A Tree Planted By Water

Paul Washer: Joy From Christ and Not Your Performance

2009-12-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

Saturday, Jan. 12 In the morning. (From the Diary of Jonathan Edwards)

2009-12-05T15:51:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share the thoughts of Jonathan Edwards on him being his own or better yet him not being his own. I thought his thoughts were spot on and are found to be very biblical concerning the matter of us christians not belonging to ourselves and giving up our own rights for the sake of God's kingdom. Enjoy! This is found in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1 (Hendrickson Publishers)

Saturday, Jan. 12. In the morning. I have, this day, solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, which I renewed when I was taken into the communion of the church. I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God; so that I am not, in any respect, my own. I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections, which are in me. Neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members—no right to this tongue, these hands, these feet; no right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell, or this taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained any thing as my own. I gave myself to God in my baptism, and I have been this morning to him, and told him, that I gave myself wholly to him. I have given every power to him; so that, for the future, I’ll challenge no right in myself, in no respect whatever. I have expressly promised him, and I do now promise Almighty God, that by his grace I will not. I have this morning told him that I did take him for my whole portion and felicity, looking on nothing else as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and his law, for the constant rule of my obedience; and would fight with all my might against the world, the flesh, and the devil, to the end of my life; and that I did believe in Jesus Christ, and did receive him as a Prince and Saviour; and that I would adhere to the faith and obedience of the gospel, however hazardous and difficult the confession and practice of it may be; and that I did receive the blessed Spirit as my Teacher, Sanctifier, and only Comforter, and cherish all his motions to enlighten, purify, confirm, comfort, and assist me. This, I have done; and I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a self-dedication, and to receive me now as entirely his own, and to deal with me, in all respects, as such, whether he afflicts me or prospers me, or whatever he pleases to do with me, who am his. Now, henceforth, I am not to act, in any respect, as my own.—I shall act as my own, if I ever make use of any of my powers to any thing that is not to the glory of God, and do not make the glorifying of him my whole and entire business:—if I murmur in the least at affliction; if I grieve at the prosperity of others; if I am in any way uncharitable; if I am angry because of injuries; if I revenge them; if I do any thing purely to please myself, or if I avoid any thing for the sake of my own ease; if I omit any thing because it is great self-denial; if I trust to myself; if I take any of the praise of the good that I do, or that God doth by me; or if I am in any way proud. This day, made the 42nd and 43rd Resolutions.—Whether or no, any other end ought to have any influence at all on any of my actions; or whether any action ought to be any otherwise, in any respect, than it would be, if nothing else but religion had the least influence on my mind. Wherefore I make the 44th Resolution.

Query: Whether any delight or satisfaction ought to be allowed, because any other end is obtained beside a religious one.—In the afternoon. I answer, Yes, because, if we should never suffer ourselves to rejoice, but because we have obtained a religious end, we should never rejoice at the sight of friends, we should not allow ourselves any pleasure in our food, whereby the animal spirits would be withdrawn, and good digestion hindered. But the query is to be answered thus:—We never ought to allow any joy or sorrow, but what helps religion. Wherefore, I make the 45th Resolution.

The reason why I so soon grow lifeless, and unfit for the business I am about, I have found out, is only because I have been used to suffer myself to leave off, for the sake of ease, and so I have acquired a habit of expecting ease; and therefore, when I think I have exercised myself a great while, I cannot keep myself to it any longer, because I expect to be released, as my due and right. And then I am deceived, as if I were really tired and weary, whereas, if I did not expect ease, and was resolved to occupy myself by business as much as I could, I should continue with the same vigour at my business, without vacation time to rest. Thus I have found it in reading the Scriptures; and thus I have found it in prayer; and thus I believe it to be in getting sermons by heart, and in other things.

J.I. Packer's Introductory Essay... WOW!

2009-12-02T09:02:00.002-05:00

Undoubtably, this will probably rub some people the wrong way, but that just proves that Packer's words are the truth. We were discussing John Owen's book, "Death of Death in the Death of Christ," with Jeremy last night, and we looked up the introduction written by J.I. Packer. I sat down and read it, and man did he hit the nail on the head. I really do believe that we are getting close to the return of our Lord Jesus, and I believe that God is reestablishing the true old Gospel in the hearts of his sheep. I pray that you will read this portion of Packer's essay and then go and really read the Word. The true old Gospel is there and it is undeniable.

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is a polemical work, designed to show, among other things, that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. There are many, therefore, to whom it is not likely to be of interest. Those who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological debates which show up divisions between so-called Evangelicals may well regret its reappearance. Some may find the very sound of Owen’s thesis so shocking that they will refuse to read his book at all; so passionate a thing is prejudice, and so proud are we of our theological shibboleths. But it is hoped that this reprint will find itself readers of a different spirit. There are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the Bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that Owen’s treatise is offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing Evangelical Christendom today—the recovery of the gospel.

