I read this on Tullian Tchividjian's blog.....it is taken from Kevin DeYoung's sermon at a recent conference. It's a pretty good take on our 'cultural Jesus'.
"There are a lot of popular versions of Jesus in culture. There’s a Republican Jesus who’s for free-market economics. There’s a Democrat Jesus against Wall Street and Wal-Mart. There’s a therapist Jesus who helps us cope with life’s problems. There’s a Starbucks Jesus who loves fair trade coffee and Apple computers. There’s a touchdown Jesus who helps Christians run faster and jump higher. There’s the martyr Jesus who died so that we could feel sorry for him. There’s nice guy Jesus. There’s spirituality Jesus. There’s good example Jesus.
And then there’s Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter says, “You are the Christ of God.”
Most people have a shrunken, domesticated Christ who is safe, easy and manageable instead of the real Christ. The closer you get to him the more you love him and the more you fear him. God is calling you to stop playing games and to stop making excuses and to open your eyes to see Jesus as the Christ. He is more glorious and loving and gracious and powerful and more wonderfully terrifying that any of us can ever imagine."
Friday, May 29, 2009
I Am His
“I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His.
Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord; once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan’s bond-servant but now I am God’s freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person and the salvation of my soul.”
~ Thomas Brooks, Heaven on Earth
(HT: Of First Importance)
Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord; once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan’s bond-servant but now I am God’s freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person and the salvation of my soul.”
~ Thomas Brooks, Heaven on Earth
(HT: Of First Importance)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
How to Spark Substantive Conversations with Your Spouse
Tony Reinke:
[David] Powlison suggested three categories of questions to ask your husband or wife. Each of these categories can be asked on a daily basis. And each of these categories are simple and broad, but certainly provide helpful reminders. Here are the three:
1. What are your present burdens?
The Bible tells us that we are born for trouble (Job 5:7). So what is the trouble? A sin? A responsibility? An issue at work? A particular conflict? What weighs you down? What was your lowlight of this day? These burdens are the “heat of life.”
2. What are your present joys?
What were your highlights from the day? These joys are the “dew of blessing.”
3. What is your calling?
This could include the mundane tasks, or broader life-purpose questions. What are your duties for this day? What do you need to do? What are your goals for this day? For example, a parent could say, “Today, I don’t want to lose my temper with the kids.” It could be as simple as this.
For more on this, see Powlison's very helpful little booklet on Renewing Marital Intimacy.
(HT: Justin Taylor)
[David] Powlison suggested three categories of questions to ask your husband or wife. Each of these categories can be asked on a daily basis. And each of these categories are simple and broad, but certainly provide helpful reminders. Here are the three:
1. What are your present burdens?
The Bible tells us that we are born for trouble (Job 5:7). So what is the trouble? A sin? A responsibility? An issue at work? A particular conflict? What weighs you down? What was your lowlight of this day? These burdens are the “heat of life.”
2. What are your present joys?
What were your highlights from the day? These joys are the “dew of blessing.”
3. What is your calling?
This could include the mundane tasks, or broader life-purpose questions. What are your duties for this day? What do you need to do? What are your goals for this day? For example, a parent could say, “Today, I don’t want to lose my temper with the kids.” It could be as simple as this.
For more on this, see Powlison's very helpful little booklet on Renewing Marital Intimacy.
(HT: Justin Taylor)
'White Knots' Across America
I read a recent post from Denny Burk's blog about the current movement to support gay marriage across the nation by wearing 'white knots'.
I wanted to make you aware of this in case you come across someone wearing these 'white knot' ribbons. This will help you to at least be aware of what it means, and to be prepared to give a defense, if you happen to spark a conversation with someone....and of course I know you'll be speaking the truth in love.
You can read his post by clicking here.
I wanted to make you aware of this in case you come across someone wearing these 'white knot' ribbons. This will help you to at least be aware of what it means, and to be prepared to give a defense, if you happen to spark a conversation with someone....and of course I know you'll be speaking the truth in love.
You can read his post by clicking here.
