This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Saviour that I have been entrusted with this work for him.
Titus 1:1-3, NLT*

God made a promise in the beginning, and waited for the time to be right to fulfill it. We’ve just celebrated the birth of the Saviour, and in a few months we’ll celebrate His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection. Someday we’ll celebrate His return.

God’s timing is perfect, although we can’t usually see that until after the fact. He has demonstrated it with His biggest promise, and so we can trust Him with His smaller ones.

Is there something you’re waiting for? Something He’s promised, be it a specific event or a word from Scripture like the assurance that He works all things to good for those who love Him? (Romans 8:28)

Father God, we thank You for your faithfulness, Your integrity. What You promise will be fulfilled. Please forgive and sustain us when we falter in the waiting. Help us keep our eyes on You and our confidence in You. Help us wait in patient trust, and help us worship You in the waiting.

John Waller’s song, “While I’m Waiting,” sums it up well. Let it be our prayer this week.

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Nicholas and I got rid of furniture about a year ago. We were moving around a lot, living in furnished situations, so there wasn’t much use in hauling about our beat-up stuff. And while we are in another furnished living environment, I’ve been thinking about what we will do when we move to our own house.

And I’m too old to sleep on the floor anymore.

I will scrounge most furniture – desks, tables, lamps, dressers. I can refinish wood and make it look almost new. I prefer older things of real wood, good simple lines and some presence in a room. However, my dust mite and mold allergies are so bad that I cannot risk used upholstered furniture, rugs and certainly not second-hand mattresses.

Although the furniture where we are living is exceptionally clean for its years of use, and the mattress we have on our bed is perfect, this is not always the case. I’ve spent miserable weeks, unable to sleep, because of breathing difficulties, headaches and even muscle spasms because of dust mite contamination in mattresses. Rugs and curtains are big culprits. Vacuuming and a spray with dilute hydrogen peroxide helps for a little while, but once those dust mites get into the textile, it’s near impossible to get them out.

So I am contemplating how much money we will have to save to buy furniture, and where we will get it.

So much modern furniture is made of plastic and PVC. I have a certain level of chemical sensitivities as well, and the all-natural stuff is so expensive! I think the mattress may have to fall into the natural category, but the living room furniture would cost as much as a new car if we went that route.

And there`s the issue of sustainability. How was it madeÉ What kind of materials were used in manufacturingÉ Was the wood sustainably harvestedÉ

I`ve looked at Ikea furniture online, and I like it. It has the plain style that is suitable for our life, and it is priced right. But my sister, who lived in Europe for years, calls Ikea `the Swedish Walmart.“ Are their manufacturing and shipping practices as ecologically sound as they implyÉ

What are others doing about thisÉ I don`t want to make a big decision like this without adequate information.

Kevin DeYoung posted this extremely moving and haunting account from a woman who used to work for Planned Parenthood.  Abortion is truly the depths of human depravity and no Christian should stand for it. 

Read the article here:  “Why I Made a (Small) Year-End Gift to a Crisis Pregnancy Center, and You Should Consider Doing Something Similar“

Here’s a quote that pretty much sums up what this battle is all about:

And when I looked at the screen, I saw a baby. . . . I saw a full side profile. So I saw face to feet. . . . I saw the probe going into the woman’s uterus. And at that moment, I saw the baby moving and trying to get away from the probe. . . . And I thought, “It’s fighting for its life. . . . It’s life, I mean, it’s alive.”

Overheard this from Scottie Smith on Facebook:

“Too many Christians try to live the Christian life by the equally destructive principles of ‘Sola-bootstrapsa’ (I must keep the law in my own strength and effort) and ‘Ego-nomianism’ (I am able to keep the law).” 

- Bryan Chapell

Both of these contradict the gospel, by minimizing our need and marginalizing God’s grace.

Let’s connect two beautiful statements from Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “For me…..to live…..is Christ…..” (Phil. 1:21), and, “I press on…..toward the goal…..for the prize…..” (Phil. 3:14). There is a poetic rhyme or meter in the English Bible in these two verses which makes them easy to remember. I recommend that we treasure these two statements in our hearts for repeated meditation, and relate these two statements in our exegesis. 

In Philippians 1:21, Paul is showing us how to view life. It is a statement of the Christian worldview in its boiled-down practical essence. If we were given the assignment to state our Christian-life worldview in a summary statement, we would expect to be allowed at least 100 words or more in which to do it. But imagine being told: state your Christian life worldview in six words. We would think that quite unreasonable. But this is what Paul has done in Phil. 1:21. Is this your Christian-life worldview? 

Philippians 3:14 is Paul’s way of showing us how to live life. He is telling us there that the Christian life is a race to be run. We recognize that the Christian life is not only a race to be run, for other analogies of the Christian life are used in Scripture (e.g., it is warfare to be won). But the analogy of the race to be run is certainly a comprehensive expression of Christian living because reaching the goal appointed for us is of the essence of our salvation. Christ himself said, “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13). Are you running the race to reach the goal? 

For Me

For Paul to say that Christ was his whole life is truly astounding. This is the man who took great pains to describe himself in all of his true colors, and this he did in numerous passages of the New Testament. But right here in Philippians 3:5-6 he tells the big story about himself: “circumcised the eighth day,” (ritual cleanness)…..”of the nation of Israel,” (nationhood)…..”of the tribe of Benjamin,” (bloodline)…..”a Hebrew of Hebrews,” (choice)…..”as to the Law, a Pharisee,” (zeal)…..”as to zeal, a persecutor of the church,” (hostility)…..”as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (ethical morality). What a mixed-up set of virtues. What a messed-up man Paul was. He was everything that Judaism came to be in its checkered history, and worst of all, Paul represents all of those Pharisees who opposed Jesus and incited His death, all rolled up into the one man Saul! 

