King Asa

I awoke this morning thinking of Judah's King Asa. Not sure why. I hadn't read about him recently. But my thoughts went to Asa's actions at the end of his rule. Asa had been a godly king seeking in many ways to glorify God early in his life. However, later on Asa when challenged militarily by Israel turned to Syria to rescue him instead of his Father in heaven. (This was in stark contrast to his actions earlier in life when he turned to God when militarily threatened resulting in God's deliverance). Asa looked to himself and worldly powers to help him rather than God. I went to work and at noon lunch turned on the radio to hear David Jeremiah speaking about Asa's sin...the exact text I inexplicably awoke thinking about (2 Chronicles 16:1-9)! What is fascinating to me is how this pertains to my life. I have been under incredible stress for a number of reasons not the least of which is a water damaged basement and an insurance company that refuses to cover the damage. (In my opinion, the insurance company is being negligent but the story is too long to go into). I spent the last 40 hours chasing down insurance people, protesting, arguing my case and considering legal action. This was all done without any significant discussion with God (a few prayers "tossed up" here and there). Then this Asa things pops up...."out of the blue.' The bottom line in all this is that I need to look to God for my deliverance. He is my provider and protector. I need to ask him for help and depend on him for any deliverance I receive. Obviously, God is not obligated to get my basement taken care of at present. But if i really believe in an all powerful God who loves me, why am I stressed to the hilt seeking my deliverance elsewhere? I repent of my unbelief great God. I pray you would "save" me in this situation, but if not, I will worship you forever no matter what is your decision. I will rely on you in this to provide and protect. Your will be done. Amen

Prayer

Lord,
You are magnificent, holy, pure, powerful, beautiful, terrifying, wrathful, righteous, just, merciful, full of loving kindness, eternal, all knowing. You are the creator and sustainer of all things. Sovereign Lord of all; in control of all; above all. Never surprised. Never thwarted. Never worried. Never unsure. Never unfaithful. Never dishonest. Never tired. Never frustrated. You are my God, my savior, my creator, my sustainer, my provider, my protector, my benefactor, my Lord, my friend and my brother. O Lord I praise and worship you!
Amen

God's Redeeming Love

It is a marvelous, wonderful thing to contemplate, that God has come down in the flesh in order to rescue and redeem us, and opens his heart here to show us his wonderful concern for us and his amazing love with respect to us.
--Martyn-Lloyd Jones

Perfection

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

This verse is speaking of the offering Christ offered on the cross. By this sacrifice Jesus perfected believers for all time in God's sight, righteous and justified. Finished. Yet while the "perfection" is completed, the sanctification process is ongoing and in process. So we think of ourselves as righteous, justified, completely forgiven and loved by God as adopted sons and daughters. We participate in the sanctification process not to earn a better place with God, but because of the good place with God we have already been given.

The Glory And Majesty Of God

And above the expanse over their heads there was tthe likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face.
Eze 1:26–28 ESV

Observations:
1. The throne projects God's sovereign rule over all things and all people. This vision is given to Ezekiel in Babylon and reveals God's authority and power everywhere on earth (and in the heavens), not just in Israel.
2. One wonders if the likeness of a human appearance suggests a pre-incarnate "appearance" of Christ. As Exodus 33:20 suggests God cannot be seen and live, Christ may be the form of God viewable in this case as he is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15) and the radiance of God's glory (Heb 1:3) and in him the fullness of the deity dwells in bodily form (Col 2:9).
3. The rainbow is seen in Revelation chapter 4 as well. Is this a reminder of the promises and faithfulness of God?
4. Most importantly this vision reveals that God is completely "Other", set apart, powerful. He is to be worshiped and held in awe. He is to be feared and loved. He is to be honored above all things because he is uncreated and above all things.

Abide With Christ

To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him–to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend. To have His words abiding in us, is to keep His sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and to make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior.

~ J.C. Ryle

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John, volume 2, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1987], 116, 117. {John 15:7-11}

Forsaken?

David cried out in his messianic Psalm, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). Christ cried the same thing from the cross (Mark 15:34). Yet, God promises to "never leave or forsake" us (Hebrews 13:5). How should we consider these verses? The first situation is a perceived but false impression. The Father had hidden his face from David and Christ in his humanity but not forsaken them. Hebrews 13:5 IS REALITY as it is God's promise to us...and his promises never fail. God may sometimes hide his face from us. We may be dry and distant and in less intimate communion for a time, but he never leaves or forsakes us.

Prayers Unheard

God does not listen to the prayers of the purposely, persistently sinful.

Psalm 66:18
Isaiah 1:15
Isaiah 59:2
Jeremiah 14:10-12
Lamentations 3:42-44
Micah 3:4

Empowerment

Work on, dear friend, and wait on, for it is no business of yours to correct your Maker’s arrangements. He who placed you where you now are, knew what he was at. Look at your infirmities with another eye. No longer allow them to distress you; but the rather glory in them because they afford room and space for the divine power to rest in you and work by you. Listen no more to the wailings of your trembling flesh, which cries, “Alas, I am weak,” but hear the voice of him who saith “I am God Almighty.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Hope Is Coming For Me

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
Then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become


Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming 


C.S. Lewis Song
Brook Fraser

Memorize This!

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song... Is. 12:2

Imagine

Imagine you are standing in a huge convention hall filled with people. The atmosphere is one of utter joy with people high fiving, whistling, shouting out loud, and hugging each other. The room is lined with occasional doors for entry. As you look around the hall you see friends and family who return your gaze and laugh with tears in their eyes as they see you. But also there are people from every tribe and nation. All laughing and rejoicing. Suddenly, you notice your deceased friend and run and hug him, shouting for joy. A song of worship begins to rise from the front of the hall as the Lamb stands in now approachable light. Worship flows from all in attendence, hands raised, tears flowing down cheeks. The volume of voices rises to shake the auditorium as the unbridled worship escalates. Out of the corner of your eye some movement grabs your attention. As you turn to look, a door attendent slowly closes the door to the hallway. Peering in through the closing entryway is the face of your friend, in a grimace of fear and sadness, disappearing as a ship sinking at sea; the door closed and locked....never more to be opened.

