In our human nature it becomes so easy to forget God's faithfulness, mercy, and goodness in our lives and resort to worldly methods of controlling our disappointments and hurt. It seems that in those low points of our lives when our prayer life, in our perspective, seems to go unnoticed that we begin to doubt our mighty God. So then the question begs, why doubt? Why do we tend to so easily forget. Why is it that like the Israelites who continually disobeyed the Lord and forgot what He did for them, we too wander through our cycles of disobedience and lose our tight grasp on Him.
Our fleshly bodies and desires are wicked, vile, and evil to the core. "These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts..." (Jeremiah 13:10). Apart from Christ's saving grace on our lives we would be incapable of Christian love and character. We would be continually living in our fleshly desires which would reap foul consequences. You see apart from Christ we have NOTHING good in us, yes absolutely nothing! "...there is no one who does good" (Psalm 14:1). As scripture clearly teaches, nobody does good, in fact "our" acts of righteousness are like filthy rags to the Lord.
When Christ saved us from eternity apart from Him, he provided us with the most amazing gift anyone could ever receive. Christ, God in human form, as Paul tells us in Philippians that He humbled Himself even to the point of death! If that doesn't show true mercy, grace, and love I don't know what does. It is our picture perfect, flawless example of love.
So when it comes to those seasons in our life when it seems like everything is unraveling, that we are facing the giants whether it be persecution or something else, we need to remember who we were without Christ and who He has made us through sanctification. We must cling tightly to Him...never letting go. He will never let you down in ANY season of your life. Although the pain that you endure may be incomprehensible and unbearable at times, the God who has been with you from the beginning is carrying you along the way. He is holding your hand, guiding your feet, and protecting you from all that rises against you. For if God is for you, who can be against you?
Why Doubt?? There is no reason to, because doubt does not come from the powers of light but of the powers of darkness. God does not bring us a spirit of fear or timidity. In those times of doubt heed 1 Corinthians instruction of taking your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. Give those fears and worry to the Lord and let the peace of God surpass your understanding.
"I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself." --Psalm 89:2
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Pic Site
I have made my picasa albums public...to check out more pics scroll down on the left and click on 'MY PHOTOS' :)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sea World Adventure :)
Today we went to sea world for an adventure :) we enjoyed seeing polar bears, penguins, sting rays, dolphins and of course SHAMU...sea world's claim to fame! All in all it was a very fun day! Some of the pics below:
Friday, May 25, 2007
Bring the Rain
Mercy Me recently put out a new song and I found the lyrics very encouraging. It reminds us that no matter what season of life we are in, whether it be the happiest or most heart-wrenching we are to bring glory to Him! Here are the lyrics:
BRING THE RAIN
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
BRING THE RAIN
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Saturday, May 19, 2007
What a Privilege
Last night at Compass TRUEnorth celebrated one year with our formal banquet!!! But more importantly we not only celebrated the amazing year we all had, but what God has done in and through the lives of the students there...it has been an incredible thing to watch. I remember coming back in October when there were about 35 students on a Sunday, and now look at us we are over 80!!! And what an encouragement it is to see the students who have given their lives to Christ this year, and the students in the ministry who are on FIRE for our Holy Heavenly Father! What better way to live then to glorify Him in all we do?!?!
Continue on faithful students and followers of our Lord, keep on running the race! "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20
I feel so privileged to serve God by serving each one of you there (and not to mention serve alongside some of the most amazing Christian men and women I have ever met), and I am so blessed to watch God grow each of you! I love you all...especially my girls! Here are a few pictures from last night:
Continue on faithful students and followers of our Lord, keep on running the race! "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20
I feel so privileged to serve God by serving each one of you there (and not to mention serve alongside some of the most amazing Christian men and women I have ever met), and I am so blessed to watch God grow each of you! I love you all...especially my girls! Here are a few pictures from last night:
Monday, May 14, 2007
Spiritual Warfare: Duty, Danger, and Guaranteed Triumph
To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and perserved in Jesus Christ: mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." -Jude 1-2
As human beings most are disgusted by war and even the idea of it. The loss of lives and the transforming capabilities put fear and uncertainity in many hearts. However, as MacArthur explains in his novel, "As detestable as warfare of any kind might be, there are causes for which NOT fighting is a far greater evil" (28).
