NUMBER SEVEN, 2020
In this issue 3
The Why, Where, and How of Worship
6
Songless Saints
charles r. swindoll charles r. swindoll
8 Law
steve johnson
11 Music’s Effective Ministry
charles r. swindoll
Bumper Sticker Theology 12 Do Your Best, Trust God with the Rest
steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 14 Worship: Let It Shine! Let It Shine!
Puzzle 15 Musical Instruments Contest entries are limited to one per household, per puzzle. Open only to legal residents of Canada who are of legal age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they reside, and at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. Not open to Quebec residents. Not open to Insight for Living Canada staff or their immediate family. Mathematical skill testing question to be answered correctly to win. No purchase necessary. Puzzle solutions will be posted at insightforliving.ca/puzzle at a later date. 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 40 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright Š 2020 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.
ome things just don’t mix! Oil and abbreviated word for “Yahweh.” Together water always separate, no matter how they form the word hallelujah, a command much we shake them. An open fire and a for us to “Praise the LORD!” Take a look at this. can of gasoline don’t go together. And alco- Psalm 150:1–2 emphasizes over and over, hol and driving should never co-exist! Praise the LORD! There’s something else that doesn’t Praise God in His sanctuary; mix—the praise of almighty God and the Praise Him in His mighty expanse. promotion of self. You cannot blend them, Praise Him for His mighty deeds; nor should you try. If we devote ourselves Praise Him according to His excellent to worship, we must remove ourselves from greatness. (NASB) the scene. Psalm 150 teaches about the selfThe next few verses continue to repeat, forgetfulness of worship. “Praise Him...Praise Him...Praise the LORD!” The psalm begins and ends with the Humans are conspicuous by our absence, Hebrew word for “praise”: hallel. Yah is an and we should be. In our ego-centric,
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self-serving culture, Psalm 150 reminds us And in verse 3, we find the “how” of that self-centredness has no place in the praise. Praise Him with instruments—or same breath as God-centred worship. with whatever we have. Over and over And where does praise begin? In heaven. again, this psalm leads us toward a lifestyle Look again at verse 1: of praise. The psalmist pictures worship as Praise the LORD! a symphony with each instrument playing Praise God in His sanctuary. (Psalm 150:1) its unique part and joining in harmony to Actually, sanctuary isn’t in the original lift up God’s glorious character. text. The word used here means “holy Look at the instruments named. place.” Some theologians believe that the Praise Him with trumpet sound; sanctuary mentioned in this verse actuPraise Him with harp and lyre. (150:3) ally refers to heaven. There is no place David played his harp in Saul’s presmore hallowed than ence, and it lifted the heaven—the throne Praise God! Remember: king’s depression (1 room of God. Imagine it’s not about you; it’s Samuel 16:23). No it! Worship originates David taught about Him! So in your doubt with those winged himself to play that c r e a t u r e s . . . a l l t h e high and low moments, instrument during when you can’t see angels who surround those long months God’s throne (Isaiah past today, praise Him! while he kept his 6:2–4). The psalmist father’s sheep. points us to the angelic hosts who praise Look at verse 4. There’s a joyousness in God day and night as they surround His this verse that I love! holy presence. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Look at verse 2. It reveals why we are to Praise Him with stringed instruments praise God: and pipe. (Psalm 150:4) Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Then verse 5: Praise Him according to His excellent Praise Him with loud cymbals; greatness. (Psalm 150:2) Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Pause for a moment and think back over (150:5) the last few months. Can you recall one of This beautiful repetition intensifies, God’s mighty deeds? Most of us are able to inspiring us to join in with our internal recall at least a few. instruments—our vocal chords! My wife, Cynthia, and I can remember Suddenly the psalm ends with: several that only the Lord could have Let everything that has breath praise accomplished! We praise His name for the LORD! coming into our lives with His might, Praise the LORD! (150:6) which matches our weakness in such a While praising God with our voices and beautiful way! We simply step aside and lives may sound great, I know that some say, “You are the One who gets the credit of you are thinking, You know, Chuck, if you for that. Only You could have solved that were where I am, you’d probably tone this issue. You’re the only One who could have down a little. If you’ve been through what resolved that conflict.” The Lord specializes I’ve been through, you wouldn’t be able to in mighty deeds! express such praise.