To Live

I dare say that most people live life without first understanding it. They live it without learning what it means and how it works. A person can live life by the trial and error method. If something doesn’t work, or involves too much pain or loss, they’ll just try something else.  A person can life by the Eat, drink and be merry approach. Try to get the most that you can out of life and enjoy it because the day is coming when it will be all over. No doubt Paul is reflecting back on his life and confessing that he was living it the wrong way, a wretched way indeed. Grace had come and given him a new life in Christ, so that finally, he knows how to live. And his confession reveals that there is only one way – this way: For me to live is Christ. This confession is the norm for living in the real world where God is sovereign and life is precious.

Is Christ

Now Paul is confessing Christ as every true follower of Him must do, and will do. It is a simply grand confession belonging to all Christians: For me – To Live – Is Christ. It means that all of our faith and trust is in Christ, and toward the Father through Christ. We place no confidence in the flesh, and seek no control over our pathway. Rather we commit our way to Him and trust fully in Him to do for us what only He can do. All of our hope is in Christ. We hope for many things and have many desires, but our ultimate and far-reaching hope is in the promises assured to us through the New Covenant sealed in His blood. That righteousness, for which we hunger and thirst daily, is found in Him alone. Sin, the greatest of human problems, is solved in Christ as we receive from Him Divine forgiveness and cleansing. The wisdom we need to work our way through the difficulties of this life are all found in the wisdom which He gives. Truly Christ “became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption…” (1 Cor. 1:30). Christ is the only true and lasting comfort that we have in sickness, sorrow, and death. Comfort and consolations abound in Him and thus in the deepest trials of life our confession is a firm anchor for our storm-tossed souls. 

How is it with you my friend? How is it with me? Can we really make this confession and mean it? Let’s be careful now. Watch out for religious God-talk. I often catch myself when I am singing a hymn and ask myself: “Do I really mean that?” It’s so easy to sing the hymns and be detached from what we are saying. I remember when my children were young how sometimes I would catch myself reading them one of their favorite story books and hardly remembering what I read after the words came out from my mouth. If we confess For me To live Is Christ, it will need to be with substance behind and beneath it. And when we confess these words substantially there will be a corresponding style of life that befits them. 

Connections

The connection between Phil. 1:21 and 3:14 is easy to see. I press on…..toward the goal…..for the prize. For me, Paul says, I press on. To live is to be oriented toward the goal. And Christ is the prize. I am not a runner and I do not know the euphoria of running and crossing the finish line. So I depend on those who are runners and do know that feeling. Paul certainly identified with the Greek races. And it is clear to see in Paul’s words in Phil. 3:14 the three things that are essential to running and winning: a good start, momentum and endurance, and a passion for victory. 

I Press On

A good start in a race gives confidence and helps the cause of momentum and endurance. A bad start adds another requirement to running and winning, the need to recover. This can be done and some runners win with this added strength. But the good start is nevertheless essential. For living the Christian life we might rather call this element “A fresh start.” We need a fresh start in every Christian grace and duty. Think of how many times you have proved it to be true in your own Christian life. How many times have you found yourself recommitting yourself to more life-transforming and consistent Bible reading and devotional prayer? Remember how many times we began again to work on dealing with a besetting sin or the cultivation of the fruit of the Spirit? This is what Paul is saying in the words I press on. I like to think of the simple daily routine of pressing the on button of my razor or the computer or the appliance in order to get the work going. So we must engage ourselves in the Christian life by pressing on. How do we do this? By starting with the heart. Psalm 119:32 makes the connection: “I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.” When seeking a good start, a fresh start, we do well to assess the state of our hearts, because David is saying that it is the heart that propels us forward; not a big heart with little knowledge, but good knowledge impelled by a great heart: “Incline your heart to understanding” (Prov. 2:2). “Watch over your heart with all diligence” (Prov. 4:23). “A tranquil heart is life to the body” (Prov. 14:30). “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face” (Prov. 15:13). “Give me your heart my son” (Prov. 23:26) is what God is calling us to do. And Paul reminds us always “do not lose heart” (Eph. 3:13). 

Toward the Goal

Paul uses the phrase kata skopon, which is translated “toward the goal.” The Greek phrase envisions Paul against the goal. He must get to the goal and overtake it. And in the process he must keep a steady pace and a firm footing. This contemplates the runner’s momentum and endurance. And in the previous verse he seems to be telling us about the two most important things that are involved in maintaining momentum and experiencing endurance. 

The first is forgetting what lies behind.  In the context Paul is referring to his former manner of life in Judaism, his wickedness and shameful behavior. Moreover, he is thinking about the fruitless and insulting pursuit of one’s own righteousness. He is not saying that he wipes away every last vestige of memory about himself that is so loathsome to him. The past has didactic value for us. We are meant to learn from it. But we are not to allow the past to cripple or paralyze us. Paul did not glory in his past; he could not forget his past; he walked away from his past and from that old man to embrace the present of grace and the future of glory in Christ. Each one of us must run the race by keeping the past in proper perspective. The past is God’s providence in our lives, and valuable for that reason. God’s providence is His personal leading, and even though it be through the mix and mess of an experience like Paul’s, it is ours, and ours to learn from. But when the past is met by the grace of God it enters into great glory by renouncing the shame and folly of the old. It is only because of the grace of God that we can walk away from it, say goodbye to it, renounce it, and move on. For Paul the past represented mighty big issues. For us the past may not have such weighty matters to press us down. But each one of us must assess how the past looms to weigh us down, hold us back, and keep us from running with endurance and keeping a good momentum toward the goal. We must get the past into the categories to which it belongs: providence, experience, maturation, and a more sober approach to sin and saving grace. 

