Undeniably, the fallen and evil state of this earth presents a potential spiritual catastrophe at any given moment. Various lusts, trials, covetousness, adultery and hatred are consistently knocking at the door of any and every believer. When one sin is overcome, another is already at the door to deceive and penetrate the feeble heart and mind of the Christian. In acknowledging the reality and effects of indwelling sin, we are more prone to evil than to good; to idolatry than to true worship. One minute we are being washed in the water of the word and the next we stumble upon a professing atheist or encounter a trial never experienced before. We are tempted to despair.
The challenge is not to simply “not sin,” but overcome evil with good. Jesus doesn’t just command us to not sin, but to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect [Matt. 5:48]. Since ideas and ideologies do not originate or consist with any human knowledge or power, perfection is defined and lies within the proposition to “be perfect.” Whether we are a disciple of Christ or an atheist, we are all commanded to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect [in the sense that repentance is commanded from everyone].
How can an utterly sinful human being “be perfect” while here on earth? The difference lies in those who are true disciples of Christ. An unbeliever of any sort cannot be perfect because he has no concept of perfection. He cannot know it. A believer, who is by grace made a disciple of Jesus Christ, has the knowledge of the true perfection of the father. Although it is greatly dimmed and perverted due to our finiteness and sin, the conception is nonetheless true. As Jesus fulfilled the law in His flesh, He is one in the same as the Father in perfection. Since Christ is the exact representation of the Father in likeness and attributes, He imputes the perfection of the Father [and Himself] to the believer by the blessed Holy Spirit.
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom is no deceit!’”[John 1:47]. Did the Savior of the world indeed proclaim Nathanael to be without sin? Jesus could have certainly drawn out indwelling sin within Nathanael, particularly from his comment, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?[v.46]” Perhaps Jesus merely made a point to Nathanael, but he was publicly revealed by Christ Himself to be His disciple. The disposition of Nathanael was such that he revered and worshiped the Christ without seeing Him until Christ revealed Himself, in the flesh. In other words, Jesus already claimed Nathanael to be His disciple before they ever met face to face. He already had communion and worshiped Jesus as the Son of God. “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! [v. 49].” Jesus clearly revealed this to Nathanael as He reminded him about his communion with Him under the tree in faith [v. 48].
Discipleship is the sustenance of daily Christian living. It is not only discipleship with other believers that helps to crucify the flesh and all sorts of evil. But, it is communion with the Son of God Himself that even allows for discipleship with other believers. How can one confess sin to his brother when he has no ability or desire to confess to God [who ultimately forgives sin and calls disciples]? How can one “follow Christ” when he naturally follows his own lustful desires? Also, how can Jesus be your Savior if you are not even His friend? I cannot be updated on my brothers’ life if I never call him or talk to him. If I never fellowship with my friend [when I am completely available and able], then it would be difficult to conclude that he is my friend. Nevertheless, I cannot commune with my Savior if I am not confessing my sin, temptation and praying for deliverance from them. I cannot expect prayers to be answered if I never pray like He commands.
Lastly, the blessedness of being called as a disciple [follower] of Jesus Christ is an eternally unique relationship. It is not like my relationship with my brother. My brother only knows certain things about me. He only cares about certain things. It is the same with my mother and father. Although they are my parents, they can only love me as far as their flesh and understanding allows. As Creator and King, Jesus is able and willing to love and fellowship with his children according to His Sovereign Grace. He is able to bear witness wholly and completely because He was in every way tempted as we are, yet without sin.
The only love that is possible between two human beings is simply an overflow of Christ’s love for the church. That relationship is infinitely beyond a temporal relationship here on earth, which includes marriage between a man and woman [although Christian relationships are eternal]. Therefore, being a “disciple” of Christ is a public command to forsake all others and things for His sake. It is indeed to pick up our crosses and follow Him. It is a command “to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect” because it is the Cross of Calvary and the Blood of Christ that makes it possible to share in the unique and eternally blessed relationship with the Son of God that surpasses understanding.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.’”
John 1:50
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Religious Affections
The true Christian life doe not revolve around a set of core beliefs to live by. We are commanded to perfectly obey the Ten Commandments. We must attend worship services to be “in fellowship”. We must pray. We are commanded to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We must be good stewards with money, property and relationships. We are told to love our enemies. But, can the born-again Christian maintain a lifestyle of merely attempting to check off these things on our list and measure how we do according to a man-standardized caliper? Would not the mindset of having a “Christian check list” be directly opposed to fundamental biblical Christianity?
If a sinner has standardized his moral behavior according to his own accomplishments, he will succeed every time. If his goal is to feed one homeless person per day and he does it, he has attained the goal. If he plans to not curse as much as yesterday, he has done well. He will build his self-moral empire until he is glorious in his own eyes. It will therefore tremendously affect the way he truly glorifies God in all things and thus attempts to strip all the glory that belongs to Him. If a man already is or is becoming self-sufficient in his moral behavior and affections, he loses the blessed sight of the Spirit’s power, Grace and providence in every action or deed. Instead of seeing the Sovereignty of God and Glory of Christ, he will rather sin by idolizing his perceived self-willed providence. At this rate of continually attempting to realize his own ‘good’ actions, his pride will puff up as he simultaneously continues to stumble and degrade God’s righteousness name. The most dangerous viper on the horizon of spiritual warfare is that even a saint may not realize his that his great moral actions may be nothing more than self-righteous, [perceived] self-willed and demoralizing progressions of idolatry. It is infinitely more so in the unregenerate depraved mind.
Christians are to glorify God in all things. When the Son of God sets a sinner free from sin and death, he is free indeed. He is no longer condemned but is justified by His Grace. The very spiritual state of mind the sinner is caused to see upon the new birth is the very spiritual state of mind we are to [and will if it is a true work of Grace] maintain throughout life on this earth. If one does not pass from death to life and given the Holy Spirit to be lead into all truth, then it is impossible to glory God at all, much less in feeding a homeless person, corporate worship, Scripture reading or various sorts of “good deeds.” The nature that is given upon the new birth is the “new nature” or the “new man” whose very purpose is to, on one hand, crucify the deeds of the body or the flesh through holiness [convict of sin]. On the other hand, the Spirit’s perfect work is to give all glory to God in the accomplishment of these holy affections. That is above all else. Only the Holy Spirit’s work in the soul can generate true worship and affections for Christ, which produces the righteous deeds in accordance to the will of God.
In true Christian living, the regenerated soul realizes that he is delivered from the infinitely self-righteous and self-glorifying state of mind. As the converted continues in the daily battle of the flesh, the Spirit brings conviction upon the things he naturally wants to do. The sinner naturally wants to build his temple of idolatry and worship his own self-righteous works as if it is he who does them and controls them. He will rather take the credit for a good work prior to submitting it to His very Creator, who is Sovereign and works all in all. He would love his works before loving Christ. His mind is naturally corrupted in perversion and sin; so apart from the Spirit’s work, he cannot glorify God in the purity that acknowledges His perfect righteousness. He would rather covet all things to himself before submitting them to the effectual goodness of the Lord.
These affections eternally separate the regenerate from the unregenerate but they may at times look exactly the same on the outside.
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ‘All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ‘And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.’” Matthew 25:31-33
The wisdom of Christ is such that He separates the sheep from the goats according to His own pleasure and glory. Whether we are a sheep or a goat, we must testify in judgment our works according to the perfect glory of Christ. His unsearchable glory cannot and will not be seen in those to whom He has not effectually called by the Spirit. In the unregenerate mind [and the believer at times], works and deeds may make mention of Christ but still ultimately glorify oneself. The stark difference is that when a true believer gives a cup of water, the Spirit causes them see the glory of Christ and do it in Jesus’ name.
“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in[v. 35].”
The true believer clothes the naked and visits those in prison. So does the unbeliever. The true believer does not do it because Jesus says to always “clothe the naked” or “take a stranger in.” They do it because they will not only clothe the naked, but that they will also give him something to eat. If that person happens to be in prison, they will also visit them there. And if they are thirsty, they will give them something to drink too. The wicked desire to complete these things and gladly receive recognition for them as a good steward or Samaritan. Their hearts are too hardened and self-sufficient to remotely fathom the glory of God in such an action. But true saints of Christ realize that even if they offer something, they know they truly have nothing. Because of the precious blood of Jesus, the depths of the soul in the beloved saints have sprung to life of the glory of God in Christ. Their eyes and ears are open to see and know that Christ has freely given them all things when He hung on the tree. They now know what was always their responsibility [to care for the poor, pray, to worship Him, take strangers in, being absolutely perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect], and plead to Him in utter gratefulness that they now come to His table and eat. We now consider it a gracious honor and pleasure due to the joy given by the Spirit, to give a cup of water in Jesus’ name.
If a sinner has standardized his moral behavior according to his own accomplishments, he will succeed every time. If his goal is to feed one homeless person per day and he does it, he has attained the goal. If he plans to not curse as much as yesterday, he has done well. He will build his self-moral empire until he is glorious in his own eyes. It will therefore tremendously affect the way he truly glorifies God in all things and thus attempts to strip all the glory that belongs to Him. If a man already is or is becoming self-sufficient in his moral behavior and affections, he loses the blessed sight of the Spirit’s power, Grace and providence in every action or deed. Instead of seeing the Sovereignty of God and Glory of Christ, he will rather sin by idolizing his perceived self-willed providence. At this rate of continually attempting to realize his own ‘good’ actions, his pride will puff up as he simultaneously continues to stumble and degrade God’s righteousness name. The most dangerous viper on the horizon of spiritual warfare is that even a saint may not realize his that his great moral actions may be nothing more than self-righteous, [perceived] self-willed and demoralizing progressions of idolatry. It is infinitely more so in the unregenerate depraved mind.
Christians are to glorify God in all things. When the Son of God sets a sinner free from sin and death, he is free indeed. He is no longer condemned but is justified by His Grace. The very spiritual state of mind the sinner is caused to see upon the new birth is the very spiritual state of mind we are to [and will if it is a true work of Grace] maintain throughout life on this earth. If one does not pass from death to life and given the Holy Spirit to be lead into all truth, then it is impossible to glory God at all, much less in feeding a homeless person, corporate worship, Scripture reading or various sorts of “good deeds.” The nature that is given upon the new birth is the “new nature” or the “new man” whose very purpose is to, on one hand, crucify the deeds of the body or the flesh through holiness [convict of sin]. On the other hand, the Spirit’s perfect work is to give all glory to God in the accomplishment of these holy affections. That is above all else. Only the Holy Spirit’s work in the soul can generate true worship and affections for Christ, which produces the righteous deeds in accordance to the will of God.
In true Christian living, the regenerated soul realizes that he is delivered from the infinitely self-righteous and self-glorifying state of mind. As the converted continues in the daily battle of the flesh, the Spirit brings conviction upon the things he naturally wants to do. The sinner naturally wants to build his temple of idolatry and worship his own self-righteous works as if it is he who does them and controls them. He will rather take the credit for a good work prior to submitting it to His very Creator, who is Sovereign and works all in all. He would love his works before loving Christ. His mind is naturally corrupted in perversion and sin; so apart from the Spirit’s work, he cannot glorify God in the purity that acknowledges His perfect righteousness. He would rather covet all things to himself before submitting them to the effectual goodness of the Lord.
These affections eternally separate the regenerate from the unregenerate but they may at times look exactly the same on the outside.
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ‘All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ‘And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.’” Matthew 25:31-33
The wisdom of Christ is such that He separates the sheep from the goats according to His own pleasure and glory. Whether we are a sheep or a goat, we must testify in judgment our works according to the perfect glory of Christ. His unsearchable glory cannot and will not be seen in those to whom He has not effectually called by the Spirit. In the unregenerate mind [and the believer at times], works and deeds may make mention of Christ but still ultimately glorify oneself. The stark difference is that when a true believer gives a cup of water, the Spirit causes them see the glory of Christ and do it in Jesus’ name.
“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in[v. 35].”
The true believer clothes the naked and visits those in prison. So does the unbeliever. The true believer does not do it because Jesus says to always “clothe the naked” or “take a stranger in.” They do it because they will not only clothe the naked, but that they will also give him something to eat. If that person happens to be in prison, they will also visit them there. And if they are thirsty, they will give them something to drink too. The wicked desire to complete these things and gladly receive recognition for them as a good steward or Samaritan. Their hearts are too hardened and self-sufficient to remotely fathom the glory of God in such an action. But true saints of Christ realize that even if they offer something, they know they truly have nothing. Because of the precious blood of Jesus, the depths of the soul in the beloved saints have sprung to life of the glory of God in Christ. Their eyes and ears are open to see and know that Christ has freely given them all things when He hung on the tree. They now know what was always their responsibility [to care for the poor, pray, to worship Him, take strangers in, being absolutely perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect], and plead to Him in utter gratefulness that they now come to His table and eat. We now consider it a gracious honor and pleasure due to the joy given by the Spirit, to give a cup of water in Jesus’ name.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Piercings
One would only need to read a small portion of Scripture in the Word of God to be reminded that this world is passing away. I can drive down the street and forget Christ. I can work out in the gym and become completely self-sufficient. I can have a phone conversation and become completely distracted from the Gospel. I think obsessively about an injury or issue and completely overlook the Glory of God.
The Scriptures are not only a source of refuge from this world, but the only source of refuge. If you are born-again by the Spirit of God, then the Word is the only thing that separates you from the world. As we trudge a long day at work, fighting our own natures and the perversions of the world [which is everywhere], the Word of God provides the truth of the Universe to convict and feed the soul. The Word reminds us that God's people are chosen out of the world. The world as a whole will be judged and the earth itself will be annihilated. As a Christian, it is rare to find others gathered in a circle in public places reading and meditating on the Word of God. It is rarer still to find that in the sense of sound doctrine. The Mercy of Christ is what the believer ultimately sees when he finds ultimate satisfaction in His undefiled, unapproachably pure and unalterably convicting Word. Its power is such that it draws sinners out of the world and unto Himself.
The Scriptures are not only a source of refuge from this world, but the only source of refuge. If you are born-again by the Spirit of God, then the Word is the only thing that separates you from the world. As we trudge a long day at work, fighting our own natures and the perversions of the world [which is everywhere], the Word of God provides the truth of the Universe to convict and feed the soul. The Word reminds us that God's people are chosen out of the world. The world as a whole will be judged and the earth itself will be annihilated. As a Christian, it is rare to find others gathered in a circle in public places reading and meditating on the Word of God. It is rarer still to find that in the sense of sound doctrine. The Mercy of Christ is what the believer ultimately sees when he finds ultimate satisfaction in His undefiled, unapproachably pure and unalterably convicting Word. Its power is such that it draws sinners out of the world and unto Himself.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Lord of Heaven and Earth
I suppose most people in redemptive history have developed a sort of philosophic idea in their minds and hearts of who God is [even atheists]. They may develop these ideas from something they read from somewhere else or from someone they have talked to. They may even claim to develop ideas on their own. For example, a Muslim believes that Allah is God Almighty. A Jehovah’s Witness believes that “Jehovah” is God but apart from the deity of Christ. The Buddhist believes in Karma and many rebirths or an ultimate Nirvana or “spiritual enlightenment” that comes from self-suffering or ascetic performance. The common denominator among most religions is not only man-centered and revolving around religious performance, but the God they claim to be “the true God” has also been molded and shaped into their fashion, as an idol. In this they attempt to free themselves from the law. False doctrine results in false epistemologies and fails to observe depravity of the human soul in its truest sense because it does not acknowledge the only perfect righteousness acceptable by God or the true heinousness of sin.
The Word of God [apart from Allah, the Watchtower and other non-canonized Scriptures] speaks for itself, apart from man. The true Word of God describes not only ultimate authority over man with propositions in the Scriptures, but His complete character is described simultaneously. In other words, not only is the true God the one who commands every man everywhere to repent, but that He also demonstrates His character in exalting His name. How does He exalt His name? He first and foremost does not look to man for affirmation in His exaltation because He is self-sufficient and self-existent. Not only is He perfect in Holiness, which makes Him perfectly righteous, but He is omnipotent, omniscient and unapproachable apart from His Sovereign decrees. He is not only an infinite number of things that man cannot understand with an infinitely wretched, feeble and worm-like mind, but He is simply incomprehensible. As He declares His name to be above all things, He declares not only repentance, but also reminds us that He has made everything the eye can see. He has made heaven and earth, the human body, all animals, the universe and single-celled organisms.
These things are only able to be explained by a human to other humans because God has made them. The fact that God made me reminds me of how he captures the entirety of creation with His Word. He reminds me that He has made heaven and earth, which is everything I can see and beyond my scope of comprehension. At the same time, He declares His own righteousness and that He is infinitely above all things. Because He has caused me to see that He is infinitely above all things, He also causes me to see who other religions acknowledge a great deal, but without reverence. This infinitely incomprehensible Holy God who has made heaven and earth has made Himself knowable in the person of Jesus Christ. He therefore strips any self-exultation of man. He brings him to nothing. He causes all insolent ascetic and non-Christ exalting religions to falter upon the rebellious and man-glorifying epistemologies that end in self-destruction. This God-Man is the very manifestation of God to man in the flesh as He declared Himself to be when He walked this earth. Muhammad never claimed to be God in the flesh. Neither did Gandhi. Jesus did not claim to be a good leader or just a prophet. He claimed to be God. This proclamation ultimately lead to His bloody death on the Cross. His power reverberates in the resurrecting power of the Gospel. The true Messiah claimed to be God. The true Messiah died. The true Messiah also rose again and ascended to the right hand of the Father. The true Messiah, Jesus Christ, came to save sinners who will not and cannot save themselves. The true Messiah is still incomprehensible, majestic, excellent and infinitely glorious beyond all measure. His unfathomable Mercy is heard throughout the land. He humbled Himself to be a man and to wash the feet of His disciples. Yet, He is also the Judge and Lord of Heaven and Earth; the maker of all things.
“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:2-6
The Word of God [apart from Allah, the Watchtower and other non-canonized Scriptures] speaks for itself, apart from man. The true Word of God describes not only ultimate authority over man with propositions in the Scriptures, but His complete character is described simultaneously. In other words, not only is the true God the one who commands every man everywhere to repent, but that He also demonstrates His character in exalting His name. How does He exalt His name? He first and foremost does not look to man for affirmation in His exaltation because He is self-sufficient and self-existent. Not only is He perfect in Holiness, which makes Him perfectly righteous, but He is omnipotent, omniscient and unapproachable apart from His Sovereign decrees. He is not only an infinite number of things that man cannot understand with an infinitely wretched, feeble and worm-like mind, but He is simply incomprehensible. As He declares His name to be above all things, He declares not only repentance, but also reminds us that He has made everything the eye can see. He has made heaven and earth, the human body, all animals, the universe and single-celled organisms.
These things are only able to be explained by a human to other humans because God has made them. The fact that God made me reminds me of how he captures the entirety of creation with His Word. He reminds me that He has made heaven and earth, which is everything I can see and beyond my scope of comprehension. At the same time, He declares His own righteousness and that He is infinitely above all things. Because He has caused me to see that He is infinitely above all things, He also causes me to see who other religions acknowledge a great deal, but without reverence. This infinitely incomprehensible Holy God who has made heaven and earth has made Himself knowable in the person of Jesus Christ. He therefore strips any self-exultation of man. He brings him to nothing. He causes all insolent ascetic and non-Christ exalting religions to falter upon the rebellious and man-glorifying epistemologies that end in self-destruction. This God-Man is the very manifestation of God to man in the flesh as He declared Himself to be when He walked this earth. Muhammad never claimed to be God in the flesh. Neither did Gandhi. Jesus did not claim to be a good leader or just a prophet. He claimed to be God. This proclamation ultimately lead to His bloody death on the Cross. His power reverberates in the resurrecting power of the Gospel. The true Messiah claimed to be God. The true Messiah died. The true Messiah also rose again and ascended to the right hand of the Father. The true Messiah, Jesus Christ, came to save sinners who will not and cannot save themselves. The true Messiah is still incomprehensible, majestic, excellent and infinitely glorious beyond all measure. His unfathomable Mercy is heard throughout the land. He humbled Himself to be a man and to wash the feet of His disciples. Yet, He is also the Judge and Lord of Heaven and Earth; the maker of all things.
“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:2-6
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
10 possible meditations for a devotion
1.) Jesus Christ actually walked this planet and historically died on the Cross. Meditate on the historical reality of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection.
2.) The blood of Jesus’ being shed is the only forgiveness for sins that is possible. Not only that, the power of that blood is enough to forgive all sins forever and thus imparts eternal life of bliss and perfect fellowship from the Creator to the undeserved sinner.
3.) Singles should rejoice in this season to do the work of an evangelist and fulfilling the Great Commission to speak the words of eternal life to the dead and lost.
4.) Married couples should pray to love their spouses in a way that brings the most glory to God according to His Word. Husbands meditate upon the Love of Christ and how He sacrificially loves His church. Wives submit to your husbands in reverence for Christ.
5.) This life on earth is merely a vapor. Meditate on eternity and how losing your life for the sake of Christ makes this world less and less attractive. This world will pass. The Word of God lasts forever.
6.) Meditate on the fact that the Holy Spirit prays for you in your weakness. When you are weakest physically, spiritually and emotionally, then you are strongest in Christ.
7.) We are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, given life and the ability to be obedient to God. Meditate on how He has sanctified you with His Word and Spirit to be more like Him and thus preparing you to be with Him, face to face for eternity.
8.) Meditate on Christian persecution and what it means to be persecuted or killed for preaching salvation in Jesus Christ.
9.) Meditate on becoming a student of God’s Word. The very God who caused the new birth provided the very words that cause sanctification to understand Him more accurately and love Him more rightly until glorification. Know more of the doctrine of God.
10.)Meditate upon Old Testament Scriptures and read commentaries by respected authors to understand them.
2.) The blood of Jesus’ being shed is the only forgiveness for sins that is possible. Not only that, the power of that blood is enough to forgive all sins forever and thus imparts eternal life of bliss and perfect fellowship from the Creator to the undeserved sinner.
3.) Singles should rejoice in this season to do the work of an evangelist and fulfilling the Great Commission to speak the words of eternal life to the dead and lost.
4.) Married couples should pray to love their spouses in a way that brings the most glory to God according to His Word. Husbands meditate upon the Love of Christ and how He sacrificially loves His church. Wives submit to your husbands in reverence for Christ.
5.) This life on earth is merely a vapor. Meditate on eternity and how losing your life for the sake of Christ makes this world less and less attractive. This world will pass. The Word of God lasts forever.
6.) Meditate on the fact that the Holy Spirit prays for you in your weakness. When you are weakest physically, spiritually and emotionally, then you are strongest in Christ.
7.) We are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, given life and the ability to be obedient to God. Meditate on how He has sanctified you with His Word and Spirit to be more like Him and thus preparing you to be with Him, face to face for eternity.
8.) Meditate on Christian persecution and what it means to be persecuted or killed for preaching salvation in Jesus Christ.
9.) Meditate on becoming a student of God’s Word. The very God who caused the new birth provided the very words that cause sanctification to understand Him more accurately and love Him more rightly until glorification. Know more of the doctrine of God.
10.)Meditate upon Old Testament Scriptures and read commentaries by respected authors to understand them.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Eternal Protection
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16
What a dreaded thought to be an enemy of the infinite Almighty God. To love hatred and to have an openly rebellious heart against the law of the Lord is to be under His wrath. The King of Righteousness is promised to return with a robe dipped in blood, due to wrath and establish righteous judgment upon unjustified sinners. The reprobates are gathered with all of their unregenerate thoughts and deeds and will serve their just punishment. Those who are proud in heart and spirit and who have cumulatively compiled all their sins will be judged with as He strikes the nations as the Word of God.
However, if you are one of His remnant that are broken hearted over sin and defilement of the flesh, then who better to defend your unrighteous deeds then the very One who built the everlasting bridge with His blood? Brethren, Jesus Christ, who is faithful and true according to His eternal promises, infinitely secures His chosen vessels of honor. There is nothing that can separate you from Him. Just as His Almighty wrath is an unstoppable and impenetrable decree, so is His Great Mercy on those whose sins He has graciously passed over and given them His Holy Spirit. If you hate sin and love the brethren, then you are in God’s army and are battling even now. His sword does not bring death and destruction to those He has given His very name and Righteousness. Justification is of an infinite kind and only given by an infinite being. Take courage, saved sinners. If you are fighting the tricks and wiles of the Devil in this world with your own sword, the Word of God, then Jesus Christ, the King of Kings has eternally secured your name in the Book of Life. Not even death itself will prevail.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
‘For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are account as sheep for the slaughter.’
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:35-39
What a dreaded thought to be an enemy of the infinite Almighty God. To love hatred and to have an openly rebellious heart against the law of the Lord is to be under His wrath. The King of Righteousness is promised to return with a robe dipped in blood, due to wrath and establish righteous judgment upon unjustified sinners. The reprobates are gathered with all of their unregenerate thoughts and deeds and will serve their just punishment. Those who are proud in heart and spirit and who have cumulatively compiled all their sins will be judged with as He strikes the nations as the Word of God.
However, if you are one of His remnant that are broken hearted over sin and defilement of the flesh, then who better to defend your unrighteous deeds then the very One who built the everlasting bridge with His blood? Brethren, Jesus Christ, who is faithful and true according to His eternal promises, infinitely secures His chosen vessels of honor. There is nothing that can separate you from Him. Just as His Almighty wrath is an unstoppable and impenetrable decree, so is His Great Mercy on those whose sins He has graciously passed over and given them His Holy Spirit. If you hate sin and love the brethren, then you are in God’s army and are battling even now. His sword does not bring death and destruction to those He has given His very name and Righteousness. Justification is of an infinite kind and only given by an infinite being. Take courage, saved sinners. If you are fighting the tricks and wiles of the Devil in this world with your own sword, the Word of God, then Jesus Christ, the King of Kings has eternally secured your name in the Book of Life. Not even death itself will prevail.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
‘For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are account as sheep for the slaughter.’
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:35-39
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Coming Branch
“Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.
‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign;
For behold I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts,
‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts,
‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.’”
Zechariah 3:6-10
Consider yourself blessed if you are able and willing to walk in the ways of the Lord. For walking in His ways are indeed, keeping His commands. By keeping His commands, you have proven to have passed from death to life. Thus, you have received an eternal inheritance, being grafted into the BRANCH.
Sinners are only willing and capable to walk in the ways of the Lord after being shown they are ‘grafted in’ and that their iniquity is removed. In that day, the sinner is shown the utter helplessness and hopelessness without the only HOPE presented before them. They are then forever grateful for the infinite forgiveness of that iniquity that would otherwise stand against them in complete justice.
There are no offerings and sacrifices that will suffice for the forgiveness of our sins. Infinite transgressors of the law in utter finitude are justly and only deserving of Infinite punishment, according to the Law. We are therefore only forgiven from the Infinite Servant, The Branch. His body and infinite greatness is the eternally decreed wondrous and beautiful perfect once and for all sacrifice for the iniquities of mankind. The Branch provides the eternally living water and the only peace and satisfaction to reconcile us to the Father. We are then granted access to boldly enter the throne of Grace as adopted sons and daughters.
Hallelujah.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:13-17
‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.
‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign;
For behold I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts,
‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts,
‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.’”
Zechariah 3:6-10
Consider yourself blessed if you are able and willing to walk in the ways of the Lord. For walking in His ways are indeed, keeping His commands. By keeping His commands, you have proven to have passed from death to life. Thus, you have received an eternal inheritance, being grafted into the BRANCH.
Sinners are only willing and capable to walk in the ways of the Lord after being shown they are ‘grafted in’ and that their iniquity is removed. In that day, the sinner is shown the utter helplessness and hopelessness without the only HOPE presented before them. They are then forever grateful for the infinite forgiveness of that iniquity that would otherwise stand against them in complete justice.
There are no offerings and sacrifices that will suffice for the forgiveness of our sins. Infinite transgressors of the law in utter finitude are justly and only deserving of Infinite punishment, according to the Law. We are therefore only forgiven from the Infinite Servant, The Branch. His body and infinite greatness is the eternally decreed wondrous and beautiful perfect once and for all sacrifice for the iniquities of mankind. The Branch provides the eternally living water and the only peace and satisfaction to reconcile us to the Father. We are then granted access to boldly enter the throne of Grace as adopted sons and daughters.
Hallelujah.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:13-17
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