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Not Driven by Fear

Coronavirus Response

July 2, 2021 • Don Willeman

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of The Kingdom Perspective.

How should we respond to the threat of the coronavirus?

We must determine not to be driven by fear.

Certainly, we need to do everything we can to follow the wisdom of medicine and science. God gave us a mind to think and act wisely. But God also gave us a heart to trust Him, and that raises the question of where our ultimate security lies.

The anxious heart can manufacture an endless list of “what if” questions. But to live at all in this world is to risk the “what ifs.” We are contingent beings living in a contingent universe. We cannot possibly know all the “what ifs”. You cannot possibly predict every particular of your future. And there’s a reason for this—a reason why God has not told you the particulars of your future. Why? He wants us to trust him.

This is the thinking that drives the heart of David in Psalm 27 (v. 1 ESV):

“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?”

We are contingent beings. Therefore, all fear is not necessarily bad. However, God intends all fear to drive us to faith, to the One who knows the end from the beginning.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.”

~ Psalm 27 (ESV)

The Gentleness of Jesus in our Affliction

July 20, 2021 • Don Willeman

Transcript: Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to “The Kingdom Perspective.” How should we process the difficulties of our lives? We should process them through the gentleness of Jesus. Many of us are suffering all sorts of anxieties. The good news of Jesus assures us that everything that comes our way, even the difficult, is not an evidence of God’s condemnation, but His care—not His judgment but His gentleness. He’s purifying not punishing us. Therefore, there is no need to compound your troubles by beating yourself up. Satan is our accuser. Jesus is our Advocate. Richard Sibbes’s (1577-1635) very helpful book, The Bruised Reed puts it this way: “Christ’s way is first to wound, then to heal. Think when in trial, Christ was tried for me; according to my trials will be my graces and comforts. If Christ be so merciful as not to break me, I will not break myself by despair, nor yield myself over to the roaring lion Satan, to break me.” He goes on to say that the weakness we experience in our troubles is designed by our Savior’s gentle hand, to cause us to cling to Him all the more. “Christ ‘binds up the broken hearted’ (Isaiah 61:1). A mother is tenderest to the weakest child, so does Christ most mercifully incline to the weakest. Likewise he puts an instinct into the weakest things to rely upon something stronger than themselves for support. The vine stays close to the elm, and weakest creatures have the strongest shelter.” The gentleness of Jesus is our shelter. Rest in Him. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NASB) Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate click here or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit http://www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Our “Antifragile” Faith

July 8, 2021 • Don Willeman

Transcript: Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of The Kingdom Perspective. How should we respond to the coronavirus threat? We should respond with a fighting faith, because our faith grows stronger in the face of trouble. The New Testament writer James commands us at the opening of his letter: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete [i.e. mature], lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV) You see, what James is saying? The path to a mature faith is through trials. Our faith actually grows stronger and steadfast, as we navigate difficulties, trusting in the promises of God. Lebanese-American writer Nassim Taleb is famous for coining the term “antifragile.” “Antifragile” is different than “resilient.” Something that is “resilient” does not easily break under stress (think of a plastic cup; you can bang it around with very little damage). And, of course, something that is “fragile” easily breaks under stress (think of a fine wine glass). However, something that is “antifragile” does not merely withstand stress; it grows stronger under stress. Think of a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes, and the less you use it, the weaker it becomes. Your muscles are “antifragile”; and so is your faith. The more you use your faith the stronger it becomes. Though this may be a hard pill to swallow, true faith is never hurt by trials, but always helped by them. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” ~ 1 Peter 1 (ESV) Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate click here or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit http://www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Consider the Tenderness of Jesus

July 6, 2021 • Don Willeman

Transcript: Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of The Kingdom Perspective. How should we respond to the anxiety that coronavirus has unleashed upon us? We should take great comfort in the tenderness of Jesus towards us. The Bible presents to us a Jesus that is overwhelmingly powerful and awesome. He is the creator of all things, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). He is the absolute ruler over all things, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Colossians 1:19). And he is the absolute judge of all creation (Acts 17). At his return, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2). Yet, this same Jesus is spoken of as being “humble and gentle” (Matthew 11:29)—so gentle in his dealings with us that he will not “crush the weakest reed” or “put out of the most fickle of flames” (Matthew 12:20 and Isaiah 42:3). Right now, you may feel like the weakest reed. You may feel that your flame of faith is about to go out. What should you do? Look to Jesus! Look to the all-powerful, yet tender-hearted Judge of heaven and earth, who says to you: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 NLT) [And]…“whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37b ESV) Jesus is not only strong enough to sustain us, he is also tender enough to want to do so. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” ~ Matthew 12 (ESV) Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate click here or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit http://www.christredeemerchurch.org.