The second thing that Paul says about momentum and endurance is that we must reach forward to what lies ahead. We see it in the nerves and muscles of the runner. A race is a forward-moving and forward-looking way of life that involves stretching and reaching. We must expand our minds, our knowledge, our emotions to bear with new situations, our reason to reach for new avenues of problem-solving, and our love for new ministries of service. We cannot allow ourselves to get stagnant. God has not called us to life-as-usual. Our life in Christ is dynamic, growing, expanding, and we are always expecting that God is changing us to fit us for new challenges. 

Too often we are resigned that things must always be the way they are. Rather than stretch ourselves with goal-oriented pleading and praying, we just grumble about situations and complain about the way things are. So often God’s providences are designed to move us off center and point us away from ourselves. I am convinced that God often brings circumstances into our lives (which we do not like) to move us to consider other avenues and options. How often does God close one door to open another, or “deprive” us of something only to bless us with something completely unexpected?

 For the Prize

What is the prize here? He says that it is the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” In the analogy of running the race, it is the victory, and the fulfillment of our passion for victory. In the reality of the Christian life it is the finalization of the original call. We have been called in the Gospel to follow Christ. We have been called out of the world and saved from a crooked and perverse generation. We have been called into fellowship with His Son. Obviously, this calling is multi-faceted. But Paul focuses on one aspect of the calling in his statement of purpose. He mentions the direction of the call. It is upward, that is, heavenward. The race is won in heaven. Heaven brings us into ultimate possession of the prize which is Christ Jesus and the glorious inheritance we have promised in Him. To be spiritually-minded is to be heavenly-minded while we live our lives on this earth. But this earth is not our home. We are steadily progressing through it with a runner’s passion to reach the end of the call. Every call involves movement: the call to a task, the call to a decision, the call to a meeting, and the call to salvation in Christ Jesus. Godliness, sanctification, holiness, self-denial, devotion, commitment, faithfulness, applied to running the race is movement toward the goal. The quality control of the Christian life is endurance and momentum toward the goal for the prize, not success in the here and now (though many successes attend faithfulness). The one who calls is the one who also crowns the runners who run with endurance to the very end. Be one of them!  This new year 2010 is, in a very real sense, a fresh start for us all. Yes, the calendar to which we are bound has this built-in gift: a New Year. Can we do any better at this new beginning than to come to grips with Paul’s confession of the Christian-life worldview and his portrayal of the Christian-life race? I do not think so. Let’s do it!

For me to live is Christ / I press on toward the goal for the prize! 

Pastor John Reuther – Providence Reformed Baptist Church

I recently read a blog post written by a man named Jerry Hillyer.  The entry was titled, “An Expanded Prayer Vision.”  In it, Hillyer writes:

“It’s Time to confess and repent and fast and posture ourselves properly before a righteous and holy God. It’s time for the men of the Church, like Daniel, to search the Scripture and know and understand what God wants us to pray.  Enough prayers for better days and sunshine. Enough prayers that are meaningless and mundane. Let’s pray prayers that shake heaven so that heaven will shake us. Let’s get serious about prayer that announces to the Lord of Hosts: We Welcome Your Intervention.”

That article gave me a new perspective on prayer and intercession and “Thy will be done.”  It forced me to see prayer in a cold and brutally honest light, and it left me feeling raw but refreshed . . . as if dead flesh had been scrubbed away so that true healing could begin.

In retrospect, I discovered that prayer had become a sort of new age affirmation process, where I repeated positive thoughts over and over in an effort to steer subconsciously toward some goal.  Often, prayer became a way to bolster faith, either my own or someone else’s.  I guess those aren’t terrible things, but when I saw my heart in the light of the truth, I saw that I had begun to accept belief and faith as powers unto themselves. 

I began to believe that it was faith that moved the mountain.  So it followed that the stronger the faith, the more likely that the miracle would come.  If I told someone in prayer that they would be healed, then perhaps they would believe me and be healed.  If I told someone that God wanted to help them, then perhaps when the help came they would believe that it came from God. 

But after reading Hillyer’s post, I re-read the scriptures where Jesus taught us how to pray.  In Matthew 6:10 He said, “Thy Will Be Done.”  In the past I believed that saying those four words in prayer meant that I didn’t really believe God would give me what I asked for.  It was a sign of defeat.  It meant that I had given up.  I always thought I should say something bold, like “I claim healing for my friend.”  I thought I needed to proclaim that God is giving me what I want because I “believed” He had given it to me already.

After reading Hillyer’s entry, I began to see that praying “Thy Will Be Done” was a frightening act of faith. 

“Thy Will Be Done” is asking for the Consuming Fire to come and burn away everything that is not holy.  When we ask for healing with “Thy Will Be Done,” we are not just asking for God to fix the pipes, we are asking Him to reduce the house to cinders and then build it up again in His image.  In fact, before we pray “Thy Will Be Done” we need to count the cost, because we may lose some things in that fire that we never intended to give up.

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus told His disciples about the “power” of faith.  He said, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

In the past, I’d always interpreted that passage to mean that Faith was so potent that a tiny grain of it held enough power to move a mountain.  But I was wrong.  Jesus wasn’t saying that faith the size of a mustard seed was some great thing.  Just the opposite. 

Jesus was saying that it’s God that moves the mountain.  He was teaching that God can use me mightily in spite of my tiny little insignificant faith.  I just need to have that speck of trust in Him, and I need to let that trust make a real change in my life.

