This past Sunday morning we studied about how to be a "Good soil hearer".
After describing a good soil hearer the Lord Jesus instructs those who have ears to hear, to take heed how they hear. He tells them to lit. see what they hear, to perceive, to understand, and cling to the word of God until it produces a huge harvest.
For those who believe they have ears to hear, what are some steps one can take in order to "take heed how they hear".
Below is a list of practical steps from John Piper on how we can take heed how we hear and allow God's word to produce a full harvest in our lives.
1. Pray that God would give you a good and honest heart.
The heart we need is a work of God. That's why we pray for it. Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart." Jeremiah 24:7, "I will give them a heart to know Me." Let's pray, "O Lord, give me a heart for you. Give me a good and honest heart. Give me a soft and receptive heart. Give me a humble and meek heart. Give me a fruitful heart."
2. Meditate on the Word of God.
Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the LORD is good." On Saturday night read some delicious portion of your Bible with a view to stirring up hunger for God. This is the appetizer for Sunday morning's meal.
3. Purify your mind by turning away from worldly entertainment.
James 12:1, "Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls." It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch. This makes us small and weak and worldly and inauthentic in worship. Instead, turn off the television on Saturday night and read something true and great and beautiful and pure and honorable and excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Your heart will unshrivel and be able to feel greatness again.
4. Trust in the truth that you already have.
The hearing of the word of God that fails during trial has no root (Luke 8:13). What is the root we need? It is trust. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream." Trusting in the truth you already have is the best way to prepare yourself to receive more.
5. Rest long enough Saturday night to be alert and hopeful Sunday morning.
1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything." I am not laying down any law here. I am saying there are Saturday night ways that ruin Sunday morning worship. Don't be enslaved by them. Without sufficient sleep, our minds are dull, our emotions are flat, our proneness to depression is higher, and our fuses are short. My counsel decide when you must get up on Sunday in order to have time to eat, get dressed, pray and meditate on the Word, prepare the family, and travel to church; and then compute backward eight hours and be sure that you are in bed 15 minutes before that. Read your Bible in bed and fall asleep with the Word of God in your mind. I especially exhort parents to teach teenagers that Saturday is NOT the night to stay out late with friends. If there is a special late night, make it Friday. It is a terrible thing to teach children that worship is so optional that it doesn't matter if you are exhausted when you come.
6. Forebear one another Sunday morning without grumbling and criticism.
Psalm 106:25, "They grumbled in their tents; they did not listen to the voice of the LORD." Sunday morning grumbling and controversy and quarreling can ruin a worship service for a family. When there is something you are angry about or some conflict that you genuinely think needs to be talked about, forebear. Of course if you are clearly the problem and need to apologize, do it as quickly as you can (Matthew 5:23-24). But if you are fuming because of children or spouse delinquency, forebear, that is, be slow to anger and quick to listen (James 1:19). In worship open yourself to God's exposing the log in your own eye. It may be that all of you will be humbled and chastened so that no conflict is necessary.
7. Be meek and teachable when you come.
James 12:1 "In meekness receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls." Meekness and teachability are not gullibility. You have your Bible and you have your brain. Use them. But if we come with a chip on our shoulder and a suspicion of the preaching week after week, we will not hear the Word of God. Meekness is a humble openness to God's truth with a longing to be changed by it.
8. Be still as you enter the room and focus your mind's attention and heart's affection on God.
Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." As we enter the sanctuary, let us "come on the lookout for God and leave on the lookout for people." Come with a quiet passion to seek God and his power. We will not be an unfriendly church if we are aggressive in our pursuit of God during the prelude and aggressive in our pursuit of visitors during the postlude.
9. Think earnestly about what is sung and prayed and preached.
1 Corinthians 14:20, "Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature". So Paul says to Timothy, "Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything" (2 Timothy 2:7). Anything worth hearing is worth thinking about. If you would take heed how you hear, think about what you hear.
10. Desire the Truth of God's Word more than you desire riches or food.
1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation." As you sit quietly and pray and meditate on the text and the songs, remind yourself of what Psalm 19:10-11 says about the Words of God "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
American idols
This is a test I wish all of my congregation would take time to answer.
I make it available for all who are passionate about loving God supremely and want to keep themselves from idols.
13 Questions to Diagnose Your Idolatries
August 25, 2010 | By: Tyler Kenney | Category: Recommendations
This past Sunday, Kenny Stokes preached his second message on 1 John 5:20-21, which ends, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (See his first sermon on this passage.)
Near the end he laid out 13 questions, adapted from an old Puritan sermon, to help us identify the idols of our hearts:
What do you most highly value?
What do you think about by default?
What is your highest goal?
To what or whom are you most committed?
Who or what do you love the most?
Who or what do you trust or depend upon the most?
Who or what do you fear the most?
Who or what do you hope in and hope for most?
Who or what do you desire the most? Or, what desire makes you most angry or makes you despair when it is not satisfied?
Who or what do you most delight in or hold as your greatest joy and treasure?
Who or what captures your greatest zeal?
To whom or for what are you most thankful?
For whom or what great purpose do you work?
Click here to Read or listen to the rest of his sermon.
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2624_13_questions_to_diagnose_your_idolatries/
I make it available for all who are passionate about loving God supremely and want to keep themselves from idols.
13 Questions to Diagnose Your Idolatries
August 25, 2010 | By: Tyler Kenney | Category: Recommendations
This past Sunday, Kenny Stokes preached his second message on 1 John 5:20-21, which ends, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (See his first sermon on this passage.)
Near the end he laid out 13 questions, adapted from an old Puritan sermon, to help us identify the idols of our hearts:
What do you most highly value?
What do you think about by default?
What is your highest goal?
To what or whom are you most committed?
Who or what do you love the most?
Who or what do you trust or depend upon the most?
Who or what do you fear the most?
Who or what do you hope in and hope for most?
Who or what do you desire the most? Or, what desire makes you most angry or makes you despair when it is not satisfied?
Who or what do you most delight in or hold as your greatest joy and treasure?
Who or what captures your greatest zeal?
To whom or for what are you most thankful?
For whom or what great purpose do you work?
Click here to Read or listen to the rest of his sermon.
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2624_13_questions_to_diagnose_your_idolatries/
Friday, August 13, 2010
Living for the Glory of God
I started listening to John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life" Regional Conf. this morning and was challenged by the truth that God does all things for His Glory and that the essence of a wasted life is to not recognize that truth and to not live your life for the purpose of Glorifying God in all things.
Initially this sounds very theological and you may feel the temptation to avoid it and focus on more practical things, but let me admonish that there is nothing more practical, nor fundamental to our everyday lives than recognizing God's passion for His glory and our responsibility to glorify God in all things.
This is a weighty matter and I believe requires, prayer, perseverance, meditation, practice, and most of all the Spirit to effectively appropriate this truth.
I want to put down some of the scriptures and thoughts that I had this morning for meditative purposes and in order to package this truth in such a way that it is easier for me to process and apply.
The Scripture makes it very clear that the purpose of God in all things is to Glorify himself.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God:
Ps 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. NKJV
The Earth declares the Glory of God:
Isa 6:3 And one cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"
Jesus declared the Glory of God:
John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" NKJV
Paul declared the Glory of God:
Phil 1:20-21 "20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified (Glorified) in my body, whether by life or by death." NKJV
Additional verses:
Isa 43:6-7
Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth --7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." NKJV
Israel:
Ps 106:7-8 "7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea -- the Red Sea. 8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, That He might make His mighty power known." NKJV
The Gentiles:
Rom 15:7-9
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, NKJV
NKJV
I am to glorify God in my marriage, in my parenting, in my eating, in my drinking, in my playing, in my money, in my work, in my serving, thru all of these things I am to magnify the greatness of Christ.
I am to show in whatever I do that Christ is more precious to me than anything.
David said,
Ps 63:3 "Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! " NLT
God's love towards David meant more to Him than anything in the world, even more than life itself.
Very much like the Apostle Paul when He said "to die is gain", Christ was better to him than anything in this life. Paul saw it as "Far better to depart and be with Christ" This is glorifying Christ above all things.
I am to join in w/ all of creation and declare the glory of God thru the giving of my praise, my possessions, and my person. (Rom. 12:1-2; Heb. 13:15-16)
I glorify God by treasuring His Word above all things and seeking to live my life as a husband, father, servant, steward, according to God's will revealed in scripture, not my will or the standard set by our culture.
There is no way that I can share all the different ways we are to glorify God by the way we live our lives as parents, spouses, servants, stewards, etc...according to the scriptures. You will have to study those things for yourself, but we should desire to know what God's will is in each area so that we may glorify Him in all we do.
I will close w/ this verse though it probably should have been inserted earlier.
As we seek to live a life that cherishes Christ above all things, let us find encouragement in the words Jesus prayed in John 17.
John 17:26
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." NKJV
I have never seen this before, but Jesus literally asked the Father to give us the same love with which He loved the Son.
Jesus would not have asked this if were not possible.
We can ask the Father, and by the Spirit, the love of the Father for the Son can be imparted to us!
This gives me Hope! This gives me encouragement!
As I strive, and as I grow in Grace, through the scriptures, and by the help of the Holy Spirit, I can live my life to the Glory of God, for which I was created.
Initially this sounds very theological and you may feel the temptation to avoid it and focus on more practical things, but let me admonish that there is nothing more practical, nor fundamental to our everyday lives than recognizing God's passion for His glory and our responsibility to glorify God in all things.
This is a weighty matter and I believe requires, prayer, perseverance, meditation, practice, and most of all the Spirit to effectively appropriate this truth.
I want to put down some of the scriptures and thoughts that I had this morning for meditative purposes and in order to package this truth in such a way that it is easier for me to process and apply.
The Scripture makes it very clear that the purpose of God in all things is to Glorify himself.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God:
Ps 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. NKJV
The Earth declares the Glory of God:
Isa 6:3 And one cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"
Jesus declared the Glory of God:
John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" NKJV
Paul declared the Glory of God:
Phil 1:20-21 "20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified (Glorified) in my body, whether by life or by death." NKJV
Additional verses:
Isa 43:6-7
Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth --7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." NKJV
Israel:
Ps 106:7-8 "7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea -- the Red Sea. 8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, That He might make His mighty power known." NKJV
The Gentiles:
Rom 15:7-9
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, NKJV
The Heavens declare the Glory of God, The Earth is full of the Glory of God, The angels give glory to God, Israel was chosen for the glory of God, the gentiles were saved to the glory of God, Paul lived to the glory of God, Jesus lived to the glory of God, and the absolute purpose of my life is to glorify God in all things.
