Had the privilege of standing in my home church's pulpit recently, and declare the truth of God's Word. At one point I rehearsed again a life principle that I've shared through the years every chance I get:
when it comes to authority related to spiritual truths, everyone is staking his/her eternal destiny on one of two bases--- revelation or speculation.
In other words, when considering such questions as, "What happened before I was born?", and, "What will occur after I die?", and, "Is there a heaven, and, if so, how can I go there when I die?", there are only two options upon which we all depend for our answers: a supernaturally-revealed answer we accept, or our best guess.
A classic example is creation vs. evolution to explain the origin of the physical universe. Although perhaps the evolutionist would hotly contend that he is not speculating, in point of fact he was not there to witness the beginning. The creationist insists that, although he, too, wasn't present the moment it all occurred, his basis of authority is the supernatural revealing of the origin of our universe by the One Who was: the unchanging, living God Who created it all ex nihilo, from nothing. How revealed? By His breathed-out Word, the Scriptures.
Thus, the evolutionist places faith in implications (speculation) drawn from observable evidence, whereas the creationist places faith in the trustworthy Word of the One Who, transcending time and space, reveals that He is the Creator of it all.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
For My Pastor
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment," (James 3:1).
Thank You, Father, for calling up from years gone by needed memories of the incessant press that is the pastorate, used now by Your blessed Spirit to deepen my pleading for the one who stands to declare Your truth weekly.
With all the voices that vie for his attention, strengthen his resolve to hear and heed Yours first, always. Cause him to ever obey Your command of Isaiah 55:3, "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live;" May his strong, bold voice declare in public what Your still, small voice has whispered in private. Even as was the habit of his Master (Mk. 1:35) may You have his ear each day before anyone else does.
With days so brief and eternity in the balance, be pleased to grant him wisdom and great discernment, Father. Our enemy is so subtle as he skillfully substitutes the urgent for the truly important, deceiving us into acting as if the seen is eternal. Guard him from such pitfalls, I plea. May he redeem his time, numbering his days so that he may present to You a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
Teach him to rest, both physically, and in You, Father. May he continue to be usable spiritually, as well as physically. I still vividly recall reading of young Robert Murray M'Cheyne, the 29-yr.-old Scottish minister, who, as he lay dying, said, "God gave me a horse and a message; I have killed the horse, I can no longer deliver the message."
And I would plea Your Holy Spirit's filling and anointing work upon him, Father. May the Lord Jesus be his all-in-all, his great Love, his choicest Friend about whom he cannot help but speak. Too, be his winsomeness in presenting the Savior. May there be a Spirit-produced magnetism about his life and countenance that draws folk to You.
Remind him of Your provided armor, Father, that he may stand firm.
Speak to his heart about hiding Your Word in his heart, that he may wield the sword of Your Word with great effect. Cause his life to count for Your kingdom, according to Your perfect will. May the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight.
In the Name of Your sovereign Son, I pray,
Amen.
Thank You, Father, for calling up from years gone by needed memories of the incessant press that is the pastorate, used now by Your blessed Spirit to deepen my pleading for the one who stands to declare Your truth weekly.
With all the voices that vie for his attention, strengthen his resolve to hear and heed Yours first, always. Cause him to ever obey Your command of Isaiah 55:3, "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live;" May his strong, bold voice declare in public what Your still, small voice has whispered in private. Even as was the habit of his Master (Mk. 1:35) may You have his ear each day before anyone else does.
With days so brief and eternity in the balance, be pleased to grant him wisdom and great discernment, Father. Our enemy is so subtle as he skillfully substitutes the urgent for the truly important, deceiving us into acting as if the seen is eternal. Guard him from such pitfalls, I plea. May he redeem his time, numbering his days so that he may present to You a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
Teach him to rest, both physically, and in You, Father. May he continue to be usable spiritually, as well as physically. I still vividly recall reading of young Robert Murray M'Cheyne, the 29-yr.-old Scottish minister, who, as he lay dying, said, "God gave me a horse and a message; I have killed the horse, I can no longer deliver the message."
And I would plea Your Holy Spirit's filling and anointing work upon him, Father. May the Lord Jesus be his all-in-all, his great Love, his choicest Friend about whom he cannot help but speak. Too, be his winsomeness in presenting the Savior. May there be a Spirit-produced magnetism about his life and countenance that draws folk to You.
Remind him of Your provided armor, Father, that he may stand firm.
Speak to his heart about hiding Your Word in his heart, that he may wield the sword of Your Word with great effect. Cause his life to count for Your kingdom, according to Your perfect will. May the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight.
In the Name of Your sovereign Son, I pray,
Amen.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
It's true!
"...If it were not so, I would have told you..." (John 14:2b)
With the cross only hours away, the Lord Jesus focused more and more quality time on His men, rather than the multitudes. Having told them of His leaving (13:33), He speaks peace to their troubled hearts (14:1), and reveals His plans to prepare a place for them to be with Him.
And in the process of promising heavenly dwellings, He adds a wonderful assurance: "if it were not so, I would have told you."
There must have been something in the disciples' expressions that prompted the Master to include this emphatic word of encouragement. And He knew what it was: fear of the unknown.
Why this lack of trust, especially in the light of the Lord's past faithfulness?
Primarily because we think God is like us. Although He has told us it is not so (Isaiah 55:8, 9), we still insist upon picturing Him in our image. People have lied to us, people have made promises they couldn't keep, as well as made fantastic claims concerning the future that did not come to pass.
How subtlely our enemy takes such disappointments and transfers them onto our perspective of the Lord. How much, then, like those disciples in the upper room, do we need to hear again our Master's assurance---- "if it were not so, I would have told you."
