God and the Humble Man

This post is a compilation of some previous posts on the humble man, and some sermon notes from when I preached through Philippians 2:3-10.

In chapter two of Philippians we are told that we are to possess a humility of mind, and then we are given the example of the humility possessed by our Savior, Master, and Leader.  The Greek word for humility of mind is tapeinophrosune.  This word means to be lowly or humble.  It is a lowliness of mind, a state of mind that esteems itself small. It is a state of mind that has a correct estimation of itself before God, it is a state of mind that regards itself as insignificant before God and before others.  It is modest.  The way it is used in its context here means we are to responsible for our possession of this state of mind.  

Another way for us to paint a picture humility is to understand that it is the polar opposite of pride and arrogance, it is the polar opposite of boasting, it is the polar opposite of selfishness and empty conceit. 

In us getting our mind right, we must understand that pride doesn’t just exalt itself against others, but always and ultimately exalts itself against God as all sin is always against God. In the Scriptures, you never see the term humble used to describe the wicked, but you will always see pride associated with wickedness. Let's look at a couple of verses that reveal to us what God thinks about the pride of man. 

Isaiah 2:12, 17 For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning against everyone who is proud and lofty and against everyone who is lifted up, that he may be abased.  The pride of man will be humbled and the loftiness of man will be abased; and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 13:11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the wicked….

In Proverbs 6:16 there are seven things listed that God hates, that are an abomination to Him, and the first on the list is haughty eyes.

What we see from the Scriptures is that God hates pride, but values humility.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, seek righteousness seek humility.

So let us consider together why the Lord values the humble man so much, and why humility is esteemed in the eyes of God.

The humble man knows his place before God and before men.

                                         Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,

but with humility of mind regard one another

as more important than yourselves.  Do not

merely look out for your own personal interests,

but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them,

"If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all

and servant of all."

Mark 9:35

The Job answered the Lord, and said,

"I know that You can do all things,

And that no purpose of Your can be thwarted.

Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?

Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my

eyes see You; Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."

Job 42:1-6

But now God has placed the members, each one of them,

in the body, just as He desired.

I Corinthians 12:18

O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;

Nor do I involve myself in great matters,

Or in things too difficult for me.

Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;

Like a weaned child rests against His mother,

My soul is like a weaned child within me.

Psalm 131:1-2

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves 

that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:

"Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee

 and the other a tax collector.  the Pharisee took his stand and

 was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other

people--greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax

collector.  I fast twice a week, I give a tenth of everything I get.'

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise

his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest saying, 'God, turn

Your wrath from me--a sinner!'  I tell you, this one went down

to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone

who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles

himself will be exalted.

Luke 18:9-14

                                                The humble man is a reverent man.

"For My hand made all these things,

Thus, all these things came into being,"

declares, the Lord.

But to this one I will look, to him who

is humble and contrite of spirit,

and who trembles at My word.

Isaiah 66:2

 Tremble, and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon

your bed and be still.

Psalm 4:4

But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness

I will enter Your house, at Your holy temple

I will bow in reverence for You.

Psalm 5:7

  and My people who are

Called by My name humble themselves and

pray and seek My face and turn from their

wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,

will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

II Chronicles 7:14  

The humble man is a teachable man.

Open my eyes, that I may behold

Wonderful things from Your law.

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,

And I shall observe it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may observe

Your law and keep it with all my heart.

Make me walk in the path of Your

Commandments for I delight in it.

  

Establish Your word to Your servant

As that which produces reverence for You.

You have dealt well with Your servant,

O Lord, according to Your word.

Psalm 119:18, 33-35, 38, 65

The humble man is a contrite man.

"For My hand made all these things,

Thus all these things came into being,"

declares the Lord.

But to this one I will look,

To him who is humble and contrite

of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Isaiah 66:2

Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter

Be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord,

And He will exalt you.

James 4:9-10

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God

produces a repentance without regret, leading to

salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow,

has produced in you:  what vindication of yourselves, what

indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging

of wrong!  In everything you demonstrated yourselves

innocent in the matter.

II Corinthians 7:10-11

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God,

You will not despise.

Psalm 51:17

The humble man is a worshipping man.

But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness

I will enter Your house, at Your holy temple

I will bow in reverence for You.

Psalm 5:7

For a day in Your courts is better

than a thousand outside.

Psalm 84:10a

"If anyone wishes to come after Me,

he must deny himself, take up his cross

daily, and follow Me."

Luke 9:23

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

Psalm 51:17a

                                                   Come, let us worship and bow down,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Psalm 95:6

Exalt the Lord our God and worship at

His footstool; holy is He.

Psalm 99:5

The humble man is an obedient man.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also

in Christ Jesus...Being found in appearance as man,

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point

of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5, 8

Submit therefore to God.

James 4:7a

…He became to all who obey Him,

The source of eternal salvation.

Hebrews 7:9

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand

of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.

I Peter 5:6

Samuel said, "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt

offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."

I Samuel 15:22

"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"

Luke 6:46

The humble man is a wise man.

"For My hand made all these things, thus all these

things came into being," declares the Lord.

"But to this one I will look, to him who is humble

and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word."

Isaiah 66:2

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

When pride comes, then comes dishonor,

but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men

but as wise, making the most of your time, because the

days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand

what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him

show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness

of wisdom...But the wisdom from above is first pure,

then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and

good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the

seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace

by those who make peace.

James 3:13, 17-18

The humble man is an empowered man.

For My hand made all these things,

Thus all these things came into being, declares the Lord.

But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and

Contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Isaiah 66:2

For thus says the high and exalted One

Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,

"I dwell on a high and holy place,

And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit

In order to revive the spirit of the lowly

And to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 57:15

                                         But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says,

"God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:6

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore,

I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so the the power

of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with

weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions,

with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

II Corinthians 12:9-10

...whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving

by the strength which God supplies...