Really? I can assure you that if you learn to praise God when life feels overwhelming, your spirit will soar to new heights! It can completely transform your perspective. Years ago a man named Samuel Scull moved with his wife and their three small children to a desert house in Arizona. They were a long way from anybody. He loved it as they settled in, planted a garden, built a chicken coop, and in time began to gather eggs. They enjoyed their new life out in the middle of the wilderness. Suddenly one night an enormous desert storm brought high winds, huge hail, and pouring rain that pummeled their property. At daybreak, he feared what he would find. Samuel slowly opened his back door and walked out to survey the mess. It was a disaster! The hail had beaten their garden into the ground and nothing was left alive. His pick-up truck was seriously damaged with many deep dents from the heavy hail. The house had been partially unroofed, such that it needed to be repaired soon. And on top of all that, the hen house had blown away leaving dead chickens scattered all over the back yard. Everywhere was destruction and disaster. As he stood there dazed, wondering where he would start, something began to
stir under a pile of lumber, which had once been the henhouse. A rooster scratched his way up through the debris, slowly climbing until he mounted the highest board in the pile, and there he stood... featherless. All of his feathers had been beaten off by the storm. Nevertheless, that naked rooster flapped his bony wings and crowed louder than ever. The farmer looked at the naked rooster and thought, Well, if he can do it, I guess I can, too!¹ And so can you. Praise God! Remember: it’s not about you; it’s about Him! So in your high and low moments, when you can’t see past today, praise Him! When you don’t understand why God is leading as He has led, praise Him! When you can’t get past grief and sadness, find a way to praise Him. It helps to remember that all of the words in Psalm 150 representing praise are commands, not suggestions. 1. Adapted from J. K. Gressett, Pentecostal Evangel, as quoted in Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Pastors, Teachers, and Writers (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007), 411. Copyright © 2012 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
David and the Dwarf SINGLE CD MESSAGE
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ends with a comma, not a period? The next verse describes the very first result of being under the Spirit’s control...we sing! We make melody with our hearts. We communicate His presence within us by presenting our own, individual concert of sacred music to Him. Let’s take it another step. The church building is not once referred to in Ephesians 5. I mention that because we Christians have so centralized our singing that we seldom engage in it once we drive away
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was on a scriptural safari. Prowling through the Ephesian letter, I was tracking an elusive, totally unrelated verse when God’s sharp sword flashed, suddenly slicing me to the core. ...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19 NASB) Everyone knows Ephesians 5:18, where we are told to “be filled with the Spirit”... but have you ever noticed that verse 18
from the building with stained glass and accompanying melody that you momenan organ. Stop and think. Did you sing on tarily forget where you are and what others the way home from church last Sunday? might think. Frankly, I find it impossible to How about Monday, when you drove praise my Lord in song at the same time I to work...or around the supper table... feel self-conscious. Make a concentrated effort to add one or Tuesday as you dressed for the day? Chances are, you didn’t even sing before or two songs to your day. Remind youror after you spent some time with the Lord self periodically of the words of a chorus or hymn you love and add them to your drivany day last week. Why? The Spirit-filled saint is a song- ing schedule or soap-and-shower time. Sing often with a friend or memfilled saint! Animals can’t sing. Neither can pews or pulpits or Bibles or buildings. Only bers of your family. It helps melt down you. And your melody is broadcast right all sorts of invisible barriers. Singing into heaven—live—where God’s antenna before grace at mealtime in the evening is always receptive...where the soothing is so enjoyable, but I warn you, you may become addicted. strains of your song are Blow the dust off always appreciated. The Spirit-filled saint is a Believe me, if Martin song-filled saint! Animals your music library and put on some beautiful Luther lived today, he’d can’t sing. Neither can music in the house. The be heartsick. That rugged warrior of the faith pews or pulpits or Bibles or family atmosphere will change for the better if had two basic objectives buildings. Only you. you do this occasionally. when he fired the reformation cannon into the 16th-century wall And don’t forget to sing along, adding your of spiritual ignorance. First, he wanted to own harmony and “special effects.” Never mind how beautiful or pitiful give people a Bible they could read on their own, and second, to give them