I heard John Piper use this phrase not too long ago.
Yet, as I was reading Psalm 119:33-40, it became very clear how needy I truly am.
Some of the phrases the Psalmist uses in this section are in the form of requesting from God something that the psalmist realizes he cannot do unless God works in him "both to will and do for His good pleasure." This, I believe, reveals the psalmist's realization of his neediness for God.
That we all truly need to be completely yielded and dependent upon God is more apparent everyday for me--not my own intellect, my own wisdom, my own traditions, my own common sense, my own skills, not my own mind--but God the Holy Spirit.
Listen to the phrases...
"Teach me..."
"Give me..."
"Make me..."
"Incline my heart..."
"Turn away my eyes..."
"Establish your word..."
"Revive me..."
I read those and realized afresh and anew how needy I am for God the Holy Spirit to do a grand work in me, that I am weak, helpless, timid, lost without him.
Jesus said in John 15: "apart from me you can do nothing". I'm not a Greek scholar by any means, but I'm pretty sure that nothing means nothing.
Have we realized our neediness for God in all of life?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Suffering
The subject of suffering (various types) has been on my heart for quite some time--from the passing of my mom last summer to the physical suffering of my dad right after Christmas to the personal struggles that just come from living life.
Psalm 42 has particularly spoken to me concerning this reality of life--specifically the mental and emotional suffering we all endure from time to time.
I encourage you to spend some time meditating on this Psalm. It sheds much light on the "Christians should not suffer" teaching that is so prevalent in the wealth, health, and prosperity movement of our day.
Hebrews 5:8-9 says "though He was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. And having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him."
Jesus, the son of God, suffered not only for us on the cross, but he suffered to show us how to suffer within the sovereign providence of God as he conforms us to the image of his Son.
As Blackaby says, some things can only be learned through suffering.
If suffering were not a part of the normative Christian experience, why did Paul say in Philippians 3:10 "that I may know Him and power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death"?
In suffering, for whatever reason, we are able to identify with Jesus more so than in times of prosperity and all things going well.
In a series of blog posts, Mark Driscoll will be sharing what God has been teaching him from his studies over the past months.
Here is the link for his posts: http://blog.marshillchurch.org//author/mdriscoll/
I hope these will be of good instruction to you and for you.
God bless (which does not mean no suffering).
Here is
Psalm 42 has particularly spoken to me concerning this reality of life--specifically the mental and emotional suffering we all endure from time to time.
I encourage you to spend some time meditating on this Psalm. It sheds much light on the "Christians should not suffer" teaching that is so prevalent in the wealth, health, and prosperity movement of our day.
Hebrews 5:8-9 says "though He was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. And having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him."
Jesus, the son of God, suffered not only for us on the cross, but he suffered to show us how to suffer within the sovereign providence of God as he conforms us to the image of his Son.
As Blackaby says, some things can only be learned through suffering.
If suffering were not a part of the normative Christian experience, why did Paul say in Philippians 3:10 "that I may know Him and power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death"?
In suffering, for whatever reason, we are able to identify with Jesus more so than in times of prosperity and all things going well.
In a series of blog posts, Mark Driscoll will be sharing what God has been teaching him from his studies over the past months.
Here is the link for his posts: http://blog.marshillchurch.org//author/mdriscoll/
I hope these will be of good instruction to you and for you.
God bless (which does not mean no suffering).
Here is
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Series through Acts - Missional Christians
I read this today from resurgence.com. It summarizes the entire series about being a "missional community of believers."
In our book, Total Church, Steve Timmis and I argue for two core principles that should shape the life and mission of the local church: gospel and community. The content of our ministry is the gospel. It’s a word: gospel means good news. So being gospel-centered means being word-centered. And it’s a word to be proclaimed: gospel means good news. So being gospel-centered means being mission-centered. That’s the content of ministry. The context is always the Christian community. Ministry is not an event, still less a performance. It takes place in and through the shared life of the Christian community. So whether it’s evangelism or social involvement or children’s work or apologetics or pastoral care or training, these two principles shape what we do: gospel-centered and community-centered.
Ordinary Life
Here’s another way of thinking about it. One of the catchphrases we use to capture our vision is “ordinary life with gospel intentionality” or “ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality.” In other words, what we do is ordinary life together: household chores, trips to the movies, meals, neighborhood volunteering. But running through all these activities is a commitment to speaking and living the gospel. We pastor one another at the kitchen sink. We evangelize by talking about Jesus over a meal.
