PERSPECTIVES FOR WEARY PASTORS - GALATIANS 6:9

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) 

Here is another great cause for discouragement and depression among Christian pastors -Working hard in God’s field and seeing very few and meager results for all our labour!

This problem may be more accentuated among those who are very committed in gospel labours, but it is by no means peculiar to those that work hard in the cause of Christ and His church. 

This equally applies to many Christian parents who are determined to raise their children for the glory of God, and who grow at times weary, wondering whether they will ever see their children’s hearts firmly attached to Christ. 

We see it also in the lives of those Christian husbands or wives who live with a difficult man or woman, and who always praying,  and always seeking to live for the glory of Christ in that difficult marriage, may wonder how much longer they will be able to bear up under the strain. 

May the Lord  encourage you then with this word from Galatians 6:9.

This text does not only tell us concerning the reality of the discouragement that arises from maintaining a consistent Christian work and testimony, but it also contains an important encouragement !

Context 

As always, we must consider why and for what purpose we find this text here.

a. In the broader scheme of this letter

The letter to the Galatians (a region in  modern Turkey) was written by Paul in response to the news that the Galatian Christians were beginning to revert back to the law as their primary term of reference. Surely it must be very disheartening for any preacher of the gospel to hear that the people that had made such a promising start by trusting in Christ alone for their salvation, are now reverting back to the Jewish lifestyle with its emphasis on living by the law, rather than by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

“Christ has set us free”, says Paul … “ stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery “ (Gal 5:1). The Christian life cannot be lived by self effort , but only in dependence upon the power of Grace and Faith in Christ. One of the most famous verses in the Bible affirming this truth is found in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live , but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God , who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The principle and power by which the Christian lives is by the indwelling Christ. When you are born again, the Holy Spirit brings Christ into the center of your life. He directs our hearts and minds to love, obey and serve Christ. The Christian lives by his attachment to Christ, and not to the law. Christ surpasses and completes the law.

Now, to return to our point - if you are a preacher and a pastor, and you have preached these things, and you have seen your people come to know the joy of freedom under Christ, then it is a very discouraging thing to see them revert to the bondage of slavery of the law, and the flesh and the world which leads them to live by fear (Rom 8:15) and not in the freedom of Christ. At such times it is very tempting for pastors to grow weary in doing good.

b. The narrower context of Galatians 6 

In Gal 6:1 we are introduced to the very real issue of sinning Christians, and how those that are spiritual must restore them. Sin not only damages the life and testimony of the sinning Christian, but it drains the energy of the church and particularly the energy of her elders. And all these things make the pastor / elders grow very weary at times – to the point of wanting to give up.

We may  apply this problem not only to the spiritual leaders of the church - but to all who labour intensely to see Christ at the center of everything, whether in the church, our children, our marriages or at work.

So then, there is this particular danger that faces those that are very committed to Christ,  those who are going in the right direction, but who are now at that place where they feel weary. They are as it were “shuffling along with drooping heads and hands and the whole spectacle and picture they present is the very antithesis of what the Christian is meant to be in this life and world.”

It is not so much that such people are “tired of the work, but tired in it“.

What counsel must we give to such ?

a. Don’ts 

1. Don’t give up by running away:  e.g. The Elijah syndrome (1 Kings 19). In 1 Kings 18, Elijah fights a very courageous battle against the ungodly regime of Ahab and Jezebel and their 400 prophets of Baal. This singular prophet in the hands of an Almighty God defeats this evil syndicate; however much to our astonishment,  in the very next chapter (1 Ki.19) we see him fleeing in an instant when Jezebel threatens him (19:2). How do we explain this? Well, he capitulated to the “ Peter syndrome” (see Matt. 14:29-31). Formerly he had his eyes firmly on God, but now after the battle is over, he has his eye on Jezebel, and as a result we read in 19:3: “Then he was afraid , and he arose and ran for his life …”. He finds himself in the wilderness wishing for his death (19:4). Clearly this great prophet is depressed. What accounts for this?

Two aspects may be considered in this regard: 

(i) God allowed this to happen to ensure that He alone would retain the glory and not man.

(ii) We must remember that all men are dust. All of us are very frail . And on a human level we must confess that particularly after significant exertions of energy we re prone to experience ‘letdowns’. So be aware of this ‘Elijah syndrome’. When this happens, stay put. Don’t run away. Look to Jesus, even when all looks dark and bleak. Many pastors face the Elijah syndrome on Mondays, after they have expended themselves on Sundays. Mondays are the days when the temptation to quit is the greatest. A good friend once wrote to me and said, “Never resign on a Monday!” That is good advice. You will feel better by Wednesday, provided that you take your eyes off yourself and look where you ought to look -  at Christ!