This last remark may cause some raising of eyebrows, but it seems to be warranted by the facts.

There is no doubt that Evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor’s dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and of equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realising it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty. The new gospel conspicuously fails to produce deep reverence, deep repentance, deep humility, a spirit of worship, a concern for the church. Why? We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centred in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be “helpful” to man—to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction—and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was “helpful,” too—more so, indeed, than is the new—but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was always and essentially a proclamation of Divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its centre of reference was unambiguously God. But in the new gospel the centre of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach men to worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and His ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.

From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interests of “helpfulness.” Accordingly, the themes of man’s natural inability to believe, of God’s free election being the ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for His sheep, are not preached. These doctrines, it would be said, are not “helpful”; they would drive sinners to despair, by suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered; it is taken for granted that it cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.) However this may be (and we shall say more about it later), the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth. Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of His redeeming work as if He had done no more by dying than make it possible for us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God’s love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet impotence “at the door of our hearts” for us to let them in. It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel. The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most pressing present need. And it is at this point that Owen’s treatise on redemption can give us help. -J.I. Packer

Congratulations Brandon and Christy!

2009-11-09T19:37:00.002-05:00

Saturday, one of our blog authors joined his lady in holy matrimony. Brandon and Christy said, "I do" at St. Mark Methodist, and I had the honor of photographing their beautiful wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, we are so proud of you and are thrilled that God has brought you guys together as husband and wife to serve Him together as one. May He bless you beyond your wildest dreams! Congratulations! We love you!

Spurgeon Quotes

2009-10-29T13:37:00.003-04:00

Those of you who know me, know that I love Charles Spurgeon. He was the man! So, I thought I would share some Spurgeon quotes that I really like. Enjoy!

"I take it that the highest proof of Christ’s power is not that he offers salvation, not that he bids you take it if you will, but that when you reject it, when you hate it, when you despise it, he has a power whereby he can change your mind, make you think differently from your former thoughts, and turn you from the error of your ways."

“Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven.”

“None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.”

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”

“When you see a man with a great deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend upon it, he keeps a very small stock of it within”

“A man who does nothing never has time to do anything”

“Nobody ever outgrows scripture; the Book widens and deepens with our years”

"Let this be to you the mark of true gospel preaching - where Christ is everything, and the creature is nothing; where it is salvation all of grace, through the work of the Holy Spirit applying to the soul the precious blood of Jesus."

“When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths in my own soul - when they were as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron; and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown all of a sudden from a babe into a man - that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge, through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God ... I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, I ascribe my change wholly to God.”

“If Christ on His cross intended to save every man, then He intended to save those who were lost before He died. If the doctrine be true, that He died for all men, then He died for some who were in Hell before He came into this world, for doubtless there were even then myriads there who had been cast away because of their sins. . . That seems to me a conception a thousand times more repulsive than any of those consequences which are said to be associated with the Calvinistic and Christian doctrine of special and particular redemption. To think that my Savior died for men who were or are in Hell, seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain.”

“Learn to say 'No'; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.”

“Sometimes we think we are too busy to pray. That is a great mistake, for praying is a saving of time.”

“There are no crown-bearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.”

"I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for."

For he is a Prophet

2009-10-28T22:11:00.002-04:00

Okay. So I have started back the infamous Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan that I started last year and never finished. I have high hopes this year since I will be going through most all of it with a wonderful bride by my side encouraging me and holding me accountable to reading.

When I started this plan this time around I asked and prayed that I would see Christ from beginning to end since after all scripture from beginning to end points to Christ. Well God delivered for me and I am thankful.

I'm in Genesis right now and have been reading about Abraham and his journeys. Have you ever thought about Abraham and his dealings with other people? I mean more specifically things that are happening not directly to Abraham, but to other people. Have you ever thought about how Abraham responds and acts towards the people he meets?

Think about how Abraham speaks to God on Lot's behalf and prays that God would not destroy the city of Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of Lot. God listens because of His relationship with Abraham and because Abraham has favor with God. Lot is a beneficiary of Abraham's favor with God.

Think about Abimelech and how he takes Abraham's wife Sarah innocently as his own. Abraham and Sara are the ones that deceive Abimelech and yet God still inflicts upon Abimelech punishment for the sin that he apparently doesn't know he is committing. God speaks with Abimelech and even affirms that Abimelech has acted innocently because God had kept him from sinning with Sarah. Instead of removing the punishment from Abimelech and Abimelech's wife right then, he tells him to go speak with Abraham, "for he is a prophet". Abraham then prays on behalf of Abimelech and because of Abraham's favor with God Abimelech is healed along with his wife.

What about Ishmael the illegitimate son of Abraham? Abraham is told by Sarah to send Hagar and Ishmael away because she will not see Ishmael become a heir along with Isaac. So Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away which is basically into the dessert with nothing more than water and bread. The bible says Abraham was very displeased with this. God promises Abraham that he will take care of Ishmael and make him into a great nation. Why? Because of Ishmael's link to Abraham who has favor with God.

