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Immanence and Transcendence: How Do You See God?
Tony Cooke

Recently, I was listening to a worship service that Lisa had downloaded. The music was beautiful, and you could sense the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I heard the worship leader exhorting the people and saying such things as, “The Holy Spirit is here and He is moving in this place. Open your heart and let Him sweep over your life. Let Him saturate you with His peace. Get ready to encounter His Presence and feel His love as He moves in this place.”

Such encouragement directs people toward what we might call the immanence of God. That means He’s the God of the right here and the right now! It means He’s moving, flowing, and intermingling with us right where we are. When immanence is emphasized, expectancy is important. Being in tune with what God is saying and doing right now is key.

I grew up in a tradition that emphasized more of the transcendence of God… His over-arching, enduring, unchanging, and eternal reality. We acknowledged that “God was with us” in a general sort of way, but I don’t ever recall any expectation conveyed that He would ever doing anything significant in our midst. We knew that God ruled in yonder heaven, and everyone seemed content with that; we didn’t know to expect anything more than that.

We would have been very inclined toward a Scripture such as: “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15-16). We would not have gravitated toward, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). We would have acknowledged that Scripture in Acts historically, but had no expectation of such a phenomenon (or any other supernatural phenomenon) personally or experientially.

One of the great hymns we sang had the words: “Our God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.” Most of that song speaks of God’s transcendence, but we also catch a glimpse of His immanence when it refers to God as, “our shelter from the stormy blast.”

When I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1977, I began fellowshipping with believers who heavily emphasized the immanence of God, and it was very different being with people who believed that gatherings should be a time to truly experience and encounter God in very specific ways personally. We were encouraged to, “…taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). There was an emphasis on God working through believers—right here, right now—in the nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), the five-fold offices (Ephesians 4:11) and the expressions listed in Romans 12:6-8 (serving, exhorting, giving, etc.).

Today, I am grateful for both God’s transcendence and immanence. I see these not as being an either/or need in the life of the believer, but I realize the necessity for both/and. We need His grandeur and we need his closeness. We need stability and sensitivity. If we focus on His transcendence without a sense of His immanence, we can perceive God as being aloof and distant. If we focus on His immanence and ignore His transcendence, we can become overly subjective about God, always looking for an immediate feeling, and limiting our perspective of God by what we have personally experienced of Him.

The Apostle Paul seemed to emphasize the transcendence of God when He said, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Earlier in this epistle, Paul had said that God, “…comforts us in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:4), and that speaks of God’s immanence. When we are hurting, we certainly appreciate immediate comfort. That comfort, though, doesn’t always come in immediately changed circumstances, but it can come from an intentionally changed perspective. Paul had to look beyond the immediate circumstances in several situations to embrace an eternal perspective of God and His plan.

Another hymn of the church states: “When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace.” We might not feel or perceive God at a certain time, but we can still trust in His eternal, unchanging nature regardless of what we sense or don’t sense at any given moment.

Perhaps the following chart can help illustrate the two dimensions of our perception of God. I believe both are vital for having a more complete picture of who God is.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I pray that this understanding will help us better experience the fulfillment of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18, that we be able to may be able to, “….comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

When the Call Seems Small
By Rev. Tony Cooke

A friend recently shared an important truth… that we need to know how to handle it when the call seems small. Perhaps you’ve had workers in your church doing what you know is valuable work, but they are unsettled, thinking they’re supposed to be doing something they consider more important. Pastors can also feel frustration because their church or budget isn’t as large as they’d like.

Our society exalts the “biggest” and the “best,” but I’ve noticed that some never enjoy where they are or what they have in life because they’re always mindful that someone has more than they do. Perhaps because of envy, insecurity, or short-sightedness, they don’t see the value and significance of what is right before them.

I recently read about an individual who got a new bicycle when he was in fifth grade. He was thrilled about his new bike and was thoroughly enjoying it, until he rode down the street and found out that his neighbor had gotten a fancier bike. He lost his joy when he became envious of his friend’s nicer bike.

Envy truly is a scourge! It causes us to focus on what we don’t have to the point that we miss seeing and taking pleasure in what we do have. Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.” If our vision is always on the grandiose, we may miss an excellent opportunity because it is wrapped in what we consider to be a small package!

THE UNIVERSE OR A PEANUT?

George Washington Carver (1864-1943) started his life as a slave, but became a chemist, horticulturist, and educator. He discovered three hundred uses for peanuts and hundreds more uses for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes. Carver said, “When I was young, I said to God, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ‘That knowledge is for me alone.’ So I said, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ‘Well George, that’s more nearly your size.’ And he told me.”

No one who knows history would dispute that George Washington Carver made a BIG contribution to society, but he had to start out by valuing something SMALL.

RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF SMALL THINGS

People often fall prey to feelings of inferiority and intimidation. I’ve noticed three lies that the enemy tends to bring against believers to keep them in a state of spiritual paralysis and inactivity. Those three lies are:

* You have little value – you are worthless.
* You have little faith – you are faithless.
* You have little ability – you are useless.

The truth is that we are all valuable and precious to God! Also, Jesus said that if we had faith as a mustard seed, we could move mountains. Finally, even if we believe that our gifts or abilities are small compared to others, we must realize that God can use what we yield to Him in great ways…

* Moses only had a rod, but God used it to bring the greatest empire of the world to its knees and to deliver the children of Israel.
* Rahab only had a scarlet thread, but with it, she brought deliverance to her entire family.
* Samson only had the jawbone of a donkey, but God used it to help him defeat one thousand men.
* The widow woman only had some oil, but God used it to bring a great miracle of provision.
* The little boy only had a few loaves and fishes, but Jesus used them to feed a multitude.
* Dorcas only had a needle and thread, but she blessed many by using what she had.

Things that we consider small can be important! You may have heard the old rhyme:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

EDWARD WHO?

Most Christians have never heard the name of Edward Kimball. He wasn’t a famous evangelist or a powerful pastor, but was a Sunday School teacher in the mid-1800s at a Congregational Church in Boston, Massachusetts. One day Mr. Kimball dropped in to see a young shoe salesman who had visited his class. As a result of this visit the young man came to trust in Jesus Christ. Mr. Kimball expressed that he was quite nervous about visiting the young man and that his visit was “weak.” But he said, “It seemed that the young man was just ready for the light that then broke upon him.” Incidentally, the young man who accepted the Lord during Mr. Kimball’s visit was named Dwight L. Moody, who later led over a million people to the Lord.

