Loving Jesus is Costly!

Take Up Your Cross
Matthew 10:34-39
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Who would pick these verses as a favorite Bible passage? These words are no less true than the easy words! Jesus said many shocking things during his earthly ministry. Not a few times he left the religious leaders with their mouths wide open, gasping for air. He also said some things to Believers which are meant to knock the breath out of us long enough for us to really consider what Jesus said. This is one of those statements.

(v.34) “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.”
Some people in Jesus’ day thought that Jesus came to just bring the icing to the cake. The Jews thought that they had everything right, except they were constantly being pestered by the Romans and others. They were waiting for Jesus to “do what he was supposed to do” and fix the Romans so they would stop bothering them and then everything would be peachy! – But Jesus didn’t come to bring peace!
Some people today think the same sort of thing. They think after they have gone to high-school and college, gotten married, bought a house, had 1.5 kids and started their career, that they still need something else to complete their lives. They say, “I think I need religion. Yes, I think I need church, and then everything will be just right.” Some people actually think that it is part of being culturally acceptable to say you love Jesus! Jesus did not come in order to add the one missing piece to our puzzled lives. But Jesus didn’t come to bring peace
Jesus did not come so we all could just get along. Jesus didn’t come to put the bullies in their place so that we could go on with our lives more peacefully. Jesus did not come to be the cherry that tops off our lives which really were just fine before! Jesus did not come to bring peace!
Jesus didn’t come as company does either. Company comes and brings their stuff to the guest bed room and stays with you a while. You don’t change the way you make coffee just because you have company. You don’t alter your relationship with your neighbor because you have company. You wake up in the morning and tell your guest: “It is so nice to have you in my home!” and then go about your daily routine. Jesus didn’t come to bring peace, to make life nice, or easier.
Jesus came and brought a sword- “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” v.37
i. Swords were much more prevalent in Jesus’ day than in ours- especially in the army.
ii. Swords cut or divide
iii. Jesus came with a sword in order to draw the line very clearly between the children of God and the pretenders
iv. We might say Jesus has come to show us who has on which jersey.
v. Jesus has come to show you which jersey you are wearing. Will you hear his voice?
Jesus came for your greatest love, not just a vote! (vv.34b-37)
In this area, many people claim to be a Christian for the same reason they claim to be a Republican or a Democrat or a Libertarian. On the last vote, the Republican candidate looked more promising than the Democrat so that’s who they voted for. But day to day, it makes no difference. Jesus didn’t come to secure votes! Jesus came for your greatest love! And giving Jesus your greatest love will put you at odds with the other people you love from time to time. Which love will win the day?
i. “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
ii. A true disciple’s love for Jesus must be greater than his love for anyone or anything else! Sometimes, loving Jesus will cost you other relationships.
iii. Illus. Muslims converting to Christ
iv. Illus. In the South, being ostracized and ridiculed as a fanatic because you take Jesus seriously.
v. Who has your loyalty?
With Jesus’ sword, He has divided between those who love Him supremely and everyone else!
i. This idea of loving Jesus seems weird to the average person.
1. We can somehow grasp what it is to know about Jesus and pray to Jesus; even worship Him, but LOVE Jesus?
2. John Piper writes: “Love is not a mere choice to move the body or the brain. Love is also an experience of the heart. . . Christ is to be cherished, not just chosen.”
3. We need to take this a step further. Christ is not just to be cherished, but cherished infinitely more than everything else you cherish. He is to have your most costly loyalty and undying devotion.
4. Luke 14:26 ”If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
ii. Your Supreme Love is what Jesus requires
1. v.37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
2. Greatest commandment (Matt. 22:35-38) “One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” i.e. The most important thing in the UNIVERSE!
a. The purpose of the Law was to show us how unable we are to keep God’s law on our own and drive us to Jesus who satisfied God’s wrath for our not keeping God’s law and he kept God’s law perfectly earning a righteousness that He would give as a gift to all who love Him.
iii. It is true love for Jesus which more than anything else demonstrates a changed heart.
1. The natural man is at war against God from birth! We weren’t just ignorant about God or indifferent to Him, we hated him and this was manifested by our wicked deeds according to Colossians 1.
2. For this to change, a miracle must occur.-the New Birth- adopted into God’s family
a. John 8:42 “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here.”
b. This is why love for God more than a decision or a memory or an experience is more telling about one’s salvation.
3. The love spoken of here is intense passion and commitment, not mere indifference. Jesus doesn’t rescue us to be indifferent! He rescues us from passionate darkness to passionate Jesus loving!
iv. This idea of loving God is used as a description of Believers in the NT
1. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
2. 1 Peter 1:8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him.”
v. Those who don’t love Jesus are called accursed
1. I Cor. 16:22 “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.”
Jesus didn’t just drop out of Heaven and demand love (though He could have) . . . He earned it!
i. He created us
ii. He beautified the Earth for our enjoyment
iii. He humiliated Himself by becoming flesh
iv. He lived a perfectly righteous life as our substitute
v. He died a horrible death on the cross in our place.
vi. He rose from the dead so that we could have life without fear!
vii. He now lives at the Father’s right hand praying for us!
viii. He sent the Holy Spirit!
ix. Now He directs all of history and every detail for our good!
x. He has promised to come again and take us to be with Him immediately forever!
Jesus came for lovers, not votes, and not to pass out fire insurance.
Do you love Jesus?
i. Do you talk to Him?
ii. Do you think about Him and rejoice in His everywhere presence?
iii. Do you thank Him for what you see Him doing everyday?
iv. Do you long to see Him face to face?
1. Some people are truly shocked to find out that if you don’t enjoy loving Jesus now, you’ll hate Heaven. You’d rather have Hell. Heaven is all about adoring Jesus!
Jesus calls his lovers to everyday-death (vv.38-39) “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Jesus is not calling us to pay for our sins! In fact, this passage occurs before the cross and the first disciples didn’t yet understand about Christ having to die.
In this time period, those who were sentenced to be crucified carried their own cross from the court room to the “Place of the Skull.” They were not only sentenced to death, but terrible shame before death!
i. Take up your death sentence! - What a marketing ploy!
ii. Is this Effective Evangelism technique?
This is what Jesus is calling for. Do you love Jesus so much that you lay down your wishes, preferences, agenda, rights, your life and endure shame and persecution for His sake?
The issue is not can you say “I love Jesus!” The issue is whether you love Jesus more than your Dad, Mom, Wife, Husband, Children, Home, etc. The issue is passionate loyalty! There will come times when those you love want you to do something, but Jesus wants you to do another. Who wins? There will come a time when following Jesus will cost you your Nascar collection or your favorite fishing rod or your dream home or your comfort or your free time. Will Jesus have your loyalty then?
i. v.37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me”
There are many ways to lose your life,
i. Work, family, pleasure, attention, church
ii. Dr. William Finnigan “Everybody is somebody’s fool. Whose fool are you?”
but only one way to save your life.
i. Losing your life for Jesus sake and the Gospels
To be a follower of Jesus is costly:
i. Your Job – work as unto the Lord
ii. Your marriage- Husbands love as . . ., wives submit. . .
iii. Your Kids- Train up your children in the . . .
iv. Your Money- Lay up treasure in Heaven
v. Your Leisure- whatever you do, do in the name. . .
vi. Your neighborhood- Jesus placed me here, not just for my viewing pleasure, but to be His presence here. Invest in the lives of our neighbors in order to build bridges for the Gospel. Your co-workers are your neighbors too!
vii. Your ideas of church.- Christ is the head of all things for the Church (Ephesians)
Taking up your cross is a total life commitment
i. Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
1. “body” here represents the whole person.
2. This sacrifice is active and total!
ii. Matt. 16:24-26 “Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”
You must lose your life to find life. Jesus won’t lose it for you.
i. Jesus is calling for a lifestyle of laying down your life
1. A lifestyle of laying down my life for Jesus is made up of days of laying down my life for Jesus, which are made up of hours of laying down my life for Jesus, which are made of moments like this one where we must choose to lay down our lives for Jesus.
This doesn’t mean that Christians should become monks and wear a frown all their lives, but rather to be prepared for whatever it costs you to follow Jesus and to bear gladly the stigma of following Jesus.
i. Hebrews 13:12-14 “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”
Jesus promises His lovers that everyday-death brings life! (v.39) “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Here is a contrast between the world’s idea of life and Jesus’ promise of life. The World says that if I want life to the full I have to keep getting better toys and guard what is mine. Jesus says that at the end of this person’s life, they’ll lose their life and find that their whole life was spent on nothing. Jesus promises that if you will pursue pleasing me no matter what it costs in this life, you’ll not regret it and you’ll one day see that your whole life was spent on something worthwhile which will be rewarded richly in Heaven.
i. The Christian life is one of paradoxes.
1. Lose your life to keep it. Guard your life and you’ll lose it.
ii. He who dies with the most toys wins?
What if I don’t love Jesus supremely?
You need to realize that loving the Right One supremely is a matter of life and death!
Confess it to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and give you the New Birth.
God promises to give a new heart through believing the Gospel. Ezekiel 36:26-27a “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, . . .”
What is Jesus asking you to lay down as His lover?
Jesus said that “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” That’s not to say that simply doing what Jesus says is the same thing as loving Him, but it is to say that if you don’t apply yourself to obey His commands, you don’t really love him. Are there specific commands that Jesus is reminding you of right now? Who will have your loyalty?

