For the Word of Lord is upright, all His work is done in faithfulness,(Psalm 33:4, nasb).
Just before Philippine People Power Revolution in 1985, after which President Marcos and wife were forced to leave the country, we received a call from General Fidel V. Ramos (who later became President of the Philippines) asking if our ministry could provide a New Testament for 75,000 soldiers and police!
This was a huge request as New Testaments cost at least $1 each to print. I said we would try. The Lord was gracious and two organizations, The Bible League and the International Bible Society, provide the funds to print 75,000 New Testaments in Tagalog (Filipino), English, and three other languages.
The New Testaments were delivered to General Ramos, and he had these systematically distributed to soldiers and police throughout the country.
One missionary friend, who worked with army officers at a very secure military base, said he normally had to go through three very strict checkpoints every time he conducted a Bible study with the officers. However, the day the New Testaments were delivered, he was simply waved through each security check point with the guards paying him little attention because they were busily reading their New Testaments!
When the peaceful People Power Revolution began a few days later, it was reported that the army was ordered by the President to shoot into the crowd, however the soldiers refused to shoot the innocent.
Was this a result of the military reading the Word of God? Who knows? But we do know that it was one of the first “peaceful” revolutions in history which resulted in the overthrow of an unjust regime.
We may be shy sharing the Gospel, but we can give people the Word of God and encourage them to read it.
The Word of God is “upright.” Who knows, another revolution may be just around the corner.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Useless or Strategic Ministry?
While on an early morning walk in Manila, I noticed an older, filthy, mentally-handicapped man surrounded by his meager possessions.
I felt compelled to speak with him to at least show some measure of kindness. There was no response, just glazed, lifeless eyes, not even focusing on the one speaking to him.
I gave him the delicious bread which I had purchased for breakfast. He said nothing as he took the bread and began to eat.
Years ago, a noted Christian leader said, "All souls are precious, but not all souls are strategic." In other words, spend your time with the people of prestige who can influence others, not some poor man on the street.
Well, I sure blew it that morning, wasting time on an old, mentally-deranged dirty man living on the streets.
Useless ministry, or was it?
Jesus said, I was hungry and you gave me food (Matthew 25:35). He also said, If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).
Perhaps my bread-giving was not useless after all. If given in Jesus’ Name for His sake and in obedience to Him, how much more strategic can you get?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Are You About Through?(Let’s share the Word of God!)
My wife, Margaret, and her sister were visiting a dear elderly and godly friend in the hospital.
As Margaret was reading Psalm 42 from the Word of God, suddenly the lady in the next bed said, “Are you about through? I don’t like that!”
The Word of God does that, doesn’t it? To some, it soothes, comforts, challenges, encourages, convicts and builds up. To others, the Word of God is a stinging sound!
Should we not read and use the Word of God more to let it do its work?
During my cancer treatment years ago, Margaret had to rush me to emergency one night. The doctors worked on me through the night, not really knowing what to do. The next morning, they called Margaret into the hall to explain my situation to her. About that time, a chaplain came in to see me and I thought “Well, this must be it.”
As the chaplain talked softly to me for a few minutes, I finally opened my eyes and as tactfully as I could in my pain said, “Is that the stuff you share with people all the time?”
He said, “What do you mean?”
I said, “Well, here I am dying of cancer, so I do not want to hear about the sweet breeze blowing through the trees, the smell of flowers or the birds chirping. I am dying! Please read the Word of God.”
He said, “The Word of God? Where do I get a copy?”
I said, “What? You are a chaplain! Get one of those Gideon Bibles over there on the table.”
As he picked up the Bible he asked, “Where do I read?”
I said, “Why don’t you start with Romans?” (I forgot that when you are dying you are supposed to read Psalms, not Romans.) So he began to read Romans chapter one. I went to sleep just as he got to verse 16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... What a great verse to go to sleep on!
The next day, he came to see me again and asked, “Can we read the Word of God some more?” As he read and we talked, I challenged him to use the Word with more patients because even in our misery, agony, pain and discomfort, the Word of God brings hope.
The Scripture says, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). So let’s read the Word of God and our faith will continue to grow. (By the way, this happened in 1993 and I did not die.)
As Margaret was reading Psalm 42 from the Word of God, suddenly the lady in the next bed said, “Are you about through? I don’t like that!”
The Word of God does that, doesn’t it? To some, it soothes, comforts, challenges, encourages, convicts and builds up. To others, the Word of God is a stinging sound!
Should we not read and use the Word of God more to let it do its work?