Those are two good paragraphs. Let them sink in as we are about the "Father's business" (Luke 2:49).
In our book, Total Church, Steve Timmis and I argue for two core principles that should shape the life and mission of the local church: gospel and community. The content of our ministry is the gospel. It’s a word: gospel means good news. So being gospel-centered means being word-centered. And it’s a word to be proclaimed: gospel means good news. So being gospel-centered means being mission-centered. That’s the content of ministry. The context is always the Christian community. Ministry is not an event, still less a performance. It takes place in and through the shared life of the Christian community. So whether it’s evangelism or social involvement or children’s work or apologetics or pastoral care or training, these two principles shape what we do: gospel-centered and community-centered.
Ordinary Life
Here’s another way of thinking about it. One of the catchphrases we use to capture our vision is “ordinary life with gospel intentionality” or “ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality.” In other words, what we do is ordinary life together: household chores, trips to the movies, meals, neighborhood volunteering. But running through all these activities is a commitment to speaking and living the gospel. We pastor one another at the kitchen sink. We evangelize by talking about Jesus over a meal.
Those are two good paragraphs. Let them sink in as we are about the "Father's business" (Luke 2:49).
Between Two Worlds
When you click the link, scroll down and listen to John Piper as he exhorts the President of the United States. Wow!
Between Two Worlds
Posted using ShareThis
Between Two Worlds
Posted using ShareThis
Monday, January 26, 2009
Loving God
The foundational and central theme of all stewardship is the great commandment.
Found in Deuteronomy 6:5, it says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength."
Jesus quotes this in Matthew 22:34-40.
The implication of Jesus' words is the reality that there is no sphere of life that is not touched by this command to love God.
It is therefore, priority one, for Christians, to love God supremely, definitively, and exclusively in and through all spheres of living.
Here are several questions to help us apply this principle to our often compartmentalized lives:
1) How can I handle material possessions in a way that demonstrates that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
2) How can I handle money in a way that demonstrates that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
3) How can I exercise my spiritual gifts in such a way that demonstrates Jesus as my greatest treasure?
4) How can I discipline, take care of, and dress my body in such a way that demonstrates my devotion to Jesus above anything else?
5) How can I serve, love and lead my family to demonstrate that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
6) (for husbands) How can I love, serve, and sacrifice for my wife as Christ loved the church so that it demonstrates that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
7) (for wives) How can I submit to and show respect for my husband that demonstrates my devotion to Jesus?
8) How can I think rightly and biblically in such a way that demonstrates Jesus as my greatest passion?
It is my prayer that these questions (and others that come to mind) will help us exercise faithful and biblical stewardship in every area of life from the foundational reality of loving God supremely and exhaustively with our whole person.
Found in Deuteronomy 6:5, it says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength."
Jesus quotes this in Matthew 22:34-40.
The implication of Jesus' words is the reality that there is no sphere of life that is not touched by this command to love God.
It is therefore, priority one, for Christians, to love God supremely, definitively, and exclusively in and through all spheres of living.
Here are several questions to help us apply this principle to our often compartmentalized lives:
1) How can I handle material possessions in a way that demonstrates that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
2) How can I handle money in a way that demonstrates that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
3) How can I exercise my spiritual gifts in such a way that demonstrates Jesus as my greatest treasure?
4) How can I discipline, take care of, and dress my body in such a way that demonstrates my devotion to Jesus above anything else?
5) How can I serve, love and lead my family to demonstrate that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
6) (for husbands) How can I love, serve, and sacrifice for my wife as Christ loved the church so that it demonstrates that Jesus is my greatest treasure?
7) (for wives) How can I submit to and show respect for my husband that demonstrates my devotion to Jesus?
8) How can I think rightly and biblically in such a way that demonstrates Jesus as my greatest passion?
It is my prayer that these questions (and others that come to mind) will help us exercise faithful and biblical stewardship in every area of life from the foundational reality of loving God supremely and exhaustively with our whole person.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Stewardship
We begin this week a series of messages on the subject of stewardship. We plan to cover a variety of subjects through this series over the next two months (February and March).
1 Corinthians 4:1 and 2 states "let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."
We have all been given one life to steward or manage--one life to present as a living sacrifice to God as holy and acceptable to him.