A Wonderful Word Concerning The Holy Spirit's Ministry To Sinners
“The Holy Spirit is no mere mechanical agent in the great work of a sinner’s deliverance, and of the Church’s up building, obediently doing the work appointed to Him. ‘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 long suffering 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)
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 long suffering 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)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Who Will Join 'The Supremes'? The President Picks...Judge Sonia Sotomayor
President Obama made his choice today to replace Supreme Court Justice David Souter. That choice is Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Her possible confirmation will place her as the third woman in the Supreme Court and the first Hispanic.
When President Obama was Senator Obama he commented on the significance of a SCJ and why he could not vote for Chief Justice Roberts during his confirmation hearings. His comments below are startling, especially since President Obama used to teach ConLaw at the University of Chicago:
"[W]hile adherence to legal precedent and rules of statutory or constitutional construction will dispose of 95 percent of the cases that come before a court, so that both a Scalia and a Ginsburg will arrive at the same place most of the time on those 95 percent of the cases — what matters on the Supreme Court is those 5 percent of cases that are truly difficult. In those cases, adherence to precedent and rules of construction and interpretation will only get you through the 25th mile of the marathon. That last mile can only be determined on the basis of one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.
In those 5 percent of hard cases, the constitutional text will not be directly on point. The language of the statute will not be perfectly clear. Legal process alone will not lead you to a rule of decision. In those circumstances, your decisions about whether affirmative action is an appropriate response to the history of discrimination in this country or whether a general right of privacy encompasses a more specific right of women to control their reproductive decisions or whether the commerce clause empowers Congress to speak on those issues of broad national concern that may be only tangentially related to what is easily defined as interstate commerce, whether a person who is disabled has the right to be accommodated so they can work alongside those who are nondisabled — in those difficult cases, the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge's heart."
Did you pick up on this....what is in the judge's heart....the depth and breadth of one's empathy?
This is the criteria for his pick and all future picks to place judges throughout our country and even for the Supreme Court.
Now I'm personally new to this nomination process for our country, but President Obama's standard for his picks is disturbing. To say that he wants someone to uphold the constitution, but at the same time have someone who is empathetic, is, to say the least, a conflict in terms and philosophy. A judge cannot be both a strict adherent to the law and apply personal feelings toward the plaintiff. As a former White House staff has said, that to try and accomplish this would be an attempt to right a wrong that the law would not allow you to do.
Simply put, a judge could hear all sides of a case and understand how the rule of law would apply and if the law would go against the plaintiff, they then could go against the rule of law, because they are empathetic to the plaintiff. Basically, the rule of law (the Constitution) can be superseded by a judge, if the judge feels in his or her own heart that the plaintiff has been disenfranchised in society. Implication....there would be no rule of law!
Now the reason for this post is not for me to scream from the rooftop that I'm surprised at President Obama's pick or his standard of picking, he's a liberal politician at best and possibly a secular humanist at worst and therefore he is going to implement his political philosophy. The reason for this post is I wanted to draw some connections between this process and how this is taking place inside some of our churches today.
We can start with the implication that there is hardly a rule of 'faith' in some churches across the land. The reason for this can be worked backwards from the story above. We see the implication of churches all over 'superseding' the rule of faith (the Bible) because many have become empathetic to the disenfranchised 'unchurched person'. They are empathetic because they are attempting to understand them and even trying to become just like them. Therefore, we have no rule of faith; all we have are churches that are attempting to be 'flattering' to those outside the church, who they feel are needing to be 'encouraged' and 'assisted' in life. So we pick pastors, teachers, and leaders who will give this kind of attention and leadership in many of these churches.
The true gospel is being compromised within this kind of philosophy of ministry. They are tickling the ears not just of their congregation, but those outside the congregation. They are trying to speak to people who are not even present....well maybe they are actually present. Because they no longer embrace a regenerate church membership, maybe they are actually talking to those outside the church every Sunday morning.
As I have said before on topics like this, 'this is not license for us to go self-righteous, but should break our hearts and cause us to fall on our faces and plead with God to redeem all these churches and leaders who are pushing for this kind of ministry. We should do what Paul exhorts Timothy to do...."Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
If we do not pay close attention to the way we live, our teaching and our doctrine, what would the implication be....
Implication.....the disenfranchised, unchurched individual becomes the new 'rule of faith', which is no rule of faith at all!