As I was reading the study notes in my bible the Lord showed me the greatness of the favor that Abraham had with God and the blessing that it was for others. The Holy Spirit then showed me that Christ is a prophet as well. Not only that but he is the greatest prophet and his relationship with the Father is unmatched. If God was pleased to listen to Abraham who was a mere sinful prophet, how much more will he listen to the perfect prophet Christ? This brought great joy and excitement because I was reminded that Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf! May Christ be glorified!

Not only that, but God also showed me the power of prayer and the blessing with which we can pray for others because of our link with God through Christ. I tend to shrink back from praying for good things for others because I sometimes feel as though God is bothered by our prayers for good things that we ask. Even I myself am hesitant at times to be honest with God about my desires and needs. How foolish have I been? Praise be to God through Christ that he has shown me my folly. I pray that God would here my prayers for others so that people around would know and see that favor which we have with God through Christ and so Christ would be exalted, for He is a Prophet! The Great Prophet!

Lord may you continue to renew my mind and others through the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ name. Amen

Frontline Missions - "Dispatches from the Front" Trailer

2009-10-05T14:57:00.003-04:00

I could have sworn I already posted this but I searched the archives and couldn't find it. Well, let me remedy that problem.

Dispatches From the Front is a new video series put out by Frontline Missions (Facebook)that explores the Church on the 'frontlines' and documents ways that God is moving in countries most of us never stop to think about (much less pray for).

From the website:

Believers everywhere desperately need a renewed vision of Christ and the unstoppable advance of His saving work in all the earth. Often our view of God’s Kingdom is too small and limited to what we have experienced. Dispatches from the Front provides a rare glimpse into this work, highlighting the marvelous extent, diversity, and unity of Christ’s Kingdom in our world. The journal format of each episode underscores the daily unfolding of God’s activity on the “frontlines,” bringing viewers up-close with sights and sounds from distant corners of the Kingdom.

Check out the website here.

Buy Episode One: Islands on the Edge

"Collision" trailer

2009-09-29T16:21:00.002-04:00

If you are at all tuned into the world you have most likely heard of the New Atheists. Not content to merely enjoy believing in no God (or god), a wave of "evangelistic atheism" has been sweeping the blogospheres and bookshelves of the world. There are several big names in the movement, including Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens.

In the new documentary, Collision, the filmmaker captures a series of debates between Christopher Hitchens and Doug Wilson. Everything I have read about it indicates the film itself doesn't lean one way or the other but rather allows two intellectual heavy weights from the opposing sides to slug it out - verbally, of course.

I love listening to a good, intellectual debate. I hate listening to people argue like idiots. Fortunately, this appears to be the former.

I am very much looking forward to watching this film and have already pre-ordered it from Amazon. Is anyone else looking forward to this film?

Extra: Here is a short link collection to useful resources.

HT: Desiring God National Conference, 2009

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Matt Chandler - 7 Miles

2009-09-29T12:29:00.003-04:00

If you don't know who Matt Chandler is, I highly recommend checking out his sermons on iTunes. He is very much one of my favorite modern preachers. Just click the iTunes button below and you will be taken to the right place.

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And They Crucified Him

2009-09-24T17:19:00.001-04:00

Leonard Ravenhill Sermon Clip

2009-09-22T00:39:00.001-04:00

God's Glory in Salvation

2009-09-15T21:30:00.006-04:00

Lance and I were discussing some theology at the dinner table tonight; one of our more common topics. Tonight, we talked about the glory God receives from our salvation, and our worship. We personally believe that as Christians, God chose us for salvation, and not because of anything in us or anything we did, but simply because He willed to do so. Through this election, we believe God is glorified. The reason we discussed this theological topic specifically, was because Lance had been met with opposition to our belief by somebody saying (paraphrased) "Doesn't God get more glory and satisfaction when we choose to worship Him rather than Him choosing for us through the idea if election?" Basically, this person was saying that it's not real love if we don't choose to love God out of our own free will. Well, I must admit, on the surface, that argument sounds reasonable. Thus our discussion began.

As we talked, a portion of scripture came to mind and I began to form an analogy of how God is glorified in elective salvation. Ephesians 1:5 says "(In love) he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will." Believe it or not, the part I want to hone in on is not the "predestined" part but the "adoption" part. A while back I actually posted a blog about the word "adoption" from this exact passage. If you want to check out that post, just click here.

Anyways, I started to think about an earthly adoption. By adoption, I mean the situation of a couple taking a child they do not know into their home and raising them as their own child. An excellent example would be a couple from our church who adopted a little girl from Asia. (To make things simpler, I will refer to the couple as the Browns and will refer to the little girl as Sarah.) They sought her out, and went to Asia to bring her home. It was a really big deal for not only the Brown family, but for our church as well. I have a couple of points I want to glean from this example of adoption and the idea of adoption in general, so bare with me.