2. Don’t give up by simply resigning yourself to the situation; don't become stoic about the situation. Don't just  “grin and bear it“, and  so simply fall into the category of the “dutiful but joyless” Christian.

3. Don’t become dependent on artificial stimulants to counteract your weariness. Here we must not only mention the danger of alcohol and drugs or pain killer prescriptions. We must also mention the common sex addictions that seem to haunt our generation, and from which it appears, Christians are not excluded, and to which the internet greatly contributes.

4. Don’t try to change or substitute the gospel with fads. One of the greatest temptations for those who have become weary in gospel labours, is  to adopt new methods, new programs. Some churches live on this mentality and they work hard at keeping people entertained and easy. It is of course true that new activity stirs new interest. But we must remember that we will never convince the world that Jesus Christ is LORD by pandering to the world – by making Jesus attractive to the world. We are not here to announce to everyone that Jesus loves them and has a special plan for their life! No! We must let the world know that there is bad news - all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God  (Rom. 3:21)! And we must tell the world that Christ is the soon coming King who will judge the living and the dead according to their acceptance / rejection of Him who is the way, truth and life. The world must know that Christ has given the world an ultimatum to turn to Him and be saved. Only when people cry out “What must we do to be saved?”, can we give them the Good news that Jesus saves broken sinners! We have no right to entertain sinners; we must preach the full gospel !

There is great pressure on a weary preacher to change this message. Don’t!

b. Do’s

1. Do examine yourself : get to the source of your weariness.

If you do not know what makes you depressed and discouraged you will not be able to treat the cause. 

Some Diagnostic Questions to ask may be

• Are you working too hard? Not enough balance in your life between work, rest and exercise ?

• Are you doing this work in your own strength? Are you depending on Christ, and are you persevering in prayer?

• What are your real motives for doing this work? Are you really called to do this work? This is a strange question, but it is an important one. Many people may be wearing themselves out in the ministry, or in the exercise of their ‘perceived‘ rather than actual spiritual gifts. The reality is that no one can do God’s work without God’s blessing or power. You will burn out, if you are not equipped or called by God for the ask at hand.

2. Do persevere! Do not grow weary in doing good! Don’t give up on  the first principles of the Christian life. Continue to do what is right according to Scripture,  even if everyone around you disagrees. Continue to let your life be shaped by biblical principles of doing ministry, child raising, marriage principles etc .

Positively speaking … a promise !

“… for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up …”

Whenever you feel tired and weary, take a step back and ask yourself this question: 

Where is all this perseverance leading me to? 

Then tell yourself that it is leading you to eternity. So, keep eternity in view!

See this life as a preparation, the foyer of eternity.

Remember also that the greatest joy you are able to experience here is but a faint glimmer of the unspeakable joy that you will experience, when you see Jesus face to face.

For this reason the Bible encourages you to keep on sowing and planting: In due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up. God knows how to encourage us with little harvests now – but remember the ultimate harvest is in heaven. 

That is why Jesus says, “Store up for yourselves riches in heaven.”

So, keep eternity in view.

When you understand that, then you will have understood and applied Galatians 6:9. 

A REFORMED BAPTIST FROM NAMIBIA HAS A CALL TO SOUTH AFRICA

This is the way, walk in in it ! (Isaiah 30:21) 

NOVEMBER 2024 

Dear friends 

At the end of 2023, almost a year  ago,   I formally retired  from   the Eastside Baptist Church in Windhoek, Namibia  following a ministry of  34 years (1990 -2023).  Marcelle, my wife retired at the same time, following a long and satisfying  career as a Pre Primary School teacher.  We both  have  become  official pensioners. 

Our intention had never been to sit back and to  watch the world go by. We live, after all,  in a fallen world in which  people  continue to run from their  Creator  into a horrific  future. Hell has no fire escape! We must continue to warn  those that run headlong  into such a dark  future. We  must continue  to  encourage those that trust in God  to persevere in  their earthly pilgrimage.

And so we decided  to take  a 6 month sabbatical, just to have a good break  from ministry  and school routines, and to prayerfully reassess   the future and to wait upon the LORD for further  direction. 

We have had a wonderful time visiting friends and family  in South Africa  and  also in Europe - in  France, Belgium, Holland, the UK and in Germany.    We were  so encouraged by all our visits  and loved every minute of it. We could see ourselves settling down  almost anywhere. If the truth be told, wherever  there are gospel opportunities  present,  there  a pastor  would find  a  meaningful  work. And so it was. Wherever we went, Marcelle and I kept asking God, "Is this the place of your choosing?"