God's Grace-Community: Gathered for a Person, a Message, and a Mission

Acts 20:17ff.

"17Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18And when they came to him, he said to them:
"You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship."

2. What is the Church for?
a. Social Life?
b. So we have a place to give our money?
c. So that men with big ego’s can share their opinions for a couple of hours each week?
d. Organization?
3. What is the “Church”?
a. The word actually means “assembly.”
i. But not just any assembly!
ii. We, the Church, are God's Empowered Grace-Community gathered for: a Person, a Message, and a Mission.
iii. We’ll go through the three parts before unpacking the phrase “God's Empowered Grace-Community.”
b. The idea of the assembly of believers is not a new idea found only in the New Testament. The Old Testament also spoke of the congregation or the assembly.
c. What brought the people of the Old Testament together as an assembly is that they were called by God to be His People.
d. This idea carries over into the New Testament, but it is much fuller.
i. That’s why there is no drawn out teaching about what the church is in the NT
ii. Israel was the church of the Old Testament.
iii. In the New Testament, we are not primarily made up of one ethnic group. We are diverse. We are called from every nation and tribe and language!
iv. We are called to be Jesus’ body as local expressions of God’s world-wide work.
1. Epistles were letter written to the church at _____. (i.e., Sardis, Ephesus, etc.)
4. God's Empowered Grace-Community gathered for a Person
a. The Church exists because of the work of Jesus!
i. Ephesians says that Jesus tore down the wall of separation between races and cultures and purchased a people from all people groups
ii. Jesus has earned the righteousness we needed to be in God’s presence.
iii. Jesus bore the wrath of God in our place so that we could enjoy His presence and fellowship
iv. The church gathers as a celebration of Jesus!
1. Our preaching ought to be full of Jesus.
2. Our singing ought to be full of praise to Jesus!
v. When we come together it is because of Jesus and through Jesus that we are in the presence of God.
1. The Old Testament was full of blood and the overwhelming absence of blood in the New Testament is a testimony to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.
b. Ephesians 1:22 “And He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
5. God's Empowered Grace-Community gathered for a Person and a Message
a. Ephesians 1:13-14 “In 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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
b. It was hearing and believing the message of the Gospel which added us to the assembly.
c. It is the Gospel which sustains true faith.
i. Paul’s letter to the Galatian church is proof enough of this. He confronted them in very clear language for mixing works of the law with faith and thinking that that’s what it took to be acceptable to God.
d. It is the Gospel we are to guard and preach!
i. Paul charged Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:13,14 “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
6. God's Empowered Grace-Community gathered for a Person, a Message, and a Mission
a. We cannot understand what the Bible means by church by reflecting only on our identity. That is introverted. But the complete idea comes when we understand who we are and what we are to do. That is we have to understand the extroverted aspect of the church as well.
b. Matt. 28:18-20 Great commission
i. “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
ii. Make Disciples by
1. Making disciples
a. is different from making decisions
b. Is different from altar calls
c. Making disciples is essentially making copy-cats!
i. Paul- Imitate me as I imitate Jesus
d. Disciple making requires a lot of one-on-one life time.
e. “make disciples of all nations”
i. Multi-ethnic discipleship.
ii. Where are they?
f. This is not only the job of the Pastors.
i. Eph. 4:11-12 says “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, . . .”
g. This is not a numbers game- whoever has the most votes wins
2. Baptizing
a. Baptism doesn’t earn salvation.
b. Baptism is God’s way of marking out those who He has called to be His own.
c. In Baptism, the work of the Triune God is pictured, which is why a person is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the person being baptized is passive.
3. Teaching
a. The Church is to teach disciples to do all that Christ commanded.
b. The Church is to teach doctrine which builds up our faith and renews our minds.
7. We are a Grace-Community
a. We are a community- an assembly of Jesus worshipers who share this new life together. It is grace which birthed us into this family and it is God’s grace which must characterize our relationships within this family.
i. Ephesians 4:32-5:1 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
ii. John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
b. A quick survey of the “one-anothering” passages in the NT shows that God has made us to live as an organism, interdependent upon one-another. There are so many “one-anothering” commands in the NT that if you are isolated from the Church, you cannot possibly obey those commands!
c. This community of people owned by the grace of God and a passion for Jesus are called the “household of God.”(Eph. 2:19)
i. As the “household of God”, our life together is vastly different than anything the world can produce, because only the grace of God can cause a naturally selfish person to give up what is important to me so that another person is helped.
ii. As the “household of God” and as the “body of Christ”, every member has a task to do and the church’s mission can only be accomplished if all are doing their part.
1. Eph. 4 is talking about how when Jesus was raised from the dead, it was for glorification and as he was receiving his reward, he showered gifts on the church. On the whole church. (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12 also)
2. Ephesians 4:15,16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, in to Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
8. We are an Empowered Grace-Community
a. In John 14:15-17 Jesus told his disciples “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
i. The disciples were shocked to hear that Jesus had to die and then ascend to Heaven, because that meant that He would no longer be with them like he had been.
ii. They were ready to mourn the loss of their greatest friend, when Jesus promised His Father would send “another Helper.”
1. a helper just like Jesus
2. When the disciples were in the presence of Jesus, they didn’t have to wonder about where their next meal was coming from.
3. When the disciples were with Jesus, they had confidence that anything He asked them to do, they could do. (i.e. walk on water)
a. Illus, Emma walking down the large steps holding my hand
4. The way that Jesus helped and comforted his precious group of disciples, the Holy Spirit does so with each and every child of God.
b. Jesus told his disciples in Luke 24:49 “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
c. Jesus had already given them the Mission instructions, but instruction isn’t all we need.
i. We need power!
d. This was fulfilled at Pentacost.
e. The Holy Spirit has never left. He is still helping, comforting, and teaching His children just like Jesus did.
f. Notice the change in the disciples from before Pentacost and after.
i. After Jesus was buried, but before Pentacost, the disciples locked themselves in a room. They were afraid that they would be found out.
ii. After Pentacost, in Acts 3, Peter and John were walking boldly in the streets and a man who was lame asked them for some money. Peter told him to look at him and John and said, I don’t have any silver or gold, but what I do have, I give to you freely. “Get up and walk!” The man went away dancing!
g. The Power Helper is with us.
i. Yes, the mission is great and difficult!
ii. Yes, it takes boldness to guard and proclaim the Gospel!
iii. Yes, I have to deny myself in order to live at peace with you fellow believers!
iv. Yes, there are millions sick and suffering!
v. But the Power Helper is here!

