Grab this Book – Free – from The Voice of the Martyrs

His Beliefs Put Him In Prison... His Faith Set Him Free!

I’ve talked about the ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs. This is the founder’s story. This book shocked the Nation. The international bestseller Tortured for Christ tells the dramatic story of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand and how he endured 14 years in prison for his faith in Jesus Christ.
Request your FREE copy today.

Click this link and go get it. “Tortured for Christ.”
It will make you examine and challenge your faith and commitment to Christ, which is just what we need to do. For some, it may wake you up to a whole new perception of the Christian faith.

Healing for a Broken Spirit

The following quote is from my novel “A Reason to Pray at Mountainview“:

He [Mark Torrell] had dozed off in the chapel praying for his family and to ask God … again … for forgiveness, something that he has never been able to accept from God. And again he found that neither medication, sleep, nor a religious setting was strong enough to quiet his soul and to remove the shame that kept him enslaved to his past sins.

“I guess it’s only right that God wouldn’t hear me, and I guess that it would only be right to let me die. I know that I deserve to, I just hope …”

Common Struggles

I’m sure that all of us can relate to Mark Torrell, in that he had more than one crisis hit him at the same time. We may differ in our situations, but we all know that life doesn’t pull any punches. Mark’s punches were coming at him faster and harder, and his spirit was getting weaker with each punch. The hardest punches were leaving him beat up and broken. They were guilt, shame, and regret. These three were leaving him flat on the mat, deterring him from praying and discouraging him from believing. The longer he was kept down, the more fear and hopelessness were taking their toll on of his life.

For Mark, his weak spirit was rooted in his past. It was a past that continued to work against him to keep him from finding the peace of God’s presence and from holding on to God’s promises. Yet Mark is not an isolated prisoner to the past. Is there anyone who has not found themselves confronted with a past that tries to condemn and even break them? Perhaps you, or someone you know, has a past that is haunting you and deterring you from living in the joy and peace of Christ. The effects of a broken spirit reach further into our lives than we would ever expect. When a person begins sliding downward, it becomes more and more difficult to stop and turn around. If we don’t learn to address our past, we may find ourselves more like Mark.

Proverbs 18:14 (NKJV) — The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

John Piper, addressing Proverbs 18:14:

“…if the spirit is broken, if our hearts are downcast, if our soul is flat like a deflated beach ball, what can you do? The very will is broken; the flags of our affection just hang there with no wind to unfurl them.”

This quote reminds us of a dire need that is often neglected, which is the care of our spiritual health. A strong spirit gives hope and encouragement; it sustains us through life’s struggles, and is able to find traction to walk with the Lord. John Piper went on to say:

“If our hearts are strong in the Lord, if our soul is refreshed, we can endure the pain of the body.”

Finding Healing for a Broken Spirit

“The Gospel is the difference-maker, all the difference in heaven and earth.” (From “A Reason to Pray at Mountainview“)

Jesus delights in healing broken hearts, broken lives, and broken relationships. God is glorified in healing brokenness. That is what He does. Who else can? Drugs? Therapy? An adrenalin rush? Entertainment? Only the Maker of the spirit can heal a broken spirit. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings healing, peace, cleansing, love, and forgiving. The Gospel is what the human heart needs.

Psalm 147:3  (NKJV) — He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

Charles Spurgeon encourages:

His deep sympathy with mourners is a special mark of his goodness. Few will associate with the despondent, but Jehovah chooses their company, and abides with them till he has healed them by his comforts. He deigns to handle and heal broken hearts: he himself lays on the ointment of grace, and the soft bandages of love, and thus binds up the bleeding wounds of those convinced of sin. This is compassion like a God. Well may those praise him to whom he has acted so gracious a part. The Lord is always healing and binding: this is no new work to him, he has done it of old; and it is not a thing of the past of which he is now weary, for he is still healing and still binding, as the original hath it. Come, broken hearts, come to the Physician who never fails to heal: uncover your wounds to him who so tenderly binds them up! (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, p. 415). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Jesus said,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

The Psalmist, David, knew where to run when overwhelmed and broken.