The doors have opened  for us  in South Africa  in this new season. I was asked to supply the pulpit of two churches  for a short term.  The first assignment was with the Robertson Reformed Community Church. We spent  7 weeks here. It is this church  that has now  extended a call for me to become their pastor.  After due prayer and consideration, Marcelle and I believe that this is God's  calling. 

And so, God willing, sometime  early in 2025,  we shall be moving  to Robertson  to  help in the work there. Please pray for fruitful labour in this  small agricultural hub in the Western Cape. 

At heart I  will remain a Namibian. Therefore the title of my blog wil not change. It is after all the country of my birth, and it is the country  which I will have served for  most of my life. Having said that, I can also confidently say in the words of John Wesley,  'the world is my parish'. This is after  all  God's world, and in God's world there are no boundaries. Therefore, wherever an effective door opens, there  we must work. 

I am acutely aware of the fact that  I am no longer a young man. My best years are behind me, but God's Word is  still before me, and to that end I will labour until my Master calls or comes.

I will endeavour to  keep you updated  and informed  via this blog and other social media  platforms. 

Thank you so much for your prayers! 

2 Corinthians 1:10,11  

OBITUARY: NICO VAN DER WALT (28th September 1945 – 2nd July 2024)

 

Joachim Rieck

I am not really qualified to write a biography on the life of this remarkable man, but I do wish to make a start, hoping that someone qualified will be stimulated  to pick up the pen and give us an authoritative biographical sketch on the life and times of Nico van der Walt.

He must assuredly not be forgotten.

Rex Jeffries did that for us in 2020 when he wrote a biography on the life of Martin Holdt. This biography was published almost 10 years following Martin's death on the 31^st December 2011[1]. Nico van der Walt and Martin Holdt were good friends and frequently ministered together on various platforms. In fact, together they were a truly formidable pair. Both were Reformed, Confessional, Covenantal Baptists. Both subscribed to the historic 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Both loved the Lord Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Both loved the work of proclaiming His glory. And they both did it so well, not boasting in themselves, but in Jesus alone.

I realize that I actually knew Nico far too little. But I do know enough to say this: Nico has touched the lives of many, including my own. He was a remarkable man.

My life in Namibia and his very busy life in South Africa only really intersected when we met at various Pastors conferences and Prayer fraternals in South Africa, and sometimes he would visit us in Namibia.  

I came to know him best in the founding of SOLA 5 - An Association of God-centered Evangelicals in Southern Africa. Nico and I among many others were Founder members. I would call Nico van der Walt "the Visionary Voice behind the SOLA 5 Movement".  SOLA 5 was actually born out of the Spurgeon Prayer fraternal. This is what happens when pastors unite in prayer, and so it was, that in 2004, this movement was conceptualized and solemnized.  Nico van der Walt was passionate about such a body and therefore as such he wrote the introduction to the SOLA 5 Handbook. This Handbook contains the Constitution, Core Values and Confession, and it was put together   with the efforts of a number of esteemed brothers.   This Association gave an identity to a group of essentially Reformed Baptist churches in Southern Africa, embracing Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Botswana.

A few weeks before Nico went home to His Maker, knowing that he had only a very short time to live (he had a very aggressive form of leukemia) ,  he sent a moving farewell message  which many of you may have seen. As I watched his 10 minute farewell I saw an essentially contented man, filled with hope and assurance.  Christ was clearly in possession of his heart.

Nico's biography is best contained in his own words, which I found on his blogsite[2].

Here  follows  a translation of his own autobiographical information  from that blog:

“... I believe (with a broken heart), that a shockingly large part of the institutional church of our day has largely lost her course. In certain cases, she has even forsaken the concept of saving faith.  The church, without delay, desperately needs to return to the fundamentals of the Reformation: Scripture alone, Grace alone, Christ alone, Faith alone, and all to the Glory of God alone.

I subscribe to the historically respected 1689 Baptist Confession as well as to the Confession and Core Values of Sola 5, an Association of God-centered Evangelical Churches, found in more than half a dozen Southern African countries. In addition, I am an active member of the Spurgeon Fraternal, a nationwide prayer circle of Reformed Baptist brothers.

I was born on 28 September 1945 in Middelburg, in the Cape Province. From the age of eight we lived in Aliwal North, in the North Eastern Cape. I matriculated in 1963 at the local high school. After military service, I studied at the University of Stellenbosch, where I obtained a degree in Civil Engineering. I was involved in several major water projects, including the Boland Project, the Orange River Project and the Kunene Project.

