Well the waiting continues as I have not heard anything regarding my situation! My prayer (and I hope you will join me in praying for this) is that I will have a positive resolution by the end of this week. Regardless of what happens though, as I have mentioned repeatedly, I am relying wholly upon the Lord my God to carry me through all of this. You know how there are times when we begin to wonder how God even puts up with us? Well throughout this whole personal trial, I have learned that we are so blessed to have a God of infinite love for His elect! If I had to put up with someone like myself, and I had the power to cast them into hell...well all I can say is praise God that it is He who holds us in His hands! Amen? :)
My wife and I have held so many discussions about what the Lord wants us to learn from this trial that He has brought our way...and one thing I know He has taught us both is that there is so much comfort from knowing that everything is in His hands. The whole situation has made us see God at work in every part of our lives. No man may condemn me or justify me unless it is His will that it be done...therefore my only fear is that I fail to stand firm for His Truths in all of this. He is a Just and Perfect God and I will serve no other, by His grace!
I have been sharing lately how I am doing, and I reassure my reader(s) that I am well. Better, in fact, and oddly enough, than I have ever been in my life. Why is that? Because I am in the one place where I know I need to be...safely in His arms. Not only has He encouraged me through His recent merciful act, but also through His precious Word and through the love and support of friends and family. Furthermore, I have finally realized how important it is to let go of all selfish ambition and focus on the study of His Truth! However much time I have left upon this world, I want to make sure that I study hard so that I may teach others. Especially, I want to be able to lead my family according to His teachings. I want my sons to see me and know that I serve the True and Living God. May my actions never make a liar of my words...may my life always be an example to them...may they serve the Lord all the days of their lives. This last one, especially, is the one I pray for every day. Two of my sons are in their teens...facing the challenges that are common to men; God grant that when they emerge from this turbulent period of life, that their faith is strong, their character built up, and their hunger and thirst for righteousness ravenous! O what tears of joy my wife and I will shed to see them established as men of God!
As for my personal study, well I am reading through Song of Solomon so I don't know that I should really share very much! (ha ha!)
Okay, seriously though, I'm going to share from Ecclesiastes! I read this passage Saturday night and you will all recognize it because I think it's even been made into a song...
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, And a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, And a time to laugh; a time to mourn, And a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, And a time to lose; a time to keep, And a time to throw away; a time to tear, And a time to sew; a time to keep silence, And a time to speak; a time to love, And a time to hate; a time of war, And a time of peace."
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything...and there are periods in our lives when we will weep tears of pain and of frustration. This time is upon my family now, as it has been for the last few weeks. But o what a comfort to know that God is with me! What a comfort to know that He has a time for laughter in store for us! It may not be tomorrow, it may not be this week...but that time is coming when He will pick me up and hold me, and wipe away those tears. By His grace, I will never be the same as I was before I began to shed these tears. I will cling to my God all the days of my life!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
"The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical" by Shane Claiborne
ISBN# 978-0-310-26630-3
This will be the last of my posts on this book...I have put it off long enough and I don't want to take advantage (more so than I already have!) of the person who lent me the book and asked for my opinion on it! :)
Anyhow, here goes:
Let me begin with a few quotes and some commentary...then I'll go ahead and say a few words regarding my final impression of this book:
"I remember when one of my colleagues said, "Shane, I am not a Christian anymore...I gave up Christianity in order to follow Jesus." Somehow, I knew what he meant." (pg. 71)
I don't know nor can I begin to even fathom why anyone who follows Christ would be ashamed of the title "Christian." To be known as a Christian is to identify yourself as a servant of Jesus who is the risen Christ. To be known as a Christian is to bear the name of our Lord and Savior...so to say one has given up Christianity to follow Jesus is inexcusably silly. Rather than witty it is foolish to make such a comment. Like it or not...we who follow Jesus, who acknowledge Him as our Lord, are Christians.
"I began to understand what it meant when the curtain of the temple was torn open and Jesus died on the cross. Not only was God redeeming that which was profane but God was setting all that was sacred free. Now God dwelled not behind the veil in the temple but in the eyes of the dying and the poor, in the ordinary and the mundane, in things like bread and wine, or chai and samosas. And wherever two or three of us come together in community, God is there among us." (pg. 80)
A phrase like this one above sounds all humble and caring, but it makes a mockery of what the Word of God actually says! And if we as Christians do not live our lives by what the Bible teaches then how do we dare to call ourselves by that name? If the Bible is not our authority...then what is? Understand this, everyone has an authority for the way they live their lives. And if there are those among us who claim to believe in Christ yet reject the only testimony we have regarding the Lord, then that leaves our own opinions as the source of authority. Hmmm...I think I'll keep on relying on the Bible, which is, after all, "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Aside from misusing Bible passages to fit into his own view of the world and his own personal opinions of what it means to be spiritual, Claiborne here makes blanket statements with no clarification. Sure, it sounds great to say God now dwells in the eyes of the poor and the dying...but what does the Word say? What if these poor and dying are not Christians? If we truly care for them, should we not feed them the only food that will save their souls while feeding their stomachs? Which is ultimately more important? And do not think here I am speaking out against feeding the poor...it's just that if we do it out of a sense of doing "good" but let them go on in spiritual darkness we have done nothing good at all! We may have made ourselves feel good but we have fed walking corpses unless we share the Gospel with them!
"In our culture of "seeker sensitivity" and radical inclusivity, the great temptation is to compromise the cost of discipleship in order to draw a larger crowd. With the most sincere hearts, we do not want to see anyone walk away from Jesus because of the discomfort of his cross, so we clip the claws on the Lion a little, we clean up a bit the bloody Passion we are called to follow. I think this is why the disciples react as they do. They protest in awe, "Who then can be saved?" ("Why must you make it so hard? We need some rich folks here, Jesus, we're trying to build a movement.") And yet Jesus lets him walk away." (pg. 104)
Ok...there is, granted, a lot of truth to some of what Claiborne has to say here; and indeed, the seeker sensitive attitude of some in the church is disgraceful for what they are willing to excuse in order to not offend anyone, but just as some in the church are guilty of clipping the claws of the Lion in order to not lose people...the other extreme is the one in which Claiborne hangs out, the "emergent" ones who are willing to deny doctrinal Truths in order to not offend anyone. The ones who cry out "love is all you need" but fail to explain why love is needed and don't even bother to bring anyone to the One true Lover!
Well I dont' want this to turn into a "Shane Claiborne is a bad man" type of review because after reading his book I think I might actually like this guy. He even reminds me somewhat of someone I know! But he would also drive me bonkers with his constant misuse of Scripture! :)
Overall, I think Mr. Caliborne has a good heart and wants to do the right thing. But leftist legalism is still legalism! This book is all about orthopraxy (right living) as a means of sanctification and is therefore a works oriented tradition as much as the "seeker sensitive" churches it rants against! And when orthopraxy is embraced while orthodoxy (right doctrine) is denied you end up with living rightly for the wrong reasons. And it's a sad reality that good people will end up in hell. People doing righteous deeds will one day be told by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that He does not know them. Why is that? Maybe because orthopraxy must flow out of orthodoxy....or it is nothing but works. See the book of James if you don't believe me!
So my final impression?
Read the book if you are a Christian who is not on fire for the Lord. Read it and be challenged by all means...because it does bring up some good points. But don't make the mistake of thinking the answers provided are necessarily the right ones. For that, turn to your Bible. The Bible will challenge you even more than "Irresistible Revolution" ever will anyhow.
This will be the last of my posts on this book...I have put it off long enough and I don't want to take advantage (more so than I already have!) of the person who lent me the book and asked for my opinion on it! :)
Anyhow, here goes:
Let me begin with a few quotes and some commentary...then I'll go ahead and say a few words regarding my final impression of this book:
"I remember when one of my colleagues said, "Shane, I am not a Christian anymore...I gave up Christianity in order to follow Jesus." Somehow, I knew what he meant." (pg. 71)
I don't know nor can I begin to even fathom why anyone who follows Christ would be ashamed of the title "Christian." To be known as a Christian is to identify yourself as a servant of Jesus who is the risen Christ. To be known as a Christian is to bear the name of our Lord and Savior...so to say one has given up Christianity to follow Jesus is inexcusably silly. Rather than witty it is foolish to make such a comment. Like it or not...we who follow Jesus, who acknowledge Him as our Lord, are Christians.
"I began to understand what it meant when the curtain of the temple was torn open and Jesus died on the cross. Not only was God redeeming that which was profane but God was setting all that was sacred free. Now God dwelled not behind the veil in the temple but in the eyes of the dying and the poor, in the ordinary and the mundane, in things like bread and wine, or chai and samosas. And wherever two or three of us come together in community, God is there among us." (pg. 80)
A phrase like this one above sounds all humble and caring, but it makes a mockery of what the Word of God actually says! And if we as Christians do not live our lives by what the Bible teaches then how do we dare to call ourselves by that name? If the Bible is not our authority...then what is? Understand this, everyone has an authority for the way they live their lives. And if there are those among us who claim to believe in Christ yet reject the only testimony we have regarding the Lord, then that leaves our own opinions as the source of authority. Hmmm...I think I'll keep on relying on the Bible, which is, after all, "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Aside from misusing Bible passages to fit into his own view of the world and his own personal opinions of what it means to be spiritual, Claiborne here makes blanket statements with no clarification. Sure, it sounds great to say God now dwells in the eyes of the poor and the dying...but what does the Word say? What if these poor and dying are not Christians? If we truly care for them, should we not feed them the only food that will save their souls while feeding their stomachs? Which is ultimately more important? And do not think here I am speaking out against feeding the poor...it's just that if we do it out of a sense of doing "good" but let them go on in spiritual darkness we have done nothing good at all! We may have made ourselves feel good but we have fed walking corpses unless we share the Gospel with them!
