Friday, February 26, 2010

Resurrection Sunday!

Let's get counter-cultural this year.

In every area of life Christians should strive to correct what the world has taken away from Christianity and then perverted it for its own gain. It's not that we stop using words, meaning, and truth, b/c someone has watered it down or even messed it up all together. We must still use them, but accurately. The point is we should use vocabulary that best fits Christianity, regardless of what others have done to it or think of it.

This is not original with me of course, but I have been determined to call "Easter Sunday"...Resurrection Sunday for some years now. So I thought that I would encourage everyone I know to do the same. Not b/c we are trying to be unique or different, although we will, but b/c it is the right thing to do.

What I have found to be true when saying Resurrection Sunday is...that it is refreshing for some and for many when used in the marketplace they often get taken off guard a bit, but in a very good Christ-centered way. People's thoughts need to be taken quickly to the resurrection of Jesus Christ for this is our abiding hope.

So let's call "Easter Sunday" by its proper name...Resurrection Sunday!

Are you with me?

Psalm 26

A Psalm of David.

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For your lovingkindess is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.

I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders. I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders.

O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells. Do not take my soul away along with sinners, Nor my life with men of bloodshed, In whose hands is a wicked scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on a level place; In the congregation I shall bless the LORD.

If Any Parent Is In Christ...

"Christian parents have to build their self-understanding on who they are in Christ, not on the quality of their parenting. This is more important than learning child-rearing techniques, because it changes entirely the framework of our child-rearing, moving us from performance-based living into grace-based living.

The great challenge of Christian parenting is learning to rest in our perfection in Christ and not be consumed with our performance or the performance of our children."

Dr. Eric Johnson

(HT:Life2gether)

One of the many things that I'm learning more about parenting and not just from reading books, but every day practice, is I'm beginning to see God work in the minds and thoughts of our boys. Their thoughts are becoming more biblical and therefore God-centered. This is pushing me more to live a gospel-centered family life, rather than just making sure my kids "perform" well in our home and in front of others.

Our church is a family friendly church and as a pastor who has 5 children I'm tempted to just make sure that my kids "act right" instead of pursuing their hearts for godliness.

It's an easier thing for me to get them to 'act right' than it is to pursue them for godliness. Many people's kids can be well-behaved, but from what kind of motivation? Coercion, reward, or love for God?

Frankly, I'm glad that God has shown me this early on in my parenting. Now I must be faithful to live it out. This is gospel living at its core.

"It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." ~ Luke 1.17

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Church As A Bubble

"A church is a delicate thing, like a bubble, easily burst. Inside that bubble is a safety zone of immense significance for people. Inside that bubble sinners can receive grace according to the biblical gospel. They can start seeing God in a new way, they can see themselves in a new way, they can grow and change and enjoy the adventure.

The deal-breaker inside that bubble is not personal sins. They don’t have to burst the bubble. The deal-breaker, such that a pastor and elders must intervene, is making the internal dynamics of a church indistinguishable from the surrounding worldly environment of blame-shifting — what we see constantly in political discourse, for example. The thin film of differentiation, our true “separation” from the world, is the gospel of grace in both our theology and our sociology.

A wonderful place to be, a precious treasure to guard, and, for all its weakness, a mighty force for good. "

Friday, February 19, 2010

Six Sobriquets Of The Revealed Word Of God

"The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether."

~ Psalm 19.7-9

The Holy Spirit And His Love For Sinners

“The Holy Spirit is no mere mechanical agent in the great work of a sinner’s deliverance. ‘I delight to do Your will’ is as true of the Spirit as the Son.

He loves the sinner; therefore He lays hold of him.
He pities his misery; therefore He stretches out the hand of help.
He has no pleasure in his death; therefore He puts forth His saving power.
He is longsuffering and patient; therefore He strives with him day by day; and though ‘vexed,’ ‘resisted,’ ‘grieved,’ and ‘quenched,’ He refuses to retire from, or give up, any sinner on this side of eternity.

The extent to which we resist Him, and the amount of His forbearing love, we cannot know. This only we may say, that our stubbornness is something infinitely fearful and malignant, while His patient grace passes all understanding.”

—Horatius Bonar, “The Holy Spirit

(HT: Of First Importance)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Mortification Of Sin

Below is an outline from Bob Thune on John Owen's Mortification of Sin.
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Why Must We Mortify Sin?

• Because sin is always active
• Because unmortified sin weakens and darkens the soul
• Because unmortified sin hardens others to the gospel

What Does It Mean to Mortify Sin?

What It Does Not Mean

• To mortify sin is not to utterly destroy it. (That’s Jesus’ job, not your job.)
• To mortify sin is not to outwardly forsake its practice. Those who do this are just “more cunning; not more holy.”
• To mortify sin is not to have a quiet, sedate nature. “Some men have an advantage by their natural constitution… they are not exposed to unruly passions and tumultuous affections as many others are.” This does not mean they have mortified sin.
• To mortify sin is not to divert it. “He that trades sensuality for Pharisaism has not mortified sin… He has changed his master, but he is a servant still.”
• To mortify sin is not to experience “occasional conquests” against it.

