Thursday October 31, 2013

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:7-9. James 1:19-20. Ephesians 4:26

Anger is probably the most destructive emotion that we can experience. In anger we blurt out things we don’t really mean. In anger we lash out and hurt those we love. In anger we might even hurt ourselves. Very few, if any, of us could say that we have never fallen victim to the ravage of anger.

While there is a righteous anger described in the Bible, again very few, if any, of us could declare that our anger has been righteous.  We may feel totally justified in the heat of the moment when we are blasting the other person but there’s a high chance that our anger has surfaced unrighteously because our goals or desires have been blocked. To say that my way is the best and most godly option or way forward is simply pride perhaps with a tinge of arrogance.

The Bible says that we should be quick to listen to people, even the very people that may anger us. We should be slow to open our mouths because often our own words fuel our anger. Even more so, we are told by God that we should be slow in becoming angry. Biblically speaking we are in control of our emotions. Our emotions do not and should not control us.

When we do become angry we should deal with our anger before the sun sets. In other words, we are not to let anger burn within us. Anger left undealt with often snowballs and causes immense internal and external damage. Our minds fuel anger and distort the truth, often to the degree that reconciliation is impossible. Dealing biblically with anger quickly is always the best possible solution.

Just think for a moment. What’s your normal reaction when anger knocks on the door of your heart? Do you swear and curse? Do you lash out? Do you lash out and blame everyone else for making you angry? Do you throw things or hit things? Do you hit the bottle and drown out your anger? Do you physically lash out and hit those who anger you? Do you hide away and hurt yourself? These are NOT godly ways to deal with anger. Each one of these is sinful and needs to be repented of.

You have a choice in anger. When you swear or lash out or hit the bottle or hit others or hurt yourself, you are making a choice, albeit a sinful choice. You can choose not to get angry. You can choose not to vent your anger on others or yourself. You can deal with anger in a constructive and godly way.  In Christ, you are no longer a slave to anger.

Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

ª Pray for those who lead your Sonday services. Pray that God would give them wisdom in planning and insight into the awesome, holy character of God. Pray that they would have a great ability to communicate and share that vision with the congregation. Pray that the musicians and singers will catch the glory of God and worship Him as they serve the congregation.

ª Pray for the families in your church, both young and old. Pray that parents would be wise in the way that they raise and lead their children. Pray that husbands would be loving, gracious and kind to their wives and that they would lead their homes well. Pray that wives would be respectful and loving to their husbands and that they might grow in their love for Christ and their service to their family.

My Additional Prayer Points

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 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Randolph confesses to you that all this talk about the world makes him angry. How do you think he should deal with his anger?

2. What are some constructive and godly ways he could deal with his anger?

3. What are some sinful ways he could deal with his anger?

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:5-6. Proverbs 9:8, 19:25, 25:12, 29:1

The word “rebuke” no longer remains in many of our mental dictionaries. We have grown to hate the word because it pictures some self-inflated hypocrite pointing out something wrong with ourselves while he or she remains far from perfect.

When we are “rebuked” our initial reaction is to get defensive or offensive. We either make up excuses to justify ourselves so as to explain away the rebuke, or we go on the offensive and verbally attack the person bringing the rebuke. Listen to this statement very carefully. Neither defense nor offense in the face of rebuke is a godly option. God hates both of them.

So how should we deal with rebuke? Firstly, thank the person for their loving concern for you and your conduct. If it’s a Christian brother/sister bringing the rebuke, you need to realize that they love you enough and care enough to help you grow in godliness. That alone deserves thanks and praise. If the person bringing the rebuke is a non Christian they may have false motives but if they point out some ungodly or un-Jesus-like part of your character even that is positive because God is using this to grow you in holiness. Again you can genuinely thank them.

Thanking people sincerely for their rebuke disarms them and makes further conflict impossible. Most people psyche themselves up to bring a rebuke and are, more often than not, ready for a fight. They have loaded their mental guns with high caliber ammunition. They are ready for a fight. When you thank them sincerely you disarm them. You react in a way that is totally unexpected. By thanking them, you open the way for relationship not retaliation.

Secondly, you need to pray about the matter that was raised. Tell the person bringing the rebuke that you will definitely pray about the matter. If it is a huge matter you may need to indulge in prayer and fasting. Bring the matter to the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you whether this particular rebuke needs to be repented of, or if it is a non-issue. Unfortunately it’s very easy to listen to our own pride filled heart and to immediately think it’s their issue and not ours.

