I don't know about you, but I appreciate the Bible's presentation of the truth. I was reading through the book of I Kings and came across the passage below and I was given pause by the logical force of Elijah's statement. It is inspiring, encouraging, and good to hear the truth about who God is and that He alone is to be worshiped. This message, I believe, is the message we are to tell the world. We should not be afraid to tell people that there is one God, the God of the Bible, and He alone is worthy of worship.
I Kings 18:21: "And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word."
Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
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On a similar note, our church is going through the book of Numbers right now on Sunday evenings. And, this same idea about honoring the truth of God's Word and not being afraid to proclaim it as perfect and true struck me as we discusseded a difficult passage in Numbers 5:11-31. There, the Lord instructs Moses about what to do if a man doubts his wife's marital integrity. The Lord gives very specific and extraordinary instructions about how to test the woman's faithfulness (e.g. having her drink water mixed with dust from the floor of the tabernacle...). Does this sound strange? Yes (though I'd be very careful about qualifying that statement). Does it sound like something our culture would be disgusted at? Without a doubt. Is it God's Word and thus true and perfect and lovely? Yes! And, thus we should not shy away from such passages, or be anxious or afraid to speak about them with unbelievers and those who mock the Word of God. And, we should not try to adapt this passage or any other to our contemporary culture or to the standards of men so that this passage or any other will sound more attractive in some way to them. But, we should say, "this is God's Word and it is beautiful and a precious gift and I would not change it for my life!" (For purposes of space, I didn't take up all the other great points that could be made about this passage from Numbers, but we talked about much of it Sunday evening...)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Experiencing Revival?
I have been reading Sinclair Ferguson's In Christ Alone to prepare for teaching the person and work of Christ. He includes Jonathan Edwards' five marks of true revival. I thought they would be worth mentioning as a standard for us to measure ourselves against.
1. A high esteem for Christ.
2. The overthrow of Satan's kingdom in our hearts.
3. A reverent view of, and close attention to, God's Word in Scripture.
4. The presence of the Spirit of truth convincing us of the reality of eternity and the depth of our sin and need.
5. A deep love for both God and man.
So, are you experiencing revival?
1. A high esteem for Christ.
2. The overthrow of Satan's kingdom in our hearts.
3. A reverent view of, and close attention to, God's Word in Scripture.
4. The presence of the Spirit of truth convincing us of the reality of eternity and the depth of our sin and need.
5. A deep love for both God and man.
So, are you experiencing revival?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Christians are the richest men in the world!
From Thomas Brooks's Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, p.73-74:
"Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That the wants of wicked men, under all their outward mercy and freedom from adversity, is far greater than all their outward enjoyments..."
Rich men have worldy riches, but this is not what they truly desire. Brooks tells us why:
"Yet all this is nothing to what they want. They want interest in God, Christ, the Spirit, the promises, the covenant of grace, and everlasting glory; they want acceptation and reconciliation with God; they want righteousness, justification, sanctification, adoption, and redemption; they want the pardon of sin, and power against sin, and freedom from the dominion of sin; they want that favour that is better than life, and that joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, and that peace that passes understanding, and that grace, the least spark of which is more worth than heaven and earth; they want a house that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; they want those riches that perish not, the glory that fades not, that kingdom that shakes not. Wicked men are the most needy men in the world..."
Brothers, we have these riches in Christ! Praise, God we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places... (Read Eph. 1:3-14)
Blessings,
Steve
"Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That the wants of wicked men, under all their outward mercy and freedom from adversity, is far greater than all their outward enjoyments..."
Rich men have worldy riches, but this is not what they truly desire. Brooks tells us why:
"Yet all this is nothing to what they want. They want interest in God, Christ, the Spirit, the promises, the covenant of grace, and everlasting glory; they want acceptation and reconciliation with God; they want righteousness, justification, sanctification, adoption, and redemption; they want the pardon of sin, and power against sin, and freedom from the dominion of sin; they want that favour that is better than life, and that joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, and that peace that passes understanding, and that grace, the least spark of which is more worth than heaven and earth; they want a house that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; they want those riches that perish not, the glory that fades not, that kingdom that shakes not. Wicked men are the most needy men in the world..."
Brothers, we have these riches in Christ! Praise, God we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places... (Read Eph. 1:3-14)
Blessings,
Steve
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
An Encouraging Word of Gratitude in Prayer
I read this passage from Scripture during my personal devotions several days ago. I spent some time then meditating on it. Take a moment and reflect on what David says about our God (v.22 "there is none like You...", v.26 "let your name be magnified forever," v.28 "You are God and Your words are true," etc.)
II Samuel 7:18 - 29: David’s Thanksgiving to God
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20 Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. 21 For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. 22 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD.[c] For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? 24 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. 25 “Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. 26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. 28 “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
I also want to invite you to share a passage from your own personal devotions that has been encouraging to you in the past few days or so. I know it would be encouraging to me and I'm sure to others to hear how the Lord has spoken to us from His Word this week. So post a comment with the passage of Scripture that the Lord has used this week to edify your mind and encourage your heart!
Blessings,
Steve
II Samuel 7:18 - 29: David’s Thanksgiving to God
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20 Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. 21 For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. 22 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD.[c] For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? 24 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. 25 “Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. 26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. 28 “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
I also want to invite you to share a passage from your own personal devotions that has been encouraging to you in the past few days or so. I know it would be encouraging to me and I'm sure to others to hear how the Lord has spoken to us from His Word this week. So post a comment with the passage of Scripture that the Lord has used this week to edify your mind and encourage your heart!
Blessings,
Steve
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Consider Your "Small" Sins
This is "Device 3" that "Satan uses to draw the soul to sin," described by Thomas Brooks in "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices." It is a very good word to consider! (I know it looks long, but its about a 10 mintue read, tops.)
DEVICE 3. BY EXTENUATING AND LESSENING OF SIN
Ah! says Satan, it is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness, etc. As Lot said of Zoar, "It is but a little one, and my soul shall live" (Gen. 19:20). Alas! says Satan, it is but a very little sin that you stick so at. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.
Remedy (1). First, Solemnly consider, that those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God, as the eating of an apple, gathering a few sticks on the Sabbath day, and touching of the ark. Oh! the dreadful wrath that these sins brought down upon the heads and hearts of men! The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore it is often punished severely by God; and do not we see daily the vengeance of the Almighty falling upon the bodies, names, states, families, and souls of men—for those sins that are but little ones in their eyes? Surely if we are not utterly forsaken by God, and blinded by Satan—we cannot but see it! Oh! therefore, when Satan says it is but a little one—you must say, Oh! but those sins which you call little, are such as will cause God to rain hell out of heaven upon sinners as he did upon the Sodomites!
Remedy (2). Seriously to consider, That the giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater sin. He who, to avoid a greater sin, will yield to a lesser, ten thousand to one but God in justice will leave that soul to fall into a greater. If we commit one sin to avoid another, it is just we should avoid neither, we having not law nor power in our own hands to keep off sin as we please; and we, by yielding to the lesser, do tempt the tempter to tempt us to the greater. Sin is of an encroaching nature; it creeps on the soul by degrees, step by step, until it has the soul to the very height of sin. David gives way to his wandering eye, and this led him to those foul sins that caused God to break his bones, and to turn his day into night, and to leave his soul in great darkness. Jacob and Peter, and other saints, have found this true by woeful experience, that the yielding to a lesser sin has been the ushering in of a greater. The little thief will open the door, and make way for the greater; and the little wedge knocked in, will make way for the greater.
Satan will first draw you to sit with the drunkard, and then to sip with the drunkard, and then at last to be drunk with the drunkard. He will first draw you to be unclean in your thoughts, and then to be unclean in your looks, and then to be unclean in your words, and at last to be unclean in your practices. He will first draw you to look upon the golden wedge, and then to desire the golden wedge, and then to handle the golden wedge, and then at last by wicked ways to take the golden wedge, though you run the hazard of losing God and your soul forever; as you may see in Gehazi, Achan, and Judas, and many in these our days. Sin is never at a stand-still (Psalm 1:1), first ungodly, then sinners, then scorners. Here they go on from sin to sin, until they come to the top of sin, that is, to sit in the seat of scorners.
