Friends,
There is an infinite, holy, personal God who has acted toward us in unimaginable love by bringing us into his family by the blood of Jesus. The Spirit is given to those who ask, and the Spirit helps us to pray. Jesus himself intercedes on our behalf. And our loving Father who is perfectly in control is ready and waiting for us to walk into his courts clothed in the righteousness of Christ that he may be glorified in the perfect and holy answering of our prayers. Our Father knows how to give good gifts. This God is waiting, even now, so steal away from your computer this very moment and enter the presence of the living God! Be blessed. Grace be with you!
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
Indeed, whatever we do will not be worth a lick if we do not pray because it will be done apart from the power of God.
In Christ,
Daniel
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
A Meeting on the Beach
I have been on vacation this week in Daytona Beach. It has been very good. Today is our last day, and this morning we rented an umbrella and stayed down at the beach for several hours. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, so a lot of people have come down, and the beach started to get crowded, a rather vibrant atmosphere.
I just finished the last book of "The Chronicles of Narnia" today. I greatly recommend the books. They are the sort of fiction that, at least for me, awaken my taste buds to things eternal. They call me away from the mundane to the glorious realization that I am covered by royal blood... a traitor known through and through, yet still brought in to the family.
While reading, I was approached by a couple of young college guys. I thought as they approached that they might be ready to draw me into a nearby game of frisbee or Bocci Ball. Instead, to my surprise and delight, they were there to share the Gospel. They asked if they could do a survey, and they asked some questions about my spiritual life and Jesus and such. They quickly realized that I was a fellow Christian, and I asked them if they were with Campus Outreach. They were! Jonathan Baggett, my big brother in Theta Xi, had done Beach Project at least a couple of years, so I knew of it already. Basically, these guys spend a summer doing a job but also sharing the Gospel with as many as possible.
These two guys, one of them more experienced and the other a first-timer, wanted to practice their tract. They had a simple tract that led through a discussion of what we are searching for, sin, and the solution. I was the first person they had come up to, and so I was an opportunity for them to sort-of get their feet wet. We talked back and forth as they went through the tract, and we stopped at some points to discuss different things, such as the nature of sin and death and the meaning of eternal life and the importance of grace in sanctification.
The Spirit has many ways of convicting me when I open my eyes because He is so creative and good, and I am so depraved. I felt this happening in myself. We would come to a point like the nature of sin. We would give explanations back and forth. Of course, I have thought much about the Gospel. I would throw in my two cents and back it up with Scripture. In them I had found like-minded souls, and they drank in some of the things I threw in that maybe they had never heard quite that way. And then the sinful part of my heart swelled with subtle pride as they appreciated what I had to say, as if I am wise. Of course, this is the way discipleship works - the older share with the younger, and there is growth, but pride corrupts all, even the passing on of spiritual truth as we can sadly see through church history, and especially in the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus' own day.
Here is my conviction. I have read many books, and I have studied Scripture, not enough but more than many. I was sitting there just relaxing and taking in the sun, and here were young men laboring for the Kingdom. Now, I don't think vacation is evil, and I don't know that every waking minute must be devoted to explicitly sharing the Gospel, though my flesh is weak and might prompt me to be wrong about that. Nevertheless, I was convicted that while I read more and more books and carry around more conversation potentialities in my head, believers with (probably) less knowledge were practically doing far more than I for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Father forgive me. Jesus, help me to love you with all. Spirit, lead in all!
I just finished the last book of "The Chronicles of Narnia" today. I greatly recommend the books. They are the sort of fiction that, at least for me, awaken my taste buds to things eternal. They call me away from the mundane to the glorious realization that I am covered by royal blood... a traitor known through and through, yet still brought in to the family.
