Men must

Image via WikipediaMan must.

The Second Commandment is found in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, in Chapter 19, verse 18.  It is that man must:

This second commandment has many applications.  However, we are going to continue our study of the human personality and so we will limit our discussion to that area.  Since sin has affected ALL of the parts of the human personality, our personality must be restored through our love for God in Jesus Christ.  Since we have this need ourselves, we must then apply the second commandment and say that we must also be concerned about the , and of our neighbors.

This is especially true in our efforts to lead people to a personal faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Our presentation of the Gospel to others should be addressed to the Whole Person.  Challenge the mind with the truth of the gospel, stir their emotions, and to move their will to give themselves to Christ and save (balance) their soul.

An evangelistic/counseling ministry should focus upon three things:

We must teach clearly the meaning of the gospel message and what it means to follow Christ as His disciple.  We should try to persuade people's minds with convincing arguments for the truth.  Intellect.
We should tell about Jesus' love for us with great feeling. People must feel the sacrifice and love of Christ for them in their own hearts so that they might be moved by the love of God to accept Christ.  Emotions
We must call with authority for a firm decision to follow Jesus Christ and obey His commandments regardless of the results.  Will.
What takes place when a person fails to respond to Jesus Christ with ALL if their personality?  Their conversion/salvation to Jesus will be:
What kind of decision for Christ do we really want?
The objective of all evangelism/counseling is to win the Total Man or Woman to Jesus Christ.  We cannot settle for less than this.  When someone comes to Him for forgiveness, they must come with the mind, the heart, and the will.  In the spaces provided below, use your own words to describe how an evangelistic/counseling message may be aimed at each part of the human personality.

Intellect:
Emotions:
Will:
How does Jesus describe the personality that is totally consecrated to God?  It is one who loves God

When God Touches People Today

Love God

Image by Lawrence OP via FlickrAccording to I Peter 1:9, Christians receive the salvation of their .  The purpose of Jesus' ministry was not just to save a part of the human personality but to save all man's .  That includes the , the , and the .

This is what Jesus is saying Mark 12:30.  Man must give ALL of his personality to love God with all of his: .  If a person is to love God in this way, it is necessary for us to love Him with ALL his:




Now, if we are to experience the complete restoration of our personality as a believer, Jesus teaches that there are Two things which are necessary.  These Two things are found in the Great Commandment.

Our attitude toward God is to be an attitude of: .
As the word ALL tells us, it is to be an attitude of:
So, if we are to have the Balance and nature of our human personality freed from the effects of sin, we must do as Jesus teaches in the Great Commandment and God .

During our study of the last Week of Jesus' ministry, we shall see how He consecrated the  three parts of His own personality to God in love.

On Tuesday, during the long arguments with his enemies, Jesus showed that His understanding of the Scripture was far more profound than theirs.  Which of the parts of His personality did He use to break down the false arguments of His enemies?
Later that Same Tuesday Jesus left Jerusalem.  He was greatly moved by their rejection of His love and He wept over Jerusalem.  Read Matthew 23:37 and then compare it with Luke 19;41.  What part of Jesus' personality is shown here?
On Thursday night in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus faced a spiritual struggle about His coming death for the sins of mankind.  What part of His personality did Jesus have to consecrate totally to God in order to fulfill this part of God's plan for His death on the cross?  Read Matthew 26:42.
The life of Jesus Christ  represents a life that was lived in complete balance with a total love for God. 

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Men were perfect

Image via WikipediaWhen God first created man in His own image, man was perfect.  This means that the Soul of man was also .  Man's soul was made perfect in man's




So, before the sin of Adam, the three parts of man's personality worked together in perfect balance.  But, when sin came into the world through Adam's disobedience to God, it Upset The Balance between the three parts of man's inner being.  Thus, people are often under the control of One or Two of these parts of the personality, while the others are left out.  For instance,

When a person falls in love with someone who is not a believer and marries him/her against the direction of the Scripture, she/he is allowing the and the to control the .
On the other hand, one who spends a great deal of time studying the Word of God and who becomes deeply emotional over the truths that are there but does not make any changes in his/her life is allowing the and the to control their .
A Christian who knows the Ten Commandments from memory and who obeys them outwardly, without any inward understanding in the heart is being controlled by the and the while putting aside the .
But, when man sinned, it was not just the balance between the parts of the personality which was changed.  The aspects of the personality themselves were Twisted Out Of Shape so that they no longer functioned in the way they were supposed to, at least not all the time.  In Romans 7:18, Paul writes: "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  According to Paul's own words, which part of his soul, the Emotions or the Will was:

stronger? 
weaker? 
let's look at the way this may happen.

A Christian woman who for one moment feels real joy and the next moment feels deeply depressed has her twisted by the effects of sin among mankind.
A man who seems to be unable to understand the teachings of the gospel and appears to be mentally blind has his twisted by the effects of sin within men.
And, the person who knows what is right and wants to do it but simply cannot seem to do it has his twisted by the effects of sin.

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Four terms

Image via WikipediaJesus used Four terms to describe the human personality in the Great Commandment as it is found in Mark 12:30.  Which of the Four terms used there is Not Included in the list of modern terms?

The word Soul is translated from the Greek word psyche.  The Greek word itself is used as the root for a number of modern English words, including "Psychology."

The study of Psychology deals with the thinking, feelings and actions of people.  It deals with all of the parts of the human personality.  In the same way, the Biblical word Soul talks about: All of the innermost parts of man's personality, including the heart, mind, and strength.

What is the term that Jesus used in Matthew 22:37 which has to do with ALL of man's inner being?

The creation of man is described in Genesis 2:7 in the following way.  "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being."  In the New American Standard Bible, according to the marginal note which belongs to this verse, the word "being" should be literally translated with the English word soul.  Where did the soul of man come from?

What three aspects did God create in the human personality? , , .

According to Genesis 1:27, man is different than all of the rest of God's creation.  How is man different?

In the past subjects we studied the Image of God in man.  Because man is made in the image of God, he has some of the same abilities that God has.  For instance, like God, man can also:

•Love

•Reason.