"In our culture of "seeker sensitivity" and radical inclusivity, the great temptation is to compromise the cost of discipleship in order to draw a larger crowd. With the most sincere hearts, we do not want to see anyone walk away from Jesus because of the discomfort of his cross, so we clip the claws on the Lion a little, we clean up a bit the bloody Passion we are called to follow. I think this is why the disciples react as they do. They protest in awe, "Who then can be saved?" ("Why must you make it so hard? We need some rich folks here, Jesus, we're trying to build a movement.") And yet Jesus lets him walk away." (pg. 104)
Ok...there is, granted, a lot of truth to some of what Claiborne has to say here; and indeed, the seeker sensitive attitude of some in the church is disgraceful for what they are willing to excuse in order to not offend anyone, but just as some in the church are guilty of clipping the claws of the Lion in order to not lose people...the other extreme is the one in which Claiborne hangs out, the "emergent" ones who are willing to deny doctrinal Truths in order to not offend anyone. The ones who cry out "love is all you need" but fail to explain why love is needed and don't even bother to bring anyone to the One true Lover!
Well I dont' want this to turn into a "Shane Claiborne is a bad man" type of review because after reading his book I think I might actually like this guy. He even reminds me somewhat of someone I know! But he would also drive me bonkers with his constant misuse of Scripture! :)
Overall, I think Mr. Caliborne has a good heart and wants to do the right thing. But leftist legalism is still legalism! This book is all about orthopraxy (right living) as a means of sanctification and is therefore a works oriented tradition as much as the "seeker sensitive" churches it rants against! And when orthopraxy is embraced while orthodoxy (right doctrine) is denied you end up with living rightly for the wrong reasons. And it's a sad reality that good people will end up in hell. People doing righteous deeds will one day be told by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that He does not know them. Why is that? Maybe because orthopraxy must flow out of orthodoxy....or it is nothing but works. See the book of James if you don't believe me!
So my final impression?
Read the book if you are a Christian who is not on fire for the Lord. Read it and be challenged by all means...because it does bring up some good points. But don't make the mistake of thinking the answers provided are necessarily the right ones. For that, turn to your Bible. The Bible will challenge you even more than "Irresistible Revolution" ever will anyhow.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
It's Not Over...But Much To Praise God About
Hello everyone:
I just want to post a quick update about my challenges. The Lord has answered prayer in a powerful way by opening a door for me and I have been so encouraged by it. Praise the Lord for His lovingkindess and His tender mercies! I have committed to memory Psalm 69:16-17 and it is such a joy to be reminded daily that He loves His people so much and even when He sends challenges our way He does it for our good and with those wonderful tender mercies in mind! I still, honestly, don't know what is in store for me but I feel like the Lord has been testing me and in His infinite wisdom has shown me through a recent event that even in the midst of anxiety, concern, and even occasional despair, that He loves us so much and will not burden us with more than we can possibly bear. How sweet it is to be in His loving care...to know we are the recipients of His lovingkindness....to know that even if the worst should come to pass, that He is my Father.
I have been reading from the Proverbs and I came across this gem in my morning reading:
"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint."
- Proverbs 25:19
Lucky for all of us who trust in the Lord...He is NOT an unfaithful man. We are unfaithful, and I think of myself here...for how often do I fail to live the life He has called me to live? How often do I choose the easy path of accomodation with the world rather than witnessing boldly of His grace and His love? Too often is my answer. Too often do I find myself reflecting on unworthy thoughts rather than on the precepts of His Word. But praise the Lord indeed that He is the great covenant keeper. If it were up to us we would long ago have doomed ourselves!
Well these are the rambling thoughts of yours truly...it is late but I wanted to give anyone who reads this a quick update. Continue to pray for me, please. And praise God for the wonderful way in which He is working in my life, in the life of my wife, and in the life of my children. The Lord bless you and keep you!
Enoch_Elijah
I just want to post a quick update about my challenges. The Lord has answered prayer in a powerful way by opening a door for me and I have been so encouraged by it. Praise the Lord for His lovingkindess and His tender mercies! I have committed to memory Psalm 69:16-17 and it is such a joy to be reminded daily that He loves His people so much and even when He sends challenges our way He does it for our good and with those wonderful tender mercies in mind! I still, honestly, don't know what is in store for me but I feel like the Lord has been testing me and in His infinite wisdom has shown me through a recent event that even in the midst of anxiety, concern, and even occasional despair, that He loves us so much and will not burden us with more than we can possibly bear. How sweet it is to be in His loving care...to know we are the recipients of His lovingkindness....to know that even if the worst should come to pass, that He is my Father.
I have been reading from the Proverbs and I came across this gem in my morning reading:
"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint."
- Proverbs 25:19
Lucky for all of us who trust in the Lord...He is NOT an unfaithful man. We are unfaithful, and I think of myself here...for how often do I fail to live the life He has called me to live? How often do I choose the easy path of accomodation with the world rather than witnessing boldly of His grace and His love? Too often is my answer. Too often do I find myself reflecting on unworthy thoughts rather than on the precepts of His Word. But praise the Lord indeed that He is the great covenant keeper. If it were up to us we would long ago have doomed ourselves!
Well these are the rambling thoughts of yours truly...it is late but I wanted to give anyone who reads this a quick update. Continue to pray for me, please. And praise God for the wonderful way in which He is working in my life, in the life of my wife, and in the life of my children. The Lord bless you and keep you!
Enoch_Elijah
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be)" by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
ISBN 978-0-8024-5834-6
In this book, the Emergent church and many of its fallacies are challenged from a biblical perspective and they are found wanting...more on this later.
To begin with, however, I want to say that if I was to give this book a rating, I would give it an 8 out of a 10. I would have given it a 10 but, personally, I did not feel that the two authors were able to effectively mesh together their viewpoints. I would say that this book is more like two books in one! As far as recommendations go, I highly recommend the book, but mainly for the contributions of Kevin DeYoung. His chapters make the book worthwhile. You see, the authors took turns writing the chapters and it is clear in the reading that DeYoung is intent on giving a biblical analysis of the movement, whereas Ted Kluck seems almost confused. Perhaps that is unfair, but I went away from his chapters feeling like Kluck knew the emergent movement was wrong but boy does he think it is attractive and it's leaders brilliant! It reminded me of a married man who knows he should not be speaking flirtatiously with a woman but can't help himself 'cause she's so beautiful and physically enticing! Again, though, DeYound makes the book worth reading and his chapters are engaging, thoughtful, and well presented.
One of the main points which DeYoung addresses is the reluctance of emergent leaders to be straightforward about what they believe...how they question everything and make it seem like this questioning is a virtue...he says "I'ts one thing for a high school student to be in process with his theology. It's another thing for adults to write books and speak around the world about their musings and misgivings." (pg. 17) And this is in the introduction! :)
Later on in the introduction, DeYoung discusses how a number of emergent leaders, including Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Spencer Burke, Brian McLaren, and others, wrote an article in which they asserted that each spoke only for himself as an emergent and that they did not even "endorse everything said or written by one another." DeYoung responds as follows: "Fine. But if seven men get together to respond to their critics in one article, they should at least admit they not only share much common ground, but they are also some of the lead influencers (if we can't say spokespersons) in the conversation. Call it a friendship, or a network, or a web of relationships, but when people endorse one another's book and speak at the same conference and write on the same blogs, there is something of a discernible movement afoot." (pg. 18-19)
Some of the issues which DeYoung challenges the leaders in the emergent church movement about are the following:
Is it possible to know God?
Can we take a stand on anything?
Is doctrine important?
Is the Bible authoritative?
From my own ignorant perspective, these are questions I find troublesome in the sense that I cannot believe a professing Christian would ask...but DeYoung does more than be troubled by them. He responds to them. And he does a fine job in doing it. The following are quotes from throughout the book:
"The God of the Bible is nothing if He is not a God who speaks to His people. To be sure, none of us ever infinitely understand God in a nice, neat package of affirmations and denials, but we can know Him truly, both personally and propositionally. God can speak. He can use human language to communicate truth about Himself that is accurate and knowable, without ceasing to be God because we've somehow got Him all figured out." (pg. 37)
"...by saying the Bible is our foundation. We mean the Bible settles our disputes. "The Bible tells us what it true. Our thinking about God, ourselves, and the Word should start with the Bible and never contradict the Bible. In that sensed, what's so wrong with calling the Bible our foundation?" (pg. 81)
"Emergent leaders like to point out Paul's accommodating missional strategy among the Athenians at Mars Hill...[but] [a]fter Paul did his cultural engagement thing, he proclaimed the gospel in no uncertain terms...[t]he apostles never preached with the double-talk and ambiguity you find in so many emergent books." (pg. 109)
"I understand the emergent concern about living rightly in this life. That was a concern of Jesus. But why are heaven and hell as eternal destinations so routinely marginalized in emergent books? If heaven and hell are real and endure forever, as Jesus believed them to be, they ought to shape everything we do during our short time on earth." (pg. 186)
In this book, the Emergent church and many of its fallacies are challenged from a biblical perspective and they are found wanting...more on this later.
