Are There Foes?

Exert from W. A. Criswell Sermon Library

Some years ago when I was in Oklahoma, I heard of two Southern Baptist missionaries named Hogan and Hayes. In the midst of an awesome trial, Hogan said to his friend Hayes, “I am quitting; I am going back home. This is too much.”

So Hayes said to his friend and fellow missionary, “I understand, I know; but before you go, would you sit down and sing just one song with me?” Bradford Hayes got his guitar and strummed the tune as they sang:

Am I a soldier of the cross,

A follower of the Lamb?

And shall I fear to own His cause,

Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies

On flow’ry beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,

And sailed thro’ bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign;

Increase my courage, Lord;

I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,

Supported by Thy word.

When they got through singing the song, Hogan turned to Hayes and said, “I am staying.”

God never called us to “flow’ry beds of ease.” He called us to be His workers, His servants, and His witnesses. However life may turn in His gracious hands, let us affirm “to God be the glory.” The tears of Paul’s discipleship and apostleship are always evident.

21 Questions to Determine Your Commitment to God

by Jeffrey Bush — 9-30-2020

  1. Can you say Father not my will but Thine be done? (Your plans, future, dreams, desires and all)
  2. Can you say you count all as loss to know Him? 
  3. Can you say you submit yourself to His plan for your life?
  4. Can you say you know and believe there is a real and literal hell? 
  5. Can you say you know and believe people are lost?
  6. Can you say you truly know God wants to use you?
  7. Can you say your life belongs wholly to God?
  8. Can you say you know and believe Christ is returning soon?
  9. Can you say you know your life has a purpose and mission set by God?
  10. Can you say you know now is the best time for God to use you?
  11. Can you say your life is worthy of others imitating? 
  12. Can you say you are putting God first or are their other things holding that spot?
  13. Can you say you are sold out and fully committed to whatever God wants? 
  14. Can you say you know it’s your reasonable service to serve God?
  15. Can you say you are growing in your life instead of just maintaining? 
  16. Can you say you love God or are you more cold or lukewarm? 
  17. Can you say your life is a light in this dark world? 
  18. Can you say you realize you are made to be an ambassador Christ? 
  19. Can you say you’re living and acting like a servant for God? 
  20. Can you say you will be the faithful salt, light, and witness for God right now? 
  21. Can you say you are consumed with God?

It’s Your Turn

Joshua 1:1-2 — It’s your Turn

“the Lord spake unto Joshua… saying” (vs. 1) “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise” (vs. 2).

Moses, God’s servant was the leader of Israel. Israel now is a mega power after leaving Egypt and 40 years in the desert. Whether hundreds of thousands of people or over 1 or 2 million people, it is still a lot of people for one man to be leader over (especially with no cell phones, emails, FB status’, Twitter and any form of social media to let everyone know what is going on), but God used Moses to lead this massive group. Now Moses dies before they cross into the promise land and God tells Joshua it is time to step up. How in the world can Joshua fill Moses’ shoes? How can Joshua know what to do and where to even start? But this book, Joshua (named after the new leader), relates how Joshua was ready and prepared. Here are a few of the reasons why I believe Joshua was ready when it was his turn to lead:

  1. He had been Moses’ servant for a long time (Num 28:11 — “And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men”)
  2. He had his own personal relationship with God (Ex. 33:11 — “his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle”)
  3. He had been serving in positions of leadership (one of 12 spies, meaning he was representative of his tribe as well as captain of army. Ex. 17:9 — “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek”)

Sadly, many people are not ready for the next step in life or ministry that God may have for them because they have not prepared as Joshua. Who are you serving right now? Do you have a personal relationship and walk with the Lord or are you depending on someone else’s relationship with God to keep you going? What ministry and area of leadership are you working in right now? If we are not preparing right now, what makes us think that we will be ready tomorrow when God says, “it’s your turn, time to step up to the plate”. No sports player enters into a game without practice before. No musician plays in a concert without lots of practice time. No doctor goes into surgery without many hours backing up his profession. So why do we think that we can just “shoot from the hip” in God’s service, the most important work in the world. May we be faithful in preparing right now… and we will do fine performing when it is time.

Going Where God Wants you to Go

Going Where God wants you to Go

Acts 16:1-13 

In vs. 1-3 Paul comes Derbe and Lystra where he meets and picks up Timothy to takes him along on his missionary journey. Timothy was already a disciple, follower of Christ, and had a good testimony but Paul was going to take him further in ministry and spiritual life. This is a great example of how a Paul should always keep his eyes open for Timothys and how a Timothy should keep his eyes open for a Paul to help him do more for the Lord.

