Biblical Battle Strategies Against Lust and Sin - 4

Strategy 2 I am renewing my mind actively and regularly by reading, memorizing and meditating on Scripture.

In each of these strategies I put the statement as an affirmative statement of fact. That helps us focus on what the goal is. It is a true or false statement. Within our own hearts we know whether the statement is true for us or not. Is this true: I am renewing my mind actively and regularly by reading, memorizing and meditating on Scripture.

Here we have another essential personal discipline that gets overlooked all too often. We are constantly looking for the secret of this or the secret of that as though there were hidden methods for being successful in the Christian life. There are no secrets. It's all right there out in the open. We just don't do it.

Romans12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

It's important to be renewing our minds. God says this is the way that transformation takes place. And the Christian method of renewing the mind is to spend time reading, memorizing and meditating on Scripture. There is no shortcut. Consider these passages:

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (Emphasis mine.)

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Emphasis mine)

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Take some time every day to be in the Scripture. Read a portion and spend some time thinking deeply about it. Begin a Scripture memory plan. Memorize one verse a week or one every other week. Write the verse on a 3x5 card and review it every day until you have it learned and then go on to another.

If you are not doing these basic things, you cannot expect to have victory over sin and temptation you may be facing. Don't look for other solutions. Spending time in prayer and in the Word are foundational to victory.

You can find the initial post on this subject here: http://rogert.me/15U3CJn

For the entire chart listing all of the strategies, check here: rogert.me/10npynq 

Biblical Battle Strategies Against Lust and Sin - 3

Strategy 1 My prayer life is active and effective.

In each of these strategies I put the statement as an affirmative statement of fact. That helps us focus on what the goal is. It is a true or false statement. Within our own hearts we know whether the statement is true for us or not. Is this true: My prayer life is active and effective.

Every Christian man should have an active and effective prayer life. James 5:16 says: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

At the conclusion on the passage in Ephesians where Paul discusses the Christian armor, he writes, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

The Bible speaks over and over about the importance of prayer and yet praying is a very difficult thing for us. Our lives are busy and taking the time to pray does not seem to us to be as important as God makes it out to be. And yet it is probably the core of our relationship with Christ along with the reading of His Word.

So if we are struggling with temptation, let's not look to a lot of phony remedies and psychological tricks. Let's invest the time it takes to really get to know God by spending some quality time with Him in prayer.

You can find the initial article on this topic here: http://rogert.me/15U3CJn

Is Doctrine and Theology Important?

How would you answer this statement. "I don't feel the need to intensively study the Bible and learn theology. All that creates is division in the Church and we only need to follow the words of Jesus anyway."

A friend asked me this the other day and here is how I replied.

The claim that all we need to do is to follow the words of Jesus is not valid for several reasons. First, the Bible clearly teaches us that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Tim 3:16) When we limit ourselves to the words of Jesus, we lose all of the important teaching of the rest of Scripture, especially the rest of the New Testament. We would not know about justification by faith, the establishment and order in the church and many other important things. So God has graciously provided us with much more than just the teachings of Jesus.

In referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” This was a prophecy about how the Holy Spirit would teach truth to the apostles in the days following Jesus' ascension into heaven. These truths which they learned from Him make the content of the rest of the New Testament. It was Jesus who told us this would happen.

Even if all we had was the words of Jesus, there would be differences of opinion about what He meant and we would need creeds and doctrinal statements to clarify what a particular church believes about what Jesus said. I have heard it said that we don't need creeds or doctrinal statements. All we need is to say that our creed is the Bible. What it says is what we believe. However, that is not enough because Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Presbyterians and others all say that they believe the Bible and yet it is obvious that their doctrines differ.

That brings me to the next comment about what your friend asked. The concern is that doctrine divides. That is true. It does. But don't we want to know the truth? There is truth. There is falsehood. The problem that modern people have is either that they don't believe that truth exists or they don't believe we can know what it is. The Bible says there is truth and we can know it. But doesn't everyone claim that their view is the truth? Yes. But they can't all be true because many are contradicting each other. But just because there are many who claim truth doesn't mean that truth doesn't exist. It just means we have to work hard and diligently to discern what the truth is.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:19, “For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” He is acknowledging the importance of factions because that way the truth can come out. If everyone acquiesces to some commonly held belief, the truth will be lost.

Here are some things that the Bible clearly teaches about teaching and doctrine. These are in no particular order and I'll comment after each one.

Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

It's important to actively search the Scriptures during and after any teaching in order to verify whether what the teacher has taught is true. The Scripture encourages this and lifts up the person who is engaged in this endeavor. It is to be active and continuous. We are not to accept any teaching without searching the Scripture. Searching the Scripture takes work. But it is a required work.

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Diligence in the Christian life is a requirement. Part of that diligence is to rightly divide the Word. Dividing the Word means to learn to understand the different contexts in which teaching and events occurred. It means to understand what is a word picture and what is literal. An old song used to say, “All the promises in the book are mine – every chapter, every verse, every line.” But that is not true. God made promises to Abraham that He did not make to you and me. We need to know the difference.

1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing.

There is such a thing as correct teaching and “teaching otherwise”. The one who teaches otherwise is proud and knows nothing. That is what the Bible says.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

People want to hear what they want to hear. Their ears are itching. Sound doctrine is foreign to them and they would rather not hear it.

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

There is a correct doctrine and those who teach contrary to that are to be avoided.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Not just the teachings of Jesus but all Scripture. It is to be used for reproof and correction. If it is used for correction, that must mean some things are wrong and need to be corrected.

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

There is such a thing as sound and correct teaching. Exhortation is needed to be applied to those who contradict. In other words we can't just have the belief that whatever anyone believes is ok. Obviously he is talking about within the Christian community. The continual teaching of sound doctrine will exhort those who are wrong and bring conviction to them.

Heb 5:11-14 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

God wants every Christian to be taught well enough that they can teach others. Some things in Scripture are hard to understand, such as the teaching about Melchizidek. The author of Hebrews criticized them because they were not ready for this teaching. It was necessary to go over the basics again and this was not good. Those who were still feeding on milk were considered unskilled in the word of righteousness and he referred to them as babes. This is not a good description. God wants each believer to grow in the word and become strong in the doctrine.

The bottom line is that there is truth and there is error. God has given us the Holy Spirit in order to help us to learn from all of the Scripture. This takes work, diligence and effort. It takes digging into the truth of the whole Bible learning how to discern one kind of text from another. It is necessary to learn the important teachings about salvation, redemption, justification, sanctification, etc. because in so doing we learn to know God better and to love Him more. Then we are better prepared, especially as Christian men, to lead and teach our families so that they too become godly people who can have an impact in the world.

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 6:18

Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.




