God is Good

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever" (Ps. 136:1, ESV).

Here the psalmist reminds us that the Lord is worthy of continual praise. Gratitude should be the heart response of every believer. We should have a song of thanksgiving always issuing from our hearts, because the Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever.

What does it mean to say that God is good? The concept of God's goodness can be fleshed out as we draw on what he has revealed of himself through the Scriptures. We know that God cannot tempted with evil, he cannot lie, and he cannot break his word. We know that by his very nature he defines righteousness; God can only do what is right. God is perfect in all way imaginable. He is holy and merciful, just and kind, all-powerful and gentle. God's goodness is captured in his willingness to rescue his people. He longs for their good and his glory.

Closely related to his goodness, actually inseparable from, is God's steadfast love. His love is loyal and true. It is unshakable. The love that God has revealed by sending Christ into the world to die for sinners, is non-retractable. God cannot revoke it, not because he is compelled by some outward force, but because he cannot violate who he is. God is love, and he demonstrates his love toward us through Christ's atoning death. As Paul reminds us nothing can remove his love from us (see Rom 8:31-39).

In light of these truths it is fitting that we thank the Lord. He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. His goodness is unquestionable, as is his love. His love endures forever, and upon this rock we must build our trust. His loving goodness are our refuge in the storm, and our joy in the day of blessing. So, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."

Cloudy with a Chance of Heresy

Teaching doctrine has fallen on hard times. Many people with in the church (at large) cannot see how "doctrine" is relevant. After all, some reason, doctrine divides. Thus, many conclude that doctrine is for egghead theologians who would rather read a book than live life. Or to put it more bluntly, some conclude that theology is for individuals who don't want to work. The question arises, is theology and doctrine relevant for the church today? Is doctrinal teaching still important today?

Before we answer the questions, lets lay down some definitions. In the narrowest sense, theology is the study of God, specifically the God of the Bible. In a broader sense, theology is study of the doctrines found in the Scriptures. When we speak of doctrine, we are speaking of the teachings found in the Scripture. Theology and doctrine are so closely related that I will use the terms interchangeably.

The early church was devoted to the apostles' doctrine, or teaching (see Acts 2:42). The apostolic doctrine, as we see throughout the New Testament, focused heavily on the person and work of Jesus Christ. So, one might say, the apostles' doctrine centered on the message and meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This fits with commissions Jesus gave to his disciples commanding them to teach others about him and how to obey his teachings (see Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).

With these truths in mind, let us turn to the question concerning the relevance of doctrine for today. If we believe in Jesus, does it really matter what else we believe? That is to say, can a person who professes to be a believer in Christ, not believe the Bible? Or not believe in the resurrection? Or not believe in the Trinity? Can 21st century people still believe in miracles? Can the Bible still guide us into truth, supposing there is truth?

To put it another way, sound doctrine is and always has been vital to the Christian community. I do not mean to imply that all who claim to fly the banner of Christ are Christ's people. Even Jesus warned that many will call him "Lord," but be cast out as strangers. The apostles warn against the rejection of sound doctrine. Paul states, "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing" (1 Tim. 6:3-4, ESV). Jude encourages us, ". . . to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3, ESV). John states, "We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6, ESV). Peter warns, "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Pet. 2:1, ESV). And these are only a small sample.

There are core doctrines, without which there is no salvation. These doctrines cover the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, and the trustworthiness of Scripture. Thus, if our thinking on any of these subjects are cloudy, we might lead others astray. If we categorically deny these doctrines we cannot in any honest way call ourselves "Christians."

For this reason, Paul rebukes the Galatians for going along with false teachers in their misrepresentation of Christ and salvation. He 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. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:6-8, ESV). Doctrine matters, because it divides. It separates that sheep from the goats, the saved from the lost, the children of God from the children of Satan. For this reason, Paul warns young Timothy, "Keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:16, ESV).

Life and teaching go hand in hand. If we believe the wrong things will do the wrong things or will do the right things for the wrong reasons. However, when we believe the right things, we will do the right things for the right reasons. Doctrine is still important because it teaches who God is and how we are to relate to him as fallen individuals. It is important because it teaches us who Christ is and how he can redeem us. Theology is relevant for today, because through the revealed truth of God, the Bible, we find life. As we study the Bible, we learn how to live that life in grateful obedience.

Cloudy thinking, especially when it comes to doctrine, always leads to mischief. While all the doctrines are not expressed with exhaustive clarity, there is sufficient clarity to understand the essentials of our faith. There are things revealed in Scripture that are to marvelous for our finite minds to comprehend fully. But that does mean we cannot comprehend them to the extent that God intended. Moses reminds us, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things he has revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of his law" (Deut. 29:29, ESV). Solomon advises, "Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" (Prov. 3:5-6, ESV). Thus, we accept a certain amount of mystery when we study the Scripture, because God has not exhaustively revealed his mind. He has kept some secrets. Armed with this knowledge, we learn not to become overly reliant upon our own understanding, but lovingly trust the Lord to lead us in the straight path by his Word.

I want to stress that I am not saying that a person has to have absolute clarity concerning every doctrine, before they can be saved. I am saying that they must trust the Lord even when they cannot fully, or even partially, understand what he has revealed. Yet, once they are saved their life's aim should be to understand, to the best of their ability, what God has revealed. Learning theology is a process. It takes hard work, determination, and perseverance. For Christ's disciples theology is not an option, it's a mandate. But not everything will become clear all at once. Once we place our trust in Christ, we begin a journey in which the Holy Spirit will guide us, by the Scriptures, into an ever increasing understanding of truth. As we mature in Christ, his teaching will become clearer, as they become clearer we will mature, and we must press on toward maturity.

Don't Harden Your Heart

"Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity" (Prov. 28:14, ESV).

I once overheard someone say that the will of God was like a brick wall. I assume they meant that when we live within the will of God, it protects us, and when we live outside of God's will we keep running into it. God's will is impossible to thwart. What God has decreed will come to pass.

Those who walk in the fear of the Lord continually adjust their lives in response to God's Word. The Lord has revealed much of his will through the Word. Wisdom dictates that we obey what he has revealed, because only then can we know we are in the will of God.

Yet, we must remember that the will of God is not exhaustively revealed to us in the Scriptures. He has not told us all he has decreed. However, the decrees that he has revealed are sufficient to guide us.

Thus, this proverb warns that continually hardening of the heart leads to calamity. If one knows what to do, and fails to do it, the end result will not be pleasant. For example, imagine a man that has knowledge of the range of symptoms that accompany a heart attack. He begins to experience tightness in his chest, sharp pains shooting down his left arm, and feels sick to his stomach. In spite of his knowledge, he ignores the symptoms and dies. His refusal to heed the warning signs brings about dire consequences.

Refusal to heed the teachings of Scripture also has dire consequences. The Word of the Lord instructs us in the way in which we should walk. It gives us the prescription for life, both here and in the hereafter. Therefore, we must decide if we will walk in the fear of the Lord or will we harden our hearts? If we chose foolishly, it will cost us dearly.

Sermon Recap 9-27-09

Morning: We looked at Luke 18:15-17. In this passage Jesus' disciples rebuke parents for bringing their children to Jesus. Jesus turns and uses this moment to teach his disciples about the kingdom. He instructs, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:17). He is reminding his disciples that they must be childlike in order to enter the kingdom. They must have faith like a child, an innocent, humble, trusting faith.

