So much of my life has been spent in looking for "the one." I have exhausted so much energy on seeking a wife that I have come to see it as a complete waste of time. Some would argue against this but I would ask you to bear with me while I expound on this statement in light of the Cross.
To think in such a way as to believe that I can, in and of my own power, choose the best person for me to marry is an absolute absurdity. I am in a fallin state and can in no way trust my own heart. Jeremiah 17:9 say's, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Proverbs 21:2 say's this, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart." How do I even create the attitude and belief that I know whats best for me. How can I map out my life with the assureence that I am headed down the right path. The problem lies in that we hold the belief that Christ Jesus allows freedom in this area of our life instead of absolute surrender. There is freedom but only on the grounds of His word and plan reason.
So here in lies the problem with believing that I can do whatever and whenever I think I am ready. I am going to attack this from many different angles and the first is worry. Okay, You may be saying to youself "why is he talking about worry?" That is a very good question and with God's grace I will seek to answer that question. Another title for this could be "The Glory of God in Being Single." Notice I'm not trying to give myself "Dating Tips."
Martin Luther had something to say about worry and to paraphrase what he said it was basically this: worry is when you think you know whats best and God is going to mess the situation up. Persuing a relationship with a sister, in Chirst, before the feelings are allowed to flow naturally and freely through the confinds of marraige allows sin to crep in and destroy the soul. Worry is not a sin that should be taken lightly. Thomas Watson said this, "There are no sins God's people are more subject to than unbeleif and impatience. They are ready either to faint through unbelief, or fret through impatience." You might ask the question "how does worry, unbelief, and impatience fit together?" I think that where worry is, unbelief and or impatience are at the root. When you don't stand on the promises of God (such as Psalm 84:11 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.") and just allow your fellings to go and run where they please, worry will be their banner. When there is a promise clearly seen and the action is begging God to hurry up and fullfill it, there will be impatience and taking things out of the hands of God which always brings worry to the forefront. If worry is the path taken then there is a clear sign of immaturity and a clear signal to grow in grace a bit longer.
Another angle to view this is from an angle of perfect harmony. I think I will call it "the holywood factor." It seems that so many of our convections, whether spoken or acted, are based off of what we have grown up with. I am tried of everybody and their cousin worried about my relationship status on facebook!
The biggest lie in our society is that love is something that is found. I admit that there is an element of attraction that draws two pople together but that attraction quickly withers when faced with all the querks that each individual posses. I submit to you that love is not a dancing in the rain experience or a raised leg kiss but a deep and passionate commetment to first the Lord Jesus and secondly to each other and devoting each others life to serving the other. There is no biblical truth to stand on and believe that love is going to come knocking on your door one day and drop off the love of your life. Our love for the Lord Jesus will draw us into a relationship with somone that will far exceed any lie hollywood or pornography could ever create. This is not something that should be rashly rushed into. Just because Billy likes Betty but if Billy is not quick Bobby is going to beat him to Betty. Does anybody else have a peoblem with the fact that our view of relationship is so low and dispecible in light of the cross. We hold that if two people "love" or like each other then they should date to "see if it will work." We hold marriage so losly that more than half the marriages that take place with those that claim Christ as their Lord end in divorce. THIS IS PATHETIC!!! Is our generation going to follow the lead of our parents and just lay down the covenent made to God and to our partner just beause I am tired of the way they tie their shoes. I saw a perfect sign on the side of the rode the other day that shows how loosely we hold marriage. It was an advertising for an agency that promises, "Divorce, without the drama." No one breaks a covenant without hurting or being hurt!
God cares so much about marriage that it can be found in the second chapter of the very fist book of the bible and the very last chapter of the very last book of the bible. Oh yes beloved, God cares about what a ugly picture we are painting of such a sacred and charished covenant. God cares for marriage so much that it is the picture that points people to His Son's sacrifice (Eph 5:25-27). This is the ultimate reason God created marriage. It was not only for pleasure but for the advance of the gospel. This is why marraige is such a big deal and should not be sought as if its a game to find the hottest girl before someone else gets her. This is not a game where you put notches in your bed post every time you get into her pants. GOD FORBID that I would treat a daughter of the Most High God like a piece of livestock that I pick out to breed. God forgive us for holding lightly marriage! Hebrews 13:4 say's, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous."
So now that I have vented on a few issues that really get under my skin and cause me to be anything but gentle I would like to talk, for a few sentences, about what the subtitle states: The Glory of God in Being Single. This is a hard and sobering topic for me to write about for I do not fully understand how this all works but by the grace of God we will search out some reasons why God is most glorified when we embrace our sigleness instead of running around looking for a realationship to comfort us.