a hymnal you may sound. Sing loud enough to so they could sing on their own. The Bible drown out those defeating thoughts that we have, and its words we read. The hym- normally clamour for attention. Release nal we have, but where, oh, where has the yourself from that cage of introspecmelody gone? Mr. Songless Saint is about tive reluctance—SING OUT! You are not as acquainted with his hymnal as his six- auditioning for the choir, you’re making year-old daughter is with the Dow Jones melody with your heart. If you listen closely when you’re through, averages. Christians know more verses by heart from Ecclesiastes and Ezekiel than you may hear the hosts of heaven shouting from the well-worn hymnal they use over for joy. Then again, it might be your neigh100 times a year! We simply do not sing bour...screaming for relief. as often as we ought, and therein lies the blame and the shame. Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “Songless Allow me to offer a few corrective Saints” in Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life (Portland, Ore.: Multnomah, 1990), 545-47. Copysuggestions: right © 1983 Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights Whenever and wherever you sing, reserved worldwide. concentrate on the words. If it helps, close your eyes. Let yourself get so lost in the
ne of the most misunderstood literary 2. The law serves to prepare us for the new covenant in Christ types in the Bible is the law, which As we interpret the Old Testament in includes Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and light of the New Testament, we interpret chapters 20 to 32 of Exodus. Some scholars laws in light of Jesus’ teachings and misalso include the rest of Exodus as well as sion. For example, the Old Testament Genesis and Numbers. commands us not to murder (Exodus The law was the written expression of 20:13). But Jesus fulfils this law with His God’s expectation for His chosen people, prescription against anger (Matthew Israel. It contained their civil, ceremonial, 5:22). Proper interpretation requires that and moral law. It established the ways they we look to the New Testament to give us were to live in community with one another the fullest intent and application of Old and provided instructions on how to worTestament laws for our lives. ship the one true God in their covenant 3. Old Testament laws are commands to relationship with Him. be obeyed when they are renewed in The law also gave the Israelites boundthe New Testament aries with regard to the cultures around For instance, the New Testament renews them. Many things in the law trouble us specifically each of the today because we don’t While the law was Ten Commandments, understand that the Israela covenantal gift to except the Sabbath comites were intended to stand mand (Exodus 20:8–11). apart from the cultures God’s people, it is And Jesus renewed the surrounding them as a tesnot our covenant first, second, and third timony to their unique relalaw as Christians. commandments with His tionship with God. The law prescription that we are to “love the LORD was put in place so they would always keep your God with all your heart, all your soul, in mind that their holy God dwelled among and all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). them and they must separate themselves 4. Old Testament laws are principles from unholy things. to understand when they are not While the law was a covenantal gift to renewed in the New Testament God’s people, it is not our covenant law as For example, kosher dietary laws were Christians. We live under the new covenant, extremely significant to Hebrew life so interpreting the old covenant law can be (Leviticus 11). But these laws are not challenging at times. renewed in the New Testament, and Here are some general characteristics in fact are specifically not enforced about the law to help us understand it. for Gentile followers of Jesus (Acts 1. It is typically conditional 15:28–29). While they are not required This is the type of covenant that confor Christians today, they teach the tains promises made by a sovereign principle that God cares about our diet (God) to subordinates (Israel), condiand health, and wants us to behave in tional upon their obedience to Him.
ways which are distinct from the pagan culture in which we live. 5. Laws given to a specific person or groups retain illustrative principles for life today An example of this is the command against sacrificing an animal outside the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 17:3–4). Now that the Tabernacle is no more this clearly cannot be obeyed literally. But this law illustrates that God wants us to bring our offerings to Him in worship today. What are the steps to interpret and apply the law? First, identify what the particular law meant to the initial audience using grammatical and historical tools. Second, determine the difference between the initial audience and believers today. Is the law repeated in the New Testament for believers and if so in what way? Third, if it is not a binding law for us what are the universal and theological principles from the text? Fourth, correlate the universal and theological principles with New Testament teaching.