To begin with, however, I want to say that if I was to give this book a rating, I would give it an 8 out of a 10. I would have given it a 10 but, personally, I did not feel that the two authors were able to effectively mesh together their viewpoints. I would say that this book is more like two books in one! As far as recommendations go, I highly recommend the book, but mainly for the contributions of Kevin DeYoung. His chapters make the book worthwhile. You see, the authors took turns writing the chapters and it is clear in the reading that DeYoung is intent on giving a biblical analysis of the movement, whereas Ted Kluck seems almost confused. Perhaps that is unfair, but I went away from his chapters feeling like Kluck knew the emergent movement was wrong but boy does he think it is attractive and it's leaders brilliant! It reminded me of a married man who knows he should not be speaking flirtatiously with a woman but can't help himself 'cause she's so beautiful and physically enticing! Again, though, DeYound makes the book worth reading and his chapters are engaging, thoughtful, and well presented.
One of the main points which DeYoung addresses is the reluctance of emergent leaders to be straightforward about what they believe...how they question everything and make it seem like this questioning is a virtue...he says "I'ts one thing for a high school student to be in process with his theology. It's another thing for adults to write books and speak around the world about their musings and misgivings." (pg. 17) And this is in the introduction! :)
Later on in the introduction, DeYoung discusses how a number of emergent leaders, including Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Spencer Burke, Brian McLaren, and others, wrote an article in which they asserted that each spoke only for himself as an emergent and that they did not even "endorse everything said or written by one another." DeYoung responds as follows: "Fine. But if seven men get together to respond to their critics in one article, they should at least admit they not only share much common ground, but they are also some of the lead influencers (if we can't say spokespersons) in the conversation. Call it a friendship, or a network, or a web of relationships, but when people endorse one another's book and speak at the same conference and write on the same blogs, there is something of a discernible movement afoot." (pg. 18-19)
Some of the issues which DeYoung challenges the leaders in the emergent church movement about are the following:
Is it possible to know God?
Can we take a stand on anything?
Is doctrine important?
Is the Bible authoritative?
From my own ignorant perspective, these are questions I find troublesome in the sense that I cannot believe a professing Christian would ask...but DeYoung does more than be troubled by them. He responds to them. And he does a fine job in doing it. The following are quotes from throughout the book:
"The God of the Bible is nothing if He is not a God who speaks to His people. To be sure, none of us ever infinitely understand God in a nice, neat package of affirmations and denials, but we can know Him truly, both personally and propositionally. God can speak. He can use human language to communicate truth about Himself that is accurate and knowable, without ceasing to be God because we've somehow got Him all figured out." (pg. 37)
"...by saying the Bible is our foundation. We mean the Bible settles our disputes. "The Bible tells us what it true. Our thinking about God, ourselves, and the Word should start with the Bible and never contradict the Bible. In that sensed, what's so wrong with calling the Bible our foundation?" (pg. 81)
"Emergent leaders like to point out Paul's accommodating missional strategy among the Athenians at Mars Hill...[but] [a]fter Paul did his cultural engagement thing, he proclaimed the gospel in no uncertain terms...[t]he apostles never preached with the double-talk and ambiguity you find in so many emergent books." (pg. 109)
"I understand the emergent concern about living rightly in this life. That was a concern of Jesus. But why are heaven and hell as eternal destinations so routinely marginalized in emergent books? If heaven and hell are real and endure forever, as Jesus believed them to be, they ought to shape everything we do during our short time on earth." (pg. 186)
"...Christians on both sides [speaking of Republicans and Democrats] must be careful that the message of Jesus isn't over-identified with politics. Isn't this why the Religious Right is being chastised (sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly)? American Christianity has at times sounded a lot like the platform of the GOP. Emergent leaders need to be careful they do not make the same mistake in the opposite direction. Emergent Christians shouldn't position themselves as the neutral middle ground when their concerns read like talking points of the Democratic National Committee..." (pg. 189)
One of my favorites quotes from the book:
"The main problem in the universe, according to many emergent writers, seems to be human suffering and brokenness. Make no mistake, suffering and brokenness are a result of the fall, but the main problem that needs to be dealt with is human sin and rebellion. Where pain and brokenness are the main problems, we need to learn to love ourselves. God is no longer a holy God angry with sin, who, in His great mercy, sent His Son to die on our behalf so that divine justice might be satisfied. God becomes a vulnerable lover who opens Himself up to hurt and rejection in order to be with us because we are worth dying for.
I have no doubt that this message will find a receptive audience, but it is not the message the apostles proclaimed and for which they died. Christians don't get killed for telling people that God believes in them and suffers like them and can heal their brokenness. They get killed for calling sinners to repentance and proclaiming faith in the crucified Son of God as the only means by which we who were enemies might be reconciled to God." (pg. 194-195)
This is just a sampling of the richness to be found in DeYoung's chapters. The book helped me better understand (I already had some serious concerns) why the emergent church movement is such a danger...though I say this only in the sense of it misleading the lost into a sense of false security, for despite all things, we know that the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ will endure unto the end. And our Lord will always raise up men like DeYoung to contend rigorously for the faith, as He has in every age.
I once pondered the question of who would succeed the giants who contend for the Truth in our own day and age...I wondered what would happen when we begin to lose men like MacArthur, Piper, Mohler, Zacharias, and others. Well I am now confident that there are young men out there who will step up and fill those places. I look forward to hearing more from Mr. Kevin DeYoung.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Saga Continues
Well another week has begun and the matter before me has not come to an end. Truly the Lord is teaching me patience and reliance and complete trust in Him! :)
As I have mentioned before, I have been studying through the Psalms...well I finished on Sunday and today I started reading from Proverbs. In other reading, I have completed the book "Why We're Not Emergent" and have started reading "A Better Way" by Michael Horton. I hope to post my review of that first book by Wednesday evening, so keep an eye open for that one! :)
So how am I holding up? Pretty well actually. I realize that everything is out of my hands at this point, so I trust that those whom God has working for me will do their jobs well and that He will use them to bring all of this to a favorable resolution. And yet if this does NOT end favorably for myself...I am at peace about that too. How in the world I came to this place where I can say that without hesitation, I don't know actually, except that I must give the glory to God for the wonders of His Word and the comfort that the Spirit brings to us when we rely solely upon Him.
Today as I was out on a bike ride I was feeling somewhat down for a bit, thinking about how I have always sought to do right and how when I have sinned have been able to avoid habitual behaviors and turned away from my sin...not always immediately but usually pretty quickly! :)
Anyhow, I was pondering this and thinking how "unfair" it was for me to be experiencing all of this...how my reputation was on the line, my character, and my ability to provide for my family. And then I thought..."whoa, you need to stop this!" I was reminded, yet again, that "all things work together for good to those who love God..." Romans 8:28 I have often read that this is not something you should say to someone going through difficulites times. That it is insensitive. You know what I think? Hogwash! (yes i just said "hogwash"!)
If those of us who claim to be Believers cannot be comforted by the Word of our Lord, then we need to repent of our negative attitudes! These words from Romans have been, throughout this tribulation, the greatest comfort to me! I don't know why this is happening to me, but I know that He does. And what is more, I know that He is using this experience for my good. How, I don't know. But, again, He DOES know. Why should this not be a matter of comfort to Christians?
So there I am, riding my bike...puffing and sweating and close to death from the heat and exhaustion (okay I exaggerate a bit), when I realized something. The Lord WILL justify me in all of this one day. It may not be in this life, but one day I will stand before Him and know that He knows my heart in this matter. I pray that by then those responsible for bringing me to where I find myself have made their own peace with Him. That they have turned to Him in repentance for all of their sin and that they have indeed received forgiveness and that the grace of God has given them entry into His kingdom. I pray that I will be able to embrace them as my brethren in the Lord. Why? Two reasons. Most importantly so that He will receive the glory for their conversion. But also so that they can be spared the retribution that otherwise will await them.
So yes...I will be justified in the end. May God receive glory for this. And may my testimony stand strong before the shafts of the enemy.
The saga continues indeed...
As I have mentioned before, I have been studying through the Psalms...well I finished on Sunday and today I started reading from Proverbs. In other reading, I have completed the book "Why We're Not Emergent" and have started reading "A Better Way" by Michael Horton. I hope to post my review of that first book by Wednesday evening, so keep an eye open for that one! :)
So how am I holding up? Pretty well actually. I realize that everything is out of my hands at this point, so I trust that those whom God has working for me will do their jobs well and that He will use them to bring all of this to a favorable resolution. And yet if this does NOT end favorably for myself...I am at peace about that too. How in the world I came to this place where I can say that without hesitation, I don't know actually, except that I must give the glory to God for the wonders of His Word and the comfort that the Spirit brings to us when we rely solely upon Him.
