Son of God
�Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.� (Romans 1:3-4)
�Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.� (Romans 1:3-4)
It is noteworthy that the identification of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is directly associated with His resurrection from the dead. �The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death� (1 Corinthians 15:26), and since only God Himself can conquer death, Christ�s bodily resurrection is the conclusive affirmation of His unique deity: �Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God� (Matthew 16:16). Many others have claimed divine sonship, but all are dead�only Christ validated that claim by defeating death. �God . . . hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee� (Acts 13:33). �Death is swallowed up in victory . . . . through our Lord Jesus Christ� (1 Corinthians 15:54, 57).
Jesus is explicitly called �the Son of God� about 44 times in the New Testament, only half as often as He is called �Son of man.� Nevertheless, this great truth is clearly taught in numerous other ways than by the use of the title itself. It is so important that there is no salvation for the one who denies it. Jesus said plainly, �He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God� (John 3:18).
Because He lives, we who believe on His name will also live forever! �Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? . . . He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life� (1 John 5:5, 12-13). HMM
But Our Eyes Are on You - By Greg Laurie -
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." -2 Chronicles 20:12
Have you ever been in one of those impossible situations with no apparent way out? Have you ever desperately needed something or wanted something, but it seemed as though there was no way you would ever have it? Have you ever thought there was no future for you, that it was just too late? If so, then you need to know more about the power of God that can take place through prayer.
We find an example of this in 2 Chronicles 20, where the bottom had suddenly dropped out for Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. He received a frightening report saying that a vast army was coming against them.
So what did Jehoshaphat do? He prayed. He said, "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (verse 12). Then we read, "Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord" (verse 13).
That is such a powerful scene. Here was a multitude of vulnerable people with an invading army coming against them, and King Jehoshaphat was saying, "Lord, we are depending upon You. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You."
Many times we think of prayer as a last resort. After we have exhausted every other possibility, all we can do is pray. But that is what we should have done in the first place. It has been said that if you are swept off your feet, it is time to get on your knees.
God answers the prayers of His people and can turn around radical, hopeless situations when His people go to Him in prayer.
Victory Over Guilt
John 3:16-17At times, people are bound by guilt long after the feeling should have been resolved. Some rightly live with it because they refuse to give up the sin that brought it on. Meanwhile, others suffer the weight of false guilt because they harbor shame that doesn't belong to them. Whatever the root cause of your condemnation, the battle plan remains the same.
Victory over guilt begins with understanding that Jesus took our shame to the cross and paid our penalty. There is no way that we can pay for our own sin. But we do need to honestly identify the source of our guilt and confess before God. That means we agree with His perspective on what we've done. In other words, we admit when we're wrong. Repentance goes a step further: we turn away from the wrong and choose to do right.
Confronting guilt in this way replaces the weight of shame in our heart with peace and joy, which are far lighter and more freeing. And an amazing side effect is that we have wisdom to share. Openness about our past mistakes, resulting consequences, guilt burdens, and forgiveness can reveal the Lord to those in our sphere of influence. Through our witness, God may reach others who need their guilt chains broken.
The battle to overcome guilt is one that should not be delayed. The feeling won't just go away. Whether your condemnation is true or false, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Stop running, and face the source of your guilt. It's time to end your captivity and start walking in the joy of God's blessing.
Asking and Receiving
�For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.� (Matthew 7:8)
The Benefits of Abiding
True prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness. That is a very important thing to know. God only answers the requests
that He inspires.
One of the most incredible promises Jesus ever gave is found in John 15:7: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,
and it shall be done for you." Or, as another version puts it, "But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon" (MSG).
I've been married for more than 40 years. I know my wife pretty well, and she knows me pretty well. So well, in fact, that we can finish each other's
sentences. We can read each other very easily. That is because we spend a lot of time together. And I never get tired of spending time with her.
When we come into a relationship with God, it means that we like to spend time in His presence. We like to listen to Him. We like to talk to Him. That is what
it means to abide in Him. And as we do this, our prayer requests will change because we will have a better understanding of the will of God for us.
- By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." -John
15:7
15:7
True prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness. That is a very important thing to know. God only answers the requests
that He inspires.
One of the most incredible promises Jesus ever gave is found in John 15:7: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,
and it shall be done for you." Or, as another version puts it, "But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon" (MSG).
Immediately we tend to think of all the things we can start praying for. But when we do this, we're missing the point.
