How God Means for Good what Others Mean for Evil

Joseph said to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” –Genesis 50:19-20

Joseph was just a young boy running into the field to check on his brothers for their father Israel. They hated the favored dreamer son of Israel with jealousy, seized the boy and threw him into an empty cistern to die while they ate a meal. Ishmaelite traders came by, and the brothers made a quick buck selling Joseph into slavery in Egypt instead, lying to their father about his son’s death and returning his gift to his son, a coat of many colors, with animal blood on it just to make it believable.

In Egypt, the now slave Joseph prospered his master’s household rather than his father’s back at home. Here, Joseph fought off sexual temptation with his master’s wife only to be falsely accused and sent to prison. Yet, in prison, the faithful Joseph was given favor by the prison warden through God’s providence to look over the prisoners.

Joseph helped a disgraced cupbearer be restored in Pharaoh’s home only to be forgotten. Joseph did not use loneliness in a dungeon and being forgotten by someone he helped as an excuse to sin. By God’s saving power, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream of upcoming prosperity and famine to be prepared for. Pharaoh placed Joseph second in command in all of Egypt at the time famine reached the home of his father and brothers back in Canaan.

It is here in the story of Joseph I marvel at his faithfulness. He was hurt over the extent of many years by his brothers who wanted him dead. Now, with the might of the Egyptian Empire behind him, his brothers come at the end of their rope seeking mercy. The tables have turned. Will Joseph show wrath or will he show mercy?

We allow disappointments in our life to justify an angry treatment of those who offend us. Joseph could have justified sexual unfaithfulness with Potiphar’s wife as a stress relief from having been left for dead and sold into slavery. Joseph could use the egregious offenses of his brothers to show no mercy and even have his brothers killed in return. Temptation asks our hearts a question, and our answer exposes either faithfulness to our righteous God or draw us down the dark alleys of destruction.

We may think that humble service comes only when we are in a comfortable spot in life. If people treat me well, I’ll treat them well. Consider Joseph, then consider our Lord Jesus. God is glorified in a life of humble, faithful service when life is most uncomfortable. Joseph learned a faithful life under God’s care not in the comfortable environment of ease, but in a dungeon. Christ displayed the salvation of God not only in teaching, but in His willingness to lay down His life for sinners. You see, Joseph told his brothers that their offense which was meant for evil God meant good for them. Joseph went through all of these hardships for God to bless his evil brothers with good. They meant death, God gives life.

Christian, the battle is not only with the person in front of you no matter how offensive they are, but the battle is most deeply inside of you. Joseph was obedient in slavery, prison, and forgiving his brothers who wanted him dead and sold him into slavery, even through their lying to their father who suffered in anguish thinking his boy to be dead! Our Savior was faithful to the Father even unto death, even the humiliating death of a criminal on a cross. So, when your spouse offends you, friends betray you, or your neighbor offends you, by the mercy of God do good to them.

When you know who you are as an offender to a holy God and you know Christ who was crucified for you to reconcile you to a holy God who committed no offense to you, you can easily forgive those who offend you, exchange kindness and gentleness in the face of someone angry and wanting to offend you, and love those who hate you. In a local church filled with born-again saints understanding each other to be works in progress by His Holy Spirit, we enjoy Christ’s peace and love proving to be His disciples.

Heavenly Father, You place us in many hard places. Open our eyes to see hard times, offenses, and dungeons as opportunities to display Your grace through Christ who became a curse and endured the cross for us. Teach us to forgive just as You forgave us. Bless us with Your peace and joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Expository Preaching

 “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

–II Timothy 3:16-17

 Following the voice of the Good Shepherd requires an extraordinary humility. I need God’s breathed out Scripture because I am an ignorant fool who needs to be taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained to be righteous. Oh, what grace is there for a weak fool like me in the deep instruction of the Bible! All of my faults and sins, my weaknesses and temptations, my needs to be further conformed to the image of the Son are confronted by God’s Word to my humble and ready ears.

This why I am committed to expository preaching. That is, the entire point of every sermon is the text of Scripture itself which is relayed to the life of the Christian and the local church. In Alistair Begg’s fine booklet Preachingfor God’s Glory he contends, “We are on the wrong track if we think expository preaching merely as a preaching style chosen from a list (topical, devotional, evangelistic, textual, apologetic, prophetic, expository). As John Stott says, ‘All true Christian preaching is expository preaching.’”

 I know topical preaching and topical Bible studies are the more popular in our culture. One may think, “well, that’s just what I prefer.” I understand it is what you prefer, but is that truly wise? We are tempted to raise our children in more exciting settings as if Scripture taught deeply passage by passage is not enough to keep my children in the faith when they get older. I understand it is what your children prefer, but is that truly wise?