My brothers I do not dare say that I have complete knowledge of this. Nor would I ever admit to having no faults in my writings. My goal is that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart will be acceptable to My Jesus!!(Psalm 19:14)
While single I have a unique opportunity to pour my passion into growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord God almighty. I have freedom from responsibilities that come with marriage. This freedom must not be spent on seeking self pleasure by pursing my lust of all sorts. This will ultimately bring a lack of contentment and allow for sin to build siege towers against my heart. May I not waste my single status!!!
Being single allows me to serve the body of Christ, my family, and friends in ways that will ultimately grow me into a mature man ready to take on the resposiblities of my own family. I have time to work and save money or time to read books that will guide me into a deeper undersatnding of the grace of God given to us. The list goes on and on.
The picture I am trying to paint is one that will allow us to see how much can be gained from embracing our single status. This hour of our life is ultimately for the glory of God!! How can we neglect such a great opportunity as this? How can we discard all that is gained from growing closer to our Lord Jesus? Will I be one who expends all my energy on finding the "one" or will I grab a hold of grace and spend His energy(Colossians 1:29) "in admiring, exploring, expositing, and extolling Jesus Christ"(Sinclair Ferguson) our Lord and Great High Priest who was, who is, and who is to come!!!!
Passion for the Lord Jesus will not diminish my desire for marriage but it will place it in its rightful context and allow His strength to flow through me and keep me from my former passions of indulging in immorality. As with all parts of life; marriage must only be looked at through the lens of the Cross and thus allow Jesus to be Lord over it. May I not be one who wastes my singleness and in so doing may I not be one that wastes my marriage!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Searchings in Mark 1:9-15
This small section at the very beginning can be quickly overlooked with great anticipation of what the Savior will do. Questions flood our minds of who is He? How will He handle this or that situation? We become anxious for the great Teacher to do or say something that will set us back in our chairs astounded and amazed at the depths of God. But let us look closely at these words. Let us focus our attention here and not else where for if this is in chapter one it must be important for the chapters that follow. We can not press on till we understand the importance of Jesus being baptized and driven out into the wilderness. We must take a close look at the first words, that Mark records, that come out of the saviors mouth. Though these verses may be meet with little or no explanation it is still extremely valuable for us to take time and run back through this "common" (though I would submit there is nothing "common" about these next verses) passage.
I will probably not say much but I might find some questions and statements to throw on the table for you to chop up and chew on for a bit.
9) "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan." It is truly amazing how we find no accounts of Christ life while He lived in Nazareth. Matthew Henry had a little to put on the table for us. He said, "O how much hidden worth is there, which in this world is either lost in the dust of contempt and cannot be known, or wrapped up in the veil of humility and will not be known!" I could not do justice on talking about the reason Christ came and was baptized by John but I think Christ's words in Matthew 3 will far exceed anything I could bring. So Matthew chapter 3 starting in verse 13 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.14) John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"15) But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented."
"And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." - 1:10-11
Immediately when Jesus came out of the water he looks up to the sky and sees the heavens torn open. They were not just opened but torn open. I am reminded of Christ glorious return when the heavens will roll up like a scroll. They will be torn open and we will see our majestic Lord ridding a white horse and coming with vengeance. What would it have been like, on that day, to see the heavens torn opened? What would my thoughts have been? Would I have fallen to my knees out of fear or would I have opened my mouth with shouts of praise because God is fulfilling His promise? If we look in Isaiah we find three places where the Lord talks about putting God's spirit on Jesus:
Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD."
Isaiah 42:1-4 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law."
Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."
Praise the Lord!! Oh, this is good news! This is great news! God almighty sent a savior but not just to be a good person; He sent Him with power. Can there even be thoughts about the possibility of Jesus not getting baptized? The importance of the baptism far exceeds just being dunked under the water. The heavens being torn open and the Father saying, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" is evidence that this is not something that can just be read through. Stopping to take a glance at what took place at the Jordan river is never in vain. The power of God is clearly seen by the spirit descending upon Jesus. Look carefully at the dove. Look carefully at the heavens being torn open and God almighty speaking for all to hear.
What would have been my thoughts. Would I have even recognized the importance of what was taking place before my eyes? Oh, that God would light up this scene for us to see clearly the depth of the riches that are found in this interaction between the Father and the Son. The giving of the spirit is not something that is cute. By God putting His spirit on His Son we are able to be healed. No Spirit, No Jesus.
"The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." -1:12-15
Can our imaginations even carry us into the wilderness? Can we even create a picture that would adequately tell what was taking place these forty days? After looking at this can we continue to say that I failed because the devil tempted me? What would it have been like to stumble across Jesus during this time? How would we have seen Him? Would our eyes have looked upon Him with compassion? What would it have been like to sit beside Him for one day? What would He have said to us? We know from Matthew that He battled the devil with the sword of the Spirit. We know that the devil took Him places. We know that Jesus never caved to the temptation. That tells me that I never have to cave. Christ has given us the same spirit when we were baptized with Him into His death. The devil can't hold me cause Christ blood covers me! I stand in the face of temptation and by the power of the Spirit I am not taken captive.
