"For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:25).
According to reports in the Turkish media, a large herd of sheep jumped over a cliff one after the other in IETANBUL, Turkey. The Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched in stunned silence as a total of 1500 sheep leaped off the same cliff before their eyes. In the end, 450 sheep lay dead on top of one another in a billowy white pile. Those who jumped later were saved because the sheep that went before them cushioned their fall.
I'm sure that we would all agree that sheep are pretty dumb. And it is because of this fact the bible likens believers and non believers unto to these dumb animals. There are many things that we can say about our likeness to sheep, but one that Peter points out is that like sheep we are prone to wander (stray). We are not just susceptible to briefly getting off the path of obedience. If we are not vigilant we can plunge over a cliff of spiritual ruin and destruction just as many professing Christians have before us. Just today I read an article by a well known Pastor of a large church who recently discovered that a staff member and close friend was engaging in marital infidelity. The Pastor stated, "I was crushed. I didn't see it coming." The point is that we all are susceptible to straying in ways that we may have never imagined we would stray. When believers stray the problem is never that our great God and shepherd was asleep on the job. Christians stray not because of God's failure to lead, but because of our failure to follow.
How does God shepherd His sheep? First of all God shepherds us through His word. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me..." The author of Hebrews wrote, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways" (Heb. 3:7-10). Are you spending time in God's word and under it's teaching listening for God's voice with a heart that's eager to follow? Secondly, the Lord shepherds believers by His Spirit who dwells within them. Through his Spirit God illuminates his word, convicts us of sin and guides into all truth. Thirdly, God has ordained the church for believers to grow spiritually as they come under the oversight of godly leaders and serve the body. Christians that fall off of cliffs of immorality and spiritual ruin don't usually decide one day that they're going to jump for the fun of it. They typically begin to drift away by making small compromises. Among other things, they begin to compromise how they use their time, who they hang out with and what they allow themselves to watch. Its been said, compromises tolerated over a long period of time can lead to major disasters.
One of the major causes of spiritual drifting is neglecting to spend time in prayer and the word communing with the shepherd and nurturer of our souls. When we neglect the nurturing of our spiritual lives we are easy prey for the enemy. "The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore, you must never cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and the left are enemies who never rest." (Thomas à Kempis). Stay close and under the loving care of the shepherd and overseer of your soul.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The testing for your faith
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).
Someone has wisely said that "a faith that can't be tested can't be trusted." It's easy to be joyful and to praise God when things seem to be going our way. But what happens when our faith comes under fire. How do we react when we suffer pain and loss? Trials have a way of revealing what our faith is really made of. Trials have a way of exposing that our faith is often not in the person of God, but in what seems to us to be favorable circumstance. Jesus suffered and died on a cross not to guarantee favorable circumstance here on earth to those who believe, but to pay the price for the sins that separate us from a Holy God. By the blood of Jesus we can draw near to God, we can know him and His life transforming, joy producing, soul satisfying glory. Through the gospel we have everything that we need, namely, God himself.
But although we have everything we need in Christ, sometimes we settle for lesser things. Sometimes we look to the world to find the joy, acceptance and love that we were created to find ultimately in God. Therefore, God will allow trials to reveal to us that we are trusting in and looking to others things to find what we can only find in God.
James writes that we should "count it all joy...when you meet trials of various kinds..." How is this possible and what does this mean? If we lose a love one or find out we have cancer should we be all giddy about it? In other words, should we for example, celebrate gleefully the news that a loved one died in a tragic accident? When we or others we know encounter difficulties we often say, "All things work together for good." It is so very true that God is sovereign over all things and is able to work it all for good. But trusting in God's sovereignty doesn't necessarily eliminate the pain. But what it can do is enables us to persevere despite the pain knowing that God will use it to increase our faith in Him, to deepen our dependence on his sufficient grace.
When James says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" he means that although we will experience suffering there can be with that suffering an inner joy that comes from looking unto Jesus in faith and knowing that he is using it to perfect us. And this perfecting that comes through trials is not just about becoming a better you. The perfecting that comes through trials is about more fully depending on all that we are in Christ. In a time of great suffering Job said, "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold" (Job 23:12). The greatest blessing that Job experienced was not the restoring of what he lost, as many have imagined, but a higher, more glorious view of God.
The greatest value of trials is that they can bring us to more fully experience the glory of God as we look to him and in turn come to more fully express his glory to the world. Because of this glorious outcome we can count it all joy when our faith is put to the test.
