Insights Magazine: Number Seven, 2018

NUMBER SEVEN, 2018

A MIGHTY FORTRESS: YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW charles r. swindoll

ABOVE ALL EARTHLY POWERS: VISION 195 SPOTLIGHT ON RUSSIA

JUSTICE steve johnson + more

In this issue 3

A Mighty Fortress: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

6

Above All Earthly Powers: Vision 195 Spotlight on Russia

8

Every Promise in the Book Isn’t Mine

11

My Modern-Day Stress Addiction

charles r. swindoll

Insight For Living Ministries steve johnson

Annalisa Patenaude

Coming to Terms 12 Justice

steve johnson

Beyond the Broadcast 15 Stop Worrying and Start Trusting

Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 35 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ.

Copyright Š 2018 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved.

No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration

by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.

A MIGHTY FORTRESS YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW by charles r. swindoll

Cover and artilce Images: Linus Sandvide on Unsplash

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ecently, I led a tour through the our helper he amid the flood ancient city of Jerusalem. Early one of moral ills prevailing.¹ morning, I looked out across the What a passionate clarion call to skyline and read Psalm 46. You may know commitment! No matter how you the first verse by heart: translate those words, they smell of blood God is our refuge and strength, always and battle. They drip with discipline. You ready to help in times of trouble. can almost hear the report of guns and the I thought of how God had shown Himself clashing of swords. It is indeed the battle strong in the very place I had come to visit, hymn of the Reformation. protecting His people through centuries of Luther lived over 500 years ago, back in endless wars. The setting gave the psalm the 16th century—a dark age of superstitions, new meaning. immorality, and spiriRather than lamenting Perhaps when they tual exploitation. In our culture’s failure to penned Psalm 46 the 21st century there’s the descendants of acknowledge our great and just as much reason Korah had endured to sound that battle powerful God, let’s turn our hymn, yet another gruelling for despite full attention to Him who is all our advances, our battle. To remember enthroned above us, who God’s greatness, they times are still awfully opened by declaring dark.

Those powerful reigns over us, because He Him their “refuge words shine in the alone is our shalom, shalom. spiritual darkness of and strength.” They closed with the climax of their praise: our lives today, just as they shone in Luther’s The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here day. God was and is and always will be the among us; the God of Israel is our mighty fortress we need. fortress. (Psalm 46:11) The benefits of embracing that truth are What was true for Korah’s descendants is palpable. Psalm 46 names three: true for us. God is our refuge and strength, • Because He is our fortress, we will not fear our help. God is our fortress.

• Because He is our fortress, we will not The maverick monk Martin Luther from be moved the village of Wittenberg pondered those • Because He is our fortress, we will not truths as he translated the original Hebrew strive or be anxious into the German vernacular, “Ein Feste Burg Because God is our refuge and strength, Ist Unser Gott.” In our language, Luther’s nothing disturbs our peace. I’m talking translation became a hymn nearly every about the kind of peace Isaiah described: believer knows, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our You will keep in perfect peace all who God.” The first verse of that grand theme trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed rings with triumphant confidence: on you! (Isaiah 26:3) A mighty fortress is our God, Literally, the prophet wrote, “He will a bulwark never failing; keep him in shalom, shalom.” That idiom

of duplication, in the Hebrew tongue, expresses the superlative. “Shalom, shalom” amounts to “total peace,” “absolute peace,” “perfect peace.” Such peace doesn’t depend on others acknowledging God—and that’s a very good thing.

This spring, the prestigious National Geographic Society put on a 10-part television series called One Strange Rock. It’s all about our planet, how everything began, and what makes life possible here. The program and accompanying articles are well-researched, carefully written, and beautifully produced by sincere, scholarly, top-notch scientists. Yet there isn’t even a throw away hint mentioning our Creator God. Of course not. The Creator doesn’t fit the reasoning of the sophisticated. They have no place for Him. But His existence and careful shaping of this marvellous rock we call home is clearly revealed in Scripture: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

Rather than lamenting our culture’s failure to acknowledge our great and powerful God, let’s turn our full attention to Him

who is enthroned above us, who reigns over us, because He alone is our shalom, shalom. He alone is the Creator—the God of heaven and earth who brings the snow to the ground, calls lightning from the sky, and mixes our atmosphere with the perfect elements to sustain life. He IS, whether anyone acknowledges Him or not.

That same God poured steel into Martin Luther’s soul as he hammered his 95 Theses on the door of that Wittenberg church. And that same God who marched before Luther marches before us as we pursue His Great Commission. He alone can give light to the shadows of our dark age. He alone can relieve our fears and mingle His peace with our pain. He alone knows the earth and all its inhabitants and His plan for every one.

He alone is our mighty fortress.

Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

1. Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” (1526).

