- John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Stand Conference
Pastor Greg Smith gave me a call today from Minneapolis, MN from the Stand Conference. He said that the conference is great and encouraged me to listen to the first two messages from John Mac Arthur. I asked Greg to look in the bookstore and pick up a copy of Jerry Bridges new book for me called "Respectable Sins."
Friday, September 28, 2007
Scriptures to support the sovereign will of God
Definition for the sovereignty of God - God plans and carries out His perfect will as He alone knows is best, over all that is in heaven and earth, and He does so without failure or defeat.
Check this verses out and see if they are consistent with this definition. Once you build this healthy Biblical category in your Bible reading you will see the sovereignty of God everywhere!
Psa. 115:3 But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.
Psa. 33:10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
Psa. 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Is. 46:9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Is. 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Dan. 4:34 ¶ “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
Dan. 4:35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
Acts 4:27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
Prov. 21:1 ¶ The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
Ezra 6:22 And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Rom. 11:25 ¶ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
Rom. 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
Psa. 135:5 ¶ For I know that the LORD is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
Psa. 135:6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
Psa. 135:7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightnings for the rain,
Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.
Prov. 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.
Matt. 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
Check this verses out and see if they are consistent with this definition. Once you build this healthy Biblical category in your Bible reading you will see the sovereignty of God everywhere!
Psa. 115:3 But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.
Psa. 33:10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
Psa. 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Is. 46:9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Is. 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Dan. 4:34 ¶ “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
Dan. 4:35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
Acts 4:27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
Prov. 21:1 ¶ The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
Ezra 6:22 And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Rom. 11:25 ¶ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
Rom. 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
Psa. 135:5 ¶ For I know that the LORD is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
Psa. 135:6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
Psa. 135:7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightnings for the rain,
Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.
Prov. 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.
Matt. 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
The "Dynamic Duo" comes to supper
Since Nancy and I are now official empty nesters we get especially excited when our children come home. This morning Butner and I got to spend some time together opening up new accounts at the same bank. Anna called and even though a little car trouble (engine light came on) she has been spotted on the mommy radar and should be home by 6 PM. Tonight the plan is for us to have supper together and just hang out.
God is sovereign over the little things
I believe God is as sovereign over the events in the life of Joseph as He is over the broken shoestring on my tennis shoe. Whenever studying the sovereignty of God one of the issues that seems to always come up is the extent of God's sovereignty.
It may be easier for us to believe God is sovereign over the big things but somehow think that He doesn't get involved in the little details of our life. However I would argue that God is sovereign over the big and the small.
1. Romans 8:28 - (NASB) - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
The translation here by the NASB is so strong for the sovereignty of God in "all" things.
2. Romans 11:36 - For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
The preposition "from" is the word ek in the Greek and it means out from – so out from Him everything originates and grows
And then the preposition "through" is dia in the Greek and means through – it means that all things come to pass through Him and they in fact happen
Finally we have the preposition "to" which is en in the Greek and this means all things come back in Him and now ask for what reason?
To glorify Him forever and ever!
3. Deuteronomy 32:39 – the background for this text is that God is commanding Moses to give this song to the people so that when they go after other gods they will remember who has called them and who they are (My people).
'See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
There is something interesting that takes place here in reference to God's rulership that takes place in a number of other passages.
You might call these "spectrum" texts because in these texts you can see two sides to a spectrum announced and God is in control of both edges. And if He control both ends then it makes sense that He controls everything in between. Such as when we read in Revelation 22:13 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." It doesn't mean He existed in the first moment and will exist in the last moment but rather He exists from every moment.
So look at the spectrum you can see in this verse:
➢ Death and Life
➢ Wound and Heal
Who would argue with the fact that God is in control of life and that ultimately it is He who does the healing? But notice that He also points out that He is in control of death and wounding. In other words God is letting His people know there is nothing outside of Me and My control.
In other words God is sovereign from your creation in eternity past to your life in eternity future and everything between these two points.
4. Matthew 10:29-30 -"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
There is not a bird anywhere at anytime that does not fall to the ground apart from God's will. God has every hair numbered on every head. All this seems to indicate that
God is sovereign not just over the life of Joseph but over every little detail of our lives as well.
5. Proverbs 16:33 - The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him]. (Amplified Bible)
This verse just reinforces to me that even those little things that seem accidental like the dropping of keys in a parking lot are under the sovereign direction of God.
Here is where I would challenge you about this issue regarding sovereignty over the big and little things in life.
I think it's both/and, not either/or here. God is absolutely sovereign; and we are absolutely responsible. Neither truth should negate the other.
If you can start to build that category then I think it will help as you come and move the principle of sovereignty from the pages of the Bible into the application
for your life.
Finally regarding the sovereignty of God I would concur with Charles Spurgeon who wrote:
I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes – that every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its orbit, as well as the sun in the heavens – that the chaff from the hand of the winnower is steered as the stars in their courses. The creeping of an aphid over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence – the fall of . . . leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche.
It may be easier for us to believe God is sovereign over the big things but somehow think that He doesn't get involved in the little details of our life. However I would argue that God is sovereign over the big and the small.
1. Romans 8:28 - (NASB) - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
The translation here by the NASB is so strong for the sovereignty of God in "all" things.
2. Romans 11:36 - For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
The preposition "from" is the word ek in the Greek and it means out from – so out from Him everything originates and grows
And then the preposition "through" is dia in the Greek and means through – it means that all things come to pass through Him and they in fact happen
Finally we have the preposition "to" which is en in the Greek and this means all things come back in Him and now ask for what reason?