1 Cor 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of GodNKJV
I am to glorify God in my marriage, in my parenting, in my eating, in my drinking, in my playing, in my money, in my work, in my serving, thru all of these things I am to magnify the greatness of Christ.
Questions I ask myself:
- Do I demonstrate that Christ is more precious to me than food, entertainment, money, career, reputation, sports, sex, hobbies, etc...
- Are they more glorious than He is? Rom. 1:21 "Althought they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful...v. 25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.
I am to show in whatever I do that Christ is more precious to me than anything.
David said,
Ps 63:3 "Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! " NLT
God's love towards David meant more to Him than anything in the world, even more than life itself.
Very much like the Apostle Paul when He said "to die is gain", Christ was better to him than anything in this life. Paul saw it as "Far better to depart and be with Christ" This is glorifying Christ above all things.
I am to join in w/ all of creation and declare the glory of God thru the giving of my praise, my possessions, and my person. (Rom. 12:1-2; Heb. 13:15-16)
I glorify God by treasuring His Word above all things and seeking to live my life as a husband, father, servant, steward, according to God's will revealed in scripture, not my will or the standard set by our culture.
There is no way that I can share all the different ways we are to glorify God by the way we live our lives as parents, spouses, servants, stewards, etc...according to the scriptures. You will have to study those things for yourself, but we should desire to know what God's will is in each area so that we may glorify Him in all we do.
I will close w/ this verse though it probably should have been inserted earlier.
As we seek to live a life that cherishes Christ above all things, let us find encouragement in the words Jesus prayed in John 17.
John 17:26
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." NKJV
I have never seen this before, but Jesus literally asked the Father to give us the same love with which He loved the Son.
Jesus would not have asked this if were not possible.
We can ask the Father, and by the Spirit, the love of the Father for the Son can be imparted to us!
This gives me Hope! This gives me encouragement!
As I strive, and as I grow in Grace, through the scriptures, and by the help of the Holy Spirit, I can live my life to the Glory of God, for which I was created.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The War for the Mind
(I have read so many things lately that I would like to post and share with those of you who follow the blog. I am sorry I have not had time to put those thoughts into a post. Right now time only affords me the opportunity to study God's word and then respond in personal worship and personal application. I still long to be able to share all of the fresh truths God has spoken into my life, but until my schedule allows, I want to share with you some things that are easy to get posted and hopefully this will be helpful to you until I can share thoughts from my own heart)
This is an article I came across by John Piper which sheds great light on the intensity of the battle for the mind and practical steps on how to win. I hope it will be helpful to you.
This article was triggered by the drift of my mind on Sunday afternoon toward the Apple Computer video ads. They are funny. But as I was pondering Mac vs. PC, I began to ask myself if I was lured away from being spiritually minded. I do believe it is possible to think about computers in a spiritual way. But was I doing that? Or was I drifting into the very fascination and desire that makes God feel remote and the Bible unattractive and heaven irrelevant and hell inconceivable? It was a critical moment. God snatched me.
Being spiritually minded is a matter of life and death. Paul said in Romans 8:6, “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” The phrase “set the mind on the Spirit” translates a noun phrase, phronēma tou pneumatos—“mindset of the Spirit.” There is no good one-word English equivalent for phronēma. It is not just “mind” but also “attitude.” And not just “mindset” but also “attitude-set.” It is the frame and disposition of our mind. To say that we have a “phronēma of the Spirit” is to say that the Spirit is shaping our mind-attitude-set according to his own. It exalts Christ and values God and cherishes the Word of God and sees people and things with a relentless God-consciousness.
I long to be spiritually minded all the time. I want to see the world with spiritual eyes—computers and all. So I stopped computer gazing and wrote the following strategies for being and staying spiritually minded. They are not in any particular order. Only as they came to me with a few tweaks.
Realize your outer nature is wasting away and inner nature must be renewed by setting your mind on things that are above.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Take radical steps to keep your mind pure.
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:27-29)
Make God the gladness of all your joys.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4)
Literally the phrase “my exceeding joy” is “gladness of my joy.” I take this to mean that in all our joys God should be the gladness of the joy. Every joy should become a joy in God. If a joy cannot offer a taste of who God is, and be enjoyed the more for that, then it is unspiritual joy.
See each person you meet as you will see them a hundred years from now.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.(Luke 16:22-23)
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. (2 Corinthians 5:16)
Ponder that at every moment, even your happiest, there is misery and wailing in 10,000 places, some of them very near.
Will that not kill all our joys? Better to be real and sad than happy and fake. But I don’t think we have to choose. Real and happy and sorrowful is possible. That is why Paul says that he is “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Listen to this heart-wrenching story that David Brickner (head of Jews for Jesus) tells.
Some months ago I was flying home from a meeting when the man sitting behind me began gasping for breath. An announcement over the plane’s intercom called for a physician. Soon a doctor and several nurses came to the man’s aid but to no avail. I began to pray for the man and his wife, who was sitting beside him. The pilot announced that due to a medical emergency the plane was going to land in Edmonton. I could hear the activity behind me escalate as the doctor and nurses took turns doing CPR. If you’ve never been near a person who is dying despite these efforts, I can assure you that it is not much worse than what we see on television. The sound of air being forced out of a human being’s lungs, the sounds and smells of the death rattle were horrific. I heard the doctor pronounce, “Time of death, 10:25 A. M.”
And then the captain announced that the passenger’s situation had “stabilized,” and therefore we would continue to San Francisco. I don’t know how many people realized that what was announced as though it was the passing of the emergency was actually a veiled announcement of the passing of this man’s life. Certainly those of us nearby knew. The flight attendants pulled a blanket over his head. His wife, still beside him, was sobbing and moaning. And then the flight attendants began to come through the aisles . . . serving lunch! Lunch!? How could anyone in that cabin eat after what had just happened? But they did. (Jews for Jesus, Newsletter, Nov. 2006, p. 1)
That is a parable of the world at any given time. Some are eating lunch and thousands are wailing. It helps to remember this when we are carried away from reality with some computer ad.
Remember Jesus’ warning about what chokes spiritual life: cares, riches and pleasures of life.
Those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:14)
The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)
Ponder what smells good to God and what he delights in!
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)
For we are the aroma of Christ to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15)
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:10)
Be friends with spiritually minded people.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Read God-besotted, spiritually minded writers.
For example, read the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and John Owen in Volume Seven of his Works, On Spiritual Mindedness. Here are some sample sermon titles from volume 25 of the Yale edition of Edwards’ Works, just to give you a flavor how different things were in those days:
"The Great Concern of a Watchman of Souls"
"The Beauty of Piety in Youth"
"The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God"
"Yield to God’s Word, or Be Broken by His Hand"
"Saving Faith and Christian Obedience Arise from Godly Love"
"The Peace Which Christ Gives His True Followers"
"Men’s Inhumanity to God"
"Christ Is to the Heart Like a River to a Tree Planted by It"
"God Is Infinitely Strong"
Ponder your life that will very soon be without a body.
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
How attached are all your joys to your body?
Think about how short life is.
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24-25)
Ask for spiritual-mindedness.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
The psalmists pray often for the heart and mind they long to have.
Remember you died with Christ and have crucified the flesh.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)
The most basic key to spiritual-mindedness is the deep assurance that you really have died and risen with Christ and that you are forgiven and justified in him.
Accept God’s appointed suffering as discipline to bring about greater spiritual mindedness.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)
Go to the hospital to pray with a dying man.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
I did this last week and it had, as always, a sobering effect and blew away much worldliness from my mind.
Risk being thought foolish and weird.
It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matthew 10:25)
Realize that millions of people in the other religions of the world are not looking for people with more American cultural coolness or techno savvy. They are looking for a “holy man,” a “man of God.”
The question will not be, “Is he quick-witted and fast-talking and clever?” The question will be: “Does he pray a lot? Does he know his holy Book, much of it by heart? Is he self-denying and focused on God? Is he powerful in his weakness?”
Longing to be spiritually minded with you,
This is an article I came across by John Piper which sheds great light on the intensity of the battle for the mind and practical steps on how to win. I hope it will be helpful to you.
This article was triggered by the drift of my mind on Sunday afternoon toward the Apple Computer video ads. They are funny. But as I was pondering Mac vs. PC, I began to ask myself if I was lured away from being spiritually minded. I do believe it is possible to think about computers in a spiritual way. But was I doing that? Or was I drifting into the very fascination and desire that makes God feel remote and the Bible unattractive and heaven irrelevant and hell inconceivable? It was a critical moment. God snatched me.
Being spiritually minded is a matter of life and death. Paul said in Romans 8:6, “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” The phrase “set the mind on the Spirit” translates a noun phrase, phronēma tou pneumatos—“mindset of the Spirit.” There is no good one-word English equivalent for phronēma. It is not just “mind” but also “attitude.” And not just “mindset” but also “attitude-set.” It is the frame and disposition of our mind. To say that we have a “phronēma of the Spirit” is to say that the Spirit is shaping our mind-attitude-set according to his own. It exalts Christ and values God and cherishes the Word of God and sees people and things with a relentless God-consciousness.
I long to be spiritually minded all the time. I want to see the world with spiritual eyes—computers and all. So I stopped computer gazing and wrote the following strategies for being and staying spiritually minded. They are not in any particular order. Only as they came to me with a few tweaks.
Realize your outer nature is wasting away and inner nature must be renewed by setting your mind on things that are above.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Take radical steps to keep your mind pure.
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:27-29)
Make God the gladness of all your joys.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4)
Literally the phrase “my exceeding joy” is “gladness of my joy.” I take this to mean that in all our joys God should be the gladness of the joy. Every joy should become a joy in God. If a joy cannot offer a taste of who God is, and be enjoyed the more for that, then it is unspiritual joy.
See each person you meet as you will see them a hundred years from now.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.(Luke 16:22-23)
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. (2 Corinthians 5:16)
Ponder that at every moment, even your happiest, there is misery and wailing in 10,000 places, some of them very near.
Will that not kill all our joys? Better to be real and sad than happy and fake. But I don’t think we have to choose. Real and happy and sorrowful is possible. That is why Paul says that he is “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Listen to this heart-wrenching story that David Brickner (head of Jews for Jesus) tells.
Some months ago I was flying home from a meeting when the man sitting behind me began gasping for breath. An announcement over the plane’s intercom called for a physician. Soon a doctor and several nurses came to the man’s aid but to no avail. I began to pray for the man and his wife, who was sitting beside him. The pilot announced that due to a medical emergency the plane was going to land in Edmonton. I could hear the activity behind me escalate as the doctor and nurses took turns doing CPR. If you’ve never been near a person who is dying despite these efforts, I can assure you that it is not much worse than what we see on television. The sound of air being forced out of a human being’s lungs, the sounds and smells of the death rattle were horrific. I heard the doctor pronounce, “Time of death, 10:25 A. M.”
