sovereignty

Putting Pragmatism to Death in Evangelism

/ Richard Bargas / 2 Comments

Simon answered and said, “Master, we labored all night and caught nothing, but at Your word, I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish. And their nets began to break;  (Luke 5:5–6, LSB)

Whenever I have heard a lesson or sermon on this passage in Luke 5:1-11, the emphasis always seems to be on verse 10 and Jesus’ words, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men”  (Luke 5:10, LSB). The application is often about how we need to be witnesses for Christ, engaged in “man-fishing.” I’d agree that this passage marks a turn of focus for Jesus’ disciples from part-time disciples to full time Gospel witnesses.

For a second, I’d like to look at this passage from a slightly different angle and emphasis. Jesus is teaching along the lakeside and sits in a boat to teach. He asks for Simon to push out into deeper water and to cast his nets.

At the end of this section is when we read about Jesus’ transition to the change of vocation, “catching men.” In reflection, how often are we as Christians like Peter in our thinking regarding evangelism (catching men)? We have made all our efforts and yet have been unsuccessful.

I enjoy fishing for fish. This summer, one of my daughters caught 40 fish over a span of about 4 days—outfishing her dad. It was a “proud papa” moment. But the whole modern fishing industry knows that not every fisherman is successful when he throws his line into the water. The possibilities on the shelves offering success (for a price) are endless: stronger fishing line that is more flexible and less visible; more realistic lures and baits that entice fish to bite; stronger, more sensitive poles; reels whose action is as smooth as butter! With all that the modern fisherman can spend in his local sporting goods store, he could have bought a very nice grilled fish dinner for his whole family—for a week! The disciples had far fewer options for their net fishing, but they depended upon their own human experience and ability as the tools that kept food on the table and a roof over their heads.

Unfortunately, the modern day fishing industry isn’t the only place that the gullible fisherman is being sold things he doesn’t need. In the Church, there are a lot of people “selling” all sorts of techniques and tools that are sure to bring in the “big one” with the gospel. Tracts, booklets, videos, coins, prayer cloths, anointing oils, emotional appeals, comic books, and more all claim to be the missing thing in the man-fishing tacklebox. Let’s get back to Jesus there on the shore with his fishermen…

Peter reluctantly obeys. After all, what did Jesus know? He was a carpenter and they had experience on their side. Out of respect for their Master, the fishermen listened. It would be embarrassing, but they had warned Him. He would see that they knew better. But they didn’t. The nets and boats fill with fish to the point of sinking. Peter is astonished and gives glory to God, as they are all filled with fear (vv. 8-10).

The Lord might use our evangelism training classes, our tracts, our Bible studies, or our Gospel magic trick, just as He used the nets to grab those fish. But He doesn’t need the nets, or the fishermen. He chooses to use these means, and we are grateful that He has chosen to use us as His fishers of men. But here is our lesson. It’s not just that we must be fishers of men. It is that the results of our catch are not for us to boast in. And when we fail to catch? We have not failed. We are called to be fishers, not catchers. In our supposed failure, we will be tempted to change our methods, or worse, our message. Instead we need to remember the critical role that God plays in evangelism—He brings the people to Himself.

When Jesus intervenes, and we bear much fruit, how foolish we are to think it was the way we cast our nets, or the depth of the water, or whether it was day or night, or whatever. The amazing harvest is not due to anything we did, but because the Master has commanded and we obeyed. And when we feel reluctant to fish for men in unfavorable conditions, we betray our thinking that it is the conditions that make for the harvest and our success or failure.

More than anything, the Lord honors our efforts when we follow Him in obedience. Whether we have a small pocket New Testament and nothing else, or we have an elaborate ministry program—God can use it. But when we see the results, we must take care not to take credit and if we are faithful, we cannot think we have somehow failed. The Lord drew the fish into the nets, and He is the One who draws the soul to Himself.

God is Sovereign and We Aren’t Robots

/ Richard Bargas / 1 Comment

“Whatever Yahweh pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”  (Psalm 135:6, LSB)

Whether it is the terrifying storms in the skies (v. 7), the crushing plagues He brought to Egypt (vv. 8-9), the conquests that left the nations decimated as the Lord handed Israel their lands as His gift (vv. 10-12), Psalm 135 speaks loudly about the overwhelming power and plan of God to do whatever He pleases within all of creation. He made it all and He rules it as the sovereign and only Potentate.

For some Christians, the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is a hard pill to swallow. They accept that He is all powerful, but they often will mitigate this truth with additional disclaimers and rebuttals. “God’s sovereign, but He gives up some of His rule and authority over us so that humanity can be free to choose.” But in saying this, they had neutered what the Bible says and inserted something it very clearly doesn’t say. In fact, they have taken the Sovereign God and made Him a little more like the powerless idols spoken of in verses 15-18:

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

The work of man’s hands.

They have mouths, but they do not speak;

They have eyes, but they do not see;

They have ears, but they do not hear,

Surely, there is not any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them,

All who trust in them.  (Psalm 135:15–18, LSB)

The God who rules Israel also rules the other nations and the world. In contrast, the gods of the nations were deaf, dumb, and blind. They were not sovereign over anything. And don’t miss the results of such ideas—you become like what you worship.