Church, the Risen Christ has given clear instructions and sent the power to accomplish it. Go. . . Make disciples… baptize them and teach them all that Jesus commanded.

My Precious Family

Humble Leadership

Josh Harris was recently interviewed regarding his participation with the Reform and Resurge Conference. He models humble leadership and emanates Gospel-priorities.

The Luring Effect of a Cracker

The other day we were riding in the van as a family going to see our new niece (Jubilee Hope Andrews). We told our girls that we had some crackers they could eat after we were finished at their cousins' house. When we were finished, we loaded up into the van and noticed that it was nearly dinner time. In a quiet conversation, Faith and I decided that we would take the girls to McDonald's for dinner since we were so close. Just then, the girls began begging for the crackers we told them they could have. We told them that we had something even better for them if they would just wait. They continued to beg for the crackers and it finally ended with me telling the girls not to ask for the crackers anymore. They were upset. They felt entitled to their crackers and they wanted them now instead of waiting for Daddy's surprise which was supposed to be far better. As we pulled into MickeyD's our girl's faces brightened up and they suddenly forgot about the crackers. As we pulled into the parking lot and noticed the girls' expressions changing, I commented to Faith; "What an analogy!"
During this episode, I was thinking of a comment made by C. S. Lewis from The Weight of Glory ". . .if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desire, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. "
God wants us completely satisfied in HIM, but how often we demand immediate satisfaction from far lesser things which only end up disappointing! In Jeremiah 2 (vv.12-14) God complains "Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters,and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." You see my girls were sinning two-fold. They were demading lesser goods while rejecting the far better thing I was promising them.
Brothers and Sisters, we do this with every sin we commit against God. Sin is essentially believing the deceitful promises of sin over God's promises. When we sin, we reject God and His "living water" and we instead stuff our faces with cotton candy which tastes sweet for a short season but then is gone, leaving a still empty stomach. God alone satisfies the human heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory!
What God promises is always worth the wait and the forsaking all lesser promises from deceitful sources!
We need to see crackers for what they really are and trust God to give us the full meal!

Happy Birthday, Chad Mahaney!

For his son's thirteenth birthday, CJ Mahaney invited David Powlison to write a letter to his son, Chad. We all can benefit greatly from receiving the wisdom and encouragement of this letter. Thanks to the sweet ladies at the Girltalk blog for posting this!

What Would Jesus Do? . . . with the Sick and Demonized?

This is the question Sam Storms attempts to answer in a recent sermon delivered at the home pulpit of John Piper (Bethlehem Baptist Church). It is amazing how we want to see Jesus as an example of so many things, but what about Spirit-empowered ministry? How did Jesus do so many great works? Did He flip his "God-switch"? or was He demonstrating the fulness of life in the Spirit? And what does His example mean for every believer? How does our ministry to the sick and demonized stack up when compared with His? In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded us to teach all disciples to do all the things He has commanded. That definitely includes healing the sick and delivering those who are oppressed by demons (Matthew 10:8). What are your thoughts after hearing this message?

Convergence Seminar with Sam Storms

Since John Piper is on writing leave in England, Dr. Sam Storms of Enjoying God Ministries was invited to preach at Bethlehem Baptist Church and conduct a seminar (2 sessions + Q&A) based on his newest book "Convergence." The book is great and this seminar is a good introduction to the issues covered in the book. Enjoy!

*You'll need to scroll down to the block that says "Download fresh audio each week" on the right-hand side of the page, then scroll down to Sam Storms' sermons.

"Too Atonement-Centered"?

Mark Dever recently wrote an article for Christianity Today magazine discussing some current opposition to the Atonement and its centrality in the Christian life. It is well worth the read!

AdrianWarnock's Blog: Interview with Dr. Sam Storms

Adrian's Blog: Interview with Dr. Sam Storms

Who Am I?

