Author: Warren Berkley

Note: I often look back at the issues of Christianity Magazine and re-discover valuable writing, like this from the pen of Brent Lewis.

The Psalms in Practice

What It Means to Magnify the Lord

Brent Lewis

We are told in this great psalm what one who magnifies the Lord will do and when he will do it. The Christian must never forget that his aim in life is lofty and sublime. He seeks, as Paul did, to magnify Christ in his life (Philippians 1:20). Just what is it that such a disciple will do?

1. He will bless and praise God (verse 1). “I will bless Jehovah at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Too often we heap praise on undeserving men and neglect the praise of the Almighty. Let us never become so enamored with the rich and powerful of this world that we are unimpressed with God. He alone is the proper object of our praise, and among His creatures we have the unparalleled privilege of offering Him praise. We are assured that He accepts it, for He says, “whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth me” (Psalm 50:23).
2. He will do this “at all times” or “continually” (verse 1). It is easy to become forgetful. We have a perpetual duty to God to praise Him for His mercy and kindness. The Christian fully recognizes that “It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23). If we will cultivate an awareness that His mercies are “new every morning,” it will be hard not to magnify Him. We must habitually develop a thankful spirit under every circumstance, in every situation; before, in and after trials; in bright days of happiness and somber nights of sorrow. Our God can bring sunshine into the darkest nights. In the same way that Paul and Silas praised God in prison (Acts 16:23–25), that Job blessed His name amidst tragic personal loss (Job 1:20–21), and the beaten disciples rejoiced in their suffering for His name (Acts 5:40–41)—so can we “bless Him at all times.” We have abiding reasons for blessing God even in the face of sorrows and trials. If we will think upon them and enumerate them, the scale by which we weigh God’s mercies will grow heavy, and the scale by which we weigh our difficulties will grow light.
3. He will boast in Jehovah (verse 2). “My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah.” Man’s boasting is usually in himself (Luke 18:9–14). The Christian will fail to magnify God by mundane, arrogant self-boasting. God says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah” (Jeremiah 9:23–24). Yes, our boasting must be in Jehovah. Perhaps the greatest boast in all of Scripture was made by Paul, and can be echoed by every disciple today—“I can do all things!” (Philippians 4:13). But even this boast takes on humility when he adds, as I must—“in Him that strengtheneth me.” (See 1 Corinthians 15:10; Psalm 44:8).

Finally, notice in verse two the result of magnifying God in one’s life. “The meek [humble] shall hear thereof and be glad.” If you will praise God in all the circumstances of life and boast only in Him, you can be a significant influence on others for good. “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). It is true that all men will not be constrained by your example. But the “meek”—those who have been brought low in their own esteem because of life’s adversities—will sit up and take notice of what such a person does.

Would you magnify God in your life? Put this psalm into practice: praise God at all times, boast only in Him, and good results are sure to follow.^[1]

^[1] Lewis, B. (1985). The Psalms in Practice: What It Means to Magnify the Lord. Christianity Magazine, 2(5), 25.

John’s Third Epistle

3 Jno. 9-12

Imitate What Is Good

 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

–3 Jno. 9-12

You may have heard people say about various local churches, “there is this one brother…”

That’s often about a stubborn man, a controlling man, an angry impulsive reactor when something goes against him. That was Diotrephes. A church boss, who did not acknowledge the authority of the apostles. John promised to deal with that when he came. (This is a position of zero tolerance for trouble-makers.)

A refreshing follow-up comes with the mention of Demetrius, who received a good testimony from good people and from the truth itself.

The lesson for all readers is: “Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good.”

2 Cor. 10:1-6

The Challenge Stated

 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— ² I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

 Can I be confident without being contentious?

         Clear without being careless?

         Candid without being callous?

         Calm without being cold?

         Capable without being carnal?

         Charitable without being compromising?

FIVE SMOOTH STONES OF PARENTING

Sewell Hall

In Goliath, David faced what seemed an indomitable foe. David’s goal was not so much to kill the giant as to protect the children and honor of God. He took five smooth stones from the brook to achieve his purpose. In the pervasive humanism of our society, parents face what appears to be an equally unconquerable giant who is determined to destroy their children. They have five stones with which to protect them.

Purpose

“A child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15). Consequently, Wisdom says, “Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Proverbs 22:6). This requires first determining “the way he should go,” then pointing the child in that direction. For Christians one direction supersedes all others: eternal life in heaven via Christlikeness on earth. Scores of agencies with different goals challenge us for control of our children. My father used to say, “I will not let the schools take my children away from me.”  Today there are many additional threats: TV, internet, video games, ipods, scouts, sports, neighbors, etc. These must be constantly monitored and controlled. Parents of good children are often told, “You are just lucky.” No, good children are not the product of luck, but of purpose—relentlessly, sacrificially and pro-actively pursued.