Being a faithful steward requires a starting point found in v. 1--as servants of Christ. How we manage life and those things that make up life within the parameters and priority of being a servant of Jesus will determine the degree of faithfulness of our stewardship.
To the degree that we manage our families, our time, our minds, our bodies, our emotions, our money, our spiritual gifts as a servant of Jesus Christ is the degree by which our faithfulness is measured.
One day, we will all give account, myself included, of our stewardship because everything we have has been gifted to us by God as managers.
2 Corinthians 5:10 says that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
There will be a day of accounting for all of us. Does that frighten us, bring joy to our heart, or motivate us toward faithful stewardship of all we are and all we possess?
Yes, but one life to live--how will we live it?
May we live in such a way that we hear "well done, good and faithful servant."
All praise to Jesus!
1 Corinthians 4:1 and 2 states "let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."
We have all been given one life to steward or manage--one life to present as a living sacrifice to God as holy and acceptable to him.
Being a faithful steward requires a starting point found in v. 1--as servants of Christ. How we manage life and those things that make up life within the parameters and priority of being a servant of Jesus will determine the degree of faithfulness of our stewardship.
To the degree that we manage our families, our time, our minds, our bodies, our emotions, our money, our spiritual gifts as a servant of Jesus Christ is the degree by which our faithfulness is measured.
One day, we will all give account, myself included, of our stewardship because everything we have has been gifted to us by God as managers.
2 Corinthians 5:10 says that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
There will be a day of accounting for all of us. Does that frighten us, bring joy to our heart, or motivate us toward faithful stewardship of all we are and all we possess?
Yes, but one life to live--how will we live it?
May we live in such a way that we hear "well done, good and faithful servant."
All praise to Jesus!
Pre-, Mid-, Post-, or Pre-wrath
Many have differing views on the rapture (or, even if there is one).
In recent years, after studying the different views and writing a paper on them, I have come to the conclusion (so far at least) that the church will go through the tribulation, either all the way (post-trib) or up to the sixth seal (Revelation 7; pre-wrath) being supernaturally protected by the power of God through the tribulation rather than taken out of the tribulation
As I have been studying the "signs" (plagues) in Exodus for Pharaoh, it dawned on me that this is a possible model for how God might protect the church during the tribulation period.
During the fourth plague, the text says that "in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen in which my people dwell, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land."
My thoughts on this are preliminary, but isn't it at least possible that this provides some idea of God's supernatural protection of the church during the tribulation?
Just a thought.
I'm sure someone has thought about this before. It just hit me while studying this week.
In recent years, after studying the different views and writing a paper on them, I have come to the conclusion (so far at least) that the church will go through the tribulation, either all the way (post-trib) or up to the sixth seal (Revelation 7; pre-wrath) being supernaturally protected by the power of God through the tribulation rather than taken out of the tribulation
As I have been studying the "signs" (plagues) in Exodus for Pharaoh, it dawned on me that this is a possible model for how God might protect the church during the tribulation period.
During the fourth plague, the text says that "in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen in which my people dwell, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land."
My thoughts on this are preliminary, but isn't it at least possible that this provides some idea of God's supernatural protection of the church during the tribulation?
Just a thought.
I'm sure someone has thought about this before. It just hit me while studying this week.
Reflections on a snowy day
For all the snow lovers today, is your day. Me, I prefer sunny and 80 or even higher temperatures.
The snow is at least one reminder of the gospel today--Isaiah 1:18 - Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are like crimson, they shall be as wool.
The whiteness and brilliance of the snow is a reminder to all believers of the beauty of the sacrifice of Jesus in our place for our sins--that he not only propitiated the wrath of God against sinners but he also expiated the barrier of sin that separated us from his presence and joy and peace and glory.
How often we get bogged down by the busyness of life and ministry and stuff that surrounds us that our minds and hearts are turned away from the "beauty of the cross."
Sometimes in life, the cross is all we have to hold on to--it is then, as someone has said before me, we find that it's reality of redemption and forgiveness and reconciliation is all we need. Hallelujah to the Lamb! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
May God renew our spirits for his work in reflecting on the cross of Jesus.
Here is a picture of my little girl in the snow!
The snow is at least one reminder of the gospel today--Isaiah 1:18 - Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are like crimson, they shall be as wool.
