Hopeless without my Advocate!

by Steve Cornell

 

A truth that has become increasingly real and special to me is found in the New Testament letter titled First John. I am sure you’ll find immediate application because of the opening line. Here it is: “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (I John 2:1). The goal of life was mentioned in the prior verse. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin” (I John 2:1). Another verse in the New Testament, describes the Christian life as a “struggle against sin” (Hebrews 12:4).

 

For many people, sin is an unclear and undesirable subject. Yet we all recognize that we do wrong things for which we feel guilty. If sin is understood as an offense against another, we all sin. Therefore, the need for forgiveness is real to all honest people. Some, of course, limit this to a horizontal experience. Human forgiveness is all they trouble over. But, deep inside, I believe most people feel a need for forgiveness that is greater than human forgiveness. If we were created to be in a reconciled relationship with our Creator, we need His forgiveness when we sin against Him. And, I suggest that sin is more than violation of the Creator’s Law. It is equally offense against the Creator on a personal level. My confession of each sin could always be started with the admission, “I have sinned against you, my Creator.” Jesus pictured the prodigal son saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son (Luke 15:21). Sin is always a relational issue.

 

This takes me back to my opening reflection.  “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (I John 2:1). Another translation renders it, “…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father…” (NASB). The New Living Translation opens up the meaning further with the rendering, “if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (I John 2:1). And the next verse is crucial to the matter: “He (Jesus Christ) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).

 

The idea of an atoning sacrifice for sin (or, as older translations say, “propitiation”) is common to religion. But there is a major difference between the Christian understanding and all the other religious concepts of it. In religion, the sinner brings something to offer to the deity hoping to pacify the angry god/s. In Christianity, God’s righteous anger toward our willful rebellion and sin is withdrawn from us because the punishment it deserves has been placed on our willing Savior, Jesus Christ (See: John 10:17-18). In this way, the satisfaction of the wrath of God toward sin has been accomplished by the love of God through the gift of God. From our end, the hymn writer paints the right picture, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” God is both the propitiator and the propitiated.

 

As I walk with God in this life, I have an increased awareness that I would be doomed if I did not have an advocate with God the Father. I would like to say that I don’t sin anymore but the truth is the more I learn about God and His will, the more I realize that I do not measure up to His glorious being and purpose. Yes, I desperately need the one who pleads our case before the Father. And, with profound gratitude, I know that God has provided for my need. And, not for mine only, but for the whole world! Reflecting on this truth, the apostle broke out in a line of praise:

 

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ (II Corinthians 5:18-21, NLT).

 

This draws me to three passages from the New Testament book of Hebrews. Let these truths settle deep within your heart. Here you’ll find peace that passes human understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Jesus.

 

“Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself (Hebrews 7:26-27).

 

“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:24-28).

 

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,^[e] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

 

Closing with a great hymn seems appropriate. Reflect on these words, or hit the link below and sing it!

 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill the law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let me hide myself in Thee.

 

http://x.imeem.com/zUilvW_RhA

 

 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Burnout? Not me!

With the odds stacked against me, I poured myself into my work with unbalanced fervor. The threat of burnout would have never entered my mind. Full of vision and a touch of naïveté, I had a calling to answer and a job to do. Nothing but full throttle ahead would be acceptable. Ready to tackle the work of starting a Church in the university town of Millersville, my expectant wife and I moved to the community in 1985.

In the first five years, our little group of seven grew to more than a hundred people and our family grew to include three children four years old and under. During the first four years of ministry, I had to work on the side to support our young family. Looking back, I now realize it was more like working two full time jobs. By the fifth year, on a very modest salary, we were able to devote full time to the ministry. And after that year, we decided a vacation would be a good idea. My wife tried to convince me that two weeks would be best but I didn’t want to leave the work for that long. We settled on a week away. Occasionally, my wife reminds me of how hard it was in the early years to get me to take time off.

When we arrived at our vacation destination, I unloaded the luggage and baby paraphernalia and laid down for a rest. I will never forget what I felt at that moment. A sense of deep concern came over me when I realized how alarmingly depleted I had become. I pushed myself to a scary point of exhaustion. My wife had tried to slow me down but it took getting away for me to come to my senses. I knew I couldn’t possibly continue the pace of my life. I realized it wouldn’t be fair to my family and that I would risk burnout. My pace was not sustainable for the long run.

Some will read this and say, “Been there; done that!” Others might wonder if this describes their present condition. It’s amazing how oblivious one can be to the threat of burnout until it hits with full force. Overload comes too easily. Margin and balance are hard to maintain. Opportunities outweigh resources. The good threatens the best. A young pastor once said, “I’d rather burn out than rust out.” But a more seasoned pastor reminded the younger leader that either way you’re out.

