"When we are bored, it can be only because we have stopped looking at Jesus. He can't be boring. If we find him boring, it's because we are boring. The deficiency is ours, not his." -Jared Wilson, Gospel Deeps.
October 29, 2013
October 28, 2013
Good News! Good News!
Yesterday was 'Reformation Sunday'. I had the opportunity to serve my home church while our pastor was under the weather and unable to preach. The sermon starts in Jeremiah and ranges over quite a bit of Scripture. It is 24 minutes long. May God bless the preaching of His Word.
I know some of you have followed the blog for several years. I would love to hear from you, whether here in the blog comments, on Vimeo, Facebook, or Twitter.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 Good News! Good News! from First Evangelical Free Church on Vimeo.
I know some of you have followed the blog for several years. I would love to hear from you, whether here in the blog comments, on Vimeo, Facebook, or Twitter.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 Good News! Good News! from First Evangelical Free Church on Vimeo.
October 25, 2013
A Plea To My Brothers In Danger
My dear brother,
I know. I know. You've thought it through. Your situation is unique and the only relief you have in your loneliness comes from the plans you are making. Plans... with someone else. Someone... who is not your wife. Maybe she has a name at this point, maybe still a faceless, anonymous fantasy. After all, you reason, intimacy at home is non-existent. The woman you share a roof with has become, perhaps not the enemy, but like a piece of furniture you pass by without care, or a stranger on television who could care less about you... about "us".
BROTHER! STOP!
PASTOR! HOLD YOUR GROUND!
Sin is strangling you, choking out your sight until you tunnel vision in on what will ultimately burn down your entire life. Pause before your blind burning desire strikes the match and immolates your entire life and every treasured, hard-fought relationship you have: your wife, your children, your loved ones, your friends, your church, your Lord and Savior.
Brother, can you not see that your heart is becoming hard as diamonds? Humble yourself before God, and repent before the insanity of sin drags you under the surface. Seek His face, which shines brighter than the sun, to dispel the darkness you've lost yourself in.
You retort, "Oh, but when her hand touched mine, such depth of feeling shook me, our connection was immediate and without words! The fog of my loneliness lifted and I feel hopeful that someone, anyone, would care again for me." Brother, it was simply a touch. The old nature, agitated by that spark, has clambered out of the grave and filled your mind with visions, visions of unreality, visions of fantasy, visions which the light of day will prove to be worthless, less than worthless, truly tragic in their destructive power; deadly and bringing death with them, riding on the night, where darkness conceals the danger and lying to yourself seems like hope.
The surge of excitement you feel in anticipation is actually your soul imploding upon itself before unleashing explosive fury in every direction. Nothing will remain, including your 'happiness'. Your flock which you have shepherded faithfully will be scattered, beaten down, some devoured in the aftermath of your sin. Your precious wife, who has loved and supported you for so many years will be left scarred of soul, burned to the bone, trying to reassamble her life with the children, no comfort or guidance from your 'loved-for-so-long' hand. Instead, the shadow of betrayal lurking in every corner.
Again, you push back. "When I look into her eyes, the tenderness and desire I see takes my breath away." A man drowning in the depths of the ocean has his breath taken away as well. It is a soul-drowning, conscience-killing undertow of rebellion that drags more and more the longer you toy with it.
BROTHER! STOP!
Before you scatter spiritual napalm everywhere and on everyone around you, before you strike the match of 'burning desire', before your life landscape becomes ground zero of your 'scorched earth' lusts, stop. Stop the fantasizing, planning, lusting, and hardening of your affections.
Do not take that step. Pull your foot back from the brink. Seek the Lord in humility and repentance, that you may not be lost in the furious tempest.
For the glory of our God, the good of your soul, the joy of you and your wife and family, and all the rest; seek the Lord and wise counsel to help you regain your footing and strengthen your commitment of love for your wife.
Brother, I plead with you. It is my prayer that God will help you embrace again the hope-filled reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ and turn from the minefield of death-dealing sin.
For specific suggestions on how to deal with these temptations, this article by Jason Helopoulos will prove very helpful.
I know. I know. You've thought it through. Your situation is unique and the only relief you have in your loneliness comes from the plans you are making. Plans... with someone else. Someone... who is not your wife. Maybe she has a name at this point, maybe still a faceless, anonymous fantasy. After all, you reason, intimacy at home is non-existent. The woman you share a roof with has become, perhaps not the enemy, but like a piece of furniture you pass by without care, or a stranger on television who could care less about you... about "us".
BROTHER! STOP!
PASTOR! HOLD YOUR GROUND!
Sin is strangling you, choking out your sight until you tunnel vision in on what will ultimately burn down your entire life. Pause before your blind burning desire strikes the match and immolates your entire life and every treasured, hard-fought relationship you have: your wife, your children, your loved ones, your friends, your church, your Lord and Savior.
Brother, can you not see that your heart is becoming hard as diamonds? Humble yourself before God, and repent before the insanity of sin drags you under the surface. Seek His face, which shines brighter than the sun, to dispel the darkness you've lost yourself in.
You retort, "Oh, but when her hand touched mine, such depth of feeling shook me, our connection was immediate and without words! The fog of my loneliness lifted and I feel hopeful that someone, anyone, would care again for me." Brother, it was simply a touch. The old nature, agitated by that spark, has clambered out of the grave and filled your mind with visions, visions of unreality, visions of fantasy, visions which the light of day will prove to be worthless, less than worthless, truly tragic in their destructive power; deadly and bringing death with them, riding on the night, where darkness conceals the danger and lying to yourself seems like hope.