The whiteness and brilliance of the snow is a reminder to all believers of the beauty of the sacrifice of Jesus in our place for our sins--that he not only propitiated the wrath of God against sinners but he also expiated the barrier of sin that separated us from his presence and joy and peace and glory.
How often we get bogged down by the busyness of life and ministry and stuff that surrounds us that our minds and hearts are turned away from the "beauty of the cross."
Sometimes in life, the cross is all we have to hold on to--it is then, as someone has said before me, we find that it's reality of redemption and forgiveness and reconciliation is all we need. Hallelujah to the Lamb! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
May God renew our spirits for his work in reflecting on the cross of Jesus.
Here is a picture of my little girl in the snow!
Pro-Life under Pro-choice Regime
I guess that title is a little sarcastic--oh, well.
I just read the following questions from a sermon by John Piper that we, as pro-lifers, should expect answers to from a pro-choice president if he were an "honorable man."
They are pretty good.
They are in the context of 1 Peter 2:17, which says, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
From John Piper:
We will honor you by expecting from you straightforward answers to straightforward questions. We would not expect this from a con-man, but we do expect it from an honorable man.
For example,
1. Are you willing to explain why a baby's right not to be killed is less important than a woman's right not to be pregnant?
2. Or are you willing to explain why most cities have laws forbidding cruelty to animals, but you oppose laws forbidding cruelty to human fetuses? Are they not at least living animals?
3. Or are you willing to explain why government is unwilling to take away the so-called right to abortion on demand even though it harms the unborn child; yet government is increasingly willing to take away the right to smoke, precisely because it harms innocent non-smokers, killing 3,000 non-smokers a year from cancer and as many as 40,000 non-smokers a year from other diseases?
4. And if you say that everything hangs on whether the fetus is a human child, are you willing to go before national television in the oval office and defend your support for the "Freedom of Choice Act" by holding in your hand a 21 week old fetus and explaining why this little one does not have the fundamental, moral, and constitutional right to life? Are you willing to say to parents in this church who lost a child at that age and held him in their hands, this being in your hands is not and was not a child with any rights of its own under God or under law?
Perhaps you have good answers to each of these questions. We will honor you by expecting you to defend your position forthrightly in the public eye.
You have immense power as President of the United States. To wield it against the protection of the unborn without giving a public accounting in view of moral and scientific reality would be dishonorable. We will honor you by expecting better.
End quote...
I believe those are good questions for anyone who stands under the pro-choice banner--president or not.
If we have never prayed before, it is time.
I just read the following questions from a sermon by John Piper that we, as pro-lifers, should expect answers to from a pro-choice president if he were an "honorable man."
They are pretty good.
They are in the context of 1 Peter 2:17, which says, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
From John Piper:
We will honor you by expecting from you straightforward answers to straightforward questions. We would not expect this from a con-man, but we do expect it from an honorable man.
For example,
1. Are you willing to explain why a baby's right not to be killed is less important than a woman's right not to be pregnant?
2. Or are you willing to explain why most cities have laws forbidding cruelty to animals, but you oppose laws forbidding cruelty to human fetuses? Are they not at least living animals?
3. Or are you willing to explain why government is unwilling to take away the so-called right to abortion on demand even though it harms the unborn child; yet government is increasingly willing to take away the right to smoke, precisely because it harms innocent non-smokers, killing 3,000 non-smokers a year from cancer and as many as 40,000 non-smokers a year from other diseases?
4. And if you say that everything hangs on whether the fetus is a human child, are you willing to go before national television in the oval office and defend your support for the "Freedom of Choice Act" by holding in your hand a 21 week old fetus and explaining why this little one does not have the fundamental, moral, and constitutional right to life? Are you willing to say to parents in this church who lost a child at that age and held him in their hands, this being in your hands is not and was not a child with any rights of its own under God or under law?
Perhaps you have good answers to each of these questions. We will honor you by expecting you to defend your position forthrightly in the public eye.
You have immense power as President of the United States. To wield it against the protection of the unborn without giving a public accounting in view of moral and scientific reality would be dishonorable. We will honor you by expecting better.
End quote...
I believe those are good questions for anyone who stands under the pro-choice banner--president or not.
If we have never prayed before, it is time.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A Missional Church for the Glory of God
Challenges for being a missional community of believers intentional about making disciples of all nations:
1. By God’s grace, let a fresh vision for the glory and majesty and beauty and supreme worth/value of God in the face of Jesus Christ captivate and re-capture our hearts.
