2023 ISSUE ELEVEN
In this issue 3
Finishing the Course charles r. swindoll
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Knowing God’s Moral and Sovereign Will steve johnson
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Changing Our Minds, Changing Our Lives colleen swindoll thompson
10 Andrew Bonar bill gemaehlich Balancing Act 12 Are Spiritual Disciplines Practice or Legalism? steve johnson Beyond the Broadcast 14 Operation Intimidation Puzzle 15 2 Timothy
Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 40 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright © 2023 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Byeongtaek So. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
So many start the Christian life like a lightning flash—hot, fast and dazzling. But how many people (aged 65 and over) can you name who are finishing the course with sustained enthusiasm and vigour?
Finishing the Course by C h arle s R . Sw i ndol l
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ot enough is said or written today about finishing well. A tremendous amount of material is available on motivation to get started and creative ways to spark initiative. Plenty of advice is floating around on setting goals and establishing priorities and developing a game plan. All of it is insightful and needed. Getting off the dime is often a Herculean task, for sure. Starting well is Plan A, no doubt about it. But let’s hear it for the opposite end, for a change. Let’s extol the virtues of sticking with something until it is done. Of hanging tough when the excitement and fun fade into discipline and guts. You know, being just as determined eight minutes into the fourth quarter as at the kickoff. Not losing heart even though the project has lost its appeal. I fear our generation has come dangerously near the “I’m getting tired so let’s just quit” mentality. And not just in the spiritual realm. Dieting is a discipline, so we stay fat. Finishing school is a hassle, so we bail out. Cultivating a close relationship is painful, so we back off. Getting a book written is demanding, so we stop short. Working through conflicts in a marriage is a tiring struggle, so we walk away. Sticking with an occupation is tough, so we start looking elsewhere. This reminds me of something my sister passed along to me, titled “Six Phases of a Project”: • Enthusiasm • Disillusionment • Panic • Search for the guilty • Punishment of the innocent • Praise and honours for the nonparticipants
By the time a project has run its crazy course, confusion has replaced accomplishment. Participants have changed to spectators. The “let’s just quit” mentality is upon us. Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous composerpianist, was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. It was an evening to remember—black tuxes and long evening dresses, a high-society extravaganza full bore. Present in the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting, he squirmed constantly in his seat. His mother was in hopes that her boy would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the immortal Paderewski at the keyboard. So—against his wishes—he had come. As she turned to talk with friends, her son could stay seated no longer. He slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway and its leather tufted stool on the huge stage flooded with blinding lights. Without much notice from the sophisticated audience, the boy sat down at the stool, staring wide-eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small, trembling fingers in the right location and began to play Chop Sticks. The roar of the crowd was hushed as hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to shout: “Hey, get that boy away from there!” “Who’d bring a kid that young in here?” “Where’s his mother?” “Somebody stop him!” Backstage, the master overheard the sounds out front and quickly put together in his mind what was happening. Hurriedly, he grabbed his coat and rushed toward the stage. Without one word of announcement he stooped over behind
the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance Chop Sticks. As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear: “Keep going. Don’t quit, son. Keep on playing...don’t stop...don’t quit.” And so it is with us. We hammer away on our project, which seems about as significant as Chop Sticks in a concert hall. And about the time we are ready to give it up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers: “Now keep going; don’t quit. Keep on...don’t stop; don’t give up,” as He improvises on our behalf, providing just the right touch at just the right moment. Do I write today to a few weary pilgrims? Is the road getting long and hope wearing a little thin? Or to a few parents who are beginning to wonder if it’s worth it all, this exacting business of rearing children—which includes cleaning up daily messes and living with all that responsibility? Or to you who have a dream but seeing it accomplished seems too long a wait? Listen to the Master’s whispering: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)
Therefore...stand firm. Let nothing move you...your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Be self-controlled and alert.... Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:8, 10) So many start the Christian life like a lightning flash—hot, fast and dazzling. But how many people (aged 65 and over) can you name who are finishing the course with sustained enthusiasm and vigour? Oh, there are some, I realize, but why so few? What happens along the way that swells the ranks of quitters? I really wish I knew that answer. If I did, I’d shout warnings from the pulpit Sunday after Sunday. No, better than that, I’d stoop over and whisper them to every discouraged person I meet. Before it is too late. I urge you, my friend, to stay strong to the end. Never give in. Never quit the Christian life. Finish well.
