There is an old saying that a good biblical preacher should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. God's Word does both of these things. All of us need comfort/assurance from God sometimes.
Personally speaking, Jan and I are in a waiting period after 6 months with still no government permission to begin an International Congregation. We have been refused one location (you must have a fixed location as part of getting legal status) and are waiting to hear about another possibility. There is not much we can do in this process. So I read these comforting words today, which may be timely for you as well.
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:16 My response: Lord, I'm not sure there is anything specific of which I should repent, but I do know that we can't scurry around and make things happen. In quietness and rest we will wait for you to act in regard to this "start up" English speaking church.
On the other hand, many of us don't like Scripture or a preacher to afflict us when we are comfortable. I have always been encouraged when after a sermon, someone has said "the sermon hurt but I needed that." That is the attitude we all should have. We need the Word of God to do its intended work in our lives - teaching, rebuking, correcting and training us in righteousness. (II Timothy 3:15) If we will listen, Scripture will "judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12) and sometimes it will hurt or afflict us - for our own good.
However if I personally, or we as a church, or as a denomination allow our hearts to grow hard we will not want to hear the Word of God. We will either ignore it's truth or discover some new way in which to exegete it, so that it becomes more "pleasant". Sadly there are plenty of modern day examples of what Isaiah describes: "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. --- stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 30:10, 11
Today people and society as a whole, want to be comforted by a Loving God, not confronted by a Holy God. We see this as even some evangelicals "discover" new ways of reading the Bible that seem to offer more loving, accepting viewpoints on sexuality, on God's future judgment, on prosperity, etc. They are in fact much less afflicting views - but are they really true to God's voice?
May God help His people not to draw back from God's loving yet confronting Word. In our correct desire to give and receive comfort, may we not incorrectly shrink from receiving God's rebuking, afflicting Word where it is needed.
Personally speaking, Jan and I are in a waiting period after 6 months with still no government permission to begin an International Congregation. We have been refused one location (you must have a fixed location as part of getting legal status) and are waiting to hear about another possibility. There is not much we can do in this process. So I read these comforting words today, which may be timely for you as well.
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:16 My response: Lord, I'm not sure there is anything specific of which I should repent, but I do know that we can't scurry around and make things happen. In quietness and rest we will wait for you to act in regard to this "start up" English speaking church.
On the other hand, many of us don't like Scripture or a preacher to afflict us when we are comfortable. I have always been encouraged when after a sermon, someone has said "the sermon hurt but I needed that." That is the attitude we all should have. We need the Word of God to do its intended work in our lives - teaching, rebuking, correcting and training us in righteousness. (II Timothy 3:15) If we will listen, Scripture will "judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12) and sometimes it will hurt or afflict us - for our own good.
However if I personally, or we as a church, or as a denomination allow our hearts to grow hard we will not want to hear the Word of God. We will either ignore it's truth or discover some new way in which to exegete it, so that it becomes more "pleasant". Sadly there are plenty of modern day examples of what Isaiah describes: "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. --- stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 30:10, 11
Today people and society as a whole, want to be comforted by a Loving God, not confronted by a Holy God. We see this as even some evangelicals "discover" new ways of reading the Bible that seem to offer more loving, accepting viewpoints on sexuality, on God's future judgment, on prosperity, etc. They are in fact much less afflicting views - but are they really true to God's voice?
May God help His people not to draw back from God's loving yet confronting Word. In our correct desire to give and receive comfort, may we not incorrectly shrink from receiving God's rebuking, afflicting Word where it is needed.
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