Tuesday, August 30, 2011
OVERTHROWS EMPIRES
'While I drink my little glass of Wittenberg beer the gospel runs its course and overthrows empires.' -Martin Luther
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
LEARN THIS
"Learn then this basic truth, that the Creator is absolute Sovereign, executing His own will, performing His own pleasure, and considering nought but His own glory. "The Lord hath made all things for Himself" (Prov. 16:4). And had He not a perfect right to? Since God is God, who dare challenge His prerogative?" (The Pinkster)
THE MARKET IS SACRED
Holiness consisteth not in a cowl or in a garment of gray. When God purifies the heart by faith, the market is sacred as well as the sanctuary; neither remaineth there any work or place which is profane - Martin Luther
Crown of Thorns
“They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a
crown of roses?” -Martin Luther
crown of roses?” -Martin Luther
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
THESE TWO ARE ONE
"God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion." -Jonathan Edwards;
Sunday, July 31, 2011
NO POWER IN FAITH
"Never make a Christ out of your faith, nor think of as if it were the independent source of your salvation. Our life is found in 'looking unto Jesus,' not in looking to our own faith. By faith all things become possible to us; yet the power is not in the faith, but in the God upon whom faith relies."-Charles Spurgeon
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Dying to Self
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, that is dying to self-
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence,- That is dying to self.-
When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, and interruption by the will of God, that is dying to self;
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,- That is dying to self-
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, whild your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, that is dying to self-
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, that is dying to self-
someone on FB named Kristen.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence,- That is dying to self.-
When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, and interruption by the will of God, that is dying to self;
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,- That is dying to self-
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, whild your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, that is dying to self-
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, that is dying to self-
someone on FB named Kristen.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
ALL IN ASIA
2 Tim 1:15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me,
SHARE
2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
2 Tim 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 Tim 4:5 ...endure suffering
2 Tim 1:15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me,
SHARE
2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
2 Tim 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 Tim 4:5 ...endure suffering
2 Tim 1:15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me,
Thursday, February 24, 2011
VERY HINGE
“[It is] essentially wholesome and necessary, for a Christian to know, whether or not the will does any thing in those things which pertain unto Salvation. Nay, let me tell you, this is the very hinge upon which our discussion turns. It is the very heart of the subject” - Martin Luther
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
DESPISE THE BODY
Reading a powerful sermon, here is good excerpt: That is why Paul says, “...that their bodies might be dishonored among them.” You see, people that indulge in these types of activities dishonor their body. It literally means to treat the body with contempt, to despise it. (!!!) I never caught this implication before, insightful.
The lie is, people think, "oh but we love pleasing the body", well that is a lie, in reality your actions show that you love despising the body.
The lie is, people think, "oh but we love pleasing the body", well that is a lie, in reality your actions show that you love despising the body.
WHO IS ARBITRARY NOW
Is Almighty God bound to the arbitrary human standard of fairness or does God have the right to issue Mercy as He deems appropriate?--B. Bradley
DRAW NEAR TO GOD
The other day I was thinking about Hebrews 4:16 by vague recollection not by direct reading of it or study. I knew what it said roughly, and here is what it says exactly...."Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I was thinking with sorrow, "Yea, but my old nature is so vile, corrupt, and unclean, it seems extremely audacious for me to approach the throne in prayer, knowing how miserable my mind, heart, and actions are each day; and though I am a new creation, how even more appauling that I nonetheless fall so short of maturity in Christ...." and so I continued to mope.
Tonight, a thought hit me, and it was this, "Ok, yea, but which is more audacious to approach the throne of grace knowing your spiritual poverty...OR...viewing the life, work, perfection, purity, obedience, death, blood, resurrection of Jesus as unsufficient to bring you to the throne of grace?" I then realized that my thoughts the first night were more foolish in overlooking the accomplishment of Jesus as the grounds for my access to the throne. I could not think of the exact verse, but I was thinking about something in Romans 3, and now I know it was this: Romans 3:26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God is JUST towards Jesus, that it is proper and right to accept and honor His blood redemption of sinners. Hence, it is also JUST for me to approach the throne on the basis of Jesus' work. Not that I am in a position to judge Jesus, but that I surely must not....."trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing,"
Then as these thoughts blessed me, I decided to look at the original context of Hebrews 4, and this great introduction was made by the writer...the same point I needed to know concerning approaching the throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1. We have a high priest.
