The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men!

What a day! As the old saying goes –“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I don’t know if I like my planning to be compared with the plans of mice – but there it is. While I know theologically that the plan God has for me is often quite different than the plans I have, it yet catches me off-guard when my plans seemingly fail.

Today was to be another “ho-hum” day in paradise. I got up, had coffee and breakfast, enjoyed Bible study with my family, and headed off to the office (after a brief visit at the hospital). I had been working in my mind all that I was going to accomplish.

When I left the hospital, there were a few snow flurries. The weather forecast was for a 60% possibility of snow – less than an inch. We have had several winter storms of more tumultuous expectations forecasted only to have them fail to materialize.

I arrive at the office, ready to work, getting some emails done – when I received a phone call from my wife asking, “Have you looked outside lately?” I made my way to the entrance of the church to see a blanket of white on the ground and on my car. I check the radar and more was on the way. I forget to mention that I had noticed a nail in my tire this morning and thought I would run by Wal-mart to get it fixed. Additionally, the tread on my front tires was not too good so I thought that I had better gather my things and head home. This I did, without incident.

Once I got home, we realized that we needed to pick up a few things at Wal-mart before it got any worse outside. So, I said that we should take my car so that I could have the tire fixed. So, my family and I piled in the car and began to make our way to Wal-mart. On one of the quiet back streets I noticed my car was pulling to the left. Yes, the tire had gone completely flat. Here it was snowing and I had to change a tire. Slight change in plans.

I got the spare out and changed out the tire rather quickly. “Now,” I thought to myself, “if I can just negotiate the snow on the donut spare. Or should I go home and get the van and just take the tire to Wal-mart?” After getting back into the car I turned it around to head back when I felt and noticed something not right. I opened the car door to look at the donut only to see that the tire had come off the donut. Now we were stuck. I called a friend, who graciously picked us up and took us back to the house so I could get my van. Now my plan was to pick up the flat tire and also go ahead and take off the other front tire to have it replaced, load them in the van and head to Wal-mart.

Wal-mart was great, fixed the tires in nothing flat (I guess that is an intended pun) and, leaving my wife and daughter at Wal-mart to shop, headed toward the car, so that I could put on the two tires and get the car out of the road. This is what I did, while it was snow profusely on me. It was about 24 degrees, but I really didn’t notice the temperature until I was finished and got back into the warm car. Oh, how my figures hurt! But it was done.

I went back to Wal-mart, picked up my family, headed back toward the car, and eventually got my family, my van, and my car with two new tires home. While it only took me a few minutes to describe these events, we left the house at 11:30 and I did not get home until about 3:30. Unbelievable! But this was the day that the Lord made – I will rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24).

And even now, as I am trying to write this – my dog, for some reason, has just vomited behind my computer chair! The best laid plans of mice and men…

Lord, teach me the lessons that keep me humble and dependent upon You!

Oh, that supposed less than an inch of snow - its now about 2 inches with more on the way!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

A meaningless but fascinating bit of triva

Our family enjoys watching the Discovery, Animal and National Geographic Channels. I am particularly fond of the animal and wildlife shows (although I am often disgruntled concerning the so-called "vast" ages and evolutionary philosophy that underlies the majority of them). The other evening I was watching a show concerning studies on sharks and it was noted that actual shark attacks are extremely rare (not if you are the one attacked) and that yearly - worldwide, there is an average of 15 people killed by sharks.

Now, that in itself is rather remarkable. I might have guessed much higher. But what was surprising to me was that the show compared this figure to another strange means of being killed - falling coconuts - which account for about 150 deaths a year worldwide. Who would of thought it?

What do minutes make you?

The other day I was speaking with one of the men in our church who was reminded by his father how many minutes he had been alive (for he was to soon celebrate a birthday). Consider how this works:

There are 1,440 minutes in an hour

525,600 minutes in a year

1,051,200 minutes in 2 years

2,628,000 minutes in 5 years

5,256,000 minutes in 10 years

10,512,000 minutes in 20 years

15,768,000 minutes in 30 years

21,024,000 minutes in 40 years

26,280,000 minutes in 50 years

31,536,000 minutes in 60 years

36,972,000 minutes in 70 years

42,048,000 minutes in 80 years

47,304,000 minutes in 90 years

52,560,000 minutes in 100 years

What do minutes make you? This means that by the time you are 2 years old you are truly a millionaire. What are you doing with the precious commodity given to you by the Lord? How are you using your time to promote the glory of God - rejoicing in His salvation?

Ephesians 5:15-16
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (NKJV)

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (NASU)

One Portion of Time Which Every Christian Holds Dear

The past couple of days have been spent out of the office and at the hospital. One of the ladies in the church has been ICU and we’ve been busy ministering to the family. It has been a blessed time – to see the testimony of a dear sister, who although has flesh of frailty, has a spirit devoted to the glory of God. It has been a delight as well to care for her boys, whose spirit and strength also reflect parents who want to glorify God. I even bonded up-close and personal with the youngest (baby Grant – a few months old). When Laura (my wife) took the older boys to the hospital to see their mother, I stayed at the house to watch the baby – who proceeded to gift me with a messy diaper and a hungry belly. It was the first diaper I had changed in about 10 years. I think that we (baby Grant and I) are now tight.

My reflection today comes from the ongoing series our Home Bible Fellowship group is working through – “The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character” by Gardiner Spring. In the 13th chapter entitled, Devotion to Divine Honor and the Glory of God, was the following statement that went well with my last post (actually my wife’s) on preparing for Sunday. Consider these words -

No child of God can be habitually idle, or waste his time in empty relaxation and vain amusements. Show me the man who lives at his ease, and feels that he has time enough for anything and yet devotes it to nothing, and if to anything, to that which is foreign to the business of a creature who is the possessor only of one short life, and that redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and for which he is shortly to give up his last account, and I will show you a man who is a Christian only in name. The professed Christian who attends the dance and assemblies and parties of pleasure, whose precious time is consumed and killed in the perusal of novels, romances, and plays, who is nowhere so happy as at the theater, the horse race, or the card table is a miserable deceiver and more miserably deceived. But it is not the mere omission of crimes of this aggravated sort which constitutes a Christian improvement of time. The state and growth of grace in his own soul, the spiritual condition of his family, his friends, his neighbors, the church, and the world, together with the ignorance, the immorality, the vice, the want, and suffering of his fellow men, these will redeem his time from idleness from amusements, and often from secular labor. There is one portion of time which every Christian holds dear. The Sabbath is his delight. He anticipates it, he enjoys it, he reflects upon it as the “sweetest day of all the seven.”