I leave with these thoughts.... I would have liked to see what it would have been like for Jesus to be ministered to by angles. I would have liked to been there to hear what they would have said to Him. I would have liked to see how they acted towards Him. What would their actions have been like? Can a mind even create a glimpse of what beauty would have taken place during this moment?
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Let us never stop repenting and believing in the gospel of our Lord Jesus!
I will probably not say much but I might find some questions and statements to throw on the table for you to chop up and chew on for a bit.
9) "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan." It is truly amazing how we find no accounts of Christ life while He lived in Nazareth. Matthew Henry had a little to put on the table for us. He said, "O how much hidden worth is there, which in this world is either lost in the dust of contempt and cannot be known, or wrapped up in the veil of humility and will not be known!" I could not do justice on talking about the reason Christ came and was baptized by John but I think Christ's words in Matthew 3 will far exceed anything I could bring. So Matthew chapter 3 starting in verse 13 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.14) John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"15) But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented."
"And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." - 1:10-11
Immediately when Jesus came out of the water he looks up to the sky and sees the heavens torn open. They were not just opened but torn open. I am reminded of Christ glorious return when the heavens will roll up like a scroll. They will be torn open and we will see our majestic Lord ridding a white horse and coming with vengeance. What would it have been like, on that day, to see the heavens torn opened? What would my thoughts have been? Would I have fallen to my knees out of fear or would I have opened my mouth with shouts of praise because God is fulfilling His promise? If we look in Isaiah we find three places where the Lord talks about putting God's spirit on Jesus:
Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD."
Isaiah 42:1-4 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law."
Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."
Praise the Lord!! Oh, this is good news! This is great news! God almighty sent a savior but not just to be a good person; He sent Him with power. Can there even be thoughts about the possibility of Jesus not getting baptized? The importance of the baptism far exceeds just being dunked under the water. The heavens being torn open and the Father saying, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" is evidence that this is not something that can just be read through. Stopping to take a glance at what took place at the Jordan river is never in vain. The power of God is clearly seen by the spirit descending upon Jesus. Look carefully at the dove. Look carefully at the heavens being torn open and God almighty speaking for all to hear.
What would have been my thoughts. Would I have even recognized the importance of what was taking place before my eyes? Oh, that God would light up this scene for us to see clearly the depth of the riches that are found in this interaction between the Father and the Son. The giving of the spirit is not something that is cute. By God putting His spirit on His Son we are able to be healed. No Spirit, No Jesus.
"The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." -1:12-15
Can our imaginations even carry us into the wilderness? Can we even create a picture that would adequately tell what was taking place these forty days? After looking at this can we continue to say that I failed because the devil tempted me? What would it have been like to stumble across Jesus during this time? How would we have seen Him? Would our eyes have looked upon Him with compassion? What would it have been like to sit beside Him for one day? What would He have said to us? We know from Matthew that He battled the devil with the sword of the Spirit. We know that the devil took Him places. We know that Jesus never caved to the temptation. That tells me that I never have to cave. Christ has given us the same spirit when we were baptized with Him into His death. The devil can't hold me cause Christ blood covers me! I stand in the face of temptation and by the power of the Spirit I am not taken captive.
I leave with these thoughts.... I would have liked to see what it would have been like for Jesus to be ministered to by angles. I would have liked to been there to hear what they would have said to Him. I would have liked to see how they acted towards Him. What would their actions have been like? Can a mind even create a glimpse of what beauty would have taken place during this moment?
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Let us never stop repenting and believing in the gospel of our Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Searchings in Mark 1
Mark waste little time in identifying who the savior is. In verse one Jesus is instantly and appropriately labeled "the Son of God." Why is that important? Why is Mark so quick to let his readers know that Jesus is the Son of God? I don't know if I am smart enough to answer those questions but as I have been reading, the gospel accounts, I have noticed cases where Jesus says I have said such and such so that you may know that I have authority on earth (2:10). Why does it matter if the son of man has authority? Why does it matter if Jesus has authority on earth?
(Through this blog I will seek to ask questions but not necessarily answer them. Sometimes I just don't have a clue what the answer is and the thought just comes to me as i am writing. Sometimes I might have a slight inclination of what the answer may be but I leave it blank because I am not truly satisfied with my thoughts. Then other times I might know but I want the question to speak louder than my answer. 1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him." I desire that you learn from the greatest teacher, of the word, of all time and forever. I desire that You learn from Christ Himself!!!! What other teacher of the word could ever compare to our Lord Jesus?)
I want to direct our attention to verse 7, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie." How important is this? How important is it for John to direct attention to the Christ? I believe it is eternally important for the simple purpose of turning the attention to the Christ. John's hearers and followers considered him a prophet and Jesus answers with the fact that he is and much more. In Matthew 11:11 Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist." John exalts the Christ and humbles himself to the point of saying that He is not even worthy of doing a task that is most humiliating. He is not even worthy to stoop down and untie the Christ's sandals.