Before we go on, we need to understand that the kind of fighting that Christ commands us as Christians to partake in is not one of flesh and blood against man. Scripture makes it very clear that fighting physically should not be a tool to advance the kingdom of Christ. We see Jesus' reminder to us with his very own disciple Peter in Matthew 26 where He reminded him that "those who take the sword will perish by the sword". And than on the other extreme, we can't go as far to say that the use of force in self defense, or acting lawfully is wrong biblically. Confused...what is God really saying you might ask??
As John notes, "Paul makes this clear in 2 Corinthians 10:5, where he spells out the ultimate objective for the truth war, ' casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ'" (32).
Most people, in fact most Christians reaction to standing up for the truth, even doctrinal truth, is "lets not bicker". But although this may sound loving and modest, we need to realize that people who aren't speaking or living by and in the truth are in violation of "the way of Jesus" as MacArthur puts it. John 6:63 reminds us that, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, they are life!" Our goal is to pursue righteousness, however look at the reminder of Paul to us all that as although Israel was "pursuing righteousness", they were looking for it in all the wrong places, and ultimately, they were condemned. Their flaw? Their belifes not their actions.
We need to realize, especially as Christians that it is SOOOO cruel to think that "what people belive really doesn't matter as long as they are good". That is anything but what God's Word has to say!!! Look at Brian McLaren, leader of the emergent church movement, and you are quick to see that they agree that as long as someone claims to be a believer in Jesus, they are saved. Is that what our salvation is based on?? Absolutely not. "Biblical orthodoxy encompasses orthopaxy. Both right doctrine and right living are absolutely essential and totally inseparable for the true child of God. That is the consistent teaching of Christ Himself" (MacArthur 37). James 2:26 supports this thought.
One of the major battles being fought in the church today is the TRUTH of God's word. But what is at stake?? The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Countless Christians throughout history have died for the gospel, it was worth it for them...is it worth it for you to stand up and fight? Paul called the church in 1 Timothy, "the pillar and ground of truth". Therefore as MacArthur reminds us, we have a duty to use the sword of God's word against every human speculation and every worldly hypothesis raised up against the knowledge of God. "The church must pursue the fight and if church leaders are not setting the example, they are not being faithful to their calling" (40).
Why is Apostasy a threat and what is it?? In Satan's power and plan his goal is to employ and dupe as many agents as he can into his way. He uses not only demons and unbelievers as we well know, but his most effective tool is that of the church member, people who are associated with the truth, or even worse, those who proclaim it...angels of light. It happened during Pauls time as we see in Acts 20:29-31 and it is happening today, don't be foolish to think that it doesn't. There are people who claim to be "Christians" and who are knowledgeable in the word who aren't. Jude talks about these people throughout his epistle in Jude 4 he calls these men, "ungodly as they turned the grace of God into lewdness".
Apostasy, "the technical name for serious, soul-destroying error that arises form within the church...it comes from 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and is translated 'falling away'" (43). So MacArthur asks us as I am sure you have asked yourself, can a genuine Christian fall away from the faith and become an apostate? NO! Scripture is clear that nobody can snatch you from the Living God, but there are many as 1 John talks about who, 'were not of us'. There are a lot of apostate pepole, belive it you must! It isn't new, it has been happening since Jude's time and it will continue to persist until the end of times. John MacArthur explains, "they might indentify with a church and therefore become an active and integral part of the earthly Christian community. Sometimes they even become leaders in a church. But they never really belive the truth with an undivided heart" (44). So an apostate is actually a "defector of the truth".
