NUMBER THREE, 2022
In this issue 3
Defining Liberty
6
H.A. Ironside
8
This Should Be Me
11
Pie in the Sky When We Die
charles r. swindoll bill gemaehlich insight for living ministries steve johnson
Understanding Our Times 12
Secularism
steve johnson Beyond the Broadcast 14
No Morning Was Ever Brighter
insight for living ministries Puzzle 15
Secularism and the Christian
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 © 2022 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 Centre for Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
DEFINING LIBERTY by charles r. swindoll
Cover & Article Photo: Dari lli on unsplash.com
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ithout becoming needlessly aca- in return more freely than ever. I no longer demic, I want to define a term that loved out of fear that I would lose her, but I've been tossing around. What do I mean I loved out of the joy and the blessing conwhen I declare that the Christian has nected with being loved unconditionally liberty? Essentially, liberty is freedom... and without restraint. Now that Christ has come into my life freedom from something and freedom to and I have been awakened to His grace, do something. Liberty is freedom from slavery or He has provided a freedom from that bondage. It is initially freedom from kind of slavery to sin. And along with sin's power and guilt. Freedom from that comes a freedom that brings a fearGod's wrath. Freedom from satanic and lessness, almost a sense of invincibility in demonic authority. And equally impor- the presence of the adversity. This power, tant, it is freedom from shame that could keep in mind, is because of Christ, who easily bind me, as well as freedom from lives within me. In addition, He has also brought a glorithe tyranny of others' opinions, obligaous freedom from the curse of the Law. By tions, and expectations. There was a time in my life without that I mean freedom from the constancy of its demands to perChrist when I had no Essentially, liberty is form in order to please freedom from the urges freedom...freedom God and/or others. It is and impulses within a freedom from the fear me. I was at the mercy from something of my master Satan and and freedom to do of condemnation before God as well as from an sin was my lifestyle. something. accusing conscience. When the urges grew within me, I had nothing to hold me in Freedom from the demands of other check, nothing to restrain me. It was an people, from all the shoulds and oughts of the general public. awful bondage. Such freedom is motivated—motivated For example, in my personal life I was driven by jealousy for many miserable by unconditional love. When the grace of years. It was consuming. I served it not Christ is fully awake in your life, you find unlike a slave serves a master. Then there you're no longer doing something due to came a day when I was spiritually awakened fear or out of shame or because of guilt, to the charming grace of God and allowed but you're doing it through love. The it to take full control, and almost before I dreadful tyranny of performing in order knew it the jealousy died. And I sensed for to please someone is over...forever. Grace also brings a freedom to do somethe first time, perhaps in my whole life, true love; the joy, the romance, the spontaneity, thing else—a freedom to enjoy the rights the free-flowing creativity brought about by and the privileges of being out from the grace of a faithful wife, who would love under slavery and allowing others such me no matter what, who was committed to freedom. It's freedom to experience and me in faithfulness for all her life. That love enjoy a new kind of power that only Christ and that commitment motivated me to love could bring. It is a freedom to become all
that He meant me to be, regardless of how He leads others. I can be me—fully and freely. It is a freedom to know Him in an independent and personal way. And that freedom is then released to others so they can be who they are meant to be—different from me! You see, God isn't stamping out little cookie-cutter Christians across the world so that we all think alike and look alike and sound alike and act alike. The body has variety. We were never meant to have the same temperaments and use the same vocabulary and wear the same syrupy smile and dress the same way and carry on the same ministry. I repeat: God is pleased with variety. This freedom to be who we are is nothing short of magnificent. It is freedom to make choices, freedom to know His will, freedom to walk in it, freedom to obey His leading me in my life and you in your life. Once you've tasted such freedom, nothing else satisfies.
Perhaps I should reemphasize that it is a liberty you will have to fight for. Why? Because the ranks of Christianity are full of those who compare and would love to control and manipulate you so you will become as miserable as they are. After all, if they are determined to be "cramped, somber, dull, and listless," then they expect you to be that way, too. "Misery loves company" is the legalists' unspoken motto, though they never admit it. Adapted by permission. The Grace Awakening Devotional, Charles R. Swindoll, © 2003, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Copying or using this material without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of copyright law.
