If you have time, please watch/listen to this message. It will challenge and warm your soul.
http://t4g.org/2010/04/did-jesus-preach-pauls-gospel-session-vi-2/
By His Grace Alone!
Matt
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
The ONLY Question That Matters
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 16:13-17
Who do you say that Jesus is? The 'fruit' of you life will give evidence to your answer and your answer to that question will determine where you spend eternity.
Humbly
Matt
Who do you say that Jesus is? The 'fruit' of you life will give evidence to your answer and your answer to that question will determine where you spend eternity.
Humbly
Matt
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Foolishness of The Cross
I have been thinking alot about the christian culture that I grew up in and how it relates to what the Spirit of God has opened my eyes to recently. I feel as though a veil has been lifted from my eyes, supernaturally, and I can SEE more clearly what the Bible teaches in regards to Christ, the Gospel, salvation, sanctification, etc. For too long I feel as though we have been living in an age of "easy-believism" Christianity. We have grown up in an age of Bible story moralism for children, "cool" Jesus for teens, and therapeutic self-help God for adulthood. What I mean is that we have hi-jacked the message of the gospel to be simply a band-aid for our self-esteem and a manipulation of the will to accept a Jesus who desperately wants to be our friend and take us to heaven and thus created a means of salvation that is "so easy to accept and believe". I am not saying there is no truth in any of this, but as I have read and studied over the last couple years, I have been humbled to see that what I believed appears to be a far cry from the life taking, self-effacing, surrender to the King of Kings, that Jesus demands in His gospel message - see Matt. 10:26-42.
The message of the cross of Jesus is not give me five minutes to manipulate your 'will', give an alter call, say this pray and if you mean it gospel. The message of the cross if foolishness to the unbeliever. But wait a minute you say "Now to us who are saved it (the cross) is the power of God". But you did not always believe. At one point I WAS dead in my sin! I was an enemy against God, justly deserving His righteous wrath. But now I believe! Because I heard about a cool Jesus who can help me with my problems - and I said yeah let's be friends?? Nope! But because I heard the crazy and foolish message of the cross and by the power of the Holy Spirit, who quickened my spirit and removed the veil over my eyes (2 Cor. 4:3-4), and the faith given to me by God (see Ephesians 2:8-10) I believed it!
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
If you believe in this message, doesn't this verse just crumble you in humility at the Grace of God!!?? To think about all of the people around me that think this is foolishness - that don't believe - and yet for some reason I believe it!! Sure makes me not want to base my salvation on some decision that I think I was sincere about when I prayed a prayer with the preacher at like 8 years old! No way! I see this foolish message and embrace it as the anchor for my soul (see Hebrews 6:17-20) through the power of the Spirit of God working to will and work in my life according to His good pleasure. My trust is in the gift of faith that the Lord gave me to believe! (Ephesians 2:8-10).
I was reading in John this morning and came across a few more examples of this foolish message:
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life" -- John 3:13-15
What does this have to do with the foolish message of the cross in 1 Corinthians 1? Well you first need to know the story of Moses in the desert with disobedient Israel when he lifted up the snake.......
"The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live." And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived." -- Numbers 21:6-9
Understand how crazy this must have been for the Israelites. The serpents were biting and killing the Israelites and God instructs Moses put on a pole a Brazen serpent - the very thing that was killing them!! If they looked at this they would live? That sounds pretty outlandish to me! But what does this have to do with the message of Jesus on the Cross? (Hint: it is a 'sign' of things to come - pointing to Jesus) Look at 2 Corinthians 5:
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. " -- 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
The very thing that damns our souls is our sin - not just the things we do- but our nature. As one of my friends says it "we are sin factories" We have never done anything except sin! We are slave to this sinful nature (see Romans....all of it :-) ) But through the cross, Jesus bore our sin (the very thing that should damn us) - never becoming sinful himself! - but he took our sin upon himself and bore the just wrath of the Father for all that would believe. But it does not end there......without the Resurrection our hope is not complete. Without the resurrection Jesus was a martyr. (see Philippians 3:7-11) He ROSE from the dead. We must always keep both of these doctrines! Without the full weight of the cross, there is no resurrection. Without the resurrection there is no power or hope!!!!
Alot of thoughts - not sure if they all tied together
Repent, believe the gospel and be saved!
His grace
Matt
The message of the cross of Jesus is not give me five minutes to manipulate your 'will', give an alter call, say this pray and if you mean it gospel. The message of the cross if foolishness to the unbeliever. But wait a minute you say "Now to us who are saved it (the cross) is the power of God". But you did not always believe. At one point I WAS dead in my sin! I was an enemy against God, justly deserving His righteous wrath. But now I believe! Because I heard about a cool Jesus who can help me with my problems - and I said yeah let's be friends?? Nope! But because I heard the crazy and foolish message of the cross and by the power of the Holy Spirit, who quickened my spirit and removed the veil over my eyes (2 Cor. 4:3-4), and the faith given to me by God (see Ephesians 2:8-10) I believed it!
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
If you believe in this message, doesn't this verse just crumble you in humility at the Grace of God!!?? To think about all of the people around me that think this is foolishness - that don't believe - and yet for some reason I believe it!! Sure makes me not want to base my salvation on some decision that I think I was sincere about when I prayed a prayer with the preacher at like 8 years old! No way! I see this foolish message and embrace it as the anchor for my soul (see Hebrews 6:17-20) through the power of the Spirit of God working to will and work in my life according to His good pleasure. My trust is in the gift of faith that the Lord gave me to believe! (Ephesians 2:8-10).
I was reading in John this morning and came across a few more examples of this foolish message:
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life" -- John 3:13-15
What does this have to do with the foolish message of the cross in 1 Corinthians 1? Well you first need to know the story of Moses in the desert with disobedient Israel when he lifted up the snake.......
"The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live." And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived." -- Numbers 21:6-9
Understand how crazy this must have been for the Israelites. The serpents were biting and killing the Israelites and God instructs Moses put on a pole a Brazen serpent - the very thing that was killing them!! If they looked at this they would live? That sounds pretty outlandish to me! But what does this have to do with the message of Jesus on the Cross? (Hint: it is a 'sign' of things to come - pointing to Jesus) Look at 2 Corinthians 5:
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. " -- 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
The very thing that damns our souls is our sin - not just the things we do- but our nature. As one of my friends says it "we are sin factories" We have never done anything except sin! We are slave to this sinful nature (see Romans....all of it :-) ) But through the cross, Jesus bore our sin (the very thing that should damn us) - never becoming sinful himself! - but he took our sin upon himself and bore the just wrath of the Father for all that would believe. But it does not end there......without the Resurrection our hope is not complete. Without the resurrection Jesus was a martyr. (see Philippians 3:7-11) He ROSE from the dead. We must always keep both of these doctrines! Without the full weight of the cross, there is no resurrection. Without the resurrection there is no power or hope!!!!