Who am I . . . theologically?
One of the problems of attempting to align more fully with Scripture than with the tradition (by that I mean denomination or group functioning as a denomination) one finds most comfortable, is that, eventually, one may begin to experience a "theological identity crisis" (TIC). Most traditions have much to be emulated, but no tradition perfectly embodies the balance and grace the Scriptures call for. A person in this place, can find critics in nearly every place who dislike his unwillingness to conform inspite of conscience and Scriptural convictions. Surely, not everything is a hill to die on, but some things are! The discomfort felt by anyone experiencing a TIC is exacerbated by the ubiquitous lack of charity toward anyone who disagrees in any way with the status quo.
For Example
I consider myself: Christian, Reformed, Charismatic, Presbyterian, Apostolic, and Paedo-baptist. What a mix! Where do I fit in? These terms are not nearly as univocally understood as I would hope, so let me clarify just a little.
By Christian, I mean one who banks his eternal destiny on the truth claims of Jesus Christ. I trust in His Obedience, as my Substitute, to have atoned for my sins and clothed me with infinite righteousness that is not my own. I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit Who testifies with my spirit that I am a son of God and He empowers me to gospel-motivated obedience.
By Reformed, I mean one who seeks to live all of life conscious of God's immediate presence; one who understands the Scriptures to be the infallible and inerrant Word of God; one who holds to the five points of Calvinism, not because of Calvin, but because I see them taught plainly in the Bible; and one who wants to continue testing everything against the standard of Scripture.
By Charismatic, I mean one who is not only open to but earnestly desiring and pursuing all the gifts of the Spirit (i.e., Tongues, Teaching, Prophecy, Administration, etc.). When I pray for someone to be healed, I truly expect God to heal them. Sometimes, in a worship service, God tells me something to say or shows me a picture to share in order to encourage, comfort, or edify. I pray in Tongues because I (along with the Apostle Paul) don't know what to pray for (Romans 8:26), but the Holy Spirit does. I know that when I am teaching or preaching or speaking wisdom into someone's life, that is just as much empowered by the Holy Spirit, and all His gifts are gracious!
By Presbyterian (elder-ruled), I mean one who sees in Scripture that God's design is that the local church be governed by a plurality and parity of Elders.
By Apostolic, I mean one who believes in present day apostles. I know that the first Apostles were unique and uniquely gifted, but the giftedness and function of the apostle is still very much in need today. The New Testament doesn't show missionaries being sent out, but Apostles sent out to plant and father local churches, creating a Gospel-presence in dark areas.
By Paedo-baptist, I mean one who sees Scriptural evidence requiring believing parents to baptize their infants in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; preferably by sprinkling or pouring, but not ruling out immersion and recognizing that this does not guarantee salvation. Since there is only one Covenant of Grace and several administrations of it, all building up to fulness in Christ, there is a built in unity to the entire Bible. In the Old Testament, the children of believers were required to receive a physical sign testifying to God's promises of Grace to all who repent and believe. This requirement was in force throughout the Old Testament and was never repealed by Christ and was the universal practice of the Christian Church at least up to a couple of hundred years past the death of the last of the original Apostles. According to Colossians 2:11-12, circumcision was replaced with the more widely applicable Baptism. Therefore, all new adult converts should be baptized and all children of at least one believing parent. I understand why credo-baptists stand where they do and I wouldn't question their sincerity, nor would I have a problem working side-by-side with them. The very clear and therefore, most binding thing, is that you are baptized if you profess faith in Jesus Christ.

TIC For Everyone, but not Schizophrenia!
I wonder if everyone should experience something of a TIC in pursuit of full submission to Christ. Is it healthy for one to belong to a certain tradition (no matter what it is) and never disagree with anything? Certainly, I've not seen every church, but my experience has led me to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a perfect church on planet Earth. Not that I'd know perfection if I saw it, but everywhere I've been other people are found critiquing something. Maybe its healthy to recognize the tension between the Christian's call to fully obey Scripture and the call to live in unity with other believers. It is not healthy, though, to reach a point of Schizophrenia where one never knows from moment to moment which way is up.
Belonging found in Christ
It is enough to be found in Christ when you feel isolated and miss belonging somewhere. Please don't misunderstand me! Christ wants every believer connected to a local church! We are saved to be part of a body of people together accomplishing a mission. But being a member of a church and agreeing with everything taught do not always go together. Usually discerning believers have to prioritize their convictions- which should be prioritized according to their weight and clarity in Scripture- and then become a part of the team in a church maintaining the essentials.
Nonetheless, lonlieness still finds you. It is then when you must remember that you are inseparably in Christ! You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who is forever pouring the love of God into your heart! You are cherished by the Father! So, even if you feel like you don't belong where you are. . . remember, you belong with God! and that's what ultimately matters. Dive deeply into your relationship with Christ and find in Him enough power and love to fill you up and then overflow to those you are connected with for the sake of the gospel!
Keep up the journey!
If you find yourself in a TIC, keep up the journey! Keep pursuing full obedience to Christ and love everyone you come into contact with. We should never take on a superior attitude just because we disagree with something. Nor should we isolate ourselves from fellowship and co-labor with those with whom we disagree. May everyone who watches from the sidelines find us earnest in pursing Christ, humble, approachable, loving, and uncritical.

Don't Waste Your Cancer!- John Piper and David Powlison

If you, or anyone you know, is facing the stark reality of cancer, please read/forward the following article written by two faithful men who were recently diagnosed with Prostate Cancer- John Piper and David Powlison.
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/fresh_words/2006/021506.html

Calvinist Virus?

If you're a Calvinist and need a good laugh . . . follow this link!
http://natenotes.blogspot.com/2006/02/combating-calvinist-virus.html
Enjoy!

The Best Way to Hear a Horse . . .

A Selective Bibliography for Evangelicals Seriously Considering Charismatic Theology

"Packer's Proverb, however, is that the reaction of man worketh not the righteousness of God. If you are walking backward away from something you think is a mistake, you may be right in supposing it is a mistake, but for you to be walking backward is never right. You know what happens to people who walk backward in the physical sense. Eventually they stumble over some obstacle behind them they never saw, because they fixed their minds and eyes on what they were trying to get away from, and then they fall. We are meant to walk forward, not backward, and reaction is always a matter of walking backward.
I believe the reformers' reaction against the supernatural in the lives of God's people in this age of the Holy Spirit was, frankly, more wrong than right- as have been many subsequent attempts to rule out the present-day reality of the supernatural."
J.I. Packer, The Kingdom and the Power, p. 211

The best way to hear what a horse has to say, is to listen to the horse himself! So, I offer this list of titles which I think any Evangelical truly seeking to understand Charismatic teaching ought to read and prayerfully consider. Not all will be convinced, but all will be edified.
Much poor scholarship, from both sides of this issue, has been published and popluarized- shaping the landscape of Cessationsim/Continuationsim Discussion as that of a war-zone. Reaction has characterized this discussion for far too long! It behooves any honest student, though, to hear the most responsible spokespersons for a view and then listen to the most responsible spokespersons for the opposing view rather than pitting extremist against extremist. Christian Charity does not dissolve doctrinal differences, but it does call us to listen respectfully to others to disagree. The Reformation Spirit calls us to weigh everything, even our long held views, against the Scriptures, and sometimes it takes opposition to expose error and clarify Scriptural teachings.

1. Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? edited by Wayne Grudem
2. Joy Unspeakable by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
3. The Sovereign Spirit by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
4. The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts by Sam Storms
5. The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts: Then and Now by Max Turner
6. Fire in the Fire Place by Charles Hummel
7. The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today by Wayne Grudem
8. Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere
9. God's Empowering Presence by Gordon Fee
10. Surprised by the Voice of God by Jack Deere
11. When the Spirit Comes with Power by John White
12. The Kingdom and the Power edited by Gary Greig & Kevin Springer
13. Showing the Spirit by D. A. Carson
14. Empowered Evangelicals by Rich Nathan & Ken Wilson
15. The Word and Spirit Church by Doug Bannister

From the Cessationist viewpoint, I recommend considering the following:
1. Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? edited by Wayne Grudem
2. Perspectives on Pentacost by Richard Gaffin
3. Signs of the Apostles by Walter Chantry
4. Charismatics and the Word of God by Victor Budgen
5. A New Systematic of the Christian Faith by Robert Reymond
6. Keep in Step With the Spirit by J. I. Packer
7. Pentacost Today? by Ian Murray

If you know of other titles, which you feel simply must be included in these lists, please email me or leave it in a comment. Thank you!

Growing Gospel?!

"Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, . . . ." Colossians 1:5b,6

In this passage, the Gospel is spoken of as "bearing fruit" and"growing." Now this might be confusing if you only think of the Gospel as a set of teachings which one must believe in order to be saved. In the Bible, the Gospel is so much more! Now the Gospel has definite content! There are certain truths which one simply must believe or spend eternity in Hell. For example: One must believe that the One True God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a perfect life of obedience to His Father, died on the cross as a substitute for everyone who would ever believe on Him, He rose from the dead and now is seated at the right hand of His Father reigning; One must believe that God accepts only those who turn from their sin and trust wholly on Jesus for their acceptance and not on their actions or performance. But the Gospel is more than a list of teachings. Before we can understand something of what this verse means by the growth of the gospel, we must first explore a little into the nature of the gospel.

The Gospel is of first importance.
I am sure we would all agree that the Gospel is important, but how important would you say it is in the life of the Believer and the Local body? In 1 Corinthians 5:2-4, the Apostle Paul says"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,. . ." Now, when the Apostle Paul says that he delivered the Gospel as of first importance, he means that the Gospel is both elemental and priority in the Christian life. We enter the Christian community and communion with Christ by believing the Gospel, therefore, it is elemental- you cannot be a Christian without it! Also, once a person professes faith in Christ, great care ought to be given to making sure that that person properly understands the gospel enough to articulate it to themselves and to others.
The Gospel also has priority among the body of truth which the Church is to believe, teach, and guard. That is, the Gospel is more important than any thing else the Church teaches- more important than: Spiritual Gifts, who should be baptized and why, end times, etc. . Because the Gospel has priority, my conviction is that it also should have prominence. How often do we reherse the Gospel for ourselves and our churches? Does the Gospel have first place with us?

The Gospel is a power plant which empowers holiness.
Romans 12:1 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Notice the relationship between the "mercies of God" and the appeal for the whole person presentation to God. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, uses the declaration of the "mercies of God"(i.e., all that has been told prior to ch. 12 of Romans) as the appeal to holiness.
I can't remember who is was who said that "there are a mulitude of angles at which one may fall, but only one angle at which one may stand." This is also true when it comes to holiness. There are too many programs out there which promise a "foot-up" for sanctification, but end up in legalism and self-righteousness or even licentiousness. Only by keeping the Gospel central as our appeal to holiness can we avoid encouraging self-righteousness. The Gospel tells us to look first at who we really are (transgressors, rebels, hell-deserving, dead in sins, at war against God from birth, etc.) and, then look to Jesus who has perfectly fulfilled the Law on our behalf (earning the righteousness we needed to stand in right relationship to God) and has died in our place(totally satisfying the Father's wrath against our sin) and has risen again proving the truth of all He said was true. When we see (the the grace and help of the Holy Spirit) our true selves and the grace of Jesus Christ which more than answers our guilt, the result is energy to holiness [Psalm 132:19 "I run in the path of your commands. . .(NIV)] without the pull to self-righteousness because the whole basis is the righteousness of Jesus. (For further consideration, I recommend Holiness By Grace by Bryan Chapell and Future Grace by John Piper)
The Gospel also promises the power to do what it calls us to. The Gospel promise is that when the most defiled person in the universe turns from sin to faith in Jesus alone, God has sent His Holy Spirit to indwell and empower that Believer (John 7:38). Therefore, the Believer is not called on to muster up stregnth that is his own, but, instead, is called to work hard knowing Who is really working (Phil. 2:13This is grace-motivated, grace-empowered holiness.

The Gospel is a measuring rod for Christian living.
Listen carefully to this incredible verse from Scripture: "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, . . ." Philippians 1:27 (see also Galatians 2:14 and Ephesians 4:1) The imagery behind the phrase "worthy of the Gospel of Christ" is of a set of scales, old time scales, with the Gospel on one side and our lives on the other. The call is to balance out the scales with the beauty of a holy life.

Therefore, holiness of life is judged by the Gospel and not by successful completion of a certain group's list of do's an don'ts. This is why in Galatians 2:14, Paul says that he confronted Peter publicly regarding actions which were not "in step with the Gospel." Peter's claim to be owned by the Gospel was being contradicted by his actions. Do you know of someone who is really struggling with worldliness? INUNDATE them with the Gospel and beg the Holy Spirit to make it all make life changing sense. This is what Paul does in 1 Corinthians 6:19b and 20. He says "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." Fathers, do you want to see your wife and children walk in holiness? Wash them with the Gospel constantly and show them how the Gospel lays claim on them in every area of life. Wash them with the gospel until it is what they eat and breathe and think and FEEL!

The Gospel is a blossoming flower enriching every aspect of the Christian's life. (v.6)

When we are so gripped with the Gospel of Christ that it is our very heart-beat, we begin to see illustrations and reminders of it every where we look. When we are reminded of the love of God in Christ for us, our hearts will respond with gratefull faith, love, worship, and obedience. This effect redeems even the ordinary things in our lives. Seeing a homeless man on the side of the road reminds us of our condition before Christ saved us (though ours was actually much worse) and we are reminded of how God took initiative to not only meet our needs, but lavish us with lovingkindness and so we are moved to do the same for that homeless man who stinks and may get our car's carpet dirty. Buying groceries will remind us of how God daily and generously meets every need according to the riches of His grace. So, instead of feeling entitled to a steak dinner because I worked so hard for the money, I wonder how I can bless others with this lovingkindness and show the nature and goodness of the Father who is meeting my needs and so many of my wants! A walk in the park becomes a fresh revelation of God's love for you because you see the marvelous colors and intricate design of the flowers and you remember that God loves you so much that he beautified this world for your enjoyment and so you give Him thanks and worship Him for His creativity and love (see Psalm 29). Every area of life is claimed,redeemed, and enriched by the Gospel Reality. This happens progressively and that is why I made the connection with a blossoming flower. The beauty starts small and then increases exponentially! Eventually, the beauty is emanating from the flower so that all who pass by are struck with its effect. May it be, Lord Jesus!

