Friday, October 14, 2011
in search for a definition of WORSHIP.
Here's a good one by D.A. Carson:
"Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so. This side of the Fall, human worship of God properly responds to the redemptive provisions that God has graciously made. While all true worship is God-centered, Christian worship is no less Christ-centered. Empowered by the Spirit and in line with the stipulations of the new covenant, it manifests itself in all our living, finding its impulse in the gospel, which restores our relationship with our Redeemer-God and therefore also with our fellow image-bearers, our co-worshippers. Such worship therefore manifests itself both in adoration and in action, both in the individual believer and in corporate worship, which is worship offered up in the context of the body of believers, who strive to align all the forms of their devout ascription of all worth to God with the panoply of new covenant mandates and examples that bring to fulfillment the glories of antecedent revelation and anticipate the consummation."
Phew. That's excllent.
From D.A. Carson, "Worship under the Word," in Worship by the Book, ed. by D.A. Carson (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 26.
"Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so. This side of the Fall, human worship of God properly responds to the redemptive provisions that God has graciously made. While all true worship is God-centered, Christian worship is no less Christ-centered. Empowered by the Spirit and in line with the stipulations of the new covenant, it manifests itself in all our living, finding its impulse in the gospel, which restores our relationship with our Redeemer-God and therefore also with our fellow image-bearers, our co-worshippers. Such worship therefore manifests itself both in adoration and in action, both in the individual believer and in corporate worship, which is worship offered up in the context of the body of believers, who strive to align all the forms of their devout ascription of all worth to God with the panoply of new covenant mandates and examples that bring to fulfillment the glories of antecedent revelation and anticipate the consummation."
Phew. That's excllent.
From D.A. Carson, "Worship under the Word," in Worship by the Book, ed. by D.A. Carson (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 26.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
have you prayed for ILLUMINATION?
Martin Bucer prayed in 1537:"Almighty, gracious Father, forasmuch as our whole salvation depends upon our true understanding of your Holy Word, grant to all of us that our hearts, being freed from worldly affairs, may hear and apprehend your Holy Word with all diligence and faith, that we may rightly understand your gracious will, cherish it, and live by it with all earnestness, to you praise and honor; through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(from Chapell, Christ-Centered Worship, 206).
Let's be reminded that when we read, study, preach, or teach God's Word, we are all in need of the Spirit's grace to understand the meaning of the text & to apply it accurately to our lives.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
what does it mean to be a GODLY husband?
I preached 1 Peter 3:7 last night and have never had as many men come up to me afterwards and talk. Amazing how God works. And amazing that this is such a dire need in our culture today.Ever wonder what it means to be a godly man & a godly husband? What does God require of you? The world doesn't have the answers? Our own sinful & corrupt hearts don't have the answers? Men's Magazine doesn't have the answers. But God's Word does have the answers!
Listen to the sermon here.
1 Peter 3:7 — You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Monday, October 10, 2011
husband ... learn & honor your wife SO THAT your prayers aren't cut off
Yes that's right. The Scriptures directly connect biblical husbanding to spiritual living. If the husband is not performing his duty in glorifying God by honoring and learning his wife, then according to 1 Peter 3:7 his prayers are "cut off" or "hindered."1 Peter 3:7 — You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Tonight I have the privilege to open God's Word again at the Bible Tabernacle and I'm very excited but greatly convicted at the same time to exposit this text.
Here we learn that it is impossible to have a vibrant spiritual life while neglecting one's marital life. We are called to learn our wives (and 'keep learning' them!), to honor our wives, and to follow Christ as we lead our wives so that our prayers are not hindered.
Very sobering; very true; very hard; and very very relevant for marriages today in our culture. I'll post the audio tomorrow.
Friday, October 7, 2011
a favorite OT verse of OT writers.
Exodus 34:6-7: וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה ׀ עַל־פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהוָ֣ה ׀ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת
(And the Lord passed by before him and He called out: 'The LORD, the LORD, a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abundant in covenant-love and truth.')
We often see in our New Testaments the phrase "just as it is written" that recalls an OT text that the NT author cites. But let's not forget that the OT writers were just as saturated in the Word as well. Another fascinating study is to see how the OT uses the OT.
I'm preaching on Ps 117 this Sunday and a phrase occurs there that clearly refers back to Ex 34:6-7. A number of important truths can be spoken of regarding this excellent text:
1) The Lord declares His own character in Ex 34:6-7. It is not another telling us about God; these are the words of the LORD about Himself.
2) The Lord is a compassionate God. He is compassionate towards those who are His in a very specific, particular, and fatherly way. Because of the Lord's compassions we are not consumed.
3) The Lord is a gracious God. When we were in a state of misery and utter helplessness, God showed divine grace toward us. Grace is God's lavishing undeserved compassion and mercy upon sinners that deserve just the opposite.
4) The Lord is slow to anger. The phrase (אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם) literally reads: "long of nose." He has a high patience-level. God displays His patience towards us daily. We sin, rebel, flaunt our self-sufficiency and pride constantly yet God is slow to anger. He does not treat us as our sins deserve.
5) The Lord is abundant in steadfast, covenant-keeping love. This is more than just "love." This is the covenant-keeping, steadfast, unconditional, unbreakable, unilateral, unrestrained kind of love. God has this love for His people. The amazing thing is that we sin against Him and yet He still is faithful in his love for us.
6) The Lord is abundant in truth. Everything about the Lord is truth. He encapsulates what is true. He Himself is the true God. There is only one true God. And that is the God revealed in the Word of God. Everything that is opposed to what the true word of God reveals about the one true God is opposed to God and therefore false. God is the standard for what is right and true for He is, in Himself, the essence of truth.
Therefore, let's glory in this great, sovereign, and powerful God we worship & serve.
Psalm 117:1-2 sums it up well:
Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
lessons i learned from my PhD oral examination...
What I learned from my PhD oral examination.
After being interrogated for 4 hours and 15 minutes, I sat down and reflected on a few lessons God taught me in this process. Here are a few of them:
1. I am not humble.
I went into the exam terrified, afraid, mortified, and scared. Period. But I felt prepared. I had studied for months and been reading the list of required books for years (literally). But I went into the exam feeling as though I could handle myself alright and that I knew the basic gist of many of the issues. But that all changed after I updated them about my ministry plans at the beginning of the examination time! They asked question after question that were hard, difficult, and mind-stretching. After pontificating for a few minutes and they quickly ascertained that a particular issue was a weak spot for me, they would take that issue a step farther and ask a similar question that relates to the previous issue that I struggled my way through. At the end of the four hour examination, I felt as though I was an inch tall—which is one inch too tall! I was humbled, broken, and low.
