Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.
Esther 3:3-6
This reminded me of a recent interchange between an American Senator and a Christian man. The Senator was castigating the man for believing something that is central to the gospel. In a series of attacks, formed as questions, the believer kept responding, "Well, I'm a Christian, and..." Several consecutive times, he would be interrupted and silenced at that point.
Well, here is something similar. Mordecai could worship no mere man. When the king's servants challenged him on it, Mordecai's answer was that he is a Jew. It is interesting that, in v4, it seems that the king's servants at least considered the possibility that he might be given a religious exception. Even by the common grace light of nature, they seemed to know that Mordecai ought to be permitted an exemption, but they apparently knew something of Haman's nature as well.
Sure enough, Haman was so far from willing to grant an exemption that he concluded that if following the religion of the one true and living God meant that they would not bow to him, then he would simply destroy all followers of that religion.
This is the mindset that is developing against genuine, biblical Christianity in America. Never mind that these true disciples of Christ love their enemies and are even willing to sacrifice themselves for those who hate them. Unless Christians are willing to approve that which is wicked and immoral, and unless they are willing to bow and worship as soon as those in the current positions of cultural power appear, they can expect the fiercest responses. There are no religious exemptions, except perhaps for those whose religion it actually is to hate and kill us. Instead, Christians can expect that their quiet and conscientious devotion to Christ and His Word may sooner or later result in a determination to expunge us all.
Are we ready for this? Do we love our enemies precisely because we love Christ? And are we willing to be hated and hunted for His sake? We can be comforted that no one can ever take us from His and the Father's hand. We can be sure that nothing that He has earned for us can ever be lost. And, as is the main doctrine of the book of Esther, we can know that God is ruling and overruling everything for the good of His people, for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Friday, June 16, 2017
Ezra 4:1-2 - Unity Not Always Desirable
"Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, 'Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
Ezra 4:1-2
Sometimes, opposition to Reformation presents itself not as direct resistance, but as a "Unity Party," trying to join with the faithful in a way that will hinder them, dilute them, or slow them down.
"Unity without the Gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell." - J.C. Ryle
Ezra 4:1-2
Sometimes, opposition to Reformation presents itself not as direct resistance, but as a "Unity Party," trying to join with the faithful in a way that will hinder them, dilute them, or slow them down.
"Unity without the Gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell." - J.C. Ryle
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Matt 21:1-5 - Beholding Our King
"All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying"
Matt 21:4
Here, we see that Scripture must always be fulfilled.
It is impossible that God should lie. Whatever He has predicted or promised is absolutely certain to happen. Let us have confidence in every single thing that the Bible says.
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
Matt 21:5
Here, the prophecy that Christ fulfilled shows Him in both His kingship and His humility.
He is our King.
He subdues us to Himself, so let us yield to Him first head and heart, and then indeed all that we are, all that we have, and all that we do.
He provides for us, protects us, and defends us, so let us commit ourselves to His care. Literally, "by all means," let us make diligent and zealous use of all the means that He has given us, but let us always rest our confidence upon Him, rather than upon the means that He has given us.
He restrains and conquers all of His and our enemies, so let us never grumble, whine, or complain, but know that even the devil can only do what Jesus has planned for our good. And then, Jesus will punish every last wrong done to us--which He already used for our good!
And He has humbled Himself for us.
He became a man, and that in a low condition. Even as our King, He rode at first not on a great white horse, but on a donkey--and an adolescent donkey at that. He came lowly. And went so low as the cursed death of the cross. Such is the distance to which our God, Lord, Creator, and King stooped for our poor sake.
Let us behold here His love, and dwell upon it, that it might kindle in our hearts the flames of love toward Him. If we love Him because He first loved us, then let us drink deeply of these displays of His love to stir up our own reciprocal love!
And let us be glad to stoop and go low ourselves, for this path has been made beautiful, having been taken first by our Redeemer. Let us consider it an honor to stoop ever so low, to perform the lowest tasks, to receive the lowest gifts, to suffer those conditions and positions that worldlings consider to be far beneath them. They were not beneath our King, and we shall follow Him in them!
Matt 21:4
Here, we see that Scripture must always be fulfilled.
It is impossible that God should lie. Whatever He has predicted or promised is absolutely certain to happen. Let us have confidence in every single thing that the Bible says.
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
Matt 21:5
Here, the prophecy that Christ fulfilled shows Him in both His kingship and His humility.
He is our King.
He subdues us to Himself, so let us yield to Him first head and heart, and then indeed all that we are, all that we have, and all that we do.
He provides for us, protects us, and defends us, so let us commit ourselves to His care. Literally, "by all means," let us make diligent and zealous use of all the means that He has given us, but let us always rest our confidence upon Him, rather than upon the means that He has given us.
He restrains and conquers all of His and our enemies, so let us never grumble, whine, or complain, but know that even the devil can only do what Jesus has planned for our good. And then, Jesus will punish every last wrong done to us--which He already used for our good!
And He has humbled Himself for us.
He became a man, and that in a low condition. Even as our King, He rode at first not on a great white horse, but on a donkey--and an adolescent donkey at that. He came lowly. And went so low as the cursed death of the cross. Such is the distance to which our God, Lord, Creator, and King stooped for our poor sake.
Let us behold here His love, and dwell upon it, that it might kindle in our hearts the flames of love toward Him. If we love Him because He first loved us, then let us drink deeply of these displays of His love to stir up our own reciprocal love!