Thirdly, after concerted prayer and fasting, talk to a trusted mature friend and ask them if they see the issue within you. Again we can choose to talk with Yes-men/women who will simply echo what we want to hear. Choosing that option reveals the depth of our folly. Find a trusted and mature Christian who will speak the truth in love and listen intently to their counsel and advice.

Fourthly, having prayed and fasted and sought Christian counsel, decide on a path of action of repentance. Deal with the matter in the most Christian and biblical way you know how. It may be a small change or a large, long term plan of action.

Fifthly, return to the person who brought the rebuke and ask them to keep you accountable for making the changes you have decided on. Not only will you show that person how much you value them but you will grow that relationship even more in depth of quality. Strong bonds of love will be sewn through this approach. 

The word “rebuke” should not conjure up negative images. It should communicate something like, ‘I want to help you grow in godliness and Jesus-likeness’. The truly wise man/woman can love the one who brings them rebuke. The fool reacts with hatred.  By changing the way you think about rebuke, you can be that wise man or woman.

Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

ª Pray for the Youth Leaders in your congregation. Pray that these men and women will be living lives that reflect the glory and holiness of Christ Jesus. Pray that their lives are so attractive that more and more youth come to Christ through them.

ª Pray for the children’s workers in your congregation. Ask God to give each one an understanding of the importance of their work. Pray that each of the workers will be able to communicate biblical truths clearly and that they will be able to relate to the kids in a way that encourages them to follow Jesus passionately.

My Additional Prayer Points

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 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. How do you think Randolph would react if you lovingly rebuked him about his attitude and approach to life?

2. What are some unwise ways to deal with rebuke?

3. What are some wise ways to deal with rebuke?

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-4. Proverbs 10:7

Boys and men are naturally competitive. An old grandfather knew this quite well. When faced with the dilemma of getting his stubborn young toddler-grandson to drink his evening milk, the wise grandfather refused to threaten punishment. Rather, in a tactfully wise move he poured two glasses and simply challenged the young defiant lad with the words, ‘I’ll race you!’ The boy gulped down the milk before he’d realized he’d be outwitted.

We have to jettison that kind of competitive edge as we read Ecclesiastes chapter 7. Solomon is not pitting one thing against another but rather is showing the benefits of one way  of living as opposed to another. Just like Jesus’ Beatitudes in the Sermon on Mount, Solomon too would have caused a few raised eyebrows and dropped jaws!

When Solomon says that the day of death is better than the day of birth he is not advocating a replication of the Jones town massacre. 

The context is that a good name is better than fine perfume. The Hebrew for name is “shem”. The Hebrew for perfume is “shemem”.

He was making a play on words to point out that our name/reputation is determined by the way we live this life. We can leave a fragrant perfume or a festering pong. Wisdom will lead to one, folly will lead to the other. When people stand around your coffin at your funeral which will they smell from your life?

In vs 2-4 Solomon encourages us to learn from death & not to avoid it by burying our head in the sand or filling it with 24/7 non stop, thought-drowning music. Solomon’s point is made well in Psalm 90:12 - Teach us O Lord to number our days rightly so that we might live in wisdom (my own translation).

In a similar vein we can analyze what Solomon says about laughter and mourning and pleasure seeking.

There is nothing negative or morose in Solomon’s words. Rather they are wise words that the wise person will heed and apply. Are you a wise man/woman? Will you hear the choice words that Solomon has for you?

Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

ª Pray that your Session has a heart of wisdom and a desire to know the Word of God and, more importantly, a desire to apply it to themselves and to the congregation. Pray that these men are soaked in the Word and are constantly hiding it in their hearts so that it can flow outwards in their words and lives.

ª Pray that your cell leaders would be filled with the Word and willing to study the Word and to grow in it so that they are workmen/women acceptable to God who rightly handle the Word of God. Pray that as they lead and facilitate they will have the wisdom to grow and mature each believer in their cell.

My Additional Prayer Points

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 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

Consider Randolph from yesterday.

1. How would Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 speak to him?

2. In what ways can sorrow, mourning and being in the house of grieving benefit us as compared to laughter and being in the house of pleasure?

3. If a person like Randolph is a pleasure seeker, what does it say about  him and his faith?