2. I do not know everything.
I did not go into the exam arrogantly self-exalted thinking that I would master everything. But one truth I learned loud and clear in the time that I spent with my three examiners was that I do not know everything. Not a very new thing to those of you who do know me! But nevertheless, God reminded me, a stubborn and hard-headed guy, that I need to be humble because I do not know everything. Questions they asked—whether it related to Greek grammar, textual criticism, inerrancy, Hebrew grammar, theological interpretation of the Bible, chronology of certain NT letters—embrazened afresh on my mind the reality that I just simply don’t know everything. Therefore, I learned to be humble, seek for God, and study His Word daily and fervently.
3. Godly men know much more than me and I must strive to learn from them.
My examiners are professors for a reason. They know much more than me. At times, they even had to exegete the questions they asked me so that I could understand them. These godly men know the Word, know theology, know grammar, know text criticism and other relevant issues and God reminded me that there are those (many!) that know a great deal more than me and I must strive to learn from them. A PhD is not the end goal of a road of research and study; it merely begins the road of research and the journey of joy in learning about God and His Word.
4. Be willing to say “I don’t know.”
Words that came from my mouth more than once were: “I don’t know.” If I said that after every question they asked that’d be a problem. But there were a few times I just had to suck it up, swallow my pride, and spit out the words: “I just don’t know.” Not only is that humbling—especially on a PhD oral examination, but it reemphasized to me (again—cause I need constant reminders) that I just don’t know it all.
5. When those who love you tell you where your “weak spots” are, be humble enough to write it down, ask questions, and commit to doing further study in those areas in particular.
After the exam, they brought me back into the conference room, I took my seat at my end of the roundtable and then they shared with me four areas that are “weak spots.” I wrote them down and told myself that I will read up, study, and improve in those areas. I had lunch with my mentor and dissertation advisor, Rod Decker, and I asked him to elaborate and help me understand some of those weak spots better. He helpfully explained some of those issues and provided some resources for further study.
6. God is faithful and gives strength in the hardest of times.
I prayed and asked the Lord to give me the grace to endure the preparation—and He did. I begged the Lord to sustain me through the four hours of examination—and He did. I pleaded with the Lord to be merciful to me and allow me to pass—and He did. I committed the day—and the exam—to the Lord as an act of worship asking that He would be glorified in my efforts—and I believe He was. Truly the psalmist penned the words that are on the tip of my lips (and a text that I’m eager to preach this Sunday morning):
גָבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ וֶאֱמֶת־יְהוָה לְעוֹלָם
“His covenant-love is great toward us; and the truth of the LORD is everlasting”
—Psalm 117:2
“His covenant-love is great toward us; and the truth of the LORD is everlasting”
—Psalm 117:2
October 4, 2011
pdf here.
Monday, October 3, 2011
how do you know the books in the bible SHOULD be there?
"Canonicity is determined by God. A book is not inspired because men make it canonical; it is canonical because God inspired it. ... Canonicity is determined or established authoritatively by God; it is merely discovered by man."—Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible, revised and expanded edition (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1986), 221.
Excellent!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
phd interrogation week! :=)
Please intercede in prayer for me as I undergo my oral examination this week for my PhD program. I have four hours of question and answer with three professors. Pray that God would bring the things to mind that I've studied these last months.
Thanks so much praying for me!
Thanks so much praying for me!
Friday, September 30, 2011
preaching twice tonight — pray for unction!
How good God is! He gives me the awesome privilege of proclaiming His Word tonight on the streets of Santa Monica, CA with my good friend & brother, Sherwood. We're going to herald the glories of Christ for a few hours tonight as the floods of people approach us.I have two sermons ready:
1. Hebrews 4:12-13 - "You Read Many Books! Here's the Book that Reads You!"
2. Genesis 6 & 2 Peter 3 - "Repent of Your Sins & Come to Christ Before Judgment Falls!"
Pray for God's Spirit to work powerfully through the spoken Word tonight.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
america — the modern day valley of slaughter.
My friend Tony Miano boldly heralds Jeremiah 7-8 in a message he rightly titles: "America: the modern day valley of slaughter."
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
how can you serve your pastor & leadership?
Simple is often forgotten, so here I remind you with the reminder I needed when praying for church plants (or churches looking for a pastor):
1. Pray for the Launch Team
Make sure that those who currently exist as the body are constantly lifted up before the throne of grace in prayer. Pray for those who are filling extraordinary needs in the Church by dedicating time, service, effort, and energy to serve the Lord & His people. Be sure to lift the launch team up in fervent, frequent, and faithful prayer.
2. Pray for your Pastor
If your pastor is there on site, or if he has not yet arrived, or if you don't have a pastor and you don't know who he is yet, pray for him! Pray pray pray for the man that God has called to stand in the front lines of culture, postmodernism, Satan & his minions, and every humanistic ideology and faithfully and boldly proclaim the exclusive truth found in God's Word that Christ alone is the Savior who delivers His own from the eternal & divine wrath. Those whom God chooses to be pastors must be prayed over fervently as the Word of God will be proclaimed & he will undoubtedly face persecution—from within the church & from without. Pray for him!
3. Pray for the Churchgoers
Pray for those who currently make up the body of Christ in that particular church. Pray for God's Spirit to energize each of their hearts to serve tangibly in some way, to evangelize faithfully as God provides opportunity, to live holy lives evidencing the change that God has worked in their hearts. Pray that the people in the pew would passionately pursue God's truth. Pray that they would hunger for the proclaimed Word as a newborn longs for—and even vocally expresses the desire!—daily food. Pray that the people in the Church would pray daily on their knees, that repentance would be a daily action, that mortifying sin would be at the forefront of every Christian's mind. Pray that sin would be hated as much as a murderer longing to kill a familymember. Pray for Christ to be glorified in the church corporately! And pray that the knowledge amongst all God's people that in order for Christ to be glorified in His church corporately, he must be exalted as sovereign & supreme in each life individually.
4. Pray for the Unsaved in the Community
Beg God to have mercy on the unsaved. Pray that God would mercifully deliver the unsaved from the coming wrath. Pray that the lost in the community would not fill up the measure of their sins thus leading to God's wrath coming upon them to the utmost. Pray that God would save them! And the only way one is saved is by hearing the Word of God & believing the Word of Christ. Pray that each person in the pew would understand that when a nonbeliever dies he is personally, violently, eternally, consciously, and angrily punished by God Himself for all of eternity. Pray that this gripping truth arrests the hearts & minds of each believer in the Church. Pray that they launch out into their home lives with evangelistic zeal. Pray that they share with their children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, co-workers, bosses that judgment awaits for those who reject Christ. Pray that the believers in the Church would have a passionate pursuit of proclaiming the glorious riches of Christ to sinners. It is the gospel that saves, not moral revolution. It is the gospel that saves, not cultural reformation. It is the gospel that saves, not religious affections. It is the gospel that saves, not church-membership applications. It is the gospel that saves, not man-made & self-promoting religions. Pray that God's people in His Church would proclaim His message to hellbound sinners so God can use His shared Word to save His elect and receive the glory that He alone deserves.
