Redeeming Time

Within hours of my "Expecting the Unexpected" post, I was called on to practice what I preached. What I hoped to make clear in my post was the necessity of preparation. The unexpected often comes into our life. Surprises, whether good or bad, are part of life with limited knowledge. We would have to be omniscient, that is all-knowing, like God in order to never be surprised.

I am a procrastinator. I put things off to the last minute. In part, I do it because I am a perfectionist and a nit-picker. I am often my worst critic. I keep putting stuff off, because I know it won't be my best. Then I have to be satisfied (which I never am) with the final product, because it had to be finished. The irony is that waiting to the last minute guarantees that it won't be my best work.

I am working on being better prepared. If a person was to take advantage of the free time in their day, they would be less stressed by the divine appointments that interrupt their life. We often experience interruptions in our life. Have you ever been leaving your house, and had the phone ring? Have you ever ran in a store to pick up one item and ran into an old friend that need to talk? When the rest of our life is in order, these moments aren't very stressful and often they can be encouraging. However, if you have to be somewhere in 15 minutes when your house is thirty minutes from where you are going, that ringing phone may frustrate you.

We need to structure our lives in such a way that we can handle interruptions. Children get sick. Appliances break down. Friends and strangers need a compassionate ear, and sometimes a strong back. If we have made the most of the time we have then we can be confident that in these moments we are doing the right things by helping. Redeem the time that has been given to you, so that you can be available and willing to respond to divine appointments.

Sermon Recap 8-30-09

Morning: The sermon, "Draw Near to God," focused on Hosea 14:1-9. In this passage, we see some of the most tender words spoken by the Lord, through Hosea. The Lord begins by calling Israel to return. They had wondered off into sin and idolatry, but the Lord wanted them to "take word" with themselves and cry out for mercy. After calling Israel to draw near, the Lord promises to draw near to them. In his nearness there is blessing and joy. He concludes by encouraging them to consider the ways of wisdom, and follow him.

Evening: Business meeting.

Expect the Unexpected

I heard it said that "luck favors the prepared." It was on television or in a movie, I can't remember which. I took it to mean that success was largely due to preparedness. Hard work and skill reduce the chance of failure, much like, lack of discipline and ability decrease the risk of success. We are to be the kind of people who live every moment in a state of preparedness.

Part of that process is learning to live in anticipation. If you anticipate nothing, you will be most surprised. We do not live in a world where nothing happens. Something is always going on, and there is more on the way. Are you expecting it?

Have you ever received an unexpected knock at your door? Have you ever picked up the phone to hear a voice you never thought you would hear in a million years? Surprise comes because we are not expecting the unexpected. I have always thought it was a defense mechanism against the heartache of unfulfilled expectation. We want not, because we fear we'll receive not.

However, Jesus commanded us to expect the unexpected (see Matt. 12:35-48). We should labor and toil in light of his coming. We should not be slack, but to diligently perform all our duties while we await our master's return. The servant who is faithful and wise to do the will of his master's will find himself rewarded, but the unfaithful, foolish servant will bear the penalty.

We have to learn to expect the unexpected. While we wait for Christ's return, we must be ready, because we never know when the wind of the Spirit will blow into our lives. Nor do we know in which direction. If we are workmen who rightly handle the Word of truth, we need not fear the unexpected. For having prepared, we'll stand ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us. Are you ready?

A Leap of Faith

Many struggle with the idea of taking a leap of faith. They assume that taking a leap of faith is the same as taking a leap in the dark. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. While faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (see Heb. 11:1), it does not exist without cause.

There are many evidences that could be given that would demonstrate the reality of God. However, these evidences are never accepted as definitive by skeptical minds. There is an agenda to the doubt--truth suppression (see Rom. 1:18-20). They don't want to take a leap of faith, because it will be a leap into the light, and they love the darkness (see John 3:19).

Taking a leap of faith requires repentance and trust. It requires that we truly believe that Christ died in our place, was pierced for our transgressions, paid our sin debt, was buried and was raised again to life on the third day. It requires that we have a holy hatred toward sin, because the Spirit brought into our consciousness, through conviction, God's hatred toward sin and the pending righteous judgment that we face.

I used to believe having "faith" was the same thing as having an opinion, but now I know that isn't the case. As a professing atheist, I was arrested by the gospel. The Spirit brought to pass a conviction of sin in my heart. I knew that I had offended a holy and righteous God, and I trembled at that reality. The Spirit also brought a hope to life, even in the midst of that conviction. The hope brought to life in me was simply that, through Jesus' death and resurrection, I could find forgiveness of sin and welcome in the family of God.

It felt like I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I loved my sin: the sin which was destroying me, the sin which had made me by nature an object of wrath, the sin which had separated me from my Creator in this life and would condemn me in the next. Yet, I needed to be cleansed, to be forgiven. With hope awakened, I was called to take a leap of faith. And by the grace of God, I leaped into the light. Have you taken a leap of faith?

More About Sin

We need to think carefully about sin. It is easy to begin thinking about sin as an impersonal force that attacks us against our will, especially when we are speaking about the believer's struggle with sin. However, sin is not just something outside of ourselves, but something comes from within. That is why James talks about our evil desires leading us astray.

In one sense it is absolutely true to say we are new creatures, because that is what we are. However, that process of making us completely new is not yet finished. We are already new creatures, but do not yet experienced the fullness of that newness. We have already been freed from bondage to sin, but are not yet free from our bodies of death.

When we are born into this world, we are born as sinners in a sinful world. When we trust in Christ, we are reborn into a world that Christ is reconciling to himself through the gospel. Sin no longer defines us. As unconverted sinners, sinning is what we do, because of who we are. Just as a clock tells time, because it is a timepiece. As redeemed sinners, sinning is something that is contrary to who we are. Through Christ, sinning moves from a natural response among sinners to an unnatural response among his people.

This is why the New Testament continues to instruct us to put off sin. Sin no longer defines us; God's grace does. By grace we are saved through faith. By grace we are made children of God. By grace we are made the righteousness of God. By grace we live and breath and have our being. As we trust in Jesus, our identity shifts (by grace) from sinner (one rebelling against God) to saint (one set apart by God).

While we live in this world, the process of sanctification makes us more like what God has purposed for us to be. The process of sanctification will not be completed until we receive our glorified bodies. We struggle with sin, because we have been made alive with Christ, and his Spirit dwells within us. The Spirit and the flesh (evil desires within a person) wage war against each other. The flesh is like the dragon in Revelation 12, raging because it knows its time is short. The flesh is angry because it has been dethroned, and God has been restored to his rightful place. Our flesh desires to be the center of our world. My flesh wants me to worship it. Your flesh wants you to worship it. But there is only one God and Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ and only he is worthy of worship.

