Self-sufficiency is a mark of the American but not a mark of the true Christian. Not only does self-sufficiency take glory from God and make him to be a liar but it's also deceptive and simply not true. We are not, nor ever will be self-sufficient; I say this because I believe in total depravity, the heavenly realm, and the activity of the devil, to whom the unconverted is a slave.
So that brings me to a sequence of verses in Psalm 37 (3-7) that I think are applicable. Trust in the LORD. Delight in the LORD. Commit your way to the LORD. Wait patiently for the LORD. Below are some possible implications of the texts...
Trust in the LORD. (trust in nothing else).
Delight in the LORD. (delight in nothing else?...ouch).
Commit your way to the LORD. (commit to nothing else).
Wait patiently for the LORD. (stop working)
Are these rules to live by, or burdonsome standards? Not at all...if we trust in the LORD. I think it all begins with trusting God - it did with Abraham, who was considered righteous when he finally trusted God (he went on to show an imperfect faith yet this did not nullify God's covenant). How can we delight in one we can't trust? Or how can we commit to one we don't trust? How can we wait on one we can't trust?
Trust in Jesus for a beautiful, righteous, glorious, and perfect position before God. Then let this truth be at the forefront of your mind daily and be prepared for Satan to attack you at this very fine point!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
What's Your God Project?
"What's your God project?" That was the question and sermon from our elder this morning. The point that he made was ultimately, "what do you boast in?", or "what do you do to climb to God?". He went on to reference those who attempted to build a tower to the heavens for their sake (gen.11) and the 'brood of vipers' who were proud of their forefathers so as to approve themselves to God (Matt.3).
I ask myself what my God projects are and it's pretty easy to think of things. In fact, I think all 'spiritual' things I do come at the risk of being actions to improve my place or reach God: bible reading, praying, sharing the gospel, loving my family, etc. I know without a doubt I'm often guilty of these as religious actions. And I make no excuses; I'm an arrogant sinner who can be prone to thinking my deeds are good. Period.
And this is the EXACT mentality that I must repent of; it's worthy of the pits of hell and makes me pharisee-like. But, something which is sweet, so sweet, is to confess this sin and then trust in Jesus as my savior. Jesus' yoke is truly easy and his burden is light! If you don't believe me try it - take every single anxiety, every thing that you think is good about yourself, and every sin, every thing you're ashamed of and unload it on Jesus. All of it, be liberal, boast in your weaknesses. Then, and here is the most important part, trust Jesus that you are 100% righteous, cleansed, pure, perfect, in his eyes. PERIOD. No buts, no ands, no ifs, nadda. Jesus met every single condition for righteousness when he died and rose from the grave.
So if you have any God projects kick them to the curb. Don't work, just believe (Rom. 4:4-8). The cross is the only God Project. Glory!
So if you have any God projects kick them to the curb. Don't work, just believe (Rom. 4:4-8). The cross is the only God Project. Glory!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Evil heart?
"Take care, brothers, less there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God." Hebrews 3:12
I read a Charles Spurgeon sermon once on the Syrophonecian woman who approached Jesus because her daughter had a demon. Jesus ignored her and then told her it wasn't right to give what was Israel's to dogs. He was calling her a dog, a second-rate person compared to the Jews. Her response was "Yes, Lord...". Spurgeon then took three points from this story and elaborated on them and one of them was an admonishment to not argue or disagree with the Lord. The Lord called her a dog and she didn't object but accepted it, then boldy called upon truth and her faith appealed her to God. Her daughter was healed.
I think the same principle can be applied using today's verse. I do believe we all struggle with unbelief at different times and to different degrees - it is no doubt a powerful scheme of the devil who never stops feeding us lies. But, I think an appropriate, helpful, honest - the best response to this is to confess our sin of unbelief, the fruit of an evil heart. OUCH! At least that is what I think and it's much easier to account for unbelief in some pitiful way. But I think this is deadly.
Unbelief is the most evil of sins and eternally unpardonable. It denies God and makes him to be a liar. But confession is a sweet remedy. We can boldly confess our sins to our God because he is merciful - in fact this is the crux of Christianity! Recognize your sinfulness, even boast in your weakness but trust in Jesus Christ to save the ungodly. The Hebrew writer describes faith as rest. Yes, the remedy for an evil heart is to rest in the Lord. What a blessing!
I read a Charles Spurgeon sermon once on the Syrophonecian woman who approached Jesus because her daughter had a demon. Jesus ignored her and then told her it wasn't right to give what was Israel's to dogs. He was calling her a dog, a second-rate person compared to the Jews. Her response was "Yes, Lord...". Spurgeon then took three points from this story and elaborated on them and one of them was an admonishment to not argue or disagree with the Lord. The Lord called her a dog and she didn't object but accepted it, then boldy called upon truth and her faith appealed her to God. Her daughter was healed.
I think the same principle can be applied using today's verse. I do believe we all struggle with unbelief at different times and to different degrees - it is no doubt a powerful scheme of the devil who never stops feeding us lies. But, I think an appropriate, helpful, honest - the best response to this is to confess our sin of unbelief, the fruit of an evil heart. OUCH! At least that is what I think and it's much easier to account for unbelief in some pitiful way. But I think this is deadly.
Unbelief is the most evil of sins and eternally unpardonable. It denies God and makes him to be a liar. But confession is a sweet remedy. We can boldly confess our sins to our God because he is merciful - in fact this is the crux of Christianity! Recognize your sinfulness, even boast in your weakness but trust in Jesus Christ to save the ungodly. The Hebrew writer describes faith as rest. Yes, the remedy for an evil heart is to rest in the Lord. What a blessing!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Therefore My Heart is Glad...
"Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure." Psalm 16: 9
There is a wonderful sequence of scriptures starting in Acts 13:32-52 and ending in Psalm 16. In Acts, Paul, in effect is proving the resurrection using the Old Testament scriptures. From Acts 13:34 you can then go to Isaiah 55:3 and read about the "holy and sure" blessings of David (haven't done research but it appears that Paul may be quoting from the Greek translation of the OT, the LXX, as it appears his wording is slightly different from ours). From here we then can turn to Psalm 16 and read more about these blessings, written by David.
I'm not capable of saying anything about the blessings of the resurrection better than Paul, Isaiah, David or Peter (Acts 2) but have just been thinking of how Psalm 16 applies to us, as Christians, 2000 years later. And I think that it means to us, practically (or daily), the same thing it meant to David.
David set the Lord before him, at his right hand, and was not shaken (v. 8). And therefore, his heart was glad and his whole being rejoiced and his flesh dwelled secure. In David we have a wonderful example of one who was convinced of the 'sureness' of God's future blessing and thus he enjoyed temporal blessings: a glad heart and rejoicing. And without a doubt, Christ our Savior, who was dejected to the point of death, also rejoiced in the sureness of his resurrection.
Be sure of God's blessings, be glad, be secure, and rejoice!
There is a wonderful sequence of scriptures starting in Acts 13:32-52 and ending in Psalm 16. In Acts, Paul, in effect is proving the resurrection using the Old Testament scriptures. From Acts 13:34 you can then go to Isaiah 55:3 and read about the "holy and sure" blessings of David (haven't done research but it appears that Paul may be quoting from the Greek translation of the OT, the LXX, as it appears his wording is slightly different from ours). From here we then can turn to Psalm 16 and read more about these blessings, written by David.
I'm not capable of saying anything about the blessings of the resurrection better than Paul, Isaiah, David or Peter (Acts 2) but have just been thinking of how Psalm 16 applies to us, as Christians, 2000 years later. And I think that it means to us, practically (or daily), the same thing it meant to David.
David set the Lord before him, at his right hand, and was not shaken (v. 8). And therefore, his heart was glad and his whole being rejoiced and his flesh dwelled secure. In David we have a wonderful example of one who was convinced of the 'sureness' of God's future blessing and thus he enjoyed temporal blessings: a glad heart and rejoicing. And without a doubt, Christ our Savior, who was dejected to the point of death, also rejoiced in the sureness of his resurrection.
Be sure of God's blessings, be glad, be secure, and rejoice!
Friday, November 11, 2011
The LORD has spoken!
"Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;" Psalm 85:8.
Are we Christians or are we OT Jews? Sometimes I find myself praying in a way that does not consider Jesus' finished work on the cross. Do you wait for peace - or do you believe have it in Christ? Do you seek salvation, or do you trust you have it in Christ? We live on the other side of the cross than the Jews did and we must always remember this.
Paul said that all the promises of God are a yes in Christ (2 Cor. 1), specifically peace (being justified by faith we now have peace with God through Jesus Christ) Since it is by faith I believe it's at this fine point that satan is so quick and successful to attack many Christians. Let us not dally or sulk in unbelief but be quick to confess our evil heart of unbelief (Heb. 4) and put our trust, hope and faith in Christ - for the LORD has spoken!
Are we Christians or are we OT Jews? Sometimes I find myself praying in a way that does not consider Jesus' finished work on the cross. Do you wait for peace - or do you believe have it in Christ? Do you seek salvation, or do you trust you have it in Christ? We live on the other side of the cross than the Jews did and we must always remember this.
Paul said that all the promises of God are a yes in Christ (2 Cor. 1), specifically peace (being justified by faith we now have peace with God through Jesus Christ) Since it is by faith I believe it's at this fine point that satan is so quick and successful to attack many Christians. Let us not dally or sulk in unbelief but be quick to confess our evil heart of unbelief (Heb. 4) and put our trust, hope and faith in Christ - for the LORD has spoken!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Blessed Indeed
"What then has become of the blessing you felt?.." Gal. 4:15
Christians are a blessed people, the most blessed people. It is common to hear blessing and happiness mentioned together but usually only to make known the distinct difference between the two: blessing or blessedness being something eternal while happiness being something momentarily or inconsequential, although the same word is often used interchangeably in the NT. While I do believe there is a difference between the two, as understood by our culture, I think Christians should be very careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Here in Galatians Paul is reminding them of the blessing they felt, yes felt, and what had become of it. If you have read Galatians you will know this whole book is about a people who are being tempted to fall back into the law, a legalistic view of salvation (a salvation dependent on your efforts and own merit). And one of the consequences of this as perceived by Paul? A lack of felt blessing.
Be reminded of grace today. For the sake of Christ and the gospel put your faith in Him alone. Let us be careful not to fall into a security based on our efforts but based on Jesus' alone. What a blessing!
Christians are a blessed people, the most blessed people. It is common to hear blessing and happiness mentioned together but usually only to make known the distinct difference between the two: blessing or blessedness being something eternal while happiness being something momentarily or inconsequential, although the same word is often used interchangeably in the NT. While I do believe there is a difference between the two, as understood by our culture, I think Christians should be very careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Here in Galatians Paul is reminding them of the blessing they felt, yes felt, and what had become of it. If you have read Galatians you will know this whole book is about a people who are being tempted to fall back into the law, a legalistic view of salvation (a salvation dependent on your efforts and own merit). And one of the consequences of this as perceived by Paul? A lack of felt blessing.
Be reminded of grace today. For the sake of Christ and the gospel put your faith in Him alone. Let us be careful not to fall into a security based on our efforts but based on Jesus' alone. What a blessing!
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