One of my new favorite songs. It's by a band called The Chariot and these lyrics are absolutely amazing! I pray that our faith could be a revolution to this world, that the word of the Lord would echo throughout these college campuses and across the world and they would know that the King of this world loves them dearly and wants to know them personally. That King is Jesus of Nazareth; a poor carpenters son and He wants to be in your life and wants you to know Him. Brothers and sisters, I pray that we can speak with "the wrath of His grace" and there would be no room for discussion that Jesus is Lord. The sound of the song may not be for everyone, but at least give it a chance with the lyrics I've posted below! Love you guys!
I love the picture they paint of our Christian faith being a revolution, because it TOTALLY is! We are supposed to live in this world but not be of this world; we are supposed to be counter-cultural. When something is counter-cultural it is usually something that could be referred to as a "revolution", or throwing over the current social order for something new.
I also love the picture they paint about "the wrath of His grace" and comparing that to the picture of a "calm rose: violent wind". God's grace is totally those things! His grace is so still and holds so much beauty like a rose, but it is also like a violent wind in that it is relentless and literally violent to the extent that we must pay it some attention! When I think of violent wind I think of tornadoes or hurricanes and how persistent they are and how devastating they can be. God's grace is the same; He is constantly pursuing us with His grace and when it finally hits us, our entire life gets destroyed! The only difference with this destruction, is that it is also made new. Our old hearts and old selves are crushed and thrown away, while our new hearts and selves take joy in a new life through Jesus Christ.
Calm rose: violent wind...what a beautiful way of expressing God's never-ending grace...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UO0YR-MBJI
This is only the start
You're only opening the book
You're only on the first line of what's going to take a little while
I hope you don't hold your breath because they revolt like a choir
They say the language is dead, well, then why do we speak
I hope you understand that my brain is fixed
Into the next town
This is only a revolt
Enough is enough because we cannot be late
Basically, you've been defined as "unworthy of love"
And I confess, I had placed in my heart the same address but I paint with my words
"You're free, don't fear, this is just a revolt"
Into the next town
This is only a revolt
Calm rose: violent wind
The only "surrender" tonight, shall not be our own
They cannot escape, one if by land, two if by sea
I saved my money, but it can't save me
And maybe there is blood from the past, but that is not from me
They can take away one man, and they can take away his mic
But they cannot take us all
No, they can't dig a hole the right size to fit all of our dreams
They can't bury me, they can't bury me
We can't hope that somebody else take our place
No, we can't hope that somebody else take our place
May the history book read of all of our names
Be it blood, be it ink, but at least we were free
This is only but a fraction of what I've got to say
It must be said, it must be said
If I leave this earth tonight may it be said that I spoke my peace
I spoke with the wrath of His grace
Calm rose: come violent wind
Oh we stand hand in hand and we walk without fear
This is a revolution
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
My God
I stinkin' LOVE Psalm 71!!! The thing that I took most note of was how the psalmist used the word "my" when referring to God...
-My Rock/My Rock of Refuge
-My Hope
-My Confidence
-My Fortress
-My Strong Refuge
-My God
The psalmist had such a love and confidence in the Lord that he continued to call Him his own. He know his identity was in Christ along. When you identity is aligned correctly you will view yourself as a SON of God rather than a SLAVE or an ORPHAN..
Just look at the words above he used to describe the Lord. These are all showing evidence of his trust and faithfulness in God. He literally has put all of his chips in. He knows he can go to the Lord any time for anything. He goes to Him when he's tempted, when he is being persecuted, to praise, and to plead.
Father, I pray that when we call you that we would really think of the significance behind you being a Father to us, which makes us your sons and daughters. God, I pray that we could think/refer/rely on you like this man. I want to turn to you in everything and have full faith that you will always be faithful and come to my side. Lord, give me the strength to call on your name in every situation. Help me not only turn to you...but to run to you! Jesus, thank you for what you did on that cross and what you continue to do in my heart.
I am overwhelmed with your love ad mercy in my life. You are my Great Deliverer and I will continue to trust in you through everything. Amen and Amen!
-My Rock/My Rock of Refuge
-My Hope
-My Confidence
-My Fortress
-My Strong Refuge
-My God
The psalmist had such a love and confidence in the Lord that he continued to call Him his own. He know his identity was in Christ along. When you identity is aligned correctly you will view yourself as a SON of God rather than a SLAVE or an ORPHAN..
Just look at the words above he used to describe the Lord. These are all showing evidence of his trust and faithfulness in God. He literally has put all of his chips in. He knows he can go to the Lord any time for anything. He goes to Him when he's tempted, when he is being persecuted, to praise, and to plead.