Longing

‎"Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country,or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. Iam speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I thinkeveryone knows what I mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
-CS Lewis

Suffering

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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

What does it mean to suffer with Christ? Romans chapter 8 alludes to three things.

1. One form of suffering is in killing sin in our bodies. We are exhorted to set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5,6). We are not called to live according to the flesh but to put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:12,13). These activities are Spirit empowered and enabled but require action and struggle on our part.

2. A second form of suffering is found in enduring difficult circumstances in a faithful and God honoring manner (Romans 8:18). This is done with the help of looking to the hope of future glory (vs. 18; 2 Corinthians 4:17,17). As Christ, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, we also look to the joy set before us in order to endure (Hebrews 12:2). These circumstances could be anything from difficult family situations to martyrdom for our faith.

3. Third, we suffer with creation as it groans waiting to be redeemed (Romans 8:19-23). Creation's futility initiated by the sin of man including the breakdown of our bodies and minds, disease and natural disasters.

We are children of God, heirs of God and co heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him as above. The reward far, far outweighs the burden.

Always Remember....

I am totally dependent on the finished work of Christ alone—not on my performance—as the basis for all my blessings, especially the blessing of being accepted by God as a beloved adopted son.
                                                                --Jerry Bridges

Hell

If there be really a hell of such dreadful and never-ending torments, as is generally supposed, of which multitudes are in great danger—and into which the greater part of men in Christian countries do actually from generation to generation fall, for want of a sense of its terribleness, and so for want of taking due care to avoid it—then why is it not proper for those who have the care of souls to take great pains to make men sensible of it? Why should they not be told as much of the truth as can be?

Jonathan Edwards, The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God

Loving Jesus

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deut. 6:5

Do I love Jesus more than sleep?
Do I spend time with him each morning?
Do I love Jesus more than TV?
Do I spend time with him at night?
Do I love Jesus more than money?
Do I give generously?
Do I love Jesus more than control?
Have I surrendered the outcome of
my life to him?
Do I love Jesus more than my reputation?
Do I sin in protecting myself?
Do I love Jesus more than my plans?
Do I get angry when he changes them?

Grocery Store Worship

It is incomprehensible that people, including myself, can walk through the produce section of the local grocery store and not consider the existence, goodness and magnificence of God. I was there today again. Frequently, I run through that area grabbing apples, lettuce and tomatoes...hurrying on to the next section, hoping to get home as soon as possible. But occasionally, I stand in amazement looking at what God has raised from dirt, water and sun. All for us to enjoy and for our nourishment. Consider the orange. From a seed a tree grows. The tree uses the soil to create a brilliant orange ball protected by a thick skin. Inside is a fantastic fruit good for eating or for drinking, it's extracted juice. It is sweet and delicious, hanging ready from a branch for one to pick. Out of nothing. By coincidence....by a conglomeration of random occurrences? I think not. Almighty God has made these things! In his power, glory and goodness they are piled in aisles at the local ACME for us. Let us gaze in wonder and consider the greatness and goodness of God...even at the local market.

The Vase

Imagine you are an artist, one who works with pottery and glass. As you lay in bed, you dream of a vase, a beautiful vase with deep blue floral designs on the sides, an unusually shaped mouth and a textured lower third. The design excites you. It is unique and truly beautiful to you. So, you begin to plan to create this vase. You choose the appropriate clay and paint and organize the tools necessary for it's sculpting. Then you begin to lovingly mold and shape the formless lump into that about which you have dreamed. You put the vase in the kiln to, in the heat, firm up your work so it is ready for use and display. In completion, it is exactly as you had planned. Striking, beautiful and pleasing to you. Because you dreamed of this vase's creation and then gave it life, it is dear to you, something at which you enjoy gazing and that you long to protect and to keep near by. This is a good word picture of how God feels about those he has saved. For those in Christ, God (the artist) thinks of you as this vase - planned, beautiful, pleasing, wanted and loved.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved --and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7

The Christian Commitment

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, by guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go 'til He comes, give 'til I drop, preach 'til all know, and work 'til he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have not problem recognizing me -- my banner will be clear!

                                                                                              -- Bob Moorhead --

Lord, let it be true of me.

The Vase

Imagine you are an artist, one who works with pottery and glass. As you lay in bed, you dream of a vase, a beautiful vase with deep blue floral designs on the sides, an unusually shaped mouth and a textured lower third. The design excites you. It is unique and truly beautiful to you. So, you begin to plan to create this vase. You choose the appropriate clay and paint and organize the tools necessary for it's sculpting. Then you begin to lovingly mold and shape the formless lump into that about which you have dreamed. You put the vase in the kiln to, in the heat, firm up your work so it is ready for use and display. In completion, it is exactly as you had planned. Striking, beautiful and pleasing to you. Because you dreamed of this vase's creation and then gave it life, it is dear to you, something at which you enjoy gazing and that you long to protect and to keep near by. This is a good word picture of how God feels about those he has saved. For those in Christ, God (the artist) thinks of you as this vase - planned, beautiful, pleasing, wanted and loved.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved --and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7

The Power Of God

I meditated on the power of God this morning in prayer. He is before all things, all being created by him. The laws of creation (gravity, thermodynamics, etc, etc) are all subject to him. He created them. He sustains them, and he can at any time suspend them. Miracles mainly are just a temporary suspension of the laws of God currently in force. They are surprising because the laws that govern our lives are so ingrained in us, we take them for granted. But imagine the miracle of gravity itself being created. God has made everything out of nothing, and everything is subject to him. There is nothing outside his control. There is nothing that thwarts his plans. He is an unmovable force achieving his purposes without concern (worry) for anything or anyone that might oppose him. Not only that but his power is sufficient to handle all opposing forces in combination. There is no comparison to make between the power of God and any created thing. It is all nothing when weighed in the balance in relation to him.

