How Responsible Are We When the World Rejects Our Message?

I found encouragement this morning with these words.  It is very hard to remember that the world does not reject us as much as it rejects Christ.  I hope you find the same.

His Grace is Sufficient

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

^"And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness."

This verse has such a rich, deep, and profound meaning for the elect today.  Abram believed God's promises and God counted him righteous not because he was circumcised, not because he earned it, and not because he deserved it.  Abram was righteous because God proclaimed him so.  God bestowed His grace upon his servant and he was justified because of it.

After I spoke on this passage last Sunday morning a very trusted friend gave me a definition of grace.  Grace can be literally defined as God's ability.  When God tells us that His grace is sufficient for us He is telling us that His ability is sufficient no matter the circumstance.  I wholeheartedly agree, but I believe there is a deeper understanding to His grace.

My children are not perfect.  In fact, they tend to drive their mother and I crazy at times.  When they disobey, the consequence for their actions is losing a specific privilege.  But there are times when we decide to give grace.  (My son has even been known to ask for grace when he has gotten in trouble.)  We do this purposely to teach him the truth of God's grace.  When we give grace to our children it isn't because they deserve it or earned it.  We give grace because we love our children and desire to teach them about God's character.

God gives us His grace not because we deserve it, but because He is God, loves His children, and places His grace upon whom he wishes.  What was true for Abram thousands of years ago is still true today for the children of God.  His grace is sufficient for me.  And praise God I don't have to earn it.

Final Inheritance

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) ^"13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

We have all had one of those days.  A day in which nothing goes right, everything irritates you, and you just want to find a hole and hide.  Not only can this world bring us trouble but more often our own sinfulness brings us down to despair. 

When I look at my own life intimately I find that I have a lot to work on.  I get caught up in my own sinfulness and my frustration increases to the point that I want to throw up my hands and give up.  But it is comforting to know that I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.  Of course, this does not mean that I've reached the pinnacle of spirituality and righteousness.  On the contrary, the Spirit is just the down payment of my inheritance.  He is only the first installment of the total inheritance which I will receive at the throne of the Father.

I have to remind myself that this world is temporary.  My sinfulness is only temporary.  But until I receive the final inheritance in full I will have to trust in the Holy Spirit and my Savior to get me through each day.  This world will end and His children will come into their inheritance.  What a wonderful day that will be.

To His Glory!

New Year's Resolutions in the New Testament

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) ^"1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

This may be sacrilegious, but with the new year approaching and hoards of people making resolutions that they won't live up to, I thought it relevant to preach this Sunday on resolutions that Paul gives to the church in Ephesus.  Paul makes it very clear in Ephesians 4:17-32 that the life we as believers are to live is one that is focused on our new life in Christ.  We are to put away the old life which was lived in futility or uselessness.  We lived our lives the way we wanted with no real purpose other than satisfying our own sinful desires.  Our new self is focused not on uselessness, but on Christ.

In other words, we are to practice what we preach.  If we claim to love and be a child of God, a true Christian, then our actions will follow our words.  I have witnessed countless occasions where people will claim to be believers with their mouth and two sentences later will be gossiping or slandering or tearing down an individual.  Yep, that's showing everyone how righteous and holy you have become in Christ.  (That was sarcasm for those of you in Rio Linda.) 

The body of Christ, his children, are to imitate their Father.  Our Father (Isaiah 9:6) made the ultimate sacrifices of humbling himself by coming to this earth as a human and giving up his life so that sinful humans like myself can call him Father.  Am I willing to sacrifice my life if that is the will of the Father?

Do you want the people around you to know that you are a child of God?  Then act like one.

When, Father? When?

Father, how easily we as your people get caught up in the now.  We become distracted by personal feelings, desire to please others, desire to avoid conflict, and a willingness to keep the peace no matter the cost.  When is the right time to stand?  When do we, your chosen people, have the strength, desire, and kahunas to stand for what is right?  We speak out of both sides of our mouth.  One side speaks of peace and the price being too high to stand up.  The other side speaks of micromanaging your work within your body.  We seem to be pulling out the sliver of wood in our hand not realizing we are missing three fingers.  We are focused on dirt under our nails while our entire body needs to be thoroughly cleansed.  We are not yet white-washed tombs filled with dead bones, but we are seemingly dying because of our desire to please others.  Forgive us, change us, give us the willingness to step out because your truth demands it.  Remind us that we are to stand in your truth for the truth of this world is folly.  When, Father? When will you move in the hearts of men and soften us to your truth?  When will your people stand up for truth and your gospel?  When will you convict us that words mean nothing if action is not applied?  When will your people begin fearing your more than the person standing next to them?  When will you open our eyes to your overwhelming glory, love, compassion, might, strength, and demand for total obedience from your people?  When will you become more important than the feelings of the person next to us?  When will you change me?  When will you change us?  When, Father?  When?

