NUMBER THREE, 2021
In this issue 3
The Gathering Storm
7
Our Ultimate Hooray
insight for living ministries charles r. swindoll
Leaders: Lives and Lessons 9
Moses and Saying “No”
steve johnson
Purposeful Living 12 Purpose to Follow God’s Call steve johnson 14
God Will Be With You
insight for living ministries
Puzzle 15 Purpose to Follow God’s Call
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 GATHERING STORM by insight for living ministries
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hile Jesus was indeed gentle and kind, He also took a bold stand against sin. In fact, when confronting evil dressed in the garb of religion, His formidable anger took many by surprise. He sharply rebuked the religious leaders in Israel for turning their privileged status into an opportunity to gain wealth and power. And from the example of Jesus, we learn how to stand up for the truth, even as we lose popularity and suffer persecution for doing what is right. Exposition 1. Jesus Was Not Afraid to Stand for Truth (Matthew 10:34; Luke 12:40–53) Very often, people portray Jesus as the meek and mild teacher who taught His followers to love others as themselves, to avoid retaliation by turning the other cheek, to pursue peace, and to avoid judging others. While Jesus did indeed possess these qualities and teach these values, the picture is incomplete. These passages reveal that Jesus was more than the pale, languid figure often portrayed in art, on television, and in movies. 2. T he Enemies of Jesus Cared More about Pleasing Others Than Living by the Truth (Matthew 15:1–9, 12; Luke 19:45–48) Many centuries before the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Jewish people were conquered by the Babylonians and carried off to Babylon as slaves. With their temple destroyed and their homeland colonized by other cultures, the Jews looked to the Law of Moses to sustain their national identity and to maintain their distinctiveness as God’s chosen people. In order to help them apply the Law to everyday life in their new and unfamiliar home, teachers of the Hebrew Scriptures
wrote very careful, specific instructions for the people to follow. However, what began as a practical aid for Jews became a sacred tradition that took on a life of its own. The body of sacred traditions developed by “the elders” eventually supplanted the very Law it was intended to uphold. And by the time of Jesus, failure to observe tradition was regarded as disobedience to the Law of God. Furthermore, this man-made religiosity became the means by which many Pharisees maintained the illusion of moral superiority over others. Ironically, their religious zeal put them at odds with God. Not only were they motivated by a lust for power, their traditions often violated the very Law they supposedly cherished. During the time of Jesus’s earthly ministry, worship in the Jerusalem temple had become big business for religious leaders. The chief priests refused to accept any currency except shekels minted in Israel. Money changers within the temple precincts gladly exchanged any currency for Jewish shekels at an inflated rate and then pocketed the difference. Furthermore, the Law of Moses stated that any animal offered to God had to be flawless; only the best would do. So the men running the temple would inspect the animals brought for sacrifice, ostensibly to verify that the offerings were worthy. However, this was nothing more than a ruse. They arbitrarily rejected animals so that they could offer a suitable replacement in exchange for a fee. Ironically, the “suitable” animal offered for exchange had, only moments before, been the unsuitable sacrifice of another worshipper! At the end of His ministry, Jesus publicly condemned the religious system
It’s not enough to know what’s wrong with in Jerusalem and exposed the moral a situation; we must also define what is bankruptcy of the men who ran it (Read right. Once we have determined the correct Matthew 23:1–33). Jesus punctuated each course of action, we must then keep our count of His indictment with a “woe,” and eyes focused on following it, even if others then He addressed the scribes and Pharidiscourage or persecute us. sees directly. In the original language, woe is an interjection that expresses the 2. Encountering evil requires sword-like confrontation, not peacekeeping comoutrage or the sorrow of the speaker upon promise. Stay alert seeing the suffering of another. One early Christian writer likened God’s While Jesus had a soft spot in His heart Word to a two-edged sword, “able to judge for people who had been trampled by the the thoughts and intentions of the heart” world’s system, He had little patience for (Hebrews 4:12). In other those in religious leadership who neglected or The Lord does not call words, God’s truth has abused others. They had us to be successful. a way of cutting to the heart of a matter. When direct access to the truth He calls us to be a clear moral issue is at of God, yet they used their faithful. Success or stake, people-pleasing privileged position to failure is ultimately compromise will tempt hoard wealth and power. us to lay aside the sword Make no mistake; they His responsibility. of truth. However, we knew what they were must remember to keep our sword pointed doing. And when Jesus boldly exposed their at the issue. rebellion, it put Him on a collision course 3. Being bold when there’s