Sadness

It has been a troubling twenty four hours for me. Difficult times in a relationship with one I love have led me to great sorrow. That nagging ache sits in my heart as I long for God to make things right. I cannot. I have too little power, and I am too sinful and fallen to succeed. Yet I long so for a "righteous community" with my loved one. I have prayed for God's intervention vigorously, but not vigorously enough. It has been a long time waiting...waiting on God who can intervene in his lovingkindness. Lord, do not leave it this way. Not because of any righteousness on my part but because of your great mercy Save.

Silence

The discipline of silence is the price we must pay to get to know God." AW Tozer

Sin

Whoever is truly humbled — will not be easily angry, nor harsh or critical of others. He will be compassionate and tender to the infirmities of his fellow-sinners, knowing that if there is a difference — it is grace alone which has made it! He knows that he has the seeds of every evil in his own heart. And under all trials and afflictions — he will look to the hand of the Lord, and lay his mouth in the dust, acknowledging that he suffers much less than his iniquities have deserved.

John Newton, from his letters, Indwelling Sin And The Believer

The World

As the world is weary of me so am I of it. John Knox

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

If I Could Counsel Myself...

If looking back on life I could give counsel to myself regarding a walk with Jesus, some things I would recomend:

• read atleast one chapter in the Bible everyday
• focus on worship, listening, and meditating on scripture in prayer
• spend alone time with God in prayer everyday
• in addition to reading the Bible each day, get involved in a same sex small group Bible study that meets regularly and remain involved
• be involved in Christian community year round
• preach the gospel to self daily
• be vulnerable with others and merciful to others
• be charitable regarding nonessential theological issues
• get to know pastor and treat him like a normal human being
• memorize as much scripture as possible
• do not get into debt as it could influence your ministry direction in the future
• remember God is protector of reputation, provider and giver of every good gift

The Wilderness

"You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness." Robert M McCheyne

Right now I am having a wilderness moment. I feel I have failed in many ways as a father, in my profession and in being a light for Christ. My band of brothers in Christ seem distant and disinterested in striving for the kingdom in the way that seems right to me. So I feel rejected in a way. Yet in another group of brothers and sisters, I have failed to be consistent in doing community. I am on the verge of a funk as I sit on my couch pondering things. Sad. But from the wilderness I have always.....always been rescued by my beloved savior Jesus Christ. So here I will sit and wait on him.

Causes Of Spiritual Declension

• Formality in holy duties, under the constant outward performance of them.
• Vehement engagements in the affairs of life.
• An over valuation of sinful enjoyments.
• Growth on carnal wisdom.
• Neglect of daily mortification of such sins as men are naturally disposed to, with a secret influence from the prevalent temptation of the days in which we live.

--John Owen, The Glory Of Christ

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and love will follow me

    all the days of my life

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.  Psalm 23:6

Because of who the Lord is....goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Because God is

our father, we will dwell with him forever. David predicts the eternal life of the believer with the Almighty. 

What a great promise of God's goodness to us now and forevermore.

Wickedness

Failure is better than wickedness. The Lord hates evildoers and cannot dwell with evil (Psalm 5:4,5). Thank God for his grace that makes me righteous in his sight by Christ's work.

Love The Lord With All Your Strength

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all of your soul and with all of your strength. The greatest commandment according to Jesus. As I was lying in bed this morning, hitting my snooze button, I couldn't help be convicted that I was not loving God with all my strength. Am I using my strength to love God? Do I spend my self for him? Do I care enough about him to obey all of his commands? Is my energy focused on him? Is my life about service to him? This is very convicting to me. It got me out of bed this morning. Am I living for God or an extra half hour of sleep and a couple hours of watching tv at night?

Prayer

"No man is greater than his prayer life." Leonard Ravenhill

Believers in Jesus Christ have direct access to God in prayer at any time of day or night. God has limitless resources and has sovereign control over all things. The sun only rises at the order of the Almighty. In the word, the Lord says he hears our prayers, will grant us what we ask in his name for the right reasons and that we should pray without ceasing and about everything. If I want to be a man that is God obeying and honoring, can I really afford to pray for fifteen minutes a day?

Kindness

We are particularly required to be kind to the unthankful and to the evil; and therein to follow the example of our heavenly Father, who causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust. We are obliged, not only to be kind to them that are so to us, but to them that hate, and that despitefully use us. Jonathon Edwards ^1

I have failed miserably.

1 Jonathon Edwards, Works, vol. 2 (reprint, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974), 171.

An Overflowing Cup

 You prepare a table before me 
   in the presence of my enemies. 
You anoint my head with oil; 
   my cup overflows.  Psalm 23:5


Imagine the Lord of the universe preparing a table for you in the presence of your enemies. The loving kindness of God to us is really incomprehensible. What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him (Psalm 8:4)? For those who are purchased by the blessed blood of Christ, there is no end to the good things God has in store for us (1 Corinthians 2:9;  Matthew 7:11b; 1 Peter 1:4). We have been given even more than we need. Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). Our cups indeed overflow. 

Poor In Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit...." Matthew 5:3

It means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. It is nothing, then, that we can produce; it is nothing we can do in ourselves. It is just this tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God. That is to be poor in spirit.

Martyn Lloyd Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

The Shadow of Death

 Even though I walk 
       through the valley of the shadow of death, 
       I will fear no evil, 
       for you are with me; 
       your rod and your staff, 
       they comfort me. Psalm 23:4


We all will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The place where death hovers over us, looming large and dark, quietly over our shoulders. I have been there. Nothing makes one consider life's ultimate import more than facing it's loss. Death comes to everyone. Death is the consequence for our sin (Genesis 3:3). It wasn't always set up to be that way. God will make all things new for those who love him (Revelation 21:5). But even so we as believers will all walk through the valley of the shadow of death (unless Christ comes early in our lives).  God has allowed physical death for a time for his children, but not forever.  He promises to never leave or forsake us, so evil can do nothing (Hebrews 13:5). Neither evil from demonic forces, nor evil from sinful man, nor evil from flawed creation can touch us as we walk with our Lord unless he allows it . And he promises to only allow it if it is in our best interest (Romans 8:28). His rod is present to dispense wrath towards the forces which would destroy us. His staff is there to shepherd us through difficult times and to comfort us with a reassurance that he is present and strong. What a wonderful thing to know that God loves me and that I am his son! Let me never forget all his benefits (Psalm 103:2).