Oh, may we delight in our opportunity to gather with the saints for worship. May other things be considered of less importance and may we long for the fellowship of the saints.

Preparing to Worship on the Lord’s Day

Some time back I posted an article on Sanctification of the Lord's Day. This article was based on some things I had consider some years back. When I originally wrote that, it caused my wife (Laura) to reflect on some things as well. Below are her thoughts - may they inspire some thinking upon all those who read -

A while back my family and I sat down to watch a 1971 musical; Norman Jewison’s Fiddler on the Roof. It was touching to watch it with it rich Jewish traditions and family roles. One particular tradition that was very thought provoking for me was the care that was taken in preparation for the Sabbath. As evening approached, each family member prepared; Papa tried to quickly get finished with his work so he could be home; Mama prepared the meal and the table; the girls helped Mama and all of them had to dress appropriately for dinner. Before the meal, they lit special candles and they said a special Sabbath prayer. The scene served to remind me of how important it is to prepare ourselves for worship on the Lord’s Day.

A few years back, my husband (Ed) came across a 1664 Puritan work entitled The Directory of Public Worship of God. It put into words things my husband had believed about the Lord’s Day for years. In this work there is an article called, Of the Sanctification of the Lord’s Day with these convictions:

“The Lord’s Day ought to be so remembered beforehand, as that all worldly business of our ordinary callings may be so ordered, and so timely and seasonably laid aside, as they many not be impediments to the due sanctifying of the Day when it comes."

The confirmation of our convictions led us to pray about adjustments that needed to be made to our lifestyle, because I certainly had “impediments” when it came to setting apart the Lord’s Day as holy.

First and foremost, preparation for the Lord’s Day must begin before Sunday! Most of us know that Jewish tradition begins the new day in the evening. After all, when God separated the light from the darkness, He called the light “day”, and the darkness He called “night” – “and there was evening and there was morning, one day” (Genesis 1:4-5). If God started with the evening, it makes sense that His people would too. SO, Saturday night has to be our time of preparation.

Second, the Lord’s Day should be holy and set apart from all other days of the week. It was so according to the Scriptures –

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy (Exodus 20:11).

It order to make our Lord’s Day (Sunday – the celebration of the Risen Christ) “set apart” – we try to limit what we do and where we are on Sunday. Our focus through the day is to worship in the Lord’s House and to worship with the Lord’s people in a different manner than we might do the rest of the week.

You’re probably wondering what we’ve done that has changed our lifestyle. The most significant changes are our commitments to –

(1) Be home on Saturday nights;

(2) Be prepared for Sunday Services; and

(3) Be prepared for Sunday afternoons.

Now, being home Saturday nights doesn’t mean that occasionally we won’t attend a Birthday party we’ve been invited to, or a special Bible Conference of some kind – but most Saturday nights we spend at home preparing for the Lord’s Day. So, when we go to places on Saturdays, we make every effort to be home in the early evening. Preparing for Sunday Services means making sure laundry is done so clothes can be picked out; preparing our hearts through prayer and study/mediation of the Word; and getting to bed early so we’ll be fresh Sunday morning.

The commitment that has changed me the most, however, is preparing for Sunday afternoons. Sunday afternoons used to be hectic for me. After church, we’d have to make a decision about where we wanted to eat and who we might eat with. If we decided to eat at home (or if there was no money to eat out), I’d decide then what I would fix and if I had everything I needed in order to fix it. After fixing, eating and cleaning up lunch, I’d be exhausted and then it was time to go back to church for evening services.

But now the schedule has me preparing ahead so that I can better focus my mind on things of the Lord on His Day. Part of our convictions about Sunday afternoons is that now, we eat our lunch at home (or at someone else’s home). It’s not that we never go out to eat on Sunday, but if we do eat out, it is with the realization that someone has to wait on us and that means we’re contributing to that person not setting apart the Lord’s Day as holy. Now that I know we’ll be eating at home on Sundays, I plan ahead. As often as possible, I cook my Sunday meals on Saturday. If I must cook on Sunday, I keep it simple (sandwiches, soups, egg rolls, etc. – and the ever faithful Crock-Pot). Since we have several young singles, I usually make extra in case someone else comes home with us.

Other preparations for Sunday afternoons are about what I don’t do on Sunday. I don’t do laundry, windows, or toilets. That means all has to be done by Saturday. If something is left undone, it has to wait until Monday. Sunday is completely different from the other days. What a blessing it has been to peacefully get ready for church on Sunday morning and contentedly enjoy Sunday afternoons.

Now, I don’t’ know if you have the same convictions my husband and I have (nor do I presume you must); nor do I know if my preparations will work for you – but one thing I do know, the Lord’s Day is different – it is holy. Make a commitment to “set apart” the Lord’s Day, receiving a blessing for yourself and for your family. Determine today to practice your convictions and demonstrate to all who know you that you have properly prepared yourself for worship. Prepare in advance both your heart and your home so that you can enjoy the Lord’s Day.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Written by Laura Godfrey

Delayed Posting

Sorry all for the failure to post. Saturday went differently than anticipated; Sunday I tend not to post; and today - well, lets just say that Monday is my day off and I enjoyed it with my family. Posting shall resume.

Ed

Evangelical Humility

Our Thursday night Bible Study has been going through a great little, yet highly profound, book entitled, “The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character” by Gardiner Spring published 1829. Sometimes the language can be difficult, but by and large we have done well and been blessed by working our way through each of the chapters.