Notice how John directs his listeners to the fact the Christ is mightier than he His. He goes on to tell of Christ's power by saying, "I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Oh the mighty difference of being baptized with water and being baptized with the Holy Spirit: the blessed comforter who is "the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:14). It is so very kind of the Lord Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit! What a loving gift the Holy Spirit is too the world! His presence instantly makes the world a better place. Oh How great and mighty and powerful the Lord Jesus is! May we emulate John in always directing the attention to the Christ!
(Through this blog I will seek to ask questions but not necessarily answer them. Sometimes I just don't have a clue what the answer is and the thought just comes to me as i am writing. Sometimes I might have a slight inclination of what the answer may be but I leave it blank because I am not truly satisfied with my thoughts. Then other times I might know but I want the question to speak louder than my answer. 1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him." I desire that you learn from the greatest teacher, of the word, of all time and forever. I desire that You learn from Christ Himself!!!! What other teacher of the word could ever compare to our Lord Jesus?)
I want to direct our attention to verse 7, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie." How important is this? How important is it for John to direct attention to the Christ? I believe it is eternally important for the simple purpose of turning the attention to the Christ. John's hearers and followers considered him a prophet and Jesus answers with the fact that he is and much more. In Matthew 11:11 Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist." John exalts the Christ and humbles himself to the point of saying that He is not even worthy of doing a task that is most humiliating. He is not even worthy to stoop down and untie the Christ's sandals.
Notice how John directs his listeners to the fact the Christ is mightier than he His. He goes on to tell of Christ's power by saying, "I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Oh the mighty difference of being baptized with water and being baptized with the Holy Spirit: the blessed comforter who is "the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:14). It is so very kind of the Lord Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit! What a loving gift the Holy Spirit is too the world! His presence instantly makes the world a better place. Oh How great and mighty and powerful the Lord Jesus is! May we emulate John in always directing the attention to the Christ!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Searchings Through Mark Intro
I want to start a blog series called "Searchings Through Mark." Mark's writings are saturated with the gospel message (obviously). The stories told of Christ Jesus and His dealings with people seem to paint beautiful pictures of the kindness of God, to us through Jesus Christ. His redemptive work is clearly seen by the fulfillment of scripture and by proclaiming the gospel message. The people loved Him and the religious leaders despised His actions and consider Him to be a blasphemer. Jesus came to save sinners not those who considered themselves saints because of their observance and keeping of the law. Christ "Came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). This is clearly seen by Christ dealings with the common people. His interactions with the pharisees and the sadducees are anything but, what we would consider, kind. If we take a step back, though, and look at Christ's dealings with all people then we will clearly see that it is because of His kindness His words were so hard. If the person thinks themselves to be righteous then the only cure for them is to be humbled so the can see there need for a savior. Those who have a clear view of their need for a savior waste little time in running to His feet for cleansing. May God, through the gospel of Mark, open our eyes to see our need. May humility rain on us so that we can hear the sweetness of Christ words and feel the freedom of His healing touch. Most importantly, may illumination be given to what is of first importance to the believer's life. Word of God speak!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
REJOICE
Let us love the LORD together! Let us grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus! Let us seek to understand who He is and what He has done! We must understand the gospel! We must understand how it affects our life and how we can apply it in every part of our lives. Oh let us love the LORD Jesus! Oh let us know Him! Let us cast off our old man by the grace of God and let us put on Christ Jesus and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. Let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement by the blood of Christ Jesus. Since we have very great and precious promises and since we have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, LET US REJOICE!!! Oh let us REJOICE because Christ has come. Let us rejoice for what He has done! let us rejoice because Christ has done what we could not. Christ has reconciled us to God by being resurrected by the power of God. Christ defeated sin! He defeated death! He conquered my heart and brought me into newness of life by the same power that God used to raise Him from the dead. Let us Rejoice because Christ has imputed His righteousness to us, in us, and we now have peace with God, the creator of heaven and earth! Oh shout to the LORD all the earth! Lift your voices to your God for He has redeemed His beloved! He has given her a spotless robe! He has made us joint heirs with Christ Jesus and He sees no blemish; not one speck of impurity is found on us. Rejoice all you His people for Christ is the propitiation for our sins!! He is our love. He is our life; the very substance that keeps us alive!
Oh come let us adore Him! Oh come lets us Adore Him! Oh come let us ADORE HIM! He is the Christ! He is LORD! Every knee will bow, on the earth, under the earth, and in heaven, and every tongue will confess that JESUS is LORD!!!!! He is King of kings and He is the Lord of lords! None compares to His greatness. None can comprehend His goodness! Who has been in His presence that has not fallen to their face and cried out for mercy? Who can stand before God, in all His glory, with 6 wing creatures hiding their faces and covering their feet, without the mediator Christ Jesus? Who can utter a word of defense to the LORD most High? Who Can stand in His presence? Who can, truly, understand His forgiveness?
