Binding: Paperback
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Christian Focus
ISBN#: 9781845505455

Many view the Puritan writers as too distant, too divorced from the world in which we now live, relics of an irrelevant age. What can they offer? I mean seriously, I got problems! What do they know about depression, and anxiety, and worry? Mark Deckard, the author of Helpful Truth in Past Places: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Counseling, states, however, “despite our modern prejudices, their problems were not all that different than our own.”(pg. 14) In fact, many of these men suffered banishment, imprisonment, ridicule, and untimely death.

A.W. Pink used to say that he felt he was born 300 years too late. I have felt that way, which is why the bulk of my reading is in past writers. Newer books often lack connectedness to the church of the past. Novelty is typically the order of the day. Through constant innovation and capitulation to the world around we lose much that makes us distinctly Christian. In this book, however, the author carefully avoids all of that.

Deckard looks at a number of issues: contentment, fear, anxiety, depression, worry, etc…and does so through the writings of John Flavel, Jeremiah Burroughs, John Owen, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, William Bridge, and Thomas Brooks.

To begin with, let me say that weak doctrine produces weak Christians. Robust doctrine, assimilated and obeyed, produces strong stable Christians. Nowhere is this more evident than in Chapter 2 on God’s providence. What you believe about this issue will dramatically affect how you live your life.

Providence is normally defined as the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill (Psalm 145:9, cf. Matthew 5:45-48), He upholds his creatures in ordered existence (Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3), guides and governs all events circumstances and free acts of angels and men (Psalm 107, Job 1:12, 2:6; Genesis 45:5-8), and directs everything to its appointed goal, for his own glory (cf. Ephesians 1:9-12). (pg. 20)

Is God in control? Is He sovereign in the only meaningful sense of the word? I don’t see how Arminians sleep at night. Or how they can claim the promise of Romans 8:28. Only when you know that God is sovereign. That He providentially guides history even down to the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7; Matt. 10:30) Then, when the whole world is caving in around you, you can go forth in peace, knowing that He is in control and that He knows best. You “may be blind at times but God sees both sides of the tapestry and even sees the finished product (Rom. 8:29-30).” (pg. 23)

Chapter 4 addresses the Christian’s battle with sin using John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers. Mortification is simply a fancy term for the ongoing work of “putting to death sin” in our lives. This is vitally important.

Do you battle sin? One writer has stated that the difference between a true Christian and a false professor is seen at this point. It is not that a believer will be perfectly sinless. That can never be this side of heaven. But, in the case of the true Christian the battle goes on till death. The true Christian hates sin, fights sin, and mourns over sin. In fact, the longer a Christian lives, and the more he grows in Christlikeness, the more acutely aware of his sin he becomes.  The false professor has no such scruples, no conviction and no discipline from God (Hebrews 12:8).

This chapter shows what mortification is, and in true Puritan style, “what [it] is not” (pg. 83), effective ways of mortification and ineffective ways. One such “not” of mortification: you are not battling sin if you say, “Well, I will just sin. No big deal! I will just ask God’s forgiveness after I sin.” That is not mortification. That’s sinful presumption. (pg. 89) That approach to sin, “seeks to take advantage of the grace of God to forgive and forgets the terrible price that Christ had to pay upon the cross to bring us that grace of God.” (pg.90)

But, this book is hopeful, and so lest we become discouraged John Owen reminds us that mortification is ultimately not so much our work, but rather the Holy Spirit’s work. He ‘only is sufficient for this work; any ways and means without him are as a thing of naught.’ (pg. 81)

Other issues the book addresses are contentment, ‘Contentment does not come from my purposes or my wants but from denying myself to instead seek to focus on loving God and loving others’ (pg.65), depression, anxiety, fear, and so on.

I am thankful that Christian focus published this book. It was convicting. It showed me, and is still showing me areas of my own life that need to change. This book was heavy, but hopeful. You won’t be discouraged. You will be encouraged. I didn’t agree with everything I read, but there is so much gold here. In fact Mark Deckard’s insights drawn from his counseling experience are some of the best in the book. Buy a copy. You will be glad you did, and you will be better equipped to counsel others, including yourself. I know I was.