And let us be glad to stoop and go low ourselves, for this path has been made beautiful, having been taken first by our Redeemer. Let us consider it an honor to stoop ever so low, to perform the lowest tasks, to receive the lowest gifts, to suffer those conditions and positions that worldlings consider to be far beneath them. They were not beneath our King, and we shall follow Him in them!
2Chr 36:15-16 - The Great Mercy (and Potential Danger) of Hearing Biblical Preaching
"And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy."
2Chr 36:15-16
Surely, we ought to pray that God would grant that His servant would preach His Word faithfully in each of our churches. Here, He describes such preaching as an act of His compassion. Indeed, those who wish for less preaching, or less biblical preaching, or no preaching at all... are actually asking that God would not have compassion upon them. This is a horrifying thought!
But, let us seek more than just this compassion from Him. For, if the preacher is mocked, and the words are considered of little value or importance, we shall find that we have made God's display of His compassion the occasion by which we have stirred up great wrath against His church.
O, the greatness of the mercy, and potential danger in hearing biblical preaching!
2Chr 36:15-16
Surely, we ought to pray that God would grant that His servant would preach His Word faithfully in each of our churches. Here, He describes such preaching as an act of His compassion. Indeed, those who wish for less preaching, or less biblical preaching, or no preaching at all... are actually asking that God would not have compassion upon them. This is a horrifying thought!
But, let us seek more than just this compassion from Him. For, if the preacher is mocked, and the words are considered of little value or importance, we shall find that we have made God's display of His compassion the occasion by which we have stirred up great wrath against His church.
O, the greatness of the mercy, and potential danger in hearing biblical preaching!
2Chr 32:1-8 - A Biblical Confidence in God's Sovereign Action Leads to Believers' Vigorous Action
Sometimes, I have heard it said of confidence in God's sovereign action that it will stifle believers' activity.
And indeed, I have heard believers describe their laziness or passiveness as "giving the situation over to God"--as if their acting was somehow preventing Him from doing so, or an indication that they did not trust Him to do so.
While it is perhaps true that believers who speak like this were not trusting God previously, their newfound passivity and inaction does not mean that they have now begun to trust Him.
Look at the flurry of Hezekiah's action here:
"And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying" (vv5-6)
What drove such a frenzy of action? Was it because he was not "trusting God to work"? By no means! Notice the very next verses:
"“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah" (vv7-8)
Simply put, when Christian's believe it in a biblical way, they do not do less, but rather more, when they possess the certainty that the Lord is working and will continue to work.
Do I believe this about the Lord, according to His promises and character? Then it will not be demonstrated merely by a warm, ethereal feeling while I fold my hands. Rather, it will be seen by my vigorously pursuing all of the means that God has placed at my disposal. After all, if our Father is working, then so shall we!
And indeed, I have heard believers describe their laziness or passiveness as "giving the situation over to God"--as if their acting was somehow preventing Him from doing so, or an indication that they did not trust Him to do so.
While it is perhaps true that believers who speak like this were not trusting God previously, their newfound passivity and inaction does not mean that they have now begun to trust Him.
Look at the flurry of Hezekiah's action here:
"And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying" (vv5-6)
What drove such a frenzy of action? Was it because he was not "trusting God to work"? By no means! Notice the very next verses:
"“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah" (vv7-8)
Simply put, when Christian's believe it in a biblical way, they do not do less, but rather more, when they possess the certainty that the Lord is working and will continue to work.
Do I believe this about the Lord, according to His promises and character? Then it will not be demonstrated merely by a warm, ethereal feeling while I fold my hands. Rather, it will be seen by my vigorously pursuing all of the means that God has placed at my disposal. After all, if our Father is working, then so shall we!
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Jn 14:31 - O how Christ loves the Father!
"But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here."
John 14:31
If we are not amazed at Christ's love for the Father, we have not fully understood the cross.
And it is this love that is reckoned to us through faith in Christ, as if we ourselves had so kept the first great commandment!
Jn 14:8-9 - O that we would see Christ, by faith, in the preaching of the Word!
"Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?"
John 14:8-9
How glorious it is to see Christ! So exactly and completely is He the imprint of the Father that, once having seen Him, there is nothing more of the Father that we may see! Indeed there is nothing un-Christlike in the Father.
But what of us? Coming so long after Philip, have we missed our opportunity in this world for this glorious vision? By no means. For when the apostle Paul defends plain preaching and teaching as his strategem for ministry, he argues that it is God's means for doing something that no device of man could ever do:
"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
2Co 4:1-6
O, let us wrestle at the throne of grace for this: that God the Holy Spirit would attend the preaching in our churches, granting to us to see Christ Himself by faith!
2Chr 19:6-7 - How the godly approach government jobs
Romans 13 makes it plain that this holds up for all governments in every age.
and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
2Chr19:6-7
While v11 makes clear that the "general equity principle" is how this must operate, that principle itself means that the godly magistrate will be seeking biblical instruction for how he is to rule.
God grant, in every nation, men who govern thus, by grace in Christ!
Friday, June 2, 2017
John 13:34 - Lay your life down for the church
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
John 13:34-37
Peter thought that he would outdo Christ. He thought that Christ had merely washed their feet, but Peter was determined to love Him back by laying down his life. By the end of that evening, and especially the next afternoon, Peter would realize just how backwards he had it.