The latest chapter we studied was called “Evangelical Humility” and begins with this definition of what this means:

“Evangelical humility consists in a just view of our own character, and in a disposition to abase ourselves as low as the vileness of our character requires us to lie. The pride of the human heart casts a veil over the character of men and aims to conceal their worthlessness as creatures and their ill dessert as sinners; while the humility of the Gospel throws aside the veil, and discovers that native worthlessness which ought to sink the creature in the dust and that moral deformity which ought to fill the sinner with self-abasement.”

The first question that I had posed to the group was this – “Based upon [the statement above], how would you define “evangelical humility”? But before I solicited responses to that, I felt compelled to ask this question – “How would the vast majority of evangelicals define humility today?”

The sad reality is that most evangelicals of this generation would be appalled by the statement above. I have received a number of flyers from churches over the past few months and I dare say not one of them came close to giving any kind of debasement to man. Rather, man seems to be at the focus and there is a constant attempt to help people feel good about themselves by coming to church. I fear that humility today is defined more in terms of what we do or don’t do rather than the pursuit of a right and high view of God.

One definition given for today’s evangelical humility was tolerance. The church today is becoming more and more tolerant of various sins and lifestyles and even of dangerous and deviant theologies. This humility of tolerance wants to bring the standards of conduct and even theology to the lowest common denominator – all in the name of unity and will a face of humility.

But evangelical humility must center itself upon a high and lofty view of God. He is absolutely holy and perfect – man is defiled and wretched. Some would think that this is too hard, too discouraging, too demeaning. But I concur with Mr. Spring when he wrote:

“His more happy moments are those in which he is enabled to lie abased before God, and in which he has increasing desires to be kept humble to the end of his days.”

My feeble attempt to draw an analogy was as follows: I had a laptop computer a couple of years back that when purchased, was told specifically to run the battery all the way down before charging it back up. It seems that this battery, if run only 20% down before recharged would retain a memory, never allowing it to run down past that 20% mark and therefore never be of full use and never experiencing a full charge. As I read the Scriptures, God does want us to be run completely down, to come to the full end of ourselves, to truly deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Too often we are to prideful to allow ourselves to be run to end of ourselves for fear of being so humbled. But it is when we are empty of ourselves that we become the most full of God. It is the most joyous for the believer when, having come to his end, is wonderfully delighted by the presence, the power and the pleasure of God’s filling him up for service. Let us not forget the words of our Lord who said in Luke 14:11;

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The scriptures are replete with pictures and exhortations toward our humility, this high and exalted view of the awesome holiness of God and this debased view of ourselves. For it is only as we lose our lives in Christ that we truly gain life. Let us be then and John the Baptist who uttered those provoking words –

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30)

Let me close with the words of Mr. Spring who wrote on the attitude of the one truly humble before God:

They do not complain of God though He should sink them as low as they deserve to lie; but from the heart they approve the justice that condemns, while they are allowed to admire and adore the grace that rescues from the condemnation.

Let me ask you – how do you define humility? .

What is Worship? (Part 3 of 3)

If we are to worship God “in spirit and in truth” then we must have some understanding as to what this means and how to apply it. When Jesus calls true worshippers to worship “in spirit” His intent is to call people worship in a way different than that which is from the flesh. Worship according to the flesh seeks that which appeals to the flesh. For example, when a person is more concerned with melodies rather than the content of the lyrics of a song sung to God; or is more concerned about the length of a sermon as opposed to the message being preached; or when a person’s participation with God’s people is governed more by his own desires rather than following the expressly revealed command of god – then worship becomes a work of the flesh and is not “in spirit.” Remember that our flesh will always recoil form the things of the Spirit. Scripture tells us that the flesh and the Spirit are constantly at war (Romans 8:6-8). Therefore we must seek to worship “in spirit” which I take to mean by the Spirit of God. For again, “the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God” (Romans 8:7). Be careful what you set your mind upon as you worship God, be it privately or corporately.

To worship God “in truth” means, “according to truth.” Our worship must find its meaning and basis in the Word of God. And while seemingly obvious, we must not be tempted to allow ourselves to be come focused on just a small handful of topics that appeal to us. The apostle Paul declared in Acts 20:27 that he had “not shunned to declare…the whole counsel of God.” Our worship, be it in song, in prayer, in proclamation or testimony, must strive to declare all of God’s Word. Perhaps the greatest example of today’s worship being less than how God defines it is found in the area of music. So much of the music being written for the church today is centered on man’s feelings and man’s work toward God. I could give examples but space does not permit. I would simply ask you to carefully listen to today’s “Christian” music and ask yourself; “Is this telling me more about the God of the Bible, or more about man and his feelings?” Isn’t it amazing that great hymns of the past would find only ridicule and no air time in today’s Christian culture – titles that include “In Thy Wrath and Hot Displeasure”, “Judge Me, God of My Salvation”, and “Fools in Their Hearts.”

In the final analysis, it was Abraham who gave us the best definition of worship. In Genesis 22:5 he said to those traveling with him and his son,

“Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

Abraham went to worship God on the mountain, yet what did this worship include? It included the sacrificing of his son Isaac to the LORD. So we see that worship includes sacrifice. Why is worship a sacrifice? It is a sacrifice because we must war with our flesh which does not want to acknowledge God even as our spirits long to. We must labor to know God through the diligent and systematic study of His Word. None of this is easy and it takes time, effort and great devotion. Yet, this is what God desires – worshippers who worship “in spirit and in truth.” Is this your desire? Know that it will take work. As Hebrews 13:15-16 reminds us;

“Through [Jesus] then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

May we be a people who are ready to sacrifice ourselves, our time, our resources, our very lives, in order to worship God aright – “in spirit and in truth.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

What is Worship? (Part 2)

In John 4:24 are recorded the fundamentals of worship, “those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Why did Jesus say these words?

Jesus was speaking here to a Samaritan woman. He was concerned about the true nature of worship. In His discussion with the Samaritan woman, we learn that although the Samaritans worshipped the same God as the Jews, their worship was inadequate and imperfect and therefore unacceptable to God. In John 4:22 Jesus says, “You worship what you do not know…” The Samaritans rejected all of the Old Testament books except for the first five books of Moses. Now, as wonderful as the first five books of Moses are, they were never intended to give a full and complete understanding of how one is to worship God. The Samaritans had only a limited knowledge of God, of His power, of His Spirit and of His truth.

