What Is The Gospel?

Notes from What Is The Gospel? By Tim Keller

http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=18160&ParentCat=6

A Worldview

Gospel means good news. So what is the gospel? The gospel is a worldview. It is a grid through which we view all other things in life. It is not something that we believe once for all time to "get into Christianity" and move on in our lives trying our best to be morally right in our actions. It is not a moralistic worldview; one that believes we gain favor with God by our good actions and lose favor by our failures. This is the worldview of the elder brother in Luke 15 who does "what is right" but looks down on his younger brother who repents and turns from his tremendous sin. This is the worldview of the Pharisees of Jesus time who compared themselves to others with less tarnished lives thinking themselves superior. The gospel has a fullness of meaning which can only be described by breaking it down into it's parts or aspects and understood by combining those aspects into a worldview. Each aspect of the gospel describes part of the truth but gives only a part. Christian churches themselves can fail because they stress one aspect of the gospel without acknowledging the other aspects. There are three main aspects of the gospel.

I. Historical/Doctrinal Aspect

The gospel is news about what Jesus has done not primarily advice on how to live. It is good news, not good advice (primarily). Good news salvation is that we are saved by what Jesus has done. Good advice salvation is that we are saved by following the teaching that is given to you. The truth is that God came down and inserted himself physically into the world in history in order to live a perfect life, die a sacrificial atoning death and rise in victory in the body. We are saved by what he has done, not what we do. It is dependent on the fact that Christ lived, died and rose in history for our sins. It is not primarily advice on how to live, although it does teach us this, but the declaration of what God has done. Why because you are saved by grace.

Nutshell: Jesus lived the life I should have lived and died the death that I should have died (as my substitute), so that God can receive me not for my record and my sake, but for Jesus' record and for Jesus' sake.

II. Identity Aspect

The gospel is a status we receive now not just primarily a reward we will receive later. The gospel establishes our status now as sons and daughters of the Father in heaven. Righteously seen by God because Christ's righteousness is credited to us and our sin is laid on Jesus at the cross and paid for (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are dearly loved by God for the sake of Christ. Our salvation is not dependent on maintaining sinlessness after conversion as if we are being given a second chance, but on God's love for Jesus and us because of what Jesus has done. We therefore are assured of our salvation because we are the children of God now and our persistence as children is not dependent in any way on our actions after we believe. We do right things because we love God not because we need to to maintain our position with God. Why because we are saved by grace?

Nutshell: You are more wicked and flawed than you ever dared believe but you are more loved and accepted than you ever dared hope at the same time. Simultaneously both just and sinful.

III. Kingdom Aspect

The gospel is a complete reversal of values in our daily lives leading to an establishment of the kingdom of God in part here on earth to be perfected in eternity. It is not just a new strength to live the life you had before faith according to the world's system and values. The gospel is received by admitting our spiritual bankruptcy not by what good we bring. It is only when we give up the right to determine our own life that we get the power of God. Jesus, the King of kings, came to earth as a baby in a manger. The gospel is received, achieved and reunites in ways that are in reverse of what you would expect. The first shall be last. Those who serve shall be greatest. God loves to work through the weak, the marginal, and poor.

Nutshell: The way up is down, the way to real power is to give up coercive power and serve others, the way into God is to go to the margins in repentance and faith.

The Core of the Gospel

The thread that runs through the three aspects and ties them together is that we are saved by grace. All three are necessary to understand the gospel and apply it to our lives and the glue is God's grace.

Meditation

What is the reason there is so much preaching and so little practice? For want of meditation.... Constant thoughts are operative, and musing makes the fire burn. Green wood is not kindled by a flash or spark, but by constant blowing.
—Thomas Manton

Proof

“The proof that Christ came into the world should be that His followers are holy! Let their character be blameless and harmless, their conduct so devoted and so full of self-sacrifice that it shall be a constant memorial of that Redeemer whose name they profess.”

Charles Spurgeon

Work

Does God want us to be successful in our occupations? Should business success be one of our goals? What is success and does it look differently to the christian versus the secular person? I submit that Christ calls us to discipleship. This is all consuming. A leader in the church of Jesus Christ is a follower of Him. The cost of discipleship is forsaking all things, hating those around us in comparison to Him and being willing to die for Him (Luke 14:26-33). He is the provider of all that we have here and in eternity. He is the protector of our reputation and the giver of our earthly positions. He sets up kings and tears them down. We are called to work at everything as if working for the Lord and not for men (Col 3:23). That means every activity, every thought, and every moment is to be His...set apart to Him and sacred. We are to do our best ...not to achieve or gain material wealth or prestige but because he calls us to do our best. Success is obedience to God. Obedience to God and discipleship may lead us to a life with riches and tremendous influence and earthly responsibility or it may lead us to the life of a pauper who labors in obscurity. Both are successful based on the scriptures.

The Converted Ones

An Essential Mark of a Sound Conversion
by Joseph Alleine

We turn from our own RIGHTEOUSNESS. Before conversion, man seeks to cover himself with his own fig-leaves, and to make himself acceptable with God, by his own duties. He is apt to trust in himself, and set up his own righteousness, and to reckon his pennies for gold, and not to submit to the righteousness of God. But conversion changes his mind; now he counts his own righteousness as filthy rags. He casts it off, as a man would the verminous tatters of a nasty beggar. Now he is brought to poverty of spirit, complains of and condemns himself; and all his inventory is, 'I am poor, and miserable, and wretched, and blind, and naked!' [Rev 3:17]. He sees a world of iniquity in his holy things, and calls his once-idolized righteousness but filth and loss; and would not for a thousand worlds be found in it!
Now he begins to set a high price upon Christ's righteousness. He sees the need of Christ in every duty, to justify his person and sanctify his performances; he cannot live without Him; he cannot pray without Him. Christ must go with him, or else he cannot come into the presence of God; he leans upon Christ, and so bows himself in the house of his God. He sets himself down for a lost undone man without Him; his life is hid in Christ, as the root of a tree spreads in the earth for stability and nourishment. Before, the gospel of Christ was a stale and tasteless thing; but now—how sweet is Christ! Augustine could not relish his once-admired Cicero, because he could not find in his writings the name of Christ. How emphatically he cries, 'O most sweet, most loving, most kind, most dear, most precious, most desired, most lovely, most fair!' all in a breath, when he speaks of and to Christ. In a word, the voice of the convert is, with the martyr, 'None but Christ!'

Excerpt from Alarm to the Unconverted by Joseph Alleine, 1671

From Monergism site post here: http://www.monergism.com/alleineconversion.html

The Ethiopian Eunuch

Last night I was reading in Acts about the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) and was overwhelmed with a recognition of the love of God for those who want to know him. The eunuch was the treasurer of the queen of Ethiopa, and he had gone up to Jerusalem to worship God. On the road back home, the Spirit directed Phillip to go first on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza and then up to the chariot where the eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah. Phillip climbed into the chariot and explained the gospel to the seeking Ethiopian who then requested to be baptized. Notice the eunuch left his home to worship. He was willing to sacrifice his time and comfort to meet the living God. Notice the eunuch studied the scriptures seeking to know the Almighty. It was not a token acknowledgment of the existence of God but a planned, dedicated seeking of Him. Most meaningful to me, notice God's great love for this man who sought him. God caused the needed events occur for the seeking man to be reconciled to Him by faith. He proactively sought and secured the Ethiopian's salvation. O how he loves us!

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and all your soul. (Deut 4:29).

Mighty Warrior?

Gideon was the first of Israel's judges. He was the least of his family from the weakest clan of the line of Manasseh, the son of Joash the Azeirite. The Midianites had been opressing the Israelites to the point where Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press to get food in hiding from his enemies. Just then the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, "the Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Gideon questions the Angel about the Lord's presence in light of Israel's oppression, and the LORD says, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” And then, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” Judges 6:1-14

Observations:
1) God sees not only who Gideon is but who he will be. He does not address him as an oppressed young man in a weak clan and family but as a mighty warrior. In the same way, he sees us as we will be, as we are meant to be. He sees us as his adopted sons and daughters, righteous before him in Christ.
2) God uses the weak to do great things. Gideon's position before his time of leadership makes his success all the more glorifying to God. Therefore, our weakness and failures are never reasons to believe God will not do great things through us. On the contrary, our weakness increases the potential for God to use us...for where we are weak, he is strong (2 Cor 12:9).
3) God is the power and cause behind Gideon's (and Israels') success against the Midianites. We should always look to the Almighty God as the source of all things whether material, positional, or spiritual. He deserves all the glory.
4) The Angel of the Lord appears in bodily form and is called the LORD suggesting this is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus.
5) God saves the Israelites when they cry out to him in their oppression after sinning against him for a period of time. God says if we seek him from a place of sin, we will find him if we search for him (Deut 4:29). Although he is sovereign over all and can do whatever he wills, he allows man to seek whom and what he wishes.