I remember when I heard about the Brown's intentions of rescuing this sweet child from an orphanage across the world. I remember having feelings of admiration toward them and I internally praised them for their generosity and love that they were about to bestow upon Sarah who was not their flesh and blood nor even their own nationality. In a worldly sense, the adoptive parents (in general) would receive the "glory" for the act of choosing a child in need to love as their own. Your first thoughts of praise would naturally be directed toward the parents and not the adopted child. Upon hearing about Sarah's adoption, I didn't think "Man, what an amazing child to find her way into the Brown family. She made such a good choice!" No, that would have been silly. Well, in the same way, God is due the glory for our salvation. Paul says that God chose us for adoption. He does not say that we chose to be adopted. So, my first point is that God receives glory from our salvation, because HE chose to adopt us into his family. Like the Browns sought out Sarah, He seeks us out and comes after us. Take a look at the blog I linked above to see how and why we should be in awe of this gracious adoption.

Some of you may say, "Well, unlike Sarah, all humans are seeking after something to satisfy their need for God, and some do find God and choose to love him. Since God knows everything, and he knew those people would choose him, God adopts them into his family." Hmmm ok, well that means that God chooses us based on something we DO (our choosing him) and that is not Biblical. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." That passage explains that the faith through which we are saved is a gift of God, and not something we muster up on our own. If it was something we did or activated, that would be a result of works and we would have room to boast, but that's not what Paul says happens. I believe the view of God doing all the work in salvation gives more glory to God than the view of us doing some of the work in salvation.

Now lets look at the response of the adopted child. The Brown's brought little Sarah back to the US, and I have enjoyed watching her grow. There is no denying that she loves the Browns. Why does little Sarah have love and adoration for the Browns? I think we would all quickly say, "Because they love her." Yes, the Browns love Sarah, and in fact they loved her before she really even knew them. As soon as Sarah began to feel the love of her new family, she began to respond with love toward them. At this point, she really doesn't understand the whole adoption, but she knows that her family loves her and so she responds to that love. Like Sarah, if we are true Christians and have been adopted by our heavenly Father, we will naturally respond to him in love and adoration. However, unlike Sarah, we DO understand the whole adoption, and we understand what the cost of that adoption was and what that adoption saved us from. Therefore, we have even more reason to respond in love toward God. I worship God because I want to. I see what he has done in my life, and that deserves worship and honor. Nobody forces Sarah to love the Browns, and likewise, nobody forces me to love or worship God. I love God for the same reason Sarah loves the Browns, because it's my natural response. The amazing love and grace that I find in Christ, naturally moves me to love and worship Him. Now, would Sarah love the Browns had she never met them? If they had never sought her out and adopted her, would she still feel the same adoration? Well, no, I don't think she would have loved somebody she was unaware of. Sarah didn't go looking for her adoptive parents. In a similar way, before God seeks us out and moves on our hearts to bring us into his family, we don't love God. You can't love somebody you don't know. In fact God actually gives us the faith and ability to love him when he regenerates our hearts. Does God receive glory and satisfaction from our love and worship even though he initiates it? I believe so. I think we need to remember the fact that God does whatever he chooses and you can be sure that whatever happens appeases his will in some way. God is not going to get second rate glory, and so if it appeases his will to chose those who will be saved, the you can bet he is getting glory from it.

So let's get back to the original opposition; "Doesn't God get more glory and satisfaction when we choose to worship Him rather than Him choosing for us through the idea of election?" the fact that God chose us does not disqualify our love for him any more than the fact that the Browns chose Sarah disqualifies her love for them. Since God is the one who chose us, our love and worship is an authentic response and not a conjured up act. Paul uses the word adoption at least 4 times throughout the NT, so I definitely believe that he used it on purpose. If we believe that the words written by Paul are actually the inerrant Word of God, then we ought to view ourselves as having been adopted into the Family of God. I think adoption is wonderful word to describe salvation because none of us are owed the inheritance of eternal life. God is gracious to accept any of us into his family, and he is worthy of our love and praise. Although I believe our steps are directed by God, I believe my love and adoration for my Savior is authentic. So, I believe God is satisfied and glorified in elective salvation.

I hope this analogy has made a bit of sense, and I would love to get some feedback from you readers!

O Death, Where is Your Sting?

2009-08-29T10:24:00.004-04:00

Okay. So last night I was surfing around on Facebook and I saw a status update for a group that I am a part of named TwoChixApologetics. I am not a part of it in the sense that I contribute anything to this group. Instead, I am a part of it so that I mainly get updates about different debates and topics that they host discussions on. Well last night I saw that one of their ministries was holding a debate on "Did Jesus Die on the Cross?" which was between a Muslim man and a Christian woman. Some of the things discussed were actual physical resurrection of Christ and whether or not he even actually died at all. So afterwards, I went and read through 1 Corinthians chapter 15. This whole chapter deals with the Christian belief that there is an actual resurrection that took place with Christ and which will take place with us. After I finished reading it I was very much encouraged by the truth to which we hold to, which is, that we who are in Christ will be clothed and resurrected with a new imperishable body.