2. By God’s grace, let the spreading of the gospel be the rip-tide that pulls us forward in ministry to our community and beyond.
3. By God’s grace, let the command to make disciples of Jesus dictate our decisions as to the equipping and sending of our members on to the mission field in our communities, at our jobs, with our acquaintances, at our schools, in the grocery store, at the bank—wherever we are.
4. By God’s grace, let us become a house of prayer for the nations praying to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.
5. By God’s grace, let us become more sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to us as we move forward.
6. By God’s grace, let all our members ask not what the church can do for me, but what Jesus wants to do in me, with me, and through me in the church and for the world.
All of these can flow into a church structure that will help us have a balanced church life in terms of "making disciples".
Just some thoughts.
1. By God’s grace, let a fresh vision for the glory and majesty and beauty and supreme worth/value of God in the face of Jesus Christ captivate and re-capture our hearts.
2. By God’s grace, let the spreading of the gospel be the rip-tide that pulls us forward in ministry to our community and beyond.
3. By God’s grace, let the command to make disciples of Jesus dictate our decisions as to the equipping and sending of our members on to the mission field in our communities, at our jobs, with our acquaintances, at our schools, in the grocery store, at the bank—wherever we are.
4. By God’s grace, let us become a house of prayer for the nations praying to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.
5. By God’s grace, let us become more sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to us as we move forward.
6. By God’s grace, let all our members ask not what the church can do for me, but what Jesus wants to do in me, with me, and through me in the church and for the world.
All of these can flow into a church structure that will help us have a balanced church life in terms of "making disciples".
Just some thoughts.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Braveheart
Oh, that we would have the passion of William Wallace for Jesus that he had to save his people!
What a man's movie!
What a man's movie!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
"To Christ Alone"
I just read the following from Richard John Neuhaus as quoted by Russell Moore:
This morning, I’m thinking about a striking line in one of Neuhaus’s books, Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. Neuhaus, the Catholic convert, there wrote:
“When I come before the judgment throne, I will plead the promise of God in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I will not plead any work I have done, although I will thank God that he has enabled me to do some good. I will plead no merits other than the merits of Christ, knowing that the merits of Mary and the saints are all from him; and for their company, their example, and their prayers through my earthly life I will give everlasting thanks. I will not plead that I had faith, for sometimes I was unsure of my faith, and in any event that would be to turn faith into a meritorious work of my own. I will not plead that I held the correct understanding of ‘justification by faith alone,’ although I will thank God that that he led me to know ever more fully the great truth that much misundertood doctrine was intended to protect. Whatever little growth in holiness I have experienced, whatever strength I have received from the company of the saints, whatever understanding I have attained of God and his ways…these and all other gifts I will bring gratefully to the throne. But in seeking entry to that heavenly kingdom, I will, with Dysmas, look to Christ and Christ alone.”
When that day comes, where will you look?
This morning, I’m thinking about a striking line in one of Neuhaus’s books, Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. Neuhaus, the Catholic convert, there wrote:
“When I come before the judgment throne, I will plead the promise of God in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I will not plead any work I have done, although I will thank God that he has enabled me to do some good. I will plead no merits other than the merits of Christ, knowing that the merits of Mary and the saints are all from him; and for their company, their example, and their prayers through my earthly life I will give everlasting thanks. I will not plead that I had faith, for sometimes I was unsure of my faith, and in any event that would be to turn faith into a meritorious work of my own. I will not plead that I held the correct understanding of ‘justification by faith alone,’ although I will thank God that that he led me to know ever more fully the great truth that much misundertood doctrine was intended to protect. Whatever little growth in holiness I have experienced, whatever strength I have received from the company of the saints, whatever understanding I have attained of God and his ways…these and all other gifts I will bring gratefully to the throne. But in seeking entry to that heavenly kingdom, I will, with Dysmas, look to Christ and Christ alone.”
When that day comes, where will you look?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Very Convicting by Oswald Chambers
Be prepared...
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, "Oh, I’m so unworthy." We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
"Woe is me for I am man of unclean lips..."
Father, make me humble.
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, "Oh, I’m so unworthy." We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
"Woe is me for I am man of unclean lips..."
Father, make me humble.
Considering the Sermon
The following is from Henry Blackaby and the importance of relationships within the church to the redemptive plan of God. It is an excellent application of Sunday's sermon on Protecting the Body.
