and everlasting glory and joy to all who believe.  He transforms fearful, greedy hearts into peaceful, loving hearts and gives us a deep-seated sincerity that we didn’t have before. He puts all relationships, especially husband-wife and parent-child relations, on a new, solid footing; and  He satisfies our deepest longing for beauty and wonder."

 

         "I appeal to your own self-knowledge. Does not your heart instruct you that if your inner self is the end point and measuring rod for all authenticity and purpose, apart from anything ultimate, life is meaningless? If there is no ultimate reference point by which you can gain your bearings in the world, then your inner life is a pointless bubble on the ocean no matter how much harmony there is with your outer life. Is it not true that the authenticity you desire is to fit perfectly with some ultimate reality? Isn't what we long for that our inner life not drift and float and be tossed and blown, but that it have a genuine, permanent identity, by virtue of being rooted in and formed by some ultimate reality. The great irony of secular humanism is that it can never satisfy the human heart. For it is written on our hearts that we are inauthentic until what we are within corresponds to the eternal reality that gives meaning to all things."  And that eternal reality is Jesus Christ.

–in Creation, in human history, in His providence in your life.

Every Thought in Obedience to Christ

Every Thought in Obedience to Christ

         Our home Bible study recently was on 2 Corinthians 10:5 ". . . bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
         Thinking is involved in all of life. Man’s Reason is not autonomous from God, but it is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and demonstrates the fact that we were created in God’s image.

1. The ORDER of events in life is always the same: first the idea in someone’s mind. You want to cook dinner or write a letter or build a house or organize a school or start in church in a neighboring town. Or marry your sweetheart. It all begins with an idea in someone’s mind.
2. Then the plan to carry out the idea: choice is involved here (the human will) and so is thinking and reasoning.
3. The third step is the outward action: your idea finds expression in the external world outside of yourself.
The INTERNAL world of thought and will and emotion leads into the EXTERNAL world outside of your body–thought, decision, planning, action. Actions is last!
 4. As a man THINKS in his heart so IS he.
5. Out of the mind and heart proceed all sorts of things–a good man brings forth good treasure; a wicked man produces evil. This is what Jesus clearly taught. And you have seen the same thing in your experience.
Either God’s Word will shape your thinking and understanding of life or you will ignore it, distort it, or disobey it. When you see truth in scripture, change your thinking to conform to the Word of God–don’t ignore it or pretend like it’s not there.

Several kinds of thinking:
1. "Musing"–nowhere in particular ("sometimes I sits and thinks; and sometimes I just sits"! is an old Arkansas expression.)
2. Meditation–thinking deeply–consider: "Meditate on His Word day and night." Psalm 1
3. Reasoning
4. Persuasion
5. Talking–conversing--usually requires some thought
6. Temptation–it comes into the thought life first, affects your attitude and plans, and then into your actions external to yourself in the world.
Covetousness - lust - hatred - jealousy - meanness - desire to hurt others - selfish ambitions - lust for power - revenge–seeking to "get even"
Mt. 5:28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Prov. 23:7
7. Anxious thoughts: "in the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts, thy comforts delighted my soul." Psalm 94:19
8. Accusing thoughts
a. external: you accuse others of wrong actions, attitudes, or wrong motives
b. internal: your conscience either accuses or excuses you
Romans 2:15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
9. Worship Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ["spiritual service of worship" NAS]
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
10. Memory word study: in remembrance: this is part of our thought life
11. Affections–love for God and desire for Him as the deer thirsts for streams of water so our soul thirsts for God for the living God. When shall I come and appear before Him? "Heart" includes thinking, the will, the affections–the whole person
Col. 3–set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth
12. World view a form of thinking.

"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2:7
"Consider" means to focus your complete attention, fix your thoughts on.
"Consider the lilies of the field," Jesus said. Matthew 6:28-29
"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Luke 12:24-27 ESV

　
　

Criticism--How do you deal with it?--2nd Corinthians chapter 10

Life would be more pleasant if everyone followed the admonition to have "a critical mind without a critical spirit."   But many don't, so you're going to be criticized.  Sometimes the criticism is valid and if it is, pay attention to it.   ". . . reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge."  Proverbs 19:25 

        But there are also people who would tear down rather than build up.  So how do you deal with unjust criticism?