But although we have everything we need in Christ, sometimes we settle for lesser things. Sometimes we look to the world to find the joy, acceptance and love that we were created to find ultimately in God. Therefore, God will allow trials to reveal to us that we are trusting in and looking to others things to find what we can only find in God.
James writes that we should "count it all joy...when you meet trials of various kinds..." How is this possible and what does this mean? If we lose a love one or find out we have cancer should we be all giddy about it? In other words, should we for example, celebrate gleefully the news that a loved one died in a tragic accident? When we or others we know encounter difficulties we often say, "All things work together for good." It is so very true that God is sovereign over all things and is able to work it all for good. But trusting in God's sovereignty doesn't necessarily eliminate the pain. But what it can do is enables us to persevere despite the pain knowing that God will use it to increase our faith in Him, to deepen our dependence on his sufficient grace.
When James says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" he means that although we will experience suffering there can be with that suffering an inner joy that comes from looking unto Jesus in faith and knowing that he is using it to perfect us. And this perfecting that comes through trials is not just about becoming a better you. The perfecting that comes through trials is about more fully depending on all that we are in Christ. In a time of great suffering Job said, "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold" (Job 23:12). The greatest blessing that Job experienced was not the restoring of what he lost, as many have imagined, but a higher, more glorious view of God.
The greatest value of trials is that they can bring us to more fully experience the glory of God as we look to him and in turn come to more fully express his glory to the world. Because of this glorious outcome we can count it all joy when our faith is put to the test.
"God On The Mountain"
Life is easy, when your up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace of mind
Like you’ve never known
But then things change and your down in the valley
Don’t lose hope for your never alone
Like you’ve never known
But then things change and your down in the valley
Don’t lose hope for your never alone
[Chorus]
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God of the bad times
And the God of the day is still God of the night
When things go wrong He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God of the bad times
And the God of the day is still God of the night
V. 2
You talk of faith when your up on the mountain
Oh, but the talk comes so easy
When life’s at its best
But its down in the valley of trials and temptations
That’s where faith is really put to the test
Oh, but the talk comes so easy
When life’s at its best
But its down in the valley of trials and temptations
That’s where faith is really put to the test
Repeat Chorus 2 times and then:
And the God of the day is still God of the night
Thursday, October 25, 2012
God equips us to do his will
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Heb. 13:20-21).
One of the goals of the book of Hebrews was to show the superiority of Jesus and the new covenant in contrast to Moses and the old covenant. And in the light of the greater blessings of the gospel the book closes with a prayer for God to equip believers to do His will. Through the gospel not only are believers saved, but they are also assured that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will work powerfully within us to accomplish his purposes. It's been said, "God's will done in God's way will never lack God's supply." The blood that Jesus shed on the cross provided us with access to the throne of God's grace. This access is a believers greatest asset. But the access is not ultimately for us to get God to do what we want, but so that we may seek Him to do what he wants through us for his glory. Seek Him in prayer and trust him to do in you and through you what only he can. He is able!
One of the goals of the book of Hebrews was to show the superiority of Jesus and the new covenant in contrast to Moses and the old covenant. And in the light of the greater blessings of the gospel the book closes with a prayer for God to equip believers to do His will. Through the gospel not only are believers saved, but they are also assured that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will work powerfully within us to accomplish his purposes. It's been said, "God's will done in God's way will never lack God's supply." The blood that Jesus shed on the cross provided us with access to the throne of God's grace. This access is a believers greatest asset. But the access is not ultimately for us to get God to do what we want, but so that we may seek Him to do what he wants through us for his glory. Seek Him in prayer and trust him to do in you and through you what only he can. He is able!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Let us draw near
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb. 10:20-21).
Notice that the author of Hebrews reminds believers how, with great confidence and full assurance of faith, they are to draw near to God. Where does this confidence and assurance by which we are to draw close to God come from? It comes "by the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19). To be near to God is why we were saved, its what our souls long for and its the only way that we will be truly satisfied.
Because of are sin we deserve to be separated from God for all eternity in hell. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)" (Eph. 2:4-5). God gave his best when he gave his son who shed his blood that we may boldly and confidently draw near to God. The blood of Jesus has opened wide the door for us to commune with God. Jesus invites us, "Come unto me" and yet many professing Christians do not come. Why? Many Christians have allowed themselves to be distracted, deceived and drawn away from God by the allurements of this world. Another cause is that some have allowed the guilt of their sin to keep them from drawing near. But the author of Hebrews writes, "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience..." When our past sins condemn us we must remember that we've been washed in the blood of the lamb. If we sin against God in the present we must fully embrace the promise, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "Even when we feel dull and lifeless, we should say, "O God, I am dull and lifeless, and there is only one hope for me, nearness to you. I come. Have mercy on me and touch me with your flame and set me on fire again. Give me life in your presence. Open my eyes to your glory and make me live again" (Piper). Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
"Draw me near"
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, By the pow’r of grace divine; Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in Thine.