•Make Decisions and Act.

Which of these abilities matches the following parts of the human personality?

1.The Intellect? 

2.The Will? 

3.The Emotions? 

When God first created man in His own image, man was perfect.  This means that the Soul of man was also .  Man's soul was made perfect in man's

The Great Commandment

Image via WikipediaThe Great Commandment
Now let's look at the First of these Two Commandments more closely.  Read Matthew 22:37.  The First commandment says that we are to God with ALL of our , , and .

These three aspects of the human personality include all of man.  In other words, the Great Commandment teaches us to love God: TOTALLY.

At this point we should notice that there is a small difference between the way that Mark quotes this verse from the Old Testament and the way that Matthew quotes it.  Read Mark 12:30.  What word does Mark Add to the quotation from the Old Testament?

Modern psychologists describe the human personality with these words: Emotions, Intellect, Will.  Notice how closely these modern terms match the words that Jesus used to describe man's personality.  Answer below by matching the modern terms with the words which are used in the Bible.

Heart: Feeling joy, sorrow, etc.  The
Mind: That part which thinks.  The
Strength: What causes us to do things.  The
A person's Will is that part of the inner being which enables one to make decisions and to control one's own actions..  It makes it possible for a person to DO or NOT DO something which he or she has decided upon.  Which one of the terms Jesus used refers to this same aspect of the human personality?

On the other hand, when we talk about the Feelings which we have in our heart, we are talking about that part of the human personality which, in modern terms, is called the .

Our ability to understand, to learn, and to KNOW is a part of the human personality the Bible calls the and which we call the today.

Human personality

Image via WikipediaHuman personality

The arguments with the High priests and Pharisees continued all day Tuesday in the temple.  At one point one of them asked Jesus what was the Greatest Commandment.  In today's subject we are going to look at his answer to that question and see what it has to teach us about the human personality and our relationship to God.

Begin your study by Reading Matthew 22:34-40 and answering the following questions.

On what day did this episode take place?
Where did it take place?
Who asked Jesus the question found in verse 36?
Which religious group of the Jews did this man represent?
What was the question that he asked?
How many commandments did Jesus give in His answer?
The episode is also found in Mark 12:28-34.  Read the episode in Mark and answer the following: 

According to verse 28, who asked Jesus the question?
The teachers of the law were friends of which religious party of Jews?
Did the teacher of the law Agree or Disagree with Jesus' answer?
What did Jesus say to him?
When the teacher of the law listened to Jesus' answer seriously and agreed with what Jesus said, he showed that he also understood the importance of the Great Commandment.

Read Matthew 22:37.  What is the Great Commandment?
Where can this be found in the Old Testament?
According to Jesus, what is the second most important commandment?
Where can this commandment be found in the Old Testament?
Jesus answered the teacher's question by putting together Two Old Testament verses.  Both of these verses talk about the same thing., although they have to do with different persons.  Both of these commandments tell us to .

Complete peace

Image by wallyg via FlickrComplete peace

Let us compare the "man" Peter who was afraid of the stormy water, with the Son of Man, the perfect man, Jesus Christ.  Jesus had complete peace.

Peter sank into the water because he lacked what thing? (Matt. 14:31)
When Peter cried out for Jesus' help, what did the Lord do?
Read Isaiah 41:10.  Why should God's children not be afraid?
Read each of the following verses.  expressing Faith: Psalm 23:4; 27:1; 34:4; 56:11; 118:6.  So then, the right way for a believer to react to fear is to do as Peter did.  We should cry out to and live by .
All of us, You and I and others, are "Peters" in the water.  Our only solution is to take the hand of so that we may be able to deal with the circumstances which threaten us.  We can learn an extremely important lesson from Peter's example.  In order to fact the world in which we must live, our in the Lord must grow.

Read I John 4:18.  We must also care for those who have fallen into fear, and who are using psychological adjustments to avoid the problems.  However, we must be certain to deal with the root of the problem which is fear.  According to I John 4:18, what can we do to help others overcome their fear?

So then, the coach/counselor/pastor must deal gently with others who have fallen into fear.  The psychological adjustments in this lesson have their root cause in the which every man or woman faces.

The proper reaction to the situations which cause fear is in the LORD Jesus Christ, and which "drives out" .

Today's subject has had two purposes:

To help you understand yourself better.
To help you understand others better.
Therefore:

Take some time to review these five Psychological adjustments in your devotional time.  Look them over and apply solutions for them in your own life.  Every time you find that your fears have made you fall into one of these situations, ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you and to give you more faith in Him.
Also ask the Lord to give you a new and better understanding of the way in which your Brothers and Sisters in Christ Act.  Ask Him for patience, remembering that fear and the lack of Confidence in the Lord are the Basic causes of all the upsets and disturbances in everyone's life.

Caution

Image via WikipediaBefore we finish today's lesson, a word of CAUTION ought to be added.  NOT all reactions are psychological adjustments.  It is possible for instance, for a person to see a real fault in someone else that he does not have himself.  Therefore, when one recognizes a fault and lovingly tries to help a brother or sister to overcome it, it is NOT a .  It is also possible that a man may find it necessary to return home from work and correct a serious, and very real problem in his family.  The problem may have nothing to do with his boss and so then, it is not the adjustment we call .  A believer may have a completely reasonable and true explanation for what appears to be a mistake.  This then, is not a .  It may also be that one is not God's will for them at the moment.  This then, is not a .  And finally, it is also possible to be truly sick, without sin or any other mental conflict.  This is not an example of .

Nevertheless, Psychosomatic illness have increased sharply in the last few years, especially in urban areas.  Urbanization is one of the main causes because human beings are fearful of the mental conflicts which are created in the cities.  So then, let's return to our starting point in this lesson: FEAR.  In the list below are some of the causes of fear and mental conflict in the world today.