But when Christ restored the apostle, He brought him back to this conversation, reminding him (and us with him) of the chief way in which we are to "love Him because He first loved us": love one another as He has loved us.
Do you love Him, dear Christian readers? Love one another! This, most of all, is how our Redeemer tells us to reciprocate His love to us.
2Chronicles 12:14 - Preparation of the Heart
Truly, reading through the flawed kings of Judah makes one to confess that Christ alone is King of kings and Lord of lords.
And the Lord holds before us in 2Ch 12:14 how it was that Rheoboam's sinful flesh maintained the upper hand with him, "And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD."
(See also 2Chr 19:3, "Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God." ... and 2Chr 30:18b-19a But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers" ... and Ezra 7:10 "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel" ... and 1Sam 7:3 "Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines")
The word means to prepare or make ready, with a connotation of strengthening, establishing, and steeling the heart in a particular posture or attitude. God knows our dullness, and He has provided us this instruction: hearts such as ours must be intentionally conditioned to know and love and obey Him. Our hearts will not naturally do so merely because we wish they would. Moreover, He warns us of what we are wont to do if we do not prepare our hearts to seek Him. We are likely to end up rejecting all sound wisdom and indulging the folly and sin of our original, fleshly nature.
We who long that kings would be righteous, and that we ourselves would be upright in all that we do... Here is a biblical prescription for us: we must prepare our hearts to seek the Lord!
Let us be eager at the Word, sacraments, and prayer... these means through which we have Christ's own heart by grace.
2Chronicles 9:8 - One Greater than Solomon
How have you responded to Christ? There are many who demand something from Christ before they will believe.
Of those Pharisees that insisted that Jesus satisfy their demands, He said, "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here." (Mt 12:42)
And how had she responded?
"Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness." (2Ch 9:8)
The Lord grant to you, dear reader, that this is how you respond to encountering Jesus Christ in His Word! Truly, He is the one greater than Solomon.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Samuel Miller, upon Resolving to Pursue Gospel Ministry
O my Father's and my Mother's God, I yield myself to Thee! Yet, what an office for a poor, polluted, weak creature, who is helpless in himself, to aspire unto! Lord, help me to realize my own weakness and unworthiness; to lie in the dust of abasement, and habitually to look for strength to Him who can "make me strong in the power of His might." Lord, I, this day, devote myself to Thy most worthy service. I am Thine by creation and preservation; I ought to be Thine by a holy regeneration and a gracious adoption; and I would humbly devote myself to the promotion of Thy glory to my latest breath.Quoted from The Life of Samuel Miller on p17 of An Able and Faithful Ministry
Thursday, February 23, 2017
I Cannot Wait to See Him
A Good Article on the 2nd Commandment
Tim Challies has a good post on the second commandment over at https://goo.gl/vQcpsg
Praise the Lord that Mr. Challies is speaking plainly about a simple issue upon which the "Reformed" in our day have equivocated so unhelpfully. It's good to see that the increasing breadth of his audience and 'fame' has not shortened the range of issues to which he is willing to put his keyboard plainly.
Now, I would love to see him do the same with the 4th Commandment!
But Aren't the Reformed Just Overreacting to Roman Catholicism?
To think further about the right way to worship God, approach Him, and even think about Him, may I suggest considering Nadab and Abihu? Only, this time, begin at Leviticus 8:1, and immerse yourself slowly in the context that leads up to the more famous portion in 10:1-3.
They were two of the five men ordained to do it; they had just completed the full process for their ordination and installation; there is no indication of a lack of sincerity--in fact, after that week's worth of sacrifice and being repeatedly stained with animal blood, it is highly likely that they took this very seriously and were very sincere.
And yet God burned them up. Why? Because they were creative about worship. Worship is not a place for creativity or innovation. Only what God has commanded may be called true worship, and everything else offends Him. When we are creative with worship, we take upon ourselves the prerogative of God Himself.
I am repeatedly shocked to observe candidates for the ministry, whose education included being steeped in the kind of sophistry that permits of images of the second person of the Trinity.
We have lost a sense of the holiness of God.
Even Well-Instructed Children Understand Better the Holiness of God
As one 7th grader recently answered, when his youth leader asked, "what would you do if Jesus were here?"... the lad answered, "I would faint, of course."
Even the apostle fell on his face as though dead. It is precisely because we cannot conceive of the great holiness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we must never "image" Him, not even in our minds. Shall we invite our young ones to imagine Christ? They will only create for themselves an idolatrous caricature! Or to imagine what they "would do" in His presence? They would of course do whatever He commanded!
His glory is no longer veiled.
Or as a five year old girl, who had already been catechized, once told the dear and sincere Christian grandma who was babysitting her... the Grandma had brought over a Bible story book, and they were happily reading along, until they came to a page with a picture that was obviously purporting to include the second person of the Trinity.
Tim Challies has a good post on the second commandment over at https://goo.gl/vQcpsg
Praise the Lord that Mr. Challies is speaking plainly about a simple issue upon which the "Reformed" in our day have equivocated so unhelpfully. It's good to see that the increasing breadth of his audience and 'fame' has not shortened the range of issues to which he is willing to put his keyboard plainly.
Now, I would love to see him do the same with the 4th Commandment!
But Aren't the Reformed Just Overreacting to Roman Catholicism?
To think further about the right way to worship God, approach Him, and even think about Him, may I suggest considering Nadab and Abihu? Only, this time, begin at Leviticus 8:1, and immerse yourself slowly in the context that leads up to the more famous portion in 10:1-3.