From Blackaby:
God often speaks of human relationships as a part of His mission to redeem a lost world (John 13:20; Matt. 25:40). One reason He gives for a husband and wife to live in unity is so they can produce a “godly seed,” that is, children who love and obey God, who can be used in God’s mission to bring redemption to a lost world_(Mal. 2:14–15). Similarly, the church is the body of Christ. A church cannot be on mission with the Father in our world if its members are waging war with one another_(1 Cor. 12:12). There is a crucial connection between our relationships with others and the salvation of those around us.
We might assume that during Jesus’ prayer before His crucifixion, He would have prayed that His disciples would have courage, or would remain faithful, or would remember what they had been taught. Yet He asked that His followers would remain united in their love for one another. Jesus understood that it is spiritually impossible to love God but not love others.
A test of your love for God is to examine your love for others. Our tendency is to say, “Heavenly Father, the problem is not between You and me. I love You with all my heart. I just don’t love my brother.” And God says, “That is an impossibility. You cannot love Me without loving the ones for whom My Son died” (John 13:34–35). Your life will not convince those around you of the reality of Jesus if you cannot live in unity with your fellow Christians.
May God grant to us the love for one another for the redemption of men and women all around us.
Blessings.
From Blackaby:
God often speaks of human relationships as a part of His mission to redeem a lost world (John 13:20; Matt. 25:40). One reason He gives for a husband and wife to live in unity is so they can produce a “godly seed,” that is, children who love and obey God, who can be used in God’s mission to bring redemption to a lost world_(Mal. 2:14–15). Similarly, the church is the body of Christ. A church cannot be on mission with the Father in our world if its members are waging war with one another_(1 Cor. 12:12). There is a crucial connection between our relationships with others and the salvation of those around us.
We might assume that during Jesus’ prayer before His crucifixion, He would have prayed that His disciples would have courage, or would remain faithful, or would remember what they had been taught. Yet He asked that His followers would remain united in their love for one another. Jesus understood that it is spiritually impossible to love God but not love others.
A test of your love for God is to examine your love for others. Our tendency is to say, “Heavenly Father, the problem is not between You and me. I love You with all my heart. I just don’t love my brother.” And God says, “That is an impossibility. You cannot love Me without loving the ones for whom My Son died” (John 13:34–35). Your life will not convince those around you of the reality of Jesus if you cannot live in unity with your fellow Christians.
May God grant to us the love for one another for the redemption of men and women all around us.
Blessings.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Protecting the Body
Acts 20:28-31
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.
It is imperative to protect the body of Christ. Paul exhorted the elders by warning them of the opposition that would come from without and from within that Satan would seek to use to harm, destroy, distract, and deter the missional church from remaining faithful to the mission Jesus has for her in His redemptive purposes for the nations.
The following are some ways to apply biblical principles to help protect the body. And, though we might disagree with how to implement them, I believe we can agree on the absolutely necessity to serve the body by protecting the body.
1. Regain a biblical understanding of the corporate nature of our salvation and how it relates to biblical church membership and implement a process for people who desire to join that raises the bar
2. More intentional and doctrinal interview process for teachers and leaders
3. More consistent accountability with one another by speaking the truth in love
4. Commitment to the spiritual health of the body as more important than people’s feelings
5. Commitment to conflict resolution and reconciliation and peacemaking among members beyond the southern politeness that plagues our churches
6. Deeper commitment to knowing and studying God’s Word among her members other than just Sunday mornings
I realize these are given without much commentary. However, I believe it is worth our while to think about these in terms of their importance for protecting the body for the mission.
May we proceed with discernment and love and grace and biblically grounded judgment in situations that require difficult decisions to be made.
Blessings.
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.
It is imperative to protect the body of Christ. Paul exhorted the elders by warning them of the opposition that would come from without and from within that Satan would seek to use to harm, destroy, distract, and deter the missional church from remaining faithful to the mission Jesus has for her in His redemptive purposes for the nations.
The following are some ways to apply biblical principles to help protect the body. And, though we might disagree with how to implement them, I believe we can agree on the absolutely necessity to serve the body by protecting the body.
