NUMBER SIX, 2021
In this issue 3
The Biblical Basis for Encouragement
6
How Can I Be More Gracious?
charles r. swindoll steve johnson
Leaders: Lives and Lessons 8
Paul: Living and Leading with Limitations
steve johnson
11
Battle of the Will
colleen swindoll thompson
Purposeful Living 12 Purpose to Choose a Positive Attitude steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 14
The Secret: An Attitude of Fortitude
Puzzle 15 Positive Words in Action 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 © 2021 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.
THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT by charles r. swindoll
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he Scripture that I want us to look at Let us hold fast the confession of our is Hebrews 10. All the way through hope without wavering, for He who this letter the spotlight is upon Jesus promised is faithful; (v. 23) Christ, the Superior One. He has opened The second command is a strong one, for us a new and living way to the Father. written before the ink is dry on the first. We don’t have to go through a system of “Let us draw near.” Amen! “Let us hold works. We don’t have to go through some fast.” Amen! But also: other person who will represent our and let us consider how to stimulate one cause. We don’t have to earn our way into another to love and good deeds. (v. 24) the presence of God and hope that He will Did you ever know that was in the Bible? lend an ear and hear our requests. No, not Let us give attention on how we might that. Finally, the climax: stimulate our brothers and sisters in the Therefore, brethren, family of God. It isn’t The family of God is since we have just a suggestion, an confidence to enter not a place for verbal off-the-cuff, casual ideal the holy place by putdowns, sarcastic like, “Oh, by the way, it the blood of Jesus, might look good, while jabs, critical comment, you’re holding fast to by a new and living and harsh judgments. the faith, to toss in a way which He inaugurated for us We get enough of that little encouragement.” through the veil, But he’s not through from the world. that is, His f lesh, with the thought. and since we have a great priest over the Not forsaking our own assembling house of God, (vv. 19–21 NASB1995) together, as is the habit of some, but His point is this: Since we have confiencouraging one another; and all the dence to enter the Lord’s presence and more as you see the day drawing near. since we have Christ as our “great priest,” (v. 25) let us execute the following three comIt is impossible to stimulate someone mands, each of which is introduced by else to love and good deeds if we are not “Let us...” around them. Encouragement is a faceLet us draw near with a sincere heart to-face thing. So, in effect, he says: in full assurance of faith, having our And let us not neglect our meeting hearts sprinkled clean from an evil together, as some people do, but conscience and our bodies washed with encourage one another, especially now pure water. (v. 22) that the day of his return is drawing This is symbolic language. It means: near. (v. 25 NLT) Let us come into the presence of our God I see a couple of thoughts woven clean and pure. Let’s have no lingering through these lines. sin hanging heavily over us like an anchor 1. Encouragement is not the responsias we attempt to storm the throne with bility of a gifted few, but the responour needs. Let us draw near! sibility of the family of God The next command: Obviously, the official role of a pastor
is the responsibility of a few. And the role of an elder or deacon is another responsibility for a few. Maybe an officer or a teacher is the responsibility of a few people in a church. But I don’t find this passage addressed to any specific, gifted individual, rather to all in the family. That means you. 2. Encouragement is not something that is needed less in the body, but more You’ll notice that the writer refers to this being needed “all the more as you see the day [of Christ’s return] drawing near.” Do you know why? “…in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1 KJV). Interesting word that Paul uses, translated “perilous” in the King James Version. “Troublesome” is the paraphrase that some will use. It is also like our English term savage. “In the last days, savage times will come.” These are the days in which we live.
Now why do I emphasize that? Because that’s the reason we need encouragement all the more. When we walk out of the loving fellowship of God’s family, we move into “savage territory.” In that realm we can be easily intimidated. In light of that fact, God’s people need to turn on the encouragement! The family of God is not a place for verbal putdowns, sarcastic jabs, critical comment, and harsh judgments. We get enough of that from the world. This is a place we need to assemble for the purpose of being encouraged... and we are free to be ourselves. Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “The Biblical Basis for Encouragement,” Insights (May 1998): 1. Copyright © 1998 by Insight for Living. All rights reserved worldwide.