Father, I pray that when we call you that we would really think of the significance behind you being a Father to us, which makes us your sons and daughters. God, I pray that we could think/refer/rely on you like this man. I want to turn to you in everything and have full faith that you will always be faithful and come to my side. Lord, give me the strength to call on your name in every situation. Help me not only turn to you...but to run to you! Jesus, thank you for what you did on that cross and what you continue to do in my heart.
I am overwhelmed with your love ad mercy in my life. You are my Great Deliverer and I will continue to trust in you through everything. Amen and Amen!
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Desire of My Heart
I have been making my way through Isaiah lately and I am now on chapter 26. I came across a couple verses and I just was, yet again, astonished at some of the words...
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness." Isaiah 26:8-9
I was reading through and noticed how many times they use the word 'you' referring to God. Because of that and just the surrounding Scripture I could immediately tell that God himself was the wholehearted desire of this people! That is ALL they wanted! I compared to my own life and I was quite embarrassed. My life is nothing like these people...my heart is going in so many different directions, grabbing at so many different things. To put it bluntly, my heart is a whore to this world! I am so wrapped up in and blinded by these earthly things that I cannot see the things that God offers me! And the things he offers are a million times better than the things that I can try and muster up on my own!
Also reading through Psalms has got me thinking the same thing...
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
This Psalmist desires NOTHING on this earth except for the Creator of the Universe. I WANT THAT! I am insanely jealous of that! Portion...what do you think when you hear the word portion? I think of food. I think of a portion of food. Thanksgiving is closing in on us so lets say a turkey. I would get a portion of the turkey to eat. I am going to take a portion that satisfies my need. By saying portion they are saying again that God, and nothing else, is all they need! Not only all they need, but all the WANT.
I pray that my heart would be like these people. I pray that the only desire of my heart would be God and God alone; everything else falling in suit behind him. I plead with you, Lord, to give me that desire. Give me YOU as the ultimate desire of my heart. I know that's what I want, but I don't know if I completely understand my NEED. Father, show me my need for you. Spirit, work inside of me and change the desires of my heart from these worthless, earthly things, to you God. I desire for my soul to yearn for you and my spirit to long for you. Grant me this through your all-sufficient grace, O, God.
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness." Isaiah 26:8-9
I was reading through and noticed how many times they use the word 'you' referring to God. Because of that and just the surrounding Scripture I could immediately tell that God himself was the wholehearted desire of this people! That is ALL they wanted! I compared to my own life and I was quite embarrassed. My life is nothing like these people...my heart is going in so many different directions, grabbing at so many different things. To put it bluntly, my heart is a whore to this world! I am so wrapped up in and blinded by these earthly things that I cannot see the things that God offers me! And the things he offers are a million times better than the things that I can try and muster up on my own!
Also reading through Psalms has got me thinking the same thing...
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
This Psalmist desires NOTHING on this earth except for the Creator of the Universe. I WANT THAT! I am insanely jealous of that! Portion...what do you think when you hear the word portion? I think of food. I think of a portion of food. Thanksgiving is closing in on us so lets say a turkey. I would get a portion of the turkey to eat. I am going to take a portion that satisfies my need. By saying portion they are saying again that God, and nothing else, is all they need! Not only all they need, but all the WANT.
I pray that my heart would be like these people. I pray that the only desire of my heart would be God and God alone; everything else falling in suit behind him. I plead with you, Lord, to give me that desire. Give me YOU as the ultimate desire of my heart. I know that's what I want, but I don't know if I completely understand my NEED. Father, show me my need for you. Spirit, work inside of me and change the desires of my heart from these worthless, earthly things, to you God. I desire for my soul to yearn for you and my spirit to long for you. Grant me this through your all-sufficient grace, O, God.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Identity
Wow, school has just officially started and I am already busy! Just as a quick update, God has been so stinkin' faithful with EVERYTHING! Praying for Knutzen Men's and Women's Bible studies and God is providing residents of all years! I am so excited to see what else God may do with this place while I am here...praying that He would use me where he needs me. Just had an ice cream social last night to promote the Bible studies and we had a pretty decent turnout for that so praise Him!
So I have been thinking more and more about is how important our identities are. People are so very cautious these days when talking about things dealing with our identities. And rightfully so, I suppose, with all the identity thefts that happen today because of our ever-growing technological knowledge. But, I have also been finding that we as the human race find our identities in some really foolish things. People find their identities in music, in art, in their careers, in their failures, and in their successes. Some things that people find their identities in seem like they are good things, but, in reality they are not. We strive to find our identity in things that are eternally worthless. We strive, and work, and labor, and exert our efforts on things trying to please ourselves and maybe even trying to please God...but friends, it will all be for naught. This tendency in us to performance is rooted in our inadequate view of God's holiness and our identity. We view ourselves as orphans instead of children who God delights in.