What is this awesome grace that is given to us that we should be called sons and daughters of the LIVING GOD???!!! What wondrous love is this that we should be called friends of God? What joy over flows in our lives when we can boldly go to the throne of God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, to the throne of grace, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Who can stretch out the heavens or tell the ocean that it can only go this far? Who can breath life into dry bones and turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh? Who can hang the earth on its axis and tell the moon when to shine? Who is it that has the power to give life and take it? Who has the sight to see all that space holds? Who can see the bottom of the ocean or the center of a planet? Who can hold all the waters of the earth in his hand? Who can call into existence the things that do not exist? Who can create everything that was ever created and have nothing be identical, down to the very last molecule that was ever created or will be created? Who can comprehend time? Who could ever touch the sun? Who could be a friend to the worst of sinners? Who could sacrifice their own son for a hate filled adulterous heathen that despises the very notion of forgiveness and love? Who can understand the heart of a person? Who can know what tomorrow will bring? Who can know their time for life? Who can know when death will take them? Who can see their future and what will become of them? Who can hold the earth in orbit, while painting the stars and galaxies, while breathing life into the womb? Who can cause light and darkness to separate? Who can tell the mountains to rise up and the valleys to sink low; who can tell the birds to fly and the deer to run and be obeyed? I will tell you who... It is Yahweh!!!!
It is the LORD God Almighty!!! It is Jehovah!! It is JESUS!!! Oh yes my brother and sister this is our God, the one true God, the ONLY living God, that can do all these things!!!! He never grows weary nor does He ever require sleep! He is before time, during time, and after time. He was the first and He will be the last. None can compare to His greatness! None can comprehend His Goodness! Their is no one like our GOD!!! There is no one like YAHWEH!!!!! He is Jehovah! He is "whatever my people need me to be"!!
Psa 118:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psa 139:17,18 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you!
Psa 121:3 He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will never slumber.
Psa 119:81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
Psa 135:13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
Psa 108:1-5 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Psa 79:8,9 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!
Psa 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
REJOICE FOR YOU ARE REDEEMED!!!!!!!
Oh come let us adore Him! Oh come lets us Adore Him! Oh come let us ADORE HIM! He is the Christ! He is LORD! Every knee will bow, on the earth, under the earth, and in heaven, and every tongue will confess that JESUS is LORD!!!!! He is King of kings and He is the Lord of lords! None compares to His greatness. None can comprehend His goodness! Who has been in His presence that has not fallen to their face and cried out for mercy? Who can stand before God, in all His glory, with 6 wing creatures hiding their faces and covering their feet, without the mediator Christ Jesus? Who can utter a word of defense to the LORD most High? Who Can stand in His presence? Who can, truly, understand His forgiveness?
What is this awesome grace that is given to us that we should be called sons and daughters of the LIVING GOD???!!! What wondrous love is this that we should be called friends of God? What joy over flows in our lives when we can boldly go to the throne of God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, to the throne of grace, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Who can stretch out the heavens or tell the ocean that it can only go this far? Who can breath life into dry bones and turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh? Who can hang the earth on its axis and tell the moon when to shine? Who is it that has the power to give life and take it? Who has the sight to see all that space holds? Who can see the bottom of the ocean or the center of a planet? Who can hold all the waters of the earth in his hand? Who can call into existence the things that do not exist? Who can create everything that was ever created and have nothing be identical, down to the very last molecule that was ever created or will be created? Who can comprehend time? Who could ever touch the sun? Who could be a friend to the worst of sinners? Who could sacrifice their own son for a hate filled adulterous heathen that despises the very notion of forgiveness and love? Who can understand the heart of a person? Who can know what tomorrow will bring? Who can know their time for life? Who can know when death will take them? Who can see their future and what will become of them? Who can hold the earth in orbit, while painting the stars and galaxies, while breathing life into the womb? Who can cause light and darkness to separate? Who can tell the mountains to rise up and the valleys to sink low; who can tell the birds to fly and the deer to run and be obeyed? I will tell you who... It is Yahweh!!!!
It is the LORD God Almighty!!! It is Jehovah!! It is JESUS!!! Oh yes my brother and sister this is our God, the one true God, the ONLY living God, that can do all these things!!!! He never grows weary nor does He ever require sleep! He is before time, during time, and after time. He was the first and He will be the last. None can compare to His greatness! None can comprehend His Goodness! Their is no one like our GOD!!! There is no one like YAHWEH!!!!! He is Jehovah! He is "whatever my people need me to be"!!
Psa 118:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psa 139:17,18 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you!
Psa 121:3 He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will never slumber.
Psa 119:81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
Psa 135:13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
Psa 108:1-5 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Psa 79:8,9 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!
