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