I Peter 4:11b

...God is opposed to the proud, 

but gives grace to the humble.

For though the Lord is exalted,

yet He regards the lowly, but 

the haughty He knows from afar.

James 4:6, Psalm 138:6

The humble man is a blessed man.

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches, honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4

But the one who looks intently at the perfect law,

 the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having

become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer,

this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25

Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 37:11

 The humble man will be an exalted man

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand

of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.

I Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord,

And He will exalt you.

James 4:10

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

And he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 14:11

Here are ten things the Bible teaches us about pride and humility:

  1. Pride ultimately exalts itself over God, and humility ultimately makes itself low before God.  

  2. Pride pushes God away, while humility draws near to God.  

  3. Pride depends on itself, while humility depends on God.  

  4. Pride boasts in itself, while humility boasts in God.  

  5. Pride credits itself, while humility credits God. 

  6. Pride follows its own path, while humility follows God's path.  

  7. Pride is self-seeking, while humility is God-seeking.  

  8. Pride always leads to disobedience, while humility always leads to obedience.  

  9. Pride is the opposite of godliness, while humility promotes godliness. 

10. The proud will be destroyed from the earth, while the humble will inherit the earth.

So, my friends, let us follow the admonition of the following verses:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:5

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I gentle and

humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

Truly Radical Church Membership

As a follow up to my post on being truly radical.  Here is a post from Theologically Driven that talks about the necessity of regenerate church membership....a radical concept in today's church.

http://dbts.edu/blog/keeping-the-church-distinct-from-the-world-through-regenerate-church-membership-2/#more-7091

Being Truly Radical

Radical, as defined in Merriam-Webster, means something that is very different from what is normal or traditional, and its synonym is extreme.  Personally, from the standpoint of the church, I think the term radical is worn out, over-used, and, in fact, misused and misapplied. The Christian life is radical…a radical departure from the life we used to live, the way we used to be, the habits and appetites we used to have, and the way we used to think. The whole of the Christian life is radical, because we have been set apart from sin unto God. In fact, it is radical because it is so different from the way in which the world lives and thinks. Therefore, the living out of a truly Christian life is radical in and of itself, we don’t have to make it radical. But because of the shallowness of evangelicals, and the tare-ridden condition of the churches, there is a misconception of what a true Christian is and how a true Christian lives…so the call to be radical has become a new mantra, when, in fact, the call should be to live and act as a true Christian.

The early Christians, and true Christians in all ages, have always lived in a manner radically different from their culture because they have been freed from sin and made alive in Christ.  Because the church in the West has been deceived into believing that it is to be a place to entice unbelievers instead of a worshiping gathering of believers, the life and witness of the church has been watered down, its expectations lowered, its demands softened, the purpose of its preaching changed, its call to sacrificial living derided, and its call to holiness ignored. By its becoming more like the culture that surrounds it because of all the unbelievers in its midst, the church has lost is saltiness and dimmed its light, and what has been termed nominal or carnal Christianity has become the accepted norm (However, there is no biblical precedent for either).  So the call to be radical has gone out. 

Friends, we don't need to live the radical Christian life, we just need to live the real Christian life...a biblical Christian life, the life of a living sacrifice for the Lord that true love prompts.  This will be radical, radical not only to the church at large, but also to the culture around us.  This will give the church a distinctive presence that will be truly different from what is considered normal, not only in our society, but in the church at large as well.  With all due respect to Francis Chan and David Platt, we don't need Crazy Love, or to be Radical, we need the preaching of the Word, the preaching of Christ, the preaching of the Gospel.  When those in the church are those who are truly saved, and those who are saved are strengthened in their faith, then we will see a truly radical church as it assumes more and more the identity of Christ.

So, in a sense, what we need in the church is radical preaching and radical expectations of what biblical preaching is.  We need preaching that is different from what is now considered the norm, preaching that confronts, cajoles, and commands (Sorry, Steven Furtick, this is not you).   However, this is what the Word does when preached correctly, expositorally. For this to take place, the Word must be preached without fear, the fear of man, but full of the fear of the Lord; for the church is not the primary or ultimate audience, but the Lord is.  

Let us pledge today to live a truly Christian life, and to faithfully preach the Word, and work to do just that.  For to do this is to be truly radical in our day and age.

Vessels for Glory

but so that the world may know

that I love the Father, I do 

exactly as the Father has 

commanded Me.  Get up

let us go from here.

John 14:31

(The words of Jesus as He led

His disciples from the upper room

to the Garden of Gethsemane to 

be betrayed.)

I glorified You on the earth,

having accomplished the work

which You have given me to do.

John 17:4

(From the prayer of Jesus the Christ

in the garden of Gethsemane.)

The accomplishment of God's purposes

bring Him glory.  So when His purpose

is accomplished in your life you are

a vessel that brings glory to Him.

When we pray, "Your will be done on

earth as it is in heaven," we are not 

praying for His will to be done in a

vague and general way, but for His

will to be done in a very specific way,

starting with our very lives.  Our submitting

to His will in our life (doing exactly as our 

Father has commanded) accomplishes His 

work which He has given us to do, which then

accomplishes His purposes in our life, and

the result is that He is glorified.  

For we are His workmanship, created in

Jesus Christ for good works, which God

prepared beforehand so that we would

walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Speaking the Truth in Love about Unconditional Love

• The first section below is a post on a blog concerning Rob Bell's belief concerning homosexuality over at the Gospel Coalition website, and below it is my comment.  If we as Christians are going to engage in these discussions/talks/conversations/debates, then we must speak the truth and speak it in love.  The truth is confronting enough, and should be applied properly.  Shouting contests, name calling and inflammatory statements are not only not Christlike, they are futile. Far too many Christians follow the tactics of the unsaved.  Only truth will win the day, and we must speak it in love for it to be at its most powerful and apologetic.
  