When I discovered that truth, I imagined myself standing before the awesome throne of God.  I could almost feel the fire of His glory thundering around me like a hurricane.  In my mind God picked me up, and in His fingers I looked like a trinket that He had rescued from the mud.  As I imagined Him holding me up for a closer look, I wondered if I would have the strength to say, “I claim healing for my friend.”

Or would I beat my chest, pray for mercy, and say Thy Will Be Done.

Reconciliation is much more than a one-time event by which a conflict is resolved and peace established. A ministry of reconciliation goes far beyond problem solving, mediation, and peace agreements. There is not a moment in our lives without the need for reconciliation. When we dare to look at the myriad hostile feelings and thoughts in our hearts and minds, we will immediately recognize the many little and big wars in which we take part. Our enemy can be a parent, a child, a “friendly” neighbor, people with different lifestyles, people who do not think as we think, speak as we speak, or act as we act. They all can become “them.” Right there is where reconciliation is needed.

Reconciliation touches the most hidden parts of our souls. God gave reconciliation to us as a ministry that never ends.

emphasis mine

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) is claimed by many to be the greatest mind America has ever produced (along with Benjamin Franklin).  He served as a pastor in colonial times, but was skilled in a plethora of other fields—ending his life as president of Princeton University.

When he was 19-20 years old, he put together a set of 70 resolutions that, when you consider his age, are absolutely stunning in regards to their depth.  I believe all of us would do well to absorb these.

If you would like a great biography of Edwards, I would recommend Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden. 

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14′ and July ‘3′ 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Aug. 17, 1723

Their door was paper thin. They had a sheet taped to the wall to cover the front window. The porch light wasn’t on, probably because it didn’t work. When she opened the skinny door, I let them know that the presents were in the car.

The 4-year-old, blissfully ignorant of her living situation, let this stranger know she had to do her homework. “That sounds like a good idea,” I replied..

“I have to finish it or my teacher will get mad. Bye!” And with that she scampered off to another room of the house.

Just 24 hours earlier, I had been at Wal-Mart. I was part of a group who decided to adopt a family from a local nonprofit in an Angel Tree program. As we made our way around the store, we complained about its cleanliness and organization as we debated which toy the 15-month-old would like and which DVD the family might enjoy. Life is so inconvenient when you have time and money.

I decided to deliver our gifts directly to the family; it would save me time. So I called and made arrangements. Even though they didn’t live in the worst part of town and even though I have poorer people living less than a mile from my house, I wasn’t ready for what I saw.

She was young. So was he.

In reading over the wish list that the mom had put together, I imaged the parents would be about my age, or maybe even a little older. They had three kids, for crying out loud. I have about 85 percent of one and I’m not yet 29. As we went up and down the aisles at Wal-Mart on Sunday, I pictured them differently than the reality that I saw on Monday.

Each was maybe 20 years old. As I turned back to my car, followed by the dad, I couldn’t speak. I was stunned.

When we travel to someone else’s neighborhood or visit someone else’s church, we realize the great equalization of humanity. At the core, we’re not all that different from one another, no matter what political pundits and mass media try to tell you. The problem, of course, is that since time and money make life inconvenient, it’s easier to stay put, not take risks and just point fingers.

Pointing fingers is so easy when you live in a house with drapes and thick doors.

At some point, as we grow up, we forget the Golden Rule. Due to some kind of capitalist trickery, we begin to think we deserve the gold we have and the rule gets changed. Instead of “treat others as you wish to be treated,” we begin to believe that we must “protect our stuff so no one else can have it.”

The problem with that rule has nothing to do with the notion of ownership, socialism or pie-in-the-sky idealism. The problem is that we’re forgetting that those of us who have are only separated from those who don’t by a very thin line.

This is why I am for health-care reform. This is why I am for programs that help people, even if it means raising my taxes. This is why I have less and less patience with people who claim to practice a certain faith that seems to relegate service to annual week-long trips to another country in order to make a difference while supporting structures that perpetuate inequality in their own back yards. It’s misguided and selfish.

It’s like people are saying, “I know you need help, but I don’t care. You didn’t control where or when you were born, but I can easily demonize you from my comfy couch. So while I get a refill from the kitchen, I want you to go away so I can ignore the reality that you even exist while I shout in unison to what I’m watching on cable news. And after you go away, I’ll look at my bank account and pat myself on the back..”

The five bags full of diapers, toys and gift cards won’t lift that family out of poverty. Neither will most of our social programs. I think that’s because we ignore the very thin line between making it and not making it that exists in this country – and in this world. We think the line is thick and paved with hard work and opportunity. In actuality, the line is very thin and people fall across it every day, losing a job, missing a bill and getting sick.

It’s time all of us recognized that….Because we’re not that different. We just have different sized doors on our houses, living on opposite sides of a very thin line.

Sam Davidson – Ethics Daily

“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.” Proverbs 21

“..thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12

“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7

Buy “The Naked Gospel” HERE.

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Yet another great addition to my library.  I thought I’d pretty much read enough about grace, freedom from law, freedom from  religion, and living daily in Christ.
I was wrong.
With all the ground that has been covered by previous readings, this book managed to cover new ground.  It really helps show how religion has added so much to the gospel that the true gospel is considered heresy by much of the “church.”  It’s amazing how far we’ve fallen from truth.
One of my favorite sections is called “Crossing The Line.”  It, alone is worth the price of the book.  It discussed how the dividing line of time, and covenants, was not Christ’s  birth, but his death and resurrection.  I, of course, knew this, but I hadn’t considered the full ramifications; especially concerning the teachings of Jesus under the Old Covenant.
There are some areas that are at opposition with my personal beliefs, but, of course, that’s OK.

I can see why earlier versions of this type of material were banned and burned by organized religion, and why the promoters of said material were tortured and killed.  Of course, Jesus was tortured and killed for pretty much the same reasons.