Oh, the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God I commune as friend with friend!
There are depths of love that I cannot know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Notice that the author of Hebrews reminds believers how, with great confidence and full assurance of faith, they are to draw near to God. Where does this confidence and assurance by which we are to draw close to God come from? It comes "by the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19). To be near to God is why we were saved, its what our souls long for and its the only way that we will be truly satisfied.
Because of are sin we deserve to be separated from God for all eternity in hell. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)" (Eph. 2:4-5). God gave his best when he gave his son who shed his blood that we may boldly and confidently draw near to God. The blood of Jesus has opened wide the door for us to commune with God. Jesus invites us, "Come unto me" and yet many professing Christians do not come. Why? Many Christians have allowed themselves to be distracted, deceived and drawn away from God by the allurements of this world. Another cause is that some have allowed the guilt of their sin to keep them from drawing near. But the author of Hebrews writes, "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience..." When our past sins condemn us we must remember that we've been washed in the blood of the lamb. If we sin against God in the present we must fully embrace the promise, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "Even when we feel dull and lifeless, we should say, "O God, I am dull and lifeless, and there is only one hope for me, nearness to you. I come. Have mercy on me and touch me with your flame and set me on fire again. Give me life in your presence. Open my eyes to your glory and make me live again" (Piper). Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
"Draw me near"
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, By the pow’r of grace divine; Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in Thine.
Oh, the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God I commune as friend with friend!
There are depths of love that I cannot know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Monday, October 22, 2012
What ever happen to "Sweet Hour of Prayer"
"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon..." (Ex. 30:8-9).
In the bible incense is symbolic of the prayers of God's people (Rev. 5:8; 8:3). Just as Aaron the priest was to burn incense before the Lord in the tabernacle continually, so believers today are to offer up prayers to God that burn from their hearts. The incense that Aaron was to burn unto God was not only to be offered continually, but it was to be made of very specific ingredients. If it did not contain those ingredients, even if it was offered continually, it would be viewed by God as strange fire.
Is the sweet incense of prayer burning in our hearts and in our churches today? Jesus said, "My fathers house shall be called a house of prayer." But sadly, God's house today is known for everything else but prayer. It's known for programs, music, and sunday morning talks, but the fire of prayer has gone out. Prayer in many churches today seems to be more of a formality to be endured than a foundation to be established. Call for a prayer meeting and no ones shows. Whatever happen to "Sweet hour of prayer? Sweet hour of prayer has become the bitter hour of prayer.
Besides the promises of God that assure that he moves in answer to prayer, do we not have enough reason to cry out to God continually. During the early church age when Peter was thrown in prison awaiting execution Luke writes, "...but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church" (Acts 12:5). And when Peter was released in answer to "earnest prayer" he went to the church where Luke records, "many were gathered together and were praying (Acts 12:13).
Besides the promises of God that assure that he moves in answer to prayer, do we not have enough reason to cry out to God continually. During the early church age when Peter was thrown in prison awaiting execution Luke writes, "...but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church" (Acts 12:5). And when Peter was released in answer to "earnest prayer" he went to the church where Luke records, "many were gathered together and were praying (Acts 12:13).
Sadly, today the last place where many Christians are gathered is in a prayer meeting. In fact, many churches have abandoned their prayer meetings. I believe one reason they have is because Christians no longer see the "benefit" of the prayer meeting. Perhaps the reason that some churches have not experienced the benefits of prayer is because what they are offering to God is not "earnest prayer" but "strange fire." Prayer that is not first offered unto God in worship, mixed with faith and fervency, will not be a sweet aroma unto God. James wrote, "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16 KJV)
E.M. Bounds profoundly hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "Little prayer is the characteristic of a backslidden age and of a backslidden church. Whenever there is little praying in the pulpit or in the pew, spiritual bankruptcy is imminent and inevitable. The cause of God has no commercial age, no cultured age, no age of education, no age of money. But He has one golden age, and that is the age of prayer. When its leaders are men of prayer, when prayer is the prevailing element in worship, like the incense giving continual fragrance to its service, then that cause of God will be triumphant."