Is God calling you to something great?

Redeeming The Time

Place a high value upon your time, be more careful of not losing it than you would of losing your money. Do not let worthless recreations, television, idle talk, unprofitable company, or sleep rob you of your precious time.

Be more careful to escape that person, action or course of life that would rob you of your time than you would be to escape thieves and robbers.

Make sure that you are not merely never idle, but rather that you are using your time in the most profitable way that you can and do not prefer a less profitable way before one of greater profit.

From How to Spend the Day With God

adapted and updated from Richard Baxter (1615-1691) by Mathew Vogan

link http://www.puritansermons.com/baxter/baxter5.htm

Practicing The Presence Of God

Reading Practicing The Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. It is a good reminder of what my life should be like. The book speaks of a 15th century christian who lives in a monastery as a cook. It is the true story of a man who gave every moment to Christ. Some "take aways" for me have been:

1. Communion with God for the believer can be experienced on a moment by moment basis by focusing one's mind and heart (Col 3:1,2) on Him constantly (with the help of the Holy Spirit). This is in a sense an ongoing conversation with our everpresent Lord.
2. Immediate obedience and repentence is stressed in this book. Failures are confessed, repented of and then forgotten.
3. Even mundane activities can be done for God's glory if done with this intent. (In Brother Lawerence's situation it was kitchen work).
4. Joy is not based on circumstances but on the "possession" of God in our lives. The more he is present, the more we will be joyful.
5. Communion with God does not happen passively. Of course, God can do anything, but generally our effort is required in seeking Him.

Take home message to myself:
-Seek to spend each moment in communion and dialogue with God.
-Do all for the love of God.
-Do not dwell on failure. I am forgiven.
-Prayer should be constant.

The Pretender

I have struggled a lot the last two weeks for many reasons. I awoke yesterday and got ready to pray. As I was brushing my teeth, out of the blue, the lyrics at the end of a song from my adolescent years broke into my mind. They have sat there for the last 48 hours....O that they would not be true of me....nor of you.

"Are you there...?
Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender...."

Jackson Browne

Heirs

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17

Can you believe this? It seems inconceivable that the above verses are true! But, they are God's word, and it is impossible for him to lie. Rub your eyes and gaze at these words. Drink in their meaning. Meditate on what kind of glorious creator, full of love would give this to us?!

Observations:
1) Believers are adopted sons/daughters of God. We are in his family, and he looks upon us with love and wants good for us. When we fail, he doesn't crush us. He teaches us and disciplines us in love. When we are obedient he rejoices in us and with us. We rejoice in him and thereby bring him glory.
2) Believers are heirs of God. God cannot die, but we will receive Him. He shall be ours. We shall see him, enjoy him, commune with him and eternally learn and be amazed by him.
3) Believers are co-heirs with Christ. We shall receive what he receives. We will reign with him (2 Tim 2:12). We shall be honored and glorified (2 Cor 4:17, 2 Cor 3:18, Rom 8:21, Rom 8:30). (I feel uneasy typing this but it is the word of God).
4) This inheritance is fulfilled in the future (1 Pe 1:4, 2 Cor 4:17, Rom 8:21).
5) Life now includes patient endurance and suffering (Rom 8:18, Jn 16:33). This suffering comes from three places:
1. Persecution for being a christian (2 Tim 3:12)
2. Suffering in mortifying the sin within us by the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:13, Heb 12:7)
3. Suffering in relation to creations subjection to "death" because of Adams sin (Romans 8:18-23)

My Holiness

There is enough sin in the holiest act I have ever undertaken to damn me to hell for all eternity.

Naked and Unashamed

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Genesis 2:25

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account......
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:13,16

In the garden of Eden, before the fall of man, Adam and Eve were sinless and communed with God without shame despite their nakedness. They were unaware of their nakedness in that they did not see it as anything unusual. They had a closeness with God and confidence before God that could only be present in an innocent state. But with the fall of man things changed. Adam hid from God realizing his sin and experiencing shame for the first time. Shame can be defined as: having a painful feeling and emotional distress (sometimes to the point of despair), for having done something wrong, with an associative meaning of having the disapproval of those around them. 1 Since Adam, we all experience shame before God which comes from the realization of our sin and of God's holiness. God sees all, no matter how hard we try to hide (Heb 4:13). Yet there is good news! Through faith in Christ, we become righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). My sin exchanged for his righteousness. So for the believer, we now can approach Almighty God with confidence (the KJV says "boldness") to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Our relationship with God is reconciled (Romans 5:1), and we can be naked and unashamed before God as Adam and Eve were originally in the garden. Praise be to the Ancient of Days for providing us with the means for peace with Himself and peace within ourselves. Amen

1. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLH 1017). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Weight of Glory (C.S. Lewis)

Quotes and notes from C. S. Lewis's Weight of Glory

Now, if we are made for
heaven, the desire for our proper place will
be already in us, but not yet attached to
the true object, and will even appear as the
rival of that object.

Lewis notes a longing inside for something that we initially cannot place. This is present in all and drives a thirst for better things. Often misplaced before we know Jesus to earthly materials or endeavors...the feeling or idea that there is something better to be for us. When misplaced the soul despairs at the realization of the failure of the rival object to perform that which was expected. Always restless to find the true source of our inner longing -Jesus Christ.

If a transtemporal, transfinite good is our
real destiny, then any other good on which
our desire fixes must be in some degree
fallacious, must bear at best only a
symbolical relation to what will truly
satisfy.

Only God is good. Creation and the Spirit's work in christians demonstrate this in part. Desire for other is less. Yet we know not how much less as now we see him through a glass dimly.

If our religion is
something objective, then we must never
avert our eyes from those elements in it
which seem puzzling or repellent; for it
will be precisely the puzzling or the
repellent which conceals what we do not
yet know and need to know.

Joshua 1:8

In the end that Face which is the delight or
the terror of the universe must be turned
upon each of us either with one expression
or with the other, either conferring glory
inexpressible or inflicting shame that can
never be cured or disguised.

To please God...to be a real ingredient in the
divine happiness...to be loved by God, not
merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist
delights in his work or a father in a son—it
seems impossible, a weight or burden of
glory which our thoughts can hardly
sustain. But so it is.

For glory meant good
report with God, acceptance by God,
response, acknowledgment, and welcome
into the heart of things.

We can be left
utterly and absolutely outside—repelled,
exiled, estranged, finally and unspeakably
ignored. On the other hand, we can be
called in, welcomed, received,
acknowledged.

To be known by God affectionately and included in his family is the ultimate glory of the believer. To delight God?! It sounds incomprehensible. On the other hand, the idea of watching as the family of God gathers in worship and fellowship from the outside is unbearable to me. O to be a good and faithful servant to Him.

There are no ordinary people. You have
never talked to a mere mortal. Nations,
cultures, arts, civilization—these are
mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of
a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke
with, work with, marry, snub, and
exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting
splendours.

Quotes from The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis

The Word of God

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8

The word of God at the time of Joshua's life consisted of the first five books of the Bible. In Joshua chapter one, God sends Joshua off as the leader of the Israelites after Moses's death. God himself tells Joshua to speak the word, meditate on the word constantly and to be obedient to the word. Marinate in the word of God. How does this apply to us at this time? The only difference is that we have a larger book to consider. To be obedient to this verse requires a knowledge of all that is contained in the sixty-six books of the Bible. Therefore, it stands to reason that we should be reading the book in it's totality over and over. So, we must first read the word of God. But, the Lord calls us to more. To keep the word from departing from our mouths, we must incorporate it into our conversations and into that which we teach others. We must memorize the word to be able to speak it without reading it. God also calls us to think about his word constantly. We must apply his word to our every day lives and consider deeply the meaning of that which God has spoken. Finally, God calls us to obedience to his word. Read, speak, think, obey. This is God's call to the disciple of Christ. Is less acceptable in light of all Chris did for us?

Don't Waste Your Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBJzUnxiKwA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdontwasteyourlife%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

The Prayer of Nehemiah

My son is leading a devotion in his upcoming trip to Ecuador on the prayer of Nehemiah. He asked me to look at his notes for the devotion and they brought up some very good points on prayer. The text is Nehemiah chapter 1.