To glorify Him forever and ever!
3. Deuteronomy 32:39 – the background for this text is that God is commanding Moses to give this song to the people so that when they go after other gods they will remember who has called them and who they are (My people).
'See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
There is something interesting that takes place here in reference to God's rulership that takes place in a number of other passages.
You might call these "spectrum" texts because in these texts you can see two sides to a spectrum announced and God is in control of both edges. And if He control both ends then it makes sense that He controls everything in between. Such as when we read in Revelation 22:13 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." It doesn't mean He existed in the first moment and will exist in the last moment but rather He exists from every moment.
So look at the spectrum you can see in this verse:
➢ Death and Life
➢ Wound and Heal
Who would argue with the fact that God is in control of life and that ultimately it is He who does the healing? But notice that He also points out that He is in control of death and wounding. In other words God is letting His people know there is nothing outside of Me and My control.
In other words God is sovereign from your creation in eternity past to your life in eternity future and everything between these two points.
4. Matthew 10:29-30 -"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
There is not a bird anywhere at anytime that does not fall to the ground apart from God's will. God has every hair numbered on every head. All this seems to indicate that
God is sovereign not just over the life of Joseph but over every little detail of our lives as well.
5. Proverbs 16:33 - The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him]. (Amplified Bible)
This verse just reinforces to me that even those little things that seem accidental like the dropping of keys in a parking lot are under the sovereign direction of God.
Here is where I would challenge you about this issue regarding sovereignty over the big and little things in life.
I think it's both/and, not either/or here. God is absolutely sovereign; and we are absolutely responsible. Neither truth should negate the other.
If you can start to build that category then I think it will help as you come and move the principle of sovereignty from the pages of the Bible into the application
for your life.
Finally regarding the sovereignty of God I would concur with Charles Spurgeon who wrote:
I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes – that every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its orbit, as well as the sun in the heavens – that the chaff from the hand of the winnower is steered as the stars in their courses. The creeping of an aphid over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence – the fall of . . . leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
A typical evening at the Brims
Here we are the whole family. Nancy on the computer, checking mail and also doing some instant messages with sister Holli. And yes the girls are gathered and ready for their Ezekiel Bread before we all go night, night. Getting ready for Anna B and looks like B-man will also join us tomorrow night for a family style supper. Still recovering from our church closing but each day new grace arrives and I am praising God from whom all blessings flow.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
It's craziness, it's nuts!
The first ministry job I ever had was at Calvary Church. There was a great gal, Cathy Overcash who used to come by my office and as I would ask how it was going her standard reply was "it's craziness, it's nuts!" (must be done with a pure Southern drawl). Anyway that is how life feels right now as Nancy and I try to reorient our lives. We have been overcome in the last month since the close of our church with many decisions. I am loving the men's Bible study that we have at 6 AM on Monday mornings which has been titled "Knowing Him and making Him known." There is good discussion, homework assignments and I am able to challenge these guys with the truths of Scripture.
We have so much going on at the house with washing windows, cleaning gutters, changing out air conditioning units, tinting windows, a dog that is on reconcile, trying to determine next spot in ministry, daughter coming home this weekend, Nancy at a cabby party, me setting up meetings for the next few weeks and yes, planning to pick up new boat trailer. The only way I can describe our life right now is "it's craziness, it's nuts!"
What does "foreknowledge" mean?
Romans 8:28 is an incredible verse that brings with it an incredible promise. I will give you the NASB version but would suggest that you look at this verse in several other translations - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
This verse is structured in a way that this promise is conditional. When we read that God causes all things to work together for good then we must look to see if there are any conditions to this promise and there are two:
1. For those who love God
2. For those who have been called according to His purpose
If these two conditions are not true then this promise does not apply.
But there is something else that needs to be considered about this tremendous promise in Scripture. Since God is making this promise to believers then we need to determine what is the foundation or the pillars that are able to support such an incredible promise.
In order to best understand we must look at the next two verses that follow. They are like 5 dominoes or linking rings that can not be separated from one another. When the first one falls then it is sure and true that the remaining dominoes or links of the chain will happen. Therefore if we can understand domino number 1 then it will help in our understanding of the others.
There are many people that I know who are wrestling through this issue concerning the sovereignty of God in election. Please know that my goal is to point you to what the Scripture says about this subject.
I would like you to consider the word "foreknowledge" in Romans 8:29. This is the key I believe to a fuller understanding of the promise in Romans 8:28 and the links of the chain that the apostle Paul explains in Romans 8:29-30.
The verb "foreknew" occurs 5 times in the New Testament;
Acts 26:5 - since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
Romans 8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Romans 11:2 - God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
1 Peter 1:20 - For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
2 Peter 3:17 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
The noun "foreknowledge" occurs two times in the New Testament;
Acts 2:23 - this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
1 Peter 1:2 – according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Many New Testament Greek scholars defines foreknowledge as follows:
In Scripture "know" has a pregnant meaning, which goes beyond that of mere cognition. It is used in a sense practically synonymous with "love," to set upon, to know with peculiar interest, delight, affection, and action;
The word know can be imported for the word foreknow in not only 8:29 but in Romans 11:2 - God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
Bert's paraphrase in the following verses with the understanding of the word foreknowledge
Genesis 18:19 - "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
Bert paraphrase - "For I have set my favor, delighted in him...
Exodus 2:25 - God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.
Bert paraphrase - "...and God favored them."
Psalm 1:6 - For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
Bert paraphrase - "For the Lord delights in the way of the righteous..."
Psalm 144:3 - O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?