So, Jesus comes to this Samaritan and tells her that God desires only those who worship Him in “spirit and in truth.” In other words, there was nothing spiritual about the Samaritans worship, nor was such worship in accordance with the truth. The Samaritan worship was a work of the flesh, centered upon the abilities and merits of men rather than upon the workings and wonders of God on behalf of men. Does any of this bear relevance for today? I say, “Yes!” Today we see much of the same problems in our churches as experienced by the Samaritans of Jesus’ day. Certainly the desire in most “evangelical” churches today is to worship the same God that you and I seek to worship on any given Sunday. Yet, as based upon what se see being passed off as worship, it is clear that many are not worshipping God “in spirit and in truth.” Much of worship in the Church today is far more man-focused than God-centered. It is more man-generated than Spirit-led. It is based more on a “touchy/feely” attitude than it is on truth. And, to the great detriment of the Church, much of the Church has rejected most of the writings of the Old and New Testaments, at least when it comes to their worship, focusing only on a few topics like the love of God, the forgiveness of God, and, some even include such non-Scriptural ideas like the value and ability of man. Just like the Samaritans, we have a whole host of church-goers who “worship what they do not know” as they seek to worship God out of spiritual ignorance, Biblical illiteracy, and woeful incompetence when it comes to knowing the things of God. As John Calvin noted,

“We are not to essay anything in religion rashly or unthinkingly. For unless there is knowledge present, it is not God that we worship but a spectre or ghost. Hence, all the so-called good intentions are struck by this thunderbolt, which tells us that men can do nothing but err when they are guided by their own opinion without the Word or command of God.”

I might add to this a quote by Gardiner Spring (1829) who said, "It is a common and just maxim that men easily believe that to be right which they wish to be right."

Lord, protect us from our vanity, our own self-tendency toward thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3) and of being wise in our own opinion (Romans 12:16). May You alone be exalted in all we say and do to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Final thoughts tomorrow.

What is Worship? (Part 1)

Our Lord Jesus Christ said,

"…those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)"

We live in a day and age when so much of what “Christians” believe is being redefined. Sadly, the redefining of terms is not primarily coming from outside the church, but rather from inside. It seems to matter little to people how terms were originally used and what they originally meant. The end result is a church that has a meaningless jumble of thoughts and ideas all encapsulated in a single word or phrase.

For example, the term “evangelical” is so mis-defined today that just about anybody who has anything to do with any church might call themselves “evangelical.” It is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in the church when there are supposedly such persons as “evangelical Catholics.” Additionally, there are talks and debates as to whether or not Mormons can be evangelicals. Such thoughts prove the point that people don’t know what "evangelical" means, or at very least what it meant to be an evangelical. It is interesting to note that the term evangelical originally referred to a person whose very theology stood opposed to the Roman Catholic Church. Additionally, the term evangelical spoke of any person who strictly held to five fundamentally tenets called solas (Latin for “alone”). The five solas stood in complete contrast to the Roman Catholic Church. They are –

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone as opposed to Scripture plus church tradition/teaching)

Solus Christus (Christ alone as opposed to Christ plus the church, the Pope, a priest, a bishop, Mary or any other person)

Sola Gratia (Grace alone as opposed to any merits on man’s part)

Soli Fide (Faith alone as opposed to being made right before God by any one’s works)

Soli Deo Gloria (God’s Glory alone as opposed to anyone or anything taking credit for any aspect of salvation).

These solas are Biblical concepts that no Roman Catholic theology recognizes and yet there are supposedly “evangelical Catholics.” Why is this? Because the term “evangelical” has been redefined to mean something it never meant.

So, what does all this have to do with worship? The Biblical concepts of worship have undergone the same assaults of redefinition as the term “evangelical.” The result of all this is a confusing mish-mash of ideas that rather than exalting God, actually robs God of the glory due His name. As the idea of worship has been corrupted, so has the majesty and splendor of God (humanly speaking for God does not diminish). The Lord Jesus Christ made if very clear however as to the fundamental characteristics which are to be present in the hearts and minds of those who would call themselves worshippers of God. In John 4:23-24 are recorded these fundamentals, “…those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” What does this mean? Why did Jesus say these words? I will continue tomorrow.

The Persistence of God (Part 3)

So, we have seen that God is the one who initiates and is solely responsible for salvation, showing the persist character of God. We have also seen the persistent cause of God in salvation in that it was His intention to bring redeemed sinners into fellowship with Himself. Finally, let us note the persistence of God in fulfilling His ultimate conclusion in salvation.

Not only did God do everything in order to bring you to salvation, but He does everything to bring you to the conclusion or end of salvation. For again, Paul wrote, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Here we see God’s purpose in saving us.

We must never forget that God has not saved us simply to save us. There is a purpose in His salvation, an end to which He is after. Philippians 1:6 tells us that not only did God begin this work but that He will persistently and continually perform this work until the day of Christ Jesus. What is the goal of God concerning our salvation? We are not being given a verse here to solicit the warm fuzzies. God is not simply telling us here that everything is going to be alright until we finally get to heaven because God will keep us secure. That may be true, but this verse is telling us that God has saved us for a specific purpose, an explicit end – “a good work” – the perfection or completion of “a good work.” God is absolutely and persistently intent on finishing that work and will keep on refining us until that work is accomplished – what persistence!

And, as we look even closer at the verse, we see then attributes of God that we don’t always stop to consider. God is determined. God is persistent. God is unrelenting. God is resolute in accomplishing this good work. Who can thwart this end? But just what exactly is this good work? We have alluded to the fact that our salvation is certainly the beginning and the ending of this good work, but to what end? What does God achieve as the result of our salvation?