– dave
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Here are some excerpts from “The Naked Gospel,” by Andrew Farley

(The following part of the post will be periodically updated with different quotes.)

Buy “The Naked Gospel” HERE.

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“There is no greater test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace.  If my preaching and presentation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel…There is this kind of dangerous element about the true presentation of the doctrine of salvation.” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. -
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One hindrance to understanding the real gospel as life restoration is an obsession with “book knowledge.”  The life of Jesus in us is what matters most.  We shouldn’t equate “Bible smarts” with spiritual maturity.  They’re certainly not one and the same.  As in Jesus’ day, it’s often those who are puffed up about their good handle on what the Scriptures say (not what they mean!) who resist the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
(Jonh 5:39-40).

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Buy “The Naked Gospel” HERE.
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Adam and Eve didn’t eat from a “tree of evil.”  They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They weren’t pursuing sin as we normally think of it.  They were pursuing a form of godliness.  God never intended for humanity to take upon itself the burden of developing and following a code of ethics.  Adam and Eve reconsidered their confidence in God’s way and opted for morality instead.
Today, we can be deceived by the same offer.  We may find ourselves pursuing the knowledge of good instead of listening to our heartfelt yearning for an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
Fulfilling the law is something that God did in Christ.  Its fulfillment isn’t an ongoing event in the lives of believers today.  God set us free from the law, so that we’re not under it or supervised by it (Galatians 3:25).
The Holy Spirit isn’t motivating us to keep the Mosaic law, nor do I think we should consult the law as our guide in daily living.  This is why we have the Holy Spirit in us instead:  “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18).  Furthermore, if God were motivating us to adhere to the law, it would be the entire law, not just part of it (James 2:10). [By the way, God did write His laws on our hearts, not the law of Moses.  God's law, according to Jesus, is "love God, love people."]
I believe it’s quite clear that believers should have no relationship with the law.  Romans 7 explains that we’ve died to the law, and we’re now married to Another.  God views a return to law-based living as spiritual adultery.  Living by rules is cheating on Jesus!
Christianity was never rooted in the Law, not even in the Ten Commandments.  The commandments aren’t intended to supervise Christians (Galatians 2:19).   In fact, the law causes more sinning (Romans 7:5,8).
Paul warns that if we add even a pinch of law to our life in Christ, He’ll be of no value to us (Galatians 5:2-3).  It’s preposterous for Christians to adopt portions of the law of Moses as our guide for living.  We’re presuming that God grades on a curve.  But the law is completely incompatible with our attempt to “do our best.”  Law is a pass-fail system.  And one strike means you’re out.  The law only breeds two things: defeat if you’re honest and hypocrisy if you’re not.

[I've always heard people say "I know we can't keep the law, but we should try and do our best."  WHAT?!?!?  Scripture never says "Try to keep the law."  It never says "Do your best."  It says "Keep it all.  Period."  The very scriptures they quote completely negate their proposal.  Neither do the Scriptures teach that we do what we can and Jesus does the rest.  God didn't say that to make us try harder, but to raise the bar so high, we can never do it.  Thank God, Jesus did it for us.]
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Buy “The Naked Gospel” HERE.
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We often attempt to apply directly to our lives every word Jesus said, without considering his audience and purpose.  Jesus was born under the law.  His audience was under the law, and they needed deliverance from it.  Jesus exposed the futility of life under the law.
He exclaimed, “Gouge out your eye” and “cut off your hand” if you truly want to keep the law (Matthew 5:29-30), so that his Jewish listeners would reach a crossroad.  They would decide to try harder or to give up.  Once they gave up, they could consider a radical new way.
Jesus’ impossible teachings of “sell everything, sever body parts if necessary, be perfect like God, and surpass the Pharisees with your righteousness” are not honestly compatible with salvation as a gift from God.
Couldn’t we resolve all of this by realizing the dividing line in human history?  Peter, James, John, and Paul wrote epistles about life under the New Covenant.  Years earlier, Jesus was teaching hopelessness under the Old.  The audience wasn’t the same.  The covenant wasn’t the same.  And the teachings aren’t the same.  Jesus’ harsh teaching aimed at the religious kill you every time.  One thing about distinguishing the Old from the New – it always liberates.

Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10:4).
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Buy “The Naked Gospel” HERE.
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Sure, the flesh is delighted to coerce us toward obvious evil.  But the flesh is equally satisfied to initiate religious or moral living admired by others!
Don’t believe for a minute that the flesh is limited in its scope to producing ugly behavior.  The flesh will build any kind of identity, as long as it gains love, attention, and acceptance from someone.
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Jesus was born under the law.  As Hebrews tells us, the Old wasn’t replaced by the New until Jesus’ death.
Trying to mix Jesus’ teachings directed to Pharisees and zealous Jews with the epistles will inevitably result in confusion.

Here’s more:

The Sabbath:  The reality is Christ, and a genuine Sabbath-rest is found in Him; ceasing from the dead works we thought would gain us favor with God.
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The Tithe:  The same law that mandates a tithe doesn’t allow the pastor to own a home, own property, or own possessions.
(Also read “Tithing and Clergy Salaries.”  Click HERE.)
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Buy “The Naked Gospel” HERE.

Pastor John Piper went to visit his friend Matt Chandler this last weekend and he delivered a powerful message of hope, perseverance, and the love of God to Pastor Matt Chandler’s church, The Village.  For those that do not know, Matt Chandler, one of the country’s leading young voices for Biblical truth, has recently been starting treatment for a brain tumor (now removed) that turned out to be malignant.  A long battle awaits the Chandlers and their church family, but it is an encouragement to us all to see how they handle this with grace.