Fifth, apply the modified universal principle today in the context of grace. Obedience does not earn God’s favour. Rather it positions us to receive what God’s grace wants to give (Ephesians 2:8–9). For example, Leviticus 19:19 commands, “Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread.” Why? Because mixing animal breeds, seeds, or materials was thought to “marry” them so as magically to produce “offspring,” bounty in the future. God’s people were not to participate in the pagan practices of their day. The principle still holds today. The law is significant because it sets the framework for the rest of the Old Testament. Obedience to the law brought Israel blessing; disobedience brought curses and exile. So to understand the Old Testament we have to understand the law. And in understanding the law we will understand better the significance of what Jesus did for us. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
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od had His hand on this young man ful or how pitiful you may sound. Sing whose music not only would fill the loud enough to drown out those defeatheart of a depressed king overwhelmed by ing thoughts that normally clamour for blackness, but also would someday fill His attention. Release yourself from that cage written Word. Thus, David, with his primi- of introspective reluctance. SING OUT! tive stringed instrument, walked bravely SING OUT! You’re not auditioning for the church choir; you’re making melody with into that dark place where Saul was living. Saul was willing to try anything. “Provide your heart to the Lord your God! If you a man,” he says. “I don't care who it is. Bring listen closely when you’re through, you may hear the hosts him to me.” The Spirit-filled saint is a of heaven answering Somehow David’s song-filled saint. And your back for joy. music unleashed the Soft music for a caged feelings inside melody is broadcast right hard heart, that’s this tormented man into heaven—live—where what David provided and then soothed the God’s antenna is always for Saul. That’s the savage beast within. receptive, where the soul music that Christ By the time David left him, Saul was soothing strains of your song the Saviour provides, and that’s the place relieved. The evil presare always appreciated. we all must begin. He ence had departed. God used the gift of music to put David died for us. He rose from the dead to give into the very presence of the king’s cham- us the desire and the power to live a posiber. And the king not only found relief tive, fulfilling life free from the clutches of from his inner torturings, he found love in human depression and despair. He is our his heart for the young shepherd boy whose shepherd, and we are his sheep, needing the music of his voice. We can rejoice and music touched his soul. The Spirit-filled saint is a song-filled exult in God together. Let’s do more of it! saint. And your melody is broadcast right into heaven—live—where God’s Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with antenna is always receptive, where the the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, soothing strains of your song are always 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. appreciated. Never mind how beauti-
Bumper Sticker
Theology
ne problem with most bumper sticker poor as she is, has given everything she had theological statements is that they to live on” (Mark 12:41–44). She wasn’t worare made as blanket statements without ried about how God would use her offering, considering the context in which the she just gave her all. Finally, there is the widow of Zarephath statements are made, the motives behind them, and the situations to which they are who was preparing her last meal and was applied. These factors determine if they asked by Elijah to feed him with it (1 Kings are true statements or not. Such is the case 17:8–16). She gave all she had left and with the statement, “Do your best, trust trusted God to sustain her. These people gave their best—all they had—and then God with the rest.” trusted God with everything else. When is this statement true? • When your best is wholeheartedly for • When your best is your all the Lord and not with wrong motives or There are some examples in the Bible attitudes where this saying is valid. There’s the story For example, I could write this article to of the boy with five loaves and two fish when Jesus fed 5,000 (John 6:1–15). The boy gave the best of my ability, but if I am doing it with wrong motives and not wholeheartall he had and left the results with Jesus. There is also the widow who gave an edly unto the Lord then I can’t expect offering of two coins. Jesus said, “…she, God to use and bless it. “Whatever you