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H.A. IRONSIDE by bill gemaehlich
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s we continue to walk through this season of unrest, the story of a baby born on October 14, 1876, in Toronto, Ontario, who was left for dead his first 40 minutes of life, brings a ray of light and hope that we have in Jesus Christ. This
baby, who would go on to become a great Bible teacher, preacher, theologian, author, and the pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, was Henry Allen Ironside. When Henry Allen Ironside was born, the attending physician pronounced him
dead, so the nursing staff ignored him to Ironside travelled, preaching nearly 7,000 focus on his mother who was seriously ill. times to over 1.25 million people. He is conHowever, 40 minutes later, a nurse detected sidered one of the greatest Bible teachers a pulse, then placed him in a hot bath and of his day. For over 50 years, he preached saved his life. Ironside’s parents were both the Word of God in the United States and strong believers, but sadly at the age of two, around the world and wrote more than 80 his father died, leaving his mother to make books, 51 of which were expositions on ends meet by working as a seamstress. books of the Bible. Growing up, Ironside attended church As you prepare for prayer, consider the and began memorizing Scripture by the age words of H.A. Ironside regarding Psalm 9 of three. At 11, he started a Sunday school in amid our present circumstances, “Listen his neighbourhood for boys and girls. With to David, for David is the author of these nowhere to meet, he and his friends sewed Psalms, and he knew what it was to suffer. together a tent from burlap sacks, which With Saul on the throne, he knew what it could hold up to a hunwas to be driven out For over 50 years, he dred people. Since there into the wilderness, preached the Word of was no adult to lead the persecuted, hated, forchildren, Ironside took saken, and yet to love God in the United States on the responsibility in return. Instead of and around the world of teaching the Sunday grumbling and comand wrote more than 80 plaining, his heart goes school class. On averbooks, 51 of which were out in thanksgiving, ‘I age there were 60 children and some adults expositions on books of will praise thee, O Lord, in attendance. When with my whole heart’ the Bible. Ironside turned 13 he (9:1)—not with half a became convinced he was not “born again,” heart…. No matter what conditions are so he gave up teaching Sunday school and like in the world around—the nations may began to wrestle with his faith. Later that rage, wars and rumors of war may cause year while at a party, Proverbs 1:24–32 came the stoutest heart to tremble—faith looks to his mind. So, he hurried home and after beyond it all and recognizes God as sitting midnight prayed, “Lord, save me,” and on the throne, and knows that eventually, received Christ as his Saviour. Over the He will bring out everything for His glory.”1 next year, his passion for God’s word con“I will give thanks to the Lord with my tinued to grow and by the age of 14, he read whole heart; I will recount all of your through the Bible 14 times. wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult During this same time, DL Moody came in you; I will sing praise to your name, O to town and young Henry climbed up into Most High.” (Psalm 9:1–2, ESV) the balcony at Hazard’s Pavilion to hear him preach. Henry was so moved by Moody’s 1 H.A. Ironside, Studies on Book One of the Psalms message he prayed, “Lord, help me some(Moody Church News, 1952) day to preach to crowds like these, and to lead souls to Christ.” Forty-two years later Bill Gemaehlich is the EVP/COO operations at Insight for Living Ministries he accepted the position as pastor of the church Moody founded. From 1916 to 1929
THIS SHOULD BE ME by insight for living ministries
Article Illustration: Tori Matthys