Predestination Is Compatible With The Free Will Of Man

If God knows what I will choose in the future and allows me to make that choice, then my choice is free and it is predestined by God (because he does not intervene to change the outcome of that choice). This is true in regards to salvation. God at any point can intervene and cause his will to be done in regards to salvation over riding the free will of man. For example, Paul had revelation from God that was over powering, indisputable and salvation producing. This is not the norm but the exception. God's will is always done. God therefore can accomplish his purposes completely and sovereignly, controlling all things, without man doing anything accept believing based on his calling and revelation. As faith is not a work, salvation is completely accomplished by God by the work of Jesus Christ and the drawing of God the Father. In this way, God is sovereign and all powerful, controlling all things, and man is free to believe or refuse to believe (in most cases eg Paul's example above).

Diamond In The Rough

I have been thinking about diamonds today, specifically the fact that diamonds are mined out of the dust of the earth in unchiseled form. Their beauty evident but raw and only partially revealed. The jeweler takes the unfinished stone and cuts it into a symmetric glistening gem with great value. How similar to diamonds we are as God's children. We are buried and blinded from light released by God who comes searching for us. We are valuable to him (why I don't know). He begins to chip and cut at our rough form to shape the beauty underneath. He often uses the community of believers as his instruments in this chiseling, or the occurences of life. Either way he refines and polishes us until we eventually become the creation he desires. How often we try to clean ourselves up in our pride while we are in our uncut state, wanting to be the "controllers" of what we become. We believe our worth is dependent on our own endeavers at polishing the dirt away, and we cringe and writhe when God or others, as instruments in his hand, work at our flaws...not realizing that we cannot become diamonds except in the deliberate hands of the Almighty.

A Meditation

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Ps. 130:3,4

T: No one can stand before God based on their own righteousness (lack of sin). It is by God's mercy we are forgiven. Mercy is NOT giving to us what we deserve (punishment). We fear God because we recognize that it is only by his will that we are saved. We therefore honor, worship and submit to him. (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8).

A: Lord I adore you for your mercy to me. My sin is an unliftable weight, crushing me to the ground. Yet you have considered me in your great love and kindness and placed the load on Jesus. Bearing the wrath for my sin. I am forgiven. I worship you for your love, for your kindness to me, for enduring the torture and punishment I deserve. Praise be to your glorious name. (Romans 3:25).

C: Lord you know my sin. It has driven me to my bed in despair this week. I cannot even pray without sinning. I confess I am a miserable wretch, incapable of any good except by the working of the Spirit in my life. I repent. Forgive me.

T: Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me! Thank you for bearing my sin and crediting to me your righteousness! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

S: Lord, restore unto me the joy of my salvation. Let me please, honor and serve you well today by your power. (Psalm 51:12).

Amen.

Jesus Wept

Jesus wept. John 11:35

Lazarus, a friend of Jesus and brother to Mary and Martha, had died. Jesus came after he had been dead for four days and raised him back to life. But before this, Jesus wept. The creator and sustainer of the universe wept. God Almighty wept. Two questions come to me as I consider this fact. Why? And, what does this mean? First of all, Jesus would not have been weeping simply due to Lazarus death. He knew he could and planned to raise him back to life. So, I can see two possibilities for the "why" of Christ's sorrow. First, Jesus could have been saddened by the effect of sin on mankind and creation. The groaning of creation is never seen more clearly than when someone dies. It was not meant to be. Sin, sickness and death could have been the impetus for Jesus sadness. The second possibility, and the most likely option in my opinion, is that Jesus was responding to the sorrow of those he loved, especially Mary and Martha. Two verses preceding 11:35 the text says:  "When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled."  Jesus was moved to weeping after seeing Mary weeping.

What does this mean?
1) God experiences sorrow.
2) God loves those who are his so much that he is "deeply moved" and "greatly troubled" when we suffer.
3) Suffering is necessary for God's purposes for a time, even though God dislikes it. (John 16:33)

Satan And The Mind

How much control if any does Satan have over a believer's thoughts? Does he have any influence at all?
How does Satan tempt the Christian? Certainly, we are tempted by our own flesh and our own sinful desires. But Satan can have an influence. How does this happen? The Bible says that Satan has the ability to blind the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).  It also speaks of unbelievers following Satan (Ephesians 2:2) via some influence presumably to the person's intellect. Does he have the same access to believers? If he is able to tempt it must be through some mental influence within the subject being tempted. What other mechanism is there to our temptation from outside ourselves? So it seems Satan can bring thoughts into our minds from outside of ourselves that are unwanted or uninvited. All of us have experienced ideas and images popping into our heads unwanted. Not that these all are from the "prince of the power of the air." Our flesh also I believe can bring this about. So the scripture says we are to "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)." Why? Because thoughts which arise, either spontaneously or through Satan's influence, can be disobedient to Christ. We do not have control over every thought that pops into our heads, but we have control over what we dwell on mentally. And temptation is not sin....although Satan would like us at times to believe otherwise.