They were two of the five men ordained to do it; they had just completed the full process for their ordination and installation; there is no indication of a lack of sincerity--in fact, after that week's worth of sacrifice and being repeatedly stained with animal blood, it is highly likely that they took this very seriously and were very sincere.
And yet God burned them up. Why? Because they were creative about worship. Worship is not a place for creativity or innovation. Only what God has commanded may be called true worship, and everything else offends Him. When we are creative with worship, we take upon ourselves the prerogative of God Himself.
I am repeatedly shocked to observe candidates for the ministry, whose education included being steeped in the kind of sophistry that permits of images of the second person of the Trinity.
We have lost a sense of the holiness of God.
Even Well-Instructed Children Understand Better the Holiness of God
As one 7th grader recently answered, when his youth leader asked, "what would you do if Jesus were here?"... the lad answered, "I would faint, of course."
Even the apostle fell on his face as though dead. It is precisely because we cannot conceive of the great holiness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we must never "image" Him, not even in our minds. Shall we invite our young ones to imagine Christ? They will only create for themselves an idolatrous caricature! Or to imagine what they "would do" in His presence? They would of course do whatever He commanded!
His glory is no longer veiled.
Or as a five year old girl, who had already been catechized, once told the dear and sincere Christian grandma who was babysitting her... the Grandma had brought over a Bible story book, and they were happily reading along, until they came to a page with a picture that was obviously purporting to include the second person of the Trinity.
The little girl froze, not wanting to participate in breaking the second commandment, but keenly aware that she needed to honor the grandma to keep the fifth commandment. The dear lady from church was now seriously concerned for the soul of a five year old who apparently could not identify the picture... "don't you know who that is? That's Jesus!"
"Oh no, ma'am. That cannot be Jesus. Jesus is in heaven, and He is so glorious that we cannot imagine what He looks like. I can't wait to see Him!"
If We Do Not Have the Faith of These Children, We Impoverish Our View of the Gospel
It is this Holy One, who alone defines worship, and this Terrifyingly Glorious One, before whom apostles fall on their faces as though dead... this one, God the Creator, and Almighty King, and Terrifying Judge of all, who dwells in unapproachable light who suffered humiliation, submitting Himself to humanity, and to death--even that of the cross.
He before whom angels cover their faces endured the mocking of men and demons and suffered the wrath of God for me.
For all eternity, I will wonder at this, never fully understanding it. In my current condition, if I were to see Him, I would fall down as though dead. But, He is sitting on His throne, and fitting me for glory. I cannot imagine, now, what He looks like, but I cannot wait to see Him!
For Further Study
For more Christ-exalting, affections-stirring understanding of Holy Scripture on this issue, I recommend that you read and digest https://goo.gl/z21IXd
"Oh no, ma'am. That cannot be Jesus. Jesus is in heaven, and He is so glorious that we cannot imagine what He looks like. I can't wait to see Him!"
If We Do Not Have the Faith of These Children, We Impoverish Our View of the Gospel
It is this Holy One, who alone defines worship, and this Terrifyingly Glorious One, before whom apostles fall on their faces as though dead... this one, God the Creator, and Almighty King, and Terrifying Judge of all, who dwells in unapproachable light who suffered humiliation, submitting Himself to humanity, and to death--even that of the cross.
He before whom angels cover their faces endured the mocking of men and demons and suffered the wrath of God for me.
For all eternity, I will wonder at this, never fully understanding it. In my current condition, if I were to see Him, I would fall down as though dead. But, He is sitting on His throne, and fitting me for glory. I cannot imagine, now, what He looks like, but I cannot wait to see Him!
For Further Study
For more Christ-exalting, affections-stirring understanding of Holy Scripture on this issue, I recommend that you read and digest https://goo.gl/z21IXd
Friday, January 27, 2017
Ask the Pastor: Does the Holy Spirit Talk to My Wife?
Q: Does the Holy Spirit talk to my wife? She claims that the Holy Spirit tells her things like to turn left instead of right and so forth.
A: This "ask the Pastor" began to be answered in person, with reference to how God speaks clearly when He speaks (Deut 29:29), and that the "speaking" ministry of the Holy Spirit was a completion of the speaking ministry of Jesus Christ to the apostles (John 16:12-15). I also recommended that he listen to the "Strange Fire" conference talks, put on by Grace to You a few years ago...
A: This "ask the Pastor" began to be answered in person, with reference to how God speaks clearly when He speaks (Deut 29:29), and that the "speaking" ministry of the Holy Spirit was a completion of the speaking ministry of Jesus Christ to the apostles (John 16:12-15). I also recommended that he listen to the "Strange Fire" conference talks, put on by Grace to You a few years ago...
Monday, January 23, 2017
Spirit-Powered Men and Women
"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." 1Timothy 2:8-10
As we often do, when we are rebelling, recent reference to this passage has focused upon attempts to reject that which is forbidden. vv11-12 receive the bulk of the attention.
What is missed is that the lead-in from the beginning of the chapter is the astoundingly gracious plan of God, the only Savior, to redeem people from all walks of life through Jesus Christ, the only Mediator.
And although God is the alone Savior through Christ the alone Mediator, we learn here what will be those means, humanly speaking, through which He does this. Do we wish to see the nations saved? Do we wish to see our nation come to the knowledge of the truth? Do we wish to see our community transformed by Christ? Let us pay attention to the role that God has assigned to us in this.
