Willing to be hidden

Are you a believer in Christ who is laboring in ministry in some obscure place, feeling relatively unnoticed, overlooked or unappreciated? Recently, I came across this quote by George Whitefield* that is very much worth considering:

“He is unworthy the name of a Christian who is not as willing to hide himself when God commands, as to act in a public capacity.”

Maybe, for the time being, God has you hidden. Be grateful that God uses you at all—wherever He may choose to use you. Remember, He knows you—and He notices you. Be faithful.

*(From Whitefield’s Journals [p. 104], as quoted in Arnold Dallimore, George Whitefield, The life and times of the great evangelist of the 18th century revival, Volume 1, p. 140.)

The Gospel Coalition website

The Gospel Coalition website is up and running! Read the theological statements and articles. Listen to or watch the plenary speakers—D.A. Carson, Tim Keller, Crawford Loritts and John Piper—from the conference in May. Even check out the pictures! As this site is further developed, it promises to be a useful resource, helping the Body of Christ remain centered on the gospel.

Discerning the personal will of God

Yesterday I was offered (and I accepted) the position of choral music teacher at a nearby public high school! My family and I are rejoicing because I have been searching for a “permanent” job since January of last year—17 months! The offer of this teaching job also marks a personal milestone for me. Even though I’ve been a state certified teacher for 22 years, and worked over 17 of the past 21 years in the field of public education, it’s been over 18 years since I’ve actually held the position of “teacher”. I’ve been a “substitute” teacher, a “permanent substitute” teacher, a “teaching assistant”, even a “paraprofessional”, but I’ve not held the position of full-fledged “teacher” since 1989. Needless to say, when I completed graduate school 21 years ago, this is not how I envisioned my “career” in education unfolding.

In the past week, I’ve also been reminded of my “call” to ministry. Chances are, had my family and I not left our former mainline Black denomination 9 years ago, I most likely would have been the pastor of a church by now. The fulltime pastorate was the goal I set out in pursuit of some 18 years ago, when I first discerned that God was “calling” me to preach the gospel. To date, I have yet to reach that goal. Ironically, although I’m not a pastor, and have not been in an official pastoral role in 9 years, in many ways, I’ve served in a kind of unofficial pastoral role in each church of which we’ve been a part since leaving the denomination that ordained me. Even when I didn’t tell anyone about my ministerial background, I’d have people ask me if I was a student at the nearby seminary. It’s like they just assumed I must be a preacher. Occasionally, I will have people, out of the blue, ask me questions about the Bible. Well, thank God, He still provides opportunities for me to teach or preach His word, but the form my ministry has taken is not what I imagined it would be 18 years ago.

Which bring to mind this whole topic of discerning the personal will of God. Many believers want to know, like Saul on the road to Damascus, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6 KJV). We’re willing (or, at least, we claim to be willing) to do whatever the Lord says do, if He would only make His intentions clear to us. Some might even worry that they’ve somehow missed God’s will for their lives, and they set out in a frantic search to “find” the will of God.

May I tell you something? It is impossible to “miss” God’s will. If God is in control, then it is impossible to be “outside” of His will. Nothing happens to us that God has not permitted. If God doesn’t allow it, it won’t happen. Like the idea of someone dying “before their time”: If someone could die before their time, it would mean that, somehow, that person’s death took God by surprise. He had a time in mind for them to die, but they went and died “before their time”, without God’s permission. Nonsense! They died right on time—at God’s appointed time for them to die. In the same way, none of us can get “out” of God’s will, as if God is powerless to do anything with us. Instead of wasting time trying to “find” God’s “lost” will, our time would be far better spent being obedient to the will that God has already revealed to us in His written word. Our lives will be used by God and will be effective in His hands if we make it our business to be faithful.