You need to realize that although few apostates are outspoken when it comes to their lies, most are very subtle in fact some don't even know that thhey are apostates, they are like wolves in sheeps clothing and they are driven by evil and self-aggrandizing motives including pride, rebellion, lust, and greed (2 Peter 2:10-19). Matthew 13 talks about the parable of the sower and the seeds, apostates can be like the seeds sprouting in the weedy or shallow soil ,they never take root! Don't let temporary appaearnce of spiritual health fool you!
Apostasy can have a huge effect not only on the people who are in contact with the apostate, but with entire congregations. They breed confusion, dissension, and insincerity and bring many people into the fold. They spread like leaven to the whole loaf and infect missionary agencies, seminaries, denominations, and churches. It is like a parasite effecting our corporate testimony. This has happened countelss times throughout church history with the mormons to the jehovah's witnesses.
Apostasy poses many dangers to the evangelical movement of today and this is because most Christians just dont care about the prevalence of falsehood and they don't take the fight against apostasy and for the truth seriously. The evangelical movement of today isn't "evangelical" for the most part. Most people think that our main duty is just to keep up with the fads and worldy culture to gain the approval of society. That strategy finds much support among the immature, weak, cowardly, and ignorant, and will never be truly effective. We are called to be different then the world. John 15:18-19, reminds us that God chose us out of thisi world and the world will hate us just like it hated him before us.
Something was happening in Judes day at the church and it provoked his message to be harsh yet true, and to remind those that were truly Christians, who were "sanctified and called by God" to beware of the warnings that he laid out. We must remember that our enemy is not with flesh and blood but with cosmic warfare, "engaging in armies of hel, which are arrayed against Christ" (49)...scary but true!
Remember that no true Christian has ever or will ever be the casualty in this Truth War because we are loved and kept secure by a Holy God. His word is a formidable weapon as MacArthur reminds us and that should motivate us to get into the battle and fight for the truth as we earnestly contest for the faith. We are promised that God will be victorous and the final triumph is guaranteed. "Because the One who is truth incarnate--the One whose honor and glory are therefore on the line--is both our Commander and Protector" (51).
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!
As human beings most are disgusted by war and even the idea of it. The loss of lives and the transforming capabilities put fear and uncertainity in many hearts. However, as MacArthur explains in his novel, "As detestable as warfare of any kind might be, there are causes for which NOT fighting is a far greater evil" (28).
Before we go on, we need to understand that the kind of fighting that Christ commands us as Christians to partake in is not one of flesh and blood against man. Scripture makes it very clear that fighting physically should not be a tool to advance the kingdom of Christ. We see Jesus' reminder to us with his very own disciple Peter in Matthew 26 where He reminded him that "those who take the sword will perish by the sword". And than on the other extreme, we can't go as far to say that the use of force in self defense, or acting lawfully is wrong biblically. Confused...what is God really saying you might ask??
As John notes, "Paul makes this clear in 2 Corinthians 10:5, where he spells out the ultimate objective for the truth war, ' casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ'" (32).
Most people, in fact most Christians reaction to standing up for the truth, even doctrinal truth, is "lets not bicker". But although this may sound loving and modest, we need to realize that people who aren't speaking or living by and in the truth are in violation of "the way of Jesus" as MacArthur puts it. John 6:63 reminds us that, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, they are life!" Our goal is to pursue righteousness, however look at the reminder of Paul to us all that as although Israel was "pursuing righteousness", they were looking for it in all the wrong places, and ultimately, they were condemned. Their flaw? Their belifes not their actions.
We need to realize, especially as Christians that it is SOOOO cruel to think that "what people belive really doesn't matter as long as they are good". That is anything but what God's Word has to say!!! Look at Brian McLaren, leader of the emergent church movement, and you are quick to see that they agree that as long as someone claims to be a believer in Jesus, they are saved. Is that what our salvation is based on?? Absolutely not. "Biblical orthodoxy encompasses orthopaxy. Both right doctrine and right living are absolutely essential and totally inseparable for the true child of God. That is the consistent teaching of Christ Himself" (MacArthur 37). James 2:26 supports this thought.
