"...a man who takes up arms from the armory of grace and goes forth strong in the Lord and in the power of His might to contend for the faith."
I'm not sure that this is me. Why??? I'm not equipped enough. I don't want to get in trouble at work. I don't want to cause conflict. It's not the right time. It's not my fight. I'm not "called." and so on and so on.
Mar 27, 2012
It's your loss!!
Then He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough!" Mark 14:41
If you're like me, you think that Jesus was upset with the disciples for falling asleep because they failed to keep watch while He prayed, but I was given a different more profound perspective while reading a devotional Experiencing God Day By Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby. Have you ever thought that the Lord was disappointed because the disciples failed to share a sacred moment with Him? Me either! Here's the devotional:
It is enough! How these words from the Master stung the disciples! They were given the opportunity to share a sacred moment with Jesus. They failed Him. This time, not even Peter had an answer for Jesus.
Jesus forgave them, and they went on to experience God working powerfully through their lives, but that unique moment with their Lord was lost. The angels had comforted the Savior on that lonely night as He prepared for the cross, not the disciples. Scripture indicates that the disciples later became diligent in prayer, but the memory of that night would remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Like the disciples, you receive unique opportunities to serve your Lord. There are times when Jesus will ask you to join Him as He is at work in the life of your friend, family, or coworker. If you are preoccupied with your own needs, you will miss the blessing of sharing in His divine activity.
God is gracious; He forgives, and He provides other opportunities. he will even use our failings to bring about good, but it is critical that we respond in obedience to every prompting from God. God does not need our obedience; He has legions of angels prepared to do His bidding when we fail Him. The loss is ours as we miss what God wants to do in our lives.
Respond immediately when God speaks to you. His will for you is perfect, and it leads to abundant life.
If you're like me, you think that Jesus was upset with the disciples for falling asleep because they failed to keep watch while He prayed, but I was given a different more profound perspective while reading a devotional Experiencing God Day By Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby. Have you ever thought that the Lord was disappointed because the disciples failed to share a sacred moment with Him? Me either! Here's the devotional:
It is enough! How these words from the Master stung the disciples! They were given the opportunity to share a sacred moment with Jesus. They failed Him. This time, not even Peter had an answer for Jesus.
Jesus forgave them, and they went on to experience God working powerfully through their lives, but that unique moment with their Lord was lost. The angels had comforted the Savior on that lonely night as He prepared for the cross, not the disciples. Scripture indicates that the disciples later became diligent in prayer, but the memory of that night would remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Like the disciples, you receive unique opportunities to serve your Lord. There are times when Jesus will ask you to join Him as He is at work in the life of your friend, family, or coworker. If you are preoccupied with your own needs, you will miss the blessing of sharing in His divine activity.
God is gracious; He forgives, and He provides other opportunities. he will even use our failings to bring about good, but it is critical that we respond in obedience to every prompting from God. God does not need our obedience; He has legions of angels prepared to do His bidding when we fail Him. The loss is ours as we miss what God wants to do in our lives.
Respond immediately when God speaks to you. His will for you is perfect, and it leads to abundant life.
Mar 23, 2012
I don't love Jesus like this...
Charles Hodge, professor of Princeton Theology until 1840. Students saw him shed tears in his classes when he talked of the love of Christ. A student once said of Hodge who was announcing a hymn in the Oratory: "As he read he came to the lines: 'That blood can make the foulest clean, that blood availed for me.' But Hodge could not read them, try as he would. 'That blood availed,'--he could not get beyond that. That strong man bowed before the storm of emotion, and, dropping into his chair, he buried his face in his hands."
Brothers, I am not suggesting you don't love Jesus enough if you don't cry while reading or singing hymns, but to be so overwhelmed by the love of our precious savior like this...I will just say that I pray that I come to a relationship with Jesus that causes me to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of His love when I think about that love...EVERY TIME I think about His love.
The above quote is a quote from a book In Pursuit of Purity by David O. Beale. If you've never read about Fundamentalism, you should check it out.
Brothers, I am not suggesting you don't love Jesus enough if you don't cry while reading or singing hymns, but to be so overwhelmed by the love of our precious savior like this...I will just say that I pray that I come to a relationship with Jesus that causes me to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of His love when I think about that love...EVERY TIME I think about His love.
The above quote is a quote from a book In Pursuit of Purity by David O. Beale. If you've never read about Fundamentalism, you should check it out.
Feb 20, 2012
What it is NOT!
Men,
I can't count the times that I have used Romans 8:28 to comfort other believers in their struggles. I'd say "take courage because we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I'm here to tell you that God has informed me, through my Pastor Stephen Davey's Wisdom for the Heart message, that I am misusing that verse. I think it is important for me, and you, to hear/read this message entitled "What It Is Not!" During today's segment of this teaching, he describes what Romans 8:28 does NOT mean.
