"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise... and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor." (Isaiah 9:6 & 5,KJV) As I read and studied Isaiah, chapter nine this morning using Matthew Poole's commentary, I was struck by these two verses. While the passage is referring to coming wars for the Israelites and the coming promised Messiah, I saw also the plight of man in his depravity and his crying out for relief from the plight.
Battles had become for the people of God a continual fear, and God in His mercy continued to warn them and call for them to return to Him. This is still true of man today with "wars and rumors of wars". Yet for this post, I refer to the war within us; the battle that daily afflicts us with "confused noises". The battle with sin is not being fought by those who do not believe. But for the believer, the battle rages. Romans seven clearly depicts the battle as we "do not do the good we want to do but do the very sin we do not want".
In writing about the verse in Isaiah, Matthew Poole says this about "confused noise": "with the triumphant exclamations of the conqueror, and the battle lamentations of the conquered and the differing cries of the same persons, sometimes conquering, and sometimes conquered", I could not help but think that this is the battle with sin, Paul writes about in Romans seven. However, with a great victorious exclamation, inspired Isaiah goes on to say in verse six: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...shall be called Wonderful, Counselor..." Ah, what a relief to have a counselor for this "confused noise" of the mind and heart. Poole writes, "Christ, truly wonderful, in His person, and natures, and words, and works, being made up of wonders, in whom there was nothing which was not wonderful..." And about "Counselor", he goes on to say, "may well be called "counselor", because He knew the whole counsel of God... and is the great Counselor of His church and people in all their doubts and difficulties."
We must as believers, continue daily to throw our doubts and difficulties on Him Who is our best Counselor and always available. He has kept His church through the ages and He will not let us down now, no matter how hard the battle may be. Poole says Christ "has gathered, and enlarged, and preserved His church by admirable counsels and methods of His providence, and in a word, hath in Him all the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge". (Col. 2:3) We do well to always run to Him first in prayer; not to man, whether friend, professional analyst, or self-absorption. Only Christ, our ultimate Intercessor and Counselor, has the solution and power to solve life's hardest battles and all the confused noises that come with them.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Monday, August 7, 2017
Deicidium
Sin is a living parasite that ultimately produces eternal death for all who ignore its presence in their lives. Jesus Christ came to earth to "seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Paul wrote in Romans that the good news is the "power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." For over two thousand years, the message that Jesus died to save us from sin (a living parasite that will destroy us), has been preached, taught, and spoken time and time again. Many have found "new life" and died safely in the "rest" of Christ. However, many have ignored the message and gone out into a hopeless eternity, the final result of sin's destruction. God's commands, like needed medication for our souls, point us to our need for a Savior and the instruction necessary for a walk of righteousness and throwing off the sickness of sin.
Jesus said the greatest command was "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind." And..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Those commands go together. You cannot have one without the other. Therefore, when we speak against our neighbor, we violate the command of God. We reveal that we do not truly love God but are stuck in the mire of the sin of loving ourselves first and showing forth the characteristics of that selfish love through pride, arrogance, and slander. Slander, says John MacArthur, is a serious sin and Christians should take drastic measures to avoid such an offense. Love, on the other hand, wishes only the best for others and is expressed by unselfish contentment.
Sin destroys and every sin must be destroyed by the believer, leaving no stone unturned. Slander, speaking wrongfully against anyone, is a sin that many believers overlook. "The sin of slander, James warns, is no trivial matter. It is brazen, reckless treason against the Sovereign Lawgiver and Judge of the universe." [John MacArthur, New Testament Commentary on James, Chapter 4:12] As also stated in this commentary, by English Puritan Ralph Venning: "The sinfulness of sin not only appears from, but consists in this, that it is contrary to God...It goes about to ungod God, and is by some of the ancients called Deicidium, God-murder or God-killing."
John MacArthur goes on to say in his commentary: "Those who slander others betray an exaggerated view of their own importance. James demands, 'who are you who judge your neighbor?' In our contemporary speech James would be saying, 'Who in the world do you think you are, sitting in condemnation on someone else?" "Those who habitually engage in such behavior cast doubt on the genuineness of their faith." This is truly a stinging, but vitally necessary rebuke to us as believers to "examine ourselves" and repent of this little discussed sin of slander. May we throw off this hindrance to our walk and "run with perseverance" toward the mark of righteousness leaving behind us a trail of dead sin that our Savior destroyed at Calvary.
