Book Review: Joel Beeke, Striving Against Satan: Knowing the Enemy--His Weakness, His Strategy, His Defeat

 

You can read the review on my academia.edu page here.

JTR

The Vision (5.6.16): Fathers and Family Worship

I know Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend.  At our midweek meeting on Wednesday, however, the topic was “Family Worship” and I read an excerpt from Joel Beeke’s booklet “How Should Men Lead Their Families” (Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), exhorting fathers to take the lead in family worship. Beeke writes:

Daily family worship ought to be the foundation of your fatherly exercising of your prophetical office toward your children.  Be determined over a period of two decades of family worship to teach your children the whole counsel of God, as Paul said he did for the Ephesians (Acts 20:17-27).  Your home is to be a little church, a little seminary, in which you serve as an instructing prophet, teaching your children God’s precious truth—addressing the mind, the conscience, the heart, and the will of each of your children.  Teach your children Bible stories and Bible doctrines, and apply these stories and doctrines to their daily lives, with the  Spirit’s blessing, for their proper spiritual, moral, and psychological development (p. 6).

May the Lord help us to establish a consistent practice of family devotions, encouraged by both fathers and mothers, within our households.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Booklet Note: Joel R. Beeke's "How Should Christian Men Lead Their Families?"

I just read Joel Beeke's little booklet How Men Should Lead Their Families? (Reformation Heritage Books, 2014).  Beeke encourages Christian husbands and fathers to act as prophets, priests, and kings in their homes, following the servant leadership model of Christ.  The booklet ends with this Puritan prayer:

Let those that are united in me in tender ties be precious in Thy sight, and devoted to Thy glory. Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion, my domestic instruction, my domestic discipline, my domestic example, that my house may be a nursery for heaven and a church as the garden of the Lord, enriched as trees of righteousness of Thy planting for Thy glory. Let not those in my family fall short of heaven at last, but grant that the promising appearances of tender consciences, of soft hearts, of the alarms and delights of Thy Word may not be blotted out, but may bring forth judgment unto victory in all those whom I love.

JTR

The Vision (7.18.13): Prayer without ceasing

We had a good discussion after lunch at CRBC last Sunday on the Lord’s Prayer.  To sum up we determined that, following Jesus’ model, our prayer should be directed to God the Father.  We also determined that it could be appropriate to recite the Lord’s Prayer (from Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:2-4) either personally or corporately, given that is always good to recite Scripture, while also acknowledging that any prayer practice should not become mere formalism or “vain repetition.”

In addition to set apart times of private and public prayer, the Bible also teaches that prayer should be a constant activity of the believer. As Paul exhorted, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Here is an excerpt from Joel Beeke’s book Striving Against Satan on the discipline of always praying:

Some generations ago, several ministers gathered in the Scottish highlands to discuss what it meant to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17).  After considerable discussion, one minister asked a little maid girl if she knew what it meant.

“Yes sir,” she said, “As I rose this morning from bed, I prayed that the Sun of righteousness would arise with healing in his wings over me today.  When I got dressed, I prayed that I might be clothed with Christ’s righteousness.  As I dusted the furniture in this room before you arrived, I prayed that the Lord would wipe my heart clean through the blood of Jesus.  When I made refreshments ready, I prayed that Jesus Christ might be my food and drink.  Sir, I pray my way through each day, for prayer is my breath, my life.”

Praying without ceasing means praying at set times and seasons as well as sending up short petitions to God throughout the day. It means praying at stated times of prayer and praying whenever you feel the impulse to do so.  Praying is more important than whatever else you are doing.  Spurgeon said, “We must addict ourselves to prayer.” (pp. 56-57).

May the Lord make us praying Christians and make our church a praying church.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Don't settle for being a spiritual shrimp!

 

I just finished Joel Beeke’s booklet Getting Back in the Race:  The Cure for Backsliding (Cruciform Press, 2011). In the closing challenge drawn from Hosea 14:5-9, Beeke urges believers to live and pray with boldness:

My point here is not to encourage you to become puffed up but to cultivate holy expectation, and hope in the Lord.  Anything we receive of the Spirit is sheer grace and for God’s glory, not our own.  We are the servants; Jesus is the Lord.  But Hosea seems to have wanted to provoke a holy desire in Israel’s heart to drink in the dew of the Lord and to grow abundantly.  Shouldn’t we also have big dreams, big desires, and big prayer requests for our spiritual growth?  After all, God is able to do far more abundantly than we can ask or even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  Don’t settle for being a spiritual shrimp.  Imitate Paul by praying his grand prayers for spiritual growth for yourself, your family, your church, your seminary, and the churches of all nations….. (p. 94).

BTW, this is the first book I've read from Cruciform Press, a new publisher producing books that are (according to the cover blurb) "Short. Clear. Concise. Helpful. Inspiring. Gospel Focused."  They produce a new book on the first day of each month, and you can subscribe at a reduced rate either to receive the new book in print or electronic form (I don't have a subscription but got mine as a gift from Puritan Seminary--give to them and you get great stuff!).  Beeke has two titles out with Cruciform (this one on backsliding and one on marriage), and there is also one on grief from Albert Martin.  Some of the other titles and authors look a little YRR New Calvinist, but it is an interesting idea.  This book, in particular, was brief (only 103 pp.) and simple enough to be read in short space but filled with great insights and encouragement. Great for my spiritual needs at this time.

JTR    

Joel Beeke's blog post on his praying mother

Joel Beeke recently started a blog on which he has included a series of posts which offering reflections on his mother's recent death (on July 23, 2012).  The first post on his mother's prayer life is worth reading.

JTR

Sermon of the Week: Joel Beeke's Family Life Series

This week I've been listening to Joel Beeke's recent Family Life Series at Heritage Netherlands Reformed Church.  I would particularly commend the following:

Building Your Children's Library:  Excellent instruction and ideas from a convinced bibliophile on how to disciple your children by placing good books (not just electronic versions) in their hands.  A good message to listen to if you are thinking of profitable gifts (rather than games or clothes) to give your children for the holiday.

Honoring Authority:  A wonderful message on the broader implications of the fifth commandment.  How can we expect our children to honor us if we speak disparingly of or rebel against our bosses, ministers, or civil government leadership?

Exercising Authority:  A follow up to the previous message which stresses the responsibilties of those in positions of authority, including parents.

JTR