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The Joy of the Lord by Jim Ehrhard

Posted in Jim Ehrhard on January 16, 2010|

Preface to the Study

What could be more natural than for believers to praise the Lord?  In fact, the Psalmist says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!”  For those who have been redeemed to not be filled with the joy of the Lord indicates that something is seriously wrong.  Yet such is far too often the case.

Occasionally, the problem is that many believers fear any emotion.  The result is often that their testimony is stilted and their own joy is stifled.  We have much to rejoice about and part of our testimony is in the heart of joy that we display to the world, even in the most difficult of situations.  When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, their natural response was to begin praising the Lord (Acts 16:25).  When the disciples were beaten and told not to teach in the name of Jesus any longer, they rejoiced that they had been “counted worthy to suffer for His name’s sake” (Acts 5:41).  Jesus told His disciples, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad” when they were persecuted (Matthew 5:12).  One great testimony of the early church was the great joy that they had in the Lord.

Our joy is not simply an emotion.  It is a reality—what we have in Christ is more than all that the world can offer us.  In Psalm 73, Asaph proclaimed this sentiment: “Whom have I in heaven but thee, and besides thee I desire nothing on earth.”  This joy comes from remembering all that the Lord has done for us.

Sadly, this joy is often a missing testimony in many believers today.  It is our prayer that the articles in this issue may lead you to rejoice once again in the Lord and that His joy might be your strength!  May this issue may awaken that joy in many again!

By His Grace, Jim

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Theme Study: The Goodness of God by Jim Ehrhard

Posted in Jim Ehrhard on January 16, 2010|

Preface to the Study

The Goodness of God is a vital doctrine for believers to meditate upon.  Our times of depression and discouragement can all be traced to our failure to remember the goodness of God toward us.  In times of trials, we are all tempted to cry out to God and question His love for us.  “If you love me, Lord, why did you let this happen?” is frequently the cry of believers under duress.  But a remembrance of the goodness of God toward us would serve to dispel any doubts about God’s goodness, even in allowing the present trial we face.

Likewise, our failure to resist temptation can likewise be traced to thinking that God is not being “good” to us.  Consider Satan’s temptation of Eve in the Garden; especially when Adam and Eve have forgotten that God gave them to eat of all the trees freely, except one!  Had they considered God’s goodness, they might not have so easily succumbed to Satan’s temptation.

Finally, our inadequate praise for God is often traceable to our failure to think upon all that the Lord has done for us and given to us.  Even our evangelism often lacks a presentation of the goodness of God as that which leads me to repentance, as the Apostle Paul notes in Romans 2:5.  Let us meditate often upon His goodness that we may be full of love and trust in Him who displays His goodness toward us in so many ways!

The articles in this issue have been chosen as an encouragement to you in many areas.  In reflecting upon the death of my own wife, I have been drawn continually back to think upon God’s great goodness to me, even in granting me the great joy of having such a wonderful spouse for all these years.  If I could not see the goodness of God in the land of the living, then my grief would be much more difficult to deal with.  But God has given us twin pillars of comfort for such times of grief: the certain hope of the resurrection where we will be united once again, and the constant evidence of His goodness now, in the land of the living.  So our grief is moderated and even turned to joy by these two great truths.

May you too be blessed by these reminders of the goodness of God toward you!

By His Grace, Jim

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The Sword of the Spirit by Jim Ehrhard

Posted in Jim Ehrhard on January 16, 2010|

Of all the weapons mentioned in Ephesians 6, only one is offensive; the rest are defensive.  As such, it is the one weapon that we dare not be without in spiritual warfare. When Christian met Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation (in Pilgrim’s Progress), he was able to do battle with the dragon until he lost his sword.  As Apollyon stood over him ready to destroy him, a passage of Scripture came to Christian’s mind.  As he quoted the verse, the sword leapt into his hand and he dealt the dragon a mortal blow.

Martin Luther also experienced the awesome power of the Word of God in spiritual warfare.  Tradition has it that Luther once threw an inkwell at an apparition of the devil that had appeared to him.  Actually, such a story may be apocryphal. Luther does state, “I fought the devil with my inkwell,” but he most likely referred to his translation of the New Testament into German as the means through which he fought Satan.  He understood that “though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed, His truth to triumph through us … one little Word shall fell him.”

God’s Word is given to us as a sword with which we can be victorious in spiritual battle.

Why is it called the Sword of the Spirit by the apostle?

It is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine origin. 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 remind us that the Bible is God’s Word not man’s.  The words we have contained in it are not the composition of men’s efforts.  They come with the authority of God.  This is why the apostle Paul reminds believers in 2 Corinthians 10 that “our weapons are not carnal.”  They are of divine origin; it is God’s Word.