Even if the person Edward Kimball led to the Lord had not eventually become a great evangelist, his work would still have been important to God! Never underestimate the value of your work, your kindness, your encouragement, your giving, or your prayers. Jesus said that if we even give a cup of water to someone who belongs to him, we would not lose our reward (Matthew 9:41).

WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY TO A SMALL CHURCH?

In a very critical hour in church history (Revelation 1-3), Jesus was mindful of pastors and local churches, including what appears to have been a small congregation in Philadelphia. Jesus spoke to the angel (the pastor) of this church and said, “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8).

Vincent’s Word Studies says the phrase (you have a little strength) could be rendered, “thou art poor in numbers and worldly resources.” This was a church that was few in numbers and limited in resources, and yet Jesus communicated very positively concerning their amazing potential.

The Wuest translation renders this verse, “Consider this. I have given [you] as a permanent possession a door which has been permanently opened, which no one is able to close; because you have but a small amount of power, and you safeguarded my word by carefully observing it, and you did not deny my Name.”

COULD JESUS REALLY BE PLEASED WITH A SMALLER CHURCH?

Was Jesus disappointed with this pastor and this church? Was he discouraged about their apparent lack of accomplishments? Was he upset that they hadn’t grown more? On the contrary, Jesus was pleased with and positive toward this local congregation. He valued it, was hopeful toward it, and saw its great potential. The Philadelphian congregation was probably the smallest of the churches that received these letters, but it was one of only two that received no form of correction from Jesus. Even the great mega-church of its day (Ephesus) did not receive the unqualified commendation that Philadelphia received.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m all for every church reaching as many people for Jesus as possible, but I also realize that Satan seems to specialize in perching on the shoulders of pastors and reminding them that their church isn’t as big as Joel Osteen’s or T.D. Jakes’ and intimidating them with feelings that their work for God is somehow insignificant. If you were pastoring a church of 15,000 people, the devil could (and probably would) tell you that compared to Dr. Cho, your church was still small, and that compared to Reinhard Bonnke, you’re still not reaching many people.

WHAT HAD THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA DONE?

Jesus commended them for three very basic aspects of the faith. He said:

* You have kept my word.
* You have not denied my name.
* You have kept my command to persevere.

Doesn’t it seem likely that Jesus would also be pleased with pastors and churches who are doing those same things today? If you don’t have as large of attendance as you would desire, or as many resources as you’d like, here are some things to keep in mind (whether you have 10 in your congregation or 10,000):

* Remember that God the Father said He was “well pleased” with Jesus before He had preached a single sermon, worked a single miracle, or had any followers.
* He doesn’t want you living under condemnation or a sense of failure. Rather, He wants you looking for and walking through the open doors (opportunities) that He has placed in front of you.
* Capitalize on the strengths that you do have, even if you feel like all you have is a “little strength.”
* Aim for fruitfulness and impact, and don’t get caught in the comparison trap or the numbers game.
* Don’t allow yourself to get so frustrated with what you don’t have that you fail to tap into the creativity of God and the inspired ideas that would enable you to see greater fruitfulness.
* Dream, don’t despair!

I think all faith people are advocates of dreaming, thinking, and expecting big, and that’s great as long as we don’t neglect the seemingly small things upon which God places great value. We need to be sure that the big things we desire are truly God’s big dreams for our lives, and not merely extensions of human ego or insecurity. We must not fall into the trap that one person described: “Some ministers love crowds but hate people.” Remember also that Saul’s greatest days of serving God were when he was “small in his own eyes” (1 Samuel 15:17).

LEARNING CONTENTMENT

Perhaps David had found relief from envy-based agitation when he wrote Psalm 131:1-3. The Message Version renders these verses: “GOD, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for GOD. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!”

Helen Keller said, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief aim to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Even if it seems small, what are the tasks and opportunities that God has placed before us? Surely he doesn’t want us always envying the greener grass on the other side of the fence, but he wants us fertilizing and watering our own yard! He wants us to bloom where we’ve been planted. Below is a collection of quotes that remind us the importance of focusing on the opportunities that are before us.

“A possibility is a hint from God.”
– Sören Kierkegaard

“No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There is no security on this earth. Only opportunity.”
– Douglas Macarthur

“The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.”
– John Burrows

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
– Thomas Edison

“To young men who are looking for an opportunity and who complain there is no opening for them, permit me to say this: Go where the poor and the under-priviliged are. They will be glad to hear you. When you have learned to bless them, others will be calling for your services. Don’t wait for opportunity to come walking up to you. Go to meet it. My wife and I resolved that we would not allow an opportunity to build up the church, pass us by, and if we did not find opportunities ready-made, we would make them.”
– Gordon Lindsay

What About Bob?
By Rev. Tony Cooke

I recently ministered for Pastor Jerry Piker in Laurie, Missouri. Over the past 20 years, Jerry and Shirlene have built a great church in a small community (the sign as you drive into town says, “Population 663”). Jerry has a servant’s heart, and like many pastors, he’s done whatever it’s taken over the years to get the job done (mowing the yard, maintenance, etc. in addition to preaching and caring for the people).

As we fellowshipped, he mentioned a man in his church named Bob who had been a great blessing to him and his wife in many ways. This man was from a rough background and had gotten saved at the church. As Bob grew in the Lord, he told Pastor Jerry, “I don’t know anything about this ministry of helps, but I feel called to it.”

Pastor Jerry related: “Bob began by doing simple things for us like not going through doors ahead of us but opening doors and holding them for us. Then one day, he came to me and said, ‘You shouldn’t be mowing the grass, I will do that so you won’t have to.’ After about a year of continuing to grow in the Word of God, Bob came to me and said, ‘Pastor, I believe we are called to take care of you and your wife.’ I thought the words ‘take care of’ were a little strange to be saying because I didn’t really know Bob that well.

Over the next few years I grew to love and appreciate Bob all the more. I found out what being taken care of meant. You see, Bob, established things for us that no person had even thought about or asked about. He asked if he could present an opportunity for the church members to invest in our retirement fund and he established that for us. Every Christmas whether he had money or not, we would both be presented with a nice present. He also sent us to Hawaii once and took us another time. The ministry of helps became a new ministry for our church because Bob took it upon himself to see that I was not doing the ‘waiting on tables,’ I could now concentrate on the Word of God and prayer. Bob was my answer from Heaven. From that time since, I have never had anyone in our church like Bob. He went home to be with the Lord a few years ago, but left word to his wife to continue to take care of Pastor.”