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Yet on the night John partook of the he sound of bleating lambs and shuff ling footsteps filled the temple. Passover lamb with Jesus and the other With three trumpet blasts, the priests disciples, things changed. Although Jewannounced the start of the Passover sac- ish custom prohibited eating anything after rifices. Worshippers responded to the the Passover meal, Jesus broke sharply with priests’ psalms with “Hallelujahs” as each tradition. He took bread, gave thanks, and man offered his household’s sacrifice to said to His disciples, “Take and eat. This is God. As the disciple John raised the knife My body” (see Mark 14:22). John partook to the throat of the lamb he’d brought, he with the rest, then Jesus took up the third thought, “This should be me.” With one of four cups of wine traditionally drunk at quick motion of his hand, the lamb’s bleat- the Passover, the “cup of redemption.” To ing stopped, and John watched its blood John’s surprise, their Rabbi said, “This is drain into the bowl held by the priest. The My blood of the covenant, which is poured priest emptied the bowl at the base of the out for many” (14:24 NASB1995). The tradialtar, adding to the smell of blood that tional fourth cup—the “cup of consummation”—remained untouched. hung in the air. This year, centre Jesus explained, “I will never Christ’s Final Passover your thoughts and again drink of the fruit of the Why did a lamb have to be sacrificed on Passover? actions on the true vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom The Jewish feast was meant meaning of the of God” (14:25). to remember and retell the Hebrew Passover In remembering and story of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt. The lamb sacrificed that afternoon retelling the Hebrew Passover, Christ folbecame the main course of the Passover lowed the requirements of the law, but He meal, representing the price paid for the transformed and fulfilled the meaning of protection of Israel and their redemption the lamb, the bread, and the wine. Howfrom Egypt. God had “passed over” the ever, one thing remained the same: the homes of those Hebrews who had applied need for a substitute as a sacrifice in place the lamb’s blood to their doorways (Exodus of the guilty sinner. 12:12–27). With the lamb, the Jews also ate Christ Our Passover The following day Jesus was brutalized unleavened bread and bitter herbs, recalling the agony of bondage in Egypt and and executed on a Roman cross. To those the food God provided for the Israelites who watched, the murder seemed senseduring the Exodus (12:39). By partaking of less, but from God’s perspective it comthe sacrificed lamb, the Hebrews not only pletely paid the cost of redemption. Isaiah remembered, they also retold the Passover had prophesied that, like a lamb led to the slaughter, the Messiah would be pierced story to others.
for our transgressions, and the punishment due us would fall upon Him (Isaiah 53:5–7). Paul said that Christ Himself is the Passover lamb, sacrificed for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). All who consider the sufferings of Jesus should be haunted by these four words: “This should be me.” The Bible says that all have sinned and deserve one punishment: death. The blood, gore, stench, and wails of the animal sacrifices reminded Old Testament Israelites daily of the wages of sin and cost of redemption. But Paul told us the good news that comes through Christ, the sacrificial Passover Lamb who died to forgive all of our sins: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Making Christ Your Passover In the Old Testament remembering meant more than just thinking; it meant responding with specific actions. During this Easter season, how will you remember and retell Christ’s Passover story? Perhaps your church has a special service of remembrance, partaking of the
Lord’s Supper or retelling the story of Good Friday and Easter through music or drama. Maybe you have a special family tradition that centres on Christ and His final payment for sin as the spotless Lamb of God. There are many great opportunities for you to remember and retell the story through Scripture and discussion on specific days of Easter week. Like the Hebrews during Passover, your own tangible expression of remembrance and retelling will focus your heart away from kitschy Easter eggs and pastel bunnies toward the cleansing blood of the Lamb, “for Christ our Passover...has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). This year, centre your thoughts and actions on the true meaning of the Hebrew Passover, applying the blood of Christ to the doorposts of your life with the proper attitude: “This should be me.” Adapted from Michael J. Svigel and Suzanne Keffer, “This Should Be Me,” Insights (March 2005): 1-2. Copyright © 2005 by Insight for Living. All rights reserved worldwide.