 Glance at a list of sermons on a topical preacher’s website or Sunday School’s curriculum and you will find massive gaps. Why do they skip large portions of Exodus or the Gospel of Matthew, for example? Then ask yourself, what riches in these large passages am I and my family missing which we need to be taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained to be righteous with?

Topical preaching feeds truths in portions, but misses the deep riches of entire swaths of God’s Word and reduces difficult texts as simply marginal or lessons for moral living. The “types and shadows” which lead human history to Christ’s kingship making all things new are oblivious in the ears of the preacher who simply wants to discuss steps to improve marriages or various other subjects. These steps and subjects are indeed in Scripture, but to handle the Word of God as simply a collection of topics to help rather than deeply understanding the whole counsel of God in reference to Christ will miss the “fire in our hearts” as the men on the road to Emmaus experienced. 

If you are a preacher or teacher of God’s Word, remember we are held to a higher account for how we handle God’s Word in the face of God’s people. We are to lead them deeper into the text, not use the text to move them away from it. I encourage everyone willing to take the time to read this article to attend a church devoted to the exposition of Scripture. You may visit us at Allison Avenue, watch our livestream, or download our sermons. It is here in the deep study and understanding of God’s Word we hear the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow Him. And this is good news: such preaching and teaching of God’s Word will equip you and your family “for every good work” as God’s craftsmanship for God’s glory.

 Heavenly Father, prepare my heart to receive Your Word as a skillful farmer plows, plants, and waters. Grant me patience to hear Your wise instruction to bear in me much fruit. If it pleases You, reveal Yourself to me through the rich treasures of Scripture which points to Christ and burns like fire in my heart. For Your glory’s sake I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Provoked Spirit

 "While Paul was waiting in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols." -Acts 17:16

While Paul was dropped off in Athens and waiting for his co-laborer in the ministry Silas and his son in the faith Timothy, Paul walked the great ancient city of Athens. The hub of Greek culture, the beauty of ancient temples such as the Parthenon which, by Paul's time of arrival, was already four centuries old. Athens was a city teeming with spirituality and thinking. Paul discussed truth with a variety of thinkers in the marketplace only to be viewed as a collector of little spiritual tidbits ("babbler") and a teacher of strange gods.

The bold apostle to the Gentiles stood up on Mars Hill and doesn't waste a moment. The incredibly diverse, deep thinking, yet highly suspicious throng of diverse peoples listen to Paul consider their various religions and spiritualities toward the shrine dedicated to a god unknown, a god the Athenians pay homage to out of ignorance. Paul tells them the mystery of the ages: God created all things, He is Judge, and He alone is Savior.

What led Paul to preach so boldly in front of this intimidating crowd? Paul saw the overwhelming abundance of idols in Athens and his spirit was troubled to act.

America is not a land and a singular people without religion. It is a land teeming with both major metropolises and a great diversity of religions and spiritualities. They are a suspicious people which can intimidate the church of Jesus Christ into silence. If you are silent, dear saint, I ask you to consider having your spirit provoked.

Paul didn't wait for Silas and Timothy to tell them of his Athenian tour. Paul's visit to Athens didn't go like this: "Guys, look at this city. They are so lost and sinful. These people are hopeless fools. They really need to change. They need Jesus!" Then silently tour the city until moving on. No, Paul's spirit wasn't provoked to simply diagnose the Athenians and ignore the people. His provoked spirit spoke!

Go ahead and take in the sights of America. What do you see? Does the idols of our land disturb your heart? Does the lack of worship of the beautiful Christ in your neighborhood provoke your spirit? Can you be bothered to pray for the deliverance of those wicked, idol worshipers around you? Can you be troubled to reason with them, dine with them, invite them to small group or even church? 

Recall our Savior's words in Luke 10: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest." Pray for laborers to enter the great field of the Lord's harvest of salvation! So, they prayed. Then Jesus said, "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." Basically, Jesus said, "Good news guys! Your prayer has been heard by the Lord of the harvest for more workers and is now answered! It's you guys! Go into field of intimidating teems of people who will mock you and hurt you!"

I confess to you, and I am certain I'm not alone, dear reader. I am too stubborn to go without a provoked spirit. So pray. Pray, "Lord, provoke my spirit! Bother me! Trouble me! Send me into Your field!" For those ignorant fools do not know that they are spiritual and religious but ungodly, that Christ died at the right time for the ungodly. The One, True Creator of the universe is a "strange deity" in their eyes. 

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-16)

The gospel makes your feet beautifully sent as lambs among wolves to save sinners through Christ. Go, and go boldly with provoked spirit and enter the Lord's field for harvest. "For faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Pray, then go and preach Christ and Him crucified, dear lowly saint. 