Today as I was out on a bike ride I was feeling somewhat down for a bit, thinking about how I have always sought to do right and how when I have sinned have been able to avoid habitual behaviors and turned away from my sin...not always immediately but usually pretty quickly! :)
Anyhow, I was pondering this and thinking how "unfair" it was for me to be experiencing all of this...how my reputation was on the line, my character, and my ability to provide for my family. And then I thought..."whoa, you need to stop this!" I was reminded, yet again, that "all things work together for good to those who love God..." Romans 8:28 I have often read that this is not something you should say to someone going through difficulites times. That it is insensitive. You know what I think? Hogwash! (yes i just said "hogwash"!)
If those of us who claim to be Believers cannot be comforted by the Word of our Lord, then we need to repent of our negative attitudes! These words from Romans have been, throughout this tribulation, the greatest comfort to me! I don't know why this is happening to me, but I know that He does. And what is more, I know that He is using this experience for my good. How, I don't know. But, again, He DOES know. Why should this not be a matter of comfort to Christians?
So there I am, riding my bike...puffing and sweating and close to death from the heat and exhaustion (okay I exaggerate a bit), when I realized something. The Lord WILL justify me in all of this one day. It may not be in this life, but one day I will stand before Him and know that He knows my heart in this matter. I pray that by then those responsible for bringing me to where I find myself have made their own peace with Him. That they have turned to Him in repentance for all of their sin and that they have indeed received forgiveness and that the grace of God has given them entry into His kingdom. I pray that I will be able to embrace them as my brethren in the Lord. Why? Two reasons. Most importantly so that He will receive the glory for their conversion. But also so that they can be spared the retribution that otherwise will await them.
So yes...I will be justified in the end. May God receive glory for this. And may my testimony stand strong before the shafts of the enemy.
The saga continues indeed...
Friday, July 18, 2008
A Response to the Tired Old Charge Against Calvinism
I was doing my evening survey of blogs when I came across this really cool one devoted to a defense of Calvinism. This website has an article on seven reasons why Calvinists evangelize. Read it! :)
Learning from the Psalms
"I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.”
- Psalm 142
Despite the melancholy tone of this psalm, it has brought me great joy today as I've spent the better part of the morning contemplating it. Strange how the most unlikely things are the ones that often point us to the heart of what we need from the Lord isn't it? For myself, this passage gave me such a sense of contentment to know that I can cry out to Him in moments of despair. Even today when I am feeling really good and have a very positive outlook on my situation, this passage fills me with even more encouragement.
Why is that?
Well...for one, this passage tells me that I am free to call out to my God. That I am free to make my supplication to the Creator of the universe! Can you imagine such a thing? When my spirit is overwhelmed...I still have the promise from Him that He knows my path! He knows what I am suffering, He knows what I am struggling with! For those of us who are saved, how can this NOT be a comfort? Even in the midst of trials! Indeed, I join the psalmist in shouting from within my soul that He is my refuge!
And do you know what? I know that He will deal bountifully with me. I have no doubt about this. How could I dare to doubt? Does His word not tell me that He is my high tower, my shield? Does His word not tell me that indeed I should be happy because I belong to that people whose God is the Lord? (Psalm 145:15)
Yes it does!
Therefore I will be happy and rejoice for my God is the Lord! What a declaration to be able to make!
Amen?
- Psalm 142
Despite the melancholy tone of this psalm, it has brought me great joy today as I've spent the better part of the morning contemplating it. Strange how the most unlikely things are the ones that often point us to the heart of what we need from the Lord isn't it? For myself, this passage gave me such a sense of contentment to know that I can cry out to Him in moments of despair. Even today when I am feeling really good and have a very positive outlook on my situation, this passage fills me with even more encouragement.
Why is that?
Well...for one, this passage tells me that I am free to call out to my God. That I am free to make my supplication to the Creator of the universe! Can you imagine such a thing? When my spirit is overwhelmed...I still have the promise from Him that He knows my path! He knows what I am suffering, He knows what I am struggling with! For those of us who are saved, how can this NOT be a comfort? Even in the midst of trials! Indeed, I join the psalmist in shouting from within my soul that He is my refuge!
And do you know what? I know that He will deal bountifully with me. I have no doubt about this. How could I dare to doubt? Does His word not tell me that He is my high tower, my shield? Does His word not tell me that indeed I should be happy because I belong to that people whose God is the Lord? (Psalm 145:15)
Yes it does!
Therefore I will be happy and rejoice for my God is the Lord! What a declaration to be able to make!
Amen?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Being Clay in the Potter's Hand
Well the day is almost over so I want to make sure I post to let my family and friends know how I am doing. I think the title of this post should tell you some of how I'm feeling! :) And indeed it is quite an experience as tomorrow marks the 22nd day since this current dilemma came home to roost for me! I tend to get impatient with circumstances and want everything settled immediately, but then I remind myself that God is in control and nothing will happen to me that He does not allow to happen. This gives me so much comfort that you cannot even begin to imagine! What a consolation it is to know that the Lord of all creation, who made all things, is looking out for me and is in complete control of this situation! What peace! It is truly amazing to realize that we serve such an amazing God.
My reading for today comes from Psalm 119, that classic beauty. This is what gave me the most encouragement today:
"Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud—the cursed, who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors."
- Psalm 119:17-24
My prayer for today, as I prepare to head to bed, is that God will help me to have the right attitude throughout all of this...that He will help me be a ready and willing piece of clay in His hand, and that His glory come from whatever lies in store for me.
Thanks!
My reading for today comes from Psalm 119, that classic beauty. This is what gave me the most encouragement today:
"Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud—the cursed, who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors."
- Psalm 119:17-24
My prayer for today, as I prepare to head to bed, is that God will help me to have the right attitude throughout all of this...that He will help me be a ready and willing piece of clay in His hand, and that His glory come from whatever lies in store for me.
Thanks!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Daily Musings
Hello all!
I just want to quickly share a couple of things here, including some of what I read yesterday and this morning in the Word of God.
First off, I want to say that I've started reading a book called "Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be)" by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. It is really good so far. In it, the authors interact with the writings of such major emergent personalities as Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, and Tony Jones. They counter the arguments coming out of the emergent camp and they do so with love and with patience. They are to be commended because when I read the writings of the above mentioned people I tend to get annoyed! :)
But anyhow, I will do a review of the book when I am done, plus I will share in the coming days some of the highlights of what I've read. For now though, I want to share that today is one of my good days. I am at total peace with my circumstances because I know that I serve an awesome God. And as I shared in a previous post, if I am truly His, then I know that His words to me are that "all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose ." - Romans 8:28
And I know I've mentioned this plenty of times, but you will note carefully here that the apostle does not report that all things that happen to us as Believers are good...only that they all work together for good! This is an important distinction because otherwise we might lose hope in our God if we thought only good things would come to us! I know for a fact this is not true, as I'm sure some of you reading this also know it. So let us always take comfort from knowing that whatsoever may come, it will be for our good. And we may not see that good in this life, but we all know that this temporary existence is nothing when compared to the coming eternal existence! And let us look upon the trials that come our way in this life as preparation for that coming time when we shall dwell with the Lord, whether in heaven if it is before His return, or in the new earth if He should return soon!
Well, as you may know I've been reading throug the Psalms, so here are some tidbits:
"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful."
- Psalm 116:5
How comforting indeed it is to know that our God is merciful and that He is righteous. This brings to my mind that my God will not allow me to go through more trials than I can handle, for He is merciful. And it means that whatever I can handle He will use to shape me or prepare me for the works which He prepared beforehand for me to walk in, for He is rightous and everything He does is for a good reason.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
- Psalm 116:15
Now this too was comforting...as odd as that may seem! You see, I do not face death in my current tribulation. But even if I did, and even if my enemies triumphed over me, my death would not be a light matter to my Lord! No...for the death of His saints is precious to Him. It hurst our Lord to see His people suffer, but suffer they will, and it will be to His glory! Not that their suffering is a good thing, but that their death will be used for a good purpose. And what a reward will come to those who die for His sake. We are all heirs...we are all secure in our inheritance, but for some, God has decreed that they suffer shame and death or His sake. Do not pity them and do not dare attribute to God any sense of injustice. For they are precious to Him and the delight and glory that is theirs will be awesome. At the same time, save your pity for those who cause the death or shame of His servants...pray that they repent even as they kill and manipulate. Otherwise it will truly be terrible to stand before a righteous Judge on the day when they must face Him.
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!"
- Psalm 117
Yeah I know that having read all of Psalm 117 is no big achievement since it only has two verses! Still, come on, give people credit for their accomplishments! LOL
Seriously though, this chapter reminds me to praise Him at all times. The phrase "Praise the Lord!" is the word "Hallelujah!" Therefore, we thank God and we praise Him because of His amazing attributes which He reveals to us. His mercy and His kindness has no equal. Those who are His people are truly favored. And His truth, His Word, His revealtion, will endure forever. So worry not when the servants of Satan attack His precious Truth's. Stand firm against the attacks but don't despair, for the war is won already! God will be triumphant!
Well, this is what I have learned since last night. I hope it encourages you as much as I was encouraged by it.
I just want to quickly share a couple of things here, including some of what I read yesterday and this morning in the Word of God.