Evening: We talked about prayerwalking/driving in connection with Find It Here. Prayerwalking is "praying on sight with in sight." We are gearing up for the prayer phase of the Find It Here campaign.

Luz y Vida's 5th Anniversary

Luz y Vida Iglesia Baptista celebrated their 5th Anniversary today. The name the congregation has chosen, Luz y Vida (Light and Life), highlights the reality that Jesus is light and life for those who will trust him. It also reminds us that the gospel shines a light in dark places and brings life to those who were once dead in their sins.

Luz y Vida is a mission of the Gasper River Association of Baptists, and is sponsored by Monticello Baptist Church. Los hermanos y hermanas, the brothers and sisters, of Luz y Vida are wonderful people. The event was attended by Hispanic churches from other areas. Bro. Bob Martin, our DOM, and Sharon Taylor, the Hispanic Mission Coordinator, represented Gasper River Association of Baptists at the celebration, and Delia, Sophia, and I represented Monticello.

This anniversary event was a festive event. The music was lively and spirited. People were joyfully singing and clapping their hands as they praised the Lord. Following the sermon the altar was packed with people praying, crying out for God to do a mighty work among them. The meal that followed was likewise sensational. Much like their services, the meal was a blending of cultures. I always enjoy eating with my Hispanic brothers and sisters. They are wonderful people, and excellent cooks.

As I watched the celebration, I couldn't help but think that this is what heaven will be like. When we, those believers drawn out from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation, are gathered around the throne proclaiming the glory of God and the Lamb. In that day, there will be no need of translation. There will be no dividing wall. We will all unite to worship our great God and King, Jesus Christ. I think we will know all the languages of the world, even the ancient speech broken by the Lord at Babel. I imagine we will be of one language and many languages, all to the praise of God great grace.

I'm sure I caught a glimpse of heaven today, a taste of the celebration to come. I am grateful that Monticello gets to participate in this ministry, and I hope for more participation in the future. Our Association is also blessed to participate in this ministry. God has sent us a team of missionary immigrants who are determined to live the Great Commission. We are truly blessed to be able to work beside them.

Don't Jump to Conclusions

"What your eyes have seen do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?" (Prov. 25:7b-8).

Solomon is warning against hasty judgment. Sometimes the brain is too quick at making connections. They eyes perceive something, and the brain makes a hasty conclusion as to the meaning of the perceived thing.

A couple of summers ago, I was weed eating around the house. I began to cut through a thick patch of weeds right next to the house. In the middle of these weeds I uncovered what appeared to be a snake, probably three or feet long, about to slither under our house. My brain computed the visual information, which triggered my fear of snakes, and my mouth let out a scream. After close inspection (once I had allowed the weed eater to do its dirty work), I discovered that it was only a snakeskin. The frighten creature had long ago shed its skin and slithered away. There was no cause for alarm, and yet I jumped as if it had actually struck out at me.

I could write numerous posts on the folly of jumping to conclusions. I have had many experiences. But Solomon warns us that it is always dangerous to jump to conclusions. He envisions someone witnessing what they suppose to be an injustice or wrongdoing. This person quickly assumes the worse, and presses for justice only to wind up with egg on their face, when whole story comes out.

This proverb is also a warning against gossip. You can't always believe what you see. Do you remember when illusionist David Copperfield walked through the Great Wall of China on national television? Because most people understand that an illusionist makes things appear in a way they really aren't they are skeptical of what they see. They don't really believe it is magic, but some sort of trick. If we knew the trick, we could see how it was done.

Yet, when in many situations, we are quite willing to jump to conclusions when we know that we don't have all the facts. When we do this we put a least two people at risk of humiliation: ourselves and those we accuse of wrongdoing. Solomon warns that hasty conclusion will hurt the one who make them. So exercise caution when you don't have all the facts. Don't gather information like a gossip columnist, lurking in shadows and digging in trashcans. If you see someone doing something out of character, ask them about it. Never broadcast anything without making sure you have all the facts, and then only broadcast what is absolutely necessary.

He Is Strong

"If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' doe snot he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over you soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (Pr0v. 24:10-12, ESV).

These words are meant to strike at the heart. They are a stern warning against cowardice. By informing the reader of the implications of fainting in the face of adversity, the wise man is teaching them to strengthen themselves. He is not saying, "Hey, if you faint, it's no big deal." He is saying, "Fainting in the face of adversity, means you're a coward. Don't be a coward."

Whatever hardship the sage envisioned, threatened not only the integrity of his pupils, but also the very lives of others. He charges his students, "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter." If they will not stand strong for the sake of their reputations, they must stand strong for the lives of others. There were several who heeded this call in Nazi Germany by hiding Jews. Unfortunately, there were many more who fainted it the day of adversity. Several are speaking out about the atrocities of our day, like abortion and genocide. Yet, many more are beginning to show the signs of a swoon. The struggle will prove to hard for them.

The wise man presses farther, "If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' dos not he who weighs the heart perceive it?". In other words, we can't claim ignorance with God. He isn't impressed with excuses like, "I didn't know it was that bad," or "I had no idea," or "It's not may neighborhood/country". He knows what we know. He also know that he has commanded us to love one another, to keep an eye on one another, to care for each other, and to bear one another's burdens.

He searches the hearts, he does not read the lips. He knows what is really going on in our inner person. And we are warned that he will "repay man according to his works". We cannot turn a blind eye to the struggles of others, and claim immunity. If we have the ability to do good for another, and refuse to do it, then we sin against God and against that person. It takes more than a pro-life bumper sticker. It takes Christians willing to adopted or help fund an adoption. It takes more than reading the Voices of the Martyrs updates. It takes Christians surrendering to the call to missions and going into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Friends, will we faint in the face of adversity or by the grace of God will we stand?

Learning to Despise Forbidden Fruit

"Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off" (Prov. 23:17-18).

Often, I find myself trying to imagine Eden in all its pre-Fall glory. I try to envision the splendor of the freshly grown fruit. I can't help but wonder what that lush paradise must have smelled like, what it must have looked like, and what it must have sounded like. It is impossible to truly imagine a world not tainted by sin. But it is fun trying. Everywhere a person turned must have been bursting with life: plants to tend to, animals to name and care for, fruit to be enjoyed, and a kingdom to be explored.

Imagine the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It stands alone, marked off from consumption. Forbidden fruit appears so sweet, but in reality it is a poison. Death comes in the partaking of the fruit. Relationships are broken. Darkness descends.

Now, fast forward to our time. The forbidden still tantalizes us. On the surface it appears delectable. It promises unending pleasure, if only we will take a nibble, but it will turn bitter in our stomach. Sin always kills. Always. The fruit that tantalizes, ends up biting us back. Thus, comes the warning: do not let your heart envy sinners.

The fruit of their life may seem appealing to the eye, but death is waiting in the wings. Don't misunderstand me, I am not trying to suggest that there is no pleasure in sin. Sin's pleasures last their season, but they do not last forever, and they always pay the dividend of death. They are a tantalizing fruit that attracts they eye, but that poisons the body.

Thus, Solomon warns his reader to keep the right perspective. The pleasures of sin have no lasting reward. They grant a temporary reward that is often short lived. The excitement of a forbidden kiss wears off pretty quickly. Shame and guilt often follow shortly. Fear of discovery follows the flood of guilt and shame. Should sin go undetected for awhile, callousness sets in. The sinner begins to feel untouchable (although they may cycle through guilt, shame, and fear). They begin to assume that their sin has gone unnoticed. As believers, we know that no sin goes unnoticed, nor unpunished.