2. We have a great high priest.
3. The writer goes at length in this letter to explain the superiority of Jesus as our High Priest.
4. This short kernel sums it up: He was in all points tempted like as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.
And this introduces verse 16, which I was rembering out of context.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We come boldly, but NEVER on the basis of our past, present, future--- performance, purity, ability. The word "therefore" points us back to the Great High Priest who is WITHOUT SIN, and that is the basis for us approaching the throne. We come boldy, and ALWAYS on the basis of our High Priest who is without sin. He is the Priest, He is the Lamb, He is the Door, He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant.established on Better Promises;
Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Did I catch that?-- a better hope is introduced, THROUGH WHICH we draw near to God.
Praise God for Grace, Jesus is Grace.
I was thinking with sorrow, "Yea, but my old nature is so vile, corrupt, and unclean, it seems extremely audacious for me to approach the throne in prayer, knowing how miserable my mind, heart, and actions are each day; and though I am a new creation, how even more appauling that I nonetheless fall so short of maturity in Christ...." and so I continued to mope.
Tonight, a thought hit me, and it was this, "Ok, yea, but which is more audacious to approach the throne of grace knowing your spiritual poverty...OR...viewing the life, work, perfection, purity, obedience, death, blood, resurrection of Jesus as unsufficient to bring you to the throne of grace?" I then realized that my thoughts the first night were more foolish in overlooking the accomplishment of Jesus as the grounds for my access to the throne. I could not think of the exact verse, but I was thinking about something in Romans 3, and now I know it was this: Romans 3:26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God is JUST towards Jesus, that it is proper and right to accept and honor His blood redemption of sinners. Hence, it is also JUST for me to approach the throne on the basis of Jesus' work. Not that I am in a position to judge Jesus, but that I surely must not....."trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing,"
Then as these thoughts blessed me, I decided to look at the original context of Hebrews 4, and this great introduction was made by the writer...the same point I needed to know concerning approaching the throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1. We have a high priest.
2. We have a great high priest.
3. The writer goes at length in this letter to explain the superiority of Jesus as our High Priest.
4. This short kernel sums it up: He was in all points tempted like as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.
And this introduces verse 16, which I was rembering out of context.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We come boldly, but NEVER on the basis of our past, present, future--- performance, purity, ability. The word "therefore" points us back to the Great High Priest who is WITHOUT SIN, and that is the basis for us approaching the throne. We come boldy, and ALWAYS on the basis of our High Priest who is without sin. He is the Priest, He is the Lamb, He is the Door, He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant.established on Better Promises;
Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Did I catch that?-- a better hope is introduced, THROUGH WHICH we draw near to God.
Praise God for Grace, Jesus is Grace.
EAGER PRAYER
How do we view prayer/praying? How eager are we to pray? Do we view it as:
-something we "have to do", just like paying taxes? But we murmur that we hope we "grace" will lower the tax, and increase our "free time" for ourself.
-something we need to do, like changing the car's oil every 4 months? That we want it done and over with on one day, knowing it disrupts our normal day and week?
-something we need to do, like a house chore? Let's get the laundry done, vacuum, and pray, and quicker we get it done, the shorter our murmuring will be.
-something we "ought" to do, but begrudgingly like spending a day with in-laws? But you give a plastic smile, and a cheerful remark, still wondering when you can leave this irksome obligation.
-something that is just unavoidable, like seeing commericals interrupt our TV show, or sports show, or movie? But hopefully we can move on back to our normal programming of earthly attention.
-something that God requires, so we better do it? But in the deepest level of our veiled conscience we are thinking....'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?: (Malachi 3:14)
-something that we will do if it has a drive through window? There are days I am hungry but due to driving a long distance will not go sit for a steak, and since they do not have a drive through window, I'll go find a place which can get me a meal and get me moving on to my personal destination.