Alot of thoughts - not sure if they all tied together
Repent, believe the gospel and be saved!
His grace
Matt
Friday, August 13, 2010
Some good Tweets
Paul Washer has posted a few Tweets in the past couple of days that have been short but packed with truth, exhortation, and encouragement. Check them out
www.twitter.com/paulwasher
His grace
Matt
www.twitter.com/paulwasher
His grace
Matt
Monday, August 2, 2010
Matt Chandler - Gangsta
Check out this message by Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church
http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/
Great Word
His Grace
Matt
http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/
Great Word
His Grace
Matt
Great Quote - DA Carson
Here is a quote that Russ used the other Sunday and I heard another pastor use. Love it!
"People do not drift toward Holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."
— D.A. Carson
His Grace!
Matt
"People do not drift toward Holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."
— D.A. Carson
His Grace!
Matt
Good Article from Dr. John MacArthur
[In his book] Jude is calling us to engage in the war on spiritual terrorism, to engage in a war that is far more important than any war on political terrorists, or military terrorists or any other kind. We are to be vigilant, we are to be alert, we are to be discerning, we are to be observant, we are to be loyal in exposing the terrorists and defending the truth and defending the true church.
Now similar warnings, in fact very similar warnings are give in 1 Timothy chapter 4 where the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. And there will be hypocritical liars or false teachers seared in their own conscience, that is they have no conscience about what they do as with a branding iron. Beware of them in these days. Now 2 Peter chapter 2 also says, verse 1, “False prophets also arose among the people in the past, just as there will also be false teachers among you who will…and here’s the operative term…secretly introduce destructive heresies.” They set off their spiritual bombs of destruction in a secret fashion, including denying the master who bought them and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. That’s what I said, they don’t mind blowing themselves up at the same time that they’re creating destruction in the souls of others. Verse 2 says, “Many will follow their sensuality, they are driven by the sensual. They are driven by the fleshly. They are driven by the sinful. And because of them, the way of truth will be maligned. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their judgment from long ago is not idle and their destruction is not asleep.”
Now we can stop there in 2 Peter. But if you were to read further in 2 Peter chapter 2, you would find that it is a very close parallel to our text in Jude. In fact, Jude says virtually the same things that Peter says. Peter says they’re coming, and Jude writing a little later says they’re here…they’re here. So whenever you study the epistle of Jude, you have to study 2 Peter along with it and we’ve been making those comparisons and will do so again tonight.
Now Jude t hen writes this epistle to serve as a warning and to give for us a portrait of these apostate terrorists. These are people who have been exposed to the faith, exposed to the truth, who have defected from the truth, who have denied the truth, who have rejected the truth. But who have kept the name Christian, kept some identification with the person of Jesus and with God and therefore remaining within the framework of Christendom have become subtle, hidden deceivers. And unless the church has acute powers of discernment, unless the church is willing to pay the price of exposure, unless the church can get over its sappy sentimentalism about not wanting to say anything that offends anybody, it’s going to allow itself to be devastated by these imbedded satanic Al Qaeda.
Now Jude gives us an unmistakable portrait of these apostate false teachers in verses 5 through 16 and we’re working our way through this which is really the heart of the letter, verses 5 through 16. And I’ve been telling you the last couple of weeks, actually three weeks we’ve been looking at these verses, in verses 5 to 11 is a series of three threes, a series of three threes describing the apostates who misrepresent the Lord and the church. And I don’t want to go through all of this but, first of all, we saw three cases of past apostates who were judged, verses 5 through 7 remind us how God judged an apostate Israel after saving them out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed them who did not believed. Having been exposed to the power of God and the work of God and the goodness of God and the deliverance of God, they rejected God and therefore were destroyed in the wilderness. The second case of apostate judgment from history past is in verse 6, the angels who didn’t keep their own domain, abandoned their proper abode, have been placed in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of that great day. Holy angels who apostatized and turned from serving God, believing in God to rebel against God in a rebellion led by Lucifer, were thrown out of heaven, took their rebellion down to earth, even went further as described in Genesis 6 in a kind of twisted perverse way, inhabited men who married women and you had demon-dominated families which shows the horror of that particular world, the world which God drowned in the Flood. The third past illustration of apostate judgment is Sodom and Gomorrah. You have then Jews in verse 5, angels in verse 6, and Gentiles in verse 7. Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, the cities of the plain all obliterated in a holocaust of fire and brimstone because they indulged in gross immorality, namely homosexuality, went after strange flesh and they too set themselves on a course to undergo the punishment of eternal fire. Three cases of apostate judgment.
Then in verses 8 to 10 you had three characteristics of apostate nature. When you look at an apostate, what do you see? Three things mark them; immorality, insubordination, and irreverence. They are immoral, verse 8, they defile the flesh. The are insubordinate, they reject authority. And they are irreverent, they revile angelic majesties or glories. And there’s an illustration in the case of Michael and his battle with Satan over the body of Moses. So, they are irreverent in the way they speak about angels. They are insubordinate in the fact that they reject divine authority. And they are immoral in that they defile the flesh.
Now we come to verse 11, this is the third three in this little series, three cases of apostates in history who were judged, three characteristics of apostate nature, now we have three connections to apostate examples…three connections to apostate examples. And here, in order to help us recognize apostates, we are given the opportunity to compare them with some apostates of the past and to show that in reality they have followed the path of these past apostates. Verse 11, “Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”
Three historic apostate judgments: Israel, angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Three characteristics of apostate nature: immorality, insubordination and irreverence. And now three connections to apostate examples: Cain, Balaam and Korah. Three who model what these current contemporary apostates do. These current ones have gone the way of Cain, they have rushed into the error of Balaam, they have perished in the rebellion of Korah. They have followed the path that Cain followed. They have followed the path that Balaam followed. And they have followed the path that Korah followed.
You will notice here there is a progression. They have gone the way of Cain. They have rushed into the error of Balaam. And they have perished in the rebellion of Korah. First there is a path they take, then there is an escalation of their speed, and ultimately their disastrous end. They start out in the way, they go into the error and they perish in the rebellion. It starts out with Cain. He is a model of one who disobeyed God. It goes to Balaam, he is a model of one who tries to influence others to disobey God. It ends up with Korah who led a full rebellion. Apostates are the spiritual children of Cain and Balaam and Korah. (Apostates Illustrated: Jude 11-13)
Dr. John MacArthur
Now similar warnings, in fact very similar warnings are give in 1 Timothy chapter 4 where the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. And there will be hypocritical liars or false teachers seared in their own conscience, that is they have no conscience about what they do as with a branding iron. Beware of them in these days. Now 2 Peter chapter 2 also says, verse 1, “False prophets also arose among the people in the past, just as there will also be false teachers among you who will…and here’s the operative term…secretly introduce destructive heresies.” They set off their spiritual bombs of destruction in a secret fashion, including denying the master who bought them and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. That’s what I said, they don’t mind blowing themselves up at the same time that they’re creating destruction in the souls of others. Verse 2 says, “Many will follow their sensuality, they are driven by the sensual. They are driven by the fleshly. They are driven by the sinful. And because of them, the way of truth will be maligned. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their judgment from long ago is not idle and their destruction is not asleep.”
