The Pastor’s Pen

Lincoln writes to encourage and build up God’s people with God’s Word.

Pains of the Heart – Part 3

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

Pains of the heart are often accumulative, stacking up one upon the other, waiting for the day when overload occurs. Prolonged and gradual build-up often goes unnoticed by us or others. However, a crisis may occur, be it small or large, which becomes the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Suddenly you become aware of severe inner pain which has large claws, a dominant voice, and is forcefully negative on your whole being. Life seems very dark and sad, hope has vapourised, trust has vanished, and a sense of aloneness now pervades all your thoughts.

Throughout the writings of David, he explains these very experiences in his own life. Despite being a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), David regularly experienced inner struggles which debilitated him. In these dark times, David repeatedly tells us that it was the Lord who was with him in the darkness, and who delivered him (Psalm 23:4). Psalm 34:4-6 reads,
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor (depressed) man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

As we have been learning, a humble attitude towards the Lord is paramount during painfully dark chapters in life. Here in Psalm 34, David acknowledges that he was depressed and riddled with fears. Furthermore, he observed that people who looked to the Lord during similar times had a spark of cheerfulness on their faces which he lacked. Therefore, David determined that his attitude towards the Lord would not be dictated by clouded feelings. He chooses instead, to seek the Lord in his desperation while engulfed by dark fear.

David’s expectation of God was deliverance, but without dictating to God how and when he should be delivered. Throughout these times, David did not hold back from sharing with God open and honest explanation of his terrible inner turmoil. He was met by God in the darkness through acknowledging that was his refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Truth, not personal nightmares, determined David’s response.

David acknowledged that God heard him in his depressed and fearful condition, with the result that the Lord delivered him from those fears. Notice that deliverance was not from the external circumstances which caused the fear, but from the inner fear itself. Victory was not necessarily removal of bad circumstances for David. Here, there is no false guilt or shame for living through the struggle because God was in the struggle with him.

David continues in Psalm 34:8-10 with four imperatives. Taste and see that the LORD is good! Take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord! And finally, seek the Lord! The enemy will always try to persuade you to walk away from the Lord, because he knows that the Lord is your source of true spiritual recovery and healing. No matter how low you may go, from your present position, reach out by acknowledging God’s presence and willingness to engage with you right where you are. Here, in the darkness, you can discover that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). When overwhelmed to the point of being speechless, the Spirit helps us in our weakness… interceding for us with groanings too deep for words… and He does it according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). Thankfully, our failings never prevent or diminish the Holy Spirit’s intercession on our behalf to satisfy the Father while carrying us towards victory.

To be continued…

 

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Pains of the Heart – Part 2

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

When pain lasts longer than expected, a constructive attitude is paramount. Attitude greatly determines how we apply tools to master and recover from pain. Attitude also determines our willingness to receive help and strength from others, particularly help from God and His Word.
Pains of the Heart – Part 2As believers, Paul tells us that, regarding sanctification, we are to be made new in the attitude of your minds (Ephesians 4:23). Some pains come as the result of still living a pre-salvation lifestyle. The old-life sinful patterns of attitude and behaviour need replacing (Eph 4:22, 23) with righteous Christlike attitudes and behaviour for recovery to initiate. Therefore, a Christ-centred, Bible grounded attitude of mind is critical.

Sometimes the pains which are not directly resulting from sin can be more difficult to understand and navigate. Medical issues, accidents, the death of loved ones, governmental and societal issues, educational, employment, business, and freakish (grossly unconventional) events in life can all send believers into a downward spiral of inner heart pain. These events, or similar, can cause compounding emotional and spiritual trauma we never thought possible.

It can be especially difficult when tragedy follows a period of comfort and ease. The human heart often tells itself that you are entitled to permanent comfort and ease, but life is simply not like that for any of us. Speaking as someone who was inflicted with almost indescribable pain of every kind, Job 5:7 assures us that man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. In this sin-cursed world, pain is inescapable, and we may never learn of a conclusive reason for it this side of heaven.