The church today has lost its power to spread the good news of Jesus in our world. And the need of the hour is to return once again to the sweet hour of prayer. We don't need to reinvent the church to find the power and presence of God. No, we don't need to reinvent the church as much as we need to rediscover the lost secret to it's power, namely "prayer." May our hearts and churches burn once again with the sweet incense of prayer to the glory of our savior and the spread of his cause in the world.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
For love sake
"Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus" (Philemon 8-9).
In Paul's letter to Philemon he was writing on behalf of Onesimus. Onesimus was an indentured servant of Philemon's, who had ran off and apparently taken a few things which did not belong to him. Somewhere along the way Onesimus came to Christ under Paul's ministry. And after spending some time with Paul it was time for Onesimus to return to Philemon and fulfill his obligations. But Paul did not want Philemon to hold anything against him, but to receive him back as a brother in Christ. However, Paul did not want Philemon to do anything out of obligation, but for love's sake. Therefore Paul made an appeal to him rather than a demand. Paul could have commanded Philemon to do what he felt was right. But Paul's power and authority was tempered by love. It wasn't about imposing his will or his preferences. The appeal that Paul made sprung from love that was not about self interest, but the interests of others. Making appeals that are motivated by love rather than demands motivated by self interests opens the door for others to respond in kind. May all that we do be motivated by the love of Jesus to the glory of his name.
In Paul's letter to Philemon he was writing on behalf of Onesimus. Onesimus was an indentured servant of Philemon's, who had ran off and apparently taken a few things which did not belong to him. Somewhere along the way Onesimus came to Christ under Paul's ministry. And after spending some time with Paul it was time for Onesimus to return to Philemon and fulfill his obligations. But Paul did not want Philemon to hold anything against him, but to receive him back as a brother in Christ. However, Paul did not want Philemon to do anything out of obligation, but for love's sake. Therefore Paul made an appeal to him rather than a demand. Paul could have commanded Philemon to do what he felt was right. But Paul's power and authority was tempered by love. It wasn't about imposing his will or his preferences. The appeal that Paul made sprung from love that was not about self interest, but the interests of others. Making appeals that are motivated by love rather than demands motivated by self interests opens the door for others to respond in kind. May all that we do be motivated by the love of Jesus to the glory of his name.
Keep your hearts pure
"To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled" (Titus 1:15).
In 1974 a research firm surveyed 35,000 young people from the ages of 16 to 25 to determine their values. The study revealed that only 31% viewed premarital relationships as morally wrong, compared to 52% in 1969. Opposition to abortion dropped from 58% to 45%. The proportion who considered living a clean moral life a very important value fell from 71% to 52%. That was 1974. What's it like today? I heard a statistic recently that 90% of all high schoolers are no longer virgins by the time they leave high school. Today many of the television shows that professing Christians are glued to, advocate and defend promiscuous living, adultery, homosexuality and a whole host of other perversions. What was considered 30 years ago as pornography, believe it or not, is on our television screens advertising everything from lingerie to perfume.
When we live in a society that celebrates perversion how can Christians keep their hearts and minds pure? First we must purify our minds "by the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:23). We need to take a bath in the word of God everyday to keep from being desensitized by this world. In addition, we must turn to God to search our hearts and confess those areas where we have defiled ourselves (1 John 1:9 Psalm 51). And with a heart filled with the word and cleansed by the blood of Jesus we must "abstain from all appearance of evil." Keep your hearts pure.
In 1974 a research firm surveyed 35,000 young people from the ages of 16 to 25 to determine their values. The study revealed that only 31% viewed premarital relationships as morally wrong, compared to 52% in 1969. Opposition to abortion dropped from 58% to 45%. The proportion who considered living a clean moral life a very important value fell from 71% to 52%. That was 1974. What's it like today? I heard a statistic recently that 90% of all high schoolers are no longer virgins by the time they leave high school. Today many of the television shows that professing Christians are glued to, advocate and defend promiscuous living, adultery, homosexuality and a whole host of other perversions. What was considered 30 years ago as pornography, believe it or not, is on our television screens advertising everything from lingerie to perfume.
When we live in a society that celebrates perversion how can Christians keep their hearts and minds pure? First we must purify our minds "by the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:23). We need to take a bath in the word of God everyday to keep from being desensitized by this world. In addition, we must turn to God to search our hearts and confess those areas where we have defiled ourselves (1 John 1:9 Psalm 51). And with a heart filled with the word and cleansed by the blood of Jesus we must "abstain from all appearance of evil." Keep your hearts pure.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
He is faithful and worthy of our trust
"So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19).