By all this we see, that the yielding to lesser sins, draws the soul to the committing of greater. Ah! how many in these days have fallen, first to have low thoughts of Scripture and ordinances, and then to slight Scripture and ordinances, and then to make a nose of wax of Scripture and ordinances, and then to cast off Scripture and ordinances, and then at last to advance and lift up themselves, and their Christ-dishonoring and soul-damning opinions, above Scripture and ordinances.
Sin gains upon man's soul by insensible degrees. "The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talking is mischievous madness." (Eccles. 10:13) Corruption in the heart, when it breaks forth, is like a breach in the sea, which begins in a narrow passage, until it eats through, and cast down all before it. The debates of the soul are quick, and soon ended; and that may be done in a moment that may undo a man forever. When a man has begun to sin, he knows not where, or when, or how he shall make a stop of sin. Usually the soul goes on from evil to evil, from folly to folly, until it is ripe for eternal misery!
Remedy (3). The third remedy against this third device that Satan has to draw the soul to sin, is solemnly to consider, That it is sad to sin against God for a trifle. Dives would not give a crumb, therefore he should not receive a drop (Luke 16:21). It is the greatest folly in the world—to adventure the going to hell for a small matter. "I tasted but a little honey," said Jonathan, "and I must die" (1 Sam. 14:29). It is a most unkind and unfaithful thing to break with God, for a little. Little sins carry with them but little temptations to sin, and then a man shows most viciousness and unkindness, when he sins on a little temptation. It is devilish to sin without a temptation; it is little less than devilish to sin on a little occasion. The less the temptation is to sin—the greater is that sin. Saul's sin in not waiting for Samuel, was not so much in the matter—but it was much in the malice of it; for though Samuel had not come at all, yet Saul should not have offered sacrifice; but this cost him dear—his soul and kingdom.
It is the greatest unkindness that can be showed to a friend, to venture the complaining, bleeding, and grieving of his soul—upon a light and a slight occasion. So it is the greatest unkindness that can be showed to God, Christ, and the Spirit, for a soul to put God upon complaining, Christ upon bleeding, and the Spirit upon grieving—by yielding to little sins. Therefore, when Satan says it is but a little one, you must answer—that oftentimes there is the greatest unkindness showed to God's glorious majesty, in the acting of the least folly, and therefore you will not displease your best and greatest friend—by yielding to his greatest enemy.
Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan, is seriously to consider, That there is great danger, yes, many times most danger—in the smallest sins. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). If the serpent sneaks in his head, he will draw in his whole body after him. Greater sins do sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul. There is oftentimes greatest danger to our bodies in the least diseases that hang upon us, because we are apt to make light of them, and to neglect the timely use of means for removing of them, until they are grown so strong that they prove mortal to us. So there is most danger often in the least sins.
We are apt to take no notice of them, and to neglect those heavenly helps whereby they should be weakened and destroyed, until they are grown to that strength, that we are ready to cry out, the medicine is too weak for the disease! I would pray, and I would hear—but I am afraid that sin is grown up by degrees to such a head, that I shall never be able to prevail over it; but as I have begun to fall, so I shall utterly fall before it, and at last perish in it, unless the power and free grace of Christ acts gloriously, beyond my present apprehension and expectation. The viper is killed by the little young ones that are nourished and cherished in her belly—so are many men eternally killed and betrayed by the little sins, as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.
I know not, says one, whether the nurture of the least sin be not worse than the commission of the greatest—for this may be of frailty, that argues obstinacy. A little hole in the ship sinks it. A small breach in a dyke carries away all before it. A little stab at the heart kills a man. A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man!
Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan, is solemnly to consider, That other saints have chosen to suffer the worst of torments, rather than commit the least sin, that is, such as the world accounts little sins. So as you may see in Daniel and his companions, that would rather choose to burn, and be cast to the lions—than they would bow to the idol which Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When this 'slight offense', in the world's account, and a hot fiery furnace stood in competition, that they must either fall into sin, or be cast into the fiery furnace—such was their tenderness of the honor and glory of God, and their hatred and indignation against sin, that they would rather burn than sin! They knew that it was far better to burn for their not sinning, than that God and conscience should raise a hell, a fire in their bosoms for sin.
I have read of that noble servant of God, Marcus Arethusius, minister of a church in the time of Constantine, who had been the cause of overthrowing an idol's temple; afterwards, when Julian came to be emperor, he would force the people of that place to build it up again. They were ready to do it—but Marcus refused; whereupon those who were his own people, to whom he preached, took him, and stripped him of all his clothes, and abused his naked body, and gave it up to the children, to lance it with their pen-knives, and then caused him to be put in a basket, and drenched his naked body with honey, and set him in the sun, to be stung with wasps. And all this cruelty they showed, because he would not do anything towards the building up of this idol temple! No, they came to this, that if he would do but the least towards it, if he would give but a half-penny to it, they would save him. But he refused all, though the giving of a half-penny might have saved his life; and in doing this, he did but live up to that principle that most Christians talk of, and all profess—but few come up to, that is—that we must choose rather to suffer the worst of torments that men and devils can invent and inflict, than to commit the least sin whereby God should be dishonored, our consciences wounded, religion reproached, and our own souls endangered.
Remedy (6). The sixth remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That the soul is never able to stand under the guilt and weight of the least sin, when God shall set it home upon the soul. The least sin will press and sink the stoutest sinner as low as hell, when God shall open the eyes of a sinner, and make him see the horrid filthiness and abominable vileness that is in sin! What so little, base, and vile creatures—as lice or gnats—and yet by these little poor creatures, God so plagued stout-hearted Pharaoh, and all Egypt, that, fainting under it, they were forced to cry out, "This is the finger of God!" (Exod. 8:16; 10. 19). When little creatures, yes, the least creatures, shall be armed with a power from God, they shall press and sink down the greatest, proudest, and stoutest tyrants who breathe!
So when God shall cast a sword into the hand of a little sin, and arm it against the soul, the soul will faint and fall under it. Some, who have but contemplated adultery, without any actual acting it; and others, having found a trifle, and made no conscience to restore it, knowing, by the light of natural conscience, that they did not do as they would be done by; and others, that have had some unworthy thought of God, have been so frightened, amazed, and terrified for those sins, which are small in men's account, that they have wished they had never been born; that they could take no delight in any earthly comfort, that they have been put to their wits' end, ready to make away themselves, wishing themselves annihilated.
William Perkins mentions a good man—but very poor, who, being ready to starve, stole a lamb, and being about to eat it with his poor children, and as his manner was afore eating, to ask God's blessing, dare not do it—but fell into a great perplexity of conscience, and acknowledged his fault to the owner, promising payment if ever he should be able.
Remedy (7). The seventh remedy against this device is, solemnly to consider, That there is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction; and this appears as clear as the sun, by the severe dealing of God the Father with his beloved Son, who let all the vials of his fiercest wrath upon him, and that for the least sin as well as for the greatest.
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23); of ALL sin, whether great or small, Oh! how should this make us tremble—as much at the least spark of lust as at hell itself; considering that God the Father would not spare his bosom Son, no, not for the least sin—but would make him drink the dregs of his wrath!
And so much for the remedies that may fence and preserve our souls from being drawn to sin by this third device of Satan.
DEVICE 3. BY EXTENUATING AND LESSENING OF SIN
Ah! says Satan, it is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness, etc. As Lot said of Zoar, "It is but a little one, and my soul shall live" (Gen. 19:20). Alas! says Satan, it is but a very little sin that you stick so at. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.