Identity goes right along with the gospel and what the Bible spells out for us. Identity is one of the most significant facets of the gospel; more specifically, our adoption as God's sons and daughters. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we become God's children and are then literally apart of His family. But all too often we forget our identity as sons and daughters and think of ourselves as slaves or orphans. With that in mind take a look at what Galatians 4:4-7 says...
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
And also, Romans 8:14-18...
"because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
These two passages reveal to us that we are no longer "slaves of fear", but God has redeemed us from that and we are now his children, heirs to his Kingdom. If this is really true, why do we continue to forget about our sonship? It is because of sin that we are pone to forgetting. Our sin creates a sense of alienation within us, and when this happens we regress back into that orphan/slave mindset, trying to gain God's approval by our good works rather than believing that we already have it in Christ. When we fail to root our identity in our adoption as God's children, we slip into performance-driven Christianity. Living this way, always trying to gain God's favor, drains the joy and delight out of following Jesus and shrinks the cross and the gospel in our lives.
I want you to ask yourself a question...as God thinks of you right now, what is the look on his face?
What is he doing? What does he look like? Do you picture God as disappointed? Angry? Does his face say "Get your act together!"?
If you imagined God as anything but overjoyed with you, you have fallen into a performance mindset. Because of Christ, God is deeply satisfied with you! When you are in Christ, and God looks at you, he sees his beloved Son with whom he is well pleased! Jesus has perfectly met God's holy standard, and his obedience has been counted as yours and his righteousness has been credited to you!
Sin causes us to forget our identity, which drives us toward performance. And sin tempts us to trust in our own self-effort, which spurs us to act as slaves instead of children. Fight back against your sin by dwelling on your true identity as God's sons and daughters! Remind yourself that God is well pleased with you because he is please with Jesus. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves every single moment of every single day! We NEVER outgrow the gospel. As we walk in repentance and faith, repentance and faith, repentance and faith the gospel and the cross will loom larger in our lives.
There is a quote I remember...don't remember the originator, but here it is: "Whatever can take away your sense of worth or value is what gives it to you." In light of this, why do we need to get our sense of identity from Christ? Because if we put our identity in something that is not everlasting, it is only going to fade away. But when we put our value in Christ, we know that he loves us and will never diminish and never grow weary!
I pray that we all would take an honest look into our own lives and see where our identity lies. If it is in something, ANYTHING other then you, Lord, I pray that you would reveal that to us and strip it away. Lord, I do not want to lessen the cross in my life, I want it to grow! Father, when I call you 'Father'...I want to really know what that means. I want to take that as it was meant to be...you are my Father and I am your son. Father God, continue to show me that my identity belongs in Christ and nothing else. Continue to make it clear in my mind that you are to be my identity and the source of my value.
Psalms 149:4
So I have been thinking more and more about is how important our identities are. People are so very cautious these days when talking about things dealing with our identities. And rightfully so, I suppose, with all the identity thefts that happen today because of our ever-growing technological knowledge. But, I have also been finding that we as the human race find our identities in some really foolish things. People find their identities in music, in art, in their careers, in their failures, and in their successes. Some things that people find their identities in seem like they are good things, but, in reality they are not. We strive to find our identity in things that are eternally worthless. We strive, and work, and labor, and exert our efforts on things trying to please ourselves and maybe even trying to please God...but friends, it will all be for naught. This tendency in us to performance is rooted in our inadequate view of God's holiness and our identity. We view ourselves as orphans instead of children who God delights in.
Identity goes right along with the gospel and what the Bible spells out for us. Identity is one of the most significant facets of the gospel; more specifically, our adoption as God's sons and daughters. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we become God's children and are then literally apart of His family. But all too often we forget our identity as sons and daughters and think of ourselves as slaves or orphans. With that in mind take a look at what Galatians 4:4-7 says...
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
And also, Romans 8:14-18...
"because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
These two passages reveal to us that we are no longer "slaves of fear", but God has redeemed us from that and we are now his children, heirs to his Kingdom. If this is really true, why do we continue to forget about our sonship? It is because of sin that we are pone to forgetting. Our sin creates a sense of alienation within us, and when this happens we regress back into that orphan/slave mindset, trying to gain God's approval by our good works rather than believing that we already have it in Christ. When we fail to root our identity in our adoption as God's children, we slip into performance-driven Christianity. Living this way, always trying to gain God's favor, drains the joy and delight out of following Jesus and shrinks the cross and the gospel in our lives.
I want you to ask yourself a question...as God thinks of you right now, what is the look on his face?