        1. Ignore it if you can.  Don't jump to your own defense. 

        2. Overlook others' faults.  "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." Col. 3:13 ESV

        3. Do not reciprocate.  Follow Jesus' example:  "when they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:23 NIV

        In the 10th chapter of 2nd Corinthians the Apostle Paul is dealing with false teachers who were trying to take the Corinthian church away from the pure gospel of Christ and to teach them worldly wisdom.  He had to have firmness against them because the issues were great and he appealed to the Corinthians to listen to the truth of the Word of God instead of to false teachings.  When others criticized him for being weak and not eloquent of speech, he agreed with them.  And since so many people had come to Christ in the Corinthian church, that just pointed out that it was the power of God and not Paul's ability that was building the church.  God uses "the weak things of the world to confound the wise."  Paul was aware that he was totally dependent upon the power of God and not on his own persuasiveness.

        What were Paul's characteristics as a man of God, a man greatly used by God, a vessel fit for the Master's use?

        1. He did not use the world's methods.  2 Cor. 10:3-5  "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. . . .bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  1 Cor. 2:1-5  "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God."  He never manipulated others or tried to "out-psych" them nor did he seek "political power" within the church.

        2. Paul was a man of integrity.  His life backed up his words.  He lived what he taught.

        3. God showed His approval of Paul.  "He is my chosen vessel," God told the prophet Ananias in Acts 9.  And the Holy Spirit attested to the truth Paul was teaching by  His Presence in power.

        4. Paul was humble.  10:12-18  "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

        5. He was unwilling to compare himself with others.  10:12

        6. He was willing to minister wherever God led him.  And we'll see where that took him in chapter 11!

        7. Paul did not seek to take credit for himself but sought only the Lord's glory.  2 Cor. 10:17  "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."  1 Cor. 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."

 

   

"In all their affliction he was afflicted"

         If you’ve ever watched someone you love suffer, you know what pain it is in your own heart. Especially when God gives you particularly deep love for the person suffering--your child or grandchild or for your husband or wife. We call this "vicarious suffering" and it is very real and brings "inward pain." But did you ever stop to think that He who created human emotions also has emotions and feels sorrow and grief and compassion for His children. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust." 

          Tucked away in a brief paragraph towards the end of the book of Isaiah is an amazing statement about how God suffers with His people.   Here’s that verse in Isaiah 63:9 "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old." We don’t go through these afflictions alone and God is not just a "disinterested observer." He shares in our sufferings and we are to share in His. Isn’t that what the apostle called "the fellowship of His sufferings"? 

 2 Cor. 1:3 He brings comfort to our souls in the midst of sorrow with a peace that passes understanding. "Surely, He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." Isaiah 53:4 That’s why we can "Cast [our] burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee." Psalm 55:22

        The context is God’s compassion and mercy to His people: "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For He said, ‘Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.’ In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."

        "The angel of His presence" that "saved them" stood between the advancing Egyptian army and the children of Israel to protect His people and to prevent the army from attacking them. The story is in Exodus 14:19-20 "And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night."

        The marvelous truth for us to hold in our hearts always is that God bears our burdens and carries our sorrows and feels the grief and sorrow that we feel. He participates in our lives with us and He is able to enable us by His grace to go through the trials He sends our way. He is there and He is not unfeeling. He is "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." 

         That same God of compassion became "one of us", born of the Virgin Mary. He experienced the privations of life: hunger and thirst, tiredness and rejection by those He came to save. Physical violence against Him. Surely He understands experientially as well as omnisciently what it means to suffer! "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16                                                                                                    –Pastor Burnside
　

Growing old with the love of your youth

                                 Growing old with the love of your youth
        I feel sorry for people who are married and don’t love each other! Sometimes I see people acting rude to their own husband or wife or treating them unkindly or even with arrogance! Life is too short for pettiness and unkindness. Few people are so privileged as my wife and I to have had 54 good years together and part of the goodness is being able to go through the hard times together, helping each other, sharing with one another. 

        Today I came across an e-mail that my wife wrote to one of our granddaughters the day before our 53^rd anniversary.  "Tomorrow will be our 53rd anniversary. How wonderful to grow old with the love of your youth--and I love him more today than then. It just gets better and better. . . ." (Mimi to Julie, Sept.25, 2008) I remember being so touched by her words when I first read them and I kissed her and told her so. And she smiled.