Bert paraphrase - "O LORD, what is man that You set your affection on him..."
Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Bert paraphrase - "Before I formed you in the womb I delighted in you..."
Amos 3:2 - "You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."
Bert paraphrase - "You only have I set my favor upon among all the families of the earth..."
Hoses 13:5 - I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.
Bert paraphrase - "I knew you in the wilderness..."
Matthew 7:23 - "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Bert paraphrase - "And then I will declare to them, I never set my affection upon you..."
1 Corinthians 8:3 - but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
Bert paraphrase - "but if anyone loves God, he is favored by Him."
Galatians 4:9 - But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
Bert paraphrase - "But now that you have come to have God's love or affection placed on you..."
2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
Bert paraphrase - "...The Lord sets His favor on those who are His..."
In summary:
Therefore the word foreknowledge in these verses mean what God does and not just what God sees when He looks into the future.
This verse is structured in a way that this promise is conditional. When we read that God causes all things to work together for good then we must look to see if there are any conditions to this promise and there are two:
1. For those who love God
2. For those who have been called according to His purpose
If these two conditions are not true then this promise does not apply.
But there is something else that needs to be considered about this tremendous promise in Scripture. Since God is making this promise to believers then we need to determine what is the foundation or the pillars that are able to support such an incredible promise.
In order to best understand we must look at the next two verses that follow. They are like 5 dominoes or linking rings that can not be separated from one another. When the first one falls then it is sure and true that the remaining dominoes or links of the chain will happen. Therefore if we can understand domino number 1 then it will help in our understanding of the others.
There are many people that I know who are wrestling through this issue concerning the sovereignty of God in election. Please know that my goal is to point you to what the Scripture says about this subject.
I would like you to consider the word "foreknowledge" in Romans 8:29. This is the key I believe to a fuller understanding of the promise in Romans 8:28 and the links of the chain that the apostle Paul explains in Romans 8:29-30.
The verb "foreknew" occurs 5 times in the New Testament;
Acts 26:5 - since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
Romans 8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Romans 11:2 - God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
1 Peter 1:20 - For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
2 Peter 3:17 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
The noun "foreknowledge" occurs two times in the New Testament;
Acts 2:23 - this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
1 Peter 1:2 – according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Many New Testament Greek scholars defines foreknowledge as follows:
In Scripture "know" has a pregnant meaning, which goes beyond that of mere cognition. It is used in a sense practically synonymous with "love," to set upon, to know with peculiar interest, delight, affection, and action;
The word know can be imported for the word foreknow in not only 8:29 but in Romans 11:2 - God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
Bert's paraphrase in the following verses with the understanding of the word foreknowledge
Genesis 18:19 - "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
Bert paraphrase - "For I have set my favor, delighted in him...
Exodus 2:25 - God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.
Bert paraphrase - "...and God favored them."
Psalm 1:6 - For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
Bert paraphrase - "For the Lord delights in the way of the righteous..."
Psalm 144:3 - O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?
Bert paraphrase - "O LORD, what is man that You set your affection on him..."
Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Bert paraphrase - "Before I formed you in the womb I delighted in you..."
Amos 3:2 - "You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."
Bert paraphrase - "You only have I set my favor upon among all the families of the earth..."
Hoses 13:5 - I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.
Bert paraphrase - "I knew you in the wilderness..."
Matthew 7:23 - "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Bert paraphrase - "And then I will declare to them, I never set my affection upon you..."
1 Corinthians 8:3 - but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
Bert paraphrase - "but if anyone loves God, he is favored by Him."
Galatians 4:9 - But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
Bert paraphrase - "But now that you have come to have God's love or affection placed on you..."
2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
Bert paraphrase - "...The Lord sets His favor on those who are His..."
In summary:
Therefore the word foreknowledge in these verses mean what God does and not just what God sees when He looks into the future.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Did I mention supper?
Hmmm...good Hmmm...good whatever Nancy cooks is Hmmm...good (sung to the tune of the Campbell Soup commercial)
Rumor has it...
We hear that our "baby" girl is heading home for the weekend. Whenever Anna B. comes home it gets very exciting around the house. Therefore we need to stock up on coffee, plenty of splendor, cinnamon, sugar and wheat bread. I am already looking forward to our discussions about life in general. Anna is wonderfully verbal and so intelligent, and yes that comes from her mom's side of the family. What a brilliant ray of sunshine this young woman is in our lives and am so looking forward to her being with us this weekend! Be careful and drive safely.
Georgia is being reconciled
We have a 10 year old yellow lab. This is one of the sweetest dogs in the history of the world. She was an abandoned pooch at about 6 months of age that literally chose our family one day in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Since she found us near Georgetown road we named her Georgia. Unfortunately in the last two months she has shown signs of confusion and anxiousness to the point that she constantly stays beside Nancy or me. Because of this drastic change in her personality we took her to the vet. He recommended that we put her on Prozac for dogs which is called reconcile. I couldn't help but think of many church relationships that may need this prescription before they in fact go to the dogs.
Gifts from the heart
Last night we had supper with some of our dearest friends, Larry and Becky Burgess. They presented these glasses to Nancy and me as a reminder of our days at the Shepherd's Church. What an incredible couple and so encouraging during the last 4 years of ministry. Thanks again to Larry and Becky!
Dr. Buck spotted at Lake Wylie
After years of staying out of the public eye it appears that Dr. Filbert Buck is back!
He was spotted the other day making a visit in an assisted living home around Lake Wylie. He is working with an image awareness company which is using the tag phrase "image is everything." Dr. Buck who is a retired neurosurgeon speaks around the country encouraging people to look their best in order to feel their best. Stay on alert because he may be coming to a city near you.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
I hear the train a coming...