So Paul and Timothy begin their journeys with anticipation of open doors, serving God and seeing much fruit. In vs. 6 and 7 they desired to go but “the Spirit suffered them not” and they were “forbidden” twice (whether closed doors because of money, no peace, being refused by authority or some other way we do not know, but Spirit didn’t allow to go). Finally in vs. 9 they had a vision and a man “prayed him” saying come over and help us. My favorite part is vs. 10 where it says they were “assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us” to go preach there. It’s almost like they were told not to twice and finally were told to go and so they figured this must be where God was calling them to. This is contrary to what most Christians believe, or at least practice. We want to have all the confirmation and then move, where it appears that Paul clearly just tried serving God wherever and left the geography part up to God. Paul didn’t care where he would serve, he just knew he was going to serve the Lord… and God would take care of the “where”.

May I have the same attitude as Paul of not worrying about where, just serving God faithfully and letting Him take care of the geography.

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A SERVANT?

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A SERVANT?

5 Marks of a Bondservant

from the book Calvary Road by Roy Hession

 

In the Old Testament two sorts of servants are mentioned. There are the hired servants, who have wages paid to them and have certain rights. Then there are the bondservants, or slaves, who have no rights, who receive no wages and who have no appeal. The Hebrews were forbidden ever to make bondservants of their own race. Only of the Gentiles were they permitted to take such slaves. When, however, we come to the New Testament, the word in the Greek for the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ is not “hired servant” but “bondservant,” by which is meant to be shown that our position is one where we have no rights and no appeal, where we are the absolute property of our Master, to be treated and disposed of just as He wishes. 

I see here five marks of the bondservant. First of all, he must be willing to have one thing on top of another put upon him, without any consideration being given him. On top of a hard day in the field the servant in the parable had immediately to prepare his master’s meal, and on top of that he had to wait at table – and all that before he had had any food himself. He just went and did it, expecting nothing else. How unwilling we are for this! How quickly there are murmurings and bitterness in our hearts when that sort of thing is expected of us. But the moment we start murmuring, we are acting as if we had rights, and a bondservant hasn’t any! 

Secondly, in doing this he must be willing not to be thanked for it. How often we serve others, but what self-pity we have in our hearts and how bitterly we complain that they take it as a matter of course and do not thank us for it. But a bondservant must be willing for that. Hired servants may expect something, but not bondservants. 

And, thirdly, having done all this, he must not charge the other with selfishness. As I read the passage, I could not but feel that the master was rather selfish and inconsiderate. But there is no such charge from the bondservant. He exists to serve the interests of his master and the selfishness or otherwise of his master does not come into it with him. But we? We can perhaps allow ourselves to be “put upon” by others, and are willing perhaps not to be thanked for what we do, but how we charge the other in our minds with selfishness! But that is not the place of a bondservant. He is to find in the selfishness of others but a further opportunity to identify himself afresh with His Lord as the servant of all. 

There is a fourth step still to which we must go. Having done all that, there is no ground for pride or self-congratulation, but we must confess that we are unprofitable servants, that is, that we are of no real use to God or man in ourselves. We must confess again and again that “in us, that is in our flesh, there dwelleth no good thing,” that, if we have acted thus, it is no thanks to us, whose hearts are naturally proud and stubborn, but only to the Lord Jesus, who dwells in us and who has made us willing. 

The bottom of self is quite knocked out by the fifth and last step – the admission that doing and bearing what we have in the way of meekness and humility, we have not done one stitch more than it was our duty to do. God made man in the first place simply that he might be God’s bondservant. Man’s sin has simply consisted in his refusal to be God’s bondservant. His restoration can only be, then, a restoration to the position of a bondservant. A man, then, has not done anything specially meritorious when he has consented to take that position, for he was created and redeemed for that very thing. 

This, then, is the Way of the Cross. It is the way that God’s lowly Bondservant first trod for us, and should not we, the bondservants of that Bondservant, tread it still? Does it seem hard and forbidding, this way down? Be assured, it is the only way up. It was the way by which the Lord Jesus reached the Throne, and it is the way by which we, too, reach the place of spiritual power, authority and fruitfulness. Those who tread this path are radiant, happy souls, overflowing with the life of their Lord. They have found “he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” to be true for them as for their Lord. Where before humility was an unwelcome intruder to be put up with only on occasions, she has now become the spouse of their souls, to whom they have wedded themselves for ever. If darkness and unrest enter their souls it is only because somewhere on some point they have been unwilling to walk with her in the paths of meekness and brokenness. But she is ever ready to welcome them back into her company, as they seek her face in repentance. 

A Plea to Single Ladies for Missions

A Plea to Singles for Missions

by Jeffrey Bush

Some time ago I wrote about the dangers of being a single (unmarried) missionary. It was not meant to be a doctrinal or exegetical study, just practical thoughts about true dangers that exist for unmarried missionaries. There are legitimate limits, concerns and temptations that come along with being a single missionary, but now I would like to give another angle for you to consider.