The reason this encouraged me is because right now our bodies are corruptible, mortal, and prone to rot and decay. It's a known fact that all of us are slowly falling apart. This can be very discouraging at times or at least I know it is with me. So when I read and was reminded of the truth that,

"So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is
raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."

The fact that those who died in weakness, dishonor, and in a perishing state who are in Christ, will be raised in power, honor, and an imperishable body! Death is a very discouraging and hard thing to watch. Especially if the dying process of a loved one is drawn out to where we see all the weakness of the body in its full effect. It can be very tough to endure. What should give us hope for the godly who has to go through this, is that the moment they breathe their last, they have just sown their last seed so that when Christ comes back, they will have a most glorious body. Now for the ungodly this should cause a most gut wrenching effect within us because we know that not only now are they suffering the weaknesses of the body, but they are just starting out on a journey that will carry them into an eternity of suffering, corruption, and dishonor.

Now what about those of us who do not die before Christ returns? What happens to our body? 1 Corinthians 15:51-56 says,

I tell you this, brothers: flesh, and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
'O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?'

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those of us who are left until our Savior (I say our Saviour to clarify what happens to the saved) appears will be transformed in an instant to be like Christ. For just as the scriptures say in Colossians 3:4,

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

So death no longer has a hold on us who are in Christ. It may appear that death is still having it's effect on those who are in Christ, but remember that death is the last enemy to be swallowed up when all things have been brought under subjection to Christ. May we rejoice in that the sting of death has been removed and we will have an imperishable body that glorifies our Savior. May the promises and hope to which we hold to give us endurance under our present weaknesses, for they shall not be with us forever. Amen.

Bride Get Ready! You're Groom is putting on his bow tie!

2009-08-28T06:40:00.003-04:00

If you have even begun to read this PLEASE continue. I do not claim to be a prophetess or work in the word of knowledge, but you reading this is not just a coincidence, I believe it is God's providence. People I want you to know that just now I was woken from my sleep and brought to tears. My family is sleeping and yet I HAVE to write this now... it could not wait!

Just Wednesday, one of my dear friends, Christy, shared with us that she had a dream about the rapture of the Church. Maybe she will post a blog on here explaining it in better detail, but when she shared a tidbit from the dream, I had chills, and I just knew in my spirit that God had given her that dream for a reason. Folks normal dreams are about trying to get somewhere and not being able to move, or sitting in class in your underwear... not the rapture of the Saints! I thought to myself, "Wow, God is stirring his Bride."

Well, just now at around 6:30am, it is raining and lightning is popping all around me. I was asleep in my bed with my sweet child in my arms, and i had a dream. I dreamed that I was in a small worship service with close friends. We were in the midst of a storm much like this one. The lightning was popping and the thunder was clapping and we were raising our voices to God in praise. I had Asher in my arms. Then one of the girls in the group said, "This is the best day of our lives!" And as soon as she said that, it was like the loudest clap of lightning/thunder I have ever heard, and in that thunder I heard names being called out, and in that same split second we were sucked into the air like in some science fiction movie. I felt like I was dreaming but in my heart I knew "This is it!" and then I woke up with my heart pounding and tears coming down my face.

I cannot let this go! God does not often give me such vivid dreams and I do not normally wake from sleep on my own like I just did. I believe that God is telling us something. He is preparing his Bride for his return. Even if he is just putting a sense of urgency on our hearts so that we do not let our days slip by in waste. Jesus is coming, and there isn't going to be a news broadcast warning you about it. It's going to happen in a clap of thunder... unexpectedly. In Luke, Jesus said "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (And just so you know, I opened my Bible to find this verse, not exactly knowing where it was, and it fell open to the very page!)

If you are reading this and you think that I am a crazy fool, let me say this. I will not keep my mouth shut! I will do the will of my Father, and I beg of you, examine your heart. If this is foolishness to you, then you are blind and you are lost. Jesus was real. He was the Son of God, and he came here and died on a cross for your sins, so that those who believe in him might have eternal life and not suffer the eternal damnation that we all deserve. God commands us to repent and believe. If you are reading this right now and something has stirred in your heart, and you are feeling the weight of your sin like hot coals against your skin, that is the Holy Spirit's sweet conviction, and grace is waiting for you. What must you do to be saved? You must lay down your life and follow him. You must repent of your sin and your unbelief and have faith in Jesus as Lord, believing that he died on the cross and was raised from the dead. Jesus is the only way. His death on the cross is the only substitution for sin. You cannot get to heaven by going to church, making donations to charities, being a good husband or father, or even saying you believe in God and Jesus. If you are reading this and you know that your life is not right and that Christ is not your hearts affection, this is a personal call to you from God. The truth has gone out, and I pray that it does not fall on deaf ears. I am praying for you.