During my cancer treatment years ago, Margaret had to rush me to emergency one night. The doctors worked on me through the night, not really knowing what to do. The next morning, they called Margaret into the hall to explain my situation to her. About that time, a chaplain came in to see me and I thought “Well, this must be it.”
As the chaplain talked softly to me for a few minutes, I finally opened my eyes and as tactfully as I could in my pain said, “Is that the stuff you share with people all the time?”
He said, “What do you mean?”
I said, “Well, here I am dying of cancer, so I do not want to hear about the sweet breeze blowing through the trees, the smell of flowers or the birds chirping. I am dying! Please read the Word of God.”
He said, “The Word of God? Where do I get a copy?”
I said, “What? You are a chaplain! Get one of those Gideon Bibles over there on the table.”
As he picked up the Bible he asked, “Where do I read?”
I said, “Why don’t you start with Romans?” (I forgot that when you are dying you are supposed to read Psalms, not Romans.) So he began to read Romans chapter one. I went to sleep just as he got to verse 16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... What a great verse to go to sleep on!
The next day, he came to see me again and asked, “Can we read the Word of God some more?” As he read and we talked, I challenged him to use the Word with more patients because even in our misery, agony, pain and discomfort, the Word of God brings hope.
The Scripture says, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). So let’s read the Word of God and our faith will continue to grow. (By the way, this happened in 1993 and I did not die.)
Friday, April 11, 2008
Matthew Henry
While in the United Kingdom several years ago, I read that the great Bible commentator Matthew Henry pastored in Chester, England, a town about an hour from where we stayed in Wales. After ministering for 25 years there, he pastored in London, but years later in 1714, on a preaching visit to Chester, he died. Matthew Henry’s last words to a friend, “A life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comforting and pleasant life that anyone can live in this world.” I asked a friend if he knew where Matthew Henry lived in Chester and where he was buried. In an old book, we discovered he was buried at Trinity Church near Crook Street. The next day, my wife, Margaret, and I went by train to Chester and found Crook Street and Trinity Church. The church was rebuilt in the 1800’s and is now a run-down museum. Matthew Henry’s grave is no more, but his ministry lives on in his commentaries and other writings, all of which glorify the Savior. One of my favorite quotes of his is: “The faithful ministers of Christ are to dispense God’s sacred truths, however disagreeable they may be to some, and whatever they themselves may suffer for doing so.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible is six volumes. The Evangelist of the Great Awakening, George Whitefield, is reported to have read through the commentaries four times, mostly on his knees!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
A Knightly Soldier
By Dennis Fisher
Be gentle…, in humility correcting whose who are in opposition, (2 Tim. 2:24-25,nasb).
Before he enlisted in the Union Army to fight during the US Civil War, Joshua Chamberlain was a quiet and unassuming college professor. In the crucible of military combat he distinguished himself for his heroism in holding the line on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. He was later awarded the Congressional Metal of Honor.
To recognize Chamberlain’s contribution to the Union victory, General Ulysses S. Grant designated him to receive the first flag of surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. The defeated troops of the South expected to be ridiculed and humiliated. Instead, Chamberlain showed them kindness and respect. For this, the Confederate commanding officer wrote in his memoirs that Chamberlain was “one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army.”
As a committed Christian, Chamberlain reflected the grace of Christ. We too need to stand for what we believe but also to be kind to those with whom we disagree. Paul exhorted Timothy, “as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim. 2:3,24-25). In conflict and in reconciliation, our response should reflect the gracious heart of a knightly soldier of Christ.
Oh, to be like Him, tender and kind,
Gentle in spirit, lowly in mind;
More like Jesus, day after day,
Filled with His spirit now and always. –Ellsworth
There is nothing so kingly as kindness; there is nothing so royal as truth.
Source -- “A Knightly Soldier” by Dennis Fisher. December 8, Daily Bread, Radio Bible Class Ministries
Be gentle…, in humility correcting whose who are in opposition, (2 Tim. 2:24-25,nasb).
Before he enlisted in the Union Army to fight during the US Civil War, Joshua Chamberlain was a quiet and unassuming college professor. In the crucible of military combat he distinguished himself for his heroism in holding the line on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. He was later awarded the Congressional Metal of Honor.
To recognize Chamberlain’s contribution to the Union victory, General Ulysses S. Grant designated him to receive the first flag of surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. The defeated troops of the South expected to be ridiculed and humiliated. Instead, Chamberlain showed them kindness and respect. For this, the Confederate commanding officer wrote in his memoirs that Chamberlain was “one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army.”
