Four Reasons We Neglect Encouraging One Another

We are called to encourage one another. The church should be a fountain flowing with praise and commendation toward one another. A fire not flamed goes out. A relationship devoid of encouragement dies slowly and painfully. A deficiency in encouragement coupled with a surplus of corrections and criticism makes for toxic and rotten relationships. The Bible exhorts us to spur one another to good works through encouragement (Heb. 10:24-25), to protect one another from the deceit of sin using encouragement (Heb. 3:13), and to build one another up through exhortation (1 Thess. 5:11). That said, encouragement does not come easily, and here are four reasons why courtesy of our church family zoom discussion.

Not thinking it is important.

We sometimes think giving words of praise or commendation is not essential. We assume people know we are grateful for their efforts. We think, “They know I appreciate them, and I said it last year!” We must remember that the Scriptures admonish us to encourage one another. If we are going to be guilty of anything, it should be for over-encouraging.

Lack of meaningful relationships

Encouragement and criticism are easier to give and to receive in the context of ongoing meaningful relationships. The absence of such relationships can make giving praise hard and awkward for some. It is, therefore, not surprising that only the people we are close to are the recipients of our praises.

Pride in the recipient

It is painful to give encouragement or commend a proud person. Part of the reason we struggle to urge each other is that we are already big-headed and full of ourselves. Sometimes, this pride is seen in how we struggle to humbly acknowledge commendation from others on some excellent work or virtue in our lives. The recipient’s pride is a hindrance to the ministry of encouragement.

Pride in the encourager

We envy and harbour jealousy because we are self-centred and proud. We do not rejoice when we see some good in others, and we are sad when we see God’s grace in the lives of our neighbours. It is this deep-seated pride that stops us from saying ‘thank you’, ‘That was a good job’, ‘the Lord is using you’, ‘You are talented or gifted’, ‘You are good at this’, ‘you are an encouragement’, ‘you handled that well’, ‘your Christlikeness is a blessing’ etc. Pride would rather receive the praise, the recognition, the commendation. Pride is too preoccupied with self to see what God is doing in the lives of others.

Commending the grace of God in people and urging those who are following and serving the Lord is an honourable, humbling and yet pleasurable experience. God is not simply working in your life; He is at work in the life of others as well. Take note of that and say it. It is not just good manners; it is building up the body! May we develop reputations for being encouraging.

 

Geography and Your Christian Growth

 

What factors came into play as you were deciding where to stay? No doubt cost came into it. We want to live in housing that is affordable for our income. No doubt certain amenities came in as well. We also consider accessibility, security and distance from our places of work. All these factors are important and ought to continue playing a role in such a decision. But have you ever considered how living in close proximity to fellow church members might serve your faith?

One another

When we consider the teaching of the New Testament, we notice that the Christian life is to be lived in such a way as to have regular ‘one another’ contact with fellow saints in our churches. For example, we have an exhortation in Hebrews 3.12 to ‘exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.’ Notice the implication of such an instruction for access to other saints. Interaction between the saints for purposes of safeguarding one another’s faith is to be an everyday reality. Especially when threats to faith have arisen, as was the case with the Hebrews.

Many other such instructions are common in the other epistles. We are to bear one another's burdens, love one another, and maintain unity with each other. When there’s an occasion for rejoicing, we are to rejoice with one another, and when grief strikes, we are to grieve with one another. The disciples of Jesus were to be known for their love for each other (John 13.35). This love was an observable phenomenon. It was a reality to be seen in how they lived in relation to each other. This love could not be seen if there wasn't regular embodied interaction between them. It was to be something of a culture as opposed to ‘one-off’ feats of love and sacrifice. 

Pursuing proximity

As we attempt to conform our lives to the kind of closeness of life we are called to live as Christians, we immediately notice that geography begins to play an important role. The Christian life is church-shaped, and proximity to the saints in your church goes a long way in aiding the depth and beauty of a church’s life and gospel witness. It makes it more likely than not that we will work for the joy and progress of each other's faith.

When fellow members live close by, it becomes quite organic to be in one another’s lives. The energy that would otherwise have been spent planning how to get to them is then spent considering how to encourage them. Should a need arise in their lives that requires more regular attention and care (sometimes daily), it is easier to provide such care because of the ease of access. The time that would have had to be factored into travel is redeemed and used for their joy. Also, new time slots for meeting one another open up. Evenings, early mornings, and lunch times all become available because it's quick to get to them and quick to get back home. In the event of emergencies, members close by become a huge grace as they can quickly get to one another.

Yes, sometimes love for the saints will mean literally going out of our way to serve others. This may include long and arduous travel. However, if we can overcome geographic barriers to our growth in Christ, let us, by all means, do so.