If you are reading this and you know that you are a Child of God. You know that your life bears the stamp of salvation, then I say to you "WAKE UP!!! Get ready Christian! We have a mission, and we must get about it, because our Bride Groom is sitting on the edge of his throne waiting for the Father to give the word "Go." The Church has been silent too long. We have been weak and lazy for too long! There are people dying (physically and spiritually) all around us and we just go about our lives as if we have nothing to offer and no interest to help! The earth is moaning with birth pains. Things are happening and God is moving people into place for His purpose, and ultimately that purpose is the rapture of his Church and the judgement of this world and all of it for the glory of His name. In Matthew, Jesus talks about the signs (24:6)"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains." Christian, prepare yourself in prayer and reading of the Word. You will need strength and faith. Our bodies may be broken for the sake of the gospel, but if so, know that we were chosen for this time in history, and if God is for us who can be against us? I encourage you to set yourself and your desires aside, open your ears to hear what your Father has to say, and above all do His will. Test yourselves continually, and do not take the grace that he blessed you with for granted lest you find yourself lacking.

I close with a prayer; "Father God and most Glorious King, thank you for your prompting of my heart. I pray that I have written the right words and that the hearts of those who read this will feel your tugging and know that I do not say these things of my own accord. Lord if you calling to your Church and you are wakening us from our slumber so that we will be ready for you, I pray you give us the strength and the courage to go about your will. I pray that your name will be lifted up high and that the light of your love will shine through us your Church, reaching into the darkness and taking hold of your lost children. God, I pray the the knowledge of your precious Son will reach those who have not heard. I pray that if you call us to be the ones who are to take that knowledge to the far ends of the earth, that we will go without hesitation. May the hectic craziness of this fleshly life fade away, and may we be focused on eternity and what really matters. Lives are hanging in the balance, and Lord I pray that through us that you snatch them up and save them from your judgement. God I pray that through my human and imperfect words you will bring about your perfect purpose. God, whatever the reason you have given me this heaviness of heart, I pray that your will be done. Again, thank you for the wake up call. You know what I was in need of. Amen."

Just So You Know

2009-08-27T20:57:00.002-04:00

I just want to use my privilege of posting to post about two upcoming things that I am really excited about. They are both related so I figured I would use one post to cover them both.

The first is Matt Redman's new CD We Shall Not Be Shaken and second is the David Crowder * Band's new CD Church Music. I am really looking forward to both of these CDs because of the weight and brightness with which these artists write of the glory of God. Both have been part of the Passion movement for some years now and are extremely gifted and graced with the ability to declare the glories and truths of God in music. Each of these CDs are a must have tool for encouragement, praise, and reminder of God's glories for the Christian pilgrim's heart. As Matt quotes on his website from Charles Spurgeon, "new mercies shall new songs demand."

I hope that when listening to these songs that the Holy Spirit will illuminate our hearts to the glory of our God and King!

I Never Knew You

2009-08-24T18:01:00.004-04:00

Okay. So there are certain passages within the scriptures that I think every true Christian has somewhat of an anxious or nervous time reading sometimes. They are the types of scriptures that address a person thinking they are going to make it into heaven only to get their and find out that they aren't getting in. These can be found in the Gospels, in Romans, and other places throughout the scriptures. The big idea is that usually when one reads them, there is a kind of "Oh no, am I like that?" or a "Lord please don't let that be me" thought process that goes along with them. I think one of the main ones that people are familiar with is the one found in Matthew 7:21-23. It reads like this,

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will
say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in
your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to
them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

Okay. I just want to share my thoughts that actually didn't come to me until I was discussing with someone how one can know that this will not be them. Funny thing is that I have always never really quite understood why these people didn't make it in. I mean I had ideas, but I think the one that I shared with that person is closest to what is right. Think about it, Jesus says that they prophesied in Christ's name, cast out demons in Christ's name, and did many great works in His name and then states, "No, only those who do the will of my Father will get in." When you think of a Christian what do you think of? Do you think of someone who is a good person? Someone who tells people about Jesus? (I say "tells" because I think prophesy here is meaning to declare, not tell the future as some people think of prophesy.) Someone who does good works? Isn't that what should characterize the life of a Christian? When I think of these people I don't have a picture or idea in my mind as someone in the likes of Hitler or Charles Manson. I mean I have an idea of a pretty good person as far as my mind conceives. I think that is exactly what the scriptures want us to think of these people which is to think that they were good people. However, we must understand what Christ is talking about when he says, those who do the will of my Father. The book of John chapter 1 verses 12 & 13 helps us to see what that is,

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is God's will for people to be born again and believe in Christ. The problem these people have is not that they don't have good works, but they don't have what God wills, which is faith in Christ. These people have the same problem that Paul speaks of the Jews having in Romans 9:30-32 which reads,

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

This is the problem with why the people in Matthew 7 did not make it in. What are the reasons that they give to justify why they should be there in Heaven? They are all acts of works. Not one of them says, "but Lord, I believed in you and trusted that I was righteous in you!" For there are many passages that state that whoever believes and trusts in Christ and his work on the cross will be saved. Let us always remember that faith precedes and is more important than works. May God grant us faith increasing in Jesus Christ and may we cling to the cross of Christ as our only hope for salvation.