Some thoughts I found from other believers on the subject:

These thoughts, if you hate them, are none of yours, but are injections of the Devil, for which he is responsible, and not you. If you strive against them, they are no more yours than are the cursings and falsehoods of rioters in the street.  C. H. Spurgeon

Amongst all the devices that Satan makes use of, there is none by which he grieves the children of God worse, than his troubling you with blasphemous, profane, unbelieving thoughts; and sometimes to such a degree, that they are as tormenting as it is to be physically tortured. G. Whitefield

Let me just see if I can clarify it now. We believe that Satan is not omniscient. He does not know everything. I believe he is subject to the revelation of God, and he is subject to objective observation within whatever objective means within his sphere. He can perceive what is going on, but I don't think there is anything in the Bible to indicate he is omniscient. He is infinitely intelligent, tremendously intelligent. But, intelligence is a capacity that is fed by revealed information. Do you know what I mean by that? God is omniscient in the sense that He intrinsically knows everything, and it does not have to be any information. But, Satan knows what he knows because God has revealed that to him within the framework of his intelligence. So, I don't think there is anything to indicate that Satan can read your mind. But, Satan can influence your mind. But, I think, primarily, it is by external things that may trigger thought patterns. But, it is also true that demons can come in and Satan can come in. And if they can come into a believer, there is a sense in which they must be able directly to affect the thinking process somehow, but that is for one who is given over to Satan to some extent.  John MacArthur

From The Gospel Coaltion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqzj_TKosG8

Fearless

The Lord challenged us to suffer persecutions and to confess him. He wants those who belong to him to be brave and fearless. He himself shows how weakness of the flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit. This is the testimony of the apostles and in particular of the representative, administrating Spirit. A Christian is fearless.
--Tertullian

The Mind

Our wills control our minds. At times, thoughts pop into our heads seemingly from out of nowhere and from outside of our control. Yet what we mentally dwell on requires personal volitional consent. In other words, we have the ability to focus our minds on what we will.  So, where do our thoughts come from? Sometimes they are developed purposely at the direction of our will and sometimes they originate without invitation placed by our fleshly state or God himself or even Satan. We therefore do not have power to prevent thoughts from initiating within our minds, but we do have the power (with the help of the Spirit} to control whether those thoughts persist. God tells us to "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to "set our minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2). John Owen (The Glory of Christ) says that we become transformed into what we think about and so, when we think continually about the things of the world, we become transformed into the image of the world "becoming earthly, carnal and vain"  (Pg. 77, 2008 edition). Contrast this with the idea of beholding the glory of the Lord and "being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthian 3:18). It appears we are transformed into the image of that upon which we meditate. Thoughts can be divided into three major categories: first, thoughts about God and his glory and his kingdom; second, thoughts that are worldly but not overtly sinful, such as regarding plans for the next day of work; and third, sinful thoughts, such as lustful contemplations, covetous ideas etc. The first category is obviously good and beneficial, and the last is obviously wrong.  The second category however is the most convicting to think about for me. The reason is that the majority of my time is spent in thinking about the things of this world that are not necessarily sinful, but that are not prosperous from a spiritual standpoint. Some examples of this would be surfing the internet news for an hour or watching American Idol.  These mental activities can draw us toward a worldly state and away from God insidiously, without us even recognizing it. We must remember the scripture says "to throw off all that hinders AND the sin that so easily entangles..." (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).  All that hinders is anything that draws us to the world and away from God.  So let us practice the presence of God, thinking about him, speaking with him all the day long. Let our idle time be set on him mentally to his glory.

Knowledge Without Obedience

[W]e can often forget that a knowledge of Scripture alone is not sufficient. Of course, James won’t let us forget that we must “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). This verse tells us that apart from obedience, knowledge can be deceptive. This puts an interesting twist on some of the favorite activities of good evangelical pastors: attending ministerial conferences, listening to sermons, and reading doctrinally sound books. All such activities afford us the opportunity for serious progress in personal godliness and ministry effectiveness. Yet each one can also be an instrument of progressive self-deception. 

. . . please understand: according to James, if you consume truth without applying truth, you risk the false and dangerous impression that spiritual growth was achieved without application. But it never is—never. We must be ever wary of the self-deception of which James speaks. Let’s recognize limitations of sound doctrine, and make the practice of truth a daily priority. Never stop watching your life.

—C. J. Mahaney, Preaching the Cross (Crossway, 2007), 120–121.

Two things strike me when considering the above. First, the importance of self examination in relationship to one's walk and second, the importance of community in living out an obedient life. We should regularly (daily?) examine ourselves to see if we are acting in disobedience to Almighty God. One method, which I have not done consistently as of yet, is to nightly review the day for disobedient acts or failures of omission with repentance and resolve to change. Community is necessary for accountability, love and spiritual fullness of growth. We cannot hold ourselves to the highest standard that God demands locked in our rooms reading books. The application of truth can only occur in a real sense in the arena of daily life surrounded by those God puts into our circle of influence.

A Prayer

Lord, you are wonderful.
Forgive me for my sinfulness.
You are almighty. All powerful. Creator and sustainer of heaven and earth.
Who am I that you consider me?
You are majestic, dazzling, beautiful and terrifying. High and lifted up. Enthroned above all you have created.
Yet your love for me is steadfast.
You are pure. White hot sinlessness. Without the smallest hint of imperfection.
You have made a way for my incredible mess to be yours.
Your are eternal and transcendent of time and space.
I am a dot on an endless beach of time and people.
Yet you know me by name. You look at my heart and see my thoughts.
O how great is your mind O God, infinite in it's capabilities.
And sometimes, in my folly, I presume that I know something about you.
Even as I seek you I sin.
How can you O great God put up with me?
It is only by the righteousness you have given me in Christ, by his blood.
Jesus is my Lord, savior, God, brother, hope and salvation.
I have done nothing.
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever.
I am loved because of who God is and not because of who I am.
Lord you are my help and my shield, my strength and my hope.
What can I possibly desire that is more worthy that you?
You are the pearl of greatest price. You are priceless. All the riches, glory and pleasure in the world are dung in comparison to you.
Why? Why do I seek dung?
Forgive me O Lord.
To be with you is to experience the eternal shalom; the way "it" should be.
To be without you is to experience anti-shalom. Cursed ground and life with death.
O Lord let me be with you. Show me your glory. I can do nothing. I am nothing.
You are everything!
I love you O Lord.
Amen.