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HOW CAN I BE MORE GRACIOUS?
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was disturbed by a recent discussion about grace. The assertion was made that when unbelievers hear the phrase “evangelical Christian” the word gracious does not come to mind. Hypocrite, racist, homophobic, and intolerant all come up well ahead of gracious. The thing that disturbed me then and still bothers me, is that it’s true. In some ways, I can understand why the world doesn’t connect grace with Christians. We try to stand for truth and do what is right in God’s eyes. We don’t accept any and all behaviour as the world does so we are seen to be intolerant. We don’t equate grace with tolerance. It is not the world’s way to practice grace or see it much so it is a foreign concept. And even though the world may
not know it, grace is extended by Christians every day in many ways around the world. It’s just not the nature of a true act of grace to draw attention to itself nor is it the kind of thing that makes for catchy news headlines. Having said that, is there anything we can do differently to be more gracious people? I believe one reason we fail to exercise grace in our relationships is because we don’t view people as they actually are. Instead, we look at them through the lens of how they hurt us, or our prejudices, or past experiences. Then we label them based on this one-dimensional perception of them. Labels distort, dehumanize, and block our ability to see people as they are. Hurts. In the case of those who have hurt us and whom we haven’t forgiven, we
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by steve johnson
see them through the lens of the offence ing shadows, morning mists, and threadand label accordingly: “he’s a cheater,” or bare garments. We are only human and “she’s a liar.” As long as we cling to that as such, full of sin, inconsistency, weakone-dimensional perspective, we can ness, and failure. It is our nature. “To err justify not showing them grace. Because is human...” What if we consciously thought about after all, we reason, cheaters or liars the lens through which we view others? deserve condemnation, not grace. Prejudices. Prejudices also keep us What if we exchanged our labels and perfrom being gracious. People of other reli- ceptions that hinder us from showing grace gions, nationalities, ethnicities, or colour for the way God sees us—as mere human are viewed through that lens alone. We dust in need of compassion and grace? Tony Campolo tells the story of throwing accentuate their differences and ignore our common humanity. In doing so we a birthday party at 3:30 a.m. in a diner in dehumanize them. We have prejudices Honolulu for a prostitute named Agnes. She had never had a birthagainst “sinners.” Yes, the day party and was overnon-believer is a sinner I believe one whelmed by the kindness. whose sins offend a holy reason we fail to When the party was over, God. But if that is the only exercise grace in Tony prayed that her life lens we see them through, our relationships is would be changed, and that then likely we will be ungracious to them. because we don’t God would be good to her. Harry, the owner of the Past experiences. A view people as they diner leans over, and with previous negative experiactually are. a trace of hostility in his ence with someone can cause us to withhold grace to any other voice, says, “Hey, you never told me you people who are similar or remind us of was a preacher. What kind of church do them in some way. Consciously or not we you belong to anyway?” In one of those moments when just think, “I don’t trust her because someone the right words came Tony answers him like her mistreated me.” Changing our lens. In Psalm 103 we quietly, “I belong to a church that throws have a wonderful account of God’s grace, birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in forgiveness, healing, and kindness to us. the morning.” Harry thinks for a moment and in a For thirteen verses David recounts God’s amazing love. Then he pivots on the mocking way says, “No you don't. There word “for” in verse 14 to give us a glimpse ain't no church like that. If there was I'd of why God treats us the way He does. It join it. Yep, I'd join a church like that.” Ultimately grace is the only thing that has to do with how He views us: “For he knows how weak we are; he remembers makes a difference to us human dust. we are only dust.” God is compassionate and gracious to Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for us because “we are but dust.” Compared Living Canada. to God who is eternal, people are mortal— destined to die (Psalm 78:38–39). We are like withering grass, fading flowers, fleet-
PAUL: LIVING AND LEADING WITH LIMITATIONS by steve johnson