Finding and Following God’s Will BOOKLET

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ABOVE ALL EARTHLY POWERS VISION 195 SPOTLIGHT ON RUSSIA

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magine not being able to invite some- and the members of the church he also one to church at the grocery store...or pastors, Golgotha Baptist.

These laws, reminiscent to those pray at a restaurant…or even lead a enforced by Stalin, have been introduced Bible study in your own home.

This has been reality for protestant “to combat terrorism.” They aren’t Christians in Russia since July 2016, intended to single out protestants, but when the government began enforcing only the Russian Orthodox church now amendments to their religion legislation, has legal authority to evangelize within restricting unauthorized missionary Russia. Religion, it seems according to activity in all nonreligious settings. In the government, should be about one’s other words, protestants in Russia can identity as a Russian more than one’s now only speak of their faith on their membership in Christ’s kingdom.¹ To spread the Gospel within the church grounds. This includes Insight for Living Russia’s pastor, Peter Mitskevich, bounds of the law, Christians must be

creative. Peter’s son Paul Mitskevich has imprisonments for proclaiming his faith. worked with his father at Golgotha and He and his family were labelled enemies currently is a student at Dallas Theological of the U.S.S.R. and driven out of Moscow Seminary in the States. He plans to return into Siberia, where they endured extreme to Golgotha after graduation. Speaking of poverty, bitter cold, and ransacking visits ways they get unbelievers onto the church from the KGB until Arthur was arrested for grounds, Paul says Golgotha has offered the third and last time.

No pressure or free classical music No pressure or consequence could stop concerts by professional musicians. (Often, it’s consequence could stop Arthur from sharing the Gospel. He was a standing room only!)

Arthur from sharing the member of Christ’s When the weather is good, they hold Sunday Gospel. He was a member kingdom first! That bold, of Christ’s kingdom first! relentless faith spurs services outside on on Peter as he leads their property, next to a beautiful park. They also offer classes the IFL Russia team, the congregation to those who want to learn English. By at Golgotha, and the student body at law, whatever they do must be a spiritual Moscow Theological Seminary—a school activity, so they select music by Bach housed in one of the camps that once for the concerts and use Bible studies as held prisoner believers like Arthur! That same faith courses through Peter’s sons, curriculum for the classes.

Last year, a Ukrainian woman attended Tim—who works at our international one of those English classes. One evening, headquarters—and Paul—who plans to Paul taught what it means to be “born partner with us this summer to work on a again.” He asked, “Does anyone have any new Russian website. The government has questions?” The Ukrainian woman raised yet to place restrictions on the Internet, so her hand. “I do,” she said, “but I don’t the web is the perfect way for us to reach want to ask.” After class, just the two of Russian-speakers throughout Russia…and them remained. Paul asked the woman a around the world.

As the Mitskeviches march forward in series of questions, growing concerned as she responded with silence and sombre Vision 195 with Insight for Living Miniseyes. Finally, led by the Spirit, Paul asked, tries, their commitment inspires us to press “Do you want to pray to receive Jesus as on regardless of what earthly powers may your Lord and Saviour today?” She burst come against us and sing with them that into tears, “Yes! I didn’t have the strength famous battle hymn: “God’s truth abideth to ask for it!” As Paul prayed with her, the still, His kingdom is forever.”² Spirit brightened her face with the joy and hope only God can give.

1. Kate Shellnut, “Russia’s Newest Law: No Evangelizing Stories like these continue in Russia as Outside of Church,” Christianity Today, July 08, 2016, https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2016/ God draws many to His Son—despite the june/no-evangelizing-outside-of-church-russiastrongest legal limitations Christians have proposes.html (accessed May 29, 2018). endured since the days of the country’s civil war and World War II. In those times, Peter’s 2. Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” grandfather, Arthur, suffered multiple (1526).

by steve johnson

Image: Tori Nikkel

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In Genesis 21:1–2 God fulfils His promlthough many years have passed, my experience of an elderly ise to Abraham. The recurring thought is, woman in deep anguish pouring “as he had said…what he had promised… her heart out to me is still very real. Mrs. at the very time God had promised him” Reid (name changed) was distraught. She (NIV). God gave His promise, His Word. said, “God promised, ‘Train up a child in The basis on which we can go and receive the way he should go: and when he is old, things from God is His Word. God said it, is he will not depart from it’” (Proverbs 22:6 truthful, and He doesn’t change. He is obliKJV). Her question to me regarding her gated by His nature to be true to His Word ungodly son was, “Why didn’t God keep and promises. God’s Word is the basis for claiming His promises.

His promise?”

The fact is, that verse We can only claim and It is sad that a simple is not a promise, it’s have assurance God will misunderstanding fulfil what He has said in caused this woman so a proverb—a general His Word He will do. That much grief. The fact is, observation about life. means we cannot claim a that verse is not a promise, it’s a proverb—a general observation promise if God didn’t make it.