At the age of twenty-eight, my life was changed as I experienced a Christ-centered repentance. Nothing was the same ever since. Soon thereafter I undertook some theological studies at the Potchefstroom University for Higher Christian Education.  Whilst studying, I also lectured  for 4 ½  years in the field of engineering.  From 1983 and onward I have been permanently engaged in a pastoral and teaching, gospel ministry. After years in the Vaal Triangle, I was founding pastor of the Antipas Reformed Baptist Congregation in Pretoria, and from 1998 onwards I served there for ten years.

For about a decade-and-a-half I have been a permanent lecturer at the Lynnwood Ridge Bible School in Pretoria.

I remain amazed at seeing the fruit of   the written text of my sermons (sent out by e-mail) in Afrikaans and English.

I am married to Soniah du Toit, a university sweetheart. She grew up on a farm near Hartswater in the Northern Cape. We have 4 grown daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren. Currently, Soniah and I live in Randburg.

But that's not all that's true of my life. My Curriculum Vitae obscures my real struggles with sin. It obscures my countless failures whilst negotiating that narrow road. I have experienced long dark tunnels of depression. I have regrets with respect to   a number of poor interpersonal relationships. I have regrets with respect to my reluctance in the fulfilling of my calling - in short, the poverty of my discipleship has made me groan countless times before this Thrice-holy God. But, the most significant fact remains this:  I have fled to Jesus Christ .... and I still continue to hide in Him. I have appropriated God's promises to myself. They have been given to me by Christ my great Prophet.  I have entrusted myself to Him as my great High Priest.  I have dedicated myself to Him as my great King. But despite this, my faith is often characterized by stammering and stumbling, rather than by victory. Therefore, I know, that the fruit that may be there is due to the fact that it Christ who works in me to will as well as to work after His good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13).

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" [Revelation 14:13]

---

[1] Rex Jeffries : The Man in the Gap – The Life and Ministry of Martin Petersen Holdt

[2] http://e-preke.blogspot.com/

ON THE PURPOSE AND USE OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE CHURCH

 

In the last century, particularly in the in the 1980’s and 90’s the subject of spiritual gifts was hotly debated. John Wimber (1934-1997) was then the leader of an offshoot of the charismatic movement, known as "The third Wave of the Holy Spirit", also known as the “Signs and Wonders movement”. The term “Third Wave” was coined by Peter Wagner (1930-2016), professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary. He became a leading proponent of Third Wave methodology, which then in turn gave rise to the New Apostolic Reformation movement (NAR).

According to Wagner,

'The first wave was the Pentecostal movement, the second the charismatic movement, and now the third wave is joining them.'"[1]  

The proponents of the 'third Wave' movement were persuaded that miracles, visions, tongues, prophecies, and healings are essential supplements to the gospel. They viewed Christianity without these things as impotent, adulterated by the Western, materialistic mind-set.[2]

Some in the Third Wave movement even went so far as to say that,

 "…unbelievers must experience the miraculous to be brought to full faith. Merely preaching the gospel message, they believe, will never reach the world for Christ. Most people will not believe without seeing miracles, they say, and those who do will be inadequately converted and therefore stunted in their spiritual growth."  

The storm which this movement has created has left a trail of severe destruction in the church. Rarely has such division occurred in the history of the church as  that which has happened with the advent of the Pentecostal movement which began in 1906 with the so called Azuza Street revival in Los Angeles. To the biblically instructed mind it is hard to reconcile the bitter fruit of many subsequent divisions and ever multiplying denominations with the work of the Holy Spirit.

John Mc Arthur of the Grace Community Church in Los Angeles decided to address the matter by calling a conference entitled “Strange Fire” in 2014.  Mc Arthur had already published a book, entitled “Charismatic chaos” (first published in 1992), in which he pointed out that the signs and wonders done by the apostles ended with the end of the apostolic era. These were signs given by God to achieve a specific purpose. They were given to prove that the apostles were God’s messengers on earth and that they were trustworthy sources of teaching. MacArthur shows how even throughout the unfolding revelation of the Bible we find the signs disappearing so that even before the close of Scripture with the writing of the book of Revelation, these signs and miracles had ceased. This does not mean that God can or will no longer perform miraculous deeds. It does mean, though, that God no longer uses men to make such signs and miracles normative, as they were in the days of the apostles. Speaking in tongues, seen as normative by modern day Pentecostals and Charismatics also falls into the category of gifts that were given by God for a short time and a specific purpose.” [3]

Incidentally and from an African perspective I would recommend the reading of an article by Dr. Conrad Mbewe entitled, “why is the Charismatic movement thriving in Africa?”. [4] Dr. Mbewe maintains that there is a very thin line (if any) between the African witch doctor and the so called man of God, as  charismatic leaders  often like to be known. In these circles there is a rank and file abuse of the   so  called spectacular gifts, whilst  the important gifts like  the office of the pastor teacher - the preaching and teaching the Word of God is neglected, whilst the true sheep remain hungry, naked and starving.   

