Ray Vander Laan Explains Authentic Christianity

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I wake up every day with a desire to serve the Lord. I want other people to see Christ in me when I’m confronted with challenges. I want them to say, “Wow! I would’ve reacted entirely differently in that situation. What do you have that I don’t?”
But then someone cuts me off in traffic.
…Or my boys don’t behave the way I’ve told them to a dozen times.
…Or I’m exhausted after a long flight and an unexpected delay complicates my plans.
I’m sure you know what I mean. Christians want to reflect Christ well, but the battle between our flesh and the Spirit inevitably flares up, and the struggle begins.
The goal is to submit our own comfort and security to God and say, “Lord, use me.”
But how?
I asked my friend Ray Vander Laan that very question. He answered the way Ray always does, by illuminating Scripture in light of its ancient setting and then applying it to us in ways that make Scripture leap from the page. “God’s story in context,” as he calls it.
On our broadcast titled “Authentic Christianity: Counting the Cost,” Ray explains what happened when the Apostle Paul submitted his comfort and security to the Lord.
The book of Acts tells us that Paul was beaten and jailed in Philippi for teachings contrary to Roman custom and practice. Paul suffered terribly, his back likely bloodied and shredded from the flogging. Rome was known for its cruelty.
Paul could have saved himself from all of it by appealing to his Roman citizenship.  But on this occasion he didn’t.
Why?
Because he knew that God had a greater purpose for his suffering. Cut to the end of the chapter, and you discover that one of the story’s villains – a jailer who had held Paul prisoner in a dungeon – is the one experiencing the outpouring of God’s mercy.
The jailer wasn’t converted because God displayed His power through an earthquake that leveled the prison, but because Paul submitted himself to the Lord, whatever the cost.
Few people can illuminate Scripture and bring it to life as well as Ray Vander Laan. He’s been our guest numerous times over the years and has partnered with us since 1995 to produce the extensive That the World May Know video series, which has touched millions of lives around the world. He has led nearly 10,000 people through tours in the Middle East. Ray is a religion instructor at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan. He’s an ordained minister, an expert in Jewish history, and has been teaching the Bible for over 40 years.
He’ll also be joining us for Focus on the Family’s 40^th anniversary cruise aboard the Disney Dream. We’re chartering the entire ship, and Ray will be one of the devotional speakers. If you’d like to spend three or four days on the high seas discovering the Bible through Ray’s teaching, I invite you to join us. We only have a few spots left, so visit our website for full information about the cruise.
I hope you’ll join us for “Authentic Christianity: Counting the Cost” on your local radio station, online, or on our free phone app. You can find the That the World May Know series and other helpful resources in our online bookstore.

Summer Reading Recommendations

Summer is always a good time to dial back all the normal activities a notch and dive into some good books. Whether it’s the change in weather, the kids being out of school, or the natural change in pace, there’s no better time to pick up a new book and have your imagination and inspiration stretched, your faith deepened and challenged, and your heart and mind rekindled.

Here are a few books that I can personally recommend to help you be inspired and challenged this summer:

http://www.vergenetwork.org/summer-reading-recommendations/

Grace and peace,

Stew
Founding Director, Verge Network & Conferences

P.S. There's no better time than summer to pick up a new book and have your imagination stretched, your faith deepened, and your heart rekindled. Here are a few I personally recommend:

