This week, the youth of Fellowship Bible Church are working with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in Minneapolis, MN. in hopes of strengthening new church plants and reaching citizens of East Minneapolis for Christ. The reason we emphasize missions as a church is because worship is the ultimate goal of the church and is absent in many areas of the the U.S. and the world. According to John Piper, “Missions exists because worship does not.”

A church cannot say that worship is a priority without making missions a priority. Many, nonetheless, argue that worship and missions are unrelated; defining worship as an act that takes place between an individual and God. Worship, however, is much more than that. It involves making God known where He is not so that others would rejoice and be glad in Him.

A desire to do missions should flow from a heart of worship, which is demonstrated by the psalmist who said, “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coast lands be glad” (Ps. 97:1). A church that does not get excited about missions should question whether or not authentic worship is taking place. Piper affirms, “Where passion for God is weak, zeal for missions will be weak. Churches that are not centered on the exaltation of the majesty and beauty of God will scarcely kindle a fervent desire to ‘declare his glory among the nations’” (Ps. 96:3).

Believers must realize that genuine mission ministry will not take place until authentic worship does. My prayer, for evangelical churches everywhere is that they would desire to see the nations come to enjoy God through Christ for His glory.

Piper, John. Let the Nations be Glad. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 17-18.

"Quote" of the Week

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever." -John Piper on the supremacy of God in missions.

Prayer is proof that conversion has taken place, but is only improved through the spiritual discipline of Bible intake. According to A.W. Pink, “As we hide the Word in our hearts, and it cleanses, moulds and regulates our inner man, will our prayers be acceptable in God’s sight” (46).

THE SCRIPTURES AND PRAYER

1) We know we have profited from the word when we realize the deep importance of prayer.

Most Christians would say that prayer is important, but much less believe it to be because they fail to make time for it. Pink affirms, “Each of us takes time for anything we deem to be imperative (47). Scripture clearly states, “Devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). Prayer is not only emphasized throughout Scripture (Gen. 20:17; 2 Ch. 7:14; Ps. 32:6; Mark 14:38; Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:17; etc.), but its importance is demonstrated by our Savior who often began his busy day with prayer (Mark 1:35).

2) We know we have profited from the Word when we express a greater desire for things of eternal significance.

Our natural desire for immediate earthly possessions should change as we grow in godliness through the study of God’s Word. According to Pink, “It is heavenly and eternal things (Col. 3:1) which are to be sought first and foremost, as being of far greater importance and value than temporal things” (50).

3) We know we have profited from the Word when we pray with the right goal in mind.

Another sign of a maturing believer is one who prays with the correct end in mind, which is “the glory of God.” Paul asserts, “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Pink warns, “To pray for anything, and not expressly unto the end which God has designed, is to ‘ask amiss’ (James 4:3), and therefore to no purpose” (52).

4) We know we have profited from the Word when we believe in the God we are praying to.

Prayer without faith is futile. Paul explains, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed” (Rom. 10:14). According to Pink, “The better we are acquainted with the Divine promises, and the more we are enabled to understand the goodness, grace and mercy prepared and proposed in them, the better equipped are we for acceptable prayer" (53). In other words, the more we understand who God is and what He does, the more confidence we should have in what He is going to do.

5) We know we have profited from the Word when we are brought into complete submission to God.

According to Pink, “Prayer is ordained to bring us into the place of dependence, to develop within us a sense of our helplessness, by owning that without the lord we can do nothing, and that we are beggars upon His charity for everything we are and have (51).

6) We know we have profited from the Word when prayer produces within us a deep-rooted joy.

Pink states, “To come into the conscious presence of God, to behold the glorious light of His countenance, to commune with Him at the mercy seat, is a foretaste of the eternal bliss awaiting us in heaven. The one who is blessed with this experience says with the Psalmist, ‘It is good for me to draw near to God’ (Ps. 73:28)" (54-55).

Pink, A.W. Profiting from the Word. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust. 1977. 45-56.

"Quote" of the Week

"Prayer is the breath of the new nature in the saint, as the Word of God is its food." -A.W. Pink

Without the Scriptures, we can also never hope to know anything about the Lord Jesus. He said Himself, “The Scriptures…testify about me” (John 5:39). According to A.W. Pink, “Apart from the Scriptures, (Jesus) cannot be known. In them alone. He is revealed” (34). We know that we are profiting from the Word if these several truths shown below, concerning Christ, become evident in our lives.

