1 Corinthians 15:17-19
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Acts 17:30-31
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Today we celebrate the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. The Seed has fulfilled His mission in being laid down into the ground dead so that He may rise to life and produce fruit. Jesus is ALIVE!
God no longer overlooks ignorance. The old has passed away. The new has come. He commands all people everywhere to repent because a day is coming where God will judge the world in His righteousness by the Man He appointed. God has given full assurance of this by raising that Man from the dead.
Rest assured, Jesus is alive and well and is coming back again.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
*SPECIAL* Easter Edition: Knowing the answers and failing the test
Jesus, the hope of our hearts, was murdered yesterday and today we mourn and attempt to hold on to the glimmer of hope we found in His Words when He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19). The following Psalm describes perfectly that dark period between Jesus' death and Jesus' resurrection. If He is not raised, we are doomed! We long for His promises to be made sight. He was the one we had waited for and now He is in a tomb. It all comes down to this:
Was Jesus Who He said He was?
Psalm 130:1-8
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
If the LORD were to grade our tests who could pass? It is rhetorical in nature when the Psalmist asks this provactive question. No one. The answer is "no one could stand, pass the test, earn their keep, make the grade, get the blue ribbon." We all fail. We all fall short.
God is gracious and offers forgiveness in Jesus. He does this that He might be feared. Not feared like a horror movie, but feared like the size of the universe. It's awe, inspiration, fear, and elation all wrapped up.
Hope in His Word. He has the resources to redeem you, the power to save you, the mercy to forgive you, and the patience to uphold you. Wait for Him. Imagine the watchmen staked out in the cold of the night. Everything else is asleep. You have nothing but your thoughts and the fear that you may see a light appear in the distance of a foreign army coming to attack. You are cold, tired, desperate, and anxiously awaiting the sun peeking over the horizon. You long for it, yearn for it, desire it, can hardly wait for it. It holds respite in its arrival. It promises freedom, safety, warmth, and rest.
The Psalmist believes that God will fulfill His promise to redeem him from his sin and he waits for the Lord with baited breathe
More than the watchmen for the morning
More than the watchmen for the morning
Was Jesus Who He said He was?
Psalm 130:1-8
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
If the LORD were to grade our tests who could pass? It is rhetorical in nature when the Psalmist asks this provactive question. No one. The answer is "no one could stand, pass the test, earn their keep, make the grade, get the blue ribbon." We all fail. We all fall short.
God is gracious and offers forgiveness in Jesus. He does this that He might be feared. Not feared like a horror movie, but feared like the size of the universe. It's awe, inspiration, fear, and elation all wrapped up.
Hope in His Word. He has the resources to redeem you, the power to save you, the mercy to forgive you, and the patience to uphold you. Wait for Him. Imagine the watchmen staked out in the cold of the night. Everything else is asleep. You have nothing but your thoughts and the fear that you may see a light appear in the distance of a foreign army coming to attack. You are cold, tired, desperate, and anxiously awaiting the sun peeking over the horizon. You long for it, yearn for it, desire it, can hardly wait for it. It holds respite in its arrival. It promises freedom, safety, warmth, and rest.
The Psalmist believes that God will fulfill His promise to redeem him from his sin and he waits for the Lord with baited breathe
More than the watchmen for the morning
More than the watchmen for the morning
Friday, April 6, 2012
*SPECIAL* Easter Edition: What's so Good about Friday?
3 things to consider
John 10:17-18
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
John 16:32-33
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said ( to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished”, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
We could not have killed God without His permission. Think about that. Jesus laid down His life. He is not a tragic figure of history. He came for this very purpose.
In the moment of His deepest despair and fear where brotherhood and encouragement were needed most, Jesus was left on His own and we scattered. Jesus prophesied this to his disciples and told them of their future cowardice and shame.
But Jesus says the most remarkable thing. He tells the disciples that He has told them this very news so that they may have peace. That seems strange to me because it seems like the worst news possible. It's like saying, "I know you are with me now, but when things get difficult you will abandon me and leave me alone." But Jesus said He was not alone. The Father was with Him. If the Father is with you and for you, who can be against you? The world. But who can defeat you? No one.
Jesus has overcome the world! He overcame death, sin, hate, violence, disbelief, abandonment, fear, cowardice, and the betrayal of His own disciples.
On the Cross, Jesus proclaimed, "It is finished!"
I believe Him.
John 10:17-18
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
John 16:32-33
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said ( to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished”, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
We could not have killed God without His permission. Think about that. Jesus laid down His life. He is not a tragic figure of history. He came for this very purpose.
In the moment of His deepest despair and fear where brotherhood and encouragement were needed most, Jesus was left on His own and we scattered. Jesus prophesied this to his disciples and told them of their future cowardice and shame.