These ideas are adapted & altered from Chris Brauns' When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search (Moody, 2011), pp.28 - 31.
1. Pray for the Launch Team
Make sure that those who currently exist as the body are constantly lifted up before the throne of grace in prayer. Pray for those who are filling extraordinary needs in the Church by dedicating time, service, effort, and energy to serve the Lord & His people. Be sure to lift the launch team up in fervent, frequent, and faithful prayer.
2. Pray for your Pastor
If your pastor is there on site, or if he has not yet arrived, or if you don't have a pastor and you don't know who he is yet, pray for him! Pray pray pray for the man that God has called to stand in the front lines of culture, postmodernism, Satan & his minions, and every humanistic ideology and faithfully and boldly proclaim the exclusive truth found in God's Word that Christ alone is the Savior who delivers His own from the eternal & divine wrath. Those whom God chooses to be pastors must be prayed over fervently as the Word of God will be proclaimed & he will undoubtedly face persecution—from within the church & from without. Pray for him!
3. Pray for the Churchgoers
Pray for those who currently make up the body of Christ in that particular church. Pray for God's Spirit to energize each of their hearts to serve tangibly in some way, to evangelize faithfully as God provides opportunity, to live holy lives evidencing the change that God has worked in their hearts. Pray that the people in the pew would passionately pursue God's truth. Pray that they would hunger for the proclaimed Word as a newborn longs for—and even vocally expresses the desire!—daily food. Pray that the people in the Church would pray daily on their knees, that repentance would be a daily action, that mortifying sin would be at the forefront of every Christian's mind. Pray that sin would be hated as much as a murderer longing to kill a familymember. Pray for Christ to be glorified in the church corporately! And pray that the knowledge amongst all God's people that in order for Christ to be glorified in His church corporately, he must be exalted as sovereign & supreme in each life individually.
4. Pray for the Unsaved in the Community
Beg God to have mercy on the unsaved. Pray that God would mercifully deliver the unsaved from the coming wrath. Pray that the lost in the community would not fill up the measure of their sins thus leading to God's wrath coming upon them to the utmost. Pray that God would save them! And the only way one is saved is by hearing the Word of God & believing the Word of Christ. Pray that each person in the pew would understand that when a nonbeliever dies he is personally, violently, eternally, consciously, and angrily punished by God Himself for all of eternity. Pray that this gripping truth arrests the hearts & minds of each believer in the Church. Pray that they launch out into their home lives with evangelistic zeal. Pray that they share with their children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, co-workers, bosses that judgment awaits for those who reject Christ. Pray that the believers in the Church would have a passionate pursuit of proclaiming the glorious riches of Christ to sinners. It is the gospel that saves, not moral revolution. It is the gospel that saves, not cultural reformation. It is the gospel that saves, not religious affections. It is the gospel that saves, not church-membership applications. It is the gospel that saves, not man-made & self-promoting religions. Pray that God's people in His Church would proclaim His message to hellbound sinners so God can use His shared Word to save His elect and receive the glory that He alone deserves.
These ideas are adapted & altered from Chris Brauns' When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search (Moody, 2011), pp.28 - 31.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
if you hope for a future messianic Kingdom (which you should), here's what it will include...
According to Isaiah 11, the One who comes from the "stem of Jesse" (v.1), who has the "Spirit of the Lord resting on Him" (v.2), and who "delights in the fear of the Lord" (v.3) will do the following in the future, literal, earthly messianic kingdom:
1. He will judge the poor with righteousness (v.4)
2. He will slay the wicked with the breath of His mouth (v.4b)
3. He will be righteous and faithful in all He does (v.5)
4. He will ensure that peace rules the earth—even amongst the animal kingdom (vv.6-8)
5. He will dwell on the Holy Mountain (=Jerusalem) and all people will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (v.9)
6. He will be the One nations flock to in submission & worship (v.10)
Not sure about you, but I believe it is impossible to read these verses in a plain and normal fashion and come up with any other kind of interpretation. These events have not happened yet (literally) and the fact that God is faithful (cp. v.5b — Christ is clothed with "faithfulness as the belt around his waist") totally confirms that these characteristics will in fact happen just as the Scriptures say.
Christian—long for the future Kingdom when Christ will reign literally, physically, bodily, and sovereignly. O for that day!
1. He will judge the poor with righteousness (v.4)
2. He will slay the wicked with the breath of His mouth (v.4b)
3. He will be righteous and faithful in all He does (v.5)
4. He will ensure that peace rules the earth—even amongst the animal kingdom (vv.6-8)
5. He will dwell on the Holy Mountain (=Jerusalem) and all people will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (v.9)
6. He will be the One nations flock to in submission & worship (v.10)
Not sure about you, but I believe it is impossible to read these verses in a plain and normal fashion and come up with any other kind of interpretation. These events have not happened yet (literally) and the fact that God is faithful (cp. v.5b — Christ is clothed with "faithfulness as the belt around his waist") totally confirms that these characteristics will in fact happen just as the Scriptures say.
Christian—long for the future Kingdom when Christ will reign literally, physically, bodily, and sovereignly. O for that day!
Monday, September 26, 2011
abortion? pro-choice? watch this and see how it AFFECTS you
Watch the "180" Movie put out by Living Water Ministries. This is a 33-movie clip that dramatically, graphically, and persuasively argues that abortion is murder.
Watch it here. Pass it on. If you want copies to give/send to people, contact them directly and they'll accommodate your needs.
Watch it here. Pass it on. If you want copies to give/send to people, contact them directly and they'll accommodate your needs.
Friday, September 23, 2011
what is your job as a churchmember?
Excellent words from Paul Shirley:
Top Ten Responsibilities for those in the Pews
1. Sit under the preaching of God’s word (Romans 10:17)
2. Show love (1 Corinthians 12; Matthew 22:34-40)
3. Serve in the work of the ministry according to the gifts God has given you (Ephesians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 12)
4. Submit & Support your leaders (Hebrews 13:17)
5. Show up (Hebrew 10:25)
6. Sort through conflict biblically (Ephesians 4:1-3)
7. Share the Gospel with those around you (Matthew 28:18ff)
8. Seek the Lord through prayer (Ephesians 6:18)
9. Sacrificially give (2 Corinthians 9:7)
10. Speak with humility (James 3:1-12, 4:6)
Amen.an element of bible interpretation
When reading the Scriptures, keep your mind open for a rhetorical feature that can help you find the cohesion of the text. One way that the biblical writers can tie their discourses together is by using a feature called an inclusio. An inclusio is a device where the author says one thing and then "bookends" it later on with the same phrase. These "bookends" can tie the discourse together around that theme.An example of this is Psalm 113:
1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high,
6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 To make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people.
