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What is the Symbol of Your Ministry? A Bible or a Cell Phone?

Terry Ivy — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:18:31 +0000

Tuesday is for Preaching

This interview with John Stott by Al Mohler was done in 1987 and was republished on his BLOG this week in honor of John Stott. You can read the whole interview here. I have excerpted the final paragraphs below because of their relevance to all pastors but maybe especially church planters.

As church planters we tend to be activists.

The Death of the Prophet

Terry Ivy — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:12:31 +0000

God has always spoken to men through prophets…He still does! Recent generations have seen prophetic men such as J. Gresham Machen, A.W. Tozer, Vance Havner, Leonard Ravenhill and David Wilkerson. However, today’s landscape of evangelicalism is creating another type of speaker–politically correct and side stepping weak males who desire popularity over truth. In our generation we are witnessing the death of the prophet.

This is not to justify the crude, the rude or the arrogant presentation of truth we have seen in some circles by those recognized as prophets and from previous generations. Intimidation and coercion are not elements of a Spirit-filled and anointed message. However, one extreme never justifies the opposite extreme. For every road there are two ditches, therefore let us avoid both errors. The life and health of the local church depends upon the ministry of all the five-fold ministry gifts the Lord has given to the church. (Eph. 4:11-14) Let us not sit by in silence and compromise, and watch the death of the prophet.

We greatly need men who will:

Speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)

Remain faithful to the Biblical text (2Tim. 2:15)

Unapologetically declare God’s absolute truth (Rom.3:4)

Be given to prayer as a lifestyle, not as a topic (Eph. 6:18; Phi. 4:6)

Stop coddling the spirit of the age in dress, speech or possessions (Jas. 4:4; 1Jn. 2:15-17)

Stop the gimmicks and compromises for the sake of crowds (1Cor. 2:1-5; 1Thes. 2:5-6)

Refuse the groupie or rock star status frequently seen today (1Cor. 1:12)

Yes, we are witnessing, through the younger generation, the death of the prophet. Leaders are too busy trying to write a best selling book or rub shoulders with their favorite speaker at the latest conference on the next big topic. We want to be like the Apostle Paul, but we act like Diotrephes. (3Jn. 9-10) We do not bear the marks of suffering in our life, but we do have tight shirts to display our buff bodies from the endless hours of self worship in the gym.

In the name of ‘contextualism,’ we’ve killed one of the five-fold ministry gifts to the church…we have killed the prophet. The prophet is not afraid to call sin, sin! He makes us uncomfortable, refuses to justify our vain visions and shallow sermons. He reveals how the cross is missing from our messages, our life, our family, and our congregations. He leads by example…shaming us; not with words, but with his simple lifestyle, clear message, broken spirit, life of prayer and humility.

Let us refuse to be the generation which sits by and watches the death of the prophet. Rise up and get with the Lord in prayer, seeking His face in repentance and faith. Some of you who are reading this are being called to step into this work. Bloom where you are planted. Be faithful to the call. The church and this generation needs you!

ReThinking Church, Part 10 – Biblical Leadership

Terry Ivy — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:30:25 +0000

America was born out of the seed of representation and democracy. It has given us the greatest freedoms of any civilized nation. Of course, baggage and error always comes with liberty and freedom, but that is the price for genuine freedom. Along with the secular government given to us by the trials of the forefathers, there is another pattern given to us. Unfortunately, it was given to the Church. That pattern is that the American church, for the most part, adopted the same forms of secular society and imposed it upon the ecclesiology of the church. Many fellowships take a vote from the local members to decide just about everything, or at the very least, have a board of Deacons who run the church on all matters. (physical and spiritual)

Is this the New Testament pattern? Is this the way Paul and the early apostles established leadership in the expansion of the church? Is this the polity we should use in our local churches?

Upon a casual reading of the NT we find the biblical pattern for church government to be quiet different from the American version. Here are the constants we find throughout the survey of the New Testament.