And then the captain announced that the passenger’s situation had “stabilized,” and therefore we would continue to San Francisco. I don’t know how many people realized that what was announced as though it was the passing of the emergency was actually a veiled announcement of the passing of this man’s life. Certainly those of us nearby knew. The flight attendants pulled a blanket over his head. His wife, still beside him, was sobbing and moaning. And then the flight attendants began to come through the aisles . . . serving lunch! Lunch!? How could anyone in that cabin eat after what had just happened? But they did. (Jews for Jesus, Newsletter, Nov. 2006, p. 1)
That is a parable of the world at any given time. Some are eating lunch and thousands are wailing. It helps to remember this when we are carried away from reality with some computer ad.
Remember Jesus’ warning about what chokes spiritual life: cares, riches and pleasures of life.
Those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:14)
The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)
Ponder what smells good to God and what he delights in!
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)
For we are the aroma of Christ to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15)
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:10)
Be friends with spiritually minded people.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Read God-besotted, spiritually minded writers.
For example, read the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and John Owen in Volume Seven of his Works, On Spiritual Mindedness. Here are some sample sermon titles from volume 25 of the Yale edition of Edwards’ Works, just to give you a flavor how different things were in those days:
"The Great Concern of a Watchman of Souls"
"The Beauty of Piety in Youth"
"The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God"
"Yield to God’s Word, or Be Broken by His Hand"
"Saving Faith and Christian Obedience Arise from Godly Love"
"The Peace Which Christ Gives His True Followers"
"Men’s Inhumanity to God"
"Christ Is to the Heart Like a River to a Tree Planted by It"
"God Is Infinitely Strong"
Ponder your life that will very soon be without a body.
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
How attached are all your joys to your body?
Think about how short life is.
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24-25)
Ask for spiritual-mindedness.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
The psalmists pray often for the heart and mind they long to have.
Remember you died with Christ and have crucified the flesh.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)
The most basic key to spiritual-mindedness is the deep assurance that you really have died and risen with Christ and that you are forgiven and justified in him.
Accept God’s appointed suffering as discipline to bring about greater spiritual mindedness.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)
Go to the hospital to pray with a dying man.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
I did this last week and it had, as always, a sobering effect and blew away much worldliness from my mind.
Risk being thought foolish and weird.
It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matthew 10:25)
Realize that millions of people in the other religions of the world are not looking for people with more American cultural coolness or techno savvy. They are looking for a “holy man,” a “man of God.”
The question will not be, “Is he quick-witted and fast-talking and clever?” The question will be: “Does he pray a lot? Does he know his holy Book, much of it by heart? Is he self-denying and focused on God? Is he powerful in his weakness?”
Longing to be spiritually minded with you,
Great Commission Resurgence Update
This is an article Al Mohler, President of Southern Theological Seminary posted on his Twitter page.
I wanted to share it with you because I don't feel many Southern Baptists in our area are familiar with the adoption and intentions of "The Great Commission Resurgence". This was a monumental vote in the Southern Baptist Convention of which I fully support. I invite you to take time to read this in order to be excited and informed about the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Baptists' plan tries to address dwindling numbersBy Kelly Jasper
Staff Writer
Monday, July 19, 2010
Southern Baptists have adopted changes they hope will lead to a denominational growth unlike anything in their history.
The Southern Baptist denomination, founded in Augusta in 1845, is planning to divert funds outside of the area to address declines in membership.
The denomination, founded in Augusta in 1845, is struggling to address declines in membership. When delegates gathered for an annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., in June, their focus was a document calling for a Great Commission Resurgence.
"I see our convention at this point going through some transitions I am troubled about," Harrell said. "The GCR is a rallying cry."
The report urges a response to a number of statistics, namely that 6 billion of the world's people, including an estimated 258 million in North America, are "without Christ."
In 1950, Southern Baptists had about 27,800 churches. In 2008, the number had grown to about 44,800. Yet Southern Baptists baptized about 33,800 fewer people in 2008 than they did in 2005.
Ed Stetzer, the president of LifeWay Research, the denomination's research arm, has declared Southern Baptists "a denomination in decline."
He says the church, the country's largest Protestant denomination, has struggled to respond to a changing culture, an aging membership and new, young leaders who are choosing partnerships with other churches and church-planting networks.
The average Southern Baptist tithes 2.5 percent. Southern Baptist churches keep 94 cents of every dollar in their offering plates, forwarding 6 cents to the Cooperative Program, which funds international and domestic missions and seminaries and provides for operating expenses.
It's a bloated bureaucracy to some, but the bedrock of Southern Baptist cooperation to others.
Most agree, however, that something must be done to address declines in membership and baptisms.
The Great Commission Resurgence includes seven recommendations, all of which were adopted in June, including one that would allow Southern Baptists to give directly to missions, rather than funneling that money through the Cooperative Program.
The Cooperative Program was created in 1925 to fund missions but now also is used to fund other programs and entities of the church.
The SBC describes it as "the crown jewel of the denominational world, pulling together the resources of almost 50,000 churches and missions."
Many are concerned that the GCR will diminish giving to the program.
"There's a fear that it's going to ultimately destroy the unity of the Cooperative Program when the Cooperative Program is what defines us as Southern Baptists," Harrell said.
Georgia Baptists will give $45.5 million to the Cooperative Program this year. South Carolina will give almost $32.2 million. The funds are split among three pots: one that is kept, one that is given to the national convention and one to cover costs of both the state and national conventions.
The pot that goes to the national convention is largely spent at mission agencies.
One of those agencies, the North American Mission Board, which is based in Alpharetta, Ga., sends some of the money back to the states in the form of cooperative agreements. Those agreements will be phased out over the next seven years.
That's a loss of $900,000 a year for Georgia Baptists and $500,000 a year for South Carolina Baptists.
The money currently funds a portion (or, in a few cases, all) of the salaries for 151 missionaries in Georgia and 129 missionaries in South Carolina, said Mike Ebert, the communications team leader of the North American Mission Board.
Rethinking the impact
Baptists in the South are being asked to make a sacrifice, said J. Robert White, the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, who served on the task force that developed the Great Commission Resurgence.
"Stronger conventions need to support weaker conventions," White said, noting that South Carolina and Georgia are the two oldest conventions in the country. "State conventions like Georgia should send that $900,000 to parts of the country that don't have many Southern Baptists."
That's the goal. While the North American Mission Board spends most of its funds -- up to 77 percent -- in areas with few Baptist churches, Southern Baptists, as a whole, do not.
"Approximately two-thirds of our Cooperative Program dollars are spent on regions where only one-third of the population resides. In other words, the greatest percentage of mission funds remains where our own churches are concentrated," according to the GCR recommendations.
The changes could force Southern states to do away with some of their missionaries or find other ways to fund them.
"We have 2,100 churches in South Carolina, and this will mean something different to every one of them," said Roger Orman, the associate executive director of the communications and mission development team of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
The convention has set a meeting for Aug. 24 in Winnsboro, S.C., for churches to come and learn about the effects of the GCR.
In Georgia, White is optimistic.
"Our churches will need to increase the Cooperative Program support as they're able to help us make up this gap," he said. "We believe we can make it happen without losing people or ministries."
Working as a group
Until the state conventions make changes, it's difficult to measure the local effects.
Many of the Augusta Baptist Association's 62 member churches already give to the Cooperative Program faithfully.
However, several of the area's most vibrant ministries, and the association itself, don't receive funds channeled through the Cooperative Program, said the Rev. Don Wheless, the executive director of the Augusta Association of Baptist Churches.
Local churches have, for instance, established 12 churches in the past 12 years. While some have been more successful than others, it's a sign that this area is committed to church planting and evangelism -- regardless of where the money is coming from, Wheless said.
"When we work as a group, we're able to pull together our resources," he said. "Our churches believe in that. They find ways to make it happen."
I wanted to share it with you because I don't feel many Southern Baptists in our area are familiar with the adoption and intentions of "The Great Commission Resurgence". This was a monumental vote in the Southern Baptist Convention of which I fully support. I invite you to take time to read this in order to be excited and informed about the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Baptists' plan tries to address dwindling numbersBy Kelly Jasper
Staff Writer
Monday, July 19, 2010
Southern Baptists have adopted changes they hope will lead to a denominational growth unlike anything in their history.
The Southern Baptist denomination, founded in Augusta in 1845, is planning to divert funds outside of the area to address declines in membership.
The denomination, founded in Augusta in 1845, is struggling to address declines in membership. When delegates gathered for an annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., in June, their focus was a document calling for a Great Commission Resurgence.
"I see our convention at this point going through some transitions I am troubled about," Harrell said. "The GCR is a rallying cry."
The report urges a response to a number of statistics, namely that 6 billion of the world's people, including an estimated 258 million in North America, are "without Christ."
In 1950, Southern Baptists had about 27,800 churches. In 2008, the number had grown to about 44,800. Yet Southern Baptists baptized about 33,800 fewer people in 2008 than they did in 2005.
Ed Stetzer, the president of LifeWay Research, the denomination's research arm, has declared Southern Baptists "a denomination in decline."
He says the church, the country's largest Protestant denomination, has struggled to respond to a changing culture, an aging membership and new, young leaders who are choosing partnerships with other churches and church-planting networks.
The average Southern Baptist tithes 2.5 percent. Southern Baptist churches keep 94 cents of every dollar in their offering plates, forwarding 6 cents to the Cooperative Program, which funds international and domestic missions and seminaries and provides for operating expenses.
It's a bloated bureaucracy to some, but the bedrock of Southern Baptist cooperation to others.
Most agree, however, that something must be done to address declines in membership and baptisms.
The Great Commission Resurgence includes seven recommendations, all of which were adopted in June, including one that would allow Southern Baptists to give directly to missions, rather than funneling that money through the Cooperative Program.
The Cooperative Program was created in 1925 to fund missions but now also is used to fund other programs and entities of the church.
The SBC describes it as "the crown jewel of the denominational world, pulling together the resources of almost 50,000 churches and missions."
Many are concerned that the GCR will diminish giving to the program.
"There's a fear that it's going to ultimately destroy the unity of the Cooperative Program when the Cooperative Program is what defines us as Southern Baptists," Harrell said.