9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!
The inclusio in Ps 113 is the phrase "Praise the LORD!" (הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֙הּ). The entire psalm is cohesively joined together by means of this phrase that occurs at the outset (v.1a) as well as at the conclusion (v.9b)—"Praise the LORD." Yahweh is worthy of praise because of his sovereign character (vv.1-5a) as well as his sovereign condescension to be involved in the affairs of humble men (vv.5b-9a).
For this reason, we are called, summoned, and commanded to "Praise the LORD!"
Have you obeyed this biblical command today?
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
psalm 111 & psalm 112
When you look at Psalm 111 and compare that with Psalm 112, you see that similarities clearly exist.1. They are both acrostics — that means each line of the psalm begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet (sort of like a psalm that goes from A-Z).
2. Similar language can be seen throughout both psalms. For instance, both psalms refer to the "fear of the LORD," the contrast between the righteous & the wicked, and the attributes of "graciousness, mercy, and righteousness."
One of the interesting features of these psalms is that Psalm 111 is about the Divine Character of God and Psalm 112 is about the Godly character of the man of God.
I want to bring to the frontground a particular element:
Psalm 111:4 זֵ֣כֶר עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה׃ (He has made his works to be a remembrance; gracious and compassionate is Yahweh.)
Note the verbal similarities with:
Psalm 112:4 זָ֨רַ֤ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ א֖וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃ (Light arises in darkness for the upright; gracious and compassionate and righteous is he.)
When read in context Psalm 111:4 clearly refers to Yahweh and His character. The text in Psalm 112:4 refers to the Godly man and his character. The point? When the man of God looks at, studies, and meditates on the character of God, he himself will begin to emulate the character of His Master.
Thus, when you study God and Who He is (Ps 111), the Godly man cannot help but be affected—internally and externally—by responding in holy fear, reverence, godliness, and graciousness (Ps 112).
Paul says it similarly in Ephesians 4:32-5:1
Ephesians 4:32-5:2 — Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
I ask you: has your study of God (Ps 111) affected your reflection of God and being God's child (Ps 112)?
the heart of the man of God is steadfast.
"Don't be a rolling stone that moves at every glitch of the earth; be an unmovable pillar that cannot be toppled even with the fiercest of earthquakes. Such is the man whose heart is fixed trusting in the LORD."Tuesday, September 20, 2011
married men, remember this...
Ecclesiastes 9:9 — Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.Monday, September 19, 2011
meaning is found in the text & it is fixed with the author.
Remember that when reading the Bible, you want to find the authorial intent. That is, what did the author intend to communicate as revealed in the words that he wrote in the text? Sadly, this principle of meaning as being fixed and residing with the author of the text is under assault today—not just in biblical studies but in the secular world at large.Here are a few helpful quotes from Robert Stein on meaning (from his Playing by the Rules):
“The Scriptures are to be interpreted in the same way that we interpret other forms of verbal communication. This is essentially the commonsense approach to communication” (21).
“All normal conversation assumes that the goal of interpretation is to understand what the speaker or writer means by the words he or she is using" (21).
“The goal when reading a Pauline text is not to experience or reduplicate Paul’s mental and emotional experiences when he wrote. Rather, the goal is to understand what Paul ‘meant,’ what he consciously sought to communicate to his readers by what he wrote” (23).
“The meaning of a text depends on the specific conscious will of the author. The biblical author is the determiner of the text’s meaning. Since this pattern of meaning was willed in the past (when the text was written), the meaning of a text can never change, for it is locked in history. It can no more change than any other historical event of the past can change. Even the author cannot change the meaning of the text, because he cannot change the past” (38).
And, Gordon Clark wrote in 1958 (in his Thales to Dewey: A History of Philosophy):
"If, however, terms had an infinite number of meanings, then all reasoning would come to an end. For if a word is to convey a significance, it must not only mean something, it must also not mean something. If it had all the meanings of all the terms in the dictionary, it owuld be useless in speech" (100).
Therefore, remember that when you come to the Bible, read it and ask yourself: what did the biblical author intend to communicate as he wrote down these words?
Once you understand what the biblical author meant in the words of his text, then (and only then!) can you apply that meaning to your own life (this is application or "significance").
Friday, September 16, 2011
pumped to proclaim my Potentate.
Tonight I'm off to the Promenade to proclaim my Sovereign Savior, Jesus Christ, and the true satisfaction that only He can give. My text is Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 and I'll conclude with a plea from Philippians 3:9 to come to Christ and find true satisfaction & righteousness only in Him. Pray for me as I proclaim God's Word on the streets of Santa Monica with my dear friend & brother, Sherwood.what effects should regeneration have on you?
Paul described the conversion of the Thessalonian believers in these words: 1 Thessalonians 1:9 αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων (for they themselves report concerning us as to what kind of entrance we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols).Paul speaks of conversion as a "turning" (ἐπεστρέψατε). The verbal form shows that it views the action of regeneration as a "whole". This is what happens at salvation. God so works in the sinner's heart (cf. Acts 13:48) that the sinner then turns (ἐπεστρέψατε) and repents.
Note there is a 2-fold aspect to this change:
(1) Turning TO God — True believers are those who are characterized as turning to God (πρὸς τὸν θεὸν). This is not only an initial turning at the moment of salvation but this walking with God, communing with God, delighting in God, repenting before God, glorifying God continues through the life of the believer.
(2) Turning FROM idols — Paul also records that believers turn from idols (ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων). This means that by default all humans are idolaters. We need to turn to God from idols. No one is by nature a worshiper of God. At the same time, everyone is born a worshiper. Everyone worships someone or something. But the believer is one who turns to God away from idols.
Have you experienced this regeneration and turning in your life? Have you turned to God? Have you turned from your idols?
Two effects that will result from this conversion as written by Paul include:
1) Serving the LORD - The first effect is that believers now will serve the Lord—the Living and True God (δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ). The Christian is enslaved (δουλεύειν) to the Living and the True God! The Christian is privileged to serve the LORD in his life. Are you?
2) Looking for the LORD - The second effect Paul specifies here is that believers wait for the coming of Christ (καὶ ἀναμένειν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ [τῶν] νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν ῥυόμενον ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐρχομένης). Believers are to wait for Christ (ἀναμένειν). Christ is the Son of God who now resides in heaven, he is the one whom God raised from the dead, He is Jesus of Nazareth, and He is the one who rescues us (ῥυόμενον) from the coming wrath. No other god or man-made idol can rescue sinners from the wrath of God. Only Christ can rescue from the wrath of Almighty God. Are you looking for the coming of Christ with great anticipation?