Piper On The Centrality Of Scripture

We are a people of the Book. We know God through the Book. We meet Christ in the Book. We see the cross in the Book. Our faith and love are kindled by the glorious truths of the Book. We have tasted the divine majesty of the Word and are persuaded that the Book is God's inspired and infallible written revelation. Therefore, what the Book teaches matters…

There is no salvation from sin and guilt and condemnation and hell apart from faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:13-17; 1 John 5:12). And there is no other authority besides the Scriptures to show you who Christ is and to give you his Word. So don't leave the Bible, children. Don't leave the Bible, young people. Don't neglect the Bible, dads and moms. Don't ignore the Bible, single people. Under God, the "sacred writings," the Scriptures, are the greatest treasure in the world. They alone make us wise unto salvation through Christ. O don't neglect this Book!

John Piper on the centrality of scripture.

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2525_essential_piper_the_centrality_of_scripture/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+DGBlog+(DG+Blog)

Riches

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”  Revelation 3:14-22

Observations:
1. Jesus knows our works. (Hebrews 4:13)
2. Anything less than full commitment to Jesus disgusts Him. (Luke 14:27)
3. Wealth* can blind us to our real position and circumstances. (Matthew 6:24)
4. The appropriate response from the Laodicean position is to be zealous for Christ and repent.
5. We are called to seek treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:12,13) and revelation from God (Ephesians 1:18). [Revelation 3:18]
6. We need to listen for Christ's voice and respond to commune with him.
7. There are unspeakable riches for those who overcome.

* I would define wealth as having few needs. Most people in the US are wealthy.

Excuses

Anytime you excuse/rationalize your sin, you commit an act of gospel irrationality - why work to excuse what Christ has already forgiven?  Paul Tripp (from Twitter)

Wealth and Reputation

Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Ch 29:12 ESV)

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’  You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth... (Dt 8:17,18 ESV)

Observations:

1. Wealth, if one has it, is from God.  Let one never suppose that what one has monetarily and/or materially is deserved or of one's own doing. 

2. Power, if one has it, is from God.  Let one never suppose that the position one has is deserved or because of one's intrinsic greatness.

3. Reputation is from God. He is the provider and protector of what others think of us. Seek not to protect one's own reputation but entreat God as your protector to act when one is wrongly accused. (This does not mean to not act justly when it is in our power to do so).

4. One's wealth, power and reputation are not indicators of one's position with God.


See 1 Samuel 2:7 also.

Steadfast Love

I have been praying through the Psalms and have noticed with great joy the frequency with which God's love for his people is described as steadfast. Steadfast to me implies a love that remains in spite of the behavior of it's object. It is a love that is dependent upon the person doing the loving entirely. It is loyal, enduring, and persistent. In the Psalms God is described as loving his people with a steadfast love in 123 different verses! The Hebrew word for this is hesed. The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible describes hesed in this way:  


For this strong, unselfish love the OT usually employed another word, almost untranslatable, hesed, rendered sometimes “loyalty” (2 Sm 22:26 RSV), more often “steadfast love” (Gn 39:21) or “kindness.”
The connotation of this significant word is clear in Hosea 2:19, 20: “I will betroth you for ever … in righteousness … justice … steadfast love … faithfulness”; in Job 6:14, 15, where kindness is compared with treachery; and in 1 Samuel 20:8, which speaks of covenanted kindness. This unshakable, steadfast love of God is contrasted with the unpredictable, capricious moods of heathen deities. Hesed is not an emotional response to beauty, merit, or kindness, but a moral attitude dedicated to another’s good, whether or not that other is lovable, worthy, or responsive (see Dt 7:7–9).1


What an amazing thing to realize that God's love for me is steadfast!

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him
Ps 103:11 (ESV)

1 Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (1357). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House.

Where Do You Live?

"Some want to live within the sound
   Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop
   Within a yard of Hell."
--C.T. Studd

Theology And My Sin

One sin I consistently struggle with is pride over knowing a fair amount of scripture.  I love the Word of God and read it often. And sometimes in my flesh, I begin to believe there is something better about me than others, because I have read more. This obviously is pretty ridiculous. First of all, I don't really know much.  Second, anything I understand has been given to me by God and as such is no credit to me. Most importantly, the Word that I love teaches that I should not think of myself more highly than I ought. So there I am....a mess.  Unfortunately, it seems to me that there are a lot of people who are similar to me in this regard in the Christian world. I read many blogs online and books and it often occurs in my opinion that knowledge about God is elevated above knowledge of God. Theology is elevated above discipleship and love. The argument for this position is that truth is not negotiable. I agree with this argument, but often the application is not done in love and is over disputable matters (ie things in scripture which are unclear and peripheral to the gospel). In light of the above, this week I was thinking about the apostles. It struck me that Jesus did not pick one theologian to be among the twelve .....and there were plenty around.  You might argue that possibly the greatest apostle Paul was a theologian, and I think that argument would be correct.  But Paul had the wrong theology! He was transformed not by what he knew but by who he knew. So what does this mean?

My observations:

1) Christianity is about a relationship to the living God, knowing him, not just about him;
2)  The Word is the Spirit's revelation of who God is and who we are in relation to him. We are called to be disciplined in studying, reading and meditating on the Word. It is a means by which we can know God personally;
3)  Our position is based on who we know not what we know;
4)  There are indisputable matters (eg the gospel) and disputable matters within scripture for the Christian.  The former are not negotiable. The latter should be discussed in love and charity within the body of Christ.
5)  Comparison of myself with anyone but God is sin. Pride is therefore never righteous for the human.
6)  Jesus isn't impressed by what we know.