Georgia Baptists will give $45.5 million to the Cooperative Program this year. South Carolina will give almost $32.2 million. The funds are split among three pots: one that is kept, one that is given to the national convention and one to cover costs of both the state and national conventions.
The pot that goes to the national convention is largely spent at mission agencies.
One of those agencies, the North American Mission Board, which is based in Alpharetta, Ga., sends some of the money back to the states in the form of cooperative agreements. Those agreements will be phased out over the next seven years.
That's a loss of $900,000 a year for Georgia Baptists and $500,000 a year for South Carolina Baptists.
The money currently funds a portion (or, in a few cases, all) of the salaries for 151 missionaries in Georgia and 129 missionaries in South Carolina, said Mike Ebert, the communications team leader of the North American Mission Board.
Rethinking the impact
Baptists in the South are being asked to make a sacrifice, said J. Robert White, the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, who served on the task force that developed the Great Commission Resurgence.
"Stronger conventions need to support weaker conventions," White said, noting that South Carolina and Georgia are the two oldest conventions in the country. "State conventions like Georgia should send that $900,000 to parts of the country that don't have many Southern Baptists."
That's the goal. While the North American Mission Board spends most of its funds -- up to 77 percent -- in areas with few Baptist churches, Southern Baptists, as a whole, do not.
"Approximately two-thirds of our Cooperative Program dollars are spent on regions where only one-third of the population resides. In other words, the greatest percentage of mission funds remains where our own churches are concentrated," according to the GCR recommendations.
The changes could force Southern states to do away with some of their missionaries or find other ways to fund them.
"We have 2,100 churches in South Carolina, and this will mean something different to every one of them," said Roger Orman, the associate executive director of the communications and mission development team of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
The convention has set a meeting for Aug. 24 in Winnsboro, S.C., for churches to come and learn about the effects of the GCR.
In Georgia, White is optimistic.
"Our churches will need to increase the Cooperative Program support as they're able to help us make up this gap," he said. "We believe we can make it happen without losing people or ministries."
Working as a group
Until the state conventions make changes, it's difficult to measure the local effects.
Many of the Augusta Baptist Association's 62 member churches already give to the Cooperative Program faithfully.
However, several of the area's most vibrant ministries, and the association itself, don't receive funds channeled through the Cooperative Program, said the Rev. Don Wheless, the executive director of the Augusta Association of Baptist Churches.
Local churches have, for instance, established 12 churches in the past 12 years. While some have been more successful than others, it's a sign that this area is committed to church planting and evangelism -- regardless of where the money is coming from, Wheless said.
"When we work as a group, we're able to pull together our resources," he said. "Our churches believe in that. They find ways to make it happen."
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Family and Church update
Here’s what happening with the Johns family and FBC.
Currently I am sitting at Chloe’s gymnastic practice. She is trying to make the level 4 competition team this summer. She seems to be built for gymnastics and I think she has the tools. We’ll have to see how hard she’s willing to work. She loves gymnastics and is constantly doing cartwheels, walkovers, handstands, and other tricks around the house.
I am so proud of how Dawson and Chloe performed in school this year. Dawson made straight A’s this year and received the Principal’s award for having made straight A’s his entire time at LBES. Chloe also made straight A’s all year except for 1 B during the 1st 9 wks. We will chalk that up to the transition from 1st grade to 2nd grade. I give thanks to God for the way He has blessed them both physically and academically.
Dawson recently completed the Book of Revelation and challenged me to Bible Trivia on Revelation. You better not try him unless you’re pretty current on the Apocalypse!
He is now reading the Book of Acts and has made it thru chapter 9.
I regret to say that I am not currently leading Chloe. She typically has a girls devotional book that she works thru, but I have not been leading her to do that recently. I have been talking with her about the gospel for quite some time and focusing a lot on the centrality of God, His person, His law, and his grace. However, I need to be much more structured in my discipleship of her. Nancy and I will have her at home by herself for the next few days so I hope for some quality time to impress God's word upon her heart.
Nancy is currently studying thru "A woman's walk with God" by Elizabeth George, and recently concluded a study by Priscilla Shirer “One in a million”
I am currently all over the place. I am reading portions of David Platt’s book “Radical”, “Praying Hyde”, “Too busy not too pray”, “The purpose of man” by A.W. Tozer, and others. I am preaching thru Hebrews, Mark, and I Timothy. I am going to take a brief break from I Timothy to preach on the Subject of Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage. I want to cover this before I tackle the phrase, “the husband of one wife” in I Tim. 3. My goal is to post my studies from this subject on the blog. I am also moved to memorize as much of Ps 119 as possible in the near future.
Nancy and I recently attended The Southern Baptist Annual Convention in Orlando and were very refreshed and renewed by the messages and the results of the Convention.
The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force brought forth 7 recommendations in the form of a motion that will revise and revitalize Southern Baptist’s commitment to fulfill The Great Commission and take the gospel to the nations. Hopefully more info. to come on this Historical vote. All the messages were great, but the messages from Steve Gaines, Tony Evans, Matt Chandler, CJ Mahaney, Russell Moore (Adoption), and Mac Brunson (convention sermon), specifically ministered to me. I have copies of each of these messages if you are interested in listening to or watching them.
On the church level, I am excited about evangelist Sujo John, a survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attack, being with us to share His testimony of survival and salvation.
He will be sharing his testimony of How God saved he and his wife from the 81st floor of the world trade center during the P.M. service and we will have refreshments and fireworks to follow.
Our youth choir is currently at SONPOWER with 800 other teenagers. Our teenagers, one the skit competition and will be performing on the final night. Go FBC!
VBS is right around the corner, Honduras Missions Trip in July and Student Ministry and College retreats.. Please be in prayer for the church to be edified and sanctified, sinners to be evangelized, and God to be glorified.
Final tidbits:
The Celtic’s really made me mad.
Georgia knocked Florida out of the Softball World Series
Florida lost their first game in the CWS (Go Bruins)
It’s taken Chad Rollins and I 3 days to paint one room.
Family Fun Nite was awesome. Wish more of the church would have come.
I need to lose 20 lbs. (Pray for me)
Bella is absolutely wonderful. I love that lil bucked tooth baby. Her Highness.
Brandon Saunders did a great job preaching for me 2 Sun. nights ago.
Can’t wait to baptize Kenny Johns and Cathy Willingham.
The Noles just knocked the Gators out of the CWS
Blessings Friends,
Currently I am sitting at Chloe’s gymnastic practice. She is trying to make the level 4 competition team this summer. She seems to be built for gymnastics and I think she has the tools. We’ll have to see how hard she’s willing to work. She loves gymnastics and is constantly doing cartwheels, walkovers, handstands, and other tricks around the house.
I am so proud of how Dawson and Chloe performed in school this year. Dawson made straight A’s this year and received the Principal’s award for having made straight A’s his entire time at LBES. Chloe also made straight A’s all year except for 1 B during the 1st 9 wks. We will chalk that up to the transition from 1st grade to 2nd grade. I give thanks to God for the way He has blessed them both physically and academically.
Dawson recently completed the Book of Revelation and challenged me to Bible Trivia on Revelation. You better not try him unless you’re pretty current on the Apocalypse!
He is now reading the Book of Acts and has made it thru chapter 9.
I regret to say that I am not currently leading Chloe. She typically has a girls devotional book that she works thru, but I have not been leading her to do that recently. I have been talking with her about the gospel for quite some time and focusing a lot on the centrality of God, His person, His law, and his grace. However, I need to be much more structured in my discipleship of her. Nancy and I will have her at home by herself for the next few days so I hope for some quality time to impress God's word upon her heart.
Nancy is currently studying thru "A woman's walk with God" by Elizabeth George, and recently concluded a study by Priscilla Shirer “One in a million”
I am currently all over the place. I am reading portions of David Platt’s book “Radical”, “Praying Hyde”, “Too busy not too pray”, “The purpose of man” by A.W. Tozer, and others. I am preaching thru Hebrews, Mark, and I Timothy. I am going to take a brief break from I Timothy to preach on the Subject of Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage. I want to cover this before I tackle the phrase, “the husband of one wife” in I Tim. 3. My goal is to post my studies from this subject on the blog. I am also moved to memorize as much of Ps 119 as possible in the near future.
Nancy and I recently attended The Southern Baptist Annual Convention in Orlando and were very refreshed and renewed by the messages and the results of the Convention.
The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force brought forth 7 recommendations in the form of a motion that will revise and revitalize Southern Baptist’s commitment to fulfill The Great Commission and take the gospel to the nations. Hopefully more info. to come on this Historical vote. All the messages were great, but the messages from Steve Gaines, Tony Evans, Matt Chandler, CJ Mahaney, Russell Moore (Adoption), and Mac Brunson (convention sermon), specifically ministered to me. I have copies of each of these messages if you are interested in listening to or watching them.
On the church level, I am excited about evangelist Sujo John, a survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attack, being with us to share His testimony of survival and salvation.
He will be sharing his testimony of How God saved he and his wife from the 81st floor of the world trade center during the P.M. service and we will have refreshments and fireworks to follow.
Our youth choir is currently at SONPOWER with 800 other teenagers. Our teenagers, one the skit competition and will be performing on the final night. Go FBC!
VBS is right around the corner, Honduras Missions Trip in July and Student Ministry and College retreats.. Please be in prayer for the church to be edified and sanctified, sinners to be evangelized, and God to be glorified.
Final tidbits:
The Celtic’s really made me mad.
Georgia knocked Florida out of the Softball World Series
Florida lost their first game in the CWS (Go Bruins)
It’s taken Chad Rollins and I 3 days to paint one room.
Family Fun Nite was awesome. Wish more of the church would have come.
I need to lose 20 lbs. (Pray for me)
Bella is absolutely wonderful. I love that lil bucked tooth baby. Her Highness.
Brandon Saunders did a great job preaching for me 2 Sun. nights ago.
Can’t wait to baptize Kenny Johns and Cathy Willingham.
The Noles just knocked the Gators out of the CWS
Blessings Friends,
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Gospel centered insights on parenting and marriage
This is a link to a 2 hr. Q and A session with Paul Tripp, Author of "Age of Opportunity" and "Instruments in the Redeemers Hands"
I watched half of it last night and found his Gospel Centered approach to Parenting and Marriage very insightful and convicting.
I feel as though many parents and spouses today have never been taught how to parent and to be married from a grace-filled, Gospel centered, approach.
If you are looking to live out the gospel in every area of your life, especially parenting and marriage I encourage you to take time to watch this video.
P.S.