Bishops and Elders are synonymous terms – This is an undeniable fact. These two terms were first separated in the early part of the second century in the writings of Ignatius. (A.D. 105) In the canon of Scripture Bishop/Overseer (episkopos) and Elder (presbuteros) are used interchangeably. (Acts 20:17, 28; Tit. 1:5, 7; 1Pet. 5:1, 2) Why did the New testament writers use two different words? Elder was the term the Jewish believers understood to represent leadership through the ministry of the synagogue. Bishop (overseer) was the term used in the Greek culture for supervisors, officers and state officials. The Holy Spirit inspired the NT authors to use both terms interchangeably in order to identify with both cultures in language associated with authority. Similar to the early greeting of “Grace and Peace.” The former being a Greek greeting and the later a Jewish one.
Each Church was governed by a plurality of Elders – The early church, once established, did not have the one man show we see today, where one Elder is the face of all teaching. (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:5; Jas. 5:14; 1Pet. 5:1-2)
Two Offices – Bishop and Deacon – The leadership of a local church is expressed in two offices. (1Tim. 3:1-12; Phil. 1:1) Office of Bishop/Elder has the ruling authority (1Tim. 3:5), while the office of Deacon is for official servants to the local body.
Church Office held only by men – Offends the feminist element in many denominations, but this is the biblical pattern. The attempt of egalatarians to offer Phoebe as an office holder (Rom. 16:1) and argue for female leadership from one verse in Paul’s ecclesiastical passage (1Tim. 3:11), is extremely weak, unconvincing and lacks historical precedence.

What we do not see in the New Testament:

Husband and wife hold office together – This practice is prominent in many churches in America, especially in the African-American community. It appears to be more from pride, the milking of the congregation for a double salary and a desire for prestige rather than a demonstration of biblical freedom. It has no warrant in Scriptures, though some attempt to use Aquila and Priscilla as a proof. (Rom. 16:3) Functioning in a ministry does not automatically equal being in the office of oversight in a local church.
Single Pastor leadership – Even Jesus sent out the apostles two by two. Single leadership is the fertile ground where control and manipulation spring forth. Again, plurality of Elders is the undeniable NT pattern.
Deacon ruled churches – This idea is completely missing from the NT paradigm. Deacons are servants, not rulers. The practice of Deacons ruling a local church is adopted from the secular form of representative secular government, not from the New Testament. The argument from the Acts 6:3 that Deacons were appointed over the business of the church is very poor exegesis. They were appointed over a specific task assigned by the Apostles, not given ruling authority over the church.
Deacon and Elder swing board vote – Almost comical, but a part of the landscape of Americanized version of church leadership. Swing boards, at their heart, were created to be able to revolve problematic men out of office. The practice of 1 year, 3 year or 5 year terms of office for Deacons and Elders is a practice borrowed from secular business, not the New Testament.
Democratic vote – Could you imagine the Church of Ephesus voting on whether they wanted to keep the Apostle Paul or Timothy as a leader? Or the Church at Jerusalem deciding to dismiss Peter and John from leadership? Yet, this practice of democratic vote is what many churches do in regards to spiritual leadership.

Conclusion

The Pattern the Lord has given to us throughout the NT reveals a glaring difference between the early church and the American version. The abandonment of the biblical pattern of church government, and the adoption of a secular version, has brought many problems into American churches. It encourages confusion, division and a shallowness.

Confusion because authority falls into the hands of the wealthy or popular instead of the spiritually mature. Division because men not called by God to rule (deacons) become the hire and fire executives over men called by God to lead. (Elders) Shallowness because if revival breaks out and there is an influx of new believers, the next voting issue (Pastor, Deacons, building, etc…) will be determined by immature new comers instead of spiritually mature leadership.

The simplicity of the NT pattern of leadership offers the healthiest example. It is easily replicated, offers spiritual protection from carnality, and helps believers see and avoid Satan’s work of division. The biggest benefit is that it keeps the local church externally focused upon the great commission rather than becoming introverted and wasting resources on unnecessary and ostentatious facilities designed for selfish pride.

The gospel is not about us…

More to come, stayed tuned

You Might Be A Racist If…

Terry Ivy — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:38:19 +0000

I grew up in the deep south. I’ve seen racism up close and personal. As a 60′s child I lived through the racial uprisings of the civil rights movement. I saw the ugliness, the hatred and the foolishness of racism from a front row seat.