What It Does Mean

• A habitual weakening of sin.
• A constant fighting against sin.
• Success. Victory over sin!

How Do We Mortify Sin?

4 General Principles

1. You must set your faith on Christ. (Fill your soul with the consideration of who Jesus is and what he’s done for you)
2. You must rely on the Holy Spirit. “A man may easier see without eyes and speak without a tongue, than mortify a sin without the Spirit.”
3. You must be truly converted.
4. You must intend universal obedience. If you don’t intend to obey God in every area, you don’t hate sin; you hate the particular sin that is bothering you. Which means you don’t love Christ; you love yourself. A particularly strong, besetting sin commonly issues from a careless, negligent spiritual life in general.

9 Specific Directives

1.
Get a clear and abiding sense upon your mind of the guilt, danger, and evil of your sin.
2. Load your conscience with the guilt of your besetting sin.
3. Long for deliverance from the power of sin. “Longing, breathing, and panting after deliverance is a grace in itself, that has a mighty power to conform the soul into the likeness of the thing longed after… Unless you long for deliverance you shall not have it.”
4. Consider whether you are prone toward a particular sin because of your personality or disposition. This should awaken your zeal. “So great an advantage is given to sin and Satan by your temper and disposition, that without extraordinary watchfulness, care, and diligence, they [sin and Satan] will prevail against your soul.”
5. Consider what occasions your sin uses to exert itself, and watch against them all.
6. Fight strongly against the first actings of your lust. “Sin is like water in a channel – once it breaks out, it will have its course.”
7. Dwell on thoughts that humble you and remind you of your sinfulness.
8. Know the warning signs of particularly dangerous sin patterns: persistent, habitual sin; secret pleas of the heart to leave sin alone; giving into sin without struggle; ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit; avoiding sin because you fear punishment. If a lust has any of these symptoms, it cannot be dealt with by an ordinary course of mortification; it requires extraordinary measures.
9. Do not speak peace to yourself before God speaks peace to you.

Friday, February 12, 2010

James 1.13-16 And Your Children

Over the last few weeks I have been preaching through James 1.13-16...

"Let no one say when he is tempted , "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren."
As a family we have been talking about all the many ways we are tempted to sin against God. One of the things that I was challenged to do is to find out what my wife is being tempted with each day and our older children. And one of the interesting and humbling things that has come out of these daily discussions with our children is that Stephanie and I now have one of our boys, Micah, who is asking us almost every day, "have you been tempted today to sin?" Wow!

This is something that I wasn't expecting to happen or even ready for, but in a good way is 'rocking our world'. I mean...I wasn't expecting to be held accountable by my six year old and have to give an account of the things that are tempting me in life...whether I stand firm against them or not.

So have any of you found this to be taking place in your family?

Maybe you're a few years ahead of us in the parenting years and can offer some good biblical advice or encouragement. I find this to be very interesting and healthy, but at the same time it is somewhat different for your child to ask you this question every day expecting a truthful answer.

I am happy and thankful to God that he is taking temptation to sin very seriously and I hope he perseveres in his life to always battle the enemy within and remain strong in the grace of God.

To Have A Godly Father

Each of us has been placed by God in a specific time, in a specific place, with a specific family, and I'm sure a million other specifics. And one of the things that I have really come to enjoy, as I've gotten older (I'm now 35), is listening to how God has used earthly fathers to spiritually encourage their sons, who are now pastors/ministers in the gospel ministry.

I'm a first generation Christian. I don't have years of godly advice and wisdom that has been passed down to me from my dad. God didn't save my dad until I graduated and left home to prepare for ministry. My dad and I have an incredible relationship and friendship to this day. But since God saved me, almost 20 years ago, and my other brother and sisters, we've had to by God's grace, begin this tradition of passing on the legacy of faith to our children.

I say all this, because when I read what some other brother's dad passed on to him spiritually it encourages me and blesses me. But the truth is there is also a little in me that wishes that I could have had a good jump in life for Jesus from my dad. It is in those moments when I know that I must repent and trust that Christ is doing a good work in me for my children today. I must lean on His providence and wisdom and not my own.

Anyway, I was reminded about all this when I read what Ray Ortlund's dad told him growing up.

"My dad used to say to me, when I was a kid, 'Listen, son. Half-hearted Christians are the most miserable people of all. They know enough to feel guilty, but they haven’t gone far enough with Christ to be happy. Be wholehearted for him!'

I used to roll my eyes when you said that. I don’t any more."