There will be some biographical info. in the beginning that you may or may not want to hear. It is brief and then they will move on into the Q and A
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2444_fulllength_streaming_video_of_ask_paul_tripp/
I watched half of it last night and found his Gospel Centered approach to Parenting and Marriage very insightful and convicting.
I feel as though many parents and spouses today have never been taught how to parent and to be married from a grace-filled, Gospel centered, approach.
If you are looking to live out the gospel in every area of your life, especially parenting and marriage I encourage you to take time to watch this video.
P.S.
There will be some biographical info. in the beginning that you may or may not want to hear. It is brief and then they will move on into the Q and A
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2444_fulllength_streaming_video_of_ask_paul_tripp/
Monday, May 10, 2010
Ghana West Africa
We recently were made aware of a need for Bibles in the rural Northern Region of Ghana West Africa.
This need was expressed by "Evangelist Ralph" who is seeking to minister in the rural village areas of the Country. We have been in connection w/ "Evangelist Ralph" thru James Croft Evangelistic Association since 2002. We made our congregation aware of this need and took up an offering of $1,110.00 to help w/ this need. This will supply 220 Bibles to these villages where people do not have access to the Word of God.
Thank God for "Evangelist Ralph" and the work He is doing. It is a joy to share in this ministry.
Here is the e-mail we received from Him upon receiving the news.
Jason,
I spoke with Evangelist Ralph (Raphael Adjei Kingbi) today and told him of the donation for Bibles. He was VERY excited!! I will be sending him the money next weekend, as he will be in the capitol city of Accra the next week preaching a crusade. He will then purchase the Bibles as he returns to the Northern Region. He will then begin a series of revival meetings in several villages and will distribute the Bibles at that time.
Here is an e-mail I received from him:
“Hi papa James, let me greet you in dagbani......anuwulaa... you will respond naaaa....which means good evening. Thank you so much for your concern for the Lord's work in Ghana and most importantly up here in the northern region. May the Good bless every member of the congregation who has contributed to the purchasing of Bibles for the people, and your pastor too I pray for the Lord's anointing over his life and ministry, and for you papa may the Lord heal you completely and grant you good health for you to continue His work. say Amen Amen Amen. For camera I don't have one but I will see with if I can get one. Boy am I excited and give you all the reports about the ministry and the bible distribution. Hope to hear from you soon.”
This need was expressed by "Evangelist Ralph" who is seeking to minister in the rural village areas of the Country. We have been in connection w/ "Evangelist Ralph" thru James Croft Evangelistic Association since 2002. We made our congregation aware of this need and took up an offering of $1,110.00 to help w/ this need. This will supply 220 Bibles to these villages where people do not have access to the Word of God.
Thank God for "Evangelist Ralph" and the work He is doing. It is a joy to share in this ministry.
Here is the e-mail we received from Him upon receiving the news.
Jason,
I spoke with Evangelist Ralph (Raphael Adjei Kingbi) today and told him of the donation for Bibles. He was VERY excited!! I will be sending him the money next weekend, as he will be in the capitol city of Accra the next week preaching a crusade. He will then purchase the Bibles as he returns to the Northern Region. He will then begin a series of revival meetings in several villages and will distribute the Bibles at that time.
Here is an e-mail I received from him:
“Hi papa James, let me greet you in dagbani......anuwulaa... you will respond naaaa....which means good evening. Thank you so much for your concern for the Lord's work in Ghana and most importantly up here in the northern region. May the Good bless every member of the congregation who has contributed to the purchasing of Bibles for the people, and your pastor too I pray for the Lord's anointing over his life and ministry, and for you papa may the Lord heal you completely and grant you good health for you to continue His work. say Amen Amen Amen. For camera I don't have one but I will see with if I can get one. Boy am I excited and give you all the reports about the ministry and the bible distribution. Hope to hear from you soon.”
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tebow chooses principles over pocket book
I guess since I can officially "pull" for Tim Tebow now since he doesn't play for the "Gator's" anymore, but rather is a teammate of "Knowshon Moreno's" out at Denver. I cannot be ashamed to promote articles that have him sporting his gator attire.
I really enjoyed reading this. I'm thankful for the overwhelming faithfulness and integrity of Tim Tebow. He has truly shone as a light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. (Phil. 2:15)
http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/blogs/Finding_Home/2010/04/20/tebow-chooses-principles-
I really enjoyed reading this. I'm thankful for the overwhelming faithfulness and integrity of Tim Tebow. He has truly shone as a light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. (Phil. 2:15)
http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/blogs/Finding_Home/2010/04/20/tebow-chooses-principles-
Ministry Update
Wow! So sorry it's been so long since I have shared anything with you all thru the blog.
There have been many verses and truths that I have wanted to share, but simply have not had the time to sit down and write them down for you. Hopefully, I will be able to go back and revisit those truths for my own personal appropriation and continued application, as well as, sharing them with you as well that you might benefit from some wonderful truths God has shared with me.
Before I get back into regular blogging I want to share with you a ministry update for the purpose of:
1. Explaining why I have not been faithful to blog and that I do not intend to be an unfaithful blogger. I consider blogging a ministry whereby I can continue to personally disciple others by opening up my life for them to see my walk with God. I want to pass along to others everything I can that might help others grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as a Servant, a Parent, a Pastor, a Leader, a Soldier, a Christian. Therefore, I will continue to seek to be faithful to you that you may continue to grow up into Him, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
2. Expressing all of the things that have been going on in my life so that you can see the demands of ministry to the church and my family and that you would help me thru your prayers for me that I would be fruitful in every good work, not grow weary in well doing, and that I would minister according to the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ by His wonderful Grace.
3. Extending an invitation for you to join with me in serving others and praising God for what He has been doing in our church.
Okay, so, here's what I've been busy doing.
Preaching thru 3 different books of the Bible each week (a.m. Mark, p.m. I Tim., Wed. Hebrews)
Reading The Discipline of Grace, Prayer by Philip Yancey, and listening to a multitude of sermons for my own personal growth and devotion.
Personally Discipling: Kyle Parrish and Ryan Sellers
Evangelizing 3 men in our community
Serving: 2 homeless families in our community. Praise God both have places to live now and we are continuing to help them spiritually, financially, emotionally, and in every other way.
Ministering to the 3 precious people who are in the latter stages of terminal cancer and 2 other members who have recently become homebound.
lining up 4 different couples for premarital counseling
enlisting and equipping new youth workers and planning for graduate recognition, weekly services, summer camps and activities. (thanks Chad, Amber, Sheila, Pam, Celeste, and others for your help)
meeting, praying, and searching for new youth and family pastor...need to draft Job Description by May 16th our nexe meeting
Starting a new young married's class
working towards reestablishing Wee Praise choir (Thankful for those who have faithfully served and those who God is given a passion and vision for the future)
Getting prepared for Sr. adult trip May 11, SBC annual conv Jun 17, and D6 conf in Sept.
Working out the details of Son power, VBS, Homecoming, and a special July 4th emphasis.
Men's prayer at 6:00 a.m. on Thurs.
Meeting tonight to continue to develop our vision for missions in Honduras.
Collected money for 220 Bibles for unreached people groups in West Ghana Africa
While at home:
Attended 2 honor roll assemblies, 2 field days, and 2 field trips (Wild Adventures and Sea World) Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Celebrated Nancy's Bday and Chloe's Bday. (Disney on Ice in J-ville)
Mother's day coming up
Got the car fixed, got the lawn treated, working on addition to the house, and Nancy's getting ready to paint and replace carpets.
Bella's is Amazing, but is hyperactive and can't entertain herself. She's unstoppable and eat's 14 times a day.
Nancy and I have both been to the dentist for the first time in 3 yrs and they were so kind they invited me to come back 4 more times. (seriously)
Anyway, I won't continue to share all the details of our lives, but I want you as my friends to sincerely know what life is like right now because I need your prayers. Prayers that I will not lose my first love; prayers that I will be faithful to Pastor my wife and children; prayers that I will not be a Martha, but a Mary; prayers for strength and grace and wisdom. ( A big part of the reason for this post is to make that request for prayer.) This is a busy season and I need help. Be sure not to receive this as whining, complaining, or arrogance, but rather, this is my life and I could use your prayers and any other way you can help in serving the church.
I want to be found stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
I want to be busy about my Father's business.
I want to be laboring as much as anybody, but I want to be laboring in the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you to all of those who watch our kids, thanks to kp for mowing my grass, thanks to Randall who takes soooo much off of my hands and exemplifies true deacon ministry. Thanks to Stephen who adds so much to this ministry and serves this flock well. Thanks to my wife who is a faithful helper to me. Thanks to Vick and Clay who keep the grounds up and Mr. Bill who keeps the flowers up. Thanks to Karen who's been a tremendous blessing as Mrs. Preschool Director and to all the other many servants and teachers who make ministry happen every week.
Just a few more things to get to and I think things will return to normal.
David, we're going to jump on Men's Ministry soon
Get parsonages renovated
Have a leadership training and prep for the fall
work on a formal membership process / recovery of inactive members. (We recently had 7 people complete our membership class and were voted in as new members and we have approx. 15 about to go thru our next new members class)
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but this will keep us busy.
Before I go, I want to thank the Lord for Graciously providing laborers for the Harvest, the baptism of Ryan and Will, Ralph's new s.s. class, our women's study that avg. 50 on Monday nights, The young married's new s.s. class, our new H.S. girls teacher, Our new M.S./H.S. boys teacher and Wed. night teacher, potential Wee praise directors, Barbara Riherds Baptism and teaching role in Preschool, our upcoming Children's Musical, our prayer times last night during Natl. day of prayer, The Bibles collected for Ghana, West Africa, and so much more....gotta go for now
Blessings to all and stay posted
There have been many verses and truths that I have wanted to share, but simply have not had the time to sit down and write them down for you. Hopefully, I will be able to go back and revisit those truths for my own personal appropriation and continued application, as well as, sharing them with you as well that you might benefit from some wonderful truths God has shared with me.
Before I get back into regular blogging I want to share with you a ministry update for the purpose of:
1. Explaining why I have not been faithful to blog and that I do not intend to be an unfaithful blogger. I consider blogging a ministry whereby I can continue to personally disciple others by opening up my life for them to see my walk with God. I want to pass along to others everything I can that might help others grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as a Servant, a Parent, a Pastor, a Leader, a Soldier, a Christian. Therefore, I will continue to seek to be faithful to you that you may continue to grow up into Him, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
2. Expressing all of the things that have been going on in my life so that you can see the demands of ministry to the church and my family and that you would help me thru your prayers for me that I would be fruitful in every good work, not grow weary in well doing, and that I would minister according to the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ by His wonderful Grace.