http://www.vergenetwork.org/summer-reading-recommendations/

The Trials of Life

June 26, 2017

by Betty Jordan and Patrick Hill
Have you ever asked the question, “God, why are you allowing me to go through this?” That type of question may be followed by another, maybe with a bit more passion – “Will you please take this trial from me? I don’t want to do this anymore!” If this is you, you’re not alone. No one enjoys trials, suffering, or discomfort.
The Bible, however, paints a much different picture of how we should view trials. James, in writing to the Jews dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, says this: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). Wait, what? Count it all joy when I fall into various trials? I don’t know about you, but at this point, this makes no sense to me. Let’s go on to the next three verses – “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:3-5).
With the added context to James 1:2 there is a bit more to chew on. Could it be that James is not implying that trials bring us immediate joy; rather, that trials are life circumstances that test us, giving us grief in various forms and on various levels, functioning as a forerunner of joy? Could it be that trials are meant to reveal the reality of our hearts and minds at a point in time and circumstance? As the pain is endured, could joy be the reaction that reflects how we are expecting an intervention from the Lord?
According to James, trials (those circumstances that we’d just as soon avoid), lead us to patience, a steadfast perseverance, that grounds us in our faith journey. Moreover, James suggests that we seek wisdom, which is a God-ordained gift to all who simply ask for it. So, could it be that rather than asking for relief from the trial, we should ask for wisdom instead? If we get instant relief from the trials we face, do we have an opportunity to grow, to become “perfect and complete, lacking nothing”? Or do we continue to have a shallow faith that’s easily rocked at the slightest provocation? If we only get relief, could we be missing out on getting closer and closer to God’s design for us – a person with a steadfast faith, who walks in wisdom and in truth?
We can easily lose perspective due to the enemy’s interference when we are suffering – after all, who likes suffering? It’s our time in the trials, however, that requires us to rely on God. If our lives were trouble-free would we need God and His perspective? Would we need His wisdom? Life’s reality involves suffering, but it’s our faith that helps us see how God sees us in our suffering. When we’re in a time of suffering, God is the one who is intervening, seeking to draw us closer to Himself. The wisdom that we ask for will help us to see him at work; without that, we’re just beings tossed about by chance and fate. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather inquire of the Creator when I’m faced with a trial than trust in some cosmic non-personal force.
So, how do we get this wisdom? We ask God – this gift is given to all “liberally and without reproach.” Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This fear of the Lord is about respect, awe and submission. If we seek the easy way out of life’s trials, are we submitting to the Lord, or are we treating Him as a benevolent rescuer who has nothing to teach us? Through life’s difficulties, we hold on to that desire for wisdom because we need wisdom to see trials from our Heavenly Father’s perspective.
So, the question is, “what kind of life do you want to live?” Do you want to be steadfast in your faith, rooted in the wisdom that can only come from our Heavenly Father, or are you content with a quick fix or a speedy rescue? The quick fix will never bring growth, wisdom or maturity; rather, you will continue to be “…tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:13b-14).

Filed Under: Helpful Articles: Personal Issues

Don’t Overlook This Essential Spiritual Discipline for Families

By

Paul David Tripp

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June 22, 2017

The past two weeks I’ve written to you about building a healthier family: First, by SURRENDERING your kingdom to God’s kingdom, and second, by living for a PURPOSE bigger than your own.
If you’re anything like me, those two things won’t come naturally; they’ll prove to be a significant heart struggle. So how do we get better? With DISCIPLINE.
A disciplined person inserts good habits into their schedule, repeating them over and over again even when they don’t feel like it. For the Christian, there are many spiritual disciplines: spending time in prayer, reading the Scriptures, attending church, participating in a small group, giving generously of your time and money, and more.
For Christian families, these same spiritual disciplines need to be prioritized: spending time in prayer (with your spouse) // reading the Scriptures (with your kids) // attending church (as a family) // participating in a small group (with your spouse) // giving generously of your time and money (in a way that involves your children).
But I’m concerned that there’s an essential spiritual discipline—with specific ramifications for families—that often gets neglected: It’s the spiritual discipline of saying no.
Before I continue, read Galatians 5:13-15: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (NIV, emphasis added).
To indulge means to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of. The Apostle Paul is warning us: “Don’t allow yourself to enjoy the pleasures of sin.” But take another look at those verses. There are specific relational consequences when we indulge the flesh. We are never just sinning in isolation—our spouse, our children, our siblings and our parents will be impacted by our sins.
Let me phrase what I’m trying to communicate in a different way: A family becomes a healthy family when members of that family say no. When husbands and fathers say no to indulging the flesh, the home becomes a safer place. When wives and mothers say no to the pleasures of sin, the family becomes a healthier unit. When brothers and sisters and children say no to themselves, they won’t bite and devour each other—both literally and spiritually!
Disciplining yourself to say no to sin will be hard, just as surrendering to God’s kingdom and living for his purpose is hard. Indulging the flesh is natural for us all, but Jesus understands our inability. Not only does he forgive us when we stumble, he now lives within us and helps us say no to sin and choose instead to serve our family in humble love.
A family becomes a healthy family when members of that family commit to the discipline of saying no to themselves and refuse to indulge the sinful nature. When you live in the power of the Holy Spirit, a beautiful and wonderful home becomes possible!
This resource is from Paul Tripp Ministries. For additional resources, visit www.paultripp.com. Used with permission.