Remedy (1). First, Solemnly consider, that those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God, as the eating of an apple, gathering a few sticks on the Sabbath day, and touching of the ark. Oh! the dreadful wrath that these sins brought down upon the heads and hearts of men! The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore it is often punished severely by God; and do not we see daily the vengeance of the Almighty falling upon the bodies, names, states, families, and souls of men—for those sins that are but little ones in their eyes? Surely if we are not utterly forsaken by God, and blinded by Satan—we cannot but see it! Oh! therefore, when Satan says it is but a little one—you must say, Oh! but those sins which you call little, are such as will cause God to rain hell out of heaven upon sinners as he did upon the Sodomites!
Remedy (2). Seriously to consider, That the giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater sin. He who, to avoid a greater sin, will yield to a lesser, ten thousand to one but God in justice will leave that soul to fall into a greater. If we commit one sin to avoid another, it is just we should avoid neither, we having not law nor power in our own hands to keep off sin as we please; and we, by yielding to the lesser, do tempt the tempter to tempt us to the greater. Sin is of an encroaching nature; it creeps on the soul by degrees, step by step, until it has the soul to the very height of sin. David gives way to his wandering eye, and this led him to those foul sins that caused God to break his bones, and to turn his day into night, and to leave his soul in great darkness. Jacob and Peter, and other saints, have found this true by woeful experience, that the yielding to a lesser sin has been the ushering in of a greater. The little thief will open the door, and make way for the greater; and the little wedge knocked in, will make way for the greater.
Satan will first draw you to sit with the drunkard, and then to sip with the drunkard, and then at last to be drunk with the drunkard. He will first draw you to be unclean in your thoughts, and then to be unclean in your looks, and then to be unclean in your words, and at last to be unclean in your practices. He will first draw you to look upon the golden wedge, and then to desire the golden wedge, and then to handle the golden wedge, and then at last by wicked ways to take the golden wedge, though you run the hazard of losing God and your soul forever; as you may see in Gehazi, Achan, and Judas, and many in these our days. Sin is never at a stand-still (Psalm 1:1), first ungodly, then sinners, then scorners. Here they go on from sin to sin, until they come to the top of sin, that is, to sit in the seat of scorners.
By all this we see, that the yielding to lesser sins, draws the soul to the committing of greater. Ah! how many in these days have fallen, first to have low thoughts of Scripture and ordinances, and then to slight Scripture and ordinances, and then to make a nose of wax of Scripture and ordinances, and then to cast off Scripture and ordinances, and then at last to advance and lift up themselves, and their Christ-dishonoring and soul-damning opinions, above Scripture and ordinances.
Sin gains upon man's soul by insensible degrees. "The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talking is mischievous madness." (Eccles. 10:13) Corruption in the heart, when it breaks forth, is like a breach in the sea, which begins in a narrow passage, until it eats through, and cast down all before it. The debates of the soul are quick, and soon ended; and that may be done in a moment that may undo a man forever. When a man has begun to sin, he knows not where, or when, or how he shall make a stop of sin. Usually the soul goes on from evil to evil, from folly to folly, until it is ripe for eternal misery!
Remedy (3). The third remedy against this third device that Satan has to draw the soul to sin, is solemnly to consider, That it is sad to sin against God for a trifle. Dives would not give a crumb, therefore he should not receive a drop (Luke 16:21). It is the greatest folly in the world—to adventure the going to hell for a small matter. "I tasted but a little honey," said Jonathan, "and I must die" (1 Sam. 14:29). It is a most unkind and unfaithful thing to break with God, for a little. Little sins carry with them but little temptations to sin, and then a man shows most viciousness and unkindness, when he sins on a little temptation. It is devilish to sin without a temptation; it is little less than devilish to sin on a little occasion. The less the temptation is to sin—the greater is that sin. Saul's sin in not waiting for Samuel, was not so much in the matter—but it was much in the malice of it; for though Samuel had not come at all, yet Saul should not have offered sacrifice; but this cost him dear—his soul and kingdom.
It is the greatest unkindness that can be showed to a friend, to venture the complaining, bleeding, and grieving of his soul—upon a light and a slight occasion. So it is the greatest unkindness that can be showed to God, Christ, and the Spirit, for a soul to put God upon complaining, Christ upon bleeding, and the Spirit upon grieving—by yielding to little sins. Therefore, when Satan says it is but a little one, you must answer—that oftentimes there is the greatest unkindness showed to God's glorious majesty, in the acting of the least folly, and therefore you will not displease your best and greatest friend—by yielding to his greatest enemy.
Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan, is seriously to consider, That there is great danger, yes, many times most danger—in the smallest sins. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). If the serpent sneaks in his head, he will draw in his whole body after him. Greater sins do sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul. There is oftentimes greatest danger to our bodies in the least diseases that hang upon us, because we are apt to make light of them, and to neglect the timely use of means for removing of them, until they are grown so strong that they prove mortal to us. So there is most danger often in the least sins.
We are apt to take no notice of them, and to neglect those heavenly helps whereby they should be weakened and destroyed, until they are grown to that strength, that we are ready to cry out, the medicine is too weak for the disease! I would pray, and I would hear—but I am afraid that sin is grown up by degrees to such a head, that I shall never be able to prevail over it; but as I have begun to fall, so I shall utterly fall before it, and at last perish in it, unless the power and free grace of Christ acts gloriously, beyond my present apprehension and expectation. The viper is killed by the little young ones that are nourished and cherished in her belly—so are many men eternally killed and betrayed by the little sins, as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.
I know not, says one, whether the nurture of the least sin be not worse than the commission of the greatest—for this may be of frailty, that argues obstinacy. A little hole in the ship sinks it. A small breach in a dyke carries away all before it. A little stab at the heart kills a man. A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man!
Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan, is solemnly to consider, That other saints have chosen to suffer the worst of torments, rather than commit the least sin, that is, such as the world accounts little sins. So as you may see in Daniel and his companions, that would rather choose to burn, and be cast to the lions—than they would bow to the idol which Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When this 'slight offense', in the world's account, and a hot fiery furnace stood in competition, that they must either fall into sin, or be cast into the fiery furnace—such was their tenderness of the honor and glory of God, and their hatred and indignation against sin, that they would rather burn than sin! They knew that it was far better to burn for their not sinning, than that God and conscience should raise a hell, a fire in their bosoms for sin.
I have read of that noble servant of God, Marcus Arethusius, minister of a church in the time of Constantine, who had been the cause of overthrowing an idol's temple; afterwards, when Julian came to be emperor, he would force the people of that place to build it up again. They were ready to do it—but Marcus refused; whereupon those who were his own people, to whom he preached, took him, and stripped him of all his clothes, and abused his naked body, and gave it up to the children, to lance it with their pen-knives, and then caused him to be put in a basket, and drenched his naked body with honey, and set him in the sun, to be stung with wasps. And all this cruelty they showed, because he would not do anything towards the building up of this idol temple! No, they came to this, that if he would do but the least towards it, if he would give but a half-penny to it, they would save him. But he refused all, though the giving of a half-penny might have saved his life; and in doing this, he did but live up to that principle that most Christians talk of, and all profess—but few come up to, that is—that we must choose rather to suffer the worst of torments that men and devils can invent and inflict, than to commit the least sin whereby God should be dishonored, our consciences wounded, religion reproached, and our own souls endangered.
Remedy (6). The sixth remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That the soul is never able to stand under the guilt and weight of the least sin, when God shall set it home upon the soul. The least sin will press and sink the stoutest sinner as low as hell, when God shall open the eyes of a sinner, and make him see the horrid filthiness and abominable vileness that is in sin! What so little, base, and vile creatures—as lice or gnats—and yet by these little poor creatures, God so plagued stout-hearted Pharaoh, and all Egypt, that, fainting under it, they were forced to cry out, "This is the finger of God!" (Exod. 8:16; 10. 19). When little creatures, yes, the least creatures, shall be armed with a power from God, they shall press and sink down the greatest, proudest, and stoutest tyrants who breathe!