The External Sources of Temptation

On Monday, I posted an article on the internal source of temptation (the enemy within), that is, the flesh. Today, I want to look at the enemy without. What are the external sources of temptation in the life of people? Those sources are the world and the devil. James addresses these sources of temptation in James 4:4-10.

In the beginning of these verses he refers to the people as adulterers. Within the large context of his letter, and the closer context of chapter four, this adultery must be seen as spiritual. They have abandoned the true worship of God, and have made peace with the world. James stuns them with his accusation prior to asking them a simple question, "Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred of God?" (James 4:4). The expression, "You adulterous people," coupled with the question about friendship with the world implies that these people have already given into the world on a practical level, even while mentally affirming to need to abstain from the world.

When we consider the economy God used when revealing himself so that we have 66 book instead of hundreds of them, we have abbreviated accounts instead of exhaustive accounts, and that he moved in such a way that each jot and tittle will not pass away, we should ask ourselves why James makes a statement that expresses the answer to his question. Why does James repeat himself? The question is designed to elicit an affirmative. They know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. However, James repeats himself. He doesn't appeared satisfied to leave the question unanswered, even when the answer was obvious. He states, "Anyone who chooses to be a friend the world becomes and enemy of God" (James 1:4). James repeats himself to stress the dire consequences of befriending the world.

He turns to logic to stress this reality. He states, "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?" (James 1:5). The Scripture compels us to realize the God has recreated us with a new desire for his glory and honor. Now, because we are in Christ, we desire to do his will and thus, why we struggle with sin. Yet, even in the midst of struggle, "He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble'" (James 1:6).

Without much fanfare, James transitions from the world to the devil. He can speak of the two as if they are one, because he knows the devil is the ruler of the world. He uses God's grace to shift the discussion away from fellowship with the world to overcoming the devil (and thus his kingdom). The starting point in this venture is humility before God. God gives grace to the proud. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3). In order to overcome we must submit ourselves to God.

The next step is to resist the devil. We do not battle him, he is to powerful for us. We do not outwit him, he is to crafty for us. We run to God, and let God battle him for us. We turn to the cross of Christ, and claim the promises that are ours in Christ Jesus. We rebuke him in the name of the Lord. We put on the armor of God by walking in faithful obedience to the Lord and his Word (see Eph. 6:10-18). When we resist the devil, he flees (James 4:7).

Next we draw near to God. This is possible because Christ has paid our blood debt. We may now enter into the throne room of heaven and cry out, "Abba, Father!" We are welcomed and accepted in the presence of the Father, because the work of the Son and the presence of the Spirit in our lives. As we draw near to God, he draws near to us (James 1:8). The image that springs to mind is that of a father embracing their wounded child. They have come to him for comfort, he has come to them to bring comfort.

James commands, "Wash your hands, you sinners." That is to say, we should stop sinning, and through repentance and faith, find cleansing in Christ. He is calling his audience to put away their sin. He calls them to purify their hearts. His reference to their double-mindedness puts the emphasis on their need to regain a singular focus on the true God. The way to purify their hearts is through wholehearted devotion to the Lord. The call to mourn stress their need for sobriety. They have been intoxicated by the world and need to put away such things.

Finally, James again calls us to humility. However, as we humble ourselves, God raises us up. This raising up gives us no room to boast, but does drive us to marvel at the grace of our Lord. Those who will fall at the feet of Jesus in this life, will be raised up to rule with him in the next. Lord, draw us ever nearer and teach us to walk humbly with you. Amen.

Thinking About the Great Commission

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'" (Matt. 28:18-20).

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

These verses have become so familiar in Baptist life that they have lost their edge. We nod our head to them, acknowledge that they somehow represent what we should be doing, but we often ignore them in our practical everyday life. Matthew 28:18-20 is often referred to as the Great Commission, but in reality it is simply the commission. Calling it "great" may stress its importance, but more often, it leads to the conclusion that there are lesser commissions. Assuming there are lesser commissions, believers can preoccupy themselves with identifying and performing the lesser, while ignoring the Great Commission. Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 (see also Mark 16:15, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:19-23) point they way for the church. The commission defines our function; it is a road map for who we are to be and what we are to do.

A few posts back I made reference to the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR). The GCR is a heart cry for churches that cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to refocus their resources in order to fulfill the Great Commission. Much is being said concerning the GCR, and more will be said leading up to the SBC annual meeting in June of 2010. I want to point you a few voices that deserve attention.

The first voice I want to point out is Dr. Thom Rainer, the president of Lifeway Christian Resources. In a recent blog post he reminds us that a Great Commission Resurgence will never happen if it is a top-down process. The GRC must begin within each member of each cooperating church before it will take hold in the SBC. He posts ten questions to help us think through the process on our own. They are as follows:

1. Do I read and study my Bible daily so I can know what the Word says about a Great Commission lifestyle?
2. Do I pray each day that God will lead me to a Great Commission lifestyle?
3. Do I need to reconcile with someone so that God can truly use me in the fulfillment of the Great Commission?
4. Am I willing to change my lifestyle materially so I might give more and be less dependent on the things of the world?
5. Do I really show concern for the poor and hurting in this world and in my community?
6. Would my family testify honestly that I lead a Great Commission lifestyle with them?
7. Do I have a gentle and loving spirit that reflects the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life?
8. Do I major on minors?
9. Do I see the speck in others’ eyes without seeing the plank in mine?
10. Does my life reflect genuine joy?

Another important voice is Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Mohler recently gave an address concerning the future of the SBC. His address is very thought provoking. He warns that failure to realign ourselves around the Great Commission may mean greater decline in Southern Baptist life. The Baptist Press published an article on his address here. Dr. Mohler's blog, "Conventional Thinking," focuses on his thoughts concerning the SBC, and he also has another site, "AlbertMohler.com."

I will being posting more on the GCR in the days to come, but for now these resources combined with those in the previous post should help to guide our thinking. Hopefully we will begin asking the difficult questions, and find ourselves answering with Great Commission-focused minds.

A Source of Temptation

James 1:13-15 gives us a glimpse into a source of temptation. Many have expressed that there are three sources of temptation in the life of the believer. Those sources are the world, the flesh, and the devil. When we speak of "the world" in terms of temptation, we are speaking of the anti-Christian system controlled by the devil. The devil, of course, is that ancient serpent that led Eve astray and who continues to deceive even now. In this passage, James focuses on the flesh.