Copyright © 1992, 2015 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Knowing God’s Moral and Sovereign Will by Steve Johnson
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How can I know God’s will for my life?” is a question many Christians ask. It’s an important issue yet many Christians are unclear about it because, quite simply, we don’t know our Bibles well enough to know what it says about the wills (plural) of God. Yes, God has more than one will. One of the most basic and helpful things in understanding the concept of God’s will is to understand the Bible’s distinction between what we call the moral will of God and the sovereign will of God. The Bible doesn’t use those terms, but the concepts are there.
God’s moral will is what He has revealed in Scripture. It is what He wants and desires of people. It isn’t enforced; we can choose to obey it or not. Here’s an example: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NASB1995). This says God wills/desires that we be pure. We have a choice to obey it or not but as with all His commands He doesn’t force us to obey. God’s sovereign will is very different. It is His unrevealed pre-determined plan for everything that happens in the universe. It is known only to Him, cannot be thwarted, will definitely
When Paul says he is “…an apostle of Christ occur, and only becomes known to us after it happens. It encompasses all the good and Jesus by the will of God” (2 Timothy 1:1), evil things that happen in the world and in our which will is he referring to? This would be the sovereign will, the predetermined plan of God. lives (Daniel 5:35; James 4:13–15). When Paul tells the believers how to do their Although these concepts are different, they are related. To visualize the relationship work “…as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God between the two, imagine two circles, a from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6), he’s referring to God’s moral will as revealed smaller one inside the KNOWING GOD’S in Scripture. It means worklarger. God’s sovereign will is represented by the MORAL AND SOVEREIGN ing according to the characteristics the Bible says we larger outer circle. There is WILL BEGINS WITH nothing that happens that KNOWING OUR BIBLES. should have as employees. When someone says, “I is outside that circle. All of history—past, present, and future, is inside think it is God’s will to do such and so,” ask that circle. Nothing happens outside the them which will they are talking about. No sphere of God’s sovereign will. By definition, one except God knows His secret sovereign God would cease to be God because His will, leaving only the option of God’s moral will. Since that has been revealed in the sovereignty would be compromised. The moral will is represented by the smaller Bible, their statement needs to line up with circle within the circle of the sovereign will Scripture. Either way, be discerning. Finally, when you seek to pray according of God. If someone chooses to disobey His commands, that disobedience is outside God’s to the will of God, which will are you praying moral will, but not outside His sovereign will. about? The things God has revealed are things The best example of this is the death of Christ. His we can ask for confidently knowing that is coming was sovereignly determined in eternity His moral will too. “If you ask Me anything in past, providentially orchestrated in history, and My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). Asking fulfilled at Calvary. Yet, for it to happen God’s for what God has already said He desires, is moral will was disobeyed by Christ’s executioners His guarantee of answered prayer. We may also ask for things God hasn’t expressly revealed in as they murdered an innocent man. These are the only two ways the Bible refers Scripture, but not knowing His plan we must to the will of God. Although it is a simple humbly accept His sovereign will. Knowing God’s moral and sovereign will distinction, it impacts our Christian beliefs begins with knowing our Bibles. and life in major ways. For one thing, to understand Scripture referencing God’s will, we need to ask, “Which will is this referring to?” Jesus prays, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it Steve Johnson is the executive director at is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Which will is He Insight for Living Canada. referring to? Since God’s sovereign will is already being carried out, it must refer to God’s moral will. Thus, the prayer is that people would obediently do what God desires in the same way as His desires are carried out in heaven.
