Encouragement

Some people ask how, as a pastor, I stay encouraged. I think that this is an insightful question. I know many men in ministry who struggle- and I mean continually. Some I know well. Some I know from a distance, but because of the outcome of their lives and sometimes the trials that others have thrown themselves into- there is really no other option but to believe that they have been struggling long. Ultimately and simply all believers (pastors too- maybe especially) must rest on the promises of Christ and trust in the grace of God. That's where true encouragement comes from- God and His grace in Christ. There are many things a believer can (and must)do to respond and trust in God- to seek Him for encouragement. Scripture, prayer, and fellowship are some of those resources that God uses to encourage. And God uses corporate worship- word and sacrament to encourage His people.

So, I'm encouraged. Encouraged by the love of Christ. It's always good to have someone tell you about hope and encouragement in Jesus. Here is a place I go as a pastor for encouragement:

CTS ministry resources

The Soverigny of God's Grace

There is a long-standing controversy in the Church as to whether God is really Lord in relation to human conduct and saving faith or not. The situation is not what it seems to be. For it is not true that some Christians believe in divine sovereignty while others hold an opposite view. What is true is that all Christians believe in divine sovereignty, but some are not aware that they do, and mistakenly imagine and insist that they reject it. What causes this odd state of affairs? The root cause is the same as in most cases of error in the Church the intruding of rationalistic speculations, the passion for systematic consistency, a reluctance to recognize the existence of mystery and to let God be wiser than men, and a consequent subjection of Scripture to the supposed demands of human logic.

J.I Packer

Jonathan Edwards

Luke 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one is forcing his way into it."

This is from Luke where Jesus is challenging the Pharisees, "who were lovers of money." Also, close by in vs 13 is the familiar verse- "No servant can serve two masters...You cannot serve God and mammon.


This is from DR. Edwards sermon on Luke 16:16, preached during the Awakening of 1734-1735 at Northhamption.

II. To show why the kingdom of heaven should be sought in this manner [forcefully]. It should be sought thus.


1. On account of the extreme necessity we are in of getting into the kingdom of heaven. We are in a perishing necessity of it; without it we are utterly and eternally lost. Out of the kingdom of God is no safety; there is no other hiding-place; this is the only city of refuge, in which we can be secure from the avenger that pursues all the ungodly. the vengeance of God will pursue, overtake, and eternally destroy,them that are not in this kingdom. All that are without this enclosure will be swallowed up in an overflowing fiery deluge of wrath. They may stand at the door and knock, and cry, Lord, Lord, open to us , in vain; they will be thrust back; and God will have no mercy on them; they shall be eternally left of him. His fearful vengeance will seize them; the devils will lay hold of them; and all evil come upon them; and there will be none to pity or help; their case will be utterly desperate, and infinitely doleful. It will be a gone case with them; all offers of mercy and expressions of divine goodness will be finally withdrawn, and all hope will be lost. God will have no kind of regard to their well-being; will take no care of them to save them from any enemy, or any evil; but himself will be their dreadful enemy, and will execute wrath with fury, and will take vengeance in an inexpressibly dreadful manner. Such as shall be in this case will be lost and undone indeed! They will be sunk down into perdition, infinitely below all that we can think. For who knows the power of God's anger? And who knows the misery of that poor worm, on whom that anger is executed without mercy?

Classic Edwards

People came in droves to hear Edwards preach this sort of thing.

God's free grace and love

ESV Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

I like the way the ASV phrases it- "to the praise of the glory of his grace"

ESV 2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Because of His own purpose and grace

I particularly am comforted by the scripture, "which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."

Makes you have to ask- who is the "us"? It's not all humanity. Paul is writing to Timothy and using language defined by his context. In essence he is writing to Timothy and saying, "Now as a pastor Timothy, remember these things and teach them to your people (the church)." Hence the name given for these letters to Timothy and Titus- pastoral epistles.

ESV Romans 9:11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad- in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call- 12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Last and least we have the Westmister Confession of Faith expressing these biblical truths. Remember that the Westminster Standards are not Scripture and are subservient to Scripture in every regard. That being said the following is an excellent summation of what the Bible says.

WCF 3:5 WCF 3.5 Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory,(1) out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perserverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto;(2) and all to the praise of His glorious grace.(3)

this is talking about being predestined unto salvation by God's free grace and love.

I've been thinking again about God's grace and His purpose in our lives. I don't know of anyone (any Christian that is) who doesn't like the concept of grace- free grace and God's love. It's when you start putting it in it biblical context that the internecine argument begins. So much of christian discussion and conflict center around salvation. If you are teaching the bible its unavoidable to teach on salvation. Because of this emphasis on salvation (and I'm not saying this is completely bad) so much of the church never really moves beyond getting saved. We must live by God's grace in light of our salvation. I've heard it said that in some baptist circles every sermon and service is about getting saved and coming to Jesus. I've heard it said that in some Reformed Presbyterian circles that every sermon and service is about Justification and coming to Jesus. This is a great starting point and should never be left behind (no pun intended- well sort of) but there is more.
Paul's words to the Ephesians are weighty words- "you have been saved by grace." We need to remember too that there is life to be lived now that we have been saved by grace. And we go about this living by God's free grace and love.

Grace in the Church

The teachings of Scripture respecting the grace of God stress the fact that God distributes His blessings to men in a free and sovereign manner, and not in consideration of any inherent merit of men; that men owe all the blessings of life to a beneficent, forbearing, and long suffering God; and especially that all the blessings of the work of salvation are freely given of God, and are in no way determined by supposed merits of men. This is clearly expressed by Paul... Eph2:8,9... He strongly emphasizes the fact that salvation is not by works, Rom. 3:20-28; 4:16; Gal2:16


Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, pg. 428

The edition of this text that we all had when I was in seminary had a nice blue dust jacket. This quote on grace is surprisingly engaging for Berkhof. The text is 782 pages. We called it the big blue sleeping pill. Theology can be very lively and is very important to search out and find clarity, but systematic theology can be a bit dry. So, if you ever have a bout of insomnia, I've got an extra copy. What more could you ask for in a book- rest for you soul (via theological, Christ centered growth) and rest for you body (via systematic theology induced sleep). It's a winner!