1. Regain a biblical understanding of the corporate nature of our salvation and how it relates to biblical church membership and implement a process for people who desire to join that raises the bar
2. More intentional and doctrinal interview process for teachers and leaders
3. More consistent accountability with one another by speaking the truth in love
4. Commitment to the spiritual health of the body as more important than people’s feelings
5. Commitment to conflict resolution and reconciliation and peacemaking among members beyond the southern politeness that plagues our churches
6. Deeper commitment to knowing and studying God’s Word among her members other than just Sunday mornings
I realize these are given without much commentary. However, I believe it is worth our while to think about these in terms of their importance for protecting the body for the mission.
May we proceed with discernment and love and grace and biblically grounded judgment in situations that require difficult decisions to be made.
Blessings.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Walking with Jesus
The following is a devotional from "My Utmose for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:
Intimate With Jesus
Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: ". . . I have called you friends . . ." (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away . . ." (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
After reading this, I encourage you to spend some time meditating on John 15:1-7 and go to http://www.desiringgod.org to watch or listen to John Piper's latest sermon.
Check it out.
Intimate With Jesus
Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: ". . . I have called you friends . . ." (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away . . ." (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
After reading this, I encourage you to spend some time meditating on John 15:1-7 and go to http://www.desiringgod.org to watch or listen to John Piper's latest sermon.
Check it out.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Loving Jesus
I just read this from John Piper:
Loving Jesus is natural and necessary for the children of God. It’s natural because it’s part of our nature as children of God. “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God” (John 8:42). The children of God have the natural disposition to love his Son.
Loving Jesus is also necessary because Paul says that if you don’t love Jesus, you will be cursed: “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed” (1 Corinthians 16:22). Loving Jesus is an essential (not optional) mark of being a beneficiary of God’s grace. “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:24). If you hold fast to the love of anything above Jesus, you are not his disciple: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).
Loving Jesus is not the same as obeying all of Jesus’ commands. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). That means that obedience to the commandments is the result of loving Jesus, not the same as loving Jesus. Love is something invisible and inside. It is the root that produces the visible fruit of loving others.
So here at the beginning of 2009, I join James Morgan in saying, “I love Jesus Christ.”
And as I say it, I want to make clear what I mean:
I admire Jesus Christ more than any other human or angelic being.
I enjoy his ways and his words more than I enjoy the ways and words of anyone else.
I want his approval more than I want the approval of anyone else.
I want to be with him more than I want to be with anyone else.
I feel more grateful to him for what he has done for me than I do to anyone else.
I trust his words more fully than I trust what anyone else says.
I am more glad in his exaltation than in the exaltation of anyone else, including me.
Would you pray with me that in 2009 we would love Jesus Christ more than we ever have? And may our Lord Jesus grant that from time to time we would deliver quietly and naturally a thunderclap into the hearts of others with the simple words, “I love Jesus Christ.”
I thought these were profound words to think about for 2009 from John Piper.
May God bless you as you love Jesus!
Loving Jesus is natural and necessary for the children of God. It’s natural because it’s part of our nature as children of God. “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God” (John 8:42). The children of God have the natural disposition to love his Son.
Loving Jesus is also necessary because Paul says that if you don’t love Jesus, you will be cursed: “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed” (1 Corinthians 16:22). Loving Jesus is an essential (not optional) mark of being a beneficiary of God’s grace. “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:24). If you hold fast to the love of anything above Jesus, you are not his disciple: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).
Loving Jesus is not the same as obeying all of Jesus’ commands. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). That means that obedience to the commandments is the result of loving Jesus, not the same as loving Jesus. Love is something invisible and inside. It is the root that produces the visible fruit of loving others.
So here at the beginning of 2009, I join James Morgan in saying, “I love Jesus Christ.”
And as I say it, I want to make clear what I mean:
I admire Jesus Christ more than any other human or angelic being.
I enjoy his ways and his words more than I enjoy the ways and words of anyone else.
I want his approval more than I want the approval of anyone else.
I want to be with him more than I want to be with anyone else.
I feel more grateful to him for what he has done for me than I do to anyone else.
I trust his words more fully than I trust what anyone else says.
I am more glad in his exaltation than in the exaltation of anyone else, including me.
Would you pray with me that in 2009 we would love Jesus Christ more than we ever have? And may our Lord Jesus grant that from time to time we would deliver quietly and naturally a thunderclap into the hearts of others with the simple words, “I love Jesus Christ.”
I thought these were profound words to think about for 2009 from John Piper.
May God bless you as you love Jesus!
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