Changing Our Minds, Changing Our Lives by Col leen Sw i ndol l Thompson
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he opening line of the sermon was: “What and what one honestly believes form the very you believe about life affects everything about core of character and transformation.... Beliefs how you live your life.” The congregation quieted are the rails on which our lives run.1 and heard once again: “What you believe about Sometimes the “light at the end of the life affects everything about how you live your life.” tunnel” is seen when we choose to examine Sometimes we believe happiness will what Scripture reveals about life rather than eventually show up, or we might suppose, “If how quickly we can remove our pain. The I do ‘this,’ then ‘that’ will New Testament book result.” However, if what of James is a great place SOMETIMES THE we believe is not based on to begin. Candidly “LIGHT AT THE END OF biblical truth, challenges are a n d v i v i d l y, Ja m e s THE TUNNEL” IS SEEN certain to affect how we live illuminates important WHEN WE CHOOSE our lives. For example, when principles about our TO EXAMINE WHAT a loved one is diagnosed lives, reminding us what SCRIPTURE REVEALS with a disabling condition, it means to live in truth— ABOUT LIFE RATHER disillusionment can follow truth which promises to because it can directly shake THAN HOW QUICKLY WE set us free (John 8:32). I our fundamental beliefs CAN REMOVE OUR PAIN. strongly urge you to read about life itself. a few verses from James In a helpful section of the book titled The Lost each day and ask these three simple questions: Virtue of Happiness, authors J. P. Moreland and 1. What truths are found in these verses? Klaus Issler write about this subject. 2. What have I believed about life that conThe most significant verse he [Paul] ever flicts with these truths? penned about spiritual transformation is 3. Am I willing to release my false beliefs in Romans 12:2.... “Do not be conformed to this order to believe what is true? world,” he tells us, “but be transformed by the Remember, “What you believe about life affects renewing of your mind.” ...Think of what Paul everything about how you live your life.” could have said—but did not. He could have said, be transformed by developing feelings of closeness with God, by exercising your will in Colleen Swindoll Thompson is the director of Reobeying biblical commands, by intensifying framing Ministries at Insight for Living Ministries. your desire for the right things, by fellowship and worship, and so on. Obviously, these are 1. J. P. Moreland and Klaus Issler, The Lost Virtue of Happiness: Discovering the important parts of the Christian life. Yet Paul Disciplines of the Good Life (Colorado chose to mention none of them in his most Springs: NavPress, 2006), 94–96. Used by important summary of the spiritual life. Why permission of NavPress, All rights reserved. is that? It is clear that, for him, how one thinks www.navpress.com (1-800-366-7788)
Andrew Bonar by Bill Gemaehlich
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recently learned about a hero of the faith influences in his childhood, Bonar did not gain named Andrew Bonar. As I read about him, I assurance of his salvation until he was 20 years found his life to be an encouragement to me and old. From the beginning of his ministry, Bonar had a burden for preaching I hope his life will also be and prayer, “[It is] our duty an encouragement for you. WHEN HIS FRIEND to preach in faith, as well Andrew Bonar was ADMONISHED HIM NOT as prepare for preaching born on May 29, 1810, in TO EXPECT TOO MUCH, in faith. And then that in Edinburgh, Scotland to BONAR ANSWERED, prayer the speaker ought James and Marjory Bonar. “WE CAN NEVER HOPE to try to move the heart of He was the youngest of FOR TOO MUCH!” God and not the feelings of seven brothers, one of man, and that I should be whom was hymn-writer Horatius Bonar. His father died when he was much more fervent in private prayer.”1 As a young man, Bonar became an assistant just seven, which left his family with great financial hardship. Although surrounded by spiritual pastor and city missionary and eventually