So when God shall cast a sword into the hand of a little sin, and arm it against the soul, the soul will faint and fall under it. Some, who have but contemplated adultery, without any actual acting it; and others, having found a trifle, and made no conscience to restore it, knowing, by the light of natural conscience, that they did not do as they would be done by; and others, that have had some unworthy thought of God, have been so frightened, amazed, and terrified for those sins, which are small in men's account, that they have wished they had never been born; that they could take no delight in any earthly comfort, that they have been put to their wits' end, ready to make away themselves, wishing themselves annihilated.
William Perkins mentions a good man—but very poor, who, being ready to starve, stole a lamb, and being about to eat it with his poor children, and as his manner was afore eating, to ask God's blessing, dare not do it—but fell into a great perplexity of conscience, and acknowledged his fault to the owner, promising payment if ever he should be able.
Remedy (7). The seventh remedy against this device is, solemnly to consider, That there is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction; and this appears as clear as the sun, by the severe dealing of God the Father with his beloved Son, who let all the vials of his fiercest wrath upon him, and that for the least sin as well as for the greatest.
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23); of ALL sin, whether great or small, Oh! how should this make us tremble—as much at the least spark of lust as at hell itself; considering that God the Father would not spare his bosom Son, no, not for the least sin—but would make him drink the dregs of his wrath!
And so much for the remedies that may fence and preserve our souls from being drawn to sin by this third device of Satan.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Original Sin - Some Ruminations
In reading the chapter on "Original Sin" in the Piper and Taylor volume, "A God Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards," I've learned many new things. One of those things that prompted a brief, and surely inept, "theological flurry" was the remark that Edwards and Calvin disagreed (though to keep this fact in right perspective, I should call it a "minor" disagreement) regarding Adam's condition before the fall.
I invite comments and questions with the hope that we could develop a robust theological discussion.
My thoughts: "It seems to me that Edwards argument for Adam's original state as "original righteousness" is right as opposed to Calvin's description of Adam as "weak, frail and liable to fall." The question, however, that gets at the heart of the debate regards the nature of man given to Adam and Adam's posterity. It would seem hard to admit that Adam was "weak and frail," admitting then some defect in his nature, since we can claim (and I assume it here without argument) that God is not the author of evil. In other words, Adam was not created with a "weak" or "sinful" disposition, but as Edwards puts it "a righteous disposition." But neither can we assume that Adam was perfect in his nature because we are clearly presented with his sin and "the fall of man" in Adam. I believe then that the point of clarification regarding Adam's original nature, and Adam's posterity or all subsequent humanity, is found in the distinction between Creator and creature. Being created by virtue of its plain sense meaning shows not neceassarily imperfection, but (and here is where Calvin convinces me that Adam was "liable to sin"), that the perfection of anything created requires that the creature partake in the only source of perfection, the Creator. This seems to be common-sensical logic that Christians can admit to, namely that something perfect in all respects has no dependence upon another. Hence, God is perfectly self-sufficient and self-satisfied and in need of no other for any reason. Adam and all men, however, being created are thus inherently dependent. They can't by the very reason given above be dependent upon other creatures for their satisfaction and thus must be dependent upon their Creator. Adam's sin then and thus the sin inherited by all men is a result of their nature, namely that they are utterly dependent. Adam then was created without sin, but to continue in such a state he had to remain perfectly and wholly dependent on God. Adam's sin in the garden then reveals his nature, reiterating, namely that he was created. He could never have remained completely dependent upon God because truly complete dependence admits of perfection in that very dependence and creatures by definition possess perfection in no respect. Thus, Adam was never able to save himself so to speak by willing his own perfect dependence upon God, but required as all men do a Savior. Thus, God tells Adams and all men in Genesis 3:15 that salvation will come through Christ. By reflecting on Adam's sin and our own sin nature, we also make sense of God's plan of redemption as revealed in Scripture. Jesus Christ, not being created, but eternally begotten of the Father, is the only man (literally the Word made flesh, God incarnate, being both God and man) to reveal in his life, death and resurrection, a perfect obedience to God and thus the right to the "name above every name" and to stand as the mediator between man and God."
I would appreciate others thoughts.
I invite comments and questions with the hope that we could develop a robust theological discussion.
My thoughts: "It seems to me that Edwards argument for Adam's original state as "original righteousness" is right as opposed to Calvin's description of Adam as "weak, frail and liable to fall." The question, however, that gets at the heart of the debate regards the nature of man given to Adam and Adam's posterity. It would seem hard to admit that Adam was "weak and frail," admitting then some defect in his nature, since we can claim (and I assume it here without argument) that God is not the author of evil. In other words, Adam was not created with a "weak" or "sinful" disposition, but as Edwards puts it "a righteous disposition." But neither can we assume that Adam was perfect in his nature because we are clearly presented with his sin and "the fall of man" in Adam. I believe then that the point of clarification regarding Adam's original nature, and Adam's posterity or all subsequent humanity, is found in the distinction between Creator and creature. Being created by virtue of its plain sense meaning shows not neceassarily imperfection, but (and here is where Calvin convinces me that Adam was "liable to sin"), that the perfection of anything created requires that the creature partake in the only source of perfection, the Creator. This seems to be common-sensical logic that Christians can admit to, namely that something perfect in all respects has no dependence upon another. Hence, God is perfectly self-sufficient and self-satisfied and in need of no other for any reason. Adam and all men, however, being created are thus inherently dependent. They can't by the very reason given above be dependent upon other creatures for their satisfaction and thus must be dependent upon their Creator. Adam's sin then and thus the sin inherited by all men is a result of their nature, namely that they are utterly dependent. Adam then was created without sin, but to continue in such a state he had to remain perfectly and wholly dependent on God. Adam's sin in the garden then reveals his nature, reiterating, namely that he was created. He could never have remained completely dependent upon God because truly complete dependence admits of perfection in that very dependence and creatures by definition possess perfection in no respect. Thus, Adam was never able to save himself so to speak by willing his own perfect dependence upon God, but required as all men do a Savior. Thus, God tells Adams and all men in Genesis 3:15 that salvation will come through Christ. By reflecting on Adam's sin and our own sin nature, we also make sense of God's plan of redemption as revealed in Scripture. Jesus Christ, not being created, but eternally begotten of the Father, is the only man (literally the Word made flesh, God incarnate, being both God and man) to reveal in his life, death and resurrection, a perfect obedience to God and thus the right to the "name above every name" and to stand as the mediator between man and God."
I would appreciate others thoughts.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Prayer Challenge: Jonathan Edwards on Prayer
Thanks to Brian Overstreet for suggesting and also lending to me a copy of "A God Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards," edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor. I told Brian that I'd try to read a couple chapters by this Sunday when I present a lesson on the life of Jonthan Edwards. He gave me the book yesterday evening and I have read half of it already! In short, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the life and theology of Edwards.
The following excerpt is from a chapter by Don Whitney, "Pursuing a Passion for God Through Spiritual Disciplines." It concerns the spiritual discipline of prayer and so I thought it would be good to post in light of our "Prayer Challenge."
"Edwards was so devoted to prayer that it is hard to find a daily routine for him that wasn't permeated with it. He prayed alone when he arose, then had family prayer before breakfast. Prayer was a part of each meal, and he prayed again with the family in the evening. He prayed over his studies, and he prayed as he walked in the evenings. Prayer was both a discipline and a part of his leisure...
"Prayer was so essential to Edwards's Christianity that the idea of a Christian who did not pray was preposterous. Some of the most sobering words he ever spoke were directed toward those who claimed to be followers of Jesus but who never prayed in private. In his sermon on "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer," Edwards solemnly declared: 'I would exhort those who have entertained a hope of their being true converts - and who since their supposed conversion have left off the duty of secret prayer, and ordinarily allow themselves in the omission of it - to throw away their hope. If you have left off calling upon God, it is time for you to leave off hoping and flattering yourselves with an imagination that you are children of God.'...
"It seemed contrary to Edwards's understanding of Scripture that anyone could be indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who causes God's children to 'cry out Abba Father!' (Romans 8:15) and yet not cry out to the Father in regular private prayer. Edwards testifies that when a person has a passion for God, he prays."