It is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine choice. In other words, the Bible is “regulation issue” for every believer.  We are not left to our choice to determine what weapons we are to use.  God has determined that the Bible only shall be the basis for our authority.

Finally, it is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine power. Paul states that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because “it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).  Peter reminds us that we have been born again through the Word of God (1 Peter 2:23-25).  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).  The Word even has power to change and transform the lives of believers (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Romans 12:1-2).  Everything in the Scripture tells us that the Word of God has power, because its power is of divine origin.

Why is the Word compared to a Sword?

It is compared to a sword for many reasons.  A sword in the ancient world was not only a weapon for battle; it was also a symbol of authority.  This is why defeated generals would give their swords to the victors as a symbol of relinquishing their authority to another.  As such, the Bible is clearly our authority.  It is one we must never relinquish in battle.

But most of all, the sword was a symbol of power.  As such, the Word of God is a sword which has the power to do many things.  First, it has the power to wound the heart. We see this most of all in terms of salvation when one previously disinterested in spiritual things hears the Word and is cut to the heart by it.  This happened on the day of Pentecost when the people heard Peter preaching and “were cut to the heart and cried out, ‘What shall we do?’“

Second, it has the power to penetrate the heart.  The Bible speaks of the unconverted as having a heart of stone and hardened, but it speaks of the Word as able to cut through any hardness.  We see this in Acts 16:14.  As Paul preached the Word to Lydia and the others, God used the Word to “open her heart” and she was converted. Hebrews 4:12 makes this aspect of the Word clear when it describes the Word as “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow.”

Third, it has the power to heal the heart. The amazing thing about this sword is that it both cuts and heals. It both convicts and comforts.  Thus God says of His Word through the prophet Isaiah, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).  God’s Word is a sword because it is powerful—wounding, penetrating, and healing the human heart.

Why is this weapon so important?

Because without it, you are not fully equipped. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful … “that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped and fitted for every good work.”

Because without it, you cannot withstand for long. The major emphasis of Ephesians 6 and spiritual warfare is that the believer must stand and withstand the attacks of the enemy.  This is why the majority of the weapons listed are defensive.  The victory is our as we stand firm in spiritual warfare.  The boxer who only blocks punches will not stand for long!  The Word has been given to us to use against the enemy and our offensive thrusts with the Word cause the attacker to flee.

Because without it, you cannot win the battle.  With the other weapons, you may be able to stave off defeat, but without the sword you cannot have victory.  Without the sword, how will you “tear down strongholds?”  Shields and helmets are excellent for defense, but useless for tearing down strongholds.  Without the sword, we will not prevail against “the gates of hell” (Matthew 16:18).

How should we “take the Sword of the Spirit?”

Be thankful for it.  The Psalmists frequently express praise and thanksgiving for the treasure of the Word of God.  They spoke of it as more precious than gold and more desirable than the sweetest honeycomb.

Study it regularly. The Sword was not given to us as an emblem to hang on the wall or display on the coffee table.  It is given to be used in spiritual battle.  As such it must not grow rusty from disuse, but the study of the Word should be our regular practice (2 Timothy 2:15).

Hide it in your heart. Christian’s victory over Apollyon came because he had the Word hidden in his heart. Jesus used the memorized Word to defeat Satan in the temptation in the wilderness.  Psalm 119:9, 11 reminds us that our protection from temptation comes as we “hide” the Word in our hearts.

Obey it always.  James 1:22-25 reminds us that the Word heard does not benefit us unless it becomes the Word applied to our lives.

What a treasure God has given us in His Word!  It strengthens, it protects, it comforts, and it heals.  It provides guidance in life and victory over temptation.  No wonder the psalmist proclaimed: “Oh how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

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Theme Study: Coming to Christ by Jim Ehrhard

Posted in Jim Ehrhard on January 16, 2010|

Preface to the Study

A great deal of misunderstanding has often arisen in Reformed circles about the free offer of Christ and the importance of our need to call people to believe the gospel and be saved.   This has happened before.  During the 18th Century, Baptists in England placed so much emphasis on election that they began to neglect sharing the gospel and inviting people to come to Christ.  Many even began to teach that the gospel should not be shared with a person until that person had the “warrant of faith,” or some evidence that they were elected.

Such teachings created many problems.  First, it caused many believers to neglect evangelism and missions assuming that “if God wants the heathen to be saved, He will do so and without our help!”  Second, it made many non-believers unsure if they had that “warrant” and so they waited for such evidences rather than fleeing to Christ.  Finally, some who had come to faith spent much time agonizing over whether their evidences were real enough or sufficient enough, or whether they may have been deceived.  While there is certainly a need to discern between true and false conversion, we must be careful not to fall into the error of attaching anything to the free offer of the gospel.  It weakens evangelism and missions, it causes some to delay coming to Christ, and it hinders true assurance among those who believe.