Having seen many pastors struggle without sufficient help, my heart was warmed as I heard Pastor Jerry share about someone who had been such a God-send to him and his wife. I realize that some leaders take this kind of thing to an extreme and develop wrong attitudes about such matters. They seem to believe that everyone exists merely to cater to them and serve them… that others exist merely for their own personal benefit. In so doing, they lose sight of the fact that as leaders, we are never to cease being servants ourselves. However, I think these types of leaders are greatly in the minority. The vast majority of pastors I’ve had the privilege of associating with genuinely embody the traits described in such scriptures as Matthew 20:28, 2 Corinthians 12:15, and 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7.

Who Ministered to Jesus and Paul?

Jesus and Paul were certainly servants who ministered to others, but who ministered to them? They gave magnificently of themselves to others, but they also benefited greatly from individuals who had a special calling to support and assist them. There were special people (like Bob) that God placed “in their corner” to encourage them and under-gird them.

We know that Jesus’ disciples helped in some practical areas of Jesus’ ministry, but we sometimes forget the other individuals who worked behind the scenes in support of Jesus and his ministry. Luke 8:1-3 says, “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities — Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.”

The New Living Translation says there were, “…many others who were contributing their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.” Later, at the cross (Mark 15:40-1), reference is made to these same women, “…who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee.”

The Apostle Paul spoke repeatedly of people that God had sent into his life at key times, and he spoke with overflowing gratitude of the help and encouragement that they had been to him. One time, Paul referred to how he had been, “…comforted by the coming of Titus” (2 Cor. 7:6), and he also referred to a group of brothers who had proven, “…to be a comfort to me” (Col. 4:11).

In the first verse, comforted means to call to one’s side. Comfort in the latter verse is a medical term that refers to medicines that relieve irritations. It has connotations of soothing, solace, relief, alleviation, consolation, and encouragement. Pastors, and everyone else for that matter, are truly blessed if they are surrounded with others who have that type of effect in their lives.

Paul wasn’t merely thankful for people who had helped him in his ministry (that could appear to have been self-serving even if it wasn’t Paul’s motive), but he promoted the helping of others who were preaching the gospel as well. In Romans 16:1-2, he said, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”

In essence, Paul was saying, “Be a Bob to Phoebe, because she’s been a Bob to me and to many.” This is really what partnership and teamwork in life and ministry are all about. We all need help and we all have a need to help others. I love what Charles Brower said: “Few people are successful unless a lot of other people want them to be.”

History has some great examples of such helping and partnership. For example, Martin Luther wasn’t the first reformer, but his is the name we most remember. Some of the early reformers didn’t live long because of persecution, but Luther had the care, protection, and provision that came to him through Fredrick of Saxony in the Wartburg Castle. We might say that Martin Luther had his own “Bob,” someone who felt that the Lord had given him the assignment of serving the great reformer and helping him fulfill his mission.

There is a powerful verse in Isaiah 41:6-7 that describes the power of teamwork: “Everyone helped his neighbor, and said to his brother, ‘Be of good courage!’ So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, saying, ‘It is ready for the soldering’; then he fastened it with pegs, that it might not totter.” This description of teamwork and encouragement is actually about those making an idol. How much more should God’s people cheer each other on and encourage each other as they build the Kingdom of God and advance the gospel!

Why Giving Stops – Overcoming Cirrhosis of the Giver by Rev. Tony Cooke

I became concerned a few years ago when I read some very startling statistics about how Christians were handling their money… especially in the areas of tithing and giving.  According to the studies I came across:

• Only around 6% of those claiming to be “born-again” in America actually tithe to their local church.
• 9% of those who identify themselves as “evangelicals” tithe to their church.
• The average church member in America gives 2.5% of his or her income to the church.

Stop and think about it.  If every church member in America began tithing, the budget of churches would quadruple!  If all church members in the U.S. tithed, there would be an additional $156 billion available each year for the mission of the church. 

Our Greatest Opportunity is Right Now!

There are more people alive now on the earth than ever before. 

• When Jesus was born, the entire world population was 200 million people. 
• In 1,000 A.D., the population of the entire world was 300 million people.
• Today, there are around 303 million people in the United States alone, and the great majority of the 6.7 billion people living on the face of the earth do NOT know Jesus.

The Wycliffe Bible Translators estimate that there are 2,000 people groups that don’t have a single verse of Scripture available to them in their own language, and another group suggests that there are probably 1.6 billion people who have never even heard John 3:16. The task before us is massive, and we have far greater potential than what has been realized. 

When I address these issues, I’m not primarily thinking about dollars and cents, but about lives and hearts!  We know that Jesus taught that, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).  Billy Graham said, “Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”  What does this mean?  If the money of people is not coming into the church—into the work of God—then it’s an indicator that their hearts and their thoughts are not in the mission of the church either.

After the ushers brought the offering to the front of one church, the pastor held it up and prayed: “Lord, regardless of what we say about you with our lips, this is really what we say about you, this is really what we feel about you. This is really what you mean to us. Amen.”

Let me briefly mention five factors that can contribute to believers not being the kind of tithers and givers that God desires:

1.  Economic Issues

There is a logical, common-sense approach to this.  If people don’t have money, they can’t give it.  However, I’m convinced that there are certain heart issues that go beyond the economy.  When you read Luke 21:1-4 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, you’ll notice that the economic conditions were not great for the widow woman or for the churches in Macedonia, and yet they gave generously in ways that evoked the recognition and praise of Jesus and Paul respectively.  Their external actions of generosity were a reflection of hearts (and wallets) that were totally consecrated to God!

One of the reasons I believe that economic issues are not the ultimate factor in giving is that U.S. Christians give proportionately less today than they did during the Great Depression.  In 1933, at the depth of the Great Depression, average per-member giving was at 3.3%.  Compare that to the average church member today who gives an average of 2.5% of his or her income to the Lord.

2.  People Have Not Positioned Themselves to Give

Lynn A. Miller said, “Stewardship is the act of organizing your life so that God can spend you.”  We live in a day of unprecedented spending (including excessive credit spending), and seemingly, people are saving less and giving less.  One person said, “Our problem is that we spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.”  Another wisely noted, “If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep becomes your downfall.”

John Wesley taught people to “earn all you can” without hurting one’s body, soul, or neighbor.  Then to “save all you can,” cutting off needless expenses and not seeking to gratify the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, or the pride of life.  But Wesley said if you stop here (earning and saving all you can), that you haven’t done anything.  His third admonition to believers was to “give all you can.”