As a committed Christian, Chamberlain reflected the grace of Christ. We too need to stand for what we believe but also to be kind to those with whom we disagree. Paul exhorted Timothy, “as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim. 2:3,24-25). In conflict and in reconciliation, our response should reflect the gracious heart of a knightly soldier of Christ.
Oh, to be like Him, tender and kind,
Gentle in spirit, lowly in mind;
More like Jesus, day after day,
Filled with His spirit now and always. –Ellsworth
There is nothing so kingly as kindness; there is nothing so royal as truth.
Source -- “A Knightly Soldier” by Dennis Fisher. December 8, Daily Bread, Radio Bible Class Ministries
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Do we look (act) like Jesus?
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17, nasb).
On one occasion I was trying to find some of my wife's (Margaret Jespersen) family near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I was at a conference, had an unexpected long break so drove 20 miles for a quiet visit. The Jespersens are a huge clan and since I had no address with me, I stopped at a busy doughnut/coffee shop to ask directions.
As I stood in line to get a coffee and thinking who should I ask, suddenly an old man sitting with his wife at a nearby table smiled and said, "Hello, you're a Jespersen, aren't you?"
I was very surprised (somewhat shocked) and answered, "No, I'm not a Jespersen."
"Oh, yes, you are," the man and his wife said, "We've been watching you, and saw you come in. You're a Jespersen; we can tell a Jespersen a mile off."
They were surprised when I told them that even though I was not a Jespersen, I had been married to one for about 40 years. I guess, since I have been with this wonderful woman for so many years, we have begun to look alike.
I trust that this is the way it is with Christ and us.
Not only have we become new people in Christ when we become His children by faith, but we also become more and more like Him as we spend time with Him, obey Him, and follow in His steps. Perhaps as we grow in grace and knowledge of Christ we come to the place that people will say to us, "You're a Christian, aren't you? We can tell a Christian a mile off because you look (act) like Christ!"
On one occasion I was trying to find some of my wife's (Margaret Jespersen) family near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I was at a conference, had an unexpected long break so drove 20 miles for a quiet visit. The Jespersens are a huge clan and since I had no address with me, I stopped at a busy doughnut/coffee shop to ask directions.
As I stood in line to get a coffee and thinking who should I ask, suddenly an old man sitting with his wife at a nearby table smiled and said, "Hello, you're a Jespersen, aren't you?"
I was very surprised (somewhat shocked) and answered, "No, I'm not a Jespersen."
"Oh, yes, you are," the man and his wife said, "We've been watching you, and saw you come in. You're a Jespersen; we can tell a Jespersen a mile off."
They were surprised when I told them that even though I was not a Jespersen, I had been married to one for about 40 years. I guess, since I have been with this wonderful woman for so many years, we have begun to look alike.
I trust that this is the way it is with Christ and us.
Not only have we become new people in Christ when we become His children by faith, but we also become more and more like Him as we spend time with Him, obey Him, and follow in His steps. Perhaps as we grow in grace and knowledge of Christ we come to the place that people will say to us, "You're a Christian, aren't you? We can tell a Christian a mile off because you look (act) like Christ!"
Monday, April 7, 2008
Standing in Respect
It is interesting to see the context of the two references to fearing (revering) God in Leviticus 19 (nasb).
Verse 14 says, You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.
Verse 32 says, You shall rise up before the gray headed and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.
In this chapter of detailed instructions and commandments of God he lists three commandments to revere (fear) Him! These are:
1. Do not make fun of (curse) a deaf person because he cannot hear,
2. Do not tease a blind person, and
3. To honor the elderly (even to stand in respect of them)!
Are we caring for those who are suffering from deafness and blindness? Do we stand in respect and honor the elderly?
Let’s practice this individually, in our homes, churches, schools, and work. Who knows, if we all practiced this, we may have what William Wilberforce called, “a revolution of manners” to the glory of God!
Verse 14 says, You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.
Verse 32 says, You shall rise up before the gray headed and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.
In this chapter of detailed instructions and commandments of God he lists three commandments to revere (fear) Him! These are:
1. Do not make fun of (curse) a deaf person because he cannot hear,
2. Do not tease a blind person, and
3. To honor the elderly (even to stand in respect of them)!
Are we caring for those who are suffering from deafness and blindness? Do we stand in respect and honor the elderly?
Let’s practice this individually, in our homes, churches, schools, and work. Who knows, if we all practiced this, we may have what William Wilberforce called, “a revolution of manners” to the glory of God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)