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He Shall have Dominion from Sea to Sea

As Canada was formed as a result of decisions made in the conferences in the 1860′s, Psalm 72:8 was selected as a verse from which the name of the new country would be derived.   Referring to a future Messianic king, Solomon wrote “He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.”

Having just traveled across the western portion of this country in recent days, this text has been a subject of meditation for me.   What would it mean for Jesus Christ to have dominion across this land?  In one of our lunch hour conversations, one of our hosts expressed the sentiment, “I think the true gospel never took root in this province.”   Was his statement correct?   Is the mishmash of ministry options available reflective of a lack of true gospel ministry?

May I encourage readers of this blog to:

1) Pray for those who are currently serving as pastors across Canada.  Let’s encourage those who keep “watch over themselves and over all the flock entrusted to their care.”  Pray for protection – how easy a reputation is lost, how tempting to preach messages for “itchy ears.”   Pray for those who have become weary in well-doing.  Encourage them with e-mails, phone calls, notes to indicate your support for their God given ministry.

2) Pray that God would raise up new leaders and new Bible-believing, Christ-exalting centres in every province and territory.  The harvest is indeed plentiful, the workers are few, therefore PRAY….

3) Pray for a strategy, a Biblical strategy to connect churches and leaders together in new ways.   I am asking God for a Spirit-directed, edifying plan of keeping in touch with leaders in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Garrington, Vauxhall, Lethbridge, Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Washington State, Victoria, etc.    If you have any suggestions, I would be most interested.  I am not envisioning a new denomination but a network for prayer, edifying instruction and vision casting that we may together see CHRIST have dominion from sea to sea in fulfillment of God’s plan.

Thank you to those who have been praying for us as we have traveled.  God’s grace has proven sufficient and the fellowship with His people a source of joy.  O that God would rend the heavens and come down in revival blessing in this dry and thirsty land.

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McCheyne Pastoral Letter #2 – Reviewing Privileges – Awaiting More!

Robert Murray McCheyne wrote a series of pastoral letters, so much like the apostolic pattern shown to us in Scripture of blending doctrine and practice, encouragement and correction.   Paul models this template in Romans with chapters 1-11 delineating the doctrine of Sin, Salvation, Sanctification and Sovereignty before beginning in chapters 12-16 in building into the lives of the congregation godly practices.

McCheyne, I think, would have used e-mails, actually whatever means were available to provide a connection with a congregation so far away.  I am amazed at how much influence God permits through the Internet.  We can track those who follow our postings, make comments and seem to be blessed by this means.  On occasion through my travels some speak of a blessing granted through a referred article or Scriptural meditation.

Today’s post is from McCheyne’s pastoral letter, his second to his congregation during  his absence.  It is subtitled “past times of privilege reviewed–privileges still remaining.”  How profitable it is to review our spiritual privileges!   Count your blessings, NAME them one by one and it will surprise you what the LORD has done!”

He writes “….The sweet singer of Israel begins one of his psalms with these remarkable words:  “I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O God, will I sing.”  This is the experience of all God’s servants in times of trouble.  Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all dark; and so in the darkest dealings of God with His children, there are always some bright tokens for good.”

God’s providence blends mercy and judgment into a Spirit fruit-filled drink for us to enjoy.  Times of trouble are like wild storms, yet after the darkness, the sun arises, and we begin the process of rebuilding our lives.  Bright tokens for good are hard to spot, but they are there and only by faith may we “give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you….”  We would opt for sunny skies.  We distrust storm clouds which soon block out our vision.   How soon we forget the sun which is shining above the clouds!  How soon we forget that the storms overruled by God provide raindrops of mercy which our parched souls need.