James begins by explicitly stating that there is one source from which the temptation to sin will never come--God. He states, "For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt any one" (James 1:13). Evil is contrary to God's nature. It holds no sway over him. He is a Shepherd that seeks lost sheep, not a butcher that drives them to destruction. To paraphrase James, "God is not the source of temptation."

If God is not the source of temptation, then who is? I have already mentioned that temptation comes through the world and from the devil, but James does touch on these. Why? The simplest answer is that the Holy Spirit moved him to speak about temptation that comes through the flesh ("evil desires"). This answer is not only simple, but true. However, it leaves us the question of why the Spirit so moved James. I think that James is led to address this source of temptation, because it is the one we have the most control over.

We are in the world, but not of it. The world hates us, because it hated Christ, our Lord. There are many things within our natural environment that have an impact on us. We are creatures greatly affected by nature (genetics) and nurture (environment/upbringing). A person tempted to sexual immorality can do very little to change the reality of prostitutes and promiscuity within the larger community in which they live. A fallen world cannot operate in accordance to the law. Thus, their battle lies mostly within. They cannot control their world, nor can they control the devil, but we are told self-control is possible through the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

James states we are tempted when by our own "evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:14). This is a picture of a fish being taken from the water. The bait is cast. Slowly, the angler begins to reel it in, to draw the fish's attention. Snap--the bait is taken, the hook is set, and the fisherman has to begin reeling in the fish. Thus, our evil desires set the bait before us. Each tantalizing enticement draws us closer and closer to danger. We push through red flags and silence screaming consciences, because the bait is so appetizing. Snap--the bait is taken, the hook is set, and sin begins to reel us in. Sin will gut us, skin us, throw us in the frying pan, then chew us up and spit us out.

We are drawn out by our own evil desires. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The spirit awakened by God through regeneration desires to do what pleases God, but the flesh wages war (see Rom. 7:7-8:11). The works of the flesh are obvious (see Gal. 5:19-21). The flesh is something that must be put off (see Eph. 4:17-24), and something that must be crucified (see Col. 1:1-10). Speaking about overcoming the flesh in his ministry Paul informs us that we must run with aim, fight the good fight, and make not provision for our flesh (see 1 Cor. 9:24-27).

James finishes his look at the source of temptation by exploring the cycle of sin. He uses the metaphor of birth. He states, "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:15). The flesh gets a craving, it begins to formulate a plan, it slowly erodes the barriers of conscience and morality until sin is achieved. Sin allows our flesh to feel a temporary euphoria and excitement in its achievement, but the snare is set. Sin will push passed the feelings of euphoria and excitement with feelings of guilt, shame, and condemnation. Sin lies to us by promising that our guilt and shame can be eliminated through committing more sin. We are then tricked into a vicious cycle of sin and guilt. Without confession, repentance, and redemption, we are enslaved by the sin that promised us freedom, and the evil desire that led us astray slays us.

James includes the cycle to help us know where to, as Barney Fife would say, "Nip it in the bud." Because sin is so sneaky and slippery, the Bible continues to warn us not to let down our guards. We are on the battlefield the enemy has surrounded us, from the outside and on the inside. We cannot allow ourselves to drift into spiritual slumber or we will find ourselves a prisoner of war. We can overcome temptation, but not in our strength. James urges his readers to draw near to God in order to defeat the enemy (see James 4:7-8). When you are tempted, remember our brother, Jesus Christ, who was in way tempted as we, but who sinned not (see Heb. 4:15). It is through his sinless sacrifice that we find forgiveness and life. Remember what Charitie Bancroft wrote in the song "Before the Throne of God Above,"

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Sermon Recap 08-23-09

Morning: The message entitled "A Call to Love and Faithfulness," looked at Hosea 11:12-13:16. In this passage, the Lord explains the problem with Israel. They have come to reflect unfaithfulness and unholiness when they should have been reflecting his faithfulness and holiness to the nations. They had come to believe that they didn't need the Lord, that they could manage on their wit and strength. The Lord informs them that they don't even realize how wrong they are. The Lord also explains that the solution to their problem is to return to him. They must return and begin loving mercy and justice. They must begin to wait on him to bring about his glory. This passage offers islands of hope in a sea of warning. We need to heed the warning and cling to the promises.

Evening: During Discipleship Training we looked at James 1:13-15. In this passage, James seeks to help his listener to understand to source of temptation. Many have listed three sources of temptation: the world, the flesh, and the devil. However, James only focuses on the flesh which he calls "evil desires." James begins by reminding us that God is not the source of temptation. He then reminds us that the source of temptation lies within us. Finally, he looks at the cycle of sin to encourage us to stop sin before it starts.

Find It Here and The Great Commission Resurgence

The life of a Baptist church is both independent and interdependent. It is independent in the sense that final authority rests in the congregation (which should be submitted to the Word), because as Baptists we recognize no institution as having ecclesiastical authority over us. That is to say, the denomination (if we want to call it that) cannot tell us what to preach, what to sing, what to teach, who to hire, etc. But we are also interdependent, because we acknowledge the benefits of cooperation with like-minded churches. Cooperation allows us to pool our resources with the resources of others and accomplish more together, than we could apart.

Monticello Baptist Church was founded in 1805, under the name Midway Baptist Church. Since that time she has been self-governing and cooperative. She joined the Gasper River Association of Baptist's in 1812. She has, most likely, given, when she could, to the Cooperative Program since its inception in 1925. Throughout her years of service the Lord has given her ample opportunity to bless and to be blessed. Now in 2009 and in the coming years, the same opportunities abound. I would like to point out two, and ask you to be praying about participating both. Monticello has agreed to participate in the first one, "Find It Here," and we need to be prayerfully thinking through the second, "The Great Commission Resurgence." Here is a little information about these opportunities:

Find It Here campaign

Concerning the "Find It Here" campaign, the Kentucky Baptist Convention Website states:

“Find it Here” is a campaign to deliver the Gospel to 1.5 million households across Kentucky in the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday 2010.

It is part of the GPS initiative of the North American Mission Board aimed at fulfilling the Great Commission in North America by 2020.

Here is a link to the "Find It Here" Q & A. You can also check out the site findithere.com.

The Great Commission Resurgence

The Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) is an attempt to unify the churches in our convention around our biblical calling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). In April 2009, Dr. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, preached a message entitled "Axioms of a Great Commission Resurgence." The message captured the hearts of many and was drafted into a document called "The GCR Declaration." Messengers at the 2009 annual meeting of the SBC called for the appointment of a task force to "bring a report and any recommendations to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, concerning how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission." For more information concerning the GCR go to: www.pray4gcr.com.

I urge you to check out the links given above and read through the materials. I plan on posting more information about both of these opportunities in the days to come.