Worthy investment

So, as you consider where you will live, don’t forget to include proximity to other members as a high priority. It may cost you a little more in rent, but it will definitely pay off in spiritual dividends over time as you weave your life deeply with fellow saints. Seeing that God has given them to you to help you navigate the dangerous toils and snares of your earthly pilgrimage, invest in being as close to them as possible. Your faith may just depend on it.

Note: This is a guest article by John Musyimi; check out his work at https://johnmusyimi.com/about-john

Body Dynamics: the weak and strong living in harmony

Last week, I took my two boys for a walk. Our youngest is two. When we walked out of the gate, I knew where we were headed and how long it would take us to get there. However, there was a problem. If I walked at my pace, my son would have to run to keep up. If we walked at his pace, getting there would take a while. If I carried him the whole way, I would be tired, and he would miss the exercise that would strengthen his body.

In many ways, that is a perfect picture of the body of Christ. The church is comprised of people at different stages of Christian maturity. For this reason, it is often a challenge to figure out the pace at which the body should move. Some struggle with issues that others deem non-issues. Some clearly understand where they should be and what they need to do to get there, while some have to be convinced about the need to go first! Some have resolved some theological and ethical challenges in their minds and have settled convictions, while some are only beginning to answer the questions.

Such a situation poses a wonderful or potentially volatile opportunity. Those who are mature in matters, let’s call them the strong, will struggle with the temptation to look down on or be frustrated with those who are immature; let’s call them the weak. The weak, in turn, will despise the strong for their freedom and insensitivity to matters. The strong could walk at their pace, to the neglect of the weak, or they could carry the weak on their back and never allow them to wrestle through issues. A better option is for them to walk alongside the weak and help them grow to maturity.

This was the situation at the church in Rome. Romans 14 and 15 address such a challenge between the strong and the weak in the church. In addition, Scripture admonishes that the strong should lovingly bear with the weak. In other words, it is God’s design for them to be together and to help each other joyfully grow. It would be easy for the strong to start their own church and the weak to do likewise, but such actions would be motivated by pride and self-satisfaction, attitudes that are works of the flesh. Therefore, the Scripture exhorts:

But we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are without strength and not please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbour for good, for edification. Romans 15:1-2

 

MINISTERIAL PLATFORMS, SELF-PRAISE AND SELF-GLORY

John the Baptist is a fascinating character. He plays an essential role in the narrative of the gospels and yet is so peripheral we often do not pay attention to him. Almost always, you hear him mentioned; it is, by the way, which was the role God intended him to play all along. Every time John speaks, he is pointing to Christ and deflecting focus from himself.

Interestingly, Jesus called him the greatest man that ever lived and yet, at the same time, the least in the kingdom (Matthew 11:11). John the Baptist was always humble in his self-assessment. Notice the phrases used to refer to or describe the man: he was not the light, I am not the Christ, I am not Elijah, I am not the prophet, a voice in the wilderness, I must decrease, he ended up in prison and beheaded. It is not a glamorous ministry, and neither is it one you want to crave, yet John, by Christ's estimations, was the greatest. What lessons can we learn from the life and ministry of John the Baptist? 

 

Ministerial platforms come from God.

John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. John 3:27

This perspective of life and ministry will save many of us from envy of other people's success and from jostling for attention and praise from people. Ministry platforms and opportunities come from God, and they are to be used for Him, not self-promotion or exaltation. This perspective will also ensure that you are content with your ministry, whether it is celebrated or little-known. Christians with this perspective are satisfied with being forgotten. They recognise a difference between proclaiming and promoting the cause of Christ and promotion of self. Oh, for wisdom to know the difference.

 

Ministerial platforms are meant to point to Christ.

John the Baptist understood that he was just meant to prepare the way and stay out of the way. He was merely a pointer and not the point. The point was Jesus Christ! Someone rightly said, If all people see is you and your efforts to build a platform, then you are stealing the show." The clamour for people's attention in a minister’s should be of concern. With the rise of social media, the temptation is ever real. Where does one draw the line?

On the one hand, it is a wonderful tool for ministry, while on the other hand, the dangers of self-praise are ever-present. Every man knows the motives behind his actions. Ada Whittington's prayer should be every minister's. 

 

Not I, but Christ be honoured, loved, exalted,

Not I, but Christ be seen, be known and heard;

Not I, but Christ in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ in every thought and word.

 

Ministerial platforms can only be enjoyed when used for the glory of God.

Every time I officiate a wedding, I remind the bridal party and the family that it's not their wedding, and it is not about them! It is not uncommon for the supporting act to make it their show; they whine and grumble and make ridiculous demands. Such people never get to enjoy the celebration. They are so preoccupied with getting the attention that they are frustrated that the bride and groom are the centre.