Satan, in his deceit in the garden, could only torment man and cast doubt on God. However, he could never "ungod God". That has been his intent from the beginning, bringing all that would join with him to everlasting destruction. Yet, God in His mercy, does "not have pleasure the death of the wicked...rather that he should turn from his ways and live". "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come form the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
Jesus said the greatest command was "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind." And..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Those commands go together. You cannot have one without the other. Therefore, when we speak against our neighbor, we violate the command of God. We reveal that we do not truly love God but are stuck in the mire of the sin of loving ourselves first and showing forth the characteristics of that selfish love through pride, arrogance, and slander. Slander, says John MacArthur, is a serious sin and Christians should take drastic measures to avoid such an offense. Love, on the other hand, wishes only the best for others and is expressed by unselfish contentment.
Sin destroys and every sin must be destroyed by the believer, leaving no stone unturned. Slander, speaking wrongfully against anyone, is a sin that many believers overlook. "The sin of slander, James warns, is no trivial matter. It is brazen, reckless treason against the Sovereign Lawgiver and Judge of the universe." [John MacArthur, New Testament Commentary on James, Chapter 4:12] As also stated in this commentary, by English Puritan Ralph Venning: "The sinfulness of sin not only appears from, but consists in this, that it is contrary to God...It goes about to ungod God, and is by some of the ancients called Deicidium, God-murder or God-killing."
John MacArthur goes on to say in his commentary: "Those who slander others betray an exaggerated view of their own importance. James demands, 'who are you who judge your neighbor?' In our contemporary speech James would be saying, 'Who in the world do you think you are, sitting in condemnation on someone else?" "Those who habitually engage in such behavior cast doubt on the genuineness of their faith." This is truly a stinging, but vitally necessary rebuke to us as believers to "examine ourselves" and repent of this little discussed sin of slander. May we throw off this hindrance to our walk and "run with perseverance" toward the mark of righteousness leaving behind us a trail of dead sin that our Savior destroyed at Calvary.
Satan, in his deceit in the garden, could only torment man and cast doubt on God. However, he could never "ungod God". That has been his intent from the beginning, bringing all that would join with him to everlasting destruction. Yet, God in His mercy, does "not have pleasure the death of the wicked...rather that he should turn from his ways and live". "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come form the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Divine Resources
"Trials can make us better or bitter." I've heard that many times. I've seen people who represent both results. So, how does one avoid the one and embrace the other. God's answer is in James. Actually, it's an answer that is throughout scripture but I'll use James today. And I'm using John MacArthur's commentary on James as instruction on how a Christian avoids the "bitter" character as they walk through the bitter circumstance.
The short and very complete answer to this issue is "ask". James 1:5 says, "Let him ask". "Let him ask translates an imperative verb in the Greek." John Mac says it's not advice but a command, not an option but mandatory. And he says, if you are "not driven to the Lord and develop a deeper prayer life, the Lord is likely to keep the test active and even intensify it until His child comes to the throne of grace." God is infinitely more willing to impart His wisdom than we are to ask and He expects us to ask.
He gives generously, James goes on to tell us. The only condition is that we ask! And He gives without reproach. John Mac says "the Lord will never cast even the mildest reproach on a child of His seeking wisdom in time of trouble and testing. He will not remind us of how undeserving and unworthy we are, obvious as that might be." [I loved that part because in some of us, it is oh, so very obvious!!!] "Nor will He chide us for not asking sooner, fully understanding that 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak'."
James goes on to say, "in faith without any doubting". This is a faith "backed by genuine trust in God's character, purpose and promises." John Mac goes on to say that Christians may rationalize their doubt in countless ways: undeserving, which is true but irrelevant. Their needs are not worthy, also true. But in God's sovereignty, He chooses to take a great interest in things that, in the grand scheme of things, seem utterly insignificant. So, while we are utterly insignificant, God doesn't see us, His children that way. We must get this! John Mac goes on to say that when God is not trusted, the only course is to go from bad to worse still and as stated above, take the test over.