When President Obama was Senator Obama he commented on the significance of a SCJ and why he could not vote for Chief Justice Roberts during his confirmation hearings. His comments below are startling, especially since President Obama used to teach ConLaw at the University of Chicago:
"[W]hile adherence to legal precedent and rules of statutory or constitutional construction will dispose of 95 percent of the cases that come before a court, so that both a Scalia and a Ginsburg will arrive at the same place most of the time on those 95 percent of the cases — what matters on the Supreme Court is those 5 percent of cases that are truly difficult. In those cases, adherence to precedent and rules of construction and interpretation will only get you through the 25th mile of the marathon. That last mile can only be determined on the basis of one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.
In those 5 percent of hard cases, the constitutional text will not be directly on point. The language of the statute will not be perfectly clear. Legal process alone will not lead you to a rule of decision. In those circumstances, your decisions about whether affirmative action is an appropriate response to the history of discrimination in this country or whether a general right of privacy encompasses a more specific right of women to control their reproductive decisions or whether the commerce clause empowers Congress to speak on those issues of broad national concern that may be only tangentially related to what is easily defined as interstate commerce, whether a person who is disabled has the right to be accommodated so they can work alongside those who are nondisabled — in those difficult cases, the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge's heart."
Did you pick up on this....what is in the judge's heart....the depth and breadth of one's empathy?
This is the criteria for his pick and all future picks to place judges throughout our country and even for the Supreme Court.
Now I'm personally new to this nomination process for our country, but President Obama's standard for his picks is disturbing. To say that he wants someone to uphold the constitution, but at the same time have someone who is empathetic, is, to say the least, a conflict in terms and philosophy. A judge cannot be both a strict adherent to the law and apply personal feelings toward the plaintiff. As a former White House staff has said, that to try and accomplish this would be an attempt to right a wrong that the law would not allow you to do.
Simply put, a judge could hear all sides of a case and understand how the rule of law would apply and if the law would go against the plaintiff, they then could go against the rule of law, because they are empathetic to the plaintiff. Basically, the rule of law (the Constitution) can be superseded by a judge, if the judge feels in his or her own heart that the plaintiff has been disenfranchised in society. Implication....there would be no rule of law!
Now the reason for this post is not for me to scream from the rooftop that I'm surprised at President Obama's pick or his standard of picking, he's a liberal politician at best and possibly a secular humanist at worst and therefore he is going to implement his political philosophy. The reason for this post is I wanted to draw some connections between this process and how this is taking place inside some of our churches today.
We can start with the implication that there is hardly a rule of 'faith' in some churches across the land. The reason for this can be worked backwards from the story above. We see the implication of churches all over 'superseding' the rule of faith (the Bible) because many have become empathetic to the disenfranchised 'unchurched person'. They are empathetic because they are attempting to understand them and even trying to become just like them. Therefore, we have no rule of faith; all we have are churches that are attempting to be 'flattering' to those outside the church, who they feel are needing to be 'encouraged' and 'assisted' in life. So we pick pastors, teachers, and leaders who will give this kind of attention and leadership in many of these churches.
The true gospel is being compromised within this kind of philosophy of ministry. They are tickling the ears not just of their congregation, but those outside the congregation. They are trying to speak to people who are not even present....well maybe they are actually present. Because they no longer embrace a regenerate church membership, maybe they are actually talking to those outside the church every Sunday morning.
As I have said before on topics like this, 'this is not license for us to go self-righteous, but should break our hearts and cause us to fall on our faces and plead with God to redeem all these churches and leaders who are pushing for this kind of ministry. We should do what Paul exhorts Timothy to do...."Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
If we do not pay close attention to the way we live, our teaching and our doctrine, what would the implication be....
Implication.....the disenfranchised, unchurched individual becomes the new 'rule of faith', which is no rule of faith at all!
Beholding The Glory Of Christ
“How, then, can we behold the glory of Christ?
We need, firstly, a spiritual understanding of his glory as revealed in Scripture. Secondly, we need to think much about him if we wish to enjoy him fully (1 Pet. 1:8). If we are satisfied with vague ideas about him we shall find no transforming power communicated to us. But when we cling wholeheartedly to him and our minds are filled with thoughts of him and we constantly delight ourselves in him, then spiritual power will flow from him to purify our hearts, increase our holiness, strengthen our graces, and sometimes fill us ‘with joy inexpressible and full of glory.’”