THE SCRIPTURES AND CHRIST

1) We know we have profited from the Word when our need of Christ is revealed.

In our society, we are taught from an early age to be dependant upon ourselves. Scripture however shows us our desperate condition and need of a savior (Rom. 3:10, 23; 6:23). Pink explains that through the study of God’s Word, “We are made to recognize that Christ is our only hope, and that, except we flee to Him for refuge, the righteous wrath of God will most certainly fall upon us” (36).

2) We know we have profited from the Word when we become more occupied with Christ’s perfections.

According to Pink, “It is a sense of need which first drives the soul to Christ, but it is the realization of His excellency which draws us to run after Him. The more real Christ becomes to us, the more are we attracted to His perfections” (37). We should often ask ourselves, “Is Christ the chief among ten thousand to (our) soul(s)? Has He won (our) heart(s)? Is it (our) chief joy to get alone and be occupied with Him?” (38).

3) We know we have profited from the Word when Christ becomes more precious to us.

Were there is a detachment from Christ; there is usually a deficient understanding of Him due to a lack of association with Him. When authentic daily fellowship develops, a believer should be able to empathize with the Psalmist who affirmed, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is non upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Ps. 73:25). Paul, who had as intimate a relationship as one could have with Christ, proclaimed, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ” (Phil. 3:8).

4) We know we have profited from the Word when we have an increased confidence in Christ.

During His earthly ministry, Christ was most pleased with those who placed a firm reliance upon Him. In the story of the Roman Centurion who placed his faith in Jesus' authority, we are told that Christ “marveled” and said, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel” (Mt. 8:10). Of John the Baptist, who confidently proclaimed the coming of the Lord, Jesus said, “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28). According to Pink, however, “Christ cannot be trusted at all unless He be known, and the better He is known the more will He be trusted” (40).

5) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a deeper desire to please Christ.

We are not to live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15). Pink says, "Love delights to please its object, and the more our affections are drawn out to Christ the more shall we desire to honor Him by a life of obedience to His known will" (41).

6) We know we have profited from the Word when we long for the return of Christ.

According to Pink, "Love can be satisfied with nothing short of a sight of its object. True, even now we behold Christ by faith, yet it is 'through a glass, darkly.' But at His coming we shall behold Him 'face to face' (1 Cor. 13:12). Then will be fulfilled His own words, 'Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am: that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me' (John 17:24)"(42).

Pink, A.W. Profiting from the Word. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust. 1977. 33-43.

"(The Scriptures) testify of (Jesus) as the only Saviour for perishing sinners, as the only Mediator between God and men, as the only one through whom the Father can be approached. They testify to the wondrous perfections of His person, the varied glories of His offices, the sufficiency of His finished work." -A.W. Pink

Many have said that they believe in God, but when asked about Him give descriptions unworthy of Him. Although God has made Himself known generally to all through His created world, He can only be known personally through His written Word. A.W. Pink affirms, “Apart from the Scriptures, even a theoretical acquaintance with Him is impossible…Where the Scriptures are ignored, God is ‘the unknown God’ (Acts 17:23)” (20).

THE SCRIPTURES AND GOD

1) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a respect for God’s rightful claim over us.

Since the fall, man has had difficulty with Lordship. Pink states, “The lie of the serpent which lured our first parents to their destruction was, ‘Ye shall be as gods’ (Gen. 3:5). And ever since then the heart-sentiment of the natural man has been, ‘Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve him?’ (Ps. 12:4)” (23). The result of this initial sin was separation between God and man. Scripture, however, directs us back to a right relationship with God through the person and work of Christ. Peter explains, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18).

As we mature in our faith, we should develop a clearer respect for God’s rightful rule over our lives. Paul asserted, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

2) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a greater fear of God’s greatness.

According to Pink, “God is so high above us that the thought of His majesty should make us tremble. His power is so great that the realization of it ought to terrify us. He is so (extremely) holy, and His (hatred) of sin is so infinite, that the very thought of wrongdoing ought to fill us with horror” (25). A psalmist wrote, “In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him” (Ps. 89:7).

3) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a deeper admiration for God’s commandments.

The same Spirit who shows us our need of God’s grace also shows us our need of His commandments. Jesus teaches, “"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23). Pink asserts, “A spirit of obedience is communicated to every regenerated soul” (26).

4) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a more certain trust in God’s sufficiency.