Grace

Our worst days are never so bad that we are out of reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that we are not in need of God's grace.   Jerry Bridges

The Inerrancy Of Scripture

Old Testament

The Israelites saw Scripture as historical information (Ps. 105,  Ps. 106)
God selects men as prophets to speak His Word (Deut. 18:18)
God instructed the prophets to preserve His Word (Isa. 30:8)
God instructed the prophets to record His Word (Isa. 8:1)

New Testament

The NT authors claim they wrote the words of God (1 Cor. 14:37)
God inspired all Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16)
The NT authors acknowledge the truthfulness of OT prophecy (Acts 1:16)
The NT authors accepted OT prophecy concerning Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:22–23)
The NT authors accepted OT people and events as factual (1 Tim. 2:13)

Jesus

Jesus uses the OT to resolve issues (Matt. 4:4)
Jesus says that all OT prophecy will come to pass (Matt. 5:17–18)
Jesus taught that the OT prophesied of Him (Luke 24:27)
Jesus says that Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35)
Jesus certifies the inerrancy of the soon-to-be-written NT (John 14:26; 16:13)
Jesus referred to OT events and people as factual history (Matt. 12:38–41; Luke 17:26–30)

Excerpt From...
Story, D. (1997). Defending your faith (61). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.

You Are Faithful My God

My heart aches for you my God.
My soul waits for you my God.
I've come far to find you here.
In this place will I draw near.

And your Spirit soars me.
To the highest heights.
From where I'll not look back.
I'll keep trusting you.

For I know you are faithful my God.
For I know you are faithful my God.

From the land of the barren.
We will cry out for rain.
Fill our hearts God.
I'll keep trusting you.

For I know you are faithful my God.
For I know you are faithful my God.

Your Spirit inside me holds me close.
In your wonderful presence, I let go.
I cleanse my hands.
You burn my heart.
I cry out for love.
You set me apart.

And your Spirit soars me.
To the highest heights.
From where I'll not look back.
I'll keep trusting you.

For I know you are faithful my God.
For I know you are faithful my God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ-Er29je74

Right Paths

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:3b

I cannot on my own do any righteous act (Romans 3:10). I am totally depraved. My flesh constantly leans toward sin. But God will not leave me to my own devices. He wills my sanctification (Phillipians 1:6). He disciplines me because he loves me (Hebrews 13:6). There are two reasons for this:  first, he is my Father in heaven and wants good for me (Romans 8:28), but more importantly, as I am an ambassador for him, he wills my actions to be righteous so that he is glorified. So, it is guaranteed that I will be sanctified because of God's word and because of God's glory. I can rest in the fact that God will guide me in paths of righteousness. Yet if I purposefully stray, the hand of God is to be feared for he will not leave me there for long. His name is too glorious to allow that to happen.

Moody's Experience of the Holy Spirit

. . .Well, one day, in the city of New York, oh what a day, I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it.  It is almost too sacred an experience to name.  Paul had an experience of which he never spoke (for) fourteen years.  I can only say, God revealed Himself to me and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand.  I went out preaching again, the sermons were no different and I did not present any new truths and yet hundreds were converted.  I would not be placed back where I was before that blessed experience.

Rebellion

"We cannot enter into the presence of God while we are rebelling against God." A W Tozer


Rebelling sounds purposeful, loud and obvious, but there is a rebellion which is a withholding of a part of oneself knowingly from God. This is where I struggle. This is usually not visible to the watching world. It may even seem insignificant if it were discussed with a spiritually astute friend. Yet I have found that anything withheld from God influences our experience of him. It doesn't influence our position from a salvation standpoint, but affects our communion with him. He who knows the good he ought to do, but doesn't.... sins.

Restore My Soul.

He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3a

O Lord my soul is empty. Fill it up again. Give me your Holy Spirit. The world sucks the life from me. The weight is too great. Yet your yoke is easy and your burden light. O Lord forgive my sin against you. Against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Lord I pray that you would lift my head up. Give me assurance of your love. Show me your glory. My soul is restored as I see your majesty, power, holiness and love. Fill up my soul with the fullness of you.

Edward's Experience of The Holy Spirit

As I rode out into the woods for my health, in 1737, having alighted from my horse in a retired place, as my manner commonly has been to walk for divine contemplation and prayer, I had a view, that was for me extraordinary, of the glory of the Son of God as mediator between God and man and His wonderful, great, full, pure and sweet grace and love, and meek and gentle condescension.  The grace that appeared so calm and sweet appeared also great above the heavens, the person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent and an excellency great enough to swallow up all thoughts and conceptions, which continued, as near as I can judge, about an hour, which kept me a greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud.  I felt an ardency of soul to be what I know not otherwise how to express, emptied and annihilated, to lie in the dust and to be full of Christ alone, to love Him with a holy and a pure love, to trust in Him, to live upon Him, to serve Him, and to be perfectly sanctified and made pure with a divine and heavenly purity.

Still Waters

He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2

The Lord said to the storm, "Peace, be still." Then silence. This same Lord that quieted the storm in the boat with his disciples is my shepherd. He has control over the elements and all other things. There are many places he could lead me and does lead me. But, often it is to a place of rest. He provided the Sabbath for us because we are an anxious people. Peace be still he says to me. Be still and know that I am God. What can man do to me? Whom shall I fear? God is the giver of my peace.

Green Pastures

He Makes me lie down in green pastures.
Ps23:2a

My shepherd leads me into green, lush pastures. He provides for my needs, food in this case. Not only food but the "pastures" are green...ripe and good to eat. Nourishing. So, satisfied am I with his provision that I lie down because I am full. There is an excess. He provides his grace in torrents. We receive more than enough. I can lie down not only because I am satisfied with his provision but because I am safe in his presence. He protects me from all things and watches over me with a never tiring eye. The shepherd gives his flock peace.

I Shall Not Want

...I shall not want.
Ps. 23:1

I shall not want, because the Lord is my shepherd. It is the LORD's personal characteristics that secure the fact that I shall not want. To want in this case is to lack something necessary. We will never lack what we need because our shepherd is sufficient. He has infinite resources. He has sanctified himself completely for us (John 17:19). That is, his entire self has been set aside since eternity to make sure we are completely saved and sanctified to him. What will he withhold from his beloved? His affection is for ME! He is my shield, my fortress, my rock, my shepherd. Who will harm me? Who will bring accusation against me? The word "shall" points to the future. God has provided for me, is providing for me and shall provide for me. He will provide in five minutes and he shall provide forever, and ever, and ever. I shall not want. Amen

My Shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd...
Ps. 23.1

The LORD is my shepherd, that is, the great I AM. Yahweh is the one who is my shepherd. The all knowing, eternally existent one. All powerful. He who is called "love" by John the disciple. He is the shepherd to me. A shepherd watches over his flock and cares for each individual sheep. He knows each sheep by name (John 10:3) and by the sheeps unique qualities. He has always known me. When I wander, he goes in search for me, bringing me back to the flock. When a "wolf" approaches, he protects me, sacrificing himself for my safety. He is my protector and provider. I listen to his voice and follow him. God is my shepherd. He is the good shepherd that lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).
  