The following excerpt is from a chapter by Don Whitney, "Pursuing a Passion for God Through Spiritual Disciplines." It concerns the spiritual discipline of prayer and so I thought it would be good to post in light of our "Prayer Challenge."
"Edwards was so devoted to prayer that it is hard to find a daily routine for him that wasn't permeated with it. He prayed alone when he arose, then had family prayer before breakfast. Prayer was a part of each meal, and he prayed again with the family in the evening. He prayed over his studies, and he prayed as he walked in the evenings. Prayer was both a discipline and a part of his leisure...
"Prayer was so essential to Edwards's Christianity that the idea of a Christian who did not pray was preposterous. Some of the most sobering words he ever spoke were directed toward those who claimed to be followers of Jesus but who never prayed in private. In his sermon on "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer," Edwards solemnly declared: 'I would exhort those who have entertained a hope of their being true converts - and who since their supposed conversion have left off the duty of secret prayer, and ordinarily allow themselves in the omission of it - to throw away their hope. If you have left off calling upon God, it is time for you to leave off hoping and flattering yourselves with an imagination that you are children of God.'...
"It seemed contrary to Edwards's understanding of Scripture that anyone could be indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who causes God's children to 'cry out Abba Father!' (Romans 8:15) and yet not cry out to the Father in regular private prayer. Edwards testifies that when a person has a passion for God, he prays."
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
On Family Worship
These quotes come from http://www.4familyreformation.org/index.htm.
IF thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety
All agree that masters of families who profess religion, and the fear of God themselves, should, according to the talents they are intrusted with, maintain and keep up religion and the fear of God in their families, 'as those that must give account…. Matthew Henry—A Church in the House
A godly man promotes religion in his family; he sets up piety in his house as well as in his heart…. A godly man's house is a little church…. A good man makes known the oracles of God to those who are under his roof. He reads the Word and perfumes his house with prayer. Thomas Watson—A Godly Man's Picture
This site has free downloads of some really good stuff like Puritan Paperbacks, some of JC Ryle's "Expository Thoughts on The Gospels" and other excellent reads.
Blessings,
Steve
IF thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety
All agree that masters of families who profess religion, and the fear of God themselves, should, according to the talents they are intrusted with, maintain and keep up religion and the fear of God in their families, 'as those that must give account…. Matthew Henry—A Church in the House
A godly man promotes religion in his family; he sets up piety in his house as well as in his heart…. A godly man's house is a little church…. A good man makes known the oracles of God to those who are under his roof. He reads the Word and perfumes his house with prayer. Thomas Watson—A Godly Man's Picture
This site has free downloads of some really good stuff like Puritan Paperbacks, some of JC Ryle's "Expository Thoughts on The Gospels" and other excellent reads.
Blessings,
Steve
"Never let go out of your minds the thoughts of a crucified Christ."
The title is taken from Remedy 4 below. Please read this excerpt from Thomas Brooks's "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices." It will take just a couple minutes, but it will profit your soul much!
DEVICE 2 By painting sin with virtue's colours. Satan knows that if he should present sin in its own nature and dress, the soul would rather fly from it than yield to it; and therefore he presents it unto us, not in its own proper colours, but painted and gilded over with the name and show of virtue, that we may the more easily be overcome by it, and take the more pleasure in committing of it. Pride, he presents to the soul under the name and notion of neatness and cleanliness, and covetousness (which the apostle condemns for idolatry) to be but good husbandry;12 and drunkenness to be good fellowship, and riotousness under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonness as a trick of youth.
Remedy (1). Consider, That sin is never a whit the less filthy, vile, and abominable, by its being coloured and painted with virtue's colours. A poisonous pill is never a whit the less poisonous because it is gilded over with gold; nor a wolf is never a whit the less a wolf because he hath put on a sheep's skin; nor the devil is never a whit the less a devil because he appears sometimes like an angel of light. So neither is sin any whit the less filthy and abominable by its being painted over with virtue's colours.
Remedy (4). Seriously to consider, That even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colours upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood of the Lord Jesus. That Christ should come from the eternal bosom of his Father to a region of sorrow and death; that God should be manifested in the flesh, the Creator made a creature; that he that was clothed with glory should be wrapped with rags of flesh; he that filled heaven and earth with his glory should be cradled in a manger; that the power of God should fly from weak man, the God of Israel into Egypt; that the God of the law should be subject to the law, the God of the circumcision circumcised, the God that made the heavens working at Joseph's homely trade; that he that binds the devils in chains should be tempted; that he, whose is the world, and the fullness thereof, should hunger and thirst; that the God of strength should be weary, the Judge of all flesh condemned, the God of life put to death; that he that is one with his Father should cry out of misery, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46); that he that had the keys of hell and death at his girdle should lie imprisoned in the sepulchre of another, having in his lifetime nowhere to lay his head, nor after death to lay his body; that that head, before which the angels do cast down their crowns, should be crowned with thorns, and those eyes, purer than the sun, put out by the darkness of death; those ears, which hear nothing but hallelujahs of saints and angels, to hear the blasphemies of the multitude; that face, that was fairer than the sons of men, to be spit on by those beastly wretched Jews; that mouth and tongue, that spake as never man spake, accused for blasphemy; those hands, that freely swayed the sceptre of heaven, nailed to the cross; those feet, "like unto fine brass," nailed to the cross for man's sins; each sense annoyed: his feeling or touching, with a spear and nails; his smell, with stinking flavour, being crucified about Golgotha, the place of skulls; his taste, with vinegar and gall; his hearing, with reproaches, and sight of his mother and disciples bemoaning him; his soul, comfortless and forsaken; and all this for those very sins that Satan paints and puts fine colours upon! Oh! how should the consideration of this stir up the soul against it, and work the soul to fly from it, and to use all holy means whereby sin may be subdued and destroyed!
After Julius Caesar was murdered, Antonius brought forth his coat, all bloody and cut, and laid it before the people, saying, "Look, here you have the emperor's coat thus bloody and torn": whereupon the people were presently in an uproar, and cried out to slay those murderers; and they took their tables and stools that were in the place, and set them on fire, and ran to the houses of them that had slain Caesar, and burnt them. So that when we consider that sin hath slain our Lord Jesus, ah, how should it provoke our hearts to be revenged on sin, that hath murdered the Lord of glory, and hath done that mischief that all the devils in hell could never have done?
It was good counsel one gave, "Never let go out of your minds the thoughts of a crucified Christ." Let these be meat and drink unto you; let them be your sweetness and consolation, your honey and your desire, your reading and your meditation, your life, death, and resurrection.
DEVICE 2 By painting sin with virtue's colours. Satan knows that if he should present sin in its own nature and dress, the soul would rather fly from it than yield to it; and therefore he presents it unto us, not in its own proper colours, but painted and gilded over with the name and show of virtue, that we may the more easily be overcome by it, and take the more pleasure in committing of it. Pride, he presents to the soul under the name and notion of neatness and cleanliness, and covetousness (which the apostle condemns for idolatry) to be but good husbandry;12 and drunkenness to be good fellowship, and riotousness under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonness as a trick of youth.
Remedy (1). Consider, That sin is never a whit the less filthy, vile, and abominable, by its being coloured and painted with virtue's colours. A poisonous pill is never a whit the less poisonous because it is gilded over with gold; nor a wolf is never a whit the less a wolf because he hath put on a sheep's skin; nor the devil is never a whit the less a devil because he appears sometimes like an angel of light. So neither is sin any whit the less filthy and abominable by its being painted over with virtue's colours.