Here is a sermon I preached last week on this text explaining this more fully.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
mark this well — the church's need for HOLINESS & DISCIPLINE.
As for discipline, many churches neglect it because they fear it will reduce their membership and thus detract from their glory. But the truth of the matter is that the church which fails to exercise discipline is sure to lose both its self-respect and the respect of those without. Strange though it may seem, the world today despises the church precisely because the church is so worldly, and the members of the church by and large take no pride in their membership because it carries with it no distinction. On the other hand, the faithful exercise of discipline is sure to enhance the church's glory.
—R.B. Kuiper
—R.B. Kuiper
how NOT to make your prayers an abomination
Listen to the words of this Proverb:
Proverbs 28:9
מֵסִ֣יר אָ֭זְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ תּוֹרָ֑ה גַּֽם־תְּ֜פִלָּת֗וֹ תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃
("he who turns away His hear from listening to the Law even His prayer is an abomination.")
Sometimes we overlook verses such as this one. The inspired Word of God so clearly says here that if a man does not obey (מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ) the Law of God (Torah, תּוֹרָ֑ה) that even his prayer is an abomination.
An abomination (תּוֹעֵבָֽה) can refer to a host of things in the OT—all of which are completely wicked, loathful, and heinous in the eyes of God. Ezekiel 16:25 uses this word to refer to their harlotries with other God and how it is an abomination in the eyes of God. Amos 6:8 uses this word when the Lord says that he hates the arrogance of Israel. Psalm 14:1 says that the wicked/fools are those that commit abominable deeds.
How amazing is it to consider that prayer could be considered an "abomination" if the Law of God is not obeyed. The word מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ refers to one who hears and obeys that which he has heard.
Simple application of this text: if a person does not listen and obey the Law of God (as found in the Word of God), then his prayers are simply abominable in God's sight.
Thus, if you don't obey, then don't pray.
Here is a parallel in the NT from the Apostle Paul:
Romans 8:7-8 — because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Proverbs 28:9
מֵסִ֣יר אָ֭זְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ תּוֹרָ֑ה גַּֽם־תְּ֜פִלָּת֗וֹ תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃
("he who turns away His hear from listening to the Law even His prayer is an abomination.")
Sometimes we overlook verses such as this one. The inspired Word of God so clearly says here that if a man does not obey (מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ) the Law of God (Torah, תּוֹרָ֑ה) that even his prayer is an abomination.
An abomination (תּוֹעֵבָֽה) can refer to a host of things in the OT—all of which are completely wicked, loathful, and heinous in the eyes of God. Ezekiel 16:25 uses this word to refer to their harlotries with other God and how it is an abomination in the eyes of God. Amos 6:8 uses this word when the Lord says that he hates the arrogance of Israel. Psalm 14:1 says that the wicked/fools are those that commit abominable deeds.
How amazing is it to consider that prayer could be considered an "abomination" if the Law of God is not obeyed. The word מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ refers to one who hears and obeys that which he has heard.
Simple application of this text: if a person does not listen and obey the Law of God (as found in the Word of God), then his prayers are simply abominable in God's sight.
Thus, if you don't obey, then don't pray.
Here is a parallel in the NT from the Apostle Paul:
Romans 8:7-8 — because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
words on worship from Spurgeon.
"Praise should be the continual exercise of believers. It is the joyful work of heaven, it should be the continual joy of earth. . . We bless the Lord and the Lord alone; we have no music but for Him, but we do not always praise Him after the same fashion. As there were different instruments of music—the ten-stringed instrument or the decachord, the psaltry, the harp,—so too, there are different subjects, a subject for the morning and a subject for the evening; lovingkindness to be shown forth at one time, and faithfulness to be sung at another. I wish that men studied more the praise they profess to present unto God.—Spurgeon (1834-1892)
watch this gospel message from Tony
Tony is preaching here at Cerritos college. Tony is a friend of mine and a solid believer and faithful herald of God's Word.
See how Tony heralds the truth and refutes the error of the 'modern gospel' with sternness and gospel-centered compassion.
Biblical. Firm. Unswerving. Christ-exalting.
Watch it & go proclaim it yourself!
See how Tony heralds the truth and refutes the error of the 'modern gospel' with sternness and gospel-centered compassion.
Biblical. Firm. Unswerving. Christ-exalting.
Watch it & go proclaim it yourself!
Monday, September 12, 2011
have you NOT heard about 180?
You need to check out the trailer to 180. It will wet your appetite for what you *must* not miss!See the 180 website and follow 180 on Twitter.
Watch the trailer here:
It premiers September 26th. You'll want to watch the whole thing & pass it on to others.
do you know the GOSPEL?
A friend of mine said this line over the weekend: "You can't be saved by a Gospel that you don't know." Many Christians *claim* to walk with God and know Jesus Christ and yet if you ask them, explain to me the gospel & how I can get saved in two minutes, I wonder just how many *could* actually provide a biblical gospel presentation with Scriptural proof.Could you?
A gospel that you don't know can't save. Never assume someone who calls himself a Christian is in fact a Christian. Probe. Ask them questions. Find out what they believe. Make sure they know the biblical Gospel. But even before that, make sure that you know the biblical gospel.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
prayers for preaching God's magnificence.
Please be in prayer for me as I preach with Tony Miano & the Third Street Heralds (and info here) in Santa Monica today. I cherish this group and the likemindedness in passionately proclaiming Christ and His glorious Gospel! I plan to be prepared to preach a number of sermons and interact with folks who may be considering the events of 9/11.Pray also for me as I preach tomorrow in Sojourners at Grace Church. My text is 1 Thess 1:9-10 and the bones are burnin'.
Update on Street Preaching Last Night—Sept 9th
I was street preaching with my friend Sherwood & we had quite a few hecklers and troublemakers out on the Promenade. God allowed us to have some great conversations, share the gospel numerous times and interact with people who refuse to worship & submit to the God of the Bible. What an opportunity. Thanks for praying!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
updates.
A few things recently going on:
1. Just got home from our family vacation to HUMELAKE. What a beautiful place! The highs were in the 70's and then we stepped out of the car at home today to 101 degrees! It was a great vacation of nothing but relaxing, wrestling with my boy, and hiking with my family. Great & restful time.
2. We rushed home to make it to the hospital for our ultrasound for Tikvah and the Drs. said that everything is going well with her. She is growing, healthy, and moving & all is well. They answered some of our questions we had regarding her heart-surgery and recovery time, etc. All is going great there!
3. I am preaching this weekend on 1 Thessalonians and my bones are aching till I can study & preach this book when I finally arrive in STL at Christ Fellowship Bible Church.