First off, I want to say that I've started reading a book called "Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be)" by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. It is really good so far. In it, the authors interact with the writings of such major emergent personalities as Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, and Tony Jones. They counter the arguments coming out of the emergent camp and they do so with love and with patience. They are to be commended because when I read the writings of the above mentioned people I tend to get annoyed! :)
But anyhow, I will do a review of the book when I am done, plus I will share in the coming days some of the highlights of what I've read. For now though, I want to share that today is one of my good days. I am at total peace with my circumstances because I know that I serve an awesome God. And as I shared in a previous post, if I am truly His, then I know that His words to me are that "all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose ." - Romans 8:28
And I know I've mentioned this plenty of times, but you will note carefully here that the apostle does not report that all things that happen to us as Believers are good...only that they all work together for good! This is an important distinction because otherwise we might lose hope in our God if we thought only good things would come to us! I know for a fact this is not true, as I'm sure some of you reading this also know it. So let us always take comfort from knowing that whatsoever may come, it will be for our good. And we may not see that good in this life, but we all know that this temporary existence is nothing when compared to the coming eternal existence! And let us look upon the trials that come our way in this life as preparation for that coming time when we shall dwell with the Lord, whether in heaven if it is before His return, or in the new earth if He should return soon!
Well, as you may know I've been reading throug the Psalms, so here are some tidbits:
"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful."
- Psalm 116:5
How comforting indeed it is to know that our God is merciful and that He is righteous. This brings to my mind that my God will not allow me to go through more trials than I can handle, for He is merciful. And it means that whatever I can handle He will use to shape me or prepare me for the works which He prepared beforehand for me to walk in, for He is rightous and everything He does is for a good reason.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
- Psalm 116:15
Now this too was comforting...as odd as that may seem! You see, I do not face death in my current tribulation. But even if I did, and even if my enemies triumphed over me, my death would not be a light matter to my Lord! No...for the death of His saints is precious to Him. It hurst our Lord to see His people suffer, but suffer they will, and it will be to His glory! Not that their suffering is a good thing, but that their death will be used for a good purpose. And what a reward will come to those who die for His sake. We are all heirs...we are all secure in our inheritance, but for some, God has decreed that they suffer shame and death or His sake. Do not pity them and do not dare attribute to God any sense of injustice. For they are precious to Him and the delight and glory that is theirs will be awesome. At the same time, save your pity for those who cause the death or shame of His servants...pray that they repent even as they kill and manipulate. Otherwise it will truly be terrible to stand before a righteous Judge on the day when they must face Him.
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!"
- Psalm 117
Yeah I know that having read all of Psalm 117 is no big achievement since it only has two verses! Still, come on, give people credit for their accomplishments! LOL
Seriously though, this chapter reminds me to praise Him at all times. The phrase "Praise the Lord!" is the word "Hallelujah!" Therefore, we thank God and we praise Him because of His amazing attributes which He reveals to us. His mercy and His kindness has no equal. Those who are His people are truly favored. And His truth, His Word, His revealtion, will endure forever. So worry not when the servants of Satan attack His precious Truth's. Stand firm against the attacks but don't despair, for the war is won already! God will be triumphant!
Well, this is what I have learned since last night. I hope it encourages you as much as I was encouraged by it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
"A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23" by Phillip Keller
ISBN# 0-310-21435-1
I have already posted some of what I've read in this book so I will be making this review a short one. Suffice to say that I HIGHLY and without any reservations recommend this book! Especially to anyone going through rough times...I guarantee that this book will help you through such times. And I do not mean by this that one should read this book instead of the Bible...far from it. Only that you read it as well. It is guaranteed to take you right back to the Word and make you ponder with more care the Truth of God's Sovereignty and of His wonderful care for you.
What Mr. Keller does in this fabulous book is to take Psalm 23 and explain it verse by verse, using his vast experience in working with sheep to provide an intimate look at what David the shepherd was referring to as he penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Having grown up in East Africa and having been a shepherd for many years as well as a lay pastor, Mr. Keller does a remarkable job of brining this psalm into our modern times.
Throughout his book I found myself inspired, encouraged, and exhorted. Was I feeling sad? The book instead helped me to take the focus off myself and place it on Him, on appreciating the care with which He is comforting me even in the midst of trials and tribulations that have come close to knocking me down. In fact, one of the most awesome passages comes from the second to last chapter, in which he is discussing "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me..."
After having explained how a good shepherd cares for his flock, and having made the connection to how God cares for us as His sheep, Mr. Keller says the following:
"The sheep with such a shepherd knows of a surety that his is a privileged position. No matter what comes, at least and always he can be perfectly sure that goodness and mercy will be in the picture. He reassures himself that he is ever under sound, sympathetic intelligent, ownership. What more need he care about? Goodness and mercy will be the treatment he receives from his master's expert hands.
Not only is this a bold statement, but it is somewhat of a boast, an exclamation of implicit confidence in the One who controls his career and destiny.
How many Christians actually feel this way about Christ? How many of us are truly concerned that no matter what occurs in our lives we are being followed by goodness and mercy? Of course it is very simple to speak this way when things are going well. If my health is excellent; my income is flourishing; my family is well; and my friends are fond of me it is not hard to say "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
But what about when one's body breaks down? What do I say when I stand by helpless, as I have had to do, and watch a life partner die by degrees under appalling pain? What is my reaction when my job folds up and there is no money to meet bills? What happens if my children can't make their grades in school or get caught running with the wrong gang? What do I say when suddenly, without good grounds, friends prove false and turn against me?
These are the sort of times that test a person's confidence in the care of Christ. These are the occasions during which the chips are down and life is more than a list of pious platitudes. When my little world is falling apart and the dream castles of my ambitions and hopes crumble into ruins can I honestly declare "Surely--yes---surely--goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life"? Or is this sheer humbug and a maddening mockery?"
Wow. These words pierced my soul! "When my little world is falling apart and...my ambitions and hopes crumble into ruins..." This is EXACTLY where I feel myself to be! My pride has crumbled, my hopes of spending the rest of my life in the same job, of one day being the director of my place of employment...all of this has crumbled before my very eyes. All of this ambition has seen its end. What makes matters worse is that I don't know that I could have done anything to prevent this! So at this point...how do I react? Believe it or not, by clinging to His promises! By clinging to His love. By knowing that He is my God and His will be done and His name be glorified in all things, whether through my restoration or my humiliation. And this is not easy to write. Nor was it an easy place to come to.
And this is why I highly recommend "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23" by Phillip Keller. After the wonderful Word of our Lord, his book helped me come to a place where I can say as the psalmist did, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
So hurry up and read it! :)
I have already posted some of what I've read in this book so I will be making this review a short one. Suffice to say that I HIGHLY and without any reservations recommend this book! Especially to anyone going through rough times...I guarantee that this book will help you through such times. And I do not mean by this that one should read this book instead of the Bible...far from it. Only that you read it as well. It is guaranteed to take you right back to the Word and make you ponder with more care the Truth of God's Sovereignty and of His wonderful care for you.
What Mr. Keller does in this fabulous book is to take Psalm 23 and explain it verse by verse, using his vast experience in working with sheep to provide an intimate look at what David the shepherd was referring to as he penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Having grown up in East Africa and having been a shepherd for many years as well as a lay pastor, Mr. Keller does a remarkable job of brining this psalm into our modern times.
Throughout his book I found myself inspired, encouraged, and exhorted. Was I feeling sad? The book instead helped me to take the focus off myself and place it on Him, on appreciating the care with which He is comforting me even in the midst of trials and tribulations that have come close to knocking me down. In fact, one of the most awesome passages comes from the second to last chapter, in which he is discussing "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me..."
After having explained how a good shepherd cares for his flock, and having made the connection to how God cares for us as His sheep, Mr. Keller says the following:
"The sheep with such a shepherd knows of a surety that his is a privileged position. No matter what comes, at least and always he can be perfectly sure that goodness and mercy will be in the picture. He reassures himself that he is ever under sound, sympathetic intelligent, ownership. What more need he care about? Goodness and mercy will be the treatment he receives from his master's expert hands.
Not only is this a bold statement, but it is somewhat of a boast, an exclamation of implicit confidence in the One who controls his career and destiny.
How many Christians actually feel this way about Christ? How many of us are truly concerned that no matter what occurs in our lives we are being followed by goodness and mercy? Of course it is very simple to speak this way when things are going well. If my health is excellent; my income is flourishing; my family is well; and my friends are fond of me it is not hard to say "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
But what about when one's body breaks down? What do I say when I stand by helpless, as I have had to do, and watch a life partner die by degrees under appalling pain? What is my reaction when my job folds up and there is no money to meet bills? What happens if my children can't make their grades in school or get caught running with the wrong gang? What do I say when suddenly, without good grounds, friends prove false and turn against me?
These are the sort of times that test a person's confidence in the care of Christ. These are the occasions during which the chips are down and life is more than a list of pious platitudes. When my little world is falling apart and the dream castles of my ambitions and hopes crumble into ruins can I honestly declare "Surely--yes---surely--goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life"? Or is this sheer humbug and a maddening mockery?"
Wow. These words pierced my soul! "When my little world is falling apart and...my ambitions and hopes crumble into ruins..." This is EXACTLY where I feel myself to be! My pride has crumbled, my hopes of spending the rest of my life in the same job, of one day being the director of my place of employment...all of this has crumbled before my very eyes. All of this ambition has seen its end. What makes matters worse is that I don't know that I could have done anything to prevent this! So at this point...how do I react? Believe it or not, by clinging to His promises! By clinging to His love. By knowing that He is my God and His will be done and His name be glorified in all things, whether through my restoration or my humiliation. And this is not easy to write. Nor was it an easy place to come to.