Notice that Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you. . . ." This means we're getting our will in alignment with God's will. It means that our desires start changing. Abiding in Jesus means that we're spending time in His presence.
Notice that Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you. . . ." This means we're getting our will in alignment with God's will. It means that our desires start changing. Abiding in Jesus means that we're spending time in His presence.
I've been married for more than 40 years. I know my wife pretty well, and she knows me pretty well. So well, in fact, that we can finish each other's
sentences. We can read each other very easily. That is because we spend a lot of time together. And I never get tired of spending time with her.
When we come into a relationship with God, it means that we like to spend time in His presence. We like to listen to Him. We like to talk to Him. That is what
it means to abide in Him. And as we do this, our prayer requests will change because we will have a better understanding of the will of God for us.
The Grace of Being Content
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Timothy 6:8)
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Timothy 6:8)
The last of God’s Ten Commandments—and probably the most difficult to obey—deals with the sin of covetousness. “Thou shalt not covet . . . any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17). “Take heed, and beware of covetousness” warned the Lord Jesus, “for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). This warning introduced His parable of the rich man whom God called a fool. “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
And how does one become rich toward God? “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. . . . seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:20, 25, 33).
We Christians—especially in an affluent society such as ours—all too easily fall into the trap of being possessed by our possessions and may even think these possessions are somehow God’s reward for our “godliness.” But Paul says those who suppose “that gain is godliness” are “destitute of the truth.” We need to remember that in God’s sight “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:5-6). And with Paul, we should strive to be able to say sincerely that “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
God has promised to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19) if we are faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Therefore, God’s Word commands: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). HMM
Victory Over Unforgiveness Daniel 6
Immediately after teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won't be forgiven by the Father.
Do not misunderstand Jesus' meaning here. Believers don't lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. Rather, they break fellowship with God because their unrepentant attitude gets in the way of regular confession and repentance. The Lord cannot ignore sin, and His Spirit will bring wrong behavior to the believer's attention until he or she deals with it.
Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. Often people don't feel like being merciful to someone who has wronged them. But a resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult.
You won't deal with a sin until you see it as God does. So assume full responsibility for your unforgiving attitude, and acknowledge that it is a violation of His Word. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment against the other person(s). As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude.
A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ. Nor is it healthy to carry an angry attitude through life. That's why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden--Jesus promised to make us free when we release our sins to Him (John 8:36).
The Definition of Faith
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
The marvelous “faith chapter,” Hebrews 11, is an amazing chapter. Here, faith is defined not as some intangible wishfulness but as “substance” and “evidence.” Let us look closely.
First of all, faith must have a legitimate object, nothing less than the mighty Creator by whom “the worlds were framed” (v. 3) out of nothing but His omnipotent Word.
Beyond this, faith is further defined not by what it is, but by what it does! The man of faith comes to God by “a more excellent sacrifice,” like that of Abel (v. 4), typifying the sacrifice of Christ. Faith will, like Enoch, live to please God (v. 5), and will, like Noah, prepare an Ark (i.e., do whatever necessary out of obedience to God) “to the saving of his house” (v. 7).
True faith will, like Abraham, go out as God leads, “not knowing whither he went,” even “dwelling in tabernacles” (literally “tents”) (vv. 8-9) if need be, as he looks for that city with sure “foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (v. 10). Such faith will even, like Abraham, offer up to God the greatest love and joy of his life, knowing that God will keep His Word (vv. 17-19).
Like Moses, the man of genuine faith will choose rather “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (v. 25). Faith is even willing to be “stoned . . . sawn asunder . . . slain with the sword,” if need be, for the promises of God (vv. 37, 39).
We are saved by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but since we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10), our faith should motivate us to action. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). HMM
AGING STARS
Genesis 1:16b
“…he made the stars also.”
Today, I want to talk about aging stars. But I am not referring to your favorite movie icon of yesteryear. Instead, I am talking about stars in the universe.
How old is a star? And how can we tell?
Big Bang cosmologists refer to the ages of stars in billions of years. One recent science article talked about a star, which they said was so old that it was formed just after the Big Bang itself. The article, published in 2014, gives the age of the universe as 13.7 billion years old. I used to teach physics and chemistry in public high schools in Britain, until 1999. In the textbook, which I used at that time, the age of the universe was given as 12.3 billion years. This age was repeated in a subsequent edition of the book, in 2001. So, in the 13 years from 2001 to 2014, the universe got 1.4 billion years older, which is an increase of 11.3%. How could such a large margin of error be introduced, with so little comment? Could it be that the star to which I referred could be measured more accurately, pushing back the age of the universe?
