One Cure for My Justification By Ministry Syndrome

March 28, 2012 / revheff / 2 Comments

Truth is I need multiple cures for this disease. Most if not all pastors struggle with it. It evidences itself in a tendency to validate one’s existence by perceived success in the gospel work.

It shows up a lot on Sunday mornings. We can measure it by how we feel about attendance at our services. High numbers in the house, doing OK. Low numbers, not so OK. Strong offering, sweet. Weak offering, bitter. Lots of sermon compliments out the door, flying high. Little to no “at ta boys,” or worse yet, critical comments, laid low.

In the Lord’s faithfulness to contribute further to the eradication of this affliction, He has added a new wrinkle to my life. It’s called your-new-building-won’t-be-ready-for-Easter-opening disappointment. A number of folks have asked me how I am handling the setback of the revised timetable.

My answer remains the same. It’s not wise to complain about answers to prayer. What I mean is this. I/we have prayed since the outset of the project that we wouldn’t allow the building which is a good thing to become a god thing which would make it a bad thing. In other words, we don’t want to turn the whole deal into an idol.

In my experience the most effective way God tests my heart for revealing something I delight in more than Him is to take it away from me or keep me from it. I figure having to wait for this blessing and especially not capitalizing on Easter for outreach purposes that might result in a full building (maybe even two services) and the perception of success are just, among other things, another way that Jesus wants to keep me far afield of the justification by ministry syndrome. He has answered my prayer in not letting the building become an idol. Best not to complain.

So, I am content. I think. Yes, I am pretty sure, it’s OK. God is in control. We’ll get the CO when we are supposed to get it and we’ll open the building when we are supposed to open it. Then I will have a whole bunch of other temptations no doubt to justification by ministry syndrome. Lord, have mercy.

Fortunately I know the one Physician with healing power and His prescription for keeping the perilous condition at bay, the gospel. There is hope even for me and my perpetual idol-making factory of a heart.

Tim Keller, in an interview addressing idolatry in pastors, said it well:

When you find yourself unusually discouraged because things aren’t growing or people aren’t listening to you — you have to catch yourself. You have to realize ‘This is an inordinate amount of discouragement, which reveals the idolatry of justification by ministry.’ Meaning, you say you believe in justification by grace, but you feel like and are acting like you believe in justification by ministry. You have to recognize you are making something of an idol out of ministry. When you do experience inordinate discouragement because things aren’t going well, you need to say, ‘It’s okay to be discouraged but not to be this discouraged. This is discouragement that leads to idolatry,’ and you repent.

To read the rest of what he had to say click here.

Are you trusting in anything or anyone other than Jesus for your justification?

You can bet your life as a child of God He will find ways to pry your fingers loose from whatever it is so that you more thoroughly cling to Jesus for His glory and your joy.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

The Explicit Gospel Tour

March 27, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

Always on the lookout for resources and opportunities to war against the dreadful disease that is gospel amnesia, I gladly commend to our people this event billed as making the gospel clear for both the non-believer and the Christian.

On Saturday evening, April 21, at Crosspointe Church Orlando, Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor at the Village Church in Dallas Texas, will conclude his six-city tour with an evening service to share the gospel in a winsome and engaging manner, articulating the pertinence of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for both salvation and sanctification.

The purpose of this event is to make the gospel clear not only to nonbelievers, but also to those who have grown up in church their whole lives and aren’t seeing the staggering implications of the good news of grace. Also, Crossway Publishers will be promoting the release of Chandler’s new book, The Explicit Gospel along with other Christian books to help people know Jesus and make Him known.

You can learn more about the event and purchase tickets on line here.

This is a unique opportunity in our back yard. I trust many of our folks might take advantage of it and attend.

Please note: Shane and Shane will not perform at this particular event. Sorry!

A Biblical Vision for the Church

March 26, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

Pastor Mark Dever has a message from 1 Corinthians up on the audio portion of the 9Marks site. I listened to it last week.

He entitled it A Biblical Vision for the Church. Essentially he argues that the church exists for God and that the thing that should constrain us more than anything else in terms of our participation in a local church is that perspective.

From that starting point he goes on to articulate from various places in the epistle how the local church is to be three things: holy, unified, and loving. He reasons that because God Himself is these things, which he shows from the text as well, we should reflect these things in our churches.

It means we can’t afford to overlook things like church discipline.

It means we can’t fragment into divisions that center on various personalities.

It means we ought to bend over backwards in deferring to one another in showing love.

He finishes with how the gospel informs all those things. He pleads with the listener to evaluate his church in these terms.

It’s a worthwhile investment of about fifty minutes.

Check it out. You can listen to the audio here.