~ John Owen, The Glory of Christ
(HT: Of First Importance)
We need, firstly, a spiritual understanding of his glory as revealed in Scripture. Secondly, we need to think much about him if we wish to enjoy him fully (1 Pet. 1:8). If we are satisfied with vague ideas about him we shall find no transforming power communicated to us. But when we cling wholeheartedly to him and our minds are filled with thoughts of him and we constantly delight ourselves in him, then spiritual power will flow from him to purify our hearts, increase our holiness, strengthen our graces, and sometimes fill us ‘with joy inexpressible and full of glory.’”
~ John Owen, The Glory of Christ
(HT: Of First Importance)
Psalm 26---A Request For A Thorough Investigation Of One’s Own Piety
Psalm 26 is an interesting Psalm in the sense that the Psalmist actually requests for God to examine him, to test him, to try him in order to see and discern whether or not his integrity is genuine and right before God. The Psalmist, which is David, is displaying his heart for sanctification and holiness. He longs to be separated from sin and ‘pretenders’/worthless men. He not only desires to be separated from all this, but set apart to God through holiness.
The one who actually desires to be examined, tested and tried by God definitely displays this kind of passion for true biblical piety. And so David offers himself on the alter of examination, which gives good evidence of one who is genuinely devoted to God.
We are commanded by God through Paul to do this as well. Paul tells the Corinthians to ‘test and examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith’. And what is interesting with David is he is requesting for God to examine him. So we see this as a good biblical practice for all the saints. For from this will bring one of two things:
(1) An assurance of God’s saving and sustaining grace on the Christian.
(2) Or an assurance that one is not in the faith.
For the Christian, this is the beginning of true piety to God. For the one who finds themselves 'not in the faith' this could be the beginning of a beautiful work of regeneration, whereby God is making all things new!
The one who actually desires to be examined, tested and tried by God definitely displays this kind of passion for true biblical piety. And so David offers himself on the alter of examination, which gives good evidence of one who is genuinely devoted to God.
We are commanded by God through Paul to do this as well. Paul tells the Corinthians to ‘test and examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith’. And what is interesting with David is he is requesting for God to examine him. So we see this as a good biblical practice for all the saints. For from this will bring one of two things:
(1) An assurance of God’s saving and sustaining grace on the Christian.
(2) Or an assurance that one is not in the faith.
For the Christian, this is the beginning of true piety to God. For the one who finds themselves 'not in the faith' this could be the beginning of a beautiful work of regeneration, whereby God is making all things new!
I've Been Occupied...
I've been away from the blogging world as of late.
Over the last two weeks this is what has been happening....I started a new sermon series in Colossians, I had the opportunity to join some godly men for a monthly lunch fellowship, my folks were in town from Louisiana, we celebrated Mother's Day, Stephanie's birthday, Abby's ballet recital, we had a couple of baseball games for the boys, we celebrated the graduation of one of the teenagers in our church, we went to a home school book sale in Millington, we cleaned the church, all of our children were sick last week except for Abby, Stephanie was also sick for three days and tonight we are celebrating Micah's graduation from Kindergarten.
Whew! We've been busy!
So hopefully I can begin this week by getting back to my 'normal' routine. But as I say this, Stephanie's mom and aunt are driving in from Alabama, so we will be spending the next couple of days with them. They are coming in town to celebrate Micah's graduation with us. Thanks Nana and Aunt Nette!
Pray for our family as we persevere through all the transitioning of becoming a 'pastor's family'!
Over the last two weeks this is what has been happening....I started a new sermon series in Colossians, I had the opportunity to join some godly men for a monthly lunch fellowship, my folks were in town from Louisiana, we celebrated Mother's Day, Stephanie's birthday, Abby's ballet recital, we had a couple of baseball games for the boys, we celebrated the graduation of one of the teenagers in our church, we went to a home school book sale in Millington, we cleaned the church, all of our children were sick last week except for Abby, Stephanie was also sick for three days and tonight we are celebrating Micah's graduation from Kindergarten.
Whew! We've been busy!