The fear of failure.
Unstable financial conditions.
The fear of being replaced by another.
Social injustices.
Tension between parents and their children.
Competition in society which pushes the weak aside.
Unfaithfulness in marriages.
Sicknesses which cannot be cured, such as cancer.
Fear of war.
The power of evil.
The loneliness of the big city

5. Conversion

5.  Conversion
The second type of defensive adjustment is called Conversion.  In psychology this term does NOT have to do with the conversion of a person to Christ.  It is talking about the Conversion of a conflict within one's mind into a sickness of the body.  For instance, the child who has stomach pains on the very same day that he is to take a test at school is unconsciously using the psychological adjustment we call .

Of course, it is possible that a child may be pretending.  But, in the case of Conversion, the illness is not pretended, it is real.  Children are not the only ones who use conversion adjustments.  Adults also react this way.  Many adult sicknesses have their source in the .  Sickness of this sort is called psychosomatic.  That is, the very real sickness which is shown in the has as its cause, a conflict in the .

Psychosomatic illness is caused by the psychological adjustment we call .

Just like all of the other psychological adjustments we have studied thus far, conversion is an unconscious reaction.  Although the sickness is caused by a conflict within the mind, the person who uses Conversion does NOT KNOW why he is sick.  Nor can he, simply by making up his mind, get better.  Psychosomatic illness which comes as a result of Conversion adjustment is one of the worst results of man's fear.  Conversion adjustment takes place when an individual who must face a difficult situation runs away from it by means of a physical which is caused by fear.

Because illness of this sort is real, and because it is caused by fear, the "Coach/pastor/counselor" cannot simply say: "Control Yourself"!  "This is only in your mind."  Much wisdom and psychological care is needed to help the person overcome the fear which has caused the sickness.  This can only be done by pointing people to the Lord Jesus Christ and encouraging them to place all of their confidence in him.  In most cases it will be necessary to seek the help of a Christian Psychologist.

You may know someone who often feels very weak, has no appetite, and often has a hard time breathing.  They may also experience rapid beating of the heart, dizziness or a heaviness in the chest, and stomach problems.  Perhaps the person has gone from one doctor to the next with no results.  The main topic of their conversation is their sickness.  Some of these who suffer such symptoms do have real physical illness.  Nevertheless, more often than not, such symptoms are the result of the psychological adjustment we have called .

In Psalm 32, David describes this kind of illness.  Read Psalm 32:3-5.

According to these verses, what was it that caused the conflict in David's mind?
What happened to his body?
What psychological adjustment was David using?
Was David's sickness real?
It is especially important to note that David's sickness came as a result of conflict which began with his sin.  This may often be true of believers as well, although it is not always so.  According to Psalm 32:5, how was David healed of his illness?

In those cases where Conversion has come about because of UNconfessed sin, the illness may be cured through the of sin.

Remember the episode of the paralytic in Matthew 9:1-7.  It is possible for paralysis, deafness, or dumbness to be the result of Conversion.  Read Matthew 9:1-7 again if you cannot remember this episode.

Did Jesus deal First with the guilt which caused the conflict in the man's mind, or did he deal with the paralysis which affected his body?
Once the mental conflict was solved, what happened to the man's body?
It is quite possible, that this man's sickness was an example of the psychological adjustment called , and that Jesus, the perfect psychologist, healed him.
Now write a description of "Conversion" and provide "Biblical Examples".

4. Regression

Image via Wikipedia4.  Regression
Regression is the first Defensive adjustment.  Regression occurs when a person who finds himself in a difficult situation unconsciously goes back to a form of childish behavior which helped him solve the problem in his youth.  Now, such behavior only make the adult look foolish.  Here is a sample list below of them.

Pretending to be sick.
Doing something foolish without thinking about it.
Kicking or throwing something when you angry at someone.
Pretending to be annoyed or upset.
Refusing to speak to someone who has offended you.
Crying and sobbing anytime someone talks to you.
Screaming.
Acting like a baby.
Regression can also be illustrated from the Bible.  One of the kings of Israel, a man named Ahab, wanted a vineyard that belonged to a humble neighbor named Naboth.  But, Naboth did not want to sell the property.  Read I Kings 21:4.

What did Ahab do?
What psychological adjustment was Ahab using:
When a person refuses to perform a task which he is perfectly able to do, he most often uses regression as a means of avoiding it.  Many timid believers say that they cannot testify, when in truth the problem is that they DO NOT WANT to testify because they are afraid.  They are using regression.

In Jeremiah 1:6, the prophet used regression when he said that he could not testify to the people because he was a .
Gideon, in Judges 6:15, also used regression when he told the Lord that he could not save Israel because his family was the in Mannasseh and he was the in his family.
Believers sometimes use regression to avoid responsibilities in the church.  This is sad indeed.  Read Hebrews 5:13-14.

According to verse 14, God wants every believer to grow to
However, some believers, instead of growing, remain spiritual
What psychological adjustment is condemned by these verses?
Now write a description of Regression and some Biblical and Personal" examples.

3. Displacement

Image via Wikipedia3.  Displacement
The third aggressive adjustment is Displacement.  It happens when someone who is stronger than I causes me to be upset.  I then turn against an innocent but weaker person.  For instance, suppose a worker who is angry at his boss goes home and begins to argue with his wife.  In such a case, who is the

stronger person causing the irritation?
weaker, innocent person against whom the worker turned?
person who used Displacement?
It is important to remember that Displacement is also an unconscious psychological adjustment.  In other words, the husband actually thinks that he is correcting a real fault in his wife.  He does not realize that he is letting out irritation which has been caused by his boss at work, because he does not want to stand up against his boss and possibly lose his job.

Let's take a Biblical example of displacement from the life of David's brother.  When the giant Goliath threatened Israel's army each day, all of the soldiers were afraid of him, including David's oldest brother Eliab.  At that time David was very young.  He arrived at the army's camp with some cheese and bread his father had sent to his older brothers.  Read I Samuel 17:28.

How did Eliab greet David?
Who was the weakest person against whom Eliab could let his anger go?
Who was the strong person who caused Eliab's anger, and whom Eliab did not want to face?
What was the psychological adjustment used by Eliab in this case?
Remember, displacement happens when someone who is than I am irritates me.  I in turn get angry with another person who is than I am, even though that person is completely .