In this passage of scripture the author of Hebrews is illustrating the necessity of persevering in faith. The majority of the children of Israel that came out of Egypt did not enter the promised land because of unbelief. Consequently, they not only wandered in the wilderness for forty years, but they died without ever possessing the land. The bible clearly teaches that we are not only saved by faith, but we are to walk by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). All that God desires for us, whether it has to do with how we live our lives or how we serve his kingdom must be achieved by faith. But many Christians today are not fully possessing all that God desires for their lives because of a lack of faith or a misunderstanding of what true faith is.
Once again the author of Hebrews wrote, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. "(Hebrews 11:6 KJV). Faith is coming to God believing that He is who he says he is and will do what he promised, namely reward those who diligently seek him. The faith necessary to progress in our Christian walk and to possess all that God desires for us is not faith in faith or believe it and you can achieve it. Faith is believing God. In the context of the kind of faith that can move mountains, that believes God in prayer to do the impossible Jesus said, "Have faith in God, " (Mark 11:22).
Sometimes we feel like throwing in the towel because we focus on ourselves or our circumstances and fail to diligently seek The Lord. O how we must Keep looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith lest we get weary and faint in our minds. He is faithful and worthy of your trust!
"He's been faithful"
Brooklyn Tabernacle choir
In My Own Suffering
In this passage of scripture the author of Hebrews is illustrating the necessity of persevering in faith. The majority of the children of Israel that came out of Egypt did not enter the promised land because of unbelief. Consequently, they not only wandered in the wilderness for forty years, but they died without ever possessing the land. The bible clearly teaches that we are not only saved by faith, but we are to walk by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). All that God desires for us, whether it has to do with how we live our lives or how we serve his kingdom must be achieved by faith. But many Christians today are not fully possessing all that God desires for their lives because of a lack of faith or a misunderstanding of what true faith is.
Once again the author of Hebrews wrote, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. "(Hebrews 11:6 KJV). Faith is coming to God believing that He is who he says he is and will do what he promised, namely reward those who diligently seek him. The faith necessary to progress in our Christian walk and to possess all that God desires for us is not faith in faith or believe it and you can achieve it. Faith is believing God. In the context of the kind of faith that can move mountains, that believes God in prayer to do the impossible Jesus said, "Have faith in God, " (Mark 11:22).
Hudson Taylor, pioneer missionary to China, said the Jesus' words in Mark 11:22, "Have faith in God," could be translated, "Hold on to the faithfulness of God."
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, former pastor of London's Westminister Chapel, appreciated Taylor's insight and said: "Faith is holding on to the faithfulness of God and, as long as you do that, you cannot go wrong. Faith does not look at the difficulties...Faith does not look at itself or at the person who is exercising it. Faith looks at God..Faith is interested in God only, and it talks about God and it praises God and it extols the virtues of God. The measure of the strength of a man's faith, always, is ultimately the measure of his knowledge of God...He knows God so well that he can rest on the knowledge. And it is the prayers of such a man that are answered."
Sometimes we feel like throwing in the towel because we focus on ourselves or our circumstances and fail to diligently seek The Lord. O how we must Keep looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith lest we get weary and faint in our minds. He is faithful and worthy of your trust!
"He's been faithful"
Brooklyn Tabernacle choir
In My Own Suffering
Through Every Pain Every Tear
There's A God Who's Been Faithful To Me
When My Strength Was All Gone
When My Heart Had No Song
Still In Love He's Proved Faithful To Me
Every Word He's Promised Is True
What I Thought Was Impossible
I've Seen My God Do
He's Been Faithful
He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me
Looking Back He's Love And Mercy I See
Though In My Heart I Have Questioned
And Failed To Believe
He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me
When My Heart Looked Away
The Many Times I Could Not Pray
Still My God Was Faithful To Me
The Days Are Spent So Selfishly
Reaching Out For What Pleased Me
Even Then God Was Faithful To Me
Every Time I Come Back To Him
He Is Waiting For Open Arms
And I See Once Again
He's Been Faithful
He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me
Looking Back He's Love And Mercy I See
Though In My Heart I Have Questioned
Even Failed To Believe
Yet He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me
"That in all things he might have the preeminence"
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:14-18).