Nancy called around 4 PM and said the trip was a blast! She even told me to listen on her cell phone as the train pulled into the station while the engineer was blowing his horn! By the way that is one of Nancy's favorite sounds in all the world. Every time a train goes by we have to roll down the car windows and listen for the whistle. Isn't she cute? Rumor now has it that there is another train trip sometime in October and it looks like the guys are going to get recruited to go on this one. Thought for the day:
If you train up your wife in the right manner she will stay on track! (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one)
Devotion Time
There are many different "through the Bible in one year" reading plans. While we were in Mt. Pleasant, SC I was browsing through a Barnes and Nobles and saw this Daily Walk Bible. I highly recommend this as a wonderful tool for your daily devotions. This morning my devotion was in Haggai.
The final three books in the Old Testament are written by post-exilic prophets. The Jews have returned to their land after the destruction and captivity of Babylon. Their number one priority is to rebuild the temple. But the Lord sends the prophet Haggai to admonish and exhort the people to keep the main thing the main thing.
We get a look at what is going on in the lives of these people:
1. They have planted much but they have harvested little
2. They have food to eat but not enough
3. They have wine to drink but not enough to satisfy their thirst
4. They have clothes to wear but not enough to keep warm
Why are these results happening to the people of God?
Answer - because they have placed their own desires, wants and lifestyle above
their desire for the Lord. Isn't that the very definition of sin? When we trade the glory of God for other things that we enjoy and treasure more than Him.
What are some things in your life that tend to get more attention than God Himself?
- family
- being liked by others
- job
- lifestyle
- TV
- recreation
- exercise
God send Haggai to His people to tell them to go up into the hills, bring the timber down and rebuild My temple. Then He says "I the Lord will be honored and take pleasure in it."
The most loving thing that God can do for His people is to give them that which is best for them and that is God Himself. Don't we see this all through the Scriptures where God is constantly reminding us "Praise Me, Worship Me, exalt Me." God doesn't need me but He sure knows how much I need Him!
Lesson learned this morning: God is constantly reminding me to focus on Him (keep the main thing the main thing) in my worship, study, thought process and daily activities. In the words of John the Baptist "He must increase and I must decrease."
I hear the training a leaving...
After cleaning out the garage and working their fingers to the bone Nancy B. and sister Holli decided all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. Therefore they left on the early morning train with Go Travels for a trip to Selma, NC, yes I said Selma, NC.
Check out the itinerary:
* 6:40 AM Arrive at Amtrak Station, 1914 N. Tryon Street in Charlotte. Our train, The Carolinian, "sleeps" in Charlotte, cleaned, and ready to board! Choice seating.
* 7:40 AM The Carolinian leaves Charlotte for Selma through Raleigh.
* 7:45 AM Ride through North Carolina countryside stopping at Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Cary and Raleigh.
* 11:41 AM Arrive at Selma Historic Train Station. Lunch in Selma ( Included ).
* 1:30 PM Visit this historical railroad town and experience many things as they were in the past. Places like Sweetwater's Grill and Cheescake, Short's Hot Dogs, Edleweiss, a new German Restaurant, Creech Drug, an old fashioned drug store with soda fountain and dipped ice cream. Some other places of interest are Reid's Country Sampler Antiques and TWM's Antique Mall.
* 4:03 PM Board Southbound Amtrak "Carolinian" for Charlotte
* 8:15 PM Arrive at Amtrak Station in Charlotte.
Well I wasn't invited but I guess someone has to stay behind and watch college football on TV.
Spurgeon and Starbucks
A good friend and brother in Christ called this morning after reading a book dedicated to the life of Charles Spurgeon. We met at Starbucks and talked for almost 2 hours about Spurgeon, theology in general and the practical applications of God's word in our lives. It was great to discuss and wrestle through together some Bible doctrine. For example we ended up discussing the sovereignty of God as it relates to the free will of man. When someone asked Spurgeon to reconcile these two things he quickly replied "I never try and reconcile friends." Why not grab your Bible, call a friend and meet over a cup of coffee and discuss something of eternal significance like the sovereignty of God. What a great start to this Saturday, thanks for the call Steve.
Friday, September 21, 2007
The "Dynamic Duo" rocks!
Check out the before and after pictures of the garage. A huge thanks to Holli who always brings a level of excellence to everything. Also Nancy B. was awesome as usual and how could they have done it without my ongoing management from the couch.
Are you ready for some Bible study?
I recommend this Bible for pastors, elders and lay people who are serious about studying the Scriptures. For a more detailed description go to the Shepherd's Scrapbook for an interview with the editor Dr. Leland Ryken. Here is their website and the shipping date is not until September 24, 2007.
The "dynamic duo" is making progress
Looking good!
You may be wondering if Nancy and Holli are doing all the work then what am I doing?
Well, somebody has to manage these two ladies and that somebody is me. Yes, it's a thankless task.
You may be wondering if Nancy and Holli are doing all the work then what am I doing?
Well, somebody has to manage these two ladies and that somebody is me. Yes, it's a thankless task.
The "dynamic duo" tackles our garage
After 10 years in full time ministry some things didn't receive priority attention. One of those things was the garage. But this weekend one of our favorite people in the whole world Holli Hargett (Nancy's sister) has come to the rescue. These girls know how to organize, clean and make things look top notch. So I decided to give a before and after the garage makeover.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Studying the sovereignty of God
First we need a working definition regarding the sovereignty of God – God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he
1. Keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which He created them;
2. Cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and
3. Directs them to fulfill his purposes.
God's sovereignty over all aspects of our lives
Matthew 6:11 - 'Give us this day our daily bread. – This reveals our dependence on God to give us food each day, even though we work for it and obtain it through natural causes.