Write a description of "Displacement".  Then provide a "Biblical Example".

Thus far we have considered three psychological adjustments.  What are they?

We have studied three psychological adjustments.  Now we will consider Two adjustments.  These psychological adjustments are ways in which a person unconsciously withdraws from unpleasant situations.

Just One Moment!  Stop and Think: Who pays for the dishes you break when you become angry with someone who is stronger than you?  Why not ask the Lord to make you more humble and sensitive so that you may not make innocent people suffer.

2. Rationalization

Image via Wikipedia2.  Rationalization
The second type of aggressive psychological adjustment is called Rationalization.  Rationalization occurs when a person gives excuses for his actions without realizing that this is what he is doing.  It is a way of not facing the unpleasant, but the real reasons for the actions.  Rationalization can also be illustrated from the Bible.  Read Proverbs 22:13.

What is the reason that the sluggard (a lazy person) gives for not wanting to go out?
However, what is the real reason why he will not work?
Since this person cannot face the unpleasant fact that he is lazy, what psychological adjustment does he use to deceive himself?
Another example can be found in Acts 24-25.  Read this portion from the book of Acts.  Felix gave the false reason of ""He didn't have any more time to listen to Paul" for cutting the conversation short.  The real reason was : the message of coming judgment frightened Felix.

Rationalization is an unconscious way of making oneself seem to be right.  The person who rationalizes really believes that he is giving the true reasons for his actions when, in fact, they are False reasons.  Who is being deceived, when rationalization takes place?  See I John 1:8.

So then, Rationalization consists of giving , but more acceptable reasons, for our actions without realizing that we are deceiving ourselves because we cannot accept the reasons.

Now let's compare the two psychological adjustments we have studied.  Both of them are adjustments.

The  psychological adjustment in which I see, and dislike, in other people the very faults which I cannot see in my own life is called?
It is possible for me to overlook my own faults because I hide them with false reasons, without knowing that they are false reasons.  In other words, I use the adjustment called?
Write a definition of "Rationalization".  Also write a "Biblical Example".

1. Projection

Image via Wikipedia1.  Projection
The first aggressive adjustment is called Projection.  Projection occurs when a person trys to blame someone else for their own sin.  By blaming others for the sin they do not wish to recognize in themselves, they are able to act as if it is not there.

This kind of adjustment can be easily illustrated.  Have you ever noticed how easily ball players blame their own mistakes on others?

Projection is one kind of aggressive psychological adjustment which is used to overcome

Of course, we have all noticed how often children place the blame for wrong behavior upon someone else.

Remember the teaching about the Speck and the Plank in the Statutes of Humility?  (Matthew 7:3)?

The fact that you can see a small speck of sawdust in your brother's eye ought to lead you to a careful search in your own life to see if you are guilty of the same sin, only to a larger degree!

If the speck of sawdust you notice in your brother is a lack of love, what plank should you suspect in your own life which you may be projecting upon your brother?

When someone places a sin which is hidden in their own life upon another person by criticizing them, has taken place.  In this way they may ignore the problem in their own life.

An example of this psychological adjustment can be found in the Bible.  When the prophet Nathan told King David about the rich man who had stolen a poor man's only lamb, David became quite angry.  But, he did not realize that he had committed this same kind of sin himself when he had taken another man's wife.

Upon whom had David projected his sin?
What was this sin which David did not want to face in his own life?

Insecure and weak

Image via WikipediaInsecure and weak

 

It is important for us to realize that all men, underneath the surface, feel insecure and weak.  Reactions as far apart as striking out against others and crying out for help, both come from the same source, that is .

In Matthew 14 we have example of both these possible reactions of the fearful man.  Which of these reactions is shown by:

Peter in the water?
Herod with John the Baptist?
“Quality of Life” work requires that we know something about man himself as well as the Gospel.  The fearful man uses a series of Mental Adjustments to avoid facing a threatening environment.  Some of these adjustments are defensive and some are aggressive.  Read John 2:24-25.  Who is it that knows completely all of the adjustments which take place in the minds of men?

The knowledge of what takes place within the mind of man is called PSYCHOLOGY.  The word, Psychology means: "The science of the mind".  Although it was not called by this name in Jesus' day, it is very clear that Jesus Himself had a perfect knowledge of .

Psychology is not only the science of the mind.  It also includes the study of all human behavior.  However, our definition will be enough for you to remember right now.

Some believers are afraid of Psychology and think that Christians should stay away from such things.  But, the truth of the matter that leadership Psychology is very necessary today.  Here is three reasons for the study of Leadership Psychology:

Because many young people study psychology in high schools and colleges and we should be able to talk to them.
Because it is a study that helps us to know ourselves better and to understand others.
Because Jesus had a knowledge of psychology and used this knowledge to minister to people.
We shall now study five of the most important Psychological adjustments of man so that you will be able to understand yourself and help others.

Now, let's look at each of these Psychological adjustments.  The first one is...

Man, Fear, and Psychological Adjustment.

Image via WikipediaMan, Fear, and Psychological Adjustment.

Today we shall study something which is very important if we are to be able to understand both ourselves and help ourselves to a better “Quality of Life.”  So, don't allow the title of the subject to scare you.  I think you will find this lesson both easy and interesting.

Read Matthew 14:22-33.

We have already mentioned that we will be studying a great deal about the doctrine of man in these subjects, in our series of studies.  This episode provides a good introduction to this study.

We are going to look carefully at the reactions of two men to their environment, in this case, a severe storm.  The men are Jesus and Peter.

Which of these two men: was sinking in the water?    walked on the water?
What did the man Peter feel when his environment threatened him? (see Matthew 14:30)

When God first created him, MAN was in perfect harmony with his environment and, indeed, with the whole universe because he had not yet fallen into sin.  But, after man sinned:

What happened to the earth, according  to Genesis 3:17-18?
Was the new relationship between man and his environment one of harmony or one of conflict?
According to Genesis 3:10, what negative feeling took hold of man?
We can safely say that all men fear something.  This is just as true of a king like Antipas as it is of a humble man like Peter.  Even all of the power and wealth of a king did not keep Herod from fear.  No other feeling is so widely found as this.