Enjoy Pastor John Piper’s message, “Subjected in Hope”.  This hit close to home for me because the Lord took my younger sister home at 19 with a similar condition to that of Matt’s.

To the Chandlers and the people of the Village Church; you are in my prayers.  Thank you Pastor Piper for your public love and support of the family of God in Christ.

This morning I want to share a number of verses about the Water of Life.  The first is from the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 47.  I can’t help/stop thinking of the similarities between these verses and ‘Tide is Rising’ Word for our church – see previous blog.

Ezekiel 47:1-12
47:1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.  3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits  and then

“led me through water that was ankle-deep”

4 He measured off another thousand cubits and

“led me through water that was knee-deep”

He measured off another thousand and

“led me through water that was up to the waist”

5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because

“the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in”

— a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,  where it enters the Sea.  When it empties into the Sea,  the water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds — like the fish of the Great Sea.   11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

“12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

And now to the revelation of John…

Rev 22:1-2
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations”

Here are some questions and answers that come to mind from these verses…

Question: Why won’t their leaves wither and their fruit fail?  Answer: Because the water of the sanctuary flows to them.

Question: What is the sanctuary?  Answer: In Rev 22 we see that the sanctuary is the very throne of God and of the Lamb.

Question: What is the water?  Answer: The water is the Holy Spirit.

Question: How often do the trees bear fruit?  Answer: Every month the trees naturally bear fruit.  Therefore, relating this back to us, we are to consistantly and continually bear fruit, not out of a sense of duty – this would be impossible, but fruit will be a natural (supernatural) outflow of our lives connected to the Water of Life.

Question: What is fruit?  Answer: Fruit isn’t just being nice. In John 15:16 Jesus said “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last”.  So we are to go and bear eternal fruit!  As we are connected to the Father through the Son empowered by His Holy Spirit in a life of faith and trust we will be directed to acts of love and service and good works that have eternal significance and consequences – Kingdom fruit!

Question: What is this about the “leaves being healing for the nations”?  Answer: Most importantly, we have the “words of eternal life”.  The message of healing and restoration through Jesus for the nations.  We need to bring this message to the nations.  Significantly as well, a (super)natural by-product of the presence of Kingdom Believers in a community (or nation) brings with it healing and blessing and provision and protection.

Other Verses about the Water of Life

Jer 17:7-8
7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. “

Rev 21:6
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Rev 22:17
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

John 4:7-14
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”  8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. )
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Eugene Peterson is one of my favorite authors on spirituality and ministry. The quotation below will give you a sense of why I appreciate his wise simplicity:

“I want to simplify your lives. When others are telling you to read more, I want to tell you to read less. The world does not need more of you; it needs more of God. Your friends do not need more of you; they need more of God. And you don’t need more of you; you need more of God.

“The Christian life consists in what God does for us, not what we do for God; the Christian life consists in what God says to us, not what we say about God. We also, of course, do things and saying things; but if we do not return to Square One each time we act, each time we speak, beginning from God and God’s Word, we will soon be found to be practicing a spirituality that has little or nothing to do with God.” (Eugene Peterson. Subversive Spirituality. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994, 1997, p. 30)

Oh Father, may my life be more focused on You and less focused on my experience of You. May You be magnified in my vision and may I be diminished. Amen.

Ephesians 1- 13 – ”And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” If you have believed and have accepted Christ as your Savior you have received the Holy Spirit. Many Christians may find it difficult to believe they have the Holy Spirit because He is not visible or can not be felt. Is there a way to know without any doubt that you have received the Holy Spirit? If we know for sure that we have the Holy Spirit we are assured that we will go to Heaven and we will have eternal life with God.

There is a test that we can take to prove that the Holy Spirit is in our lives. Here is how we can tell. Since we accepted Christ and received salvation have our lives changed? Are we becoming more Christ-like in our daily living?

Prior to being converted I had spent four years in the Navy. Most of those years I spent overseas. I don’t believe I was a typical sailor but had developed a number of bad habits. However, once I accepted Jesus Christ into my life, my life changed totally. The worldly things I believed were fun and important diminished. I think it can best be described by I Corinthians 13:4 – 7 – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

I noticed a difference in my heart and started to see a love that became patient and kind. It didn’t happen overnight but it gradually improved. I had a problem with anger and had a short temper. I become more considerate of other people and a lot less judgmental. I developed a desire to be more kind to others.

I found myself overcoming jealousy and had no desire to control others or envy what they had that I didn’t. I don’t believe I was arrogant but as a young person there were times of boasting. As I grew older and realized that people with confidence need not brag that no longer became a problem. It seems people who lacked confidence and struggled with a low self-esteem were having a problem dealing with pride.

Interacting with people over a period of time I learned not to let others provoke me to the point of rudely retaliating. We must never get even with someone doing evil things to us by retaliating by being evil ourselves. God will deal with those types of people. It is not our job.

Love does not rejoice in evil but in the truth. I made it a practice to never lie to anyone. Previously I had a tendency to stretch the truth. I have gone for years without intentionally lying to anyone. I have given out information that I later found was not accurate. It was never done with the intention of deceiving someone.

Love protects, always hopes and always perseveres. My love chooses to trust and believe the best in people. Often times people have disappointed me. Over the years of working with thousands of people I have learned to realize that people come from different backgrounds with different temperaments and personalities. In most cases they are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.

The final test question: Is there someone whom I love very much? How often do I think about that person or persons? Do I think about them often or continually? How much do I love God? Do I think about Him more than just through the weekend service? If I don’t think about Him often or continually it may indicate just how much or how little my love is for Him. Am I meeting the commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

I now must ask myself this question: “Could I have changed or in the process of changing this much without the Holy Spirit being within me”? Could I have had unconditional love prior to my conversion? The answer would be: “Never in a million years”.