We keep in mind that God has planned for us a glorious future. The paradise lost in Adam's rebellion will be restored through Christ's obedience. We set our heart to walk in the fear of the Lord, and in so doing we know our hope cannot be cut off. We may not get to enjoy some of the "pleasures" this world enjoys, but we have greater pleasures awaiting us in the presence of the Lord.

That is not to say that all our pleasures are otherworldly or heavenly. We enjoy great pleasures here and now, while anticipating greater pleasures to come. When we enjoy the good gifts that the Father has given us, they come without shame, guilt, or fear. As we enjoy them, we are practicing what is good, right, and wholesome. The good gifts, in all the joy they bring, are only a taste of greater joys still to come.

Let us return to the Garden. We are surrounded by trees bursting forth with new fruit, sweet and fresh, unspoiled and unblemished, all ours except one tree. It stands in the center and bears the warning: "eat and die." Would we snatch that fruit from its branch and sink our teeth into it? Not only would we, we have. We have all eaten of the forbidden fruit of sin and have been sentenced to death. The good news is that Christ has come and died in our place. By faith in Christ, we have been made new creatures.

As new creatures in Jesus our Lord, our hearts have been realigned. If we envy sinners, then we are saying that what they have in their sin is of greater value than what we have in our Savior. Solomon points the way: "continue in the fear of the Lord all the day." The simple fact is that what we have in our Savior is infinitely more valuable (and enjoyable), than what sinners have in their sin. For we have a future and a hope (see 1 Pet. 1:3-9).

Pursuing Wisdom

"Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips" (Prov. 22:17-18).

Solomon is urging he readers to pay attention to the wise sayings within the book. One of the purposes of the book of Proverbs is to teach the unlearned in skilled living. How does one come to walk in wisdom? One learns by listening to and imitating the wise. If we are to become wise, we must be guided by the wise.

Solomon informs that reader that they need to incline their ear. It is a picture of one honing in on what is being said. They are leaning in the direction of the speaker, straining to hear what is said. It is an image of attentiveness. They incline their ears so that they may hear the words of the wise. To "hear" the words of the wise, means more than allowing the words to move the eardrums. It means they are to pay attention to those words. Solomon drives the point home by telling them to "apply your heart" to his knowledge. They are give themselves over to the pursuit of understanding all the teacher has spoken, for his words are life.

Diligent study comes with the promise: "it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips" (Prov. 22:18). Things are pleasant in the sense that the wise avoid many foolish situations that would otherwise lead them to hardship. The promise of pleasantness is not a promise of unending wealth and health. The promise means that by choosing wisdom, they will have confidence in their decisions no matter what the outcome, because they have placed themselves into the care of their Lord, who is a strong tower.

As we come to faith in Christ, we are called to walk in wisdom. That is, we are called to lived as disciples skilled at pleasing our Lord. If we have inclined our ear to hear his words and have applied our hearts to his knowledge, then it will be pleasant as we keep them and have them ready on our lips. As we fill our hearts with the Word of Christ, that Word transforms our heart. It teaches us how to walk in the way that pleases him. As we grow in knowledge of our Lord and Savior, we grow in wisdom. As we walk in obedience, we walk in wisdom. It is a pleasant journey, not because their is no difficulty, but because we know that as we apply his teaching to our lives, Christ is pleased with us, and enables us to continue on the journey.

Pursuing Righteousness

"Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor" (Prov. 21:21, ESV).

This verse reminds us that we become what we pursue. If we are seeking righteousness and kindness we will find a life full of righteousness and honor. Granted, we may not find it the easiest life we could have had. Frankly, life in the pursuit of righteousness is often met with fierce opposition.

When we think of "righteousness" we need to keep in mind all that the Scriptures have to say about it. Righteousness has an element of morality in it, but it also has an element of faithfulness in it as well. Human righteousness is tainted by our sin nature, so that we do not possess a true morality. We may be moral people who try to do the right things, but we continually fail because we continue to sin. Thus, we need a greater righteousness than what we possess, and we find that righteousness by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Jesus, his righteousness is placed on us, just as our sin was placed on him. We become righteous through our communion with Christ.

In order to fulfill this proverb, we must pursue relationship with Christ. If we are ever to live a life marked by righteousness and kindness, we will have to be transformed at our core. That transformation can only come by relying on Christ, and receiving a new nature from above. Thus, a life that pursues righteousness is a life that pursues Christ, and he promises that welcome awaits all who come to him.

So when we pursue Christ we find life, righteousness, and honor. As we walk humbly with the Lord, he extends honor to us. Not because he has to, but out of his gracious nature. Remember Job. The Lord said of Job, "there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" (see Job 1:8). In this statement, the Lord honors Job, and some day others who have served faithfully will be honored, too. We labor after righteousness so that we might hear the, "Well done! My good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master's rest." Remember the prize for which you run, and do not give up hope, but press forward.

Sermon Recap 09-20-09

Morning: The sermon, "Humility," focused on Luke 18:9-14. In this passage, Jesus tells a parable against self-righteous snobs, as Luke informs us in verse 9. Jesus plunges into the story about two men, a Pharisee and a tax collector, who go and pray. The self-righteous Pharisee tells God how good he thinks himself to be, while the tax-collector cries out for mercy. The point of this story is that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Righteousness before God comes through faith in Christ's completed work.

Evening: We looked at the "Find It Here" initiative. Please check out the KBC Find It Here page and findithere.com.

Thoughts

My mind is drifting in a 1000 different directions.

I am thinking about people I love who are caught up in sin. They are throwing away their testimony, maybe even demonstrating that their testimony wasn't true. They would rather enjoy the pleasures of this world, than the treasures of the next.

I am thinking about people I love who are wounded and hurting. They have lost loved ones, their health, their future. They struggle in pain and darkness, wrestling with forces unseen, clinging desperately to their only hope, the Lord, but they feel their grip beginning to slip.

I am thinking about people I love who are spiritual blind. Many think they see with 20/20 vision, but they teeter ever closer to the edge of destruction. They don't know that they don't know, and it is destroying them. They desperately need the Lord to touch them and open their eyes.

I am thinking about the numerous ministry opportunities that are on the horizon. I am pondering the future and formulating a plan. I am thinking about the monumental scope of the task that stands before me.

I am thinking about giving up thinking. It is a tiring task that seems to yield little fruit to me. The field of my mind is crusted over by the searing heat of intellectual neglect. It is overgrown by the weeds of entertainment and amusement.

I am thinking about what I will preach tomorrow. I have several possible choices, but I have to narrow the field.

I am thinking about prayer, both its power and its limitations. I am thinking about prayers that have gone unanswered, and while I am grateful for some, others still hurt. I am thinking about the ones that God has chosen to answer, and I am amazed at his graciousness.

I am thinking about Jesus, and the reality that his grace is sufficient. It is sufficient, because it is abundant. He has never paid me to the penny, so to speak. Nor has he ever come up short. He has always given me, out of his grace and mercy, more than I could ever imagine, and most certainly more than I could ever deserve.