He will invade this world!

2009-08-22T15:43:00.002-04:00

I have been slowly reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis (great book btw), and I this passage really stood out to me. I really like the frankness of it.

[Regarding Jesus' life on earth] Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance of joining His side freely. I do not suppose you and I would have thought much of a Frenchman who waited till the Allies were marching into Germany and then announced he was on our side. God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, whe you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else--something it never entered you head to conceive--comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it.

Tears of the Saints

2009-08-18T11:03:00.002-04:00

I shared this video on my Facebook a few months ago and was reminded of it when someone tweeted about it today. I suddenly remembered I didn't post it here.

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Additional Thoughts on Christ and Love

2009-07-10T17:49:00.004-04:00

Okay. So I thought I would read again last night since God was so gracious as to bless my reading time the night before. I decided to stay where I was and just read more into what I had previously read. It is really enjoyable to be able to gain insights again from reading the word. As before I will state again that these are my thoughts and what I believe Christ is teaching me. I hope they encourage you and point you to Christ. If they do not, then disregard them.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:13-16

It seems that John is implying that confession is an act of believing or understanding. It is not just making a statement about something but seems more to be an act of aligning oneself with a certain thing. In this case, they confess that they believe the love of God to be Jesus Christ being sent to save the world. The verses previous to these state that only those who believe in Christ and God's love are the ones that are able to truly love because they know what love truly is. Because of their confession of Christ and partaking in love, they are able to abide in God. How are they able to abide in God because of their confession and partaking in love? When we love our neighbor then we are abiding in Christ, which is love, and John explicitly states that God is love and therefore we abide in God. We abide in Christ, we abide in love, and we abide in God. So we see another example or explanation of how Christ brings us back and reconciles us back to God. Without Christ we would not know what love truly is and therefore we could not truly love. Without truly loving we could never abide in God.

Lord Jesus, may we learn to abide in you as the perfect act of love and as we abide in you, may we have the confidence that we abide in God. Amen.

Your Love May Not Be Truly Love

2009-07-08T23:37:00.004-04:00

Okay. So I know it has been a very long while since I have written a blog, and so I hope that there are still people out there that are reading our blog. I wanted to share my thoughts on some scripture that I read tonight. These are my initial thoughts and I don't claim them to be completely perfect in the sense of having complete illumination, but I do believe that I am taught by the spirit of Christ, for I know in part. I merely post them because this is what I believe scripture is saying. Now onto the scripture.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:7-12

Love is from God. God's act of love is preeminent, his was the first act of love, there was no motive, motion, or act of love that ever took place before God's act of love. So love originates from and out of God. God defines what love is, sets the standard, and is in fact love. One cannot truly love without knowing God. A person may think they are performing an act of love towards someone, but this is only truly an act of love if they know God. How can this be? How can an act of love be defined as an act of love only if the person knows God? Because God shows us and manifests love by sending his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. What was loving about that? In that, this is love, not that we loved God and deserved his act, but that he loved us and sent Christ to propitiate or satisfy the wrath of God without us having earned that act. The reason that love is defined by knowing God is because, knowing God is defined by knowing and believing in Christ. No one who rejects or doesn't understand Christ can possibly know the father. And since Christ is the ultimate and preeminent act of love, one cannot truly love without knowing Christ. Why is that? I don't claim to know fully, but I believe based on scripture that it has to do with understanding the Gospel. See, we as humans do not have the nature to love a completely wicked person without having strings attached to our act of love. We do not naturally love a wicked person without them having to earn our act of love. When someone has to earn the act that we supposedly call love, that is not love, that is called winning someone over. On the other hand, a right understanding of God leads to understanding his love, which leads to understanding Christ, which leads to understanding true love. True love isn't earned, it is given, regardless of what a person does. When John encourages us to love, he roots it in knowing God and understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unless a person know this, then their love is not true love.

Father, may we know you so that we may know what love is, namely you sending your Son without us having to earn your act of love, so that you satisfied your wrath in Christ and therefore brought us back to yourself. May we understand that act of love so that we can truly love others as you have loved us. Amen

CJ Mahaney: The Cup of Christ excerpt

2009-06-29T17:07:00.005-04:00

This video contains a clip from C.J. Mahaney's excellent sermon series, "Christ and Him Crucified". If you have not already listened to it then I highly recommend you check it out. It is only three sermons long so just playing it in your car you should be able to finish it in under a week, although I would recommend sitting down and listening to it at home. You can fin d the mp3s by clicking here. Just add the mp3s to your cart and when you 'checkout' you are given the link.