The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
5 Then I said:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king. Ne 1:1-11

Observations on Nehemiah's prayer:
1) Nehemiah mourns, fasts and prays for several days. His prayer is fervent and persistent (vs.4)
2) Nehemiah worships God (vs. 5) and asks God to hear his prayer.
3) Nehemiah confesses corporate and personal sin (vs. 6,7)
4) Nehemiah "reminds" God of His promise knowing God is faithful to his word (vs. 8,9)
5) Nehemiah states the peoples intention to honor God (vs. 11)
6) Nehemiah recognizes God as the source of his success (vs. 11) and asks God for favor.

Reputation

Jesus says if we wish to be his disciples we must be willing to forsake all (Luke 14:25-33). This most obviously includes material things but more subtly might include our health, our relationships, our position and our reputation. I think of this as meaning forsake all for the kingdom of God and consider it in the sense that an occurance may come into my life where I am called to give things up for the obvious benefit of the kingdom of God. But what if the benefit to the kingdom is not obvious? What if one's reputation is damaged through outside forces beyond one's control? Or what if an honest mistake leads to the damaging of a reputation? Our inner response to a loss such as this demonstrates whether we are willing to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. For God would say that everything good that we have is from him and not of ourselves (James 1:17). Our material things, jobs, money, health and reputations are given and protected by him. Everything we have is his to take away. This needs to be considered in light of other scriptures of course. God says he will work all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). He says he loves us and has an inheritance in heaven for us as his adopted children (1 John 3:1; 1 Pe 1:4; Romans 8:15). He says we will have trouble in this world, but that he has overcome the world (John 16:33). The question is when the rubber hits the road and I suffer loss will I in bitterness and anger against God struggle with my faith? Or will I rest in his promises and allow myself to be humbled for his glory, even if I do not understand why circumstances have occurred? Certainly, the former is a manifestation of unbelief...unbelief in God's word and promises or his character or his existence. Paul had learned to be content in all circumstances recognizing these things and giving thanks to God (Phil 4:11). Thanksgiving and gratefulness is the heart of the believer sold out to God. Thanksgiving and gratefulness in spite of earthly circumstances (1 Thes 5:13). For we have the "pearl of greatest price" guaranteed in our future (Matt 13:46). Do I really believe it? Can I say with Job: "Naked I came into the world, and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord?"

Salt

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. "
--Lk 14:34-35--

A disciple of Jesus Christ is a student of him, seeking to learn his ways and to become like him. Obviously, the first steps of this process include hearing the gospel, accepting it and trusting in Christ as one's savior. Jesus then says to believers: go and make disciples of all people groups, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit and teaching them to be obedient to His commands (Mt 28:19). A disciple is called to love God more than any person on earth (Lu 14:26), to sacrifice his will to the will of God (Lu 14:27) and to be willing to give up material and non material possessions for God (Lu 14:33). One question that has arisen in my mind is can one be a believer and not be a disciple? I don't know the answer to this, but I suspect that a believer does not have to be a disciple. The churches of our nation seem to be filled with such individuals; those who go to church on Sunday but are indistinguishable from unbelievers otherwise (myself included at times). A disciple becomes like his teacher, and as Jesus drew people to himself, so also the disciple of Christ should by his example draw people to God. The disciple of Jesus is salty to a watching world. He is seasoning, flavor and a preservative. Walt Henrichsen in Disciples Are Made And Not Born makes the point that Jesus is using seasonless salt as a metaphor for the believer that is not a disciple. One who believes in Christ and yet is not a disciple is useless to the master and worthy of being thrown away. Terrifying words. Yet the poor witness of a professing believer that is not a disciple to the world and the glory not given to God because of his example make Jesus' words ring true. The question I personally must ask myself is..... am I a disciple of Jesus Christ, and if so, what am I doing to make disciples for the King of kings?

Scripture Memory

"The practice of scripture memory is more important than a daily quiet time, for as we fill our minds with great passages of the Bible and have them available for our meditation, quiet time takes over the entirety of our lives." --Dallas Willard, The Great Omission.

Scripture memory seems to increase my ability to practice the presence of God. In the circumstances of life, the Word I have committed to memory bubbles up from inside at the calling of the Spirit of God (Jn 14:26) to remind me of who He is and of my position in Christ. God tells us to memorize scripture (Josh 1:8), and knowing scripture is mandatory if we are to be obedient to Gods commands (Jn 14:21). God gives understanding of his Word over time if we look to his Spirit as the teacher of the it's meaning (Jn 14:26, Ps 119:18). I sometimes find quiet times difficult, and to me, it is reassuring to note that working on scripture memory during dry times can be profitable.

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20


Observations About Jesus From Above Text:

1) He is the image of God. (Hebrews 1:3, 2 Cor 4:4)
2) He is the firstborn of all creation. This refers to position not actual birth or creation (as Jesus was not created). He holds the position of firstborn over all things.
3) He is the creator of all things on earth or in heaven. (John 1:3, Hebrews 1:2)
4) He is eternal. (John 1:1-2, John 8:58)
5) He is the glue that holds all things together. He maintains and sustains the universe. He is the creator of the laws of nature. (Hebrews 1:3)
6) He is the head of the believing church and the first to rise in the body.
7) He is filled with the fullness of God. (Col 2:9, John 1:1, Rom 9:5, Jeremiah 23:5-6)
8) He is the reconciler of all creation to himself. (Rom 5:10-11, 2 Cor 5:18-19)

Summary:
Jesus is the image of God, God, creator, eternal, sustainer, reconciler and the head of the church.

Give God The Glory

Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah: 21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. 22 Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. 23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’ 25 Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you. 26 For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. 27 Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; 28 they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. 29 Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” 30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? Jeremiah 5:20-31

Observations from verses:
1. God is Almighty and to be feared, honored, and worshipped.
2. The people have a choice of whether to fear God. They have free will.
3. God gives good things to all. Some turn from away in prosperity b/c of pride.
3. There are wicked men among the people of God.
4. God punishes the unfaithful for their sins.

Forgiveness

We are commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive those who sin against us (Col 3:13; Mat 6:12, 14-15; Mat 18:35). In addition, Jesus says that we will be forgiven as we forgive (see preceding verses). This is a frightening fact. I have struggled with this because emotions seem to play such an important role in how well we forgive. Emotions are very difficult to control. In a book I am reading,* Ed Wheat gives some helpful thoughts on this issue. He says there are three steps in forgiving someone:

1) First, there must be an act of the will. A person must actively choose to forgive.
2) Second, behavior must conform to God's plan or will for us. We must love our neighbor as ourselves, pray for those who persecute us and keep no record of wrongs. (Eph 4:31-32)
3)Third, God transforms our feelings and thoughts toward forgiveness and love.

So, we have two responsibilities which are dependent on our wills and God transforms the emotions. Notice the offender has no role in our forgiveness of him or her.


*Love Life For Every Married Couple by Ed Wheat and Gloria Okes Perkins, Zondervan, 1980.

Preach The Gospel

The Gospel is really, really good news! This week I interacted with a teenager who is a believer in Jesus but who has struggled with anxieties and feelings of inadequacies that are perceived much more than real. This person has been raised in church and believes that Christ died and rose again for forgiveness of the sins of all who believe. But this person has struggled with sadness and anxiety. This week we were talking about God and these issues arose. I then went through the meat of the Gospel with this person as listed below:

1-When Christ died for believers the full cup of the wrath of God against the sin of all believers was poured out, emptied on him for all sins past, present and future. (Isa 52:13-chapter 53)
2-Christ lived a perfectly obedient sinless life and the righteousness of Christ is credited to the believer so that when God looks at us, he sees a perfectly righteous person. (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 1:17)
3-We are reconciled to God because of the above and are in right relationship. Therefore we can approach him with confidence. (Heb 4:16; Rom 5:1)
4-God is not angry with those who believe and are struggling with sin. He may discipline us in order to sanctify us, but he does not punish us. (This is not to say there are not consequences to sin which come about from the world, our culture etc).
5-God loves us and will never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5) and promises us good (Rom 8:31,32).