The Gospel preached and demonstrated is the way in which the Kingdom of God advances in the Earth.
In John 18:36, Jesus plainly declared that His "kingdom is not of this world. If [His] kingdom were of this world,[His] servants would have been fighting." The Kingdom of God is not advanced by sword or threats! The Kingdom of God is advanced in the earth as the Gospel message is preached with the annointing of the Holy Spirit and believed and lives are transformed by it. When the Gospel is preached and demonstrated in the power of the Holy Spirit, the reign of Christ is expanded. The gracious influence of the gospel and the gospel-defined community is multiplied. So, as the Gospel is preached to more people and believed by more people, the Gospel is having a "growing" influence.

When God raises up men to preach His message of redeeming love, he also sends out His Holy Spirit to use what is preached to make alive those who are dead in sin (Romans 10:17). When the Spirit makes them alive, they become willing love-slaves to King Jesus and spread His reign throughout their lives. But the Gospel is meant also to be demonstrated according to 1 Corinthians 2:4,5. That is the grace and compassion of Christ should be demonstrated by His messengers through sacrificial service and prayer for healing and deliverance for the afflicted (Isaiah 61:1-3), and in these ways, the Gospel grows! the Kingdom of God grows/advances!

The Growth of the Gospel in individuals and in the World

When we speak of the growth of the Gospel in individuals, we are speaking of the process by which more and more of a person is brought to love-generated submission to the gracious reign of God. As this process progresses in individuals, more and more people are brought into loving submission to King Jesus and when large numbers are brought into this relationship, cities change, whole states change, nations change, even the world changes.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . ." Romans 1:16

Grow, Gospel, Grow! Grow, Gospel, Grow! Grow, Gospel, Grow!

Our cry, then, is "Grow, Gospel, Grow!" Oh, God, let me see more and more of the wonder of your redeeming grace. Let me not only see it, but be gripped by it! May my life be worthy of the Gospel. May I adorn the gospel of Christ with my life. And not just me! May the city of Senoia, GA see much more of the wonder of your redeeming love and be transformed by it. The whole state of GA, Lord, love to submission to King Jesus!

Our calling, then, is to make our lives "greenhouses" which maximize the growth of the gospel in our own lives and in the lives of others! May it be, Holy Spirit!

Pursuing gospel growth with you,

Daniel

Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Heart matters

Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Heart matters
Please take the time to read this recent post on my wife's blog. It is sure to encourage and challenge us all to take our pursuit of holiness a bit deeper.

He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust!

“Therefore, . . . learn Christ and him crucified; learn to pray to him despairing of yourself, saying: Thou, Lord Jesus, art my righteousness, but I am thy sin; thou has taken on thyself what thou wast not, and hast given to me what I was not. Beware of aspiring to such purity that you will not wish to seem to yourself, or to be, a sinner. For Christ only dwells in sinners. For that reason he descended from heaven, where he dwelt among the righteous, that he might dwell among sinners. Consider that kindness of His, and you will see his sweetest consolation. . . .” Martin Luther, 1516

The Closed Canon and Spiritual Gifts

One of the most frequent objections to the continuation of certain Spiritual Gifts is that their presence would jeopordize belief in the closed canon of Scripture. There are many great explanations for why this is no problem, but Pastor Vincent does a wonderful job. I highly recommend his articles! I think you all will be thrilled by his commitment to King Jesus and Scripture.
Just click on the bold type above to be sent to his articles.
Oh! that his message would be truly heard by more people!

John Piper on Romans 8:28-32- A Must Read!

I hope you will click on the bold type above and read and re-read this wonderful, faith stoking sermon by Dr. John Piper. You will be so glad you did!

Congratulations to Geoff and Abi Cauble!

Welcome Evan Thomas Cauble

Abi is my wife's younger sister. She is married to Geoff Cauble who, along with his family, has been a precious friend to Faith and myself for a very long time! We rejoice with them as they welcome their first son.

Geoff and Abi, You know that Evan is a gift to you from Your Heavenly Father who loves you so very much! He has proved it by sending His Son for you and He continues to demonstrate that love by giving you a precious son. May God give you special wisdom in training Evan in the ways of the True God. May he give you understanding, patience, tenderness, firmness, relationship, discipleship, expressive love and everything else you will need to nurture Evan as Your Heavenly Father would nurture him, even as He is nurturing him through you! We love you!

Evan, you are precious and individual! You are made in the image of God Who formed you in your mother's womb. May you grow up to know the Covenant love of the True God who "keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. . . ." (Deut. 7:9). May the Lord uphold you and train you to be God's man in this world which doesn't know what masculinity is. May He teach you gentleness and meekness! May He shower you with His lovingkindness from the day of your birth to all eternity! May God bring you to personal faith in Jesus at a very young age so that, when you are old, and look back on your life, you will not remember a single day you weren't madly in love with King Jesus! God bless you!

Love,

Uncle Daniel

If it weren't in the Bible, I wouldn't believe it!

In John 17, we have the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. This could also be called the real "Lord's Prayer." The entire chapter is incredibly revealing of God's heart for His people, but one verse in particular almost knocks me off my feet every time I read it. It is verse 26. Listen carefully:

"I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Whatever else may and probably should be said from this verse, one thing is unmistakably clear. . . Jesus prays that His people feel loved by Our Father. Not only does He pray that we feel loved, but He prayed that we would experience the same love that He experiences from His Father. Wow!
(At this point, I have to disagree with several men who I hold in high regard (i.e., John Piper, Jack Deere, etc). These men see this verse, instead, as Jesus praying that Believer would have the same love and passion for Jesus that the Father has for Jesus. Though, this definitely is not unbiblical, I am not sure that's what this verse is promising. Jesus is talking about His work of revealing the Father and it seems more natural that He would then pray that Believers would come to know the fullness of the Father's love rather than abruptly change His orientation and request that Believers be given the same passion for Jesus as the Father has.)