Immutable means unchangeable. God purposed to accomplish salvation and He promised to complete His purposes and then He underscored it with an oath. So God's promises/purposes and His oath are unchangeable and demonstrate the certainty of His Word. This solid foundation gives us strong consolation. Why?  Because as Christians we have fled to Christ and have laid hold of His promises toward us and know that what He has promised He will ultimately perform.

Hymn of the Week - My Hope is in the Lord

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Him-self for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Cal-va-ry.

CHORUS:
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He free-ly gives.

VERSE 2:
No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus' righteousness

(REPEAT CHORUS)

VERSE 3:
And now for me He stands
Before the Father's throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own

(REPEAT CHORUS)

VERSE 4:
His grace has planned it all
'Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive

Biblical Battle Strategies Against Lust and Sin-2

So this leads us back now to the first point in what I'm calling Battle Strategies for the war on lust and sin. The first step is to ask ourselves, “Do I really want to pursue righteousness and holiness, and count everything loss in order to know Christ and the power of His resurrection in my life.” Do I really want this? Am I willing to work hard, suffer and sweat to gain it?

This is not a trite question. You shouldn't just read it and go on. In order to help us think about this, I'd like to look at several passages of Scripture.

The Bible speaks about fleeing some things and pursuing others. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” One of the things that should be pursued is holiness. To pursue means to chase down or chase after. You've seen the police chases. Several squad cars are seen pursuing a car speeding to get away. The point is they are trying to catch the person. They are not just following along after it like they would be during non-chase normal traffic situations. So we are to chase down holiness, which the writer says we need if we want to see the Lord. Do you have the desire to chase holiness? Are you chasing it?

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

There are things to flee, but in this case I'm focusing on the pursuit. Here we are told to pursue several traits. Look these over and ask yourself am I chasing these things? Look at each one of these traits one at a time. Do I have a desire chase them? Am I willing to ask God for the desire to chase them?

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Am I fleeing and do I desire to flee youthful lusts. Older people can have youthful lusts. Sex is certainly one of these, but young people also have other inordinate desires for prestige, acceptance, power, recklessness, etc. Sometimes as we get older, these lusts don't disappear. We need to run away from these lusts with as much energy as we can. And here again we are to pursue righteousness and other traits. So if you can picture this, we are to be running away from some things in hot pursuit of other things. This is not a lazy afternoon walk. This is a chase.

And from Philippians 3:8-14 we learn that, like Paul, we should count things that are normally thought of as gain, we should count them loss. The reason is because of the excellence of Christ. Paul wanted to gain Christ. He described his effort as “pressing for the mark.” He was like a runner stretching out to be the first person across the line. That is the kind of effort he was making in order to know Christ better and to be found in Him.

Before we go on to any of the strategies that I will outline for us, each one of us needs to ask ourself the question: Do I really want this? Do I want to pursue righteousness and holiness? Do I really want Christ above all things? If the answer is “no” or if the answer is “I don't think I really care.” or if the answer is a shrug of the shoulders, then there's no point in going on.

Next time we'll begin to look at some of the strategies in detail.

To help your meditation on these passages, you can find the entire list here.

Biblical Battle Strategies Against Lust and Sin - 1

Every day we are confronted with temptations that attempt to distract us from our primary focus of service and obedience to Christ. These temptations often derail our attempts to live a godly life. Every day we are engaged in a battle to defeat these temptations and to stay the course. What I hope to do in this series is to review some of what the Bible teaches as to methods and strategies we can use to fight successfully. I plan to provide you with 10 or 11 specific statements that you should be able to make about yourself and about your spiritual life. These will be supported with passages of Scripture to help give you a strong foundation for those statements. If these statements are true of you, you will be in a better position for success in this battle against sin, lust and temptation. If the statements are not true of you, it should provide motivation and a goal that you can work on in order to improve areas of weakness.

The first thing we need to realize is that this battle is universal among Christians. As you read this material you are going to be tempted to think that this is a battle for someone else. Often, when we speak of lusts, as we will in the following section, people immediately focus on sexual lust and if that doesn't happen to be your problem, you might stop reading thinking that you have everything under control. That is a dangerous position to be in because if you are not aware of a battle for your heart and soul, the devil has you right where he wants you. But as soon as you realize that this applies to you just as much as anyone else and as soon as you take up arms to defeat your own lusts, you will find a battle greater than you ever imagined could exist.

The first step, then, is to ask ourselves the question: “Do I really want to pursue righteousness and holiness, and count everything loss in order to know Christ and the power of His resurrection in my life?” In order to accurately answer this question, there are some truths we need to consider.

In 1 John 2:15-17 we read: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

There is a distinction between the things of the world and the things of God. These verses very clearly teach that it is not possible to love the world and love God at the same time. This means a decision is required. Do I really want to abandon the world for Christ? This is an overarching decision, but it is also a decision that has to be made hundreds of times a day. Making the decision during a momentary temptation without having made it as a principle of your life will make the battle ultimately impossible to win. So before you go any further you need to decide – Christ or the world.

In this passage, much of the world definition involves lust. Lust is a strong desire that is excessive to the point of being sinful. In this passage we have three components given for worldliness – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We don't have time to go into each one in detail, but if you think about it you will realize that many of the things we do and decisions we make are made based on these lusts. We covet what we see other people have. We lust for sex or excitement or other flesh-based pleasures. We desire to have people look up to us as someone important or powerful or contented. Yes, we can be proud of our contentment and wish for others to be jealous of our contented life. All of these temptations come from the world and not from God.

In James 1:14-15 we read this: But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Here's the issue then. The world and Satan provide attractions that feed the lusts that John referred to. But our temptations come from within us, from our own lusts or desires and we are drawn away by them. We are pulled in a wrong direction. The desires come from deep within us. They are part of our sin nature, our fallenness, our brokenness. As these desires are conceived and gestate within us they give birth to sin. Sin is a thought or deed that is not within the will and character of God. These sins begin to grown and then, as James writes, they bring forth death. The Bible teaches that sin has wages and those wages are death.

A Christian, having been born again and now a child of God, has a new desire in competition with the old tendency and therein lies the conflict. Paul writes it this way in Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

So this leads us back now to the first point in what I'm calling Battle Strategies for the war on lust and sin. The first step is to ask ourselves, “Do I really want to pursue righteousness and holiness, and count everything loss in order to know Christ and the power of His resurrection in my life.” Do I really want this? Am I willing to work hard, suffer and sweat to gain it?

We'll think more about this question next time.

What is Our Attitude Toward Sin?