Heavenly Father, I confess my spirit is all too comfortable with the idols in the land, homes, and hearts of those around me. I confess my heart is not troubled enough to be bothered by them. Be gracious to me and provoke my spirit, o Lord. Open my lips, give me the words to say, and open their ears to the rich treasures of the word of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Gratitude is God's Will for You

 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -I Thessalonians 5:18

What is God’s will for our local church family? Our plans may become complex webs of what we would like to see in our church. Yet, those are our own plans. What is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus? God’s will for us is not something we plan and inform God of, but rather what God desires and reveals to us.

Paul and Silas preached the good news of Christ throughout Thessalonica in Acts 17, which formed a local church that drew the attention of Rome as Jewish and Gentile converts to Christ hailed the divisive political statement, “Jesus is Lord.” Paul and Silas fled town; however, despite persecution and Paul and Silas’ absence, the church flourished. The Apostle Paul now tells the saints at Thessalonica that Christians can always be full of thanksgiving to God. This command came to a church who needed Paul’s beautiful message of Christ and the church’s glorious future hope while remaining faithful through persecution.

Paul challenges continued growth in this thriving church with this command: give thanks in all circumstances. First, you dear Christian are individually to be thankful to God at all times. “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1). Be thankful even if you are in exile like Daniel who gave thanks to God in private prayer three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Being thankful to God in all circumstances in our personal prayer life keeps the heart from stiffening or bitterness. In a word, the Lord keeps us humble.

God is good to remind us not only who we are as undeserving sinners, but who He is as gracious, loving, faithful Savior. O, to be reminded of His goodness and tender kindness toward me refreshes my heart prone to grow weary and stimulates a growing gratefulness to God! Such constant thanksgiving encourages my soul to maintain a peaceful, joyful posture toward both my labors and my love for His church.

Second, we as a church family are to be thankful in all circumstances together. “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-21).

The church in Thessalonica was a persecuted church; yet, God’s will for them in Christ Jesus was to display His greatness in receiving all things, both hardship or sunny days, freedom or imprisonment, prosperity or poverty professing God’s goodness with a cheerful heart ready to praise God for it all! A thankful church stands as a lighthouse beacon piercing the dark fog displaying God’s goodness to a dark and confused world.

The world may wonder what power fills the hearts of the church gathered to sing of God’s grace each and every Sunday full of gratitude in every circumstance. This joy and peace the world does not know remains forever elusive in the darkness, but what a warm ray of sunshine is our Savior’s mercy to us His bride the church! What a true blessing to each of our hearts and homes as God fills us with His mercies in Christ Jesus with the tremendous sound of a grateful church!

Heavenly Father, strengthen our weak hearts with gratitude. Increase our love for one another to encourage our thanksgiving in every circumstance that we may with cheerful hearts sing together the praises of our gracious God. In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who is mighty and given full authority in heaven and on earth. Amen.

Have the Son and Have Assurance

 "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." –I John 5:12

 Do you know the details of Christianity to believe in? Christ is truly God and became human, suffered and died on a cross, buried, then on the third day rose again? Chances are you say, “Yes, I believe this.” Yet, there is a nagging doubt which creeps up in the Christian’s mind time and again telling us, “you know these details, but will they save you when death comes for you?”

John assures the Christian of eternal life in this: whoever has the Son has life. My righteous deeds and my strength waxes and wanes, my life is but a vapor. I cannot fix my confidence in these things to quiet my restless, anxious soul with any assurance. Rather, I must fix my confidence on eternal righteousness, strength, and life that never fails for assurance.

Martin Luther was a 16^th Century monk plagued with doubts and troubles of the soul when he fixed his confidence on himself. Luther pursued the monastic life with an exhausting, self-deprecating attempt at holiness before a perfectly holy God. Lacking assurance of salvation, with anguish in the soul viewing God as a tyrant to demand such perfection, Luther discovered the Greek verse of Romans 1:17, “in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Faith, that is, in Christ.

Christ obeyed the Father even to the point of death, and He is eternally righteous as the righteousness of God revealed. By faith you are in Christ. By faith His perfect obedience and the righteousness of God is yours as far and as long as Christ is righteous. By faith His eternal life is yours as long as Christ lives. By faith His mighty grip of His right hand holds you as long as He has strength.

Take comfort, Christian, in He who overcomes the world. Be diligent, wrote Peter, “to confirm your calling and election” with self-examination. May such an examination drive you more to Christ for assurance. This is the very reason John said he wrote these things, that those who believe in Jesus “may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13).

Look at Christ’s baptism when you consider your own. “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). By faith in Christ you have the Son. The Father says of you, “This is My beloved Child, with whom I am well (eternally) pleased.” Take your restless, troubled soul by faith in Christ to the Father by the strength of the Holy Spirit. Take your rest there and you will find assurance of your salvation.

Heavenly Father, help us fix our confidence in Christ Your beloved Son to find assurance of Your salvation, this precious gospel, for our souls troubled by our feebleness. May such assurance of Your strength by Your eternal purposes drive us to the good works You created us in Christ Jesus for. And be glorified in Your church. In Jesus’ name. Amen.