The solution: "singularly trust the Lord for answers and help." We must "avail ourselves of the divine resources." God's Word, God's love, God's grace, God's providence. Endless resources are ours in abundance. They are ours for the asking. We must not be darkened in understanding this wonderful truth of our Heavenly Father who gives freely to those who will but ask!
The short and very complete answer to this issue is "ask". James 1:5 says, "Let him ask". "Let him ask translates an imperative verb in the Greek." John Mac says it's not advice but a command, not an option but mandatory. And he says, if you are "not driven to the Lord and develop a deeper prayer life, the Lord is likely to keep the test active and even intensify it until His child comes to the throne of grace." God is infinitely more willing to impart His wisdom than we are to ask and He expects us to ask.
He gives generously, James goes on to tell us. The only condition is that we ask! And He gives without reproach. John Mac says "the Lord will never cast even the mildest reproach on a child of His seeking wisdom in time of trouble and testing. He will not remind us of how undeserving and unworthy we are, obvious as that might be." [I loved that part because in some of us, it is oh, so very obvious!!!] "Nor will He chide us for not asking sooner, fully understanding that 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak'."
James goes on to say, "in faith without any doubting". This is a faith "backed by genuine trust in God's character, purpose and promises." John Mac goes on to say that Christians may rationalize their doubt in countless ways: undeserving, which is true but irrelevant. Their needs are not worthy, also true. But in God's sovereignty, He chooses to take a great interest in things that, in the grand scheme of things, seem utterly insignificant. So, while we are utterly insignificant, God doesn't see us, His children that way. We must get this! John Mac goes on to say that when God is not trusted, the only course is to go from bad to worse still and as stated above, take the test over.
The solution: "singularly trust the Lord for answers and help." We must "avail ourselves of the divine resources." God's Word, God's love, God's grace, God's providence. Endless resources are ours in abundance. They are ours for the asking. We must not be darkened in understanding this wonderful truth of our Heavenly Father who gives freely to those who will but ask!
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Five Minutes in Hell
Heard a preacher delivering a message about the great duty and privilege of sharing the gospel. He used the following illustration. He said we don't need to send our children to college, just let them spend five minutes in hell and they will know what they need to be doing in life. He gave the statistics of how many people the average Christian leads to Christ or at least even shares the gospel. The results were shameful and I was definitely shamed.
In my study of 1 Peter this morning, John MacArthur writes about Jesus' "proclamation to the spirits now in prison". He wasn't preaching to them about salvation but was "heralding His triumph over sin on the cross. He purposely went to an actual place to make a triumphant announcement to captive beings before He arose the third day."
He goes on to say using Ephesians 6:12, that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." So, while our "duty and privilege to share the gospel" is indeed hindered at every turn, that does not mean we lay down in defeat. Not as long as we have breath! We
pray daily for the opportunity and boldness.
As believers living on this earth, we are never to be ok with people going to hell. We have no excuse to neglect this great work that God has blessed us to be a part! It is His work, but we are in His hand to be used in it. WOW!
John MacArthur ends the chapter of this study with the following: "It was lost human beings for whom Christ died--the lost angels could only listen in dismay...and the elect angels can only marvel at what they cannot fully understand. Believers should be grateful that 'while they were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.'" Let us be all about our privilege to participate in the beautiful work of salvation. If one could spend even thirty seconds in hell, that may well be a motivator of compassion. However, we have the word of God that tells us that even the demons shudder at the "abyss". The Word is plain and says what we need to move us. Meditate on it!
In my study of 1 Peter this morning, John MacArthur writes about Jesus' "proclamation to the spirits now in prison". He wasn't preaching to them about salvation but was "heralding His triumph over sin on the cross. He purposely went to an actual place to make a triumphant announcement to captive beings before He arose the third day."
He goes on to say using Ephesians 6:12, that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." So, while our "duty and privilege to share the gospel" is indeed hindered at every turn, that does not mean we lay down in defeat. Not as long as we have breath! We
pray daily for the opportunity and boldness.
As believers living on this earth, we are never to be ok with people going to hell. We have no excuse to neglect this great work that God has blessed us to be a part! It is His work, but we are in His hand to be used in it. WOW!