When I became a Christian at the age of 18, I was equally appalled at the racism which existed, and still exists, in much of the Church. It was even uglier and more vile because those spouting it claimed to belong to Jesus Christ…however, their speech and actions betrayed their racist hearts and revealed their true colors. (no pun intended)

Racism is not just a Caucasian or African-American problem…it is a human problem. It exists in all communities and is aimed at those who are different from the personal norm. I am not one to mince words; I leave that for the crooked politicians and phony preachers who seek political correctness. I’m not seeking anyone’s approval. I only desire to be faithful to Christ and His Words…that’s it!

With that, I would like to share some lifelong observations about racism. A litmus test, if you will, to examine our actions and thought processes to determine if there are areas of racism hidden in our heart which we may not be aware of. I’m not concerned with secular society, only the Church. I have given my life to Christ and have no greater desire than to see believers walk and demonstrate the life changing truth of the gospel. So, here it goes.

You Might Be A Racist if…

All you ever discuss is racism, blaming the ‘white man’ or the ‘black man’ for societies ills.

You make a living off of stirring up racial strife.

You support those who make a living off of continually stirring up racial strife. (You know who they are. Under the guise of being Christian clergy they continually grab headlines and raise money by stirring up controversy.)

You defend those harmed within your ethnic group, but others outside your group ‘had it coming to them.’

You only think other ethnic groups can be racist, but not yours.

You may not say it, but you think in terms of ‘nigger, honkey, monkey, cracker, white or black.’

Your church is either ‘lily white’ or ‘midnight black’ and you do not stand up against it by promoting evangelism and church membership of persons from different races.

You think in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them.’

You apply God’s truth to the sins of other races, but not to your own. (i.e. You mourn when one from your ethnic group experiences a hate crime, but when one of your own ethnic members commits a crime against another race, you conveniently turn from commenting.)

You witness to your ethnic group, but not to others.

You fail to invite a person from a different race to church because of embarassment of what ‘your group’ may think or the political racial rantings which flow from your leaders.

You preach ‘equal, but separate.’

You fail to take a stand against known racist in your church because they are old and about to die anyway. (Failing to recognize that their racism has been reproduced in their children.)

You’ve gotten mad at me for one or more of the above statements!

Racism cuts every different direction. It is a blight on many southern churches because of the failure of the previous generation to deal with it biblically. However, the real victory over racism doesn’t begin with a petition, parade or conciliatory speech or any other token action. Neither will the churches change by purchasing more books on racism or studying speeches of social reformers. It starts with you and me. Will we take an honest look into our heart and do serious soul-searching and repentance before our Lord and Savior?

When Jesus makes a heart new, racism becomes a thing of the past. Why? Because we are changed by the Love of God in Christ Jesus. And this love helps each of us see that because Amazing Grace has saved a wretch like you and me, there is hope and love for all!

What Your Pastor Would Love For You To Know!

Terry Ivy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:14:27 +0000

I have been in full time ministry for over 28 years and would not take anything for that time. It has not always been easy or pleasant. Dealing with people and their lostness isn’t a walk on the beach. We must be willing to enter the soiled lives of those hurting in order to offer the righteousness of Christ to them. However, over the years I have come to realize there are things Leaders wished their flocks clearly understood. Here is a short list of 18 things Pastors would love to tell their congregations. They are in no particular order.

1. We struggle with temptation…just like you.

2. We don’t always feel like praying…just like you.

3. We get physically and spiritually fatigued…just like you.

4. We need some space…just like you.

5. We do not have all the answers…just like you.

6. We need uninterrupted time with our family…just like you.

7. We cannot be everything to everyone…just like you.

8. We do not like unannounced drop by visits…just like you.

9. We do not mature as fast as we like…just like you.

10. We need grace when we blow it…just like you.

11. We think Jesus is the real example…just like you.

12. We have valleys of loneliness and depression…just like you.

13. Our wife and children see our weaknesses and sin…just like you.

14. We want to finish in faithfulness…just like you.

15. We wrestle with unforgiveness…just like you.

16. We feel our messages are hitting us between the eyes…just like you.

17. We feel like quitting and running off at times…just like you.

18. We will not turn our back on Christ…just like you.

If you are a leader, please feel free to add…

All in all, we are you! We are men who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We are continually needy, desperate and aware of our shortcomings, failures and sins.