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Enemy Within


At the end of last year I asked our church to submit to me a list of their favorite books that have made a valuable impression on their souls. One of the suggestions was The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard. A good friend of mine was also reading it as he was preaching through the book of James. So a few weeks before I came to James 1.13-16, I read this book. I just finished preaching two sermons over these four verses and now I would like to give a brief description about this book and my recommendation. Thanks Julie Troxel for recommending the book it blessed me and pushed me to fight harder against the enemy within!
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The Enemy Within—Straight Talk About The Power And Defeat Of Sin

The Enemy Within was written by Kris Lundgaard. His aim is to answer the question, Why do I keep on sinning? A description of the book says, “This book takes dead aim at the heart of ongoing sin. Drawing from two masterful works by John Owen, Kris Lundgaard offers insight, encouragement, and hope for overcoming the enemy within."

This was definitely one of the best books that I’ve read recently. And since I read this book while preaching through James, specifically James chapter one, it certainly made it resonate with me even more. It is absolutely a ‘straight talk’ about the influence of indwelling sin.

It addresses the war that is present in every single Christian. It is a war that is made up of many battles against our unredeemed flesh. Christ has conquered the eternal defeat of sin for Christians, so what is left is a temporary earthly and worldly fight that we must engage in daily. Simply we must know the enemy that is within. Lundgaard says,

“Getting to know indwelling sin, as humiliating and discouraging as it can be, is our wisdom—if we have interest at all in finding out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5.10) and avoiding everything that grieves his Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4.30).
This indwelling sin has absolutely no power over the Christian. But it seeks to rule and reign, bullying its way through your mind, your heart, and eventually your will. And so the hope is that “the more you discover the power of indwelling sin, the less you will suffer its effects.”

Jeremiah 17.9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

In the Epistle of James he gives this counsel, “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” Pastor James’ counsel is…you’re the problem.

The Enemy Within is a great edifying work. It is worth your time and money, of course assuming that you take seriously your battle over temptation and sin.

The best price I found was at Westminster Theological Seminary’s online bookstore. Just click on this link The Enemy Within.

Christ Did Not Rise As A Private Person

“Christ, as the first fruits, arises, and that in the name and stead of all believers; and so they rise in him and with him; for Christ did not rise as a private person, but he arose as a public head of the church; so that in his arising all believers did virtually arise.”

~ Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity

(HT: Of First Importance)

Monday, February 1, 2010

Football Is Good...But God Is Great!

Last Friday, Kurt Warner retired from the NFL. My good friend Pastor Brent Wells lived in St. Louis for a few years and since that time he has become a big supporter of Kurt Warner.

Since hearing of his retirement I wanted to give Warner a mention on my blog, but really felt like I didn't know enough about him to do justice to his life and career. So I've asked Brent if he would write up an article to describe his ministry and life and what it meant to him, a fellow brother in Christ, watching Warner live out his faith. His article is below...

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I'm really going to miss seeing Kurt Warner play football in the NFL. And it's not because he helped me big time on more than one fantasy football team. It's not because he led one of my favorite teams (the Rams) to a Super bowl championship (I lived in St. Louis from 1994-1997 and began pulling for the Rams). It's not even because Kurt Warner seemed to never miss an opportunity to give praise to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ or tote his Bible to the podium for a post-game interview. Don't get me wrong, all of these factors are part of the reason I'm going to miss him...but only a part.

After hearing his retirement speech last week, I've given some thought as to why I'm really going to miss him. I can boil it down to this: Kurt Warner brought perspective. He reminded me (and others who have ears to hear) that he is small and God is BIG. He reminded me that football is good, but God is GREAT.

You could hear it in his words, "These past 12 years (of football) have been incredible, but I'm looking just as forward to the next 12!" He went on to say that the Bible is a book about an extraordinary God doing extraordinary things through ordinary people who yield their lives to Him. He brought perspective to the game. Football is over, but Warner is eagerly anticipating the next chapter of his life and what the extraordinary God of the Bible has planned for him and his family. Football was not his life because Jesus is his life!

And yet I don't want to swing the pendulum too far that way (as if I could)! Kurt Warner DID LOVE THE GAME, and was pretty good at it! This is another helpful perspective that Warner reminded me of--true worshipers of God must live ALL of their lives as acts of worship. All of life must be lived for the glory of the God of the Bible! Kurt Warner did that (not perfectly, but it came through consistently).

In Augustine's final book, Confessions, he summed it up this way:

"He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake."

Simply put, we are to love football, family, and food FOR GOD'S SAKE! In other words, don't view football, family, and food as competitors for God's love, but love God more BECAUSE OF THESE GIFTS. I'm not saying love the GIVER more than the GIFT, I'm saying love the GIVER more BECAUSE of the GIFT.

When I watched Warner march his team down the field, or when I heard of him minister to people in the locker room and community, or when I witnessed him kneel beside an injured Tennessee Titan and pray over him in the 1999 Super bowl it was obvious that this man loved God, loved football, and I would even say, used football as a vehicle to love God more and more AND lead others to love Him and His Son Jesus Christ!

Of course I've never met Kurt Warner and what I've said might be viewed as "putting words in his mouth", but I don't think so. Though we've never met, he is my brother in Christ and what I've described is not only his fight of faith, it is mine as well, along with all others who have been rescued from God's wrath through faith in Christ and are daily seeking to FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!

Football is good, but God is great!

Brent Wells