 

Could it be that part of the reason a lot of Christian ministers are often grumpy and discontent with their ministry role and places is because they are seeking self-glory? People who miss the point and fail to understand their part do not have the joy of serving God. Their happiness is often tied to the recognition and praise of others. They are not happy if they have a particular position or role. They are grumpy if they are not in control or have their way. They are so glad when the numbers are high and the likes are on the rise, and they are delighted when they receive approval. And they are miserable when the numbers are low and no one praises them. They rejoice when they are invited to places and connected with certain people. They are envious when someone else receives attention; they quietly ask, “Why not me?” All these and many other examples reveal the wrong focus in ministry. It is not about us; we are mere instruments in the hands of our maker, and our joy comes from the fact we have made our God known whether people listen or they do not or whether they praise us or they do not. That’s not to say there is anything spiritual about failure or that we should glory in it. My point is that we should have John’s perspective of life and ministry:

 

You yourselves bear me, witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:28-30

 

 

 

Symptoms of A Prayerless Life

In studying the gospel of Mark, one cannot miss how action-packed and fast-paced it is. This is seen from the reoccurrence of the word “immediately.” In the space of 40 verses, John the forerunner is introduced; Christ has arrived, been baptised, was tempted in the wilderness, and began his ministry, preaching, healing, casting out demons and choosing the first disciples. In the midst of this activity, I was tempted to skim over verse 35: “… he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed”. At a time when his fame was spreading and he was experiencing success in what was becoming a busy and demanding ministry, Jesus prayed. That struck me! It struck me because when I am busy, I neglect prayer. In my thinking, spending quality time in prayer when I am pressed for time is not the best use of my time. Such reasoning is dangerous and detrimental to my spiritual growth and ministry. Busyness and prayerlessness are a dangerous combination whose symptoms are seen in our attitude, work and relationships.

Impatience

When we pray, we are surrendering to the will of God and humbling ourselves to wait on the Lord, knowing it is in Him that we live, move and have our being. Only a heart communing with God in prayer will have that spirit of surrender and patience. A busy and prayerless heart relies on its own strength and power to get things done and make things work. Consequently, such a soul gets drained, weary and frustrated. The result is you go around snapping at everyone in your path: your children and spouse at home, your coworkers, the weather, fellow road users, churchmates, etc.

Anxiety

As a result of being self-reliant while lacking self-sufficiency, we become experts at worry. Even when we hear and read the comforting words of Scripture, to cast our cares upon the Lord, for he cares for us, we, in truth, do not believe them. We pray, but in essence, we are still confident in our own abilities and carry burdens the Lord did not intend for us to carry. The buzzword today is “stress”; we have used it so much that it has become a fancy term; the biblical term for stress is anxiety! Being gripped by fear because of the uncertainty of a situation. As a result, we end up grumpy, restless and irritable.  

Pride

Busyness means activities, programs and events. It is easy for one to be prayerless and still host a successful program or event. It is a mystery of ministry that one can be relatively successful while not walking or depending on the Lord, at least from the onset. Such a situation is fertile ground for pride. A person who prays earnestly and consistently has no basis to be proud because, in prayer, he declares his poverty and reliance on God. Not so for a prayerless individual; he relies on his experience, gifts and planning, and any ounce of success soon gets to his head. As a result, such a person ends up becoming the centre of ministry and ungrateful.

Joylessness

There is a childlike joy that comes from fearing God and submitting to him and his will. This joy is a result of being satisfied with your relationship with God and being found in his presence and finding that in his presence there is fullness of joy, and at his right hand, there are pleasures evermore. It comes from a soul that proclaims with David, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land” (Ps. 63). Prayerless Christians and ministers are devoid of joy because in their pride they have become self-reliant, which then makes them impatient, anxious and joyless. 

I can be so busy and caught up in the activities of life that I neglect to pray. I forget that to realise that I was created to live in dependency and trust the Lord for daily sustenance. When I choose not to pray, it affects not only my spiritual vitality but also my attitude towards my relationships and responsibilities. May what was said of Charles Simeon be true of me: “Never did I see such consistency, and reality of devotion, such warmth of piety, such zeal and love… he devoted the first four hours of the day to private prayer and the devotional study of the Scriptures…”

Nine Ways to Encourage your Pastor

There is a lot said about how pastors should minister to the congregation. And rightly so; in fact, one could argue that there is a need for more written on the subject as too many of us pastors are preoccupied with too many things to neglect our primary duty of shepherding the congregation. That, however, is a subject for another day. My focus today is to offer some ways in which congregations can be of ministry to their pastors practically. And yes, this may sound like it is from the pastor’s union! October (usually the second Sunday and particularly in the West) is Pastor's appreciation month, so it comes to an end; here are nine practical suggestions on how congregations can be of ministry to their pastors. 

1.      Pray for him- ask him for specifics

You will never know how much pastors need the prayers of the congregation. Pray for them. Ask for specifics, and let them know you are praying for them. Your pastor needs your prayers. 

2.      Be present and attentive to the teaching and preaching

You must heed the Scripture’s command to not forsake the assembling of believers. When you gather, listen to the teaching and preaching of the Word with enthusiasm. That will encourage the men that labour in the Word among you. And, of course, apply the truths to your lives. 