Remedy (4). Seriously to consider, That even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colours upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood of the Lord Jesus. That Christ should come from the eternal bosom of his Father to a region of sorrow and death; that God should be manifested in the flesh, the Creator made a creature; that he that was clothed with glory should be wrapped with rags of flesh; he that filled heaven and earth with his glory should be cradled in a manger; that the power of God should fly from weak man, the God of Israel into Egypt; that the God of the law should be subject to the law, the God of the circumcision circumcised, the God that made the heavens working at Joseph's homely trade; that he that binds the devils in chains should be tempted; that he, whose is the world, and the fullness thereof, should hunger and thirst; that the God of strength should be weary, the Judge of all flesh condemned, the God of life put to death; that he that is one with his Father should cry out of misery, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46); that he that had the keys of hell and death at his girdle should lie imprisoned in the sepulchre of another, having in his lifetime nowhere to lay his head, nor after death to lay his body; that that head, before which the angels do cast down their crowns, should be crowned with thorns, and those eyes, purer than the sun, put out by the darkness of death; those ears, which hear nothing but hallelujahs of saints and angels, to hear the blasphemies of the multitude; that face, that was fairer than the sons of men, to be spit on by those beastly wretched Jews; that mouth and tongue, that spake as never man spake, accused for blasphemy; those hands, that freely swayed the sceptre of heaven, nailed to the cross; those feet, "like unto fine brass," nailed to the cross for man's sins; each sense annoyed: his feeling or touching, with a spear and nails; his smell, with stinking flavour, being crucified about Golgotha, the place of skulls; his taste, with vinegar and gall; his hearing, with reproaches, and sight of his mother and disciples bemoaning him; his soul, comfortless and forsaken; and all this for those very sins that Satan paints and puts fine colours upon! Oh! how should the consideration of this stir up the soul against it, and work the soul to fly from it, and to use all holy means whereby sin may be subdued and destroyed!
After Julius Caesar was murdered, Antonius brought forth his coat, all bloody and cut, and laid it before the people, saying, "Look, here you have the emperor's coat thus bloody and torn": whereupon the people were presently in an uproar, and cried out to slay those murderers; and they took their tables and stools that were in the place, and set them on fire, and ran to the houses of them that had slain Caesar, and burnt them. So that when we consider that sin hath slain our Lord Jesus, ah, how should it provoke our hearts to be revenged on sin, that hath murdered the Lord of glory, and hath done that mischief that all the devils in hell could never have done?
It was good counsel one gave, "Never let go out of your minds the thoughts of a crucified Christ." Let these be meat and drink unto you; let them be your sweetness and consolation, your honey and your desire, your reading and your meditation, your life, death, and resurrection.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Precious remedies against Satan's devices, Part Deux
The following is from Chapter 2, entitled "Satan's Devices to Draw The Soul To Sin":
(Notice how Brooks proceeds from one point to another with great logical precision. Each chapter is comprised of first a listing of a "device" used by Satan to entice believers and is then followed by several "remedies" for fighting against the "wiles of the devil." The entire book is done in this fashion.)
Satan's devices for "drawing the soul to sin."
Device I "To Present the bait and hide the hook; to present the golden cup and hide the poison; to present the sweet, the pleasure, and the profit that may flow in upon the soul by yielding to sin, and by hiding from the soul the wrath and misery that will certainly follow the committing of sin. By this device he took our first parents: 'And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know, that in the day yet eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil' (Gen 3:4-5)...giving them an apple in exchange for a paradise."
Remedy (I) "First, Keep at the greatest distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait that Satan holds forth to catch you; for this you have (Rom. 12.9), 'Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.'...The Greek word that is there rendered 'abhor,' is very significant; it signifies to hate it as hell itself, to hate it with horror."
Remedy (IV) "Seriously to consider, That sin is of a very deceitful and betwitching nature. Sin is from the greatest deceiver, it is a child of hiw own begetting, it is the ground of all the deceit in the world, and it is in it own nature exceeding deceitful. 'But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' Heb. 3:13 It will kiss the soul and pretend fair to the soul, and yet betray the soul forever. It will with Delilah smile upon us, that it may betray us into the hands of the devil, as she did Samson into the hands of the Philistines...
"When the physicians told Theotimus that except he did abstain from drunkeness and uncleanness he would lose his eyes, his heart was so bewitched to his sins, that he answered, 'Then farewell, sweet light'; he had rather lose his eyes than leave his sin. So a man bewitched with sin had rather lose God, Christ, heaven, and his own soul than part with his sin. Oh, therefore, forever take heed of playing with or nibbling at Satan's golden baits."
Look for more each day from Brooks's "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices."
(Notice how Brooks proceeds from one point to another with great logical precision. Each chapter is comprised of first a listing of a "device" used by Satan to entice believers and is then followed by several "remedies" for fighting against the "wiles of the devil." The entire book is done in this fashion.)
Satan's devices for "drawing the soul to sin."
Device I "To Present the bait and hide the hook; to present the golden cup and hide the poison; to present the sweet, the pleasure, and the profit that may flow in upon the soul by yielding to sin, and by hiding from the soul the wrath and misery that will certainly follow the committing of sin. By this device he took our first parents: 'And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know, that in the day yet eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil' (Gen 3:4-5)...giving them an apple in exchange for a paradise."
Remedy (I) "First, Keep at the greatest distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait that Satan holds forth to catch you; for this you have (Rom. 12.9), 'Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.'...The Greek word that is there rendered 'abhor,' is very significant; it signifies to hate it as hell itself, to hate it with horror."
Remedy (IV) "Seriously to consider, That sin is of a very deceitful and betwitching nature. Sin is from the greatest deceiver, it is a child of hiw own begetting, it is the ground of all the deceit in the world, and it is in it own nature exceeding deceitful. 'But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' Heb. 3:13 It will kiss the soul and pretend fair to the soul, and yet betray the soul forever. It will with Delilah smile upon us, that it may betray us into the hands of the devil, as she did Samson into the hands of the Philistines...
"When the physicians told Theotimus that except he did abstain from drunkeness and uncleanness he would lose his eyes, his heart was so bewitched to his sins, that he answered, 'Then farewell, sweet light'; he had rather lose his eyes than leave his sin. So a man bewitched with sin had rather lose God, Christ, heaven, and his own soul than part with his sin. Oh, therefore, forever take heed of playing with or nibbling at Satan's golden baits."
Look for more each day from Brooks's "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices."
Monday, August 11, 2008
"The Lord will not forsake His people..."
In my personal devotion I came across Samuel's exhortations to Israel in I Samuel 12:20-25:
20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
See verse 22, "For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people." The Israelites feared God for the sin of asking for a King. Samuel exhorts them, in much the same way that Thomas Brook exhorts believers in his "Precious remedies" not to run from the Lord because they fear Him, but to run to and cleave to Him. It was a great encouragement to me to meditate on the fact that though we often sin against God because of moments of unbelief, He never stops loving us (Romans 8:39), not even when we fail to love Him with all our "heart, soul, mind and strength."
Samuel says, in verse 21, "And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." When we go after things other than God, we "go after empty things." (Matthew 6:19-21) Meditating upon truths like this is what emboldens us to "overcome the world." (I John 5:4)
20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
See verse 22, "For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people." The Israelites feared God for the sin of asking for a King. Samuel exhorts them, in much the same way that Thomas Brook exhorts believers in his "Precious remedies" not to run from the Lord because they fear Him, but to run to and cleave to Him. It was a great encouragement to me to meditate on the fact that though we often sin against God because of moments of unbelief, He never stops loving us (Romans 8:39), not even when we fail to love Him with all our "heart, soul, mind and strength."
Samuel says, in verse 21, "And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." When we go after things other than God, we "go after empty things." (Matthew 6:19-21) Meditating upon truths like this is what emboldens us to "overcome the world." (I John 5:4)
Precious remedies against Satan's devices
I started reading this morning the Puritan Thomas Brooks's "Precious remedies against Satan's devices."
Here are a few select passages from Brooks's introduction:
"Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan's devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these, they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter."
"Beloved, Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from an angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others eternally miserable with himself...whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward. If David be proud of his people, Satan will provoke him to number them, that he may be yet prouder (II Sam. 24)."