a principle with evil. worth fighting for is worth the risk, Obviously, not every encounter with even if it offends and results in miswrongdoing should be met with such understanding. Stay strong passion. Jesus encountered evil in many Misunderstanding is the occupational different forms, and He often responded hazard of leadership. Others will certainly with compassion for the sinner. Nevermisunderstand or even deliberately mistheless, even when Jesus took a more genconstrue your intentions, cutting to the tle approach, He was always fearless and heart of your (and every person’s) basic direct. God is not impressed by religious desire to be liked. Nevertheless, the moral fervor or hollow adherence to rules. He stand you take will be ultimately worth the wants people to do what is right because sacrifice. they are motivated by love for Him. 4. Speaking up for what is right is no Application guarantee you’ll win or gain respect. As we determine to take our own stand Stay realistic against evil, four principles emerge from Jesus took a strong stand against the outrathe example of Jesus. geous evil of the religious leaders in Jerusa1. Remembering your mission helps lem and a storm quickly gathered around you navigate through any storm. Stay Him. He understood the risk. In fact, He focused
knew it would lead to His death. He said to the disciples on the eve of His arrest, “If I hadn’t come and told [the religious leaders] all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father— it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’” (John 15:22–25 MSG) Sometimes the evil we face is so firmly entrenched that we will not see its defeat in our lifetime. In fact, the fight may even require us to sacrifice everything, including our lives. But the Lord does not call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful. Success or failure is ultimately His responsibility. Ours is to be sure we stand on the correct side of the issue.
Conclusion When faced with taking a stand for what is right, our greatest temptation is to remain neutral, to forfeit moral leadership for sake of popularity. Certainly, we should choose our battles wisely and be sure of our motives before we take a stand. But we cannot allow the approval of others to outweigh faithfulness to God and the truth He loves so much. Like Jesus, we must stand up for the truth, even if we lose popularity and suffer persecution for doing what is right. Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Jesus: The Greatest Life of All (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 157–170. Copyright © 2008 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Also adapted from Insight for Living, Jesus: The Greatest Life of All Bible Companion (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007), 101–109. Copyright © 2007 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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OUR ULTIMATE HOORAY by charles r. swindoll
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ew things solemnize the finality of The answer to each of these questions death like making funeral arrange- is the same: the hope of bodily resurrection. ments and choosing a coffin, or arranging We draw strength from this single the details of a memorial service. They are truth almost every day of our lives—more among the gruelling but necessary duties than we realize. It becomes the mental of the bereaved. Death comes to all; Good glue that holds our otherwise shattered Friday reminds us of that grim reality. thoughts together. Impossible though it What gives a widow courage as she may be for us to understand the details stands beside a fresh grave? of how God is going to pull it off, we hang What is the ultimate hope of the our hopes on fragile, threadlike thoughts disabled, the amputee, the abused, the that say, "Someday, He will make it right" burn victim? and "Thank God, all this will change" and How can the parents of "When we're with Him, we children who have brain Death comes to shall be like Him." damage or physical handi- all; Good Friday More than a few times a caps keep from living their year I look into red, swolreminds us of entire lives totally and comlen eyes and remind the that grim reality. pletely depressed? despairing and the grieving Why would anyone who is blind or deaf that "there's a land that is fairer than day"1 or paralyzed be encouraged when he or when, as John promised in the Revelation, she thinks of the life beyond? He will wipe every tear from their How can we see past the martyrdom eyes, and there will be no more of some helpless hostage or devoted death or sorrow or crying or pain. missionary? All these things are gone forever. Where do the thoughts of a young (Revelation 21:4) couple go when they finally recover from Because the grave is not the end for the grief of losing their baby? anyone who believes. When a family receives the tragic news Hooray for such wondrous hope! that a little daughter was found dead or their dad was killed in a plane crash or 1. Sanford F. Bennett and Joseph P. Webster, a son overdosed on drugs, what single “Sweet By and By.” truth becomes their whole focus? Copyright © 2007, 2011 by Charles R. Swindoll, What is the final answer to pain, mourn- Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. ing, senility, insanity, terminal diseases, sudden calamities, and fatal accidents?