Philippines 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
This affirms that God will supply every need of his children even though God may use ordinary means such as other people.
God plans our days before we are born
Psalm 139:16 - Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Job 14:5 - Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.
Galatians 1:15 - But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
God's providential care rules over all our actions
Acts 17:28 – "for in Him we live and move and exist…"
Jeremiah 10:23 - I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
Proverbs 20:24 - Man's steps are ordained by the LORD,
How then can man understand his way?
Proverbs 16:9 - the mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Ezra 1:1 - Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
Ezra 6:22 - And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Proverbs 21:1 - The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
1. Keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which He created them;
2. Cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and
3. Directs them to fulfill his purposes.
God's sovereignty over all aspects of our lives
Matthew 6:11 - 'Give us this day our daily bread. – This reveals our dependence on God to give us food each day, even though we work for it and obtain it through natural causes.
Philippines 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
This affirms that God will supply every need of his children even though God may use ordinary means such as other people.
God plans our days before we are born
Psalm 139:16 - Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Job 14:5 - Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.
Galatians 1:15 - But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
God's providential care rules over all our actions
Acts 17:28 – "for in Him we live and move and exist…"
Jeremiah 10:23 - I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
Proverbs 20:24 - Man's steps are ordained by the LORD,
How then can man understand his way?
Proverbs 16:9 - the mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Ezra 1:1 - Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
Ezra 6:22 - And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Proverbs 21:1 - The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
Steve Saint's testimony on the sovereignty of God
On January 8, 1956 there were five missionaries Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian who were killed by a tribe known as the Huaoranis.
These five brave men are credited with sparking an interest in Christian missions among the youth of their time and are still considered an encouragement to Christian missionaries working throughout the world. After her husband's death, Elisabeth Elliot and other missionaries began working among the Auca (Huaorani) Indians, where they had a profound impact and helped bring many people to Christ.
The following is a quote that was found in the journal of Jim Elliott - "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
The son of Nate Saint whose name is Steve Saint wrote a book that was recently turned into a movie called "The End of the Spear."
Here is the link for the personal testimony of Steve Saint for your listening and learning about the sovereignty of God. By the way on this message Steve also speaks of the god father of his first child which happens to be the very man who killed his dad.
talented young man
My son Butner B. has been producing, acting and editing in short video segments since he was a little guy. Well here is one of his newest productions!
The glory of God
Have you ever seen a sunset over the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean when the sunlight streams through the clouds to bring out shades of red, yellow and violet?
Have you ever been to a movie that kept you captivated for two hours?
Have you ever been a the top of a 10,000 foot mountain and seen a pan aroma of the city below?
Have you ever been to the Indianapolis 500 or the Coca Cola 600 and heard the sound and seen the speed of those race cars?
Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?
Have you ever seen Michael Jordan play basketball or Tiger Wood play golf?
Have you ever heard Pavarotti sing Nessun Dorma?
Have you ever seen a great white shark attack a sea lion?
Have you ever been inside St. Peter's cathedral?
Have you ever watched the "Blue Angels" do an air show?
Folks, we are hard wired or you might even say "spring loaded" from birth to be amazed and awed by splendor, greatness, power, and majesty! Just think of the times in your own life when, like an example that I have listed above, something or someone has caused you to be mesmerized in the moment so to speak. Do you know what happens when you are in that moment? You totally forget or have any awareness of self and you are totally captivated by the richness, fullness, power and the glory of that on which you are focused.
Now just take that thought process and move it over onto God Himself. This is the very reason you and I were made and why we were ultimately created and that is to enjoy and display the glory of God. Hey folks these are reasons to read, study and meditate over the Scriptures. Here are a few verses for you to think about in this regard.
What is the ultimate purpose of God as is revealed in Scripture? As we read Ephesians 1:1-14 it reveals in verse 6- "to the praise and glory of His grace", in verse 12 - "to the praise of His glory" and in verse 14 - "to the praise of His glory."
Also read Isaiah 43:7 - "Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
And in Genesis 1:27 - "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him..." Since we are created in the image of God doesn't this mean when other people hear us talk and watch our lives that they should be able to observe the glory of God at work?
Here a few more Scriptures for your meditation:
JESUS LIFE AND MINISTRY
Jesus prayed at the end of His life:
John 17:4 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
JESUS' DEATH
John 12:27-28 - Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:28 "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In Summary
Since we were made in His image we are to be reflections of His glory on planet earth.
When people see you and me are they observing Christ in us the hope of glory?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Boasting in the Cross
As I continue to study the "gospel-centered" life here is a message by Dr. John Piper on the cross that is excellent.
Grab your Bible, notebook and cup of coffee.
Continuing to live the cross-centered life
My Bible study reflections this summer led me to this particular series called “The Cross-Centered Life”
Therefore I preached the following three messages:
1. Understanding the cross-centered life
2. Preaching the cross-centered life
3. Living the cross-centered life
Since the focus has been on the gospel I decided to say that one could call this series the gospel centered life, cross-centered life or Christ crucified life series and it would all mean the same thing.
By the way the Greek word for gospel is “euangellion” it means good news and this word appears as a noun and verb over 170 times in the NT. So when you think about good news what comes to your mind?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones says that there is a big difference between news and advice:
Advice is counsel about something to do that has yet to happen and that you still can do something about News on the other hand is a report about something that has already happened. When you refer to the good news of the gospel this is something that has been done for you and all you can do is respond to it.