But Jesus says the most remarkable thing. He tells the disciples that He has told them this very news so that they may have peace. That seems strange to me because it seems like the worst news possible. It's like saying, "I know you are with me now, but when things get difficult you will abandon me and leave me alone." But Jesus said He was not alone. The Father was with Him. If the Father is with you and for you, who can be against you? The world. But who can defeat you? No one.
Jesus has overcome the world! He overcame death, sin, hate, violence, disbelief, abandonment, fear, cowardice, and the betrayal of His own disciples.
On the Cross, Jesus proclaimed, "It is finished!"
I believe Him.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Jesus & Demons
1 Corinthians 10:19-20
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
There is Jesus and then there are demons. That's it! What does that mean? It means that those who worship Allah worship a demon. It means that those who worship Buddha or Vishnu or Krishna or Molech or Baal or Chemosh worship demons. It means that those who create another Jesus (a la Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Word Faith, Oprah, etc...) worship demons.
There is one Jesus and He is God. All other objects of worship are idols who are not imaginery gods, lesser gods, or god at all. They are demons!
There is NO merit in spirituality. There is only merit in Jesus. Being spiritual without being a disciple of the Jesus of the Bible is to be a disciple of demons. You'd be better off not being spiritual.
There is Jesus and then there is everything else. He left us no other option when He said:
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
There is Jesus and then there are demons. That's it! What does that mean? It means that those who worship Allah worship a demon. It means that those who worship Buddha or Vishnu or Krishna or Molech or Baal or Chemosh worship demons. It means that those who create another Jesus (a la Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Word Faith, Oprah, etc...) worship demons.
There is one Jesus and He is God. All other objects of worship are idols who are not imaginery gods, lesser gods, or god at all. They are demons!
There is NO merit in spirituality. There is only merit in Jesus. Being spiritual without being a disciple of the Jesus of the Bible is to be a disciple of demons. You'd be better off not being spiritual.
There is Jesus and then there is everything else. He left us no other option when He said:
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Lessons from Church: 2/5
The Letters to Cornerstone Series in which we examine what Jesus would possibly write to us in calling us to greater doctrinal purity, personal application, or endurance landed on the topic of Sharing the Gospel today.
Pastory Troy rightly pointed out that we are natural evangelists for the things in which we delight. No one has to gird us on, equip us, empower us, charge us, or stay on us to preach that which we believe to be the most exciting thing in our lives. We do it on our own, naturally, continually, and persuasively.
If you love the stock market, no one has to tell you to encourage others to delight in the stock market. You love it when it comes up in conversation and you seek ways to bring it up and tie it in to whatever is being discussed.
If you love home decor, no one has to tell you that you should sign up for Country Living, Anthropologie, Better Homes & Gardens, or Martha Stewart Living. You gladly give your money to receive these monthly reminders of that which you adore. No one has to tell you, "if you really love home decor, you would talk about it more often." No, on the contrary, people regularly may say, "Ok, I get it! You love home decor. It's all you ever talk about!"
We often do not worry that our love of a particular Sports team will offend those who do not like our team or cheer for another team. We evangelize and tell everyone the glories of the teams we like best. For example, a Kentucky fan will likely not cower and be ashamed when in the company of others they discover the majority are Louisville fans. All the more likely, the Kentucky fan will rise up and be glad to take upon themself the monicker or outlier.
We know how to do this.
Except when it really matters.
In MOST circumstances we are perfectly comfortable and not the least bit anxious about offending people by proclaiming the joys of that which we find the most exhilirating other than the MOST important issue we hold MOST deeply (life, Jesus, salvation, hell, the Bible, marriage, sin, politics, and death).
We cower away from these for any number of reasons, but cower, nonetheless, we do.
We would like to think of ourselves as those who would help a lost child in a local food market, but we fearfully shy away from lost people at our workplaces. The child at the market is clearly lost and in need of help. We pity them and seek to assist them find their way home. The lost person at work is equally, if not more so, lost and in need of assistance, but we don't want to offend them. I guess it helps that the kid in the grocery store knows they are lost whereas the person at work may need your help to convince them that they are lost before they accept directions on how to get to a home where God reigns.
Pastor Troy finished by going through Romans 6:23 and illustrating the "bridge model" of sharing the Gospel to both share the Gospel with those in attendance and to equip those in attendance who have already been given eyes to see Jesus the resource as an example of how to share the Gospel with the lost in our lives.
Pastor Troy lastly brought up that the Tree of Life makes its first appearance in the earliest chapters of the book of Genesis and does not appear again until the last chapter of the book of Revelation. That Tree's fruit is only eaten by those who worship God through Jesus Christ.
In between the story of the Tree of Life is all redemptive history played out to demonstrate God's love in Jesus Christ in providing a way of reconciliation through the Cross.