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lthough the Apostle Paul accom- God’s grace there is no room to complain plished much in his life he experi- about who we are or are not, or what we have or don’t have. enced numerous limitations. 2. Humility • Having to support himself in his Accepting the measure of God’s grace missionary endeavours at times by produced humility because Paul recogmaking tents (Acts 18:3) nized His place in God’s economy. “By • Having no place to preach because he God’s grace and mighty power, I have had been kicked out of synagogues as been given the privilege of serving him a trouble-maker (Acts 13:50; 18:6) by spreading this Good News. Though • Opposition from false teachers, legalI am the least deserving of all God’s ists, and Jewish and Christian leaders people” (Ephesians 3:7–8). This humility who belittled his work and authority put him in a mindset to further lay hold (Acts 13:50) of God’s grace to handle • Desertion by fellowHaving a limitation the limitations because workers (2 Timothy 1:15) • Physical suffering— does not necessarily “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the weariness, pain, hunger, mean a liability. humble” (James 4:6). thirst, cold, nakedness, 3. Consecration beatings, imprisonments, stoning, and Paul was completely surrendered to shipwrecks (2 Corinthians 11:23–27) God’s will, glory, and call on his life right • Confinement at the end of his life limfrom the start (Galatians 1:15–16). He ited his movement (Acts 28:16, 20, 30) said, “For to me, living means living for • His “thorn in the flesh” Christ” (Philippians 1:21). And as unpleas(2 Corinthians 12:7) Having a limitation does not necessarily ant as his circumstances sometimes were, mean a liability. Paul illustrates five attitudes he could affirm “that everything that required for transforming limitations into has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News” (Philippians 1:12). assets and living and leading victoriously. Spreading the Gospel was more impor1. Acceptance He accepted the measure of God’s grace tant than his limitations. in his life and thereby accepted himself. 4. Reframing Paul called his greatest limitation his “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). Once we realize “thorn in the flesh,” the exact nature of everything this side of hell comes to us by which is unknown. He handled this by
first praying for its removal (2 Corinthians 12:8)—always a good initial response to limitations. Realizing that God wasn’t going to remove it he then understood God had another purpose in mind which was to keep him from becoming proud of his accomplishments. In response Paul reframed his adversity into an advantage. Instead of a cure for his thorn God gave him grace to bear it patiently. This was and still is His means to superseding limitations and turning them into an advantage. Grace is God’s way to display His strength and power in us. Paul’s weaknesses then became a vehicle through which he would be refined to be more like Christ and by which the power of Christ could more readily work through a humble Paul. By reframing Paul transformed limitations into strengths. 5. Rejoicing Having understood how God’s grace works in view of limitations and reframing his limitations and weaknesses Paul
then chooses a positive attitude toward them. He chooses to actively glory in them instead of just passively enduring them. He valued them as instruments of humbling and channels of grace to Him which God made available (2 Corinthians 12:9). He chooses to boast about them and to take pleasure in them because of what God accomplished not in spite of them but because of them. Our limitations may not be like Paul’s but none of them need defeat us. We too may transform them using the template Paul gives us. By understanding and trusting that God has His purposes in them, we too can be victorious and fruitful and, even because of our limitations, be strong. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
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BATTLE OF THE WILL by colleen swindoll thompson
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hat battles are you fighting today? Even today my complaint is bitter; I’m not referring to those we read or [God’s] hand is heavy in spite of my hear about in the news. I mean the wars that groaning. rage inside you—which ones are you fightIf only I knew where to find him... ing today? Here are some of mine: holding I would state my case before him on to resentment, allowing frustration to and fill my mouth with arguments. overwhelm me, wishing for something (Job 23:2–4 NIV) easier, wondering why trials continue, and Job’s pain was so awful; his view, so human. missing my personal freedoms. I don’t know how long Job had to fight this Painful or pressing conditions quickly battle, but somewhere between these verses reveal our internal battles. These struggles and what follows in verse 10, Job found peace: are not