HOW THEN SHALL WE THINK ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

Do so called conservative churches like ours have any use for the spiritual gifts? Conservative churches  like the Baptists are often thought of by Pentecostals and Charismatics as churches devoid of the Holy Spirit. In our Namibian context I have heard this charge frequently laid at our door. 

But is this true?   

Our answer  is  that  we assuredly   do have a place for the spiritual  gifts, but we would question the insistence of the charismatic movement that the  manifestations  of spectacular gifts  and  signs and wonders in particular should  constitute  the  heart of  a church’s ministry. We would argue that Pentecostals and Charismatics have a subtle tendency to make the signs and wonders aspects more important than the person and work of the Holy Spirit. They are in danger of exalting the gifts above the Giver. 

Above all they may be in danger of misunderstanding the actual purpose of the spiritual gifts.

We turn our attention now to this matter.

A BRIEF SURVEY: UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS  

The first mentioning of a spiritual gift is found in Romans 1:11,12  

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine."

The first and most obvious thing we learn from this text is that spiritual gifts are for strengthening the church!

Secondly, take note of what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians:

"Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT" (I Cor. 12:1).

Ignorance concerning the proper use of the spiritual gifts was a major problem in the Corinthian church. A casual reading of the first letter to the Corinthians on this point reveals that the Corinthians were using the spiritual gifts in a self- centred way.

The Greek word here used by Paul for spiritual gift is "pneumatikon" which literally translates as "spirituals". The context shows that these "spirituals" were gifts and abilities that were given to Christians by the Lord and energized by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word normally translated as spiritual gifts is "charismata". The root word "charis" is the Greek word for "grace". 

Thus "spiritual gifts" are grace-gifts that Christians receive from God to be used for the building up of the Body of Christ.

They are gracious in their application. Spiritual gifts are other – centred.

They are not intended for private use!  

   SPIRITUAL GIFTS: KEY PASSAGES  

• Rom. 12:6 – 8  
• 1 Cor. 12:8 – 10  
• Eph. 4:11- 12

UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 12 – 14

1.  12:1 – 11: The source of the gifts – the Holy Spirit
2. 12:12 – 31a: The application of the spiritual gifts – the church,  the  body of Christ.
3. 12:31b – 13:13 : The essential starting point for a correct use of the spiritual gifts in the church – LOVE.
4. 14:1 – 25: stresses  the priority of certain gifts over others.
5. 14:26 – 40: stresses  the importance of order in church worship

   APPLICATION

a.   Spiritual gifts are sovereignly given by God.

    Ephesians 4:7–11 teaches that  spiritual gifts are

•  given by the ascended Christ
• given to every individual believer
• given for the good of others
• given sovereignly through the Holy Spirit
• given at the time of salvation
• given on the basis of grace

  b.  That means that we do not need to ask for them. They are given to us; we simply have to discover them. Spiritual gifts are discovered:

•   By praying (asking)
• By studying the Scriptures
• Through desires
• Confirmed by ability
• Accompanied by blessing

      c.   How do I know that I have a particular gift?

Here are 4 tests

• Ability
• Qualification
• Easy to do
• Responsibility

 d.  Spiritual gifts must not be confused with ‘natural’ talents’.

 e.   Not all the spiritual gifts in the Bible are needed in the church at all times. The list of spiritual gifts in the Bible are illustrative and not definitive. There may be more spiritual gifts than listed in the Bible.  The point is that  God gives  spiritual gifts according  what the church truly  needs to be a gospel  centred, Christ exalting  community.  

 f.    IMPORTANT:  Spiritual gifts make a spiritual difference in the church!

 SOME CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO ASK

1.   Do you believe that the God who loves His church gives a full and perfect complement of spiritual gifts to the church?  i.e. gifts that are needed  and necessary  for the church  at  any given  time?
2. Since the church benefits from spiritual gifts, can you as a believer afford not to make a spiritual difference in the church? 
3.  Is the church really poorer without your gift?
4. How can you truly honour God if you withhold your gifts from the body of Christ?

 

---

[1] MacArthur, Jr., John F., Charismatic Chaos , Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992:p 128

[2] MacArthur, p. 131, quoting Wimber, Power Evangelism, pp. 39-41].