One of the major battles being fought in the church today is the TRUTH of God's word. But what is at stake?? The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Countless Christians throughout history have died for the gospel, it was worth it for them...is it worth it for you to stand up and fight? Paul called the church in 1 Timothy, "the pillar and ground of truth". Therefore as MacArthur reminds us, we have a duty to use the sword of God's word against every human speculation and every worldly hypothesis raised up against the knowledge of God. "The church must pursue the fight and if church leaders are not setting the example, they are not being faithful to their calling" (40).
Why is Apostasy a threat and what is it?? In Satan's power and plan his goal is to employ and dupe as many agents as he can into his way. He uses not only demons and unbelievers as we well know, but his most effective tool is that of the church member, people who are associated with the truth, or even worse, those who proclaim it...angels of light. It happened during Pauls time as we see in Acts 20:29-31 and it is happening today, don't be foolish to think that it doesn't. There are people who claim to be "Christians" and who are knowledgeable in the word who aren't. Jude talks about these people throughout his epistle in Jude 4 he calls these men, "ungodly as they turned the grace of God into lewdness".
Apostasy, "the technical name for serious, soul-destroying error that arises form within the church...it comes from 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and is translated 'falling away'" (43). So MacArthur asks us as I am sure you have asked yourself, can a genuine Christian fall away from the faith and become an apostate? NO! Scripture is clear that nobody can snatch you from the Living God, but there are many as 1 John talks about who, 'were not of us'. There are a lot of apostate pepole, belive it you must! It isn't new, it has been happening since Jude's time and it will continue to persist until the end of times. John MacArthur explains, "they might indentify with a church and therefore become an active and integral part of the earthly Christian community. Sometimes they even become leaders in a church. But they never really belive the truth with an undivided heart" (44). So an apostate is actually a "defector of the truth".
You need to realize that although few apostates are outspoken when it comes to their lies, most are very subtle in fact some don't even know that thhey are apostates, they are like wolves in sheeps clothing and they are driven by evil and self-aggrandizing motives including pride, rebellion, lust, and greed (2 Peter 2:10-19). Matthew 13 talks about the parable of the sower and the seeds, apostates can be like the seeds sprouting in the weedy or shallow soil ,they never take root! Don't let temporary appaearnce of spiritual health fool you!
Apostasy can have a huge effect not only on the people who are in contact with the apostate, but with entire congregations. They breed confusion, dissension, and insincerity and bring many people into the fold. They spread like leaven to the whole loaf and infect missionary agencies, seminaries, denominations, and churches. It is like a parasite effecting our corporate testimony. This has happened countelss times throughout church history with the mormons to the jehovah's witnesses.
Apostasy poses many dangers to the evangelical movement of today and this is because most Christians just dont care about the prevalence of falsehood and they don't take the fight against apostasy and for the truth seriously. The evangelical movement of today isn't "evangelical" for the most part. Most people think that our main duty is just to keep up with the fads and worldy culture to gain the approval of society. That strategy finds much support among the immature, weak, cowardly, and ignorant, and will never be truly effective. We are called to be different then the world. John 15:18-19, reminds us that God chose us out of thisi world and the world will hate us just like it hated him before us.
Something was happening in Judes day at the church and it provoked his message to be harsh yet true, and to remind those that were truly Christians, who were "sanctified and called by God" to beware of the warnings that he laid out. We must remember that our enemy is not with flesh and blood but with cosmic warfare, "engaging in armies of hel, which are arrayed against Christ" (49)...scary but true!
Remember that no true Christian has ever or will ever be the casualty in this Truth War because we are loved and kept secure by a Holy God. His word is a formidable weapon as MacArthur reminds us and that should motivate us to get into the battle and fight for the truth as we earnestly contest for the faith. We are promised that God will be victorous and the final triumph is guaranteed. "Because the One who is truth incarnate--the One whose honor and glory are therefore on the line--is both our Commander and Protector" (51).
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Can Truth Survive In A Postmodern Society?
I have begun reading John MacArthur's new book The Truth War. So far MacArthur has done an eloquent job of laying out God's word and His view on the saddening crisis we see in the church today.