Does Jesus have preeminence in your life? It's been said that in the lives of many believers Jesus is prominent, but he is not preeminent. In other words, Christians tend to compartmentalize their lives in the sense that there are many areas of their lives that they have not surrendered to the control and influence of the Lord. Brothers and sister, this ought not to be. We ought to desire for the Lord to have his way in all aspects of our lives. And the motivation for why we should desire for Jesus to reign supreme in our lives should not be becasue we want to earn his acceptance or approval. It ought to be becasue although we are wretched sinners deserving of judgment we have been redeemed and forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. More than that Jesus deserves the peeminence in our lives not only becasue of what he has done for us, but becasue of who he is. Our loving, merciful, and gracious redeemer is also the Sovereign Lord and Creator of the universe.
Does Jesus have preeminence in your life? It's been said that in the lives of many believers Jesus is prominent, but he is not preeminent. In other words, Christians tend to compartmentalize their lives in the sense that there are many areas of their lives that they have not surrendered to the control and influence of the Lord. Brothers and sister, this ought not to be. We ought to desire for the Lord to have his way in all aspects of our lives. And the motivation for why we should desire for Jesus to reign supreme in our lives should not be becasue we want to earn his acceptance or approval. It ought to be becasue although we are wretched sinners deserving of judgment we have been redeemed and forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. More than that Jesus deserves the peeminence in our lives not only becasue of what he has done for us, but becasue of who he is. Our loving, merciful, and gracious redeemer is also the Sovereign Lord and Creator of the universe.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Keep a close watch on yourself
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers"
(1 Tim. 4:16).
In Paul's letter to Timothy he instructs the young minister in how to continue to develop and progress as a Pastor. Whether as a Pastor or a lay person in the church all believers have been called and gifted to serve the body of Christ. One of Timothy's major responsibilities as a Pastor was to teach the word of God. But notice that Paul said to Timothy, "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching." A minister if he is not careful can devote so much attention to the teaching of God's word that he neglects his own spiritual life. Whether we are a Pastor or not if we are going to effectively influence others for Christ we must do so from the overflow of an intimate devotion to Christ. Paul went on to right, "Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." Live a balanced Christian life and you will be doubly blessed as God ministers to you and through you for Jesus sake.
(1 Tim. 4:16).
In Paul's letter to Timothy he instructs the young minister in how to continue to develop and progress as a Pastor. Whether as a Pastor or a lay person in the church all believers have been called and gifted to serve the body of Christ. One of Timothy's major responsibilities as a Pastor was to teach the word of God. But notice that Paul said to Timothy, "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching." A minister if he is not careful can devote so much attention to the teaching of God's word that he neglects his own spiritual life. Whether we are a Pastor or not if we are going to effectively influence others for Christ we must do so from the overflow of an intimate devotion to Christ. Paul went on to right, "Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." Live a balanced Christian life and you will be doubly blessed as God ministers to you and through you for Jesus sake.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Prayer for the Elections or The "Elect"? by Daniel Henderson
Prayer for the Elections or The "Elect"?
Daniel Henderson Sep 19, 2012
I am always grateful for efforts to encourage more prayer among believers. Few can ignore the numerous efforts to induce Christians to pray for America in light of the coming elections. The Lord knows our nation needs prayer.
However, I have some concerns. It is not my intention to stir up controversy. I simply hope to challenge many of you who partner with us in our vision for “pastor-led, local church-oriented movements of Christ-exalting, worship-based prayer – leading to a full-scale revival, supernatural evangelism, and cultural transformation.” (Please ponder and pray for the Lord’s blessing on that vision and its ramifications.)
A Subtle Message?
One burden I cannot seem to shake these days is the subtle assumption in some of the calls for accelerated prayer leading up to the elections. Here it is: That the outcome of the elections is the key to the needed change to our society.
Let me be swift to say that God has ordained civil government. “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). Government leaders are described as “God’s ministers” to punish civil evil and are to be honored (Romans 13:2-7). That is saying a lot since Paul wrote these words while under the rule of a violent emperor and a wicked Roman government that would eventually execute him for his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul also says that all political leaders are worthy of our prayers (I will address this further in another section).
I believe every Christian should know the crucial issues and faithfully exercise the stewardship of citizenship by voting. However, we must remember that government is not the force for societal transformation. Transformation occurs in hearts, not through laws. The Gospel transforms hearts. The church is the agency of the Gospel. We are the salt and light of the world. No political party can fulfill this role.
Potential Disappointment?
I am guessing that many immature or marginal Christians are enthusiastically praying for a specific, desired outcome in the presidential contest – presumably that the “pro-life” and “pro-traditional family” candidate will win. Unfortunately, some may conclude that if we pray hard enough and skip enough meals that God is obligated to cause “His candidate” to win. If the election does not turn out as expected, some may wonder if God answers prayer or if fasting really “works” to produce the answers we want.