4. I listened to a portion of this video on my drive home from N. Cal today and realized that Tim Keller swung and missed 'big-time' on hell, wrath, and judgment (start at the 14 minute mark). Sad that he couldn't even articulate such fundamental biblical doctrines in a Q&A. Sad—very sad. BTW, I do believe in a literal, eternal punishment and I do preach it. I'm not afraid to shrink from proclaiming the truth cause Jesus, Jeremiah, Spurgeon, Edwards and other heroes of mine didn't.
5. I continue research & writing on my dissertation tomorrow early morning: Revelation's Use of the book of Jeremiah. So excited and pumped to be in the biblical text as I work on the NT's use of the OT.
That's enough for now...
1. Just got home from our family vacation to HUMELAKE. What a beautiful place! The highs were in the 70's and then we stepped out of the car at home today to 101 degrees! It was a great vacation of nothing but relaxing, wrestling with my boy, and hiking with my family. Great & restful time.
2. We rushed home to make it to the hospital for our ultrasound for Tikvah and the Drs. said that everything is going well with her. She is growing, healthy, and moving & all is well. They answered some of our questions we had regarding her heart-surgery and recovery time, etc. All is going great there!
3. I am preaching this weekend on 1 Thessalonians and my bones are aching till I can study & preach this book when I finally arrive in STL at Christ Fellowship Bible Church.
4. I listened to a portion of this video on my drive home from N. Cal today and realized that Tim Keller swung and missed 'big-time' on hell, wrath, and judgment (start at the 14 minute mark). Sad that he couldn't even articulate such fundamental biblical doctrines in a Q&A. Sad—very sad. BTW, I do believe in a literal, eternal punishment and I do preach it. I'm not afraid to shrink from proclaiming the truth cause Jesus, Jeremiah, Spurgeon, Edwards and other heroes of mine didn't.
5. I continue research & writing on my dissertation tomorrow early morning: Revelation's Use of the book of Jeremiah. So excited and pumped to be in the biblical text as I work on the NT's use of the OT.
That's enough for now...
Saturday, September 3, 2011
phd exams are complete.
Thank you for praying for me this week as I took my PhD exams. After 7 exams and 100+ typed pages, I am through with my comprehensive exams. Now I just have to wait to hear whether I passed or not! Praise the LORD.
I don't think I've ever had a week where I've been so focused, so mentally drained, and so pressured but God, indeed, proves to be faithful. And He is worthy of praise. I had a Hebrew/OT exam, a Bible exposition/general knowledge exam, Theology exam, and four NT/Greek exams.
A few days ago I read the words to this psalm that has remained with me:
Psalm 150:1-6 — Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. 2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. 3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. 4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
the truth matters conference -- JMac preachin'
Watch MacArthur & others preach on the biblical Pauline theology (as opposed to what is commonly called: "the new perspective on Paul"—which is erroneous and heretical). Live stream the conference here.
Here's the schedule:
THURSDAY, September 1 | |
| 9:00AM - 2:00PM | Open House at Grace to You |
| 5:00PM | Registration |
| 7:00PM | Session #1 with John MacArthur |
FRIDAY, September 2 | |
| 9:00AM | Session #2 with John MacArthur |
| 10:30AM | Session #3 with John MacArthur |
| 11:30AM | Lunch (on campus) |
| 1:00PM | Session #4 with Phil Johnson |
| 2:30PM | Session #5 with Jeff Williams |
| 3:45PM | Session #6 with Don Green |
| 5:00PM | Dinner (on campus) |
| 7:00PM | Session #7 with John MacArthur |
SATURDAY, September 3 | |
| 9:00AM | Session #8 with John MacArthur |
| 10:30AM | Session #9 with John MacArthur |
| 12:00PM | Local Attractions |
SUNDAY, September 4 | |
| 8:30AM | Worship Service with John MacArthur |
| 10:30AM | Worship Service with John MacArthur |
| 6:00PM | Worship Service with John MacArthur |
Watch Mac preach on the old—and biblical—perspective on Paul.
update on PhD exams
Thanks so much for praying! I have taken four of my seven written exams. The two exams I took yesterday were very tough but they're over! I have two more tomorrow (Greek grammar & syntax and then Pauline exegesis & theology). My last exam is Saturday morning (Gospels, Acts, and non-Pauline literature).
Thanks for praying. I'm encouraged by them!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
worldliness.
"Worldliness is the set of practices in a society, its values and ways of looking at life, that make sin look normal and righteousness look strange. It is the view of the world that puts the sinner at its center and God to the periphery" (David Wells, God in the Wasteland, 86).
In my humble estimation, Wells couldn't be more spot on.
In my humble estimation, Wells couldn't be more spot on.
here’s why you should praise the LORD!
Psalm 147 provides a host of reasons why believers must praise the LORD. The psalm begins and ends with the same phrase which ties the psalm together as a unit: Praise the LORD (הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֙הּ). This phrase also occurs in v.12 as well which divides the psalm into halves.
I. Your Duty Is To Praise the LORD! (vv.1, 12, 20b)
II. The Reasons Why You Must Praise the LORD! (vv.2-11; 13-20a)
The reasons include but are not limited to the following:
1. The Lord builds and gathers His people (v.2)
2. The Lord heals and binds up the wounded & brokenhearted (v.3)
3. The Lord counts the stars & gives all of them names! (v.4) [**let your mind ponder this thought for a while**]
4. The Lord's wisdom & understanding is infinite (v.5)
5. The Lord exalts the humble and humbles the prideful (v.6)
6. The Lord provides food & rain upon the earth for His creatures (vv.7ff)
7. The Lord is the one who gives snow like wool (v.16)
8. The Lord sends His word and can melt the ice and cold (vv.17-18)
These are just a *few* reasons why you and I must worship the LORD. God's Word compels us to come and consider the magnificence of God and worship Him in response to who He is!
Monday, August 29, 2011
please pray for my PhD exams this week.
Please remember to pray for me as I take my seven written comprehensive exams this week for my PhD program. Pray that God gives me great recollection of the books I read & the things I studied. Here is my schedule:
EXAMS:
1. Theology
2. OT & Hebrew
3. Bible Ex
4. NT #1 - NTI, hermeneutics, crit methods & backgrounds (LXX, Fathers, intertestamental)
5. NT #2 - Greek Grammar, syntax, and NT text crit
6. NT #3 - Pauline epistles (translation, exegesis, bibl theo, intro)
7. NT #4 - Gospels, Acts, and nonPauline lit (trans, exegesis, bibl theo, intro)
SCHEDULE:
Monday 9am Theology
Monday 3pm OT & Hebrew
Wednesday 9am Bible Ex
Wednesday 3pm NT #1
Friday 9am NT#2
Friday 3pm NT#3
Saturday 9am NT#4
EXAMS:
1. Theology
2. OT & Hebrew
3. Bible Ex
4. NT #1 - NTI, hermeneutics, crit methods & backgrounds (LXX, Fathers, intertestamental)
5. NT #2 - Greek Grammar, syntax, and NT text crit
6. NT #3 - Pauline epistles (translation, exegesis, bibl theo, intro)
7. NT #4 - Gospels, Acts, and nonPauline lit (trans, exegesis, bibl theo, intro)
SCHEDULE:
Monday 9am Theology
Monday 3pm OT & Hebrew
Wednesday 9am Bible Ex
Wednesday 3pm NT #1
Friday 9am NT#2
Friday 3pm NT#3
Saturday 9am NT#4
Friday, August 26, 2011
what does it mean to be CHOSEN by GOD?