Now we can stop there in 2 Peter. But if you were to read further in 2 Peter chapter 2, you would find that it is a very close parallel to our text in Jude. In fact, Jude says virtually the same things that Peter says. Peter says they’re coming, and Jude writing a little later says they’re here…they’re here. So whenever you study the epistle of Jude, you have to study 2 Peter along with it and we’ve been making those comparisons and will do so again tonight.
Now Jude t hen writes this epistle to serve as a warning and to give for us a portrait of these apostate terrorists. These are people who have been exposed to the faith, exposed to the truth, who have defected from the truth, who have denied the truth, who have rejected the truth. But who have kept the name Christian, kept some identification with the person of Jesus and with God and therefore remaining within the framework of Christendom have become subtle, hidden deceivers. And unless the church has acute powers of discernment, unless the church is willing to pay the price of exposure, unless the church can get over its sappy sentimentalism about not wanting to say anything that offends anybody, it’s going to allow itself to be devastated by these imbedded satanic Al Qaeda.
Now Jude gives us an unmistakable portrait of these apostate false teachers in verses 5 through 16 and we’re working our way through this which is really the heart of the letter, verses 5 through 16. And I’ve been telling you the last couple of weeks, actually three weeks we’ve been looking at these verses, in verses 5 to 11 is a series of three threes, a series of three threes describing the apostates who misrepresent the Lord and the church. And I don’t want to go through all of this but, first of all, we saw three cases of past apostates who were judged, verses 5 through 7 remind us how God judged an apostate Israel after saving them out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed them who did not believed. Having been exposed to the power of God and the work of God and the goodness of God and the deliverance of God, they rejected God and therefore were destroyed in the wilderness. The second case of apostate judgment from history past is in verse 6, the angels who didn’t keep their own domain, abandoned their proper abode, have been placed in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of that great day. Holy angels who apostatized and turned from serving God, believing in God to rebel against God in a rebellion led by Lucifer, were thrown out of heaven, took their rebellion down to earth, even went further as described in Genesis 6 in a kind of twisted perverse way, inhabited men who married women and you had demon-dominated families which shows the horror of that particular world, the world which God drowned in the Flood. The third past illustration of apostate judgment is Sodom and Gomorrah. You have then Jews in verse 5, angels in verse 6, and Gentiles in verse 7. Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, the cities of the plain all obliterated in a holocaust of fire and brimstone because they indulged in gross immorality, namely homosexuality, went after strange flesh and they too set themselves on a course to undergo the punishment of eternal fire. Three cases of apostate judgment.
Then in verses 8 to 10 you had three characteristics of apostate nature. When you look at an apostate, what do you see? Three things mark them; immorality, insubordination, and irreverence. They are immoral, verse 8, they defile the flesh. The are insubordinate, they reject authority. And they are irreverent, they revile angelic majesties or glories. And there’s an illustration in the case of Michael and his battle with Satan over the body of Moses. So, they are irreverent in the way they speak about angels. They are insubordinate in the fact that they reject divine authority. And they are immoral in that they defile the flesh.
Now we come to verse 11, this is the third three in this little series, three cases of apostates in history who were judged, three characteristics of apostate nature, now we have three connections to apostate examples…three connections to apostate examples. And here, in order to help us recognize apostates, we are given the opportunity to compare them with some apostates of the past and to show that in reality they have followed the path of these past apostates. Verse 11, “Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”
Three historic apostate judgments: Israel, angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Three characteristics of apostate nature: immorality, insubordination and irreverence. And now three connections to apostate examples: Cain, Balaam and Korah. Three who model what these current contemporary apostates do. These current ones have gone the way of Cain, they have rushed into the error of Balaam, they have perished in the rebellion of Korah. They have followed the path that Cain followed. They have followed the path that Balaam followed. And they have followed the path that Korah followed.
You will notice here there is a progression. They have gone the way of Cain. They have rushed into the error of Balaam. And they have perished in the rebellion of Korah. First there is a path they take, then there is an escalation of their speed, and ultimately their disastrous end. They start out in the way, they go into the error and they perish in the rebellion. It starts out with Cain. He is a model of one who disobeyed God. It goes to Balaam, he is a model of one who tries to influence others to disobey God. It ends up with Korah who led a full rebellion. Apostates are the spiritual children of Cain and Balaam and Korah. (Apostates Illustrated: Jude 11-13)
Dr. John MacArthur
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Glory of Salvation
I thought this was a pretty good....
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/4660/Video/#ooid=ppanFhMTpAgKtH2aRjiBgooc42wY9Cmd
His Grace
Matt
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/4660/Video/#ooid=ppanFhMTpAgKtH2aRjiBgooc42wY9Cmd
His Grace
Matt
Saturday, June 12, 2010
How then should we live?
"Among those who approach me I WILL show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I WILL be honored" -- Leviticus 10:3
The context of this verse is the story of Nadab and Abihu. They were two of Aaron's sons that presented unauthorized fire before the Lord when bringing the sacrifice. God consumed them with fire and then made the statement above. I understand the context of this verse, but I could not help read it and think about my own life and the implications to my life in serving a Holy God.
What is the call/command on my life to live holy / sanctified / set apart? As a believer, does reading my Bible, going to church, serving the poor, etc., really set me apart as a child of God? While these things are needed, my answer is "no", for the most part these things do not set us apart as true followers of our Master Jesus Christ. If we truly stop and think about the way we live, through the lens of the Bible, we are kidding ourselves if we think that these things make us look different than the depraved world around us. We may not curse, smoke, or drink, do drugs, or party, but the pattern of this world has so infiltrated the way we think, on a foundational level, that it governs the way we live in this culture. So many times how we live looks like this: We have a paradigm of how we believe we should be allowed to live or do certain things. Most times this paradigm has been shaped by much of cultural evangelicalism instead of the Word of God. For the most part, this paradigm is a very comfortable place to be. If fits with what we view as "christian living". There is not much about it which is contrary to someone in an unregenerate state, we have just sprinkled it with Jesus, but not enough that people revile us, rather we seek friendship with the world. We seek to make sure we are not too eccentric in following Christ that it pushes people away. No, we need to live a life that is attractive to the world so they will come and "want what we have", whatever that means.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (paradigm), then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good pleasing and perfect will." -- Romans 12:2
"After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree...." -- Romans 11:24
If you are a believer, you were grafted in to Christ CONTRARY, to your fallen nature. Contrary to the very paradigm that shaped much of who we were. The gospel does not mean, that after we are saved, we then take the Bible and look up verses to see what can and cannot stay as part of our life (Legalism). No rather it means that you have a completely different nature and we basically start over with our lifestyle and paradigm. We now have a new Master. A benevolent Master. One who commands obedience of His slaves, but one who also draws us near Himself and calls us His children and friend. We are to take the Bible and our Masters commands and seek to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ more deeply. The more we understand the gospel the more the Word of God begins to shape our obedience to His commands. The Bible's commands for living are abbrasive, controversial, and all together counter cultural. We ourselves do not seek to simply be these things, b/c we are to show the love of Christ to all, but they are characteristic of a disciple of Christ. Need an example? Examine the life of Paul, Peter, and the rest of the NT saints/disciples. Jesus meant you die! Not enjoy your best life now ;-)
"Pursue peace with all men, AND the sanctification without which NO ONE will see the Lord" -- Hebrews 12:14
There is a practical way of living, obedience to the Word of God, without which we will not see the Lord. Understanding that this has nothing to do with our righteousness or salvation, rather it is the evidence of the work of the triune God in our lives.