Here is a brief excerpt Steve teaches Romans 8:28 does not mean:
1. Romans 8:28 is not a precise explanation for suffering. Paul does not provide a quick answer for the grieving. This verse is not a band-aide for you to try to stick on some suffering believer. In fact, this verse does not pretend to solve the riddles of life. Furthermore, this verse does not even attempt to answer the questions that begin with the word, “Why?”
2. Romans 8:28 is not an explanation for suffering and it is, secondly, not a prohibition against sorrow. Have you ever heard a Christian say to another believer, “Now don’t cry . . . remember, Romans 8:28!” The motto of many in the church is, “Deep Christians don’t cry!” Well, if that is the case, then Jesus Christ failed miserably outside Lazarus’ tomb where He wept openly. And the crowd said in John, chapter 11, verse 36b, . . . See how He loved him! This verse in Romans is no biblical prohibition to grieving.
3. Romans 8:28 is not a pretext for avoiding the challenges of life. A believer is misguided who tells another, “Settle down . . . don’t get so excited about your passion for God and zeal for the Lord; He’s gonna do whatever He wants to do anyway, so why bother getting so fired up about accomplishing something for God?! He’s gonna work everything out!”
4. Romans 8:28 is not a permanent ticket to comfortable living. Paul has already reminded the believer in Romans 8:25 that we wait and actively hope with anticipation. Somebody might say, “Well, I’ve been asking God for His will for my life and I just don’t understand why He isn’t coming through.” While we may not know what the will of God is for our future, He has given us more than we are prepared to tackle, right now. Let me give you a few of them:
• obey your parents (Ephesians 6:1);
• if you are single, develop a romantic relationship with a believer only (I Corinthians 6:15);
• raise your children with an understanding of biblical and spiritual truth (Ephesians 6:4);
• provide for the physical needs of your family (I Timothy 5:8);
• work hard in your occupation (I Thessalonians 4:11-12);
• give to the Lord, His church, and His cause (II Corinthians 8-9);
• pray consistently and regularly (I Thessalonians 5:17);
Feeling convicted?? I certainly am
I can't count the times that I have used Romans 8:28 to comfort other believers in their struggles. I'd say "take courage because we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I'm here to tell you that God has informed me, through my Pastor Stephen Davey's Wisdom for the Heart message, that I am misusing that verse. I think it is important for me, and you, to hear/read this message entitled "What It Is Not!" During today's segment of this teaching, he describes what Romans 8:28 does NOT mean.
Here is a brief excerpt Steve teaches Romans 8:28 does not mean:
1. Romans 8:28 is not a precise explanation for suffering. Paul does not provide a quick answer for the grieving. This verse is not a band-aide for you to try to stick on some suffering believer. In fact, this verse does not pretend to solve the riddles of life. Furthermore, this verse does not even attempt to answer the questions that begin with the word, “Why?”
2. Romans 8:28 is not an explanation for suffering and it is, secondly, not a prohibition against sorrow. Have you ever heard a Christian say to another believer, “Now don’t cry . . . remember, Romans 8:28!” The motto of many in the church is, “Deep Christians don’t cry!” Well, if that is the case, then Jesus Christ failed miserably outside Lazarus’ tomb where He wept openly. And the crowd said in John, chapter 11, verse 36b, . . . See how He loved him! This verse in Romans is no biblical prohibition to grieving.
3. Romans 8:28 is not a pretext for avoiding the challenges of life. A believer is misguided who tells another, “Settle down . . . don’t get so excited about your passion for God and zeal for the Lord; He’s gonna do whatever He wants to do anyway, so why bother getting so fired up about accomplishing something for God?! He’s gonna work everything out!”
4. Romans 8:28 is not a permanent ticket to comfortable living. Paul has already reminded the believer in Romans 8:25 that we wait and actively hope with anticipation. Somebody might say, “Well, I’ve been asking God for His will for my life and I just don’t understand why He isn’t coming through.” While we may not know what the will of God is for our future, He has given us more than we are prepared to tackle, right now. Let me give you a few of them:
• obey your parents (Ephesians 6:1);
• if you are single, develop a romantic relationship with a believer only (I Corinthians 6:15);
• raise your children with an understanding of biblical and spiritual truth (Ephesians 6:4);
• provide for the physical needs of your family (I Timothy 5:8);
• work hard in your occupation (I Thessalonians 4:11-12);
• give to the Lord, His church, and His cause (II Corinthians 8-9);
• pray consistently and regularly (I Thessalonians 5:17);
Feeling convicted?? I certainly am
Jan 20, 2012
Chew on this!