        But when I read those words again today, I thought that I am glad that our granddaughters also love their husbands and want to please them. And scripture tells us that it is a very natural, God-given part of life for a husband to want to please his wife and a wife wants to please her husband. That’s as God intended. 1 Cor. 7:33-34

         I smile when I remember the many times I heard my wife tell one of our students at Christ’s College in Taipei in answer to her question, "Why do you and your husband have such a good marriage?" She would tell them of the Lord, of course, because it is He who we pattern our lives after, but she also always said, "It’s very simple. I take good care of him and he takes good care of me!" "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32
                                                                                             Love,                    
                                                                         Pastor Burnside & Minnie

Rejoice!

Rejoice!        We know this one very well and we know how important it is because "the joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh. 8:10
        1) Be joyful regardless of the problems you’re facing.
        2) Joy is not so much a feeling as the deep, settled confidence that God is in control of everything and that His promises are overwhelmingly wonderful–and we look to the glorious future in heaven with the Lord.
        3) Gramatically, this is present imperative–continually rejoice–as a way of life.
        4) Where does the joy come from? Rejoice in the Lord; it’s His joy and He gives it to us. John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
        5) "my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation." Psalm 13:5
        6) Rejoice in God’s promises and in His provisions.

2. Learn to be gracious. 4:5a "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men."
Epieikes (gentle spirit) has a much richer, deeper meaning than any single English word can convey. Here’s how commentators and Bible translaters have translated and explained that word: "Sweet reasonableness, generosity, goodwill, friendliness, magnanimity, charity toward the faults of others, leniency, moderation, forbearance." The English word gracious helps capture the meaning.
        An example of its use: when Abraham avoided strife with his nephew Lot. The story is in Genesis chapter 13.

3. Rest confidently on the Lord and be anxious for nothing. "The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing."
The Lord’s nearness is the sense of His Presence. He is near to hear your cry and to help and strengthen you. " In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass." Psalm 37:7
Habakkuk shows us the right attitude in desperate times: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like deer’s feet, and he will make me to walk upon high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." Habakkuk 3:17-19
The message from the birds and the flowers of the field is God’s providential care.

4. Reacting to problems with Thankful prayer "
1) 1 Cor. 10:13–God limits the problems.
2) Rom. 8:28–God brings all things together for good in the long run.
3) 1 Peter 5:7–Cast all your care on Him–because He cares about you.5. Result 4:7
–inner tranquility of the soul–confident trust in God’s wisdom and care
–guard is a military term used of soldiers on guard duty6. Guarding your thought life

7.
"The unfathomable peace of the God who controls the universe and pursues a faultless purpose. . This divine peace kept Paul’s mind and heart. A great river of peace was thrown like a moat around the citadel of his soul." John Phillips, p. 63
Our always-example, of course is Jesus and stop to think how the peace of God kept Him throughout His entire sojourn on earth.
"It was Christ Jesus who brought the peace of God down to earth. Heralding His birth across the Judean hills, the heavenly host sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14 That imperturbable peace hushed the storm-tossed sea of Galilee and gave rest to the tormented soul of the Gadarene demoniac. That peace remained unshaken by conflict, criticism, crisis, and cross."At all times, in all places, under all circumstances, Christ reposed in His Father’s good and acceptable and perfect will. Rom. 12:2. And when Jesus appeared in the upper room on resurrection evening, His greeting to the disciples was Shalom! Peace!"
"
Jesus was peacefully "Asleep on a pillow" in the midst of a storm Mark 4:35. "Peace, be still!" He spoke to the storm, but we, too, can have the same confidence in God’s faithfulness."peace of God" –"What could disturb God’s peace? "Nothing can ruffle the peace of God. It is a calm beyond all storms, a rest beyond all strife, a haven beyond all tempestuous seas. The peace of God is majestic and sublime." –important. in avoiding anxiety & worry. Guard, don’t allow yourself to worry or be anxious: Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." 4:6 4:5b-6a

1. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
        Watch the progression of thought in this familiar passage, Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV  v.4. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!