  @Joyce by Mike
  The difficulty with your argument is that some people understand those passages differently. They would assert that the (few) passages in the Bible that mention homosexuality do so in the context of forced submissiveness, as opposed to a mutually affirming, loving relationship. Many Christians believe that the overarching narrative of the Bible, especially Jesus, is primarily to love God and love your neighbor. Within that narrative the love for your neighbor is more important than your neighbor’s sexuality.
  So here’s my question for you: Why does this matter so much? Rob Bell’s affirmation of homosexual relationships seems to bring out a strong negative emotive response in so many people — why? What if you personalize the issue? Gay people are not some faceless group; they are family and friends and neighbors and colleagues. The dichotomy Christians face is that Jesus calls us to love our neighbors with a love that does not condemn (cf. the woman caught in adultery), and yet our neighbor may be carrying on in activities that we believe to be sinful.
  If we have a friendship with someone who is gay, and if that friendship is the kind of relationship where we hold each other accountable, only then have we the freedom to talk about things like whether one’s homosexual relations are God-pleasing or not. But for anyone else, we are called to love unconditionally just as God does.
  
  My Response to Mike
  
  

  1. Mike,
     You don’t get a get out of jail free card because you “understand” the passages differently. They are plain, within the context.
     
     The issue is not loving unconditionally. God does not love unconditionally, if He did then there would have been no need for Christ to die; and why would God put His Son, and why would the Son go through, that grisly horrendous death and suffer the wrath of God, if His love was unconditional? Unconditional love is not loving us just as we are, but loving us in spite of who we are and in spite of our enmity with God (Romans 5:6-8). If things were okay between God and man, man would not be the enemy of God (Romans 5:8, 1:30) and there would be no need of reconciliation (Romans 5:10-11, II Corinthians 5:18-19).  If God loves people just as we are (unconditionally) then there would be no need for man to be born again or made new (II Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3-7). The unconditional love that is offered in John 3:16 is only for those who place their faith in Christ. Do a word study, just in the NT, and see who are the objects of God’s wrath. If God loves unconditionally, then there would also be no reason for wrath, for any sin no matter how heinous.
     
     Additionally, if I truly love someone then I will tell them the truth…not condemningly, but truthfully (Ephesians 4:15). True love does not bash anyone, homosexual or heterosexual, but it also does not shrink back from declaring the truth to them. The truth is that you cannot continue/practice a sexually immoral lifestyle (homosexual or heterosexual) and be a Christian (See I John). However, the gay community has labeled anything that is said to them that is contrary to their lifestyle as hate speech, homophobia, etc. The most loving thing we can do is to speak the truth, but we must speak it in love, and not use it as as a cudgel. As it says in Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. A true friend speaks the truth, and as Christians we should speak the truth to others as we would want them to speak the truth to us (Matthew 7:13).
     
     Finally, for the context, I mentioned Romans 1:30 above. If you follow the train of thought from verse 18 through the end of the chapter you will see that homosexuals are specifically mentioned and then it goes on to list them among those who hate God in verse 30. Are those who hate God, and therefore are His enemies under the wrath of God? Yes, all of them. But God does offer them salvation, the deliverance from the wrath to come (Romans 5:9, I Thessalonians 1:9-10) if they will repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15, from the lips of Jesus Himself).
     
     Finally, why have I used so much Scripture? Because Jesus says this in John 12:48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word that I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” And what is the word Jesus spoke? The Scriptures, all of them (I Peter 1:10-12), as He is the Living Word (John 1:1, 14).
     So what is the most loving thing I can do for you? Tell you the truth as I just have, not my truth, but God’s truth; and urge you to go to the Scriptures for your wisdom and not depend on the prevailing sentiment of the day, but on the eternal unchanging word of God.

The Importance of Faith, Hope, and Love

In that well known verse at the end of I Corinthians 13 Paul gives us the three eternal Divine qualities, the three Divine distinctives that are to be present in the life of one who truly believes.  And to the extent these are present in the lives of believers, they will be present in the life of the church of which they are a member.

These three Divine distinctives can be manifested in various ways, and we see them manifested in the life of two churches that Paul wrote to.  First, it was the Thessalonians.  In I Thessalonians 1:3 we see the activity of faith (work), the unction of love (labor), and the steady enduring of hope (waiting for Christ).  We also see them manifested in the church at Colossae.  In Colossians 1:3-5a we see the object of faith (Jesus Christ), the direction of love (toward all the saints), and the place of hope (heaven).  In two different churches we see the same qualities, but how they are manifested in each church was different....just as they are in the lives of individuals.

It is no accident that in both letters we see Paul commending the church, and rejoicing in thanksgiving for these two churches in his prayer for them.  Why?  Because a spiritually healthy church, a spiritually balanced church will be manifesting these eternal qualities, just as a spiritually healthy and spiritually balanced individual will be manifesting them.  Paul knew that these churches were spiritually healthy and robust, and therefore would be effective.  This is why he wrote what he did to the Colossians, so that they would stand fully assured in their faith (2:1-3, 4:12) and not be derailed by the false teachers; and why he wrote to the Thessalonians to not only keep doing what they were doing, but to excel in it still more.  In both of these letters you can see Paul wanting these churches to continue to grow in their faith, their hope, and their love.

Another example is the letter to the Hebrews, written with the goal of exhortation Hebrews 13:22 (speaking to the need of the moment).  These believers needed to be encouraged and strengthened in their faith, love, and hope.  In this epistle the author of Hebrews talks about the obedience of faith and the endurance of faith.  He talks about the confidence and assurance that hope brings, and how it is the anchor of our soul.  He talks about the encouragement in love that comes from gathering together, and how we should be stimulating one another (being a catalyst) to love and good deeds.

In I Timothy 1:5 Paul writes, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience (which is directly connected to the assurance of hope) and a sincere faith."