"Reason 1" for Brooks's writing of this treatise: "Because Satan hath a greater influence upon men, and higher advantage over them than they think he hath, and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resisting, and happy in conquering."
"Remember, it is not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choisest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian. Know that it is not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happiest man. 'If you know these things, blessed and happy are you if you do them.'"(John 13:17)
Blessings,
Steve
Here are a few select passages from Brooks's introduction:
"Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan's devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these, they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter."
"Beloved, Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from an angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others eternally miserable with himself...whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward. If David be proud of his people, Satan will provoke him to number them, that he may be yet prouder (II Sam. 24)."
"Reason 1" for Brooks's writing of this treatise: "Because Satan hath a greater influence upon men, and higher advantage over them than they think he hath, and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resisting, and happy in conquering."
"Remember, it is not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choisest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian. Know that it is not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happiest man. 'If you know these things, blessed and happy are you if you do them.'"(John 13:17)
Blessings,
Steve
A Lesson on Discipline
While on vacation I learned an important lesson about discipline. Well, "learned" is not the right word since I already knew the lesson. "Experienced afresh" is more accurate. I experienced this lesson through two disciplines, Scripture memorization and running. I started a consistent routine of running back in April. I would run four times a week and I missed only a couple of runs. The plan was to slowly work up to running for 3o minutes straight. I accomplished the goal and was running for 35 minutes or so until my discipline became lax. After 3-4 weeks of inconsistent running, during my runs on vacation, I struggled to run for 25 minutes.
The need for consistency and perseverance in discipline also hit me hard with Scripture memorization. A couple of years ago at one point, I had James, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Romans memorized and was reciting each book once per week. Now, after an extended hiatus, I am trying to return to a more disciplined approach of review. However, getting everything back is a struggle. Was the memorization of these books helpful even if I don't have every verse in the tank now, one may ask? Yes, of course it was. I am much more familiar with the books and the memorization process allowed the Holy Spirit to influence me through hours of meditation.
My point of relating this experience is to say that discipline needs to be consistent and persistent. "Binge discipline," as I have heard it called leads to little fruit. Alternating between lengthy dry spells and short bursts of extreme discipline leaves one feeling frustrated. Discipline is best taken in daily smaller doses over a longer period of time. This tactic is certainly contrary to our instant gratification bent, but over the course of months and years, it will certainly pay off. So, let us have short term goals for our disciplines; but more importantly, let us have long term goals. Where will you be spiritually in 5 years? In ten years? In twenty years? Brothers, be consistent and be persistent.
The need for consistency and perseverance in discipline also hit me hard with Scripture memorization. A couple of years ago at one point, I had James, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Romans memorized and was reciting each book once per week. Now, after an extended hiatus, I am trying to return to a more disciplined approach of review. However, getting everything back is a struggle. Was the memorization of these books helpful even if I don't have every verse in the tank now, one may ask? Yes, of course it was. I am much more familiar with the books and the memorization process allowed the Holy Spirit to influence me through hours of meditation.
My point of relating this experience is to say that discipline needs to be consistent and persistent. "Binge discipline," as I have heard it called leads to little fruit. Alternating between lengthy dry spells and short bursts of extreme discipline leaves one feeling frustrated. Discipline is best taken in daily smaller doses over a longer period of time. This tactic is certainly contrary to our instant gratification bent, but over the course of months and years, it will certainly pay off. So, let us have short term goals for our disciplines; but more importantly, let us have long term goals. Where will you be spiritually in 5 years? In ten years? In twenty years? Brothers, be consistent and be persistent.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
How Goes the Battle?
Guys,
now that we are a few days into the "Prayer Challenge," I wanted to ask how is it going? Please share encouraging experiences you are having and any tips or advice you think might be of help to each other.
I want to make another general call to read Piper's sermon on Prayer. His theology of prayer is very biblical and thus very encouraging. He has some very good pratical points. One practical point that I took away was to break up my scheduled times of prayer throughout the day. In other words, 30 minutes of prayer each day can be broken into three ten minute sessions.
Blessings,
Steve
now that we are a few days into the "Prayer Challenge," I wanted to ask how is it going? Please share encouraging experiences you are having and any tips or advice you think might be of help to each other.
I want to make another general call to read Piper's sermon on Prayer. His theology of prayer is very biblical and thus very encouraging. He has some very good pratical points. One practical point that I took away was to break up my scheduled times of prayer throughout the day. In other words, 30 minutes of prayer each day can be broken into three ten minute sessions.
Blessings,
Steve
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Reflections on Judges 1-10
Hey guys,
I look forward to seeing everyone at worship tonight. If you haven't had a chance, read the sermon on prayer by John Piper that I posted. It has some good suggestions on making prayer a daily part of your walk with the Lord.
Here are a few reflections from the first half of the Book of Judges:
As Paul tells us in Romans 1, even pagans acknowledge God and His justice. Judges 1:7 "And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, SO GOD HAS REPAID ME.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. "
One can say without controversy, among believers, that the primary reason for Israel's defeats and sorrows in the days of the Judges is their disobedience to God's Word. Judges 2:10 "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel." How could this be? I think it would be safe to assume their fathers had failed to keep the Word of God in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
One theme from the words of Judges 2:10 which I want to impress on your heart and which I encourage you to comment on is the importance of knowing God. This pursuit should be the love of our life and the one thing above all else that we should be doing to God's glory.
Observe in Judges 6:1-2 the lack of freedom in the lives of God's people when they turn from Him. Remember that in Christ we have the Truth (John 14:6) and that Truth will set us free! (John 8:31-32) If the children of Israel would have been renewing their mind by the Word of God they would not have need to flee from their enemies and to build strongholds out of fear! (Look for a separate post on this idea...)
Lastly, I was struck by Gideon's use of the gold plundered from the Midianites. Judges 8:27 says, "Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house." I don't know about you, but this passage to me smacked of something like an ancient church "program." I see church programs as the idea that men must be "creative" in worship in order to motivate men to worship the Creator. Here Gideon takes to an idea of his own imagination rather than worshipping God as he had spoken plainly of in His Word.
I look forward to seeing everyone at worship tonight. If you haven't had a chance, read the sermon on prayer by John Piper that I posted. It has some good suggestions on making prayer a daily part of your walk with the Lord.
Here are a few reflections from the first half of the Book of Judges:
As Paul tells us in Romans 1, even pagans acknowledge God and His justice. Judges 1:7 "And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, SO GOD HAS REPAID ME.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. "
One can say without controversy, among believers, that the primary reason for Israel's defeats and sorrows in the days of the Judges is their disobedience to God's Word. Judges 2:10 "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel." How could this be? I think it would be safe to assume their fathers had failed to keep the Word of God in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
One theme from the words of Judges 2:10 which I want to impress on your heart and which I encourage you to comment on is the importance of knowing God. This pursuit should be the love of our life and the one thing above all else that we should be doing to God's glory.
Observe in Judges 6:1-2 the lack of freedom in the lives of God's people when they turn from Him. Remember that in Christ we have the Truth (John 14:6) and that Truth will set us free! (John 8:31-32) If the children of Israel would have been renewing their mind by the Word of God they would not have need to flee from their enemies and to build strongholds out of fear! (Look for a separate post on this idea...)
Lastly, I was struck by Gideon's use of the gold plundered from the Midianites. Judges 8:27 says, "Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house." I don't know about you, but this passage to me smacked of something like an ancient church "program." I see church programs as the idea that men must be "creative" in worship in order to motivate men to worship the Creator. Here Gideon takes to an idea of his own imagination rather than worshipping God as he had spoken plainly of in His Word.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
More Encouragement from Joshua
Brothers,
let God's Word be the inspiration and content of your prayers! When I go to God's Word I am consistently convinced of its limitless wisdom and encouragement to believers. I took yesterday and today to read through the book of Joshua, and just like when I was going through the "NT Challenge," I could stop at almost every verse and meditate and write down things that bring praise to my lips of God and His greatness.