It turns out that the age of the star is actually measured relative to the dating of the Big Bang. In the case of this particular star, they examine its chemistry (by studying its spectrum), and fit its age with whatever chemistry they think may have been available at the time. Such guesswork is not needed, when we realize that God has already given us reliable and intelligible dates for when creation events happened, in His word.
we thank You and praise You that Your word is true. Help us to submit to what You say, rather than following blindly after the will of the world. Amen.
When Is it Dangerous to Look at Jesus?
John Piper
So in this sermon, "Keeping the Presence of God," his aim was to stir up awakened Christians to be vigilant that their exuberance not become pride. He exhorted them to give themselves to watchfulness and prayer so as to remain broken and humble and happy in the good work of God in their lives.
Oh, how different is the path of Christian maturity pointed out by Edwards and the path most Christians walk today. There is a kind of cavalier attitude toward our security today. There is little trembling. Little vigilance and earnestness and caution and watchfulness over our souls. There is a kind of casual, slack, careless attitude toward the possibility that we might make shipwreck of our faith and fail to lay hold on eternal life. We have the notion that security is a kind of mechanical, automatic thing. We prayed once to receive Jesus. We are safe and there is not place for "working out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). That is not what Edwards sees in the Bible.
Therefore he pleads with his people, and I plead with you, to "keep the presence of God." It is not automatic. Edwards' text is 2 Chronicles 15:1-2 which contains the words, "The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." Since we do not want God to forsake us, we must be watchful over our souls lest we forsake him. It is true that God will never forsake his own children. But the proof that we are his children is that he works in us the vigilance not to forsake him. God's not forsaking us is the work he does in us to keep us from forsaking him (Philippians 2:12-13).
The striking thing in this sermon that was new for me was the warning that even beholding Christ can be a pitfall. This seems unlikely because in2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul says, "We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." In other words, seeing the glory of Christ in the gospel is a great means of becoming like Jesus. This is how we are sanctified -- seeing Christ.
So why would Edwards warn us that seeing Christ can be a pitfall? He did so because of what he read nine chapters later in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul said there that he had "been caught up into paradise" (12:3) and that he had been given "visions and revelations of the Lord" (12:1). Then he said that because of these visions and revelations of the Lord he had been given a "thorn in the flesh" (12:7) to keep him from being puffed up. Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away (12:8). But the Lord said that his own grace would shine the more brightly in Paul's thorn-caused weakness than if he were whole.
This means that Paul's visions of the Lord were dangerous for his soul. He had to be lamed by a thorn to keep these visions from hurting him. Here is the way Edwards says it:
There is great danger. I know great degrees of the spiritual presence of God tend greatly to restrain and keep down pride. But yet 'tis not all grace. And though in such cases there be much to restrain one way, so there is much to tempt and provoke it another. Temptations in such cases are often exceeding great. To be highly loved and exalted of God tends to feed pride exceedingly, if there be any left. The apostle Paul himself was not out of danger (2 Cor. 12:7). (Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 22 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003), p. 531)
In other words, the danger of spiritual pride is so subtle that we must even watch for it at the place of greatest sanctification--seeing the glory of the Lord. If there is any remnant of pride in us, even pure glory can be twisted to feed it.
So I exhort you, along with myself, in the words of Jonathan Edwards: "You had need to have the greatest watch imaginable with respect to this matter, and to cry most earnestly to the great searcher of hearts: for he that trusts his own heart is a fool" (Works, vol. 22, p. 531).
Watching and crying out for help to Christ,
Pastor John
The Voice of the Lord
“The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” (Psalm 29:4)
This solemn phrase, “the voice of the LORD,” occurs seven times in Psalm 29, centered especially on the awful judgment of the great Flood in the days of Noah. “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters” (v. 3). It occurs many other times in the Old Testament as well, with a wide variety of applications and circumstances.
The very first time it occurs, however (and this is also the first occurrence of “voice” in the Bible, indicating thereby that it is God’s voice—not man’s—that we must hear if we seek guidance for life), is in the Garden of Eden immediately after man brought sin into the world. “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden. . . . And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:8-9). Mankind is lost and separated from God, but God calls unto each of us as He did to Adam, and we desperately need to hear His voice if our lives are to be fulfilled and spiritually fruitful.