Nothing for Which Jesus Cares So Much (Part 6)

March 25, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

Today’s message from John 14:15-24 is now on the web. You can listen to the audio here.

Here’s how I summarized the point of the text:

Jesus’ loving care in thoroughly preparing His own for their mission points yet again to His identity as Messiah that we might believe in Him. Indeed there is nothing He cares so much as our faith, genuine faith that treasures and keeps His commandments. And why are they not burdensome, to use 1 John 5:3 language? Because of the Trinitarian provision for our aid in obedience – the gift of the Spirit in helping us, the coming of the Son in the resurrection for assuring us, and next time, Lord willing, we will consider the indwelling of the Father, and not just the Father but the Son as well, both promising to make their home with us. Amazing!

Praise God for the Trinitarian provision for operation-saving-faith-resulting-in-obedience!

Blessed By Boldness

March 24, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

A neighborhood book club simpatico insisted that I just had to read Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth.

Set in medieval times it tells the long tale (just short of a thousand pages) of the building of a cathedral and all that entailed.

I haven’t finished the book yet, but I have found it an interesting read, particularly as OGC closes in on the completion of its facility. I am thankful we haven’t undertaken the construction of a vast stone cathedral!

I also find myself grateful not to have lived in such difficult times in human history. No need for details. But one lesson has stood out in my reading that made me feel very blessed.

The main character, Prior Philip, finds himself at points dependent upon King Stephen for his benevolence in order to finance the building of the cathedral. Follet does a good job of drawing the reader into the angst of the Catholic priest, particularly at one point, where he must wait for the king at court to acknowledge him and invite him into his presence to present his petitions. He does not. Philip goes away grossly disappointed.

I found myself enormously grateful that God doesn’t treat His “subjects” that way. Because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we have bold access anytime we wish to approach the throne of grace to find help for our time of need (Heb. 4:16).

The blessedness of this boldness in Christ before God the high King of heaven came into even greater perspective as I read a passage this week from Puritan Richard Sibbes’ brilliant treatise on 2 Cor. 3:18 entitled Glorious Freedom:

We see the glory of God with boldness in the gospel. We have boldness and access to God through Christ by the Spirit . . . . Christ by his Spirit takes us by the hand and leads us to his Father. God is not now terrifying to us but in Christ, God’s nature is fatherly and sweet to us. We may boldly lay open our souls in prayer and bring all our complaints before him as to a Father. We do not come as malefactors to a judge or as slaves to a lord, but as children to father, as a wife to her spouse. The gospel by shining upon us takes away a spirit of fear and bondage. The more we see Christ, and the more love, the less fear. The more we see the grace of God in Christ, the spirit of fear is diminished and replaced by a spirit of love and boldness. Grace presents to us in Christ full satisfaction to divine justice. When we offer Christ to the Father whom he has sent and sealed for us, God cannot refuse a Saviour of his own sending, sealing and appointing. It is a marvelous privilege that we see God clearly in the gospel, with open faces, with a spirit of boldness, the veil of ignorance being taken away.

Blessed boldness that comes from the gospel.

Be gone spirit of fear and bondage.

We come to a heavenly Father ever sweet in Christ.

The Latest on the Property Transition Plan

March 22, 2012 / revheff / 1 Comment

I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible. God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The bad news is that the opening of our facility is still four weeks away. I have it from reliable sources that there is no way everything that needs to get done on the building before we can apply to the city for a certificate of occupancy will occur before then. Go figure.

Frankly, the thing that troubles me most in this? Jared and Jillian don’t get to have their wedding in our new facility. May I ask you all a favor? Would you join me in rallying around these “kids” in offering to do whatever it takes to make their rehearsal/wedding/reception on the weekend of April 13-14 a smash-bang-over-the-top-out-of-this-world success? Thankfully, a contingency plan exists. More to come on that. If you feel led to ease the sting of losing their distinction as the first wedding in the OGC facility, contact Jared and/or Jillian as soon as you can and offer to help. I am counting on the people of Orlando Grace to smother these dear ones in love. Thank you!

Beyond that, a bunch of dominoes fall. First, we are likely to hang around the SDA facility a bit longer. Hopefully the good folks at 455 Maitland Ave will delight to take our money into the month of April. We will keep you posted on that. Second, our annual meeting on April 1 needs a new home. Hopefully we can reserve the SDA for the eve of April 1 for that purpose. We will keep you posted on that. Third, the Good Friday service gets problematic. We’re working on a plan. More to come on that. Fourth, the Kristian Stanfill concert is cancelled for April 15. Hopefully we can reschedule. Somebody please put me out of my pastoral misery!

Isn’t this fun? Nobody said the Christian life and church dynamics would leave you bored! Thanks for being patient with the process as we navigate this once-in-a-lifetime season in the life of our church.