So, fellow pastors, what is the goal of our instruction, our exhortation?  Should it not be in developing faith, love, and hope in the people under our care.  Should not the things we do, the prayers we pray, the activities that we engage in be to developing these eternal qualities in our people?  I sincerely believe that is why the Philippians were Paul's joy and crown, not just because of their aid to him, but because of the manifestation of faith, hope, and love he witnessed in them.  May the faith, hope, and love of our people be to us a great and glorious crown and the cause of our rejoicing in that day!

The Primacy of Preaching

"You find God in the

 Word of God preached."

Carl Trueman

The Primacy of Preaching

"Everything that is right and good in the 

life of the church is set in motion by

the preaching of the Word of God."

Steve Lawson

In Preparing to Preach on Sunday, Remember Where the Real Power Resides

While we may not be able to preach like the men of yesteryear George Whitefield, 

 D. L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, or D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones; or the men  of today,

 Steve Lawson, Art Azurdia, Alistair Begg, Voddie Baucham, or John MacArthur.

 However, we have the same Word to preach and the same Spirit to empower it.

  So let us preach with confident faith in the Word  to do its work (Isaiah 55:10-11), 

 and humble dependence on the Spirit to attend it (Jeremiah 1:12).  

Being a Peacemaker

Blessed are the peacemakers, for

  they shall be call sons of God.

Matthew 5:9

If possible, so far as it depends on 

you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 12:18

Therefore, to one who knows the 

right thing to do and does not do it, 

to him it is sin.

James 4:17

There is much that goes in to being a peacemaker. To simplify it and to boil it down to its essence, it is doing what you must do to be at peace as long as it doesn't violate Scripture or your conscience.  It is not going with your flesh, it is holding your tongue, it is not taking into account a wrong suffered, it is taking the blow (physical or otherwise), it is not being vindictive, it is having your vanity stepped on, it is having your feathers ruffled,  it is suffering for righteousness sake. It is doing all of these without striking back or standing up for yourself or lashing out.  

There are daily situations with family, friends, co-workers, vendors, other drivers, and a myriad of other scenarios where we must do the right thing and be the peacemaker.  It will be up to us to bring peace, or to maintain peace, or simply to take the short end of the stick so that peace will  reign.  When we do that we are blessed.  When we do that we bring glory to God.  When we do that we are being like Christ who took the blows (physically and verbally) from the very ones whom He came to save.  

So, let us not stand up for ourselves, but stand up for Him in keeping peace and making peace. 

A Mark of True Christianity

...Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you,

you have no part with Me."...He who has

bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is

completely clean...

John 13:8,10

You are already clean because of the 

word which I have spoken to you.

John 15:3

It has happened to them according to the 

true proverb, "A dog returns to its own

vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns

to wallowing in the mire."

II Peter 2:22

These verses in John, and the context of the verse in II Peter are dealing with moral cleanness and moral purity.  A mark of the true Christian is that once they have been morally cleansed, they no longer desire to be morally filthy.  Their new reality is not only do they not want to be morally filthy, but when they defile themselves with sin of even the least amount it bothers them, a feeling in the conscience much like the physical feeling of getting slimy mud on freshly washed hands.

Our reality is that we have been made clean in Christ (I Peter 3:21, Zechariah 3:3-5), washed from the inside out by the washing of the water by the word (Ephesians 5:2), and having our consciences cleansed by His blood (Hebrews 9:14).  We are filthy no longer, and have no desire to return to the mire of our former life, but practice cleanliness (II Corinthians 7:1).  However, when we defile ourselves with sin, we are quick to wash ourselves by the confession of that sin so that we can be clean again before our God (I John 1:9).

So, my friends, is this your reality?  Have you been cleansed from the inside out?  Is your desire to remain clean?  Does it bother you to defile yourself with sin, and when you do sin, are you quick to confess it so that you can be cleansed from that sin?

One more note.  If you truly confess your sins, He will always forgive you, and you will be made clean...no matter how filthy you made yourself before.  Come to the Healer and Cleanser of your soul today.  Ask Him to make you clean, and you will be clean indeed.

The Test of Our Christianity

Remember, the test of our Christianity,

both as to its genuineness and maturity,

is not just what we know, but how

we live it out.

Our Focus for Sundays

As Pastors, our focus for Sundays should always be

on honoring and pleasing the Lord, not on appealing

 to and pleasing the people. And in that same vein,

 the people that gather on Sunday should come with

the intent to bring honor and blessing to the Lord, 

and not on being pleased themselves.  In other words,

the service should center on the Lord, not on man.

Wisdom from Above

Wisdom:  Where knowledge and 

experience meet with moral conviction.

Dan Fredericks

United Indian Missions

Conviction and Repentance

Turn to Me and be saved, 

all the ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is not other.

Isaiah 45:22

For they themselves report about us 

what kind of reception we had with you,

and how you turned to God from idols

to serve a living and true God, and to 

wait for His Son from heaven...

I Thessalonians 1:9-10a

Now after John had been taken into custody, 

Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel

of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and 

the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and

believe in the gospel.

Mark 1:14-15

Recognition of sin is important. However, conviction of sin is not salvation, and neither does conviction of sin save anyone.  Rather it is the turning from sin, and turning to God that saves.  Repentance springs out of a heart that has been convicted of sin, but there are many who, after being convicted of their sin, never turn from their sin to God (Mark 10:17-22)

Repentance is that turning of mind, the changing of mind, the about face in the mind that causes one to turn his back on his sin, his anti-God attitude and lifestyle, and turn to God.  And it is not a momentary turn, but a turn that lasts a lifetime.  For once he has turned to God he continues to follow after God, and leaves his sinful lifestyle further and further behind, like watching the receding horizon in the rear view mirror as the car's path takes it further away from where it was before. 

Being Made New

Therefore if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creature; the old things

have passed away; behold

new things have come.