There are two practical outgrowths of about life. To “train up a child in the way he should go” refers to bringing up a child this. First, learn to distinguish between according to their natural bents, inter- statements of fact and promises by recogests, and inclinations. It is not meant as nizing that promises use the future tense. a guarantee that if you expose children Matthew 18:20 is a statement of fact: "For to the Gospel they will embrace it and where two or three gather together as my never turn away from it. In the hope of followers, I am there among them.” First avoiding more unwarranted heartache in Samuel 2:30 is a promise, “…I will honor others’ lives, I share a few important facts those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” to consider when reading God’s Word.

An unconditional promise will be Second, determine the type of promise. There are four types: personal, uni- fulfilled regardless of what man does: versal, conditional, and unconditional. "Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you Personal promises are given strictly to standing here staring into heaven? Jesus certain Bible characters or people. Here has been taken from you into heaven, but is a promise made to Israel, not us, "Bring someday he will return from heaven in all the tithes into the storehouse so there the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:11).

The types of promises also come in variwill be enough food in my Temple. If you do…I will pour out a blessing so great you ous combinations. For example, John 3:16 won’t have enough room to take it in!” referred to above is a universal promise but it is also conditional. The promise of (Malachi 3:10).

Universal promises such as John 3:16 are salvation is given to all conditioned on for everyone. “For this is how God loved faith—“everyone who believes.”

As a child I learned to sing, “Every the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will promise in the book is mine.” It wasn’t until many years later I learned it wasn’t not perish but have eternal life.”

Conditional promises remain unful- true. I wish now someone had explained filled unless man keeps his part, “But if we that to me earlier. And to Mrs. Reid. confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada. from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9).

Our national office is located in Abbotsford, BC but our program airs across the country.

To find a station near you visit insightforliving.ca/find-station

by annalisa patenaude

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One day I asked a good friend to pray for few years ago, I found myself suddenly unemployed. I reacted to me. She prayed I would fully trust in Him and being laid off the way I usually do submit to His plan for my life. Her prayer was in situations out of my control. My heart yet another reminder of God’s control over beat out of my chest and my mind raced my situation. It was then I confronted my with thoughts like, “I’m not ready for this!” tendency to worry about so many areas of my and “What if I don’t find something else?” life. I realized when I carry stress and worry, I Without hesitation, I prayed for God to take am not fully trusting in God’s capable hands.

In his message God’s Peace in Philippians 4, control and to be my great Provider as He Chuck Swindoll says we all too often approve had always been.

In the seemingly endless weeks following, of and overlook our anxieties, accepting the state of bondage our I sent out hundreds It was then I confronted my worry has us in. We of resumes but to no even have reservoirs avail. Despite knowtendency to worry about so ing in my heart God many areas of my life. I realized of worry. But Jesus calls us to lay down is sovereign, I battled with stress every day. when I carry stress and worry, I our burdens at the am not fully trusting in God’s cross, our anxieties Not hearing back from and our worry. He potential employers capable hands. died to bring us felt unbearable and I peace and freedom, knowing we have the was consumed with helplessness and worry.

During this time the Bible was a great promise of everlasting life.

I can say with confidence there was a source of comfort. As I read through the book of Psalms, I was challenged by the purpose for my unemployment. From this many stories of hardship where God showed experience I learned an important goal: To His love and faithfulness. In Psalm 13, David rest in the freedom I have as a believer, not laments of his sufferings, in distress over his accepting a state of stress and worry. He is situation. Although he is experiencing great always in control. pain he chooses to be thankful and lay down his burdens, trusting in His heavenly Father.

He says, “But I trust in your unfailing love. Annalisa Patenaude is the Living Bridge Media I will rejoice because you have rescued me” Assistant at Insight for Living Canada (Psalm 13:5).

JUSTICE

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Justice is rooted in the character of God Justice is to be applied to all areas of life God’s Justice is still seen in the moral law

By Steve Johnson

Photo by Nic Amaya on Unsplash

Terms in the Bible are specialized words of particular significance. In Coming to Terms we explore the significance of these terms to deepen our understanding of biblical truth through a question and answer format.

Unpacking the term

things but for now we live in parentheses The original Hebrew and Greek words between creation and the restoration of translated “justice” are also rendered all things (Revelation 21).

Because God is just and righteous, what “righteousness.” Our English word “justice” comes from the Latin jus meaning right does He still require even though people or law. The two words convey the related are sinful? “…to do what is right, to love ideas of doing what is right and giving to mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). God established laws each one what is rightfully due them.

Where does understanding justice and their application on how to be right begin? The term “justice” begins with before Him and how to treat others justly.