Men,
Yes...it's starting again. Classes that is. I've begun my reading for the second half of Historical Theology. It starts with "Post-Reformation." Obviously this means that the Reformation has happened with the likes of Luther, Zwingli and Calvin as the stars of this Reformation. If you're not sure what happened at the Reformation, well in a nutshell...men, specifically Martin Luther, who were tired of the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church, broke from it in an attempt to reform it. The result...the Protestant Church. As you can imagine, "man," in his great desire to do his own thing decided that the reform of the Reformed Church wasn't quite "reformed" enough. So, "Protestants" began to divide to reform the Reformed Church. Anyway, one of the topics that caused the reforming of the reformed church is Supralapsarianism. I know...SupralapWhat???
Supra indicates logical priority to something else. lapsarianism indicates reference to the fall of humanity (from the same root as lapse - to "fall"). Thus, Supralapsarianism literally means "something prior to the Fall."
Theologically, Supralapsarianism is a certain way of ordering the divine decrees of God concerning predestination and creating humans.
Check out how Supralapsarianism orders God's decrees. I'd be interested in your take on this.
1. The decree of God to predestine some creatures to salvation and eternal life and some other creatures to damnation and everlasting punishment in hell.
2. The decree of God to create.
3. The decree of God to allow human creatures to fall into sin.
4. The decree of God to provide the means of salvation (Christ and the gospel) for the elect.
5. The decree of God to apply salvation (the righteousness of Christ) to the elect.
"The Story of Christian Theology" Olson
Yes...it's starting again. Classes that is. I've begun my reading for the second half of Historical Theology. It starts with "Post-Reformation." Obviously this means that the Reformation has happened with the likes of Luther, Zwingli and Calvin as the stars of this Reformation. If you're not sure what happened at the Reformation, well in a nutshell...men, specifically Martin Luther, who were tired of the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church, broke from it in an attempt to reform it. The result...the Protestant Church. As you can imagine, "man," in his great desire to do his own thing decided that the reform of the Reformed Church wasn't quite "reformed" enough. So, "Protestants" began to divide to reform the Reformed Church. Anyway, one of the topics that caused the reforming of the reformed church is Supralapsarianism. I know...SupralapWhat???
Supra indicates logical priority to something else. lapsarianism indicates reference to the fall of humanity (from the same root as lapse - to "fall"). Thus, Supralapsarianism literally means "something prior to the Fall."
Theologically, Supralapsarianism is a certain way of ordering the divine decrees of God concerning predestination and creating humans.
Check out how Supralapsarianism orders God's decrees. I'd be interested in your take on this.
1. The decree of God to predestine some creatures to salvation and eternal life and some other creatures to damnation and everlasting punishment in hell.
2. The decree of God to create.
3. The decree of God to allow human creatures to fall into sin.
4. The decree of God to provide the means of salvation (Christ and the gospel) for the elect.
5. The decree of God to apply salvation (the righteousness of Christ) to the elect.
"The Story of Christian Theology" Olson
Jan 2, 2012
Tradition or Truth
There is nothing wrong with tradition as long as we do not confuse tradition with truth. As soon as we become more attached to our traditions than we are to truth, we are in VERY deep trouble. The best tradition is recognized for exactly what it is: one that may help us to better worship or serve God, but which is not in and of itself the embodiment of truth. Traditions must be tested, including traditions that touch on the use of particular translations.
As soon as we make our tradition the test of someone else's standing with God (as people have done to Jerome, to Erasmus, and to those who today would use a non-KJV translation), we have elevated it to an anti-biblical status.
An excerpt from "The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?" By James R. White
As soon as we make our tradition the test of someone else's standing with God (as people have done to Jerome, to Erasmus, and to those who today would use a non-KJV translation), we have elevated it to an anti-biblical status.
An excerpt from "The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?" By James R. White
Dec 22, 2011
How's your hearing?
"If we do not listen to God's Word and really HEAR it, we will start to DRIFT.
Neglect always leads to drifting, in things material and physical as well as spiritual.
As we drift from the Word, we start to DOUBT the Word, because FAITH comes by hearing the Word of God. We start to get hard hearts, and this leads to spiritual sluggishness, which produces DULLNESS toward the Word. We become "dull of hearing" --- lazy listeners! This leads to a SPITEFUL attitude toward the Word to the extent that we willfully DISOBEY God, and this gradually develops into a DEFIANT attitude --- we almost "dare" God to do anything!
Excerpt from "Be Confident" Live by Faith, Not by Sight commentary by Warren Wiersbe
Neglect always leads to drifting, in things material and physical as well as spiritual.
As we drift from the Word, we start to DOUBT the Word, because FAITH comes by hearing the Word of God. We start to get hard hearts, and this leads to spiritual sluggishness, which produces DULLNESS toward the Word. We become "dull of hearing" --- lazy listeners! This leads to a SPITEFUL attitude toward the Word to the extent that we willfully DISOBEY God, and this gradually develops into a DEFIANT attitude --- we almost "dare" God to do anything!
Excerpt from "Be Confident" Live by Faith, Not by Sight commentary by Warren Wiersbe