What is he doing? What does he look like? Do you picture God as disappointed? Angry? Does his face say "Get your act together!"?
If you imagined God as anything but overjoyed with you, you have fallen into a performance mindset. Because of Christ, God is deeply satisfied with you! When you are in Christ, and God looks at you, he sees his beloved Son with whom he is well pleased! Jesus has perfectly met God's holy standard, and his obedience has been counted as yours and his righteousness has been credited to you!
Sin causes us to forget our identity, which drives us toward performance. And sin tempts us to trust in our own self-effort, which spurs us to act as slaves instead of children. Fight back against your sin by dwelling on your true identity as God's sons and daughters! Remind yourself that God is well pleased with you because he is please with Jesus. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves every single moment of every single day! We NEVER outgrow the gospel. As we walk in repentance and faith, repentance and faith, repentance and faith the gospel and the cross will loom larger in our lives.
There is a quote I remember...don't remember the originator, but here it is: "Whatever can take away your sense of worth or value is what gives it to you." In light of this, why do we need to get our sense of identity from Christ? Because if we put our identity in something that is not everlasting, it is only going to fade away. But when we put our value in Christ, we know that he loves us and will never diminish and never grow weary!
I pray that we all would take an honest look into our own lives and see where our identity lies. If it is in something, ANYTHING other then you, Lord, I pray that you would reveal that to us and strip it away. Lord, I do not want to lessen the cross in my life, I want it to grow! Father, when I call you 'Father'...I want to really know what that means. I want to take that as it was meant to be...you are my Father and I am your son. Father God, continue to show me that my identity belongs in Christ and nothing else. Continue to make it clear in my mind that you are to be my identity and the source of my value.
Psalms 149:4
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Stumbling Into Godliness
Wow...it has been too long! Haha...almost 20 days ago was my last post! Sorry about that, by the way, but it has been a crazy past month! I am back at school for CA (RA) training and that has kept me busy every day we have been here! Students come in on Saturday and I am sooooooo stinkin' EXCITED!!! I am praying that God would do incredible things on this campus this year and I know that He is going to be faithful in those requests!
Something that I kind of stumbled into in my time with the Lord in these past couple days has been thinking more and more about the process of sanctification. Sanctification means "to be set apart from" or "become holy". Obviously in my walk with the Lord this has been a huge part of my prayer life; I have prayed often that God would make me more holy and help me live the way He wants me to....and that has been the extent of my sanctification process.
As I was traveling through scripture these past couple days and listening to various sermons I have come across this idea of discipline in sanctification. Now this seems like a pretty simple thing to discover or come across, but I had never really put much thought into it before. I had always assumed that if there was any trace of my own effort in trying to become more holy, it was illegitimate because it was being done in my own power. I would just pray for holiness and sanctification and continue living the way I was living. This IS NOT how sanctification works!!! There is a discipline element to growing in godliness; it never just occurs. No one just wakes up and knows the Scriptures and prays constantly...it is to be worked at.
Before people start jumping down my throat, just hear me out...but I think there needs to be more effort on our ends in the sanctification process. Not effort in our own power, but effort through the Spirit, only by the power of Christ...grace-driven effort. The only effort that will matter is if God allows us, by His grace, to do those things and Him making us more holy.
Look at John 5:14...Jesus has just healed a man and has run into him again. Jesus gives him an odd warning; "stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." Jesus tells the man to stop sinning! But wait a second....I know what you are thinking...as a sinful human being I cannot just stop sinning! Its in my very nature to do so! When Jesus says "sin no more", he doesn't mean on your own. He is saying "Look what I've done! Wake up! I've come into the world to save sinners, I've come into the world to change things. LOOK to me; KNOW ME! And in the power you have just experienced, fight your sin! Fight, through the strength and Spirit I have given to you." Another example...
In Colossians 3:5 Paul instructs the Colossians to "put to death" their sinful nature. In the Greek, this is a command of action; a direct command to murder. God is telling us in this verse that we need to murder those things that hinder us. He is saying put to death sexual immorality, lust, greed, idolatry because if we do not do something about these "little sins" we are creating in our own souls a climate ripe and ground fertile for "varsity sins". The reason we need to violently attack even the "small sins" is because they create this enviornment conducive to the growth of sins that will destroy and harm not only our souls, but slander the name of God and wound and hurt all of those around us.