Chapter 1- Can Truth Survive in a Postmodern Society?
"Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked.'" - John 18:37-38
Pilate rose, as MacArthur notes, an extremely vital question one that society as a whole searches for today...WHAT IS TRUTH? We have a need for truth. And the necessity of absolute truth is right next to that.
What is truth? The Bible teaches that truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God....it is the self expression of God. God is truth! You see truth is the way things are, it is ontological. Not only does God clarify truth throughout scripture (John 17:17, 1 Peter 1:230, but He explains to us that even nature will reveal the truth of Himself...they will in essence declare Him glory (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20).
MacArthur goes onto explain that "truth means NOTHING apart from God. Truth cannot be adequately explained, recognized, understood, or defined without God as the source" (4). If you venture to find truth in anything else or by your own means you are destined for a dead-end, for failure (Romans 1:21-22). Philosophers have trued countless times to define truth and knowledge and have found themselves in the unkown and in unbearable confusion, some of which were the well known John Locke or even Plato.
Lately we have seen an ever increased interest in "finding" the truth by not only religions, but by scientists, philosophers, and the human population in general.
Before we talk about postmodernism we must understand modernism first. Modernity was "characterized by the belief that truth exists and that the scientific method is the only reliable way to determine that truth" (9). People such as Darwin and the idea of Darwinism fall into this category. Although modernism was defeated soon after it had taken a hold of much of society, new ways of thinking that can be connected to these originally "modern" ideas have surfaced and are deemed as "postmodernism".
If you have been paying any attention to the world in which we live you have noticed the increased idea of "postmodernism" infiltrating different realms of society from art to religion. Postmodernism "suggest that if objective truth exists, it cannot be known objectively or with any degree of certainity...the subjectivity of the human mind makes knowledge of objective truth impossible" (11).
'Well what are postmodernists' you might ask? "Postmodernists are generally suspicious of rational and logical forms. They especially do not like to discuss truth in plain propositional terms" (13). Do you see a problem with that? If the Bible claims to be the truth in its entirety, anyone who claims to be a postmodernist who follows Christ is really contridicting their own beliefs.
Now we could spend hours upon hours discussing postmodernism, but with the brief intro above (for more info read The Truth War), we can see why this view has become widely accepted and very popular today. It is much like relativism in which your way is great for you and my way is great for me. The sad thing is that these ideas are infiltrating the church!
The Emerging Church movement is a culprit in this new way of faith. The emerging church "has made a self-conscious effort to make Christianity momre suitable to a postmodern culture. Emerging Christians are determined to adapt the Christian faith, the structure of the church, the language of faith, and even the gospel message itself to the ideas and rhetoric of postmodernism" (17). They re-tool messages and modes of communication. In fact many of them even shun the idea that we need to know what is "right".
This is not the first time the war for truth has arisen in the church. It has happened in every generation of church history and battles over the church even were going on in biblical times. It is our duty to pass on the truth to the upcoming generations as MacArthur explains (1 Timothy 6:20-21), "we are under a sacred obligation to join the battle and contend for the faith" (23). Many however willfully deny the fact that this is occuring today...they turn a deaf ear or a blind eye.
We as Christians cannot imitate the world and her postmodern culture in order to reach them. Throughout scripture we are reminded not to conform to this world. As Christians we are ambassadors carrying the good news in a world of darkness (Isaiah 9:2), but we are also soldiers that are in charge of casting out lies and deception that spill forth from the evil forces (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and 2 Timothy 2:3-4). But we must remember that our battle is not waged on the flesh, in fact it is not of this world. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that the powers we fight against are much greater!
Jude's epistle was written to Christians, those that were passionate followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, in hopes that they would prayerfully defend the truth, "reaching out to sinners with tryth even as we make every effort to destroy the lies and other evil that hold them in deadly bondage" (26).
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that one point. - Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Chapter 1- Can Truth Survive in a Postmodern Society?
"Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked.'" - John 18:37-38
Pilate rose, as MacArthur notes, an extremely vital question one that society as a whole searches for today...WHAT IS TRUTH? We have a need for truth. And the necessity of absolute truth is right next to that.