Training

“Bring them up in the training…of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Training a plant requires knowing where you want it to go and then patiently bending it, pruning it, and perhaps even tying it. Training an animal involves knowing what you want it to do, using force at first, then patiently guiding, correcting, and finally rewarding and punishing. In both instances, training means establishing authority and maintaining control. Training children begins with example and sometime physical force, then guidance, correction, and eventually reward and punishment when the child understands what is expected. Above all, it means establishing the parents’ authority and letting the child know who is in control. This must begin very early. Once willful rebellion is tolerated, a wrong direction is established and the necessary “bending, pruning, and tying” become all the more difficult. The mother of John and Charles Wesley described good discipline as “shaping the will without breaking the spirit.” This agrees with the Spirit’s counsel: “Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up…”(Ephesians 6:4).

Instruction

“Bring them up in the…admonition (instruction – NASB) of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Unlike plants and animals children can be admonished and instructed. This, also, parents must do. The very intellect that enables children to be instructed also enables them to exercise their free will as they grow older. Parental control constantly diminishes, and unless God’s control is established, their lives will be out of control. God’s control is established by teaching them the scriptures. Long after Timothy was beyond the control of mother and grandmother, their faith dwelt in him (2 Timothy 1:5). How was this accomplished? Paul reminded Timothy, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Faith in older children is the result of early instruction in righteousness. Parents should take advantage of the classes offered by the church, but this is not enough—they must teach their children personally. A mother once told me of overhearing her husband saying to their young infant in the crib, “Let me tell you about Jesus.” Not surprisingly, that young infant is now a godly young teenager.

Affection

Training and instruction must be administered with love—a love that “suffers long and is kind,” that “does not behave rudely,” and above all, “does not seek its own” (I Corinthians 13:4-5). Children will forgive many mistakes if they can always be sure of their parents’ love.“Love will cover a multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8). Affection without firmness is disastrous, but equally disastrous is firmness without affection.

Prayer

David did not attribute his defeat of Goliath to the stone, to his sling or to his skill. “The battle,” he said, “is the Lord’s” (I Samuel 17:47). So it is with the training of our children. God is concerned with the outcome and we are servants whom He has entrusted with our little ones. We must pray daily for the wisdom that He has promised to supply (James 1:5) and for His providence to overrule our inevitable mistakes. And when our children have become what we hoped for, we have no ground for boasting, only for the humble exclamation, “to God be the glory!”

David succeeded, using only one stone; parents will need all five.

New Episode Added Today To My Isaiah Insights Podcasts, Click Here

“By Faith”

Hebrews 11:1-5

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. ⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. – Heb. 11:1-5

Faith, as described in this passage, connects us to two valuable things: THINGS HOPED FOR and THINGS NOT SEEN. If you want good things you hope for in the future, of an eternal and spiritual nature – FAITH PROVIDES THAT ASSURNACE. If you want to know things you cannot see, of an eternal and spiritual nature – FAITH PROVIDES THAT ASSURANCE ALSO.

If I want to know what I cannot see, pertaining to my relationship with God. And, I want hope of eternal good – FAITH IS WHERE I GET THAT ASSURANCE. Faith assures of things we hope for and convinces us of things not seen.

This is how we form our convictions about God creating the world and making man in His own image. This is how Abel pleased God. This is how Enoch pleased God.

When we consider with a good and honest heart – all the evidence of God’s existence around us and we take His Word as truth – then act on His Word – that’s the activity of faith – that assures us of things we hope for and convinces us of things we cannot see.

If you want to please God and look forward to a good eternal outcome, it must be by faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).

From the published book, TWELVE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES, this is quoted from the chapter on Bible Study by Rick Liggin. The book is available on Amazon. Click Here.

Get the big picture! Before we can analyze a specific passage in a given section of a Bible book or letter, we must first get some kind of grasp of the overall message. If we don’t understand the purpose of a book or letter, we will struggle to understand the specifics. This is a part of keeping things in context (something we are often guilty of violating). The best way to get the big picture (or overview) of a letter or book is to read it straight through several times. As you do so, here are some things in your Bible that you need to ignore as best you can:

• Titles of the letters or books: the books of the Bible were not originally titled.
• Chapter breaks: are not original and often are poorly located; but they affect reading.
• Verses: also are not original; their only purpose is to help us locate parts of the text.
• Paragraph markings: these are put in by publishers, based on their own judgment.
• Subheadings: are also put in by publishers; they can be helpful, but also misleading.
• Marginal references: again, included by publishers; sometimes, these are worthless.
• Personal notes or markings: these affect our reading of and thinking about the text.

Isaiah Insights #2, to be broadcasts Monday, Dec. 2

Warren E. Berkley – wberkley.podbean.com

Vain Worship, Isa. 1:12-18

In Isaiah chapter one, verses 12-16, God’s disappointment with His people in Judah and Jerusalem is spelled out in some detail, as it concerned their vain worship. While nurturing their crooked hearts and engaged in injustice and rebellion, yet – they continued to go through the motions of worship. Perhaps they were thinking their worship routine would in someway have a redemptive result, even though they continued in their sin?

God wouldn’t have it. He said, through the prophet, “bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me.” The prophet spoke for God, “Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.” Even when they prayed (no repentance), God said, “I will hide my eyes from you, even thought you make many prayers, I will not listen.”

Worship acts or rituals, when not accompanied by a sincere heart devoted to God, serve no purpose in the sight of God. Such acts may appear to men to be pious and admirable. God isn’t fooled. And the notion that such acts have a redemptive purpose is just wrong.