I came across Psalm 36 the other day in my reading and was struck by several things in the first few verses. I'd like to share those with you as I think through this myself. David starts the Psalm by writing, "An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked."  That caught my attention right away. What was he thinking in his own heart regarding the transgression of the wicked? Who are the wicked? In our culture we think of wicked as those who are really evil among us. We don't think of the normal hard-working person who basically does the right thing, takes care of his family and minds his own business. But I think David sees the world in a different way. He sees the world as divided into two groups. Those who believe in, trust in, and follow God and those who don't. It is those non-followers that he calls wicked.

However, as I think about these verses and the transgressions he is speaking about, I want us to realize and admit that we believers also transgress against the ways of God and during those times we are behaving wickedly, even though our sins are forgiven in Christ. So as we look at David's thoughts concerning the transgression, let's not just think about it as an interesting topic about "them". Let's think of it in terms of "us".

The first thing David says is that there is no fear of God before their eyes. I think this is the root of it all both for the person who doesn't believe in God and for us in those moments when we succumb to the everpresent temptations. At that moment, the fear of God has been removed from our eyes. We are not considering the fact that God sees, knows and condemns our sin. We do not take into account that God is greater than we are and as creator, He has the right to tell us what the rules are. We do not have the appropriate level of fear of God. As a result, we venture into areas where we should not be. We cross the line. We transgress.

The second thing he mentions is that "he flatters himself in his own eyes." When I sin,  I am saying several things about myself. I am saying that I know better than God. God has no right to dictate my behavior. I am saying that even though God has warned of danger and threatened discipline, these are empty threats and of no consequence. Nothing to worry about!  I am flattering myself.

The next thing that happens is that our words are affected. "The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit."  Isn't it true that when we sin, we often have to cover up our tracks and that takes the form of deceit. And when we think we are being caught or nearly so, we begin to lash out at those we love in order to keep them from being too close.

David then plainly states in verse 3 that when we transgress and when we are deceptive in our speech we have ceased to be wise. The problem is that when we are involved in sin, we are not usually too worried about whether we are being wise or not. But God continually calls out to us to be wise and not to play the fool. We need to ask ourselves if we really believe God is right and we are wrong. That's what confession is, isn't it?  Admitting that God is right.

In verse 4, David writes, "He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil."  I see several things here. First of all, when we are really set on disobedience and sin, we do think about it lying in bed. We devise ways to get even with someone, or we plan how to gain access to some sinful pleasure. But David laments that when we do this, we are setting ourselves on a way that is not good. Our real problem in the end is that we do not abhor evil. Abhor means to regard with horror and loathing; to detest. How many of us can say that we really abhor sin? 




David seems to change the subject somewhat in verse 5, but look at the encouragement we find there in light of what we have been discussion.  "Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 6:17

Hebrews 6:17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,

God has made promises that cannot change or be annulled. In order to prove this to human beings, He gave an oath to that effect. We swear oaths to prove the truthfulness of our statements and God, because He is communicating with us, used the same approach. God's promises can be trusted.


If you would like to see the entire list of recommended verses from Hebrews to memorize in 2013, check here.

We've also produced a Bible study guide on the book of Hebrews you may be interested in. You can find it here.

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 5:9

Hebrews 5:9 (Speaking of Jesus) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,


In the previous verse the author had said that even though Jesus was a son, He learned obedience from suffering. In verse 9, the thought continues stating that having thus been perfected...  That doesn't mean Jesus wasn't perfect. It means that having suffered and learning what obedience was, He was able to fulfill the end or purpose of His coming, to become the author of eternal salvation.

We are all looking in one way or another for eternal salvation. The Bible claims that Jesus is the author of that salvation. It is through faith in Him that salvation is obtained. There is no other source.

If you would like to see the entire list of recommended verses from Hebrews to memorize in 2013, check here.

We've also produced a Bible study guide on the book of Hebrews you may be interested in. You can find it here.

Hymn of the Week - Jesus I am Resting, Resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Refrain

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Refrain

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Refrain

Life Lesson - Pick up your stuff!

Another life lesson that I had to learn in that small context of camping in a pop-up is that things need to be put away. You can't just take stuff out and leave it out because a small camper would soon be overwhelmed if everyone did that. I suppose there are some men who have the innate knowledge and habit to only take out one thing at a time and then put it away when they're finished. That is what we learned in kindergarten, but it never did get ingrained in my nature and so I tend to strew things until I frustrate myself enough with my mess that I pick it all up and make it neat again. That's the way it is with my desk and closet for example.

I have that same trouble with tools. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent looking for a certain wrench, trying to remember the last project where it was needed and then finally finding it with a screwdriver and tape measure right where that project had been completed three months ago! I'm still missing a sledge hammer and ax that were probably left leaning up against a tree somewhere years ago.

In the small confines of the camper, I learned that I need to put away what I take out. If I take off sneakers in order to put on sandals, the sneakers need to be put away otherwise someone will trip over them or a cabinet door won't be able to open. When we are finished with a meal, the dishes need to be done and put away immediately because there are other things waiting to use that space.

Now when I say I learned this lesson, it means that it is much more up front in my mind, but my nature is to leave things out. I've heard so many people say about different areas in their life, “That's just the way I am.” And this is the way I am, but it is not right. God is a God of order, structure and organization and I believe that He wants us to be the same way since we are made in His image. Therefore as I have gotten older, I have become better at putting things away as I finish using them. It's not easy for me, because it takes every ounce of energy I have to force myself to put that hammer back on the pegboard or that tape measure back in the tool box. It only takes a minute and I know that, but it goes against my nature. But I'm learning.

So, men, here's my message for you today. Pick up after yourself. Don't make your wife do it. It's not her job. I'm trying to make it so that I don't leave tracks. I try to wipe up spilled milk, sweep up sand I've tracked in, and put away books I've been reading.  When we leave things laying around we  make more work for our wife plus we make it more difficult to teach our children the importance of putting their things away. So begin today. Force yourself to think about each thing you are tempted to leave out. Did you take off your shoes so you could lie down on the couch? Then walk them to the closet and put them away. Or at the very least when you get ready to go to bed at the end of the day, pick up all of the things you've left laying around and put them where they go. Can your wife tell you got out some cookies for a snack? Are there crumbs on the counter or the open box still sitting out? Put everything away and clean up your mess.  It's pleasing to God, makes less work for you wife and provides a good example for your children.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In the Lord's Prayer we learn the phrase, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." How is God's will done in heaven? How should our own obedience be modeled on the angels' obedience in heaven?