3.  Saturation – Christians Have a Multitude of Options

Some Christians have ceased to value their local church because of a “glut” or saturation of highly visible ministries. When there are a handful of preachers on TV at any given time, non-stop radio preachers, extensive ministry via the internet, newsletters and magazines arriving daily at the house from ministries and charitable organizations, and churches on every corner, it becomes easy for people to take churches and ministries for granted.  A constant bombardment of financial appeals can cause church members to be desensitized to vital needs, and to lose focus of the significance of the local church and its varied ministries.

4.  Disillusionment

Some believers have become disappointed when unrealistic expectations of instant prosperity did not materialize.  As a result, these believers have become closed, reluctant, and hesitant.  They feel they’ve been burnt, and are not quick to trust preachers.  Perhaps they saw giving as a “get-rich-quick” opportunity, and then gave up on giving entirely when it failed to produce the expected results.  Perhaps they gave impulsively in the midst of some high-pressure hype… when the emotions wore off, they felt regret, and felt manipulated and taken advantage of.

If people feel exploited, there’s a possibility they won’t just quit giving to the one that exploited them—some will quit giving altogether.  There are certainly godly and selfless ministers who have genuine leadings from the Lord to receive special offerings on occasion when expectation is high and the anointing is strong.  But there are also “master manipulators” who routinely manipulate and hype the saints, and many don’t recognize the difference between the honorable and the unscrupulous.

5.  Many Christians Have Yet to Establish Spiritual Resolve, Spiritual Maturity, and Obedience to the Bible in the Area of Stewardship and Giving.

Christian obedience and generosity is best expressed when it is a consistent and disciplined extension of a mind-set and lifestyle based on biblical truth.  That way, it’s not erratic or based on whims, impulsivity, or emotion.

Some Christians have excused themselves from their giving responsibilities (tithing, in particular) by stating that they are not “under the law.”  In reality, they are under a Covenant where God has done more for them than was ever done for people under the Law.  In response to God’s goodness, they have chosen to do less for Him.  One person said, “If we do less under grace than they did under law, it is a disgrace.”

Tithing did not originate under the Mosaic Law.  It actually began hundreds of years before the institution of the Law as an act of faith and devotion.  It was later regulated by the Law. Giving under the Old Testament went toward the support of the Temple in Jerusalem and of the priesthood.  That was a worthy cause, and God distributed that responsibility out equally among the people—each person doing his own part.  Giving under the New Testament goes toward the support of the church and the evangelization of the entire world.  If they gave 10% for the upkeep of a priesthood and a temple that was only a shadow of things to come, what should Christians do when it comes to supporting the proclamation of a message that causes people to be born-again and has the ability to impart the gift of eternal life?

T.S. Linscott wrote in 1888, “If Christian people would live up to the Bible demand, and pay God one-tenth of their income… there would be enough and to spare; and I believe the Millenium would soon be upon us, for the conversion of the world is, in my opinion, now reduced to a question of money.  We have the men and women whose hearts God has touched, and whose souls are aflame with missionary zeal; we have a Gospel that meets the requirements of all sorts and conditions of men; full provision has been made for the salvation of the world…”

A.W. Tozer said, “As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor.  It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values.  Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth.  Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

Pastors face challenges in teaching about stewardship, and yet it’s part of the biblical responsibility of spiritual leadership.  It’s easy to back off of this area because of not wanting to be lumped in with some who have gone to excesses and extremes, but balanced and solid teaching must come from healthy local churches.  We pray that God graces you with great wisdom in this area, as well as all the other areas that are involved in carrying out your wonderful calling!

What is Scripture For?
Tony Cooke

Several metaphors are used to illustrate the various functions of the Word of God in our lives. For example, the Word of God is likened unto:

• Fire and a Hammer (Jeremiah 23:29)
• Honey (Psalms 19:7-10)
• A Lamp (Psalm 119:105)
• Rain (Isaiah 55:10)
• Bread (Matthew 4:4)
• Cleansing Water (Ephesians 5:26)
• A Sword (Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12))
• Meat (Hebrews 5:11-14)
• A Mirror (James 1:23)
• Seed (1 Peter 1:23)
• Milk (1 Peter 2:2)

Multi-dimensional applications of the Word are also seen in Paul’s admonition to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In his outstanding book, “The Seven Laws of the Learner,” Bruce Wilkinson elaborates on these four prescribed functions of God’s Word. The following four definitions are his.

1. Doctrine means teaching, instruction, that which is learned, kept pure, and defended against heresies. Doctrine occurs when the teacher explains the Word of God to the man of God, showing him the truths he should believe.
2. Correction is made up of three Greek words meaning “to make straight again.” Its goal is setting right, raising up those who fall, correcting those in error.
3. Instruction in righteousness refers to upbringing and means “child training.” Its emphasis is on guiding believers in the way of God and includes chastening and discipline. According to a leading Greek dictionary, this term describes “the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, commands and admonitions, reproof and punishment…”
4. Reproof speaks of conviction of punishment of the sinner. It’s a rebuke to those in sin or the convincing of a man of the error of his way and setting him on the right path.

In listening to some modern voices, you would get the impression that the Word of God is given only for encouragement and enlightenment. Some teach that if believers will simply be enlightened as to who they are in Christ, then everything else in their life will automatically fall in line. If that were the case, then Paul would have said that Scripture was simply for enlightenment, but he did not say that.

After articulating those four purposes of Scripture (doctrine, correction, instruction in righteousness, and reproof), Paul said that this was so that, “…the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Apparently, even correction and reproof are good works – they are not negative or bad works.

A Faithful Minister Uses All of God’s Tools

In the next four verses (2 Timothy 4:1-4), Paul proceeds to give Pastor Timothy a very sobering charge.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Did you notice that Paul said Timothy was to convince in his preaching? One Greek commentary says this means to “…rebuke one another with such effectual feeling of the victorious arms of the truth, as to bring one if not always to a confession, yet at least to a conviction of sin.”

I recently heard someone say, “The Holy Spirit will never convict the believer of sin; He will only reveal to us who we are in Christ.” Not only is there no scriptural support for such a statement, but if that were the case, then Paul has just taught Timothy that he was to use the Word of God to do something that the Holy Spirit would refuse to be a part of. The Word and the Spirit agree; the Spirit is the One who inspired the writing of the Word to begin with, and certainly He will stand behind it to confirm it when it is preached. There may be some people with itching ears who want to hear nothing of a corrective nature, but Paul told Timothy that this was one aspect of the purpose of the preached Word.

