Dr Paul Allen

It’s helpful to have a simple plan . If we were all God, we wouldn’t need to have a simple plan; we could just overflow spontaneously. But we’re not God.  Hard and Happy Way You could explain from Psalm 37:4 that it’s a happy way: “Delight yourself in the Lord.” The Lord is worthy of our joy; he wants us to be happy in him. “In [his] presence there is fullness of joy; at [his] right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).  And from Matthew 16:24, you might explain that Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” And you might say a few words about how taking up the cross is not a vacation. It’s where you die; it’s where you suffer. In other words, you will say to them, “Jesus will lead you through some very hard things.” “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Four concepts of biblical truth: God - Sin - Christ -Faith 1. Begin with truth about God. Everything starts with God. ...

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses , and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” ( Mark 6:3 ) There is many an individual who has by God ’s grace found the Lord and has had a fruitful ministry in a place far from his hometown where he once lived a lifestyle of which he has now repented. Going home is difficult, for his former companions in sin will be there to oppose and tempt and disbelieve. In the course of His travels, Jesus returned to His birthplace (v. 1), and although He had lived a sinless life in His early years, He was still only one of the local citizens, and this resulted in their prideful opposition and disbelief. “And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?” (v. 2...

As I read the scriptures, particularly the New Testament , there is a theme that recurs again and again regarding the Christian ’s willingness to be in submission to various types of authority. Given the rebellious spirit of our age, that frightens me. It’s all too easy for us to get caught up in an attitude that will bring us into open defiance of the authority of God . Let’s turn our attention to 1 Peter 2:11–16: Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of f...

Joy is “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” It’s the emotion we feel when life is good — when the sun is shining, when our team is winning, when we are healthy, happy, and heartened. Most people do not typically speak of the happiness of heartbreak, the pleasure of migraines, or the bliss of losing. Philippians is the most joyful book in the Bible — the apostle Paul uses the Greek words for joy and rejoicing sixteen times in only 104 verses. And yet he writes from a dingy Roman prison, a place we would typically associate with misery and trial, which most people assume are the opposites of joy. He’s surrounded by every conceivable obstacle to joy, so why does he seem so happy? Consider the objects of real joy, the reasons for joy, and the challenges to joy — joy in . . . joy because . . . and joy even though. Joy in Jesus In Philippians 3:1 and 4:4, Paul commands us to rejoice  in the Lord . What does this familiar command mean? For the apostle, “the Lord”...

“ Heavenly Father , please let me know your will. I really need to know what you want me to do about . . .” This is my will for you : “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18). “ Thank you, Lord , for this reminder. I really do need to be more thankful — but getting back to my request, I’m not sure what you want me to do about . . .” I want you to “give thanks in all circumstances.” “I know, Lord, I know. That’s important and I can see where I have neglected that. But thankfulness is sort of a constant need, isn’t it? I mean, everyone needs be more thankful, right? Seriously, this is urgent, and I don’t have clarity from you. I need your direction. What do you want me to do?” I am being serious and specific. I want you to “give thanks in all circumstances,” and right now, in this particular circumstance. [Speechless exasperation] Until you learn to “give thanks in all circumstances,” much of m...

Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem's depiction of Paul and Barnabas at Lystra, an incident which has often been compared to the Qur'anic narrative of the "Companions of the City" (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) If we are always concerned with what people think about us, we will always be reluctant to tell them about Jesus . Perhaps the single most significant hindrance to Christian witness in the world today is our hunger for human approval. By nature, we think more about what people think of us than about what they think of Jesus. We crave acceptance and dread rejection — which inclines us toward whatever might improve others’ perception of us. And that will very rarely, if ever, lead us to call them to repent from their sin and believe the gospel. The apostle Paul lived differently. Apparently he had been liberated from the need to be liked, or even respected. He moved from town to town, in and out of crowds, anchored in the safety and satisfaction of knowing Jesus (...

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life .” ( Philippians 4:3 ) Although the word “yokefellow” is out of use today, the meaning is easily understood. Most of us know a yoke is a device that connects two animals together to increase the power for the work that needs to be done. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” ( Matthew 11:29-30 ). From a spiritual perspective, we labor together with the Lord Jesus . Among ourselves, we labor in the gospel. It is worth noting that God sees the marriage bond as “joined together” (same term) with a yoke ( Matthew 19:6 ). Interestingly, as Paul speaks highly of the women who labored with him, he uses two very different concepts to recognize their contribution. First, he...

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life .” ( Philippians 4:3 ) Although the word “yokefellow” is out of use today, the meaning is easily understood. Most of us know a yoke is a device that connects two animals together to increase the power for the work that needs to be done. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” ( Matthew 11:29-30 ). From a spiritual perspective, we labor together with the Lord Jesus . Among ourselves, we labor in the gospel. It is worth noting that God sees the marriage bond as “joined together” (same term) with a yoke ( Matthew 19:6 ). Interestingly, as Paul speaks highly of the women who labored with him, he uses two very different concepts to recognize their contribution. First, he...

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” ( Philippians 2:8 )   The only begotten Son of God substituted Himself for all humanity to save them from the righteous judgment of a thrice-holy Creator.   Jesus found Himself “in fashion as a man,” which therefore made it possible for Him to humble Himself and to become obedient to the death that had been ordained for Him prior to the very foundation of the world ( 1 Peter  1:20 ).   Perhaps it is too much to suggest that Jesus “woke up” when He “found” Himself in Mary’s womb, but it is certain that He “increased in wisdom” ( Luke  2:52 ) as He grew in “stature.” Basically, because He “became” human, He experienced the normal increase in awareness and experience that all of us do.   The difference was, obviously, that He “humbled” Himself, even though He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” ( Hebr...

One mark of Christian authenticity is discontentment with anything less than “all the fullness of God ” ( Ephesians   3:19 ). Coasting is not discipleship. Drifting in self-contentment is not like basking in the pool of security, but like floating, fast asleep, toward the falls. “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not  drift away ” (Hebrews 2:1). There is a holy discontentment . It is not a nail-biting uncertainty about our standing with God. It is the increased appetite of those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good ( 1 Peter 2:2–3). It is the pursuit of those who have been pursued and captured by the strong arms of love. “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I  press on  so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus ” ( Philippians   3:12 ). Therefore, the biblical passages that follow are a way of waking our drowsy souls to feel a p...