For Your Glory Alone!

An "Eloquent" Preacher

I have a distinct memory of a class in seminary called "Sen Prep" where we watched videos of famous preachers, took notes, and studied multiple techniques in giving a message.  I cannot say that it was a waste because I very much learned what my preferred style of preaching was.  But I do have to say that many of the books we read on sermon preparation were not all that helpful.  Many are still on my shelf waiting to be sent to others via EBay.

Over the past two years of preaching on a weekly basis I have begun to understand that I really have no idea what I am doing.  I don't feel prepared enough.  I don't feel that I have relied on the Spirit enough.  I don't feel that I have spoken the words of my messages well enough to be comprehended on a deep spiritual level.  In other words, I needed some help with my preaching.  Maybe you know the feeling.

So, at last year's Desiring God Conference for Pastors I picked up a book called The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper.  I finally actually have begun to read it recently and came across a quotation about Jonathan Edwards's preaching style.  A man was asked if Edwards was an eloquent preacher.  Here is his response:

"He had no studied varieties of the voice, and no strong emphasis.  he scarcely gestured, or even moved; and he made no attempt by the elegance of his style, or the beauty of his pictures, to gratify the taste, and fascinate the imagination.  But, if you mean by eloquence, the power of presenting an important truth before an audience, with overwhelming weight of argument, and with such intenseness of feeling, that the whole soul of the speaker is thrown into every part of the conception and delivery; so that the solemn attention of the whole audience is riveted, from the beginning to the close, and impressions are left that cannot be effaced; Mr. Edwards was the most eloquent man I ever heard speak."

What a testimony!  Oh, to preach with such power of the Spirit and to have such a testimony about my preaching.  May the words that come from my mouth each week proclaim the truth of the gospel not with words to please itching ears but with words that God uses to bring people from the brink of Hell into his loving arms.

Can We Change the Mind of God?

This is a question I find coming up more and more in my ministry.  Much of the issue is with the difference in the theological understanding of God's and our power and how they interact.  In evangelical circles most would turn to scripture for a solid grasp of this topic.  But when taken at the surface we can see that scripture seems to contradict itself.  Let's take a look at both sides of the issue from the Word's point of view.

Can we change the mind of God?  Yes.  There are three major passages that come to mind in support of this position: Exodus 32:9-14 (Moses asks God to spare Israel at Mt. Sinai and God relents his wrath), 2 Kings 20:1-7 (Hezekiah's life is spared and is extended 15 years because Hezekiah reminds God that he has walked with him throughout his life), and Genesis 18:20-33 (Abraham asks for God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there is anyone found righteous within the cities).  In each of these passages God declares his will and a man asks (in one way or another) God to spare a life or lives.

Can we change the mind of God?  No.  Here are three passages to support this position: Numbers 23:19 (Pagan prophet Balaam speaks God's words to Balak),
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.  Has he said, and will he not do it?  Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?"

1 Samuel 15:29 (Saul rejected as king by God)
"And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret."

Psalm 33:10-11
"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations."

Does scripture contradict itself?  Can God contradict himself?  Can we thwart or overthrow the will of God?  The answer to all of these questions is a resounding no.  The question should not be "Can we change the mind of God?"  This puts the focus on me and as a depraved being I am not in a position to tell God what is right or what is wrong.  The focus of the question should be on God and his perfect will.  Can God change his own mind when his will is final?  We must understand that when the Lord makes a pronouncement intended to be final, he cannot be talked out of it buy a mere human.  God's will is final.

When he seemingly changes his mind to complete destroy the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai he is reminded of his covenant made with Abraham.  Did God suddenly let his anger get the better of him and forget about the covenant?  That is obviously a silly question.  But He still sends a plague upon the people for their disobedience.  Hezekiah's life was spared at that moment, but he still dies 15 years later.  God still destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah despite his promise not to if there was anyone found righteous within the cities.  Lot and his family were evacuated before the destruction.

We need to get beyond ourselves and look to God and his character.  I am not above God in that I can know what is best for a particular situation.  I am not above God in that my powerful prayers can overthrow his will.  My power is minuscule compared to His.  Churches need to focus not on themselves and their will, but the will of the Creator.  I am not above Him.  He is above me.  From this point of view we can see clearly that a mere human cannot talk God out of an action when God has already pronounced it final.

One final word: "Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."
William Symington

Amen and Amen.