It is now your turn. Take the test. Since being saved have you noticed any change in how you live and do you now love differently? Then ask yourself: “Could you have made the changes without the assistance of the Holy Spirit?” If you passed the test you can be assured of eternal life with Christ. Don’t you now feel more confident where you will spend eternity?
]]> http://ventura632.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/why-there-is-so-many-misunderstanding-as-a-christian/ Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:17:14 +0000 Calvary Faith http://ventura632.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/why-there-is-so-many-misunderstanding-as-a-christian/

This is confusing when we consider that we have the similar bible which explains the same faith and conviction in Jesus Christ.

 Despite we are from many variations in our background, ethnicity and culture but we have a common goal in the faith in God. Out of the differences we have the same faith. We baptized in the same water and experience the same Holy Spirit dwelling within our heart the temple to our soul.

 We partaker the same cup of body of Christ and consume his similar body therein.

 We hear the same sermon and dwell in the same assembly and masses of people which of same believe as a believer in Jesus Christ. We follow the same commandment the greatest love of God to convict of the world in the wholesome and awesome glory of God in the simplest way about God’s love and gentle kindness to the world.

 Consider the same experience that we have in Christ Jesus but as a whole we still have diversion? Why is this so? Why in this fraction of diversity can comes into the holy sanctuary of the communion?

 I believe this must be because of our faith, conviction and relationship in God. The way how we carry ourselves and elevate the spiritual being to the highest priority while on the other essence to diminish the flesh and carnality from our mind. The level of Spiritual gearing and admonition of our flesh vary from individual toward other individual. Bible in the book of Ephesians has foretold the condition:

 Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

 Yes, we indeed have to keep the unity of the Spirit in bond of love and peace. But we are difference because it is by the grace of God and gift that were presented to us that makes us different.

 Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 Until and unless as when all of us a believer comes to the very understanding of the perfect stature of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of his we will never experience the same conviction and understanding in the doctrine of God in the same knowledge and unity of the faith.

 Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

 In order to prevent the miscommunication and diversity of our understanding we must understand more of Jesus Christ through his words and closer relationship with him daily. Our spirit too will have to be renewed through the Spirit of God that is working within and inside. Only through this we will be able to steadfast in the faith of God and never waiver and tossed to and fro in the attack of the enemy that often caught us off guard.

 Only through that we will come to the very agreement and joint in Spirit of the experience of God and rejoicing together in full and deeply simultaneous understanding in our Christian walk. No longer apostasy amongst our brethren as a whole. So as speak a member of one body in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Amen!

The River Ministries

Have you ever wished somebody would cut you some slack?  That others would extend a little more grace and mercy to you than they do?  I have – many a time. 

God made each of us in His image, without mistakes.  Psalm 139:14 says, “… I am fearfully [reverently; awesomely] and wonderfully made ….”  This includes not only our physical makeup, but also our inner man – our unique personality, how we tick. 

Unfortunately, that perfect “us” has been marred through sin entering the world.  As a result, we do imperfect things, and sometimes we irritate or hurt other people.  We are a “work in process.”  The good news is that Jesus is restoring us back into His image through the Holy Spirit working within us. 

Most of us know that God is merciful and gracious toward us, but what about when people are not?  First of all, we must understand the principle that what we sow toward others comes back upon us.  Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you are not judged.  For if you judge, you will also be judged, and with the measure that you pour out, it will be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:1, 2).  If we are not treating others with much mercy, that could be part of the problem!  Romans 14:4 further adds, “Who are you to judge another man’s servant?  Yes, he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.”

What’s the solution?  There are several steps we can take:

1.)  Repent of all known sin to God and to those you have offended.

2.)  Know that God extends unlimited grace and mercy to all who ask.  That is more important by far than how people respond to us.  (Remember, they are imperfect too!)

3.)  Start sowing toward others what you would like to receive yourself.  Need grace?  Extend it  (even to those who aren’t giving it to you).

4.)  Cut yourself some slack.  If you are yielding to the Lord and letting Him change you, you’re only going to get better.  He’s remaking you into His image; the finished product will be beautiful. 

The angels announced God’s intent at Jesus’ birth, “On earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).  Let’s partner with God in being at peace with, and showing good will towards, each other.   Be the initiator of that grace and mercy.

The River Ministries

Lamentations 3 begins with a very bleak feeling,

I am the man who has seen affliction because of the rod of His wrath.  He has driven me and made me walk In darkness and not in light.  Surely against me He has turned His hand repeatedly all the day.  He has caused my flesh and my skin to waste away, He has broken my bones.  He has besieged and encompassed me with bitterness and hardship.  In dark places He has made me dwell, like those who have long been dead.  He has walled me in so that I cannot go out; He has made my chain heavy.  Even when I cry out and call for help, He shuts out my prayer.  He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked.  He is to me like a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in secret places.  He has turned aside my ways and torn me to pieces; He has made me desolate.  He bent His bow and set me as a target for the arrow.  He made the arrows of His quiver to enter into my inward parts.  I have become a laughingstock to all my people, Their mocking song all the day.  He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drunk with wormwood.  He has broken my teeth with gravel; He has made me cower in the dust.  My soul has been rejected from peace; I have forgotten happiness.  So I say, “My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD.”  Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.  Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.

When the weight of these realities fall on you, or they are presently on you, it can make one weep.  Is that okay?  Very much so.  Francis Schaeffer wrote, ‘Our trusting the Lord does not mean that there are not times of tears.  I think it is a mistake as Christians to act as though trusting the Lord and tears are not compatible.’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer also said, (in a letter from prison) ‘The man who finds God in his earthly happiness…does not lack reminder that earthly things are transient…and…there will be times when he can say in all sincerity, ‘I wish I were home.’