Here is a link to free video lectures by R.C. Sproul. He apparently gave these lectures 'back in the day' (just watch them and see his hair and you'll know what I mean!). At any rate, these are superb lectures worthy of your careful consideration. I think he is right on with God's election & God's sovereignty.
Topics include:
— God's sovereignty
— What is free will?
— Man's radical fallenness
— Does God create unbelief?
— The divine initiative
Watch & be fed from solid, biblical, God-centered theology.
Topics include:
— God's sovereignty
— What is free will?
— Man's radical fallenness
— Does God create unbelief?
— The divine initiative
Watch & be fed from solid, biblical, God-centered theology.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
what is it to be a MAN?
Biblical masculinity does not demand to be served but itself serves and sacrifices for the good of others. And, the call to lead is a call to repentance, humility, and risk taking.
So, men, be men.
you can understand the BIBLE!
Here are some good quotes I've come across in my PhD exam preparation:
"There is throughout the Bible a historical plot line and the teaching of basic truths that can be understood apart from detailed genre analysis and knowledge of literary structure [not to diminish these *important* disciplines, however]. Evangelicals must make sure to let Christians in their churches know that the Bible is a book that God has given, in one sense, directly to them. This can be done because God is not hiding from us, but has given us a Book in space and time that can be understood literally." —Michael Stallard
"Literal interpretation can be synonymous with plain, natural, normal, historical, grammatical, straight-forward, and the face-value interpretation."
You can read & understand the Bible. Read it, understand it, interpret it in its normal sense. For true believers, God's Spirit will guide His elect into the truth with diligent study and proper hermeneutical methods.
Study! Study! Study!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
study science to study GOD.
From Richard Baxter as he comments on Ps 111:2 — Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them:
"To see God in his creatures, and to love him and converse with him, was the employment of man in his upright state. This is so far from ceasing to be our duty, that it is the work of Christ, by faith, to bring us back to it; and therefore the most holy men are the most excellent students of God's works; and none but the holy can rightly study or know them. Your studies of physics and other sciences are not worth a rush, if it be not God by them that you seek after. To see and admire, to reverence and adore, to love and delight in God appearing to us in his works, and purposely to peruse them for the knowledge of God; this is the true and only philosophy, and the contrary is mere foolery, and so called again and again by God himself."
(from Spurgeon, Treasury of David, 2/2:7)
Monday, August 22, 2011
come to the school of God.
Psalm 111 — Study Hard!
1. Begin your study with worship (1)
The psalm begins with Hallelujah—an exclamation of praise—which commands the community to sing and praise the Lord (1a). The assembly and the congregation of upright people are beckoned to worship God (1b). Thus, all study of God must begin with worshiping God rightly.
2. Study the works of God (2-6)
God is worthy of praise because the works of God are great (2a)! The works of God are sought/studied (דרשׁ) by all who delight in them. The followers of the Lord are to seek out with intense study the works of God. Enter the school of God and bathe in the bottomless ocean of God's sovereign and providential deeds!
3. Study the Word of God (7-9)
All God's statutes are faithful (7b) and supported forever (8a). Indeed, God, in his great grace and with His sovereign word has sent redemption for His people—referring back to the Exodus (Ex 12-14). How holy and awesome is His Name!
4. Study with fear and obedience (10)
All study of God which brings wisdom (חכם)—skill for living—must begin with a proper fear (awe-terror) of the Lord and His greatness. The deeds of God when rightly understood will produce a holy terror in God's people. This then has two results: (1) obedience (10b) and (2) praise (10c)
Let us sing & shout with the psalmist: how compassionate (חנון) and gracious (רחום) is the LORD (4b)!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
men—date your wives.
Something I was reminded of again yesterday in my church planting class was the absolute necessity of making sure my wife is #1 in my life and that she knows that she is #1 in my life. Listen, I'm not perfect at this (not even sure if I'd be in the 'good' category) but we as men must continually work at being better husbands, leaders, lovers, and learners of our wives.
HOW?
1. Spend time with them daily at a time when she wants to chat.
2. Serve them in ways around the home that will help & lighten her load.
3. Shepherd her in the Word of God as you read and study God's Word together.
4. Equip and train her with the principles and and issues to instill in the children.
5. Take her on a vacation where you hang out together and have fun together and do things together.
6. Do date night as often as possible.
1 Peter 3:7 — You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
marriage is a picture of the GOSPEL.
"In the home when a husband leads like Christ and a wife responds like the bride of Christ, there is a harmony and mutuality that is more beautiful and more satisfying than any pattern of marriage created by man. Biblical headship for the husband is the divine calling to take primary responsibility for Christlike, servant leadership, protection and provision in the home. Biblical submission for the wife is the divine calling to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts. This is the way of joy. For God loves his people and he loves his glory. And therefore when we follow his idea of marriage (sketched in texts like Gen 2:18-24; Prov 5:15-19; 31:10-31; Mark 10:2-12; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Pet 3:1-7) we are most satisfied and he is most glorified.”
(Piper, John. "A Vision for Biblical Complementarity: Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible." Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism. Edited by Piper, John and Wayne Grudem, eds. [Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006], 52-53).
(Piper, John. "A Vision for Biblical Complementarity: Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible." Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism. Edited by Piper, John and Wayne Grudem, eds. [Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006], 52-53).
how God encouraged me in ISRAEL.
How God encouraged me on Israel this trip
(Of the many things I could write, I will limit it to only a few for the sake of time!)
1. In the Wilderness of Paran, where the Israelites wandered (Num 12:16), I meditated on Deuteronomy 8 and God reminded me of the simple but profound phrase in verse 2 that God has led His people in the wilderness all the way.
2. At the Upper Room, where Christ had his last Passover meal with His disciples the night before the cross, we arrived early in the morning and there were no other tour groups there and we had a great deal of time to carefully and slowly walk through the steps of Jesus and how he so carefully moved and timed everything—John 12-18:1.
3. One of the favorites for everyone on the trip was the Cove of the Sower which is a cove on the north edge of the Sea of Galilee in between Capernaum and Tabgha. I ran down to the shore (or as close as I could get) and I had everyone else scatter on the hillside up above (below and above the modern road) and I read Mark 4—Jesus’ parable on the sower. What an incredible passage about the seed of the Word growing and bearing fruit! Additionally, the people loved to hear the natural acoustics formed from the cove and the surrounding hillside.