Take Heed

"Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

Paul here offers an urgent warning: never presume on the grace of God. Presumption is an attitude that acts as if it has greater liberty than truly possessed. It can be summed up in the old statement, "Give them an inch, and they want a mile." While it is true that there is freedom in the grace of God, it is not true to say there is license to do as we please.

Paul is writing to a group of individuals who were not living up to their profession of faith. They were confused in their theology and their practice. Some of them were beginning to flirt with idolatry again. Paul offers them a history lesson. He reminds them of the generation that came out of Egypt, but refused to obey the Lord, and died in the wilderness. He states, that their experience was analogous to the church, because the Exodus pointed to a day when Christ would lead his people out of slavery to sin and death.

Paul states, "I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:1-5). Paul is urging them to consider the realities beyond the historical event, and how they point to Christ. Paul stresses that Moses' generation was unfaithful to God, and were destroyed. How much greater a punishment must rest upon one who has professed faith in Christ, but fails to walk in obedience.

Paul's warning means that proximity to the things of Christ is not salvation. Those who died in the wilderness saw the glory of God, were baptized, ate the bread and drank the cup, but never entered into the promise. This warning should not surprise us. Jesus offered a similar warning in Matthew 7:21-32.

Paul is not saying that we cannot be confident of our salvation. He is saying we cannot be confident in our flesh. The generation that grumbled against Moses and the Lord, demonstrated through their disobedience that they had no faith. Paul is calling us to look back at that generation, not with a sense of judgment, but with a spirit of sobriety. The warning presses us to see that if it could happen to them, it can happen to us.

This verse is a call to vigilance. Paul is saying we need to keep a close watch on our hearts at all times. We are soldiers in the midst of battle; the enemy is on every side firing with all he has got. We cannot rest in the the battle is over, until our King steps on the field and brings the final victory. There is no time for spiritual laxity. As Jesus said, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

What a Savior!

"Man of sorrows!" what a name for the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood,
Seal'd my pardon with his blood; Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we, spotless Lamb of God was he;
Full atonement! can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die, "It is finished," was his cry;
Now in heav'n exalted high, Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing, Hallelujah, what a Savior!
--Philip P. Bliss

The Christian life is one that should be marked by perpetual meditation on the cross. We should continue to rehearse the events of the gospel message, i. e. the death, burial, and resurrection of the God-Man on behalf of sinners. We should also continue to rehearse the implications of the gospel, i. e. that through Christ, we are forgiven, cleansed, accepted, adopted, and dearly loved. One way to continually rehearse these truths is by filling our heads and hearts with Christ-exalting, cross-centered, gospel-rich songs. The hymn, "'Man of Sorrows,' What a Name," is a good example. There are also many newer songs that teach the old, old story.

"Naaman's servants went to him and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you "Wash and be cleansed"!'" (2 Kings 5:13).

The story of Naaman is an interesting one. Naaman was a general over the armies of Aram. He was a successful man, because the Lord had used him, but he was a leper. An Israelite slave girl offered sage advise as to how to be healed. She told his wife to send him to the prophet (Elisha) in Israel.

The story seeks to capture all of Naaman's self-importance and arrogance. He considers himself to be a man of power and influence even though he has an incurable disease. He is powerless to help himself, but he cannot see it.

Through this story we see a dominate biblical theme: God gives grace to the humble. We can also conclude from this story that God humbles those to whom he desires to show his grace. He brings Naaman to the end of himself. He makes a child and some slaves to be Naaman's counselors. The Lord does not let Naaman see the prophet until after he is obedient to the Word of the Lord. Naaman must go down into the Jordan and dip himself seven times. The act, in and of itself, is an act of faith. Will Naaman trust the Lord to honor his Word, and thus obey? Or will he reject the Lord's command?

Naaman's rage is soothed by the gentle words of his servants. They encourage him to humble himself and obey the Lord. Their logic is sound: if it had been a great quest, Naaman would have accepted it without hesitation. Why not accept an easier task? What did he have to lose by bathing in the Jordan? Only his pride (and ultimately, his leprosy). Naaman finds healing as he abandons his pride. He comes up out of the Jordan with baby soft skin and a new heart to match.

This story reminds us that pride is like a disease. It gnaws at a person, slowly working its way into every area of their life. It bloats their ego and swells their head. It blinds them to the reality of God's sovereign power, and their own desperate need. Pride drives a wedge between a person and their Creator. Pride comes before a fall, but if we humble ourselves before the Lord, he will lift us up.

I Hadn't Heard That

"The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body' (Prov. 18:8).

Why is it people like gossip? It seems that our culture thrives on gossip. Apparently, some American's aren't satisfied with knowing who is seeing who in Hollywood, they want to know what toothpaste they use, what diet supplements are being used, and so on. We just got to know what is going on.

Solomon informs us that the tendency toward gossip is natural. By natural, I don't mean acceptable in the eyes of God, I mean that it is the carnal response of our sinful (fallen) nature. The words of the whisperer mentioned here by Solomon are words meant to wound the individual. They seek to destroy, either by character assassination or by stirring up strife. To enjoy the words of the whisperer is to participate in war or murder, and sometimes both.

Solomon points out, "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases" (Prov. 26:20). That is to say, if a person does report the "news" they have heard concerning a person or persons, then rumor mill will close up shop. A bit of clarification may be in order. It is not gossip to say, "Bill was in a wreck." However, it is gossip to say, "I heard Bill was drinking when he wrecked." Even if Bill was drinking when he wrecked, it doesn't need broadcast unless it be comes an unquestionable fact reported by the proper authorities.

Gossip makes the whisperer and the listener feel empowered. The whisperer becomes one with the ability to not only see into the secret lives of individuals, but to reveal those secrets to others. The listener feels empowered because they know the secret. They now have something on the object of the gossip, and they can share it or conceal it. It feels as if the power of life and death is in their hands. In short, spreading gossip is playing God. Those who spread gossip determine good and evil for themselves apart from God. They become the master of another person's fate by revealing or concealing the secrets they know.

Sadly, many prayer requests within churches today are really gossip reports. Someone might say, "Pray for ol' Bill, he's a terrible drunk who is constantly wrecking his car." The statement might be factual. Bill might be a terrible drunk who has wrecked his car on numerous occasions, but the two facts may or may not be related. It would be better to say, "We should pray for Bill, it appears that he is having difficulty." Before you accuse me of glossing over sin, how many times do you specifically name your sins when asking for prayer? Have you ever said, "Brothers and sisters, pray for me, because I am a terrible gossip who enjoys every juicy tidbit that comes my way and I want to spread the news farther and wider than CNN?" No, most likely, you haven't.