Those who do not worship Jesus and accept the substitute of His Cross will not find their way home to God in peace, but will face the terrifying reality of a Holy God and His righteous wrath against those who fall short of His standards with no one to intercede on their behalf.
Pastory Troy rightly pointed out that we are natural evangelists for the things in which we delight. No one has to gird us on, equip us, empower us, charge us, or stay on us to preach that which we believe to be the most exciting thing in our lives. We do it on our own, naturally, continually, and persuasively.
If you love the stock market, no one has to tell you to encourage others to delight in the stock market. You love it when it comes up in conversation and you seek ways to bring it up and tie it in to whatever is being discussed.
If you love home decor, no one has to tell you that you should sign up for Country Living, Anthropologie, Better Homes & Gardens, or Martha Stewart Living. You gladly give your money to receive these monthly reminders of that which you adore. No one has to tell you, "if you really love home decor, you would talk about it more often." No, on the contrary, people regularly may say, "Ok, I get it! You love home decor. It's all you ever talk about!"
We often do not worry that our love of a particular Sports team will offend those who do not like our team or cheer for another team. We evangelize and tell everyone the glories of the teams we like best. For example, a Kentucky fan will likely not cower and be ashamed when in the company of others they discover the majority are Louisville fans. All the more likely, the Kentucky fan will rise up and be glad to take upon themself the monicker or outlier.
We know how to do this.
Except when it really matters.
In MOST circumstances we are perfectly comfortable and not the least bit anxious about offending people by proclaiming the joys of that which we find the most exhilirating other than the MOST important issue we hold MOST deeply (life, Jesus, salvation, hell, the Bible, marriage, sin, politics, and death).
We cower away from these for any number of reasons, but cower, nonetheless, we do.
We would like to think of ourselves as those who would help a lost child in a local food market, but we fearfully shy away from lost people at our workplaces. The child at the market is clearly lost and in need of help. We pity them and seek to assist them find their way home. The lost person at work is equally, if not more so, lost and in need of assistance, but we don't want to offend them. I guess it helps that the kid in the grocery store knows they are lost whereas the person at work may need your help to convince them that they are lost before they accept directions on how to get to a home where God reigns.
Pastor Troy finished by going through Romans 6:23 and illustrating the "bridge model" of sharing the Gospel to both share the Gospel with those in attendance and to equip those in attendance who have already been given eyes to see Jesus the resource as an example of how to share the Gospel with the lost in our lives.
Pastor Troy lastly brought up that the Tree of Life makes its first appearance in the earliest chapters of the book of Genesis and does not appear again until the last chapter of the book of Revelation. That Tree's fruit is only eaten by those who worship God through Jesus Christ.
In between the story of the Tree of Life is all redemptive history played out to demonstrate God's love in Jesus Christ in providing a way of reconciliation through the Cross.
Those who do not worship Jesus and accept the substitute of His Cross will not find their way home to God in peace, but will face the terrifying reality of a Holy God and His righteous wrath against those who fall short of His standards with no one to intercede on their behalf.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
In an "election" year I would be remiss if I ignored the "elephant" in the room (ba dum dum tish)
Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Predestined, Called, Justified, and Glorified
Predestined = Chosen before we did anything (good or bad)
Called = The Gospel reached us by His messengers fulfilling their purpose in God’s divine plans
Justified = The blood of Christ atones for our sins and His righteous life provides us justification (or right standing before God)
Glorified = One day we will be honored and glorified as Christ is because God will see us as He sees Him (not because of works, lest any man should boast, but by grace working through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Lord)
God’s ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. He chooses the worst candidates and calls them His children by conforming them to the image of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. He is not ashamed of the Gospel. He is not ashamed of what He has done. He knew before He chose us what He was getting. It was not because of the value that we possessed, but because of the value God placed in making us His possession.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Predestined, Called, Justified, and Glorified
Predestined = Chosen before we did anything (good or bad)
Called = The Gospel reached us by His messengers fulfilling their purpose in God’s divine plans
Justified = The blood of Christ atones for our sins and His righteous life provides us justification (or right standing before God)
Glorified = One day we will be honored and glorified as Christ is because God will see us as He sees Him (not because of works, lest any man should boast, but by grace working through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Lord)
God’s ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. He chooses the worst candidates and calls them His children by conforming them to the image of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. He is not ashamed of the Gospel. He is not ashamed of what He has done. He knew before He chose us what He was getting. It was not because of the value that we possessed, but because of the value God placed in making us His possession.
Monday, April 2, 2012
And Can It Be That I Should Gain..
Listen HERE or HERE.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Purchase HERE. (I enjoy this arrangement of the song)
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Purchase HERE. (I enjoy this arrangement of the song)
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