Ordained messengers, men of faith and prayer, have spoken to you from Sabbath to Sabbath in the name of the Lord.   Awakening, inviting, comforting messages you have had…..the gates of the house of prayer, like the gates of the city of refuge, have been as open to you as ever, inviting you to enter in and behold by faith what Jacob saw in Bethel……

It is a privilege to bring God’s word as messengers of heaven.   In faith and prayer, we speak to congregations, some times as guest speakers.  As I begin a new season of preaching I am seeking great wisdom from God to know what to say, when to say it and how to speak with grace.  I have often joined pre-service prayer times and have been richly rewarded in my own soul as I hear even the simplest prayer, offered in faith, pleading with God to meet us during the upcoming meeting.  Empowered by the Spirit, encouraged by prayer, emboldened to preach, I have been so encouraged to leave the prayer time and wait in expectation to see what banquet feast Christ has prepared for us to enjoy!

I conclude with a summary list of McCheyne’s closing paragraphs.

1. Let every new sight of your wicked heart, and every new wave of trouble, drive your soul to hide in Him, the Rock of your salvation.

Have you seen your wicked heart?  I have seen mine again this week and am grieved at what a lack of holiness is evident.   Little things, I thought were behind me, resurface and demonstrate that it is only by GRACE, GOD’s grace, that I will advance in my walk with Christ.

2.  Enjoy the forgiveness of sins

Bless the LORD O my soul….and forget not all His benefits!  He forgives ALL your iniquities…..  not SOME, not MOST, but ALL.  CHRIST died for my SINS.  His blood pays for them.  “I’m forgiven, because YOU were forsaken……”   Thank you Lord Jesus!

3. How many falls will I have to mourn over when I return….how many unseemly quarrellings and miscarriages among you that are God’s own, how many unlovely tempers among those who follow Him who is altogether lovely!

How much time has been squandered with foolish discussions.   How many grievous posts have been place on Facebook.  How much anger has arisen demonstrating that there is still much land within our hearts to be conquered.

4.  How many messages have been carried to you publicly and from house to house, and yet how little success.   …the absence of men from meetings on Thursday evenings (for prayer), the few private prayer meetings, the little love and union among Christians—all show that the plentiful rain has not yet fallen to refresh our corner of the heritage.

What impact does God’s word have?  How much time do we give to the word? to prayer?   Do we honestly have FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ, and LOVE for all the saints or just love for saints who agree with us????  Evidence of revival blessing will be when the Spirit pours out on us the burden to pray.   Can we say with Jacob to our God, “I WILL NOT LET YOU GO, UNTIL YOU BLESS ME….”

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To The Rev. W. C. Burns

McCheyne writes to a fellow minister (on his agreeing to undertake the charge of St. Peter’s, during his absence in Palestine.)

“I am glad you have made up your mind to begin your spiritual charge over my flock on the first week of April.”

Guarding the flock is a sacred trust for shepherds.   It is a holy responsibility and should not be handed off lightly.   I am grateful to God for leaders who assure me of their prayers and challenge me as I visit their congregation.   McCheyne is relieved that Rev. Burns will serve in this holy calling.   What warnings will he leave this interim leader?   What challenges will he set before him?

Take heed to thyself.   Your own soul is your first and greatest care.

During this week of TBS Graduation as close to 30 new graduates enter into a new phase of ministry, this is sound counsel.   Our own souls must be cared for.   Neglect your own spiritual life to your own peril.  Doesn’t McCheyne reflect Paul’s counsel to the Ephesian elders in that strategic shoreline leadership training session?  “Take heed to yourself and to all the flock…..”

Keep a clear conscience through the blood of the Lamb.  Keep up close communion with God.  A clear conscience is only maintained with the help of Christ.  Don’t we need daily cleansing?  “I need Thee, O I NEED THEE, Every hour I need Thee….”   Of all the relationships leaders have, their relationship with God is at the top of their priority list, or is it?  How easy it is to slip into activity FOR God and neglect fellowship WITH God.  Though noone may see the results of this neglect immediately, a hollow, ‘running on fumes’ spirituality will soon bring our ministry to a crashing halt.

Study likeness to Him in all things.   Read the Bible for your own growth first, then for your people.  Yes, Yes, Yes! Here is one pastor admonishing another to become like Christ, not like some mega-Pastor, not like some Bible hero, but like Christ.  “O to be like Thee!”  This must be our constant cry.