According to the following verses, what did Herod fear?  Matthew 14:5 Mark 6:20
In the episode (Matthew 14:22-33) you have just read, what did Peter fear?
Read Matthew 14:2 and 14:26.  

Many people fear the occult, the spirit world, which is thought to be especially threatening in the darkness.  As a result of this fear some people wear charms to keep away evil spirits or to give them good luck.  Others become involved in spiritism, astrology, the use of horoscopes, and other kinds of superstitions.  What kind of people fear the occult?

Everyone experiences fear but not everyone reacts in the same way.  Generally speaking, there are two kinds of reaction to fear.  One reaction is Aggressive and the other one Defensive.

In spite of being king, Herod was a fearful man, just like other men.  But, since he was fearful, he did not react in weakness.  Rather, Herod reacted Aggressively against the object of his fear, John the Baptist.  Therefore, Herod reacted as an reaction to fear.

On the other hand when Peter sank into the water he called for help.  This is an example of a man showing the reaction to fear.

Although everyone has a tendency to react more often in one of these ways than the other, an aggressive person will at times become defensive in his reaction just as the defensive person is sometimes aggressive.  The reaction often depends upon the circumstances.  For instance, it is most likely that any man would show

a reaction when attacked by a lion, and
an reaction when attacked by a fly!

4. Creative relationships.

Image via Wikipedia4.  Creative relationships.

Frequently, individuals who are described in scripture as exercising spiritual leadership, are portrayed as being supported in community.  As well as others providing encouragement for them, they provide an accepting environment in which confession may be made.

The benefits of true fellowship with peers or with others are implied in scripture.  Relationships require the expenditure of energy, but it is apparent in the biblical records that such energy is rewarded with the gift of additional energy in return.

The primitive church endeavored to sustain caring relationships that included supportive friendships between key leaders (for example, for some years, between Barnabas and Paul; the apostles in Jerusalem; and Paul and his companions).  It appears that leaders in the primitive church did not operate in total isolation from other Christians and that they would not have desired such a 'lone-ranger' approach in their ministry.  Rather, it was natural for them to consult, support and even dispute with each other for their own good, and the good of the church.

Paul provides an illuminating insight into his personal priority in his ministry of spending time with the elders of the church in Ephesus.  In this, Paul's farewell message to the Ephesian  elders, he reminds them of his practice, over three years when in Ephesus, of counseling and weeping with them and with others in the church at Ephesus, 'day and night'.  No demonstration of the value and significance of creative relationships for Christians could be more instructive.

2. Balance between rest and activity.

Image via Wikipedia2.  Balance between rest and activity.

For humans to engage in work is to experience pain.  The fatigue of work is its pain.  Only the lilies of the field neither "toil' nor are in pain, because they have no anxiety.  The Bible affirms that God, understanding the fatigue experienced by us, gives rest.  Rest, theologically, is both needed by men and women in living, and has its source beyond them.  Such rest is not merely a suspension of activity, but also signifies refreshment, and is to be seen as a corrective over and against the frenzied activism of much living.  While in an ultimate sense 'rest' is an experience, relaxation and refreshment it is also part of God's provision for all people.  Such divine provision must be claimed by Christians making the choices necessary if they are to receive this portion of God's gift of sustenance.  Intentionality on the part of Christians is required.

Such biblical figures as Jeremiah, Jesus and Paul model for us the way a leader in a demanding ministry situation may still retain the initiative  to call for 'timeout', and deliberately making opportunities for withdrawal from ministry with others to engage in prayer and adopt a quiet, contemplative disposition.

3.  From weakness to power; from works to grace.
Whenever a Christian faces and accepts his or her inadequacies, limitations and frustrations, the way is open for a deep nourishment of spirit by the Spirit promised us.  ('For when I am weak, then I am strong' - 2 Corinthians 12:10).  Christians, as part of the community of the church, need to share with all their brothers and sisters in this life-sustaining dependency which in turn creates renewal and  growth.

Rather than the fragility and humanity of the Christian being viewed in scripture in terms of negativity only (as obstacles to spiritual life and authentic living), they are depicted as aspects of God's grace, as instruments of his action in and through the life of his servants.  In this way, scripture encourages Christians to view the varied aspects of their personal vulnerability not as enemies that seek only to destroy effective living, but as allies which, if acknowledged and accepted, may be powerful agents of the Spirit of God, utterly alone and helplessness, which becomes the first step to the recovery of his confidence and hope.

In some cases, servant-children operate in daily life as though they do not stand under the gospel of the unconditional acceptance of them by God.  It is often difficult for Christians to claim and live by grace.

Coping

Image via WikipediaCoping

 

Scripture not only depicts the problem of pressure experienced by God's servant: it also highlights ways of coping with the problem.  We have seen that the biblical record does not minimize the existence of pressure, or the value of it.  Certainly, the suggestion is to be found there that it is possible to 'solve' the problem of pressure for Christians by adopting some kind of life-style that would be free of any such pressure.  The Bible contains insights into various ways in which such pressure can be coped with, and even turned to profit.

1.  Name the problem

Biblical characters, on occasion, are described as enduring extreme stress.  For example, Elijah experienced sheer exhaustion after the Mount Carmel event (1 Kings 19).  Also, Jeremiah's outburst, claiming that at one point in his ministry he had enough and was near to breaking point (Jeremiah 20) illustrates the intensity of this experience: 'Cursed be the day on which I was born.  The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!  Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, "A son is born to you..."'.

In the New Testament record, Jesus is depicted as undergoing deep agony on the Mount of Olives prior to his arrest, and he begs his Father, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup (of suffering) pass from me...'  Also, Paul indicates by letter the sufferings he and his missionary companions had experienced in Asia:'... for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.  Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death...'