My main point
If we don’t understand and therefore don’t preach the cross-centered life then it should not surprise us when those in the church don’t live it! And when I talk to and ask people directly here is what I find, there is a limited amount of study, prayer, reading and meditation on the gospel.
For example if you ask the average Christian to articulate the gospel and support with Scripture they will have a difficult time. Folks we don’t get mad at the doctor if he tells us we have heart disease we ask him to fix it. Therefore let's understand the disease of apathy and ignorance that has pervaded the church relative to the gospel and let's collectively pray for God to help us fix it!
We are all becoming in life what we are beholding in our hearts and our minds. The problem is we aren’t beholding the gospel. If the apostle Paul was to give a report on the church in America over the last 50 years here is what I really believe he would say:
"The gospel has been clear but the gospel hasn’t yet become real"
Illustration: Gospel-centered or cross-centered church
Read slowly and carefully 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Look what happens when the need becomes known to the church in Macedonia:
➢ When grace shows up affliction increases – often times when grace is poured out things become more difficult – Mark 9, demon possessed young boy
➢ Not only did the affliction get worse but the poverty remained with these people. This is totally contrary to the health, wealth and prosperity gospel.
➢ They financially give beyond their ability and the apostle Paul tells them to stop
➢ They beg to give even more
These people aren’t giving and giving and giving to try and get God’s approval. They understand (heart) that they have God’s approval and therefore that is why they can’t stop giving.
The gospel was not only clear to those in Macedonia but it was also real!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
These are a few of my favorite things...
Here are two of my favorite things (Butner B. and Anna B.) in the whole world!
Understanding the Scripture through a better understanding of the context
I enjoyed reading this post from "Between Two Worlds" blog site earlier this morning.
When you start to understand the point D.A. Carson is making about context it helps to build healthy biblical categories as you read the Bible.
The following was in an email from D.A. Carson to Mark Driscoll, as cited in Driscoll's chapter ("The Church and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World") in the forthcoming book, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World:
Paul refuses to circumcise Titus, even when it was demanded by many in the Jerusalem crowd, not because it didn’t matter to them, but because it mattered so much that if he acquiesced, he would have been giving the impression that faith in Jesus is not enough for salvation: one has to become a Jew first, before one can become a Christian. That would jeopardize the exclusive sufficiency of Jesus.
To create a contemporary analogy: If I’m called to preach the gospel among a lot of people who are cultural teetotallers, I’ll give up alcohol for the sake of the gospel. But if they start saying, “You cannot be a Christian and drink alcohol,” I’ll reply, “Pass the port” or “I’ll think I’ll have a glass of Beaujolais with my meal.” Paul is flexible and therefore prepared to circumcise Timothy when the exclusive sufficiency of Christ is not at stake and when a little cultural accommodation will advance the gospel; he is rigidly inflexible and therefore refuses to circumcise Titus when people are saying that Gentiles must be circumcised and become Jews to accept the Jewish Messiah.
Copied from Between Two Worlds
When you start to understand the point D.A. Carson is making about context it helps to build healthy biblical categories as you read the Bible.
The following was in an email from D.A. Carson to Mark Driscoll, as cited in Driscoll's chapter ("The Church and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World") in the forthcoming book, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World:
Paul refuses to circumcise Titus, even when it was demanded by many in the Jerusalem crowd, not because it didn’t matter to them, but because it mattered so much that if he acquiesced, he would have been giving the impression that faith in Jesus is not enough for salvation: one has to become a Jew first, before one can become a Christian. That would jeopardize the exclusive sufficiency of Jesus.
To create a contemporary analogy: If I’m called to preach the gospel among a lot of people who are cultural teetotallers, I’ll give up alcohol for the sake of the gospel. But if they start saying, “You cannot be a Christian and drink alcohol,” I’ll reply, “Pass the port” or “I’ll think I’ll have a glass of Beaujolais with my meal.” Paul is flexible and therefore prepared to circumcise Timothy when the exclusive sufficiency of Christ is not at stake and when a little cultural accommodation will advance the gospel; he is rigidly inflexible and therefore refuses to circumcise Titus when people are saying that Gentiles must be circumcised and become Jews to accept the Jewish Messiah.
Copied from Between Two Worlds
Protecting the environment
Here is proof that I am protecting the environment and the city of Charleston from being taken over by red fish. Here is how this works, the more red fish the higher the tide levels and the higher the tide levels the more erosion of beach which leads to many other problems. The solution Pastor B goes fishing! Therefore this is what he will be doing, Lord willing in the near future. Rumor has it that his lovely and talented wife consented to a new boat trailer and that means more time on the water and more fish in the fryer!
The glory of God
Have you ever seen a sunset over the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean when the sunlight streams through the clouds to bring out shades of red, yellow and violet?
Have you ever been to a movie that kept you captivated for two hours?
Have you ever been a the top of a 10,000 foot mountain and seen a pan aroma of the city below?
Have you ever been to the Indianapolis 500 or the Coca Cola 600 and heard the sound and seen the speed of those race cars?
Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?
Have you ever seen Michael Jordan play basketball or Tiger Wood play golf?
Have you ever heard Pavarotti sing Nessun Dorma?
Have you ever seen a great white shark attack a sea lion?
Have you ever been inside St. Peter's cathedral?
Have you ever watched the "Blue Angels" do an air show?