I am thinking about you, my reader. I am wondering if you are caught in sin. I am wondering if you are struggling through a dark time. I am wondering if you are spiritually blind. I am wondering what opportunities of service with which the Lord has blessed you. I am wondering if you are thinking about giving up thinking. I am wondering if you are going to be in a Sunday morning worship service somewhere. I am wondering if you are praying. I am wondering if you are resting in the sufficiency of Jesus. I want you to know that I love you, and I am praying that God would open your eyes and your hearts to understand the fullness of Christ's love for you. I am also praying he would allow you to rest confidently his sufficiency.

Concern for the Lost

It has been said the Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. Many historians now consider this saying to be an ancient urban legend. But, even as a legend it captures the popular view of Nero and his politics. The image of Nero fiddling around while the peoples' homes and shops were consumed by fire demonstrates that the people believed Nero to be apathetic toward their plight. Considering the things I have heard about Nero, they were right.

Today, many would suggest the church is fiddling around while the flames of hell are consuming the lives of their lost friends and neighbors. Many view the North American church as apathetic concerning the plight of non-believers. It has been suggested that we American Christians are more concerned with our own comfort, than we are with the eternal destiny of the lost. If this accusation is true, then it is a great sin against God.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). What does it say about us if his mission is not our mission? How can we be Christlike if we are not pursuing the lost? The Pharisees didn't pursue the lost and they hated Jesus, because he did. They just didn't get it. But do we get it? Is the heartbeat of God, as it is demonstrated by sending his Son into the world to redeem it, the driving beat of our life? Are we moved to compassion when we look at sinners, because they are like sheep without a shepherd?

These are very practical questions. Yet, they are questions most of us hope to avoid asking ourselves. However, they are the question Jesus demands us to answer. Speaking to the teachers of the Law Jesus said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers" (Luke 11:46, ESV). Let it not be said of us that we have been unwilling to lift a finger to bring the lost to Christ.

Are we really concerned about the lostness of our family, friends, and neighbors? Are we spending time building relationships and sharing the gospel? Are we discipling those who we lead to the Lord? Or do we waste all of our "free time" on ourselves--watching t.v., playing games, surfing the net, etc.? How much time have you set aside in the last several days to pray for the lost and hurting people you know? When was the last time you picked up the phone and called someone to offer them words of encouragement? Or to offer them a much needed listening ear? Are we pursuing the things Jesus valued (lost sheep) or something else? Friends, are we playing church while the flames of hell burn all around us? Let us be about our Lord's mission.

Some Revival Principles

As I continue to think through revivals, I am beginning to see some underlying principles at work. Some of them that come to mind are:

1. Revival cannot be planned, but it can be earnestly sought after. I am not saying we shouldn't set aside time each year for special revival meetings, but without intense and earnest prayer revival will not come. God has given a prescription for revival (see 2 Chr. 7:14), and he will not send it until we obey.

2. Prayer should be incorporated into our planning. Not only should we pray for guidance concerning who should speak, who will lead the music, who will give testimonies, and the like, but we should also form prayer teams. If we will get a choir together for revival, we had better have a prayer "choir" as well. We should be praying for revival long before the meetings begin. We should have teams that meet and pray every week throughout the year, who pray for every sermon preached and every class taught leading up to revival. These small groups should have prayer meetings during the service, after the service, and during the services. This principle coincides with earnestly seeking the Lord.

3. It is almost always good stewardship to set aside time to hear God's Word faithfully proclaimed. In fact, the only time it wouldn't be is when those hearing the Word proclaimed are not trusting and obeying what they hear. Where people are earnestly seeking the Lord and praying with intensity, the preaching of the Word comes with power. Those who put the most into a service get the most out of it. In other words, if you are earnestly seeking the Lord, praying diligently for revival, and attending meetings where the Word is rightly proclaimed, you will not leave disappointed.

4. Revivals imply the need for repentance. When we say we need revival, we are admitting to ourselves and confessing to others that things are not right. True revival generates an atmosphere of humility and repentance. When revival comes sins are turned away from and confessed, Accountability and formative church discipline increase, and transparency becomes the norm. During a time of reviving from the Lord, people desire unity through faithful obedience to Christ and his Word.

5. True revival generates passion and compassion. When the Lord sends revival to his people it awakens in them a passion for his glory. They yearn to see him lifted up and praised by all of creation. They become bolder to speak of the Lord's work in their life. They are more grateful for the blessings they have received. They long to be near him and to be like him. As they draw closer to him, he begins to widen their hearts. They begin seeing the lost family members, friends, and neighbors as straying sheep in desperate need of a shepherd. They see the lost sinking down into death and earnestly desire to see them rescued.

This list isn't exhaustive. There may be other important principles that I have missed. Feel free to list other principles in your comments. When you think of revival what do you think of? How do you know if you have experienced revival?

Evaluating Revivals

I have been thinking about revivals. Since I came to the Lord and began to serve him in 1995, I have been to several revival meetings. I have even had the privilege of preaching in a few revivals. At the end of every revival I have experienced, I find myself trying to evaluate its effectiveness. How does one measure the effectiveness of a revival? Two measurements are often used to gauge the success or failure of a revival: the number of decisions and the emotional response of the attendees. However, these two measurements are not adequate to gauge whether or not a revival is successful.

I once heard Billy Graham tell a reporter that he assumed 75 to 80 percent of people coming forward were not genuinely converted. Many "decisions" are made in response to pressure from family or loved ones. Some make a decision because their friend made a decision. Others make a decision because they have been manipulated into through scare tactics, bait-and-switch tactics, or other high pressure tactics.

Decisions are easy to get (although it is getting harder to get even these), but what we should be aiming for is repentance. Asking Jesus into your heart is not always the same thing as turning from your sin and trusting Jesus' atoning sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection as the only source of salvation. When I was seven I sat through a gospel presentation after visiting a church. After hearing a very vivid description of the eternal torments of hell, the group of us youngsters were told, "If you don't want to go to hell, say this prayer." In the conventional terms, I made a decision to ask Jesus into my heart. The only problem was I was lost. I wasn't called to repent of sin. I wasn't told what it meant to "trust" in Jesus.

For nearly twelve years, I lived under the assumption that since Jesus was "in my heart," I was okay with God. However, I had never abandoned sin. After years of studying Scripture and reflecting on my life, I have come to believe that I was saved after surrendering to the ministry when I was around twenty years of age. It wasn't until that point that I begin to hate sin. It wasn't until then that I felt the real need of salvation. When I saw my sin and understood God's righteous judgment, I cried out to Jesus to rescue me from sin and I clung to the cross as my only hope of forgiveness and cleansing.

Biblically we should aim for repentance when we preach. By repentance I mean a genuine turning away from sin. I mean that thorn bushes and thistles become fig trees and grapevines. I am not talking about an external moral event, where someone "cleans up" their life, but an internal change of character and attitude. Repentance is no mere whitewashing of the tomb, but it is the resurrecting of the corpse within the tomb. The kind of repentance that leads to life, bears the fruit of righteousness. It isn't a flash in the pan, but a steady burning flame that will continue to burn, until the Lord returns.

The other gauge, emotional response, is likewise inadequate to measure the success of a revival. Emotions are not static. They change constantly. If you are speeding down the highway and see blue lights behind you, you might get a knot in your stomach and "feel" stupid. However, if the blue lights speed past you in pursuit of some worse transgressor, you may "feel" elated. Emotions are easily manipulated.