While reading, I was approached by a couple of young college guys. I thought as they approached that they might be ready to draw me into a nearby game of frisbee or Bocci Ball. Instead, to my surprise and delight, they were there to share the Gospel. They asked if they could do a survey, and they asked some questions about my spiritual life and Jesus and such. They quickly realized that I was a fellow Christian, and I asked them if they were with Campus Outreach. They were! Jonathan Baggett, my big brother in Theta Xi, had done Beach Project at least a couple of years, so I knew of it already. Basically, these guys spend a summer doing a job but also sharing the Gospel with as many as possible.
These two guys, one of them more experienced and the other a first-timer, wanted to practice their tract. They had a simple tract that led through a discussion of what we are searching for, sin, and the solution. I was the first person they had come up to, and so I was an opportunity for them to sort-of get their feet wet. We talked back and forth as they went through the tract, and we stopped at some points to discuss different things, such as the nature of sin and death and the meaning of eternal life and the importance of grace in sanctification.
The Spirit has many ways of convicting me when I open my eyes because He is so creative and good, and I am so depraved. I felt this happening in myself. We would come to a point like the nature of sin. We would give explanations back and forth. Of course, I have thought much about the Gospel. I would throw in my two cents and back it up with Scripture. In them I had found like-minded souls, and they drank in some of the things I threw in that maybe they had never heard quite that way. And then the sinful part of my heart swelled with subtle pride as they appreciated what I had to say, as if I am wise. Of course, this is the way discipleship works - the older share with the younger, and there is growth, but pride corrupts all, even the passing on of spiritual truth as we can sadly see through church history, and especially in the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus' own day.
Here is my conviction. I have read many books, and I have studied Scripture, not enough but more than many. I was sitting there just relaxing and taking in the sun, and here were young men laboring for the Kingdom. Now, I don't think vacation is evil, and I don't know that every waking minute must be devoted to explicitly sharing the Gospel, though my flesh is weak and might prompt me to be wrong about that. Nevertheless, I was convicted that while I read more and more books and carry around more conversation potentialities in my head, believers with (probably) less knowledge were practically doing far more than I for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Father forgive me. Jesus, help me to love you with all. Spirit, lead in all!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Microwave Discipleship
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)
I have been reading the first chapters of Dallas Willard's The Spirit of the Disciplines, and I want to briefly share the heart of the first chapter with you.
God's salvation is about more than mere forgiveness, though the forgiveness we receive is inestimably glorious. We are not saved to exist in some neutral state; rather, we are saved and given new identities in Christ and led to walk in newness of life - abundant life! We do not merely have God as judge declaring "not guilty"; we have him as loving Father welcoming us into a warm embrace.
We have the four gospels and the record of Jesus' life and ministry for a reason. There is great value in more than just the book of Romans, which I take to be, at least and much more, a profound explanation of the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection, an explanation that when received is very properly called Good News. Though we are saved by grace through faith alone, not by works, does not mean that works have no place in the Christian life. Read James to learn this. Though they are not the foundation of our being saved or staying saved, they are intimately connected to the essence of the life that has been imparted to us. What we do matters. Let me repeat - what we do matters!
And Jesus calls us into a serious discipleship to himself. Our business while we are still here is to know Christ and to make him known. We know Christ not by merely professing faith and doing Christian-ish things; we know him by having a faith that takes seriously Christ's call to follow.
The main analogy from the first chapter of the book deals with training. A child who plays a sport will want to imitate his favorite pro athlete's stance and mannerisms that he displays in the game. But will the child experience the same success as his favorite athlete? The answer is almost certainly no. Why? Because the pro-athlete has given himself over to a comprehensive mental, physical, emotional pattern of life that makes possible his on-the-spot success in the game. Do we do the same with Jesus? We are given commands that seem impossible - loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, sharing the Gospel with the nations, etc... And we look to Jesus as our example and favorite "athlete", and we hope to be able to imitate him when we find those opportunities. But should expect a Christ-like response from ourselves in those situations if we have not oriented our entire lives around training for Christ-likeness? Probably not. We should discipline our lives in a holistic way around living like Christ. I do not plan to go into it here, but this leads into the heart of the book - spiritual disciplines practiced and taught in the Bible for spiritual growth.