Here is Ezekiel Hopkins' thoughts on this topic:

Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!   Psalm 103:20

How do the holy angels do the will of God in heaven?  First, their obedience is absolutely perfect; they do all that God asks and do not fail in the least obedience.  They are never remiss in their service or slack in their attendance.  They are continually blessing and praising God, and stand ready to receive and execute his commands and commissions.  Secondly, the angels’ obedience is cheerful and not constrained from fear or suffering.  It is their eternal delight.  We too, need to esteem the commands of God our glory and great reward, not being dragged to do it as a burdensome  task.  Thirdly, God’s will in heaven is done with zeal.  Do we obey coldly or indifferently?  Do we bring sacrifices with no fire?  Or do we offer them up with strange fire?  Fourthly, they do the will of God quickly.  But, alas, how dull and slow we are!  Instead of obeying the will of our God and Sovereign, we dispute it.  O how many delays and excuses and procrastinations we make!  Yet we are so willing to stay at leisure with every vile lust.  We think that there will be time enough to serve God when we have nothing else to do.  Certainly, this is not doing the will of God as the angels.  Upon the very first impression of God’s will we should take wings and execute it speedily.  Fifthly, they do the will of God with constancy and perseverance, serving day and night (Rev. 7:15).  They never weary of their work.  His service is their happiness and their obedience is their glory. Let us not content ourselves with comparative obedience by looking at others we think are worse off, but let us compare ourselves with the angels.  Do we obey God with the same joy, zeal, speed, and perseverance?  Do we delight ourselves in God’s will as these holy spirits do?

Read more: http://creationrevolution.com/2012/06/daily-devotional-bless-the-lord-o-you-his-angels/#ixzz2RCBSv7xd

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 5:8

Hebrews 5:8 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Even though Jesus was the Son of God, it was important for Him to learn the obedience that comes from suffering. Jesus is our faithful high priest and in order to truly understand our suffering and even the difficulty of obedience, He had to be tested in all of the same ways we are. Now when we go to Him, we can be assured of the fact that He does understand us and can sympathize with us and help us through whatever is going on.

Hymn of the Week - Loved with Everlasting Love

1. Loved with everlasting love,
   Led by grace that love to know;
   Spirit, breathing from above,
   Thou hast taught me it is so.
   Oh, this full and perfect peace!
   Oh, this transport all divine!
   In a love which cannot cease,
   I am His, and He is mine.
2. Heaven above is softer blue,
   Earth around is sweeter green;
   Something lives in every hue
   Christless eyes have never seen:
   Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
   Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
   Since I know, as now I know,
   I am His, and He is mine.
3. Things that once were wild alarms
   Cannot now disturb my rest;
   Closed in everlasting arms,
   Pillowed on the loving breast.
   Oh, to lie forever here,
   Doubt and care and self resign,
   While He whispers in my ear,
   I am His, and He is mine.
4. His forever, only His:
   Who the Lord and me shall part?
   Ah, with what a rest of bliss
   Christ can fill the loving heart.
   Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
   Firstborn light in gloom decline;
   But, while God and I shall be,
   I am His, and He is mine.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/284#ixzz2Qdd4SsVc

God's Power to Save - Even Me

The book of Romans in the Bible is one of my favorite portions of Scripture because in it the gospel of Jesus Christ is so clearly and logically laid out.  This article today is based on a study I call Truths for Meditation and comes from Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-27. So what I'm hoping to accomplish here is not so much to go through this passage as a lesson to be learned, but as truth that will build us up and sustain us in our walk of faith. It would be helpful to have your Bible open to this passage since I won't be quoting it in its entirety.

Paul writes that the gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. One has to almost stop at each word in order to grasp what this is saying. The basic hunger of the human heart is for salvation. Death is seen by most people as an enemy and even life has so many challenges that people want to be assured of a rescue, if not now then certainly after death. Where is that rescue to be found and who is eligible? What the Bible is saying is that the power to save us is found in the good news of Jesus Christ. This saving power is available to everyone, everyone who believes. There's no limit.

The reason that the gospel is the power of God for salvation is that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. This phrase, "righteousness of God" is repeated several times in this passage. God is perfect and perfectly righteous. That means that He never does anything wrong. All of His motives are perfectly right. All of His decisions and actions are perfectly right. In comparison to God we fall way short of His perfections. The Bible calls that sin.

How does the gospel reveal the righteousness of God? Let me explain it this way. If I can say it respectfully, God has a "problem". He loves us. God does not want any of us to perish. But on the other hand He is so perfect and righteous that He cannot just overlook sin. He can't be like a kind, gentle grandfather who simply overlooks his grandson's misbehavior. He must punish sin. So what the gospel shows is that God is so loving and yet so intent on punishing sin that he entered the world Himself in the person of Jesus Christ and took the punishment that His righteousness demanded so that He would be "free" to justly release sinners from their death sentence. That is what verse 3:26 is saying.

The gospel is the good news that God is righteous, but He applied that righteous judgment on Himself rather than on His creatures. But the gospel is also the message that God gives His righteousness to all who believe. In other words, it's not enough just to have our punishment taken by someone else. We also need to be positively righteous. God is basically saying, "I've taken the punishment you deserve. The condemnation has been removed if you will believe me and trust me.  In addition, I will give you my righteousness, my perfection as a gift if you will accept it." Here's the way Paul puts it in the passage we are looking at:  "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe." Romans 3:21, 22






In 2 Corinthians 5:21 he says it this way, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."



It almost sounds too good to be true doesn't it?  To think that on judgment day, God would look up your record and on it He would find no sins, and then as He looks more closely to see what good things you have done He would find that you have been perfectly loving, perfectly others-focused, perfectly thankful, and so on. Why?  Because your sinful record has been replaced by God's perfect righteousness.  Believing this is what saves, not just believing in general. We are asked to believe the record that God has given of His Son, and trust His method of salvation. In doing so, all of the benefits of the power of the gospel will be ours.

An App to Help in Scripture Memorization

As Christian men, one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can develop in our lives is that of Scripture memorization. Each one of us, if asked, should be able to tell someone else what verses we are working on as we "hide God's Word in our hearts." 

I don't know what method you have used, but over the years I have used several different methods. The most successful method for me has been using cards with the reference on one side and the verse on the other.

Since I'm a tech guy, I wondered if there was a way to duplicate the card idea on a smart phone. I was pleased to find an app called Flash Cards Deluxe. It's available for the iPhone or Android. I think it costs about $3.99.  I have found it to be exactly what I need for this purpose. You basically create a spreadsheet of the information you want on the "cards" and then upload the information through the website. What I like is that the cards can have more than two sides.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I put the first few words of a verse on one side, the reference on another side and the full verse on the third side.

When I go to the app on my iPod, I see the first few words first. From that I try to remember what the reference is and then I try to quote the entire verse.  The app will allow you to swipe one way to say that you got it correct and a different way to say that you got it wrong. You can set up the app to show you the verses you got wrong more frequently for more thorough review.  It really works for me.