Whatever we trust in most is our ‘god.’ Most people, if honest, would admit to placing more of their trust in self, wealth, family and friends then they do in the living God. Through the reading of God’s Word, our faith should be strengthened knowing that He is more than enough for us. May we express the attitude of David who wrote, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid” (Ps. 56:11).

5) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a fuller delight in God’s perfections.

The great thing about peace for a Christian is that it can be experienced in the midst of hardships because it is not influenced by the circumstances of the world, but by one thing. Pink explains, “The carnal man has many cravings and ambitions; the regenerate soul declares, ‘One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord’ (Ps. 27:4)” (29). According to Pink, “Thus, To the extent that you are being weaned from the empty pleasures of this world, are learning that there is no blessing outside of God, are discovering that He is the source and sum of all excellency, and your heart is being drawn out to Him, your mind stayed on Him, your soul finding its joy and satisfaction in Him, are you really profiting from the Scriptures” (29-30).

6) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a greater submission to the providence of God.

As we read about who God is and what He does from Scripture, we should have an increased admiration for His wisdom and be comforted by the fact that He does all things well. As our knowledge increases, it should become easier and easier to say, “Not my will but Yours be done.”

7) We know we have profited from the Word when we have a more passionate praise for God’s goodness.

Pink asserts, “What abundant cause have God’s people for praising Him! Loved with an everlasting love, made sons and heirs, all things working together for their good, their every need supplied, an eternity of bliss assured them, their harps of gladness ought never to be silent” (30). As we profit from the Word, may we say with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1).

Pink, A.W. Profiting from the Word. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust. 1977. 19-31.

"Quote" of the Week

The Divine image is stamped upon every page. Writings so holy, so heavenly, so awe-producing, could not have been created by man. A.W. Pink on The Scriptures and God

Most believers would agree that the Bible is profitable, but if asked, the same number might have difficulty explaining to what extent or by what means one profits from its reading. I recently read a book by A.W. Pink entitled, “Profiting from the Word.” For the next few months I will share helpful insights gained from this book.

THE SCRIPTURES AND SIN

1) We know we have profited from the Word when we are convicted of sin.

Scripture opens our eyes to our own sinfulness and shows us our need of a savior. Pink affirms, “When the Holy Spirit applies the Word to his heart and conscience, opening his sin-blinded eyes to see his relation and attitude to God, he cries, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone.’ It is in this way that each truly saved soul is brought to realize his need of Christ"(10). In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus states, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

2) We know we have profited from the Word when we are distressed about our sin.

After Peter preached in Acts 2:37, we are told that the hearers were “pricked in their heart.” May the same be true of us when we read the Scriptures. God’s Word is meant to break our hard hearts and humble us before a Holy God. According to Pink, “It is when the Holy Spirit applies (The Bible) in such a way that I am made to see and feel my inward corruptions that I am really blessed” (12).

3) We know we have profited from the Word when we are led to repentance.

Conviction and distress over sin should lead to a response. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the Scriptures are profitable for "reproof." We are also told in Proverbs 28:13, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

4) We know we have profited from the Word when a deeper hatred of sin is produced.

God’s word says, “Let those who love the LORD hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). When commenting on this verse, C.H. Spurgeon affirmed, “We cannot love God without hating that which He hates. We are not only to avoid evil, and refuse to continue in it, but we must be up in arms against it, and bear towards it a hearty indignation” (13).

5) We know we have profited from the Word when the Word causes us to abandon sin.

Paul affirms, “"Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness" (2 Timothy 2:19). Although the struggle with sin is ongoing in our lives, a helpful way to determine whether we are profiting from the Word is whether or not we are able to resist sins that had previously entangled us. Pink asks the question in this way, “Is the reading and studying of God’s Word producing a purging of my ways” (15)?

6) We know we have profited from the Word when we are protected from sin.

We often think that simply doing away with evil will suffice. Scripture is clear that evil should be replaced with god-honoring activity. Paul asserts, “Overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). According to Pink, “The more Christ’s Word dwells in us ‘richly’ (Col. 3:16), the less room will there be for the exercise of sin in our hearts and lives” (15).

Pink, A.W. Profiting from the Word. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust. 1977. 9-18.

"Quote" of the Week

The Holy Scriptures are given to us not only for the purpose of revealing our innate sinfulness, and the many, many ways in which we 'come short of the glory of God' (Rom. 3:23), but also to teach us how to obtain deliverance from sin, (and) how to be kept from displeasing God. -A.W. Pink