While there are examples of biblical figures who apparently had no hesitation about articulating to God, and to others, areas of stress, modern Christians are often reticent to do the  same.  yet basic to all endeavors to cope with stress is the willingness to 'own' the stress: to recognize it with or without the help of  others, and to express it in some way.  To be able to name the problem is a significant undergirding factor which predisposes to healthy coping behavior.

4. Extreme Stress

Image via Wikipedia4.  Extreme Stress

While the designation 'burnout' is a modern one, the condition it describes is as old as events depicted in the Bible.  For example,, in the Psalms, David describes himself as being totally worn out:

"O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger,nor chasten me in the wrath.Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am Languishing;O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.My soul also is sorely troubled.My soul also is sorely troubled.But, O Lord, how long?"(Psalm 6:1-3.  See also 25:19-21, 31:9, 10; 32:3, 4; 38:3, 4; 39:1-3, 7-11).

Jeremiah also appears to have experienced the dark depths of despair and feelings of helplessness and exhaustion implicit in 'burnout' (Jeremiah 4:19-21, 8:18; 9:1; 11:18, 19).

Jesus, especially in the spiritual and emotional battle at the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:42-44) and on Golgotha, is similarly tortured and pressured.  The intensity of that struggle, represented physically by Luke in his reference to Jesus' sweat being 'like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground' (verse 44), must be noted.

The cry of Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), echoing the opening words of Psalm 22, underscores the extent of Jesus' experience of bitter isolation as he approached death.  Already feeling alienated from almost all human companionship, Jesus embraces the darkest desertion of all: alienation from the Father.

These biblical examples suggest that 'burnout' is an acute development of the individual's reaction to other dimensions of pressure.  Certainly, there are echoes of this condition in the forgoing discussion of biblical material.

3. Personal limitations

Image via Wikipedia3.  Personal limitations

One of the paradoxes of being engaged in Christian living is that the person, may frequently experience severe personal limitations and weakness.

The biblical record contains evidence of the leaders of God's people experiencing feelings of personal limitation.  Moses, in the face of God's call to lead the children of Israel into liberation from Egypt, felt utterly incapable of being the spokesman and representative of his People to pharaoh.  Another example is that of Isaiah, who experienced a sense of deep  unworthiness before the vision of a holy God.  Also, Jeremiah believed, like Moses, that he was not gifted in such a way as he thought would be appropriate for the particular nature of God's call for him.

Recent studies in Christology have placed heavy emphasis on the humanity of Jesus.  While these studies, it may be argued, overlook the reality of the divinity of Jesus, they have heightened our contemporary awareness of the full humanness of Jesus which has tended to be at least partly obscured by traditional Christology with its one-sided emphasis on the divinity of Christ.  Because of this emphasis on the divinity of Christ, the relevance of New Testament material attesting the human limitation and experience of Jesus to the ministry of his followers is more apparent.

In Matthew, chapters 8 and 9, Jesus was unable to cater to the needs of the crowds and escaped across the lake from them.  He pointed out to a scribe that to follow him was to step out into insecurity and to share his fate.

Jesus perceived the needs of the crowds were so great that there would be a continuing need over the coming days, and years, for more disciples in order that the crowds might receive effective ministry.  He felt the pressure of his limitations.

A somewhat similar experience of personal limitation is described by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians.  The discovery of spiritual power coincidental with physical suffering is described as a humiliation, feelings of inadequacy, and all forms of suffering, as powerful instruments revealing the presence of God.

The credibility of Christian living is at stake if it is assumed that such leaders should be perfect and invulnerable creatures - persons "apart."  The validity of a theology operating upon such an assumption would be highly questionable.  It is worth recalling that the gospel has been communicated in spite of the frailty of human flesh.  God is able to communicate through sensual, fragile and destructible flesh; 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.'

For the apostle Paul, power in ministry was experienced in terms of dependence upon the sovereign Lord.  In Paul's understanding, the attributes of his ministry had more to do with an 'unprofessional' understanding of ministry, as that word is usually understood.  Paul considered that the effectiveness of his ministry could not be accounted for in terms of his personal skills, his eloquence, his confidence or any such factor; rather his own performance in ministry was seen by him to be a stumbling demonstration of his incapacity to minister effectively, when contrasted with the power of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).  Paul was very aware of his own weakness (the 'thorn in the flesh', 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; his difficulty in writing, Galatians 6:11; his confrontations with difficulty in writing, Galatians 6:11; his confrontations withy opponents in the church, Galatians 2 and 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 4: 11-13).

The amazing fact is that the gospel is communicated through that which is human finite, and despite sin and illness.  The word of God has been powerfully communicated in spite of Davit's sensual life (2 Samuel 12), Elijah's weariness (1 Kings 19), Jeremiah's sense of burden (Jeremiah 20:7-10), Ezekiel's probable schizophrenia (Ezekiel 1:1), Timothy's digestive problems (1 Timothy 5:23), as well as Francis of Assisi's profligate youth, Luther's self-doubts, and Kierkegaard's and J. B. Phillips' depressions.  It may be that those who acknowledge their place in the midst of suffering humanity are even better equipped to live the gospel that those who compulsively - strive for perfection.

Thus there is no theological justification for an understanding of Christian living being undertaken by peculiar human beings who are beyond mental, spiritual or emotional conflict. On the other hand the realization that human limitation and weakness may be viewed as an ingredient of, rather than a barrier to effective living is a very liberating one.

Inner Life

Image via Wikipedia Inner Life

 

The poems of Jeremiah's inner life do not depict prophetic truth as a bolt from the blue, but as something with a history in the prophet's psyche.  The revelation of God was appropriated by Jeremiah deep within his mind and his spirit, amid personal anguish.  Moreover, this anguish was used repeatedly by God to shape and refine Jeremiah's life.

The burden of his call drove Jeremiah relentlessly towards the fulfillment of his prophetic mission.  He experienced the tension of belief in that call over against the personal agony associated with the response to that call.  On one occasion, he went so far as to say that he would never again speak in the divine name.