I could see a visible peace develop as this teenager considered the above. This week I have I have been trying to preach the Gospel to myself daily. It is not just for those who do not believe. It truly is good news every day for all! (Rom 1:15)

Secular Humanism

Secular humanism is the world view of much of our society today. This belief system is based on the idea that man is basically good and that with education and advancement of knowledge society can be improved even to an utopian state. This is consistent with a belief that man is evolving to a better condition. Understandably, the secular humanist opposes religion as Christianity and the Bible say that man is basically evil and that rather than improvement over time, the world will become more permeated with sin, wars etc. So, the Bible is rejected as the basic goodness of man in and of himself and the potential for self improvement in the abscence of God's influence are not existent. The crux of the issue is whether man by nature is "good" or potentially "good" or sinful. The conclusion of the secular humanist would be that as we become more knowledgeable and more technologically advanced, society should improve. The Bible suggests differently.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Romans 3:10-12
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things
And beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

Ecclesiastes 7:20
There is not a righteous man on earth
Who does what is right and never sins.

Some of Man's Evil Manifested of Late
1930s- Stalin's Great Purge - political killings of 600,00 to 2 million Russians.
1940s-Holocaust - Genocide of 6 million Jews.
1970s-Pol Pot Leadership in Cambodia - 700,00-1.7 million Cambodian deaths.
1990s-Rwandan Genocide-Execution of 800,000 to 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus by Hutus
1990s-Srebrenica Genocide-Mass murder of 8000 Bosniak men and boys by Army of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina
2000s-Darfur-government backed military and militia contribute to the deaths of 400000 and displacement of millions with rape of girls and women widespread.

How is our moral improvement?

Peace

See in the meantime that your faith brings forth obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring forth peace. John Owen

He Is Coming Soon!! Are You Ready??

The Rider on the White Horse

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Re 19:11-16

Creation's Purpose?

“The material universe is but scaffolding for the Church of Christ. It is but the temporary structure upon which the amazing mystery of redeeming love is being carried on to perfection.”

C. H. Spurgeon

Fascinating comment by Spurgeon. Contemplate this fact....that all of creation is put forth by God for the body of Christ. I would add that the creation is also purposed to point to the amazing magnificence of God's glory. It is subject to futility for a time, because of sin, but not forever.

The Need For Meeting Together

The church is called "the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)" in the Bible with Christ being the head. The implication is that we as individuals, united with Christ and controlled and empowered by the "head," have different gifts and functions all connected to each other and ultimately to Jesus. So the finger has a different gifting and function than the eye for example. The best function of the finger is dependent not only on the power given by the "head" but also by the adjacent hand, skin, blood vessels etc. The point I am making is that we, as the body of Christ, need others for fellowship, communion, accountability and encouragement in our lives in order to function as we should in God's eyes. Cut the finger off from the head and it will blacken and harden in death. Remove the skin and nail from the finger and it will remain alive but be less than it was meant to be. Our culture glorifies the independent self reliant man or woman. So, many in the church are going it alone and suffering for it. Christian men and women need other men and women in their lives in order to live the fullest in Jesus Christ. Scriptures that support this are:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24,25 ESV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 ESV

If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.....Bear one another's burdens.... Galatians 6:1 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom...Colossians 3:16 ESVBut exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13 ESV

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ec 4:12 ESV

Applications/Observations:
1) We should be, as Christians, in regular fellowship with other Christians especially in close relationships with those of the same sex.
2) The function of this fellowship is for exhortation, encouragement, admonishment, teaching, restoration, comfort and strength.
3) This fellowship should be sought out by the individual.
4) The ultimate purpose of this fellowship is for God's glory.

Decisions

The fundamental guidance which God gives to shape our lives—the instilling, that is, of the basic convictions, attitudes, ideals and value judgments, in terms of which we are to live—is not a matter of inward promptings apart from the Word but of the pressure on our consciences of the portrayal of God’s character and will in the Word, which the Spirit enlightens us to understand and apply to ourselves. J.I. Packer, Knowing God.

This then makes the reading of the Word necessary for true divine guidance in the usual sense. Reading and studying the Word then is mandatory for the believer in Jesus Christ. To do less, affects are lives by influencing our decisions in a negative way, leading to sin and mistakes that otherwise would be avoided.

Sin

"Sin, is first and foremost, resistance to finding joy in God. " John Piper

....Because we find joy in a big screen t.v. or success in our jobs or exercise or our children or food or our relationships or money or ministry or alcohol or sex or anything else. Our hearts are given over to these things. But we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might (Deut 6:5). All of our heart. To what have I given my heart? To what have you given your heart?

Perseverence of the Saints

It is impossible for a person who believes to lose their faith. No one can take us out of God's hands (John 10:28,29). He has sealed us with his Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13, 4:30). A guarantee of future inheritance ( Rom 4:16; 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:14). He has united us with Christ (Rom 6:5; 1Cor 6:17; Phil 2:1). Therefore, we cannot be separated permanently from him by weak faith (2 Tim 2:13, Luke 17:6), a specific sin or the actions of another person be they human or spiritual (Rom 8:35-39). We are adopted sons and daughters (Rom 8:23, Eph 1:5) of God protected by God's love (Rom 1:7; 5:8; Eph 2:4,5, 3:18,19) and power (1 Peter 1:5). A mighty fortress is our God. Who shall condemn the elect (Rom 8:33)? Can a person purposely reject God after he has believed? I believe in theory this is possible (Heb 6:4-6). The only situation that seems bibically rational is for a person to know the truth about God and reject him in purposeful rebellion realizing his end and accepting it in outright enmity with God. Does this happen? I do not know. From God's perspective a person cannot lose his salvation as God sees a person's life in it's totality. Thus he foreknows whether a person will believe and whether a person may choose to become apostate. The justification of a believer thus occurs as God sees the believer's faith and his/her persistence in faith to the end. The main point to remember is that we cannot for any reason outside of our own purposeful choice and determination lose our salvation.

Questions About Christianity

“If the Gospel of God is true, it can stand any quantity of questioning. I am more afraid of the deadness and lethargy of the public mind about religion than any sort of enquiry or controversy about it. As silver tried in the furnace is purified seven times, so is the Word of God—and the
more it is put into the furnace, the more it will be purified—and the more beauteously the pure ore of Revelation will glitter in the sight of the faithful.”— Charles Spurgeon

God's Glory, Man's Glory

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Co 3:18 ESV

I have been repeatedly drawn to verses this week speaking of the believer's glory in Christ and in the future. This has been a little uncomfortable in that my life is so flawed that I can hardly imagine being glorious in any way particularly in some relation to God who is unimaginable in his infinite glory. The verses in question are here:

Romans 2:7
We are to seek glory.
Romans 8:18
Glory will be revealed in us in the future.
Romans 8:29-30
Believers are glorified by God.
1 Cor 2:7
God desteind for our glory in through the gospel before time began.
1 Cor 15:40
Created things have variable kinds of glory.
2 Cor 3:18
Beholding the Lord's glory transforms us from one degree of glory to another.
2 Cor 4:17-18
Our suffering achieves for us an eternal glory.
2 Thes 2:14
We are called to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In prayer and in driving to work today it occurred to me that the creator receives glory from that which he has created. So, an artist paints a beautiful painting, and those who look upon it honor the artist for his creation. The more beautiful the painting, the more honor and glory given to the artist. In the same way, the Grand Canyon and the stars in the sky glorify God their creator (Ps 19:1, 1 Cor 15:40). So, to one degree or another, God is glorified by all of creation. The more glorious the creation, the more glory to God. Sin, however, detracts from the glory God receives for his creation. It is not that God is less glorious. It is that creation is subject to futility, and we are influenced by our sin nature and thus do not maintain the "beauty" in which we were originally intended. Sin causes the fading of the beauty of God's creation and thus detracts from the creations' effectiveness in glorifying the Almighty. God hates sin because he is Holy, but also because, I believe, it detracts from his justifiable glorification. Therefore, the more Christlike a believer is the more he becomes as God intended him to be. And the more one becomes as God intended him to be, the more God is glorified. We as we become like Christ receive glory because of Him in that our beauty, bestowed by God, is seen. We reflect the glory of God as we display his image in the transformation that he causes (2 Cro 3:18). We receive glory from God in his love for us, in our belonging to him and obeying him and in manifesting his original creative plan. Any glory we receive now or in the future is from God, by God and to God. It is not based on ourselves or what we do but what God does in and for us. God is glorified by us being glorified by God. It is incomprehensible to consider. Lord, what is man that you are mindful of him? Why do you love us so?