For those who reject the biblical doctrine of God’s sovereignty, in attempting to protect man’s free will (thus exalting man) they lower God (just a little, they reply). After all, they reason, God wants us to worship Him freely. He doesn’t want worship from robots.

Ah! But the psalmist doesn’t see a contradiction between his praise of this sovereign God who does what He pleases and the open worship of His people. The psalm opens with a command to “Praise Yah! (vv. 1-3) and then closes the psalm with more calls to worship (vv. 19-21). Yahweh is sovereign and thus we must worship. We are not forced to do so, but we cannot contain our exuberance for our God.

Far from squashing genuine worship, the biblical truth that God is unfettered in his power and sovereignty impels worship to greater heights. We are not robots! The sovereignty of God does not teach that a mindless fatalism is at work in the universe. It inspires praise.

In fact, we can attribute the grand and glorious works of God totally to Him because “whatever Yahweh pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”  (Psalm 135:6, LSB)

The Sovereignty of God in Life’s Plans

/ Richard Bargas / 1 Comment

In my daily Bible reading, I always appreciate it when I am going through the Proverbs. It seems that each chapter has several nuggets of truth that fit my life and what is happening in that moment. Sometimes the themes are frequently repeated in my heart, things that the Lord is continuously dealing with me about. Other themes are needed reminders in that specific time of my life.

Today’s reading once again brought some interesting truths for me to meditate on. In Proverbs 16:1, it says, “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh” (LSB). A few verses down, it says, “The heart of man plans his way, but Yahweh directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, LSB).

Both of these proverbs focus on a man’s heart. We can aim high or settle for less. We might reach for the moon or be so beaten down by life that we only hope for small dreams and little ambition. No matter where someone might stand on this range, our destiny isn’t entirely in our hands. Whether our hopes are big or small, strong or weak, privileged or underprivileged, we are not completely the masters of our own fate.

For the proud person who believes they climbed to the top solely through their own talents and hard work, be cautious not to take too much credit. For the broken or weak person who thinks they must take whatever scraps life offers, be aware that God’s power can still elevate you to a prominent place for His good purposes.

There is no such thing as luck. Everything is part of God’s perfect plan. It was God’s plan for Joseph to end up in Egypt, even though his brothers intended it for evil. It was God’s plan for Pharaoh to resist Moses’ demands to let God’s people go, so that the Lord would demonstrate His power to the nations, but most importantly, to His broken people. It was God’s plan that Judas should lead the temple guard to the Mount of Olives to arrest and ultimately crucify His Son, so that Jesus could be our substitute on the cross, dying as the perfect Man for sinful man. None of that was “bad luck” that turned into “good luck.”

As Proverbs 16 concludes, it reaffirms this truth by stating that there is no such thing as chance, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every judgment is from Yahweh” (Proverbs 16:33, LSB). Whether it is your life or the casting of dice, everything is in God’s secure hands.

Overcoming Fear with Prayer: Jehoshaphat’s Story

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“And Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek Yahweh, and called for a fast throughout all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3, LSB)  

People react differently when they become afraid. Psychologists have noted that people typically respond with either a “fight or flight” reaction. Being originally from Southern California, I can testify that every time there is a major earthquake, the news reports that someone died from the earthquake. Surprisingly, many of these deaths are not directly related to the earthquake, such as something collapsing on the victim. Instead, some deaths occur when a person panics and runs into the street into traffic because they are afraid of being in a shaking building. I have heard of people running through glass doors or falling in their panic and hitting their heads. This is the “flight” response at play.

However, fight or flight aren’t the only two ways that people react to fear. In 2 Chronicles 20:3, King Jehoshaphat was in a moment of fear that I have to imagine was terrifying, and for good reason. War was on the horizon. Two nations had gathered to wage war against the kingdom of Judah, and it appeared there was no stopping them. The gathered armies had already crossed the Dead Sea and advanced north to En Gedi. They were in the land and moving quickly to engage in battle.

In such an instance, kings are no different. They either fight or flee to save their own necks. But as I mentioned, these aren’t the only two responses, and Jehoshaphat chose another option—prayer. Verse 3 above shows us the moment when the king decided he wasn’t going to fight and he wasn’t going to run.