The Vote or the Voters?
The greater concern in this election is not really the outcome of the vote, but the worldview of the voters. Candidates will come and go. Laws will be made and later reversed, only to be reversed again. In the long run, the moral and philosophical drift manifested in the elections is the deeper dilemma. Again, this is reflective of the condition of the human heart. Only the Gospel can change the heart and renew the mind according to the word of God. Christians, manifesting the life and proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ day after day and year after year, are the stewards of the power of the Gospel.
The Positive Side of a Negative Environment
Because Americans desire (and think they deserve) a comfortable life and the promise of a prosperous future, even Christians in our nation long for things to go “our way.” Of course I, too, would love to see a government that is pro-life, pro-family, and financially prosperous. Yet, I have to remember that the goal of our lives on this earth is the demonstration and declaration of the Gospel, not a better GDP or faith-friendly laws.
We would do well to remember that the Gospel has often flourished most powerfully under oppressive governments and in the face of extreme persecution. I am not wishing for this but I do long for the American church to be awakened from its spiritual slumber and revived with passion for Christ, expressing supernatural witness in His name. Whatever it takes for this to happen, hard as it may be, is the ultimate answer to our prayers for the advancement of the Gospel and for His glory.
The Essential Focus for Our Prayers
Many of us want to comply with Paul’s admonition from 1 Timothy 2:1 & 2, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority....” Again, Paul had Nero in mind. This Roman tyrant made most of our political leaders look like angels. How did Paul pray for Nero? What should we expect from our prayers for political leaders? Read on.
“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2: 2-6)
What changes as we pray? We do. How do we change? We become more quiet and peaceable in order to live a godly and reverent life. Why? Because this is good. Why is it good? Because God desires for men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Why? Because Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for a world lost in darkness. Our witness and lifestyle are the avenue for this message in a dark and confused world.
A Look into the Mirror
Tolstoy said, “Everyone dreams of changing the world but no one dreams of changing himself.” I say it often that our problem is not “Osama, Obama, or our Momma.” Terrorists, politicians, and problems from our childhood can be real worries. However, the darkness exists and grows because of a failure of the light. We have to take a long look into our individual and collective mirror and focus our prayers on our own apathy, toleration of sin, and waning passion for Jesus Christ.
I hope we will all pray as the Lord leads us preceding the November 6th national vote. However, I long that we will fast and pray enduringly for the “elect.” We need revival. The church in America needs a spiritual awakening. Politicians and laws will come and go. Until we experience revival, our nation will drift, hearts will remain dark, and our ultimate calling in this life will be neglected.
Copyright © 2012 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved. Originally Posted at strategicrenewal.com.
Daniel Henderson Sep 19, 2012
I am always grateful for efforts to encourage more prayer among believers. Few can ignore the numerous efforts to induce Christians to pray for America in light of the coming elections. The Lord knows our nation needs prayer.
However, I have some concerns. It is not my intention to stir up controversy. I simply hope to challenge many of you who partner with us in our vision for “pastor-led, local church-oriented movements of Christ-exalting, worship-based prayer – leading to a full-scale revival, supernatural evangelism, and cultural transformation.” (Please ponder and pray for the Lord’s blessing on that vision and its ramifications.)
A Subtle Message?
One burden I cannot seem to shake these days is the subtle assumption in some of the calls for accelerated prayer leading up to the elections. Here it is: That the outcome of the elections is the key to the needed change to our society.
Let me be swift to say that God has ordained civil government. “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). Government leaders are described as “God’s ministers” to punish civil evil and are to be honored (Romans 13:2-7). That is saying a lot since Paul wrote these words while under the rule of a violent emperor and a wicked Roman government that would eventually execute him for his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul also says that all political leaders are worthy of our prayers (I will address this further in another section).
I believe every Christian should know the crucial issues and faithfully exercise the stewardship of citizenship by voting. However, we must remember that government is not the force for societal transformation. Transformation occurs in hearts, not through laws. The Gospel transforms hearts. The church is the agency of the Gospel. We are the salt and light of the world. No political party can fulfill this role.
Potential Disappointment?
I am guessing that many immature or marginal Christians are enthusiastically praying for a specific, desired outcome in the presidential contest – presumably that the “pro-life” and “pro-traditional family” candidate will win. Unfortunately, some may conclude that if we pray hard enough and skip enough meals that God is obligated to cause “His candidate” to win. If the election does not turn out as expected, some may wonder if God answers prayer or if fasting really “works” to produce the answers we want.
