Wonderful message pastor Colin. I too have been helped by Lloyd Jones on numerous other occasions but at 21:28 and 21: 34 when he used the phrase like "not a quitter" or "clench my teeth..." it gives me the impression when a Christian needs to do this it shows perseverance and tenacity even if one does not "feel" like pressing on. I find myself commending such a christian.To follow Christ even when one is not feeling great or in a "dark" place shows commitment to the task NOT an "insult to christ" as he put it. I would respectfully disagree with him. Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight and Christ told "to persevere" till the end. Its easy to feel weary and wounded in a battle but the loyal soldier fights on, regardless! We are bound to have periods of darkness and joylessness. For example Elijah was feeling so down, he was suicidal...."take my life lord, I am no better than my ancestors" in 1 kings 19:3-5. How did God react....HE tenderly "nursed" Elijah. God did not treat Elijah's despondency as an insult to Him. Same with David in the psalms, Jeremiah the lamenting prophet. I just fail to see how it could be an insult to God when we go through periods of darkness when despite feeling low we still press on....that like I said before, shows tenacity and endurance. Maybe I am wrong here and if I have missed his point please accept my apology.
Many of us were not born as lucky as Paul. A hard driven egotist, no doubt had good strong parents who loved him and who believed in him. Contrast this to the last century where churches began teaching it's members to distance themselves from their children and alienate them. They said: "let us raise your children the "Christian" way, just hand them over to us." And believers do hand over their kids to the church . . the corrupted church where witch doctor pastors and leaders perform their real jobs . . . to make them into confused neurotic and often mentally disturbed youngsters without real parents. Every Sunday the mind destroying program is administered like a slow agonizing poison. Paul never knew youthful trauma.
Thanks for the true word of the Lord. our heavenly Father through Christ is and Holy Spirit is enabling you reach many like us. Agape love from Dublin, Ireland.
Wonderful message pastor Colin. I too have been helped by Lloyd Jones on numerous other occasions but at 21:28 and 21: 34 when he used the phrase like "not a quitter" or "clench my teeth..." it gives me the impression when a Christian needs to do this it shows perseverance and tenacity even if one does not "feel" like pressing on. I find myself commending such a christian.To follow Christ even when one is not feeling great or in a "dark" place shows commitment to the task NOT an "insult to christ" as he put it. I would respectfully disagree with him. Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight and Christ told "to persevere" till the end. Its easy to feel weary and wounded in a battle but the loyal soldier fights on, regardless! We are bound to have periods of darkness and joylessness. For example Elijah was feeling so down, he was suicidal...."take my life lord, I am no better than my ancestors" in 1 kings 19:3-5.
How did God react....HE tenderly "nursed" Elijah. God did not treat Elijah's despondency as an insult to Him. Same with David in the psalms, Jeremiah the lamenting prophet. I just fail to see how it could be an insult to God when we go through periods of darkness when despite feeling low we still press on....that like I said before, shows tenacity and endurance.
Maybe I am wrong here and if I have missed his point please accept my apology.
Many of us were not born as lucky as Paul. A hard driven egotist, no doubt had good strong parents who loved him and who believed in him. Contrast this to the last century where churches began teaching it's members to distance themselves from their children and alienate them. They said: "let us raise your children the "Christian" way, just hand them over to us." And believers do hand over their kids to the church . . the corrupted church where witch doctor pastors and leaders perform their real jobs . . . to make them into confused neurotic and often mentally disturbed youngsters without real parents. Every Sunday the mind destroying program is administered like a slow agonizing poison. Paul never knew youthful trauma.
Thanks for the true word of the Lord. our heavenly Father through Christ is and Holy Spirit is enabling you reach many like us. Agape love from Dublin, Ireland.