In Titus 1:9, Paul told Titus that the bishops he was to appoint needed to be men who would hold fast, “…the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” The word convict there means to admonish, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, or reprove. Paul later told Titus to, “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you” (Titus 2:15).

In no way am I implying that our preaching should exclusively be that of attempting to correct everyone and straighten everyone out. Our pulpit ministries should be full of love, encouragement, comfort, and edification. But can we truly say that we preach the whole counsel of God if there is never a component of all of the things Paul said should be involved in the proclaiming of God’s Word? And these include such things as correction, reproof, and rebuke.

What is Scripture for?

• It’s honey, but it’s also a hammer.
• It’s milk, but it’s also a sword.
• It’s rain, but it’s also fire.
• It’s meat, but it’s also a mirror.

Let’s embrace what Jesus said and live by “…every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). That includes the words that feed us and tell us who we are in Christ, and also the words that correct us and help us to live the way God desires.

What God is Not
Learning Through the Process of Elimination
Rev. Tony Cooke

The article below is adapted from the audio CD series, “The Wonderful Nature of God.  To learn more about that series or to order it, please click here.

As much as we’d all like to be omniscient and get it 100% right the first time, every time, most of us on occasion learn through some trial-and-error, through the process of elimination.  Even some of the great leaders of the Bible learned this way:

• When Samuel went to anoint the new king, he thought Eliab was the one (1 Samuel 16).  Actually, Samuel looked at seven of Jesse’s sons, but none of them were the right one.  When Samuel finally saw David, God said, “This is the one.”
• David had it on his heart to build a temple for God, but God told him he would not be the one to do it, but that his son would (2 Chronicles 6:7-9)
• Elijah saw great manifestations on Mt. Horeb, but he recognized that God wasn’t in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire.  It was after he realized what God was not in that he perceived God in the still, small voice.
• Paul had certain ministry destinations in mind (Acts 16:6-7), and he attempted to go in those directions.  Scripture says, though, that the Spirit did not permit him to go to those places.  Paul obeyed, though, and then received direction concerning where he was supposed to go.

In each of these cases, they found out what the will of God wasn’t before they found out what it was.  One of the great skills (or graces) in life is the ability to trust, but these kinds of situations also require that we have the ability to adjust.  We must have the humility to admit that we may have missed it, even if our intentions and motives were right.

WHAT GOD IS NOT

When it comes to knowing God and perceiving Him correctly, many of us had wrong ideas about God.  Even today, we have to acknowledge that in some areas we “see through a glass darkly.”  When we see the truth of the Word about God’s character and nature, we have to decide whether we will hold on to an old tradition, or if we will embrace His revealed truth.

In Psalm 50:21, God had a pretty sharp word for some who had misperceptions of Him.  He said, “You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes.”  God has revealed Himself, and he wants us to know Him for who He is.  With the “process of elimination” in mind, let’s look at some of the things God is not… that helps us better understand who He is!

1. God is not equaled.

God has no equal.  He is in a class all by Himself.  It’s sad, but some people see Satan and God still battling it out, wondering who will win.  But Satan has been defeated and is not in God’s league.  Isaiah 44:6, 8 says: “I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.  Is there a God besides Me?  Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

2. God is not changing.

God is the only being in the universe who has no room for improvement, growth, or development.  Malachi 3:6 says that He is the Lord and that He does not change!  He can’t get any better, stronger, more loving, or more kind than He already is.  You can’t do anything to get Him to love you more or less.  The old song says that He gets “sweeter and sweeter as the days go by.”  I appreciate the sentiment, but the reality is that He only seems sweeter and sweeter to us as we get to know Him more.  He was just as sweet before we came to an increased appreciation of His sweetness.

3. God is not a man that He should lie.

God is reliable, trustworthy, and dependable.  Numbers 23:19 says that, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.  Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

4. God is not afraid.

You may have heard about the well-meaning but misguided person who endeavored to prophesy, saying:  My little children, don’t be ascared.  But if you are ascared that’s alright, cause I get ascared Myself sometimes.  Seriously, what would God be afraid of?  The future?  He dwells in eternity, and he knows the end from the beginning.  He can’t be afraid of the unknown.  He knows everything.  He’s not afraid of the dark because He is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  Paul said (2 Timothy 1:7) that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 

5. God is not ashamed.

There are two very powerful verses in Hebrews that let us know that God is not ashamed of us!  In speaking of the sons who are being brought to glory, Hebrews 2:11 says of Jesus, “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.”  Hebrews 11:16 says that “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

6. God is not tired.

We all love the Scriptures about God giving us strength!  Isaiah 40:29 says that, “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”  Verse 31 tells us that, “…those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength.”  Have you wondered, though, why God is able to provide such strength?  Verse 28 reminds us of God’s eternal strength when it says, “The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.”  God can give power and strength because He’s got it.  And no matter how much He gives, He never runs low or gets depleted!  He’s the one who never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4).

7. God is not confused.

The world may be full of confusion, but God is not!  1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us that, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace…”  Thank God for the peace and clarity that comes from Him, enabling us to rise above the chaos and confusion of the world!

8. God is not a respecter of persons.

Numerous Scriptures testify to the fact that God is not a respecter of persons.  God loves you as much as any person that has ever lived!  There is a tendency to think that God loves others more, but He loves you with an everlasting love!  I like what one person wrote:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

God sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

When you want to talk, He’ll listen.

He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

And that Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem?!

Face it friend, He’s crazy about you.

9.  God is not a thief.

Jesus seemed to be very emphatic in differentiating His work from the work of the enemy.  In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  God has been blamed for all kinds of tragedies and heartache, but He is the life-giver, the comforter, the healer, and the restorer. 

10.  God is not stingy.

An amazing number of verses reveal God’s very benevolent nature:

·  Psalms 84:11 – No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

·  Psalms 68:19 – Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!

·  Luke 12:32 – Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

·  Hebrews 11:6 – …he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

·  James 1:5 – If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. (Amplified)

It sure helps us to approach the throne of grace when we know that God’s heart and hands are open toward us.  Augustine even said that “God is more eager to bestow His blessings upon us than we are to receive them.”

There is something transforming about coming to the knowledge of Who God really is… not just “information” about God, but a personal realization of Who He is toward you. 