II Corinthians 5:17

Don't be fooled, either by yourself or others;

for if there is no transformed life there is no

salvation, no matter how emotional or

dramatic the experience was.

A Thought for Sunday Morning

In thinking and preparing for Sunday morning,

remember that it does the people no good to

be impressed with you, but it does them 

temporal and eternal good to be impressed

with the Savior.

God's Character and Evangelism

Evangelism always requires preaching on the attributes of God.  When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well (John 4), he taught her that God is a Spirit.  When Paul addressed the heathen on Mars' Hill (Acts 17), he had to devote even more of his evangelistic message to the character of God, who was unknown to them.  He began by speaking of God as the Creator, as the Sustainer of all life, as the Mighty One who raised Jesus from the dead.  This element, of exalting God's character, is essential to bringing honour to God in our preaching.

Much of modern preaching is anemic, with the life-blood of God's nature absent from the message. Evangelists centre their message upon man.  Man has sinned and missed a great blessing.  If man wants to retrieve his immense loss he must act thus and so.  But the gospel of Christ is very different. It begins with God and his glory.  It tells men that they have offended a holy God, who will by no means pass by sin.  It reminds sinners that the only hope of salvation is to be found in the grace and power of this same God.  Christ's gospel sends men to beg pardon of the Holy One.

There is wide difference between these two messages.  The one seeks to blaze a trail to heaven for man while ignoring the Lord of Glory.  The other labours to magnify the God of all grace in the salvation of men.  The first would give a technical answer to, 'What shall I do to inherit eternal life?',  with an adequate foundation.  The last says,

Wait a moment.  The God with whom we have to do is

thrice holy, alone good, unapproachable in brilliant holiness!

We will return your question in its subordinate place.  But 

now take your eye from yourself and behold the holy God

of the Scriptures.  Then you will see yourself as you truly

are--a creature in rebellion against an infinitely pure God.

You are not yet prepared to discuss yourself and eternity.

This does not mean that preaching about the character of God is isolated from seeking the salvation of a sinner.  Preaching on the attributes is essential to the conversion of a man.  Without a knowledge of God, a sinner does not know whom he has offended, who threatens him with destruction, or who is able to save him.  Apart from some clear apprehensions of God, there can be no personal approach to God, and 'personal Savior' become s hollow phrase.

Walter Chantry

Today's Gospel

Pages 16-18

When is a Preacher at His Best?

While out walking a little earlier, my wife and I were discussing an article we had read in which the author was reporting about a recent experience they had at a church.  In this article the author recounts the main points of the sermon they heard which was about "God Moments," and how God works in the lives of people during these "moments."

Even though there was some truth in what the preacher was reported as saying, the emphasis was on the catchy, kitchy moniker, with the result being a sermon that was a mile wide and an inch deep with no mention of any Scripture reference or use of the Bible anywhere in the article.  I have never read of God Moments anywhere in the Bible, and although I am sure the pastor was trying to come up with something catchy to be remembered, I am afraid the people will remember that he said the catchy, kitchy phrase and think he is cool for saying it, versus remembering the small amount of truth that was reportedly contained in the sermon; and although I didn't hear the sermon, my concern is what stuck with the author and was reported.

What my wife and I were talking about is how the use of phrases like this tends to trivialize the truth, and at the same time magnifies the speaker.  I am all for titles and mnemonic devices that help people remember what the text is about, but as preachers, we should always want our people to remember what God has said and give God credit for saying it, instead of them remembering the words or phrases we invent. We want them to remember the truth of God, not our "pastorisms." 

So after we came back from the walk I opened up this blog post by Kevin DeYoung and he expresses the very same sentiments. 

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2013/08/29/the-preacher-at-his-best/

So, when is the pastor at his best?  When preaching the truth, and not himself.

If God Loves Us Just As We Are

 The truth is that God does not love

us just as we are, but loves us in

spite of who we are; and because

of His great love for us, He is rich

in mercy toward us, and has caused 

us to be born again to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let's preach this today.

If God Loves Us Just As We Are

If God loves us just as we are,

then there is no reason for us 

to be born again.  We would

not need to be regenerated,
there would be no need to
be made new in Christ, 

if He loves us just as we are.

If God Loves Us Just As We Are

If God loves us just as we are,

then He would not be conforming

us to the image of His Son.

If God Loves Us Just As We Are

If God loves us just as we are,

then there would have been no

need for Him to send His Son

to die for our sins.  In other words,

then Christ died needlessly if God

loves us just as we are.

If God Loves Us Just As We Are

If God loves us just as we are,

then there would be no wrath 

to be saved from. We would not
be enemies of God and would have
no need of reconciliation,
 if God loves us just as we are.

I

Preaching the Truth

Just a follow up muse concerning my post yesterday.

I wonder, here aloud, if the reason there are many

who do not preach the truth, is not so as to 

draw the crowd because they do not want

 to offend the crowd; but because they themselves

have an aversion to the truth, because it offends them.

Preparing For Sunday and Your Sermon

In order to be prepared for Sunday 

and to be prepared to preach your sermon,

be mindful that whatever you preach to your

people, you must first preach it to yourself.

Worship and Reverence

Then Moses said to Aaron, " It is what the Lord

spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I 

will be treated as holy, and before all the people

I will be honored."

Leviticus 10:3

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before

Him with joyful singing...Enter His gates

with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Psalm 100:1-2, 4

Italics mine

At the heart of worship and its accompanying praise is the the requirement of reverence.  In fact, reverence is the foundation of true worship; and as we see from the verse above, it is so because it is expected and required by the Lord Himself.  After all, He is the Lord of all creation and should be regarded as such, not in a shallow flippant way, but with the gravitas that He alone deserves. Reverence is the basis of what the Lord considers acceptable worship.