In contrast to this scene of alienation, the final occurrence of a “voice” in the Bible is a beautiful scene of reconciliation when God again speaks to lost mankind, this time in glorious restoration of that broken fellowship. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
To hear His voice then, however, we must first hear His voice now, through His Word. Jesus said, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life. . . . the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:24-25). HMM
When God Looks on Us with Favor
Isaiah 66:1-2
Believers are always under the canopy of God’s grace and love. Nothing we do can change that. At the same time, our behavior and heart condition do determine whether we receive the fullness of His blessings. Today’s passage teaches us how to experience the Father’s favor.
First, He desires that we have a contrite heart and a humble spirit (Ps. 51:17). For that to be the case, all aspects of our lives must be surrendered to Jesus. Yet some dreams, desires, and people are difficult to release into His hands.
Anything we do not give over to His authority is evidence of pride, the exact opposite of what our Father wants in His children. Remember that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Lack of submission proves that we think our way is better than His plan.
Second, God tells us to tremble at His Word (Isa. 66:2). Scripture--the unfolding revelation of Jesus Himself--is living and powerful to teach and transform us. Consider how we treat this treasure. Do we devote time each day to know what the Bible says and how to apply its principles? Do we hunger for more of the Word in our lives so we can know its Author better? One measure of our reverence is obedience: to honor the Lord, we must obey Him.
We all desire God’s favor. Are you living in a manner that positions you to receive His full blessings? Prayerfully consider whether you have submitted all areas of your life--from finances and health to relationships and work habits--to Jesus Christ. Recognize His authority in all things, and revere His Word.
Created to Rule the Day
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16)
It seems that throughout history, mankind has ignored or distorted the purpose for which God created the sun. Many cultures have even worshiped the sun, teaching that the sun was the source of all being, even human life. Temples were built in its honor, human sacrifices were made to appease it, whole civilizations were dedicated to its worship.
The nation Israel, which had lived among sun-worshiping Egyptians for centuries, was warned not to “lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and . . . [see] the sun, and . . . be driven to worship” (Deuteronomy 4:19) under penalty of death, “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24).
One of mankind’s primary purposes is to worship God, but the sun was created by God for man’s benefit. He is a God of grace and desires to “freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32).
The purpose of the sun is no mystery. Its Creator says that along with the moon and stars it is “to divide the day from the night . . . and . . . be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years . . . to give light upon the earth” (Genesis 1:14-15).
There will come a time, however, when the sun will no longer be needed by God’s people, for in our eternal home “there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light” (Revelation 22:5). “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). Best of all, we shall be with Him. JDM
Your Spiritual Life Depends on It - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Immediately after teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won't be forgiven by the Father.
Do not misunderstand Jesus' meaning here. Believers don't lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. Rather, they break fellowship with God because their unrepentant attitude gets in the way of regular confession and repentance. The Lord cannot ignore sin, and His Spirit will bring wrong behavior to the believer's attention until he or she deals with it.
Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. Often people don't feel like being merciful to someone who has wronged them. But a resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult.
You won't deal with a sin until you see it as God does. So assume full responsibility for your unforgiving attitude, and acknowledge that it is a violation of His Word. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment against the other person(s). As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude.
A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ. Nor is it healthy to carry an angry attitude through life. That's why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden--Jesus promised to make us free when we release our sins to Him (John 8:36).
The Definition of Faith
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
AGING STARS
Genesis 1:16b
“…he made the stars also.”
Today, I want to talk about aging stars. But I am not referring to your favorite movie icon of yesteryear. Instead, I am talking about stars in the universe.
How old is a star? And how can we tell?
Big Bang cosmologists refer to the ages of stars in billions of years. One recent science article talked about a star, which they said was so old that it was formed just after the Big Bang itself. The article, published in 2014, gives the age of the universe as 13.7 billion years old. I used to teach physics and chemistry in public high schools in Britain, until 1999. In the textbook, which I used at that time, the age of the universe was given as 12.3 billion years. This age was repeated in a subsequent edition of the book, in 2001. So, in the 13 years from 2001 to 2014, the universe got 1.4 billion years older, which is an increase of 11.3%. How could such a large margin of error be introduced, with so little comment? Could it be that the star to which I referred could be measured more accurately, pushing back the age of the universe?