I suppose that following Jesus is a greater calling than hitting a baseball, and I should not expect to be able to cruise easily into the former just as I would not do for the latter. Jesus guide me, by your grace, into a lifestyle that lives under your Lordship and friendship and guidance each minute. You are infinitely smarter than I am, and you want me to grow in your ways. Lead me. Thank you for saving me, and thank you for this resurrection hope I have. Pour your Spirit on me. To you be all glory! In your name, amen.
I have been reading the first chapters of Dallas Willard's The Spirit of the Disciplines, and I want to briefly share the heart of the first chapter with you.
God's salvation is about more than mere forgiveness, though the forgiveness we receive is inestimably glorious. We are not saved to exist in some neutral state; rather, we are saved and given new identities in Christ and led to walk in newness of life - abundant life! We do not merely have God as judge declaring "not guilty"; we have him as loving Father welcoming us into a warm embrace.
We have the four gospels and the record of Jesus' life and ministry for a reason. There is great value in more than just the book of Romans, which I take to be, at least and much more, a profound explanation of the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection, an explanation that when received is very properly called Good News. Though we are saved by grace through faith alone, not by works, does not mean that works have no place in the Christian life. Read James to learn this. Though they are not the foundation of our being saved or staying saved, they are intimately connected to the essence of the life that has been imparted to us. What we do matters. Let me repeat - what we do matters!
And Jesus calls us into a serious discipleship to himself. Our business while we are still here is to know Christ and to make him known. We know Christ not by merely professing faith and doing Christian-ish things; we know him by having a faith that takes seriously Christ's call to follow.
The main analogy from the first chapter of the book deals with training. A child who plays a sport will want to imitate his favorite pro athlete's stance and mannerisms that he displays in the game. But will the child experience the same success as his favorite athlete? The answer is almost certainly no. Why? Because the pro-athlete has given himself over to a comprehensive mental, physical, emotional pattern of life that makes possible his on-the-spot success in the game. Do we do the same with Jesus? We are given commands that seem impossible - loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, sharing the Gospel with the nations, etc... And we look to Jesus as our example and favorite "athlete", and we hope to be able to imitate him when we find those opportunities. But should expect a Christ-like response from ourselves in those situations if we have not oriented our entire lives around training for Christ-likeness? Probably not. We should discipline our lives in a holistic way around living like Christ. I do not plan to go into it here, but this leads into the heart of the book - spiritual disciplines practiced and taught in the Bible for spiritual growth.
I suppose that following Jesus is a greater calling than hitting a baseball, and I should not expect to be able to cruise easily into the former just as I would not do for the latter. Jesus guide me, by your grace, into a lifestyle that lives under your Lordship and friendship and guidance each minute. You are infinitely smarter than I am, and you want me to grow in your ways. Lead me. Thank you for saving me, and thank you for this resurrection hope I have. Pour your Spirit on me. To you be all glory! In your name, amen.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
I was reading Acts 14 earlier. Paul and Barnabas go to Lystra. They looked a crippled man in the face and told him to stand upright on his feet because he had the faith to be made well. And so he was! Apparently a crowd saw it and started saying in their own language that "the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" They thought that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas was Zeus, both gods from Greek mythology. The people wanted to sacrifice to these "gods". Obviously when Paul and Barnabas heard of this they were distraught. They tore their garments and pleaded with the people, explaining the Gospel and that they were by no means gods. And even so, it was difficult to convince the people not to sacrifice to them.
Observation 1 - If we are walking in the power of the Spirit, what kind of effect are we having on people? Is there a power in us that begs explanation? I don't want to chase that line of reasoning too far, but I mention it merely to cause you to think and examine...
Observation 2 - Right after verse 18 in which Luke tells us that Paul's words barely kept the people from making sacrifices, we find verse 19. Immediately - and without much explanation - we see Jews come from Antioch and Iconium who persuade the crowds to stone Paul and drag him out of the city. What?!!! That was fast! In verse 18 we find worship; in verse 19 we find stoning. What does this say about people, and what might this say about me?