3.      Give feedback to the preaching

As you listen week in and week out, give feedback. This means more than the traditional thank you for the message. Ask follow-up or clarifying questions. Share anything that stood out for you. Even mention if there is something that you disagree with. You will encourage your pastor by giving constructive feedback to his sermons. 

4.      Buy him a book

Pastors need and love books, but books are expensive! Buying your pastor a book that he needs or has been desiring might be an encouraging act of love from you. The only advice I would offer is to ask him what book(s) might be of most help to him at a particular moment. And just for your information, pastors love other things and not just books! 

5.      Challenge him to rest

Some pastors can be workaholics. Encourage them to rest. Challenge them not to have a messiah complex. The church will not close because they are away. They need to be humble and rest. Only God never sleeps nor slumbers. 

6.      Ask him how he is doing

Really ask him, not just the superficial greetings we give each other. Ask him if ‘it is well with his soul.’ Be ready to listen. This will also help you with how to pray for him.  

7.      Minister to his wife

Be a blessing to the pastor’s wife. She is not an assistant pastor, but she does bear the burdens of the ministry as well. Find out some practical ways you can be of blessing to her. While her husband is often in the spotlight, she works hard and quietly behind the scenes. Encourage your pastor by encouraging his wife. 

8.      Do not give him undue respect

Honour your elders. However, do not treat them as Lords. Undue respect will puff up the man, which will not benefit him or the congregation. 

9.      Submit to and cooperate with the leaders

Be willing to be led by the elders the Lord has blessed you with. Refrain from complicating their work by refusing to submit and cooperate with them. You will encourage your pastor by offering to and cooperating with his leadership. 

Conclusion

The relationship between the pastor and the congregation is one of mutual responsibility. The congregation makes and trains the pastor, and the pastor shapes and influences the congregation. As a congregation, do your utmost to be of ministry to your pastor.

Lessons from Tori

 About 18 years ago, I crossed paths with Victoria May Barret (we call her Tori), now Mrs Camp. Tori came to Zambia as a single missionary from the US to lead and teach at the primary school of Faith Baptist Church Riverside (the church I now pastor). She had spent some time in Togo, West Africa, before coming to Zambia. Little did I know that the friendship that would forge would leave a lasting impact on my life. Here are five lessons I learned from Tori.

Encouraging people and spotting God’s grace in their lives

Tori can see and unearth (even where I am convinced it does not exist!) God’s goodness in people and encourage them in that light. She both amazed and frustrated me with this trait. There were times all I could see was bad, and she would gently point out a particular strength or virtue in the person that God had given them. It is no wonder that Tori constantly encouraged many people at work, in the church and the community.

Practicing Hospitality

Her home was an open door. She hosted families, couples, singles, youths, children, men and women. She was intentional, sacrificial and flexible in her practice of hospitality. When she had people over, there was always an end goal: either share the gospel with the lost or encourage believers. You always knew that when Tori hosted you, you would play games, eat food, sing songs and have a conversation from the word of God. It was simple and sweet, and we often had serious conversations. What amazed me was Tori did not let her status hinder her from hosting a group of couples monthly for fellowship.

Practical Discipleship

Tori is a relational person. She invests in people’s lives. You will often find her rooting for someone or weeping for them. She pours her life into all kinds of people from all walks of life and ages. From meeting weekly with a lady from a nearby shanty compound to visiting and hosting children of all ages. From hosting a group of university students to hosting a group of families. Whether church members or unbelieving acquaintances, Tori was invested. She was deliberate, simple and practical. Deliberate about studying God’s word and fellowship, straightforward about life’s issues, and helpful in addressing the various issues of life. She did not shy away from confronting, correcting or rebuking, but you left the conversation assured she loved you.

Loving and learning from people

One reason Tori was effective in influencing people was because she was quick to recognise God’s graces in others, but she was also sensitive to spot spiritual and physical needs in people’s lives. She genuinely cared for people. She did not deem herself superior. She taught me it is possible to have genuine and meaningful cross-cultural relationships, even amid differences. Sure, she had many frustrations and struggles, but Tori related with people with no strings attached and no hidden agenda. She loved people and did not deem them as projects. She even loved the people I would look down on! She also was humble enough to want to learn from everyone because she recognised the grace of God at work in others. She asked questions, sought counsel and listened. She strongly desired for Zambians to relate with her the way we related to one another. She often said, “I really look forward to a day when my Zambian friends would show up at my house without an appointment.”

Teaching Clearly, Simply and with passion

I learnt a lot about teaching from Tori. I joined her class in the children’s ministry at the church, and she modelled how to teach, gave tips and then observed me as I taught. Tori is a clear teacher; she taught the big truth to small hearts clearly and simply. She was oozing with joyful passion. That passion came from her love for God, his word and her love for the children.  She genuinely cared that people knew and understood the word of God. I look back at the two years teaching with her, and I realise how formative those years were for me.