Here are a few reflections from the rest of the book of Joshua:
Joshua 21:43-45:
43 So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
Brothers, the Gospel is there! The Lord has promised us a place in His Kingdom, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." (Phil. 3:20-21) And, he has given us our rest in Christ, through whom we are delivered from the things of this world (read Romans 8). And, praise God for the words of Joshua 21:45, what a mighty and merciful God we serve! He says there in His Word, "NOT A WORD FAILED OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. ALL CAME TO PASS." I have to tell you brothers, promises like that from God's Word energize me and excite me about serving Him. "If God is for us, who can be against us!!"
I think one reason the Old Testament is an encouragement to believers is its reminder of God's sovereignity in history, telling us of how our Lord preserves His people. Look at what Joshua says to the Israelites in Joshua 23:3b, "...for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you." Brothers, don't let your minds become slack in remembering that it is the Lord your God that fights for you. It is He who wills your sanctification. These promises are so sweet!
I was also very encouraged to hear the boldness of a godly man like Joshua. I know you brothers can echo this sense of being emboldened and built up in the faith when godly men strongly proclaim the promises and assurances of God's Word. Joshua tells the people of Israel in Joshua 23:6, "Therefore be very courageous to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses. lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left." I wrote in the margin of my bible, "Manliness!" Brothers, we are engaged in a fight and we are to be COURAGEOUS! I love the images the Apostle Paul provide in II Timothy (that Marcus recently preached on), but especially that of the soldier. How encouraged are you by standing together as men to serve the Lord? What a privilige brothers it is to strive for holiness together with you!
Again, remarking on boldness, Joshua says in Joshua 24:14, "Serve the Lord!" and in the following verse, "But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
Take heart brothers!
Steve
let God's Word be the inspiration and content of your prayers! When I go to God's Word I am consistently convinced of its limitless wisdom and encouragement to believers. I took yesterday and today to read through the book of Joshua, and just like when I was going through the "NT Challenge," I could stop at almost every verse and meditate and write down things that bring praise to my lips of God and His greatness.
Here are a few reflections from the rest of the book of Joshua:
Joshua 21:43-45:
43 So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
Brothers, the Gospel is there! The Lord has promised us a place in His Kingdom, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." (Phil. 3:20-21) And, he has given us our rest in Christ, through whom we are delivered from the things of this world (read Romans 8). And, praise God for the words of Joshua 21:45, what a mighty and merciful God we serve! He says there in His Word, "NOT A WORD FAILED OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. ALL CAME TO PASS." I have to tell you brothers, promises like that from God's Word energize me and excite me about serving Him. "If God is for us, who can be against us!!"
I think one reason the Old Testament is an encouragement to believers is its reminder of God's sovereignity in history, telling us of how our Lord preserves His people. Look at what Joshua says to the Israelites in Joshua 23:3b, "...for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you." Brothers, don't let your minds become slack in remembering that it is the Lord your God that fights for you. It is He who wills your sanctification. These promises are so sweet!
I was also very encouraged to hear the boldness of a godly man like Joshua. I know you brothers can echo this sense of being emboldened and built up in the faith when godly men strongly proclaim the promises and assurances of God's Word. Joshua tells the people of Israel in Joshua 23:6, "Therefore be very courageous to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses. lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left." I wrote in the margin of my bible, "Manliness!" Brothers, we are engaged in a fight and we are to be COURAGEOUS! I love the images the Apostle Paul provide in II Timothy (that Marcus recently preached on), but especially that of the soldier. How encouraged are you by standing together as men to serve the Lord? What a privilige brothers it is to strive for holiness together with you!
Again, remarking on boldness, Joshua says in Joshua 24:14, "Serve the Lord!" and in the following verse, "But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
Take heart brothers!
Steve
"...but they did not ask counsel of the Lord."
Joshua 9:14b "...but they did not ask counsel of the Lord."
I was reading the book of Joshua yesterday and the Lord gave me pause at this verse. I thought to myself, "it would have been very easy to pass over this word unnoticed."
At this point in the narrative, God has made a great conquest through the leadership of Joshua and the Israelites of the pagan peoples on the other side of the Jordan. And so, the people feared greatly the Israelites because of what God was doing through them. The "inhabitants of Gibeon" because they were also afraid "worked craftily and went and pretended to be ambassadors." (Joshua 9:4) When confronted by the Gibeonites, men seeking a deceitful allliance with Israel, Joshua and the leaders of Israel failed to "ask counsel of the Lord." Because of this failure to seek God's counsel, they had to spare the Gibeonites because of their own words.
Matthew Henry says of this passage, "We make more haste than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us, and do not consult him by the word and prayer." Brothers, let this be an encouragement to you to seek God in prayer. We have God's Word before us every day. Read over it and pray over it!
As another note, the book of Joshua was a great encouragement! It was awesome to read the Lord's words of assurance and deliverance to Joshua. Pause and hear this word from God to Joshua, "And the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you."
Brothers, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord!
I was reading the book of Joshua yesterday and the Lord gave me pause at this verse. I thought to myself, "it would have been very easy to pass over this word unnoticed."
At this point in the narrative, God has made a great conquest through the leadership of Joshua and the Israelites of the pagan peoples on the other side of the Jordan. And so, the people feared greatly the Israelites because of what God was doing through them. The "inhabitants of Gibeon" because they were also afraid "worked craftily and went and pretended to be ambassadors." (Joshua 9:4) When confronted by the Gibeonites, men seeking a deceitful allliance with Israel, Joshua and the leaders of Israel failed to "ask counsel of the Lord." Because of this failure to seek God's counsel, they had to spare the Gibeonites because of their own words.
Matthew Henry says of this passage, "We make more haste than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us, and do not consult him by the word and prayer." Brothers, let this be an encouragement to you to seek God in prayer. We have God's Word before us every day. Read over it and pray over it!
As another note, the book of Joshua was a great encouragement! It was awesome to read the Lord's words of assurance and deliverance to Joshua. Pause and hear this word from God to Joshua, "And the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you."
Brothers, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Men's Prayer Challenge
Guys,
as many of you know, part of the reason for this blog is the mutual encouragement of each other in the faith. To that end, we have had a "NT Challenge" and we have posted many good articles and sermons, and "amateur" commentaries, on Scripture.
I have spoken with a good many of you regarding our next challenge, and many of you have said that you anxiously await its inception, so here it is: The Men's Prayer Challenge!!
The challenge: you are challenged to set aside 30 mintues each day from your personal schedule to devote to God in prayer. Let me remind you that we do not proceed upon this challenge with a legal frame of mind, but with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude towards God for what he has done for us by His grace in Christ. We commit to each other to pray for at least 30 minutes each day this month in the understanding that God calls us to pray "without ceasing" and that we desire to humble ourselves before Him calling upon him for all our needs.
I would also call upon each of you to post your comments as regularly as possible speaking to your experience during this challenge. Please also post short (3 paragraphs or less) comments from good theologians on prayer. And, feel free to post things that you think will be encouraging to each other while we progress together through this challenge.
Blessings,
Steve
as many of you know, part of the reason for this blog is the mutual encouragement of each other in the faith. To that end, we have had a "NT Challenge" and we have posted many good articles and sermons, and "amateur" commentaries, on Scripture.
I have spoken with a good many of you regarding our next challenge, and many of you have said that you anxiously await its inception, so here it is: The Men's Prayer Challenge!!
The challenge: you are challenged to set aside 30 mintues each day from your personal schedule to devote to God in prayer. Let me remind you that we do not proceed upon this challenge with a legal frame of mind, but with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude towards God for what he has done for us by His grace in Christ. We commit to each other to pray for at least 30 minutes each day this month in the understanding that God calls us to pray "without ceasing" and that we desire to humble ourselves before Him calling upon him for all our needs.
I would also call upon each of you to post your comments as regularly as possible speaking to your experience during this challenge. Please also post short (3 paragraphs or less) comments from good theologians on prayer. And, feel free to post things that you think will be encouraging to each other while we progress together through this challenge.
Blessings,
Steve
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