In light of this, how much of what is labeled as praise and worship actually is such?  How much of what is considered praise and worship is acceptable to the Lord?  If there is no accompanying reverence, and if its foundation is not reverence, is it truly praise, is it truly worship?  It is important that what we sing about the Lord and what we sing to the Lord is true, but is also important that it be done with a spirit of reverence, and done in such a way that He is honored as He should be. 

So before we worry about lights, and volume, and set design, and innovation, and creativity, and energy, and being appealing and pleasing to the audience; we should be sure, very sure that what we are doing is pointed at treating the Holy One as holy, and honoring Him in front of all the people, and that our goal is to please Him first and foremost.   If our goal is to please the audience, then is it not the audience that we worship?  

Just a little food for thought.

Working Out Our Salvation--Philippians 2:12

This is probably an odd thing to post, but these are some of my sermon notes from a message I preached a few weeks ago.  I am always interested in how other preachers arrange their notes and what they look like, so here is a snapshot of one of mine.

Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  These verses give us the two sides of sanctification…Man’s responsibility, and God’s provision… today we will focus on vs 12…man’s responsibility…our responsibility before God in the living of our Christian life….

What we are to do….How we are to do it…

This verse gives us the command then tells us how to carry it out….both in action and in attitude

Work out…literally means to work fully, to accomplish, to finish…it means to bring about, it means to fully carry out an assignment….to carry out a task until it is finished…

You stay at it until it is finished….rake all the leaves, wash all the dishes, cover the entire wall with paint….doing all that is required to finish the task while leaving nothing undone.

What are we to work out…..our salvation….ACTION

What is not said…work for your salvation, or work to be saved or get saved…what is implied in the syntax here is that the salvation has already begun, but not yet completed…

3 tenses of salvation…..See 2:13 and then 1:6

There are logical and consequential results of being saved…there is the continuum of salvation…and the culmination of salvation….we are in the continuum….

Colossians 1:5b-6 the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day your heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.

So in the continuum of salvation we have been a command, a responsibility that is ongoing, a command that we are to carry out, a responsibility to shoulder, as long as we have the breath of life in our bodies

So what does this working out of salvation look like…what pictures can we draw from the word of God…so we will know what this responsibility entails.

Get our mind right

Colossians 3:1-2 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above…Set your mind on the things above and not on the things of the earth.

I Corinthians 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

I John 2:15-17….

….We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ….

Put our shoulder to the plow

Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, if fit for the kingdom of God.

I Thessalonians 1:3 Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of God our Father.

I Corinthians 9:24-27

I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called….

Philippians 3:12-14

Ephesians 6:10-14 Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might…stand firm against the schemes of the devil….resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore

I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing

I Timothy 6:18-19 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

II Peter 1:5-8

II Peter 1:11 For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in not in vain in the Lord.

Finish what we start…what the word work out means….

Luke 8:15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Romans 2:7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality…

II Thessalonians 1:4…perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure…

I Timothy 6;11…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness…

II Peter 1:6…perseverance…

Revelation 1:9…I John, your fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus…

Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.

If this was a paint by numbers painting, we would not have the painting completely covered, but we have the outline of the picture, and enough filled in to know what the picture looks like and what colors go where.

How we are to work it out

In Obedience…compound word…means to heed…to hear and to do…

Follow the same pattern of obedience…the same obedience as if he was there watching….

II 10:5…every thought captive to the obedience of Christ….

II Corinthians 9:13…they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ

Romans 2:8…II Thessalonians  do not obey the truth, do not obey the gospel…

Mark 1:15…Repent and believe the gospel…

I Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love for the brethren

Romans 6:16-17 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.

James…not just be hearers of the word…who delude themselves, but doers of the word.

Luke….why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do as I say.

With Fear and trembling…ATTITUDE…phrase used many times in the Scriptures…Mark of profound reverence, the utmost respect, the highest regard, and the greatest esteem….

fear and trembling present a picture for us of worship, reverence and homage

Psalm 2:11-12a Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling.  Do homage to the Son…

Out of this worship, reverence, and homage comes a profound desire to please

II Corinthians 5:9-11 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according what he has done, whether good or bad.  Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God…

Colossians 1:9-10…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of Him, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

I Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more….

Trusting in the Word of God = Trusting in the God of the Word

For as the rain and the snow come down

from heaven, and do not return there without

watering the earth and making it bear and

sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower 

and bread to the eater; so will My word be 

which goes forth out of my mouth; it will

not return to me empty, without accomplishing

what I desire, and without succeeding in the 

matter for which I sent it.

Isaiah 5:10-11

And why is this so?

Then the Lord said to me, "You have

seen well, for I am watching over My

word to perform it.

Jeremiah 1:12

I will bow down toward Your holy

temple and give thanks to Your name

for You have magnified Your word

according to all Your name.

Psalm 138:2

For us to not trust in the word of God,

is for us to not trust in God Himself.

And for preachers that is a fatal flaw.

Speaking Christ and Living Christ

...the light of Christian character is an

uninterpreted parable if we do not 

speak about Christ.  Equally, speaking

about Christ is futile if our lives do not

back up what we say.

Alec Motyer

The Message of Philippians

Page 134

Vacation, God, and Creation

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice

that by the word of God the heavens existed long

ago and the earth was formed out of water and by

water, through which the world at that time was

destroyed, being flooded with water.

II Peter 3:5-6

My family and I just returned from an 9 day vacation in Wyoming and South Dakota.  It was a great time for us all, the diversity of beauty in Wyoming was incredible to behold, and the Black Hills of South Dakota were a very pleasant surprise.  One of the highlights of the trip was a two hour horseback ride in the Tetons.  On this ride we ascended over 2100 feet to one of the peaks in the area, and on the way up I couldn't contain myself and started singing "How Great Thou Art." And if you are not familiar with that hymn, the first two lines are as follows:

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

They pow'r thro'out the universe displayed.