We are not everything we want to be, but we are not what we used to be, or what we are going to be.

In short…we are just like you!

Therefore, let us pray for one another as we all press on toward Christ!

Church Planting and the Apostles’ Doctrine

Terry Ivy — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:37:26 +0000

Immediately after the birth of the New Testament Church on the Day of Pentecost, we read where the believers gathered together to form a community of fellowship, prayer and doctrinal instruction. (Acts 2:42) I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and pondering a few areas as it relates to church planting. My focus rests upon a simple question:

In the NT how much doctrinal instruction was expected before other church planters (apostles/missionaries) were sent out?

There would seem to be two extremes. First, there is the position that only those officially trained in Seminary are qualified to hold such a position. Second, there is the position that anyone with a burden should be sent out as soon as possible. The former turns the church planting into a slow and almost non-existent process and seems to violate the New Testament norm and would even disqualify the twelve apostles. (Acts 4:13) The later may multiply quickly, but it opens the door for all types of heresy and catastrophes caused by novice leaders. (1Tim. 3:6)

Couple this with the fact that the early Apostles did not have a written doctrinal statement to use for class room instruction, or even a completed New Testament text. Therefore, what did they demand for future leaders to understand before sending them out? It certainly was not an official religious degree. But yet, we read where they should instruct and deposit the truths they had received into the next generation of leaders. (2Tim. 2:2) Leaders were also instructed to pay careful attention to their doctrine (1Tim. 4:16), and to study in order to properly divide and handle the Word of truth. (2Tim. 2:15) Therefore, there was definitely some dimension of teaching necessary for these types of instructions to be given to mentors. Also, we see an early confessional creed in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. (1Cor. 15:3-4)

What are you thoughts concerning three questions.

1) How much instruction should church planters have before being released?

2) Is the amount of instruction dependent upon other factors? (target group or the amount of exposure to the gospel the target group has received) This question creates many considerations.

3) What is an expected time frame?

I’m not trying to put a Genie back into a time bottle by denying the development of orthodox doctrine to combat the rise of heresy or the profit of higher christian education. Instead, my heart’s desire is simply to be responsible in and committed to exponential church planting.

Don’t Waste Your Sorrows

Terry Ivy — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:30:26 +0000

Suffering and affliction is inevitable in this life. It proves the truth of the Bible that we live in a fallen world. Sooner or later suffering will land on our doorsteps; it will visit our life. As Christians, we are not exempt from the valley of affliction and tears. They are common to our life as we wait for the redemption of our body. Though our spirit is reborn and brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ, we travel through the same vale of trouble as every man. In fact, we may experience more than the average man because we are a threat to the kingdom of darkness and are targets for the enemy’s attacks.

With the certainty of affliction firmly fixed through the teachings of the Scriptures, let us briefly consider what our response should be. Our reaction to a valley of affliction will determine many things in regards to the darkness of the affliction. I do not remember where I heard this, but it has been said, “When you find yourself in a ditch, the first thing to do is throw down your shovel.” Our reaction to affliction can certainly be a continual digging; one which makes the situation worse. Or it can be better than that. It can yield to God’s work and bring about His desired transformation.

Life is part of God’s classroom to teach His children how to trust His sovereign and gentle hand. Without calling evil, good, we do know that regardless of the valley the Lord will work it together for good to those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28) Trials are actually the Love of God in action, designed to mature and call us out of our playpen level of faith. He is calling us to grow up.

Affliction challenges, to the deepest level, our faith in the goodness and mercy of God. The pain and horror we experience brings to the surface of our consciousness all the “If God really loved me…” type of questions. Suffering will press us below the silly cliche’s and bumper sticker responses, and into the heart and mind of our Good Shepherd.