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PIE IN THE SKY WHEN WE DIE by steve johnson
Article Image: Gabriel Petry unsplash.com
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here’s a story about a dying woman who, believers to be and do all that God wants in making funeral arrangements, told for us (Acts 2:32–33). Our priority is not to her pastor she wanted to be buried with a fork rely on our own strength but to walk daily in the power of the Spirit. in her right hand. The pastor was stunned. She said, "All my life I have gone to church Prayer Romans 8:34–38 tells us the resurrected potluck suppers. When the main course was over and they came to clear the table inevita- Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand praying bly someone would lean over and say, 'Keep for us. When we have any trouble, it doesn’t your fork.' That was my favourite part of the mean He no longer loves us. Rather, He is praying for us and invites us to come boldly meal. I knew dessert was coming.” Then she said, “I want to be laid out in to God for mercy, grace, and peace to help my casket with a fork in my right hand, us through (Hebrews 4:16). Position because I want people Christ’s Resurrection has As those in Christ to come by and look and wonder, 'What’s with the practical meaning for us believers were raised fork?' And then pastor, as believers struggling when He was raised and you will have the opporto live godly lives here are now seated with Him in the heavens in tunity to tell them, ‘Keep on earth! the position of victory your fork because the best (Ephesians 1:21; 2:6). On that basis, when is yet to come.’" Christ’s Resurrection means believers tempted, we can resist the Devil, and he too shall be raised—there is unimaginable will flee (James 4:7). I look forward to heaven’s desserts. But dessert coming! But some believers may not be aware that’s not all it means. There’s Christ’s Resurrection also provides me more than just pie in the sky when we die. with more than that. It gives me things to Christ’s Resurrection has practical mean- share in here and now. So don’t just wait ing for us as believers struggling to live for pie in the sky when you die. Pick up your fork and taste for yourself! godly lives here on earth! Here are some desserts that are ours to taste now. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Power Living Canada. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower
SECULARISM S
ecularism is the predominant ideology in our society today with at least three variations. One variation believes that religion should not be part of the affairs of the state or part of public education. Because of pluralism and multiculturalism, it’s the movement to separate church and state where religious ideology has no influence in political or educational decisions. Another variation of secularism believes in the removal of religious influences not only in the public spheres of education and politics, but also of all societal and cultural aspects of life. This type of secularism says religion is a personal matter and there should be full freedom and tolerance for all religions. In Canada freedom of religion has become freedom from Christianity as Bible reading, the Lord’s Day, public prayer, and Christian symbols are being removed from the public square. The broadest variation of secularism ignores the supernatural entirely and
rejects any faith in any sphere. The focus is strictly on the here and now—“You only live once.” Man is an intensely religious worshipping creature. But because we are sinful, we replace the truly sacred—our holy God, with worship of other things and deem these other things to be sacred. God calls that idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6). This is where secularism is flawed. It replaces what was formerly considered to be sacred such as Christian symbols and traditions with different ones that are not Christian. It removes God and elevates new “sacreds” such as the individual, the nation-state, politics, nature, ecology, and science. These new sacreds become the basis for decisions in politics, education, economy, and culture. Once we remove God, the ultimate One who created all things, who owns all things, and through whom all things hold together, and replace Him with man-made sacreds, everything loses its ultimate meaning.
Article Image: Kunj Parekh unsplash.com
by steve johnson
Secularism is flawed with inconsis- People need to hear the truths of the Gospel tency because secularists want the fruits because “It is the power of God at work, savof Christianity but not Christianity. It val- ing everyone who believes—the Jew first ues the fruit of our Christian roots such and also the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). We as tolerance, equality, the rule of law, and need to be faithful in clearly proclaiming social welfare. But by getting rid of the the message of the Gospel. Are you sharing root, we will eventually lose the fruit. It’s the truths of the Gospel? Explanation just a matter of time. The secularist believes Christianity is Sensing the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of secularism, some people have farfetched. In addition, it’s also now cona renewed interest in spirituality, but not tested by other religions, ideologies, and in true Christianity. They have turned “takes” on life. But ours is a true, reasonable, to alternative spiritualism and deemed and defensible faith. Therefore, Christians need to be equipped and able “to defend other things sacred. Here are four ways for Christians to the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people” (Jude 3), and respond to secularism. “fight the good fight for Insulation Secularism is flawed with the true faith” (1 Timothy Je s u s t a u g h t t h a t inconsistency because 6:12), and “...if someone though we are in the asks about your hope as a world, we’re not of the secularists want the world (John 15:19). That fruits of Christianity but believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15). means we need to be not Christianity. Can you explain what i n s u l a te d f r o m t h e world’s practices but not isolated from the and why you believe? Renunciation world’s people. Secularism has advanced in part Paul wrote we must not “copy the behavior and customs of this world” (Romans because secularists have pushed their 12:2; see also James 4:4, 1 John 2:15). Instead, ideology with little resistance. Christians we must “live clean, innocent lives as need to renounce and push back against children of God, shining like bright lights secularism and claim our right to believe in a world full of crooked and perverse and express our faith just as Paul claimed people” (Philippians 2:15). We cannot be his rights as a Roman citizen (Acts 22:29). bright lights if we are isolated and hiding We need to make the case for Christianity our light. We need to be rubbing shoulders and our rights to believe and practice our with unbelievers. That way we can be a faith. Failure to do that will result in loswitness to the secularist who is looking for ing those rights. Are you standing up for something different and deeper than what your Christian rights? Secularism’s sacreds are ultimately they have in their empty sacreds. Are you empty. Only Christianity provides the interacting with unbelievers? ultimate meaning humanity needs. Proclamation It’s not enough that Christians just live a good life and be nice people. We need to Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for bear witness by life and by lip to the truth of Living Canada. the Gospel, walk the walk and talk the talk.