Men of Prayer. This isn't optional. It's not a program that one church might have and another not. Everywhere there are Christians, the men should be praying. The men should be leaders in prayer. Wives should have the familiar experience of being led in prayer by their husbands. Children should also, by their fathers. The church should be accustomed to seasons of hearing the deeper voices of the congregation calling upon the Lord for the government, for the nations, for the church, for the second-coming.
Men of Holy Hands. We are not our own. We are bought with a price. Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. He who wishes to be great must be a servant of all. Holy hands is much more than "be careful little hands what you do." It is the identifying of hands as sacrifices--no longer possessed by him at the end of whose arms the hands reside, but now having been handed over unto God.
Work done with diligence as an act of worship. Devotion to service rather than leisure or entertainment. Recreation that is an enjoyment of God, and a refreshment for the purpose of more worship and service. The hands of a husband, of a father, of the men in the congregation should be hands that have been offered once and for all, and continuously, as living sacrifices.
Not only will such hands refuse to be wasted in self-service, but they will not be found idle. Idle? Hands that have been devoted to the Lord and His service? May it never be!
If we desire to see another generation of the church follow in this--and we do!--then let us first see the men of this generation with holy hands.
Men Without Wrath. Wrath is not strength, and the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. The fruit of the Spirit is... joy, peace, patience... gentleness, and self-control. Too often, passivity and self-service have gone hand-in-hand with fury at being inconvenienced by others.
There is little real interaction until the issue is forced by some crisis or unpleasantness, and then comes an explosion, followed by the fearful scurrying of those around, and then a return to the "peace" of non-action and non-interaction.
This is not strength. This is an over-sized, over-aged temper tantrum. And, in the church, it often masquerades as self-righteousness. But there is nothing further from true righteousness than a man who is given to wrath.
Joyful, peaceful, gentle, self-controlled men are an appointed means by which God our Savior brings men to the knowledge of the truth through the only Mediator, the Man, Christ Jesus.
Men Without Doubting. This, of course, goes hand in hand with being a gentle-man: unshakeable certainty that God, who is full of saving mercy, is working all things according to the counsel of His will. That God is working all things together for the good of His people. That God, who did not spare His own Son, is also together with Him, giving us all things.
How it would change the face of our homes if they are led with a perpetually cheerful, sure confidence in the love, wisdom, and power of God our Savior! How it would change the face of our churches. Of our communities.
It would undoubtedly diminish the revenue of news channels and conspiracy theory websites, but there is really only one conspiracy that ultimately matters: the conspiracy of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the salvation of the elect, and the bending of literally everything that occurs, everywhere, at every moment, to that end.
Beautiful Women. What about the women? Their primary command is to be adorned. How odd that the negative "not with..." gets so much attention, when the command is primarily positive.
Adorned with modest apparel.
Adorned with good works.
The modest apparel here indicates a condition of the heart: propriety and moderation. These are women who (like the hands of their men) know what they are about: they have been devoted to the Lord. They are living sacrifices. They are not scurrying after attention or admiration. They have been loved with everlasting love, bought at infinite price, and appointed to work of infinite value. There is no reason for the pleading, panicked dress or drama of worldly women.
No, these are women who profess godliness. They have declared with their mouths that Christ is Savior, that Jesus is Master. And now they are declaring it with their actions, with good works. They are not making gaudy displays of themselves, but rather they are always ready for another one of those good works that their Redeemer has prepared beforehand for them to walk in.
Such a woman is beautiful beyond comparison. A thousand seductively (un)dressed, glaringly painted, attention-seeking starlets of the world don't begin to have the beauty of a single woman whose heart has rested in Christ, and whose hands therefore are full of diligence in His service.
Yes, there is more in the passage about what are "not" the good works of a godly woman, just as there was some about what are "not" the adornments of a godly woman. And there is a particular commendation for the good work of persevering motherhood. But here remains the main point: a life of service to others for the sake of Christ makes a lady stunningly beautiful.
And this beauty is appointed of God as a characteristic of His plan to save all kinds of people through the only Mediator, the Man, Christ Jesus.
Again, this comes only by the work of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is... love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
We must see this: that a godly woman is made truly lovely (just as a godly man is made truly manly) only by the life of Jesus Christ in her, worked out by the Holy Spirit, until in due season the fruit appears and demonstrates that she is abiding in the Vine.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And the work of the Spirit, who produces this fruit in godly men and women, is to bring the salvation of God through the only Mediator, Jesus Christ.
As we often do, when we are rebelling, recent reference to this passage has focused upon attempts to reject that which is forbidden. vv11-12 receive the bulk of the attention.
What is missed is that the lead-in from the beginning of the chapter is the astoundingly gracious plan of God, the only Savior, to redeem people from all walks of life through Jesus Christ, the only Mediator.
And although God is the alone Savior through Christ the alone Mediator, we learn here what will be those means, humanly speaking, through which He does this. Do we wish to see the nations saved? Do we wish to see our nation come to the knowledge of the truth? Do we wish to see our community transformed by Christ? Let us pay attention to the role that God has assigned to us in this.
Men of Prayer. This isn't optional. It's not a program that one church might have and another not. Everywhere there are Christians, the men should be praying. The men should be leaders in prayer. Wives should have the familiar experience of being led in prayer by their husbands. Children should also, by their fathers. The church should be accustomed to seasons of hearing the deeper voices of the congregation calling upon the Lord for the government, for the nations, for the church, for the second-coming.