I am grateful for Tori and her impact on my life. I am reminded of Paul’s commendation of Pheobe when he urges the Roman Church to receive and welcome her. he comments, “Receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may need of you, for she has also been a helper of many and of myself as well.” Romans 16:2

Why we do not evangelise

I may be wrong, but chances are most Christians will agree that we are supposed to evangelise. The Lord’s final words were, in essence, marching orders (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). The Bible compels us to tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16). Yet, with all this truth in mind, our gospel proclamation is not what it should. We know we should evangelise, but we do not, and we often excuse, justify or rationalise why we do not tell our unbelieving loved ones and strangers about the gospel. Let me suggest five reasons why we do not evangelise.

We are afraid God will have compassion.

This may seem strange, but we are sometimes guilty of Jonah’s attitude and fear. Jonah resisted going to proclaim repentance to Ninevah because he feared the Lord would have compassion and save them from their sins. We, like Jonah, know the power of the gospel and the heart of God to save sinners, but sadly we have a prejudice towards sinners that, if we were honest, we do not desire for them to be saved.

We are not persuaded of the sinfulness of the people.

We believe people are bad and no one is perfect. Moreover, we may even use the word sinner, but we are not convinced of the hopelessness and helplessness of those who do not believe. We have been conditioned to think lightly of the wickedness of man. In fact, we blame people’s sinfulness on culture, circumstances and their relationships. In addition, because of this deficiency in our view of the sinfulness of people, we do not see the urgent need for the gospel. We are not compelled to plead with people to be reconciled to God.

We cannot clearly state the gospel.

We have heard the gospel mentioned hundreds of times. We claim to believe it, but many evangelicals cannot clearly articulate the gospel. Invariably we are hesitant to tell people about it. Dear Christian, Are you able to explain the gospel when called upon without planning? Can you summarise it in a minute or two? Do you confidently understand the gospel and are you able to tell others about it from the scriptures? 

We doubt the wrath of God.

Do you believe in hell? Are you convinced that non-believers are under the wrath of God (Ephesians 2:3)? Part of the urgency of the gospel is the miserable condition that unbelievers are in and the sentence of judgement from God which is upon them. When we doubt the wrath of God, we lose the urgency of the gospel. 

We are too preoccupied with ourselves.

Many things preoccupy our attention. In addition, they seem more important and urgent. We have family, school, work and social responsibilities and commitments. Intentionally talking to people about the gospel is simply not high on the priority list or that important and urgent. 

So what is a Christian to do in light of these truths? For starters, it is clear evangelising does not come accidentally; it calls for a deliberate effort on our part. Let me offer five ways we can cultivate a heart for evangelism. 

1.      Pray for the salvation of the lost with fellow Christians. 

2.      Apply the gospel in your life daily; the transforming power of the gospel should be evident in your life. 

3.      Talk about the power and impact of the gospel in your life with fellow believers. 

4.      Practice hospitality and invite people into your home to discuss the gospel with them. 

5.      Seize opportunities and be willing to take risks for the sake of the gospel. 

Facing a task unfinished

That drives us to our knees

A need that, undiminished

Rebukes our slothful ease

We, who rejoice to know Thee

Renew before Thy throne

The solemn pledge we owe Thee

To go and make Thee known[1]

---

[1]               https://store.gettymusic.com/us/song/facing-a-task-unfinished-song/

Reflecting on the Hunt’s 30 years of Ministry

In celebrating Phil’s 50^th birthday, a number of us were asked to describe him in one word. And while our brother’s personality can be described in different words, one word particularly stands out; energetic! Phil is so energetic that he is both enthusiastic and overwhelming at the same time. His energy emerges from his work, relationships, and preaching (the brother is all over the place). It is also seen in his passion for the gospel. He is always oozing with energy whether pastoring a church, teaching a bible study, starting an orphanage or as president of a University.

On the one hand, it is his personality, some people are naturally energetic and are always operating at full throttle, and Phil is naturally an energetic character. Yet, on the one hand, it is the nature of biblical Christian ministry that it requires your all. The apostle Paul is a perfect example of a man giving his life to meet the demands of ministry. He declares to the Corinthians spend and be spent for the sake of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:15). To the Philippians, he says forgetting what lies behind, I press on towards the goal (Philippians 3:13). He later tells Timothy to be a labourer who does not need to be ashamed and urges him to be faithful in teaching other faithful men.

Phil Hunt has, over the years, understood these truths and has given his life to faithfully and wholeheartedly serve the Lord in Zambia for the last 30 years. Though he is no longer young, his energies do not seem to wane. One could argue that his energies have increased the older he has got (although he now needs an afternoon power nap)!