MOSES AND SAYING “NO” by steve johnson
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very leader or would-be leader must death and “yes” to obedience in faithfully ask and answer the question, “What keeping the Passover as God commanded. Throughout his life, this was something am I going to do with my life?” Regardless of how one answers this question, at some Moses continued learning. Perhaps he point one will have to say “no” in order to thought being the leader meant being pursue their life calling. The critical ques- omnicompetent. His father-in-law Jethro saw how Moses was spending entire days tion is, what or who will you say “no” to? The leadership quality we learn from listening to and solving disputes between Moses is the ability to say “no.” It was this, people so he told Moses how to empower and his ability to deny himself, that entitled and delegate much of that task to others. Moses accepted his limitations and said and enabled Moses to be a great leader. How did Moses get to the point of say- “no” to pride and self-sufficiency, thus ing “no”? I believe the events surrounding keeping him from burning out and able to Moses’ departure from Egypt shattered be a better leader for the people. Later in their wanderings, Moses was him. When the Lord appeared in a burnattacked regarding his ing bush, Moses was an wife, and his leadership insecure, fearful man. His The leadership quality responses to God showed we learn from Moses was criticized and undermined by those closest to this, “Who am I? Who are is the ability to say him (Numbers 12:1–16). you? What if the Israelites “no.” It was this, and his Moses resisted lashing don’t believe me? I’m not ability to deny himself, back and vindicating good with words. Send himself. He let God settle someone else” (Exodus 3). that entitled and The Lord graciously con- enabled Moses to be a the score. He was able to say “no” to bitterness vinced Moses He would be great leader. toward Miriam, and grawith him. Moses believed God and by placing his confidence in God, ciously asked the Lord to heal her of her Moses was able to say “no” to Egypt and sin-induced leprosy. For this he was called the most humble person on earth (v.3). “yes” to leading Israel. Moses’ humility was due in part to his Hebrews 11:23–28 summarizes this situation well. The courage to say “no” was awareness and acceptance of his limitafirst modelled by his parents, who were tions. He did not view himself as superior. unafraid to disobey the king’s command to He was humble because he also cultivated kill Hebrew babies. When Moses grew up, a meaningful, personal relationship and he rejected the wealth, power, and fame of fellowship with the Lord. The attitude that allowed Moses to say being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses said “no” to the fleeting pleasures of “no” to temporal pleasures and pursuits sin and instead shared in the oppression of is spelled out for us in Hebrews 11:23–27 God’s people. He said “no” to fearing Pha- (NASB). By faith, Moses’ vision was focused raoh and left Egypt refusing to turn back. on “seeing Him who is unseen” and “lookHe said “no” to unbelief and the angel of ing to the reward.” In other words, the
ability to say “no” is rooted in a vibrant faith in God and the belief that He is the ultimate rewarder. That focus keeps everything else in perspective. From there, Moses carefully considered and weighed two outcomes—the riches gained from suffering the reproach of Christ and enduring ill-treatment with God’s people versus the treasures of Egypt and temporary pleasures of sin. He concluded the value of God’s eternal reward was greater than any temporal material wealth and position. So he chose to say “no” to the pleasures and treasures of Egypt. In the words of martyred missionary Jim Elliot, “he was no fool to give what he couldn’t keep to gain what he couldn’t lose.” Staying focused on the One who ultimately matters and His eternal reward waiting for us allows us to keep things in perspective and say “no” to lesser things and anything that “slows us down…We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the
champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:1–2). The ability for the Christian leader to say “no” is rooted in these same things. It comes by fixing our eyes on Jesus as the One we are ultimately accountable to and by Whom we will be rewarded. Then, we must carefully weigh the eternal values against the temporal ones. Because Moses’ vision and values were focused on that which is eternal, he had the ability to say “no” and God gave him a leadership role that far exceeded anything he ever would have had in Egypt. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
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PURPOSE TO FOLLOW GOD’S CALL
by steve johnson
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ven before the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan for the salvation of His people and the restoration of all things (Ephesians 1:4–10). God is always at work, even now all around us, to carry out that plan. Perhaps the almost incomprehensible truth in all of this is that He includes you and me in that plan, inviting and calling us to be part of it. God created each of us. We each have our own blend of personality, talents, abilities, passions, spiritual gifts, and experiences in life that make us unique. There is no one else exactly like you or me. And each of us, like a musician in an orchestra, has
a part to play in God’s great symphony of history during our time here on this earth. The question is, when our divine Conductor calls on us to play our part, will we do it willingly and with purpose? Moses was a Hebrew, born to slaves, but raised and educated in Pharaoh’s household. Through a series of events and mistakes Moses ended up fleeing Egypt and, seeking to put his past behind him, settling down to raise a family and become a shepherd in the land of Midian (Exodus 2). But God had other plans for Moses. He appeared to Moses in a burning bush and called him to the immense task of leading
Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3). When God irrational fear that God will make us do told him to go to Pharaoh Moses’ fears something horrific if we respond to His call and insecurities welled up. Focused on hold us back. God is infinitely wise so He knows what his own inadequacies instead of the Lord’s adequacy the excuses began. “Who am I? is best for us, and is infinitely loving, so Who are you? What if the Israelites don’t He is working for our good. It’s only when believe me? I’m not good with words. Send we let go of those things holding us back that we will be able to respond to the Lord someone else.” In Moses’ hand was his shepherd’s staff to join Him in His great work of redemp(Exodus 4:2), used for herding and protect- tion and restoration. When we release ing sheep. It was part of his identity and to the Lord whatever we are clinging to it security as a shepherd, and represented becomes God’s. Only then are we able to the simple existence he had settled for. The fully embrace what God is calling us to do. Romans 12:1–3 teaches what Moses’ story Lord told him to throw it down on ground. illustrates. “I plead with When he did the Lord Are you available to you to give your bodies transformed it into a follow God’s call on your to God because of all he snake. Then he told has done for you. Let Moses to pick it up and life? Purpose to follow them be a living and when he did it became a it. Purpose to say, yes holy sacrifice…let God staff again. G o d t r a n s f o r m e d Lord, anything, anywhere, transform you into a new anytime, at any cost. person by changing the Moses’ staff. It became way you think. Then you an instrument for His purposes. Notice that when Moses obeyed will learn to know God’s will for you, which God’s call to return to Egypt to lead Israel’s is good and pleasing and perfect.” He also exodus he no longer carried his shepherd’s addresses our fear that doing God’s will is staff. Rather, “In his hand he carried the onerous. He says it “is good and pleasing staff of God” (4:20). It was transformed and perfect.” Someone has said the ability God is most from being Moses’s shepherd’s staff into being the staff of God just as Moses was interested in with each of us is our availabilbeing transformed from being a shepherd ity. Are you available to follow God’s call on herding sheep to being the leader of God’s your life? Purpose to follow it. Purpose to people. As long as the staff was in Moses’ say, yes Lord, anything, anywhere, anytime, hand it was just a shepherd’s staff. But at any cost. I don’t know what God has in store for when he threw it down and released it, it became the staff of God and an instrument you, and you won’t either until you purposefully and intentionally respond to His to accomplish God’s purposes. The first step in purposing to follow call. As Pastor Chuck Swindoll says, “Been God’s call is to surrender to the Lord who resisting God’s call on your life? Don’t be we are, whatever we have, and whatever afraid to follow. He leads you in love.” may be holding us back from being available to be used by God and following His Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for call. We must submit our small ambitions Living Canada. to God’s greater plan. We must not let the
GOD WILL BE WITH YOU by insight for living ministries
hen the Lord—from a burning ing Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” is sending bush—called Moses to be His you (3:14). This phrase, “I AM,” has often prophet, the sheepherder initially resisted confused readers, but its meaning was the call. Moses came up with a variety of especially instructive to Moses in this excuses—the first of which shows that his context. Moses had only been thinking of perspective was completely out of whack. himself while God laid out the mission. By identifying Himself as When God told Moses By identifying Himself as “I AM,” God made clear to go and speak divine words to Pharaoh, Moses “I AM,” God made clear His His existence in the answered, “Who am I, existence in the world and, world and, even more, His presence in these that I should go to Phaeven more, His presence particular circumstances raoh, and that I should in these particular of Moses. This name for bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus circumstances of Moses. God is a declaration that He exists and is present 3:11 NASB). Notice the focus of Moses’s comments—he was wor- and working in the world—a truth that ried about his own abilities to accomplish would serve as a great comfort to Moses as he stood before an antagonistic Pharaoh the work of God. However, rather than let Moses flail time and again. in misunderstanding, God immediately offered him even greater revelation, tell- Copyright © 2011 by Insight for Living.
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Puzzle — Code Word
Purpose to Follow God's Call Difficulty ● ● ○ ○ Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number one through 26. Can you crack the code to solve the Bible verse (NIV translation)? Three letters are already in place to get you started.
5 16 21 3 13 13 25 2 6 12
1 2
20 2 21
2 26
1 2 4 6 21 17
4 5 26
1 8 3 16 21 5 14 3
4 8 5 11 8 25 2 17
11 6 12 12 3 17
9 3
1 8 3
8 6 13
8 3 6 7 3 26 4 6 21 17
5 26 11 8 21 5 13 1 15 3 13 18 13
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15
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4
5
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First and last name
Email address
Phone number
INSIGHT FOR LIVING CANADA PUZZLE CONTEST RULES
21MIN3
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
online RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
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.