Men of Holy Hands. We are not our own. We are bought with a price. Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. He who wishes to be great must be a servant of all. Holy hands is much more than "be careful little hands what you do." It is the identifying of hands as sacrifices--no longer possessed by him at the end of whose arms the hands reside, but now having been handed over unto God.
Work done with diligence as an act of worship. Devotion to service rather than leisure or entertainment. Recreation that is an enjoyment of God, and a refreshment for the purpose of more worship and service. The hands of a husband, of a father, of the men in the congregation should be hands that have been offered once and for all, and continuously, as living sacrifices.
Not only will such hands refuse to be wasted in self-service, but they will not be found idle. Idle? Hands that have been devoted to the Lord and His service? May it never be!
If we desire to see another generation of the church follow in this--and we do!--then let us first see the men of this generation with holy hands.
Men Without Wrath. Wrath is not strength, and the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. The fruit of the Spirit is... joy, peace, patience... gentleness, and self-control. Too often, passivity and self-service have gone hand-in-hand with fury at being inconvenienced by others.
There is little real interaction until the issue is forced by some crisis or unpleasantness, and then comes an explosion, followed by the fearful scurrying of those around, and then a return to the "peace" of non-action and non-interaction.
This is not strength. This is an over-sized, over-aged temper tantrum. And, in the church, it often masquerades as self-righteousness. But there is nothing further from true righteousness than a man who is given to wrath.
Joyful, peaceful, gentle, self-controlled men are an appointed means by which God our Savior brings men to the knowledge of the truth through the only Mediator, the Man, Christ Jesus.
Men Without Doubting. This, of course, goes hand in hand with being a gentle-man: unshakeable certainty that God, who is full of saving mercy, is working all things according to the counsel of His will. That God is working all things together for the good of His people. That God, who did not spare His own Son, is also together with Him, giving us all things.
How it would change the face of our homes if they are led with a perpetually cheerful, sure confidence in the love, wisdom, and power of God our Savior! How it would change the face of our churches. Of our communities.
It would undoubtedly diminish the revenue of news channels and conspiracy theory websites, but there is really only one conspiracy that ultimately matters: the conspiracy of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the salvation of the elect, and the bending of literally everything that occurs, everywhere, at every moment, to that end.
Beautiful Women. What about the women? Their primary command is to be adorned. How odd that the negative "not with..." gets so much attention, when the command is primarily positive.
Adorned with modest apparel.
Adorned with good works.
The modest apparel here indicates a condition of the heart: propriety and moderation. These are women who (like the hands of their men) know what they are about: they have been devoted to the Lord. They are living sacrifices. They are not scurrying after attention or admiration. They have been loved with everlasting love, bought at infinite price, and appointed to work of infinite value. There is no reason for the pleading, panicked dress or drama of worldly women.
No, these are women who profess godliness. They have declared with their mouths that Christ is Savior, that Jesus is Master. And now they are declaring it with their actions, with good works. They are not making gaudy displays of themselves, but rather they are always ready for another one of those good works that their Redeemer has prepared beforehand for them to walk in.
Such a woman is beautiful beyond comparison. A thousand seductively (un)dressed, glaringly painted, attention-seeking starlets of the world don't begin to have the beauty of a single woman whose heart has rested in Christ, and whose hands therefore are full of diligence in His service.
Yes, there is more in the passage about what are "not" the good works of a godly woman, just as there was some about what are "not" the adornments of a godly woman. And there is a particular commendation for the good work of persevering motherhood. But here remains the main point: a life of service to others for the sake of Christ makes a lady stunningly beautiful.
And this beauty is appointed of God as a characteristic of His plan to save all kinds of people through the only Mediator, the Man, Christ Jesus.
Again, this comes only by the work of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is... love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
We must see this: that a godly woman is made truly lovely (just as a godly man is made truly manly) only by the life of Jesus Christ in her, worked out by the Holy Spirit, until in due season the fruit appears and demonstrates that she is abiding in the Vine.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And the work of the Spirit, who produces this fruit in godly men and women, is to bring the salvation of God through the only Mediator, Jesus Christ.
Monday, January 9, 2017
Run to Him Who Hurts You
"Lord, all my desire is before You;
And my sighing is not hidden from You."
Psa 38:9
How precious to know that the Lord sees and the Lord cares--especially when we are spending our days in sighing!
But some will argue: this comfort is not for me! If you only knew how I had sinned against Him, and how much of this mess was my own making!
Well, it is true that David's trouble was, humanly speaking, those who had "raised themselves up against him" (v16) and were opposed to him precisely because he was "following what is good" (v20).
But on his knees before God, that wasn't how David saw it. Whatever other people were doing to him in his situation, David was much more concerned with what God was doing. He knew that God "works all things according to the counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11) and that God "upholds all things by the word of His power" (Heb 1:3). So, whatever Saul, or the Philistines, or the Amalekites, or Absalom, or Shimei, or anyone else were doing to him, David knew that it was being done by the plan and action of God as well.
"Your wrath... Your displeasure... Your arrows... Your hand..." (v1-2) and so on. You wouldn't even know that there were other humans involved until v11!
It is not faith to think that others are doing this while God sits idly by. It is faith to know that God is right there in the midst, ordaining whatever happens, and overruling everyone else's purposes in it with His own. By itself, that doesn't make things easier, but it does make us honest about them. We know that in at least some sense, it is God who hurts us.