It has been know for a long time that music can affect the hearer. That is why Hollywood spends so much time and money on scoring movies. The music sets tone for the picture. If you see kids swimming in the ocean and happy music is playing in the background, you assume the scene is capturing a joyful moment. However, if you see that same group of kids in the ocean and hear the "Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun" theme from Jaws, you know someone is going to be eaten by a shark.
Likewise, music can be used to make a crowd more energetic. For that reason, you hardly hear sad music at a ballgame. The music is usually geared toward working up the crowd.

Emotional stories or expressions can be used to move people as well. Billy Boyd's performance in The Return of the King always leaves me teary-eyed. His character, Pippin, starts of childlike in many ways and throughout the film he matures into a reluctant warrior. His face reflects such heartache and shame, such doubt and confusion, that I find myself mourning his loss of innocence. But its just a movie. Pippin isn't real. However, real stories can be told in such a way that they generate an emotional response.

I am not saying that we should not preach to the heart, but we should not play on the emotions. Preaching that brings revival stirs the affections. It strikes at the heart, but not in a way that is manipulative. It strives to describe sin in all of its dark and horrible hues, to set before the listener the reality of judgment, and to extend to them the gracious offer of salvation. Preaching that brings revival moves the heart to repent of sin and to trust in Christ.

When we attend a revival or hear of one going on, we should measure its success by the change it produces. Are saints and sinners brought to repentance? Is sin openly confessed and turned away from? Are people actually different? Is Christ exalted through the proclamation of his Word? Is the Church more evangelistic? Is it more prayerful? Does the congregation long to hear the truth of God's Word rightly divided by his appointed servant? Are those involved more compassionate? More giving? Ready to serve? Well, then they may have experienced a revival.

Faith Vs. Presumption

"David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground" (2 Sam. 12:16, ESV; see 2 Sam. 12:15-23).

This passage comes as a result of one of the saddest events in all Scripture. David has taken his friend's wife as a mistress and conceived a child. When his attempts to cover up his sin fails, David has his friend Uriah killed. After the Lord confronts David's sin through the prophet Nathan, David is informed that the child will die. Following the birth and subsequent illness of his child, we find David on his face before the Lord.

The "elders of his household" continue to go into where David was trying to persuade David to get up and eat. They mistake his prayerfulness for grief. While he may have been motivated by grief, over his sin and its impact on his young child, David is still praying. All of the elders' attempts to "comfort" David fall on deaf ears. He will not leave his post. His actions cause great confusion when word reaches him of his son's death. He gets up and eats.

When questioned about this turn of behavior, David responds, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Sam. 12:22-23, ESV).

David seems to understand something we often miss. David understands that you cannot presume upon the grace of God. Prayer is a request for mercy. Mercy is a something that cannot be merited. If it is owed, it is not mercy. Somehow, we have come to believe that the act of praying obligates God to answer in the manner and time in which we specify. David isn't afraid to seek God's mercy. He is just aware that if God chooses to answer it will be mercy. It is God's right to say, "No." It doesn't make him less merciful. The fact that we can approach him in prayer at all is an act of great mercy. As is the reality that he delights in answering his peoples prayer.

Prayer is not a right, it is a privilege. God invites us to approach him in prayer--to know him intimately. He allows us to participate in his work, through intercession, but he isn't dependent upon us. He has appointed prayer as a vehicle through which he moves in his people and throughout the world. For this reason, prayerlessness is sinful. However, as we pray we must not presume on God.

There is a vast difference between praying in faith and praying in presumption. Prayer in faith always exalts in God, even when it doesn't receive the answer it seeks. Presumptuous prayer leads to bitterness at God's "failure" to respond. Those who pray in faith submit themselves (and their prayers) to the Lord. If he chooses to not to answer, they trust his wisdom and grace. Those who pray presumptuously desire God's submission to their request. David exemplifies praying in faith by stating, "Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child might live?"

Some might object to speaking of prayer in this way. They might conclude that this kind of prayer lacks confidence. However, that is not the case. I believe that David was fully confident is God's ability to hear his prayer and heal his child, but he did not assume that what he knew of God's character and ability meant that God must act in a certain way as dictated by his own prayer. David was confident, but not demanding. Like David, we must pray in full confidence of God's ability and character, while avoiding presuming on his grace.

A Meditation on Prayer

My mind has been on prayer all day. Two things that keep coming to mind as I meditate are: first, prayer isn't all we are supposed to do, and second, not all prayers, asked in faith, are answered affirmatively. Even with these two things in mind, it is important to remember that we must not lose heart and give up praying.

When I say that prayer isn't all we are supposed to do, I mean that we must be ready to used by God to answer our prayers. For example, you know someone who isn't trusting Christ for salvation. You begin to cry out to God to open their eyes to the Gospel. You even begin to pray several times a day, and fast once a week for their salvation. Your job isn't over. God may desire to use you to open their eyes. In conjunction with your prayers, you need to start preparing for the task. Are you living a holy life that affirms the truth you profess to believe? Are you capable of presenting the message of the gospel? Do you love them enough to risk embarrassment, so they might hear the gospel?

While it is true to say prayer is us asking God for something, it is not an adequate definition of prayer. In prayer we not only list what we wish for God to do, but we listen (by means of the Scripture), to see what he would have us to do. In fact, as we mature in prayer our focus shifts from our needs and desires to the One to whom we are praying. Our prayers take on more and more expressions of adoration and gratitude toward God for his person and work. Thus, prayer becomes a shaping instrument, used by God, to mold us into the image of his Son.

Therefore, God invites us (commands us) to pray to him. He delights in the prayers of his people. The Scriptures are full of images that demonstrate the Lord's willingness to hear his peoples' prayers. However, the Scripture never implies that God always answers every prayer in the affirmative. Sometimes he says, "No."

Someone might object, "But what about Matthew 7:7-11, where Jesus promises those who ask will receive." The context of that passage is instructive. We must always remember to interpret Scripture within its context, and within the greater context of the whole Scriptures. As one once said, "The Scriptures are the greatest commentary on the Scripture." Scripture must be allowed to interpret Scripture, without contradiction. Matthew 7:7-11 is set in the larger context of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is giving the Kingdom Manifesto, the guidelines for kingdom living (guidelines that only Jesus was/is capable of fulfilling). This "asking" is set in the context of humility and obedience (poor in spirit, hungering/thirsting for righteousness).

Two passages offer us insight into what Jesus actually meant. James states, "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions" (James 4:2-3). James, most probably, has Jesus' quote from Matthew 7:7-11 in mind. He is stressing that the "ask and receive" statement is not an unconditional blanket promise. Jesus isn't saying ask for anything you want and you'll get it. He has already set the conditions of the promise by outlining the requirements of kingdom life (a righteousness that surpasses the Pharisees' righteousness and a pursuit of the kingdom of God and his righteousness). Thus, selfish praying will not be answered.

The second passage that helps us to understand the Matthew 7:7-11 promise is 1 John 3:21-23. John writes, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us." Thus, again the "ask and receive" reference is expressed within boundaries. John, also, is most probably speaking of Jesus' promise quoted in Matthew.

So we can see from Scripture God doesn't approve every prayer. They must first be prayers that are rooted in a trust in Jesus Christ. They must be prayers that are consistent with the character and nature of God. To ask in Jesus' name is to ask in a way that reflects the character of that name. That means, we can't ask for something that would dishonor Jesus or hurt his reputation. Our prayers must not be prayers that seek something from God that we will squander on ourselves. That doesn't mean we can't ask for what we need (remember: give us this day our daily bread), but means that we should pray for things that would master us or distract us, from Christ-centered devotion. Finally, they must be prayers that are consistent with, and submitted to, God's good purposes.