Psa 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
REJOICE FOR YOU ARE REDEEMED!!!!!!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Theory of Love
What is this measure of love I find creeping up in my heart? A flood of emotions melt all thoughts of pain in the past. How is this possible and how can this be? All these emotions come so naturally. There is a scare and there is a warning for these emotions will give no mercy. If acted upon nothing short of destruction will over take my soul. These emotions will promise fulfillment and sanctification but only through deceit. How can I cave into these desires and nullify Gods peace. Get understanding and gain wisdom, these shall guide the feet of the righteous. All wisdom points me down the path of patience and grace. Patience in waiting on the Lord and grace for trusting that He will not withhold any good gift.
How shall I go against all that I believe and become a traitor to my very mind? Love so refreshing and growing so strong. A friendship lasting, raising to the everlasting throne. Questions flooding friends mouths and ears trying to figure out if what they see is real. A love so transparent that it draws all men to crave and desire more.
Do you destroy a friendship for a chance for love? Is it better to allow this friendship to grow into an irresistible grace. A power so real that it will paint a perfect picture of true love. A love flowing through every vein and pouring out of every smile. To allow myself to surrender to this love is not needful to bring about the obvious! This love conquers all true possessors of it's grace. All thoughts of past satisfactions become void of all attraction. The times love was thought to be found is now seen as obsolete. Forgiveness for past mistakes washes all shame and jealousy away.
How can one look at all the faults and failures and still look into my eyes with a longing, rather wanting. A wanting for my love, my embrace. What can compare to this love? What selfish want could ever satisfy? A connection so close to grabbing a hold of the very craving given before the foundation of the world. Should a love so great and so strong be rushed into like soldiers storming a castle? Should a love so precious and so fragile be handled like a baby? How shall a love like this be embraced? How can a man accept a gift that can never be repaid or compensated for?
How is it that a vessel that is stained can be seen as spotless? How can some one still love though all defilement's are laid out in the open to be seen. Can a man create a love as rich and perfect as this? Can a man change his very nature to hide all signs of imperfections?
Where does this love come form? Where does this love abide? Is it not with the one that is taken captive by it? Can this love be awakened by the feelings and emotions of the flesh? Is this Love awakened by the very voice that cries into the depth of the natural longing? Oh let this love not be rushed into nor let it be overlooked.
Why do so many allow their hearts to be overrun with lesser loves? Why did I let down the guard of my heart to wants that would rip it apart?
True love is conquering and captivating! True love is not rushed but embraced! True love is not shown by jealous actions leading to lack of trust and questing. True love is always wanting and longing for the conquering joy that over took them. True love learns how to please, gratify, and intoxicate the one that captured their soul with a love that is far more passionate than any love that can be created within oneself.
Oh, do not allow lesser and unworthy loves to take over your passion and mind. Only a conquering love is worthy to be embraced. Love that is patient, kind, peaceful, rejoicing in truth, enduring all things, always seeking to please others, is a love worth fighting for. This love that conquers every corner of the heart is a love that abides forever. This love will be embraced by all captive to it!
Get wisdom and get understanding for they will prove to be a light in darkness. Oh let this love not be rushed into nor let it be overlooked. Only let this capturing love be tested! Resist it, fight it, and make it prove itself to be true. Follow not reason nor intellect! Guard against it, learn about its motives and tactics, and understand its desires. Then and only then can you be freed from its wrath! Only through Patience will this love be seen as beautiful. Pursue love, yes, and seek it out, only do not be deceived by the emotions! For true love is only tested by patience! At the proper time and when the battle seems overwhelming, the conqueror will over run you and true love will pour in like never experienced. This love can not be explained with elegant words that charm the ears and captivate the emotions with such impact that it devastates the mind. Only do not be deceived by the lesser loves that promise an embrace that will be sweet as honey but upon guarding against them they are proven to be bitter, weak, and not worthy to be the captor of your heart. Remember, test the love that approaches the battle field. Only do not be deceived by the beauty of it's promises. Guard and never let down your banner and you must never allow a lesser love to capture your heart! Seek out true love and it will be found by patience and guarding.
Nothing would please lesser loves more than for us to believe their promise for a wedding feast only to leave you as an adulterous bride.
How shall I go against all that I believe and become a traitor to my very mind? Love so refreshing and growing so strong. A friendship lasting, raising to the everlasting throne. Questions flooding friends mouths and ears trying to figure out if what they see is real. A love so transparent that it draws all men to crave and desire more.
Do you destroy a friendship for a chance for love? Is it better to allow this friendship to grow into an irresistible grace. A power so real that it will paint a perfect picture of true love. A love flowing through every vein and pouring out of every smile. To allow myself to surrender to this love is not needful to bring about the obvious! This love conquers all true possessors of it's grace. All thoughts of past satisfactions become void of all attraction. The times love was thought to be found is now seen as obsolete. Forgiveness for past mistakes washes all shame and jealousy away.
