Yesterday a new minority government was elected here in Canada. Canadian Christians need to pray for those who have come to power and ask God to be merciful to them and help them fulfill their new responsibilities. We must remember that God is sovereign over all of life, including political life in Canada. He is working out his purposes although we can not always see or understand what he is doing. The wisdom of Proverbs tells us that, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Pr.16:33). And in another place we are reminded that, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases" (Pr.21:1).
In light of these great truths, we should pray that God would preserve our freedom and liberties here in Canada by blessing the proclamation of his gospel and pouring out his Holy Spirit upon us. As Christians guided by God's word we know what those around us do not, namely that, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Pr.14:34). The current trend in our country is toward the public celebration and promotion of ideas and conduct which are clearly contrary to God's righteousness standards. This course of action can only end in disaster. We need to ask the Lord to help us push back the darkness as we hold out the word of life (Philippians 2:16). We need to know and walk in the truth, because the truth of God mediated through Jesus is the only thing that can set and keep us free.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
Introduction To The Book of Revelation
This past Sunday morning at Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship, we began a new series of messages on the last book of the Bible; the book of Revelation. Over the next while I am going to share some aspects of our study with you by means of this blog. For the complete study you should consult the PBF website at www.pilgrimbaptistfellowship.org as the messages will eventually be posted there as soon as they are available for download.
Revelation is a book that has fascinated Christians down through the years. It is full of symbolism and word pictures that challenge teachers and students, pastors and congregations. Understanding the book of Revelation is further complicated by an almost endless array of interpretive schemes which go off in all sorts of interesting and sometimes strange directions. We need to acknowledge from the beginning, that no one understands all that is revealed in the book of Revelation. Consequently, humility and grace are required and arrogant dogmatism is completely out of place.
Just because Revelation is difficult to understand does not mean that we should shy away from it. In fact, there is a "special blessing" pronounced on those who read it and who obey what is revealed therein (Rev.1:3). So with this in mind let us embark on our journey.
Normally when I begin a book study, I start with the "oatmeal," or what are normally called introductory issues. I thought about doing that in this case but when I started to read all the material I changed my mind. The background material is voluminous and complicated. I thought about trying to distill it down to its essence, but ran out of time and energy. So, instead of going through all the prolegomena, I am going to take another route. Right off the top I am going to stake out certain positions on a number of important introductory issues which will enable us to get right into the text itself. As we work our way through Revelation we can discuss these matters in more detail where they are necessary to enhance our understanding of what is being said.
The following are what I am calling "Kirk's Givens":
1. The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John, the same apostle who wrote the gospel and the three epistles that are traditionally attributed to him.
2. The book of Revelation was written in the 90's AD during the reign of Roman emperor Domitian. While it is possible that it was written earlier before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the weight of the evidence points to the later date.
3. Revelation is not primarily about past events like the destruction of Jerusalem or the Roman Empire although it does have something to say about these and many other events.
4. Revelation is not primarily about specific historical events beyond the early centuries of the Christian era. For instance, we should not go looking for the First and Second World Wars, or Hitler, or Stalin, or the current crisis in the Middle East, although it does have something to say about these and much, much more.
5. Revelation is not primarily about events that have yet to take place, events clustered around the time of Jesus' return in glory and power at the end of the age. It was not written to the so-called "Terminal Generation" but to Christians who lived in the first century and in every subsequent century of this era until Jesus comes again.
Of course, it is not enough to say what the book is not about, but these negations help clear some of the interpretative debris so that we can begin to hear what the text is saying. Next time we will look at some of the main points of the prologue (Rev.1:1-3) in which John summarizes for us all that is to follow.
Revelation is a book that has fascinated Christians down through the years. It is full of symbolism and word pictures that challenge teachers and students, pastors and congregations. Understanding the book of Revelation is further complicated by an almost endless array of interpretive schemes which go off in all sorts of interesting and sometimes strange directions. We need to acknowledge from the beginning, that no one understands all that is revealed in the book of Revelation. Consequently, humility and grace are required and arrogant dogmatism is completely out of place.
Just because Revelation is difficult to understand does not mean that we should shy away from it. In fact, there is a "special blessing" pronounced on those who read it and who obey what is revealed therein (Rev.1:3). So with this in mind let us embark on our journey.
Normally when I begin a book study, I start with the "oatmeal," or what are normally called introductory issues. I thought about doing that in this case but when I started to read all the material I changed my mind. The background material is voluminous and complicated. I thought about trying to distill it down to its essence, but ran out of time and energy. So, instead of going through all the prolegomena, I am going to take another route. Right off the top I am going to stake out certain positions on a number of important introductory issues which will enable us to get right into the text itself. As we work our way through Revelation we can discuss these matters in more detail where they are necessary to enhance our understanding of what is being said.
The following are what I am calling "Kirk's Givens":
1. The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John, the same apostle who wrote the gospel and the three epistles that are traditionally attributed to him.
2. The book of Revelation was written in the 90's AD during the reign of Roman emperor Domitian. While it is possible that it was written earlier before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the weight of the evidence points to the later date.
3. Revelation is not primarily about past events like the destruction of Jerusalem or the Roman Empire although it does have something to say about these and many other events.
4. Revelation is not primarily about specific historical events beyond the early centuries of the Christian era. For instance, we should not go looking for the First and Second World Wars, or Hitler, or Stalin, or the current crisis in the Middle East, although it does have something to say about these and much, much more.
5. Revelation is not primarily about events that have yet to take place, events clustered around the time of Jesus' return in glory and power at the end of the age. It was not written to the so-called "Terminal Generation" but to Christians who lived in the first century and in every subsequent century of this era until Jesus comes again.
Of course, it is not enough to say what the book is not about, but these negations help clear some of the interpretative debris so that we can begin to hear what the text is saying. Next time we will look at some of the main points of the prologue (Rev.1:1-3) in which John summarizes for us all that is to follow.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
The Narrow Road
As Jesus approaches the end of what we know as the "Sermon on the Mount" he begins to apply what he has been saying to his listeners. He knows that it is not enough for them to sit and listen to him, they must make some decisions. This is not just another academic lecture, his words deal with the most important issues of life.
In Matthew 7:13-14 he speaks about two gates, two roads, two destinations, and two groups of travelers. We should notice that there are only two in each instance. There are not three or more options for us to consider at our leisure. We are in one of two camps whether we like it or not. Either we are listening to Jesus or we are heading in the wrong direction.
Of course, this in not very popular in Canada where "fence-sitting" is revered. We like to think that we are so wise and balanced, a people of moderation who carefully avoid extremes. There are times when this is commendable but not when it comes to Jesus. Either we are for him or we are against him. In his case truth does not depend on the opinion of the majority or even on what we may sincerely believe in our minds and hearts. Truth is what he says it is. In fact, he is truth, the very word of God made flesh who has come down from heaven.
With that in mind we need to pay attention when he tells us to: "Enter through the narrow gate." He is talking about entering the kingdom of heaven; the realm where God rules in the hearts of his people, the realm of salvation and eternal life. If we want to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be prepared to leave behind what is inconsistent with that kingdom. We must leave behind our love of sin, our unbelief, our selfishness, our rebellion against the one who is worthy of our praise. We must surrender ourselves totally to Jesus himself who alone is able to make us right with God.
It is especially important that we listen to Jesus because there is another alternative. There is a wide gate and a broad road. No restriction here. You can believe what you want and do what you want on this road. This is the road where no one is required to leave anything behind except the nasty notion that anyone else could ever possibly be wrong! The only problem is that this "user-friendly" road leads to destruction. Even though it is popular and heavily traveled, it lead to eternal separation from God; an end too terrible to contemplate.
The only other option according to Jesus is the small gate which leads to the narrow road which leads to life although only a few find it. One reason this road is narrow is because those who travel on it experience persecution and trouble. The Christian life is not easy. Through much tribulation we enter the kingdom (Acts 14:22). But in spite of the difficulties, it leads to life, everlasting life in the presence of God! No matter what the troubles of this route it will be worth it in the end. We may be sure of that.
On which road are you traveling? Are you on the way to life or destruction?
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I...I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." -- Robert Frost
In Matthew 7:13-14 he speaks about two gates, two roads, two destinations, and two groups of travelers. We should notice that there are only two in each instance. There are not three or more options for us to consider at our leisure. We are in one of two camps whether we like it or not. Either we are listening to Jesus or we are heading in the wrong direction.
Of course, this in not very popular in Canada where "fence-sitting" is revered. We like to think that we are so wise and balanced, a people of moderation who carefully avoid extremes. There are times when this is commendable but not when it comes to Jesus. Either we are for him or we are against him. In his case truth does not depend on the opinion of the majority or even on what we may sincerely believe in our minds and hearts. Truth is what he says it is. In fact, he is truth, the very word of God made flesh who has come down from heaven.
With that in mind we need to pay attention when he tells us to: "Enter through the narrow gate." He is talking about entering the kingdom of heaven; the realm where God rules in the hearts of his people, the realm of salvation and eternal life. If we want to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be prepared to leave behind what is inconsistent with that kingdom. We must leave behind our love of sin, our unbelief, our selfishness, our rebellion against the one who is worthy of our praise. We must surrender ourselves totally to Jesus himself who alone is able to make us right with God.
It is especially important that we listen to Jesus because there is another alternative. There is a wide gate and a broad road. No restriction here. You can believe what you want and do what you want on this road. This is the road where no one is required to leave anything behind except the nasty notion that anyone else could ever possibly be wrong! The only problem is that this "user-friendly" road leads to destruction. Even though it is popular and heavily traveled, it lead to eternal separation from God; an end too terrible to contemplate.
The only other option according to Jesus is the small gate which leads to the narrow road which leads to life although only a few find it. One reason this road is narrow is because those who travel on it experience persecution and trouble. The Christian life is not easy. Through much tribulation we enter the kingdom (Acts 14:22). But in spite of the difficulties, it leads to life, everlasting life in the presence of God! No matter what the troubles of this route it will be worth it in the end. We may be sure of that.
On which road are you traveling? Are you on the way to life or destruction?
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I...I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." -- Robert Frost
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Parental Responsibilities
This Sunday at Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship we are going to look at a very important scripture text that speaks to parental responsibilities. In Ephesians 6:4 the apostle Paul instructs fathers not to exasperate their children but instead to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Although "fathers" are specifically addressed, what is said applies to both fathers and mothers. Both have tremendous responsibilities when it comes to the growth and development of their children. Interestingly enough, when Paul's words are read against the background of what we know about ancient Roman families, they are words of restraint. Instead of supporting the authoritarian view of his day, Paul calls for a kind of parenting that is modeled after that of our Father in heaven. In order to make his point clear he starts with the negative followed by the positive.
Negatively, he tells us that we are not to exasperate our children. That means we are not to irritate, frustrate, and anger them by our behavior. This does not mean that we have no standards or that we never correct them. It means that we are not to exasperate them by being cruel or harsh, by making unreasonable demands on them, by showing favoritism, being over-indulgence or sarcastic. We should not ridicule them or humiliate them. Nor should we drive them crazy by always being morose, sour, bitter, cynical, or suspicious. The opposite of this kind of exasperation is love and understanding that seeks what is best for the child.
Positively, Christian parents are to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. This is their responsibility. Although they may delegate some aspects of it at times, it is primarily theirs and they need to guard it and never surrender it to anyone including schools (whether Christian or otherwise), churches, the television and the internet. The "training and instruction of the Lord" means that we will avoid the notion that by using the right parenting techniques we can produce little Christians. It also means that we will not be repressive and overly negative with our children. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most wonderful thing in the world and our children should see the beauty and freedom of the gospel in our homes and relationships with them. Paul's instructions also mean that we should never try to force our children to "make a decision." I am not saying that we do not share the gospel with them, or that we do not earnestly pray for them; of course we do all of those things and more. But we do not manipulate them into making a decision. We do not employ high-pressure, emotional tactics, nor do we make them feel that they are being disloyal to us or the family if they do not become Christians. We do not do any of these things because they dishonor the gospel, and quite frankly, they do not work.
Instead we do our best to show that we love the Lord Jesus and that we are glad we are Christians. We try to show how Christ is involved in all of our lives. We read his word, pray to him and are genuinely thankful for all he has done for us. In a day like ours, or in any day for that matter, this kind of parenting is noticed. For all that has been written about parenting it is difficult to improve on this verse of Scripture if we take the time to work our some of its many implications.
Negatively, he tells us that we are not to exasperate our children. That means we are not to irritate, frustrate, and anger them by our behavior. This does not mean that we have no standards or that we never correct them. It means that we are not to exasperate them by being cruel or harsh, by making unreasonable demands on them, by showing favoritism, being over-indulgence or sarcastic. We should not ridicule them or humiliate them. Nor should we drive them crazy by always being morose, sour, bitter, cynical, or suspicious. The opposite of this kind of exasperation is love and understanding that seeks what is best for the child.
Positively, Christian parents are to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. This is their responsibility. Although they may delegate some aspects of it at times, it is primarily theirs and they need to guard it and never surrender it to anyone including schools (whether Christian or otherwise), churches, the television and the internet. The "training and instruction of the Lord" means that we will avoid the notion that by using the right parenting techniques we can produce little Christians. It also means that we will not be repressive and overly negative with our children. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most wonderful thing in the world and our children should see the beauty and freedom of the gospel in our homes and relationships with them. Paul's instructions also mean that we should never try to force our children to "make a decision." I am not saying that we do not share the gospel with them, or that we do not earnestly pray for them; of course we do all of those things and more. But we do not manipulate them into making a decision. We do not employ high-pressure, emotional tactics, nor do we make them feel that they are being disloyal to us or the family if they do not become Christians. We do not do any of these things because they dishonor the gospel, and quite frankly, they do not work.
Instead we do our best to show that we love the Lord Jesus and that we are glad we are Christians. We try to show how Christ is involved in all of our lives. We read his word, pray to him and are genuinely thankful for all he has done for us. In a day like ours, or in any day for that matter, this kind of parenting is noticed. For all that has been written about parenting it is difficult to improve on this verse of Scripture if we take the time to work our some of its many implications.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Spirituality in John's Gospel
I have just enjoyed a series of lectures by Dr. D.A.Carson on "Spirituality in John's Gospel." This lecture series was held at Trinity Baptist Church in Burlington, Ontario, under the auspices of Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College, and The Jonathan Edwards Centre for Reformed Spirituality.
Dr. Carson began by pointing out that today the word "spirituality" is used in so many different ways that in and of itself it tells us virtually nothing. What we should be interested in and what he so ably expounded to us was "Christian spirituality" which rests on the firm foundation of the word of God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He defined "spirituality" in terms of "connectedness with God." Spirituality is about how we fallen mortals can have a relationship, a connectedness, with the holy creator God himself? Once you start asking that kind of question it should be apparent to the thinking Christian that we have to look to Jesus Christ for answers.
That is precisely what we have in John's gospel. We have Jesus the Christ presented as the Word of God, the Temple or meeting place between God and man, the one who gives new spiritual life to those who were spiritually dead, the one who makes it possible for us to worship God, the Son of God who perfectly obeys his heavenly Father as an expression of his perfect love for the Father... among many other things. Jesus, the Son of God, is the one who gives life, perfectly reveals God to us and redeems us from our sins so that we can have a relationship with God that is like the one he enjoys with his Father, as far as that is possible for us as finite creatures.
Dr. Carson warned us that spirituality must never be reduced to mere technique as if by the "right kind" of praying, or fasting, or journaling, or meditating, etc., we can somehow extract from God the blessings we seek. Rather we must draw near to God through Jesus Christ his Son as he is presented to us in the biblical gospel. We come by grace through faith in Christ. This is not to deny that various spiritual disciplines are beneficial. They are beneficial and necessary. But only as they rest on the foundation of the gospel. They are a means to an end. Never some sort of meritorious work that puts God in the position of having to give us what we want.
We live in a day when "religion" is out and "spirituality" is in. In the popular culture it is ok to be spiritual. As Christians we need to define our terms. We need to ask people what they mean by spiritual. And then we need to point those who are seeking answers to the one who came from God, who died on the cross in order to bring us back to God, who rose from the dead as a sign that God had accepted his work, and who has ascended into heaven until the end of the age when he will return with power and great glory! If we are seeking connectedness with God, we must come through him. There is no other way. He alone can meet our deepest spiritual desires as we know the glory of his redeeming love and grace.
It was a great conference. How thankful we should be that there is a way for us to know God, truly know God, not just for a while but forever and ever and ever. To God be the glory!
Dr. Carson began by pointing out that today the word "spirituality" is used in so many different ways that in and of itself it tells us virtually nothing. What we should be interested in and what he so ably expounded to us was "Christian spirituality" which rests on the firm foundation of the word of God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He defined "spirituality" in terms of "connectedness with God." Spirituality is about how we fallen mortals can have a relationship, a connectedness, with the holy creator God himself? Once you start asking that kind of question it should be apparent to the thinking Christian that we have to look to Jesus Christ for answers.
That is precisely what we have in John's gospel. We have Jesus the Christ presented as the Word of God, the Temple or meeting place between God and man, the one who gives new spiritual life to those who were spiritually dead, the one who makes it possible for us to worship God, the Son of God who perfectly obeys his heavenly Father as an expression of his perfect love for the Father... among many other things. Jesus, the Son of God, is the one who gives life, perfectly reveals God to us and redeems us from our sins so that we can have a relationship with God that is like the one he enjoys with his Father, as far as that is possible for us as finite creatures.
Dr. Carson warned us that spirituality must never be reduced to mere technique as if by the "right kind" of praying, or fasting, or journaling, or meditating, etc., we can somehow extract from God the blessings we seek. Rather we must draw near to God through Jesus Christ his Son as he is presented to us in the biblical gospel. We come by grace through faith in Christ. This is not to deny that various spiritual disciplines are beneficial. They are beneficial and necessary. But only as they rest on the foundation of the gospel. They are a means to an end. Never some sort of meritorious work that puts God in the position of having to give us what we want.
We live in a day when "religion" is out and "spirituality" is in. In the popular culture it is ok to be spiritual. As Christians we need to define our terms. We need to ask people what they mean by spiritual. And then we need to point those who are seeking answers to the one who came from God, who died on the cross in order to bring us back to God, who rose from the dead as a sign that God had accepted his work, and who has ascended into heaven until the end of the age when he will return with power and great glory! If we are seeking connectedness with God, we must come through him. There is no other way. He alone can meet our deepest spiritual desires as we know the glory of his redeeming love and grace.
It was a great conference. How thankful we should be that there is a way for us to know God, truly know God, not just for a while but forever and ever and ever. To God be the glory!
Saturday, June 12, 2004
The Golden Rule
Tomorrow evening at Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship we will resume our study of Matthew's gospel. If you are in the area and interested in studying God's word you are more than welcome to join with us. We will be looking at Matthew 7:12 and the so-called "Golden Rule."
One of the things we will talk about tomorrow evening is the antiquity of the "Golden Rule." It was not invented by Jesus but appears in various forms in a variety of religious traditions. What is unique about Jesus' restatement of the rule is the positive way in which he puts it. Usually it is stated negatively. For instance: Do not do to others what you don't want them to do to you! That is fine as far as it goes, but it is really inadequate when it comes to a righteousness that both fulfills the Law and the Prophets and goes beyond the spirituality of the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day. Kingdom disciples (Christians) are not just to refrain from certain things, they are to actually DO something! They are to do to others what they would want others to do to them.
When we start to think along these lines we can see that in the teaching of Jesus the "Golden Rule" is an far-reaching ethical principle that is capable of helping us make decisions in all kinds of situations. We can know what God wants us to do by asking ourselves how we would like to be treated. Usually human beings are pretty good at that! We want love and respect, grace and truth, peace and kindness. All of these are good. What Jesus wants is for us to extend these things to others. He will not allow us to take pride in a kind of holiness characterized by inaction. It is not enough to refrain from killing, stealing, and committing adultery. He wants us to enrich the lives of others, to work hard so that we have something to share, and to pursue purity of mind and heart which is of great value in God's sight. In the end what we do is even more important than what we don't do (this is the real difference between the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46).
None of us can do this in our own strength. If we try we will soon become disillusioned. We must remember that the one who gave us the "Golden Rule" died on the cross to purchase our forgiveness and the spiritual power to begin to live in this radical way. We must keep our eyes on him, walk in his forgiveness, and draw upon his grace and power.
One of the things we will talk about tomorrow evening is the antiquity of the "Golden Rule." It was not invented by Jesus but appears in various forms in a variety of religious traditions. What is unique about Jesus' restatement of the rule is the positive way in which he puts it. Usually it is stated negatively. For instance: Do not do to others what you don't want them to do to you! That is fine as far as it goes, but it is really inadequate when it comes to a righteousness that both fulfills the Law and the Prophets and goes beyond the spirituality of the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day. Kingdom disciples (Christians) are not just to refrain from certain things, they are to actually DO something! They are to do to others what they would want others to do to them.
When we start to think along these lines we can see that in the teaching of Jesus the "Golden Rule" is an far-reaching ethical principle that is capable of helping us make decisions in all kinds of situations. We can know what God wants us to do by asking ourselves how we would like to be treated. Usually human beings are pretty good at that! We want love and respect, grace and truth, peace and kindness. All of these are good. What Jesus wants is for us to extend these things to others. He will not allow us to take pride in a kind of holiness characterized by inaction. It is not enough to refrain from killing, stealing, and committing adultery. He wants us to enrich the lives of others, to work hard so that we have something to share, and to pursue purity of mind and heart which is of great value in God's sight. In the end what we do is even more important than what we don't do (this is the real difference between the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46).
None of us can do this in our own strength. If we try we will soon become disillusioned. We must remember that the one who gave us the "Golden Rule" died on the cross to purchase our forgiveness and the spiritual power to begin to live in this radical way. We must keep our eyes on him, walk in his forgiveness, and draw upon his grace and power.
Thursday, June 10, 2004
This is my Father's world
A couple of Sunday mornings ago at Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship we started to consider the "Providence of God." This is a truth taught in the Bible that has fallen on hard times. Many people do not view their lives as governed and ordered by God, but this is what the Scriptures teach. The God of the Bible is Lord of all. In the beginning he created the heavens and the earth and he has been sustaining them ever since. But not only is he upholding all things he is moving human history toward the end that he has ordained for it. This basic biblical truth has a number of important implications.
It means that history is not meaningless. It is not an endless cycle of events that will go on forever unless humans are foolish enough to destroy themselves. History is going somewhere. Behind scenes of history the covenant Lord is working out his plan. He is working to save his people from their sins. To rescue them from the evil that destroys their relationship with him, with others, and even destroys them personally from the inside out.
The doctrine of God's providence also gives meaning to our individual lives. Our lives are not a series of random and therefore essentially meaningless events. God is in control. We are living in his merciful shadow. He gives us life and breath and everything else. It rebukes the practical atheism of our day which sees people live their lives as if God is not there, or if he is, he does not matter.
When we come to understand God's providence we suddenly see that there is no such thing as luck or chance or fate or fortune. This is how things may appear to us as finite creatures but this is not how they really are. All that happens to us, the good and the bad, is planned by God and comes to us from his hand. This does not mean that God is primarily accountable to sin or evil. The biblical writers insist that this is not the case. While both good and evil come under the sway of his sovereign power and are part of his plan, he is involved with them in different ways. Evil is never directly chargeable to him but always to the human or demonic agents who are involved. Good is always directly chargeable to him and only secondarily to the human or angelic agents who carry it out.
God's involvement in the world and in our own personal lives means that everything that happens to us comes to us as a new summons and opportunity to love, trust and obey God. Without a doubt terrible things happen in our world. But even these are intended to make us run to God and find the help and answers we so desperately need. He stands with his arms open wide to receive those who call on his name. He has sent his Son into the world to provide hope and salvation. Terrible things were done to Jesus the Christ by wicked people. Yet God the Father was there working in and through those events to accomplish the greatest victory of all time. When we find ourselves in trouble the best solution is not to run from God but to him. He is able to help. The doctrine of providence encourages us to draw near because it tells us that our coming will not be a surprise to him, but the wonderful outworking of his grace.
It means that history is not meaningless. It is not an endless cycle of events that will go on forever unless humans are foolish enough to destroy themselves. History is going somewhere. Behind scenes of history the covenant Lord is working out his plan. He is working to save his people from their sins. To rescue them from the evil that destroys their relationship with him, with others, and even destroys them personally from the inside out.
The doctrine of God's providence also gives meaning to our individual lives. Our lives are not a series of random and therefore essentially meaningless events. God is in control. We are living in his merciful shadow. He gives us life and breath and everything else. It rebukes the practical atheism of our day which sees people live their lives as if God is not there, or if he is, he does not matter.
When we come to understand God's providence we suddenly see that there is no such thing as luck or chance or fate or fortune. This is how things may appear to us as finite creatures but this is not how they really are. All that happens to us, the good and the bad, is planned by God and comes to us from his hand. This does not mean that God is primarily accountable to sin or evil. The biblical writers insist that this is not the case. While both good and evil come under the sway of his sovereign power and are part of his plan, he is involved with them in different ways. Evil is never directly chargeable to him but always to the human or demonic agents who are involved. Good is always directly chargeable to him and only secondarily to the human or angelic agents who carry it out.
God's involvement in the world and in our own personal lives means that everything that happens to us comes to us as a new summons and opportunity to love, trust and obey God. Without a doubt terrible things happen in our world. But even these are intended to make us run to God and find the help and answers we so desperately need. He stands with his arms open wide to receive those who call on his name. He has sent his Son into the world to provide hope and salvation. Terrible things were done to Jesus the Christ by wicked people. Yet God the Father was there working in and through those events to accomplish the greatest victory of all time. When we find ourselves in trouble the best solution is not to run from God but to him. He is able to help. The doctrine of providence encourages us to draw near because it tells us that our coming will not be a surprise to him, but the wonderful outworking of his grace.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Something to think about...
"The Lord reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name -
he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice -
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done what is just and right.
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool;
he is holy." (Psalm 99:1-5)
What a great psalm! What a reminder of God's greatness and glory. We need to remember who is in charge and who rules and reigns in heaven and earth. If your church has a mid-week prayer meeting why not gather with other Christians and seek the face of God? Prayer meetings have almost disappeared from church life for all sorts of reasons. But I think if we are honest we have to admit that one of the main reasons why they have largely become a thing of the past is because Christianity is in a state of serious decline. Prayer is not something that people are interested in if their relationship with God is not passionate and up-to-date. While seeking the Lord personally should characterize normal biblical Christianity, our individual pursuit of God should not be at the expense of meeting with other believers to worship and glorify him by calling on his name.
Don't forget "the Lord reigns!" Let's ask him to do great and mighty things today in our land of Canada! Let's ask him to "shake the earth" for his honor and glory! Whatever else you do this week, find some time to "exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool." Our God is "holy" which means he is in a class by himself and he is able to work wonders. Let's make our way back to him. If your church doesn't have a prayer meeting call up some Christian friends and start one. Better yet shock your pastor by asking for one! If your church does provide such an opportunity, then get out to it and pray. Stop worrying about everyone else and looking critically at everyone else... Pray!
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name -
he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice -
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done what is just and right.
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool;
he is holy." (Psalm 99:1-5)
What a great psalm! What a reminder of God's greatness and glory. We need to remember who is in charge and who rules and reigns in heaven and earth. If your church has a mid-week prayer meeting why not gather with other Christians and seek the face of God? Prayer meetings have almost disappeared from church life for all sorts of reasons. But I think if we are honest we have to admit that one of the main reasons why they have largely become a thing of the past is because Christianity is in a state of serious decline. Prayer is not something that people are interested in if their relationship with God is not passionate and up-to-date. While seeking the Lord personally should characterize normal biblical Christianity, our individual pursuit of God should not be at the expense of meeting with other believers to worship and glorify him by calling on his name.
Don't forget "the Lord reigns!" Let's ask him to do great and mighty things today in our land of Canada! Let's ask him to "shake the earth" for his honor and glory! Whatever else you do this week, find some time to "exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool." Our God is "holy" which means he is in a class by himself and he is able to work wonders. Let's make our way back to him. If your church doesn't have a prayer meeting call up some Christian friends and start one. Better yet shock your pastor by asking for one! If your church does provide such an opportunity, then get out to it and pray. Stop worrying about everyone else and looking critically at everyone else... Pray!
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Bluewater Biker Blessing 2004
Last Sunday, June 6th, I participated in the 10th Annual Bluewater Biker Blessing that was held at the Mike Weir Park in Bright's Grove, Ontario. This event was the idea of Don and Jan Aikin of Sovereign Grace Community Church in Sarnia. For the past 9 years the event was held at Sovereign Grace Community Church itself but this year it was moved to the new location so that more events could be added to the day's activities. Although the initial weather forecast called for rain, the Lord gave us great weather, which is always important when you are holding an event for bikers. Don and Jan, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, worked very hard and planned all kinds of things for the riders to do and the time passed quickly for everyone.
As on previous occasions, I was happy to have a chance to speak to the bikers. Because of the change of venue and time constraints imposed by the special events of the day, I was only able to plant a few seeds of biblical truth that I pray the Lord will bless. Flexibility is always important when it comes to preaching the word of God and we have to be prepared to do and say what we think the Lord would have us do and say at the time. That is what I did at the Biker Blessing on Sunday afternoon. I quickly realized that I would only have a few minutes to speak to them and so with thankfulness and a prayer in my heart I tried to give those who had gathered something to think about.
Yesterday as I was walking and thinking and praying about the events of the weekend I got thinking to myself that I should post the original outline of my message to the bikers here on my blog. That would give me a chance to fill in some of the details and to say something that I trust will be helpful to you regardless of whether you are a biker or not. So here it is...
That Day: Truth, Testimony, Surprise
Last year I missed the Biker Blessing because I was on my way back from Malawi in Africa. It was a great trip and I learned a lot about people and their joys and sorrows in another part of the world. I enjoy traveling to different places and seeing what God is doing there. But I don't have to tell you bikers about travel, you know all about that; hitting the open road - journeying toward a destination. When you stop and think about it, life is like that. A journey to a final destination. Sometimes it is long, sometimes it is short. Today we are still on the "road of life" heading toward our final destination and a meeting with God.
At this 10th Anniversary Bluewater Biker Blessing, I want to "bless" you by telling you the truth about "that day". It's a day that we all need to be ready for because on it the final verdict will be rendered without any chance of appeal.
I know that not because I have been there and come back again, but because I have a word from Jesus, who has been to death and back again. Jesus the only "prophet, priest and king" who has died and come to life again, something that makes him totally unique.
Not only that, but God, the creator of the universe, has appointed this same Jesus the judge of all humankind. We will all stand before him. He will pass judgment on us all.
On this occasion I want us to listen to something that this same Jesus said to us about that day - that final day when knowing him will be the only thing that matters.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
I. Truth: It will be a day when God's truth will triumph at last.
Ours is a world of "HD" - not Harley Davidson... but "heifer-dust"! Half truths and broken promises, lies and deception. We may immediately think of the politicians but they do not have a corner on dishonesty. On the day that Jesus is speaking about in Mt.7:21, he who is truth incarnate, will speak the truth and vindicate his word no matter what anyone says or thinks. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven".
Jesus has been telling us this for 2000 years and counting. Many didn't listen then and they are not listening now, but that changes nothing. His words are true. Verified by the resurrection, they will be completely verified in history. Jesus is telling us that "Lord, Lord" is not enough if we are going to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to be respectful or orthodox or even fervent. There must be an obedient commitment to do the will of God the Father.
True discipleship is more than labels and god-talk. More than spine-tingling spiritual experiences. It is not enough to admire Jesus as we might admire a painting or a motorcycle. Not enough to speak well of him at a distance. Not enough to hear, discuss, debate the Bible and Christian theology. Not enough to sing and dance and feel something mystical. Not enough to be a "Christian kind" of person. True discipleship is marked by obedience to God the Father as he is revealed by Jesus. We must believe what God says about our need as sinners and about his Son as our Savior and commit ourselves to him. There must be real personal surrender to Jesus Christ. Spiritual humility, sorrow, repentance, faith and obedience. If you want an example of true conversion read and study the life of a Pharisee named Saul who by God's grace became the apostle Paul (see the Book of Acts).
II. Testimony: It will be a day of impressive personal testimonies.
A day when many, not just a few, say: "Lord, Lord, did we not..." Then they will go on to defend themselves by pointing to their good works. They will tell the Lord how they have prophesied in his name, and in his name exorcised demons and in his name done many miraculous works. Very impressive! Public works, spectacular works and wonders. If any group of people felt secure, this is the group! What credentials. These are the elites, not just rank and file sinners.
Many people today are just like them. They think that their good works are enough to make up for their bad ones, or that at least they are enough to gain them admission into heaven. Afterall, they are no worse (or better for that matter) than the next person. Humans make mistakes, God knows this, he will make allowance for their humanity and he will give extra weight to what they have tried to do out of sincere hearts.
III. Surprise: It will be a day of shock and surprise.
Surprise because there will be so many in the same situation. Surprise because Jesus will speak to them plainly and they will understand. Surprise and shock because he will tell them that he never knew them. Surprise because he will banish them from his presence as evildoers.
If this group of do-gooders is in trouble, what about the rest of us? There are no words as horrifying as: "Away from me, you evildoers", when they are spoken by Jesus, the Son of God, at the end of the age. I know we live in a time and place where people don't believe these things. I know that Hollywood makes fun of these things and there are even scholars who scoff and sneer. But you know deep down inside that you were made for more than the things of this life. You were made for God.
Many years ago there lived a brilliant man named Augustine who in spite of his brilliance lived an immoral life until he met Jesus. In his famous book of Confessions he says: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and we are restless until we rest in Thee!" Augustine speaks the truth. And not only are we restless, but we are in great danger until we make peace with God.
Only the Lord knows how much road on the journey of life lies between us and the end. As you travel down the road of life think about these words of Jesus. There is no reason why any of us should have to hear him say: "Away from me, you evildoers!" if we seek the Lord today and call on him for mercy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and let him touch and heal you.
This is a day we have prayed for - we have prayed for you. We have prayed that God would speak to you and impress his truth upon you. We have prayed that God would give you eyes to see and ears to hear. May this happen as you turn to Jesus.
As on previous occasions, I was happy to have a chance to speak to the bikers. Because of the change of venue and time constraints imposed by the special events of the day, I was only able to plant a few seeds of biblical truth that I pray the Lord will bless. Flexibility is always important when it comes to preaching the word of God and we have to be prepared to do and say what we think the Lord would have us do and say at the time. That is what I did at the Biker Blessing on Sunday afternoon. I quickly realized that I would only have a few minutes to speak to them and so with thankfulness and a prayer in my heart I tried to give those who had gathered something to think about.
Yesterday as I was walking and thinking and praying about the events of the weekend I got thinking to myself that I should post the original outline of my message to the bikers here on my blog. That would give me a chance to fill in some of the details and to say something that I trust will be helpful to you regardless of whether you are a biker or not. So here it is...
That Day: Truth, Testimony, Surprise
Last year I missed the Biker Blessing because I was on my way back from Malawi in Africa. It was a great trip and I learned a lot about people and their joys and sorrows in another part of the world. I enjoy traveling to different places and seeing what God is doing there. But I don't have to tell you bikers about travel, you know all about that; hitting the open road - journeying toward a destination. When you stop and think about it, life is like that. A journey to a final destination. Sometimes it is long, sometimes it is short. Today we are still on the "road of life" heading toward our final destination and a meeting with God.
At this 10th Anniversary Bluewater Biker Blessing, I want to "bless" you by telling you the truth about "that day". It's a day that we all need to be ready for because on it the final verdict will be rendered without any chance of appeal.
I know that not because I have been there and come back again, but because I have a word from Jesus, who has been to death and back again. Jesus the only "prophet, priest and king" who has died and come to life again, something that makes him totally unique.
Not only that, but God, the creator of the universe, has appointed this same Jesus the judge of all humankind. We will all stand before him. He will pass judgment on us all.
On this occasion I want us to listen to something that this same Jesus said to us about that day - that final day when knowing him will be the only thing that matters.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
I. Truth: It will be a day when God's truth will triumph at last.
Ours is a world of "HD" - not Harley Davidson... but "heifer-dust"! Half truths and broken promises, lies and deception. We may immediately think of the politicians but they do not have a corner on dishonesty. On the day that Jesus is speaking about in Mt.7:21, he who is truth incarnate, will speak the truth and vindicate his word no matter what anyone says or thinks. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven".
Jesus has been telling us this for 2000 years and counting. Many didn't listen then and they are not listening now, but that changes nothing. His words are true. Verified by the resurrection, they will be completely verified in history. Jesus is telling us that "Lord, Lord" is not enough if we are going to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to be respectful or orthodox or even fervent. There must be an obedient commitment to do the will of God the Father.
True discipleship is more than labels and god-talk. More than spine-tingling spiritual experiences. It is not enough to admire Jesus as we might admire a painting or a motorcycle. Not enough to speak well of him at a distance. Not enough to hear, discuss, debate the Bible and Christian theology. Not enough to sing and dance and feel something mystical. Not enough to be a "Christian kind" of person. True discipleship is marked by obedience to God the Father as he is revealed by Jesus. We must believe what God says about our need as sinners and about his Son as our Savior and commit ourselves to him. There must be real personal surrender to Jesus Christ. Spiritual humility, sorrow, repentance, faith and obedience. If you want an example of true conversion read and study the life of a Pharisee named Saul who by God's grace became the apostle Paul (see the Book of Acts).
II. Testimony: It will be a day of impressive personal testimonies.
A day when many, not just a few, say: "Lord, Lord, did we not..." Then they will go on to defend themselves by pointing to their good works. They will tell the Lord how they have prophesied in his name, and in his name exorcised demons and in his name done many miraculous works. Very impressive! Public works, spectacular works and wonders. If any group of people felt secure, this is the group! What credentials. These are the elites, not just rank and file sinners.
Many people today are just like them. They think that their good works are enough to make up for their bad ones, or that at least they are enough to gain them admission into heaven. Afterall, they are no worse (or better for that matter) than the next person. Humans make mistakes, God knows this, he will make allowance for their humanity and he will give extra weight to what they have tried to do out of sincere hearts.
III. Surprise: It will be a day of shock and surprise.
Surprise because there will be so many in the same situation. Surprise because Jesus will speak to them plainly and they will understand. Surprise and shock because he will tell them that he never knew them. Surprise because he will banish them from his presence as evildoers.
If this group of do-gooders is in trouble, what about the rest of us? There are no words as horrifying as: "Away from me, you evildoers", when they are spoken by Jesus, the Son of God, at the end of the age. I know we live in a time and place where people don't believe these things. I know that Hollywood makes fun of these things and there are even scholars who scoff and sneer. But you know deep down inside that you were made for more than the things of this life. You were made for God.
Many years ago there lived a brilliant man named Augustine who in spite of his brilliance lived an immoral life until he met Jesus. In his famous book of Confessions he says: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and we are restless until we rest in Thee!" Augustine speaks the truth. And not only are we restless, but we are in great danger until we make peace with God.
Only the Lord knows how much road on the journey of life lies between us and the end. As you travel down the road of life think about these words of Jesus. There is no reason why any of us should have to hear him say: "Away from me, you evildoers!" if we seek the Lord today and call on him for mercy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and let him touch and heal you.
This is a day we have prayed for - we have prayed for you. We have prayed that God would speak to you and impress his truth upon you. We have prayed that God would give you eyes to see and ears to hear. May this happen as you turn to Jesus.
Monday, June 07, 2004
Dark Shadows Surrounding Prayer (Part Three)
There is one last obstacle to prayer that I want to talk about. The dark cloud that forms itself into the question: Why should I pray when I do not receive answers to my requests? Every Christian experiences what appears to be "unanswered prayer". We ask and seek and knock as the Lord Jesus tells us and it seems as if God is not paying attention to our requests. But before we jump to unwarranted conclusions there are some things that we need to consider.
We must never forget that God is God. He is in control. His will is ultimate. He knows what is best for us. As Jesus taught us: he knows how to give good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:11). One of the implications of the fatherhood of God is that sometimes the answer to our request is "no". We might not like it, but he knows what is best for us in the long run, and he knows what will bring glory and honor to himself. In the end, at the last day, when some of the mysteries of this life are explained, we will agree with all that God has done, even though at this point in our lives we may struggle. God does all things well. And he calls on us to love him and trust him even when he denies our petitions. We must ask the Lord to "teach us the patience of unanswered prayer" (from the hymn: "Spirit of God descend upon my heart" by George Croly).
Sometimes the Lord's answer to our request is delayed. In the Old Testament book of Daniel we read of an incident in which Daniel turned to the Lord for answers. When an angel arrived from the presence of God with a message for Daniel he told him that as soon as he set his mind to gain understanding and to humble himself before his God that his words were heard and he was sent in response. But on the way he was opposed by the prince of the Persian kingdom for 21 days. Only when Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help him was he able to continue on his way and deliver his message to Daniel (10:12-14). Beyond the intriguing questions that this passages raises about the unseen, spiritual realm, the angel's words remind us that there are many things going on in the universe of which we know nothing. If God makes us wait, there are reasons. The answer may already be on the way, or it may be delayed for a long time, but whatever the case, we are called to look to God and never stop trusting him.
Refusing to pray because we do not receive the answer we seek is nothing more than a spiritual temper tantrum. We should pray. We must pray. As individuals and as congregations. When we pray we are saying that the battle belongs to the Lord. No matter how hard we work and no matter the level of our giftedness, unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain. Prayer in not just another technique or principle or strategy in a carefully thought out church growth formula. Prayer is essential because it brings us into the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords who alone is able to exercise the kind of resurrection power necessary to raise the spiritually dead. If we want to see things happen in our day we must make prayer a priority. There are many things we can do without in the modern church, but this is not one of them. Our Christianity will remain weak and insipid if we do not pray. Prayer is the secret of the Christian's strength!
We must never forget that God is God. He is in control. His will is ultimate. He knows what is best for us. As Jesus taught us: he knows how to give good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:11). One of the implications of the fatherhood of God is that sometimes the answer to our request is "no". We might not like it, but he knows what is best for us in the long run, and he knows what will bring glory and honor to himself. In the end, at the last day, when some of the mysteries of this life are explained, we will agree with all that God has done, even though at this point in our lives we may struggle. God does all things well. And he calls on us to love him and trust him even when he denies our petitions. We must ask the Lord to "teach us the patience of unanswered prayer" (from the hymn: "Spirit of God descend upon my heart" by George Croly).
Sometimes the Lord's answer to our request is delayed. In the Old Testament book of Daniel we read of an incident in which Daniel turned to the Lord for answers. When an angel arrived from the presence of God with a message for Daniel he told him that as soon as he set his mind to gain understanding and to humble himself before his God that his words were heard and he was sent in response. But on the way he was opposed by the prince of the Persian kingdom for 21 days. Only when Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help him was he able to continue on his way and deliver his message to Daniel (10:12-14). Beyond the intriguing questions that this passages raises about the unseen, spiritual realm, the angel's words remind us that there are many things going on in the universe of which we know nothing. If God makes us wait, there are reasons. The answer may already be on the way, or it may be delayed for a long time, but whatever the case, we are called to look to God and never stop trusting him.
Refusing to pray because we do not receive the answer we seek is nothing more than a spiritual temper tantrum. We should pray. We must pray. As individuals and as congregations. When we pray we are saying that the battle belongs to the Lord. No matter how hard we work and no matter the level of our giftedness, unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain. Prayer in not just another technique or principle or strategy in a carefully thought out church growth formula. Prayer is essential because it brings us into the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords who alone is able to exercise the kind of resurrection power necessary to raise the spiritually dead. If we want to see things happen in our day we must make prayer a priority. There are many things we can do without in the modern church, but this is not one of them. Our Christianity will remain weak and insipid if we do not pray. Prayer is the secret of the Christian's strength!
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Dark Shadows Surrounding Prayer (Part Two)
Another obstacle to fervent and sustained prayer is the pragmatic observation that prayerless people seem to being doing just fine, thank you very much! This was part of the psalmist's problem in Psalm 73. As he looked around at others he almost stumbled and fell when he envied the arrogant and saw the prosperity of the wicked. They appeared to be getting along very well without God. They seemed happy and prosperous. It looked as though they were immune to so many of the problems of life. This observation was so overwhelming to the Psalmist that he began to think that his disciplined striving after purity and holiness of life was a giant waste of time (vs.13).
We must remember that there are blessings and there are blessings! God is very gracious and pours his common or universal grace out on people who do not deserve it and do not seek it and never even stop to thank him for it. God's grace in this sense explains why the sun rises on the just as well as on the unjust and why rain falls from heaven on people who even deny that there is a God. These manifestations of his grace are designed to lead people to repentance but unless God intervenes with supernatural power, his common grace is misunderstood and many make the mistake of thinking that God is really not that concerned about their sin and rebellion. Common grace unheeded is the precursor of divine judgment not divine blessing.
But as wonderful as the blessings of common grace are, there are other blessings that are even better. Sunshine, rain, food, clothing, shelter, good times, love, joy, security and many other blessings are fine as far as they go, but there are other blessings that are more wonderful and profound. Blessings so great that these other things fade into the background by comparison. Blessings like salvation or deliverance from sin and Satan. The forgiveness of sins, fellowship, intimate communion and conversation with our heavenly Father. The experience of peace and freedom from divine condemnation in this life and in the life to come. The joy and power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual revival and growth of the kingdom or reign of God in our lives personally and in the church which is the body of Christ. An awareness of God's glory that fills our minds and hearts and empowers us for ministry and service in this dark world. These blessings cannot be experienced without prayer. They must be sought on our knees in humble dependence on God.
If you can live without these things, then don't bother to pray! But if you want more, if you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, if you want to see the Lord's name lifted up and praised in the earth, then you must pray. Ask God to open up the windows of heaven and to pour out the blessings of his saving grace. Ah! This is what life is all about!
We must remember that there are blessings and there are blessings! God is very gracious and pours his common or universal grace out on people who do not deserve it and do not seek it and never even stop to thank him for it. God's grace in this sense explains why the sun rises on the just as well as on the unjust and why rain falls from heaven on people who even deny that there is a God. These manifestations of his grace are designed to lead people to repentance but unless God intervenes with supernatural power, his common grace is misunderstood and many make the mistake of thinking that God is really not that concerned about their sin and rebellion. Common grace unheeded is the precursor of divine judgment not divine blessing.
But as wonderful as the blessings of common grace are, there are other blessings that are even better. Sunshine, rain, food, clothing, shelter, good times, love, joy, security and many other blessings are fine as far as they go, but there are other blessings that are more wonderful and profound. Blessings so great that these other things fade into the background by comparison. Blessings like salvation or deliverance from sin and Satan. The forgiveness of sins, fellowship, intimate communion and conversation with our heavenly Father. The experience of peace and freedom from divine condemnation in this life and in the life to come. The joy and power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual revival and growth of the kingdom or reign of God in our lives personally and in the church which is the body of Christ. An awareness of God's glory that fills our minds and hearts and empowers us for ministry and service in this dark world. These blessings cannot be experienced without prayer. They must be sought on our knees in humble dependence on God.
If you can live without these things, then don't bother to pray! But if you want more, if you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, if you want to see the Lord's name lifted up and praised in the earth, then you must pray. Ask God to open up the windows of heaven and to pour out the blessings of his saving grace. Ah! This is what life is all about!
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Dark Shadows Surrounding Prayer (Part One)
Although as Christians we are told to pray and we have every reason to seek the face of our heavenly Father in prayer, sometimes there are questions that arise that can discourage us. One such question has to do with why we should pray if God is good. More particularly, if God is loving and kind and wants us to come into his presence why must we persist in prayer, even agonize in prayer? Why doesn't he just give us what we need without the trouble and exertion of prayer?