While the Lord may call us to hold one another accountable, he won't have us do it through the grapevine. Jesus said, "If you brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens, you have gained your brother" (Matt. 18:15). Matthew 18:16-17 goes on to say that we should only involve others when the brother won't repent. First, we seek a private audience. If that fails, we take another person as our witness. If that fails, we take it before the church. If that fails, we public reject the brother's claim to salvation and remove membership from them. We cannot first go public, and then hope things will resolve themselves peacefully.

While gossip may be pleasing to the natural man, God hates it. Practicing gossip is a sin that needs to be repented of and forsaken. When a whisperer approaches us we should first ask that God would protect our hearts from desiring such news. Then we should pray that God would reveal his displeasure of gossip to the whisperer. Then we should confront them with the Word in love. You might say, "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends" (Prov. 16:28). Finally, it is wise to remember: those who gossip to you, will gossip about you.

Too Little, Too Late

"Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not died'" (John 11:21).

The implication of Martha's words is that Jesus' arrival was too little, too late. The tiny word "if" presents a big challenge. If only Jesus would have arrived sooner. If only he cared enough to come right away. If only he would have commanded the sickness to leave. How could he not rescue Lazarus? Where was he? Why didn't he come sooner? Martha must have wrestled with these questions when the Lord tarried and Lazarus died. I have heard it said that people in the first century believed the soul lingered around for three days after death. John states that Lazarus had been dead four. It would seem that all hope of rescue was gone. Case closed.

However, John informs us that Jesus tarried in order to display the glory of God in the situation. When Jesus is confronted by Martha, she seems torn between confusion and hope. Her statement, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not died," is followed by the statement, "But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give to you" (John 11:22). She is confused by Jesus' lateness, but knows that he is able to do something (although the rest of this passage makes it unlikely that she thought Jesus could bring her brother back to life at this time, see John 11:23-24).

Jesus tells her that her brother will "rise again" (John 11:23). Martha doesn't see this as an immediate event. She responds, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day" (John 11:24). Again, in light of her initial statement, she doesn't appear to be comforted by this. The resurrection seems so far away in light of her pain and grief. She wants relief now (and of course at the resurrection). It seems that even the resurrection is "too late" to be of any use.

Listen to Jesus' response. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). His verbs are all present tense. He says, "I am the resurrection and the life," not "I will be the resurrection and the life." He says, "whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live," not "whoever believed in me, though he has died, he will live." The use of the present tense expresses the present reality of the resurrection. Those who walk with Christ in faith, shall always walk with him. They have been buried with Christ in death and raised to walk in newness of life.

Jesus also stresses faith. He asks, "Do you believe this?" In other words, he wants to know if Martha is trusting him to raise the dead to life at the end of time. Does she believe he can get the job done then? He seeks to draw her toward trust. The implication of Jesus' statement and question is that if he can do something about Lazarus' problem in the long run (through the resurrection), then he can be trusted to do something about Martha's grief in the short run. If she can trust him to raise the dead on the last day, why is she giving into despair at this moment?

Martha responds in faith, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world" (John 11:27). In this confession, Martha is expressing her trust in Jesus to do something now (you are the Christ), since he will do something at the resurrection (who is coming into the world). Although she can't imagine what Jesus is going to do, she believes he can do it.

Many of us will be in situations where it feels like God's presence comes too late. It may even feel like what he is doing is too little. Most of us have been trained well enough not to voice these opinions, but God hears our hearts. This passage teaches us that God's response to our situations is never too little, nor too late. His timing is not ours, nor are his ways, our ways. If we can't trust him to work in our situations now to bring about in eternal purposes, how can we say we trust him to raise us out of the dust on the last day? The key is trusting, even when we can't see what he has in store around the corner. He has shown us how it will all turn out for those trust him. He has demonstrated his faithfulness throughout history. Caught between the past faithfulness of God and his future faithfulness, we must trust him to remain faithful in the present. We must remember what he has told us, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

Sermon Recap 08-16-09

Morning: The sermon, "His Love Won't Stop," looked at Hosea 11:1-11. In this passage Hosea shifts his metaphor to look at Israel, not as a adulterous wife, but as a rebellious son. This son, whom the Lord pursues is warned of impending discipline. Yet, in the midst of promised destruction, the Lord relents. In a very moving expression of his desire to spare Israel the fullness of wrath we are given a glimpse into the depth of the Father's unstoppable love. The Lord promises to spare his wrath and restore his people. He does this through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Evening: No services due to funeral visitation within the church family.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Most of us have been tempted to ask the question, "God, do you love me?". However, the question shouldn't be "do you love me?," but "how much do you love me?" Stuart Townend has written a marvelous hymn, "How Deep the Father's Love for Us," that explores the answer to that question. Here are the lyrics:

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
Words and Music by Stuart Townend

When I think about this song, I can't help but be reminded of God's love. His love has been demonstrated through Christ's death on the cross (Rom. 5:8) and in our adoption as sons (1 John 3:1). While the reason behind his love may remain a mystery, the fact that he loves us is no mystery at all.

Many people see the Father as unloving and harsh. Townend's song captures the biblical reality of the Father's sending love. He sent his beloved Son into the world to die for the sins of the world. Through Jesus Christ, the Son, we may approach the Father. Paul explains, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father'" (Gal. 4:6). The Father loved us so much that he sent his Son. The Son loved us so much that he bore our sin on the cross, tasting the wrath of God on our behalf. The Spirit loved us so much he applied the message to our hearts, enabling us to cry out, "Abba, Father."

There are several excellent versions of this song available, I encourage you to get one and listen to it often. It will encourage you by reminding just how loved you really are.

Desiring the Praise of Men

"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:43).

This passage expresses a sad truth. In Jesus' day there were many who preferred the praise of men over the praise of God. That is, they would rather be praised (glorified) by men, rather than be praised (glorified) by God. Unfortunately, this is still true today.

The desire to be thought well of by the people around us is a powerful desire. We may not even know the people around us, but we still want them to have a high opinion of us. Have you ever been in a store and noticed two non-English speakers looking at you and having a conversation? Do you ever think they are discussing you? If they laugh, do you wonder if they are laughing at you? Have you ever done something you really didn't want to do, because someone teased you into it?

Maybe the fear of man/desire for man's praise affects you in different ways, but I doubt that you aren't in some way influenced by it. I really believe almost every one struggles with it. The desire itself isn't all bad. Wanting your neighbors to think you are a good neighbor, because you try to be a good neighbor isn't a bad thing. Being willing to reject God so that your neighbors won't think you're a fanatic, is wrong.