- John Angell James (1785-1859)

(HT)

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
taken from: A Basket of Summer Fruit, Sermon No. 343, October 28th, 1860.

Part 6: Stick to Godly Patterns

A church in Florida recently began offering drive-thru prayer services. Men and women at the end of their rope and in need of prayer pull up outside the church to order up petitions to the Lord the way you and I might order a burger or coffee. Of the roughly 150 people they’ve prayed with so far, many of them have never actually set foot inside a church.

That is clearly a ridiculous and unbiblical stunt. But how often are we guilty of using our prayers just like a drive-thru window? We’re too often driven to prayer by the needs of the moment only, concerned about our circumstances alone, and eager to get on with life as quickly as possible. We’re prone to myopic, self-centered thinking that focuses on how events impact our lives rather than how the Lord is working through them.

Instead, we need to discipline ourselves to put God and His purposes first and look for what He is accomplishing in every situation, regardless of our desires or circumstances.

I want to close out this series on prayer by taking a closer look at some practical examples from God’s Word. We’re going to consider the prayers of three Old Testament prophets—each of them in the midst of truly dire situations. But as you’ll see, none of them allowed their circumstances to be an excuse to let the focus of their prayers shift away from the Lord, His supreme glory, and His sovereign plan.

Jeremiah

In the thirty-second chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the prophet of God is in prison. He had preached to a nation of people who would not hear. They just wanted to shut his mouth. They were not interested in anything he or his God had to say. Ultimately they threw him into a pit. He had seen no measurable success in his ministry (as the world counts success). Jeremiah 32:16-22 records his prayer:

I prayed to the LORD, saying, “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day.

“You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Here is a man in great distress, torn with feelings of loneliness and grief, despairing of hope for his people, rejected by the entire nation. But the preoccupation of his heart was to extol the glory, the majesty, the name, the honor, and the works of God. He was not preoccupied with his own pain. He was not obsessed with being liberated from his circumstances. Out of his suffering came worship.

All our prayers should be of that flavor. . . .[Continue reading at Grace to You]

See also:

• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 1″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 2″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 3″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 4″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 5″

John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master’s College and The Master’s Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Grace to You radio, video, audio, print, and website resources reach millions worldwide each day.

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)

“Christ is never fully valued, until sin is clearly seen. We must know the depth and malignity of our disease, in order to appreciate the great Physician.”

— J.C. Ryle

Part 5: Surrender to God’s Program

Very few people make it through life without some sort of plan. The vast majority of us have to put a lot of thought into our schedules and plan ahead if we want to accomplish anything. And what we put the most time into planning says a lot about where our hearts are—too often vacation and celebrations get lots of forethought, while responsibilities at work and around the house fit into our schedules as needed.

But where does God’s will factor into our plans? Are we too quick to get absorbed in our own plans and expectations for tomorrow without properly considering God’s sovereign will?

Like James 4:15 says, we “ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that’” when planning the days and weeks ahead. We can’t get carried away with our own program. Failing to acknowledge God’s supreme will and control is disrespectful—especially when He’s the One who grants our every breath.

That same mindset needs to carry over into our prayer lives. It’s easy to get caught up in petitions to the Lord regarding our immediate needs and desires. It’s much harder to routinely surrender those things to His will and wisdom, trusting in His perfect plan and provision.

Christ’s example to the disciples makes it clear—the priority for believers is God’s program, not our own. As we saw earlier in this series, our relationship to God gives us bold confidence to bring our requests before Him. But those requests—and our entire lives—must be subordinate to His plan.

And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11:2-4).

The closing phrase of Luke 11:2 is “Your kingdom come.” It is a prayer for the advancement of God’s kingdom. Like every phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, this is. . . .[Continue reading here]

See also:

• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 1″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 2″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 3″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 4″

John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master’s College and The Master’s Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Grace to You radio, video, audio, print, and website resources reach millions worldwide each day.