You may pray in faith, for God's glory, in keeping with Christ's character and God may still say, "No." How can that be you may ask? Most of God's will is plainly revealed to us in Scripture, but there is still a great degree of mystery surrounding his purposes. God's good purposes may permit an heinous evil, through which God will bring about a greater good. For instance, God allowed Christ to die upon the cross, so that whosoever believes will not perish, but have everlasting life. Don't misunderstand me, God does not cause evil, but for his own reasons, reasons which he has not shared with us, he does permit it. This is where we must say with Spurgeon, "When I cannot trace His hand, I will trust His heart."

We have come full circle. Although not all prayers are answered, we must not lose heart. Just as David fasted and prayed for his child, even when the Lord had told him it would die, so we must pray until we know for certain the outcome. David stayed on his face for days, because he thought there was a chance God would relent. Yet, he continued to trust the Lord even when he did not relent. Christ prayed that the cup might pass from him, yet he trusted the Father enough to submit to it. When we pray for someone to be saved, or rescued from a sinful situation, or to be healed, or whatever, we must pray with confident trust in the Lord. We must expect him to answer us in the affirmative, and continue to do so until he shows us otherwise.

If you pray, long and hard, for a loved one to be healed of a disease, and they are not, does that mean God didn't hear your prayers? No. Does it mean he doesn't care? No. Does it mean you didn't ask in faith? No. It simply means it was not his will to heal them. Does that mean it is a sin to ask for healing against God's will? No. Jesus knew the cup was the Father's will for him and yet, he asked for it to pass. We know that Jesus never sinned, so we know that it wasn't a sin for him to ask the Father to remove the cup. In the end, he submitted to the Father's will. And so must we.

Sunday Recap 9-13-09

Morning: The sermon entitled, "Persistence in Prayer," drew from Luke 18:1-8. In this passage Luke records a parable Jesus taught his disciples. He begins by giving us a key to the passage: "he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). This parable was told so that his disciple would know to pray without losing heart. Shifting from the key to the story, Jesus paints the picture of wicked villain and a helpless widow. The villain, an unjust judge who neither feared God nor cared for men, sets out to deny justice to the widow. The widow wears him out by asking him for justice continually.

Jesus drives the point of the story home by pointing out some important truths. First, he reminds us that the unjust judge said, "I don't fear God or care about people, but she's wearing me out-I'll give in." He uses this to imply a contrast with God. God cares about his glory, he cares about people, and he delights in hearing the prayers of his people. Second, he begins asking probing questions: "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?" The answer is God will give them justice. He also asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" This final question is asked to drive home the need to pray continually. Our faith is demonstrated by our continual asking, in trust, the Lord to meet our needs.

Evening: We moved our services to the County-wide revival at Morgantown Elementary School's Gymnasium. It will continue through Wednesday Night. Services are at 7:00 pm.

Speak a Good Word to an Anxious Heart

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad" (Prov. 12:25, ESV).

Solomon offers sound advise. When anxiety has plagues a person, they need a good word to make them glad. Anxiety often drives us to depression, fear, anger, and the like. It causes us to be weighed down.

Jesus states, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or drink, nor about your body, what you will put on . . . But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:25, 33).

Isn't that a good word? Doesn't lighten your heart? Jesus expressly tells us that we have value to the heavenly Father. He tells us that anxiety is pointless, because it is rooted in a lack of trust. If we will seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, that is, if we will cling to Christ by faith and walk in obedience, God will never fail to provide for us.

The human experience is such the anxiety is a common occurrence. There are so many variables in our life, that it is difficult to know the outcome of any given situation. However, knowledge of the Lord takes most of the guest work out of life. Now I don't mean to sound naive. Trusting the Lord does not mean that our lives will be devoid of trials and tribulation.
Jesus promises us that we will have trials and tribulation in this world, but he also promises to be with us.

We don't have to guess if the Lord loves us, he has already proven it. We don't have to guess if he desires what is best for us, he has already affirmed that to be the case. We don't have to guess what tomorrow holds, because we know who holds tomorrow. We can stop worrying and trust the Lord. We can speak his good Word into our heavy hearts and find the burdens lifted.

Confession Vs. Isolation

I am currently reading, Edward T. Welch's book Addictions-A Banquet in the Grave. The book offers sound biblical advice on how we should help others who are struggling with addiction. Throughout the book he reminds us that we all struggle with sin. Today I came across a statement that reminded me of an important truth. Concerning our own struggle, he states, "Any steps toward isolation and independence are steps into darkness. Don't go there" (page 114).

That simple warning expresses a profound truth. Sin seeks to isolate us from others so it can wreak more havoc in our lives. The author of Ecclesiastes writes, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Eccl. 4:9-10, ESV).

Sin uses our shame to isolate us in order to push us farther into the darkness, so it may devour us. That is why confession is so important. When we live transparent lives, sin can't consume us. If we are continually open to rebuke and correction from others, if we are continually walking in a spirit of humble repentance, if we are continually confessing our sins to the Lord, then sin cannot have power over us.

It may trip us. It may fall upon us with rage and drag us kicking and screaming down with it, but I can't truly own us. When we place our faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are given Christ righteousness. As we mature in Christ, we find ourselves running to the cross more and more. For it is through the atoning work of Christ that we find forgiveness and cleansing. It is wrongheaded to believe that the closer we grow to Christ, the less we need the cross. In actuality, it is the opposite.

As we become more openly confessional, sin cannot drive us into isolation. First, in order to confess our sins to one another we must walk in humility. Humility leads to transparency. Second, when all of our skeletons are out of the closet, so to speak, what can sin hang over our head? How can it keep us hiding? Or more importantly, how can it keep us obedient to it, if we open ourselves up to rebuke and correction from our Christian brothers and sisters? The truth is when believers walk in continual confession and repentance, before God and one another, sin loses strength.

If you don't believe me, try an experiment. Think of a struggle (with sin) you are currently having. Now, have you talked to anyone about it, in order to overcome it? If you say, "Yes," how did you feel about it? Better or worse? If no, do you feel better keeping it a secret? Or does that secret make you afraid of what people might think if they found out? Do you get nerves around people when are talking about their struggles, and wish you could be so free? If you feel like there is a cloud hanging over your head, if you feel ashamed and weary, if you are absolutely terrified at the thought of sharing you personal life with another, sin has a tighter grip on you than you think. Sin always seeks to isolate, then it dominates. As long as our sin goes on unconfessed to God (and when necessary to others), as long as it goes on unrepented of, then sin has us tight within its teeth.

Break free today. Confess your sins to the Lord and he will forgive you (see 1 John 1:9). If need be, confess your sins to one another (see James 5:16), and you will find healing. Find someone with whom you can share your darkest secrets, speak to them openly and honestly about your struggles, ask them to pray for you and to hold you accountable. With confession we step out of the dark into the light.

Happy Belated Anniversary

I recently began planning to write a post celebrating the 1st anniversary of The Burning Word. However, time has a way of slipping up on us, and dates pass us by before we realize it. I discovered a few days ago that I am not nearing my 1st anniversary, I have already passed it. It turns out that I began blogging on August 28, 2008.