When thro'the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

And the chorus is:

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee,

how great Thou art, how great Thou art. x2

As I was singing this, I was considering the greatness and grandeur of God's creation, and how the evidence of His handiwork is there for all to see; and, as a result, how all are without excuse for not seeking Him (Romans 1:19b-20), and to paraphrase something I read recently about how to reply to the atheist who wants evidence for God's existence, "You are standing on it!" 

Shortly after this, we were at the pinnacle of our ride on a peak about 8,400 feet high, and we had an uninterrupted 360 degree view of all the mountains and valleys around us.  Our guide, an old and gentlemanly cowboy named Doyle, was telling us about the other peaks and mountain ranges we were viewing, and he brought our attention to the mountain range to the west, which had several peaks around 11,000 feet high.  He then proceeded to tell us that those peaks were once part of an ancient seabed and contained fossils of seashells and marine life.  That is when II Peter 3:5-6 came to my mind.  Not only is there evidence that the world was formed out of water and by water, but there is world wide evidence of the flood, and it all  escapes man's notice.

Why does it escape his notice?  We see the answer in the one Greek word for escape notice, the word lanthano.  In the tense and voice used, this word means that man is willfully ignorant, culpably ignorant.  This is not a benign neglect on man's part, but a don't confuse me with the facts because I am being intentionally ignorant mind set.  It escapes their notice because they will it so.  It is hidden from them because they don't want to know the truth. In other words, it is a deliberate overlooking of the facts and their reality. It is the outcome of Romans 1:21, "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

On the way back down I was thinking about all of this in light of the recent kerfuffle over the video of Al Mohler at the Ligonier conference a couple of years ago.  In this video Al makes the case for a literal reading of the creation account in Genesis 1-2, and therefore for a young earth.  You see, for us as Christians, it is a matter of faith (Hebrews 11:3) to take the Scriptures at face value, and to value the Scriptures above the science that man foolishly calls wisdom.  This is not a blind faith, but a faith in what God has chosen to reveal to us.  And, personally, I believe He has not revealed any more to us concerning creation than He has in order to test our faith.  You see, what we believe about creation is a matter of faith.  We will either place our faith in the Bible, or place our faith in science; and placing our faith in science is no more than placing our faith in man, for science is the wisdom of man.  Science is man's attempt to explain creation, and it leaves God out; and even the old earth and theistic evolutionists have given in to the wisdom of the world, and have subordinated the Word of God, to the wisdom of man.

My friends, don't be swayed by the prevailing wisdom of the day, but be persuaded by the eternal truth of God.  Look at creation, in all its diversity and complexity, and marvel at this God who created it all.  Then bow down with the hosts of heaven and proclaim, "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created." Revelation 4:11.  Amen, Lord, Amen!

Religion and the Soul of Man

...true religion is a union of the soul with God,

a real participation of the Divine nature, the 

very image of God drawn upon the soul, or,

in the apostle's phrase, 'it is Christ formed 

within us.'  Briefly, I know not how the nature

of religion can be more fully expressed, than 

by calling it a Divine life.

Henry Scougal

The Life of God in the Soul of Man

Page 44

Ten Encouragements for Pastors to Not Grow Weary in Their Ministry

Fellow pastors, anything less than an eternal perspective is being short-sighted in our ministries. Just as Rome was not built in a day, neither are lives of faith, lives that resemble Jesus Christ, built in a few sermons. So if we are building for eternity, it seems logical that the process that it would entail would be lengthy, as well. We would all like spiritual lightning to fall so that lives would be completely transformed overnight, but we all know this is not the case. We build up the body of Christ by building Christ into the lives of our flock one sermon at a time. (Which makes a good case for preaching 50-60 minute sermons, since that is the only exposure to the word most of your people are going to get each week)

I believe the Scriptural admonition to not grow weary in doing good is particularly applicable to us as pastors, as is its promised reward that in due time you shall reap if you do not grow weary.  Preaching rich biblical sermons each and every week is the greatest good we can do for our people; but as you know, in addition to being a great joy, there is a side that is demanding and laborious. And it is good that it is demanding and laborious, because that forces us to depend on the Lord and His grace for our sufficiency.

From our standpoint, what is it that we are to to keep in mind to have the proper perspective and prepare for the long-haul of a preaching ministry? In no particular order here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. We are to be faithful/trustworthy.
     I Timothy 1:12, I Corinthians 4:1-2

2. We are to watch our own life and doctrine.
     I Timothy 4:16, Hebrews 12:1, II Timothy 2:21, II Corinthians 4:1-2

3. We are be patient in our preaching (this keeps us from pressing for results).
     II Timothy 3:10, 4:2

4. We are to be realistic in our preaching.
     II Timothy 4:2-5

5. We are to be constant in our preaching
     II Timothy 4:2

6. We should always stay fresh in the word, so the word will stay fresh in us ( another benefit of preaching  consecutively through books of the Bible)
    II Timothy 2:15, 4:13

7. We are to expect hardships.
     II Timothy 1:8, 1:12, 2:3, 3:12, 4:5

8. Our gifts, ministry, and effects are all from the Lord, through the Lord, and for the Lord.
    I Corinthians 12:4-6, Romans 11:36

9. Our adequacy comes from the Lord.
     II Corinthians 3:4-6, I Peter 4:10-11, Zechariah 4:6, II Corinthians 4:7

10. We are to keep in mind, it is never about us.
     I Corinthians 8:6, II Corinthians 5:14-15, Colossians 3:24b, Luke 14:7-10, 
     II Corinthians 9:16-18, Ephesians 3:2, Colossians 1:25

So, fellow pastors, let us fulfill our ministry, let us fully carry out the preaching of the gospel, let us persevere until the Lord comes back or calls us home.  What a great privilege it is to preach the word of God and how beautiful are the feet that bring the great news of the riches of the love and grace of God in the person of Jesus Christ.  Be blessed by His word and His Spirit, be faithful to the work He has given you to do, and be thankful for His calling and choosing you for the noble task of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Peace with God--A Flashback

I heard a song at lunch today that gave me a flashback of listening to that same song for the first time while driving down a road in North Dallas.  It took place not long after I had become a Christian, and even though the song was a secular song its theme resonated with what I was feeling in my spirit at the time.  The theme of the song is peacefulness, the peacefulness that you get from sailing, with just you and the wind and the waves.