When God Is Gone

There are times when the palpable presence of God in my life disappears. The void is heavy and the satisfaction of my soul is missing. It may be associated with some persistent sin in my life or related to a period of decreased seeking for him, but sometimes these episodes occur seemingly "out of the blue." There are atleast two good things that come out of these times from my perspective. (I am sure God has more). First, the absence of God contrasts greatly with the presence of him in my life, as a moonless night contrasts with the mid-day sun. I would not fully know the joy and satisfaction of being with him if I could not compare it with times when he is missing. Second, my faith usually arises from these periods strengthened and deepened. I believe God has his sovereign purpose for these times. He is omnipresent in nature and trancends time and space, and yet his person can withdraw and leave us momentarily "forsaken" (Psalm 22:1). John Owen has some insight into periods in life where God seemingly has disappeared.


From "The Glory of Christ: His Office and His Grace." by John Owen

I Sought Him, but I Found Him Not

"Sometimes it may be that he is withdrawn from us, so as that we cannot hear his voice, nor behold his countenance, nor obtain any sense of his love, though we seek him with diligence. In this state, all our thoughts and meditations concerning him will be barren and fruitless, bringing in no spiritual refreshment into our souls.....The Lord Christ is pleased sometimes to withdraw himself from the spiritual experience of believers, as to any refreshing sense of his love, or the fresh communications of consolatory graces."

"Our duty in this case, is to persevere in our inqiries after him, in prayer, meditation, mourning, reading and hearing of the Word, in all ordinances of divine worship, private and public, in diligent obedience, until we find him, or he return to us, as in former days."

Fear God

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
the bloom of Lebanon withers.

The mountains quake before him;
the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who dwell in it.

Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.

But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

God's wrath against Nineveh, Nahum 1:2-8.

From Faith for Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Ro 1:16-17

Looking at verse 17 and again gaining insite from John Piper's sermons on Romans, Paul says the righteousness of God is revealed in it (the gospel) from faith (our faith). The righteousness of God is credited to us by God resulting from God's grace to us in our faith in him. Righteousness is established in faith and this empowers our persistence in faith (ie from faith to faith). Paul quoting Habakkuk 2:4 finishes verse 17 with the words, "the righteous shall live by faith." There are two possible interpretations for this ending. Both I believe are true, but the latter makes the most sense in context. The first is that we will live our lives here on earth by faith. So, as Paul says in Galatians..."the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20)" We are sustained and energized for life in faith. The second interpretaion is that the word "live" refers to eternal life in glory. We receive eternal life in heaven by faith. Piper discusses Romans 1:17 as being the verse that transformed Martin Luther as he realized the meaning and significance of Paul's words.

Observations:
1) The gospel reveals the crediting of righteousness to those who believe.
2) Faith is the "vehicle" through which righteousness is applied.
3) God is the power by which we receive righteousness.
4) Eternal life is the result of faith.
5) By inference, works are not necessary for imputed righteousness and eternal life.

The Gospel

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16

Again listening to John Piper's sermons on Romans. God spoke the gospel into place before the beginning of time. His word is efficacious in power to cause that which is spoken. The gospel is the good news for all who believe. It is the plan for salvation for christians but it is, being spoken into being by God, the power by which our salvation takes place. It does not fail. It is the sufficient power to overcome sin, death and damnation. The word salvation here refers to the completion of our deliverance into glory with Almighty God. God will not fail in the power of the gospel in this deliverance. The gospel is also the power by which we initially come to faith, but in this verse Paul speaks of the fulfillment of our salvation. Through faith in God and in his gospel and in our Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection in the power of the Spirit, we are saved. This verse sets out the only prerequisite to the application of God's saving power into our lives, namely faith. Everyone who believes will be saved. There is no work to be done. No sin excludes a person from salvation with the exception of unbelief. Praise be to the One who has saved us by his power...a power that cannot and will not fail.

Ashamed

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16 NIV



Just listened to John Piper's preaching on this verse. Piper separates being ashamed and being shamed. He says the christian will be shamed by those who do not believe because of the gospel. Examples of this could range from a rolling of the eyes, or a subtle comment implying you are a fool, all the way to physical humiliation such as Christ suffered. The gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18). So we should not be surprised at shaming behavior directed toward us by those opposed to the good news. There are two possible options in response to shaming behavior directed toward us. The first is to avoid receiving the shame by watering down the gospel or altering are salty lives. The second is to respond as Jesus did. Christ suffered the ultimate humiliation in being stripped, beaten, mocked, spit upon and crucified. He endured this shaming by despising it (Heb 12:2). He looked to the glory to come and despised the shame. We also should look to the glory to come in response to shaming behavior. We should not hide the gospel --our testimonies and the salt of our lives-- in avoidance. We are to be shamed but not ashamed.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1998/1042_Not_Ashamed_of_the_Gospel/

Fire For God.

God, I pray Thee,
Light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn out for Thee.
Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine.
I seek not a long life, but a full one.

Jim Elliot.

Handling Adversity

Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin.

Jonathon Edwards, Resolution #57
June 9, and July 13 1723.

Lord, search my heart and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps 139:23,24
Amen

http://www.reformed.org/documents/Edwards/index.html?mainframe=/documents/Edwards/j_edwards_resolutions.html

Rewards and Gifts

To reward is to give to a person in response to a particular action that person has undertaken. This is opposed to a gift which is something given in response to no particular action on the part of the receiver. Our salvation is a free gift from God and is in no way a reward, but it is interesting that God does promise rewards in response to certain actions. These rewards from a review of the below scriptures appear to be primarily associated with our time in heaven, although some verses pertain to our time on earth and with some examples time periods of reward are unclear. It is important to remember that Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." This is not to say God doesn't bless us in wonderful ways here on earth. He said also, "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly(John 10:10)." This pertains to our life here, I believe, as well as our future lives. But our home is in heaven.

Rewards in Heaven:
-in response to persecution Matt 5:12; Like 6:23
-treasures in heaven implied in Matt 6:19 (after preceding verses on giving, praying, fasting in secret)
-works for Christ result in reward 1 Cor 3:14
-verse implies rewards in future 2 John 8
-future reward for perseverance Heb 10:35; James 1:12; Rev 2:10
-Moses looked ahead to future reward abandoning earthly treasures and taking on humiliation Heb 11:26
-inheritance as reward Col 3:24
-saints reward at end last day Rev 11:18
-eternal life as reward for obedience John 8:51
-parable implies reward at coming of master for faithful servant Matt 25:20-23; Luke 19:12-19
-for shepherding the flock 1 Pe 5:4
-reward for longing for Christ's appearing 2 Tim 4:8
-for overcoming-no second death Rev 2:11
-for overcoming-eat from tree of life Rev 2:7
-for overcoming-eat from hidden manna, recieve stone w/ new name on it Rev 2:17
-for overcoming-authority over nations Rev 2:26,27
-for overcoming-dressed in white, name not blotted out from the Book of Life, acknowledged by Christ Rev 3:4,5
-for overcoming-made a pillar in the temple, names of God, Jesus and city of God written on him Rev 3:12
-for overcoming-a seat gifted on Christ's throne. Rev 3:21
-Christ bring's his reward with him at his second coming Rev 22:12, Isa 62:11, Isa 40:10
-for good deeds done while in the body 2 Cor 5:10

Rewards on Earth:
-honor among men for giving to needy obviously Matt 6:2
-honor among mend for praying obviously Matt 6:5
-honor among men for fasting obviously Matt 6:16
-humility, fear of the Lord lead to reward apparently on earth Prov 22:4
-righteousness rewarded with good (on earth implied) Prov 13:21

Rewards for:
-persecution for Christ Matt 5:12
-giving to poor secretly Matt 6:2
-praying in private Matt 6:5
-fasting in secret Matt 6:18
-receiving a prophet or righteous man Matt 10:41
-giving a cup of water in Christ's name to a child/disciple Matt 10:42; Mk 9:41
-loving enemies Luke 6:35; Matt 5:46; Prov 25:22
-voluntarily preaching the gospel 1 Cor 9:17
-earnestly seeking God Heb 11:6
-good conduct Jer 32:19; 2 Cor 5:10
-keeping the Lord's ordinances Ps 19:9-11; Prov 13:13; John 8:51
-righteousness, faithfulness 1 Sam 26:23; Prov 11:18

I Am Righteous!