Philippians 1:6 does not speak directly but we do find the answer in another passage – Romans 8:28-29 –

Romans 8:28-29
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

God’s good work – His purpose for every believer in Jesus Christ – is to become like Jesus Christ. What an awesome thought! God the Father is so delighted, so pleased with Jesus Christ His Son that He has called countless millions of sinful human being to Himself so that Jesus might reproduce Himself in the lives of His people. God wants our character to be like that of Jesus. Remember that the purpose of life of Jesus was to glorify God in all things –

John 17:4
I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

Are we aware and living in light of God’s goal for us to be like Jesus? This whole process of becoming like Jesus is what the Bible calls “sanctification.” Sanctification means to be set apart or holy for God’s use and glory. In other words, it is to be like Jesus in thought and character. How does this happen? Well, as we have seen, it begins with God doing His work in our lives, but it does involve us as well. And what is our part in “sanctification”? In terms of salvation itself – nothing – God makes us perfectly holy by His own doing. This is called positional sanctification. But in terms of our ongoing relationship with God, we are to strive for more and more holiness to be revealed in our lives. We are to pray for and labor after being like Jesus – not to contribute to salvation, but rather to reveal the reality of our salvation. To be more like Jesus we must first discover how much unlike Jesus we are, that is, we must see how sinful we really are. To ask people to consider how sinful they are goes against everything we hear today. Yet, to recognize and acknowledge sin is not only Biblical, it is absolutely necessary. I know all this sounds like a contradiction. How do we become like Jesus? We don’t do it by becoming aware of how perfect we are becoming. In fact, those who are actively involved in the process of sanctification are those who are more and more aware of their own sinfulness and recognize more and more their need to turn to Jesus for cleansing and forgiveness.

I like to think of this in terms of my schooling. When I first started Bible College, I had only a handful of questions and a lot of answers. I believed that College was simply going to reinforce the answers I already knew. Well, I went to school knowing so much and came out realizing that I knew far less than when I started. My college experience revealed to me just how ignorant I really was. It is not as though I didn’t learn anything. Just the opposite – I learned a great deal. And the more I learned, the more I realized how little I knew.

Such is the Christian’s life. When we first come to Christ, we tend to think of ourselves as not being too bad. We are proud of ourselves that we are at least better than others who don’t believe because we have believed in Jesus. But as we move along in our walk with the Lord, we begin to learn just how sinful we were and are and how great our need for the Lord really is. In other words, instead of priding ourselves on what we know about our salvation, we ought to be seeing the depth and vastness of our salvation as we have been lifted from the pit of sin and death and transferred to God’s kingdom.

Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse used to say this – “There is no Christian listening to my voice who will think as well of himself five years from now as he does this morning.” Does this means we are to be depressed and without joy? On the contrary, it should cause us great joy to grow in our knowledge of our depravity in sin because through the greater understanding of sin comes a greater appreciation of the grace of God in our salvation. And this, to me, is a most joyful thing. To rejoice in the depth of my salvation. To know that god is sanctifying me, revealing to me my sinful nature so that I might be drawn to conformity to Christ’s sinless nature. This then is God’s good work – the end to which He is bringing the many sons of glory. This is a work that God is persistently and actively engaged to see accomplished.

The idea of God’s working salvation in us is a repeated them in the book of Philippians. Please consider –

Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.


Philippians 2:12-13
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 3:8-10
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

It is God who beings the work. It is God who completes the work. And our role, our responsibility in all this is but to joyfully believe and live our lives in light of that belief. We truly do have so great a salvation, from start to finish, accomplished by the persistence of God. Let us thank God for this work in our lives and let us, like Paul, be confident of this very thing – that God is bringing to completion or perfection that which He has started in everyone who has called upon the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation, the deliverance from sin to be transferred to the blessed and blissful Kingdom of His beloved Son.

The Persistence of God (Part 2)

Yesterday I began this little study of the Persistence of God by looking at how salvation reveals the character of God (see yesterday’s post). Today I would like to look at how salvation reveals the cause of God and just how persistent God is in fulfilling His cause.

How does anyone come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Do people seek Him or does He seek people? Before we (in ourselves) answer this, it is important to know what the Bible has to say about these things.

The Scriptures unequivocally teach that men do not seek God but rather they reject Him. Paul writes in Romans 3:10-11 –

10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD…

Any of the works we might even try to do for God are said to “fall short” of God’s standards of perfect and complete righteousness (Romans 3:23). Before we are drawn to Christ, we don’t even understand God’s standard of righteousness. It is not until God reveals His standards of righteousness to us, opens our eyes, gives us faith to believe, and draws us to Himself that man will receive salvation.

Before he came to Christ, C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicle of Narnia, the Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity to name a few as well as being a brilliant scholar, was a thoroughgoing agnostic. His accounting of conversion to Christ is insightful:

“In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son, at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape?”

This was not a man “seeking” after salvation. Lewis had to learn that salvation was from God. Did you seek for salvation? No – the bible says you resisted and rejected Him. The Lord graciously beats down the hardened heart of the one He calls until that person can do nothing more than joyously yield to the call of God. And while there may be a time in which the one called entertained the idea that he did seek the Lord for salvation on his own, he needs to come to the Biblical awareness that this was only because God was there beforehand moving him to do so. As that old anonymous hymn so aptly puts it:

I sought the Lord and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No I was found of Thee.

Salvation truly does belong to God. As 1 John 4:19 reminds us –

“We love because He first loved us.”

Our salvation begins with God. It is the “good work” He began and is therefore not of ourselves. Why does God bring salvation this way? Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us –

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

God will have no one in heaven claiming, even in the slightest of ways, that he was responsible for his own salvation. There will be no one who can say, “I must admit that God did most of the work concerning my salvation. I was far from Him and He did call me. But there were those few crises in my life in which my convictions were tried, my persistence challenged, but I hung on tight. So then, I am really here because of the greatness of my faith.” Let us know that God does not share His glory with any other (Isaiah 42:8).

Paul wrote, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you…” According to Paul, God began the work, not you. It was God who was persistent in seeking you, revealing to you your sin, and then filling you with faith – faith so that you would believe. The great cause of God was to bring you into fellowship with Himself – and He is persistent and will bring it about in all whom He has chosen to the glory and praise of His name.