Jeremiah might well have been tempted to shrink from the call of God when it summoned him to attack the religious and commercial vested interests of Jerusalem in his day.  The outer circumstances of his life were the context in which Jeremiah's inner, lonely suffering took place.

The New Testament letter of Paul illustrate the pressures of loneliness and burden-bearing.  Nowhere are the dimensions of pressure experienced by Paul so clearly etched as in 2 Corinthians:

In 1:3-11 he refers to his afflictions in Asia (v.8...for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself).
In 2:1-4 and 7:5-13 Paul mentions the agony of offering disciplinary advice to the Christians in Corinth (v.4 'For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you').
In 2:12-13 the longing of  Paul for the coming of his brother preacher (Titus) bringing news about the state of affairs in the church at Corinth not only causes him deep mental distress but prevents him from taking up opportunities for ministry that lay before him.
In 4:7-18 and 6:3-13, the physical sufferings and inner turmoil of Paul and his companions in ministry are described in terms of costly suffering  for the spiritual benefit of others.
in 11:28, after cataloging the many external difficulties he faced in carrying out his ministry, Paul refers to the 'daily pressure' (burden, concern of his anxiety for 'the churches.'  Pastoral oversight is a heavy load to carry.
Paul also is described as experiencing the grief of having to lose a close companion (Barnabas): and of needing to take tough decisions.  Paul, if he was the author of 2 Timothy, was disappointed and grieved over the departure of Demas, and was apparently lonely because only Luke of all his close friends was with him at the time of writing his second letter to Timothy.  In this context, Paul needed the fellowship of his younger brother in Christ ('Do you best to come  to me soon').

In addition, Paul had to endure many false accusations, sometimes from those who were widely respected in the church.

2. Loneliness and burden-bearing.

Image by catface3 via Flickr2. Loneliness and burden-bearing.

Experiences of personal loneliness by Christians, and the weight of burdens they carry, are common.  Similar experiences of isolation and the weight of suffering are attested by biblical figures.

The book of Jeremiah depicts the agony of Jeremiah as interlocked with the agony of Yahweh himself at Israel's rejection of him.  Yahweh calls the people his daughter, they provoke him to agony, yet Jeremiah feels the wound, and the sickness grabs hold  of his own heart and fills him with anguish and even weeping for what he sees ahead.

Five great confessions of Jeremiah have been identified; take the time to read and reflect on these:

11:18-23 and 12:1-6;
15: 10-21;
19: 12-18;
18: 18-23;
20: 7-28.
All share a highly personal description of Jeremiah's own sufferings and events of lively despair, mixed with a trust in God that reaches out in the dark for help.  Jeremiah's deep feelings well up from his spiritual anguish.

Perhaps the most significant contributing factor to Jeremiah's agony was his intense identification with the people to whom he had to proclaim the judgment of God:

My heart, my heart!  Let me writhe! O walls of my heart! My heart is in tumult within: I cannot keep still, For the sound of the horn do I hear, The blast  of battle!

Crash upon  crash it comes - For all the land is ravaged Of a sudden my tent is ravaged In an instant my curtains.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. --Romans 5:3-4

A man named Parnell Bailey toured an orange grove once where an irrigation
pump had broken. The season was dry and some of the trees were dying because
they lacked water. The man giving the tour then took Bailey to his own orchard
where irrigation was used sparingly.

He said, "These trees could go without rain for another two weeks. When they
were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send
their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now, my trees have the
deepest roots in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are
finding moisture at greater depths."

The story above is a good picture of how suffering can produce the "roots" we
as believers need to survive and thrive in any season of life.

But to grow these roots, you and I must plant ourselves in God's Word to find
comfort and strength when battling difficulties in life.

Being thrown into the "furnace of affliction" is a test of faith, as it
forces us to rely solely on the Lord. Isaiah 48:10 says, "See, I have refined
you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."

Whatever trial you may be facing today—be it illness, loneliness, financial
difficulty, or family struggles—remember to stay rooted in the Lord. Then you
can say as the psalmist did: "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise
preserves my life" (Psalm 119:50).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to
strengthen your faith when you are faced with affliction. Pray that He would
comfort you with His Word in times of suffering.

The varied dimensions of pressure:

Image via WikipediaThe varied dimensions of pressure:
1. Loss of meaning in a living situation.
Many servant - children admit to feelings of meaninglessness in their living.  Such an expression of loss of meaning in the living to which they believe they have been called by God either initiates or helps sustain experiences of stress. Biblical figures such as Jeremiah and David illustrate such feelings of meaninglessness.
Jeremiah is unusual among the Hebrew prophets because of the extent to which the biblical record reveals his personal feelings.  From the outset of his ministry, he experienced a real sense of desperation when confronted with the almost hopeless task of ministering to Judah in her apostasy.  His pent-up mental anguish found expression in passionate outbursts against his lot in life (read Jeremiah 5:10; 20:8, 14, 18).
Repeatedly, Jeremiah is pictured as perceiving his own ministry to be at variance with that of the priests.  He questions both the validity of their ministry, and the capacity of the people to respond appropriately to his own prophetic ministry.  He believes in the validity of his own ministry passionately, but realizes that others do not concur with his estimate.
David reveals himself to be a person who believes that God had been richly present to his ancestors, but experiences an apparent absence of the blessing of God upon his own life.  Elsewhere in Psalm 22, David exposes his feelings of pain and irrelevance as well as concluding that, in an ultimate sense, his ministry is not pointless.  Feelings of inadequacy and irrelevance in living are hardly new; they unfold naturally as part of the biblical story.

Bad Things

Image via Wikipedia Bad Things

 

Think of the misery that comes into our lives by our restless gnawing greed.  We plunge ourselves into enormous debt and then take two and three jobs to stay afloat.  We uproot our Families with unnecessary moves just so we can have a more prestigious house.  We grasp and grab and never have enough.  And most destructive of all our flashy cars and sports spectaculars and backyard pools have a way of crowding out much interest in the family, love of people, and those areas and virtues that make life worth living.  How clearly the Apostle Paul saw this when he warned that our lust for wealth causes us to fall into Many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction" (1 Tim. 6:9).