What is truth? The Bible teaches that truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God....it is the self expression of God. God is truth! You see truth is the way things are, it is ontological. Not only does God clarify truth throughout scripture (John 17:17, 1 Peter 1:230, but He explains to us that even nature will reveal the truth of Himself...they will in essence declare Him glory (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20).
MacArthur goes onto explain that "truth means NOTHING apart from God. Truth cannot be adequately explained, recognized, understood, or defined without God as the source" (4). If you venture to find truth in anything else or by your own means you are destined for a dead-end, for failure (Romans 1:21-22). Philosophers have trued countless times to define truth and knowledge and have found themselves in the unkown and in unbearable confusion, some of which were the well known John Locke or even Plato.
Lately we have seen an ever increased interest in "finding" the truth by not only religions, but by scientists, philosophers, and the human population in general.
Before we talk about postmodernism we must understand modernism first. Modernity was "characterized by the belief that truth exists and that the scientific method is the only reliable way to determine that truth" (9). People such as Darwin and the idea of Darwinism fall into this category. Although modernism was defeated soon after it had taken a hold of much of society, new ways of thinking that can be connected to these originally "modern" ideas have surfaced and are deemed as "postmodernism".
If you have been paying any attention to the world in which we live you have noticed the increased idea of "postmodernism" infiltrating different realms of society from art to religion. Postmodernism "suggest that if objective truth exists, it cannot be known objectively or with any degree of certainity...the subjectivity of the human mind makes knowledge of objective truth impossible" (11).
'Well what are postmodernists' you might ask? "Postmodernists are generally suspicious of rational and logical forms. They especially do not like to discuss truth in plain propositional terms" (13). Do you see a problem with that? If the Bible claims to be the truth in its entirety, anyone who claims to be a postmodernist who follows Christ is really contridicting their own beliefs.
Now we could spend hours upon hours discussing postmodernism, but with the brief intro above (for more info read The Truth War), we can see why this view has become widely accepted and very popular today. It is much like relativism in which your way is great for you and my way is great for me. The sad thing is that these ideas are infiltrating the church!
The Emerging Church movement is a culprit in this new way of faith. The emerging church "has made a self-conscious effort to make Christianity momre suitable to a postmodern culture. Emerging Christians are determined to adapt the Christian faith, the structure of the church, the language of faith, and even the gospel message itself to the ideas and rhetoric of postmodernism" (17). They re-tool messages and modes of communication. In fact many of them even shun the idea that we need to know what is "right".
This is not the first time the war for truth has arisen in the church. It has happened in every generation of church history and battles over the church even were going on in biblical times. It is our duty to pass on the truth to the upcoming generations as MacArthur explains (1 Timothy 6:20-21), "we are under a sacred obligation to join the battle and contend for the faith" (23). Many however willfully deny the fact that this is occuring today...they turn a deaf ear or a blind eye.
We as Christians cannot imitate the world and her postmodern culture in order to reach them. Throughout scripture we are reminded not to conform to this world. As Christians we are ambassadors carrying the good news in a world of darkness (Isaiah 9:2), but we are also soldiers that are in charge of casting out lies and deception that spill forth from the evil forces (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and 2 Timothy 2:3-4). But we must remember that our battle is not waged on the flesh, in fact it is not of this world. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that the powers we fight against are much greater!
Jude's epistle was written to Christians, those that were passionate followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, in hopes that they would prayerfully defend the truth, "reaching out to sinners with tryth even as we make every effort to destroy the lies and other evil that hold them in deadly bondage" (26).
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that one point. - Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Sunday, May 06, 2007
A Living Sacrifice
When you hear the word sacrifice your mind automatically goes back to the Old Testament picture of someone like Issac sacrificing a lamb offering or maybe it reminds you of the thought of giving something up willingly without an expectation of a return.