If we want to understand something of this, we have to see how God the Father loves His Son.
*Jesus testifies in John 17:24 "you [the Father] loved me [Jesus] before the foundation of the world." God's love for His Son is eternal! If you ever wondered what God was doing prior to creation, it is this- He was loving His Son! He was delighting in His Son.
*Two times, during Our Lord's earthly ministry, His Father broke through the Heavens to declare His love for and delight in His Son. The first was on the Mount of transfiguration and the second at Jesus' baptism. Father God audibly spoke: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. . . ." If there was ever any doubt in anybody's mind who was present- GONE! "This is by BELOVED Son!" Father God wanted people to know how much He loves His Son and how sacrificially He was giving of Himself so that we sinners could come to know His love rather than His judgment! God didn't send us His step-child! He didn't send us the son He wish he never had. He sent us His BELOVED Son! His much loved son.
*John's Gospel records several times where Jesus boasts about being loved by the Father (3:35; 5:20). Father God loves Jesus so much and so expressively that Jesus can boast with certainty that His Father loves Him. There is no question in Jesus' mind. His Father's love is undeniable.
*Colossians 1:13 says "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, . . . ." The phrase "beloved Son" is also translated "Son of His love." The Father's love for Jesus is so compelling to the Apostle Paul that whenever he speaks of the Father's relationship to His Son, he must talk about LOVE! Sure, there is trust and respect and glory and joy and . . . . But love must be mentioned!

Are you as convinced of the Father's love for you as Jesus is? When was the last time you openly boasted about being loved by God? Do you know that Father God loved you before He even created the world? Do you know that when the Father thinks of you, He smiles so huge that the sun rises! Listen carefully, you can hear Him singing over you in love in songs of rejoicing! Do you know that God is not embarrassed by you? He broke through the Heavens and declared His love for Jesus. If you will listen carefully, you can hear the Holy Spirit shouting out the declarations of love for you from the Father! He knows your face. He calls you by name. And He loves you!

As if that weren't enough, Jesus then commits Himself to being "in" us as Believers. In other words, He wants us to know the fullness of the Father's love and He Himself wants to be near us which He is by His Spirit, Who also pours Father God's love into 0ur hearts. Do you get the feeling that Jesus just isn't satisfied with us knowing about the Father's love?! He wants us to experience the Father's love! He wants us WOWed at His love. He wants us so convinced of the Father's love that we can face the worst human experience without questioning the love of the Father. So take time to simply ask Father God what He thinks of you. Then, listen! Take time and listen. Don't be surprised when he starts telling you. He may even show you how he created a certain flower which you love just to show you that He loves you.

God bless you, Beloved of the Father!

How to deal with those who differ with us

Click the bold type above to read an outstanding article by Roger Nicole on how to deal Christianly with people with whom we disagree. I wish every Christian would read and take to heart what he has to say.

Blessings

Missing Categories

God is incredibly devoted to convincing His children of His passionate Father-love for each of us!
I grew up without a "Dad" in the home. In fact, I've not had any contact with my biological father for over 24 years. My Mom was great! She could throw any ball with the best of them and talk sports or whatever, but she wasn't and couldn't be a Father. I didn't know it at the time, but I was learning about Fathering from my "fatherless" experience." Later in life, the Lord showed me that I had no perception of the fulness and kind of love and care that He intended to communicate through His Word when He speaks of Himself as my "Father." When I read verses having to do with His Father-love, I accepted it like I would accept the statement that "the grass is green." I recieved it as a fact, but it had no lasting impact on me- I felt nothing when I heard that. I probably had more of a question mark in my mind than anything. I had a vocabulary in my head, for which there was no category in my heart!
This is something that every father needs to understand.
Every child learns what it means to be a Father and be loved by a Father from their earthly father. Whether your father was absent, disinterested, cruel, abusive, caring, sensitive, work-aholic, gentle, or whatever; we impose that understanding of Fatherhood on God. Dad's be ware! What are we teaching our children about God in how we show them Father-love? If I am distant and always criticizing my children, that's how they will grow up to think of God as Father. How blasphemous! If I am absent (from divorce or work-aholism) I rob my children of the substance of the meaning of Father-love. My children will relate to God as if He were distant and they will undoubtedly, constantly feel undue condemnation! That will rob them of the joy God intends them to receive from their relationship to Him. Dads, we are theology professors whether that is our vocation or not! If you have children, you are teaching them something about God. What is it?
God's creative lessons in my life
Nearly a year ago, the Lord started me on a "Father's Love Track." He is jealous that I understand and sense what He means when He says He loves me as a Father. The Lord, My Father, began to open my ears to hear Him speaking through my children. I have learned so much about my Heavenly Father through watching and listening to my little girls relate to me.
*One Sunday, I was feeling dry and God seemed distant. I struggled all day to communicate that to God in prayer and ask Him to give me a greater sense of His nearness. I prayed what I could articulate and I prayed in the Spirit, but still felt like I hadn't quite been able to nail it. Then, came nap time and my little girl, Emily, asked me as I was putting her to bed, "Daddy, do you have to go to work?" "No." I said. "I get to stay home with you all day!" Then she said, "Daddy, I love it when you're home!" That's it! That's what I had been trying to communicate to my Heavenly Father all day! "Abba, Papa, Father, Daddy, I love it when You're home!
*My oldest daughter is now 4 1/2 years old and not as light as she used to be, but her favorite thing of all is to sit my lap or have me hold her. She just loves it when I am near. We don't have to be doing anything, she just enjoys me. I can relate to that, and it challenges me constantly to never grow out of climbing into Father God's lap and just being with him. For that reason, if for no other, I will probably be holding my little girl when she is twelve!
*The front steps to our house are widely spaced and uneven. This has caused many a fall and scraped knee for my little girls. One day, we were walking to the van, and Emily was standing at the top of the stairs, rather timid about making her way down. No doubt she was wondering if this would be another time that she would end up flat on her face at the bottom with tears flowing. I came behind her and offered my hand which she accepted. The timidness was gone! She trecked down all the stairs as if she were six feet tall and had been scaling those stairs for years and years! Her confidence came from being in the grip of her Daddy. There is no way I would let her fall! Once again, My Father pulled back the veil and let me see the fulness of confidence and lack of fear that I am supposed to know because of being in relationship with Him.
*One of the best examples of My Father's sweet communication came through a very special time with my girls during one of our favorite activities- DANCING! That's right- Dancing! Someone coined the phrase "Caucasian Rhythmic Disorder." I have tested positive for that one! But we have a great time. We turn the music up loud and go wild all over the living room. Sometimes I hold up to two girls and whirl and jump and whatever else I can get my tired body to do. One such time, I had my oldest (Beth) standing on my toes and we were dancing our hearts out! At first it was the music that got me moving, but after only a short while, I was dancing out of love for my little girl. She had such a huge smile and was giggling like only a beautiful little girl can. All of a sudden, it was no longer me dancing with Beth, but it was Father God dancing with me, His son. It was Zephaniah 3:17 in living illustration.
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing."
Maybe you have struggled with feeling the reality of what God communicates in His Word about His Father love for you. I don't want to sound formulaic, but I want to offer just a couple of pieces of help. Please simply ask God to give you a sense of His Father Love for you. It is one thing to know that God is a Father. It is another thing to see your face as that of the child sitting in His lap having his face cuddled and his hair being stroked. May I also recommend a few resources that have helped me sense more of the Father's pleasure and delight? 1) Experiencing Father's Embrace by Jack Frost; 2) The Singing God by Sam Storms; 3) The PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb; and 4) The Pleasures of God by John Piper.