These individuals that John describes in this passage had come to believe (at least intellectually) that Jesus was exactly who he said he was. They understood that his miracles were a sign that God was working through him. Yet, they would publicly follow him, because they would get kicked out of the synagogue. They chose a den of hypocrites over the eternal Son of God.

We would say, "I wouldn't ever do that!" But how many times have we had the opportunity to tell someone about Jesus and chickened out? Most of us have already done it and probably more than once. May the Lord create and sustain in us a greater desire for his praise over the praise of men. We only have to please One. If the world doesn't like it, we lose nothing. If the Lord isn't pleased, we lose everything. Don't let the fear of man trip you up.

Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and pow'r.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome, God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance, Ev'ry grace that brings you nigh.

Chorus:I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in his arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden, Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you're better, You will never come at all.

Let not conscience make you linger, Nor a fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth Is to feel your need of him.
Joseph Hart

"If you tarry till you're better, You will never come at all." These words powerfully capture the heart of our predicament. We have been so weakened and ruined by the fall that we need the Lord to enable us to trust him. We lack the moral fitness necessary to please God, but he does not require us to be fit. He makes us fit when we trust him. This hymn, "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy," offers a living hope to a dying world.

This song captures the essence of the gospel. It begins with the fallen condition of mankind and drives the listener to flee to Christ as our only source of hope. The song reminds us that conviction of sin is a grace meant to draw us to Christ in true faith and repentance. It reminds us that Jesus "ready stands to save" us.

Several years ago, I heard the gospel call and my heart echoed these words: "I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in his arms; in the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms." To this day he has not let me go, nor will he ever. And for that, I will be eternally grateful.

Preaching the Gospel to Ourselves

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'" (John 8:34-36, NIV).

Sin is an ever present reality this side of glory. From the image of sin "crouching at the door" (Gen. 4:7) to Paul's description of sin as an indwelling presence (Rom. 7:15-20), sin is displayed in Scripture as more than just lawbreaking. Sin is personified as an enemy of humanity, bent on our destruction. Often, we find ourselves within the grasp of sin and wondering how we got their.

This presence of sin, makes preaching the gospel a daily necessity. It is necessary because of the universal reach of sin. There isn't one life (except Jesus') that hasn't been affected and infected by sin. It is necessary to preach the gospel, because only Jesus has the power to free us from slavery. As he stated, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

However, sin doesn't just affect other people, it affects all of us. So it is necessary to preach the gospel to ourselves as well. We need to continually remind ourselves that we are right before God, because in his grace sent his Son into the world to die for our sins, and receives by that grace through faith. We are right with God, because we trust that Christ paid the penalty for our sin. Our righteousness is not maintained by our efforts, but by the all sufficient work of Christ accomplished on our behalf by his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

Jesus and his message becomes the driving force of our lives, because it is through him that we have access to forgiveness, hope, and purpose. Therefore, we have to continually return to the cross, not to be saved again and again, but remind ourselves of how we were saved in the first place. The cross is the means of our deliverance. Until it pleased God to reveal to us the need for salvation through the preaching of the gospel, we were slaves to sin.

Sin would have us to believe that we were still its slaves. However, the gospel declares us to be sons. Sin would have us to believe we are captives, but the gospel declares us as freemen. Those the Son set free, through his death and resurrection, are truly free (from sin and death). Even if we are able to overcome sin in this moment, it will most like trip us up in the next. Thus, we proclaim the gospel to ourselves to remind us that salvation is not based on our performance.

We must be gospel-centered if we are to maintain our focus. John compels us to remember, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us form all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, ESV). We have to continue telling and retelling the story of salvation to ourselves and others. The hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story," captures the thought well:

I love to tell the story; For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest:
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing a new, new song;
'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

Dying Daily

"Then he said to them all: "If any one would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me'" (Luke 9:38, NIV).

In a paradoxical way, the gospel call to life is a call to death. Those who follow Jesus in faithful obedience must live a life of self-denial and daily death. For the call to take of the cross is a call to take up one's death. As Paul states, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5). Thus, taking up our cross is the process of killing off our "earthly nature."

Again Paul reminds us, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). In this verse, Paul is demonstrating the union between Jesus and his followers. They are capable of putting to death the desires of the flesh, because Jesus was put to death on their behalves.

The call to take up the cross then is not only possible, it is expected. Taking up the cross is a daily thing. Think of our earthly desires like a fire that has been burned down to embers. They may be gray, they may be smoking, they may be giving of heat, or they might be orange or red. They are burning, but their is no fire. We might douse those embers with water or attempt to stomp them out, and assume our job is done. However, a shift in the wind or a new source of fuel turn the embers into a raging fire. We must battle our earthly desires everyday, because we don't know when they are going to flare up.

The call to daily death, is a reminder that we live in constant struggle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Today's victory might be used to bring tomorrow's defeat. If we are not constantly on the watch, we are sure to caught off guard by our attackers. Daily our fleshly desires wage war against the Spirit, and the Spirit wages war against our desires. Daily we must go to the cross and remind ourselves of who we are. We are no longer the slaves of sin, but the children of God. Christ's cross makes our cross bearable. Until that last day, when Jesus comes in all his glory and raises us incorruptible, we must bear our cross daily.

The Discipline of the Lord

"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" (Heb. 12:6).

The author of Hebrews quotes this passage to enable his readers to understand the hardship does not mean that God does not love us or that we are somehow illegitimate. He states, "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?" (Heb. 12:4). Thus, the believer should expect to be disciplined when they sin. The discipline means that God is showing his love. Hardship should be endured as discipline (Heb. 12:7). God, through his gracious discipline, is molding us into people he desires us to be.

This passage verse however is very frightening. It warns that disobedience will be met with chastisement. Sin will be confronted with disciplinary action. While the prospect of being disciplined is frightening, it also comes with a pleasant promise. Discipline is an open expression of affection and belonging. By chastening us, God is saying, "You're mine. I love you."

The verse is also frightening for another reason. If a professing believer continues in habitual unrepentant sin, but never experiences conviction or correction, then it means that they are not received by God as his child, and that he doesn't love them. The author states it plainly, "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Heb. 12:8). To walk in darkness, that is, to live a life of unrepentant habitual sin, is live without the light of eternal life.

If a person says that they know and love God, but have no desire to do his will, they do not know and love God. If a person can shrug their shoulder at the threat of discipline, and press forward in sin, they don't know God. If a person's greatest fear when they sin is that people may find out, they don't know God. A heart touched by the grace of God, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, will fear the displeasure of God. It will fear wounding the heart of God by treating the blood of Christ as a common thing. It will grieve the grief it has caused the Holy Spirit. The saved soul will mourn it's participation in the defilement of the holy. The converted soul, may struggle under the burden of discipline for a season, but will ultimately, and always, yield to the will of the Lord.