do, work at it with all your heart, as work- it excuses them from making their best ing for the Lord, not for human masters” even better through training or hard work. Sometimes doing one’s best involves tak(Colossians 3:23 NIV). ing steps to raise the bar on what one’s best • When your best is righteous and not in looks like. the direction of something sinful Some people’s best in Scripture was • When your best is legalism The Apostle Paul describes the legalist’s wrong or misguided. For example, Abraham and Sarah used Hagar to have a child approach, “How foolish can you be? After (Genesis 16). Their best effort to have a starting your new lives in the Spirit, why child of promise was misguided. They are you now trying to become perfect by didn’t trust the Lord to fulfil His promise in your own human effort?” (Galatians 3:3 NLT). The legalist is trying to earn God’s His time. Or consider Tamar, who was doing her love and favour by doing their best to keep man-made rules. When best to conceive a child Before you act commit we are doing our best as with her husband but she was misguided when she your effort to the Lord. an expression of legalism we have missed the truth coerced her father-in-law, Then do your best, of the Gospel, which says Judah, to have sex with her and she bore twin totally, wholeheartedly, our best will never be and righteously while good enough. Only Christ sons (Genesis 38). • When the whole saying depending 100 per cent is all-sufficient. We can only receive, not achieve, is adhered to on the Lord. God’s love. On one hand, trusting God with situations doesn’t absolve us from • When trusting God with the rest is a last resort fulfilling personal responsibilities. During For some “do your best, trust God with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis I read of one woman who was confronted for irrespon- the rest” means do all you can first and sibly risking infection by attending church. having done that then it is time to trust God. Her response was “I’m covered by the blood But this begs the question, at what point do you allow God to do the rest? When you are of Jesus.” On the other hand, doing our best and exhausted? When you are injured or incaacting responsibly as if everything depends pacitated? When you have made a mess of on us doesn’t absolve us from trusting the things? No. The truth is you allow God to Lord. There is an old Arab saying, “Trust work from the very beginning. Before you act commit your effort to the in the Lord, but tie up your camel.” We are 100 per cent responsible to do our best and Lord. Then do your best, totally, wholeheartedly, and righteously while depending 100 depend on and trust the Lord 100 per cent. When is “do your best, trust God per cent on the Lord. Keep making your best better, not because you are earning God’s with the rest.” untrue? favour but because you already have it. • When your best is mediocre With this statement we make doing one’s best the standard. What about the quality Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for of thing being done? With some people Living Canada. “doing their best” is a cop-out because
Worship: Let It Shine! Let It Shine!
The health of the church is dependent participation...a response...praise and upon balance. Balance between evange- service, celebration and action. lism and instruction. Between caring for Rediscovery of the Missing Jewel one another and reaching out to those (Psalm 95:1–7) Worship involves connecting with God we’ve never met. Between command and comfort, encouragement and exhortation, and responding out of joy and delight. We quietness and activity, taking in and giving find significance in worship because it out. How often a church fails to maintain magnifies God, enlarges horizons, eclipses fears, changes perspectives, and refreshes this essential balance! For reasons right and wrong, minis- spirits. tries can slip into extremes and miss the Some Often Overlooked Facets other side of a good thing. It is with this in of That Jewel Three key facets of worship are often mind that we come to appreciate worship. Desiring to get the job done or meet other overlooked: expectations, a congregation can lose its • God seeks out the worship of His people primary objective: to ascribe supreme • Worship has been practiced by believers in the past worth to our supreme Lord. Once again, the concept of balance must • Worship is certainly needed in the present. We must each ask ourselves if both our be kept in mind. Worship is more than meditative contemplation, the passive public and our private worship lives up to enjoyment of great music, or listening to a its true significance, or if something has well-delivered sermon. Worship requires taken the sparkle out of worship for us. “Worship: Let It Shine! Let It Shine!” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Growing Deep in the Christian Life: Returning to Our Roots. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Word Jumble
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE BIBLE Difficulty ● ○ ○ ○
The objective of this puzzle is to unscramble the letters to form a word. Each word will be a musical instrument found in the Bible. If you need a hint look up Daniel 3, Psalm 150, and 2 Samuel 6 using the NIV translation.
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First and last name
Email address
Phone number
INSIGHT FOR LIVING CANADA PUZZLE CONTEST RULES
Insights magazine subscribers are invited to submit their completed puzzles by mail, email, or fax for a chance to win a Swindoll Study Bible. Each month from January 15, 2020 to October 31, 2020 there will be a new puzzle challenge with another opportunity to gain a contest entry. Completed puzzles received before November 13, 2020 will be entered into a draw. One grand prize winner will be selected by random draw and notified by email or phone. Further details can be found on page 2 of this issue. Mail: 1-30445 Progressive Way Abbotsford BC V2T 6W3 // Email: info@insightforliving.ca // Fax: 1.604.870.8743