[3] http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/book-review-charismatic-chaos

[4] http://www.conradmbewe.com/2013/07/why-is-charismatic-movement-thriving-in.html

OBITUARY: Peter Radmanovich [11th April 1947 – 13th December 2023]

 

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God”… (Hebrews 13:7)

 I was converted in Cape Town in the June of 1978, whilst studying at the University of Cape Town. I attended St James Church, Kenilworth under the leadership of Frank Retief, who was used so mightily of God in those days- those 70’s. I am convinced that those were days of revival. We saw many men and women converted under the preaching of the Word of God in the morning and evening services.

In returning to my home town and country, Walvis Bay in Namibia, the  question now  arose - “which church should I attend”? There was no Church of England in South Africa (CESA, now known as REACH) in our country.  Pastor Frank Retief suggested that I could always attend a Baptist Church, as these were generally faithful, Bible based churches.

With this in mind I came to know of the Walvis Bay Baptist Church. At that time Don Watson was the pastor. I loved the small, warm and intimate fellowship of the church, and was duly baptised and joined the membership of the church. Don Watson left us soon thereafter to join the Airforce chaplaincy in South Africa.

Enter Peter and Linda Radmanovich in 1980!  Peter Radmanovich was called to be our pastor. He was a recent graduate of the Baptist Theological College in Cape Town, and a member of the Claremont Baptist Church.

Peter’s ministry in Walvis Bay was relatively brief – 7 or 8 years. Thereafter he received a call from the Durbanville Baptist Church, where Peter and Linda served for a short while before planting the Goedemoed Baptist Church in the greater Durbanville area.  

Back to Walvis Bay!  Those few years were filled with spiritual vigour and a profound sense of God’s presence. If you would ask me what defined Peter’s ministry, it was this: He had a profound trust and faith in God. He had a profound sense of trust in the promises contained in the written Word of God. This was coupled to a real habit of prayerfulness, and this is the abiding impression I received. Peter and Linda taught us to pray. I remember the many early morning prayer meetings at which we rose at 5 AM to present our many prayers and petitions   to God.

In those years Peter led our small 17 member congregation in trusting the Lord for the provision of a church building. That story and the many wonderful anecdotes surrounding it must be told another time, but the result was that we saw a building built (or rather restored- for it was an old building) to the glory of God, by prayer, and debt free!  It was a true miracle, as we were led by a pastor that truly believed in the power, promises and providence of God. What was even more glorious  was  that  men and women were wonderfully converted in this season, leading to true church growth.

It was Peter that substantially shepherded, discipled and nurtured me into the obedience of Christ. It was his wise counsel, along with Charles Whitson, founding pastor of the Eastside Baptist Church (1985) that led me to consider the Christian ministry.   I responded to the call of God in  the June of 1985  and  went  for my 4 year seminary  training  at  Peter’s Alma Mater, the Cape Town Baptist Seminary. At Peter’s advice I also joined the Mowbray Baptist Church in 1986 as a youth worker. It is here that I would meet my wife Marcelle in 1986.  Wonderful providences!

The rest is history. As I write I am now ending my ministry to the Eastside Baptist Church after 34 years at the end of December 2023.

I have stood on the shoulders of spiritual fathers and mothers. For these I now give profoundest thanks to God! Among all these I salute you now, my dear faithful pastor, Peter Radmanovich. You have entered God’s promised rest (Hebrews 3 &4). I’ll see you in glory.  

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Joachim Rieck, Windhoek, 19^th December 2023  

THERE'S A REAL WAR OUT THERE !

 

Satan is like a roaring lion  (1 Peter 5:8) 
(Picture: Namibian desert lion- please don't kill them!)

As we speak, the world’s attention has been drawn away from the war against the invisible Covid virus to the current Russian war against her cousins – the Ukrainians.   Our world is always at war in one form or the other. There have been at least 250 wars ^[1] since the end of WW II in 1945. 

Why are there so many wars? The answer is complex at one level, but essentially the answer   to this question is not very difficult.  The fall of man into sin is the origin of all conflict and war.   There is a far greater war  out there  than  those that we see  withour own eyes  daily portrayed in the social media .

The greater  war   which we are referring to is  a war  conducted  in this world  from the realm of the unseen, and to which Ephesians 6:10-20  draws our attention.  This  war   is conducted at the  level of  spiritual  deceit.  Paul calls  this  ‘the schemes of the devil’^[3] .  Most people  do not recognise  that there is this great war behind all  the wars  which we find in the world.

Now let us be quick to affirm, that the fact that devil is in the detail, does not absolve  mankind  from its  responsibility in the matter.  The Bible for instance teaches that  we give  Satan  a foothold when we  engage in mindless anger (Eph. 4:27). What we need to grasp is that Satan is an opportunist, quickly exploiting our human weaknesses. Satan gets into our systems just like a virus enters into a computer, and just as a  virus or bacteria enters  into our bodies. Once we open a door to him, and once he is in, he causes havoc. 