If energetic is the first word that best describes Phil Hunt, then endurance has to take second place. I think it is fair to say a person who hangs around for over a quarter of a century qualifies to be described as enduring. In an ever-changing ministry world, Phil has been a steady constant. He has faithfully preached the gospel and has committed to training gospel preachers on the continent of Africa. Granted, he has changed over the years. He has grown wiser, more flexible and more accommodating in matters of prudence and preference and refined his doctrinal persuasion. Still, his commitment to the gospel has remained constant and enduring.

Again Paul the apostle is a reference point for us in endurance and faithfulness in the ministry. In his final letter to Timothy, his disciple, he writes;

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

Paul charges and instructs Timothy to remember at least eight things in these five verses. 

1. Timothy was to remember to whom he is accountable to

Those who labour for the Lord are stewards entrusted with the master’s task. A task that they will give an account for. The charge Paul was leaving Timothy was before God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The supreme king and judge of all men. The master who entrusts us with the stewardship of time, talents and treasures. It is true that was motive Timothy to preach the word of God with authority, clarity and persistence.

2. Preaching the word

Paul made sure Timothy was not unsure about His job description. His role was simple; preach the word! To preach the word implies one knows the word, loves the word, understands the word, lives the word and then proclaims the word. The minister’s role is to faithfully open up the word of God and preach it to the word people. This he is to do with unwavering perseverance. The minister of God has no business coming up with clever things or new techniques to minister to the people. What was true of Paul and Timothy’s job description is true of ministers today who preach the word and endure all things for the sake of it.

3. Endure Hardship

 The faithful preacher will not always be popular or receive accolades. The word of God is not always accepted or wanted, and invariably those who preach the word of God faithfully will not always be welcomed. It is for this reason that Paul tells us time to endure hardship. Be ready and resolved to preach the word in and out of season. When people desire to hear the truth or when they do not desire to. In other words, the reception of the word was not the motive Timothy was to be looking for to preach the word. He was to preach the word because his master expected him to do so, whether it was accepted or not.

4. Serve Patiently

Timothy was to convince, rebuke and exalt and do so with all patience. Faithful preaching requires that a minister bares with the weaknesses of the people he is ministering to. For this reason, Paul urges Timothy to carry out his ministry with all patience. Elsewhere he exhorts him to gently correct those who are in error with all patience with the hope that the Lord may grant repentance to some (2 Timothy 2:24-26). A true minister of the gospel will be characterised by patience and will seek to serve for the long haul, even amid persecution and rejection. 

5. Be Evangelistic

The fifth thing Paul exhorts Timothy in his ministry is to do the work of the evangelist. Timothy was to be a proclaimer of the good news of Jesus Christ. His preaching and ministry were to be evangelistic. That at least implies that Timothy was to desire people to get saved, pray for them to get saved, preach to them to get saved, plead for them to get saved and teach those who get saved to leave out the results and implications of their salvation.

To summarise, Paul says to Timothy, “fulfil your ministry”. Paul himself has run his race and nearing the finishing line, and his concern is for Timothy as a minister to fulfil the task that God has called and entrusted him with. And to do so, Timothy was to remember he was accountable to God, preach the word, endure hardship, serve patiently and do the work of an evangelist. May these things remain true in the life of Phil and his family and, indeed, in our lives.

 Note: This is an edited version of a preface I wrote for a book in honour of Phil Hunt. 

Reflections from Sickness

The last few months have been a season of health challenges for our family. All five of us have struggled with one thing or the other. Sickness comes with kinds of challenges and frustrations. It disrupts your life and wears you down. Then you get tired and frustrated with feeling lousy. However, sickness is a forced opportunity to press the pause button, step back from the routine of life and reflect on your life. Let me share a few points of reflection.

Our bodies are frail.

The human body is a complex organism. Its mechanism has been the source of study for centuries, yet this complex machine is frail. It is incredible how strong and energetic bodies can be rendered weak and powerless by a bout of sickness to the point of failing to stand and walk on their own. This frailty ultimately leads to our death as our breath eventually gives way.  It is this frailty that led Job to exclaim, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” (Job 14:1-2)

Sickness makes you appreciate health.

Ideally, we all should be grateful for good health, but unfortunately, we take it for granted and just assume that we will wake up and go about our day without a fuss. Because we presume good health, we are rarely grateful for it. Sickness, therefore, can knock us out of our comfort zone; it reminds us that sound health is not a guarantee. Something about being bedridden makes you thankful even for the slightest bit of good health. 

We are dependent and vulnerable beings.

The irony of human beings is our desire and attempt to be independent. In our pride, we even entertain the illusion of independence, but the reality is that we were created to be entirely dependent on God and interdependent on fellow people. God created us to be dependent, and God alone is the all-sufficient one, and in Him, we are made complete. He also created us as social beings. No wonder we are born into families and live within a community; even the church is designed to be a family, a community of believers living together. There is a blessedness to biblical dependence on God and the community. Sometimes, it takes sickness to remind you to appreciate the community.