usually between what is good or bad, “But he knows the way that I take; / when he right or wrong, but between has tested me, I will come Painful or pressing our desires and God’s will. forth as gold” (23:10). conditions quickly As hard as it is to admit, the Would you like to find battles that rage within are peace and “come forth reveal our internal often caused by our willful- battles. These struggles as gold”? If so, when your ness. What God has allowed battles rage, take these are not usually for us often conflicts with encouragements to heart: between what is good 1. Examine your soul by our heart’s desire. So, let me ask you again: or bad, right or wrong, truthfully naming your What battle are you facing battle but between our today? Are you envious of 2. Express your battles desires and God’s will. continually to God another’s roomy schedule, jealous of someone’s financial success, or 3. Surrender your will to God’s faithful and afraid of being misunderstood or judged? sovereign will for your life Whatever conflict you face, choose to believe As I have examined my soul and expressed that Christ is sovereign and good and faithful, my frustrations and resentments, God has despite your circumstances. It’s not an easy filled me with His peace and His strength to choice because it involves the resignation of accept His direction throughout life. your will, but it’s the choice of faith because it says: “I believe God’s plan for my life is perfect Copyright © 2010 by Insight for Living Ministries. All rights reserved worldwide. and right, though the sorrow remains.” Job was candid with his own painful war of the will. Listen and you can hear the battle rage in his life,
PURPOSE TO CHOOSE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE by steve johnson
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Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it…. I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”1
There are two easily missed but very significant words tucked into the middle of that quote. They underlie everything we do in life and faith. Before elaborating on them let me touch on the subject of the quote, attitude. Pastor Chuck Swindoll writes about, “when my attitudes are right.” In the context of his quote, I take that to mean what we’d call a positive attitude. Why is having a positive attitude so desirable? For one reason, because of the power it has. The power I’m referring to is not some sort of mystical ability to change things by just thinking about them. Rather, it is the power that energizes us and those around us. Ever notice how if you are in a group of people and someone with a negative attitude joins the group often the whole group experiences a “downer”? Conversely, when
someone with an enthusiastic positive atti- and think we can have a positive attitude tude joins the group, the whole group feels only when we feel positive. Feelings are uplifted and more energized. That is the responders that arise in response to how we think and act but they are not an adequate power of a positive attitude. What exactly does a positive attitude look basis for decision-making. Positive feelings like? In Philippians 4:4–9 Paul lays out some come after we deliberately choose positive characteristics that I believe constitute a posi- actions. Based on the Scripture passages tive attitude. It is joyful (v.4), thoughtful (v.5), above, the actions that constitute a positive prayerful (v.6a), thankful (v.6b), peaceful (v.7). attitude are commands we choose to obey It is focused on “what is true, and honorable, or not. When we don’t feel positive, we and right, and pure, and lovely, and admi- need to grab our “wanter” (feeling) by our rable” (v.8a) and thinks “about things that are “willer” and choose. Choosing a positive attitude is also not excellent and worthy of praise” (v.8b). He does the same thing over in Romans just wishful, unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky 12:12–14. “Rejoice in our confident hope. thinking, or ungrounded Pollyannish optimism either. It is a deliberBe patient in trouble, Too often we ate act of the will that for and keep on praying. make our attitude Christians is based on what When God’s people Jesus has done for us in His are in need, be ready to the victim of our help them. Always be feelings and think death and Resurrection. We have reasons to be the most eager to practice hospiwe can have a positive people in the world! tality. Bless those who positive attitude All our sins are forgiven, we persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that only when we feel are heading to an eternity in heaven, we proclaim the God will bless them.” positive. best news humanity can Based on these verses a positive attitude is joyful, confident, ever hear, and we have a heavenly Father patient, prayerful, ready to help, eager, who loves us infinitely and lavishes