When I started blogging I had two main goals. One goal was to grow as a writer by continual practice. The other was to edify, or build up, those who happened upon my blog. My goals haven't changed. I desire to encourage others as I engage with God's Word and with life in my posts. As a child, I hated being a student (although I loved learning new things), but as I mature I realize I must always be a student. I am always learning: as I study, as I teach, as I talk with others, and as I blog. I hope that I am growing, even as I am learning.

Throughout this experience I have been truly blessed. I have had over 3400 visitors over the last thirteen months. I never expected as much. I have posted nearly 400 articles. I don't say these things to brag, but to express my wonder at God's grace. In a lot of ways this blog allows me to live a dream, one I was almost afraid to dream. It is another continual reminder of the Lord's abundant mercy.

Lord willing, I will mark more anniversaries in the years to come. I hope that if I do get to keep writing, that you will keep reading. If you find mind posts helpful, please encourage others to check them out. If a post raises questions or provokes thought, leave a comment. I will give us the opportunity to dialogue. Again, thank you so much for your words of encouragement, for coming to my site, and for reading my articles. God bless you.

Revival Reflections Pt. 3

Bro. Keith brought our revival meetings to a fitting conclusion by reminding us that God loves sinners. The final message came from Jonah 4:5-11. In this passage we see a prophet whose priorities are all out of whack. He was angry with God for showing mercy to sinners, and sat down outside the city hoping God would destroy it anyway. Yet, God shows mercy to the prophet, just as he had the people of Nineveh.

The message challenged us to examine our priorities. Jonah should have rejoiced, like God, at the repentance of Nineveh. He should have been grateful, but instead he was angry. When God is the top priority in our life, his attitude shapes our attitude; the things that bring him joy, bring us joy; and the things that sicken him, sicken us. Jonah's anger with God shows that Jonah was only concerned with himself.

When our priorities are in order, God is first. It means that we walk in the Spirit, in the name of the Son, to the glory of the Father. It means that our life takes on a radical Christ-centeredness. For in Christ, we live and breath and have our being. Our next priority is others. When we are walking in the steps of Jesus we live as he lived. Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many" (see Mark 10:45). Christ served others for the glory of God, and we must also.

God's great love for sinners is demonstrated by his gracious response to their repentance. It is even demonstrated in his response to Jonah. However, it is most clearly demonstrated in his sending his Son into the world to die in the place of sinners. The overarching lesson of Jonah's tale is that God loves sinners. As a ruin sinner reclaimed by Christ's sacrificial atoning death, this truth renews my heart. Thank you, Lord for the Word you have sent our way. Thank you, Keith for obediently preaching it.

Revival Reflections Pt. 2

Bro. Keith's message opened up Jonah 4:1-4 tonight. In this passage, Jonah express great anger over the great graciousness of God. To be frank, this passage haunts me. Jonah is not in a moment of personal lose and grief when he becomes angry with God. Jonah is not witnessing some atrocious crime being perpetrated against one of God's people. The source of his anger is God's gracious character. He states, "That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster" (Jonah 4:2).

Jonah, in essence, despised God for his mercy. Jonah would rather die than live in a world where God redeemed unworthy sinners. Anger against God is sin, as Bro. Keith pointed out tonight. But anger over his graciousness is incomprehensible. When we worship the God who reveals himself in the Word, then we cannot justify anger against him. How can someone be angry with One who is righteous, holy, just, good, and perfect? God, as he reveals himself in Scripture, is incapable of evil or wrongdoing, so therefore, how can we be angry with him?

To press the question farther, how can we possibly be angry with God for his grace? But there are those who despise God for his grace. They can handle his sovereignty (so they think). They can handle his omnipotence (so they think). Then can handle that he knows everything (so they think). But the thought of God showing grace to those they deem unworthy is unthinkable to them.

Let's get personal. Are we angry with God, because he has shown grace to someone or some group we despise? Are we like Jonah, angry and pouting, because God has been kind to someone we hate? Are we offended by grace? Is that why we bristle when we hear the word election (the bible doctrine not the political kind)? Is it because we can't see merit in someone, so we assume God couldn't either?

The plain truth is that it's absurd to hate grace, because we all need it. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23). We must not forget, as Jonah apparently did, how far down the Lord stooped to rescue us. I keep searching my heart to see if I am harboring any anger toward God, particularly toward his grace. I am praying that the Lord would show me if it is there.

Keith presented the biblical solution to overcoming our anger against God. We must wholeheartedly trust in the God who has revealed himself in Scripture. The more we know of the true God, the easier it is to trust him and the harder it becomes to be angry with him. When we see God as he truly is, there is no room for anger. Next, we must realize who we are. God is infinite in perfection. We are finite and imperfect. He sees all of eternity at once, we see a small slice of time as it is occurring. We can remember the past (partially), but we cannot glimpse the future at all. Ultimately, we must come to rest in his wisdom, and when we lack the wisdom to do so, all we have to do is ask him to give it.

Revival Reflections

I'm still thinking about tonight's sermon. Bro. Keith made two statements that continue to run through my mind. First, he stated that God always wins. Second, he stated that God is determined to save sinners. These two truths are connected. In fact, the cross teaches us both.

At first glance, the crucifixion of Christ might seem like defeat. If the narratives only gave us the account of his arrest, trials, beatings, and death, it would most certainly be a story of defeat. That is most certainly what the audience of Christ's crucifixion thought. "He saved others," they scoffed, "let him save himself." They chided, "Come down from that cross, and we'll believe you are the Christ." All looks lost. Yet, we know, God always wins. The empty tomb turns the bloody cross into a message of victory.

Paul states, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to an open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Col. 2:13-15). In other words, what the world (and Satan) saw as defeat was actually the picture of Christ "triumphing over them." Elsewhere, Paul expresses that had these "rulers" understood what was truly happening in the crucifixion of Christ, they would not have participated. He states, "None of these rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Cor. 3:6).

What Satan meant for the toppling of God and the destruction of mankind, God meant for the deliverance of sinful humanity. What Satan saw as defeat, God declared victory. When Satan thought he was delivering the deathblow he was merely bruising the heal. When Satan thought he would be receiving his crown, he actually received a crush skull (see Gen. 3:15). Through his obedience, even to the point of death on the cross, Christ was highly exalted and given a name above every name (see Phil. 2:5-11). Jesus, now ascended on high as King of kings and Lord of lords, rules from his unshakable throne. The cross means God always wins.

The cross also means that God is determined to save sinners. The Scripture is clear, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, now wishing that any should perish, but at that all should reach repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). God desires sinners to come to repentance. The cross guarantees that those who come will find forgiveness. We must, however, keep in mind that the salvation does not come to everyone. We are not universalists, who believe that all people will go to heaven. We believe that only those who turn from their sin and trust in Jesus' person and work will be saved. The appointment by God of individuals to salvation is often called the doctrine of election. Concerning election:

The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message states:

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility (Article V. God's Purpose of Grace).

Monticello's Articles of Faith states:

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified (Constitution Article III. Sec. 1. G).

Monticello's statement of faith declares that we believe God has determined to save sinners. He has chosen, through the death and resurrection of the Son, to bring life to those who repent and believe. And we are confident that God always wins. So let us join with Paul is saying, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

Revival Sunday Recap 9-6-09

Morning: Bro Keith brought a message from Jonah 1:1-16. Throughout the message he reminded us that we can't outrun God. Jonah's shameful attempt to avoid the call of God in his life reminds us that disobedience is costly. Jonah came to the place where he thought he would rather die than obey God, yet God was merciful to him. We were also reminded that God used Jonah, in spite of his disobedience, to bring about the conversion of the crew of the ship he was on.