So, with these realities in our thinking, what are we to do? While you may have many questions, we shall consider just a few of the components. Instinctively we want a quick fix, a rapid escape plan, a reset that takes us back to a better time. But those types of miracles come very rarely and usually do not allow for heart recovery. Rather, the Lord makes His resources available to us through a humble and patient attitude that seeks God’s input, which usually comes through the assistance of other believers. Here, a humbly dependant attitude latches onto God’s Word, clinging tightly as the primary source of spiritual nourishment for recovery and maintenance. Even when outside medical or counselling help is needed, God’s Word remains both the primary and supplementary source of spiritual support.

Hope in God begins with belief and trust in the unfailing promises of His Word. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). God’s Word offers solid and affirmative truth from which we draw. Psalm 130:5-7 expresses an attitude of patient dependency well. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning… 7 For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is full redemption. With our expectation focused on God and resourced by God’s Word, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Hope in God focuses our attention on God and His promises instead of being focused only on our circumstances, no matter now difficult they may be.

Pains of the heart typically amplify self-attention, while God’s Word amplifies God’s presence in your suffering. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

To be continued…

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Pains of the Heart – Part 1

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

Sometimes we hurt because of foolish decisions made which have painful consequences. Sometimes we hurt because of the evil that is inflicted upon us by others. Then, there are pains which occur simply because of difficult circumstances and events in life. Life’s pains range from minor irritations to devastating trauma, and not necessarily because of anything that anyone does wrong. Living in a sinfully broken world means suffering is inescapable. This is not pessimistic, it is simply the reality of the world we all live in.

Pains of the Heart – Part 1 Solomon speaks to pains of the heart in Proverbs 14:13, even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. Our external appearance is far easier to control than our inner self. We may dress nicely, smile lots, and appear happy, but inside, in our heart of hearts, we may ache with life despairing grief. When this is true, it requires spiritual intervention that infuses heavenly hope into the very epicentre of our pain.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we understand that full release from this environment of pain will only come upon our transfer from this world to being with the Lord. But in the meantime, God has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:22) of that final day of redemption (Rom 8:23). From within, the Holy Spirit places at our disposal His divine resources. We are therefore, to be the ones who take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:13). Spiritual resources enable a right expectation of standing secure without being removed from the struggles that surround us.

Understandably, we want pain to disappear. Instead, most often, God provides hope, and trust, and truth, which empowers our realisation of His sovereign presence to overshadow and even dominate His grace into our pain. While pain remains, it is lessoned by prayer, by biblical truth, by assurance, by security, by purpose, by fellowship, by service, and by worship. Therefore, pain is demoted from the place of highest authority in our hearts to a much lower place of submission to God. Being stripped of its authority, pain becomes an effective instrument in the Master’s hands for sanctification and humble dependence upon Him. From this grows acceptance, which enables genuine thankfulness.

It begins with a right attitude towards God, and a right expectation of God; humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:10). Here, there is no fighting against God, and there is no resentment if God’s purposes are different to ours. Here, during honest prayer with our petitions, there are no demands of God that carry any kind of threat if we do not get our way. Here, humility accepts that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26). Here, humility accepts that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We may not understand how this will happen in us, but we humbly accept it as true because God promises it.

Therefore, humility is the start line on which all pains must stand if the heart is to stand firm and honour God during the great pains of life. The start line of humility says, the LORD is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in Him (Lamentations 3:24).

To be continued…

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Rejoice in the blessings you have

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

While the world rumbles along in an ever-decreasing trajectory of discontentment, ignoring God’s daily provisions, this is NOT true of God’s children. A hymn often sung in my childhood Church was “Count your blessings” composed in 1897 by Johnson Oatman. I was privileged to grow up in a small rural community, and in a family that celebrated what God had gifted us with more than complain about or envy the things we didn’t have (Mk 7:22). My parents understood that God’s graces are incalculable, beyond comparison, and we were to be thankful.
Rejoice in the blessings you haveSadly, when people exchange the truth about God for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25), they become self-centred, discontented, and ungrateful towards God. They say to God, Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ (Job 21:14-15).