I know I have been all over the place here, this conversation is much more than a blog post. I leave you with this: If what you believe about the Gospel and how it shapes our living does not translate into any other part of the world except America than we are not living the true gospel of Christ. There is a reason so many people flock to many of the popular churches in our city and country. It is fun, applicable to their unregenerate paradigm, and comfortable. Friends, if we believe, live, and passionately pursue the true and biblical gospel of Jesus Christ, we will NOT fit in so easily with those around us. I leave you with a few words from the Word:
"...No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" -- 1 Corinthians 9:27
"Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and STRAINING toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" -- Philippians 3:12-14
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." -- Hebrews 12:1
"To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd" -- Psalm 18:25-26
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is gate and broad the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But SMALL is the gate and NARROW the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -- Matthew 7:13-14
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves. Do you not realze that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail that test?" -- 2 Corinthians 13:5
May the Lord continue to humble and mold me as He reveals the ever glorious beauty of His gospel!
Matt
The context of this verse is the story of Nadab and Abihu. They were two of Aaron's sons that presented unauthorized fire before the Lord when bringing the sacrifice. God consumed them with fire and then made the statement above. I understand the context of this verse, but I could not help read it and think about my own life and the implications to my life in serving a Holy God.
What is the call/command on my life to live holy / sanctified / set apart? As a believer, does reading my Bible, going to church, serving the poor, etc., really set me apart as a child of God? While these things are needed, my answer is "no", for the most part these things do not set us apart as true followers of our Master Jesus Christ. If we truly stop and think about the way we live, through the lens of the Bible, we are kidding ourselves if we think that these things make us look different than the depraved world around us. We may not curse, smoke, or drink, do drugs, or party, but the pattern of this world has so infiltrated the way we think, on a foundational level, that it governs the way we live in this culture. So many times how we live looks like this: We have a paradigm of how we believe we should be allowed to live or do certain things. Most times this paradigm has been shaped by much of cultural evangelicalism instead of the Word of God. For the most part, this paradigm is a very comfortable place to be. If fits with what we view as "christian living". There is not much about it which is contrary to someone in an unregenerate state, we have just sprinkled it with Jesus, but not enough that people revile us, rather we seek friendship with the world. We seek to make sure we are not too eccentric in following Christ that it pushes people away. No, we need to live a life that is attractive to the world so they will come and "want what we have", whatever that means.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (paradigm), then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good pleasing and perfect will." -- Romans 12:2
"After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree...." -- Romans 11:24
If you are a believer, you were grafted in to Christ CONTRARY, to your fallen nature. Contrary to the very paradigm that shaped much of who we were. The gospel does not mean, that after we are saved, we then take the Bible and look up verses to see what can and cannot stay as part of our life (Legalism). No rather it means that you have a completely different nature and we basically start over with our lifestyle and paradigm. We now have a new Master. A benevolent Master. One who commands obedience of His slaves, but one who also draws us near Himself and calls us His children and friend. We are to take the Bible and our Masters commands and seek to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ more deeply. The more we understand the gospel the more the Word of God begins to shape our obedience to His commands. The Bible's commands for living are abbrasive, controversial, and all together counter cultural. We ourselves do not seek to simply be these things, b/c we are to show the love of Christ to all, but they are characteristic of a disciple of Christ. Need an example? Examine the life of Paul, Peter, and the rest of the NT saints/disciples. Jesus meant you die! Not enjoy your best life now ;-)
"Pursue peace with all men, AND the sanctification without which NO ONE will see the Lord" -- Hebrews 12:14
There is a practical way of living, obedience to the Word of God, without which we will not see the Lord. Understanding that this has nothing to do with our righteousness or salvation, rather it is the evidence of the work of the triune God in our lives.
I know I have been all over the place here, this conversation is much more than a blog post. I leave you with this: If what you believe about the Gospel and how it shapes our living does not translate into any other part of the world except America than we are not living the true gospel of Christ. There is a reason so many people flock to many of the popular churches in our city and country. It is fun, applicable to their unregenerate paradigm, and comfortable. Friends, if we believe, live, and passionately pursue the true and biblical gospel of Jesus Christ, we will NOT fit in so easily with those around us. I leave you with a few words from the Word:
"...No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" -- 1 Corinthians 9:27
"Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and STRAINING toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" -- Philippians 3:12-14
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." -- Hebrews 12:1
"To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd" -- Psalm 18:25-26
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is gate and broad the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But SMALL is the gate and NARROW the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -- Matthew 7:13-14
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves. Do you not realze that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail that test?" -- 2 Corinthians 13:5
May the Lord continue to humble and mold me as He reveals the ever glorious beauty of His gospel!
Matt
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Saved by Grace
I thought this video was good!
Check it out
http://www.crosstalkblog.com/2010/06/four-false-converts-and-their-testimonies/
His Grace
Matt
Check it out
http://www.crosstalkblog.com/2010/06/four-false-converts-and-their-testimonies/
His Grace
Matt
Saturday, May 29, 2010
All about Him!
"Salvation is from the Lord." -- Jonah 2:9
"Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon your people!" --Psalm 3:8
"I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no saviour besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; So you ae my witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of my hand; I act and who can reverse it?"
--Isaiah 43:11-13
I have been struck lately about how much we, I, make salvation all about us. Salvation is all about Him! The only reason He saves anybody is for His gory. When a sinner, by the working of the Holy Spirit, repents and believes upon Jesus for salvation, the Father gets all the glory! The party in heaven over that sinner is before the throne of God worshipping Him, because the salvation of the sinner is all about God!