With the cross only hours away, the Lord Jesus focused more and more quality time on His men, rather than the multitudes. Having told them of His leaving (13:33), He speaks peace to their troubled hearts (14:1), and reveals His plans to prepare a place for them to be with Him.
And in the process of promising heavenly dwellings, He adds a wonderful assurance: "if it were not so, I would have told you."
There must have been something in the disciples' expressions that prompted the Master to include this emphatic word of encouragement. And He knew what it was: fear of the unknown.
Why this lack of trust, especially in the light of the Lord's past faithfulness?
Primarily because we think God is like us. Although He has told us it is not so (Isaiah 55:8, 9), we still insist upon picturing Him in our image. People have lied to us, people have made promises they couldn't keep, as well as made fantastic claims concerning the future that did not come to pass.
How subtlely our enemy takes such disappointments and transfers them onto our perspective of the Lord. How much, then, like those disciples in the upper room, do we need to hear again our Master's assurance---- "if it were not so, I would have told you."
Friday, April 25, 2008
Brief Thought
There is coolness for my soul in the stillness of Your voice. The night's heat is replete with turmoil, yet time with You restores the peace my weary spirit cherishes.
No wonder the world, my flesh, and the one who hates my soul so oppose quiet times of meeting with You. For it is here, unlike any other place for any other purpose, that Your power is perfected in weakness; that Your presence is expressed with memorable impact, so that who You are is all that matters, and what You provide is enough.
No wonder the world, my flesh, and the one who hates my soul so oppose quiet times of meeting with You. For it is here, unlike any other place for any other purpose, that Your power is perfected in weakness; that Your presence is expressed with memorable impact, so that who You are is all that matters, and what You provide is enough.
Thinking It Through
Isn't it a shame that so many of God's children are ashamed of Him in His sovereignty? Speak of His love, and the reception is warm and welcoming; preach on His power, and there is grateful awe; mention His mercy, and praise is raised to the heavens!
Yet present God in His absolute sovereignty, in His eternal determination of the destinations of men, His kingly right to exercise justice in the damnation of many as well as grace in the salvation of some, and the response can be quite different..... and telling.
Upon my referring to Romans 9:13 during the course of a conversation concerning God's sovereignty, the angry reply was, "I don't think that ought to be in there!" (Stunned as I was, I couldn't decide which was more grievous: the impugning of God's character, or the implying that Scripture was fallible).
Yet, the more I've mused upon it, I've come to believe they are inseparably linked--- questioning the trustworthiness of the Scriptures is to cast doubt upon the integrity of the sovereign God who inspired them.
And that really is a shame...
Yet present God in His absolute sovereignty, in His eternal determination of the destinations of men, His kingly right to exercise justice in the damnation of many as well as grace in the salvation of some, and the response can be quite different..... and telling.
Upon my referring to Romans 9:13 during the course of a conversation concerning God's sovereignty, the angry reply was, "I don't think that ought to be in there!" (Stunned as I was, I couldn't decide which was more grievous: the impugning of God's character, or the implying that Scripture was fallible).
Yet, the more I've mused upon it, I've come to believe they are inseparably linked--- questioning the trustworthiness of the Scriptures is to cast doubt upon the integrity of the sovereign God who inspired them.
And that really is a shame...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Non-Negotiables
The stability of a believer's life, especially in times of adversity, is immeasurably strengthened by settling forever two key issues:
(a) All Scripture, every bit of it, is God's flawless Word; and,
(b) God is absolutely sovereign, period.
So many concerns used by the enemy to cause so many Christians such consternation would melt into resolution if/when God's sovereignty is unquestioned and His Word is trusted as true.
To the extent either of these positions is compromised is exactly how much access Satan is given for sowing seeds of unbelief--- questioning God's goodness, doubting His power, mocking His promises, and staying man-centered. While these qualities characterize a believer's life, the blessed Holy Spirit is quenched and grieved, and the Savior's Name is reproached.
Father, it is a deep mystery why You are allowing the wheat of your elect and the tares of the lost who look saved to dwell together in this age. As the days darken, may the children of light shine unashamedly. As the cost to claim Your cause increases, let it be paid gladly. For, anything You would ever ask of Your children pales in comparison to what You have given in Your Son, the Lord Jesus!
Father, it is a deep mystery why You are allowing the wheat of your elect and the tares of the lost who look saved to dwell together in this age. As the days darken, may the children of light shine unashamedly. As the cost to claim Your cause increases, let it be paid gladly. For, anything You would ever ask of Your children pales in comparison to what You have given in Your Son, the Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Putting On the Armor
May my rebellious thoughts be taken captive now, Father, to Your obedience, brought into submission by the blessed Holy Spirit, centered upon the Savior, protected by the helmet of salvation. The enemy of my soul is a master of distraction, caring nothing for what he uses, so long as he keeps my thoughts away from You. Thank You for the sword of Your Word, by which I can be neither ignorant of his schemes, nor defeated by his designs. Teach me to wield it with great effect, Father, bringing verses to mind when most needed. Cover my heart with the breastplate of righteousness, too, that it may be shielded in holiness. For, it is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick (Jer. 17:9). You know my need to be protected by Your truth in the tenderest areas of my life; thus, I would ask that my loins be girded with Truth. And be pleased to restore a sensitivity to those around me, Father, by having my feet shod with the preparation of the gospel, so that wherever I travel today, I may be usable for sharing a word of good news concerning the Savior.
In His Name I ask,
Amen.
In His Name I ask,
Amen.
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