John MacArthur ends the chapter of this study with the following: "It was lost human beings for whom Christ died--the lost angels could only listen in dismay...and the elect angels can only marvel at what they cannot fully understand. Believers should be grateful that 'while they were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.'" Let us be all about our privilege to participate in the beautiful work of salvation. If one could spend even thirty seconds in hell, that may well be a motivator of compassion. However, we have the word of God that tells us that even the demons shudder at the "abyss". The Word is plain and says what we need to move us. Meditate on it!
Friday, April 14, 2017
Abandoned Themselves
"What can we plain Christians do to bring back the departed glory? Acquaint thyself with God. To regain her lost power the Church must see heaven opened and have a transforming vision of God." So writes A. W. Tozer in his book, Knowledge of the Holy, written in 1961. He says, "we must break quietly and graciously with the lifeless textualism that prevails among the gospel church, and to protest the frivolous character of much that passes for Christianity among us." Jesus said, in John 12:48, that the word He spoke will be the judge on the last day. And as those leaders over me, say time and time again, we must get into the word of God. This is how we learn to discern the truth from error in all that claims Christianity.
Jude writes a short but necessarily potent letter to a Christian church in regard to those who claimed Christianity but were in fact perverting it. He instructs with great intensity and passion in order to warn true believers how to spot this error before it destroys utterly all that was suppose to be the building up of the bride of Christ. He gives examples of Old Testament men who rebelled against God's commands and did their own thing in the guise of seeking Him.
In speaking of this rebellion, the ESV's translation says, "abandoned themselves for the sake of gain". I was struck by this translation. I began thinking about the word "abandon" and the positives and negatives in regard to this word. Consider, "she ran with reckless abandon" in that she gave it everything she had. And then, "he abandoned his family for another woman" meaning the shirk of responsibility for frivolity and feelings. In Jude, I think it means they gave up all to do wrong, like my second example. However, the thought that came to me when I read it, had to do with personal destruction.
When man continues in sin, ignores the warning given time and again, self-destruction is inevitable. Even if all seems well as he lives through his life, eternity will be his final evidence. And as I read, "abandoned themselves", it hit me that in essence that is what man does when he ignores the warnings. He is in a sense walking away from himself and leaving himself defenseless against the coming wrath of God. I shudder in the thought. And as always, the word of God, has reminded and instructed me once again of our need to evangelize the lost and broken world running headlong into error.
Jude gives a brief rundown on how we are to do this in verse twenty-two. But a sentence I read in my study of the word, "abandon", says it very clearly as to how we approach the problem of sin and especially the sin in the church that threatens to "undo it": "He ran into the burning house with reckless abandon (without caring about the danger)." And I would add "with the love of Christ for the souls."
Jude writes a short but necessarily potent letter to a Christian church in regard to those who claimed Christianity but were in fact perverting it. He instructs with great intensity and passion in order to warn true believers how to spot this error before it destroys utterly all that was suppose to be the building up of the bride of Christ. He gives examples of Old Testament men who rebelled against God's commands and did their own thing in the guise of seeking Him.
In speaking of this rebellion, the ESV's translation says, "abandoned themselves for the sake of gain". I was struck by this translation. I began thinking about the word "abandon" and the positives and negatives in regard to this word. Consider, "she ran with reckless abandon" in that she gave it everything she had. And then, "he abandoned his family for another woman" meaning the shirk of responsibility for frivolity and feelings. In Jude, I think it means they gave up all to do wrong, like my second example. However, the thought that came to me when I read it, had to do with personal destruction.
When man continues in sin, ignores the warning given time and again, self-destruction is inevitable. Even if all seems well as he lives through his life, eternity will be his final evidence. And as I read, "abandoned themselves", it hit me that in essence that is what man does when he ignores the warnings. He is in a sense walking away from himself and leaving himself defenseless against the coming wrath of God. I shudder in the thought. And as always, the word of God, has reminded and instructed me once again of our need to evangelize the lost and broken world running headlong into error.