In his prayer, Jehoshaphat states several truths that are helpful for us to remember when we are stricken by those terrifying moments when we are tempted to either fight or flee. I’d like to point them out so we can keep them in mind for when that moment arrives:

  1. Remember the mighty power of God. The king prayed: “and he said, “O Yahweh, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can take their stand against You” (2 Chronicles 20:6, LSB).  
  2. Remember God always keeps His covenant promises. ““Did You not, O our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever?” (2 Chronicles 20:7, LSB).  
  3. Remember God loves His people. Notice the possessive pronouns the king used: “and he said, “O Yahweh, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can take their stand against You. Did You not, O our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever?” (2 Chronicles 20:6–7, LSB)
  4. Remember that God remembers! “Did You not, O our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever? And they have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and save us’” (2 Chronicles 20:7–9, LSB).
  5. Remember that God is just and will not allow the wicked to go unpunished: “So now, behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), and behold, they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have caused us to possess. “O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; and we do not know what we should do, but our eyes are on You.”” (2 Chronicles 20:10–12, LSB)
  6. Remember that prayer is a family affair: “Now all Judah was standing before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.” (2 Chronicles 20:13, LSB)

In times of fear, it’s easy to be swept away by the instinct to fight or flee—but Jehoshaphat shows us a better way. He turned his fear into faith, and his panic into prayer. Rather than rely on his own strength, he gathered his people, remembered God’s character and promises, and sought divine help. When fear grips us, may we too fix our eyes not on the danger, but on the One who is sovereign over it. Like Jehoshaphat, let our first response be to seek the Lord.

Pride and Cowardice in God’s Messengers

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars. Then Asa was vexed with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.”  (2 Chronicles 16:9–10, LSB)

Overall, King Asa wasn’t an evil king, at least not in the beginning. When he faced a million-man army from Ethiopia, he cried out to the Lord for help: “Yahweh, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between those of abundant power and those who have no power; so help us, O Yahweh our God, for we lean on You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Yahweh, You are our God; let not mortal man prevail against You” (2Chron 14:11, LSB). He grasped how powerless he was without God.

Asa removed idolatry from the land during his reign and experienced success and peace in his time. However, another threat soon arose that would test his faith in God. Baasha, the king of Israel, brought war once again to Asa’s doorstep. When Asa faced the larger Ethiopian army, he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord defeated that massive army for him. But something had changed in Asa.

Perhaps he had become overly confident. Maybe he had learned the politics of ruling by watching other kings. Whatever the reason, Asa didn’t go to God with his problem. Instead, he gathered up all the wealth he could and struck a deal with the King of Aram. Asa would give this wealth to entice the Aramean king to break his covenant with Baasha and go to war. It all seemed to work as he planned. And although Asa didn’t say it, his whole plan acted as if Yahweh didn’t even exist.

Asa didn’t consult a prophet. He didn’t pray as he did when facing the Ethiopian army. He didn’t offer up sacrifices to the Lord. Because King Asa had failed to entrust himself to the Lord, the Lord sent his prophet to speak to him words of condemnation and judgment.

We get a glimpse into Asa’s heart. Once the prophet is finished speaking the word of the Lord to the king, he responds with wrath and puts the prophet into prison. This is a classic case of striking out against the messenger because you don’t like the message. King Asa could have put the prophet to death, but the act wasn’t merciful; it was cowardly. Asa had grown so prideful that he not only didn’t need God to fight his battles for him, he also didn’t need any of his advice or counsel. And since Asa didn’t dare strike out against God (and how could he?), he struck out against God’s man.

My thoughts for this morning could be about Asa’s pride and how he responded, but I’d like to turn my final thoughts to the unnamed man of God who brought the unwanted message. As a preacher, I am often allowed to stand before people and proclaim to them God’s message. Sometimes, especially in mixed groups of believers and unbelievers, it is unwelcome.

How should we, as God’s messengers, behave when we sense people might not like our message? Should we be cowardly and soften the message? Should we add some sugar to the medicine to help it go down, like Mary Poppins would prescribe? Or perhaps, we should avoid giving the message altogether, like Joel Osteen? “Nuance” is another method that many use. Apologizing for the message is yet another method. All of these are ways of soft-selling the biblical message.

It’s easy to identify pride, cowardice, anger, and selfish motives in others, like Asa. But God’s messengers need to be wary of these sins in their own lives as well, because they will impact the way they deliver the message God has given to them.

Am I independent of God’s strength, or at least act like I am? Then my messages will be prayerless. I can study, write a sermon, and preach, all without God’s help. And I will be without God’s power and blessing as well.

Am I prideful, thinking that I’m the next superstar messenger? Have I forgotten that all I have has come from God? Who made your mouth and lips? Who makes your vocal cords work, and gives your eyes sight? Who causes your heart to beat? Who called you, and saved you? Who gave you His Spirit and His Word?

And like Moses, we can become angry when the people will not listen. We can strike the rock instead of speaking as a messenger. They aren’t your sheep, and they’re not mine. Those sheep are Jesus’ and we shouldn’t beat the Lord’s sheep—either figuratively or literally. Anger is often a manifestation of pride.

And cowardice can come, just like it did with Asa. Not like Asa, as the one receiving God’s message, but as a messenger who is afraid of how people will react to what we say. We skip topics or issues because they are “controversial” or people will take offense. We soften words to be more palatable to the “sensitive.” There’s a difference between being intentionally harsh and offensive and letting the message speak for itself, including those things that strike at the heart. If God’s Word offends, so be it. What right do I have to refashion God’s message to my liking?

Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him.” May this not just be the desire of those who hear the Word of God, but also of those who deliver the message of God as well.