John Piper talks about this idea of putting to death of our sinful nature:
"The only possible attitude toward out of control desire is a declaration of all out war. I hear so many Christians murmuring about their imperfections and their failures and their addictions and their shortcomings and I see so little war! Murmur, murmur, murmur...why am I this way? MAKE WAR! There is a mean, violent streak to the TRUE Christian life. Violent to whom or what? Violent on every impulse in our souls to be violent to other people. Violence of mean streak in Christianity against our own selves and all in us that would make peace with sin and a settling in the peacetime mindset. A violence against all lust in ourselves. All enslaving desires for food, caffeine, sugar, chocolate, alcohol, pornography, money, the praise of man, approval of others, power, fame...this is our enemy! This is where we make war! It is a violence against all racism in our souls, all sluggish indifference to injustice in our souls. A violence against all indifference to poverty and abortion. The only foothold Satan has in your life is your flesh and your sin. Nobody goes to Hell because of Satan, the only reason we go to Hell is sin. Much more than fighting Satan is fighting sin. My biggest enemy is not Satan...my biggest enemy is John Piper, and he is the only reason I will go to Hell, not Satan. Satan doesn't have NEARLY that kind of power! Christianity is not a settle in, live-in-peace-with-the-world-the-way-it-is-religion like most Christians live their daily lives."
I agree %100 with Piper in that we all live these lives, not knowing or not wanting to face the reality that we are at war. We are at war with demonic forces and we are at war with ourselves and our sinful nature! It is about time that we pick up our swords and learn to fight; learn to swing!
Not only do we need grace-driven effort in bringing violence against our sin but we also need it in getting in the word, praying, memorizing scripture, etc. All of these things do NOT come easily and will most likely NOT happen over night. What do you think is the reason Paul says to "LABOR with him in prayer" and "TRAIN yourself in godliness" and "be on your GAURD; STAND FIRM in the faith; be men of courage; BE STRONG"? Its because he knows that it is not easy and that it is going to take EFFORT and a lot of it! Effort that cannot come from you or me, but only by the grace of God and only when we ask for it.
No one stumbles into godliness...
Let me repeat that...
NO ONE STUMBLES INTO GODLINESS!
Holiness doesn't just happen over night...it is something that is to be worked at and chased after. We need to be actively pursuing righteousness. If you are doing nothing today in regards to godliness and if you are tolerating the sin in your life, today's sins will beget more sin later. And while you are allowing it to grow and flourish, you are also suppressing sanctification and godliness to grow in your life. We must have a devotion to these things, making them disciplines in our lives to grow in holiness.
Father, I pray that we could go to you for our strength. I plea that you would allow us to strive toward you, Lord. We know that we can do nothing without you and trying to develop godly habits without you is impossible. I beg, God, that you would cultivate in us a desire to grow in holiness and I request that you give us the means necessary for that process. Give us yourself, Lord...give us your Spirit so we can act upon what we learn from your Word. I pray that we could take it from learning and put it into action. God give us the strength.
Something that I kind of stumbled into in my time with the Lord in these past couple days has been thinking more and more about the process of sanctification. Sanctification means "to be set apart from" or "become holy". Obviously in my walk with the Lord this has been a huge part of my prayer life; I have prayed often that God would make me more holy and help me live the way He wants me to....and that has been the extent of my sanctification process.
As I was traveling through scripture these past couple days and listening to various sermons I have come across this idea of discipline in sanctification. Now this seems like a pretty simple thing to discover or come across, but I had never really put much thought into it before. I had always assumed that if there was any trace of my own effort in trying to become more holy, it was illegitimate because it was being done in my own power. I would just pray for holiness and sanctification and continue living the way I was living. This IS NOT how sanctification works!!! There is a discipline element to growing in godliness; it never just occurs. No one just wakes up and knows the Scriptures and prays constantly...it is to be worked at.
Before people start jumping down my throat, just hear me out...but I think there needs to be more effort on our ends in the sanctification process. Not effort in our own power, but effort through the Spirit, only by the power of Christ...grace-driven effort. The only effort that will matter is if God allows us, by His grace, to do those things and Him making us more holy.
Look at John 5:14...Jesus has just healed a man and has run into him again. Jesus gives him an odd warning; "stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." Jesus tells the man to stop sinning! But wait a second....I know what you are thinking...as a sinful human being I cannot just stop sinning! Its in my very nature to do so! When Jesus says "sin no more", he doesn't mean on your own. He is saying "Look what I've done! Wake up! I've come into the world to save sinners, I've come into the world to change things. LOOK to me; KNOW ME! And in the power you have just experienced, fight your sin! Fight, through the strength and Spirit I have given to you." Another example...
In Colossians 3:5 Paul instructs the Colossians to "put to death" their sinful nature. In the Greek, this is a command of action; a direct command to murder. God is telling us in this verse that we need to murder those things that hinder us. He is saying put to death sexual immorality, lust, greed, idolatry because if we do not do something about these "little sins" we are creating in our own souls a climate ripe and ground fertile for "varsity sins". The reason we need to violently attack even the "small sins" is because they create this enviornment conducive to the growth of sins that will destroy and harm not only our souls, but slander the name of God and wound and hurt all of those around us.