accepted a call to pastor the Presbyterian Church in Collace where he remained for 18 fruitful years. In 1848, he married Isabella Dickson in Edinburgh. Over the years they were blessed with six children. Sadly, shortly after the birth of their last child, Isabella went to be with the Lord. In 1856, Bonar became the pastor of a new church in Glasgow, Ireland, and remained there until his death in 1892. Forging the new church in Glasgow was difficult work for Bonar, but being a premillennialist, he joyfully preached about the return of Jesus Christ. A friend once asked Bonar how things were going in his new church, he replied, “Oh, we are looking for great things!” When his friend admonished him not to expect too much, Bonar answered, “We can never hope for too much!” Bonar’s diary, titled Andrew Bonar: Diary and Letters, was edited and published by his daughter Marjory. This book reveals inspiring aspects of Bonar’s devotional life with the Lord, providing deep insight into the heart and faith of a gracious man. Warren Wiersbe says of Bonar that, “he was able to accomplish much with people in public because he spent time
with God in private.” Throughout his ministry, Bonar faithfully taught expositionally through the Bible and spent hours every day in prayer and meditating on Scripture. The indelible mark of his life and ministry was established through his intimate walk with his Saviour. Let’s consider Andrew Bonar’s example of perseverance, faith, and hopeful prayer. During this time when we need hope in the midst of chaos, remember Bonar’s words, “We can never hope for too much!” Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2 ESV)
Bill Gemaehlich is the EVP/COO operations at Insight for Living Ministries 1. Bonar, Marjory. 1894. Andrew A. Bonar: Diary and Letters. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Are Spiritual Disciplines Practice or Legalism? by Steve Johnson
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hristian “A” and Christian “B” both have a confession, fasting, silence, and solitude are a daily quiet time of prayer and Bible read- few spiritual disciplines Christians throughout ing. Each attends, serves, and gives financially history have typically practiced. Spiritual disciplines help us develop spiriin their local church. Both are disciplined with tually in ways summed what they look at, say, eat, up in 2 Peter 1:5–8, “But and in how they use their LEGALISM IS ALWAYS to obtain these gifts, you time. Christian “A” is a SELF-CENTRED, need more than faith; you legalist, and Christian “B” WHEREAS THE must also work hard to isn’t. What’s the differDISCIPLINES ARE be good, and even that is ence? What makes one a ALWAYS GOD-CENTRED. not enough. For then you legalist and the other not? must learn to know God On one hand, we are encouraged to practice activities sometimes better and discover what he wants you to do. called spiritual disciplines. The words Next, learn to put aside your own desires so “discipline” and “disciple” go together. Activities that you will become patient and godly, gladly like prayer, Bible study, worship, service, letting God have his way with you. This will
make possible the next step, which is for you to win a prize that will fade away, but we do to enjoy other people and to like them, and it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose finally you will grow to love them deeply. The in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I more you go on in this way, the more you will discipline my body like an athlete, training it grow strong spiritually and become fruitful to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ” (TLB). On the other hand, we fear that if we are disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). We know hard work is necessary in athletics strict and disciplined in practicing spiritual disciplines we are being legalistic or appear but when it comes to our spiritual life, we to others as legalists. We fear being like the hesitate. If you got up every day at 5:30 a.m. Pharisees of Jesus’ day or the Judaizers of to train for a marathon, no one would tell you Paul’s day who were strict about law-keeping. to stop running every day because it’s legalism. And we know both Jesus and Paul rejected So, why we do we think this when it comes to something far more effective for our souls like these people and their lifestyles. This rejection by Jesus and Paul gets at the practicing spiritual disciplines? The words “discipline,” “train,” and heart of the difference between discipline and legalism. They rejected the Pharisees “exercise” may sound like legalism but they and Judaizers because they were hypocrites aren’t necessarily. Legalism is always selfadhering to external law-keeping but ignoring centred, whereas the disciplines are always the internal matters of the heart. Jesus said, God-centred. The heart of a legalist thinks, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he “Doing this will help me gain merit with God.” prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These The heart of the follower of Christ thinks, “I people honor me with their lips, but their want to do this because I love God and seek hearts