Affliction also tests whether or not we actually believe in the promises of Scriptures. Many times we hold ourselves to be more spiritual than we actually are. Suffering turns the heat up to reveal our genuine level of conviction and stance on the Word of God; it uncovers and reveals our previously unknown dross!

Sometimes the Lord will bring a need into our life, just so He can reveal Himself as our supply. He deepens our dependency upon His wisdom, His righteousness and His faithfulness. Affliction is the measuring stick God uses to gauge our maturity; not so He can know it, but so we can see it clearly. It offers us an honest look within the recesses of our own heart by providing heaven’s microscopic vision. We see ourselves clearly, without pretense or platitudes, as our innermost disappointments and frustrations are revealed. Affliction offers us the ability to see ourselves the way the Lord does, open and naked.

So what should be our response? The answer is hard, but simple. We should be honest with the Lord concerning the musings of our heart. Lay out the ugliness of our murmurings, the embarrassment of our unbelief and the loneliness of our pain. God is big enough to hear our complaint…He will not run away. In fact, He will draw near. The experiences of Job and David shows us the benefit of honesty before God. This path is the only way to make sure we do not waste our sorrows. There are deep lessons and treasures to be brought up by those who dive into the heart issues of affliction. But these treasures will only be given to those who with honesty, brokenness and humility are willing to cry out unto the Lord.

Don’t run from the Lord when affliction hits. Don’t adopt the false health, wealth and prosperity doctrine of modern heretics. Don’t cause more damage by wallowing in the mud of bitterness and impatience. In our affliction, the Lord’s Hand is reaching out to us as never before…He is reaching for our heart.

Don’t waste your sorrows!!!

He Is Not Here, But Has Risen

Terry Ivy — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:46:37 +0000

These famous words flow down through Church history with power, devotion and deep meaning to every believer. (Luke 24:6) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the bedrock of our faith and the greatest event known to man. It was an open declaration to all men that this lowly carpenter was who He said He was–the Son of God!

When the Angel spoke these words to the ladies who went to put spices on the body of Jesus, it was a shock to their cultural and religious understanding. As Hebrews, they believed in a resurrection, but it would not take place until the end of the age. They had no reference point to understand a resurrection before that time, and yet, this is what the Angel proclaimed.

With the desire of humanity to have a point of integration which defines the deepest meaning to life, it is easy to understand how the tomb of Jesus would become a shrine; a place of devotion to the miracle worker from Galilee. However, because of the resurrection, His body could not be worshipped and enshrined to satisfy this longing of mankind. We must meet Him by faith; it is the only way of fellowship with our resurrected King.

The tearful devotion of these women was interrupted by the angelic proclamation, “He is not here, but is risen.” God would not provide a natural or physical place of mediation between the natural and the spiritual world. He offered something greater!

Even today, Christians seek an existential meaning and value to life which will grant us a reason and purpose for living. If our ultimate integration point is anything other than intimacy with Christ, a problem arises. Even good things can keep us back from God’s plan for our life. If we listen closely we can hear heaven proclaiming again, “He is not here, but has risen.”

Here are several enjoyable things of life we must keep from becoming our meaning to life, our final integration point. While good in themselves, they can become toxic or evil if they become our ultimate meaning. There is nothing wrong in having these things; it is wrong to let these things have us.

Relationships – Allowing relationships to be the ultimate meaning in our life sets us up for untold heartache and disappointment. Every relationship in this life will end. The unhappiest people are the ones who hang their existence and goal in life upon finding a spouse. Instead of letting the Lord bring them a godly partner, they, out of desperation, get deceived by players and drama queens. He is not here, but has risen.

Children – I’ve seen many parents idolize and allow their children or grandchildren to become their meaning to life. The proof is the tragic depression they fall into when the children grow up and leave home. Rearing children is one of the highest privileges of human life; it affords us many insights into the heart of God. However, it must not become our ultimate integration point. He is not here, but has risen.

Pets – We all love pets. They seem to love us even when we are unlovable to ourselves. They always strive for our company, or at least we project this upon them from our own need. However, we must not let them become the deepest fulfillment in life or we forfeit God’s best. Enjoy them? yes. Idolize them? no. He is not here, but has risen.