And this is why I highly recommend "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23" by Phillip Keller. After the wonderful Word of our Lord, his book helped me come to a place where I can say as the psalmist did, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
So hurry up and read it! :)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Thoughts For Today
Hello all:
These last couple of days have been good days for me and my family. We are feeling a sense of peace about the situation we find ourselves in and are looking forward to what God has in store for us. Regardless of how our situation turns out there will be many changes in our lives, but this is not necessarily bad since sometimes we just need to be reminded by the Lord about what things we need to focus our energies on.
For myself, I think I have come to the realization of how important family is. Whatever decisions we make once this situation is over (favorably I pray), I don't think I'll ever take family for granted again. Just as important is good Christian fellowship. A number of our brethren have been such an encouragement, whether through a quick phone call to check on us or through dropping off a meal. It is amazing how little it takes to be an encouragment! This also is something my wife and I will remember, because so often we have thought that in order to encourage others we would need to go to some big production...but now we both know that it is the little things that matter most. So again, one lesson I will not forget is that we need to work on good Christian fellowship. Maintaining these relationships involves work, and I am more than willing to put the work into these friends who have shown themselves true by their actions. If any of you are reading this: THANK YOU!!
Finally, before I share what I read this morning, I want to say that those with whom I work have been such an enouragement as well. Even though the vast majority do not have any clue about what I'm going through, they have been loving and caring enough to reach out to me with an email, a phone call, or a quick hello as I've seen them when I've gone in to work. To all of you, if any of you read my blog...THANK YOU as well! :)
In my daily reading I've reached the 100 mark on the Psalms, so now I want to share just a few verses that have helped me throughout the day:
1)
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."
- Psalm 100:1-5
What a joy to know that the Lord is good and that His mercy is indeed everlasting! How dare I question my Lord? How dare I ask of Him why He would permit wicked things to come to me? No...I dare not go that route, instead I will join the psalmist in entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise!
2)
"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed."
- Pslam 103:1-6
Throughout this whole ordeal I have been sorely tempted to lash out in anger...to speak terrible things of that one who has brought all of this upon me...to despair and be overcome with the self pity that comes so naturally to us. But God has given me the strength to abstain from these actions. First off...He is the righteous judge and not me. He is the one who will execute judgment. Therefore my concern should be with blessing His holy name and remembering the grace that He has given to me. And one other thing...praying for the salvation of the one whose actions have brought this ordeal upon my family and I. May His mercy and saving grace come upon her.
These last couple of days have been good days for me and my family. We are feeling a sense of peace about the situation we find ourselves in and are looking forward to what God has in store for us. Regardless of how our situation turns out there will be many changes in our lives, but this is not necessarily bad since sometimes we just need to be reminded by the Lord about what things we need to focus our energies on.
For myself, I think I have come to the realization of how important family is. Whatever decisions we make once this situation is over (favorably I pray), I don't think I'll ever take family for granted again. Just as important is good Christian fellowship. A number of our brethren have been such an encouragement, whether through a quick phone call to check on us or through dropping off a meal. It is amazing how little it takes to be an encouragment! This also is something my wife and I will remember, because so often we have thought that in order to encourage others we would need to go to some big production...but now we both know that it is the little things that matter most. So again, one lesson I will not forget is that we need to work on good Christian fellowship. Maintaining these relationships involves work, and I am more than willing to put the work into these friends who have shown themselves true by their actions. If any of you are reading this: THANK YOU!!
Finally, before I share what I read this morning, I want to say that those with whom I work have been such an enouragement as well. Even though the vast majority do not have any clue about what I'm going through, they have been loving and caring enough to reach out to me with an email, a phone call, or a quick hello as I've seen them when I've gone in to work. To all of you, if any of you read my blog...THANK YOU as well! :)
In my daily reading I've reached the 100 mark on the Psalms, so now I want to share just a few verses that have helped me throughout the day:
1)
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."
- Psalm 100:1-5
What a joy to know that the Lord is good and that His mercy is indeed everlasting! How dare I question my Lord? How dare I ask of Him why He would permit wicked things to come to me? No...I dare not go that route, instead I will join the psalmist in entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise!
2)
"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed."
- Pslam 103:1-6
Throughout this whole ordeal I have been sorely tempted to lash out in anger...to speak terrible things of that one who has brought all of this upon me...to despair and be overcome with the self pity that comes so naturally to us. But God has given me the strength to abstain from these actions. First off...He is the righteous judge and not me. He is the one who will execute judgment. Therefore my concern should be with blessing His holy name and remembering the grace that He has given to me. And one other thing...praying for the salvation of the one whose actions have brought this ordeal upon my family and I. May His mercy and saving grace come upon her.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Valleys of our Lives
These past couple of weeks I have been feeling like I am riding an emotional roller coaster, up and down, sad and happy, fearful and hopeful. Today was a roller coaster in itself. This morning I felt so confident, so sure that the light was in sight...but this evening I am once more feeling like all is darkness. I don't know what I would do were it not for the love and the support of friends and family who love me, support me, and do it all unconditionally. I especially don't know how I could survive if it were not for my hope in God. How do those who lack faith do it? How do they manage to continue to take a single step without the comfort of serving a sovereign Lord? Even in the midst of this valley I am walking in, even in the midst of what my weakness calls darkness; God is with me. God lends me the comfort and the strength to know that no matter what may come, He is with me every step of the way. The world may curse me, friends may abandon me, family may even harbor doubt, but God is faithful and He is steadfast through it all. Indeed I am finding that it is not easy being a vessel of clay in the hands of a Master Potter. It is not easy to be conformed into the image of the Son. But O what joy it is to know without a shadow of a doubt that I am His! Whatever may come, I belong to Him. And do you want to know something? Even as I write this I feel comfort. I won't lie and say I feel boundless joy at my circumstances. I won't deny my heart is filled with ache right now. I will not avoid the confession that I am close to begging God to remove this cup from me. But, at the same time, I cannot escape from the fact that His Word brings me a deep sense of comfort. I have already quoted from this verse before, but it still applies:
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him"
- Job 13:15
This evening I have received comfort from another source as well. In my post earlier today I mentioned the book "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23." Well I read the following this evening which filled my heart with a sense of anticipation at what God may have in store for me:
"Again and again I remind myself, "O God, this seems terribly tough, but I know for a fact that in the end it will prove to be the easiest and gentlest way to get me onto higher ground." Then when I thank Him for the difficult things, the dark days, I discover that He is there with me in my distress. At that point my panic, my fear, my misgivings give way t0 calm and quiet confidence in His care. Somehow, in a serene quiet way I am assured all will turn out well for my best because He is with me in the valley and things are under His control.
To come to this conviction in the Christian life is to have entered into an attitude of quiet acceptance of every adversity. It is to have moved onto higher ground with God. Knowing Him in this new and intimate manner makes life much more bearable than before...
...As Christians we will sooner or later discover that it is in the valleys of our lives that we find refreshment from God Himself. It is not until we have walked with Him through some very deep troubles that we discover He can lead us to find our refreshment in Him right there in the midst of our difficulty. We are thrilled beyond words when there comes restoration to our souls and spirits from His own gracious Spirit...
...The corollary to this is that only those who have been through such dark valleys can console, comfort or encourage others in similar situations. Often we pray or sing the hymn requesting God to make us an inspiration to someone else. We want, instinctively, to be a channel of blessing to other lives. The simple fact is that just as water can only flow in a ditch or channel or valley- so in the Christian's career, the life of God can only flow in blessing through the valleys that have been carved and cut into our own lives by excruciating experiences.
For example, the one best able to comfort another in bereavement is the person who himself has lost a loved one. The one who can best minister to a broken heart is one who has known a broken heart.
Most of us do not want valleys in our lives. We shrink from them with a sense of fear and foreboding. Yet in spite of our worst misgivings God can bring great benefit and lasting benediction to others through those valleys. Let us not always try to avoid the dark things, the distressing days. They may well prove to be the way of greatest refreshment to ourselves and those around us."
- "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23" by Philip Keller (ISBN 0-310-21435-1) pages 77-80
Powerful words. Mr. Keller shares in this passage his own loss, for his wife died and went to be with the Lord after a two year battle with cancer. I admit that his words are hard, but he is right. How can we accept "good" things from God and then respond in anger to Him when trials come our way? No...we must bear our burdens and pray for comfort. So I end this post with a plea to anyone who might read this:
Pray urgently for me and my family. Pray that His comfort, His mercy, and His grace might fill us every day. Pray that He might choose to take this cup from me...and yet I write that it be His will and not mine that be done.
Can we do any less?
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him"
- Job 13:15
This evening I have received comfort from another source as well. In my post earlier today I mentioned the book "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23." Well I read the following this evening which filled my heart with a sense of anticipation at what God may have in store for me:
"Again and again I remind myself, "O God, this seems terribly tough, but I know for a fact that in the end it will prove to be the easiest and gentlest way to get me onto higher ground." Then when I thank Him for the difficult things, the dark days, I discover that He is there with me in my distress. At that point my panic, my fear, my misgivings give way t0 calm and quiet confidence in His care. Somehow, in a serene quiet way I am assured all will turn out well for my best because He is with me in the valley and things are under His control.