John Piper talks about this idea of putting to death of our sinful nature:
"The only possible attitude toward out of control desire is a declaration of all out war. I hear so many Christians murmuring about their imperfections and their failures and their addictions and their shortcomings and I see so little war! Murmur, murmur, murmur...why am I this way? MAKE WAR! There is a mean, violent streak to the TRUE Christian life. Violent to whom or what? Violent on every impulse in our souls to be violent to other people. Violence of mean streak in Christianity against our own selves and all in us that would make peace with sin and a settling in the peacetime mindset. A violence against all lust in ourselves. All enslaving desires for food, caffeine, sugar, chocolate, alcohol, pornography, money, the praise of man, approval of others, power, fame...this is our enemy! This is where we make war! It is a violence against all racism in our souls, all sluggish indifference to injustice in our souls. A violence against all indifference to poverty and abortion. The only foothold Satan has in your life is your flesh and your sin. Nobody goes to Hell because of Satan, the only reason we go to Hell is sin. Much more than fighting Satan is fighting sin. My biggest enemy is not Satan...my biggest enemy is John Piper, and he is the only reason I will go to Hell, not Satan. Satan doesn't have NEARLY that kind of power! Christianity is not a settle in, live-in-peace-with-the-world-the-way-it-is-religion like most Christians live their daily lives."
I agree %100 with Piper in that we all live these lives, not knowing or not wanting to face the reality that we are at war. We are at war with demonic forces and we are at war with ourselves and our sinful nature! It is about time that we pick up our swords and learn to fight; learn to swing!
Not only do we need grace-driven effort in bringing violence against our sin but we also need it in getting in the word, praying, memorizing scripture, etc. All of these things do NOT come easily and will most likely NOT happen over night. What do you think is the reason Paul says to "LABOR with him in prayer" and "TRAIN yourself in godliness" and "be on your GAURD; STAND FIRM in the faith; be men of courage; BE STRONG"? Its because he knows that it is not easy and that it is going to take EFFORT and a lot of it! Effort that cannot come from you or me, but only by the grace of God and only when we ask for it.
No one stumbles into godliness...
Let me repeat that...
NO ONE STUMBLES INTO GODLINESS!
Holiness doesn't just happen over night...it is something that is to be worked at and chased after. We need to be actively pursuing righteousness. If you are doing nothing today in regards to godliness and if you are tolerating the sin in your life, today's sins will beget more sin later. And while you are allowing it to grow and flourish, you are also suppressing sanctification and godliness to grow in your life. We must have a devotion to these things, making them disciplines in our lives to grow in holiness.
Father, I pray that we could go to you for our strength. I plea that you would allow us to strive toward you, Lord. We know that we can do nothing without you and trying to develop godly habits without you is impossible. I beg, God, that you would cultivate in us a desire to grow in holiness and I request that you give us the means necessary for that process. Give us yourself, Lord...give us your Spirit so we can act upon what we learn from your Word. I pray that we could take it from learning and put it into action. God give us the strength.
Monday, August 9, 2010
WordsWordsWords....
Today I was thinking back to my time spent in San Diego, specifically about some really funny memories and stories that I have collected. I thought about how all the staff members had a BLAST dressing up for the Staff Hunt, fun games with sticky hands, and other games concerning fruit salad! But the one that stuck out to me the most today was a game coined 'Copy!'. In this game whenever someone says something that could very easily be taken out of context and maybe even thought badly of, someone else in the room who hears can call out "Copy!" Then, whenever the 'copier' wants to, they can call out "Paste!" and the person whose comment was 'copied' then needs to repeat what their 'copied' statement was, no matter how ridiculous and no matter what the context! Think of copy and pasting like in a word document.......OK, sounds a little childish, but it is so much fun and gets some good laughs! It also makes you more aware of the things that you say.
We use words every single day; we express love, hatred, praise, complaints, everything through words. In one of my favorite movies, 'V for Vendetta', the main character describes words: "While the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth." In short, words are POWERFUL. Whether we want to admit that or not, the words that come from our mouths are more powerful than we even think.
Our words have a drastic effect on the people around us in both positive and negative ways. King Solomon writes in Proverbs 16:27-28 about words used negatively:
"A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."