How can one look at all the faults and failures and still look into my eyes with a longing, rather wanting. A wanting for my love, my embrace. What can compare to this love? What selfish want could ever satisfy? A connection so close to grabbing a hold of the very craving given before the foundation of the world. Should a love so great and so strong be rushed into like soldiers storming a castle? Should a love so precious and so fragile be handled like a baby? How shall a love like this be embraced? How can a man accept a gift that can never be repaid or compensated for?
How is it that a vessel that is stained can be seen as spotless? How can some one still love though all defilement's are laid out in the open to be seen. Can a man create a love as rich and perfect as this? Can a man change his very nature to hide all signs of imperfections?
Where does this love come form? Where does this love abide? Is it not with the one that is taken captive by it? Can this love be awakened by the feelings and emotions of the flesh? Is this Love awakened by the very voice that cries into the depth of the natural longing? Oh let this love not be rushed into nor let it be overlooked.
Why do so many allow their hearts to be overrun with lesser loves? Why did I let down the guard of my heart to wants that would rip it apart?
True love is conquering and captivating! True love is not rushed but embraced! True love is not shown by jealous actions leading to lack of trust and questing. True love is always wanting and longing for the conquering joy that over took them. True love learns how to please, gratify, and intoxicate the one that captured their soul with a love that is far more passionate than any love that can be created within oneself.
Oh, do not allow lesser and unworthy loves to take over your passion and mind. Only a conquering love is worthy to be embraced. Love that is patient, kind, peaceful, rejoicing in truth, enduring all things, always seeking to please others, is a love worth fighting for. This love that conquers every corner of the heart is a love that abides forever. This love will be embraced by all captive to it!
Get wisdom and get understanding for they will prove to be a light in darkness. Oh let this love not be rushed into nor let it be overlooked. Only let this capturing love be tested! Resist it, fight it, and make it prove itself to be true. Follow not reason nor intellect! Guard against it, learn about its motives and tactics, and understand its desires. Then and only then can you be freed from its wrath! Only through Patience will this love be seen as beautiful. Pursue love, yes, and seek it out, only do not be deceived by the emotions! For true love is only tested by patience! At the proper time and when the battle seems overwhelming, the conqueror will over run you and true love will pour in like never experienced. This love can not be explained with elegant words that charm the ears and captivate the emotions with such impact that it devastates the mind. Only do not be deceived by the lesser loves that promise an embrace that will be sweet as honey but upon guarding against them they are proven to be bitter, weak, and not worthy to be the captor of your heart. Remember, test the love that approaches the battle field. Only do not be deceived by the beauty of it's promises. Guard and never let down your banner and you must never allow a lesser love to capture your heart! Seek out true love and it will be found by patience and guarding.
Nothing would please lesser loves more than for us to believe their promise for a wedding feast only to leave you as an adulterous bride.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Election/Truth
Romans 13: 1-7 says to “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."
The Bible covers all matters of life with perfect clarity. There are sometimes when we need to seek deeper into the heart and mind of Christ to truly learn what He is saying. In Romans 2:6-8 Paul says that God "will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury." And you ask "what does this have to do with the election?" I beg of you to bear with me for a moment as I make my case! Paul picks this theme of "seeking" back up in chapter 3 verse 11 with, "no one understands; no one seeks for God." Paul starts off in chapter 2 with laying a foundation that if you are "by patience in well-doing" seek the things of God for Christ glory you will have eternal life. Paul then talks of the unrighteous man that does not OBEY the truth because he is self-seeking. So we can see through this that everyone is seeking something whether it be Christ glory or their own and by seeking their own they condemn themselves and gain, for their seeking, the wrath of the creator of the heavens and earth.
So how does Romans 13 relate to chapter 3 verse 11 where Paul says that no one understands and no one is seeking God? I think it relates in this way but first I must lay a foundation for what, I believe, goes into seeking. Upon seeking something you have to believe that which you are seeking is going to bring you into a deeper understanding of aspects of life. One cannot seek something, anything, without devoting oneself whole heartily into the truth of that which is being sought. It is utterly absurd to think that you are gaining deeper understanding by not devoting your life to that particular subject. You cannot understand how a painter paints without spending hours with the painter trying to discern and understand why every stroke is placed the way it is brushed onto the canvas. Yes it is true you can have some insight into a subject without having full knowledge but you cannot be intimately acquainted and truly understands the how and the why of the subject.
My attempt to tie all of these thoughts together may become futile but I pray I will be able to establish my point with enough clarity that you will be able to hear my heart on this matter.
The Government is God's servant for our good. We are to submit to their authority willingly and without grumbling or complaining. This is to honor Christ Jesus. It does not matter who won the election!! God had established this before He formed the world! He was not thrown off by this election and the outcome of who won. What He grieves over is the response of His people and how they look so unlike His Son. Christ desires us to grow in a deeper knowledge and understanding of who He is and what He desires for us to accomplish on earth as His ambassadors and I can promise you it is not arguing over an election that will be redone in 4 years.