If hardship comes your way, endure it as discipline and remind yourself God is showing you his love. If you experience chastisement because you are a backslider, repent quickly and thank God for his gracious kindness. If you loving sin right now and aren't face discipline, tremble in fear.

Sermon Recap 08-09-09

Morning: The sermon, "Two Harvests," focused on Hosea 10:11-15. In this passage the Lord urges Israel to sow righteousness and abandon their wickedness. The Lord warns that they will enter into difficult times until they turn from their sin and begin to seek him whole-heartedly. He presses them to leave their wicked ways, but they won't heed his warning. The warning remains in effect for us, as well. We have been called to sow righteousness, that is, to do what is right and to abandon evil. The gospel causes God's righteousness to shine upon us.

Evening: Business Meeting.

There Is Only One Way to Find Yourself

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matt 10:39).

Jesus has issued two warning. The first one said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). The second warning states, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves sons or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take us his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matt. 10:37-38). These warning should be echoing in the back of our minds as we look at this verse.

To "find" one's self means to love someone more than Jesus, to fail to take up our cross, and to fail to follow Jesus. Finding one's self carries with it the idea of finding a "peace" in life that is not entirely rooted in faithful obedience to Christ. Finding one's self is the process of forsaking the eternal kingdom for temporal comfort.

Imagine a situation where a person has to choose between a walk with Christ or their family. Let's say a son comes home and tells his father, "Dad, I trusted Christ today." The father responds, "I won't have the junk in my house. You can leave Jesus or leave here." Now, the son has a dilemma does he find his life through rejecting Jesus and thus forfeit eternal life or does he lose the life he has know by choosing to walk with Jesus and thus finding eternal life? In other words, will he keep his family life in tact while forfeiting his soul or will keep his soul in tact by forfeiting his family? Jesus said that the only way to truly live is to love him more than anyone, to take up our cross (instrument of suffering and death), and follow him.

Let's apply this to the modern search for self. People seem to be misplacing themselves a lot. Most of us know someone who has been or is now trying to "find" themselves. Most typically, these searches are not conducted in a prayer closet with the Scriptures open and a heart crying out to God. Most commonly, these searches are made by overhauling one's life. Consider the "midlife crisis" that many go through. Some men when they get middle-aged (45-60, as if most men live to be 90-120), get a fast car, a new (often younger) woman, switch jobs, take up crazy hobbies, buy a wig, or any number of things. Many feel as they got lost in the shuffle during the ordinary business of life. Life passed them by, and they want to live a little. They want to find their life.

However, when we pursue life this way it never brings life. As we age (and hopefully mature), there is a nagging since that we were made for more that continues to grow. The closer we get, chronologically, to eternity the more eternity tries to break into our consciousness. Many professing believers blame God for the sin in their lives. Now, most of them will never say it so plainly. They don't say, "God has brought this sin into my life, I guess I'm stuck with it." They say things like this, "I just wasn't happy at home. I asked the Lord to help me feel loved and understood. And the Lord brought so-and-so into my life." This kind of statement makes God responsible for adultery, something he condemns as sin.

Jesus warns us not to pursue happiness, success, fulfillment, purpose, or anything else apart from pursing him. The instant we start pursuing something other than Jesus, we stop pursuing Jesus. The pursuit of Jesus comes with a cost. Some of our hopes and dreams will die on the cross we are called to bear. We will be asked to follow Jesus in to some very painful places. We will face humiliation and rejection, difficulty and tribulation. These things are merely obstacles on the path of life.

The disciples questioned Jesus about this exchange. Peter said, "See, we have left everything and followed you" (Mark 10:28). Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and the for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, house and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30).

Are you looking for yourself? Let me suggest you begin by humbly submitting yourself to God, taking up your cross, and following Jesus. You may lose "your life," but find eternal life in the process.

Trusting the Scriptures

"If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" (John 5:46-47).

Jesus' words are pretty easy to understand. If a person refuses to believe the Scripture, nothing else will persuade them. Many have looked to Jesus' words for comfort and guidance without ever trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So may argue he was a prophet. Some might say he was a good teacher. Other might think him to be an eccentric revolutionary.

However, his audience understood who Jesus claimed to be. John reports, "This is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (John 5:18). In other words, Jesus was claim to be God. Jesus states, "But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me" (John 5:36). The meaning is plain-- Jesus is saying that the miracles he performed prove who he is.

Disbelief persists because the heart is unwilling to believe, not because it lacks the ability. Jesus said that people hated him because they loved the darkness. The reason people reject the Scriptures is because they point to Christ. To affirm that we believe Scripture, and yet to refuse to submit to Christ is nonsense. If we truly believe Scripture, we will keep Christ's words. If we are truly trusting Christ, then we will begin to see how Moses and the other authors of Scripture point us to Christ. As we follow their lead, we will grow in love of the Lord and our obedience to him. We don't really believe the Scriptures unless we are walking in faithful obedience.

Eight Years and Counting

Yesterday, August 5th, was a special day. It was the eighth anniversary of my call to Monticello. A lot has happened in eight years. Several of our beloved members have gone on to be with the Lord. Most of the youth group that was here when I arrived has grown up and went off to school or work. Children I greeted in at the hospital right after they were born are now in elementary school. I have witnessed two additions to my own family, Ellie Grace, who is now with the Lord, and Sophia Hope. I earned a Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. We have been through dark days and bright days. We have had joyous celebrations and heartbreaking defeats.

I want to thank the members of Monticello for opening your hearts, lives, and homes to my family and me. You took a risk by calling a young, inexperienced pastor. You gave me a chance when many others wouldn't. You saw in me a leader you could follow, and you have graciously given me time to grow and develop as a pastor. You have continually carried me in prayer, forgiven my shortcomings, and blessed me with your friendship. We are family and I love you.

I look forward to serving with you in the great days ahead. I know there are still heart wrenching days to come. I know we'll endure many trials and attacks as Satan seeks to derail the work of God. But I also know that we will see many victories. The gospel means victory. As we proclaim the cross of Christ, we proclaim the defeat of Satan, sin, death, and Hell. All our enemies have been defeated, and through Christ we will overcome. As I think about all the opportunities that are coming our way (and there are a lot), I am excited. God is doing something wonderful in our midst. In Jesus, the days ahead are bright, indeed. May God bring his glory among us, and display it through us.

Signs of Life

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36).

John teaches us an important truth through the use of this parallel structure. If one "believes in the Son" they have life, but if one "does not obey the Son" they don't have life. The expression teaches us that believing the Son and obeying the Son are the same thing. To put it another way, failure to obey Jesus is disbelief.