I am righteous! That is a profound statement. A statement that when taken out of context is really ridiculous (Rom 3:10)....especially if you know me. I just spent an hour in anger and sinful response to an occurance in my life, and I am struck with amazement at the thought of being considered righteous. I am so far from righteousness in my actions at times it sickens me. But there is good news for me and for you if you feel like I do (John 3:16). For Christ atoned for my sins on the cross 2000 years ago. First, Jesus came in the form of man and through active obedience to the law he fulfilled what you and I could never do...he lived a sinless life (Heb 4:15, 1Pe 2:22). He was and is righteous. Then he bore the sins of all who believe in him in his body on the cross (1 Pe 2:24). He paid the ransom for our sins (1 Tim 2:6; Rev 5:9). The entire cup of God's wrath against my sin was poured out on Christ. His wrath is spent for my past and my future sin. The sin I committed in anger today was upon Christ, and the sin I commit tomorrow was on Christ. So through his passive obedience unto death on the cross the penalty required for my sin was paid in full. I am redeemed. I am justified before God (Rom 5:1), Christ having served vicariously for me my sentence. But that's not all. Christ's righteousness for his obedient perfect life is then imputed or credited to me (2 Cor 5:21). Through this, I am reconciled in my relationship to God. He sees me as having the righeousness of Christ. All this through faith in God's person, his Word and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing grace.

Silence

Where do we have the best opportunity to meet God? A place of silence. Why do I not seek God there? I am lazy...I would rather sleep in. I am foolish....a poor steward of my time. Unbelief....I do not believe it matters. Distrust....I do not trust God to protect and provide for me without my help.

See http://theresurgence.com/silence

Fix Your Eyes On Jesus

I was in Hawaii over the last two weeks for a time of celebration with my wife of twenty years. In spite of the surroundings and company, I had a three day period of deep despair for reasons that weren't completely clear in my mind. I felt as if God had left me...as if he had hidden himself from me. I looked and called to him but just felt alone. I remember sitting on the couch on the verge of tears thinking-- where are you? What has caused this? My wife, being extremely wise, knows to just leave my alone to think if I am in a funk. And so, in spite of the beach and sunshine, I sat pondering things in sadness. Fortunately, God lifted me out of the miry clay, and I am experiencing him again. After the fact, I think a number of things may have been contributing to my situation. I had been over the two weeks prior to my episode wallowing in discontent over difficulties in personal family relationships. I have been praying for the situation for a long time without much change and I became frustrated. I also had spent too much time meditating on theological questions about God that are unanswerable (Arminianism, Calvinism) instead of spending time listening and worshiping. Finally, I was struggling with feelings of guilt and sadness with my failures as a christian.

So, what did I learn from this experience? The most important thing in my relationship with God is spending time with him listening and worshiping...not necessarily knowing more theology. Discontentment in life is discontentment with God and is a manifestation of me taking my eye off of him. Guilt is a manifestation of unbelief except in cases of ongoing purposeful sin. Believe what God says! He says he will never leave or forsake me. He says my sins are payed for, and I am righteous in his sight.

God's Love For Believers

OBSERVATIONS:
1. God desires to possess believers as his own. Ps 4:3: Mal 3:16-17;
2. God loves believers before we believe. Rom 5:8, 1 John 4:10
3. God is patient and merciful in his love: Isa 30:18; 2 Peter 3:9
3. God's love for believers is great in quantity. 1 John 3:1; Col 3:12; Eph 2:4-5; Romans 8:32; John 17:23; 2 Thes 2:16; John 16:27; Romans 1:7
4. God loves those who fear him, obey him, serve him., give cheerfully, do the right thing, try to do the right thing, and those who believe and love Jesus Christ. Ps 103:13; Mal 3:16-17; John 14:21-23; 2 Cor 9:7; John 16:27
5. God disciplines the ones he loves. Heb 12:6; Isa 38:17
6. God loves us as his children. 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:32
7. He promises to graciously give us all things in him. Rom 8:32, John 15:7; Matt 7:1
8. God"s love for believers will never fail. Romans 8;38-39

God's Love For All

OBSERVATIONS:
1. God invites the entire world to turn and be saved. Isa 45:22; 55:1
2. God invites sinners to turn and be saved. Eze 18:23,32
3. Salvation will include all of the physical earth. Isa 49:6
4. God loves the whole world. John 3:16,17
5. God desires the whole world to be saved. Eze 18:32; 2 Pe 3:9; 1 Tim 2:4
6. God sent Jesus to be savior of the world. 1 John 4:14
7. God's salvation bringing grace appears to all. Titus 2:11
8. Scripture suggests Christ paid the potential ransom for all. Heb 2:9; 1 Tim 2:6; 1Tim 4:10; 2 Pe 2:1

I Will Lift My Eyes

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in


I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You


God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

Your kindness is what pulls me up
And your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You


‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together
God So hold me now

God, my God
Your beloved needs you now.

--Bebo Norman

The Study

I just read the short pamphlet My Heart, Christ's Home by Robert Munger http://www.hcm2.org/prose/home.htm. It's an interesting discussion of a man's life described as a house with different rooms representing various parts of his existence. Munger describes the process of Jesus slowly being let in to each section of the house to reorganize things as he would have them. For example, the study or library represents the thoughts of our minds and things we read, study and think about. The pictures on the walls of the library represent our thoughts. Christ, in Munger's pamphlet, says "it will be difficult to control" these images. But he says place a large picture of me (Jesus) centrally on the wall and this will help. The pamphlet goes through Jesus' reorganization of every room culminating in the owner signing over the deed of the house to him. An interesting description of the sanctification of a believer.

This description of the study or library really interested me. Jesus says in the pamphlet to replace the books on the shelves with the Bible and to meditate on the scriptures. In other words, study him. The images on the walls are to be dominated by a large, centrally located image of Christ, so our thoughts are constantly drawn back to him. I started to think about thinking. (Did I say that)? Obviously, thoughts pop into our minds uninvited at times. What initiates them? We can initiate thoughts voluntarily, but many come from out of no where. Then once a thought is in our minds, we can choose to dwell on it or willfully push it away (sometimes easier said than done). Scripture tells us to think about good things and to control our thoughts. The easiest of the two is the former.

Some observations on the mind from scripture:

Matt 22:37 --We are to love the Lord with all of our minds.
Romans 8:6 -- Setting are minds on the things of the Spirit brings life and peace.
Romans 12:2-- We are to consistently renew our minds with the help of the Spirit and his word.
Colossians 3:2 -- God calls us to set our minds on him. This is a planned action.
1 Peter 1:13 -- Our minds need to be ready for God's use and ready for temptation.
2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 11:3 -- Satan can blind the minds of unbelievers and can tempt believers' in their thoughts if God allows. (God is the ultimate gatekeeper for temptation 1 Cor 10:13.
Psalm 7:9 -- God tests our minds.

Behold The Living God

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Cor 3:18

To behold the Lord is to be changed. No one can sit at the feet of the Almighty and walk away as the same person. His majesty, love and goodness; his justice and perfection inspire terrifying respect and awe. To behold the Lord is to be changed. The longer we sit with him and marvel at his attributes the more we are shaped into his image. Not by our power, but by his. I want to spend time with God. As much time as possible. To see the hope, glorious inheritance and power provided to us in Christ (Eph 1:17-18). To see it with the eyes of my heart. O to find my satisfaction and joy only in him. I can see how the Psalmist rejoiced in God being his portion forever (Ps 73:26). Most times though God is just out of my grasp. I long to be with him but the time seems so fleeting that I am actually there. The other night in a study that I was involved in we talked about how we can better behold the living God. Some observations:

1. God will be found by those who seek him with all their hearts. Deut 4:29, Jer 29:13; James 4:8; 1Chron 28:9

2. God manifests himself to the obedient, those who know his commands and obey them. John 14:21, 23; Matt 5:8, Isa 59:2

3. We should ask God to commune with us because he says he will when asked. Rev 3:20, Ps 145:18

4. And this from a previous post related to John Owens Communion with a Triune God.....Two things are required of believers to commune completely with the Almighty. Communion consists of giving and receiving. First, we as believers must receive the Father's love. We receive it by believing his love for us is real, unchanging, eternal and significant. That he delights in us and that his love for us is not dependent on our living a sinless life. His love for us is dependent on who God is in his very nature. It is not dependent on who I am. (If his love was dependent on me and my actions, I could earn God's love and his glory would be diminished). To believe God's love is dependent on our actions is to diminish God's magnificent mercy and grace and is a manifestation of unbelief. We must receive God's love for us if we are to commune with him. Link. We can approach his thrown with confidence to receive mercy and grace (Heb 4:15).

5. All this—ALL THIS—emanates directly from the cross where Christ’s glorious, finished work of substitutionary atonement is all-sufficient for my needs as a sinner (1 Peter 3:18). Added by my brother BB.

To truly experience consciously the living God in reality; to know him personally and closely is my desire. O Lord help me to know you. Show me your glory. Send down your presence. I want to see your face.