Thabiti Anyabwile

Thabiti Anyabwile,

We often think that “our day and age” differs significantly from previous eras. We tend to think that our day presents more dangerous and stubborn problems, requiring more complex and sophisticated solutions, from wiser and nobler people, namely ourselves. Someone has dubbed this attitude “chronological snobbery.”

But one thing puts the lie to this self deception — the continuing existence and destruction of lust.

Earlier Christians wisely included lust among the deadliest sins. For lust is the impregnated parent of all forms of sin. James explained that “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14–15).

From the first stolen bite of forbidden fruit to the avaricious gaze of mall-bound window shoppers, lust has coursed through the hearts of men like the most poisonous venom.

Lust involves any strong desire, craving, or want that opposes the holy will and command of God. Lust perverts, twists, and defiles all that is good and beautiful, and this is particularly true with sexual or carnal lust.

For example, some people today tout homosexuality as an “orientation” equal in virtue to heterosexuality. They appeal to the “love” shared between two persons of the same gender, and on that basis, contend that equality and public acceptance must be guaranteed. To some, these sexual passions are so strong as to appear innate. Moreover, we are told that homosexual desires are private, harmless to others, and beyond the censure of society.

But if that is true, what are we to think of a passage like Romans 1:26–27? The Bible defines homosexual desires as “contrary to nature,” not an equal alternative orientation. Homosexuality is a “dishonorable passion” that “consumes” men and women, leading to shameless behavior. . . .[Continue at Ligonier Ministries]

Thabiti Anyabwile is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman in the Grand Cayman Islands. He also blogs regularly at Pure Church.

Remember also, though, to pray for the salvation of President Obama (1 Timothy 2:1-4). He is not a Christian. So, spiritually, he is in a perilous spot.

Part 4: Seek God’s Priority

What is the most common motivation to go to the Lord in prayer? Is it to confess sin? Or is it to make a petition on behalf of a loved one? Do we want to bring our latest requests to Him, or remind Him of something we think He may have overlooked? Far too much of our time in prayer is spent focused on us, not on the One to whom we’re praying.

When was the last time you prayed simply to give God glory, or to express your appreciation for His love, His mercy, His grace, or His character? If prayer is an act of worship, our prayer lives cannot revolve around us—our schedules, our trials, our needs, wants, and concerns.

That self-centered approach stands in stark contrast to the model Christ gave His disciples. The Lord’s Prayer is a worshipful meditation on who God is and the sovereign care He bestows on His people. It’s a pattern for successful prayer—one that emphasizes the glory and supremacy of God.

And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11:2-4).

The entire opening sentence of the prayer is a straightforward exclamation of worship: “Father, hallowed be Your name” (Luke 11:2). That is expressed as a petition, but it is by no means a personal request; it is an expression of praise, and it reflects God’s own priority: “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8).

Jesus established the truth that prayer is worship by beginning His model prayer that way. To worship God is to “sing the glory of His name” (Psalm 66:2). “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name” (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalms 29:2; 96:8). “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1). Such expressions capture the true spirit of a worshiping heart.

Moreover, that first sentence qualifies every other petition in the prayer. It rules out asking for things “with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). It eliminates every petition that is not in accord with the perfect will of God.

In the words of Arthur Pink:

How clearly, then, is the fundamental duty in prayer here set forth: self and all its needs must be given a secondary place and the Lord freely accorded the preeminence in our thoughts, desires and supplications. This petition must take the precedence, for the glory of God’s great name is the ultimate end of all things: every other request must not only be subordinated to this one, but be in harmony with and in pursuance of it. We cannot pray aright unless the honour of God be dominant in our hearts. If we cherish a desire for the honoring of God’s name we must not ask for anything which it would be against the Divine holiness to bestow.[1]

What does that expression mean: “Hallowed be Your name”? In biblical terms, God’s “name” includes everything God is—His character, His attributes, His reputation, His honor—His very Person. God’s name signifies everything that is true about God. . .  .[Continue reading here]

See also:

• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 1″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 2″
• “Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 3″

John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master’s College and The Master’s Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Grace to You radio, video, audio, print, and website resources reach millions worldwide each day.

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
taken from: God’s Hand at Evening, Sermon No. 3290, February 15, 1866.