The bible clearly states in Romans 12:1-2 that we are to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices":
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritualact of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. "
But what does this really mean? First you must understand that God's expectations of sacrifice are reasonable and plausible but not only that, that these sacrifices bring glory and honor due His name. Well lets examine some basic principles first...
1. What is a sacrifice? A sacrifice by definition is basically a "no strings attached" offering
2. A sacrifice is altered... meaning that it is changed, for example in offering a goat, it was consummed with fire...or in offering your life as a sacrifice you will be transformed
3. A sacrifice has to be the best! Leviticus teaches us that it had to be without blemish and we learned from Cain's example in Genesis that God expects our firstfruits...the best!
4. A sacrifice has to be given willingly. We must be willing to give our lives as sacrifices to the Lord despite what the cost might be.
Now that we have that covered, what does it mean when Paul says, "this is your spiritual act of worship"?? Well, Hebrews 13:15, tells us to always offer praise, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." Does that mean that your worship is sacrifice?? Absolutely...genuine God glorifying worship is. Also we are to serve "Your gifts to me are a sweet smelling sacrifice that pleases God well. " (Philippians 4:18).
"Sacrifice is always costly and painful. God didn't send me here this morning to beg you to give Him a teeny weeny little sacrifice if you feel like it. I am here to declare unto you that God's minimum expectation is that you willingly give of yourself to Him as a living sacrifice. Don't insult Him with anything less. "
-Eugene Harder
Now the tough part to deal with, we can't conform to this world. This idea of "fitting in" has to go! We aren't here to please man or ourselves...we are here to please the Living God. You have to see what pleases the Lord in his Word and do that no matter what the cost to your reputation or name. Ephesians 5:10 says, "find out what pleases the Lord".
And the exciting part of being a living sacrifice comes in the transformation of our minds! Proverbs 1:7 says, "How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! " God will begin to change you, to sanctify you more and more into His image...and what is the most exciting of it all? YOU WILL BE PLEASING YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! May He give you all the strength to be a sacrifice to Him this week and forevermore.
(Adapted from New Hope Studies)
The bible clearly states in Romans 12:1-2 that we are to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices":
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritualact of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. "
But what does this really mean? First you must understand that God's expectations of sacrifice are reasonable and plausible but not only that, that these sacrifices bring glory and honor due His name. Well lets examine some basic principles first...
1. What is a sacrifice? A sacrifice by definition is basically a "no strings attached" offering
2. A sacrifice is altered... meaning that it is changed, for example in offering a goat, it was consummed with fire...or in offering your life as a sacrifice you will be transformed
3. A sacrifice has to be the best! Leviticus teaches us that it had to be without blemish and we learned from Cain's example in Genesis that God expects our firstfruits...the best!
4. A sacrifice has to be given willingly. We must be willing to give our lives as sacrifices to the Lord despite what the cost might be.
Now that we have that covered, what does it mean when Paul says, "this is your spiritual act of worship"?? Well, Hebrews 13:15, tells us to always offer praise, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." Does that mean that your worship is sacrifice?? Absolutely...genuine God glorifying worship is. Also we are to serve "Your gifts to me are a sweet smelling sacrifice that pleases God well. " (Philippians 4:18).
"Sacrifice is always costly and painful. God didn't send me here this morning to beg you to give Him a teeny weeny little sacrifice if you feel like it. I am here to declare unto you that God's minimum expectation is that you willingly give of yourself to Him as a living sacrifice. Don't insult Him with anything less. "
-Eugene Harder
Now the tough part to deal with, we can't conform to this world. This idea of "fitting in" has to go! We aren't here to please man or ourselves...we are here to please the Living God. You have to see what pleases the Lord in his Word and do that no matter what the cost to your reputation or name. Ephesians 5:10 says, "find out what pleases the Lord".
And the exciting part of being a living sacrifice comes in the transformation of our minds! Proverbs 1:7 says, "How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! " God will begin to change you, to sanctify you more and more into His image...and what is the most exciting of it all? YOU WILL BE PLEASING YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! May He give you all the strength to be a sacrifice to Him this week and forevermore.
(Adapted from New Hope Studies)
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