The Covenant of Grace

Below is a transcript from a Spurgeon sermon where he describes this covenant and then wonders what it would have been like to be to hear this covenant being made.

“Now, in this covenant of grace, we must first of all observe the high contracting parties between whom it was made. The covenant of grace was made before the foundation of the world between God the Father, and God the Son; or to put it in a yet more scriptural light, it was made mutually between the three divine persons of the adorable Trinity. I cannot tell you it in the glorious celestial tongue in which it was written: I am fain to bring it down to the speech which suiteth to the ear of flesh, and to the heart of the mortal. Thus, I say, run the covenant, in ones like these:”

"I, the Most High Jehovah, do hereby give unto my only begotten and well-beloved Son, a people, countless beyond the number of stars, who shall be by him washed from sin, by him preserved, and kept, and led, and by him, at last, presented before my throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. I covenant by oath, and swear by myself, because I can swear by no greater, that these whom I now give to Christ shall be for ever the objects of my eternal love. Them I will forgive through the merit of the blood. To these will I give a perfect righteousness; these will I adopt and make my sons and daughters, and these shall reign with me through Christ eternally."

Thus run that glorious side of the covenant. The Holy Spirit also, as one of the high contracting parties on this side of the covenant, gave his declaration,

"I hereby covenant," saith he, "that all whom the Father giveth to the Son, I will in due time quicken. I will show them their need of redemption; I will cut off from them all groundless hope, and destroy their refuges of lies. I will bring them to the blood of sprinkling; I will give them faith whereby this blood shall be applied to them, I will work in them every grace; I will keep their faith alive; I will cleanse them and drive out all depravity from them, and they shall be presented at last spotless and faultless."

This was the one side of the covenant, which is at this very day being fulfilled and scrupulously kept. As for the other side of the covenant this was the part of it, engaged and covenanted by Christ. He thus declared, and covenanted with his Father:

"My Father, on my part I covenant that in the fullness of time I will become man. I will take upon myself the form and nature of the fallen race. I will live in their wretched world, and for my people I will keep the law perfectly. I will work out a spotless righteousness, which shall be acceptable to the demands of thy just and holy law. In due time I will bear the sins of all my people. Thou shalt exact their debts on me; the chastisement of their peace I will endure, and by my stripes they shall be healed. My Father, I covenant and promise that I will be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I will magnify thy law, and make it honourable. I will suffer all they ought to have suffered. I will endure the curse of thy law, and all the vials of thy wrath shall be emptied and spent upon my head. I will then rise again; I will ascend into heaven; I will intercede for them at thy right hand; and I will make myself responsible for every one of them, that not one of those whom thou hast given me shall ever be lost, but I will bring all my sheep of whom, by thy blood, thou hast constituted me the shepherd—I will bring every one safe to thee at last."

-Charles Spurgeon-

Job

There are difficult times these days in our world. Many people are losing jobs, and the financial markets have tanked. The stress was evident in my discipleship group this morning as many of the men's jobs are at risk. The fact that God has promised to work all for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes (Rom 8:28) was brought up. The next thought that came out was...."what if God wants to move me out of my comfortable house and into a lesser socioeconomic status?" Then do I still believe Romans 8:28? That is part of the question isn't it? Surrender. Do I surrender all to God? Am I willing to look to him for my provision AND accept that which he feels is best for me....even if it isn't what I want? It's easy to not have to deal with the question when things are going well. Although, we remain distant from the Almighty in that position. We grow close to him when we wrestle with our flesh and by the power of the Spirit give our wills over to him. O that wrestling can be hard. Job wrestled with it. He was a godly man who had everything in the temporal world going for him. Wealth, family, respect, health. God allowed it all to be taken away. Job wrestled with his flesh for most of the over 40 chapters in the book. Until he got a vision of God. He then surrendered to the will of his creator and sustainer. In that wrestling Job did not sin. The closing prayer of our group was that we, like Job, would be men who surrender to the will of God whatever happens. That we would trust and obey even in the hard times and seek his presence and favor in all things. That we would recognize the sovereignty, power, goodness and right of control of the King of kings and Lord or lords. O that I might have the faith to say as Job did:



Naked I came into the world and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised. (Job 1:21).

Amen

Thanks to my borther Dave H. for his insite.

Restlessness

Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.



-Augustine, Confessions

Rest

Plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in His immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.



C. H. Spurgeon

The Valley

I just returned from two weeks serving the poor half way around the world. Sounds impressive when I type that in. In reality, I benefited more than they did and my motives were at least partially selfish. I wanted to go to spend time with God. On these trips, I usually awake early and spend an hour or two praying, worshiping, meditating and journaling. It is quiet, and I feel very close to God. There is very little to distract me--no phone, internet, news or work (outside of mission activity). Also, there is great christian fellowship with others of the same mindset. This trip was no exception. I was "up on the mountain" with God, encouraged, strengthened and influenced by His presence. I came home physically tired but on fire for Christ. That was 5 days ago.

Since being home, I feel as if a bulldozer has been laid upon my shoulders, and I am laboring to carry it. Life stresses have pressed in and instead of "pressing on into the presence of God (Tozer)," I am juggling hundreds of worries and concerns that draw my mind back into the world. My daughter is having some difficult times, the economy is a mess, my limited retirement savings is disappearing, I am watching my bank account daily to see if I will have the funds to cover expenses. Pretty sinful in my discontent. I have been reading in Jeremiah and thinking....he probably didn't have a "retirement." When he was thrown down in a cistern, he probably had few funds in the "bank." People were constantly against him. Who sustained Jeremiah? The living God. Who is the provider of everything I have? God almighty. My spirit is wrestling with my flesh to let go of all in this world. Not to be irresponsible but to acknowledge God's sovereign power to provide, protect and control in my life. The general question that is recurrently launched into my head is "What if something bad happens?" Well, something bad probably will happen, but God is over and above whatever the problem. He will only allow that which glorifies him and benefits those "who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28)." But do I believe him? Do I trust him? Or will I take it all back so that I may have some semblance of conscious control in my life (the fallacy that that is)? "The blessed ones who possess the kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing." (Tozer, Pursuit of God). Lord may I love and worship only you. May I let go of myself and the gifts you have given and seek satisfaction, provision, joy and hope only in you.

Easily Pleased

We re half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he can not imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are too easily pleased.
-C. S. Lewis


“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. "

Isa 55:1-2


“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”

1 Cor 2:9

Hindrances

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1.

It struck me last night that this verse tells us to not only throw off sin but also to throw off everything that hinders us in our walk with God. Do I watch too much tv? Pitch it. Striving for success from a worldly standpoint? Put it in the round file. Staying up too late? Cut it out. Surfing the net news? Wasting time. There are so many things I do that are not necessarily sin but that hinder my walk with God. I should get rid of these things. Now, God also calls us to rest, rejoice, celebrate and "fill the earth and subdue it," so whether something is a hindrance or not can really sometimes only be determined through a conversation with God. But, this idea is something I need to keep in mind. Just like Paul says that the soldier for Christ "does not get involved in civilian affairs because he wants to please his commanding officer (God) (2 Tim 2:3-5)." Our lives should be all for God, not compartmentalized. Anything we are involved in that is not a benefit to the kingdom should be reassessed.

Quiet Time

Things that help me pray during morning quiet times:

1-Time. The more time I have to pray, the better the prayer time. I think this is because it is easier to listen rather than talk.
2-Quiet.
3-Coffee.
4-Praying scripture. This is new to me but has been a wonderful help. Verses from the Psalms are currently me diet. (Ps 119:36,37; Ps 119:18; Ps 86:11, Ps 90:14, Ps139:23, 24).
5-Journaling my prayer.
6-Meditating on scripture. Reading a chapter and praying when a verse convicts me to pray.
7-Sitting on the floor.
8-Listening to worship that is personal to me on my ipod.
9-Intercessory prayer last.

Testing.

Psalm 139:23, 24
Search me, and know my heart. Test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

A friend brought her 3 year old daughter in for me to look in her ear. She was complaining of pain, so my friend stopped in at lunch. I got out my otoscope, and we tried to get the little girl to let me take a look. Now having your inner ear looked at might hurt just slightly. But the exam is necessary to find out what is wrong and then administer appropriate treatment. Well, this three year old was having none of it. She squirmed and cried, not willing to let me stick the tip of the ear speculum into her ear's external canal. Obviously, she was afraid the exam would cause pain, and she didn't trust that I had her best interest at heart.

