Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
"In the beginning, God . . ."
It is simply amazing how great our God is. God is not limited by time. He was here from before the creation of the world and history. God created history. Think about this: all that is around us, including the things made from made, were put here by God. Man-made things are only a bunch of God-made thing put together. We would have nothing if God was not there first. Isn't He simply amazing. Bask in our holy, awesome, glorious, omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent, and overwhelmingly wonderful God. Amen.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Our Limitless God
2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Isn't it amazing how limitless God is? Even time does not limit God as it does us. His patience with us is great. And when we get impatient with His timing He just sits back and continues to be patient. We work around limitations (seconds, minutes, hours, days, years) but God is limitless.
I will let Calvin finish this blog off. Read his words of encouragement.
"He now turns to speak to the godly; and he reminds them that when the coming of Christ is the subject, they were to raise upwards their eyes, for by so doing, they would not limit, by their unreasonable wishes, the time appointed by the Lord. For waiting seems very long on this account, because we have our eyes fixed on the shortness of the present life, and we also increase weariness by computing days, hours, and minutes. But when the eternity of God's kingdom comes to our minds, many ages vanish away like so many moments.
"This then is what the Apostle calls our attention to, so that we may know that the day of resurrection does not depend on the present flow of time, but on the hidden purpose of God, as though he had said, 'Men wish to anticipate God for this reason, because they measure time according to the judgment of their own flesh; and they are by nature inclined to impatience, so that celerity is even delay to them: do ye then ascend in your minds to heaven, and thus time will be to you neither long nor short.'"
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Isn't it amazing how limitless God is? Even time does not limit God as it does us. His patience with us is great. And when we get impatient with His timing He just sits back and continues to be patient. We work around limitations (seconds, minutes, hours, days, years) but God is limitless.
I will let Calvin finish this blog off. Read his words of encouragement.
"He now turns to speak to the godly; and he reminds them that when the coming of Christ is the subject, they were to raise upwards their eyes, for by so doing, they would not limit, by their unreasonable wishes, the time appointed by the Lord. For waiting seems very long on this account, because we have our eyes fixed on the shortness of the present life, and we also increase weariness by computing days, hours, and minutes. But when the eternity of God's kingdom comes to our minds, many ages vanish away like so many moments.
"This then is what the Apostle calls our attention to, so that we may know that the day of resurrection does not depend on the present flow of time, but on the hidden purpose of God, as though he had said, 'Men wish to anticipate God for this reason, because they measure time according to the judgment of their own flesh; and they are by nature inclined to impatience, so that celerity is even delay to them: do ye then ascend in your minds to heaven, and thus time will be to you neither long nor short.'"
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Charles Spurgeon & Revival Without Prayer is No Revival
Christ commands us to pray in his name and the Father will give us whatever we ask. Of course, this is only if what we ask is in His will. But many times we assume that praying here and there throughout the day is good enough because Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. But in actuality Paul is not suggesting that the little prayers throughout the day are the only way to pray.
When Christ chose the twelve apostles he did not pray here and there throughout the day. He spent the entire night praying for God's wisdom and will. Paul constantly talks about how much he is praying for the different churches he planted.
Here's the kicker, though. Many of us in the church almost just expect God to work and do mighty things in and through our churches without spending significant times in prayer. And I'm very guilty of this. As a pastor you would think that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each day in fervent prayer for those in my church and for God to move mightily here. Wrong. Prayer seems to be the last thing on my mind. And I am very ashamed of that fact. If we want to see our churches experience true revival then we must pray.
Charles Spurgeon had the right idea. He desired revival in his church and he made it very plan in his prayers.
"And now, Oh Lord God of Hosts, hear our ardent appeal to Thy throne. 'Turn us again.' Lighten our path with the guidance of Thine eye: cheer our hearts with the smiles of Thy face. O God of armies, let every regiment and rank of Thy militant Church be of perfect heart, undivided in Thy service. Let great grace rest upon all thy children. Let great fear come upon all the people. Let many reluctant hearts be turned to the Lord. Let there now be times of refreshing from Thy presence. To Thine own name hall be all the glory: 'O Thou that are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey'" (Spurgeon, "One Antidote for Many Ills" 2:742).
When Christ chose the twelve apostles he did not pray here and there throughout the day. He spent the entire night praying for God's wisdom and will. Paul constantly talks about how much he is praying for the different churches he planted.
Here's the kicker, though. Many of us in the church almost just expect God to work and do mighty things in and through our churches without spending significant times in prayer. And I'm very guilty of this. As a pastor you would think that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each day in fervent prayer for those in my church and for God to move mightily here. Wrong. Prayer seems to be the last thing on my mind. And I am very ashamed of that fact. If we want to see our churches experience true revival then we must pray.
Charles Spurgeon had the right idea. He desired revival in his church and he made it very plan in his prayers.
"And now, Oh Lord God of Hosts, hear our ardent appeal to Thy throne. 'Turn us again.' Lighten our path with the guidance of Thine eye: cheer our hearts with the smiles of Thy face. O God of armies, let every regiment and rank of Thy militant Church be of perfect heart, undivided in Thy service. Let great grace rest upon all thy children. Let great fear come upon all the people. Let many reluctant hearts be turned to the Lord. Let there now be times of refreshing from Thy presence. To Thine own name hall be all the glory: 'O Thou that are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey'" (Spurgeon, "One Antidote for Many Ills" 2:742).
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