The Persistence of God

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

This is one of my favorite verses and, as the title of this entry suggests, I see it as teaching nothing short of the glorious persistence of God. Over the next few days, I would like to journal some thoughts concerning this topic, particularly as it relates to our salvation. You see, the salvation of sinners truly reveals, as nothing else, the persistence of God. That a holy and righteous God would pursue those who are utterly unholy and unrighteous is nothing short of pure grace.

So let me begin today by showing how salvation reveals the character of God, a character that includes persistence.

When we start to contemplate the character of God we are actually studying His attributes. An attribute of God is simply a characteristic or description of God as based upon what is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. I am reminded of what is recorded in Job 11:17, namely that God is infinite:

“Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?”

NO! So then, how do we, as finite human beings, understand the infinite God? Well, while it is true that God is infinite and understanding Him in totality is beyond our grasp, it is also true that God is yet knowable; knowable in the sense that it is possible to describe Him by means of His attributes.

All kinds of descriptions and verses might come to mind as we consider the question, “What makes God, God?” What are the characteristics or attributes that show us the Divine essence of the Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Some of our descriptions would undoubtedly include that God is:

• Limitless – infinite (1 Kings 8:27; Acts 17:24)
• Eternal – from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2)
• Self-existent (Exodus 3:14; John 5:26) [I love the way Steven Lawson said it – “He is I AM WHO I AM – never beginning, never ending, never becoming, never improving, never declining.”]
• All-powerful – Omnipotent (Revelation 1:8)
• Everywhere present – Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-11)
• All-knowing – Omniscient (Psalm 147:4-5; Isaiah 46:9-10)
• Unchanging in His Person – Immutable (Psalm 102:26-27; James 1:17)

Now our descriptions could go on and on. However, no list made would be complete without what is generally considered the attribute of attributes, that quality or characteristic of God that fully sets Him apart, and that is the Holiness of God – God in Holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). The only problem with having a list such as the one just mentioned is that we can easily forget the not so readily apparent attributes of God; qualities that are vitally important to our understanding of God and to His working in our lives that are sometimes overlooked.

In Philippians 1:6 there is just such an attribute. When Paul writes, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)” we see one of the most essential doctrines of the Scriptures – namely – the perseverance of the saints. The perseverance of the saints is the biblical teaching that no one whom God has brought into a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ will ever be lost or damned to hell – all so brought into this relationship with Jesus will be brought into glory. To put this teaching in a short phrase, “God finishes what He starts.” This is the persistence of God. And Paul begins this whole thought with the phrase, “For I am confident of this very thing…” The word “confident” is from a Greek word that literally means “to persuade to believe.” Paul firmly believes and is strongly persuaded what he communicates about God to his first readers. Paul had confidence in God’s work and this teaches us what Paul believed about God. He believed God to be a completer or finisher of that which He sets out to do. God is persistent and complete. This verse, Philippians 1:6, teaches us at least two things.

1. God never begins a work that He does not intend to finish.
Nothing that God has ever done, was ever half done. He didn’t create half an earth. He didn’t leave man without a helpmate. He didn’t take the Israelites only half-way across the Red Sea. And, God does not bring His people only half-way through salvation. As the author of Hebrews (12:2) recognized, Jesus is both the “author and finisher of our faith.” The Lord is the beginning and the ending, the Alpha and Omega, the instigator and the completer of salvation.

2. When God does a work, God does it all – it is His work.
If we are going to properly appreciate our salvation, we must never forget that “salvation belongs to our God” (Revelation 7:10) and is solely “from the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). Our salvation is dependent upon a gracious and sovereign God to intervene in, seek out, and draw sinners to Himself. If God does not do this, no one would ever be saved, because rather than seeking God, sinners always seeks to go their own way.

Before I examine Philippians 1:6 more closely, let me state the larger biblical framework in which this verse if found. There are a lot of people who take issue with the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. This is due to the fact that many like to think that it is through their own efforts that God accepts them and that even their final salvation is dependent upon their own perseverance or persistence rather than an all-out dependence upon the saving grace of God. Such a thought is not even remotely biblical. The Word of God is clear that our salvation – from start to finish – is firmly in the hands and control of our Almighty God. Consider carefully the following passages that clearly teach this same principle as Philippians 1:6.

John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…”

Let me close these thoughts pointing to just a few more of the many verses that express this teaching of the perseverance of the saints:

Psalm 138:8 – “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

If we are ever going to understand and fully appreciate the depth and riches of Philippians 1:6, we must first come to understand that our salvation, form start to finish, is the sole work of a great and gracious God working in our lives.

More tomorrow!

Evolution Propoganda

The latest in the evolutionary propaganda war - an attempt by the secularists to condition and program our culture in anti-God thinking, is nothing more than a weed that is able to quickly adapt to changing climatic conditions, such as “global-warming.” In an article I found on Yahoo entitled, Warming could spur “evolution”: study, Deborah Zabarenko wrote:

Fast-growing weeds have evolved over a few generations to adapt to climate change, which could signal the start of an "evolution explosion" in response to global warming, scientists reported on Monday. This means that the weeds will likely keep up with any attempts to develop crops that can adapt to global warming, said Arthur Weis, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Irvine.

Without getting too deep into all the matters at issue, I do find it fascinating that “scientists” are using the already programmed genetic information of a weed to promote evolution. In the study, weeds did not become anything else but weeds. The weeds were “adapting” to the warmer climate over a seven - year period, but they were still weeds – consistent with the Biblical account of how plants are to grow and survive.

Genesis 1:11-12
11 Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

Three times in the text above we read the phrase, “after their kind.” There is a keen difference between adaptation within the genetic possibilities of a species versus “evolution” – that is one species turning into another species. Thus, while there is wide genetic variation in cats ranging from the mighty lion down to the domesticated house cat, all are yet cats. And so, if a weed is able to adapt to changing climatic conditions, it is only because God has programmed or ordained it so. If a species, plant or animal, is unable to adapt, it dies because God did not program or ordain it so.

So, what is at stake in this article is simply the concerted attempt of “scientist” (those who are supposed to be pursuing true knowledge) to further condition the population with false notions of how things survive or die apart from God. Thus, these reveal themselves to be those spoken of in Psalm 10:4 -

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him [God]. All his thoughts are, "There is no God."