God examines us (1 Thessalonians 2:4,1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalm 17:3). Whether we want him to or not. Our comfort with that exam is dependent on our trust in him and our degree of faithfulness to his commands. God calls us also to examine ourselves (Galatians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Our comfort with this exam is based on our faithfullness to God and his commands and our beliefs about who God is and who he is not. We often neglect this examination, because we know we fail to meet God's standards AND are unwilling to change. But, as in Psalm 139:23,24 above, sanctification occurs if we are submitted to God, willing to change and be obedient to his direction. This maybe painful, but it brings glory to God and is ultimately to our benefit.

O that I would not squirm and fight the examination I need from my loving God; that I would not shy away from the treatment I need to mature in my walk with him.

God Is Enough

Last night I listened to the testimony of a friend who has been down a long road of difficulty in his life lately. The last year has been filled with introspection, and he told the story of contemplating his committment to God as if life was a poker game. He had been witholding some of his "chips," afraid to bet everything on the King. But, during this year, he consciously decided to place all the chips on the table and let go of everything this world has to offer. At first, things were rough. God brought adversity into my friends life....I cannot help but wonder if God was testing my brother. I know in my life, wrestling with myself and God's Spirit takes time and struggle. Just as Christ was "made perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10)," so also we must go through the fire to have the imperfections burned away (1 Peter 1:7). Without suffering, we hold some of our chips in reserve. God knows this. We figure it out only after the trial is over. What we find is that despite all, God is enough.

Annie's Song

John Denver wrote Annie's Song to his wife I believe. It's a beautiful song. I was thinking yesterday that it is a great song to be sung to God.

You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in springtime,
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert,
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses,
Come fill me again.

Come let me love you,
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter,
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you,
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you,
Come love me again.

Martha

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42.

Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to his words, soaking them in, drawn to God. She longed to spend time with her Lord at the expense of everything else. There was a bustle of activity around her as Martha worked at the things of life that needed to be done. Frustrated with the task at hand, she reached out to the Lord in an attempt to bring Mary back to the world, to help with the daily grind of things not necessarily bad. Jesus responded softly rebuking Martha with the above words pointing her to the one thing of importance--time with him. Let all things fall to the side in the sight of the great and glorious Jesus, King of kings and friend of sinners. Paul says we should blot out all else in serving our king (2 Timothy 2:3-5), but we also need to rest at his feet, reallizing his control over all things--his sovereignty over provision for our needs, our reputations, our concerns, our lives. O to rest at the feet of Jesus, secure in his love for us (Rom 8:35), to choOse, as Mary did, the better thing.

Broken Cisterns

Jeremiah 2:12-13
12 Be appalled at this, O heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

I was thinking today as I was praying: what are my "broken cisterns," the things I place before Almighty God. There are some embarassingly trivial things which I am striving to get rid of with the help and power of the Holy Spirit. But, I began to think of the world itself, our earthly life, as the main cistern to abandon (2 Cor 5:14,15). Have I forsaken the world and am I living my life for Christ (John 12:25, 1 John 2:15)? Do I wake up in the morning striving to serve Jesus or running ragged to "succeed" here on earth? Sadly, it is often the latter. Why am I holding on to the broken cistern of worldly life? Why? It is a manifestation of unbelief to hold onto this world. O Lord help me surrender all to you. Not just the easy stuff. Help me surrender my life. Help me in my unbelief.

Jesus Meek and Mild?

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 19:11-16

So, often Jesus is seen as only meek and mild. The name Lamb of God is his because of his sacrifce like a lamb for our sin, not because of his "softness." Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He offered himself for us and offers us salvation, but he never chases people who choose to reject him. He doesn't beg. He is a loving God, but also a great warrior who will one day bring justice to the earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords. May his name be praised and held in awe and may I be there at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Cheap Grace

If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." -C.H. SPURGEON

What Delights God...

Obedience--1 Samuel 15:22
Integrity--1 Chronicles 29:17
His Sons--Proverbs 3:12
Honesty--Proverbs 11:1
Blamlessness--Proverbs 11:20
Telling the truth--Proverbs 12:22
The prayer of the upright--Proverbs 15:8
Doing what is right and just--Proverbs 21:3
Kindness, justice and righteousness--Jeremiah 9:24
Mercy, acknowledgement of God--Hosea 6:6; Micah 7:18
Sacrificial monetary giving--Philippians 4:18
Taking care of one's family--1 Timothy 5:4
An undivided heart--2 Timothy 2:4
Faith--Hebrews 11:6
Doing good, sharing with others--Hebrews 13:16
Suffering for doing good--1 Peter 2:20
God does not delight in burnt offerings--Psalm 51:16
Not in the physical strength of a man--Psalm 147:10
Not in those controlled by the sinful nature--Romans 8:8
Not in those who pass judgement on one another--Romans 14:13-18

Purposeful Sin

When we become believers in Jesus Christ, we are justified by the work of God in the death and resurrection of Christ. Our sins are paid for and the righteous sinless life Christ lived is credited to us. We are sanctified by the Spirit of Christ during our remaining life on earth. This is progressive but not completed until we are with God (Phil 1:6). Because of the flesh, it is impossible to completely cease from our sinning (Rom 3:23, 1 John 1:8,9). However, we are called to be holy, as God is holy (Lev 11:44). Thus sanctification, being conformed to the image of Christ, is empowered by God but requires our cooperation.

Sin in our lives can be of two forms(Num 15:22-31): what I would call accidental sin and what I would call purposeful sin. Accidental sin would be sin done in ignorance (ie not knowing that an action is a violation against God) or sin done without forethought (eg hitting one's thumb with a hammer and uttering an expletive). Purposeful sin would be any sin done with forethought either in passive defiance (an example would be knowing God wants me to do something yet refusing to do it) or open or active defiance to God's will. Our inability to stop sinning because of the flesh pertains to accidental sin and continued purposeful sin in our lives is a manifestation of either blatant disobedience, ignorance or unbelief.

God cannot tolerate sin and hates evil. I have been convicted of late that I have rationalized my sin by categorizing it as less severe and therefore not important and allowable. Things like speeding, having an extra glass of wine, and giving too much importance to exercise and sleep have persisted in my life despite my knowledge of God's hatred for sin. What does this mean? If Christ is my Lord, I should be submitting to him in all things. I should not be persisting in purposeful sin. Sure, I will mess up at times, accidently, but Jesus wants all of me. Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ requires a ruthless pursuit of holiness. We must be killing sin, or it will be killing us (John Owen, Mathew Henry. Rom 8:13). Tolerating purposeful sin in my life as at best a grievous insult to God and at worst a manifestation of unbelief. As James said, even the demons believe, but they don't acknowledge and submit to God as Lord (James 2:19).

The ultimate question posed by Jerry Bridges in The Pursuit of Holiness:

Will you decide to obery God in all areas of life, however insignificant the issue may be?



See also this post http://sm--blog.blogspot.com/2008/07/saving-faith.html

A Prayer

I have been praying through a "prayer schedule" I got from a friend. It has been a great blessing to me, and I think God is beginning to change me in the ways requested. He has a lot of work to do, but I am excited and enthusiastic regarding God and his love for me.

Basically, I have been praying daily the following four verses (IOUS):

Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from worthless things and give me life in your ways. Ps. 119:36,37

Open my eyes that I may behold the wondrous things in your law. Ps. 119:18

Teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. Ps. 90:14

Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days. Ps. 86:11

Encouragement

Psalm 48:14:

For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die.

Psalm 46:1-3:

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters

Psalm 43:5:

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

Psalm 47:1-2:

Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.

Time With God

It's easy for me to get angry at people for their actions. It's not something I am proud to admit. Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit of God and lacking patience says something about me. I have been tired and frustrated with work of late, feeling overwhelmed. Discontentment has been creeping into my attitude and coloring my life and relationships. The seeds of my perspective were sown more than a month ago when I started spending a lot less time with God. Slowly, since then, I have drifted more and more into the world and more and more into dissatisfaction. Funny how that happens. Like it says in Ecclesiastes, life (without God) is meaningless. But, in Christ, I have so much to be grateful for. The last two weeks I have been spending a lot more time in the morning and at night with God. And, I have found the joy, peace and satisfaction in him that can be found no where else. My impatience is beginning to wilt. My worldliness is waning. O Lord, that I may look to you all of my days for my satisfaction. May I turn my eyes away from worthless things. Give me an undivided heart for you that I may reverence your name in all things. Let me guard my time with you ruthlessly that I may not drift away.