Warning Signs of Financial Manipulation
Tony Cooke

The Apostle Paul was painfully aware of “so-called” ministers whose motives and methods were driven by greed. He made it a point to differentiate himself from those who were manipulative, and whose shady and unscrupulous practices brought reproach to the things of God. The same man who wrote about “the grace of giving” had to address the “dis-grace” of wolves in sheep’s clothing who preyed upon gullible, impressionable, and naïve saints.

For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God’s Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God. (2 Cor, 2:17, AMP)

The Apostle Peter spoke of false teachers who would cause the way of truth to be blasphemed (2 Peter 2:2), and in the next verse said, “By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words.” The Message Version renders that, “They will say anything that sounds good to exploit you.”

Red Flags Indicating a “Fleecing” is About to Take Place

1. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when the impression is given that as a result of giving in a specific offering, you will receive some special kind of blessing, miracle, or breakthrough that you would not otherwise be entitled to if you were simply giving to your church or supporting some other ministry. Frequently used incentives include things like: all your debts will be supernaturally paid off, you will receive a needed healing, or your children or spouse will get saved… all because you gave money. Again, watch out for the “token disclaimer.” You will probably be told, “Now you can’t buy a miracle, this is a matter of faith!” Nevertheless, the specifically prescribed way you release your faith is by giving money in this particular offering. Decades ago, Gordon Lindsay wrote, “Perhaps the most serious scheme to raise money is one promoted by a certain religious adventurer who promises the people that God has given him the gift to make them wealthy, if only they will give him a good offering. Such assertions approach to the crime of blasphemy.” 1
2. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when “specially anointed” oil or prayer cloths are used in conjunction with offerings. While cloths (Acts 19:11-12) and anointing with oil (James 5:14-15) are definitely mentioned positively in the New Testament, caution must be exercised to ensure that these things don’t become gimmicks to initiate an appeal for funds. In some situations, these are initially offered for free by certain ministries, but strong financial appeals soon follow. Likewise, some have offered “prophecies” for a donation, and in some cases, the first “prophecy” is just a teaser. Guess what you have to do to get the more detailed “prophecy” that will really release God’s blessings in your life? That’s right: send more money. No one is so audacious as to say outright that they are selling the blessings of God, but when all the veneer and spiritual lingo is removed, that is essentially what’s happening.
3. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when any type of ministry diminishes your sense of priesthood. Instead of you having your own relationship with God in which you can exercise faith, use wisdom, and be led by the Spirit yourself, you are dependent on the minister with the “special prosperity anointing” to direct you into receiving your blessing. Legitimate ministry supports and reinforces your sense of priesthood before God; it doesn’t create an unhealthy dependency on some “super minister” who, in essence, becomes your link to God and God’s blessings. First Timothy 2:5 says, “…there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Legitimate ministry cultivates your dependency on God, His Word, and your ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Unhealthy ministry promotes a dependency on some specially anointed minister, who alone can facilitate God’s blessings coming to you (especially when your faith is “activated” and “released” by the financial seed you sow into “God’s servant”). Intimidation may even be used, projecting to the listener that he is being disobedient if he does not participate, or is being “religious” if he questions the supposedly infallible word of God’s anointed servant.
4. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when marvelous testimonies are offered from individuals who experienced extraordinary miracles as a result of giving to a particular ministry. The implication is that if you give, then you will also experience the same kind of results. I’ve noticed on TV commercials for weight loss products that a testimony is often given in which a person shares their story of drastic weight loss via that particular diet plan. At the bottom of the television screen in small letters is typically the phrase, “Results Not Typical.” Perhaps that is a legal requirement for secular advertising, but it would be refreshing to hear a minister acknowledge that most people who give are not going to find an unexpected $75,000 check in the mail or get their house miraculously paid off because they gave in that one “special” offering. It is also unfortunate that some ministries have resorted to brochures and “infomercials” that feature pictures of mansions, swimming pools, luxury sports cars, diamond jewelry, gold bars, and huge stacks of cash. Such tasteless promotions (in the name of the Lord) shamelessly appeal to greed and remind me of Paul’s warning to Timothy regarding, “…men who are corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness or righteousness is a source of profit [a moneymaking business, a means of livelihood]. From such withdraw” (1 Timothy 6:5, Amplified).
5. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when the minister suggests a donation amount based on a particular Bible verse or through the use of numerology. For example, after preaching on Isaiah 55:11, a minister suggests that if the listener needs a miracle, he should give an offering of $55.11. It’s interesting that ministers who use this technique are far more likely to preach from Psalm 107:20 than they are from Psalm 1:1. After all, an offering of $107.20 is much better than an offering of $1.01. Offerings based on some numerological interpretation of the Bible are almost always the result of human manipulation, not divine inspiration. I would have no problem if, for instance, on a church’s 50th Anniversary, the leadership of the church suggested that everyone prayerfully consider giving an extra $5, $50, or $500 to do what they can toward some special project. However this should only be a suggestion. It becomes problematic when the “highly anointed minister” plays “the Lord told me” card, and authoritatively proclaims that everyone who gives $500 or $5,000 is going to receive some type of blessing that can only be accessed by giving this particular divinely decreed amount. That’s when it becomes manipulative and coercive. Always beware of anyone who endeavors to prophesy money out of your pocket – and into theirs!
6. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when dates of certain Jewish feasts or other Old Testament events are used to promote special offerings in the New Testament era. Since most of us are New Testament believers from non-Jewish backgrounds, these days are not to govern our walk with God (Galatians 4:9-11; Colossians 2:16-17). In writing to a congregation of mixed background (Jewish and Gentile), Paul indicated that there should be tolerance and respect when it comes to background issues and personal convictions (Romans 14:1-9), but there is no New Testament basis for proclaiming that God will especially bless “Old Testament-based” offerings in the Church age.
7. IT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG when a message is peppered with not-so-subtle hints about how God has blessed people who have given to the minister or his ministry. Those types of hints (to borrow the terminology of fundraisers) are called “greasing the chute.” In other words, it is psychologically conditioning the people to give. It should also be of concern when excessive time is spent by ministers talking about all the wealth and material blessings that they have received. Ministers are called to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), not to parade their possessions. Paul said that love, “…is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily” (1 Corinthians 13:4, AMP). Paul also said, “…our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you.” (2 Corinthians 4:5, Message). God never ordained that ministers have a “rock star” or “celebrity” mentality; we are called to be servants. We are certainly not called to manipulate people for our own personal gain or benefit.