One observer noted five signs of burnout, (1) Decreased energy -‘keeping up the speed’ becomes increasingly difficult; (2) feeling of failure in vocation; (3) reduced sense of reward in return for pouring so much of self into the job or project; (4) a sense of helplessness and inability to see a way out of problems; and (5) cynicism and negativism about self, others, work and the world generally.

If you’re experiencing physical depletion and fatigue; if you’ve begun to deeply question your effectiveness and battle with negative attitudes towards life and other people; if you feel a growing desire to withdraw from responsibilities and detach from people; if you experience a growing sense of hopelessness, your condition might be a case of burnout.

What should you do? When I realized my level of exhaustion, I knew several things had to change. First, I had to deflate the ego. Even though I was not egotistical, I had the wrong view of my own importance to the Church. I had to realize that the ministry does not depend on me as much as I thought. It belongs to God and I am a replaceable part of his work.

Secondly, I had to do a better job of sharing the work. I began to pray that God would bring some low maintenance, high givers (and this didn’t refer to money). We needed people who were mature and ready to share the work. I had to be selective about investing in people who desired to participate in the Church instead of devoting time to those who had no desire to serve. One of the best decisions we made was to add an associate pastor during our fifth year of ministry.

Thirdly, I learned to say no to things I didn’t really need to do. This required regular reminders from those around me and a willingness on my part to listen to them. Keeping the main thing the main thing is an ongoing battle. Simplify and prioritize has been my motto.

Finally, although many other points could be made, I had to prioritize quiet time for prayer and reflection. Those who give large amounts of themselves away must balance life with solitude and self-reflection to replenish for more giving. Opening Scripture and meeting God in His written word each day is an indispensible part of living a well-balanced and healthy life. On one occasion, Jesus said to his disciples, “Come away to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). This is good advice for those facing the threat of burnout.

Steve Cornell

  

PS–I AM LEADING A CHURCH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON THIS THEME NEXT WEEK (MON-WED) AT SANDY COVE IN NORTHEAST MARYLAND. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP!! SEE: http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/church-leaders-sign-up-today/

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, PLEASE PRAY FOR IT TO BE A GREAT TIME FOR THE MORE THAN 200 LEADERS PRESNTLY SIGNED UP TO ATTEND.

MANY, MANY THANKS!!!

Truth to Guide us through Uncertain Times

 

Where do we turn when feeling uncertain and vulnerable? When assailed by waves of doubt and insecurity or anxiety and fear, where do we cast our anchor? Is there truth to carry and guide us when pounded by waves of trial? 

Audio message:

http://www.millersvillebiblechurch.org/_audio/Truth%20to%20Guide%20Us%20Through%20Uncertain%20Time%201-6-08.mp3

Dealing with discouragement and depression

 

“Dealing with discouragement and depression”  

By Steve Cornell

Sometimes life can be hard and discouraging. Have you ever felt as if you were beyond the reach of encouragement?  What should you do when you can’t get out of a cloud of depression? When life doesn’t make sense and you feel deep sadness and despair, where do you turn for hope? Is it ever necessary to take medicine for depression? How do you get perspective when you’ve become disillusioned?

In this audio resource, I answer these difficult questions.  If you know someone struggling with discouragement or depression, point them to this link.

Audio link:   http://www.millersvillebiblechurch.org/_audio/Dealing%20With%20Discouragement%20&%20Depression%2012-9-07.mp3 

Are you a Micro-worrier? Help for the anxious

by Steve Cornell 

Someone has suggested that, ”most of us are micro-worriers, though small-scale fretters. Nibbling at our minds are such up-to-date worries as whether or not our insurance policies will be canceled if we have the gall to file a claim. Or the possibility that a tire will blow on a jammed bridge during the 6 p.m. traffic snarl.”

Everyone knows what it feels like to worry. Some, however, battle tidal waves of anxiety? Their problem is not minor moments of worry interrupting the normal flow of life. These are people who are immobilized by excessive worry. I’ve spoken to individuals who describe panic attacks that cripple their ability to perform the simplest tasks of life.

Some of these people long for freedom but allow fear to drive them into a sheltered existence. The only release many find is in Valium, tranquilizers or other anti-depressants. And, sometimes this is necessary. In severe cases, I always recommend seeing a medical doctor for a thorough examination.