The reason that song resonated with me so strongly at the time was that at 29 years old I was experiencing real peace for the first time in my life.  I had an inner peace, a peace in my spirit, in the deepest part of me; and this was a peace that I had never experienced before; and it was so different, so unexpected, and so glorious, that I found myself basking in it as I traveled down the road that day....and then the song came on, and I knew I had a peace that was bigger and deeper than what the song could convey; and that this peace took me to a place the song could not; but listening to the song, then and now, reminds me of the reality of the peace I have in Christ.

This is a peace the world cannot know, but a peace for which the world continually searches.  My wife and I occasionally watch International House Hunters on HGTV.  What has struck us so many times while watching the program, is the common theme of the house hunters searching for peaceful surroundings and  peaceful vistas, and looking at temporal peaceful settings to give them peace; and we know that the peace they are looking for will elude them until they look to Him who has made peace with them through the blood of His cross, for the peace which only He can give.

Secular man is without peace within himself because he is alienated from God, and is the very enemy of God. There is an old saying that the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in God, and how true that is.  Christ  tells us in John that He has left us (believers) His peace.  What was this peace He left to us?  It was/is His peace with God.  He had peace with God because He always did the will of he Father, and, therefore, because He always did what pleased the Father,  He was in total harmony with God and had unity with God.  This harmony and unity with the Father is now ours because we have been placed into Christ, the One who was in harmony with God.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ says, "Blessed are the peacemakers."  And if we really think about it, we are to follow the example of the greatest peacemaker, the Lord Himself, as He made peace with us, His very enemies, and put to death the enmity between Him and us by nailing the indictments against us to the cross of Christ.  You see, man can never be at spiritual peace until he experiences the forgiveness of his sins; and He cannot have forgiveness of his sins until He turns to the One to whom he has sinned against, and trusts in what He has done at the cross to provide for the forgiveness of the sins that stand between Him and man.

What about you today, my friend?  Do you have peace...a real, abiding, peace of the soul...a peace that transcends circumstances...a peace that defies the logic of the world...a peace that is sure and steadfast...a peace that is marvelous and glorious?  If not, look to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ; and ask Him to give you His peace, the peace of salvation that comes to those who place their faith in Him to be all that He has promised to be.

Milestone VI

Well, it seems hard to believe, but another year has passed in the life of our church. We began Grace Covenant Church in our living room the third Sunday of June, 2007, and here we are six years later continuing to grow in the Lord as a church, and as individuals.  What a blessing it is each week to be part of the body of Christ here in our niche in West Texas.

Of course, each year is eventful, and unique and special in its own way.  This past year has certainly been no exception.  We went through a time of pruning that covered most of 2012, but John 15 tells us that times of pruning are preparation for times of increased fruitfulness, and that is what we have seen the last several months.  Yes, some of the fruitfulness has been increased numbers, but again we are seeing spiritual fruitfulness and growth in Christ in our people, which is the important fruit.  There is a visible love and concern for each other that has grown over the last year, especially the last several months, along with an obvious desire for the Lord to be glorified in our lives.  In thinking about this last year, I am reminded of the story of Gideon and the 10,000 men that had come to fight with him against the enemy. Before the battle the Lord pruned the 10,000 down to 300 so they would not think it was their numbers that gave them the victory, but would know it was the Lord who gave the victory, and therefore it was the Lord who would receive the glory.  That principle holds true for churches and individuals, as well.

Another thing the Lord has done for us this last year is bless us with a worship leader.  We have put  feelers out on a couple of occasions for someone to lead worship, but to no avail.  In December, we felt impressed by the Lord to be very intentional about finding someone, which is no small task since they would have to be bi-vocational.  But sure enough at that same time the Lord was moving in the heart of a young man who was teaching at a Bible College over 800 miles away that it was time to move from ministering at the college to ministering in a church.  Through a series of events only the Lord could orchestrate, the Lord moved him and his family to Midland at the first of April.  From the middle of nowhere Wyoming to the middle of nowhere Texas...the Lord has done a marvelous thing.

We had another baptism this year, recently in fact.  We have two brothers who play the sax in our worship.  I call them the Blues Brothers, and both of them have come to faith in Christ and been baptized since coming to our church.  The second was baptized just a few weeks ago, and I was blessed by his testimony, but both are active and committed to the Lord and their families are a blessing to our church.  In fact, the other Blues Brother and his wife adopted a child in January, and praying for them and rejoicing with them during the process was another blessing for us as a church.

In looking forward to this upcoming year, we are at a point where we need a youth pastor.  Again, he will have to be bi-vocational, but we know that the Lord will provide in His time, and in His way.

Apart from my own family, there is no where I would rather be than with our people each week. Being a pastor has its challenges and its joys, but I consider myself blessed to be the pastor of this flock of God known as Grace Covenant Church of Midland, Texas.  Thank You, Lord!

Another milestone is that this is the 500th post since this blog started.  I never thought I would have this much to say.

Beautiful to the Lord

...for God sees not as man sees, 

for man looks at the outward

appearance, but the Lord

looks at the heart.

I Samuel 16:7b

The Lord is not concerned with the beauty

of our outward appearance, but His concern

is for the beauty of our heart.

Grace in Christ

...the grace we need to live the Christian

life is "in Christ Jesus."

Jerry Bridges

The Bookends of the Christian Life

Page 99

Indeed, all things are from Him,

through Him, and to Him!