Fortunately, the 19th Century in England saw a renewed emphasis on the free offer of salvation, especially in the preaching of Charles Spurgeon.  Spurgeon was soundly criticized by many Calvinists for his emphasis on the free offer of salvation and for calling people to come to Christ without “law work” that had become the emphasis among the hyper-Calvinists of the 18th Century.

The articles chosen for this issue emphasize that same concern: that we would invite people to come to Christ; that we would say to them, “Today is the day of salvation, behold, now is the appointed time;” that we preach the whole gospel, “that repentance and forgiveness of sins might be preached in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:47).  May we all be encouraged to call many to come to Christ to receive his free offer of salvation!

By His Grace, Jim

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Preface to the Study by Jim Ehrhard

Posted in Jim Ehrhard on January 16, 2010|

Whenever we consider the death and resurrection of Jesus, we should not neglect to examine the Savior’s time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In the Garden, many things about Jesus and his mission are revealed in dramatic fashion.  Equally, many lessons about those who are his followers come to light in the darkness of that night in the Garden.

In this issue, we have chosen a number of articles that shed light on various aspects of Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to his going to the cross.  In the Garden, we see the dual nature of Christ clearly revealed. We see Jesus in his full humanity, struggling with the weight of what lay ahead in the cross.  We see him crying out to the Father, “Let this cup pass from me… yet not my will but thine be done.”  We see his divinity in his prophecies about the falling away of his disciples, the betrayal of Judas, and his own resurrection.  He also affirms his divinity in his ability to call twelve legions of angels to his aid at any time he desired!

The Garden also shows us the absolute necessity of the cross. Jesus says to the Father, “If there is any other way, let this cup pass from me.”  If there had been any other way besides the cross, Jesus would have taken it.  But the only way to provide for man’s salvation was through the cross.  In the history of the church, many have shied away from the expiation of the cross and opted for other means of salvation.  Jesus himself recognized that there was no other way.  Unless Jesus sheds his perfect, sinless blood on behalf of sinful man, there is no hope of salvation.

The wrath of God is also seen in the Garden. When Jesus speaks about letting the “cup pass” from him, what is he referring to?  There are many references in the Old Testament to the cup of God’s wrath being poured out on His enemies.  The Bible describes everyone of us as enemies of God who fully deserve to drink the dregs of God’s wrath for our sins.  This is not a theme that many like to hear or preach, but in the Garden, Jesus saw his encounter with the cross as drinking the “cup” on our behalf.

Obviously, the Garden of Gethsemane is full of the love and grace of our Savior. His love is seen in his willingness to drink that cup for us.  His love is also revealed in his tender care for his continually failing and faltering disciples.

But the Garden of Gethsemane not only reveals much about our Savior, it also shows us much about ourselves.  The experience of the disciples in the Garden reveals the weakness of all men, including the redeemed. Jesus had warned the disciples that “all would stumble this very night because of me.”  Not just Peter, but all.  Further, we see the sluggishness of the disciple to join the Lord in that hour of prayer before the betrayal.  The question of Jesus to his disciples remains a question for his followers today: “Could you not watch with me one hour?”

Many lessons for living the Christian life can also be gathered from Gethsemane. In the example of Jesus, we see the absolute necessity of prayer to sustain us in times of difficulty.  In the example of Jesus, we have set before us the goal of submitting our will to the Father just as he did.  In the example of Jesus, we learn much about the right way for a believer to handle persecutions and difficulties in life.  Peter, who observed Jesus’ behavior in the Garden that night, points us to Jesus as our example in suffering in the second chapter of his first epistle.

We pray that this issue of Teaching Resources will provide some articles and sermons that will allow you to grasp something of the mystery and meaning of Jesus’ time in the garden of Gethsemane.  We certainly could have included many more articles (indeed, some additional articles on this theme can be found on our website).  In the articles by Ryle and MacLaren, we are introduced to the importance of understanding what Jesus went through in the Garden.  Calvin’s sermon provides a number of insights to prayer for believers.  William Bridge shows us the reality of temptation and its cure in his article, “Temptation’s Danger and Remedy.”  Our final article by Charles Spurgeon, “Christian Resignation,” provides encouragements for believers to rest in the sovereign, perfect will of God.

May these articles open our eyes to see what a wonderful Savior we have and may they challenge us to live lives that will give him honor and glory in all we do!

By His Grace, Jim & Debbie

Check out our Website (www.teachingresources.org).  In addition to the printed resources of this issue, we have included a few more articles on Gethsemane in our on-line version.  Also, you might consider signing up for our monthly Reforming Reflections (available by email).

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