"...It is more blessed to give than to recieve" -- Acts 20:35
God the Father is more blessed and glorified in His giving us His Son, than we could ever attribute to Him ourselves by recieving His gift. That is the beauty of the Gospel!: We are dead and unable to attribute ANYTHING to His glorious work of Salvation apart from the Holy Spirit working throught us! So, the Father works through the Holy Spirit to cause His sheep to hear His voice (John 10:25-30) and to see His Son, and then He gives them eternal life. So we had nothing to do with it in and of ourselves! Salvation is from the Lord!
His Grace
Matt
"Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon your people!" --Psalm 3:8
"I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no saviour besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; So you ae my witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of my hand; I act and who can reverse it?"
--Isaiah 43:11-13
I have been struck lately about how much we, I, make salvation all about us. Salvation is all about Him! The only reason He saves anybody is for His gory. When a sinner, by the working of the Holy Spirit, repents and believes upon Jesus for salvation, the Father gets all the glory! The party in heaven over that sinner is before the throne of God worshipping Him, because the salvation of the sinner is all about God!
"...It is more blessed to give than to recieve" -- Acts 20:35
God the Father is more blessed and glorified in His giving us His Son, than we could ever attribute to Him ourselves by recieving His gift. That is the beauty of the Gospel!: We are dead and unable to attribute ANYTHING to His glorious work of Salvation apart from the Holy Spirit working throught us! So, the Father works through the Holy Spirit to cause His sheep to hear His voice (John 10:25-30) and to see His Son, and then He gives them eternal life. So we had nothing to do with it in and of ourselves! Salvation is from the Lord!
His Grace
Matt
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Shack
2 Timothy 4:3-4: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
2 Peter 2:1-3: " But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
The Shack, I have not personally read the book, but have heard enough Biblical guidance and counseling exposing the problems with this book. Please take a moment to listen to this pastor (shepherd) teaching his flock in regards to this book. This is not a benign matter. We must be alert and watch, because our enemy is prowling seeking whom he may devour. Brothers and sisters please seek the scriptures for truth!
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sto_TheShack_13heresies
http://www.challies.com/sites/all/files/files/The_Shack.pdf (Book Review)
His Grace
Matt
2 Peter 2:1-3: " But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
The Shack, I have not personally read the book, but have heard enough Biblical guidance and counseling exposing the problems with this book. Please take a moment to listen to this pastor (shepherd) teaching his flock in regards to this book. This is not a benign matter. We must be alert and watch, because our enemy is prowling seeking whom he may devour. Brothers and sisters please seek the scriptures for truth!
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sto_TheShack_13heresies
http://www.challies.com/sites/all/files/files/The_Shack.pdf (Book Review)
His Grace
Matt
God's Glory
The world is dull and sleepy, and utterly indifferent to the glory of God in the work of redemption. We need to tell it over and over and over again, that God is great in the salvation of his people.
There are many who will rise up and deny God's Glory; revilers of all sorts abound in rage; but over and above their clamor, let the voice of truth be heard, "Let God be magnified." They cry, "the Bible is worn out." They doubt its inspiration, they question the deity of Christ, they set up new gods that have lately come up, that our fathers knew not.
Let us confront them with the truth, let us oppose them with the gospel, let us overcome them through the blood of the Lamb, using this one only war-cry, "Let God be magnified." Everywhere in answer to all blasphemy, in direct conflict with profanity, let us lift up this voice with heart and soul. "Let God be magnified."
--Charles Spurgeon
There are many who will rise up and deny God's Glory; revilers of all sorts abound in rage; but over and above their clamor, let the voice of truth be heard, "Let God be magnified." They cry, "the Bible is worn out." They doubt its inspiration, they question the deity of Christ, they set up new gods that have lately come up, that our fathers knew not.
Let us confront them with the truth, let us oppose them with the gospel, let us overcome them through the blood of the Lamb, using this one only war-cry, "Let God be magnified." Everywhere in answer to all blasphemy, in direct conflict with profanity, let us lift up this voice with heart and soul. "Let God be magnified."
--Charles Spurgeon
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Education
I read this today from Voddie Baucham's blog. Pretty good stuff:
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2010/3/5_More_from_the_“Our_School_Has_Christian_Teachers”_File.html
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2010/3/5_More_from_the_“Our_School_Has_Christian_Teachers”_File.html
Why 'Church'?
"Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." -- John 10:25-30
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" -- Romans 10:14-16
'The Preaching of the Word by the chosen servants of the living God, is the ordained means for gathering in of the elect. It is not the Word read, so much as that which is heard, which has the promise attached to it; hence the importance of a devout attendance on the ministry of the Gospel' -- Charles Spurgeon
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" -- Romans 10:14-16
'The Preaching of the Word by the chosen servants of the living God, is the ordained means for gathering in of the elect. It is not the Word read, so much as that which is heard, which has the promise attached to it; hence the importance of a devout attendance on the ministry of the Gospel' -- Charles Spurgeon
Thursday, May 6, 2010
How should we pray?
This is a devotional from Oswald Chambers I read the other day. I do not typically read it everyday, but everytime I do, he is spot on for the moment. Enjoy and let it sink in:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Ephesians 6:18
As we go on in intercession we may find that our obedience to God is going to cost other people more than we thought. The danger then is to begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting to a totally different sphere in answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from identification with God's interest in others into sympathy with them, the vital connection with God has gone, we have put our sympathy, our consideration for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.
It is impossible to intercede vitally unless we are perfectly sure of God, and the greatest dissipator of our relationship to God is personal sympathy and personal prejudice. Identification is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with God, it is by sympathy, not by sin. It is not likely that sin will interfere with our relationship to God, but sympathy will, sympathy with ourselves or with others which makes us say - "I will not allow that thing to happen." Instantly we are out of vital connection with God.
Intercession leaves you neither time nor inclination to pray for your own "sad sweet self." The thought of yourself is not kept out, because it is not there to keep out; you are completely and entirely identified with God's interests in other lives.
Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to fault finding.
His Grace
Matt
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Ephesians 6:18
As we go on in intercession we may find that our obedience to God is going to cost other people more than we thought. The danger then is to begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting to a totally different sphere in answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from identification with God's interest in others into sympathy with them, the vital connection with God has gone, we have put our sympathy, our consideration for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.
It is impossible to intercede vitally unless we are perfectly sure of God, and the greatest dissipator of our relationship to God is personal sympathy and personal prejudice. Identification is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with God, it is by sympathy, not by sin. It is not likely that sin will interfere with our relationship to God, but sympathy will, sympathy with ourselves or with others which makes us say - "I will not allow that thing to happen." Instantly we are out of vital connection with God.
Intercession leaves you neither time nor inclination to pray for your own "sad sweet self." The thought of yourself is not kept out, because it is not there to keep out; you are completely and entirely identified with God's interests in other lives.
Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to fault finding.