Psalm 61:1–2 — Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

It all goes back to the One who offers eternal life and liberty–Jesus Christ.

Recognizing Legitimate and Illegitimate Guilt, Shame, and Regret

The last two weeks I filled the pulpit for a pastor friend of mine. Keeping up this blog took a back seat, needless to say.  I’ve known the pastor for over a decade and he is a true shepherd through and through. I have preached from pulpits from the west coast to the east coast, both as a pastor and guest speaker, ministering God’s Word. When I’ve stood in front of a local body of believers who have a biblical shepherd who cares for them and disciples them in and according to the Scriptures, there is a freedom from the pulpit and a warmth and joy poured upon you from the congregation.

I have also preached in local churches where it was more difficult to deliver the Word of God than wade through a tar pit … wearing snowshoes.

The message I brought this last Sunday was out of 2 Corinthians 7:8-12 on the subject of Guilt, Shame, and Regret (GSR).  What’s more commonly tagged: “godly sorrow.” It is clear in the OT and NT that there is both a legitimate and illegitimate GSR. One leads to repentance and produces diligence, zeal, fear, and vindication among other godly responses, whereas Illegitimate GSR goes too far and will drown you (2 Cor. 2:7), smoother you, and drive you away from Christ.

Some of the common lies from illegitimate guilt, shame, and regret are:

  • Jesus won’t forgive you. You’ve gone too far.
  • You’ve committed the unpardonable sin.
  • God won’t listen to your prayers; you’re not worthy.
  • How could God love you after what you’ve done?
  • How could God love you after what has happened to you?

If you hear these lies, go to the Gospel. Don’t wait for Sunday morning. Don’t wait for a sign. Preach the Gospel to yourself and rely on the work of Jesus Christ.

A Third Side

There is another side, another approach/view of guilt, shame, and regret that sadly is alive in our American Christian culture.  It is popularized by the “positive gospel” preachers and by a miss understanding of who we become in Christ. It goes something like:  “If you feel guilty about something, rebuke it, ignore it, and cast it down because it is not of God.” Then a person is to make a quick confession of “There is therefore now NO condemnation …” from Romans 8:1. Basically, it is taught that “GSR is an attack on your faith and who you are in Christ.”  But the truth is the opposite of that statement.

  • One writer called this “Preaching a False-Positive.”
  • This type of theology denies sin.
  • I John 1:8-2:2 rebukes the believer who says they do not sin and/or has no sin.
  • This theology denies the propitiation of Christ.
  • It denies reality.

The Legitimate Work of Guilt, Shame, and Regret

All GSR should lead us to restoration at the Cross and that is where it should stop. If you are haunted or beaten up by GSR, then it has turned from legitimate GSR into a Mr. Hyde. If this is happening, preach the Gospel to your Mr. Hyde and “cling to the old rugged cross”—to the Gospel that saves.

Remember the promise:  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall receive comfort.”  This is speaking to the believer who mourns over his/her sin with GSR.  Sincere, heart-felt repentance includes accepting the guilt of your sin; being ashamed of your sin; and regretting your sinfulness. Faith in your repentance will bring comfort, restoration, and zeal.

“Evidence that you truly repented and sought Christ is that you are still repenting daily and seeking Christ.”

If You Speak Against Me …

“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, “He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.” ~ Epictetus

This is the response of love as Jesus taught.

This is not the way of the worldly minded who prefer self-justification and/or revenge. The person who puts his identity and personhood in how others view him will react in a defensive mode or be wounded.

He who accepts that he is who he is only by the grace of God:

  1. Will not deny his imperfections and sinfulness, but can agree with them. I John 1:8-10 reminds us not to deceive ourselves and call God a liar by denying that we have many faults and that we do blow it. Yes, we do sin, but we have an advocate who is also our propitiation, and He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  2. Will see himself through the blood of Christ and through the opinions of others. He knows that the acceptance that actually counts in life is not from accusers, but from the Defender–Jesus Christ.  His image is found in Christ Jesus, not in whether he fits into the world or conforms to the world’s mold. The Apostle Paul wasn’t relying on the approval of man, but of God. Should we not follow in those footsteps? (Galatians 1:10)
  3. Will not be afraid of words spoken against him by man. He cares what God says about him. Such a person expects the unbelieving world to think of him as strange, as one who is of a different world or different set of values and standards. After all, are we not living according to another kingdom, under a king not of this world? (Psalm 27:1-3)
  4. Will be able to remain at peace and in joy because he has a mediator, Jesus Christ the Righteous, who has silenced the accuser before the throne of God. He knows that the righteousness of Christ Jesus has been imputed to his account and nothing can remove it, for nothing can take away what Christ has given. (Romans 831-39)
  5. Will bless and pray for those that speak against him. (Matthew 5:43-48)

If anyone tells you that you’re a no good, rotten sinner who deserves hell (probably adding some flowery adjectives mixed in the description), reply with gentleness and meekness with,

“Yes, I know. And you don’t know the half of it. But God, who is rich in mercy, forgave me of all that stuff when Jesus Christ bore my sins and their penalty when He was on the cross. And if He did it for this rotten sinner, He can do it for you. Would you like to know how?”

This video is from Shane and Shane, “Embracing Accusations.” The lyrics may even surprise you. The message is sound biblical truth to live by.

Reading About Christ on the Cross

Recently I picked up a book that I’ve had on my reading list for a long time. This was my book for vacationing at the beach. It’s a classic work by the late John R.W. Stott:  The Cross of Christ (2006. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.).  I am grateful for Logos Bible software for publishing this work. I’m the guy who reads with a highlighter and pen. Ebooks, especially in Logos, allow markups, notes, and easy cross-referencing.

“There is then, it is safe to say, no Christianity without the cross. If the cross is not central to our religion, ours is not the religion of Jesus.”

“Give me a sermon on the cross any day. If it be from the scriptures, it cannot but lift my heart to the One who lived to die as the Lamb of God. When is the last time that you heard a sermon series on the cross of Christ? If it’s been awhile, I encourage you to pick up this book and find the depth of the riches of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross. At the cross we find the death of our old man and new life with God. Most importantly we find Jesus. I think this quote from Stott is what motivates the curious mind:”

“But why? We return to this basic puzzle. What was there about the crucifixion of Jesus which, in spite of its horror, shame and pain, makes it so important that God planned it in advance and Christ came to endure it?”

Stott opens these questions beautifully and leads you into answers. The crucifixion is more than saying, ‘Jesus Christ died for our sins.’ What does that really mean? Why was this absolutely necessary? What was the cause and effect? Stott does not disappoint.

If you have read this book, you know the difficulty of dropping only a few of its quotes. Here are a few more and I encourage you to pick up the book, with a marker and pen–paper or ebook.

“Despite the great importance of his [Jesus] teaching, his example, and his works of compassion and power, none of these was central to his mission. What dominated his mind was not the living but the giving of his life.”

I love reading about Jesus, who He was, is, and is to come. If you’re interested in reading on the subject, here’s a couple of recommendations:

The Cross: God’s Way of Salvation, by Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

In Christ Alone: Living The Gospel Centered Life, by Sinclair Ferguson.

The Crises of the Christ, by G. Campbell Morgan.

Two final quotes from John Stott’s book:

“In conclusion, the cross enforces three truths—about ourselves, about God and about Jesus Christ.”

Stott does a brilliant job with the numerous subjects and issues that come out of Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary. At the risk of causing confusion, I drop this last quote. It is a mere taste of his logic while tackling the subject: The Problem with Forgiveness.

“The Bible takes sin seriously because it takes humanity seriously. As we have seen, Christians do not deny the fact—in some circumstances—of diminished responsibility, but we affirm that diminished responsibility always entails diminished humanity. To say that somebody “is not responsible for his actions” is to demean him or her as a human being. It is part of the glory of being human that we are held responsible for our actions. Then, when we also acknowledge our sin and guilt, we receive God’s forgiveness, enter into the joy of his salvation, and so become yet more completely human and healthy. What is unhealthy is every wallowing in guilt which does not lead to confession, repentance, faith in Jesus Christ and so forgiveness.”