Seeing God's Glory

"Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being changed from one degree of glory to the next," Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18. And we see the glory of the Lord, as he says five verses later, in the knowledge of the gospel of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Tools and Idols

All that we own is either a tool to be used or an idol.

Steadfast

To hold fast the word of promise, to maintain a hatred of sin, to go on steadfastly in the path of duty, in defiance both of the frowns and the smiles of the world, when we have but little comfort, is a more certain evidence of grace, than a thousand things which we may do or forbear when our spirits are warm and lively.


John Newton
January 11, 1777
Feelings vs. Spiritual Well-Being

Christ's Absences

When he is with me, all goes on pleasantly: when he withdraws, I find I can do nothing without him, I need not wonder that I find it so; for it must be so of course, if I am what I confess myself to be, a poor, helpless, sinful creature in myself. Nor need I be over-much discouraged, since the Lord has promised to help those who can do nothing without him, not those who can make a tolerable shift to help themselves. Through mercy, he does not so totally withdraw, as to leave me without any power or will to cry for his return. I hope he maintains in me at all times a desire of his presence; yet it becomes me to wait for him with patience, and to live upon his faithfulness, when I can feel nothing but evil in myself.

John Newton

May 4, 1773

Christ's Absences--Spiritual Experiences

Our Utmost

Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest--our best for His glory?                                --Oswald Chambers

Consider that my failures to endure; my failures in sin; rob God of glory that is rightfully His.  What I mean by this is that worship of God is less in me and others when I do not give my utmost for Him. He is not less glorious, but less worship and less glory are attributed to Him by the watching world. Can I give less than my best for Him?

Opposition

John Owen Quote:

"'There is no duty we perform for God that sin does
not oppose.  And the more spirituality or holiness
there is in what we do, the greater is its enmity to
it.  Thus, those who seek the most for God experience
the strongest opposition.'"

But If From There You Seek....

God is omnipresent and his word says he will never leave us or forsake us. His promises to us are never in doubt. Yet in the life of a Christian there are periods of exquisite closeness with the Lord and times of dryness where there seems to be a merciless distance. Why is this? Obviously, only God knows his reasons for the ebb and flow of the presence of God in our lives. Certainly, sin drives a wedge between us. But one wonders whether the nature of faith itself requires periods of distance to be tested and approved. To draw near to God we must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Heb 11:6). If he was ever constantly experientially present, faith would be unnecessary. So, there seems to be something to the idea of seeking him. God wants us to seek him. Seeking him is only necessary if there is a perception of distance between us and him. Those who love God seek him because they see his glory and experience his presence and long to have more. But it is easy to drift into the world, our worries and cares, our "false gods." The Lord is gracious and says that if from there we seek him, we will find him if we look with all our heart (Deut 4:29). We are called by God to consistently, continually seek him. So, how practically do we do this? " Both the Old and New Testaments say it (continual seeking of God) is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God" (Piper, see below reference). We are to by an act of the will focus our minds, thoughts and affections of the Almighty (Col 3:1,2; 1 Chron 22:19). Thoughts can arise out of nowhere. Choosing to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5) and purposing to meditate on the Lord and not worthless things takes some work. Mainly mental focus and a willful choice. Piper goes on to say that we must seek God to experience him: "Nevertheless, there is always something through which or around which we must go to meet him consciously. This going through or around is what seeking is. He is often hidden. Veiled." There are roadblocks everywhere to our seeking and finding God. These obstacles may be "good things" from a worldly perspective.  They can be disguised as even ministry.  We must ruthlessly flee these spiritually dulling obstacles (also Piper's words).  Accepting things that draw us away from God is not acceptable. God promises if we seek him we will find him. He is the reward above all rewards and infinitely valuable, satisfying and joy producing.  Why do I constantly accept less?

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/4163_What_Does_It_Mean_to_Seek_the_Lord/

The Centrality of the Gospel

Excerpts from Tim Keller's The Centrality of the Gospel


The Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life by thinking, hoping, and living out the "line" or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working and behaving.

The main problem in the Christian life is that we have not thought out the deep implications of the gospel, we have not "used" the gospel in all parts of our life.

The key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal and revival is the continual re-discovery of the gospel.

The Glory of God

Thoughts for me to ponder regarding the glory of God from John Piper on The Centrality of the Glory of God here.


--The glory of God is the infinite worth of God made manifest.
--God's glory is the out-streaming of his infinite value.
--God is glorious because he is the perfect unity of his beauty, greatness and all of the totality of his manifold and glorious perfections. 
--The glory of God is the beauty and the greatness that exists without origin, without comparison, without analogy, without being judged or assessed by any external criterion. It is the all-defining absolute original of greatness and beauty. All created greatness and beauty comes from it, and points to it, but does not comprehensively or adequately reproduce it.
--We were made to find our deepest pleasure in admiring what is infinitely admirable, that is, the glory of God.
--Inconsolable human longing is the evidence that we were made for God's glory.
--The glory of God is the goal of all things (1 Cor 10:31, Isa 43:6-7).
--Seeing the glory of God is our ultimate hope (Rom 5:2, Jude 24, Rom 9:23, 1 Thes 2:12,Tit 2:13).
--Jesus is the ultimate revelation of the glory God (Heb 1:3, John 17:24).
--Sharing in the glory of God is our hope (1 Peter 5:1, Rom 8:21, 1 Cor 2:7, 2 Cor 4:17, Rom 8:30).