Jesus spoke of worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth (Jno. 4:24). But we can make this point in a larger context. Any form of “obedience” to God or attempt to worship is vain, when not accompanied by genuine motive.

So, back to our text in Isaiah 1, the prophet told these people: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow,” (Isa. 1:16-18).

Isaiah Insights Podcasts #2

Did I ever tell you about Brother Foster’s Thanksgiving prayer? Long ago, out in that West Cross Timbers country beyond Fort Worth, Brother Foster was famous for prayers that showed scope and style. I once heard him send up a thanksgiving prayer that was major league in all respects, and he did it standing in the kitchen door on Gramdma Hale’s farm.

This old fellow was not really a preacher. But in rural regions at the time I am talking about, purebred and registered preachers were scarce and people made do with the nearest they had to the real article.

Brother Foster taught Sunday School, and did funerals, and went around comforting the sick and sorrowful, and generally made a satisfactory substitute for a preacher. My father used to say you could put a black hat on Brother Foster and hand him a Bible and a collection plate and he could pass for a preacher.

His specialty was prayers on special occasions, like at Fourth of July Picnics, ice cream suppers, Christmas gatherings, and other holiday affairs. It must have been in ’31 or ’32 that Brother Foster came to Gramdma Hale’s farm for Thanksgiving dinner. All the women, especially, counted it a social victory to have Brother Foster for Thanksgiving. I don’t know how we got him, as he was spread pretty thin over that region.

The meal was the occasion for the prayer, so it was delivered as the blessing. Or, asking the blessing, as we said, or returning thanks.

When the formal invitation was issued – “Brother Foster, will you return thanks for us?” – that luminary backed away from the table and took up a position in the doorway that led into Grandma’s kitchen. Evidently he felt a need to be isolated from the general bunch.

He was a big, heavy-shouldered fellow with deep-set eyes and wavy white hair and a mighty voice. My father used to say that they ruined a first-rate preacher when they put Bro. Foster to following a mule across a cotton patch.

He waited for silence before he began. If silence took a full minute to arrive, still he waited. We were supposed to keep our heads bowed and our eyes closed but by that time I had perfected a system of looking around at things through eyes that seemed closed but really weren’t.

Bro. Foster stood with his legs slightly apart and his hands behind him and his chin elevated and his eyes closed. Just when you thought he would begin, a foot would scuff or a throat would clear and he would hold off a while longer. Even a calf, bawling for its mama out at the barn, would delay his beginning.

He started out quietly, and built volume as he went along. He began with the food and the blessed hands that prepared it. He called Grandma by name, and I learned later that this was a high blessing, to get your name sent up in a prayer by Brother Foster, and on Thanksgiving Day, at that.

From the women he went to the men who tilled the land and brought forth its fruits. He went on to thank the Lord for the beasts that pulled the plows, and those that sacrificed their lives to give us sustenance.

Then he took up the children, and asked the Lord to bless their little hearts and keep them safe.

He went into the field of medicine and thanked the Lord for protecting those of us who hadn’t caught terrible diseases or suffered crippling injuries. He got into agriculture and mentioned the good corn crop, and the cotton crop which was fair. Went then to meteorology and pointed out to God that the rains came a little too late in the season but were appreciated anyhow. He called the names of people who had died during the year, people we knew, and he gave thanks for their lives. He gave thanks for breezes that turned windmills, for pretty music, for the love of friends and kinfolks, for the very roof over our heads, for feather mattresses on cold winter nights.

This litany went on until the dressing was cold and I thought it was more a sermon than a prayer. Not until a good many years later did I understand why Bro. Foster’s long prayers were sought and appreciated:

Life in that country was hard, and those folks needed somebody to remind them that they had a lot to be thankful for.

Source

{Houston Chronicle, Section A, Page #43,

Thursday, Nov. 24, 1988, A THANKSGIVING

PRAAAAAAAAYER, by Leon Hale.}

John’s Third Epistle

3 Jno. 1-4

That All May Go Well

¹ The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

² Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers^[a] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – 3 Jno. 1-4

John’s third letter contains the repeated themes and tone from the first two epistles. Concern for truth and expressions of affection for his brethren.

His love for the recipients is seen immediately in his desire that all may go well with them, especially their spiritual health.

John was always rejoicing when he heard of Christians who were not flirting with error or deceived by it, but instead – they were walking in the truth. He had no greater joy, than “to hear that” his brothers and sisters were “walking in the truth.”

How thankful we should be, that we can open the Bible and know the truth. Then we can let that truth from God work in our lives, “walking in the truth.”

Likewise, we should rejoice every time we hear of Christians walking in the truth.

Faith not Feeling

“Faith means trusting in God’s love and making ourselves available for its action despite what we may feel. Faith cannot be based on feelings. Nor should its criterion of authenticity be absence of struggle…By shifting the basis for confidence from human feelings and inner harmony to hard faith facts about God and behaviour, the author is boycotting a common religious trend, then and now, to make inner human experience the criteria of spirituality.”

William Loader (Johanine Epistles, pp 43-44)