Being weak and bedridden makes you vulnerable and in desperate need of help. Being needy is in the nature of imperfect, dependent beings. Granted, a person can be abused by other people, but the truth still stands that dependency and vulnerability are a part of the package of God’s creation of man. This vulnerability gives other people a chance to minister to you as they sympathise and empathise with your situation and show kindness to you. It is self-centeredness that will cause someone to abuse this blessing, and it is pride that will cause one to pretend and appear self-sufficient.

Psalm 103 has greatly encouraged my soul. Hear the words of David:

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

 

 

Five things to Pursue in 2023

 

Dear Christian,

As you begin your journey into 2023, here are some practical resolutions for you to consider applying this year as you walk with the Lord and relate with others.

Pursuing people persistently

Loving others requires intentionality. Whether it is edifying believers, restoring the lost or evangelising the lost, resolve to pursue the people in your life passionately and persistently. They may look disinterested or unappreciative of your efforts but pursue them anyway. It helps you with accountability; consider writing down the names you will pursue and pray for them and over them.  

Reading regularly (use a reading plan)

If the Christian is to grow and progress in their walk with the Lord, reading is an absolute necessity. Christianity is the religion of the book. And those who grow in it, read! Consider following a reading plan for your bible reading and other Christian books. If you read four bible chapters a day, you will read the entire bible in a year. You could also consider reading one book a month that is, twelve books in a year. Ask other Christians for recommendations of books to read.

Hosting frequently (your home is for hospitality)

The home is a wonderful avenue for ministry to other people. Consider drafting a plan of how frequently you will host and whom you will host. Host a variety of people, families, couples, singles, young people, children, family, friends, neighbours, visitors at your church etc. Do not overthink or overdo it. It does not have to be a buffet. A simple meal, a cup of tea or coffee will do wonders. 

Restore broken relationships (life is too short)

It is very common for people to have unresolved conflicts with friends, family, churchmates or workmates etc. It is unhealthy and unhelpful for you to continue living in bitterness and hatred. If ever you need encouragement to restore broken relationships, remember Christians are called to love their enemies and seek their good!

Increasing your giving to God's work

Generous, cheerful and sacrificial giving should characterise Christians. Giving is an act of love and worship. As the Lord blesses you, consider increasing your giving to your local church. Give regularly and consistently. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

One problem with resolutions is that they are often vague and impractical. Consider these five practical points and encourage others as well. Onwards and upwards! 

Members who tear down the body

 

Healthy churches are a powerful and attractive witness. In the last article, I described members who build up the body. Unfortunately, even in a healthy church, not every member pursues unity.

What kind of members wound our witness? What kind of members do not build up the body of Christ? Consider these four:

1. The member who loves to be an armchair critic.

These days, cynicism seems cool. In a world dominated by social media and self-expression, cynicism is easily mistaken for wisdom and enlightenment. In Christian circles, people build entire ministries on cynicism; their purpose is to tell you what’s wrong with everyone else. And in our self-deception, we manage to veil our critical spirits as wisdom.

Armchair critics are bent on finding fault with what others are doing while doing nothing themselves. They’re apathetic to things that are going on and are disappointed when you succeed. They’re quick to condemn and slow to commend. They falsely place themselves as judge, and you never hear them admit wrong. Cynics can never be pleased or satisfied.

More often than not, cynicism hides the wounds of bitterness and even hatred. This type of member can destroy the unity and joy of the church.

2. The member who never attends.

It’s amazing how many people are eager to be “members” of a local church without also being eager to faithfully attend. It’s far too common for churches to have vast discrepancies between the membership roll and actual attendance on Sunday. Most churches have far more members on paper than in reality.

The New Testament encourages believers to gather weekly to worship God and serve one another (1 Cor. 11; 16:2); it even warns believers about the dangers of non-attendance (Heb. 10:23–25). This invariably means that non-attending members are willfully disregarding the Lord’s command to fellowship with other believers and pursue discipling relationships. Granted, there are some valid reasons for not attending.

Non-attending members are an oxymoron. They don’t want to serve and use their gifts to edify other believers, and by not attending, they actually remove themselves from the platform where they can minister and be ministered to. Over time, they harm the unity and mission of the church.

3. The member with a divisive spirit.

Divisive people are often driven by a desire to be in charge. They want their opinions heard and implemented—with near total agreement from everyone else. Divisive people expect you to consult them about an issue, and if you don’t not consult them in particular, they rise and lash out.

The ironic thing about people with a divisive spirit is that they sometimes have a sincere concern for the church’s well-being.  Jamie Dunlop sums it up perfectly: “We rally support to get people to see things our way. Behaviour like that, no matter the virtue of the original concern, quickly causes factions and dissension within the church, something Paul lists alongside idolatry, witchcraft, and fits of rage (Gal. 5:20). We must address discontentment carefully because it so often bears the fruit of discord.”