God's Multi-faceted Love Is Demonstrated Love
Romans 5:8 tells us that God "shows" us His love by sending His Son to die for us even while we were still enemies of God. He continues to demonstrate His love for us by placing us in this world which He created, beautified by His love and infinite creativity. Even more, Romans 5:5 says that God's love has been "poured into" our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Also, Romans 8:15, 16 says "you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,. . . ." Which means that the Holy Spirit is the one Who is convincing me of and teaching me about the Father love of God. Thank you, Holy Spirit! Thank you, Father, God! Thank you, Jesus!

You may be asking "What does this have to do with Reforming Reformed?" Well, you know we Reformed types are known for formulating precise theological definitions and clarifying distinctions, but sometimes, that's what we settle for. May we never be satisfied with knowing that God is a Father to somebody somewhere! God is Your Father, if you trust in Jesus alone for your acceptance into His favor. Jesus has completely satisfied all the requirements of God's Justice and law on your behalf, so we can celebrate the reality of Romans 8:1 that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." When God sends His Spirit to make a spiritually dead man alive, He sends Him to reside within the one to whom He has just given life. This Spirit, Romans 8:15 tells us, is the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry "Abba, Father!"
We claim to know more fully the Covenant love of the Sovereign God to Hell-deserving sinners like us. (I glory in the bright grace that floods my soul from the wonderful revelations we call Reformed Theology!) But, knowing more of the contours of that love and the depth of our unworthiness, let us worship louder than the angels! Why do the Arminians have so many more good songs to God celebrating His love! May we know and may we press on to know and feel the love of Father God!

Maybe you have other resources which have helped you with the same things. Please leave a comment and mention those! Also, maybe God speaks to you through your children and you have some favorite special times to share, please share those as well!

May Father God bless you with more of a sense of His love for YOU!

The Local Church a Training College?

Some question whether a man could be duly equipped for Pastoral Ministry without formal Seminary training. I question whether a man could be duly equipped for Pastoral Ministry with ONLY Seminary training. In fact, I have known men who were disqualified from ministry (on Biblical basis) because all they had was a seminary education. I have had several friends who graduated from Seminary, were installed into their first pastorate and still were convinced they didn't know what they were doing. Not all Seminarians feel this way or necessarily are this way, but I think we ought to at least consider alternatives. This link is to a short-ish artice by a Pastor who advocates local churches training ministers. Any thoughts after reading it?

The Insufficiency of Scripture-- a short article by T. David Gordon

Please click on the Bold Title above in order to read an article written a few years ago which spurred quite a discussion. Please don't be put off by the title. It is worth the read. What do you think?

What this blog is about

" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. " Colossians 3:16

This blog is dedicated to . . .
stirring up discussion on various topics which relate to the Church's responsibility to keep the Reformation Spirit as a present, on-going reality in all areas of life and belief. The 16th century ushered in the Protestant Reformation wherein the ultimate authority of Christ through the Scriptures was recovered and with it, Justification by Faith Alone. Some say that this was also a rediscovery of Christ and, surely, there is truth in that claim, but it all began as the Holy Spirit illumined the minds of certain men who were enabled to see certain things in the Scriptures and to sound the Watchman's call for the Church to come into alignment with what the Scriptures clearly taught all along. Certainly, ignorance and illiteracy played a large part in keeping the "Dark Ages" dark, but the darkness was also thickened and prolonged by an unwillingness to judge all things against the standard of the Word of God and hold fast that which was good. This also grieved the Holy Spirit, which quenched His sweet illuminating work. Today, we don't have the same excuse of illiteracy, but I wonder how much of the struggle of the American Church is really due to not bringing all things under the scrutiny of Christ through His Word and Spirit.
ReformingReformed?
The Protestant Reformation was not designed to be an historical event, but, rather, a call to a way of life. Hence, one of the cries of the Reformation was Sempre Reformanda (always reforming). The Reformers knew that in order for the Church to reach full maturity she would have to maintain a posture of continually weighing all things by the standard of the Scriptures (honestly interpreted) while pursuing the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They knew too, and demonstrated for us, that maintaining this posture would incur sharp criticism and even persecution. Reformation is not for the "spineless." Sadly, generally speaking, this posture has not been maintained. With various pressures, the Church has become domesticated rather than a bondslave, wildly in love with Christ Who bought us with His own blood. There are examples and ramifications in our life as a universal presence of the Kingdom of God, in our local expressions of that Kingdom, and in our family and individual lives. We will discuss some of these and hopefully, at least, get some of these issues on the table of discussion.
DeformedReformed!
When most people hear the word "Reformed", what do they think of? Most people I have heard comment on this, have mentioned things like: doctrine police, passionless, rationalists, cold, ingrown, superior, prideful, all-talk-and-no-stuff, and like comments. Those are just from people who have some idea (good or bad) of what "Reformation Theology" is. The first impressions of people who have never before heard of "Reformation Theolgy" are more comical than critical. Sadly, and I say this as an insider, we have earned the criticism! For far too long, to be Reformed has been synonymous (in popular opinion) with Deformed. Ouch! The Reformed voice has been muted by misrepresentations. Our arguments have been defanged by the general lack of charity. "Purer Theology" has been polluted by pride and intellectualism (which we know is different from intelligence). But those criticisms do not even belong in the same sentence with the names of such men as: John Owen, John Calvin, John Knox, John Bunyan, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Piper (notice a lot of John's?), among others. What has happened? Truthfully, these examples which disprove the popular idea are far too few and far between! There is no heart like a heart set aflame with the glory and promise of Reformation Theology! It has been well-said that the worst enemy of true religion is not irreligion, but false-religion. So, I add, the best advocate and defense for true religion is true religion- incarnational, Biblical, impassioned, articulate, responsive!
ReclaimingREFORMED
With that said, the purpose of this blog is not to blast anyone or even to overly indulge in self-criticism. Instead, we will discuss issues and suggest a way forward which, having learned from the past generations, progresses to more fully "take captive" every thought which sets itself up against the true knowledge of Christ. We want to reclaim, not re-invent, what it is to be Reformed- God-addicted, Covenantal, Bible-soaked, Charitable, pioneering, Spirit-Empowered, Gospel-tapped! I will also place personal meditations on Scripture and the glory of being a Christian on this blog. I welcome your ideas, comments, and even criticisms (graciously offered)! Please do come back and visit often. We'll look at such topics as: the Sufficiency of Scripture, the Sacraments, Spiritual Gifts, Community, Preaching, Worship, Evangelism, and others. All criticism will be received with grace and prayer. All are encouraged to comment, even if you severely disagree with my views! If you have ideas of other areas of life and ministry which we should consider together, I invite those ideas as well.

God bless you!
Daniel