“Think of it like this. Think of two worlds. We live in one that is around us. We’re born into it. We exist in it. We die in it. THIS world. And then there is another world that is beyond us. I put it in this simple statement: Embracing the reality of the world to come radically alters everything in the world in which we live.” — CHUCK SWINDOLL
No Morning Was Ever Brighter
What’s the big deal about Easter? About Jesus’ Resurrection? One word...hope. In that single word rests a whole new world beckoning our participation. Death has been defeated. Sin has lost its power. What’s broken gets mended. Newfound meaning and joy replace the minute-afterminute-after-minute monotony of ceaseless sweating and striving...all because God is now at hand! Life with God alters everything. If life with God is the core aim of Christianity, then Jesus’ Resurrection is the root truth of Christianity. Jesus was resurrected to settle once and for all that God is the God of the living. Those who put their faith in Christ enjoy new life now and will spend eternity with God in the land of the living. These truths never get old. We celebrate them always, but during Easter, we especially focus on them—to return to our roots—in order to spiritually fortify ourselves. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses topic after topic to correct and strengthen this
enthusiastic, rambunctious congregation in Corinth. After a lengthy discussion on worship and spiritual gifts (11:2–14:40), Paul turned to his most important concern: the resurrection from the dead. The uninformed in the church were claiming there is no resurrection. Consider the subject yourself. What do we miss out on if there is no resurrection? Living by the power of Jesus’ Resurrection through the Holy Spirit shines the new-living light of the future world in the old-living darkness of the present world. This new reality alters everything. Jesus’ Resurrection made hope a living, personal reality that cannot be robbed from us. As a follower of Christ, your future no longer rests with this world doomed to decay and death. You worship the God of the living and will enjoy Him in the land of the living...forever!
“No Morning Was Ever Brighter” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series No Morning Was Ever Brighter. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Fill in the Blank
Secularism and the Christian Difficulty ● ● ○ ○
Secularism is the dominant belief system in western society today. Scripture tells us how to believe and behave in the midst of an increasingly secular world. Fill in the blanks with these key statements or phrases. The solutions are phrases that are direct quotes from the NIV Bible translation.
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2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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_ _ _ _ (Exodus 20:3)
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3. _ _ _
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4. _ _ _
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5. _ _
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7. _ _
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9. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10. _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ (John 15:19)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Romans 12:2) ____
8. _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ (1 Peter 3:15)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Colossians 1:17)
6. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
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_ _ _ _ _ (James 4 :4)
_ _ _ _ _ (1 John 2 :15)
_ _ _ _ (Philippians 2 :15) ___ __
_ _ _ _ _ (Jude 3) ___
_ _ _ _ _ _ (Romans 1 :16)
Puzzle solutions will be posted at insightforliving.ca/puzzle at a later date.
online RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
EAster
Our Easter page helps you better understand what really happened when Jesus died and rose from the dead, why there was no alternative, and why it makes all the difference today and every day! Visit insightforliving.ca/easter for articles, audio messages, and more to help you prepare your heart for Easter.