Folks, we are hard wired or you might even say "spring loaded" from birth to be amazed and awed by splendor, greatness, power, and majesty! Just think of the times in your own life when, like an example that I have listed above, something or someone has caused you to be mesmerized in the moment so to speak. Do you know what happens when you are in that moment? You totally forget or have any awareness of self and you are totally captivated by the richness, fullness, power and the glory of that on which you are focused.
Now just take that thought process and move it over onto God Himself. This is the very reason you and I were made and why we were ultimately created and that is to enjoy and display the glory of God. Hey guys this is the reason that we are having our Bible study! Here are a few verses for you to think about in this regard.
As one reads Ephesians 1:1-14 it reveals in verse 6- "to the praise and glory of His grace", in verse 12 - "to the praise of His glory" and in verse 14 - "to the praise of His glory."
Also read Isaiah 43:7 - "Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
And in Genesis 1:27 - "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him..." Since we are created in the image of God doesn't this mean when other people hear us talk and watch our lives that they should be able to observe the glory of God at work?
Here a few more Scriptures for your meditation:
JESUS LIFE AND MINISTRY
Jesus prayed at the end of His life:
John 17:4 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
JESUS' DEATH
John 12:27-28 - Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:28 "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Have you ever been to a movie that kept you captivated for two hours?
Have you ever been a the top of a 10,000 foot mountain and seen a pan aroma of the city below?
Have you ever been to the Indianapolis 500 or the Coca Cola 600 and heard the sound and seen the speed of those race cars?
Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?
Have you ever seen Michael Jordan play basketball or Tiger Wood play golf?
Have you ever heard Pavarotti sing Nessun Dorma?
Have you ever seen a great white shark attack a sea lion?
Have you ever been inside St. Peter's cathedral?
Have you ever watched the "Blue Angels" do an air show?
Folks, we are hard wired or you might even say "spring loaded" from birth to be amazed and awed by splendor, greatness, power, and majesty! Just think of the times in your own life when, like an example that I have listed above, something or someone has caused you to be mesmerized in the moment so to speak. Do you know what happens when you are in that moment? You totally forget or have any awareness of self and you are totally captivated by the richness, fullness, power and the glory of that on which you are focused.
Now just take that thought process and move it over onto God Himself. This is the very reason you and I were made and why we were ultimately created and that is to enjoy and display the glory of God. Hey guys this is the reason that we are having our Bible study! Here are a few verses for you to think about in this regard.
As one reads Ephesians 1:1-14 it reveals in verse 6- "to the praise and glory of His grace", in verse 12 - "to the praise of His glory" and in verse 14 - "to the praise of His glory."
Also read Isaiah 43:7 - "Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
And in Genesis 1:27 - "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him..." Since we are created in the image of God doesn't this mean when other people hear us talk and watch our lives that they should be able to observe the glory of God at work?
Here a few more Scriptures for your meditation:
JESUS LIFE AND MINISTRY
Jesus prayed at the end of His life:
John 17:4 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
JESUS' DEATH
John 12:27-28 - Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:28 "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
My little "20" year old girl
Nancy and I got to spend some quality time with Anna yesterday in her new apartment. It was great to meet and see her room mates Charis, Bethany and Stephanie. The view from the backdoor that looks across the mountains was absolutely incredible!What a wonderful young lady who is beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside.
Well since I am her dad I can say those kind of things.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Visiting Anna B at App. State
Nancy B and I spent the day with our daughter Anna B. It was great to see her and just hang out and of course go shopping. Even though my foot has been bad we found out that the wallet is still good! What a great day with my precious Anna B.
Friday, September 7, 2007
The doctrine of God
A.W. Tozer writes "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
So what comes in your mind when you think about God?
Ex. 14:4 "Thus I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." And they did so.
Ex. 6:7 'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God , who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Ex. 7:5 "The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst."
Ex. 7:17 'Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.
Ex. 8:22 "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.
Ex. 10:2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD."
Ex. 14:18 "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen."
Ex. 16:6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, "At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Ex. 16:12 "I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"
Ex. 29:46 "They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.
Ex. 31:13 "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Deut. 4:35 "To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.
Deut. 29:6 "You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God.
1Kings 8:43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name .
1Kings 8:60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.
Psa. 83:18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Is. 37:20 "Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God."
Jer. 16:21 ¶ "Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—
This time I will make them know
My power and My might;
And they shall know that My name is the LORD."
Jer. 24:7 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
Ezek. 6:7 "The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
Ezek. 6:10 "Then they will know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them."'
Ezek. 6:13 "Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols.
Ezek. 6:14 "So throughout all their habitations I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the LORD."'"
Ezek. 7:4 'For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the LORD!'
Ezek. 7:9 'My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, the LORD, do the smiting.
Ezek. 7:27 'The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with horror, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. According to their conduct I will deal with them, and by their judgments I will judge them. And they will know that I am the LORD.'"
Ezek. 11:10 "You will fall by the sword. I will judge you to the border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the LORD.
So what comes in your mind when you think about God?
- What message is Yahweh (the Lord) trying to get across to His readers in these verses?
- How do these verses help you know God better?
- Can you apply this principle to your life today?
Ex. 14:4 "Thus I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." And they did so.
Ex. 6:7 'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God , who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Ex. 7:5 "The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst."
Ex. 7:17 'Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.
Ex. 8:22 "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.
Ex. 10:2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD."
Ex. 14:18 "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen."
Ex. 16:6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, "At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Ex. 16:12 "I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"
Ex. 29:46 "They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.
Ex. 31:13 "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Deut. 4:35 "To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.
Deut. 29:6 "You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God.
1Kings 8:43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name .
1Kings 8:60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.