Whereas believers in the Lord rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house… (Deuteronomy 26:11). The heart attitude is different because the heart relationship is different. On one hand, disbelief, or artificial belief, swallows all negative information thrown against God. But believers delight greatly in the Lord… (Isaiah 61:10).

In Joshua 23:14, just before Joshua died, he addressed Israel, reminding them of God’s faithfulness. “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” Like Joshua, I’m sure that Johnson Oatman had God’s faithfulness in mind when he composed…
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

While faith feels the realities of life, it also sees God in life and counts out the blessings He gives. Even through the darkest times, faith is first and foremost grateful for spiritual realities and the security of eternal life. Second, faith recognises God’s kind provisions regardless of the surrounding circumstances, and says, ‘thank you.’

This is because believers know they have been justified by faith, (therefore) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). As Jesus stated, peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives… (John 14:27). As believers, we are to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). Two things are unmistakable of those declared innocent by God; they have peace from God, and they worship God. When sinners receive peace through Christ, worship follows, fuelled by gratitude for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The point is this, keeping our minds and affections firmly attached to the Lord Jesus Christ is critical if we hope to rise above the struggles of life and maintain a truly thankful attitude. To KNOW Christ is peace and joy, but to have NO Christ is disillusionment and ends only in despair and condemnation.

Therefore, give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always (1 Chronicles 16:8-11).

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Holy Spirit Understanding

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

As I age, I sometimes think, ‘I wish I understood 40 years ago what I understand now.’ What would I have done differently? What different paths would I have walked? What different relationships would I have pursued? You see, knowledge is one thing, but understanding that knowledge and how to action it is a different matter altogether. Understanding opens the possibility for wisdom and Christlike insight into life which can change our choices and actions.
Holy Spirit Understanding
Amidst the noise and busyness of life, God the Holy Spirit ministers from within us that we might understand the things freely given us by God (1 Corinthians 2:12). Experiences, in and of themselves, are not the Holy Spirit’s goal for the believer. Rather, understanding clearly what God has graciously given us through Christ and for God’s glory, this is His purpose. It is the believer’s understanding of God that opens up the possibility of living more Christlike with growth towards maturity. This understanding can also open up opportunities for service for God which were never before imagined. Knowledge without applied understanding is powerless, ineffective, and unproductive for God.

It is understanding that lifts the believer above the frustrations of life, and above selfish desires. This is because understanding generated by the Holy Spirit is God focused and God glorifying. It is the Holy Spirit who invisibly manufactures His understanding within the believer? Paul continues to explain that we impart this (understanding) in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13).

The Holy Spirit searches the depths of God (1Co 2:10) and translates those truths of God into understandable language and thoughts within the believer (1Co 2:11). The Holy Spirit does not do this through fresh extrabiblical revelation or experience, but through His Word which contains spiritual truth. His words are easily found and identified in the Bible, as it was the Holy Spirit who authored the Bible (2Pe 1:20-21). There is no mystery here. There is no elevation of self with unique access to heavenly information that no one else can access. No, this is simply God the Spirit granting understanding to the believer who spends time mediating and praying over the Word of God with a soft-hearted attitude.

This is what happens when you let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… (Colossians 3:16a). The Holy Spirit illumines, He clarifies, and He awakens our thinking to deeper levels of understanding about the things He has written in Scripture. This, however, comes at a cost to the child of God. Time, energy, and surrenderedness are required. This means there must be an exchange of priorities and activities within the life of God’s child. In this way the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17) is taken hold of and enabled for standing against the attacks of the enemy. As with all the other pieces of spiritual armour supplied by God (Eph 6:13-18), believers cannot be passive or half-hearted with their handling of God’s Word.

As we grow in the faith, so our understanding of God’s Word increases. With this comes the ability and responsibility to use our understanding of Scripture for God’s purposes. The Holy Spirit, through God’s Word, equips us to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). May we encourage and enable one another to be people of God’s Word, always growing in our understanding as the Holy Spirit walks with us and uses us for God’s glory.

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