So, does God have a specific plan for our lives? I believe He does but, it seems to me, our life path is rarely laid out for us in clear fashion. God doesn’t let us in on the details of our lives. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Therefore, we must trust God. He knows the way. Let’s face it: If God did show us the specifics of the path ahead, we’d never follow Him! We would be frightened off by all the trials, temptations, disappointments and failures that await us. God doesn’t tell us (most of us, at least) what’s going to happen in the future. So, we trust God, knowing that He knows the future, and knowing that His plan for our future is good, even if it does include trials, temptations, disappointments and failures.

That’s certainly what I’ve found. Even though I could wish that 21 years ago I had secured a teaching job like the one I was just offered, the fact of the matter is, 21 years ago I would have failed miserably. I’m a far better teacher today, knowing what I now know, having experienced what I have experienced, than I would have been 21 years ago. And, much of what I know today has been because of the failures and disappointments of yesterday. I would venture to say I’m a far better minister of the gospel today because of my “off-road” experiences of the past 9 years. And the process is not done! I’m still learning, still growing, still maturing. Disappointments and pain, in the hands of God, are worth it, in terms of what is gained in character.

So, I trust God. The increased responsibilities will present even more challenges that I know God will use to continue forming my character in Christlikeness (and I may have far less time available to blog). As far as the ministry of the word, I’ll continue to pursue whatever door God opens.

However, I’m not searching for God’s will. I know I am exactly where God wants me to be. And, you are exactly where God wants you to be. Trust Him. He is using your circumstances to shape you into the image of His Son.

(To be continued...)

The danger of devaluing fatherhood

As a father, trying to raise two boys, and knowing the good influence my late “father”/great-grandfather had in my life, I only wish the warning of this article (from Dr. Al Mohler’s blog) could be sounded all over this country and around the world. Contrary to what seems to be the prevailing opinion in society, fathers do matter.

(Note: For this article, you’ll need to know that “fungible” is a term from the field of Law, “designating movable goods, as grain, any unit or part of which can replace another unit, as in discharging a debt” [from Webster’s New World College Dictionary].)

Before I could publish this post, however, I noticed the latest article at Dr. Mohler’s blog is also related to our society’s devaluing of fatherhood, this time with particular reference to the African-American community.

How did we, as a society, get in this fix? Is not this because we have chosen to ignore God’s word—specifically His word about sexual relations and male headship in the home? If so, then what we are experiencing, at least in part, is the inevitable fruit of the “sexual revolution” of the 60s and 70s, and the feminism of the last half of the 20th century. Because we have failed to submit to God’s commands, our society is suffering. And, by the way, the evangelical church is not spared this suffering. Remember, the divorce rate is as high among professed Christians as it is in the world. Evangelical teens are just as prone to engaging in premarital sex as other teens. Homosexuality is also making its inroads into the evangelical church. Pastors, I dare you to poll your teens on their views of sexuality. I suspect you may be surprised.

Do we remember the second of the “Ten Commandments”? Here’s what God said:

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6).

We’ve made a god—an idol—out of our alleged “rights”, and now our children are paying the price.

Dear Christian, don’t buy into the lies of society. Fathers matter because God says they matter. Children need fathers because a father and a mother in the home, with the father as the head of the home, is God’s design for the family. Let’s obey God. God’s “steadfast love” is only for “those who love [him] and keep [his] commandments.”

A Tribute for Father’s Day

Today was Father’s Day and, as this day comes to a close, I want to pay tribute to the man who was “father” to me: my great-grandfather, William Gray—or “Pa Bill”, as all of us grandchildren and great-grandchildren called him. Pa Bill was actually my maternal grandfather’s step-father; he had no children of his own. So, for all practical purposes, from the time he and “Grandma” agreed to take me in at two-months old, I was Pa Bill’s son.

I would have to write a book to fully describe Pa Bill’s significance in my life. Pa Bill had very little education and held no position of significance in the eyes of the world. But, I thank God, he was a real man: God-fearing, law-abiding, hard-working, dependable and honest—someone a boy like me could look up to.