This very much reminds me of Jesus with the crowds. They offer him palm branches, crying out "Hosanna!" A week later they are crying out "Crucify!" It reminds me of Judas who followed Christ's call - at least physically - to follow him for three years. At the end of it he betrays Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver. It reminds me of Moses and the people of Israel. God provides. Israel rejoices. Almost immediately they complain. Why did Moses drag us out here to starve? It reminds me of Peter who bragged he would follow Jesus anywhere, and he proceeds quickly to deny him three times.
I find in myself a similar principle. In one of CS Lewis's addresses from his compilation of talks and sermons entitled The Weight of Glory, he begins by saying that the preacher may be best when he thinks of himself as comparing notes. He is a Christian just the same as those sitting in his pews, and it is best for him not to try to put on airs and act better or more spiritual. He should observe Scripture and observe his own life and "compare notes" with his flock. In that vein I want to note that I see this principle in my own life.
I still sin. I feel the weight of it. The longer I am a Christian, the more I feel and know my own depravity, and I groan to be free of it. I long for and groan for my resurrection body that will be free from sin and decay. Well, many times now, when I know it is time to repent, and even sometimes as I sin, I am conscious of my proximity to reminders of God. My room is basically stacked to the cieling with Bibles and books on theology. My ipod is filled with podcasts of preachers and Christian music. My day is filled with opportunities to talk with family and friends about God. My day ends as I pray with Nicole. There is very literally no way that I can ignore Jesus...
But I do! Oh, God have mercy on my soul! I do. I feel like Peter, like the fickle crowds, like the hard-headed Israelites. I think we can be near to God and faking it, like maybe Judas was, and our disobedience can prove our rebellion. We can be like the crowds in front of Pilate or at Lystra who have a zeal but not according to knowledge, and our all-too-quick double-minded wavering can reveal that our hearts have not really known God. Or we can be like the Israelites in the desert or like Peter, true believers (at least some of them anyways) who are deeply in need of restoration.
What these stories teach me is that I am never beyond falling, and like manna from heaven, I desperately need God's grace for each day, for each hour, for each moment. I need it more than I realize. John Piper argues in his book Future Grace that faith is meant to be the fuel for our obedience, and faith always has a forward sort of look. Gratitude looks back on God's graces given in the past. Faith looks forward and believes that God will continue to give grace. Faith is what empowers my stepping out and taking risks and fighting the sin within. I know that my God has made promises and secured them by the blood of Jesus; I can step out confidently on those promises knowing that God does not lie and that he is going to be present for every single moment of eternity future, and he delights in glorifying himself by coming through on those promises he has given and gracing me in every future moment. My experience confirms this principle - that my gratitude is real but is like a leaky bucket. I constantly need to be refilling my cup with God and his promises.
My prayer out of all this is something like this: Father, I waver too quickly. Forbid that I should be in your presence one moment, then ignore you and plunge into iniquity the next. Clean me. Forgive me. Give me a steadfast spirit. Not wavering, but steadfast. Be pleased to strengthen my weak faith, and help me to trust in your mighty promises. I believe and you have said that you will supply all of my needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To you be all glory! In Jesus name, Amen.
Observation 1 - If we are walking in the power of the Spirit, what kind of effect are we having on people? Is there a power in us that begs explanation? I don't want to chase that line of reasoning too far, but I mention it merely to cause you to think and examine...
Observation 2 - Right after verse 18 in which Luke tells us that Paul's words barely kept the people from making sacrifices, we find verse 19. Immediately - and without much explanation - we see Jews come from Antioch and Iconium who persuade the crowds to stone Paul and drag him out of the city. What?!!! That was fast! In verse 18 we find worship; in verse 19 we find stoning. What does this say about people, and what might this say about me?