grace and lovingkindness on us every day. There hospitable, and blesses others. That brings me back to the two signifi- is so much to be positive about! Every moment of every day we have a cant words I mentioned at the start. They choice regarding the attitude we choose. are decision and choice. A positive attitude is first a decision. It We can’t change our past and we can’t begins in our minds when we realize there change how other people are going to think is an alternative to negativity and that there and act. We can’t change the inevitable or can be different outcomes. Even more than things out of our control. But there is one a realization it is a mental aspiration to want thing we can control and change and that a positive attitude because it energizes us is our attitude. and the people around us and brings glory to God. It is the single most significant deci- 1 Charles R. Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip (Minneapolis: World Wide, 1982), pp. 206, 207. sion we can make on a day-to-day basis. A positive attitude is second, based on a Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for choice, not on feelings. Too often we make Living Canada. our attitude the victim of our feelings
THE ETERNAL I AM by charles r. swindoll
“It isn’t age that bothers us; it’s the lack of enthusiasm regarding life that grieves us.” — CHUCK SWINDOLL
The Secret: An Attitude of Fortitude
Spend decades working for full-time pay... enjoy your last years in full-time play. Sadly, many believe this lie, adopt it as their attitude, and pledge allegiance to it as their purpose. But many find their enthusiasm waning, especially in their final years, because that pervading creed leaves them empty. We exist for more than all work or all play. Today, we’ll study the life of an 85-yearold man, Caleb, whose faith in God gave him a higher purpose and transformed his attitude. From Joshua 14, Chuck Swindoll shows us what it takes to have that abiding enthusiasm that lasts into our final days. In Rahab’s story (Joshua 2), we saw a Canaanite prostitute display faith in God and become a covenant member of Israel. In Achan’s story (Joshua 7), we saw a covenant member of Israel trivialize God’s instructions and receive God’s sweeping judgment. Afterward, in chapters 8–12, God used Joshua and the Israelites to conquer the kings of Canaan. Then, God allotted the land. Joshua 13 recalls the distributions
across the Jordan River to Rueben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The allocations in the promised land began with the tribe of Judah, specifically with Caleb. Again and again, we hear that Caleb faithfully followed the Lord (Numbers 14:24; 32:12; Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:9, 14). In fact, God told Moses, “But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have” (Numbers 14:24). Caleb persevered in his walk with God because he remained confident in God’s provision. He didn’t waver. He stayed focused and knew the goal. With an attitude of fortitude, Caleb received God’s promise. A similar theme surfaces in the New Testament. The book of Revelation records Jesus’ urgent letters to seven churches exhorting them to refocus and persevere so they can inherit His promises. Take a moment to read the letter to each of these churches. Then, write a single-sentence summary of Jesus’ call to faithfulness as well as His unique promise to each church.
“The Secret: An Attitude of Fortitude” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Changing Wanderers into Worshippers. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Word Search
Positive Words in Action Difficulty ● ● ● ○ There are 30 words from Romans 12:9–21 (NIV) hidden in this puzzle.
G F J C G J Q X D M P L Y B Y E W N A N B B W S V E E H I S A L O O I I Q C H U A P V I O G P U B L L V T A E C O N Y O O L E F C T K T R H E H G O O D T C R Y A G B E L E F M O U R N I E G O R O V R E F S U D K W O G T D J E K F L Y S Y L L E J Z P U L G F N O Z I Q S N E E E S R C H O U I V M S N E E R A B F A E O H L R V R X G R W L E J N Y S N A J D P A T I E N T B V L E R O R L B O V E R C O M E K O R E R M B F E Z E G N E V E R A L P U O Y T I L A T I P S O H A P E I N E T A I C O S S A V K D M U L Y
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INSIGHT FOR LIVING CANADA PUZZLE CONTEST RULES
21MIN6
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, 2021 to October 31, 2021 there will be a new puzzle challenge with another opportunity to gain a contest entry. Completed puzzles received before November 12, 2021 will be entered into a draw. One grand prize winner will be selected by random draw and notified by email or phone. 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. Mail: 1-30445 Progressive Way Abbotsford BC V2T 6W3 // Email: info@insightforliving.ca // Fax: 1.604.870.8743
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