Sports – As a former athlete in many sports, I know the thrill and meaning that sports can give. We easily slip into idolatry and headiness within our favorite athletic game. We see the idolatry and worship of sports within our culture. It will leave us empty and lonely if we allow it to become our final integration point. We see this clearly when we read of how athletes cannot adjust to post retirement life. He is not here, but has risen.

Jobs/Hobbies – How we make money and what we do for recreation can easily become our meaning to life and leave us depressed when we can no longer do them. I’ve seen this hundreds of times with individuals from various ages ranging from teenagers to eighty year olds. If we live long enough, jobs and hobbies will end; they cannot give us continual and ultimate meaning. He is not here, but has risen.

Ministry – Yes, for those called by God to ministry, we must never allow counseling, preaching, teaching, writing, church planting, starting schools or orphanages to become our final integration point of meaning and purpose. If we do, they become our spiritual lovers and will rob us of the simple intimacy with Christ. We must, for the sake of our spiritual health and usefulness, avoid these subtle traps. He is not here, but has risen.

Our existential satisfaction and ultimate purpose in life must have only one final integration point. That is, fellowship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He awaits every day for you and me to spend time with Him and His Word, learning to hear His voice and follow Him in all things. (John 10:27) And whenever we feel something else, even a good something, begin to pull our heart away from the simplicity of Christ, let us hear heaven’s proclamation–“He is not here, but has risen.”

God’s Sovereignty and Spiritual Warfare

Terry Ivy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:12:37 +0000

A casual reading of the Bible reveals the marvelous truth that God is Sovereign. That simply means that nothing takes place in this life which does not go through His Hands and that He is supreme over everything. That can be a controversial statement and one which gives rise to some interesting theological discussions. But how does it affect and apply to spiritual warfare? Let’s briefly look at this.

What does it mean to “go through God’s Hands?” Does that mean He instigates all things and that all things are the work of His Hands? Of course not. However, everything which takes place will either be promoted, permitted or prevented by the Father’s Sovereign will. That which He promotes and prevents can be declared the hand or finger of God with Scriptural certainty. However, that which He permits can have other sources; though none of them are independent of God’s Sovereignty.

Why all of this? Because while upholding God’s Sovereignty we must not press our view of sovereignty beyond the full Scriptural position. If we do, we will find ourselves calling the work of Satan the Hand of God. We have an enemy who fights believers and seeks to steal, kill and destroy. (Jn. 10:10) The OT prophets, Jesus and the early church stood against and engaged the powers of darkness as the cause of evil works. We must also recognize the presence of the enemy and stand in our rightful position in the finished work of Calvary lest we roll over and yield to the enemy’s hand while believing it is God’s Hand.

If we call everything which takes place the hand of God we will fail to properly distinguish the enemy’s work and therefore, by default, fail to engage in spiritual warfare. And yet, the apostles Paul and Peter speak about standing against and resisting the powers of darkness in several New Testament passages. (Eph. 6:10-18; 1Pet. 5:8-9) They did not use passive terms. They used military terms! The battle they describe involves a wrestling against the schemes of the Devil…not a submission to them.

When Satan brings spiritual torment to a troubled soul, is it always the hand of God? When Satan prompts evil men to rob, murder or rape a child, is that always the finger of God? If you answered yes…your view of Sovereignty is out of balance and you lose not only the definition of good and evil, but you also make God, who is the Good Shepherd, culpable of evil. There is no way to avoid this logical conclusion.

You will hear very little from some camps concerning spiritual warfare. Why? Because they are so caught up in trying to make sure God gets glory for everything that they fail to realize that some of the things happening are from the evil one. They are afraid to find themselves standing against God, therefore, they submit to some situations that God desires they would wrestle with and resist because He is not the source.

Is God Sovereign? Absolutely. Should we engage and stand against Satan in spiritual warfare? Absolutely. Well, since God is Sovereign, how do we stand against the enemy without standing against God? Because, though God is Sovereign, some of the things which happen to us in this life are because He permits them; not because He is promoting them. This is critical to understand lest we surrender and become a door mat to the works of darkness in the name of submitting to the will of God.