The prayerful are praying for you.   O to have intercessors.  Paul unapologetically pleaded with churches, “Brothers, PRAY for us!”  I have often urged students, including many of this year’s graduates to engage with prayer partners.   Never, never, never apologize for asking others to pray.   Missionaries are not the only servants of the Lord who need prayer, are they?   They have prayer cards, why not pastors?  They have prayer letters or e-mails, why not pastors?  They have prayer teams, why not pastors?

Yes, once again McCheyne through his pen spurs us onward in the quest of watching our life and doctrine closely!

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McCheyne – “To Mrs. Thain”

Letter #3 of R. M. McCheyne

“…I had just to lay aside my pen and suffer quietly.”    It is not easy to suffer in quietness, is it?  When people ask you how you are, do you give an ‘organ recital?’

“….All my ideas of peace and joy are linked in with my Bible; and I would not give the hours of secret converse with it for all the other hours I spend in this world.”  In a world inundated with ‘self-help’ (by the way OPRAH is in Toronto today), may we as believers root our foundation for peace, joy, meaning, etc in Scripture.  As the hymn-writer penned – “How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in HIS EXCELLENT WORD….”

“…He is one much taught of God, and though with much inward corruption to fight against….”  Being taught by God does not eradicate our propensity to sin.  Drawing close to the God who dwells in unapproachable light, we see more clearly the remaining darkness in our own hearts.   Again, another  hymn-writer (Robert Robinson) penned – “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love….”

“I need to be made willing to be forgotten.  Oh!  I wish that my heart were quite refined from all self-seeking!”  Lengthy introductions for pastors and speakers fuel pride.   We crave recognition – Oh to hear our names mentioned.   “Others, Lord, yes, Others, Let this my motto be, Help me to live for others that I might live like Thee!”

“I shall be quite delighted if J—— is able to take a small part in the Sabbath school.”  At Calvary Baptist yesterday, we are sorrowing the loss of  a dear sister in Christ, Gussy Hodawanski, who taught Sunday School on Easter Sunday to her regular grade 3 class and on Thursday entered into the Lord’s presence.   What a faithful worker!   What a servant of our  Lord!   The grade 3 class reviewed yesterday key truths she had taught them.   The whiteboard was filled with all the doctrines and practices she had shared with these children.   Her funeral is today.  May God’s grace prove sufficient for her family and husband and may we all be challenged to press hard after Christ!

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McCheyne – “To Mrs. Thain, Heathpa”

Letter #2 of R. M. McCheyne

“…I am not good at writing…”  Interesting humble self perception yet here we are reading his letters many years later.  God does resist the proud but grants His grace to the humble?   What are you NOT good at?

“In spiritual things, this world is all wintertime so long as the Saviour is away.”   I wonder what McCheyne would have thought of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia which is portrayed in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as wintry?  One day our risen Saviour will return and” ….if we before He comes should go away to be where He is, still we shall enter into a world of perpetual summer—…“

“….that this time of silent musing may not be lost…”   In a tech-savvy world filled with much ‘noise,’ the discipline of silence is rare.   Read Don Whitney’s book on Spiritual Disciplines on this subject.   We need to build SELAH (if this means pause and reflect) moments into our lives.   Let’s turn off that MP3 player, turn off the TV (there is an off button isn’t there?) and restrain our use of technology, lest technology restrain us and our fellowship with our God.

“….We must pray that he (Mr. Lewis – a pastoral colleague) may be furnished from on high for his arduous work.  I have great hope that he will be the means of raising many more churches and schools in our poor town….”  Arduous work MUST be empowered with divine GRACE lest we labour in our own strength.  Unless the  LORD builds the house, those who build it are labouring in vain.

Reader, may I covet your prayers that the LORD will build Toronto Baptist Seminary & Bible College into what He wants it to be.   As the hymnwriter penned “Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we PLEAD!”

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Letters of McCheyne

I am working my way through the Memoirs of McCheyne by Andrew A. Bonar.  Over the next few weeks I want to cite quotes from letters penned by this servant of the LORD, particularly to encourage and challenge our upcoming Toronto Baptist Seminary graduates (April 27, 2012) and to spur on current students to give themselves whole-heartedly to serve Jesus Christ, their only Master and Lord.