If your weeping, remember the rest of Lamentations 3,

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.  The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  ”The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.  It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.

By Charles Spurgeon, courtesy of Team Pyro

The following excerpt is from “A New Year’s Benediction,” a sermon delivered 1 January 1860 at Exeter Hall in London.

Oh, how many there are that are never settled! The tree which should be transplanted every week would soon die. Nay, if it were moved, no matter how skilfully, once every year, no gardener would expect fruit from it. How many Christians there be that are transplanting themselves constantly, even as to their doctrinal sentiments?

There be some who generally believe according to the last speaker; and there be others who do not know what they do believe, but they believe almost anything that is told them.

The spirit of Christian charity, so much cultivated in these days, and which we all love so much, has, I fear, assisted in bringing into the world a species of latitudinarianism; or in other words, men have come to believe that it does not matter what they believe; that although one minister says it is so, and the other says it is not so; yet we are both right; that though we contradict each other flatly, yet we are both correct.

I know not where men have had their judgments manufactured, but to my mind it always seems impossible to believe a contradiction. I can never understand how contrary sentiments can both of them be in accordance with the Word of God, which is the standard of truth.

But yet there be some who are like the weathercock upon the church steeple, they will turn just as the wind blows. As good Mr. Whitfield said, “You might as well measure the moon for a suit of clothes as tell their doctrinal sentiments,” for they are always shifting and ever changing.

Now, I pray that this may be taken away from any of you, if this be your weakness, and that you may be settled. Far from us be bigotry removed; yet would I have the Christian know what he believes to be true and then stand to it.

Take your time in weighing the controversy, but when you have once decided, be not easily moved. Let God be true though every man be a liar, and stand to it, that what is according to God’s Word one day cannot be contrary to it another day, that what was true in Luther’s day and Calvin’s day must be true now; that falsehoods may shift, for they have a Protean shape; but the truth is one, and indivisible, and evermore the same.

A New-Year’s Admonition to those Who Can’t Decide What They Believe

This morning, my devotional time led me to the Book of 2 John, specifically verses 7 through 11.  Those verses read as follows in the Amplified:

For many imposters (seducers, deceivers, and false leaders) have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge (confess, admit) the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) in bodily form. Such a one is the imposter (the seducer, the deceiver, the false leader, the antagonist of Christ) and the antichrist.  Look to yourselves (take care) that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have labored for, but that you may [persevere until you] win and receive back a perfect reward [in full].  Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement.  For he who wishes him success [who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings.

So, this had me thinking, especially on the part I’ve highlighted.  The scriptures are clear:  (1) the false teacher is anyone who does not abide in the doctrine of Christ; (2) Christ declared that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6); and (3) we are warned not to welcome false teachers into our homes. 

However, how many Christians welcome Oprah into their home daily?  Oprah has clearly stated that she believes that there are many paths to heaven and that Jesus cannot be the only way.  Yet, Christians invite her into their homes through the television on a regular basis. 

I have to wonder how healthy this is for Christians.  The Bible states that all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.  (See 1 Cor. 10:23 Amp: All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].). 

That said, let me clarify – I’m not suggesting that a Christian would necessarily go to hell or lose their salvation by watching Oprah.  But, we have to ask whether inviting these personalities and philosophies into our home is constructive to our character and edifying to a spiritual life in Christ.  I think not.

Now, some of you may be thinking, “But what about Jesus.  He hung out with all kinds, including sinners!”  Yes, He did.  And we are encouarged to reach the outermost parts of the earth – making disciples, baptizing, and teaching.  (See Matthew 28).  So, what’s the difference?  There are several. 

First, Oprah and other false teachers like her have been exposed to Jesus and the Bible and have chosen to reject it thus far.  Note, I say thus far because I believe that the Holy Spirit can come and change the hearts of men and women, including Oprah, so that she can have eternal life with the Father and our Savior.  Plus, can you imagine what a great evangelist she would be?!  But, back to the point, the men and women with whom Jesus dined and spoke were getting their opportunity to choose – whether to enter into fellowship with Jesus and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. 

Another stark difference is that Jesus didn’t invite darkness into His home.  He went to the darkness and His light entered those dark places, and lives were dramatically and forever changed.  So, why would we invite a one-sided conversation of darkness into our homes?  What benefit is provided?  How is our spiritual life edified?

While there are several other differences and comments that could be made, I will end with this thought.  Romans 10:17 is meant to be an edifying scripture for the believer.  In the Amplified, it reads:  So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).  But, what happens when the believer hears more of the preaching of the message that comes from the lips of false teachers as opposed to the lips of Christ the Messiah, the Word of God (Regarding Jesus being referred to as the Word of God, see e.g., John 1; Rev. 19:13)?!  I have to wonder if our faith can shift based on whose message we’re allowing to continually flow into our homes and eargates.  Unfortunately, it appears that surveys of American Christians today only confirm this, with an alarming majority of American Christians agreeing with Oprah’s false teaching.   

Today, I encourage you, Believer, to consider the boundaries which you will place on the welcome mat of your home – the literal welcome mat at your doorstep, and even more so the figurative one of your remote to the television and your keyboard on the computer.  We’re called to tell others the Good News of Jesus.  If they don’t listen, we’re advised to shake the dust off of our feet and move on.  (See Matt. 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5).  Not anywhere in the Bible are we encouraged to entertain false teachings.  Instead, we’re told to reject them, or else we might found sharing in their evil deeds.  That’s deep!  Stay diligent, my brothers and sisters!  Set those boundaries today!