So hopefully I can begin this week by getting back to my 'normal' routine. But as I say this, Stephanie's mom and aunt are driving in from Alabama, so we will be spending the next couple of days with them. They are coming in town to celebrate Micah's graduation with us. Thanks Nana and Aunt Nette!
Pray for our family as we persevere through all the transitioning of becoming a 'pastor's family'!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
God Himself Gave Himself To Save Us From Himself
“According to the Christian revelation, God’s own great love propitiated his own holy wrath through the gift of his own dear Son, who took our place, bore our sin and died our death.
Thus God himself gave himself to save us from himself.”
~ John Stott, The Message of Romans
(HT: Of First Importance)
Thus God himself gave himself to save us from himself.”
~ John Stott, The Message of Romans
(HT: Of First Importance)
Carrie Prejean's Story Points To Deeper Issues In Evangelical World
Nancy Leigh DeMoss gives a pretty sobering assessment about Miss California and her launch into the public arena of 'moral' debate...
She says, "Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn't help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.
Yet, for those who affirm and cherish the biblical perspective of femininity and sexuality, this story has an important subtext and raises a number of issues that should be of great concern to us as followers of Christ." Read the whole article.
Please be sure to take note of the last paragraph....a true righteous response!
(HT: Josh Harris)
She says, "Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn't help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.
Yet, for those who affirm and cherish the biblical perspective of femininity and sexuality, this story has an important subtext and raises a number of issues that should be of great concern to us as followers of Christ." Read the whole article.
Please be sure to take note of the last paragraph....a true righteous response!
(HT: Josh Harris)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The 'Acceptable' Sin--Gossip
Ray Ortlund defines one of the church's most popular and acceptable sins:
Gossip is our dark moral fervor eagerly seeking gratification.
Gossip makes us feel important and needed as we declare our judgments.
It makes us feel included to know the inside scoop.
It makes us feel powerful to cut someone else down to size, especially someone we are jealous of.
It makes us feel righteous, even responsible, to pronounce someone else guilty.
Gossip can feel good in multiple ways. But it is of the flesh, not of the Spirit.
. . . Gossip is a sin rarely disciplined but often more socially destructive than the sensational sins.
Gossip leaves a wide trail of devastation wherever and however it goes – word of mouth, email, blogging, YouTube.
It erodes trust and destroys morale.
It creates a social environment of suspicion where everyone must wonder what is being said behind their backs and whether appearances of friendship are sincere.
It ruins hard-won reputations with cowardly but effective weapons of misrepresentation.
It manipulates people into taking sides when no such action is necessary or beneficial.
It unleashes the dark powers of psychological transference, doing violence to the gossiper, to the one receiving the gossip and to the person being spoken against.
It makes the Body of Christ look like the Body of Antichrist – destroyers rather than healers.
It exhausts the energies we would otherwise devote to positive witness.
It robs our Lord of the Church he deserves.
It exposes the hostility in our hearts and discredits the gospel in the eyes of the world. Then we wonder why we don’t see more conversions, why “the ground is so hard.”
(HT: Justin Taylor)
Gossip is our dark moral fervor eagerly seeking gratification.
Gossip makes us feel important and needed as we declare our judgments.
It makes us feel included to know the inside scoop.
It makes us feel powerful to cut someone else down to size, especially someone we are jealous of.
It makes us feel righteous, even responsible, to pronounce someone else guilty.
Gossip can feel good in multiple ways. But it is of the flesh, not of the Spirit.
. . . Gossip is a sin rarely disciplined but often more socially destructive than the sensational sins.
Gossip leaves a wide trail of devastation wherever and however it goes – word of mouth, email, blogging, YouTube.
It erodes trust and destroys morale.
It creates a social environment of suspicion where everyone must wonder what is being said behind their backs and whether appearances of friendship are sincere.
It ruins hard-won reputations with cowardly but effective weapons of misrepresentation.
It manipulates people into taking sides when no such action is necessary or beneficial.
It unleashes the dark powers of psychological transference, doing violence to the gossiper, to the one receiving the gossip and to the person being spoken against.
It makes the Body of Christ look like the Body of Antichrist – destroyers rather than healers.
It exhausts the energies we would otherwise devote to positive witness.
It robs our Lord of the Church he deserves.