Our trust must go beyond mere head knowledge. Our faith isn't just acknowledging certain doctrines are true. Jesus borrowed an image from the world of construction to stress this point. He said that those who hear his words and obey them are like one who builds his house upon a rock. Their structure is stable. However, those who hear Jesus' teaching, but fail to practice it are like fools who build their house upon the sand. Their structure will be washed away in time.

Obedience matters. I am not speaking of rigid legalism. I am speaking about loving obedience. The simple truth is that truly trusting in Jesus produces obedience. If we know him, or more correctly, are known by him, then we will walk as he did. To walk in obedience is to walk in life. Consistent, habitual, unrepentant disobedience exposes a unbelieving (and unconverted) heart. If a person has an unbelieving heart, then the wrath of God remains on him.

More About Jesus

Life in a fallen world is often difficult, if not brutal. Heartache and hardship are at every turn. The very circumstances we find ourselves in lead us to question the validity of the good news. We ask, with the skeptic, "Where is this victory in Jesus we are always hear about?". We are tempted to seek another good news. However, the problem with that approach is that there is no other good news.

Paul exclaims, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6-7, ESV). Paul's statement reminds us that non-biblical approaches to deliverance will ultimately fail. In fact, Paul states that any attempt to find favor with God apart from trust in Christ and his completed work upon the cross will result in eternal condemnation.

The greatest need fallen people living in a fallen world have is the need for Christ. We don't need Jesus and something else to rescue us; we simply need Jesus. We don't need less of Jesus, but more. As Eliza E. Hewitt put it:

More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show;
More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus in his Word, holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing his voice in ev'ry line, making each faithful saying mine.

More about Jesus on his throne, riches in glory all his own;
More of his kingdom's sure increase, more of his coming, Prince of Peace.

Chorus:
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of his saving fullness see,
More of his love who died for me.

As Christians we need to grasp the greatness of Jesus. Although the salvation of the soul is often what we emphasis in our teaching and preaching, Jesus' work upon the cross accomplished so much more. Paul states, "And you, who once were aliens and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting for the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister" (Col. 1:21-23, ESV).

Thus, we have been reconciled to God through Christ. This reconciliation includes the forgiveness of our sin, but also includes our becoming holy, blameless, above reproach. Once we were aliens, now we are citizens. Once we were hostile in mind, now we are the friends of God. Once we were doers of evil, now we are doers of righteousness. Formerly, we were faithless and unstable, but having trusted in the gospel we have been made stable. At one time we were ignorant of the gospel, now we proclaim it to others. The gospel encompasses all of life. Salvation comes to the believer in every area sin affected: heart, mind, soul, and strength. We refer to the process of applying the gospel to every area of life as sanctification.

The gospel of Christ compels us to "count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2, ESV). Speaking of our hope in Christ, Peter states, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:6-7, ESV).

In light of these truths, the solution to our difficulties is not found by pursuing something besides Jesus. The solution is to pursue Jesus with whole-hearted devotion. He invites us to pursue him. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30). The more we pursue Jesus through faithful obedience to his Word, the more we will come to understand that Jesus is all we need. More about Jesus, let us learn!

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

"For thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out'" (Ezek. 34:12, ESV).

I am thinking (and praying) through several difficult situations. Satan would have me to believe the lie that God is not able to deliver those in these situations. He would have me to give into despair. When he can't get me to give into these tactics, he attacks me in all my weak spots. He keeps me busy with less important matters. He keeps my mind chasing meatless rabbits. He knows that if he can keep me stumbling in sin, or burdened by shame, or wrestling with doubt, he can keep me off balance and ineffective.

But I am not an abandoned sheep. My shepherd is ever vigilant and ever near. When I was lost and going astray, he came seeking me and brought me into the fold. Jesus has the power to slay that old lion, the Devil. While it doesn't seem like it, Satan is a defeated foe. His time is short. We must continually confront his lies with this truth.

As I think about the ravages of sin that I have witnessed in my life, I am comforted to know that I have a shepherd who cares for me. My prayer for those who profess Christ as their Lord and who are struggling with sin can be summed up by the song "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us:"

Savior like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;
In the pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, thine we are.

We are thine; do thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou has promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou has mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Early let us turn to thee;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Early let us turn to thee.

Early let us seek thy favor; early let us do thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Lord, you have bought us, we are yours. As we pray through the hard times ahead, hear us when we pray. You have promised to receive us, even though we are poor and sinful. Defend us from sin and seek us when we go astray. You have loved us, and will continue to do so. We give you thanks and praise for showing us your gracious kindness. Amen.

Sunday Recap 8-1-09

Morning: We celebrated our Homecoming today. We started with special music by Up and Gone, a Bluegrass Band, during the Sunday School hour. The church was pretty packed this morning with around a 140 people. The sermon looked at Luke 19:1-10. Through his interaction with Zacchaeus, Jesus demonstrates the nature of his ministry. He sums it up in verse 10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." Because, Jesus came searching for us a greater homecoming is possible. The lost sheep can return to the fold. The sinner can find a new home. This encounter with Zacchaeus reminds us that all who respond to the Lord's invitation can find new life. After the sermon we had a wonderful meal.

Evening: no services.

Praying Through the Psalms

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies" (Ps. 141:3-4).

The Psalms are an excellent training ground to learn how to pray. They cover the whole range of human emotion and experience. The reflect earnest trust in a Sovereign who is ever-present and willing to hear the prayers of his people. They reflect an honest and often raw expression of the soul onto the Lord. The Psalms cover morning, evening, midday, midnight, and every time in between.

In the Psalms we meet worshipers without masks. They don't hide behind religious language. They don't beat around the bush. They present their adoration or supplication unto the Lord, trusting him to answer. We get to eavesdrop on their private prayers which we know to be pleasing to the Lord because he inspired and preserved them in the Scriptures. Thus, through the Psalms we learn something of approaching God in prayer in the fear of the Lord.

As we read through the Psalms, we can offer up prayers based on the passage we are reading. If we were to pray Psalm 141:3-4 it might be something like this: "Yes, Lord, please guard my mouth so I might only speak what is pleasing to you. And please keep me from giving my life over to evil influences. Amen." Or we might just pray it word for word.

This kind of praying can be very beneficial. First, it informs our prayers, by giving specific things to pray for. Next, it focuses our prayers because the Scripture is guiding our thoughts. Finally, it conforms us to the will of God. As we pray Scripture, we are praying God's mind after him. It teaches us to think his thoughts (as far as we able). I encourage to begin meditating on and praying through the Psalms.