3. Extending an invitation for you to join with me in serving others and praising God for what He has been doing in our church.
Okay, so, here's what I've been busy doing.
Preaching thru 3 different books of the Bible each week (a.m. Mark, p.m. I Tim., Wed. Hebrews)
Reading The Discipline of Grace, Prayer by Philip Yancey, and listening to a multitude of sermons for my own personal growth and devotion.
Personally Discipling: Kyle Parrish and Ryan Sellers
Evangelizing 3 men in our community
Serving: 2 homeless families in our community. Praise God both have places to live now and we are continuing to help them spiritually, financially, emotionally, and in every other way.
Ministering to the 3 precious people who are in the latter stages of terminal cancer and 2 other members who have recently become homebound.
lining up 4 different couples for premarital counseling
enlisting and equipping new youth workers and planning for graduate recognition, weekly services, summer camps and activities. (thanks Chad, Amber, Sheila, Pam, Celeste, and others for your help)
meeting, praying, and searching for new youth and family pastor...need to draft Job Description by May 16th our nexe meeting
Starting a new young married's class
working towards reestablishing Wee Praise choir (Thankful for those who have faithfully served and those who God is given a passion and vision for the future)
Getting prepared for Sr. adult trip May 11, SBC annual conv Jun 17, and D6 conf in Sept.
Working out the details of Son power, VBS, Homecoming, and a special July 4th emphasis.
Men's prayer at 6:00 a.m. on Thurs.
Meeting tonight to continue to develop our vision for missions in Honduras.
Collected money for 220 Bibles for unreached people groups in West Ghana Africa
While at home:
Attended 2 honor roll assemblies, 2 field days, and 2 field trips (Wild Adventures and Sea World) Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Celebrated Nancy's Bday and Chloe's Bday. (Disney on Ice in J-ville)
Mother's day coming up
Got the car fixed, got the lawn treated, working on addition to the house, and Nancy's getting ready to paint and replace carpets.
Bella's is Amazing, but is hyperactive and can't entertain herself. She's unstoppable and eat's 14 times a day.
Nancy and I have both been to the dentist for the first time in 3 yrs and they were so kind they invited me to come back 4 more times. (seriously)
Anyway, I won't continue to share all the details of our lives, but I want you as my friends to sincerely know what life is like right now because I need your prayers. Prayers that I will not lose my first love; prayers that I will be faithful to Pastor my wife and children; prayers that I will not be a Martha, but a Mary; prayers for strength and grace and wisdom. ( A big part of the reason for this post is to make that request for prayer.) This is a busy season and I need help. Be sure not to receive this as whining, complaining, or arrogance, but rather, this is my life and I could use your prayers and any other way you can help in serving the church.
I want to be found stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
I want to be busy about my Father's business.
I want to be laboring as much as anybody, but I want to be laboring in the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you to all of those who watch our kids, thanks to kp for mowing my grass, thanks to Randall who takes soooo much off of my hands and exemplifies true deacon ministry. Thanks to Stephen who adds so much to this ministry and serves this flock well. Thanks to my wife who is a faithful helper to me. Thanks to Vick and Clay who keep the grounds up and Mr. Bill who keeps the flowers up. Thanks to Karen who's been a tremendous blessing as Mrs. Preschool Director and to all the other many servants and teachers who make ministry happen every week.
Just a few more things to get to and I think things will return to normal.
David, we're going to jump on Men's Ministry soon
Get parsonages renovated
Have a leadership training and prep for the fall
work on a formal membership process / recovery of inactive members. (We recently had 7 people complete our membership class and were voted in as new members and we have approx. 15 about to go thru our next new members class)
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but this will keep us busy.
Before I go, I want to thank the Lord for Graciously providing laborers for the Harvest, the baptism of Ryan and Will, Ralph's new s.s. class, our women's study that avg. 50 on Monday nights, The young married's new s.s. class, our new H.S. girls teacher, Our new M.S./H.S. boys teacher and Wed. night teacher, potential Wee praise directors, Barbara Riherds Baptism and teaching role in Preschool, our upcoming Children's Musical, our prayer times last night during Natl. day of prayer, The Bibles collected for Ghana, West Africa, and so much more....gotta go for now
Blessings to all and stay posted
Monday, April 19, 2010
Middle School Shout out
I'm so excited about the work God is doing in and thru our M.S. ministry.
Here's a quick clip Sheila Andrews sent me from this past Wed. nights service Project.
Pastor Jason,
We had a total of 7 students and 3 leaders go tonight to the Parkside Assistant living facility in Starke. I think the students enjoyed it as much as the residents did they said they had fun and want to go back. Their was one 91 year old lady named Laura that had us all laughing like crazy. The girls got to polish one ladies toe nails, another ladies finger nails (in her favorite color hot pink) and fixed one ladies hair. We also met a gentleman named Mr. Wainright who grew up in Starke and at one time was the Sheriff and the park across the road from the facility was named after his mom. Our goal in tonights outreach (visit) was to share the LOVE OF CHRIST!
Next weeks outreach:
Pam knows a woman in Lake Butler that has always been there to help others but now has cancer, she is checking with her this week to see if we can visit her next week maybe taking her a meal or to just visit and let the students take her some baked goods that they make. We talked as a group when we got back tonight and we told the students that we will let them know the final details Sunday before sunday school.
This outreach is in putting to practice the truths they learned thru their recent small group Bible Study "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.
I am so thankful for Pam, Cindy, and Sheila, who are doing such a good job in leading our Middle School students.
I also want to thank our H.S. students who are also investing in the lives of our Middle School students on Wed. and Thurs. afternoon.
Praise God for what He's doing in this area of ministry.
Here's a quick clip Sheila Andrews sent me from this past Wed. nights service Project.
Pastor Jason,
We had a total of 7 students and 3 leaders go tonight to the Parkside Assistant living facility in Starke. I think the students enjoyed it as much as the residents did they said they had fun and want to go back. Their was one 91 year old lady named Laura that had us all laughing like crazy. The girls got to polish one ladies toe nails, another ladies finger nails (in her favorite color hot pink) and fixed one ladies hair. We also met a gentleman named Mr. Wainright who grew up in Starke and at one time was the Sheriff and the park across the road from the facility was named after his mom. Our goal in tonights outreach (visit) was to share the LOVE OF CHRIST!
Next weeks outreach:
Pam knows a woman in Lake Butler that has always been there to help others but now has cancer, she is checking with her this week to see if we can visit her next week maybe taking her a meal or to just visit and let the students take her some baked goods that they make. We talked as a group when we got back tonight and we told the students that we will let them know the final details Sunday before sunday school.
This outreach is in putting to practice the truths they learned thru their recent small group Bible Study "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.
I am so thankful for Pam, Cindy, and Sheila, who are doing such a good job in leading our Middle School students.
I also want to thank our H.S. students who are also investing in the lives of our Middle School students on Wed. and Thurs. afternoon.
Praise God for what He's doing in this area of ministry.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Power of God
I am writing down some of the thoughts from my devotions this morning out of the Book "Primal" by Mark Batterson.
I'm writing these in order to reflect, meditate, process, and digest them, and pray that these truths will ultimately bear fruit in my life.
Perhaps, they will serve as some benefit to you as well.
"A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils. A high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems" A.W. Tozer
When the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima, Japan on, Aug. 6 1945, the bomb produced so much energy that the glare from the blast would have been visible from Jupiper, roughly 390 million miles away.
the energy produced by that bomb was the by-produce of a subatomic reaction that used only 1% of 2 lbs. of uranium. 1/3 of 1 oz. of uranium was translated into an explosion 2,000 times more powerful than that of any bomb in the history of warfare up to that time.
That's an awful lot of energy in a very, very, small amount of matter.
Question: If that small amount of energy is virtually inconceivable or what if it were 2/3 of 10 oz. of uranium can we even imagine what that blast, that power, that energy would be, and yet God is the master Creator of all energy in the Universe.
Our God...My GOD...My Savior, My Father, My Friend, then One I come to worship this morning, the One I will proclaim this morning, the One whom the choir will be singing about, the One whom my family and I will be worshipping this morning, is the sum of all energy, the creator of all energy, THE ALMIGHTY!
Do not stand in awe of the Atomic Bomb. Do not stand in awe of Nuclear power. Stand in all of the one who Created it!
To take it a step forward and personalize it, listen to Paul's prayer in Eph. 1
Eph 1:19-21
"The same Spirit that raised Him from the dead is at work within us."
"Without Him, we can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible."
"The quest for the lost soul of Christianity is about rediscovering the primal energy that sustained the first century Church"
"The word for "strength" that Paul used in his prayer is the same word that Jesus used in the Great Commandment. (Love the LORD thy God, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength) It refers to supernatural strength beyond your natural ability. The moment you put your faith in Christ the best you can do is no longer the best you can do. The best you can do is the best God can do."
John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, NKJV
"Billions of Galaxies trace their origin to 4 words"
"If God can create billions of galaxies with 4 words, what can't he do?"
Depending on His infinite power:
"I can't do what God has called me to do today. Not in my own strength. But God never calls us to do something we're capable of."
"Most of what God accomplishes through our lives isn't because of us. It's in spite of us"
Identify several, if not many things that you cannot do today. Identify those things that you do not have the strength, wisdom, ability, power, or control to do, and turn it over to God and pray that He will accomplish by His mighty power to the praise of the Glory of His name. In your weakness let His strength be made perfect.
"All of us love miracles. We just don't like being in situations where we need one. But that is a prerequisite. You will never experieince the power of God until you put yourself into a situation that necessitates it."
Let us be conduits of God's power by dependence and faith instead of obstacles to God's power through unbelief and self-dependence.
Question: How do you know if you're doing this or not? Your prayer life is the expression of your dependence on God.
G.K. Chesterton, "How much happier you would be, how much more of you there would be, if the hammer of a higher God could smash your small cosmos"
*Unless otherwise noted all quotes are by Mark Batterson from "Primal: The quest for the lost soul of Christianity"
I'm writing these in order to reflect, meditate, process, and digest them, and pray that these truths will ultimately bear fruit in my life.
Perhaps, they will serve as some benefit to you as well.
"A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils. A high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems" A.W. Tozer
When the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima, Japan on, Aug. 6 1945, the bomb produced so much energy that the glare from the blast would have been visible from Jupiper, roughly 390 million miles away.
the energy produced by that bomb was the by-produce of a subatomic reaction that used only 1% of 2 lbs. of uranium. 1/3 of 1 oz. of uranium was translated into an explosion 2,000 times more powerful than that of any bomb in the history of warfare up to that time.