For, now, even worse, David's greatest burden was not some earthly circumstance that his enemies had brought about. It was his own iniquity, his own sin, that he himself had committed.
"There is no... health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a burden, they are too heavy for me." (v4)
What a great mercy of God to us--David saw himself as he really is: such a great sinner (even when compared to others he "follows good") that he deserves far worse from the hand of God than he has received.
David knows what he deserves from God for his sin, but he also knows what God is like toward sinners. God sees. God cares. God may be hurting him, but for his good rather than for his harm. "Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is nothidden from you."
David knew that God, who was hurting David just now, is also God who would help and heal him. David knew that, although his sin was so great, God's grace is greater, and that God was doing this for good.
And, dear reader, if you come to God through Christ, this is for you too. I don't need to know how great is your sin to say that. I am familiar with Christ, who is greater. I don't need to know how much of your mess is your own making. I see, in Psalm 38, the God who sees and cares and helps and heals those whose iniquity is over their heads, a burden that they could never lift.
So, silence your "but I"
I will always answer "but Christ"
Only come to Him in Christ. There is none of this without Him.
And my sighing is not hidden from You."
Psa 38:9
How precious to know that the Lord sees and the Lord cares--especially when we are spending our days in sighing!
But some will argue: this comfort is not for me! If you only knew how I had sinned against Him, and how much of this mess was my own making!
Well, it is true that David's trouble was, humanly speaking, those who had "raised themselves up against him" (v16) and were opposed to him precisely because he was "following what is good" (v20).
But on his knees before God, that wasn't how David saw it. Whatever other people were doing to him in his situation, David was much more concerned with what God was doing. He knew that God "works all things according to the counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11) and that God "upholds all things by the word of His power" (Heb 1:3). So, whatever Saul, or the Philistines, or the Amalekites, or Absalom, or Shimei, or anyone else were doing to him, David knew that it was being done by the plan and action of God as well.
"Your wrath... Your displeasure... Your arrows... Your hand..." (v1-2) and so on. You wouldn't even know that there were other humans involved until v11!
It is not faith to think that others are doing this while God sits idly by. It is faith to know that God is right there in the midst, ordaining whatever happens, and overruling everyone else's purposes in it with His own. By itself, that doesn't make things easier, but it does make us honest about them. We know that in at least some sense, it is God who hurts us.
For, now, even worse, David's greatest burden was not some earthly circumstance that his enemies had brought about. It was his own iniquity, his own sin, that he himself had committed.
"There is no... health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a burden, they are too heavy for me." (v4)
What a great mercy of God to us--David saw himself as he really is: such a great sinner (even when compared to others he "follows good") that he deserves far worse from the hand of God than he has received.
David knows what he deserves from God for his sin, but he also knows what God is like toward sinners. God sees. God cares. God may be hurting him, but for his good rather than for his harm. "Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is nothidden from you."
David knew that God, who was hurting David just now, is also God who would help and heal him. David knew that, although his sin was so great, God's grace is greater, and that God was doing this for good.
And, dear reader, if you come to God through Christ, this is for you too. I don't need to know how great is your sin to say that. I am familiar with Christ, who is greater. I don't need to know how much of your mess is your own making. I see, in Psalm 38, the God who sees and cares and helps and heals those whose iniquity is over their heads, a burden that they could never lift.
So, silence your "but I"
I will always answer "but Christ"
Only come to Him in Christ. There is none of this without Him.
Children of God, Who Desires All Men to Be Saved
God desires all men to be saved (1Ti 2:3).
This doesn't mean that God's plan is to save every individual man. In fact, God has planned to show His wrath in vessels [people] that are prepared for wrath (Rom 9:22).
But God's "desire" to save all men is a reflection of the fact that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze 18:23, 32). And, the Holy Spirit has just followed "all men" in v1 by explaining that this includes "kings and all who are in authority." There is no kind of person that God has written off; He delights to save all kinds.
What, then, should His children do?
This is the real question that drives prayer. Some, foolishly, approach the idea of prayer from the question, "What difference does it make?"
They reason that it doesn't make sense to pray, if God has already planned what He will do. But such reasoning completely paralyzes, because God "works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph 1:11), so if you only do what will change the future, then you would do nothing at all, let alone pray.
No, the right question is how to live as children of God (Php 2:15). How do we shine like stars (Php 2:15; Mat 5:14; Mat 13:43)? How do we, more and more, display the character of Christ, the Firstborn in our new family (Rom 8:29).
Well, Father's desire becomes our desire. And Father's attitude becomes our attitude. So, if we love our enemies, we will bear the family resemblance.
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Mat 5:44-45a)
What we see in 1Tim 2:1-3 is this: that we are to make all kinds of prayer, for all kinds of men, especially those in high position, and particularly those who are not yet saved. When we love and bless and do good to the wicked, we are growing up into the shape of Christ. We are displaying the family resemblance of our Father.
When was the last time that you or I did this? Pray with a sincere heart for those wicked who are hindering and harming us? Particularly for those in authority over us?
Let us do so, not because "it will make a difference." But because "it is what children of God do."
This God of unimaginable love has adopted us as His own dear sons and daughters (1Jo 3:1-3). Let us think, speak, and act like the children of God that we are!
This doesn't mean that God's plan is to save every individual man. In fact, God has planned to show His wrath in vessels [people] that are prepared for wrath (Rom 9:22).