Psa. 83:18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Is. 37:20 "Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God."
Jer. 16:21 ¶ "Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—
This time I will make them know
My power and My might;
And they shall know that My name is the LORD."
Jer. 24:7 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
Ezek. 6:7 "The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
Ezek. 6:10 "Then they will know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them."'
Ezek. 6:13 "Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols.
Ezek. 6:14 "So throughout all their habitations I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the LORD."'"
Ezek. 7:4 'For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the LORD!'
Ezek. 7:9 'My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, the LORD, do the smiting.
Ezek. 7:27 'The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with horror, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. According to their conduct I will deal with them, and by their judgments I will judge them. And they will know that I am the LORD.'"
Ezek. 11:10 "You will fall by the sword. I will judge you to the border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the LORD.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything
Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul have a good exchange their views on the war in Iraq
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
One size DOES NOT fit all when it comes to knowing God
The following is a note that I wrote to a men's Bible study group that I have the joy and privilege of teaching:
Our goal over the next six weeks is to know God better than we do at this point and time in our lives. Obviously knowing God will take a lifetime of seeking after Him but I am hoping and praying that this study together will allow us to take some giant steps in this process. Before we begin our study I need to sound a warning alarm! WARNING-WARNING-WARNING - Have I gotten your attention?
We are going to focus on the end result and not on the means that it takes to get there. We in the American church tend to think of our spiritual lives in very linear terms. The problem with an approach that says do "A" and then "B" and you will get "C" tends to be religious and legalistic in nature. If we become experts on how to read, study and meditate on the Bible but we don't get to know God then what have we really accomplished?
My point is that we all have different temperaments, backgrounds, parents, education, and life experiences. Therefore we need to loosen up on the way we get to know God and get more focused on the end result of knowing God.
There are many different ways that a person can abide in the word of God as you get to know God. For example:
1. Take a verse and meditate on it for a week, like Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."
2. Take a chapter and stay there for several months. Dr. Dixon who did our church retreat in February 2007 taught us John Chapter 9 and this is a chapter he had been meditating on for almost a year.
3. Read using user friendly versions like the New Living Translation, or even Eugene Peterson's "The Message."
4. Get a highlighter and underline the verses that really leap out to you and then write them in a notebook to think about during the day. I have just started to keep a verse of the day for Nancy and I on the refrigerator that I write on a little white board. It gives Nancy and I something to talk about and think about together during the day. Once again no perfect system but try different things, mix it up, have fun and watch the Lord work in unimaginable ways through His word!
Again the point is not everyone starts there day with one hour of prayer and preparation of the heart, one hour of study and reading, then one hour of Bible memorization and then go to work and live out the ultimate Christian life. Hey guys we are on a journey of knowing God and there are a few essentials but find your style and what works for you and go for it! Nancy and I home schooled Butner and Anna for a period of two years. One thing that Nancy and I learned about Anna is that she could not sit in a desk with feet on the floor and take notes and listen to instruction. Often times she would be standing and since she is so visual and not auditory the best way for her was to give her the point in some visual way. She did better standing on her head or twisting her body into a pretzel when learning other than the conventional way in which we all came through our school years. Again my point is to learn your style, preferences and what works for you and what you do well then do a lot of it and what you don't do well do little of it.
Now all that said, I will be giving handouts but use them as a tool to help you in your study of knowing God. If it is better for you to take a couple of verses and concentrate on them then do it that way. For others it may be that you want to study and absorb all the notes and again it that works for you then do it. We are on a journey of knowing God and there will be a number of different paths that each of us take along the way. Some will go through swamps, others through a heavy jungle, while others still will hit the wilderness but the ultimate end destination is to know our God.
D.A. Carson on Piper's "The Future of Justification"
"The so-called 'New Perspective on Paul' (NPP) has stirred up enormous controversy, especially, but not exclusively, in the English-speaking world. The issues are so complex that it has taken time to mount a careful evaluation. During the last decade many have undertaken the task, often with helpful contributions. John Piper’s work may not be the last word on the subject, but it brings to Christian leaders everywhere five enormous strengths: (1) By focusing on N. T. Wright, by far the most influential writer of the NPP, Piper brings to bear a badly needed focus. (2) Despite the interlocking complexities of the debate—Tom Wright has an amazing capacity to move theological and exegetical pieces around, creating such a new tableau that words have shifted in meaning and theological notions their conceptual location—Piper has written with admirable clarity. (3) Better yet, John has engaged Tom with simultaneous depth and courtesy. That is a rare but wholly admirable combination. (4) Certain parts of John Piper’s book have quietly broken new ground—not least his handling of “righteousness” and “justification,” their connection with the “gospel,” and his careful insistence that making the words mean different things for the Judge in God’s law-court and for the defendant in that law-court really cannot be sustained in the light of Scripture. (5) John Piper sees the moral and spiritual implications of what he is seeking to explain. Are men and women saved, on the last day, on the basis of the whole life lived? But if not, what is the nature of the connection between justification and good works? The issues are not secondary, and, pastor that he is, John Piper will not allow believers to put their trust in anyone or anything other than the crucified and resurrected Savior."
D. A. Carson
Research Professor of New Testament
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL
From Justin Taylor's Blog, Between Two Worlds
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Cross Centered Life
“Our debts are not cancelled; they are liquidated”
“Christ discharged the debt of sin. He bore our sins and purged them. He did not make a token payment which God accepts in place of the whole. Our debts are not cancelled; they are liquidated. Christ procured redemption and therefore he secured it. He met in himself and swallowed up the full toll of divine condemnation and judgement against sin.”
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