Staying With God’s Plan

We need to stay strongly committed to the word of God and remain positively focused. I am unashamedly in favor of tithing, giving, and biblical prosperity. If every believer in the Body of Christ would simply tithe to their local church (give 10% of their income) and give offerings as the Lord leads them, the work of God would be wonderfully supplied and progress in tremendous ways.

The Bible teaches us that there are blessings associated with giving, and that God “…has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant” (Psalm 35:27). Churches, missionaries, and ministries need finances to operate and to fulfill the Great Commission. The Body of Christ must be strong, and see through the clutter and distractions of human imperfections as we walk out God’s original purpose for our lives! The fact that some have operated in questionable or inappropriate methods should never keep us from believing His Word and doing the right thing.

How Should Believers Give?

1. Believers are to give PERSONALLY. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul described the great generosity of the Macedonians, and he said (verse 5), “…they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” Giving wasn’t just a religious ritual, but it was a reflection of a life totally given to God.
2. Believers are to give SYSTEMATICALLY. Paul said (1 Corinthians 16:2), “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside…”Systematic and regular giving produces stability in churches and promotes maturity and responsibility in believers.
3. Believers are to give PROPORTIONATELY. If you read more of 1 Corinthians 16:2, it says, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper…” Giving was to be in proportion to how much the people had prospered.
4. Believers are to give GENEROUSLY. Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” Keep in mind that this doesn’t just apply to money. We can also be generous with our time, our talents, our encouragement of others, etc.
5. Believers are to give WILLINGLY. In Exodus 35:5, Moses said, “Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD…”
6. Believers are to give PURPOSEFULLY. One of my favorite verses on giving has always been 2 Corinthians 9:7, which says, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart…” Giving should be deliberate and intentional, not because of pressure, hype, or manipulation.
7. Believers are to give CHEERFULLY. The last part of 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “…for God loves a cheerful giver.” The word cheerful here is the Greek word hilaros, from which we get our English word hilarious. Giving truly should be a joy!
8. Believers are to give RESPONSIBLY. There is a principle of responsibility when it comes to finances. We need to be responsible not only with the 10%, but also with the 90%. We are to be responsible to tithe to our local church and we are responsible to see to it that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is carried out.
9. Believers are to give EXPECTANTLY. Many Scriptures (e.g., Ecclesiastes 11:1-3, Luke 6:38, etc.) address the blessing connected with giving, and we should give with a heart of expectancy.
10. Believers are to give WORSHIPFULLY. True giving is far more than a financial transaction; it is an act of worship unto God. In Deuteronomy 26:10-11, God’s people were instructed (regarding their giving), “Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house…”

1 Lindsay, Gordon, God’s 20th Century Barnabas, (Dallas: Christ for the Nations, Reprint 1982), 276. The Leader’s Attitude Toward Money

Treasure that is New – Treasure that is Old
Tony Cooke

I was in a church recently, and during the worship service the congregation sang some of the newer worship choruses. Then, there was a seamless transition into one of the beautiful old hymns of the church. It was a powerful and moving time of worship, and I appreciated the richness of both the new and the old—both were Christ-exalting, and His Presence was readily sensed in both.

While flying to the meeting the day before, I’d spent a couple of hours studying a verse in Matthew 13:52, where Jesus said, “…every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The Wuest and the Amplified versions bring out some great shades of meaning in this verse:

· “…he dispenses with hearty enjoyment out of his treasure-house, things new as to quality and also things mellowed with age by reason of use.”

· “…a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].”

Jesus was commending those who were able to bridge the gap between their intense training in the traditions of the Old Testament with the freshness of New Testament discipleship. Jesus definitely “rocked their world” with His approach, and those scribes who were not open to a new perspective would have resented the reactions people had to Him. Matthew 7:28-29 says, “…the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

People, by nature, often tend to be “either-or” oriented. Many are inclined to embrace the old and reject the new, or to appreciate the new and discard the old. It can be a challenge to recognize value in both the old and the new, to see them as complementary, not as contradictory, and then to integrate them skillfully. I love that phraseology in the Amplified, “treasure that is new and treasure that is old, the fresh as well as the familiar.” If we really take to heart what Jesus said, it will make us more of a “both-and” type of person.

Someone wisely said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” One of the traits of successful people is that they are life-long learners. Wise, seasoned, and mature people are grounded in essential truths, but they are also open-minded and eager to learn—they don’t become complacent in thinking they know it all. What are some areas where we need to embrace the new and the old?

1. Theologically

I am not saying that we need to embrace some supposed new revelation which is contrary to Scripture, or for which there is no scriptural support. But as Jesus indicated, there is treasure in both the Old and the New Testaments. I once heard someone dismiss a statement from Proverbs by saying, “That’s not really important today because that’s Old Testament.” The passage under discussion, though, was not some part of the Law that was superseded at Calvary; it reflected the eternal wisdom of God. It was a timeless truth that transcended all covenants.

Paul acknowledged the enduring value of the Old Testament when he said, “…whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4) and, “…all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:11). There is treasure in the old as well as in the new!  It’s not either-or, it’s both-and!

2. Methodologically

We’ve seen an explosion of technology and new methods in recent years, both in secular society and in churches. Some can lose their bearings with the advent of new things. Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400), considered the greatest English poet before Shakespeare, said: “By nature, men love newfangledness.” This fascination with the “new” was seen clearly in Athens (Acts 17:21) where “…all the Athenians… spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.”

Those who lean toward defending tradition can rightly cite the significance of holding on to core values, maintaining timeless principles, and not jumping on every new fad that comes along. They can stand on such Scriptures as Proverbs 22:28, which says, “Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set,” and Proverbs 24:21 which states, “My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change.” However, those who favor progress can quote Psalms 55:19: “Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God.” 

As important as fundamental and unchanging truths are, there are times to change strategies and methodologies. In the 1800’s, the British army faced, for the first time, a crude but effective version of the machine gun. At that time, British soldiers fought in brightly colored uniforms and stood in long, straight lines. In their initial confrontation with the machine gun, 500 British soldiers were killed or seriously injured in minutes. What was the response of the commanding British officer? “Send me 500 more men!”[i]  This reminds me a bit of what Albert Einstein said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

If we don’t embrace new strategies, approaches, methods, and expressions when they are appropriate, we may find ourselves stuck in the past and diminishing in effectiveness.  One individual said, “Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little worlds.” Again, we need see treasure that is new and treasure that is old. It’s not either-or, it’s both-and!

3. Relationally

I remember the words to a short, little song I learned when I was young: “Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other’s gold.”