The website is http://orangeorapple.com and the app is called Flash Cards Deluxe

Life Lessons - Deference

Some life lessons are best learned in a miniature situation. For me, a couple of these lessons came through camping. I was not raised to be camping person, so I started camping as an adult with my wife and family. In our early years of camping we used a tent, but soon graduated to a pop-up camper. If you've never camped, you may not have a sense of how small an area you have to work with, but suffice it to say, not everyone in a family can be up milling around at the same time. Patience is needed because you may have to wait for another person to finish getting her jacket out and putting on her shoes before you can take your place at the “kitchen” table to read. If you are already there reading, it may be that the frisbee that the kids want to play with is located in the bin under your seat. So you need to get up and move completely out of the way so that they can get the frisbee. This means the seat and back cushion need to be moved out of the way. This in turn may result in another person having to move a little to make room for this maneuver. It tests the willingness of each one to make allowances for the needs and desires of others.

So one key life lesson I've learned is that patience and deference are necessary and important. Deference means to give way to what others want to do, to allow them to do their thing before I do mine. That is, after all, what love is all about and God wants us to learn the lessons about love because that's the way He treats us.

Philippians 2:3, 4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” This pretty much sums up God's desire for us as Christian men. We are to esteem others as more important than ourselves. This means in the home we are to value the interests of our wife and kids more than our own interests. That means that when I want to do something and my wife or kids want to do something else, I need to weigh their desires with greater value than my own. This is not easy, especially for men.

All kinds of excuses come to mind. For example, if I always defer to my wife, I might never get to pursue my own interests. When we start to think like this, we begin to read into Scripture limits on what God expects of us. Surely he doesn't expect us to be deferential to the extreme, does He? Think through what you know about the Bible and about God and tell me where the end comes. God sacrificed in the extreme to demonstrate His love toward us and He wants us to go to the extreme to sacrifice for others. This is not easy.

The life lesson, magnified to me through the camping experience is that I need to be willing to defer to others and their needs and desires. If it means continual interruptions of what I'm trying to do, so be it. Others have interests in what they are trying to accomplish as well, so why would I think my things are more important than theirs? May God give each of us men the grace to live lives that demonstrate the deferential character of love.

Some Thoughts from Thomas Mallery

”Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”   Matthew 1:23

The clearest manifestation of God to us is revealed in Jesus Christ (John 1:18).  His eternal Godhead is also manifest in the works of creation (Rom. 1:20).  The knowledge of God in creation, however, is not able to restrain the vain imaginations and idolatrous conceptions of God that lie in men’s hearts.  Also, much of the eternal Godhead is manifested in his works of providence (Job 9:10-11).  Sometimes God was working forward or before Job; sometimes backwards, or behind him; sometimes on his right hand, sometimes at his left hand.  Job followed him up and down that he might understand God, and the reason and design of all his works.  But he could not perceive it.  We also see the eternal Godhead in his righteous and holy law; but this manifestation of God frightened those who saw it at first (Heb. 12:21).  The clearest, sweetest, and most comfortable manifestation of God to us is made only in Jesus Christ, who is ‘the image of the invisible God’ (Col. 1:15).  In Christ, God has revealed himself as no other means can.  Christ is the exact copy or character of the Father’s person and perfections (Heb. 1:3).  When Philip desired for Christ to show him the Father, Jesus said: ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.  Believe me, I am in the Father and the Father is in me’ (John 14:9, 11).  In the works of creation, God is above us; in his works of providence, he is outside us; in the law, he is against us; in himself, he is invisible to us.  Only in Christ is he Immanuel, God manifested in our flesh.  He is God in us, God with us, and God for us.  Therefore, no man ever did or ever can understand anything of God truly, that is, upon a saving account, except in and by Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 6:16).

Quoted from "Voices from the Past", Puritan Devotional Readings, edited by Richard Rushing, Page 171

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 4:16

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God invites us to come boldly  to His throne in prayer. It is a throne of grace which means that we find there a God who is willing to forgive and extend grace because of what Jesus Christ has done on our behalf. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that He is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God through Him.  It is always through Christ that we approach God. In today's verse we are welcomed to the throne of God for mercy and grace because our High Priest, Jesus Christ, has been tempted in all ways like we have been and therefore is able to empathize and sympathize with us. He is not a God who is distant and unconcerned and without understanding of our situation.

So what should our response be?  We should have boldness to come to Him in prayer regularly and faithfully.

Hymn of the Week - Jesus What a Friend for Sinners

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Refrain

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Refrain

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Refrain

Jesus! I do now adore Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Refrain

Lessons Learned in Life - Budgeting

Previous article is here.

Before the days of computers, my dad had an envelope budget system. I'm going to describe it to you so that you will understand the gist of how good budgeting works. Each person can adapt the illustration to his own situation.

My dad knew what his take-home pay would be for a year. He figured out how much it cost for groceries for a year, about how much the family paid for clothes, what the electric bill would be, etc. He got paid by the week and so he took each of those expenses and figured out how much would be represented each week. Perhaps groceries would be $30 each week. (This isn't now, it's way back!) Maybe rent would be $20 per week. Insurance might be $15. You get the idea. He would cash his check and then physically put the appropriate amount of money in each envelope. The envelope marked “groceries” would receive $30. The “rent” envelope would receive $20. We believe in tithing and so $15 would go in the tithe envelop to be given to God's work.

If every conceivable expense category was taken care of and if there was money left over, he could put some in a “fun” envelope and for sure some went into an “emergency” envelope.

If you actually do this physically, some interesting things happen. For example, one of the children needs shoes that are going to cost $40. There's only $30 in the clothing envelope. If you must have $40 shoes, what has to happen? You have to physically take $10 out of some other place. You could take it out of the insurance envelope. But your insurance costs are fixed at a certain amount. By taking money out of there, you are just going to have to take it from somewhere else when the insurance bill comes due because the insurance envelope will be short. So you are forced to think about where that money will come from. You have to think about that even though there may be $452 in the envelopes all together. If you had that money in a checking account, you would buy the shoes and not think about where it's coming from. But with the envelope system, you have to make decisions.

When I first got married, I used this same approach but instead of actual envelopes, I kept track in a notebook how much money was in each “envelope” even though most of the money was in the bank in a checking account. Even though I might have $800 in the bank, I might only have $40 in my “fun” “envelope”, and so I couldn't just spend $80 on some special outing for the family. Later on I moved on to computerized accounting. But the point is you need to know where the money has been allocated. Not knowing is what causes so many problems for families when it comes to spending.

Let's go back now to the desired stop at McDonalds. What if dad, before leaving home looked in the “fun” envelope and saw that there was a $20 bill in there and that is the one he used at McD's. In that case there wouldn't be a problem. Another scenario might be that there was only $4 in the “fun” envelope. That means that they cannot make the stop that might be so enjoyable. But everyone, including dad, wants that enjoyable treat so much! They can't afford it. But everyone is going to be so disappointed! They can't afford it!! Even though dad has $20 in his wallet, it is actually allocated for something else. They can't afford it!