Let us be true to the Word of God and faithfully proclaim the veracity of His revelation concerning creation, man, sin and salvation.

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

On the Lighter Side

It's been one of those days. Not that it has been a bad day. No, it has been one of those days when there has been plenty of business, yet, at the end of it all, I didn't seem to really accomplish much. There was a highlight - and that was when I was invited to lunch with a couple of the men from the church. It is a good thing that I went. I am one of those kinds of people that does not like loose ends. This morning my big goal for the day (outside the regular pastoral routine) was to change the name servers on the church's website. Now changing the name servers on a website might either sound easy to some or difficult to others. The concept is not difficult. However, the original companies that I signed the church up with all had different login ID's and passwords. And while I was faithful to write all this down and put it in a file, for some reason, I could not find the file. Therefore, I spent much time simply looking for the file - to no avail. So then, I had to rely on my memory (no wise cracks).

Believe it or not, I remembered all the needed ID's and passwords - save for one - the most needed and important one - the one that would allow me to change the name servers (of course). So then, I had to call some tech support, wait on the phone for about 15 minutes, and then explain what I needed. The tech was helpful, but had to place a request for another department to send me the needed ID and password; something she said should come within an hour or two. This is what I was anxiously waiting for when the invitation for lunch came. If I had not gone, I would have simply stared at the computer waiting for the email, contemplating the old axiom, "A watched pot does not boil."

So, off to lunch and a blessed time of fellowship with the men. When I came back to the office, assuming, of course, that the email would be there, I was disappointed - no email. I worked through the afternoon trying not to think about it, devoting myself to more important endeavors, but I kept waiting for the familiar email "ding" on the computer. I received several email, but none were from the tech.

Now I am home, trying to enjoy some time with the family. Hopefully I can put the anticipated email out of my head until tomorrow. I wonder what tomorrow will bring? Maybe I had better go and mediate on Matthew 6:34 -

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

The Hope of the Gospel

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message of hope for humanity. It is a message that causes the greatest of joy for the one who has received it, along with the greatest of motivation to pursue holiness and the glory of God. William Romaine (1714-1795) said it best – consider and meditate on these truths:

It is true that I have sin in me, but it is pardoned. God has forgiven me all trespasses. I stand before Him in my Redeemer, Who undertook for me, and I am perfect in Him. The Father chose me in His Son: He looks upon the face of His beloved, and sees me in Him. In Christ He is well pleased, so He is with me! As He loves Christ - He loves me!

This is the glorious privilege which by faith I now enjoy. I deny sight and sense, and I believe the Word of God! I adhere strictly to the Word of God concerning me, believing myself to be dead indeed unto sin in Christ, and in Him absolutely freed from guilt and condemnation. The Father is at peace with me, and He loves me in His Son, with the same love with which He loves Christ - His Father and my Father.

With this persuasion I go to war with my corruptions. They are fighting against everything that is dear and precious to my soul. But having the promised grace of the almighty Savior for my help, I desire to set upon them in His name. I am at war with sin but at peace in Christ!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Let Your Light Shine - To the Glory of God!

As we have been in the Gospel of Matthew in our Bible Reading, I was struck again by a few familiar passages:

Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:48
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Christian life is to be lived with a view to the glory of God. It is far too easy to “do” the right thing [good works – 5:16] for the purpose of being remembered, recognized and rewarded. Yes, we are to labor and we should excel to the very standard of God [perfection – 5:48]. And while we will fall short of this on this side of glory, it is yet to be our goal – always with a view to pointing people to God; always with a view of diminishing self and exalting Christ.

So, when you wash those dishes, wash them in such a way that people may see your good work and glorify God. When you work extra hard on that project at work, do it in such a way that people may see your good work, but know that God is to receive the praise. And when you labor for your brothers and sisters in Christ, do not seek praise and recognition, rather, go out of your way to ensure that God is recognized and praised.

How are your “good works”? Do they point people to look to you or to look to God? Is your desire to have God receive all the glory in all you do?

1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.


Soli Deo Gloria (To God’s Glory Alone),

Pastor Ed

A Gospel Prayer for 2007

It has become a recent practice in our church to take an old Puritan prayer and adapt it as a congregational prayer. As I was preparing this week’s sermon on the topic of “the Gospel” – I came across a wonderful prayer that I have now adapted for the congregation but could not wait to make it known.

As we contemplate the opportunities we will have to be ministers of the Gospel in 2007, may this be a guiding prayer.

- - - - - - -

Blessed Lord Jesus,

No human mind could conceive of invent the gospel. Acting in eternal grace, You are both its Messenger and its Message, lived out on earth through infinite compassion, apply Your life to insult, injury, death, that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed.

Blessed be You, O Father, for contriving this way;

Eternal thanks to You, O Lamb of God, for opening this way,

Praise everlasting to You, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to our hearts.

Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on our souls, until its virtue diffuses every faculty; let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.

Teach us to secure this mighty blessing; help us to give up every darling lust, to submit heart and life to its command, to have it in our wills, controlling our affections, molding our understanding; to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion, not departing form them in any instance, nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger. Take us to the cross to seek glory from its infamy; strip us of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by our own doings.

O gracious Redeemer,

We have neglected You too long, often crucified You, crucified You afresh by our impenitence, put You to open shame.

We thank You for the patience that has borne with us so long, and for the grace that now makes us willing to be Yours. O unite us to Yourself with inseparable bonds, that nothing may ever draw us back from You, our Lord, our Savior.

Amen.

- - - - - - -

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Let the Bible Reading Begin!

Psalm 119:174
I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight.

Our congregation is participating in a corporate Bible reading plan that began January 1. I have not heard much feedback as of yet from the congregation, but I know our family has already been so blessed as we read the assigned text with not only a view to grow personally, but also with a view to communicate with others in the church who have been reading the same texts.

Our approach is that our Bible reading has been broken down into “sections” (of various lengths. It is being done this way so that in the event that someone falls behind, rather then giving up on Bible reading, he might simply rejoin at the start of a new section.