Is prayer, praying, prayer time....seen, pursued, with a sincere joyful eagerness as one who loves God?
If Jesus rang your doorbell, would you talk to him for 5 minutes like he was proslyetizing with the local cult, but then be glad to shut the conversation down and send him on His way?
I've conciously turned my phone ringer off to ensure that I get a good nap with no interruptions, do I think about making preparations for a good prayer time?
May God grant us a new heart to have a eager desire to pray and fellowship with Him. As Peter jumped from the boat and swam with joy to see the resurrected Christ, may we jump away from our temporal mindedness and pray with joy to rejoice in the greatness and goodness of God.
-something we "have to do", just like paying taxes? But we murmur that we hope we "grace" will lower the tax, and increase our "free time" for ourself.
-something we need to do, like changing the car's oil every 4 months? That we want it done and over with on one day, knowing it disrupts our normal day and week?
-something we need to do, like a house chore? Let's get the laundry done, vacuum, and pray, and quicker we get it done, the shorter our murmuring will be.
-something we "ought" to do, but begrudgingly like spending a day with in-laws? But you give a plastic smile, and a cheerful remark, still wondering when you can leave this irksome obligation.
-something that is just unavoidable, like seeing commericals interrupt our TV show, or sports show, or movie? But hopefully we can move on back to our normal programming of earthly attention.
-something that God requires, so we better do it? But in the deepest level of our veiled conscience we are thinking....'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?: (Malachi 3:14)
-something that we will do if it has a drive through window? There are days I am hungry but due to driving a long distance will not go sit for a steak, and since they do not have a drive through window, I'll go find a place which can get me a meal and get me moving on to my personal destination.
Is prayer, praying, prayer time....seen, pursued, with a sincere joyful eagerness as one who loves God?
If Jesus rang your doorbell, would you talk to him for 5 minutes like he was proslyetizing with the local cult, but then be glad to shut the conversation down and send him on His way?
I've conciously turned my phone ringer off to ensure that I get a good nap with no interruptions, do I think about making preparations for a good prayer time?
May God grant us a new heart to have a eager desire to pray and fellowship with Him. As Peter jumped from the boat and swam with joy to see the resurrected Christ, may we jump away from our temporal mindedness and pray with joy to rejoice in the greatness and goodness of God.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
FAMILY WORSHIP
The commander of Columbia shuttle that disintegrated in mid-air was so devoted to family worship that he recorded eighteen videos for his family, one for each day that he was supposed to be gone. How valuable do you think those videos are to his family now? What a legacy he has left. - Joel Beeke
Sunday, February 20, 2011
FOCUS ON GOD
Focus on the God of the labor, not the fruit of the labor.
The Issue is not where we meet at, but Whom we meet with; Focus on the glory of God, not the glory of the facilities.
When we say narrow is the way, our conception is still too broad of away; the way is narrow, even narrower than we presume.
The Issue is not where we meet at, but Whom we meet with; Focus on the glory of God, not the glory of the facilities.
When we say narrow is the way, our conception is still too broad of away; the way is narrow, even narrower than we presume.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
TO KNOW GOD
To know God is to love God
To know God is to enjoy God
To know God is to trust God
To know God is to obey God
To know God is to pray to God..
To know God is to sing to God.
To know God is to rejoice.
To know God is to hope.
To know God is to persevere.
To know God is to endure.
To know God is to proclaim God
15 Minute Devotional on these phrases via Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/user/118min?feature=mhum#p/u/6/MiVUPf8ZSvY
To know God is to enjoy God
To know God is to trust God
To know God is to obey God
To know God is to pray to God..
To know God is to sing to God.
To know God is to rejoice.
To know God is to hope.
To know God is to persevere.
To know God is to endure.
To know God is to proclaim God
15 Minute Devotional on these phrases via Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/user/118min?feature=mhum#p/u/6/MiVUPf8ZSvY
Monday, February 14, 2011
CHRIST EVIDENT
Boast not of Christ's work "for you", unless you can show the Spirit's work "in you." Think not that Christ and the Spirit can ever be divided. I doubt not that many believers know these things, but I think it good for us to be put in remembrance of them. Let us prove that we know them by our lives. ~Ryle
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