So this is my problem with this whole matter that I am trying to address: We as disciples of Christ are making a spectacle out of the Lord we claim to love by claiming to be wise on matters that we are truly ignorant of. We have no understanding of the deeper matters of politics or the way the constitution is being forgotten and if a few of us actually have this understanding of political matters then by our anger or frustration we make void all the knowledge we have of the way things were established in America. This knowledge is made void because when we seek to educate others we come across as legalistic and ignorant of what is really is happening in "this life" or "today". Nobody likes someone to tell them why this is bad or why they need to change! This world needs leaders and Christ Jesus has made us a kingdom of priest so that we can lead this world in the direction that will benefit it the most. We must not just speak out but live out the direction we need to go. The head coach at TECH, Steve Mullins, used to tell us "your actions are speaking so loud I can't hear what you are saying." In Romans 15:1-3 Paul says' "We who are strong have an OBLIGATION to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself..."
I'm tired of people bashing the way this country is running things!! I'm tired of everyone pointing out everything that is wrong in our society! I'm tired of hate flowing through Christians veins because they want America to conform to what they view as correct and moral! I'm tired of people arguing over principle and what they see as truth! I'm tired of the separation that I see amongst believers!!! I'm tired of all this ignorance flowing through the body of Christ and being voiced by the wrong mouths!! If we do not have a clear understanding of what the Lord Jesus truly requires of His disciples then we have no business speaking for Him!!! In summary we do not have the mind of Christ!!!
When we look at this life and see it through the light of the Word we, as disciples, can find understanding in circumstances that are outside of our intimate control and thus be able to rest in the peace that Christ offers through His redemptive Blood. There is absolutely no reason to become anxious about the problems this world is displaying for we are not of this world. We are pilgrims just passing through and have no need in becoming entangled in the offers of this world. Now I want to make myself clear on this subject on the grounds of "in the world not of the world." What I am NOT saying is that we should just sit and be quite while the rest of mankind just works itself out but what I am saying is that our attitudes and ACTIONS should have no fleshly connections at all. We cannot allow our emotions to overtake us to the point of forgetting that we were cleansed from our former ways. We have to keep in mind that the people in this world do not care about how we feel or why we believe a certain way. If you can think back to when your own pride directed your life you will quickly realize that you are not very far removed from the ignorance that is in this world.
Remember no one understands because no one seeks after the Lord Jesus Christ who by His life and death has set us free from elementary thoughts and has given us grace to grow up into mature manhood where we are no longer tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine but we are grounded being held by the Lord Jesus as our eternal anchor. We are no longer trapped by the futile ways of thinking. We have been given the truth and it has set us free!
Proverbs speaks of seeking after wisdom and James says that if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask the Lord Jesus who gives to all freely and without partiality but they must ask in faith and if one is asking for wisdom then they are not asking in vain nor are they asking out of pride. No my friend they are seeking the truth and have come to realize it only comes from the TRUTH which plainly said is Christ Jesus. Proverbs 4:7, 8 says, "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you IF you embrace her." We must seek and never become complacent with the knowledge or understanding we have. We must never be satisfied with the limited insight we are given. "Blessed are those that HUNGER and THRUST for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied"-Matthew 5:6.
We must never allow ourselves to become so angry, frustrated, or upset at a situation that we forget that if it was not for the grace of the Lord Jesus then we would not even be able to think the way we are able to think. We would not even desire for America to be a better country. Our thoughts would be as foolish and ignorant as the people we talk to. Our speech would be so ignorant that we would not even recognize the person speaking. Better yet we would stand in amazement that these words are truly coming from our mouths. We cannot forget that it is the Lord that establishes kingdoms and it is the Lord that tears kingdoms down. He gives and takes away. Before I seek to heal this country I must seek to do everything in my power to help the Body of Christ that is in America, become healthy again. So healthy that each and every disciple will be able to impact their individual community for Christ in such a way that even if those around do not seek the Lord they will still become better people with a better understanding of why it is important to do this or that a certain way. I must be patient and do what honors the Lord. Proverbs 11:11, 12 says, "By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent." We must lead by our actions!!! There will be times to speak out but it must never be in a way that belittles someone and we must never allow ourselves to become frustrated to the point in a conversation that we forget to set a guard over our mouth. James 3:2 says, "... if anyone is does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body."
DO NOT allow your frustration to make you become ignorant. Only when the disciples of the Lord Jesus start living out the teachings of His word in humility, meekness, respect, and love will God allow this nation to quit destroying herself from the inside. Government is God's servant for our good. We cannot change what God has instituted but what we can change is the way we live our lives for the next three years so that all will see the light.
Shake and Shine,
Zach
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