We also need to understand that devil does not work haphazardly but methodically[4] and systematically. He works methodically against the primary institutions created by God, namely  (i) marriage and the family (ii) the church and  (iii) the state and the nations.  He conducts a continuous and subversive war against all these God created institutions.

Therefore it is necessary that we should understand his methods.  We must understand  the Bible’s  counsel  on how to  resist  and stand firm against the devil – and against his  hirelings,  which the Bible  in Paul's letter to the Ephesians  calls,   

“the rulers,  the authorities,  the cosmic  over this present darkness… the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places …” (6:12).

We must understand that we need more than human ingenuity and strength to stand against such an enemy.  We must learn that we need the full armour of God, so that we may be able to stand our ground against these evil forces in the heavenlies.

So where do we begin?  We begin by  getting behind the biblical worldview! 

There Is An Ultimate Enemy Behind All Evil

• He is revealed to us here as the devil - a personal being. He is not simply an abstract force or power. 
• He is the father and the source of all evil. He is a powerful being. He is a created, but fallen angel who has rebelled against God (we don’t know why, how and when). He leads the universal rebellion against God.
• He has many names in the Bible besides ‘Satan’- his most common name. This name is mentioned 52x in the Scripture and it means 'adversary'. 35 times he is called the ‘devil’ (Gr. ‘diabolos‘ -  lit. slanderer). Other names used of him are prince of this world (Jn. 16:11); prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2); god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4); Beelzebub, the prince of demons (Lk. 11:15).
• He is superhuman in his power, which means that he cannot be ordinarily resisted by mankind. And yet he is not divine. He is a created being. He has a kingdom/dynasty (Eph. 2:2).
• He has servants and followers, described here in Eph. 6:12. These beings, we are told, are not made of flesh and blood (i.e. of human substance); they are metaphysical beings. They are not seen with the naked eye, and yet they exist just as surely as electricity and gamma rays (which are not seen with the naked eye) exist.

The evidence of evil is everywhere and in every age.  By their evil Satan and his servants manipulate politicians, systems  and institutions, the church and even Christians. 

The devil’s chief desire is extinguish the true church. He hates her, because she is  God's   greatest  weapon on earth  against  his evil designs. He hates the church because  he  hates Christ, who by the  the cross  overcame  the power of sin and death, by which principle Satan is enabled to hold humanity in his grip. 

This Fallen World Is A Battleground And Not A Playground. 

This world is a restless place by virtue of sin entering into our world through Satan’s agency (Gen. 3:1) and man’s complicity (Gen. 3:6-7).

The fruit of this most tragic event is seen in the language of Genesis 3:14-19. Mankind originally created for a life of peace and harmony under God rule has now tasted of the knowledge of good and evil.

Conflict and disagreement become the order of the day. In Genesis 4 we find Cain killing his  brother Abel, and  Cain walks away from the presence of the LORD (Gen. 4:16). Conflict, murder and war now dominates the histories of the Old and New Testaments. It dominates the histories of all civilizations. The Lord Jesus made this point specifically in His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24 &25), namely that a sign of the end of the ages would be the fact that there would be wars and rumours of wars (Matt.24:6-7). The Revelation of John points us in a similar direction. The war in the heavens in Revelation   translates into war on earth when Satan, the great dragon, and his angels are thrown down to earth, thus inciting a rule of hatred and warfare, particularly after  the event of the  cross of  Christ.

So then, it is important that we understand what is behind the notion of war.

It starts with a fallen angel who is at war with God. It starts in the heavenlies. At face value  however wars start  in our own  sinful hearts. Satan captitalises  on these. Listen to what James 4:1-2 says,

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”  

Then James goes right to the root and he says that this mentality is born out of an attitude. He calls it “enmity with God” (Jas.4:4). That enmity began with Satan’s rebellion against God in Genesis 3. This is the vital link  to Ephesians 6:10-20.

So then, the real reason behind all wars is not simply disagreements between people, rulers and nations, although that is true. 

War is not just about  armies   fighting each other for whatever reason given, although that is true. 

The ultimate reason for any war is a spiritual reason, instigated by an evil principality, using the fallen nature of mankind to get into our systems. Therefore we must not just see war as two parties levelling the score until they  fall down exhausted in terms of what that war produces. When we speak about war we must not forget to speak about its  fundamental problem, which is a spiritual problem, and if a spiritual problem, then we must understand that more than loss of life is at stake. The foundations for  gospel ministry and gospel living is at stake!  For this reason also  the apostle Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-2,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 

Every war threatens the soul’s peace.  Our real desire for peace should be based upon the further desire to have the fullest opportunity to live a holy and godly life, and to be able to build ourselves up in the faith.  The shedding of much blood has awful consequences in terms of a nations’ loss of spiritual peace. Just think about the terrible collective guilt the German soul has borne following the 2^nd world war. Just think what guilt the Russian collective soul must now bear for this senseless war on its Ukrainian cousins. This will not go away easily.  