He’s been dead for nearly 18 years, but his influence lingers on in my life. I hope and pray I can have the same lasting influence for good in my sons’ lives that Pa Bill has had in mine.

“The glory of children is their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6b).

“The Godly Life” Conference

This coming week—June 21, 22 and 23—the word of God will go forth as New Life Fellowship Church of Vernon Hills, IL hosts their annual Bible Conference. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Godly Life”, based on Titus 2:11-14.

This year’s speakers will be:

Thabiti Anyabwile

Pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman

Anthony J. Carter
Assistant Pastor for Preaching and Teaching at Southwest Christian Fellowship in Atlanta, GA

Louis C. Love, Jr.
Pastor of New Life Fellowship Church

More information can be found at the conference’s website: HERE

This is a great opportunity for those of you who live in the Chicagoland area. And, it’s free! That’s right. Just come!

I hope to see you there.

Thinking about “unction” (or the “anointing”), Part 3

When preachers pray for the God’s anointing or unction, I believe we are praying for a fresh baptism of Holy Spirit power. I believe this is a Scriptural concept.

First, we see in the gospels John the Baptist’s words about Jesus: “I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8; also recorded in Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; and John 1:33).

To baptize is to immerse or place in. John is saying about Jesus that He will immerse or place His followers in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the baptizer, and He will baptize, not with water, but, with the Holy Spirit.

The next time we read of a baptism with the Holy Spirit, it is just before Christ’s ascension. Addressing His followers, Jesus tells them, “Not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5).

A couple verses later Luke also picks up on another aspect of this baptism:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

Luke picks up on this same facet of this baptism with the Holy Spirit in his gospel account of this same occasion:

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

So, from these texts, we see that 1) Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and 2) the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a baptism of power, strength or ability. In other words, those who receive this baptism will be able to do what they were not able to do before: i.e., “Be [Christ’s] witnesses.” So, we can say that the baptism with the Holy Spirit will be an empowering for service.

We know that the baptism with the Holy Spirit foretold by John the Baptist and promised by Jesus occurred on that day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the church in tongues of fire. But, Luke records that on this occasion, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4a). Why the change of verbs from “baptized” to “filled”? Perhaps, the two different verbs are describing two aspects of the same event: the birth to the Church, and the supernatural empowerment of Christ’s followers for service. It’s worth noting that, after Acts 1:4, the filling or empowering with the Holy Spirit is never again referred to in Scripture as a baptism with the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, as some suggest, the “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is simply the initial experience of being “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Whatever the term, it is clear that on Pentecost day the believers received supernatural power. This is what I believe we’re praying for when we pray for the Lord’s anointing or unction: We’re praying for supernatural power. We’re praying for a baptism of power, in the sense of God’s Spirit being “poured out” upon us for service:

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-29).

We’re also praying that God’s Spirit be “diffused throughout [our] souls” (Acts 2:4 Amplified)—so that He would truly have control of us, with the result that our ministry in Christ’s name would be truly effective.

You will recall that our Lord instructed His disciples to wait until they were “clothed with power” (Luke 24:49) or “baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4). Why would Jesus instruct His disciples to wait? Why not just let them go right to work? Because, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” In other words, without the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, there would be no power or ability or strength to effectively fulfill the task that the Lord has given. However, as a result of the mighty effusion of the Spirit, “you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Isn’t this what we need? Don’t you desire to be an effective instrument in the Lord’s hands? Do you feel your weakness and need for supernatural power—ability far above and beyond your natural strength? What should we do?

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

“Ask Him.”

That’s what we need to do. We need to pray, asking and seeking God’s indispensable anointing upon our lives and ministries.

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

We’ll resume our regular programming after this brief pause for “station identification”…

Just to clear up any doubts that anyone might have: I am a “fully-Reformed”, five-point Calvinist. I heartily and gladly embrace all the “Doctrines of Grace”.