Relationally, we need to work hard to maintain old relationships and to build new ones as well. There is great value in both! I’m not saying that we should look at relationships merely in a utilitarian way (i.e., what we can get out of them), but the truth is that God uses our friendships and associations to impart important things into our lives and to elevate us to new levels.

Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Whose shoulders are you standing on that are enabling you to see further? Of course, we can think of many great patriarchs and spiritual fathers who have inspired us (and we should honor and draw all we can from them), but what about also learning from younger people?

I remember hearing about the CEO of a large corporation who made it mandatory for all of his senior level executives to spend a certain amount of time each week with some of the young men in the company—not for the older men to mentor the younger men, but for the younger men to teach the older men about all the new technology that was transforming society and the corporate world.

May God give us the wisdom to find new treasures as well as old—the fresh and the familiar—when it comes to our lives and ministry. Remember, it’s not either-or, it’s both-and.

[i] This story is from “Strategies for Fast Changing Times,” by Nate Booth (Prima Publishing, 1997)

Application: The Key to Transformational Communication
by Tony Cooke

At one time, there were two great orators in ancient Greece: Cicero and Demosthenes. It is said that when Cicero finished a speech, people would say, “He speaks so well.” However, when Demosthenes had concluded an oration, the people would say, “Let us march!”

One of these men spoke beautifully and listeners were impressed with his oratorical skills. The other moved men to take action.

When we deliver biblical truths, are we simply sharing content (information), or are we helping people take action, enabling them to make wise application of the communicated truths? When we listen to or read Scripture, are we merely gathering facts, or are we looking for wisdom and direction on how to act?

Perhaps this distinction is why Booker T. Washington said, “An ounce of application is worth a ton of abstraction.” Winston Churchill expressed the significance of application when he said, "It is always more easy to discover and proclaim general principles than it is to apply them." More recently, it has been noted that the most important part of “doctrine” are the first two letters: “do.”

In his outstanding book (The Seven Laws of the Learner), Bruce Wilkinson devotes an entire chapter to “The Law of Application.” In it, he states: “…a biblical mindset for the Christian teacher is to teach not merely the content but the application of that content. Content relates to fact, information, and material. Application relates to wisdom, transformation, and maturity. Content is the ‘what’ and application is the ‘so what.’ Content is typically what is discussed during class and application is primarily what is done as a result of class. Content centers around ‘knowing’ and application around ‘being’ and ‘doing.’”

If we are to excel as biblical communicators, we need to be mindful of how people might be inclined to apply what we say. We can’t simply adopt the attitude, “My only responsibility is to deliver the information; then it’s up to the audience to decide how to apply it.” Great communicators speak with a view toward application.

For example, the first three chapters of Ephesians is predominantly all content, theological information, or “positional truth” as some have called it. In Ephesians 1-3 we find such truths as:

• We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.
• He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.
• He made us accepted in the Beloved.
• In Him, we have redemption through His blood.
• In Him, we have obtained an inheritance.
• We have been made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
• We were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, etc.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. In the next three chapters (Ephesians 4-6), we find out how we are to live in the light of the truths he just presented. Believers are to:

• Walk worthy of their calling.
• Maintain unity amongst themselves.
• Quit lying.
• Quit stealing.
• Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.
• Walk in love.
• Not let fornication, uncleanness, or covetous be named among them.
• Be properly related to one another (husband-wife, parent-child, employer-employee), etc.

In his introduction to the book of Ephesians in the Message Bible, Eugene Peterson eloquently writes, “What we know about God and what we do for God have a way of being broken apart in our lives. The moment the organic unity of belief and behavior is damaged in any way, we are incapable of living out the full humanity for which we were created. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians joins together what has been torn apart in our sin-wrecked world. He begins with an exuberant exploration of what Christians believe about God, and then, like a surgeon skillfully setting a compound fracture, ‘sets’ this belief in God into our behavior before God so that the bones – belief and behavior – knit together and heal.”

Responsible biblical ministry not only communicates the spiritual truths of who we are and what we have in Christ, but also provides guidance and direction as to healthy and appropriate application of those truths. It would be wrong to tell people, “If you quit lying and stealing, God will love you.” But it’s not wrong to tell people, “Because God has accepted you through His mercy and His unconditional love, there are ways to appropriately express your relationship with Him, and these include not lying, not stealing, not fornicating, etc.” That’s what Paul did. He covered both sides of the issue: content and application (or as Peterson described it, belief and behavior).

On occasion, Paul recognized that the information (content) he shared was being misapplied. Paul did not take the attitude, “Oh well, I put the truth out there. If people are misapplying it, that’s their problem.” No, Paul went to great lengths to make sure that people not only understood the content, but that they were applying it correctly.

Three specific examples come to mind:

1. Paul had communicated with believers in Thessalonica about the return of Jesus. Some of those disciples not only believed Paul’s statements, but, because they thought Jesus’ coming would be immediate, actually quit their jobs and became busy-bodies. In a follow-up letter, Paul maintained the belief that Jesus would return, but promoted appropriate behavior (application) relative to that belief. He told them that if people were unwilling to work, they should not eat, and commanded them to “work in quietness and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 12).
2. Paul had addressed the Corinthians about avoiding immoral associations, but some of the people apparently were taking his statements too far and were completely disassociating from all of society. In 1 Corinthians 5:10-11, he clarified what he meant and what he did not mean: “Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not to even eat with such a person.”
3. Paul taught extensively that salvation is a gift based on God’s grace, and that God’s acceptance is not based on our works or our perfection. He taught that no matter how great our sin is, that God’s grace is greater. Some individuals twisted Paul’s teaching to mean that how they lived was of no consequence, and that we can even increase God’s grace in our lives by sinning more! Paul was aghast and angry that people would make such a perverted application of his teaching, and he set the record straight.In Romans 3:8 (NLT), he said, “And some people even slander us by claiming that we say,‘The more we sin, the better it is!’ Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.” In Romans 6:1-2, he picks up the same line of clarification and defense when he says: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

These examples all illustrate that it wasn’t just content that was important to Paul; how people applied truth was equally crucial. When we read Scripture or listen to messages, we need to be diligent to seek healthy and appropriate application of what we hear. In other words, we need to ask what we should do with this information that would be right and pleasing to God.

When we speak, we need to be diligent to not just give people information, but give examples and illustrations of what the principles will look like when they are properly acted upon. Remember, it’s the doer, not the hearer, who will be blessed (James 1:25).

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