The work of grace on a heart can be heard on the tongue

2009-06-20T05:41:00.002-04:00

I read this in my daily Grace Gems, and thought it was worthy of passing along.

If he is a liar, a talebearer, a railer, a flatterer or a jester

(Letters of John Newton)

There is, perhaps, no one test or proof of the reality of a work of grace upon the heart, more simple, clear and infallible--than the general tenor of our speech; for our Lord's aphorism is of certain and universal application, that "out of the abundance of the heart--the mouth speaks."

To the same purpose, the apostle James proposes to all who make a profession of the gospel, a searching criterion of their sincerity, when he says, "If anyone considers himself religious, and yet does not keep a tight bridle on his tongue--he deceives himself and his religion is worthless!" James supposes that the grace of God in a true believer will check the evils of the heart, and prevent them from breaking out by the tongue.

The grace of God will necessarily influence and govern the tongues of those who partake of it, in what they say when they speak of God, of themselves, and of or to their fellow-creatures.

Having seen a glimpse of the holiness and majesty, the glory and the grace, of the great God with whom they have to do--their hearts are impressed with reverence, and therefore there is a seriousness in their language. They cannot speak lightly of God, or of His ways. One would suppose that no person, who even but seems to be pious, can directly and expressly profane His glorious name. But there is a careless and flippant manner of speaking of the great God, which is very disgusting and very suspicious. Likewise, the hearts of believers teach their mouths to speak honorably of God under all their afflictions and crosses, acknowledging the wisdom and the mercy of His painful dispensations. And, if an impatient word escapes them--it grieves and humbles them, as quite unfitting to their situation as His creatures, and especially as sinful creatures, who have always reason to acknowledge, that it is of the Lord's mercy alone--that they are not wholly consumed.

When they speak of themselves, their tongues are bridled, and restrained from boasting. They speak as befits poor, unworthy creatures--because they feel themselves to be such! In what they say, either of their comforts or of their sorrows, sincerity dictates a simplicity which cannot be easily counterfeited.

In what they say of or to others, the tongues of believers are bridled by a heart-felt regard to truth, love and purity.

Where saving grace is in the heart--the tongue will be bridled by the law of TRUTH. It is grievous to see how nearly and readily some professors will venture upon the borders of a lie; either . . .
to defend their own conduct,
to avoid some inconvenience,
to procure a supposed advantage,
or sometimes merely to embellish a story!
Where instances of this kind are frequent, I hardly know a fouler blot in profession, or which can give a more just warrant to fear that such professors know nothing aright, either of God or themselves! The Lord is a God of truth; and He teaches His servants to hate and abhor lying, and to speak the truth from their hearts. I may add likewise, with regard to promises--that the person, whose simple word may not be safely depended upon--scarcely deserves the name of a Christian!

Where grace is in the heart, the tongue will likewise be bridled by the law of LOVE. If we love our neighbor--can we lightly speak evil of him, magnify his failings, or use provoking or insulting language to him? Love thinks no evil--but bears, hopes and endures. Love acts by the golden rule, to "Do unto others--what you would like them to do unto you." Those who are under the influence of Christian love, will be gentle and compassionate, disposed to make the most favorable allowances, and of course their tongues will be restrained from the language of malevolence, harsh censure, and slander--which are as familiar to us as our mother tongue--until we are made partakers of the grace of God.

The tongue is also bridled by a regard to PURITY, agreeable to the precepts, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths!" "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking!" Ephesians 4:29, 5:4. Grace has taught believers to hate these things! How then can their tongues speak of them?

There are false professors, indeed, who can suit their language to their company. When with the people of God--they call talk very seriously. But at other times, they are well pleased to join in vain, frothy and evil conversation. But this double-mindedness is of itself, sufficient to discredit all their pretenses to a pious character.

Upon the whole, though perfection is not to be expected, though true believers may, on some occasions, speak rashly, and have great cause for humiliation, watchfulness, and prayer, with respect to the government of their tongues; yet Scripture authorizes this conclusion: That, if the tongue is frequently without a bridle; if it may be observed, that a person often speaks . . .
lightly of God and of divine things,
proudly of himself, and
harshly of his fellow-creatures;
if he is a liar, a talebearer, a railer, a flatterer or a jester--then, whatever other good qualities he may seem to possess--his speech betrays him! He deceives himself, and his religion is worthless!

Let us think of these things, and entreat the Lord to cast the salt of His grace into the fountain of our hearts--that the streams of our conversation may be wholesome.

The Few

2009-06-19T04:08:00.002-04:00

HT: illbehonest.com

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Back in the Swing of Things... Weekly Passage

2009-06-15T15:09:00.004-04:00

Here is the memorization passage for the week of June 15th:

Ephesians 1:11-14

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

How do you spend your time?

2009-06-09T15:39:00.000-04:00