4. I’d never been to Hebron before and this was a first for me! We traveled to Hebron where David reigned for the first seven and a half years of his kingship. We also read about how Abraham bought this plot of land to bury Sarah and where he himself would also be buried (and Isaac and Rebecca as well as Jacob and Leah). Quite spectacular to see this tomb that Herod the Great constructed in the first century A.D. which is quite similar in structure and look to the Temple Mount.
5. In God's providence, we were in Jerusalem for Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), when the Jewish people remember the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70AD (as well as the Solomonic Temple which was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar on this same day!). We were at the Western Wall till about 9:30pm listening to a plaza full of Jewish men chanting and lamenting the book of Lamentations amongst other things. Quite an amazing experience!
Here's a passage I read often when traveling through Israel:
Psalm 48:12-14
12 Walk about Zion and go around her; Count her towers;
13 Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces, That you may tell it to the next generation. 14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
fix your eyes on JESUS.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
author and
perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
author and
perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
don't forget GOD.
Last night I preached Deut 8 at the rehab center and gave four pillars to stand on so you don't forget the LORD your God. You can listen here.
Deuteronomy 8:1-2 "All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your forefathers. 2 "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
does God draw you or drive you to prayer?
It has just occurred to me, that the reason why the Lord has of late allowed me to be so severely tried--is that I have been very little at His throne of grace. Nor have His promises appeared so precious, pleadable, and suited to my case.
Jesus is determined to have me often at His throne, and if the invitations and promises of His Word will not draw me there--then He will send trials to drive me there! Blessed Jesus, are you not saying to me by every trial, "Call upon Me! Make use of Me! See what I will do for you!"
What a proof of the deep depravity and base ingratitude of my heart is this--that You are obliged to send trials and troubles to bring me to Your feet! Yet it is so! For unless drawn by the cords of Your loving-kindness, or driven by painful trials--I seldom come to You with earnestness, fervor, and life!
(from the diary of James Smith, 1862)
Monday, August 15, 2011
ponder this.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Καὶ Ἰησοῦς προέκοπτεν ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις.)
What an amazing thought to consider that Jesus—in the fullness of His humanness—grew in both wisdom & stature and in favor with both God & men.
The word "grew" (προέκοπτεν) is in a Greek verbal form that brings the action to the forefront. There is some emphasis in the way the author, Luke, chooses to portray the action.
Food for thought today. Your Savior had to grow in wisdom & stature just like you and I have to grow every day. Let's make today a special day where we grow with our eyes focused on Jesus (Heb 12:1-2).
What an amazing thought to consider that Jesus—in the fullness of His humanness—grew in both wisdom & stature and in favor with both God & men.
The word "grew" (προέκοπτεν) is in a Greek verbal form that brings the action to the forefront. There is some emphasis in the way the author, Luke, chooses to portray the action.
Food for thought today. Your Savior had to grow in wisdom & stature just like you and I have to grow every day. Let's make today a special day where we grow with our eyes focused on Jesus (Heb 12:1-2).
Saturday, August 13, 2011
some things I learned guiding this trip to Israel
[photo: Iron Age gate at Tel Dan; courtesy of BiblePlaces]
Here are a few things I learned in leading this, my fourth, trip to Israel.
1. Be passionate & excited and that will contagiously affect the tourists.
Not that I have to confess that I am not passionate about going to Israel; I am! But I heard people say that because the guide enjoys the land so much and gets so excited over some 'rocks' and 'hills' (if you have been to Israel you know what I'm talking about), then it excites the travelers as well.
2. Be willing to say: "I don't know."
I'm not a professional tour guide. Nor do I claim to be. I have studied and I have lived in Israel but there are still (many!) things I just still don't know. And when folks ask questions that I don't know the answer to, it is better to confess my ignorance and say: "I don't know" rather than to pontificate on something I don't have any idea about and then be proven wrong later.
3. Gift shops are overrated and the shopping can be done on the last day of the trip.
Many tours spend time—a lot of time—in gift shops. But not ours. In fact, I deliberately tell my people that I will give them plenty of time to shop in Jerusalem at the conclusion of the trip. But till then, we run from site to site rather than *waste* time in every gift shop along the way.
4. Take the Bible and read from the Bible at *every* site possible.
It is amazing how many so-called Christian tours travel through the land of Israel and never open their Bibles and read through the Scriptures at the sites. Some merely talk about it or make reference to the Scriptures. But one thing that I have found to be so necessary is to take our Bibles and read the accounts at each site (even if they are long accounts!). The people love it and it is a great witness to others who come and listen to us read various passages (e.g., the entire Sermon on the Mount—Matt 5-7—from the Mt. of Beatitudes).
5. Be Gospel-centered and Christ-exalting at all times.
It is hot, dry, and tiring to travel through Israel. This is why the fruit of the Spirit is so necessary—especially amongst an evangelical group! Furthermore, there are those on the tour and those who sit & listen from other groups who can hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and the biblical significance at each site. Therefore, take advantage of every opportunity to *preach Christ* from the entirety of Scripture. Exalt Him!
Soon I'll post a few highlights of the trip for me. But now, off to sermon prep for Deut 8.
Friday, August 12, 2011
prayer for preaching this week.
Pray for me as I prepare & preach this week:
Sat, Aug 13th — Street preaching @ Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
Tues, Aug 16th — Preaching Deut 8 at the Bible Tabernacle
Fri, Aug 19th — Street preaching @ Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
Thanks for your prayers!
Sat, Aug 13th — Street preaching @ Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
Tues, Aug 16th — Preaching Deut 8 at the Bible Tabernacle
Fri, Aug 19th — Street preaching @ Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
Thanks for your prayers!
a word of wisdom from my wife.
I returned from Israel yesterday and my wife asked me:
"Honey, how was the trip?"
I responded:
"Great. It was very restful and a needed time of refreshment."
Then she replied:
"Interesting that you just finished leading an eleven day tour through the land of Israel and you found that restful. Interesting that your pace of life here is so busy that you found leading a trip to Israel restful."
Point well taken & words of wisdom from my wife.
"Honey, how was the trip?"
I responded:
"Great. It was very restful and a needed time of refreshment."
Then she replied:
"Interesting that you just finished leading an eleven day tour through the land of Israel and you found that restful. Interesting that your pace of life here is so busy that you found leading a trip to Israel restful."
Point well taken & words of wisdom from my wife.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
home from Israel
God richly blessed our trip to Israel. We had 11 fabulous days in Israel cramming dozens of sites in and then some (and some new ones for me!). I hope to post in the next few days some reflections on what God taught me on this trip.
Thanks for your prayers.
Thanks for your prayers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