To come to this conviction in the Christian life is to have entered into an attitude of quiet acceptance of every adversity. It is to have moved onto higher ground with God. Knowing Him in this new and intimate manner makes life much more bearable than before...
...As Christians we will sooner or later discover that it is in the valleys of our lives that we find refreshment from God Himself. It is not until we have walked with Him through some very deep troubles that we discover He can lead us to find our refreshment in Him right there in the midst of our difficulty. We are thrilled beyond words when there comes restoration to our souls and spirits from His own gracious Spirit...
...The corollary to this is that only those who have been through such dark valleys can console, comfort or encourage others in similar situations. Often we pray or sing the hymn requesting God to make us an inspiration to someone else. We want, instinctively, to be a channel of blessing to other lives. The simple fact is that just as water can only flow in a ditch or channel or valley- so in the Christian's career, the life of God can only flow in blessing through the valleys that have been carved and cut into our own lives by excruciating experiences.
For example, the one best able to comfort another in bereavement is the person who himself has lost a loved one. The one who can best minister to a broken heart is one who has known a broken heart.
Most of us do not want valleys in our lives. We shrink from them with a sense of fear and foreboding. Yet in spite of our worst misgivings God can bring great benefit and lasting benediction to others through those valleys. Let us not always try to avoid the dark things, the distressing days. They may well prove to be the way of greatest refreshment to ourselves and those around us."
- "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23" by Philip Keller (ISBN 0-310-21435-1) pages 77-80
Powerful words. Mr. Keller shares in this passage his own loss, for his wife died and went to be with the Lord after a two year battle with cancer. I admit that his words are hard, but he is right. How can we accept "good" things from God and then respond in anger to Him when trials come our way? No...we must bear our burdens and pray for comfort. So I end this post with a plea to anyone who might read this:
Pray urgently for me and my family. Pray that His comfort, His mercy, and His grace might fill us every day. Pray that He might choose to take this cup from me...and yet I write that it be His will and not mine that be done.
Can we do any less?
Another Update...sort of!
Hello to my reader(s)!
I wish I could announce on this post that my trials are over but, alas, I cannot. The game of waiting to see continues, and yet there is much joy in this waiting because I feel closer to God than I ever have before. Please pray that I will live every day of my live with this sense of being pulled only to His Word. May the rest of my life be spent in contemplation of His mighty works and of His amazing grace...a grace all the more astounding when I consider how completely undeserving I am of it.
I am in the process of reading a book called "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23." In addition to this I am reading through the Psalms and trying to read Psalm 23 every day as well so that as I read the book I can be more aware of what he discusses in it. Anyhow, I won't say too much about the book because when I am finished with it I am going to review it as one of my posts. For now, know that it is an awesome book and well worth the read, especially in times of trouble. It has brought me conviction, comfort, and a renewed sense of His presence. Let others turn to trash like "The Shack" for inspiration, I will turn to the Word and to books that remain faithful to the teachings of His Word!
I read the following from Psalm 71:12-16 yesterday and it reminds me that He alone is worth our trust...in nothing or nobody else can we rely on so completely. And with the Psalmist, I too will declare that salvation lies in Him alone!
"O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
I wish I could announce on this post that my trials are over but, alas, I cannot. The game of waiting to see continues, and yet there is much joy in this waiting because I feel closer to God than I ever have before. Please pray that I will live every day of my live with this sense of being pulled only to His Word. May the rest of my life be spent in contemplation of His mighty works and of His amazing grace...a grace all the more astounding when I consider how completely undeserving I am of it.
I am in the process of reading a book called "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23." In addition to this I am reading through the Psalms and trying to read Psalm 23 every day as well so that as I read the book I can be more aware of what he discusses in it. Anyhow, I won't say too much about the book because when I am finished with it I am going to review it as one of my posts. For now, know that it is an awesome book and well worth the read, especially in times of trouble. It has brought me conviction, comfort, and a renewed sense of His presence. Let others turn to trash like "The Shack" for inspiration, I will turn to the Word and to books that remain faithful to the teachings of His Word!
I read the following from Psalm 71:12-16 yesterday and it reminds me that He alone is worth our trust...in nothing or nobody else can we rely on so completely. And with the Psalmist, I too will declare that salvation lies in Him alone!
"O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Update and Romans 15:14-21
Hello everybody!
Last week I had the privilege of teaching the youth Sunday school class at church and I taught from the verses cited in the title for this post. There were about eight young people in the class and while about half of them seemed not to be interested at all, we teach the Word anyhow right? :)
Actually the whole lesson went well and I was pleased to have the opportunity to take my mind off of my own troubles. The lesson I presented is found at the end of these comments, but I also wanted to tell my reader(s) that I am, personally, doing well. The Lord has filled me with such peace and having my family visiting us right now has been such a blessing and an encouragement as we meditate together on His Word. What a wonderful thing it is to have family that love the Lord! Anyhow, whatever the Lord has in store for me I am confident that He will see me through any further trials and tribulations. And FYI, I am hoping that at the beginning of this coming week I will be able to know what is going to happen, for better or worse! So thanks to all of you for your prayers...please continue to pray for me and for God's will to be accomplished in all things.
Here now is the lesson:
Heritage Bible Church
Youth Sunday School Class
Romans 15:14-21
Prayer
Read Romans 15:14-21
v. 14)
In the previous section, Paul has encouraged the church to bear with one another…in other words, to put up with one another. Here, now, he turns towards giving them some encouragement. As you know from having studied the previous chapters, there have been some places in which Paul has been harsh in his letter, and this has been in order to correct false beliefs and/or behaviors in the church. Even so, Paul is finishing his letter and so he wants to make sure he himself encourages them and by example shows them that he can bear with them as they must bear with one another.
Notice what he says to them…he is confident that they can indeed admonish one another.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:3
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17
So we understand that to admonish someone means to “encourage, warn, or advice.”
But…
Ask) Why are they able to do this?
Because they are full of goodness and knowledge!
Ask) How does being full of goodness enable the church to admonish one another?
If you are full of goodness, will you speak badly of those around you? Will you gossip about those who are struggling? Of course not? What will happen? One full of goodness will reach out in love to the one who is hurting, or in error, or who needs a word of advice.
Ask) How does being full of knowledge enable the church to admonish one another?
The best way to answer this is to re-read 2 Timothy 3:16-17...what does it say?
So…is this the responsibility only of the pastor? Or only of the elders? NO!!!! It is the responsibility of every one of us! And realize this, if we are Believers then we are a family. But we will never act like a true family until we begin to bear one another’s burdens, and yes, not until we begin to admonish one another!
v. 15-16)
Here he reminds the church that he has written quite boldly to them…and he certainly does not exaggerate does he? After all, if you can recall Romans 1:16-2:1 you know he was indeed quite harsh with them!
Notice, however, that he is quick to explain himself to them…they are his brethren and what he said to them he did out of a desire to extend grace to them…the same type of grace that he had received from God!
Ask) What do you think Paul means by this?
(Remind them of Acts 7:54-60, of Paul’s persecution in Acts 8:1, and of his conversion in Acts 9, then discuss his desire to see them turn away from sin.)
Another thing is that he explains to them that what he has written he does in order to remind them of what they should already know. This is similar to what Peter says to the church in 2 Peter 1:12 and 2 Peter 3;1
This should serve to remind US that we must never be negligent with the Word of God. In other words, just because you’ve read a passage before does not mean you should never read it again….and just because you’ve heard a sermon on a certain passage does not mean that hearing it again will not help you out.
Of this, Matthew Henry says the following:
“People commonly excuse themselves from hearing the word with this, that the minister can tell them nothing but what they knew before. If it be so, yet have they not need to know it better, and to be put in mind of it?”
So it is never bad to be reminded of that which we already know. The reading and the studying of the Word of God are never done in vain! Someone always benefits from it. And if nothing else, we who claim to love Christ as our Lord and Savior should never tire of hearing His Truth’s proclaimed!
Finally though, we see in these verses that Paul refers himself as a:
Minister of Jesus Christ
Minister to the Gentiles
Minister of the Gospel of God
Minister of Jesus Christ:
What greater identification can we possible have than to that of the Person of Jesus Christ as our Lord? None! To be known as a Christian should be our greatest desire…meaning that it is a sign of our walk with Him, if we are being sincere! :)
As we’ve touched on before, we are all ministers of Christ. We are all called to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)…and what we refer ourselves as, Christians, means “little Christ’s”! So our entire identify is tied up with that of the One whom we serve!
Minister to the Gentiles:
Paul had been told by Jesus Himself that He would send him to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21)! Furthermore, Paul acknowledges this not only in this passage but in Galatians 2:7-9!
Ask) Why should we who are gathered here in this room be thankful that Paul was commissioned by the Lord as the Apostle to the Gentiles?
Unless anyone here is Jewish…WE are Gentiles! :)
Read Galatians 3:26-29
Minister of the Gospel of God:
That Paul was sent to the Gentiles we know…that He was sent as a minister of the Gospel we should be thankful for! He was sent to bring the offering of salvation to those who were not Jews!
And now WE are a royal priesthood of God!
And just as Paul considered the conversion of the Gentiles an offering to God, WE should likewise seek the conversion of those around us…that they might be an offering to our awesome God! And here is the key…we preach Christ because we love people…yes, no doubt. But our first priority and our main reason for preaching to the lost is that we love God!! (Discuss)
v. 17-19)
To whom does Paul give the glory for all of his work?