Some might wonder, from time-to-time, just how “Reformed” I am, because I don’t wear my Calvinism “on my sleeve”. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’m not well-read on Calvin or Luther. I haven’t studied all the various Reformed confessions, or read deeply from the great Reformed theologians. I came to a fully Reformed or Calvinistic understanding of Christian doctrine over time as the Lord gave me to see that what we call “the Doctrines of Grace” was what the Bible taught. In other words, I’m a Calvinist because it’s biblical. In fact, the titles “Reformed” or “Calvinist” are not biblical designations. I prefer biblical designations: “follower of the Way”, “child of God”, “believer”, one who has been “born again”, “saved”, “sanctified”, “justified”, “Christian”. That’s how I prefer to be known.

Have you ever noticed, when the subject of religious affiliation comes up, most Roman Catholics identify themselves as “Catholic”? Anybody ever notice that? I don’t think—I don’t recall—ever hearing a Roman Catholic identify his- or herself as a Christian. Have you noticed that? It’s always, “I’m Catholic”. I have to admit, when I hear that, I think to myself, “You’re right; you are Catholic. Because, if you believe all that stuff that they teach, you sure ain’t a Christian!”

I’ve been reading some of the other blogs “out there”, and I think it’s ironic, how some of us lead with our theological system. We want other people to know we’re Reformed—fully Reformed. I tell you, some of us sound like the Roman Catholics!

Brethren, I’m a Christian, first! Not Reformed, not Calvinist…Christian! Born-again, blood-washed, Spirit-indwelt Christian! I’m saved…and satisfied…with Jesus…alone!

Now, if you ask me to label myself, I have no trouble telling you, I’m a Calvinist. If you press me further, I’ll admit I grew up a Methodist (A.M.E., actually) and, at heart, I’m still very much a Methodist (think Whitefield, not Wesley). And, I’m a product of the Black Church. Merely cerebral, Psalm-singing Christianity has never been my cup of tea. Give me a faith which is “on fire”:

O that in me the sacred fire
Might now begin to glow;
Burn up the dross of base desire,
And make the mountains flow.

O that it now from heaven might fall,
And all my sins consume:
Come, Holy Ghost, for Thee I call;
Spirit of burning, come.

Refining fire, go through my heart;
Illuminate my soul;
Scatter Thy life through every part,
And sanctify the whole.

(Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)

However, I just want to be known as a Christian. My theological system is to my Christianity sort of like a skeleton is to the body. If a person had no skeleton, he’d collapse. We need our skeletons but, no one wants to see an exposed skeleton walking around! That would be gruesome! The skeleton needs to be covered with muscles and skin and hair. A bare skeleton is not attractive.

Some of my Reformed brethren need to “chill out” and stop trying to be “more-Reformed-than-thou”. The bare skeleton of your theological system is not attractive…at all. It’s cold, hard and sterile. No fire and no life. The average person on the street (you know, the ones who need to hear about Christ) couldn’t care less how Reformed you are. And let me add this, for my Black Reformed brethren: You’re not going to reach the Black community carrying around a theological air of superiority, looking down your nose at the Black Church.

Let’s all get down off our theological high horses, and be known as Christians, first.

Okay?

We’ll now return to our regular programming.

Thinking about “unction” (or “the anointing”), Part 2

What is “unction” or “anointing”, as it relates to the preacher and preaching? Biblically, exactly what are we praying for when we pray for God’s “anointing” on the preacher? In my last installment, I mentioned that “unction” and “anointing” are practically synonymous words. As an aside, I found this interesting: “Anoint”, according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, means “to rub oil or ointment on”. “Unction”, on the other hand, can be either “the act of anointing” or “the oil…used for this”. So, we could say that someone who is “anointed” has “unction” or “the anointing”. Or, how about this? To “anoint” is to put the “unction” on someone. I don’t know about you, but I found these definitions helpful. I’ll come back to them, later. In the meantime, there are a few Scriptural passages in the New Testament which come to mind, where the word “anointed” or “anointing” is used, that might be helpful in discovering the answer to our question.