This really reminded me of how sarcastic I can be sometimes. Whenever I use sarcasm, I almost IMMEDIATELY regret it, because even if I am "just joking" there always seems to be a bit of truth to every sarcastic comment I make. Whether the comment is hurtful to someone or just reveals my real attitude in the situation, it always gives me and others a little window into what is really going on in my heart. I mean, its exactly like Jesus says in Luke 6:45, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." You can tell if you are filled with the Holy Spirit or walking in your own power and flesh by what the overflow of your heart is! Its as simple as that, friends! But, like everything, there is a flip-side...the positive to it all.
Like I said, words are stinkin' powerful! I can name a million times when I've used words to hurt others, put them down, try to pull the speck out of a brothers eye (and forgetting the log in mine), gossiping about others...I could go on and on about all the negative things I have used words for, but they can also be so influentially positive. Words of affirmation and encouragement are INCREDIBLY powerful in someone else's life. Speaking words of wisdom and truth from God's Word is an AMAZING encouragement to others along with our personal encouragements for them. King Solomon says in Proverbs 16:23-24:
"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Mmmmmmmmmm...I won't spoil that one with my over abounding personal explanations. Let's just leave it at that...Amen!
Brothers and sisters, I pray that we could think of ourselves in a constant game of 'Copy!', always watching what we say. I pray that we could realize when we are walking in our own strength and pray to be filled with the Spirit. I pray that we can be careful of what we say to others. Even if we are "joking", I really want us to take an honest look to see what our words are revealing about the conditions of our hearts. We can choose what we are going to use our words for, let's choose to use them for the good of others and to the glory of God. Amen.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
---Ephesians 4:29
We use words every single day; we express love, hatred, praise, complaints, everything through words. In one of my favorite movies, 'V for Vendetta', the main character describes words: "While the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth." In short, words are POWERFUL. Whether we want to admit that or not, the words that come from our mouths are more powerful than we even think.
Our words have a drastic effect on the people around us in both positive and negative ways. King Solomon writes in Proverbs 16:27-28 about words used negatively:
"A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."
This really reminded me of how sarcastic I can be sometimes. Whenever I use sarcasm, I almost IMMEDIATELY regret it, because even if I am "just joking" there always seems to be a bit of truth to every sarcastic comment I make. Whether the comment is hurtful to someone or just reveals my real attitude in the situation, it always gives me and others a little window into what is really going on in my heart. I mean, its exactly like Jesus says in Luke 6:45, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." You can tell if you are filled with the Holy Spirit or walking in your own power and flesh by what the overflow of your heart is! Its as simple as that, friends! But, like everything, there is a flip-side...the positive to it all.
Like I said, words are stinkin' powerful! I can name a million times when I've used words to hurt others, put them down, try to pull the speck out of a brothers eye (and forgetting the log in mine), gossiping about others...I could go on and on about all the negative things I have used words for, but they can also be so influentially positive. Words of affirmation and encouragement are INCREDIBLY powerful in someone else's life. Speaking words of wisdom and truth from God's Word is an AMAZING encouragement to others along with our personal encouragements for them. King Solomon says in Proverbs 16:23-24:
"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Mmmmmmmmmm...I won't spoil that one with my over abounding personal explanations. Let's just leave it at that...Amen!
Brothers and sisters, I pray that we could think of ourselves in a constant game of 'Copy!', always watching what we say. I pray that we could realize when we are walking in our own strength and pray to be filled with the Spirit. I pray that we can be careful of what we say to others. Even if we are "joking", I really want us to take an honest look to see what our words are revealing about the conditions of our hearts. We can choose what we are going to use our words for, let's choose to use them for the good of others and to the glory of God. Amen.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
---Ephesians 4:29
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Lamp To My Feet...Light For My Path
Sometimes when getting in time with the Lord in singing songs, prayer, and getting into His Word, things can get dry for me. Sometimes it is just difficult to WANT to do those things, to DESIRE to have them be apart of my every day routine. I think the majority of this happens when I am dealing with the Word.
Something I vow to do with my life is be real with people...so, here it is...sometimes I get bored with the Word of God....there I said it! Let the silent judgments come forth. But, seriously, sometimes I just can't "get into it" and it seems like I am wasting my time when I am not doing it wholeheartedly. So I put it down and don't look back...that is until some sin from my past comes creeping back to the forefront because it sees my defenses are down and I am vulnerable. It always seems that when I do slip into those past habitual sins it is largely because I was not getting in the Word.