To God!
We see here that Paul realizes that while He is called to be the minister to the Gentiles, it is God that saves!
Do you understand the importance of this?
You see, it is our calling to preach Christ…it is our calling to proclaim His Truth, but we do not do the work of the Holy Spirit! When it comes to a person coming to saving faith, this is not what we can take credit for! We can only glory in the fact that we were used to accomplish this but not that we ourselves accomplished the work! Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
And so Paul declares that He has preached from the center of the Jewish world, all the way to the farthest corners of the known world. And everywhere he went the work that he did was accomplished through “signs and wonders.”
What does this mean?
Miracles!
Great things were done by God in order to establish the authenticity of the messengers! As the evangelists proclaimed the Truth of God, the miracles performed through the Power of the Spirit served to show authority and power.
Why do we no longer need signs and wonders?
We now have the Word of God! The Bible is what we must turn to in order that we might test the messenger sent by God!
v. 20-21)
It is interesting that Paul says he preached the gospel in places where nobody even knew of Christ…interesting because the reason he gives is that he did not want to build on another man’s foundation. To build on another’s foundation seems to refer to taking the place of someone else or to take credit for the work of another. Also, if he was called to minister to the Gentiles, those who knew not the Lord, then it follows that wherever he went he would be the first to bring the Word of Truth.
Another thing though, is that as one who went to preach where Christ was not know, Paul was purposefully doing the most difficult of missionary work. He had to bring the name of our Lord to those that would resent him, to those that would fight him. So Paul needed to be a man of strength, a man of character, and a man of immense faith.
And we know that he often paid a high price for his devotion to Christ! Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-27
In v. 21 Paul now quotes from the prophet Isaiah and applies the words to his own ministry…emphasizing his role as minister to the Gentiles. You see, Paul’s aim was to see the gospel of Christ preached! And how marvelous a work it is to take His gospel to those who don’t know it! Likewise, every one of us is called to preach the gospel. We may not be called to be professional ministers…but regardless of what we do, we are ministers of Christ to the lost world around us. May we always be faithful to this calling!
Amen?
Close in prayer!
Last week I had the privilege of teaching the youth Sunday school class at church and I taught from the verses cited in the title for this post. There were about eight young people in the class and while about half of them seemed not to be interested at all, we teach the Word anyhow right? :)
Actually the whole lesson went well and I was pleased to have the opportunity to take my mind off of my own troubles. The lesson I presented is found at the end of these comments, but I also wanted to tell my reader(s) that I am, personally, doing well. The Lord has filled me with such peace and having my family visiting us right now has been such a blessing and an encouragement as we meditate together on His Word. What a wonderful thing it is to have family that love the Lord! Anyhow, whatever the Lord has in store for me I am confident that He will see me through any further trials and tribulations. And FYI, I am hoping that at the beginning of this coming week I will be able to know what is going to happen, for better or worse! So thanks to all of you for your prayers...please continue to pray for me and for God's will to be accomplished in all things.
Here now is the lesson:
Heritage Bible Church
Youth Sunday School Class
Romans 15:14-21
Prayer
Read Romans 15:14-21
v. 14)
In the previous section, Paul has encouraged the church to bear with one another…in other words, to put up with one another. Here, now, he turns towards giving them some encouragement. As you know from having studied the previous chapters, there have been some places in which Paul has been harsh in his letter, and this has been in order to correct false beliefs and/or behaviors in the church. Even so, Paul is finishing his letter and so he wants to make sure he himself encourages them and by example shows them that he can bear with them as they must bear with one another.
Notice what he says to them…he is confident that they can indeed admonish one another.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:3
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17
So we understand that to admonish someone means to “encourage, warn, or advice.”
But…
Ask) Why are they able to do this?
Because they are full of goodness and knowledge!
Ask) How does being full of goodness enable the church to admonish one another?
If you are full of goodness, will you speak badly of those around you? Will you gossip about those who are struggling? Of course not? What will happen? One full of goodness will reach out in love to the one who is hurting, or in error, or who needs a word of advice.
Ask) How does being full of knowledge enable the church to admonish one another?
The best way to answer this is to re-read 2 Timothy 3:16-17...what does it say?
So…is this the responsibility only of the pastor? Or only of the elders? NO!!!! It is the responsibility of every one of us! And realize this, if we are Believers then we are a family. But we will never act like a true family until we begin to bear one another’s burdens, and yes, not until we begin to admonish one another!
v. 15-16)
Here he reminds the church that he has written quite boldly to them…and he certainly does not exaggerate does he? After all, if you can recall Romans 1:16-2:1 you know he was indeed quite harsh with them!
Notice, however, that he is quick to explain himself to them…they are his brethren and what he said to them he did out of a desire to extend grace to them…the same type of grace that he had received from God!
Ask) What do you think Paul means by this?
(Remind them of Acts 7:54-60, of Paul’s persecution in Acts 8:1, and of his conversion in Acts 9, then discuss his desire to see them turn away from sin.)
Another thing is that he explains to them that what he has written he does in order to remind them of what they should already know. This is similar to what Peter says to the church in 2 Peter 1:12 and 2 Peter 3;1
This should serve to remind US that we must never be negligent with the Word of God. In other words, just because you’ve read a passage before does not mean you should never read it again….and just because you’ve heard a sermon on a certain passage does not mean that hearing it again will not help you out.
Of this, Matthew Henry says the following:
“People commonly excuse themselves from hearing the word with this, that the minister can tell them nothing but what they knew before. If it be so, yet have they not need to know it better, and to be put in mind of it?”
So it is never bad to be reminded of that which we already know. The reading and the studying of the Word of God are never done in vain! Someone always benefits from it. And if nothing else, we who claim to love Christ as our Lord and Savior should never tire of hearing His Truth’s proclaimed!
Finally though, we see in these verses that Paul refers himself as a:
Minister of Jesus Christ
Minister to the Gentiles
Minister of the Gospel of God
Minister of Jesus Christ:
What greater identification can we possible have than to that of the Person of Jesus Christ as our Lord? None! To be known as a Christian should be our greatest desire…meaning that it is a sign of our walk with Him, if we are being sincere! :)
As we’ve touched on before, we are all ministers of Christ. We are all called to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)…and what we refer ourselves as, Christians, means “little Christ’s”! So our entire identify is tied up with that of the One whom we serve!
Minister to the Gentiles:
Paul had been told by Jesus Himself that He would send him to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21)! Furthermore, Paul acknowledges this not only in this passage but in Galatians 2:7-9!
Ask) Why should we who are gathered here in this room be thankful that Paul was commissioned by the Lord as the Apostle to the Gentiles?
Unless anyone here is Jewish…WE are Gentiles! :)
Read Galatians 3:26-29
Minister of the Gospel of God:
That Paul was sent to the Gentiles we know…that He was sent as a minister of the Gospel we should be thankful for! He was sent to bring the offering of salvation to those who were not Jews!
And now WE are a royal priesthood of God!
And just as Paul considered the conversion of the Gentiles an offering to God, WE should likewise seek the conversion of those around us…that they might be an offering to our awesome God! And here is the key…we preach Christ because we love people…yes, no doubt. But our first priority and our main reason for preaching to the lost is that we love God!! (Discuss)
v. 17-19)
To whom does Paul give the glory for all of his work?
To God!
We see here that Paul realizes that while He is called to be the minister to the Gentiles, it is God that saves!
Do you understand the importance of this?
You see, it is our calling to preach Christ…it is our calling to proclaim His Truth, but we do not do the work of the Holy Spirit! When it comes to a person coming to saving faith, this is not what we can take credit for! We can only glory in the fact that we were used to accomplish this but not that we ourselves accomplished the work! Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
And so Paul declares that He has preached from the center of the Jewish world, all the way to the farthest corners of the known world. And everywhere he went the work that he did was accomplished through “signs and wonders.”
What does this mean?
Miracles!
Great things were done by God in order to establish the authenticity of the messengers! As the evangelists proclaimed the Truth of God, the miracles performed through the Power of the Spirit served to show authority and power.
Why do we no longer need signs and wonders?
We now have the Word of God! The Bible is what we must turn to in order that we might test the messenger sent by God!
v. 20-21)
It is interesting that Paul says he preached the gospel in places where nobody even knew of Christ…interesting because the reason he gives is that he did not want to build on another man’s foundation. To build on another’s foundation seems to refer to taking the place of someone else or to take credit for the work of another. Also, if he was called to minister to the Gentiles, those who knew not the Lord, then it follows that wherever he went he would be the first to bring the Word of Truth.
Another thing though, is that as one who went to preach where Christ was not know, Paul was purposefully doing the most difficult of missionary work. He had to bring the name of our Lord to those that would resent him, to those that would fight him. So Paul needed to be a man of strength, a man of character, and a man of immense faith.
And we know that he often paid a high price for his devotion to Christ! Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-27
In v. 21 Paul now quotes from the prophet Isaiah and applies the words to his own ministry…emphasizing his role as minister to the Gentiles. You see, Paul’s aim was to see the gospel of Christ preached! And how marvelous a work it is to take His gospel to those who don’t know it! Likewise, every one of us is called to preach the gospel. We may not be called to be professional ministers…but regardless of what we do, we are ministers of Christ to the lost world around us. May we always be faithful to this calling!
Amen?
Close in prayer!
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