I remember reading about a medical doctor who told of examining an increasing number of patients with various alleged symptoms. After evaluating them, he coined a new word in his diagnosis - “incopability.” He wrote, “these were people who had no apparent physical malady but somehow were just unable to cope with the pace, pressures, and problems of contemporary life.”

Several years ago, my wife and I traveled to a speaking engagement at a church on West 57th street in New York City. We stayed in a Christian hospitality house on 75th street. While traveling back and forth (on the New York subway) we couldn’t help but notice the anxiety on so many faces. It has been said that anxiety is always characterized by a sense of vulnerability. Perhaps this explains our observation on the subway.

I believe it also explains the prevalence of anxiety among parents-especially parents of teens. We tend to feel increasingly vulnerable in areas where we lack control. Have you ever tried to control a teenager who is bent on doing things his or her own way. Many anxious moments fill the days of parents.

Since anxiety is a universal problem, one would expect the Scriptures to address it. Jesus said, “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with the worries of this life” (Luke 21:34). Some of the most well known instruction on anxiety is offered by the Apostle Paul. He wrote: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, emphasis mine).

Overcoming anxiety requires prayer with thanksgiving. When we do not move beyond prayer requests to praise and thanksgiving, relief for our anxiety is not experienced. The Apostle Peter encouraged believers to cast all their anxiety on God knowing that he cares for them (I Peter 5:6-8). (see also Isaiah 26:3-4; Psalm 94:19,22).

Research indicates that anxiety comes from real or imaginary threats to something an individual considers important. If good grades, for example, are important to students, exams and term papers cause anxiety. Parents are anxious about their children because they value them. Jesus also relates anxiety to values. His alternative to anxiety is not only trust in the Father’s care (Matthew 6:26-32) but also commitment to greater priorities. In his sermon on the mount where he forbids anxiety three times, he concludes with a counter-demand; “to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Sometimes, according to Jesus, our anxiety hinders more valuable commitments.

A 1988 Reader’s Digest article entitled “Winning Over Worry” recommended the following solution: “Put aside a period each day when you sit down and deliberately worry about things on your mind. It is easier for most people to stop worrying during the day and concentrate on productive thoughts if they tell themselves that they’ll have a chance to get back to the worry later. Researchers agree that the worry period ought to be 30 minutes long. Don’t use your favorite living-room chair, because the associations might make you start worrying every time you sit there. The researchers have discovered that a shorter worry period might actually increase the amount you worry.”

The Christian alternative is better and more firmly grounded in reality. Christians have long advocated a daily devotional time. Choose your favorite chair. Open the scriptures and commune with your Heavenly Father. Recite His promises. Sing His songs. Cast your cares on Him realizing that He cares for you.

Many people waste to much time focusing on past regrets (leading to guilt and depression) and future fears (promoting anxiety). These concerns inevitably rob from them the present joy and enjoyment of life God offers. I am not advocating ignoring the past or being cavalier about the future. For our regrets, God offers forgiveness and the healing comfort of His presence and promises. For our fears, he invites us to trust him at all times (Psalm 62:8). He offers himself as “a refuge and strength–an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1;Hebrews 4:16).

Though trust in God is offered as the alternative to anxiety, it must never be used to justify indifference or laziness. God’s provisions normally involve our cooperation (Philippians 2:12-13). On the practical level, anxiety can be reduced by careful planning. I have often reduced anxiety by simply scheduling my commitments more reasonably. According to Scripture, we should diligently and realistically deal with the difficulties of life. Yet as one counselor suggests, “Anxiety, as fret and worry, comes when we turn from God, shift the burdens of life onto ourselves and assume, at least by our attitudes and actions, that we alone are responsible for handling problems.”

One more consideration must be gently applied to anxiety. Some people refuse to be comforted by God’s care because he does not care for them on their terms. This is a much deeper problem. It reveals an internal refusal to accept God as God. Admittedly, it is not easy to suffer great loss and say with Job, “the Lord gives and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Yet this is the deepest expression of worshipping God as God. Remember, ssubtle rebellion sometimes feeds anxiety because of a lack of acceptance of one’s lot in life.

Jesus never promised a trouble-free life to his disciples. Instead he said, “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Normal life in a sinful world involves unavoidable elements of vulnerability, threat, and suffering. Sudden changes, rejection, loss of health, aging, financial collapse, crime, accidents, failure, broken dreams, etc. These are common causes of anxiety for all people.

Yet it could be argued that Jesus taught his followers to expect increased difficulty (John 15:18-21). He said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33), but he also said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me… (John 14:1-3 emphasis mine).

Steve Cornell