Jude gives a brief rundown on how we are to do this in verse twenty-two. But a sentence I read in my study of the word, "abandon", says it very clearly as to how we approach the problem of sin and especially the sin in the church that threatens to "undo it": "He ran into the burning house with reckless abandon (without caring about the danger)." And I would add "with the love of Christ for the souls."
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
God's Mirror
"So terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." This was Israel's view of Sinai. Even Moses, to whom God spoke, could not stand at Sinai fearless. At Sinai, sinful and unforgiven man stands before an infinitely holy and perfectly just God. No wonder the people shuddered. The symbols of Sinai are darkness, fire, trembling, and trumpets of judgment. And for an unforgiven sinner, "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
God gave Israel the covenant of law in the middle of the wilderness, away form all distractions, all interference, and all hiding places. They had nothing to focus on but God, and in doing so became terribly aware of their own sinfulness. The first thing that leads a person to repentance and dependence on God for deliverance is the awareness of his sinfulness. Only seeing our sin can make us see our need for salvation from sin from the judgment it brings. This was the purpose of Sinai, to bring the people face to face with their own sinfulness, with NO place to hide.
The law is God's great mirror. When we look into it, we see our selves as we really are...immeasurably short of God's standard of righteousness. There is not a single commandment that we have kept perfectly or can keep perfectly, in either act or attitude. Praise God for Jesus Who alone can look into that mirror with the perfection of His holy self reflected rightly and wonderfully. And through Him, through Him Alone, does our refection measure full and sure, forgiven and fearless!
[Most of this post was copied from John MacArthur's commentary on Hebrews 12:18-21, page 412, chapter 36.]
God gave Israel the covenant of law in the middle of the wilderness, away form all distractions, all interference, and all hiding places. They had nothing to focus on but God, and in doing so became terribly aware of their own sinfulness. The first thing that leads a person to repentance and dependence on God for deliverance is the awareness of his sinfulness. Only seeing our sin can make us see our need for salvation from sin from the judgment it brings. This was the purpose of Sinai, to bring the people face to face with their own sinfulness, with NO place to hide.
The law is God's great mirror. When we look into it, we see our selves as we really are...immeasurably short of God's standard of righteousness. There is not a single commandment that we have kept perfectly or can keep perfectly, in either act or attitude. Praise God for Jesus Who alone can look into that mirror with the perfection of His holy self reflected rightly and wonderfully. And through Him, through Him Alone, does our refection measure full and sure, forgiven and fearless!
[Most of this post was copied from John MacArthur's commentary on Hebrews 12:18-21, page 412, chapter 36.]
Rivet Our Eyes
A rivet is a short metal bolt that holds together two plates of metal. It is beaten down and pressed into place sometimes using heat. To think about riveting our eyes using this definition is not a pleasant thought. However, I love it when thinking of the seriousness of keeping our eyes "fixed" on Christ.
John MacArthur in his commentary on Hebrews uses the word when explaining Hebrews 12:2. He says, "the world has always mocked faith, just as they mocked Jesus' faith... But in faith, Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame." Why should we not also trust God in everything, since we have not begun to suffer what Jesus suffered? Jesus has set such a high example of faith that it is on His example that we should 'rivet' our eyes for as long as we live...it is imperative that we fix our eyes on Jesus."
Some chapters ahead as Dr. MacArthur discusses 12:12, "the hands that are weak and knees that are feeble", he explains the importance of "not concentrating on our own weaknesses but to help strengthen other Christians in theirs. One of the surest ways to be encouraged ourselves is to give encouragement to someone else, 'encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near' (Hebrews 10:25). One of the best ways to keep continuing is to encourage others to continue."
"'And make straight paths for your feet' refers to staying in your own lane in the race. When you get out of your lane, you not only disqualify yourself but often interfere with other runners. A runner never intentionally gets out of his lane; he only does so when he is distracted or careless, when he loses his concentration on the goal, or when fatigue robs him of the will to win."
This brings us full circle to the "riveted eyes". Proverbs 4:25-27 as reference by Dr. MacArthur, says, "Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil".
We must wake up daily and fix our eyes on Christ and keep them there throughout the day. This sounds like something to which we do the adjusting in order to get the right focus. But the only way for this to be our lifestyle is by a humble bowing of the head moment by moment and pray for the our God to keep our eyes "riveted" on Him. Only then can we honor and glorify His great name.