That's an awful lot of energy in a very, very, small amount of matter.
Question: If that small amount of energy is virtually inconceivable or what if it were 2/3 of 10 oz. of uranium can we even imagine what that blast, that power, that energy would be, and yet God is the master Creator of all energy in the Universe.
Our God...My GOD...My Savior, My Father, My Friend, then One I come to worship this morning, the One I will proclaim this morning, the One whom the choir will be singing about, the One whom my family and I will be worshipping this morning, is the sum of all energy, the creator of all energy, THE ALMIGHTY!
Do not stand in awe of the Atomic Bomb. Do not stand in awe of Nuclear power. Stand in all of the one who Created it!
To take it a step forward and personalize it, listen to Paul's prayer in Eph. 1
Eph 1:19-21
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
NKJV
"The same Spirit that raised Him from the dead is at work within us."
"Without Him, we can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible."
- Is this the truth we are living by today?
- Is this the God we are coming to worship today or is this who we are coming in expectation of today?
"The quest for the lost soul of Christianity is about rediscovering the primal energy that sustained the first century Church"
"The word for "strength" that Paul used in his prayer is the same word that Jesus used in the Great Commandment. (Love the LORD thy God, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength) It refers to supernatural strength beyond your natural ability. The moment you put your faith in Christ the best you can do is no longer the best you can do. The best you can do is the best God can do."
John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, NKJV
"Billions of Galaxies trace their origin to 4 words"
"If God can create billions of galaxies with 4 words, what can't he do?"
- What are you expecting from God today?
- What are you expecting God could do in your situation today?
Depending on His infinite power:
"I can't do what God has called me to do today. Not in my own strength. But God never calls us to do something we're capable of."
"Most of what God accomplishes through our lives isn't because of us. It's in spite of us"
Identify several, if not many things that you cannot do today. Identify those things that you do not have the strength, wisdom, ability, power, or control to do, and turn it over to God and pray that He will accomplish by His mighty power to the praise of the Glory of His name. In your weakness let His strength be made perfect.
"All of us love miracles. We just don't like being in situations where we need one. But that is a prerequisite. You will never experieince the power of God until you put yourself into a situation that necessitates it."
Let us be conduits of God's power by dependence and faith instead of obstacles to God's power through unbelief and self-dependence.
Question: How do you know if you're doing this or not? Your prayer life is the expression of your dependence on God.
G.K. Chesterton, "How much happier you would be, how much more of you there would be, if the hammer of a higher God could smash your small cosmos"
*Unless otherwise noted all quotes are by Mark Batterson from "Primal: The quest for the lost soul of Christianity"
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Excerpts from a "Christian Atheist" part 1
A collection of underlined thoughts from Chapter 2 of "The Christian Atheist" by Craig Groeschel
Title: When you believe in God but not in prayer
"The truth is some Christian Atheists believe in God, but they don't believe n prayer. They might claim to believe prayer works, but their actsion say otherwise. Some rarely pray, and when they do, they don't expect anything to change"
"Admittedly, when prayer becomes an empty, meaningless ritual, it is boring. But when you remember who you're talking to---when you acknowledge that the God of the universe is honestly, truly excited to hear from you---that truth alone will change your attitude toward prayer. Move the focus from yourself onto God..."
"One more excuse for avoiding prayer---and this is the deal breaker for most of us Christian Atheists---is that we just aren't sure our prayers will make a difference. We've tried praying before and nothing seemed to happen. After several failed attempts, praying seems at best ineffective and at worse a waste of time."
Question: Does anyone ever feel this way at a typical church prayer meeting? Just a personal question. Is anyone really expecting something to happen in most church prayer meetings.
Story: "A pastor once asked his church to pray that God would shut down a neighborhood bar. The whole church gathered for an evening prayer meeting, pleading with God to rid the neighborhood of the evils of this bar. A few weeks later, lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. having heard about the church's prayer crusade, the bar owner promptly sued the church. When the court date finally arrived, the bar owner passionately argued that God struck his bar with lightning because of the church members' prayers. The pastor backtracked, brushing off the accusations. He admitted the church prayed, but he also affirmed that no one in his congregation really expected anything to happen. (Ouch)
The judge leaned back in his chair, a mix of amusement and perplexity on his face. Finally he spoke: "I can't believe what I'm hearing. Right in front of me is a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor who doesn't"
Mark 11:24 Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Of course there are certain biblical conditions to this, but do not miss the point)Heb. 11:6 "For without faith it is impossible to please God for He who comes to God MUST believe that He is; and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"
Expect the presence of God, Expect the power of God...
Question: What is the difference between an atheist who doesn't pray and a Christian who doesn't pray?... Nothing.
May we all repent of our prayerless tendencies and glorify God thru strong faith demonstrated in confident, fervent, consistent, prayer.
Title: When you believe in God but not in prayer
"The truth is some Christian Atheists believe in God, but they don't believe n prayer. They might claim to believe prayer works, but their actsion say otherwise. Some rarely pray, and when they do, they don't expect anything to change"
"Admittedly, when prayer becomes an empty, meaningless ritual, it is boring. But when you remember who you're talking to---when you acknowledge that the God of the universe is honestly, truly excited to hear from you---that truth alone will change your attitude toward prayer. Move the focus from yourself onto God..."
"One more excuse for avoiding prayer---and this is the deal breaker for most of us Christian Atheists---is that we just aren't sure our prayers will make a difference. We've tried praying before and nothing seemed to happen. After several failed attempts, praying seems at best ineffective and at worse a waste of time."
Question: Does anyone ever feel this way at a typical church prayer meeting? Just a personal question. Is anyone really expecting something to happen in most church prayer meetings.
Story: "A pastor once asked his church to pray that God would shut down a neighborhood bar. The whole church gathered for an evening prayer meeting, pleading with God to rid the neighborhood of the evils of this bar. A few weeks later, lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. having heard about the church's prayer crusade, the bar owner promptly sued the church. When the court date finally arrived, the bar owner passionately argued that God struck his bar with lightning because of the church members' prayers. The pastor backtracked, brushing off the accusations. He admitted the church prayed, but he also affirmed that no one in his congregation really expected anything to happen. (Ouch)
The judge leaned back in his chair, a mix of amusement and perplexity on his face. Finally he spoke: "I can't believe what I'm hearing. Right in front of me is a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor who doesn't"
Mark 11:24 Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Of course there are certain biblical conditions to this, but do not miss the point)Heb. 11:6 "For without faith it is impossible to please God for He who comes to God MUST believe that He is; and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"
Expect the presence of God, Expect the power of God...
- Consistent prayer: I Thes. 5:17 "Pray without Ceasing"
- Persistent prayer: Luke 18 "Men ought always to pray and not faint"
- Fervent prayer: James 5:16 "The effectual, fervent prayer, of a righteous man avails much"
- Confident prayer: I John 5:14-15 "This is the confidence that we have in Him; if we ask anything according to His will we know that He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, then we know that we have the petitions that we ask of Him
Question: What is the difference between an atheist who doesn't pray and a Christian who doesn't pray?... Nothing.
May we all repent of our prayerless tendencies and glorify God thru strong faith demonstrated in confident, fervent, consistent, prayer.
Do you ever wonder?
Reflections from "Primal" by Mark Batterson
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. Albert Einstein
"The very first revelation of God in Genesis is that of an Artist. And the very first reaction recorded is HIS reaction to HIS creation. Like an artist at the unveiling of his own masterpiece, God steps back at the end of each creation day to look at what He has made. His reaction? God saw that it was GOOD.
That simple refrain is repead each day until the sixth day. Then God steps way back to survey the full scope of creation. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. His primal reaction is wonderment at His own work."
Do you still wonder? ...
"The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are as miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. Our planet spins around its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while our planet does a 360 every 24 hrs., it is alos hurling through space at an unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph. You may not have any big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. And to top it off, the Milky Way galaxy is spinning at approx. 490,000 mph. It takes the Milky Way 200 million yrs. to make one full revolution."
We do not have to go to Wild Adventures, Universal, or Six Flags to get a thrill. We simply need to behold the glory of God in every sunrise and sunset, every rotation of the earth, every starlit night, and every look into the Heavens and allow it to create in us the Primal state of Wonder and Worship.
The great commandment is to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and mind...Agreed?
Part of loving God with all of our soul (the seat of our emotions), is found in seeing the wonder of God; and stepping back and saying O God You are Good! You did a really, really, good job today. Bravo!
Do you ever Wonder?
Check out this passage of wonder in Psalm 29
Praise to God in His Holiness and Majesty
A Psalm of David.
1 Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The LORD is over many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars,
Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the LORD sits as King forever.
11 The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.
NKJV
You may not understand some of the verbage, but it's not about understanding the pictures, it's about understanding the passion for God and His Glory and to stand in Awe of His greatness and respond with an overwhelming emotion of wonder and praise and love that joins in with all who are in His temple and Proclaim "Glory!" "Bravo!", The LORD is Good, the LORD is powerful, The LORD is my Lord!
"Nikola Tesla was one of history's most prodigious inventors. Tesla was granted more than 100 U.S. patents. His most famous---for alternating current---is the power system that supplies our homes with easy access to electrival power via aoutlets. Every time you flip a switch, you owe Tesla a thank you. Tesla had an idiosyncratic personality, but one ritual in particular is both revealing and inspiring. During thunderstorms, he would sit on a couch near a window in his home. Every time lightning struck and thunder claapped, Tesla would rise to his feet and applaud God.
Do you ever wonder?...
"For the record, there are approx. 2,000 thunderstoms somewhere on planet Earth at any given time. And there are appors. 100 lightning strikes per second, or 8.64 million lightning strikes per day! That is a lot of standing ovations. But according to the psalmist, the angels shout, "Encore!" after each one...
When was the last time you gave Him a standing ovation? "
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. Albert Einstein
"The very first revelation of God in Genesis is that of an Artist. And the very first reaction recorded is HIS reaction to HIS creation. Like an artist at the unveiling of his own masterpiece, God steps back at the end of each creation day to look at what He has made. His reaction? God saw that it was GOOD.
That simple refrain is repead each day until the sixth day. Then God steps way back to survey the full scope of creation. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. His primal reaction is wonderment at His own work."
Do you still wonder? ...
"The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are as miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. Our planet spins around its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while our planet does a 360 every 24 hrs., it is alos hurling through space at an unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph. You may not have any big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. And to top it off, the Milky Way galaxy is spinning at approx. 490,000 mph. It takes the Milky Way 200 million yrs. to make one full revolution."