It exposes the hostility in our hearts and discredits the gospel in the eyes of the world. Then we wonder why we don’t see more conversions, why “the ground is so hard.”
(HT: Justin Taylor)
Why President Obama's Address at Notre Dame Should Give Pro-Lifers Some Optimism
Justin Taylor posted this article by Yuval Levin in a response to President Obama's recent speech at Notre Dame, where the President carefully attempted to 'diffuse the debate' between pro-lifers and pro-choicers.
Levin believes that President Obama failed miserably in his attempt to defend a 'choice'. Because abortion cannot be reasonably defended, it was no surprise to him that Obama's argument lacked reasonable justification for the killing of unborn babies.
Basically, the President's defense for his pro-choice stance is seriously lacking credible rationalization and this is not only isolated to him.
Levin believes that President Obama failed miserably in his attempt to defend a 'choice'. Because abortion cannot be reasonably defended, it was no surprise to him that Obama's argument lacked reasonable justification for the killing of unborn babies.
Basically, the President's defense for his pro-choice stance is seriously lacking credible rationalization and this is not only isolated to him.
Go Back, Go Back, and Go back again and again!
“At the root of all our disobedience are particular ways in which we continue to seek control of our lives through systems of works-righteousness. The way to progress as a Christian is to continually repent and uproot these systems the same way we become Christians, namely by the vivid depiction (and re-depiction) of Christ’s saving work for us, and the abandoning of self-trusting efforts to complete ourselves.
We must go back again and again to the gospel of Christ-crucified, so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.”
~ Timothy Keller, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
(HT: Of First Importance)
We must go back again and again to the gospel of Christ-crucified, so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.”
~ Timothy Keller, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
(HT: Of First Importance)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Access To The Father...
“You cannot open the pages of the New testament without realizing that one of the things that makes it so ‘new’, in every way, is that here men and women call God ‘Father’.
This conviction, that we can speak to the Maker of the universe in such intimate terms, lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Through Christ, says Paul, we have ‘access to the Father’ (Eph 2:18).”
~ Sinclair Ferguson, Children of the Living God
(HT: Of First Importance)
This conviction, that we can speak to the Maker of the universe in such intimate terms, lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Through Christ, says Paul, we have ‘access to the Father’ (Eph 2:18).”
~ Sinclair Ferguson, Children of the Living God
(HT: Of First Importance)
Friday, May 15, 2009
What Does A Citizen Of God's Kingdom Look Like?
Psalm 15 is an excellent description of the one who is a faithful citizen in God's Kingdom.
1 O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?
Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
and speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
nor does evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against a friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
he swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
Here in Psalm 15, the Psalmist (which is King David) lays out a beautiful picture of what a faithful citizen of God's Kingdom, Christ's Kingdom 'lives' like. It's a beautiful illustration of personal integrity, a passion for what is right, and a disciplined love for his community. He hates what God hates and loves what God loves. He seeks the spiritual advancement of those around him, without crippling further, those who are facing difficult times.
This is a compact Psalm, but one that definitely speaks volumes into and over the life of every Christian and citizen of the King. Use this Psalm as a constant spiritual assessment, so that you can be faithful in examining your own spiritual life, to see if you are genuinely 'in the faith'!
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." ~ 2 Corinthians 13.5-6
1 O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?
Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
and speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
nor does evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against a friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
he swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
Here in Psalm 15, the Psalmist (which is King David) lays out a beautiful picture of what a faithful citizen of God's Kingdom, Christ's Kingdom 'lives' like. It's a beautiful illustration of personal integrity, a passion for what is right, and a disciplined love for his community. He hates what God hates and loves what God loves. He seeks the spiritual advancement of those around him, without crippling further, those who are facing difficult times.
This is a compact Psalm, but one that definitely speaks volumes into and over the life of every Christian and citizen of the King. Use this Psalm as a constant spiritual assessment, so that you can be faithful in examining your own spiritual life, to see if you are genuinely 'in the faith'!
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." ~ 2 Corinthians 13.5-6
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Habit Of Enjoying Adversity
The title sounds a little crazy, but this article by Chambers is straight-up God-centered living!
"We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you."
Wow!
"We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you."
Wow!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Happy Birthday To My Beautiful Wife!