The first place is found in the gospel according to Luke. Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, after His baptism, entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he [“the Lord”] has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:18-19).

The next place is in Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians:

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (1 Corinthians 1:21-22).

The last two places are found in the first epistle of John, as John warns his readers about antichrists:

“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you have all knowledge” (1 John 2:20).

“I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him” (1 John 2:26-27).

I find a common denominator is each of these passages: the Holy Spirit. Do you see it? First, the Holy Spirit is directly named in the gospel passage from Luke. Then, we know from elsewhere in Paul’s writing (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30), it is the Holy Spirit who seals believers. Finally, it is the Holy Spirit who is our spiritual teacher and giver of knowledge (John 14:26; 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 12:8).

Taking these passages of Scripture together, I think we can safely say that, according to the word of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit and the anointing go hand-in-hand. Where the Spirit is, the anointing is there also. I think we can also say that it is God the Father (“the Holy One”) who anoints with the Spirit. Finally, I think we can safely conclude that the Spirit, Himself, is the anointing that is received.

But, how does this relate to preaching? What are we praying for when we pray for God’s anointing? I think this is where those dictionary definitions I mentioned at the outset of this installment come in handy. According to my dictionary, someone who is “anointed” has “unction” or “the anointing”. If the Holy Spirit is the anointing or unction, then to pray for the anointing or for unction is to pray for the Holy Spirit. But, in what sense do we pray for the Holy Spirit? All believers in Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. We know this because it is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit which distinguishes a child of God from a child of the devil:

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9).

So, how can believers pray for the Holy Spirit who already dwells within? Is it Scriptural to pray this way? I most definitely believe it is Scriptural, on the authority of Christ’s own words:

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13, emphasis added).

So, what are believers praying for when they pray for the anointing or for unction? I believe we are praying for a fresh baptism of spiritual power.

(To be continued...)

(Part 1)

Thinking about “unction”

To those who prayed: Thank you!

This past weekend, I had two wonderful opportunities to teach God’s word. On Saturday, I taught 30-40 men at a men’s retreat about sin, temptation and how to overcome it. Then, on Sunday, I had the opportunity to preach from Galatians 4:21-31. The Lord helped me, and I felt great liberty on both occasions. He also gave me vocal stamina: I spoke for about 80 minutes or so on Saturday, and preached for 75 minutes on Sunday (And the Lord graciously held the listeners’ attention both times!).

This time last week I had just finished preparing my presentation for the men’s retreat, but I still had to prepare, from scratch, my sermon. Last Wednesday evening, I asked for prayer because my mind was very distracted and the sermon was just not coming together. I wasn’t getting anywhere fast. On top of this, I was looking at a week that included my 14-year-old’s graduation from middle school on Thursday evening, hosting our small group on Friday evening, attending and teaching at the men’s retreat most of the day on Saturday, attending a piano recital at which both my sons performed on Saturday afternoon, and having a house guest from Thursday through today (my mother-in-law).

I want to say, the Lord was, indeed, merciful, and He helped me. I worked on that sermon Thursday night and, then, all day Friday. The Holy Spirit helped me focus my thoughts, and I was able to finish my sermon before Friday evening’s small group gathering.

While thinking over and praying through Saturday’s teaching and Sunday’s preaching, I got to thinking about the concept of “unction”. I remember, at the Gospel Coalition Conference, over a week ago in Deerfield (yes, I was there, and it was a great blessing to my soul), in introducing John Piper, D.A. Carson compared him to Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in that both men preached with “unction”. I believe I know what is meant when preachers talk about “unction” but, biblically, what is “unction”? A brief study of the etymology of the word in my Webster’s New World College Dictionary showed me that unction basically means the same thing as anointing.

But, biblically, what are we talking about when we say that a preacher is “anointed” or when we pray for God’s “anointing”?

(To be continued...)