God. Justice is rooted in the character “For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robof God and is not an outside principle to bery and wrongdoing” (Isaiah 61:8).

Justice is to be applied to all areas of life which He must conform. “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does including business, where just weights is just and fair. He is a faithful God who and measures are demanded. “The does no wrong; how just and upright he LORD demands accurate scales and balis!” (Deuteronomy 32:4). “For there is no ances; he sets the standards for fairness” other God but me, a righteous God and (Proverbs 16:11). It is demanded in courts where the rights of rich and poor, Israelite Savior” (Isaiah 45:21).

When God created everything there and sojourner, are equally to be regarded was perfect justice and righteousness. (Ezekiel 45:9–10).

The exercise of justice also requires But sin entered the world (Genesis 3).

Now we live in a fallen world where injus- that God establish governmental authoritice prevails. God promised to restore all ties in the world with power to achieve

justice by establishing rights and interpreting and administering laws (Romans 13:1–7). This is why Christians are commanded to submit to them. “Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers” (Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–14).

Doesn’t justice require someone to make judgments? Yes, God’s nature compels Him to judge based on His laws and then to give to each one that which is due them. He rewards good with good and evil with evil (Matthew 16:27; Revelation 20:12).

God alone is capable of judging rightly because He is everywhere, knows everything including men’s motives and thoughts. And only God is all-powerful and able to carry out His judgments.

While we live in the parenthesis of this sinful world everyone is not going to get what they really have coming to them. For the believer who trusts in a just God, the question is not whether there will be justice, but when. God promises to right all the wrongs in the end (Matthew 16:27).

Before the restoration of all things, at The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20), God will take all the deeds of all people and He will give to each one what is due. The righteous will be rewarded and the unrighteous punished. And then the parenthesis ends in Revelation 21 and we are back into a perfect righteous environment again.

In the meantime, how can we, in this unjust world, trust that God is just? God’s justice is still seen in the moral law that is written on men’s hearts expressed in a

sense of right and wrong (Romans 1:18–20).

The supreme display of God’s justice is the cross: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness” (Romans 3:25 NIV).

Jesus took on the punishment for our unrighteousness so that we could be declared righteous. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).

What should we do about the justice of God? • Embrace Jesus today as your Saviour, rather than meet Him as your righteous Judge later. Do not succumb to selfrighteousness believing that you are just and right with God apart from Jesus • Refuse to take revenge when treated unjustly. Remember that God will judge perfectly (Romans 12:19) • When you experience injustice find comfort knowing God will balance the scales either in this life or the next (Psalm 73) • Seek justice in our world especially for the poor and marginalized (Isaiah 1:17) • Meditate on the reality of the Judgment and the promise of heavenly rewards.

Make changes now so that it will be better later (1 Corinthians 3:12–15)

Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.

Stop Worrying and Start Trusting

“Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of strength1” - CORRIE TEN BOOM Worry. The nagging sense that your world is spinning out of control. Feeling hopeless and powerless to overcome.

Oppressed by circumstances, addicted to anxiety, and running on empty.

Our world is filled with addictions.

Unfortunately, they are not limited to those outside the family of God. Many within the church struggle with the nagging, relentless habit of worry that defies quick and easy solutions. We seek help and share our worry addiction with a few close friends, hoping that bringing it into the light will help us break free, but that doesn’t happen.

There are rare occasions when we find a measure of relief, but it isn’t long before the battle returns, leaving us discouraged and defeated. Curiously, this most common addiction is not labelled as one. Thanks to our creative ability to rationalize our way around it, we pass worry off as a natural consequence to living life at breakneck speed. But the truth is that worrying is antithetical to trusting in God. It’s time we stopped our habit of worrying and replaced it with the God-given solution: trusting.

Philippians 4:4-9 has a lot to say about worry. As Paul sat down to write Philippians—a letter overflowing with joy, freedom, and contentment—he lived under house arrest in Rome as he awaited trial before Caesar (Acts 28:16, 30). He celebrated his house imprisonment because it allowed him to present the Gospel to the elite soldiers of the Praetorian Guard and to encourage others to preach the Gospel with boldness (Philippians 1:7, 12-14). In Christ, Paul found limitless joy and freedom that confinement could not supress. In his letter, he wanted to share his joy with the Philippians and, as a part of God’s inspired Word, with us today.

In Chuck Swindoll’s sermon, he summarized Paul’s message in Philippians 4:4-9 with four phrases: rejoice in the Lord every day; release your burden every day; relax in God’s peace every day; and respond by focusing on the right things.

Faith in Christ should bring freedom from worry.

“Stop Worrying and Start Trusting” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Things to Stop and Start. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.

1 Corrie ten Boom, Quotable Quotations, compiled by Lloyd Cory (Wheaton, Ill.: Scripture Press, Victor Books, 1985), 446 – 47.

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