Satan and his accomplices will do everything to make us not live in peace, so that we cannot think about the gospel. He will do everything for a nation to live in fear and horror, for in so doing he removes our ability to be united in worship and prayer. 

War is one of his best used tools, and you  dear  Christian are  exhorted  in the Scripture to, "fight the  good  fight" (1 Tim 1:18; 6:12); to  “not grow weary and loose heart”  (Hebr.12:3); “to resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8,9). 

The apostle Paul warned the elders of this same church at Ephesus  in Acts 20: 29 - 31:   

“29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears". 

Part of the church's ministry is to warn the flock  continually not to play in the devil’s backyard. Carelessness and sin kills relationships. It starts wars.  It must be understood therefore, that behind many of the wicked people  and  their institutions in this world, there is a manipulative power. What evil and disobedient men & women do not realize is that they are manipulated. They are pawns in the hands of the kosmokraton (lit.' kosmocrats - worldrulers'). This fact does not hold people innocent in the eyes of God. They cannot say,  “We are pawns in his hands; the devil made me do it". Christians sometimes also unwittingly have been tools of the devil. We are responsible to resist the devil (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet.5:9). We are commanded not to give the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:27). We must resist him; we must withstand him.   We are at war.

We Must Have The Right Perspective On This Spiritual War. 

The call to resist Satan and his hostile forces does not begin with an inward look. Lay the thought aside that you should be able to resist the devil in your own strength.

The call to resist Satan also does not begin with an  outward look.   You may be tempted to think - "well as long as those around me are  strong in the Lord, and as long as our elders pray for us  and  fight our spiritual  battles,  keeping the devil at bay, and the church at peace, I will be  all right". Do not be fooled!  And do not depend on the elders to keep this church free from Satan’s attacks. None of these are strong enough to resist Satan. The church together is God’s army.

The call to resist Satan begins with the upward look. Take note of these words, “Be strong in the LORD, and in the strength of HIS might. Put on the whole armour OF GOD...  that you may be able to stand!“  (6:10,11). Here is the ruling principle of  that most basic discipline of  not  giving the enemy a foothold: Be strong in the LORD, and  in the strength  of HIS might.

Be strong’ (Gr. ‘endunamoo’) - the verb here is in the passive voice: literally this should read "be continually strengthened" (i.e. receive strength). We do not have the strength to resist Satan in ourselves. We are called to depend on the Lord for the supply of that strength. This battle cannot be fought in our own strength. The Lord, as in Joshua's day  or Jehoshaphat's day must fight the battle  for us.

The only way in which we can successfully wage war against the devil’s methods is by employing  God’s methods. Any other way with which to stand against the devil is useless.  We cannot fight the battle against Goliath in Saul’s armour. We need a smooth stone well directed  by  God into the devil’s forehead. That is the only way to deal with Satan!  Spiritual warfare is only ever waged successfully in the Lord and in His mighty power.  The smallest, most insignificant Christian boy can slay Goliath with a slingshot, if he has God on His side- by means of prayer.  

William Cowper^[5] wrote:

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian’s armour bright;

And Satan trembles when he sees,

The weakest saint upon his knees.

CONCLUSION

Thomas Brooks in his excellent book,  Precious remedies against Satan’s devices, writes,  “Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts and Satan’s devices are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. It is my work as a Christian to do my best to discover the fullness of Christ, the emptiness of the creature and the snares of the great deceiver”.

If you like me find these days  of  war and rumours of war depressing  and alarming  then I invite you now to turn with me  to seek the help  and the promises of God as we committ these things to God in prayer. 

We do not have the mental or intellectual capacity to figure what is ultimately going on in the unseen  realm, and in the realm of deep politics. Our own strength and intellect is like using a peashooter to kill an elephant!

We need superhuman wisdom and superhuman tools to deal with this realm. Thank God that He has not left us uninstructed or without a word in this matter. I hope to address this in my next  article. 

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[1] https://history.answers.com/military-history/How_many_wars_worldwide_since_World_War_2

[2] I am substituting the slaves – masters relationship here for a more modern context

[3] Gk.  ‘methodeias tou diabolou’

[4] 2 Cor. 2:11  “… so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”  (Gr. methodeias)

[5] English poet and hymnodist (1731–1800)