I have also encouraged the congregation to read aloud or even listen to the Word of God. Romans 10:17 says,

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

There is something to be said for actually hearing the Word. Even the apostle Paul reminded Timothy,

1 Timothy 4:13
Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

The implication here is that many were listening to the Word being read. So, whatever your reading plan is, try to include some Bible listening as well. If you are interested in the Bible reading plan of Hope Community Bible Church, then click on the links I have provided. The first link is to the page that has all the sections, including the master reading plan. The second link is our current section. The final link is to the master reading plan. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

Hope CBC Sermons and Studies Resource Page

Section One - Bible Reading - "Life of Christ" (Matthew, Mark, John)

Master Bible Reading Plan for 2007

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

Preach, Pray or Plumb?

Sorry about the late post today. Everything started as a normal, pastoral day. I awoke at 5:15 am, spent some moments in prayer and prepared for an early morning breakfast with one of my Elders. After the blessing of breakfast and fellowship, I came home to have Bible study with the family – but then came the IM (instant message). It seemed that my mother’s plumbing had backed up, causing quite a flood. She wanted to know who to call to get things taken care of, but then my frugalness kicked in (why spend some much money on something that I could do simply and cheaply).

I made some arrangements, called to reserve a snake for the plumb job and headed over to my mom’s to take care of this situation. How hard could it be? Well, in order to simply snake out a backed-up line, one must find the cleanout. So, in the 32-degree weather, I proceeded to take my tour around the house. I looked everywhere – in the obvious places, behind the bushes and shrubs and under the trees. I could not find it.

So then I thought I might simply apply some logic – it must be somewhere near the kitchen or some other obvious spot, only buried a little bit (oh, that it were so simple). I began to dig about 8 to 12 inches down all along both sides of the house – NOTHING! Then I called my father-in-law, who made some logical suggestions and so I dug some more – NOTHING! Before I knew it, it was after 12 noon, I was dirty and exhausted. I had a call into a plumber we knew who eventually called me back about 1:30 who gave me some more suggestions about where to dig and that once I found it, he would come (or snake from the roof).

So, I began to dig again, near the spot I had before and went 24 inches down and about 8 feet long – NOTHING! Now I was totally exhausted! Praise the LORD for physical labor. But now I could think of nothing but having the plumber come on out and help. I called the plumber back only to have him tell me that he would be tied up, unable to come and leaving for a four day trip in the morning. Now what to do! It’s 3:45 pm, I had miles and miles of dug up ground and my mother has no plumbing. I decided to call up one of the “speedy” rooter companies, who thought they could get there before five, which they did. The young man looked at all the piles of dirt and said that it would help if I had the right equipment. I pulled out this long T-probe (about 4 foot long), went right to the area where I had been told to dig, started probing and within 10 minutes, found the line. That silly line was literally 3 inches from where I had dug previously. He found the cleanout, cleared the line and was gone within a half hour. It was now 5 pm, I was exhausted and had to cancel an Elder Board meeting. Right now I am lying in my bed, with the heating pad on my back and thanking the Lord for the opportunity to preach, pray or plumb!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility

According to the Word of God, our God is absolutely sovereign. This is to say that God does as He pleases, how He pleases, when He pleases. As even the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar came to realize:

Daniel 4:35
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

Put most simply, the sovereignty of God may be defined from Scripture as follows:

Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
(NKJV).

And in the absolute sovereignty of God, God has determined that man has responsibility to God – to both hear and to heed God’s voice. As the prophet Micah stated:

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Clearly there is a hearing and a heeding – a listening and an obeying. Man is not some automaton without a will, without feeling and without emotion. God sovereignly calls and man is to simply obey. Sin has affected man’s ability to hear and to obey God, but the pattern is yet the same – God instructs and man is to follow.

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification [the instruction and command of God]; that is, that you abstain [man’s responsibility] from sexual immorality;

This pattern of God’s call and man’s complicity is interesting revealed in the life of John the Baptist. In Matthew 3, Jesus comes to John to be baptized. John rightfully recognizes the issue, namely that John himself needs to be baptized by Jesus. John is the sinner – Jesus the saint. John was concerned with the appearance of things and the text says that he sought to prevent the event. Interestingly enough the text says that John “tried” to prevent what the sovereign Lord had purposed. So, Jesus exhorts John, giving him the call and purpose of God saying,

Matthew 3:15
Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Here is the call of God on John. Here is the will of God expressed to John. The great sovereign of heaven and earth has spoken. And what is John’s response to this? Consider the last phrase of Matthew 3:15 -

Then he [John] permitted Him [Jesus].

Those are intriguing words, are they not? John permitted Jesus? The sinner consents to the Savior? We see man’s responsibility to respond to the call of God. Jesus says, “permit” and John obeys. God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.

The verb “permitted” literally means “to allow something to go forth.” Man’s responsibility to the call and purpose of God in his life is “to allow it to go forth” to come to pass. God does not thrust personal and practical sanctification [the process of becoming holy or godly] upon man. Man, through belief in Christ and obedience to God’s commands, must permit – that is, he must yield himself over to such a purpose. Truly, it is the Lord alone who sanctifies and makes us righteous, but we must involve ourselves in the process. The apostle Paul makes this connection between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in Philippians 2:12-13 -

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling [man’s responsibility]; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [God’s sovereignty].

O that our desire would be to permit the sovereign purpose and plan of God to be our duty and delight – that we would allow the benefits of following after God to so rule our lives. It is the stubborn, selfish sinfulness of man, his own unwillingness to live according to God’s ways in order to pursue his own, that forfeits this delighting in God, that refuses to yield to God to the detriment of his own soul.

O Lord, grant that we might “permit” Your sovereign goodness to come to pass in our lives. Remove our selfishness, our stubbornness, and our pride that leaves us wallowing in the muck and the mire of depravity rather than seeking Your perfect and pure presence through simple obedience to Your Word. Command us, O God, that we may joyfully comply.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed

I Believe In Global Warming!

Happy New Year!

I start the year with just this one little thought:

I Believe in Global Warming

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10)."

Looking forward to a blessed year!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed