tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87359507960036483252023-11-15T10:36:39.652-08:00The WordPastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-14932754124104414492012-07-31T12:56:00.001-07:002012-07-31T17:13:25.569-07:00Asking—Why So Hard?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John 16:24–27: "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God" (ESV).<br />
<br />
Figures of speech are used to explain concepts otherwise difficult to grasp in plain language. Even with figures, however, there is no guarantee that one fully understands what is con-veyed. The "hour" of which Jesus spoke—when it will be no longer necessary to communicate in figures—has come. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell each believer in accordance with the New Covenant promise of Ezekiel 36: 26, 27.<br />
<br />
The Spirit is now the Interpreter of spiritual truth and the revealer of the unseen Father. On that basis, Jesus promised, "You will ask in my name." The implication is that we will have confidence to ask the Father for what we need. He also argues that the He will not need to convince the Father to hear us because the Father already loves us. What a glorious truth is this! Yet, for all the encouragement, we do not ask. Why?<br />
<br />
Sanctification is a life-long process that seems to crawl in its momentum, often pausing and sometimes regressing. We become discouraged when we see so little change. This seeming stagnation of our spiritual progress contributes to our perception of our relationship with the Father. If we are not jumping spiritual hurdles, the Father must not be pleased with us, and, if so, we think that we have no right to ask Him for anything. However, at such times we must learn of the truth that Jesus gave us in John 16:24–27. We need to trust Him because He loves us still.<br /><br />
Another reason for our failure to ask is that we tend to be self-sufficient. We don’t need to ask because we can manage for ourselves. We are independent people and proud to be so. This attitude is at the very heart of our fallen nature. It keeps us from trusting the Lord and seeking to know His will for us in all the choices of life presenting themselves to us.<br />
<br />
If my heart craves a thing, my mind justifies it and my will acts on it. However, the Holy Spirit nags at my conscience: "You need to ask the Father about this." But I am stubborn. This is what I want, and I can get it without Him. I do not ask. The Spirit is grieved, and my fellowship is strained. I do not have the joy that He promised. At this point, discipline kicks in if I am truly His, for He will have me to learn that trusting means asking, and asking brings fullness of joy.</span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-42478018688061471122011-10-10T15:17:00.000-07:002012-07-31T17:12:29.971-07:00Professing or Possessing<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Years of experience in the “soul-winning” culture of fundamentalism have caused me to reexamine some things. One thing in particular has to do with the assurance of one’s salvation. The pat answer is something like this: First, one must be able to pinpoint the exact time that he made his decision to trust Jesus for salvation. That date should be clear in his mind. It would also be a good idea to write it in the fly leaf of his Bible. Second, one must arm himself with a verse or two to quote in order to encourage faith, such as Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Third, one should publicaly confess his decision in order to get courage to stand for Jesus. Fourth, one needs to connect with other believers and be faithful to the services and activities of a local church.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">I have no particular qualms with any of the above advice, per se. However, I would note that I have known many believers who cannot recall an exact time of their “decision” and yet are fully assured of salvation. My beef is that these points miss the mark. It is possible for one to make a decision, publicaly confess Christ, memorize verses, etc., but still not be saved. Salvation is of the Lord, and the ones He saves are changed. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). In other words, one’s assurance of salvation should not be his own insistence that he made a choice, but rather to question whether Jesus has really saved him. A new creature will take on the characteristics of his Heavenly Father in the same way one takes the characteristics of his earthly father (1 John 3:7-10).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">These changes will not necessarily be immediately noticeable. A new believer may falter and doubt at first because assurance needs evidence of change. Growing takes time. Juvenile trees do not bear fruit. However, Jesus made fruit the obvious indicator of one’s condition. “You will recognize them by their fruits . . . A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit . . . You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16-20).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Paul argued that a little doubt is good for the soul. It prods one to look deeper. The Corinthian church’s problems led Paul to write, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5). What is the test? Is it that one professes faith? Jesus warned (to paraphrase His words), “Not every one who confesses my name shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). It is not enough to be a regular church attender or even faithful to visitation. God’s will is worked into the life of a true believer by His power, and then it is worked out in obedience and fruit (Philippians 2:12, 13). It is that fruit that assures our hearts before God. Are you fruitful?</span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-70950518955521409512011-10-10T14:48:00.000-07:002011-10-10T15:09:45.220-07:00Making the Impossible a Reality<div><div align="justify"><font face="arial">“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14, ESV).</font></div><div align="justify"><br /><font face="arial">These verses are among the most difficult verses in the Scripture because of what they require; indeed, the requirements are impossible for the natural man. First, the language of this text is not passive, involving the activity of putting things on. The assumption is that such attire is not very familiar. It is similar to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4, exhorting his readers to work at changing their lives for the sake of Christlikeness. One cannot make changes without shedding the old “clothes” and putting on new (vv. 20-27).</font></div><div align="justify"><br /><font face="arial">Second, the issues have to do with bringing into sync the believer’s standing (as positionally holy) with his state (as actually unholy) in order to be truly holy. Believers are filled with the residue of their fallen natures. Therefore, God places on them the responsibility to purge out the Adamic dregs and to fill that void with the character qualities of Christ. This duty is not an option. One cannot argue that, due to the difficulty, God should cut some slack. God does not do so because He expects to enable the impossible. Although the process is not easy, the objective is worth it—to be like Jesus. Oh, to be like Him! True believers have that yearning deep in their souls, although the cry is often drowned out by deaf and distracted ears. However, when hunger for change is strong enough—when the dissatisfaction with one’s old life is intolerable—one will do what it takes to obey God’s directive.</font></div><div align="justify"><br /><font face="arial">That brings us to do some serious soul-searching. “What is lacking in my conformity to Christ?” Paul saw that natural relationships follow either from rivalry (competition to be better than others) or from conceit (the prideful arrogance that one already is better than others) (Philippians 2:3). Love (the gift/fruit of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22) is the cure for these maladies because love is compassionate and kind. A loving person is humble and meek, like Jesus, counting others more significant than himself.</font></div><div align="justify"><font face="arial"><br />Jesus lived for the sake of others. So must we, but to do so requires that we do the hard things. We love our comfort zone, and we do not like the mess that others make. We do not like the time or the waiting that is required. We do not like the uncertainty that our sacrifices may not yield the anticipated goal. We hate the misunderstanding, the suspicion, the opposition, and the rejection that might come. We cannot always see the work God is doing through us. However, we must do this work. If we love Jesus, we obey Him (John 14:15).</font></div></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-76240515562818823722010-08-06T09:14:00.000-07:002010-08-06T09:19:32.325-07:00Of All-Sufficient Worth<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:version>12.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073741899 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >There is a tendency to look on the issue of one’s relationship to God in general terms. We know that we are sinners, however defined. After all, nobody is perfect. But such a broad view of sinfulness never permits the sinner to be humbled before the Holy Judge. There are no specific charges, nor is the case fully adjudicated in one’s mind and conscience. The result is that the sinner’s heart is never wholly satisfied that God has been reconciled and the sin forgiven. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Along with an unspecific accounting of one’s sinfulness, there is a similar unspecific view of the work of Christ. We believe that Jesus died to save sinners, however applied, without any focus on His taking the place of definite sinners and paying for their precise sins. A sweeping generalization fails to appreciate the particulars of His satisfaction so necessary to one’s assurance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Justifying faith sees the worth of God’s plan to settle His salvation on the merits of His Son’s sacrifice as a substitute for the specific sins of specific sinners. Paul, after extensive development God’s purpose to justify guilty souls in Christ, writes: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33). All sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Thus, all transgressors must face the Law-giver. Yet, with all the evidence before him, Paul, without hesitation, declares that “it is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33). Christ answers all claims that might be raised against any for whom He died. Although even the smallest of sins in our estimation are great evils to God, Christ’s righteousness is more than enough for our guilt and shame.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >No sin is so great that Christ’s blood cannot atone for it. God “did not <i style="">spare</i> [hold back on] his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). No one included in verse 30 (those <i style="">predestined</i>, <i style="">called</i>, <i style="">justified</i>, and <i style="">glorified</i>) has committed sins beyond the scope of verse 32. Therefore, free of all hesitation, Paul makes the blanket assertion that there is no one in God’s universe who can circumvent the results of Christ’s cross work. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Did you sin in a way that makes the intention of your heart a greater offense than the deed itself? There is nothing hidden from His knowledge of you. He sees the deed; He knows the issues of your heart prompting the deed. However, such knowledge did not keep Him from paying the penalty in full. Did you sin in a way aggravated and compounded by your delight and enjoyment of the offense? Know that His delight to do His Father’s will (Psalm 40:8) overrides any revulsion that your pleasure incited. Did you sin deliberately when you could have avoided the crime? Know that His determination to die for you (Luke 9:51) is infinitely greater than your resolve to sin. He said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50). There is nothing in our sinning that does not have a fit answer in His work on our behalf. He is more than enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div style="font-family: arial;" id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-75166513510735899072010-07-26T15:42:00.000-07:002010-07-26T15:43:51.138-07:00The Object to Faith<div align="justify">We have been discussing the faith that justifies, focusing on Paul’s summary beginning in Romans 8:31: If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul continues by asking some rhetorical questions such as in verse 34, “Who is to condemn? [No one. Why?] Christ Jesus is the one who died [as condemned].” In fact, there are four particulars which support the negative response to the question. Who will condemn a justified person? No one because Christ Jesus died, was raised from the dead, ascended to the Father’s right hand, and is there to intercede for the justified saint.<br /><br />Clearly, Jesus Christ is to be the object of our faith. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Paul preached “repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We repent to God against whom we have sinned; we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the Savior. However, we must be clear about what we are to believe in Jesus for. How is Christ the object of faith? In what particular are we to believe Him for? We are to believe in Christ who died.<br /><br />Many fail to make this distinction. Without question, Jesus Christ is such that we ought to be drawn to His person. He is altogether lovely. There is none to match His excellencies and glory. However, as wonderful as He is, none of these qualities which we so admire in Him can justify anyone. These ought to elicit our love, but it is only Christ as dying that answers to the need. We are justified by His death. “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9).<br /><br />The disciples did not understand that He came primarily to die—that “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). He spoke of His impending death, but they argued about who should be greatest and who should sit on His right and left hand in His kingdom (Luke 9). They were taken by His person, His miracles, His wisdom, and His glory, but they could not imagine Him going to the cross to die for their sins. “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This [to be killed, (v. 21)] shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). Not until after the resurrection do the disciples finally get it that Jesus can save them only as He died a sinless sacrifice in their stead. Thus Paul argues, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).<br /><br />We are justified by faith, but that faith is to be in Christ’s dying, bearing our sin as He suf-fered the full force of God’s wrath in our place. God did not spare His Son, but delivered Him up to death in order that we might be justified. </div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-88996340184559732102010-07-26T15:40:00.000-07:002010-07-26T15:42:05.919-07:00Justifying Faith<div align="justify">“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised” (Romans 8:32-34).<br /><br />Last week we considered Christ’s faith in His Father’s plan to justify the elect through faith in the work of Christ. In the text above, Paul uses language taken from Isaiah 5:8, 9, where Christ is speaking of His work as an obedient servant. It is the third of the “servant songs.” The first (42:1-9) speaks of His patient gentleness. The second song (49:4-13) deals with His acceptance of a frustrating work.<br /><br />In the third (50:4-9), the Servant faces spite and the fury of evil flung against Him. However, there is no hint of discouragement. The Servant is there to learn (v. 4) and to give (v. 6). He has, as it were, enrolled in the school of our common discipline (Hebrews 5:8). “Morning by morning” suggests that He is set for the lifelong attention to God’s unfolding will (1 Kings 8:59). His schooling includes suffering, making Him the suffering Servant, although it will not be until Isaiah 53 that His suffering will be explained.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the fruit of His yet unexplained suffering is demonstrated. First, He of-fers to God His unrestrained obedience (v. 5). Second, He gives Himself as a voluntary offering without resentment for His people. Third, in His suffering, He places His trust and confidence in God. These themes are taken by Paul and turned into his song of rejoicing (Romans 8:32-34). Christ faced the accuser, accepting his charges in the place of those whom He sought to justify by His obedience and sacrifice.<br /><br />Now Paul asks, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” None can successfully bring any accusation against any for who Christ died because Christ Himself answers any indictment that could be brought against us. There are four things that the apostle names as matters of triumph for believers. Christ (1) died; (2) rose again; (3) ascended to God’s right hand; and (4) continually intercedes in behalf of them. With such an arsenal none need fear the accuser. Christ Himself stands in our stead. All that He suffered as the obedient Servant is put to our account. Whatever He did, we did in Him.<br /><br />In the second part of Paul’s song (Romans 8:35-39), we celebrate the love of God in Christ for us. It is true that we will suffer (Romans 8:35); however, no earthy peril can pull us away, for God, because of Christ’s obedience, has brought us near. We are justified from all things. No one can charge us. Nothing can separate us for His great love. Now, this is good news and a matter of triumph for faith. “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). </div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-84309856319567166552010-07-26T15:34:00.000-07:002010-07-26T15:37:15.505-07:00Who Will Justify Me?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Paul concludes his arguments on salvation by grace in Romans 8 in a very triumphant language: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised” (Romans 8:32-34).<br /><br />What is important to understand here is that our salvation rests on the Father’s wil-lingness to “not spare” His own Son. From what did He not spare Him? This desire is linked to His gracious giving “all things” to His elect. Then Paul asks, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” This and the question following are rhetorical, that is, they expect “no one” for an answer. The one qualified to accuse is the very one who vindicates. The elect are free from condemnation although they are guilty. They are spared, but God’s Son is not spared.<br /><br />Here is the judicial scenario: the elect of God cannot be vindicated as innocent. They are sinners, violating God’s commandments and heaping sacrilege on His good name. They are to be charged with their heinous, God-belittling crimes and punished to the full extent of the law. The accusation must stand and appropriate punishment meted out. So why is no charge leveled? It is because the Judge has justified them. How?<br /><br />There are only two ways in which one can be justified or vindicated. Either the ac-cused is actually innocent of all charges, or the penalty of the crime has been fully and adequately paid. We know that the elect cannot plead innocence; neither could they satisfy infinite justice. A finite being would suffer the full fury of God’s wrath for eternity. So it is important to resolve the question. This is where the willingness of the just Judge comes into play. He did not spare—He did not withhold a molecule of His terrible wrath flung with omnipotent force of Holy indignation against any of the sins of the elect because a suitable substitute suffered in their place. God’s own Son stood in the stead of the elect and endured their penalty to the full.<br /><br />However, Jesus did not go it alone. He trusted in His heavenly Father to stand by Him and vindicate Him in the place of His people. In Romans 8:32-34 Paul takes his language from Isaiah 50:8, 9, where Christ is speaking of His own justification (v. 8). When He says, “‘I will put my trust in Him’ (Hebrews 11:13a), He refers to His part in God’s plan to justify “the children God had given [Him]” (Hebrews 11:13b). Jesus knew no sin, but He is vindi-cated because He took on human nature in order to identify with His “brethren,” bearing the punishment of their guilt in their place. By this He satisfied justice to the full and so could cry from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). God made our iniquities to fall on Him (Isaiah 53:6), and He trusted God to accept the punishment for the charges against them. Thus, we read in Hebrews 2:11 that “He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin.” </span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-46547160644393074992010-07-26T15:23:00.000-07:002010-07-26T15:39:06.935-07:00What Must Glory Be Like?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was returning from Garden City, Kansas, on a Sunday evening after services. The sky was full of clouds, and the sun was beginning to turn the clouds bright yellow and orange. I realized that I was about to see a spectacular show. An uncluttered horizon lay before me. For nearly an hour the glorious colors were playing against the ever-changing cloudscape as beautiful melodic strains of a classical recording filled the car. It was overwhelming.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />God did this. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). He is the author of all real beauty, and He was displaying it for me to enjoy Him. So I worshiped Him, rejoicing in His wonder. Jonathan Edwards wrote: “Can we study beauty with out studying God? Is it possible to study a subject freighted with transcendence without reference to the Transcendent?” “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1).<br /><br />Though we have ever seen Him, we can see what He can do in the sky, in the flowers, in the landscapes, in the waterfalls, in the changing seasons, in the melodic sounds that fill our ears, in the soft caress of the air around us, in the taste of delicious food, in the delight of our relationships, and on and on. “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Eccle-siastes 3:11). “May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works” (Psalm 104:31).<br /><br />Are we to enjoy beauty for beauty’s sake? It is here that we often sin. To enjoy beauty without regard to the Creator is to worship the creation, which is idolatry. As sinners we tend to exchange the glory of the immortal God for images of created things (Romans 1:23). However, the creation is God’s gift to us in order for us to see His glory in it and adore Him for it.<br />We must also understand that beauty here, as awesome as it is, is but a feeble likeness to the unseen world we are to behold when He takes us to Himself. The glorious sunset I enjoyed for an hour was but a preview of things to come. How much more glorious is the reality? “Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty” (Isaiah 33:17).<br /><br />We can get a peek as Scripture paints with words what Spirit-enabled imagination brings to life. “Behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald” (Revelation 4:2-3). “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth” (Psalm 50:2). “How great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!” (Zechariah 9:17).<br /><br />Thus, “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). </span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-88089922751008700532010-03-19T16:38:00.000-07:002010-03-19T16:43:32.576-07:00Faithful Adherence<div align="justify">I was recently thinking about the church, the ministry, and the times we live in. A lot has changed over the years since I first pursued the call to preach the gospel. As a fundamental Baptist schooled in dispensationalism, the heart of what I believed was that God gave His Son to save sinners from eternal damnation. The gospel message was simple: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Dispensationalism, for me, involved the history of redemption—His story—God’s working in time to bring about the deliverance of a people for His own name’s sake. All this was carefully recorded so that Scripture alone was sufficient to “make one wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).<br />Preaching the gospel meant preaching the gospel. A preacher’s job was to open the Bible and tell his audience what God wrote so that people might see Jesus Christ and understand what He did for sinners. Of course, in those days, I thought that we could actually convince sinners to believe. However I also knew that God gave the Holy Spirit to help us do that work of convincing. The Spirit had to convict of sin (1 Thessalonians 1:5; John 16:8), create despair in the heart, and leave the convicted hopeless and helpless to fix his own fate (Acts 2:37). Then, I believed that the Spirit opened the heart to the gospel (Acts 16:14) and granted the sinner repentance unto faith (Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25). Every Bible-believing preacher I knew understood that no sinner ever came to faith in Christ without the work of the Word and the Spirit.<br />Some things have changed. The fundamentalism I first espoused has changed. The ministry became a contest to see who could build the biggest church—the biggest empire. Preachers became emperors in their little realms, dictating the rules and standards. Doctrine fell out of favor. Sermons became the means to control people, not to teach the Word. Perhaps unconsciously, a new form of legalism took the stage.<br />The whole face of evangelical Christianity has changed. The gospel is no longer sufficient, but any and all carnal means are used to get people to come to church. Services have become “seeker friendly.” Pastors do not talk about sin and certainly not about eternal damnation in Hell. Preaching has become short inspirational pep talks, and church time is filled with rock concert entertainment to keep people coming back.<br />The culture has had it impact on the change as well. Morals are out with sin, and anything goes as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. All who disagree—God and His people—are labeled as intolerant, and all who take a stand for something are fanatics and lunatics.<br />However, after forty plus years of ministry, I have concluded that while some things do change, the basics have not. People are still sinners, lost and bound for judgment. The gospel is still the sinner’s only hope. The Bible is still the only reliable source of the message, and the preacher is still the only method God uses to get that message out. The Holy Spirit is still doing His work and the church is still triumphant. To God be the glory. </div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-89071662697739136202010-01-12T15:23:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:37:42.464-08:00Bittersweet Providence<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Persecution, by its very nature, is not a pleasant experience because of great loss, physical suffering, and possibly death. So, we are surprised that Jesus declared that those who are persecuted for His Name are blessed—in a happy condition. Can one really be expected to feel exhilaration in suffering? Isn’t it madness to expect persecuted people to rejoice and be glad in their pain? Yet this is what the Lord commands (Matthew 5:10-12). How do we understand this?</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Lord told Isaiah that His thoughts transcend ours in infinite measure: thus, His ways are inscrutable to us (Isaiah 55:8, 9). Isaiah wrote these words to a people who would be tried in the fires of divine judgment, displaced from their homes, their families torn apart and subjected to unbelievable cruelty. His mind was set. His will determined. His word would not return empty because He would accomplish His purpose and succeed in His plan (vv. 11, 12). However, when it was over, He promised, “You shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace” (v. 12).</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is the key to what the world sees as insanity—rejoicing in suffering. Our sinfulness is such that God must use pain and affliction to cure us. It is not the experience of scourging that occasions the joy but the sure knowledge that His surgery results in our wholeness. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). </span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Colossians 1:24). This is the root of his exhortation to the Romans: “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame” (Romans 5:3-5). Peter expressed the same truth: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). </span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Naturally, we want to believe the false claims that the gospel is intended to remove our unhappiness, our difficulties, and our privations, making us ecstatically blissful now. God is the great supplier of every blessing and we are entitled to them. When this does not happen, we react with anger and resentment. We question His love and goodness. We doubt our position in Christ, thinking that our failures have occasioned His displeasure. We moan and groan, feeling sorry for ourselves and wishing we could experience the wonderful pleasure-filled life that everyone else seems to have. </span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A real acquaintance with Scripture reveals that only fools take their ease and enjoy their blessings now (Luke 12:15-20). It is only after Jesus comes that He wipes the tears from our eyes. Then “you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” </span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-85854853567720139062010-01-01T17:15:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:36:03.834-08:00"Fear Not" - 2010<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We are entering the second decade of the 21st century. The first decade began with fears that all the computers would fail, plunging the world into chaos. This decade begins with the fear that our free nation is about to become socialistic. Alarming issues constantly present themselves to us believers; our response must always be to obey the simple command of Scripture, “fear not.” Moses spoke to the timid nation of Israel on the verge of moving into the land promised to their fathers: “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). That little command not to fear is always accompanied by reassuring words—a promise that God is there to help.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Fear comes when there is uncertainty of what lies ahead. Isaiah 35:4 exhorts the prophet; “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not!’” Our tendency is to magnify the uncertainty and embellish it with foreboding. We love the comfort and security of the familiar and predictable; we fear the unknown and uncontrollable.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It is interesting to note that Isaiah contains the largest number of “fear-nots.” These were spoken to a people who had forsaken the Lord and sinned in idolatry and rebellion. Isaiah was to prophesy to a people who would not listen and warn them that God was going to judge them by sending them into captivity by the Babylonians. It was a brutal experience, but at the same time God encouraged them with many comforting messages of His presence and grace. Every believer would be heartened to look at a concordance and read the many “fear-nots” in Scripture, particularly those in Isaiah, as we begin the new year.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As I look back, I am challenged with what the Lord has taught me about life—that it is not about me. It is really all about Him. The Lord works His will in every aspect of life, no matter how small a thing it may seem. He works everything for His glory. The experience may not make me particularly happy, but it will ultimately be for my good and His glory. That is all that really matters.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He does not work to make me wealthy and prosperous, as the prosperity gospel would claim. Neither does He work to smooth out all the wrinkles of my life to make me happy and blessed. Rather, life is filled with hardship, heartache, disappointment, failure, persecution, and every other way to spell difficulty. Being perplexed is not a sign of a lack of faith. What we do when we are perplexed does reveal faith or lack thereof. “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” (Isaiah 41:13). His plan for me is to trust Him fully and to know that He is there in the darkest of my days in order to be with me and fulfill His word to me. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).</span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-55336673580078505442009-11-10T10:42:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:35:14.942-08:00Resentment of Providence<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">When confronted with issues that violate our supposed rights, we usually respond in anger. Inherently, we know that anger is wrong. How quick we are to point out this fault in others while justifying our own outbursts and appealing to our flawed humanness. Nevertheless, Psalm 37 proves that God expects His own to live by the higher standard of meekness.<br /><br />The psalm begins with an admonition to “fret not” over “evildoers” (v. 1). Injustice falls immediately on God’s shoulders. If He is holy and His law is just, if His desire is righteousness in creation, then any breach of His standard must meet with an immediate and appropriate response. We <em>fret</em> when our reasonable expectation of fairness is disappointed by God’s apparent failure to act. In English, fretting is an emotional strain. In Hebrew, fretting is to burn with indignation.<br /><br />David takes the thought one step further by suggesting that our righteous resentment over that lack of recrimination might actually mask envy—“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” The truth is painfully evident. We really want to sin. We chafe at restraints but fear the humiliation of exposure or the punishment deserved. However, in the closet of our depravity, we so want to sin that we are angrily envious of those who sin without the consequences that should come to them and would certainly come to us.<br /><br />As defense against this carnal response, David declares that the wrongdoer’s impunity is short-lived. “They soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (Psalm 37:2). This expected end recurs throughout the psalm (vv. 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 28b, 34, 36, 38). Second, David develops the doctrine of meekness to enable believers to find real joy and satisfaction, not in the fleeting pleasures of sin but in the Lord (vv. 3-8). There are 5 exhortations, the last one being that we are to refrain from anger, especially against His providence (vv. 7b, 8).<br /><br />Three terms are used for one’s heated response: fretting, anger, and wrath. The psalmist repeats the injunction against fretting (burning with indignation) over the seeming immunity of the evildoer to justice. What follows is clear instruction on how not to fret. “Refrain from [<em>relax or drop</em>] anger [<em>aph</em>, a reference to flaring the nostrils; the initial response of anger], and forsake [<em>leave or let alone</em>] wrath [<em>chemah</em>, to rage; a reference to anger in full fury]” (v. 8a). To fret is to feed the fire. It is often translated “to kindle”—“his wrath was kindled” (Genesis 39:19).<br /><br />We are to shun anger in all its forms and levels because anger only leads to sin (v. 8b). These words may also suggest our present condition (“stop being angry”) and future possibilities (“leave off wrath”). Contextually, though the reference is not specifically detailed, we can conclude that God is the primary object of the anger expressed. Of course, we may also be sore at those who seem to get by with their bad behavior (<em>prospering</em> better fits apparent sinful rather than financial success). However, the tendency for all of us is to blame God for His neglected justice, especially if, because of evildoers, we are suffering. We are creatures with a marked sense of fairness, especially where our own happiness is concerned. </span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-2490459459923046352009-10-16T10:27:00.000-07:002010-01-12T15:34:37.497-08:00Knowing Jesus Savingly<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">This past week I prepared a funeral message on John 3:16, the text that the family requested. It is probably the best known verse in the Bible but also the least understood. “God so loved the world.” Contrary to what many think, <em>so</em> does not describe the <em>magnitude</em> of divine love (there is another word for that purpose). Rather, this is an adverb that modifies “to love.” It means “in this way” or “after this manner.” God loved the world in this way—that He gave His only begotten Son. God sent His son into the world (v. 17) to do something in order to save the world from His wrath due to their sinning against Him (v. 36). How does God do this?</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One verse in John’s opening “prologue” (John 1:1-18) answers the question. Verse 14 says that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Verse 18 says, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” We cannot know God apart from His revealing Himself to us through His Son. God saves by revealing His glory through His Son.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Someone says, “I thought that Jesus came to bring salvation to those who will accept His offer.” Much of today’s Christian message aims to get people to make decisions about what Jesus offers: we must make a decision about being saved in the way one decides whether or not to buy a vacuum cleaner. That is treating salvation like a commodity; however, such a decision is no evidence of real saving grace. One may make a decision, think he going to heaven but remain in his fallen state. It is true that Jesus came to bring salvation, but salvation is not a commodity. Jesus did not simply purchase something by His death and resurrection that we can decide to take or leave. Jesus said, “This is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on earth [by revealing the Father], having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:3, 4).<br /><br />Salvation is a gracious work on God’s part to rescue a people for His name by restoring their relationship to Him through the cross work of Jesus Christ. Paul viewed salvation as knowing Jesus, not getting something from Him (Philippians 3:7-11). Saved people will “being found in Him” (Philippians 3:9).</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Over the years, I have met many people who think that they are going to heaven because at some point in life they made a decision to “be saved.” Yet, they do not know Jesus, nor do they care to know Him. They never read their Bibles. They seldom, if ever go to church. Now, contrast that with John’s declaration to have “seen his glory, glory . . . full of grace and truth.” Should not such a vision of glory radically alter one’s life? How can anyone see the wonder of Jesus and return to business as usual? So, do you know only your decision, or do you really know Jesus Christ?</span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-69517728400435204862009-09-30T10:04:00.000-07:002009-09-30T10:20:43.725-07:00Meekness: The Jewel of Christian Character<div align="justify">Jesus values meekness as an essential quality of Christian character (Matthew 5:5). The world loves self-promotion, believing that we must hide our flaws, exaggerate our strengths, putting them out for all to see.<br /><br />In Psalm 37 the psalmist recognizes our natural tendency to get upset when we see others prosper in the self-promotion we wish for ourselves, especially those we consider to be wicked and evil. Thus, the psalmist explains that the way to avoid jealous anger is to look to the Lord. In verses 1-11 we have several exhortations to help us to do this.<br /><br />First, we are to “fret not,” which means “not to get heated up” (v. 1, 7, 8). In the context, it refers to anger and resentment that one has in seeing others prosper in areas where he has not but wants to. His anger and frustration are a response to his own powerlessness—his inability to achieve something in that desired area.<br /><br />Fretting exposes one’s true nature and value system—a system that is not godly. In verses 3-7 we have the counter-measures for fretting, which are not mere alternative behavioral sugges-tions. Rather, they are exhortations, which, if obeyed, give evidence of a new nature—one of meekness. Reformation will not produce meekness; only regeneration can. The meek see the worth of the Lord and desire to promote Him, not self. When this focus is in place, one’s reaction to setbacks and frustrating circumstances is not anger but quiet confidence.<br /><br />Meekness is often confused for weakness by those who do not understand it. When a meek person fails to assert himself, manipulate, issue threats, or domineer, he is considered a coward and a weakling. The psalmist paints a different portrait. The meek trust the Lord, having full con-fidence in His purpose (v. 3). Trust leads one to delight in the Lord (v. 4), finding the Lord to be everything he could desire. This, in turn, leads him to commit his way to the Lord (v. 5). He finds that the Lord is equal to any situation he might encounter. Thus, when faced with overwhelming concerns, the meek will be still (v. 7), waiting patiently for the Lord to work in His own way, in His own time, and for His own glory.<br /><br />The last exhortation “bookends” the section with something that sounds like a repetition of the first exhortation: “Refrain from anger . . . fret not yourself” (v. 8). However, the construction of the sentence leads us to understand that we are to refrain from anger directed against the Lord. We love quick fixes. We are willing to let the Lord fix our problems if He will do so promptly. When nothing happens, we get angry with Him and begin to doubt His goodness. This reveals that He is not our sole delight. Our pleasure is actually happy circumstances, and we have sought to manipulate the Lord to get what we value more. When He doesn’t come through for us, we become angry with Him.<br /><br />Oh, but we should know that it is the meek who are to inherit the earth.</div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-13332220193553759122009-09-17T12:06:00.000-07:002009-09-30T10:22:54.035-07:00The Spiritual “Gold Standard”<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">After describing in the third person an awesome experience of being raptured into paradise, Paul writes, “On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses” (2 Corinthians 12:5). This statement clearly marks Paul as a man whose career was exceptional by worldly standards; yet his meekness prevented him from exploiting his experiences for personal advantage. Doing so would be foolish and unchristian. </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">This brings us to examine more closely the characteristic that lies at the very heart of Christian character—meekness. Paul used his heavenly vision as a contrast to his earthly hardships and difficulties in order to address what constitutes a believer and servant of Christ. The human tendency is to self-promotion. This is the mark of the unregenerate. Flaws are hidden but strengths are embellished and showcased. Weaknesses are matters of shame. Successes that show achievement are the necessary measure of one’s worth, especially if, by comparison, they reveal how much better one is than another. (See 2 Corinthians 10:12.) </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">Jesus revealed a different plan for His kingdom. In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11), the Lord stated the eight essential qualities that mark a true believer. These qualities are not optional. They are not something we should strive for. They mark one who is a Christian. They may often be clouded by immaturity and carnality, but they must be present. They may be improved or neglected, but they must exist. Among them Jesus cited Psalm 37:11, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is the gold standard of spiritual disposition. </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">In concluding the section on his defense, Paul challenged the Corinthians, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5). So, what is the test one is to use? It is “Jesus Christ in you.” What does Jesus Christ look like? He was meek (Matthew 11:29); therefore, if He lives in you, will you not also be meek? Was Jesus self-promoting? Did He flaunt His successes and triumphs? If one lives by any other standard, does he not fail the test? </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">Psalm 37:1-11 is the exposition of meekness. The psalmist begins with the admonition, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” (v. 1). The word translated <i>fret</i> means to “to burn with anger.” Coupled with its counterpart in the second half of the couplet (<i>jealous anger</i>), it describes one who reacts to the successes of others, especially of wrong doers. The anger reveals one’s true nature and the value system he holds. The poet repeats this prohibition against fretting three times (vss. 1, 7, and 8).</p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">The counter admonition is found in verses 3-7. These counter measures do not merely quell anger; they reveal a change of heart, which also changes his standard of value. Instead of envy over another’s achievements, one looks to the Lord and learns his worth in Christ. We will look into these counter-measures more closely in articles to come. </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-46599185828153506042009-09-08T14:28:00.000-07:002009-11-10T10:54:35.020-08:00Spiritual Blindness<b><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></b> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">Hardness of heart and spiritual blindness affect us all. In the first four chapters of John’s Gospel we have seen ample evidence of this condition. In his prologue (introduction) John simply states, “He [Jesus] came to His own [creation], and His own [people] did not receive Him” (John 1:11). This is stunning when one realizes that John is telling us that the Creator/God came into His own creation and His creatures, made to love and serve Him, refused to receive Him. This is not likely to happen in an earthly society that had a visit from its government head. Even if the ruler is unpopular, protocol demands a certain level of respect.Yet Jesus came and was rudely and unceremoniously snubbed and dismissed.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">The condition of heart that underlies this remarkable rejection is hardness of heart that results from spiritual blindness, which is incurable by natural means (1 Corinthians 2:14). In other words, people could not recognize Him. Indeed, He was so radically different from them that they could never have received Him. They could only hate Him.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem (John 2:13-22) were annoyed with Jesus because He expelled the merchandisers and money exchangers from the Temple grounds. They challenged the Lord to show a sign that would prove that He had divine authority to act in that way. The Lord responded, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.” No one understands that kind of remark unless his eyes have been opened to spiritual things. They could not see that He spoke of His own body, the real Temple that they themselves would “destroy” on the cross. He would raise that Temple again after three days. They responded as only blind people are able to respond, insinuating that He was an idiot. Didn’t He know that it took 46 years to build the Temple? How would He rebuild it in three days? <o:p></o:p></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">Nicodemus could not see how one could reenter a mother’s womb to be reborn. The woman at the well could not see how Jesus could give her living water without a bucket to get it.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">The disciples fared no better. They were always missing the spiritual dimension of His words. When He warned them of the leaven of the Pharisees, they thought He was rebuking them for failing to bring sandwiches (Matthew 16:6, 7). In John 4, they did not understand when He declined their lunch, saying, “I have food to eat that you do not know about” (John 4:32). They thought another had given Him something to eat (v. 33). They were also blind to the monumental spiritual event that was unfolding right in front of their noses. Jesus’ strength was not coming from bread but from doing the will of His Father. A harvest of souls was commencing, and the reapers did not have a clue as to their involvement.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt" class="MsoNormal">Is it any different today? God’s people are so preoccupied with their world that they simply ignore the only real and lasting spiritual dimension that they live. May the Holy Spirit give us eyes to see!<o:p></o:p></p><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden"> <div id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735950796003648325.post-44933738462471073352009-09-03T11:10:00.000-07:002009-09-08T14:52:31.412-07:00The Servant of Christ<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:version>12.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Often we hear of people who have sacrificed much for the cause of Christ. No one, however, has the credentials of Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11:22-31 there is an incredible list of ministry hardships that he endured. Paul did not want to share these things (they are not recorded elsewhere), but the false apostles at Corinth forced his hand. The false apostles thrived on boasting of their greatness and accomplishments while denigrating Paul. So, in his defense, Paul chose to use the same tactic: “Whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that” (2 Corinthians 11:21).<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Boasting, of necessity, involves comparison. Paul has already shown how foolish that practice is. “When they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Nevertheless, Paul resorts to comparing in order to reveal the true nature of the qualified servant of Christ. Paul asked, “Are they [the false apostles] servants of Christ? I am a better one” (2 Corinthians 11:23). In what way was Paul better?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Look closely at what Paul chose as evidence that he was a better servant—“far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.” In other words, it was not Paul’s successes but his sufferings that he shows to qualify himself as a servant of Christ. There is no mention of any of the many triumphs he also experienced—nothing of his miracles and displays of power; no statistics of converts, church plants, or influential people won to Christ. Paul chronicles only the instances of rejection, hurt, humiliations, and privations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There are four lessons we can take from this. First, we need endurance. Paul had incredible stamina. He survived not one but eight illegal and undeserved beatings that often crippled or killed the victim. He was also stoned by an angry mob and left for dead outside the city of Lystra (Acts 14:19). No hardship discouraged or disabled him. Paul did not give up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Second, we see Paul’s great love for souls. When Paul declares his burden for the Jews (Romans 9:1-3), we know he is sincere. One scourging testified to his evangelistic zeal, but Paul returned again and again to receive five beatings. How much are we are willing to suffer in order that those around us may hear of Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Third, Paul identified himself with Jesus Christ in His sufferings. Christ said, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). Paul longed to know Christ in the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:7-11; Galatians 6:17). He knew that it was not personal superiority and strength but weakness and humility that brought glory to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:30).<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Fourth, It was grace alone that enabled Paul to persevere for Christ (1 Cor. 15:9, 10). By nature we shrink from suffering. Only God’s grace can overcome our instinct of personal preservation. Oh, that God would grant us the grace to welcome and embrace suffering for His glory. May we learn that we are most like Christ when we suffer as He did. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;"> <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;" id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial;" id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17553583369530145145noreply@blogger.com0