Evening: Bro. Keith's message drew from Jonah 1:17-2:9. The message focused on the great reality spoken of in Jonah 2:9--salvation is from the Lord. The message called us to recognize the Lord's sovereignty, to realize our helplessness, and to be repaired to our God. We reconcile to God through prayer, as we cry out for mercy, and by worship, as we worship the Lord in spirit and truth.

I am looking forward to the rest of the messages, and I am confident that the Lord will continue to speak through the Word he has given his servant. This is shaping up to be an exciting revival.

Against the Flow

I recently began reading Kris Lundgaard's The Enemy Within. In speaking about the Christian's awareness of indwelling sin, he offers this thought provoking word picture:

"Believers are the only people who ever find the law of sin at work in them. Unbelievers can't feel it. The law of sin is a raging river, carrying them along; they cannot measure the force of the current, because they have surrendered themselves to it and are borne along by it. A believer, on the other hand, swims upstream--he meets sin head-on and strains under its strength" (page 25).

A Lesson from Prayer

We were all sitting around earlier today, when Sophia bowed her head and began whispering. When Delia and I continued to speak, Sophia announced it she wanted us to "pay" (pray). She grabbed our hands and announced "pay," "pay." So we followed orders and bowed our heads. She began to whisper again. A few seconds later she stated, "Amen."

She led us through this ritual several times. She would call us to prayer, grab our hands, bow her head, and begin praying. Finally, she stopped to pray by herself. She bowed her head and began to rattle off a prayer that only her and the Lord understood. However in the midst of her inarticulate prayer she said, "Help, Daddy" and then "Help, Mommy." She repeated both phrases two or three times. Then she said, "Amen." Looking up from her prayer, she smiled at us.

When we pray with Sophia, I often asked the Lord to help us to be the daddy and mommy we need to be. I ask him to help us shepherd her little heart into his fold. Seeing her praying, encourages me to know we are headed in the right direction. If we continue to cling to the Lord, he will see us through any difficulty. It also encourages me to see that our transparency is being caught. She knows we need help, because we have told her so. She also knows where we turn for help--to the Lord.

Watching her pray has also reminded me of an important reality. Children learn as much from watching our lives (maybe even more), than from hearing our words. If we want Sophia to continue to seek the Lord in prayer, then we have to be sure and model it for her. With the Lord's help we will continue to teach her to pray by both word and action. We will continue to pray for her, too, so that she may grow up strong in the Lord.

Be Thou My Vision

With our fall revival approaching, I have been thinking about what revival would look like. Should God be pleased to revive us during these extended services (and I pray he is), what will that "revival" look like? I cannot say with specificity, but I believe a genuine revival brings renewed emphasis on the gospel, a renewed atmosphere of humility and service, a renewed spirit of dependence upon the Lord, and a renewed desire to see Christ exalted through our lives. I heard the hymn, "Be Thou My Vision," today, and I began praying its rich truths for my life. The words are:

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, they presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me Lord:
Thou my great Father, I thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, or man's empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'n's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Father, be our vision, be our wisdom, and our true word. Grant us the ability to walk in obedience to your Word, and to accomplish the call you have placed on our church's life. To you be the glory.

I pray that in the days ahead the God, through Christ, will become my all consuming vision, that I will seek his glory first and foremost, and that I will walk in humble submission to his Word. Revival services begin at Monticello Baptist Church (Butler County, KY) Sunday, September 6th, 2009 during the 11:00 am service. Services will be held nightly at 7:00 pm through Wednesday, September 9th. A humble servant of the Lord and good friend of mine, Keith McWhorter, will bring the messages. I am anticipating fruit from these meetings in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Please, pray with us that these services would serve as an awakening and a renewal, and that God would be glorified in us.

Profitable Time

Back in January I began a journey through the Prophets. I finished reading through the Prophets this evening. I went through them at the pace of a chapter a day. One advantage of this approach was that I didn't get bogged down (particularly in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel). One disadvantage to this approach was that it was difficult to keep context in view particularly in the larger books).

As I read through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and the other prophets, I began to realize just how much the informed the New Testament. Through quotes and allusions they pepper the New Testament. Unfortunately, these books which were so relied upon by the early church are often neglected in our time. Each book points in some way to the coming Christ. The prophets were allowed to glimpse down the corridor of time and to report what they saw. They hailed a coming King who would fulfill all the promises of God. He would deliver God's people from bondage and rule over them in righteousness and justice.

Reflecting on the message of the prophets, Peter commented,

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be your searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look (1 Pet 1:10-12).

Thus, the Prophets are ours. Much of what they have spoken has been fulfilled by Christ, some is yet to be fulfilled (but most certainly will be). As we sit down with the Prophets we get a better understanding of the Gospels. We also get a better understanding of the New Testament as a whole. I would encourage you to begin reading through the Prophets.

The Importance of Doctrine

"So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied" (Acts 9:31).

When the great persecution that swept Jerusalem lost its more ardent warrior, Saul, the church entered into a season of fruitfulness. Luke describes this period as one of peace and growth. The people were allowed to live normal lives: go to work, worship, evangelize, minister, etc. While their neighbors may not have shared their Christian convictions, they stop trying to arrest and kill them for having Christian convictions.

Also during this time, the people went from trusting in Christ to being built up in the faith. With the persecution over people had the opportunity to dig deeper into their faith. When prison and death are imminent, there isn't much time for theological debate. When the dust settles in times of persecution, the opportunity for the expansion and clarification of doctrine arises. To put it another way, during persecution the basics of the faith--God, sin, Christ, repentance and faith--are the subject matters that receive the most emphasis. When persecution ceases, then the church has the opportunity (and obligation) to flesh out the implications of the gospel and to formulate doctrine.

The formulation of doctrine at least two purposes. Articulating what we believe in clear and concise language by way of creed or confession allows us to instruct new converts. Since we are commanded by Christ to teach new believers everything he commanded, we cannot neglect teaching doctrine. To neglect doctrinal teaching is an act of disobedience. How can they obey what they are not taught.

The second reason we formulate doctrine is so we can address our detractors. The Scripture calls us to be ready to defend the hope that is in us through Christ Jesus (see 1 Pet. 3:15). When people misrepresent our beliefs, we are obligated to point out the errors in their thoughts and arguments. When people accuse us falsely of believing or doing absurd things, we are obligated to show them what we really believe and do.

Acts 9:31 expresses this in such beautiful language. There was peace and people were being built up. The end result is also beautiful. As the people walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church multiplied. The image of "walking in the Spirit" indicates the people were producing the fruit of the Spirit--peace, joy, love, kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. They hated evil and loved the Lord. The image of walking in "the comfort of the Holy Spirit" indicates that the Spirit was healing the wounds caused by persecution.

The phrases, walking in the fear of the Lord and walking the the comfort of the Holy Spirit, teach us another important reality. In the Christian life we must do our part, and we can be sure the Spirit will do his. We are to work our faith with fear and trembling, but know that it is the Spirit who works God's will in our heart and lives (see Phil 2:12-13).

As the people walked with the Lord in the power and presence of the Spirit, the church grew. This is no mere adding daily. This was multiplication. The church flourished under doctrine of the Lord. When our theology, or doctrine, is out of focus our life will be out of focus. When our theology is correct, then our actions will be correct. When we are believing and living correctly, the church will multiply.