are far from me. Their worship is to please Him.” A disciple will train themself a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as with spiritual exercises to achieve godliness. If you practice spiritual disciplines because commands from God’” (Mark 7:6–7). someone told you that you had to, because you Their motives were all wrong. They wanted think God will love you more, or because that to appear godly and spiritual but did not is impressive to others, then you are a legalist. follow God with a pure or loving heart. Their If you practice them to know God better, to be faith was in themselves, believing their efforts transformed inwardly because that is pleasing and abilities earned them God’s favour. to the Lord, and to do His will in every way, That is the essence of legalism. It’s mindless, then you are a true disciple training to win the heartless, and fearful adherence to a law or marathon of a godly Christian life. prescription. Legalism is fake spirituality focused on doing the right things with the wrong motivation. It’s at odds with true faith, because it’s faith in oneself and one’s own abilities to earn God’s favour. Steve Johnson is the executive director at But for fear of legalism should we avoid Insight for Living Canada. regularly practicing spiritual disciplines or being disciplined in our Christian behaviour? Not at all! That’s one of the enemy’s biggest lies. Paul writes, “So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it
Operation Intimidation
For months Nehemiah led the project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls in spite of constant opposition. As the walls neared completion, foes once again assailed this leader. But this time the attacks were more insidious—the enemy attempted to intimidate him. Nehemiah’s discernment helped him frustrate the plots of his adversaries. In the same way, Godgiven discernment can help us face intimidating circumstances in our own realms of leadership. Discovering the Way 1. When Did the Attacks Occur? (Nehemiah 6:1) The walls of Jerusalem were nearly complete and the people were just about to begin a welldeserved celebration when the attacks began. 2. What Were the Attacks? (Nehemiah 6:2–14, 16–19) First, Nehemiah’s enemies sent a personal request, intending to lure him into a trap (6:2–4). Second, his opponents circu-
lated a public letter defaming Nehemiah’s character (6:5–9). Third, they formed a subtle conspiracy, seeking to frighten him (6:10–14). And finally, Nehemiah’s greatest enemy, Tobiah, sent threatening communication (6:16–19). 3. Did the Attacks Affect the Situation? (Nehemiah 6:15) Nehemiah refused to be intimidated. Instead trusting God for the discernment he needed to continue to survive the attacks of his enemies he completed the task. Starting Your Journey It is impossible to do the will of God without experiencing opposition. Like Nehemiah, we need discernment to persevere through the inevitable challenges in our own realms of leadership.
“Operation Intimidation” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Hand Me Another Brick: Timeless Lessons on Leadership. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Crossword
2 Timothy Difficulty ■ ■ □ □
The book of 2 Timothy is likely Paul’s last letter. It takes doctrinal orthodoxy and running a faithful race. This crossword provides hints pulled directly from its four chapters (NIV). If you would like an extra challenge, read through the whole letter several times and then try to solve the puzzle without referring back to it. Or try to solve it using a different translation than the one used to create it!
ACROSS: 3. From infancy you have known ____(x2) 6. Their ____ will be clear to everyone 7. Everyone in the province of Asia has ____ me 11. The servant of God may be thoroughly ____ 12. Do not be ____ of the testimony 13. I have ____ the race 15. If we ____, we will also reign with him 19. God’s solid ____ stands firm 21. People will be lovers of ____ 22. I thank God, whom I ____ 23. I was appointed a ____ 24. Like a good ____ for Jesus Christ
DOWN: 1. People will not put up with ____(x2) 2. Warn them before God against ____ about words 4. I am already being ____ out 5. ____ the word 8. Join with me in ____ for the gospel 9. Be ____ in season and out of season 10. Opponents must be gently ____ 14. Guard the good deposit that was ____ to you 16. God’s word is not ____ 17. Their teaching will spread like ____ 18. The Lord ____ me from all of them 20. Keep your ____ in all situations
Puzzle solutions will be posted at insightforliving.ca/puzzle at a later date.
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Hand Me Another Brick: Timeless Lessons on Leadership