We do not have to go to Wild Adventures, Universal, or Six Flags to get a thrill. We simply need to behold the glory of God in every sunrise and sunset, every rotation of the earth, every starlit night, and every look into the Heavens and allow it to create in us the Primal state of Wonder and Worship.
The great commandment is to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and mind...Agreed?
Part of loving God with all of our soul (the seat of our emotions), is found in seeing the wonder of God; and stepping back and saying O God You are Good! You did a really, really, good job today. Bravo!
Do you ever Wonder?
Check out this passage of wonder in Psalm 29
Praise to God in His Holiness and Majesty
A Psalm of David.
1 Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The LORD is over many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars,
Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the LORD sits as King forever.
11 The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.
NKJV
You may not understand some of the verbage, but it's not about understanding the pictures, it's about understanding the passion for God and His Glory and to stand in Awe of His greatness and respond with an overwhelming emotion of wonder and praise and love that joins in with all who are in His temple and Proclaim "Glory!" "Bravo!", The LORD is Good, the LORD is powerful, The LORD is my Lord!
"Nikola Tesla was one of history's most prodigious inventors. Tesla was granted more than 100 U.S. patents. His most famous---for alternating current---is the power system that supplies our homes with easy access to electrival power via aoutlets. Every time you flip a switch, you owe Tesla a thank you. Tesla had an idiosyncratic personality, but one ritual in particular is both revealing and inspiring. During thunderstorms, he would sit on a couch near a window in his home. Every time lightning struck and thunder claapped, Tesla would rise to his feet and applaud God.
Do you ever wonder?...
"For the record, there are approx. 2,000 thunderstoms somewhere on planet Earth at any given time. And there are appors. 100 lightning strikes per second, or 8.64 million lightning strikes per day! That is a lot of standing ovations. But according to the psalmist, the angels shout, "Encore!" after each one...
When was the last time you gave Him a standing ovation? "
Monday, April 12, 2010
Prayer and the Gospel, Part 1
On Sunday nights we have been studying thru the Book of I Timothy and last night we came to Ch. 2:1-8.
I want to write about this message because I know the emphasis that Paul placed on the truth in this passage has not yet taken root in my spirit and will not bear fruit in my life unless I continue to cultivate it in my life. I do not want to move forward this morning in another book or with another truth, but I want to grasp the heart of the Apostle as he communicates the priority of "Prayer and The Gospel"
1 Tim 2:1-7
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle -- I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying -- a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
NKJV
Background and Context: The Foundation for Paul's 1st letter to Timothy is found in chapter 3:15
1 Tim 3:14-16
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
NKJV
Paul has left Timothy to serve as an apostolic authority in the organization and oversight of the Church in Ephesus. Timothy had serve with Paul for approx. 15 yrs. at this point and Paul felt there was no other disciple who shared his mind as did his true son in the faith, Timothy.
So, Paul is writing to instruct Timothy on the necessary conduct of the church of the living God who IS the pillar and ground of Truth.
The Brief Synopsis of Chapter 1 is Paul's comforting and charging Timothy as he stands for the Truth of the Gospel. The heart of chapter 1 is connected to the theme that the church of the living God IS the pillar and ground of truth. Paul's exhortation to Timothy is Stand for the truth, Stand against false teachers, stand always for The Gospel. In v. 12-17 Paul pauses to praise God for the power of the Gospel in His own life. (Why not do that sometime today yourself?) In v.18-20 Paul commissions Timothy again with a charge to wage a good warfare for the truth. Holding on to "The Faith" and having a good conscience as it pertains to the truth.
Note: Before we transition into chapter 2 make sure you feel the heartbeat of Chapter 1. The church is the Pillar and Ground of truth and our message is the GOSPEL. Our Hope, our rejoicing, our glory, is in the Gospel! Paul's passion is rooted in the fact that the hope of the nations is found in the Gospel of the Glory of God in Jesus Christ.
Now read Chapter 2 in this context:
1 Tim 2:1-5
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
NKJV
Therefore: refers back to what was said in v.18-20. Paul is connecting the necessity of prayer as it relates to waging a war for the truth and the proclamation and progression of the Gospel.
I exhort: this is not a command that comes from from a king or a position of authority, rather Paul uses a word which means to plead. Paul is coming along side of Timothy and pleading with him to pray, pray, pray, for all men, kings, all who are in authority...for the sake of the Gospel.
first of all: The Priority of prayer and the Gospel. *This is where I have to stop and examine my heart and demonstrate repentance in my life.
Paul pleads with Timothy that above all things you pray, pray, pray, for all men that they would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Illustration: Notice how this truth is illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul in Romans 9-10
Rom 9:1-4
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,4 who are Israelites, NKJV
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved NKJV
This is the account of Paul's passion in prayer for the Gospel and the Jews. However, he not only had this passion for the Jews, but he also labored in prayer for the salvation of the Gentiles to whom he was called to be a minister of the Gospel.
Application:
Do we have this kind of passion for the salvation of all men?
Does this passion express itself thru supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for ALL men (seeing that God desires [Greek: thelo "a wish or desire that arises from one's emotions] all men to be saved and come to the knowlege of the truth)?
Is prayer and the Gospel to all men "first of all" in my life?
The answer I regret to say is an overwhelming no. However, I do not plan to stay this way. I have seen the error of my way and repentance is in my heart that I might be found a faithful minister of the Gospel beginning "first of all" with prayer for all men.
Who will you be praying for today? (I would love to hear your responses to this question)
Today, my heart is for the black and hispanic community in Lake Butler. My hearts desire and prayer for them is that God would allow us to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that they would become disciples of Christ thru FBC Lake Butler.
I know this is but a small portion of Paul's exhortation, but this is my first step of repentance.
Please pray for me and with me as I seek to be obedient in this area.
I want to leave you with a quote from The Puritan Pastor Richard Baxter as we focus on developing a desire to see all men saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
O, if you have the hearts of Christians, let them yearn toward your poor ignorant ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell. Many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize on them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost forever. Have you hearts of rock that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe not the Word of God and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the helping of others? Do you not care who is damned as long as you are saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace. Dost thou live close by them...or meet them in the streets...or labor with them...or travel with them...or sit and talk with them and say nothing to them of their souls or the life to come? If their houses were on fire, thou wouldst run and help them and wilt thou not help them when their souls are almost at the fire of hell?
I want to write about this message because I know the emphasis that Paul placed on the truth in this passage has not yet taken root in my spirit and will not bear fruit in my life unless I continue to cultivate it in my life. I do not want to move forward this morning in another book or with another truth, but I want to grasp the heart of the Apostle as he communicates the priority of "Prayer and The Gospel"
1 Tim 2:1-7
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle -- I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying -- a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
NKJV
Background and Context: The Foundation for Paul's 1st letter to Timothy is found in chapter 3:15
1 Tim 3:14-16
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
NKJV
Paul has left Timothy to serve as an apostolic authority in the organization and oversight of the Church in Ephesus. Timothy had serve with Paul for approx. 15 yrs. at this point and Paul felt there was no other disciple who shared his mind as did his true son in the faith, Timothy.
So, Paul is writing to instruct Timothy on the necessary conduct of the church of the living God who IS the pillar and ground of Truth.
The Brief Synopsis of Chapter 1 is Paul's comforting and charging Timothy as he stands for the Truth of the Gospel. The heart of chapter 1 is connected to the theme that the church of the living God IS the pillar and ground of truth. Paul's exhortation to Timothy is Stand for the truth, Stand against false teachers, stand always for The Gospel. In v. 12-17 Paul pauses to praise God for the power of the Gospel in His own life. (Why not do that sometime today yourself?) In v.18-20 Paul commissions Timothy again with a charge to wage a good warfare for the truth. Holding on to "The Faith" and having a good conscience as it pertains to the truth.
Note: Before we transition into chapter 2 make sure you feel the heartbeat of Chapter 1. The church is the Pillar and Ground of truth and our message is the GOSPEL. Our Hope, our rejoicing, our glory, is in the Gospel! Paul's passion is rooted in the fact that the hope of the nations is found in the Gospel of the Glory of God in Jesus Christ.
Now read Chapter 2 in this context:
1 Tim 2:1-5
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
NKJV
Therefore: refers back to what was said in v.18-20. Paul is connecting the necessity of prayer as it relates to waging a war for the truth and the proclamation and progression of the Gospel.
I exhort: this is not a command that comes from from a king or a position of authority, rather Paul uses a word which means to plead. Paul is coming along side of Timothy and pleading with him to pray, pray, pray, for all men, kings, all who are in authority...for the sake of the Gospel.
first of all: The Priority of prayer and the Gospel. *This is where I have to stop and examine my heart and demonstrate repentance in my life.
Paul pleads with Timothy that above all things you pray, pray, pray, for all men that they would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Illustration: Notice how this truth is illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul in Romans 9-10
Rom 9:1-4
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,4 who are Israelites, NKJV
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved NKJV
This is the account of Paul's passion in prayer for the Gospel and the Jews. However, he not only had this passion for the Jews, but he also labored in prayer for the salvation of the Gentiles to whom he was called to be a minister of the Gospel.
Application:
Do we have this kind of passion for the salvation of all men?
Does this passion express itself thru supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for ALL men (seeing that God desires [Greek: thelo "a wish or desire that arises from one's emotions] all men to be saved and come to the knowlege of the truth)?
Is prayer and the Gospel to all men "first of all" in my life?
The answer I regret to say is an overwhelming no. However, I do not plan to stay this way. I have seen the error of my way and repentance is in my heart that I might be found a faithful minister of the Gospel beginning "first of all" with prayer for all men.
Who will you be praying for today? (I would love to hear your responses to this question)
Today, my heart is for the black and hispanic community in Lake Butler. My hearts desire and prayer for them is that God would allow us to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that they would become disciples of Christ thru FBC Lake Butler.
I know this is but a small portion of Paul's exhortation, but this is my first step of repentance.
Please pray for me and with me as I seek to be obedient in this area.
I want to leave you with a quote from The Puritan Pastor Richard Baxter as we focus on developing a desire to see all men saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
O, if you have the hearts of Christians, let them yearn toward your poor ignorant ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell. Many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize on them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost forever. Have you hearts of rock that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe not the Word of God and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the helping of others? Do you not care who is damned as long as you are saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace. Dost thou live close by them...or meet them in the streets...or labor with them...or travel with them...or sit and talk with them and say nothing to them of their souls or the life to come? If their houses were on fire, thou wouldst run and help them and wilt thou not help them when their souls are almost at the fire of hell?
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