If you don't budget, you don't know you can't afford it. If you do keep track of your spending, then you can make intelligent decisions. For example, mom may plan ahead and give dad some money out of the grocery envelope so he has money for a family treat. She can do that. Budgets don't control, they inform. But if she does that, she will have less to spend on groceries. She might be OK with that, but the good thing is that she knows the decision she is making. Or... maybe they could just stop at the grocery store and buy some ice cream, and make sundaes at home. That might work.

What drives people nuts is that they want everything. We don't like this budgeting scenario because we want to be able to have our treats, the best shoes, the cable company with the most channels, etc. It can't be done! It's best to acknowledge this fact early on, make your purchases accordingly and I can tell you from experience that your savings account will grow and you will be amazed at how far the dollar stretches. If you keep spending money you don't have on things you can't afford, it will all eventually collapse on you. However, if you make wise decisions, stifle your desire to have everything, and save some money out of each pay check, you will find that your savings grows and you become less vulnerable to the economic conditions that happen to be blowing through at the time.

Lessons Learned in Life - Part 1

One of the things that has been on my mind recently is the need to share with my children and grandchildren some of the most important things I have learned in life. I don't know if you've experienced this, but there are things in many different areas of life that stand out as important lessons that have a profound affect on how we live our lives. Usually if we learn such lessons, life is better and more rewarding in many ways.

Another thing that I think is important is for the older generation to share those lessons with younger people so that perhaps they can learn from them and avoid some of the pitfalls that occur in life. So little by little as I think through these learning experiences and as I prepare them in written form to share with my family, I thought it might be helpful to share them with a wider audience as well so that whatever is beneficial in my experience may help others.

So, we'll get started today with something I learned about budgeting. What I'll try to do is if the topic is too long for one post, which it is today, I'll continue in succeeding days. New topics will appear sporadically as I finish them. They'll all be tagged under Life Lessons so that you can find them easily.

I was blessed to have a dad who taught me budgeting and a wife who understands thrift and careful shopping. Because of what I learned from them, God helped me to know what works best when it comes to using money wisely and saving for the future. I spent my career working as a teacher and administrator in a rural public school district. We decided early in our marriage that my wife would stay home and focus on our children as they came along. Through the years we were able to pay off our mortgage, pay cash for our cars, and send our kids to a Christian college debt-free. The principles that I'm sharing with you are based on biblical principles and actually work. We are a testimony to God's faithfulness in keeping His Word.

Whole books have been written on budgeting, but what I would like to do today is lay down a few principles that you may find helpful in making ends meet and the dollar stretch. What most people don't realize is that even if they don't budget, every dollar is spoken for and by not having a budget, you don't know who or what has claims on the money in your pocket.

Consider this scenario. You're out with the family and decide everyone might enjoy stopping at McDonalds for a frappe. For a family of five, that will cost you over $15. You know that you have a twenty dollar bill and a five in your wallet and so that's enough to cover it. You want to be a nice dad and you want your kids to be happy and so you stop for the treat. The problem is that there are bills and expenses coming down the road. Some you know about and some you don't. Most people I know don't have a lot of extra income compared to their expenses and so most dollars are spoken for. The fact is that even though the money is loose in your wallet, it is probably spoken for. There's a car insurance payment of $400 due next month. Maybe the $15 is part of that. Has your wife told you yet that Johnny needs new shoes? That's coming tomorrow. Maybe the $15 is part of that.

Before the days of computers, my dad had an envelope budget system. I'm going to describe it to you so that you will understand the gist of how good budgeting works. Each person can adapt the illustration to his own situation. 

 Read the rest tomorrow.

Satisfaction is Found in God Alone - A Puritan Devotional

Jesus said to her, ”Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,   John 4:13

God is the happiness of man because of his suitableness to the soul.   Hungry man finds his stomach craving.  Give him music or honour and he is hungry still.  These are not suitable to his appetite.  Give him food and his craving is over.  So it is with a man’s soul.  Give it honour, profits, and the pleasures of the world, and these cannot abate its desire; it craves still.  These do not answer the soul’s nature, and therefore cannot answer its needs.  Set God before it just once, and let it feed on him; it is satisfied, and its inordinate, dogged appetite after the world is cured.  Tasting this manna tramples on the onions of Egypt.  God is the true happiness of the soul because he is an eternal good.  As the sun never sets, so the soul that rests in God has an eternal Sabbath.  Outward mercies, in which most place their happiness, are like floods that swell high and make a great noise, but are quickly over.  The blessed God is like the spring that bubbles forth and runs over forever.  This all-sufficient, suitable, and eternal God is the saint’s peculiar portion, and therefore causes infinite satisfaction.  God is my portion forever.  When God says to the soul, ‘I am yours, and all that I have’, who can tell how the heart leaps with joy and desires after him upon such new!  The pronoun ‘my’ is worth so much to the soul.  Luther said much religion lies in the pronouns.  All our consolation indeed consists in this pronoun.  He is my God.  All the joys of the believer are hung upon this one string.  Break this and all is lost.  I have sometimes thought how David rolls this word as a lump of sugar under his tongue:  ‘I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’ (Psa. 18:1-2).

Read more: http://creationrevolution.com/2012/06/daily-devotional-everyone-who-drinks-of-this-water-will-be-thirsty-again/#ixzz2PyTHqHfi

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 4:15

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ is our High Priest. That means He is the one who is a go-between for us with God. The important thing that the writer is trying to convey is that Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way like we are. We might think that God can't understand us, but by becoming man, God has gone through suffering and temptation as well. Jesus Christ does understand; He does sympathize; and He is able to pray to the Father on our behalf.

If you would like to see the entire list of recommended verses from Hebrews to memorize in 2013, check here.

We've also produced a Bible study guide on the book of Hebrews you may be interested in. You can find it here.

Difficulty Strengthens Faith -- A Puritan Thought for the Day

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:7

The life of faith is the only safe life.  Its fortifications are impregnable.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in him is everlasting strength.  Ages pass away but the Lord our Rock abides forever.  He that rained manna in the wilderness will give us bread; and he that brought water from the rock will be a never-failing fountain.  Faith’s work is to pray for what it needs and to give thanks for what it has.  Faith uses means, but trusts in God.  When there are no means to use we say, ‘Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation’ (Hab. 3:17-18).  Faith can live upon God when there is famine in all  creation.  The peace of God guards the heart from all surprises of fear and trouble.  As faith enjoys God in all things in the greatest abundance, so she can enjoy all things in God in the deepest need.  Paul describes his trouble in Asia:  ‘We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself’ (2 Cor. 1:8).  ‘But’, he said, ‘that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.’  If God can raise the dead, he can conquer the greatest difficulty.  He can put life into dead men, life into dead hopes, and raise up our expectations fro the grave of despair.   He can put life into dead bones and life into dead faith.  We are proud creatures and full of self-confidence, but God, by strange and unexpected providences, hedges up our way with thorns.  He brings us to despair even of life and brings us under the sentence of death that we might not trust in ourselves, but in him who raises the dead.  He overturns us by despair, shows us what babes and fools we are in ourselves, that we might know nothing but God.  Go in the strength of the Lord!