John MacArthur in his commentary on Hebrews uses the word when explaining Hebrews 12:2. He says, "the world has always mocked faith, just as they mocked Jesus' faith... But in faith, Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame." Why should we not also trust God in everything, since we have not begun to suffer what Jesus suffered? Jesus has set such a high example of faith that it is on His example that we should 'rivet' our eyes for as long as we live...it is imperative that we fix our eyes on Jesus."
Some chapters ahead as Dr. MacArthur discusses 12:12, "the hands that are weak and knees that are feeble", he explains the importance of "not concentrating on our own weaknesses but to help strengthen other Christians in theirs. One of the surest ways to be encouraged ourselves is to give encouragement to someone else, 'encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near' (Hebrews 10:25). One of the best ways to keep continuing is to encourage others to continue."
"'And make straight paths for your feet' refers to staying in your own lane in the race. When you get out of your lane, you not only disqualify yourself but often interfere with other runners. A runner never intentionally gets out of his lane; he only does so when he is distracted or careless, when he loses his concentration on the goal, or when fatigue robs him of the will to win."
This brings us full circle to the "riveted eyes". Proverbs 4:25-27 as reference by Dr. MacArthur, says, "Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil".
We must wake up daily and fix our eyes on Christ and keep them there throughout the day. This sounds like something to which we do the adjusting in order to get the right focus. But the only way for this to be our lifestyle is by a humble bowing of the head moment by moment and pray for the our God to keep our eyes "riveted" on Him. Only then can we honor and glorify His great name.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Fly the Friendly Skies
I grew up in the sixties and if you did and watched any television, you heard more than once the United Airlines commercial. "Fly the friendly skies of United", which came out in 1965, was the idea of Leo Burnett agency of Chicago. While very catchy and clever, those who know God, also know that the skies do not belong to United. And while "my hat is off" to Burnett's mind penetrating and long-lasting idea, I'd like to encourage both believers and unbelievers with a mind penetrating and ever-lasting truth.
While the basis for this truth is the ancient word of God, the Bible, A.W. Tozer, just a few years before the United jingle came out, penned these words: "...we dwell under a friendly sky". Before I tell you why he said this, let me first show you the picture he paints that makes this phrase so encouraging. "Sin has made us timid and self-conscious. Years of rebellion against God have bred in us a fear that cannot be overcome in a day." But Tozer encourages his readers in the paragraph before with this: The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and the the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us."
Tozer goes on to say that some may struggle with the great number of sins from their past and question how God could react to such a wretched life. "If I come to God, how will He act toward me? What kind of disposition has He? What will I find Him to be like?"
The answer is that He will act just like Jesus. Look for yourself in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John or listen to this short list: "to the penitent, He will be merciful, the self-condemned will find Him to be generous and kind. The frightened will find Him to be friendly, the poor in spirit will know Him as forgiving, to the ignorant, He is considerate and to the weak, He is gentle. And to the stranger, He is hospitable."
The paradox of the man who accepts Christ by faith is this: "While His greatness arouses fear within, His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid!" Thank you, Mr. Tozer, for this reminder that He Who made the skies wants relationship and once we are His, the skies, indeed, are "friendly skies".
While the basis for this truth is the ancient word of God, the Bible, A.W. Tozer, just a few years before the United jingle came out, penned these words: "...we dwell under a friendly sky". Before I tell you why he said this, let me first show you the picture he paints that makes this phrase so encouraging. "Sin has made us timid and self-conscious. Years of rebellion against God have bred in us a fear that cannot be overcome in a day." But Tozer encourages his readers in the paragraph before with this: The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and the the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us."
Tozer goes on to say that some may struggle with the great number of sins from their past and question how God could react to such a wretched life. "If I come to God, how will He act toward me? What kind of disposition has He? What will I find Him to be like?"
The answer is that He will act just like Jesus. Look for yourself in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John or listen to this short list: "to the penitent, He will be merciful, the self-condemned will find Him to be generous and kind. The frightened will find Him to be friendly, the poor in spirit will know Him as forgiving, to the ignorant, He is considerate and to the weak, He is gentle. And to the stranger, He is hospitable."