Today is Stephanie's 32nd Birthday and I have the joy and privilege of saying that I have celebrated the last 12 birthdays with her.....thank You Lord!
I have truly seen her grow into the godly woman that God has called her to be. She is truly a means of God's grace to my life and I am thankful to Him for His wonderful gift to me!
Happy Birthday Sweety!
Keith
I have truly seen her grow into the godly woman that God has called her to be. She is truly a means of God's grace to my life and I am thankful to Him for His wonderful gift to me!
Happy Birthday Sweety!
Keith
Has God Dealt 'Bountifully' With You? Then Sing!
Psalm 13 is a common Psalm. Here we find the Psalter going before God in a state of being 'overwhelmed with sorrow'.
The reality is we find ourselves discouraged at times. God commanded Joshua not to be discouraged (Joshua 1.9) and the reason is because of God's presence with him. Every time discouragement arises we should quickly seek to repent and then look to God, because He is present. He is a refuge to those who need Him. And I cannot imagine a moment in my life where I am not in need of Him, so therefore He is a constant refuge. His presence delivers us from discouragement and gives us confidence in Him to stand firm in order to face any challenge He sends our way. And with His presence and bountiful blessings comes joyful shouting.....or singing!
Psalm 13 begins with sorrow, but ends with joyful singing....listen to how Albert Barnes describes Psalm 13,
"The psalm closes, therefore, with expressions of joy, thankfulness, triumph. Though it begins with depression and sadness, it ends with joy. This is often observable in the Psalms. In the commencement it often occurs that the mind is overwhelmed with sorrow, and there is earnest pleading with God. Light, under the influence of prayer, breaks in gradually upon the soul. The clouds disperse; the darkness disappears. New views of the goodness and mercy of God are imparted; an assurance of his favor is brought to the soul; confidence in his mercy springs up in the heart; and the psalm that began with sorrowful complaining ends with the language of praise and of joy.
So, too, it is in our own experience. Afflicted, depressed, and sad, we go to God. Everything seems dark. We have no peace - no clear and cheerful views - no joy. As we wait upon God, new views of his character, his mercy, his love, break upon the mind. The clouds open. Light beams upon us. Our souls take hold of the promises of God, and we, who went to His throne sad and desponding, rise from our devotions filled with praise and joy, submissive to the trials which made us so sad, and rejoicing in the belief that all things will work together for our good."
A few hymns to sing...
I know Whom I Have Believed
I Need The Every Hour
Blessed Assurance
The reality is we find ourselves discouraged at times. God commanded Joshua not to be discouraged (Joshua 1.9) and the reason is because of God's presence with him. Every time discouragement arises we should quickly seek to repent and then look to God, because He is present. He is a refuge to those who need Him. And I cannot imagine a moment in my life where I am not in need of Him, so therefore He is a constant refuge. His presence delivers us from discouragement and gives us confidence in Him to stand firm in order to face any challenge He sends our way. And with His presence and bountiful blessings comes joyful shouting.....or singing!
Psalm 13 begins with sorrow, but ends with joyful singing....listen to how Albert Barnes describes Psalm 13,
"The psalm closes, therefore, with expressions of joy, thankfulness, triumph. Though it begins with depression and sadness, it ends with joy. This is often observable in the Psalms. In the commencement it often occurs that the mind is overwhelmed with sorrow, and there is earnest pleading with God. Light, under the influence of prayer, breaks in gradually upon the soul. The clouds disperse; the darkness disappears. New views of the goodness and mercy of God are imparted; an assurance of his favor is brought to the soul; confidence in his mercy springs up in the heart; and the psalm that began with sorrowful complaining ends with the language of praise and of joy.
So, too, it is in our own experience. Afflicted, depressed, and sad, we go to God. Everything seems dark. We have no peace - no clear and cheerful views - no joy. As we wait upon God, new views of his character, his mercy, his love, break upon the mind. The clouds open. Light beams upon us. Our souls take hold of the promises of God, and we, who went to His throne sad and desponding, rise from our devotions filled with praise and joy, submissive to the trials which made us so sad, and rejoicing in the belief that all things will work together for our good."
A few hymns to sing...
I know Whom I Have Believed
I Need The Every Hour
Blessed Assurance
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