But we do not need to be imprisoned to greed.  We can be ushered into a life of peace and serenity.

We weary of competing commitments and exhausting schedules.  We desire to be obedient to God in all things, and have a growing knowledge that this frantic scramble is not his will.  We yearn to enter the deep silences that give unity and direction to our lives.

Desire, however, is not enough.  If we expect to enter the inward peace for which we were created, we will need to order our lives in specific ways.  The things we do will not give us peace, but they will put us in the training program where we can receive it.

It is wonderful - this resting in God, this stilling of frantic activity this seeking first His Kingdom. 

We must have a time to still the churning, to quiet the restlessness, to meditate on the almighty God who dwells in our hearts.

The experience of pressure is an intrinsic aspect of all Christian living and it appears that this has always been so.  You are invited to identify with one or more traits or experiences of biblical leaders under pressure, and seek to apply new learning in specific areas of your own life.  There is a flow of experience and wisdom in the community of faith there is much that we can learn from the past.  In particular, the varied dimensions of brokenness portrayed in the lives of biblical leaders, and the rich learning - and sometimes healings - which they experienced by the grace and love of God, may inform and give profound insight to servant - children in the modern church.

Our training is no grim duty.

Image via WikipediaOur training is no grim duty.  It is a delightful privilege.  We are engaged in a joyous adventure, not a dull, boring task.  God is no killer of happiness.  IN this training experience we are coming alive to God.  Every person, every tree, every flower, every color is alive with God for those who know his way of life.

And most wonderful of all is what happens inside us.  To our astonishment we find that we are walking with God.  His thoughts are becoming our thoughts, his desires our desires.  Increasingly old ugly thoughts melt away and our minds become pure as a mountain stream.  Proof upon proof begins to pile up that God is at work in our daily lives, until we become certain of God, not from books or preachers, but from experience.  The old strain and indecision are replaced by a greater ease and confidence.

We begin to live in guidance.  Inward promptings give direction to our decisions.  Thomas Kelly witnessed, "Life from the Center is a life of unhurried peace and power.  It is simple.  It is serene.  It is amazing.  It is triumphant.  It is radiant.  It takes no  time, but it occupies all our time.  And it makes our life programs new and overcoming."

One of the most profound effects of inward peace is the rise of an amazing spirit of contentment.  Gone is the need to strain and pull to get ahead.  In rushes a glorious indifference to position, status, or possession.  Living out of this wonderful childhood way of life causes all other concerns to fade into insignificance.  So utterly immersed was St. Paul in this reality that from a Roman prison he could write "I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11).  to be put down or to be praised was a matter of indifference to him.  Plenty and hunger, abundance and want were immaterial to this little Jew with the God centered soul.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," he said, and so he lived (Phil. 4:13).

How cleverly Paul turned the tables on all those who taught that "godliness with contentment" (1 Tim. 6: 5, 6).  he saw that the problem with material gain is its inability to bring contentment.  John D. Rockfeller was once asked how much money it would take to be really satisfied.  He answered, "Just a little bit more!"  And that is precisely our problem - it always takes a little more; contentment always remains elusive.

Do you understand what a freedom this is?  To live in contentment means we can opt out of the status race and the maddening pace that is its necessary partner.  We can shout "No!" to the insanity which chants, "More, more, more!"  We can rest contented in the gracious provision of God.

Suffering is lonely,

Image by *clairity* via FlickrSuffering is lonely, and it brings the sufferer into a new relationship with himself. Suffering purges everything that is not central to life (ambitions, love of money, vanity about appearance; etc.). Suffering teaches us the absolute limit to our abilities. In losing ambitions, innocence, and competence to save themselves, sufferers may come to know their own inner core.




Suffering produced perseverance which in turn produced character (Rom. 5:3-4). Even Jesus learned obedience through suffering (Heb. 5:8).



Someone who has "suffered in his body is done with sin," Peter wrote, and "as a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1-2).



Do not try to control the uncontrollable. Control what you can; your attitude. Remember this is all to train you to change that attitude in order to turn all of this over to him and release yourself so you can go to heaven. And if you do; he promised not to save you from the challenge, but provide perfect peace.



God's Love in Living



The bottom line in dealing with suffering and 'bad things' is God's love is everywhere and available for everyone who accepts it. He shows His presence through peoples smiles and the bird flying through the air. He likes to show His love and to talk to us softly. We know God is real, in what we feel in our heart and by the way He acts in our lives.



"We feel honestly the pull of many obligations and try to fulfill them all. And we are unhappy, uneasy, strained, oppressed, and fearful we shall be shallow... We have hints that there is a way of life vastly richer and deeper than all this hurried existence, a life of unhurried serenity and peace and power." (Thomas kelly's - Testament of Devotion).



When we live as a Child of God the Father, thoughts and decisions flow from the Holy Spirit. All relevant data are considered to be sure, but decisions stem from a source deeper than facts and figures. Once we have understood the mind of the Father, we can speak our Yes or No with confidence.



It is one thing for God to come into us (and a very necessary thing), but it is quite another for us to come into God. In the first instance we are still the center of attention; in the second God is the focal point. When God comes into us we still have a certain autonomy; when we come into God we have come IN. He is in all and through all and above all. One God from whom all life is sustained.



The focus of Christianity becomes more clear when we change the image flow from God coming into us to our coming into God. "Christ in you" was certainly an important theme in Paul's teaching, but his favorite and most frequent image was of us "in Christ." In the latter case, Christ has become the reference point and we are making the movement into him. When we are in Christ, truly in Christ, our deeds and words are what He guides us to.



But we fool ourselves if we think that such a way of living is automatic or easy. We must desire it and seek it out. We must order our lives in particular ways.



At first you will find the effort difficult and your success will be low. That is all right; you are developing new spiritual muscles. With practice, the way of life will become more and more ingrained.