His Grace
Matt
Monday, May 3, 2010
Seek it like Silver
"My son, if you will receive my words, and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." -- Proverbs 2:1-6
Nothing super profound, but Ashley and I were reading this last night and I could not help but think about a few things....He says receive it, treasure it, be attentive to it, incline your heart, cry for it, lift your voice, seek it, search for it. The only reason we can seek after wisdom and understanding is because absolute truth, wisdom, and understanding exists and is there to seek. V.6 says that the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding
"All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the MAN of GOD may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -- 2 Timothy 3:16
The Bible was written and given to the Man of God. Those of us who are sheep of His fold, His church. He says in Proverbs 2: Seek for wisdom and understanding, by my spirit, through my spoken and written word and you will find it. Don't just read it, seek it as silver or hidden treasures:
What if I told you that I hid a $10 million dollar silver coin in your house and you could have it if you could find it...how hard would you search for it? Why?
Will we seek His Word for wisdom and understanding in the same way? Why or Why not? As a true Man (or Woman) of God, it is not optional.
Grace
Matt
Nothing super profound, but Ashley and I were reading this last night and I could not help but think about a few things....He says receive it, treasure it, be attentive to it, incline your heart, cry for it, lift your voice, seek it, search for it. The only reason we can seek after wisdom and understanding is because absolute truth, wisdom, and understanding exists and is there to seek. V.6 says that the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding
"All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the MAN of GOD may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -- 2 Timothy 3:16
The Bible was written and given to the Man of God. Those of us who are sheep of His fold, His church. He says in Proverbs 2: Seek for wisdom and understanding, by my spirit, through my spoken and written word and you will find it. Don't just read it, seek it as silver or hidden treasures:
What if I told you that I hid a $10 million dollar silver coin in your house and you could have it if you could find it...how hard would you search for it? Why?
Will we seek His Word for wisdom and understanding in the same way? Why or Why not? As a true Man (or Woman) of God, it is not optional.
Grace
Matt
Friday, April 23, 2010
Father / Men
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless." -- Ephesians 5:25-27
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -- Hebrews 12:1-2
Fathers, bring your children up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord!!
Fathers, Men, Disciples of Christ: Following Christ is not a passive lifestyle. It is crucifying yourself and your affections of the flesh and pursuing with endurance the race marked out for you. All the time...
Your Home should be the "Holiest" place that your wife and children know....NOT the church!
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -- Hebrews 12:1-2
Fathers, bring your children up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord!!
Fathers, Men, Disciples of Christ: Following Christ is not a passive lifestyle. It is crucifying yourself and your affections of the flesh and pursuing with endurance the race marked out for you. All the time...
Your Home should be the "Holiest" place that your wife and children know....NOT the church!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Entitled
As "American Christians" we really enjoy our religious freedom. We are free to express our faith and worship to God when and how we desire. What a great priviledge! We live in a country where we have the freedom to pursue dreams and make something of ourselves. "The Country of Opportunity". So doesn't it just irke you when you feel like our government is seemingly trying do everything in their power to destroy those "opportunities" and destroy the very foundation from which we are built upon? And don't many of us begin to foam at the mouth when we start talking about all the people that are cyphoning and living off government welfare and foodstamps? Doesn't it seem like these same people feel a sense of entitlement in getting constant government handouts that enable their lazy existence and represent the very stereotype of what is wrong with our America today? Their sense of entitlement to this kind of lifestyle goes against everything this country was founded on and our government enabling programs make you wanna vomit. Am I right?? I would venture to say that most of us have said or thought things like this before.
Now let me for a second throw you something to chew on (it may not be profound to you, but I have been challenged) Before I say anything, let me just say I am not against anyone that trys to invlove themselves in politics in trying to "right" the ship of our government that seemingly has been sinking fast in recent years.
Nonetheless.....I want to quickly speak specifically to the word entitlement and the context that I mentioned above. We get so bent out of shape when speaking about the entitlement demonstrated by these lazy people, that we utterly FAIL to realize that we ourselves are speaking and operating from the same self-indulgent, self-gratifying, entitled worldview (just with a different face). We believe that because we were born / live in America we are entitled to our freedoms. We are entitled to the "pursuit of our dreams". We achieve because this country was founded on the premises of individual liberty and the pursuit of our own happiness. People suck the system for all it is worth because they feel that they are entitled to do that. Other people wake up everyday and choose to make something of themselves because they feel they deserve and are entitled to do so. So what on earth is my point? I do not neglect the foundational principals that this country was founded on. It is a fact that we are not operating as the original founding fathers dreamed. But I am specifically talking to YOU christian. My point is this: with our self-indulgent worldview so many of us talk and strive to do everyting we can to rescue our entitlements and freedoms from disappearing in a cloud of smoke. We will bash everyone that stands opposed to us and we will vow to put all of our energy into making sure that we put someone in power that will ensure us of keeping our EASY life! My dear christians brothers and sisters, we fail to realize why you are breathing right NOW! Who gave you your breath? We fail to realize that as a Christian you are entitled to NOTHING of this world. You are not entitled to religious freedom, the pursuit of your dreams, or a great government t live under. The ONLY reason your were born into this world in this country is because God willed that you do so. If you die free or die as a martyr it is because He wills it. I know I am rambling, but let me share some verses with you:
"He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip." -Job 12:5- (Do not be so comfortable with your "entitlements" and freedoms that when things seem to not go your way you freak out!!) why???
"The tents of the destroyers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure, whom God brings into their power." -Job 12:6- (Good things happen to bad people because God wills it!!)
"In whose hand (the Lord) is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind." -Job 12:10 -(God holds your breath and beats your heart, as well as every living wicked person out there)
"With HIM are wisdom and might; to HIM belong counsel and understanding. Behold, HE tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; HE imprisons a man, and there can be no release. Behold, HE restrains the waters and they dry up; and HE sends them out, and they overturn the earth. With HIM are strength and sound wisdom, the misled and the misleader belong to HIM.....HE MAKES THE NATIONS GREAT THEN (HE) DESTROYS THEM; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away." -Job 12:13-16,23-
Friends let us not forget who is our Master! Let's not forget that we exist, our country exists because God has not destroyed it yet. If we live the rest of our lives with religious freedom then praise the Lord for His mighty Grace and Mercy. If we lose everything tomorrow and are physically persecuted for our faith then praise be to our God for His mighty Grace and Mercy; that He saw it fit that we were worthy of His name!!! This place is not our home, we deserve nothing! Do not spend all your time fighting for things that you feel you deserve. Beg for God's mercy and fight with all you have to rid yourselves of the stench of this world. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Not sure if my thoughts were cohesive, come chat sometime and I can share more clearly (hopefully)
In need of His Grace
Matt
Now let me for a second throw you something to chew on (it may not be profound to you, but I have been challenged) Before I say anything, let me just say I am not against anyone that trys to invlove themselves in politics in trying to "right" the ship of our government that seemingly has been sinking fast in recent years.