The Vote or the Voters?
The greater concern in this election is not really the outcome of the vote, but the worldview of the voters. Candidates will come and go. Laws will be made and later reversed, only to be reversed again. In the long run, the moral and philosophical drift manifested in the elections is the deeper dilemma. Again, this is reflective of the condition of the human heart. Only the Gospel can change the heart and renew the mind according to the word of God. Christians, manifesting the life and proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ day after day and year after year, are the stewards of the power of the Gospel.
The Positive Side of a Negative Environment
Because Americans desire (and think they deserve) a comfortable life and the promise of a prosperous future, even Christians in our nation long for things to go “our way.” Of course I, too, would love to see a government that is pro-life, pro-family, and financially prosperous. Yet, I have to remember that the goal of our lives on this earth is the demonstration and declaration of the Gospel, not a better GDP or faith-friendly laws.
We would do well to remember that the Gospel has often flourished most powerfully under oppressive governments and in the face of extreme persecution. I am not wishing for this but I do long for the American church to be awakened from its spiritual slumber and revived with passion for Christ, expressing supernatural witness in His name. Whatever it takes for this to happen, hard as it may be, is the ultimate answer to our prayers for the advancement of the Gospel and for His glory.
The Essential Focus for Our Prayers
Many of us want to comply with Paul’s admonition from 1 Timothy 2:1 & 2, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority....” Again, Paul had Nero in mind. This Roman tyrant made most of our political leaders look like angels. How did Paul pray for Nero? What should we expect from our prayers for political leaders? Read on.
“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2: 2-6)
What changes as we pray? We do. How do we change? We become more quiet and peaceable in order to live a godly and reverent life. Why? Because this is good. Why is it good? Because God desires for men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Why? Because Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for a world lost in darkness. Our witness and lifestyle are the avenue for this message in a dark and confused world.
A Look into the Mirror
Tolstoy said, “Everyone dreams of changing the world but no one dreams of changing himself.” I say it often that our problem is not “Osama, Obama, or our Momma.” Terrorists, politicians, and problems from our childhood can be real worries. However, the darkness exists and grows because of a failure of the light. We have to take a long look into our individual and collective mirror and focus our prayers on our own apathy, toleration of sin, and waning passion for Jesus Christ.
I hope we will all pray as the Lord leads us preceding the November 6th national vote. However, I long that we will fast and pray enduringly for the “elect.” We need revival. The church in America needs a spiritual awakening. Politicians and laws will come and go. Until we experience revival, our nation will drift, hearts will remain dark, and our ultimate calling in this life will be neglected.
Copyright © 2012 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved. Originally Posted at strategicrenewal.com.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Enriching your prayer life
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy," (Col. 1:9-11).
Do you ever struggle with how or what to pray for? The prayers of Paul recorded in his epistles are vitally instructive in not only guiding our own prayers, but also revealing why we struggle to pray effectively. Notice that Paul prayed for believers to be "filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col. 1:9). This one prayer request by Paul not only gives us some direction about one of the things we should be praying for, namely wisdom, but also what is often lacking in our lives that keeps us from praying effectively, namely spiritual understanding. How do we get wisdom and spiritual understanding? Well we know that we should be seeking God in prayer for wisdom, but in addition we need to prayerfully spend time in God's word seeking wisdom and spiritual understanding. In Colossians Paul wrote, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom..." (Col. 3:16). If we're weak in the word we will be weak in prayer. If we're strong in the word we will be strong in prayer. Enrich your prayer life by allowing for God's word to dwell in you richly.
Do you ever struggle with how or what to pray for? The prayers of Paul recorded in his epistles are vitally instructive in not only guiding our own prayers, but also revealing why we struggle to pray effectively. Notice that Paul prayed for believers to be "filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col. 1:9). This one prayer request by Paul not only gives us some direction about one of the things we should be praying for, namely wisdom, but also what is often lacking in our lives that keeps us from praying effectively, namely spiritual understanding. How do we get wisdom and spiritual understanding? Well we know that we should be seeking God in prayer for wisdom, but in addition we need to prayerfully spend time in God's word seeking wisdom and spiritual understanding. In Colossians Paul wrote, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom..." (Col. 3:16). If we're weak in the word we will be weak in prayer. If we're strong in the word we will be strong in prayer. Enrich your prayer life by allowing for God's word to dwell in you richly.
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