The first reason we should pray is that he commands it and his commands are never unnecessary. He has reasons even though we may not be able to understand them. He knows what he is doing and we are required to respond to him in faith.
But beyond his command, prayer is one of the ways God disciplines and trains his family. It is one of the primary ways he changes us so that he can bless our lives so that his blessings do not cause us to stumble. The patriarch Jacob illustrates this important aspect of prayer. God graciously brought Jacob (whose name means deceiver) to an end of himself when his brother Esau was breathing down his neck. In desperation Jacob wrestled with God the night before he was to meet his brother and the 400 men who were with him. So intense was the struggle and Jacob's determination to be blessed that he refused to let "the man" go until he blessed him. By God's grace Jacob got what he was seeking. He was blessed and his name was changed from Jacob to Israel because he had struggled with God and men and had overcome (Genesis 32:28). But the blessing was not without cost to Jacob. In the process he was injured, his hip was put out of joint, and as a result of his injury he hobbled the rest of his days. Jacob was blessed by God but in the process he was touched and broken by God; he was never the same as a result of his encounter with God.
Prayer is God's way of changing us. He wants us to call upon him. We will get what we seek as he breaks and re-makes us into the likeness of Jesus his Son. The fact that God sometimes waits to bless and that he wants us to persist in prayer is not evidence of a lack of goodness on his part. It is just the opposite. As our heavenly Father he is working with us, cleansing and purifying us, and thus preparing us to receive what he delights to give.
The first reason we should pray is that he commands it and his commands are never unnecessary. He has reasons even though we may not be able to understand them. He knows what he is doing and we are required to respond to him in faith.
But beyond his command, prayer is one of the ways God disciplines and trains his family. It is one of the primary ways he changes us so that he can bless our lives so that his blessings do not cause us to stumble. The patriarch Jacob illustrates this important aspect of prayer. God graciously brought Jacob (whose name means deceiver) to an end of himself when his brother Esau was breathing down his neck. In desperation Jacob wrestled with God the night before he was to meet his brother and the 400 men who were with him. So intense was the struggle and Jacob's determination to be blessed that he refused to let "the man" go until he blessed him. By God's grace Jacob got what he was seeking. He was blessed and his name was changed from Jacob to Israel because he had struggled with God and men and had overcome (Genesis 32:28). But the blessing was not without cost to Jacob. In the process he was injured, his hip was put out of joint, and as a result of his injury he hobbled the rest of his days. Jacob was blessed by God but in the process he was touched and broken by God; he was never the same as a result of his encounter with God.
Prayer is God's way of changing us. He wants us to call upon him. We will get what we seek as he breaks and re-makes us into the likeness of Jesus his Son. The fact that God sometimes waits to bless and that he wants us to persist in prayer is not evidence of a lack of goodness on his part. It is just the opposite. As our heavenly Father he is working with us, cleansing and purifying us, and thus preparing us to receive what he delights to give.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Encouragements to Pray
One of the distinguishing features of Jesus' teaching about prayer is his insistence that God will hear and answer the prayers of his people. In Luke 18:1-8 we have the record of a parable Jesus told his disciples to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Unlike the unjust judge in the parable, who only responded to the persistent widow because she would not take "no" for an answer, Jesus assures us that God will see that his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night will get justice, and quickly. In Matthew 7:7-8 we have a similar emphasis. Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock because "everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door is opened". There is a wonderful universality that should encourage us to pray. Later in the New Testament, James rebukes both our prayerlessness and our self-centeredness when he writes: "You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (4:2-3). In spite of the rebuke the underlying thrust of his message is that Christians should pray because this is pleasing to God and it is the way that he blesses his people.
Speaking of God, Jesus goes on in Matthew 7:9-11 to encourage us to pray based on the revealed character of God. According to Jesus those who have come under the saving power of the kingdom of heaven have a special new relationship with God; He is their heavenly Father. Today almost everyone who believes in the existence of God likes to think that he is their heavenly Father! But that is not what Jesus taught. God is the Father of all his creatures in the sense that he is their creator and sustainer, but he is not the Father of all human beings regardless of their spiritual condition. God is the heavenly Father of those who have come to know him the only way he can be truly known, and that is in his Son Jesus Christ. Only those who have turned from their sins to follow Jesus as their Savior and Master have this unique and intimate relationship with God the Father.
If God is our Father this has some implications for prayer. If he is our Father we should not be afraid to talk to him and ask him to help us in our struggle to live for him. If he is our heavenly Father he knows how to give "good gifts" to his children. By "good gifts" Jesus is referring to the gifts/graces he has been describing for us in the Sermon on the Mount. Righteousness, sincerity, humility, purity, love, perseverance... These are the gifts we need to fulfill our calling as Christians. To underline his point Jesus contrasts God, our heavenly Father, with human fathers who know how to give good gifts to their children even though they are evil! If our children ask for bread or a fish we will not give them a stone or a snake. If this is how we earthly fathers conduct themselves with our children how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
We need to face the fact that prayerlessness dishonors the good character of God. When we don't pray we are acting as though God is unworthy of our attention, or he is reluctant to help us, or he is unable to do what he has promised. Forgive us Lord. Turn our hearts to you. Help us to pray. We have no excuse not to seek your face. You promise to hear and answer us when we cry to you and you know how to give us just what we need.
Speaking of God, Jesus goes on in Matthew 7:9-11 to encourage us to pray based on the revealed character of God. According to Jesus those who have come under the saving power of the kingdom of heaven have a special new relationship with God; He is their heavenly Father. Today almost everyone who believes in the existence of God likes to think that he is their heavenly Father! But that is not what Jesus taught. God is the Father of all his creatures in the sense that he is their creator and sustainer, but he is not the Father of all human beings regardless of their spiritual condition. God is the heavenly Father of those who have come to know him the only way he can be truly known, and that is in his Son Jesus Christ. Only those who have turned from their sins to follow Jesus as their Savior and Master have this unique and intimate relationship with God the Father.
If God is our Father this has some implications for prayer. If he is our Father we should not be afraid to talk to him and ask him to help us in our struggle to live for him. If he is our heavenly Father he knows how to give "good gifts" to his children. By "good gifts" Jesus is referring to the gifts/graces he has been describing for us in the Sermon on the Mount. Righteousness, sincerity, humility, purity, love, perseverance... These are the gifts we need to fulfill our calling as Christians. To underline his point Jesus contrasts God, our heavenly Father, with human fathers who know how to give good gifts to their children even though they are evil! If our children ask for bread or a fish we will not give them a stone or a snake. If this is how we earthly fathers conduct themselves with our children how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
We need to face the fact that prayerlessness dishonors the good character of God. When we don't pray we are acting as though God is unworthy of our attention, or he is reluctant to help us, or he is unable to do what he has promised. Forgive us Lord. Turn our hearts to you. Help us to pray. We have no excuse not to seek your face. You promise to hear and answer us when we cry to you and you know how to give us just what we need.
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