It turns out that the age of the star is actually measured relative to the dating of the Big Bang. In the case of this particular star, they examine its chemistry (by studying its spectrum), and fit its age with whatever chemistry they think may have been available at the time. Such guesswork is not needed, when we realize that God has already given us reliable and intelligible dates for when creation events happened, in His word.
we thank You and praise You that Your word is true. Help us to submit to what You say, rather than following blindly after the will of the world. Amen.
When Is it Dangerous to Look at Jesus?
John Piper
On vacation, I kept a copy of Jonathan Edwards' sermons on my bedside table as a way of going to sleep with a God-centered mind. One of those sermons was called, "Keeping the Presence of God." It was preached at a Colony-wide fast day in April, 1742.
The second wave of the First Great Awakening had crested in the vicinity, and Edwards was seeing both the good and bad fallout of revival. He saw spiritual dangers lurking everywhere. In the next year, as he preached his famous series on The Religious Affections, he would become the most careful analyst and student of human hearts that had been wakened in the revival. What he saw in those hearts was mixed.So in this sermon, "Keeping the Presence of God," his aim was to stir up awakened Christians to be vigilant that their exuberance not become pride. He exhorted them to give themselves to watchfulness and prayer so as to remain broken and humble and happy in the good work of God in their lives.
Oh, how different is the path of Christian maturity pointed out by Edwards and the path most Christians walk today. There is a kind of cavalier attitude toward our security today. There is little trembling. Little vigilance and earnestness and caution and watchfulness over our souls. There is a kind of casual, slack, careless attitude toward the possibility that we might make shipwreck of our faith and fail to lay hold on eternal life. We have the notion that security is a kind of mechanical, automatic thing. We prayed once to receive Jesus. We are safe and there is not place for "working out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). That is not what Edwards sees in the Bible.
Therefore he pleads with his people, and I plead with you, to "keep the presence of God." It is not automatic. Edwards' text is 2 Chronicles 15:1-2 which contains the words, "The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." Since we do not want God to forsake us, we must be watchful over our souls lest we forsake him. It is true that God will never forsake his own children. But the proof that we are his children is that he works in us the vigilance not to forsake him. God's not forsaking us is the work he does in us to keep us from forsaking him (Philippians 2:12-13).
The striking thing in this sermon that was new for me was the warning that even beholding Christ can be a pitfall. This seems unlikely because in2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul says, "We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." In other words, seeing the glory of Christ in the gospel is a great means of becoming like Jesus. This is how we are sanctified -- seeing Christ.
So why would Edwards warn us that seeing Christ can be a pitfall? He did so because of what he read nine chapters later in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul said there that he had "been caught up into paradise" (12:3) and that he had been given "visions and revelations of the Lord" (12:1). Then he said that because of these visions and revelations of the Lord he had been given a "thorn in the flesh" (12:7) to keep him from being puffed up. Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away (12:8). But the Lord said that his own grace would shine the more brightly in Paul's thorn-caused weakness than if he were whole.
This means that Paul's visions of the Lord were dangerous for his soul. He had to be lamed by a thorn to keep these visions from hurting him. Here is the way Edwards says it:
There is great danger. I know great degrees of the spiritual presence of God tend greatly to restrain and keep down pride. But yet 'tis not all grace. And though in such cases there be much to restrain one way, so there is much to tempt and provoke it another. Temptations in such cases are often exceeding great. To be highly loved and exalted of God tends to feed pride exceedingly, if there be any left. The apostle Paul himself was not out of danger (2 Cor. 12:7). (Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 22 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003), p. 531)
In other words, the danger of spiritual pride is so subtle that we must even watch for it at the place of greatest sanctification--seeing the glory of the Lord. If there is any remnant of pride in us, even pure glory can be twisted to feed it.
So I exhort you, along with myself, in the words of Jonathan Edwards: "You had need to have the greatest watch imaginable with respect to this matter, and to cry most earnestly to the great searcher of hearts: for he that trusts his own heart is a fool" (Works, vol. 22, p. 531).
Watching and crying out for help to Christ,
Pastor John
| Old Testament Love “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) |
“The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” (Psalm 29:4)
When God Looks on Us with Favor
Isaiah 66:1-2
Believers are always under the canopy of God’s grace and love. Nothing we do can change that. At the same time, our behavior and heart condition do determine whether we receive the fullness of His blessings. Today’s passage teaches us how to experience the Father’s favor.
First, He desires that we have a contrite heart and a humble spirit (Ps. 51:17). For that to be the case, all aspects of our lives must be surrendered to Jesus. Yet some dreams, desires, and people are difficult to release into His hands.
Anything we do not give over to His authority is evidence of pride, the exact opposite of what our Father wants in His children. Remember that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Lack of submission proves that we think our way is better than His plan.
Second, God tells us to tremble at His Word (Isa. 66:2). Scripture--the unfolding revelation of Jesus Himself--is living and powerful to teach and transform us. Consider how we treat this treasure. Do we devote time each day to know what the Bible says and how to apply its principles? Do we hunger for more of the Word in our lives so we can know its Author better? One measure of our reverence is obedience: to honor the Lord, we must obey Him.
We all desire God’s favor. Are you living in a manner that positions you to receive His full blessings? Prayerfully consider whether you have submitted all areas of your life--from finances and health to relationships and work habits--to Jesus Christ. Recognize His authority in all things, and revere His Word.
Created to Rule the Day
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16)
Your Spiritual Life Depends on It - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" -Matthew 4:4
Have you ever noticed that most people don't pay much attention to flight attendants as they go over the emergency procedures at the beginning of a flight? I probably don't do this as well as I could because I've flown so many times. I've heard it before.
But what if, in the middle of a flight, I were to suddenly hear a loud noise outside and see smoke coming from an engine? Then a flight attendant suddenly steps forward and announces over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, we must make an emergency landing. We will be reviewing the emergency procedures with you once again. Please listen carefully."
Do you think I would put down my magazine then? Would I note where those emergency exits are? You'd better believe it. I'm going to get to those exits. I'm going to pay attention for one simple reason: my life depends on it.
When it comes to the Word of God, we need to pay careful attention as well. Why? Because our spiritual lives depend on it. Simply listening to the teaching of Jesus doesn't make you a disciple. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, then you must continue in God's Word.
Do you read the Bible every day? It is important. Success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible you get into your heart and mind on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it.
If you have a deficiency of the Bible in your spiritual diet, then you'll wither spiritually. You will unravel. But if you have a regular diet of the Word of God, you will be strong spiritually.
We need to realize that everything we need to know about God is found in the pages of His Word.
What Makes a Disciple? - By Greg Laurie -
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." -John 8:31
What is a disciple? Technically defined, a disciple is a listener, a learner, or a hearer.
But there is a difference between a student and a disciple. For example, let's say that you're in elementary school, junior high, or high school. You're a student. You're there because you have to be. You don't have a choice.
Then you get a little older and decide to go to college. You decide what your major is. You have a great interest in that topic and want to learn everything there is to learn. You transition from being a student to a disciple in that you actually want to go to class now. You want to get the information. You take the time to be a student of someone who knows more about the topic than you do.
Let's apply that to the Christian life. Are you a disciple, or are you a student against your will? If you treat a church service like being in class, and you don't really want to be there, then you won't get much out of it. You have to come as a disciple, a learner, as someone who wants to be taught.
Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31).
In the Bible, the idea of a disciple is someone who listens to a person who has full knowledge. That listener is drinking in every word, marking every inflection of the voice, absorbing every detail. They can't get enough. It is attention with intention.
That is why Jesus often said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" In other words, "Pay attention to what I'm saying."
There is no question that we need anointed preaching and teaching. But there is a need for anointed listening too.
Understanding Guilt John 8:1-11
Guilt over doing something that violates the conscience is a normal emotion. However, living under a cloud of remorse for no discernible reason is not. The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent. But Satan twists those emotions to imprison men and women: those living in shame are uncertain of God's love and often lack self-confidence.
Good guilt--the Lord's effective tool for prompting repentance--is a gift that helps us find the right path. However, the Devil encourages false guilt, which involves taking responsibility for things outside our control and then suffering self-condemnation for not changing the outcome. This unhealthy type of guilt is also a widespread problem for those in legalistic churches or lifestyles--certain behaviors or thoughts are labeled as wrong, and then people feel ashamed for doing or thinking those things.
Self-condemnation stunts a relationship with Jesus. Instead of enjoying the peace of God, people who are trapped by shame fear His rejection and feel driven to prove their worth. Trust is nearly impossible because they are waiting for God's judgment to rain down. Their guilt even colors how they see themselves: rather than saying, "My action is wrong," they say, "I am bad."
Jesus did not come to accuse or condemn us. Christ restored our souls and made us righteous before God so that our guilt is removed. If our Savior forgave the woman caught in an adulterous relationship, just imagine how ready He is to take your shame away too (John 8:11).
Having joy in troubled times - Bill Wilson -
Guilt over doing something that violates the conscience is a normal emotion. However, living under a cloud of remorse for no discernible reason is not. The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent. But Satan twists those emotions to imprison men and women: those living in shame are uncertain of God's love and often lack self-confidence.
Good guilt--the Lord's effective tool for prompting repentance--is a gift that helps us find the right path. However, the Devil encourages false guilt, which involves taking responsibility for things outside our control and then suffering self-condemnation for not changing the outcome. This unhealthy type of guilt is also a widespread problem for those in legalistic churches or lifestyles--certain behaviors or thoughts are labeled as wrong, and then people feel ashamed for doing or thinking those things.
Self-condemnation stunts a relationship with Jesus. Instead of enjoying the peace of God, people who are trapped by shame fear His rejection and feel driven to prove their worth. Trust is nearly impossible because they are waiting for God's judgment to rain down. Their guilt even colors how they see themselves: rather than saying, "My action is wrong," they say, "I am bad."
Jesus did not come to accuse or condemn us. Christ restored our souls and made us righteous before God so that our guilt is removed. If our Savior forgave the woman caught in an adulterous relationship, just imagine how ready He is to take your shame away too (John 8:11).
Having joy in troubled times - Bill Wilson -
I have been receiving a lot of comments lately from Daily Jot readers. Many have been very encouraging. Others are appalled at the state of affairs in our nation and around the world. Still some are angry and do not want to admit the obvious that is before them. Sometimes it is a good idea to take a step back, take a deep breath, and look at the world from a different angle. When I started the Daily Jot back in January of 2002, I sensed the Lord wanted a brief testimony of daily events that could equip and encourage people to share the Good News. Most of the Daily Jot readers, especially those who have been reading a while, "get it." But I want to encourage all readers to keep things in perspective.
The Bible is about Jesus Christ and what he did to bring salvation to a fallen world. There are many examples of how we are to live our lives and how we are to treat others. A good friend of mine says "You reap what you sow, more than what you sow, later than you sow." He's got a great point. It really is a law of God. So if you read the Jot and use it to share a Biblical perspective by discussing a current event, then you have planted a seed. Unlike seeds that you plant in a garden, you may never see the growth of that seed, but God's word does not return void. I want to encourage you to share what is in the Daily Jot with others--either verbally, or via email, or any other way that you see fit.
The Daily Jot is NOT intended to bring you distress or sorrow or fear. As Christians, we are often mocked for saying that we are living in the end times. They say that every generation thinks that. But the fact of the matter is that every day brings us closer to the Biblical end times. Certainly, there are many prophetic indicators that tell us we are getting closer and closer to the return of Christ the Messiah. How wonderful is that? We know from scripture that things are going to get worse the closer we get. But we are encouraged in Ephesians 6:13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Part of what the Daily Jot is intended to do is to rally folks to do the right thing. Romans 12:21 says "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Our country long has been a beacon of Christian hope to the rest of the world. I know. I have traveled quite a bit and hear what people say. We have a legal say in how things are done in our country. But because we have diverted our attention away from God and from His precepts of good citizenship, our beacon is dimming. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3 that he has seen travail of the labors of men. "I know there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God." Don't let these troubled times get you down. Find joy in Christ's labors.
Our Primary Purpose - By Greg Laurie -
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." -Revelation 4:11
One of the fundamental differences between people and animals is that animals don't worship, but people do. Why? Because God has essentially wired people this way. The Bible says that He has placed eternity in our hearts. We sense there is something more, and it causes us to worship.
Some of us understand that we were created to know and worship the God who created us. Yet many of us are not worshiping the Lord, and we are missing out on what God has for us. In Revelation 4:11 we read, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." In the Garden of Eden, Adam was living in a literal paradise. God had given him a companion to share it with, and Adam's job description was to go through the garden and discover all that God had created. It would almost appear from the story in Genesis that Adam and God had a daily appointment where the Lord would come in the cool of the day, and Adam and God would speak together.
You know the rest of the story. Adam and Eve were attracted to the forbidden fruit and ate it. Sin entered into the world as a result. And later when the Lord came walking in the garden, He called out, "Adam, where are you?"