Read more: http://creationrevolution.com/2012/06/daily-devotional-the-peace-of-god-which-surpasses-all-understanding/#ixzz2PUvUBhsB

Hymn of the Week - Christ is Risen, He is risen Indeed

Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Ed Cash; © 2012 Gettymusic and Alletrop Music (BMI) (adm. by MusicServices.org)

How can it be, the One who died,
Has borne our sin through sacrifice
To conquer every sting of death?
Sing, sing hallelujah.

For joy awakes as dawning light
When Christ’s disciples lift their eyes.
Alive He stands, their Friend and King;
Christ, Christ He is risen.

CHORUS
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
Oh, sing hallelujah.
Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed;
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

Where doubt and darkness once had been,
They saw Him and their hearts believed.
But blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet, sing hallelujah.

Once bound by fear now bold in faith,
They preached the truth and power of grace.
And pouring out their lives they gained
Life, life everlasting.

CHORUS

The power that raised Him from the grave
Now works in us to powerfully save.
He frees our hearts to live His grace;
Go tell of His goodness.

CHORUS
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Heaven’s gates are opened wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Now in heaven glorified.

Hymn for Today -- Blessed Redeemer

 Blessed Redeemer by Avis Christiansen / Casting Crowns

Up Calvary's mountain one dreadful morn
Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn
Facing for sinners, death on the cross
That He might save them from endless loss

Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer
Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading
Blind and unheeding, dying for me

"Father, forgive them," my Savior prayed
Even while His lifeblood flowed fast away
Praying for sinners while in such woe
No one but Jesus ever loved so

Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer
Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading
Blind and unheeding, dying for me
Dying for me


Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer
Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading
Blind and unheeding, dying for me

Oh, how I love Him, Savior and Friend
How can my praises ever find end?
Through years unnumbered on Heaven's shore
My songs shall praise Him forevermore

Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer
Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading
Blind and unheeding, dying for me

Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer
Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading
Blind and unheeding, dying for me

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

If you would like to see the entire list of recommended verses from Hebrews to memorize in 2013, check here.

We've also produced a Bible study guide on the book of Hebrews you may be interested in. You can find it here.

Hymn of the Week - My Song is Love Unknown

1. My song is love unknown,
     My Savior’s love to me;
   Love to the loveless shown,
     That they might lovely be.
       O who am I,
       That for my sake
       My Lord should take
       Frail flesh, and die?
2. He came from His blest throne
     Salvation to bestow;
   But men made strange, and none
     The longed-for Christ would know:
       But oh, my Friend,
       My Friend indeed,
       Who at my need
       His life did spend.
3. Sometimes they strew His way,
     And His sweet praises sing;
   Resounding all the day
     Hosannas to their King:
       Then “Crucify!“
       Is all their breath,
       And for His death
       They thirst and cry.
4. They rise and needs will have
     My dear Lord made away;
   A murderer they save,
     The Prince of life they slay.
       Yet cheerful He
       To suffering goes,
       That He His foes
       From thence might free.
5. In life, no house, no home
     My Lord on earth might have;
   In death, no friendly tomb,
     But what a stranger gave.
       What may I say?
       Heav’n was His home;
       But mine the tomb
       Wherein He lay.
6. Here might I stay and sing,
     No story so divine;
   Never was love, dear King,
     Never was grief like Thine.
       This is my Friend,
       In whose sweet praise
       I all my days
       Could gladly spend.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/nt/96#ixzz2Nw8XYApm

The Christian and Fear - A Puritan Devotional

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.  1 John 5:4

In the experience of God’s people, it is often found that when their outward condition is troubled, their inward state is full of perplexities and fears.  In affliction Satan seeks to make a breach between us and God.  He is most malicious to those with whom he has little hope of victory, as in Job’s case.  If he cannot run us on a rock, he will seek to upset us with a tempest.  If he cannot rob us of grace, he will seek to disturb our peace and comfort.  Believers can expect inward and outward trouble because we have married Christ with his cross.  We are delivered from the curse indeed, but are appointed to the cross. Outward afflictions may be many and heavy, and come upon the neck of another.  We may feel the hard brunt enough to exercise our whole strength of faith and patience.  Inward afflictions are far more heavy and grievous than afflictions of the body, for a wounded spirit who can bear?  It is not unusual though, that both of these rods come upon us at once, as a load on a broken back.  What shall we do?  We must take a hold on God by renewed acts of faith.  Faith is used not only for our entrance into grace, but also for our continuance and progress through all temptations and difficulties.  Faith and prayer must be as the breathing of our souls to keep the heart alive.  We must trust the Lord in every change and condition of life.  I will lay the weight of my sinking spirit on the free grace of Christ.  I will renew my hold, life, and expectations there.  This is the path.  I will never be turned from it.  A trusting Christian in this strength my challenge all the gates of hell.  ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you’ (Psa. 56:3).  Afraid?  Alas!  Who is not?  But what course will you take then?  Believe.  Use faith always, and have it now!

by Elias Pledger

Read more: http://creationrevolution.com/2012/06/daily-devotional-for-everyone-who-has-been-born-of-god-overcomes-the-world-2/#ixzz2NzMcDPaA

Do you love me more than these?

A week or so ago I posted a short article about the question Jesus asked, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?"  You can find that original article here: http://rogert.me/YQ67oy

Today I want to add some additional thoughts that came up as I taught through this passage.

Jesus taught that if we were to follow him we should deny ourselves, take up his cross, and follow him. We are to do this daily. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that because Jesus died for us, we are to live for him rather than for ourselves.  The basic principle then is that whoever would save or love his life will lose it. But whoever loses or hates his life for Christ's sake and the gospel's will save it.

It seems that there are two extremes we should avoid. The first is that I must not be a true believer because I can't say that this level of commitment is completely true of me all of the time. The other extreme is to say that Jesus didn't really mean this and we don't have to give it another thought. Obviously he means it in the strongest terms because he says that the potential for loss of our own soul is involved.

So what I want us to do is to review some important principles.

1. The Bible clearly teaches that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, (Romans 10:13) and whoever comes to Christ will not be cast out. (John 6:37)

2. We are justified freely by his grace and given the righteousness of God. (Romans 3;24; Phil 3:9)  This righteousness includes all of the righteousness which is needed to meet all of the demands of God. This serves as sort of a shield or umbrella protecting us from God's wrath and gaining God's favor while our spiritual growth takes place. As we grow we will be able to deny ourselves in more and more areas of life and in deeper ways as the Holy Spirit brings these things to our attention.