But God's "desire" to save all men is a reflection of the fact that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze 18:23, 32). And, the Holy Spirit has just followed "all men" in v1 by explaining that this includes "kings and all who are in authority." There is no kind of person that God has written off; He delights to save all kinds.
What, then, should His children do?
This is the real question that drives prayer. Some, foolishly, approach the idea of prayer from the question, "What difference does it make?"
They reason that it doesn't make sense to pray, if God has already planned what He will do. But such reasoning completely paralyzes, because God "works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph 1:11), so if you only do what will change the future, then you would do nothing at all, let alone pray.
No, the right question is how to live as children of God (Php 2:15). How do we shine like stars (Php 2:15; Mat 5:14; Mat 13:43)? How do we, more and more, display the character of Christ, the Firstborn in our new family (Rom 8:29).
Well, Father's desire becomes our desire. And Father's attitude becomes our attitude. So, if we love our enemies, we will bear the family resemblance.
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Mat 5:44-45a)
What we see in 1Tim 2:1-3 is this: that we are to make all kinds of prayer, for all kinds of men, especially those in high position, and particularly those who are not yet saved. When we love and bless and do good to the wicked, we are growing up into the shape of Christ. We are displaying the family resemblance of our Father.
When was the last time that you or I did this? Pray with a sincere heart for those wicked who are hindering and harming us? Particularly for those in authority over us?
Let us do so, not because "it will make a difference." But because "it is what children of God do."
This God of unimaginable love has adopted us as His own dear sons and daughters (1Jo 3:1-3). Let us think, speak, and act like the children of God that we are!
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Don't Hand Yourself over to Satan
In 1Cor 5:5 and 1Tim 2:20, the Holy Spirit gives us language for Christians who absent themselves from the worship and fellowship of the church: "handed over to Satan."
Within the church is the ministry of the elders that God has given us to build us up in Christ (Eph 4:11-16). The church is the method of Christ's caring for us, to protect us from the roaring and devouring lion (1Pet 5:1-11).
Sure, churches are full of sinners. There is no other kind of person to fill them with, this side of glory. But they are also the primary place of sanctification and saving protection of the Savior.
If you hope in and trust Jesus, let alone love Him, you will be an active member of His church. You will neither give into the fancy that you can have your arms open to Christ but not the church; nor, will you easily indulge excuses for being absent from worship or fellowship.
Within the church is the ministry of the elders that God has given us to build us up in Christ (Eph 4:11-16). The church is the method of Christ's caring for us, to protect us from the roaring and devouring lion (1Pet 5:1-11).
Sure, churches are full of sinners. There is no other kind of person to fill them with, this side of glory. But they are also the primary place of sanctification and saving protection of the Savior.
If you hope in and trust Jesus, let alone love Him, you will be an active member of His church. You will neither give into the fancy that you can have your arms open to Christ but not the church; nor, will you easily indulge excuses for being absent from worship or fellowship.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
An Interview with God
Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
Psalm 35:3
When I am in trouble, and especially when I am under attack, I need the Lord to act upon more than my situation, to bring it to a close. I need the Lord to act upon more than those who attack me, to thwart them and to bring them to justice.
I need the Lord to act upon my own soul. I need for Him to remind me of what I know--that He is my salvation. I need this bedrock truth reaffirmed as the central operating principle of my life. I forget the gospel so easily. I feel the truth of the gospel so superficially.
And yet, it is the gospel that I need. How does the Lord "say to my soul"? How does He breathe out those words? He has done so already on the pages of Scripture (2Tim 3:16), which He has given me not only to read, and hear, but also to pray, and sing. And His Holy Spirit does the work of writing those truths upon my heart.
Oh blessed fellowship of divine conversation! This is what I need more than the removal of any distress or defeat of any enemy: an interview for my soul with the Living God.
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
Psalm 35:3
When I am in trouble, and especially when I am under attack, I need the Lord to act upon more than my situation, to bring it to a close. I need the Lord to act upon more than those who attack me, to thwart them and to bring them to justice.
I need the Lord to act upon my own soul. I need for Him to remind me of what I know--that He is my salvation. I need this bedrock truth reaffirmed as the central operating principle of my life. I forget the gospel so easily. I feel the truth of the gospel so superficially.
And yet, it is the gospel that I need. How does the Lord "say to my soul"? How does He breathe out those words? He has done so already on the pages of Scripture (2Tim 3:16), which He has given me not only to read, and hear, but also to pray, and sing. And His Holy Spirit does the work of writing those truths upon my heart.
Oh blessed fellowship of divine conversation! This is what I need more than the removal of any distress or defeat of any enemy: an interview for my soul with the Living God.
Mercy for Ministers
"Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord." 1Ti 1:2
The apostle commonly greets his readers with grace and with peace, but in addressing his true son and ministry protégé, he adds mercy.
God's grace and peace are always merciful, but for us for whom the calling and task seem always too high, too holy, and too hard, this is a necessary reminder.
As the opening lines of Ps 51 have it, "God be merciful to me; on Thy grace I rest my plea."
The apostle commonly greets his readers with grace and with peace, but in addressing his true son and ministry protégé, he adds mercy.
God's grace and peace are always merciful, but for us for whom the calling and task seem always too high, too holy, and too hard, this is a necessary reminder.
As the opening lines of Ps 51 have it, "God be merciful to me; on Thy grace I rest my plea."
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