Letter #1 To Rev. R. MacDonald, Blairgowie

McCheyne writes “Then Philip Henry’s saying is felt to be true–that he would beg all the week in order to be allowed to preach on the Sabbath day…”   Preaching is a huge privilege and responsibility.   Peter writes in I Peter 4:10-12 that “…if anyone speaks, he is speaking the very words of God….”   Let’s pray for the preachers of the gospel that God would fill their mouths with HIS word and not their own.

“…I do hope that God has something more for me to do in the vineyard, and that a little patient rest, accompanied by His blessing, may quiet and restore me.”    Again what a privilege to serve.  What is your task in God’s vineyard?  CHRIST is the vine, we are but branches and without His blessing we will not bear fruit!

“…..I read it in the congregation….with an envious feeling in my own heart, though  I did not like to express it….”    Never forget that preachers are sinners and that the same temptations that are common to man are felt within the heart of every true servant.   To claim to be without sin (I John1) is to deceive ourselves!

“Make all your services tell for eternity; speak what you can look back upon with comfort when you must be silent.”   O may our services have eternal impact.   I have been leading a class on worship this semester and we have wrestled with many a topic in this area.   Forgive us Lord for angry words, for idle words, for filler content when we should have been consumed with preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ!

“…I heard of my people today:  they are going on well as can be expected.  Death is busy among them, and Satan too.”  What grieves a shepherd’s heart more than these concerns.   O the wiles of the devil are so varied!   McCheyne’s solution - “I try to lean them all on Him who entrusted them to me.”    Thank you Lord, for leaders who give themselves to PRAYER and the MINISTRY of THE WORD!   Thank you for all those who have prayed for me, my wife, my family, my ministry.  May I learn from their example!

 

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Summer and Winter and Springtime and Harvest

The hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” has echoed through the chapters of my life.

  • During my growing up years (I’m still growing!) we sang this hymn at Thornloe Crossroads Baptist church
  • During my Bible college studies (Central Baptist Seminary) we often sang this hymn as a testimony to God’s faithfulness
  • During our marriage ceremony (October 1983) we sang this as a congregational hymn

Though I like variety and favour blended worship this hymn retains a powerful influence in my own personal and corporate worship.

While surfing through Vimeo I found this fascinating video entitled “One Year in 40 Seconds.”  Enjoy and sing with me “Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love!”

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How We Use Our Statement of Faith – part 4

Today’s blog continues the Christ Fellowship, Kansas City, statement by their elders regarding their statement of faith.

4. If a teacher comes to a conclusion contrary to the statement of faith, he is required to inform the pastor(s) about his conflicting belief. The pastor(s) will work with his concerns until there is unity in understanding. If an issue in the statement is found to be in error when compared with the Word of God, a correction will be made to the statement. If unity is unattainable, then the pastor(s) and the individual must fall back on the statement of faith as correct, until proven otherwise. In this case, the teacher will be asked to discontinue teaching until there is a better resolve. It is possible that at some point, a pastor or teacher may completely apostatize (i.e. disbelieve certain essential doctrines once held true). In that special case, church discipline is in order and all teaching responsibilities will be terminated.

How do you gain unity in understanding? Through patient instruction.

What is the ultimate standard?  The word of God – Acts 17 urges this searching of the Scriptures every day to see whether the teaching (EVEN of an APOSTLE!) is true. No leader is to be blindly followed.   It is right to test everything and to hold on to what is good.   Insecurity in a leader, rigid dogmatism or an ungodly view of leadership causes some leaders to resent any questions.   Luke commends the Bereans for being of more noble character than the Thessalonians.

What happens to teachers who turn away from the truth?   They are to be dealt with under church discipline.

One of the largest issues covered in this part of the statement is that of submission by leaders.   In Ephesians 5:21 ALL believers (including leaders) are urged to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 

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His God Instructs Him

Saturday, March 17th, I had the privilege of leading the service and preaching God’s word on the occasion of my uncle Bob’s funeral (Robert William Veitch) in Matheson (not far from Timmins, Ontario). I thought I would share the order of service and the core content of the funeral message particularly for family members unable to be present but also for colleagues and students who at times ask my counsel regarding the conducting of funeral services.

Welcome & Introductory Scriptures - I always like to begin the service with a Scriptural text. Though the service will make reference to the deceased (through the eulogies, etc) we are gathered in the presence of God and need to hear from Him. I used Isaiah 55 “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Special Music - Somehow in the planning of the service over the phone we had missed a selected hymn from my aunt, so she requested one of the women from the Matheson Chapel to sing “Crucified”

Here is the first stanza and chorus

“They nailed my Lord upon the tree And left Him, dying, there:

Thro’ love He suffered there for me; ‘Twas love beyond compare.”

Chorus – “Crucified! crucified! And nailed upon the tree!

With pierced hand and feet and side! For you! For me!

Hymn – “A Glorious Morrow” This hymn speaking of what lies ahead for the believer. I did not know this hymn but some of the believers in the Chapel helped me learn the tune on Friday night. What hope is promised to the believer in Christ!

Prayer

Eulogy - My brother Ron crafted and re-crafted over many hours an excellent eulogy covering Uncle Bob’s life. If I ever lead a funeral where I do not know the family well, I prefer someone from the family to prepare share the eulogy. At times I have read what someone else has prepared, but much prefer to delegate this responsibility.

Hymn – No Night There - We sang another hymn speaking of heaven. I introduced this hymn with the question “What is heaven like? There are many different ideas but the truth comes to us from the One who designed heaven and lives there, the LORD God, the Almighty One.”

Scripture Reading & Message – God led me to Isaiah 28 and particularly to v.26

“His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.” Isaiah 28:26 (NIV)

“For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him.” (KJV)

My message was simple and focused on 3 key truths.

TAUGHT by GOD

1) about FRAILTY

- Uncle Bob was a preemie (probably under 2 pounds at birth). His mother (my grandmother Amalia Veitch) lined a bread pan with cotton batten and placed him near the wood cookstove to keep his tiny body warm. In these past years, Uncle Bob, again experienced frailty. God taught him about frailty at the beginning and at the end of his life.

2) about FARMING

Despite his weak beginning, God granted Uncle Bob great strength and he farmed until he found the work too difficult, just over 1 year ago. The context of Isaiah 28 indicates God teaches farmers when, where and how to farm. Referring back to Genesis, I traced the creation of a perfect world, the impact of sin (Genesis 3) and the resulting consequences of the curse in broken relationships with the earth, with people but most of all with God.

3) about FAITH

Though Uncle Bob had been taught about FRAILTY & FARMING, God also taught him about FAITH. As a teenager he had made a commitment to Jesus Christ. I noted the reality that faith does not keep us from facing reality. For many years Uncle Bob was not in regular fellowship but God in His grace persisted and prevailed. In recent years, God brought a full-time worker into the Matheson area and this man was used by God immensely in Uncle Bob’s life. The challenge I left with the congregation was to consider whether or not our faith was in the present tense by putting our truth in Jesus Christ alone for salvation

We concluded the service with “He The Pearly Gates Will Open,” another wonderful hymn which focuses our attention on the payment by Jesus Christ for sin.

I was honoured to be asked and privileged to lead in this service in loving memory of a special uncle, but in honour of Jesus, who is called the Christ!

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We Sing The Praise of Him Who Died

Tune – “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”
Is your spirit fainting today?  Are you facing a gloomy day?  Take refuge in the CHRIST of Calvary.
We sing the praise of Him who died,
Of Him who died upon the Cross;
The sinner’s hope let men deride,
For this we count the world but loss.
Inscribed upon the Cross we see
In shining letters, God is love!
He bears our sins upon the tree,
He brings us mercy from above.
The Cross: it takes our guilt away;
It holds the fainting spirit up;
It cheers with hope the gloomy day,
And sweetens every bitter cup.
The balm of life, the cure of woe,
The measure and the pledge of love,
The sinner’s refuge here below,
The angels’ theme in heav’n above.