Nonetheless.....I want to quickly speak specifically to the word entitlement and the context that I mentioned above. We get so bent out of shape when speaking about the entitlement demonstrated by these lazy people, that we utterly FAIL to realize that we ourselves are speaking and operating from the same self-indulgent, self-gratifying, entitled worldview (just with a different face). We believe that because we were born / live in America we are entitled to our freedoms. We are entitled to the "pursuit of our dreams". We achieve because this country was founded on the premises of individual liberty and the pursuit of our own happiness. People suck the system for all it is worth because they feel that they are entitled to do that. Other people wake up everyday and choose to make something of themselves because they feel they deserve and are entitled to do so. So what on earth is my point? I do not neglect the foundational principals that this country was founded on. It is a fact that we are not operating as the original founding fathers dreamed. But I am specifically talking to YOU christian. My point is this: with our self-indulgent worldview so many of us talk and strive to do everyting we can to rescue our entitlements and freedoms from disappearing in a cloud of smoke. We will bash everyone that stands opposed to us and we will vow to put all of our energy into making sure that we put someone in power that will ensure us of keeping our EASY life! My dear christians brothers and sisters, we fail to realize why you are breathing right NOW! Who gave you your breath? We fail to realize that as a Christian you are entitled to NOTHING of this world. You are not entitled to religious freedom, the pursuit of your dreams, or a great government t live under. The ONLY reason your were born into this world in this country is because God willed that you do so. If you die free or die as a martyr it is because He wills it. I know I am rambling, but let me share some verses with you:
"He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip." -Job 12:5- (Do not be so comfortable with your "entitlements" and freedoms that when things seem to not go your way you freak out!!) why???
"The tents of the destroyers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure, whom God brings into their power." -Job 12:6- (Good things happen to bad people because God wills it!!)
"In whose hand (the Lord) is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind." -Job 12:10 -(God holds your breath and beats your heart, as well as every living wicked person out there)
"With HIM are wisdom and might; to HIM belong counsel and understanding. Behold, HE tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; HE imprisons a man, and there can be no release. Behold, HE restrains the waters and they dry up; and HE sends them out, and they overturn the earth. With HIM are strength and sound wisdom, the misled and the misleader belong to HIM.....HE MAKES THE NATIONS GREAT THEN (HE) DESTROYS THEM; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away." -Job 12:13-16,23-
Friends let us not forget who is our Master! Let's not forget that we exist, our country exists because God has not destroyed it yet. If we live the rest of our lives with religious freedom then praise the Lord for His mighty Grace and Mercy. If we lose everything tomorrow and are physically persecuted for our faith then praise be to our God for His mighty Grace and Mercy; that He saw it fit that we were worthy of His name!!! This place is not our home, we deserve nothing! Do not spend all your time fighting for things that you feel you deserve. Beg for God's mercy and fight with all you have to rid yourselves of the stench of this world. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Not sure if my thoughts were cohesive, come chat sometime and I can share more clearly (hopefully)
In need of His Grace
Matt
Friday, March 26, 2010
Watch and Be Not Decieved
"For Christ did not send me (Paul) to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void."
--1 Cor 1:17
I read this and could not help to see an indictment on many preachers, teachers, and spiritual evangelical leaders in todays pulpits. I want to exhort everyone watch out who you let speak into your life, by means of teachers. "Many false prophets will come in those days and tell the people exactly what their itching ears want to hear". There are many out there who through their humanistic worldview can draw a crowd, through a egocentric message gain hearers, and claim God's voice to the masses and yet they have totally voided the power of the cross of Christ for them and their hearers.
"Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us." -- Titus 2:6-8
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." -- 1 John 4:1
Examine what you hear in the light of the Truth of God's Word. At it's core, is what a leader saying man centered, where the chief goal is the happiness of man; or is it God centered where the chief goal is exaltation of the majestic glory of God?
Matt
--1 Cor 1:17
I read this and could not help to see an indictment on many preachers, teachers, and spiritual evangelical leaders in todays pulpits. I want to exhort everyone watch out who you let speak into your life, by means of teachers. "Many false prophets will come in those days and tell the people exactly what their itching ears want to hear". There are many out there who through their humanistic worldview can draw a crowd, through a egocentric message gain hearers, and claim God's voice to the masses and yet they have totally voided the power of the cross of Christ for them and their hearers.
"Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us." -- Titus 2:6-8
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." -- 1 John 4:1
Examine what you hear in the light of the Truth of God's Word. At it's core, is what a leader saying man centered, where the chief goal is the happiness of man; or is it God centered where the chief goal is exaltation of the majestic glory of God?
Matt
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Humanism in "Christianity"
A little while ago I posted a few thoughts regarding how egocentric we are as people and the fact that most of us live with a Humanistic worldview. Basically, the chief end of man is the happiness of man. Without rehashing everything I said previously, I came across a paragraph in a book I am reading, "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer, that fleshes out some of what I have been wrestling with. It is crazy, once you take a minute and really grasp this fact, you begin to realize just how much we really do have humanistic worldviews and view much of Christianity through this lens. Anyway, here is the quote:
"Too many missionary appeals are based upon the fancied frustration of Almighty God. An effective speaker can easily excite the pity in his hearers, not only for the heathen but for the God who has tried so hard and so long to save them and has failed for want of support (sarcasm). I fear that thousands of younger persons enter Christian service from no higher motive than to help deliver God from the embarrassing situation His love has gotten Him into and His limited abilities seem unable to get Him out of. Add to this a certain degree of commendable idealism and a fair amount of compassion for the underprivileged and you have the true drive behind much Christian activity today."
Jesus did not die on the cross hoping that some people would see what He did and choose to give Him permission to justify them. He died on the cross and effectually purchased and justified His church (Romans 8:28-30 ; Ephesians 5:25-33). He doesn't need our help to rescue the power of His blood from going to waste in the sinners life. No, His blood and resurrection accomplished the task it set out to do for His bride and He demands that His bride follow His commands, savor His Grace, pursue His Holiness and say to others - 'Behold the Lamb of God!' - and then beg God, in His sovereignty and by His Word, to break and transform the sinner.
The point of this is that evangelism and service to others is not about giving someone else hope for happiness either here in this life or in the life to come. If our compassion for others lies in simply seeing the "underprivileged" served and have their chance at a life of joy in Christ....than that is humanism. That says that the chief end of man is for mans joy/happiness -- either here or in the life to come. We should seek to serve and evangelize in a way that points to the Glory and Majesty of God through His Word so that it breaks the sinner and allow God to sovereignly transform a life that seeks His joy and Glory, not ours.
"Too many missionary appeals are based upon the fancied frustration of Almighty God. An effective speaker can easily excite the pity in his hearers, not only for the heathen but for the God who has tried so hard and so long to save them and has failed for want of support (sarcasm). I fear that thousands of younger persons enter Christian service from no higher motive than to help deliver God from the embarrassing situation His love has gotten Him into and His limited abilities seem unable to get Him out of. Add to this a certain degree of commendable idealism and a fair amount of compassion for the underprivileged and you have the true drive behind much Christian activity today."