The surge of excitement you feel in anticipation is actually your soul imploding upon itself before unleashing explosive fury in every direction. Nothing will remain, including your 'happiness'. Your flock which you have shepherded faithfully will be scattered, beaten down, some devoured in the aftermath of your sin. Your precious wife, who has loved and supported you for so many years will be left scarred of soul, burned to the bone, trying to reassamble her life with the children, no comfort or guidance from your 'loved-for-so-long' hand. Instead, the shadow of betrayal lurking in every corner.
Again, you push back. "When I look into her eyes, the tenderness and desire I see takes my breath away." A man drowning in the depths of the ocean has his breath taken away as well. It is a soul-drowning, conscience-killing undertow of rebellion that drags more and more the longer you toy with it.
BROTHER! STOP!
Before you scatter spiritual napalm everywhere and on everyone around you, before you strike the match of 'burning desire', before your life landscape becomes ground zero of your 'scorched earth' lusts, stop. Stop the fantasizing, planning, lusting, and hardening of your affections.
Do not take that step. Pull your foot back from the brink. Seek the Lord in humility and repentance, that you may not be lost in the furious tempest.
For the glory of our God, the good of your soul, the joy of you and your wife and family, and all the rest; seek the Lord and wise counsel to help you regain your footing and strengthen your commitment of love for your wife.
Brother, I plead with you. It is my prayer that God will help you embrace again the hope-filled reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ and turn from the minefield of death-dealing sin.
For specific suggestions on how to deal with these temptations, this article by Jason Helopoulos will prove very helpful.
October 15, 2013
Sola Scriptura: London Baptist Confession of 1644
London Baptist Confession of 1644
VI.
1 This therefore is life eternal, to know the only true God, and whom He has sent Jesus Christ. 2 And on the contrary, the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire to them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
VII.
The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship and service of God, and all other Christian duties, is not mans inventions, opinions, devices, laws, constitutions, or traditions unwritten whatsoever, but only the word of God contained in the Canonical Scriptures.
John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Col. 21:18, 23; Mat. 15:9
VIII.
In this written Word God has plainly revealed whatsoever He has thought needful for us to know, believe, and acknowledge, touching the nature and office of Christ, in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen to the praise of God.
Acts 3:22, 23; Heb. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Cor. 1:20
VI.
1 This therefore is life eternal, to know the only true God, and whom He has sent Jesus Christ. 2 And on the contrary, the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire to them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- John 17:3; Heb. 5:9; Jer. 23:5, 6
- II Thess. 1:8; John 3:36
VII.
The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship and service of God, and all other Christian duties, is not mans inventions, opinions, devices, laws, constitutions, or traditions unwritten whatsoever, but only the word of God contained in the Canonical Scriptures.
John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Col. 21:18, 23; Mat. 15:9
VIII.
In this written Word God has plainly revealed whatsoever He has thought needful for us to know, believe, and acknowledge, touching the nature and office of Christ, in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen to the praise of God.
Acts 3:22, 23; Heb. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Cor. 1:20
October 12, 2013
Kaiser On A Roll
I recently found a very helpful, inspiring book on deep discount at CBD. Walter Kaiser's The Majesty of God in the Old Testament is available for a short time at $5.99 as 'slightly imperfect'. I have not figured out what flaws exist with the copy I received. Nothing on the cover, spine, or binding that I can discern.Anyway, once I received the book I started to look through it. Kaiser grabbed my attention in the introduction with his infectious energy for exalting the greatness and majesty of God from numerous biblical passages. Those familiar with the YRR movement and its literature will find a familiar tune of intentional pursuit of the glory of God in Kaiser's reflections. Not only does he stir up high thoughts of our great God, but he also lays out a practical framework to pursue preaching and teaching from ten specific passages which could be applied to numerous others. In other words, Kaiser not only paints a magnificent biblical portrait of God's majesty, he provides you with brushes, tints, a pallet, and a theological artist's eye to help you teach your people about our glorious God.
Kaiser also gives a brief reflection on and response to the Christocentric preaching model emphasized most prominently by Bryan Chapell. If you have never read Kaiser, here's a solid and stirring work of deep theology that would benefit both you and those who hear you preach and teach concerning the majesty of our great God and Savior.
October 11, 2013
The Burning Man
"The Spirit moves when he will and how he will, and we cannot command his coming, but about one thing that will happen when the Spirit moves in, power in the church of Jesus Christ, I think we can be perfectly sure. When that happens, the miserable, feeble talk about the avoidance of controversy on the part of Christian men and preachers of Jesus Christ will all he swept away as with a mighty flood. A man on fire with a message never speaks in a way like that; never speaks with the indifferent manner of the world but proclaims his gospel in the presence of the world of enemies, briefly and nobly in the presence of everything that is lifted up against the gospel of Jesus Christ."
--J. Gresham Machen's The Gospel And The Modern World: And Other Short Writings
--J. Gresham Machen's The Gospel And The Modern World: And Other Short Writings
October 8, 2013
Christ and Suffering Temptation
"His sinlessness did not immunize Him against the effects of sin, either during His life or on the cross. In fact, He tasted our temptations with a sensitivity none of us has known precisely because He resisted them. Whatever your experience of temptation or suffering, Christ's was deeper because His humanity was sinless."
-Sinclair Ferguson. In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life
-Sinclair Ferguson. In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)