In a sense He is still saying that to us today: "Where are you? I want to have fellowship with you. I want you to discover the purpose I created you for."
We were put here on this earth to worship God. We were created for His pleasure. Our primary purpose in life is to know, glorify, and worship the God who created us.
Unresolved Guilt What kind of person does unresolved guilt create? An anxious one, forever hiding, running, denying, or pretending. As one man admitted, �I was always living a lie for fear someone might see me for who I really was and think less of me. I hid behind my super spirituality but this lie was exhausting and anxiety producing.�
Unresolved guilt will turn you into a miserable, weary, angry, fretful mess. In a psalm David probably wrote after his affair with Bathsheba, the king said, �When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat� (Psalms 32:3-4 NLT).
As the apostle Paul told Titus, God�s grace is the fertile soil out of which courage sprouts! �God�s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation is available for everyone!� (Titus 2:11,15 MSG).
The Power of a Discerning Spirit
Hebrews 5:11-14
In a world filled with endless sources of information and opinions, believers need to develop a discerning spirit. Otherwise, how will we know what is true? Much of what we see and hear is based on a worldly perspective that is influenced by Satan, the Father of Lies. Deception is found even in the religious realm: cults mix lies with enough truth to make some people consider them legitimate Christian institutions.
The only way believers can guard against deception is to ground themselves in God's Word. The more time you spend filling your mind with the Lord's thoughts, the more discerning you will be. However, just knowing biblical truth isn't enough. You must put what you learn into practice so that it becomes more than head knowledge.
The goal is to let God's Word become such an integral part of your thinking that it guides all your decisions. Even if the situation you're facing isn't specifically addressed in the Bible, scriptural principles provide the needed wisdom for every choice. In addition, the Holy Spirit was given to each believer as a Helper, whose job is to guide you into all the truth (John 14:26; 16:13). However, your responsibility is to put God's Word into your mind so that He can bring it to your remembrance. If you neglect the Word, you'll lack discernment.
What are you allowing into your mind? Is Scripture high in your priorities? Unless you're careful, worldly thinking will overpower spiritual discernment. It's difficult to keep God's perspective in the forefront if you spend two or three hours in front of the television and only ten minutes in the Bible.
Unresolved guilt will turn you into a miserable, weary, angry, fretful mess. In a psalm David probably wrote after his affair with Bathsheba, the king said, �When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat� (Psalms 32:3-4 NLT).
As the apostle Paul told Titus, God�s grace is the fertile soil out of which courage sprouts! �God�s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation is available for everyone!� (Titus 2:11,15 MSG).
The Power of a Discerning Spirit
Hebrews 5:11-14
In a world filled with endless sources of information and opinions, believers need to develop a discerning spirit. Otherwise, how will we know what is true? Much of what we see and hear is based on a worldly perspective that is influenced by Satan, the Father of Lies. Deception is found even in the religious realm: cults mix lies with enough truth to make some people consider them legitimate Christian institutions.
The only way believers can guard against deception is to ground themselves in God's Word. The more time you spend filling your mind with the Lord's thoughts, the more discerning you will be. However, just knowing biblical truth isn't enough. You must put what you learn into practice so that it becomes more than head knowledge.
The goal is to let God's Word become such an integral part of your thinking that it guides all your decisions. Even if the situation you're facing isn't specifically addressed in the Bible, scriptural principles provide the needed wisdom for every choice. In addition, the Holy Spirit was given to each believer as a Helper, whose job is to guide you into all the truth (John 14:26; 16:13). However, your responsibility is to put God's Word into your mind so that He can bring it to your remembrance. If you neglect the Word, you'll lack discernment.
What are you allowing into your mind? Is Scripture high in your priorities? Unless you're careful, worldly thinking will overpower spiritual discernment. It's difficult to keep God's perspective in the forefront if you spend two or three hours in front of the television and only ten minutes in the Bible.
PLEASE VISIT MY WIFE'S WEBSITE. SHE RUNS "YOUNG LIVING" WHICH PROVIDES ALL NATURAL OILS THAT CAN BE USED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY INCLUDING A DIFFUSER WHICH PUTS AN AMAZING ODOR IN THE AIR. THIS PRODUCT IS SO AMAZING AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL GET YEARS OF ENJOYMENT FROM IT. GO TO HTTP://WWW.YOUNGLIVING.ORG/CDROSES
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.