Although this article is geared towards thoughts about any unmarried person in missions, a large majority of single missionaries (historically, as well as today) tend to be women. It seems to be somewhat of a divided topic for pastors and churches as they pray about supporting or sending out single missionary ladies. Is it right? Is it wrong? Is it wise? Should I be for it? Should I be against it? Allow me to give you a few thoughts to chew on as you form your opinion on whether or not to support a single person, especially a lady, as a missionary.

 

  1. There are misunderstandings about her ministry. 

Biblically, a woman cannot be a pastor or preacher (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:5-6), but we must remember that ministry is not only done behind a pulpit. A single lady missionary can help with children’s ministries, ladies ministries, music, organization, secretarial, orphanages, discipleship, preparing materials, evangelism, and assisting the missionary couple and their children. The time, flexibility and help a single lady missionary can give is invaluable. 

One of the best examples I have seen personally is Beth Quinn (formerly Beth Johnson). She served with a missionary family in Tunisia and helped in the education of missionary children, served in many ladies ministries, kids ministries and was invaluable to my missionary friends in Tunisia. God has now given her a husband, Sam, and they are blessed with two children as they serve in the UK. 

We personally require that a single lady missionary works under an established missionary family. Her protection and possibilities seem much better working under another missionary. I have seen many good, single lady missionaries that are a blessing and help to the missionary family they serve with as well as to the many people they minister to on the field. They might not be able to be the pastor, but their talents, time and efforts are incomparable. 

 

  1. God has used many single lady missionaries! 

I love reading missionary biographies, men and women of the past that God has used to spread the Gospel around the world. As a result of missionary biographies, my faith has grown, dreams have expanded and my heart has been stirred. We may be very familiar with William Carey, Hudson Taylor, and CT Studd, but let me assure you that there have been single lady missionaries that have impacted the world and caused growth to God’s Kingdom because of their lives, service and witness. A few of these single lady missionaries are: Amy Carmichael, Mary Slessor, Ida Scudder, Elizabeth Elliott, Gladys Aylward, Corrie Ten Boom, Rachel Saint, Betty Greene, Isobel Kuhn, and Lillian Trasher. I am positive there are more, but those are a few that I have personally read. I am almost positive that if you read them, your respect towards single lady missionaries will be much stronger than it is currently. 

 

  1. A single person may actually be capable of doing more for the Lord than a married person.

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 teaches that a married person is busy taking care of their marriage and family, but an unmarried person is free to care for the things of the Lord. A married lady may have to get home to the kids, tend to the house, assist her husband, or take care of meals for the family, but a single person’s responsibilities are less complicated. As a result, a single person can stay later to visit, disciple, prepare and serve in ministry. The flexibility of an unmarried missionary makes them almost unparalleled. As the apostle Paul said, “Brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none.” (1 Corinthians 7:29). Knowing the Lord is soon returning, Paul urged the Christians to live, work and serve as if they were single — their only love and responsibility being God and God’s work! 

Obedient & Wise

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30)

There are several references to being wise in the book of Proverbs (controlling your tongue {10:19}, listening to counsel {12:15}, working instead of being lazy {6:6-11} and not being deceived by alcohol {20:1} to name a few). Here in Proverbs 11, a person is called wise if he “wins souls.” The soul is more than just the body, so to what is the passage referring? Here are a few connections to understand better this passage:

  • Jesus told His disciples in Luke 5:10, “from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
  • James 5:20 talks about converting “the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death.”
  • Five times Paul told the Corinthian Christians that he made himself a servant in many ways to “gain them” and concluded by saying that “that I might by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)
  • Later Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 10:33, “I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

When a person enters into this world, he is dead in his trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1), and is a child of the devil (John 8:44). All mankind is a creature of God, but he does not become a child of God until his faith is placed in Jesus Christ.

The Bible teaches us that a child of God is an ambassador, a witness, and salt and light to this Christ-less world. Every child of God has been given the command and authority by God to go un-blind those that have been blinded by the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). We, as the church, have been given the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19) and as we open our mouths to share the Gospel, the Holy Spirit can do the work and someone can become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). When a sinner repents, there is great joy in Heaven (Luke 15:7,10) and when a child of God proclaims that news, he is fulfilling the command given by God. So, we conclude that when a child of God decides to “win souls,” he is not only doing his responsibility, he is also wise! May we be obedient and wise as we fulfill God’s command!

 

Here to Serve, 

Jeffrey Bush

Inspiring Commitment of a Young African Pastor

The inspiring commitment of a young African pastor from Zimbabwe found among his papers in Zimbabwe after he was martyred for his Christian faith. 

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power, my die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me-my banner will be clear.