This very much reminds me of Jesus with the crowds. They offer him palm branches, crying out "Hosanna!" A week later they are crying out "Crucify!" It reminds me of Judas who followed Christ's call - at least physically - to follow him for three years. At the end of it he betrays Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver. It reminds me of Moses and the people of Israel. God provides. Israel rejoices. Almost immediately they complain. Why did Moses drag us out here to starve? It reminds me of Peter who bragged he would follow Jesus anywhere, and he proceeds quickly to deny him three times.
I find in myself a similar principle. In one of CS Lewis's addresses from his compilation of talks and sermons entitled The Weight of Glory, he begins by saying that the preacher may be best when he thinks of himself as comparing notes. He is a Christian just the same as those sitting in his pews, and it is best for him not to try to put on airs and act better or more spiritual. He should observe Scripture and observe his own life and "compare notes" with his flock. In that vein I want to note that I see this principle in my own life.
I still sin. I feel the weight of it. The longer I am a Christian, the more I feel and know my own depravity, and I groan to be free of it. I long for and groan for my resurrection body that will be free from sin and decay. Well, many times now, when I know it is time to repent, and even sometimes as I sin, I am conscious of my proximity to reminders of God. My room is basically stacked to the cieling with Bibles and books on theology. My ipod is filled with podcasts of preachers and Christian music. My day is filled with opportunities to talk with family and friends about God. My day ends as I pray with Nicole. There is very literally no way that I can ignore Jesus...
But I do! Oh, God have mercy on my soul! I do. I feel like Peter, like the fickle crowds, like the hard-headed Israelites. I think we can be near to God and faking it, like maybe Judas was, and our disobedience can prove our rebellion. We can be like the crowds in front of Pilate or at Lystra who have a zeal but not according to knowledge, and our all-too-quick double-minded wavering can reveal that our hearts have not really known God. Or we can be like the Israelites in the desert or like Peter, true believers (at least some of them anyways) who are deeply in need of restoration.
What these stories teach me is that I am never beyond falling, and like manna from heaven, I desperately need God's grace for each day, for each hour, for each moment. I need it more than I realize. John Piper argues in his book Future Grace that faith is meant to be the fuel for our obedience, and faith always has a forward sort of look. Gratitude looks back on God's graces given in the past. Faith looks forward and believes that God will continue to give grace. Faith is what empowers my stepping out and taking risks and fighting the sin within. I know that my God has made promises and secured them by the blood of Jesus; I can step out confidently on those promises knowing that God does not lie and that he is going to be present for every single moment of eternity future, and he delights in glorifying himself by coming through on those promises he has given and gracing me in every future moment. My experience confirms this principle - that my gratitude is real but is like a leaky bucket. I constantly need to be refilling my cup with God and his promises.
My prayer out of all this is something like this: Father, I waver too quickly. Forbid that I should be in your presence one moment, then ignore you and plunge into iniquity the next. Clean me. Forgive me. Give me a steadfast spirit. Not wavering, but steadfast. Be pleased to strengthen my weak faith, and help me to trust in your mighty promises. I believe and you have said that you will supply all of my needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To you be all glory! In Jesus name, Amen.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Jesus and Freedom: Part 2
Keller's sermon on "Who is Jesus?" cut up into five parts, each around 10 minutes.
Jesus and Freedom: Part 1
This is an Easter sermon preached by John Piper on John 8:32. We are slaves to sin, and there is freedom in Jesus. I appreciated this sermon both for the exposition of the text and for the way he uses some passionate and practical apologetics to cut through much of the modern skepticism. Please listen and be strengthened and challenged. And may the truth of Easter grip you and draw you to a life worth living, a life worthy of the Gospel.
The second part of "Jesus and Freedom" will be a sermon by Tim Keller that elaborates on some of the apologetic questions presented here by Piper.
The second part of "Jesus and Freedom" will be a sermon by Tim Keller that elaborates on some of the apologetic questions presented here by Piper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)