3. When w are saved, we receive many benefits and resources:
   God's commitment to finish what he started. (Phil 1:6) In other words, God brought the word to us, he gave us faith, he granted us repentance and he opened our hearts to the gospel.

Sanctification (1 Cor 1:30) which is applied by the Holy Spirit. (2 Thess 2:13)

God gives us a new heat with new motivations. (Ezekiel 36:27)

Being his sheep, we will follow him, but not follow others (John 10:4, 5)

God is at work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phil 2:13; Heb 13:21)

The grace he gives us teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live righteous lives. (Titus 2:12)

God has promised to discipline us so we partake in his holiness without which we won't see the Lord (Heb 12:10, 14)

God has promised to prune the vine in order that we might bear fruit. (John 15)

4. God doesn't do it all for us while we sit around and do nothing, but his salvation provides not only the strength to follow and obey, but the desire, motivation, and faith that is required. God holds us responsible, but as Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing."

 Concluding Thoughts:

This is Christ's challenge for all Christians on a daily basis.

He is asking for ultimate loyalty --Jesus Christ above all things and all relationships. Daily the challenge is to put Christ first and reject self. "Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your heart." (Heb 3:15)

Every day and throughout the day we face choices, to be obedient or not, to die to our own desires or not, to put Christ's teaching into practice or not, to serve others or not. Our choice is similar to the one Jesus gave Peter, "Lovest thou me more than these?"

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 4:9-10

Heb 4:9-10 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The "rest" spoken of in this chapter is not heaven. The author speaks of the rest being available "today". What he is speaking of is the fact that when we truly understand that our salvation is a gift from God, and not from our own works or effort, we enter into that trusting relationship where we realize that God has it all under control. He has undertaken our salvation and our growth in faith and he can be trusted with it. It doesn't mean we don't do anything. But it means that we don't carry the stress of trying to keep God from being angry with us. If we are a believer, then we are accepted because of what Christ has done for us and we can rest in that.

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 3:14

Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

Perseverance is an important Scriptural principle. Those whom God saves, He keeps. It's His power that keeps us. As Jesus says in John 10:28-29 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand."



The writer of the book of Hebrews is explaining that holding our confidence steadfast to the end is the sure sign that God has actually saved us. It is not saying that we must hold on to the faith at all costs that we don't allow ourselves to be lost. He is saying that maintaining our confidence is proof of our salvation.



If you would like to see the entire list of recommended verses from Hebrews to memorize in 2013, check here.

We've also produced a Bible study guide on the book of Hebrews you may be interested in. You can find it here.

Questions, Questions, Questions - Luke 9:25

Luke 9:25: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” 

This is another installment in my on again off again series on questions in the Bible. Today we look at a question Jesus posed in Luke 9:25: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” The parallel verse in Matthew 16:26 reads this way: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus' question in Luke comes after explaining what is required of those who want to follow him. In verse 23 he says first of all a person should “deny himself.” It doesn't say to deny oneself something as in denying oneself chocolate. It says we are to deny ourselves. This is extremely difficult because by nature we are focused on ourselves and have a desire to make sure we have everything we need and want. Our focus is on ourselves most of the time. But what Jesus wants us to understand is that we need to give up on that approach to life and focus on him and his mission in the world.

The second thing Jesus says we need to do if we want to follow him is to take up our cross. Often people will say things like, “My husband is difficult to live with. He's my cross to bear.” Or someone may say that their illness is their cross to bear. I don't think that is what Jesus is saying here. The cross was not merely a burden when Jesus carried his, but it was the instrument of execution. Jesus is basically asking us to die to ourselves. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:31 says, “I die daily.” What he means by that is that he is giving up on his own rights and desires in order to serve Christ.

I can't go into all of the details here, but God sees Christians as being in Christ and having died with him. Because of that, we should consider ourselves dead to sin, the world, and our own agenda. In 2 Corinthians 5:15 Paul says it this way, “If one died for all then all died and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” In other words Jesus Christ “took the bullet” for us when he died on the cross. We now owe him everything. So our lives should not be focused on us but on him.

Finally he says that this approach should be a daily occurence. The Bible is very practical in that it describes many actions that we are to carry out daily. God understands that we cannot live our entire lives at once. It is a day-to-day thing. So each day we must consider ourselves dead to sin, dead to the attractions of the world, and dead to our own desire to be the center. We are to rather focus on what would bring God glory and advance his agenda in the world.

He emphasizes his point in verse 24 when he tells us that whoever would save his life will lose it. And, whoever loses his life for Christ's sake and for the gospel's sake will keep it. That's a pretty strong distinction. It's one that Jesus says in another place we should think seriously about and count the cost.

So back to the question: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” The answer of course is that there is no profit in gaining everything else but losing oneself or ones soul. The way to avoid losing ones soul is to stop seeking our own way, turn to Christ, trust him and commit ourselves to being his follower. In response to that faith God promises to save our souls and grant us the gift of eternal life. It can't be earned or worked for, but must be received by faith.

Memorization Monday - Hebrews 3:12-13

Heb 3:12-13 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

I see a couple of important things in these verses. First, there is the warning to the brethren. I take that to mean fellow Christians. Now I don't believe that a true believer can ultimately fall from grace, but on the other hand, this is a pretty strong warning. It's a warning to be careful that we don't have an evil heart of unbelief. We shouldn't just presume upon God's grace with the plan that we can be disobedient and unbelieving.

Second, God calls an unbelieving heart an evil heart. Unbelief is the chiefest of evils. It is the evil that says to God, "I don't believe you are who you say you are and I don't believe you have the right to tell me how to live."

Third, I see the importance of the body. We are to encourage one another each day. Sin is deceitful and has a hardening effect on our lives and we need to be there for each other to help motivate one another to avoid sin and its effects on our lives.

If you would like to see the entire list of recommended verses from Hebrews to memorize in 2013, check here.

We've also produced a Bible study guide on the book of Hebrews you may be interested in. You can find it here.

Hymn of the Week - Wounded for Me

 Wounded for Me

Wounded for me, wounded for me,
There on the cross He was wounded for me;
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.

Risen for me, risen for me,
Up from the grave He has risen for me;
Now evermore from death's sting I am free,
All because Jesus has risen for me.

Living for me, living for me,
Up in the skies He is living for me;
Daily He's pleading and praying for me,
All because Jesus is living for me.

Coming for me, coming for me,
Soon in the air He is coming for me;
Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
Oh, how I praise Him! He's coming for me.

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/miscellaneouslyrics/christianlyrics/woundedformewoundedformelyrics.html