Lately I have been praying through the 22 stanzas of Psalm 119, and it has been AMAZING! Psalm 119 is all about God's Word and how important it is in our daily lives. By praying the contents I feel as if I am expressing true heartfelt admiration to God, who has so lovingly bestowed this great gift on us. Its his very words to us! How stinkin' awesome is that?! From praying through this chapter God is developing a fervent yearning for my personal life to reflect the loveliness and goodness displayed in this book. I now not only want it to, but I NEED it to shape my character into that of God's character. To rely on him and his Word for my life to reflect His forgiveness, His grace, His love; making me into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I am seeing things in here that I have read over a hundred times before, but are now becoming more and more clear to me in different ways. Example... 1 Corinthians 13, everyone knows this one or has seen part of it written on some Midwestern household wall decoration ("Faith, Hope, Love"; "Love Never Fails", etc). Since I have been praying through Psalm 119, 1 Corinthians 13 has taken brand new meaning and power in my walk with the Lord! Not only reading how magnificent and wondrous his redeeming love is, but actually feeling it more and more throughout my day!
Another...even just the title of this entry, "Lamp To My Feet...Light For My Path", this is what God's Word has become for me this past summer. I have been turning to it for every decision, praying that God would reveal something, anything to me in it! And He has proved Himself faithful yet again, showing me the desires of His own heart for my life. It has become my lamp to light my way through this life and my shield against the flaming arrows the evil one slings my way.
This psalm reflects the view that the Lord, who abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness and who therefore freely and fully forgives his people when they confess their sins, loves his people without limit, and therefore also guides the faithful in the way of life that is genuinely good and beautiful. It speaks the language of one ravished with moral beauty, to which there is only one fitting response...to try and reproduce this beauty, as much as possible, in one's daily life. There is no pretense of perfection here, only yearning, and trust, and dependence on God. He is the one who does the changing in our lives, not us. We only need to submit to him and his Word.
I pray that we can all see how vital these words are in our lives. This is not just a book, people! This is the LIVING, ACTIVE, WORD OF GOD!!! It convicts us, rebukes us, shows us of God's love, mercy, and grace for us! It is the gospel, the GOOD NEWS! Praise the Lord that he has granted us such an amazing gift! He has given us everlasting life through these words...praise be to His name, forever. Amen.
Something I vow to do with my life is be real with people...so, here it is...sometimes I get bored with the Word of God....there I said it! Let the silent judgments come forth. But, seriously, sometimes I just can't "get into it" and it seems like I am wasting my time when I am not doing it wholeheartedly. So I put it down and don't look back...that is until some sin from my past comes creeping back to the forefront because it sees my defenses are down and I am vulnerable. It always seems that when I do slip into those past habitual sins it is largely because I was not getting in the Word.
Lately I have been praying through the 22 stanzas of Psalm 119, and it has been AMAZING! Psalm 119 is all about God's Word and how important it is in our daily lives. By praying the contents I feel as if I am expressing true heartfelt admiration to God, who has so lovingly bestowed this great gift on us. Its his very words to us! How stinkin' awesome is that?! From praying through this chapter God is developing a fervent yearning for my personal life to reflect the loveliness and goodness displayed in this book. I now not only want it to, but I NEED it to shape my character into that of God's character. To rely on him and his Word for my life to reflect His forgiveness, His grace, His love; making me into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I am seeing things in here that I have read over a hundred times before, but are now becoming more and more clear to me in different ways. Example... 1 Corinthians 13, everyone knows this one or has seen part of it written on some Midwestern household wall decoration ("Faith, Hope, Love"; "Love Never Fails", etc). Since I have been praying through Psalm 119, 1 Corinthians 13 has taken brand new meaning and power in my walk with the Lord! Not only reading how magnificent and wondrous his redeeming love is, but actually feeling it more and more throughout my day!
Another...even just the title of this entry, "Lamp To My Feet...Light For My Path", this is what God's Word has become for me this past summer. I have been turning to it for every decision, praying that God would reveal something, anything to me in it! And He has proved Himself faithful yet again, showing me the desires of His own heart for my life. It has become my lamp to light my way through this life and my shield against the flaming arrows the evil one slings my way.
This psalm reflects the view that the Lord, who abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness and who therefore freely and fully forgives his people when they confess their sins, loves his people without limit, and therefore also guides the faithful in the way of life that is genuinely good and beautiful. It speaks the language of one ravished with moral beauty, to which there is only one fitting response...to try and reproduce this beauty, as much as possible, in one's daily life. There is no pretense of perfection here, only yearning, and trust, and dependence on God. He is the one who does the changing in our lives, not us. We only need to submit to him and his Word.
I pray that we can all see how vital these words are in our lives. This is not just a book, people! This is the LIVING, ACTIVE, WORD OF GOD!!! It convicts us, rebukes us, shows us of God's love, mercy, and grace for us! It is the gospel, the GOOD NEWS! Praise the Lord that he has granted us such an amazing gift! He has given us everlasting life through these words...praise be to His name, forever. Amen.
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