Seriously, let me remind us. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing. Let us live moment-by-moment in the assurance that God has everything under control and that what we need to do more than anything else is love one another as Christ has loved us so that the world may know that we are His disciples.

The Three "Rs" of the Spirit

March 19, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

Yesterday I attempted to apply the teaching from John 14:16-17 about the role of the Holy Spirit with three “so whats.” I want to review them quickly here in this post.

First, find rest in the Spirit’s foreverness. The Son asks the Father to give us the Spirit and promises a forever relationship. We never need concern ourselves that the Father will renege on the promise of the Spirit. We are sealed with the Spirit (Eph. 1:13). He will never leave us or forsake us and always gives us exactly what we need for every circumstance and situation.

Second, take responsibility for the Spirit’s infilling. The Spirit’s indwelling, enjoyed by all Jesus’ followers, does not guarantee His fullness in our everyday lives. We make choices all the time that influence that one way or the other. Ephesians 5:18-21 is the key text:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but 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.

Notice the corporate nature of the means that affect the Spirit’s infilling in our lives. Participation in singing and praise from the heart with thanksgiving and a submissive spirit towards others all come into play dramatically in terms of whether or not we enjoy the Spirit’s in full measure.

Third, think relationship with the Spirit as family. He is, after all, a person. A Christ follower has no more intimate relationship than he does with the indwelling Spirit. Talk with the Spirit. Pray to the Spirit. Remember that the Spirit goes with you wherever you go and can be grieved (Eph. 4:30) or quenched (1 Thess. 5:19) by whatever you do.

There are some bizarre teachings out there about the Spirit, but we should not let the fear of those excesses keep us from cultivating a prayer-without-ceasing, keeping-in-close-step with the Spirit.

Nothing for Which Jesus Cares So Much (Part 5)

March 18, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

Today’s message from John 14:15-24 is now on the web. You can listen to the audio here.

I summarized the flow of the argument this way:

We could spend multiple messages unpacking the doctrine of the Spirit, but I will resist that temptation for we will encounter His ministry nuymerous times to come in this discourse. But before we move on next time to the role of the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead, I do want you to see in verses 16-18, in addition to the identity of the Spirit as Helper, four other particulars that Jesus identifies about Him – His perpetuity, His priority, His exclusivity, and His intimacy. All of these contribute to the force of the advantage that comes to Jesus’ followers upon the loss of His presence in so short a time (John 16:7).

Praise God for the extraordinary help of the Holy Spirit in whom we find rest, are filled, and enjoy intimate relationship!

A Day More About Missions than Green Beer

March 17, 2012 / revheff / Leave a comment

Today, of course is St. Patrick’s Day.

Nancy intends to cook up a pot of corned beef and cabbage before the day is out. She got some Guinness Stout for the occasion also. My mouth is watering already, even though I just finished lunch not too long ago.

Nothing wrong with any of those aspects of the day, in moderation of course, but how much we will have missed the point if we do not acquaint ourselves with the man behind the day, St. Patrick, called by some the patron saint of Ireland.

Mark Driscoll has an excellent post on him entitled St. Patrick: One of the Greatest Missionaries Who Ever Lived.

Let me whet an appetite of a different kind with this pull quote from the post by the man whose family used to go by O’Driscoll:

In faith, the forty-something year-old Patrick sold all of his possessions, including the land he had inherited from his father, to fund his missionary journey to Ireland. He worked as an itinerant preacher and paid large sums of money to various tribal chiefs to ensure he could travel safely through their lands and preach the gospel. His strategy was completely unique, and he functioned like a missionary trying to relate to the Irish people and communicate the gospel in their culture by using such things as three-leaf clovers to explain the gospel. Upon entering a pagan clan, Patrick would seek to first convert the tribal leaders and other people of influence. He would then pray for the sick, cast demons out of the possessed, preach the Bible, and use both musical and visual arts to compel people to put their faith in Jesus. If enough converts were present he would build a simple church that did not resemble ornate Roman architecture, baptize the converts, and hand over the church to a convert he had trained to be the pastor so that he could move on to repeat the process with another clan. Patrick gave his life to the people who had enslaved him until he died at 77 years of age. He had seen untold thousands of people convert as between 30-40 of the 150 tribes had become substantially Christian. He had trained 1000 pastors, planted 700 churches, and was the first noted person in history to take a strong public stand against slavery.

For the rest of an intriguing and to-the-point mini-education on this giant of church history click here.

Before the day is out, take a peek. Give thanks for a gospel-inflamed heart of the past like this one. Ask God to raise up others like it in our generation for His glory, the good of the church, and the joy of the nations.