In every situation we need to pray and ask the Lord if what is taking place is His highest will for our life. God will speak to us and reveal His plans and purposes. Even very difficult situations will come with an ocean of grace when they are God’s highest will for us. However, we cannot and will not get the same grace to surrender and submit to that which is the work of the enemy. At times God will permit Satan to attack us in order to promote our understanding and engagement in spiritual warfare. Our Lord is doing many things on many levels through every situation in life. We will not and cannot understand everything He is doing, but He will show us enough to know the difference between His Hand and the hand of the enemy.

There are two theological extremes: One never engages the enemy because of an unbalanced view of God’s Sovereignty (extreme Calvinism), and the other resists everything as the work of darkness and fails to recognize the Hand of God because of an unbalanced view of God’s Sovereignty. (extreme Arminianism)

Let us avoid both of these unbalanced views and uphold these two undeniable scriptural truths: God is Sovereign and spiritual warfare is real. Therefore, we can confidently stand against the work of Satan and the powers of darkness without concern that we are resisting God. Jesus did it, the apostles and the early church did it, and so should we! Everything passes through the Father’s Hands, but everything is not His Hand for us to submit to.

Tebow Is Not My Hero

Terry Ivy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:55:32 +0000

I like Tim Tebow as an athlete. I appreciate his willingness and heart to work with children in the Philippines and to proclaim Jesus as His Lord and Savior on the public stage. However, he is not my hero…and I do not think he desires to be anyone’s hero; but, he would have to answer that part.

I came from a life of athletics and was certainly one who worshipped sports and athletes. Sports had my heart; football was my idol. The smell of a well manicured field, the thrill of collisions and the cheering of the crowd was an extremely addictive high. And, this seems to be true for pro athletes also, as we see their difficulty in adjusting to real life after sports.

But back to Tebow. While he’s certainly a different kind of athlete, and one which holds to a moral example in the midst of a very immoral sporting culture, he is still not my hero and wasn’t a person I lifted before my boys to be their hero. Why? Well, to be honest with you, I look higher up the spiritual ladder for heroes. I’ve never seen much spiritual depth in the hollywood celebrities and athletes who carry on about ‘Jesus.’ Their shallow use of religious phraseology never offered an example of walking ‘in the Spirit’ that I desired to set before my boys. My wife, Susanne, and I have always directed our three boys to look higher. (They are all grown now.) We wanted them to look above the lower limbs in the small trees and find a hero among the eagles perched in the top of the largest trees. So, where did we point them? Glad you asked!

As they were growing up, we doted over the Apostle Paul, Hudson Taylor and William Carey. We lauded the sacrifice of John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, John Wesley and D.L. Moody. We quoted Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray and A. W. Tozer. In fact, we even spent much time going back to Abraham, David and Jeremiah. See, our goal has never been to pressure them to be successful according to the world’s definition. Instead, we pointed them toward the reality that we only live in shadowlands. That this life is fleeting faster than a sunset over the beach. And when all is said and done…the only thing which matters is what we have accomplished by God’s grace and for eternity.

See, I don’t think the Lord really cares which overpaid football team wins the super bowl or gets the first round draft pick. He has greater things on His heart…like the planting of churches and reaching the lost. Like revealing to the poor and needy the inexplicable love of Jesus and teaching those who hunger after righteousness the vast treasures from His Word.

The Bible defines reproduction as “like begetting like.” If our children see us idolizing the shallow, the carnal or the lower examples of faith….that is what will begin germinating in their hearts. Let’s plant bigger seed into the next generation. Seeds of missionaries who sacrificed the things of this world in order to plant the gospel. Church planters who, through blood, sweat, prayers and tears, plant the message of Jesus in unreached places. Seeds of service to challenge young men and women to higher education in order to help their fellow man as medical missionaries. Seeds of prayer to watch the next generation become the praying bride she should be.

No…there are not any athletes or celebrities which can measure up to be my hero or the hero I desire to set before my boys or the next generation. My sights are much higher!