4. The member who loves to meddle and gossip (a.k.a., the busybody).

Meddlers often gossip. They’re in the business of gathering information about people and their affairs with the purpose of sharing it with others. They have an inquisitiveness masked as care and concern when in actual fact, they simply cannot mind their own business.

Such people make healthy discipling relationships very difficult because you have to be guarded around them for fear of your issues being shared with someone else. Busy-bodies cause strife between saints and always find themselves in the middle of a conflict between others.

CONCLUSION

The armchair critic, the non-attending member, the divisive member, and the busybody. They all have a common thread: self-centeredness. They’ve missed the very essence of salvation; they’ve failed to love God and love people with every ounce of their being.

Furthermore, they forget that the church of God doesn’t exist for their comfort and happiness but for the glory of God. And in God’s design, that means loving people with diverse preferences and opinions—and yet still loving like Christ loved us.

What’s the result of this kind of love? A unity that displays the power, wisdom, and glory of God, a oneness that becomes a powerful witness to the world.

Members who build the body

            Every local church is comprised of a diverse group of people who have been radically transformed by the power of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ. These diverse people have no reason to live and work together, let alone care for each other—and yet, they choose to live in love and unity together, to the praise and glory of the Lord’s name.

Healthy local churches make a powerful and attractive testimony to a watching world. This means that every member has to be devoted to building others up.

1. The member who attends.

Attending is the most basic way members build each other up. It’s the most obvious way to show commitment to the body. There’s something encouraging about knowing a brother or sister is simply going to be present at a church service, and you are going to worship God together.

The writer of Hebrews tells the believers to “stir one another up to love and good deeds” and to “encourage one another.” How are they to do this? By “not forsaking the assembling of the believers” (Heb. 10:23–25). You cannot build others up if you’re not meeting with them regularly and faithfully. It’s no wonder that those regularly absent from the gathering often stagnate in their faith or become members who primarily grumble and complain.

Dear church member, church meetings are not about you or your convenience. Build others up by faithful attendance.

2. The member who encourages.

Consider Paul’s words about Tychicus in Colossians 4: “I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts” (Col. 4:8). Why does he send his friend? To encourage the Colossians. We should follow Paul’s model.

The encouraging member commends, recommends, praises, thanks, comforts, urges, supports, and compliments other members. We often think of encouraging as merely giving praise, like a spectator on the terraces. However, biblical encouragement is more than that; it’s a fellow teammate urging you to get to work.

Furthermore, encouragement is not mere flattery. It’s not just being nice or telling people what they want to hear. Rather, true encouragement is honest and sincere. It commends those who serve well, and it also urges those who are struggling in their walk with the Lord. Such a kind of member is a great blessing to the body. Strive to be one.

3. The member who confronts without indulging in gossip.

Churches are full of sinful people, which means church members sin against each other. This challenges the unity of the church, and it requires members to confront one another in love and gentleness.

The confronting member is the opposite of gossip and slanderer. They obey the charge of Scripture to confront and restore people who are living in sin (Matt. 18:15–18, Gal. 6:1–2). What motivates the confronting member is not just that someone’s sin has offended them but that the Lord is offended by sin—particularly sin that is unresolved and left to fester and grow (1 Cor. 5). The confronting member confronts out of love for God and love for other believers.

4. The member who prays.

I’ve always been struck by Samuel’s statement to David: “Far be it from me that I may sin against you by not praying for you” (1 Sam. 12:23).

We have a responsibility to pray for each other. The best church members are devoted to prayer. They’ve learned to depend on God, so they highly value praying to him. Typically, praying members to learn to talk less to people and more to God about people. They’re a church’s unsung heroes. If prayer drives the church, then the praying member is essential to the health and growth of the church.

5. The member who serves.

Attendance is necessary, but members should do more than just attend. They should serve. They should  “do the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). They use their gifts to serve God and other members, building up the church in the process.

Great encouragement comes from knowing you’re not the only one on the team. Great comfort comes from knowing you have teammates fighting with you and encouraging you as you go. People who can but don’t serve in the church tend to discourage the rest of the body.

6. The member who shows patience.

Patience is vitally important both for the individual believer and the congregation as a whole. After all, the Christian life isn’t a sprint but a marathon. Our walk with the Lord is a process, and we won’t noticeably grow overnight.

All this means we must learn to endure each other’s weaknesses and shortcomings. We must learn to forgive without grudges and disciple one another with all patience. A patient member graciously puts up with other people’s failures. They realise that no church is perfect—and as a result, they are joyfully patient. A church with patient members is a church where members confront one another, encourage one another, confess sin to one another, and forgive each other.

Dear church member, pursue these qualities in your life and encourage them in others. Pray for yourself and others. Pray that you will build up the church as faithful and patient members who attend, encourage, confront, pray, and serve. This builds up the church of Christ.