The paradox of the man who accepts Christ by faith is this: "While His greatness arouses fear within, His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid!" Thank you, Mr. Tozer, for this reminder that He Who made the skies wants relationship and once we are His, the skies, indeed, are "friendly skies".
Friday, January 6, 2017
Holy Impatience
While the title sounds like an oxymoron, the message of the post is profound to this woman of simple intelligence. As I continue my study of Leviticus and Hebrews, truths that I have known for years, embraced and loved, have become even more amazing through this study. And I will plug here the importance of a daily diet of the Word of God. It truly gives us "beauty for ashes" as we deal with the lifelong struggle of sinful flesh along with our grace given love for Christ!
The writer of Hebrews speaks to his Jewish brothers about the mandatory release of their old ceremonies and sacrifices. Christ is the end of that old system. And while it had its place and was instituted by God, Himself, it was always and only a shadow of things to come. John MacArthur explains in his commentary on Hebrews, "All the old forms, ceremonies, sacrifices could never make perfect, never save and never bring access to God. Christ is the fulfillment of forgiveness, peace, clear conscience, and security...These things were only pictured but were never realized in the old covenant."
He continues with, "Repetition of a symbol is like multiplying by zero. No matter how many times it is repeated, the result never increases. So why a shadow? It was to point to salvation to come! It was to make the people [of Israel] expectant." As I read that, immediately, I was taken back to Hebrews 9 where Matthew Poole writes in regard to verse 28 which reads, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." Poole says this about the end of that verse, "expectant, those that long for His coming, stretching their heads with holy impatience of seeing Him after His first coming carried their sins into the land of forgetfulness." WOW! (I know I say that a lot. I did say I'm of simple intelligence and sometimes there is a lack of vocabulary to my excitement.)
So here's what I have to say about all that: we tend to say, 'So, why can't the Jews see and realize the beauty of their God instituted ceremonies and symbols? Why can't they see it was all pointing to Jesus, when realizing all the details, intricate and wonderful details associated with Him were, point by point the fulfillment of all that system?' And I would say, 'Why can't I who, by grace do see those things, throw off the anxiety by which I find myself so often trapped and look expectantly, excitedly, to His second coming and live like I believe it. God, forgive me for my faithlessness. It is far more unfaithful than the blind Jews. Let me "strain my head with holy impatience of seeing Him who carried my sin into the land of forgetfulness". Amen and amen!
The writer of Hebrews speaks to his Jewish brothers about the mandatory release of their old ceremonies and sacrifices. Christ is the end of that old system. And while it had its place and was instituted by God, Himself, it was always and only a shadow of things to come. John MacArthur explains in his commentary on Hebrews, "All the old forms, ceremonies, sacrifices could never make perfect, never save and never bring access to God. Christ is the fulfillment of forgiveness, peace, clear conscience, and security...These things were only pictured but were never realized in the old covenant."
He continues with, "Repetition of a symbol is like multiplying by zero. No matter how many times it is repeated, the result never increases. So why a shadow? It was to point to salvation to come! It was to make the people [of Israel] expectant." As I read that, immediately, I was taken back to Hebrews 9 where Matthew Poole writes in regard to verse 28 which reads, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." Poole says this about the end of that verse, "expectant, those that long for His coming, stretching their heads with holy impatience of seeing Him after His first coming carried their sins into the land of forgetfulness." WOW! (I know I say that a lot. I did say I'm of simple intelligence and sometimes there is a lack of vocabulary to my excitement.)
So here's what I have to say about all that: we tend to say, 'So, why can't the Jews see and realize the beauty of their God instituted ceremonies and symbols? Why can't they see it was all pointing to Jesus, when realizing all the details, intricate and wonderful details associated with Him were, point by point the fulfillment of all that system?' And I would say, 'Why can't I who, by grace do see those things, throw off the anxiety by which I find myself so often trapped and look expectantly, excitedly, to His second coming and live like I believe it. God, forgive me for my faithlessness. It is far more unfaithful than the blind Jews. Let me "strain my head with holy impatience of seeing Him who carried my sin into the land of forgetfulness". Amen and amen!
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