Jesus did not die on the cross hoping that some people would see what He did and choose to give Him permission to justify them. He died on the cross and effectually purchased and justified His church (Romans 8:28-30 ; Ephesians 5:25-33). He doesn't need our help to rescue the power of His blood from going to waste in the sinners life. No, His blood and resurrection accomplished the task it set out to do for His bride and He demands that His bride follow His commands, savor His Grace, pursue His Holiness and say to others - 'Behold the Lamb of God!' - and then beg God, in His sovereignty and by His Word, to break and transform the sinner.
The point of this is that evangelism and service to others is not about giving someone else hope for happiness either here in this life or in the life to come. If our compassion for others lies in simply seeing the "underprivileged" served and have their chance at a life of joy in Christ....than that is humanism. That says that the chief end of man is for mans joy/happiness -- either here or in the life to come. We should seek to serve and evangelize in a way that points to the Glory and Majesty of God through His Word so that it breaks the sinner and allow God to sovereignly transform a life that seeks His joy and Glory, not ours.
Friday, March 19, 2010
It is not about us!
I want to share something with you that has been on my heart and mind recently. It has to do with the apathetic nature of christianity, as a whole, that seems to be prevalent throughout our country. Do not get me wrong, I believe God is doing amazing things in this country through people that are fully committed to Him. But as I look around and I see the kind of "christianity" that is being pumped out of much of the popular evangelical circles, I just see a lifeless, narcissistic, religion that is extremely humanistic in nature. What do I mean by this? Basically, narcissism is birthed out of a humanisitic worldview. Humanism centers around man. It says that the chief end of man is the happiness of man. Therefore narcissism means that you are egotistic and self-infatuated with YOURSELF. What I see is a "christianity" that focuses on the qualities or characteristics of a life given to Jesus as they appeal to man in an unregenerate state. What I mean is that we focus on (which aren't all bad) love, happiness, peace, success, monetary blessings, joy, blessedness either in this life OR the life to come. We so focus on the joy of heaven as it appeals to man. (I know I am probably confusing you but bear with me) Basically, I believe most people do not believe they are going to hell. Much less deserve to go to hell. So we have unregenerate man walking around, not believing he's going to hell, pursuing the things, mentioned above, on this earth in a narcissistic way through his Humanist worldview to satisfy his insatiable thirst for self satisfaction. Then we tell him hey, you may not get that stuff now, but let me tell you a way that you can get it in heaven. All these things you are pursuing are in heaven. Through Jesus! We use Jesus and His gift of Grace as a way to appeal to mans fleshly desires. Then we have this view and anticipation of heaven as a place awaiting us where there is happiness, peace, and eternal joy (and there is!!). But do you see how a humanistic worldview has crept into the way we think about Christ? Therefore we live our lives in the "security" of a decision or prayer we prayed one time and look forward to an eternal life that is full of all the things we want and desire here. Maybe I am not making sense to you, but I have really been challenged as to what I believe and live for. Let me explain: As I write this, as you read this, we deserve to burst into flames and burn in hell where the worm does not die!! We deserve this every breathing moment of our life. From the moment we were born until this moment we deserve damnation forever and now more than ever before. This is why salvation can only come from the Father through faith in Jesus. My eternal destiny is not contingent on a decision I made. It is not contingent on "Jesus living in my heart as my personal saviour". My brothers, our salvation is based on the ETERNAL GRACE of GOD!!!!!! His Grace draws you, His Grace saves you, His Grace keeps you!!! While I live in this flesh, ever deserving of eternal wrath and judgment, I am kept by the loving and saving and sovereign grace of the Father through Jesus Christ. This is why we talk about living for holiness. Because if we see the Grace of God in our lives as Paul did....we too would beat our bodies and make them our slaves! Not sure if this makes sense, hopefully we can get into this some at Bible Study!! See you all there!!
My exhortation: "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their distress and to keep oneself undefiled (unspotted) by the world" James 1:27
Listen to this sermon: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=10180222445
May the Lord paste Eternity on your eyeballs!!
DO NOT CONFORM
"We who call ourselves Christians are supposed to be a people apart. We claim to have repudiated the wisdom of this world and adopted the wisdom of the cross as the guide of our lives. We have thrown in our lot with that One who while He lived on earth was the most unadjusted of the sons of men. He would not be integrated into society. He stood above it and condemned it by withdrawing from it even while dying for it. Die for it He would, but surrender to it He would not....A new moral power will flow back into the church when we stop preaching social adjustment and begin to preach social repudiation and cross carrying. Modern Christians hope to save the world by being like it, but it will never work. The Church's power over the world springs out of her unlikeness to it, never from her integration into it."
- A.W. Tozer
- A.W. Tozer
The world could not get along with the most Holy man to ever walk on this earth. They killed Jesus. Why on earth can they get along with us!!?
The Cross
"The Cross does not give us a minor shift or two with regard to a few of our ethical and moral and religious values....The Cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self to Christ. If the Cross has not done this, then we are not Christians!"
Glory of God
Wanted to share with you something that I have been thinking about: I am reading through the Gospel of John and I came across a verse that really challenged me and I want to pass it along. As I stated the other day, everything on this earth, in hell and in heaven displays the Glory of God. EVERYTHING displays and is given for His Glory. Your marriage and your children are given to you to show you His Glory. His Glory and Majesty are displayed for us to see in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. His creation displays His Glory. Our eternal salvation or damnation displays His complete Grace, His complete Mercy, and His complete Justice. All Glory is to be given to Him. Anyway, you get the point. So why bring it up again? Because this is what we are to Preach, Teach, and impress on our wives and children! The Glory of His Majesty! We are to take the Word of God present and place it continually before our family (both the Word and in our lives) and then point to Jesus and say as John the Baptist did, "BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD!!". (This is the verse that has challenged me.) Whether we are preaching, teaching, or serving our families, our church, or our communities, if we do not point to Jesus and cry, "Behold, the Lamb of God!!" than we are doing them no service. Men, we must die twice every single day in our lives, Die to ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him, then we die to ourselves and wash our wives and children in the Word of God....then point to Jesus and say "Behold, the Lamb of God" and beg the Lord to open the eyes of our wives and children to see Him as He is and follow Him. Men, salvation is of the Lord, but you MUST point to Him!Men, everything, our lives, our desires, our jobs, our little hobbies, our time, our energy, our emotions...everything must not be put at the feet of the cross. It must be put ON the cross. You cannot die at the foot of the cross, you must hang on it to die."Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!". And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus" --- John 1:35-37Men, my prayer is that when it is all said and done, my wife and children would hear me preach the Word and see me point to Him and then follow Jesus!
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