Ps 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
The Original NLT has it this way…
Friendship with the lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.
Properly fearing the lord, which means trusting him and clinging to him just as much as we fear him... and pursuing friendship with him on that basis, points to an increased intimacy and knowledge, both experientially and cognitively.
If someone really matters to you, you will spend time with them and that time will deliver pleasure and benefit no matter how it is spent. Does God divulge secrets? Does he share some things with those closest to him while allowing others to merely scratch the surface? Do some, as Piper puts it, “Rake leaves while others mine gold”?
Though some mornings I feel dull and my mind wanders, there are other mornings where I feel I could burst. I write, I rejoice, I find what I am looking for: food for my soul that makes my heart glad.
This Sunday morning, I will get up at 5:30 as I always do, but before I enjoy devotions, I will hide Easter eggs for the kids. At 7 They will hunt for them and the hunt will be half the fun. They would be disappointed if I just handed them to them. Working for them, looking for them, makes them so much more valuable when found.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Why Then Do We Still Fail?
Anonymous said...
Satan is defeated, in that we no longer fear death, but why, Andy, do we still fail due to Satan's lies and deceit while we are still living in this world? Is it because we do not fully understand or take hold of the fact that he is defeated, or does he still have some real power here in this world? Since he "[fell] from heaven like a lightning bolt", has he been here trying to trip us up? And what is our best defense against that?
April 18, 2011 12:33 PM
It is worse than that we “don’t understand”. We sin because we love it, because we prefer it and choose it over pleasing God in the moment. Until we cut through our pride and admit that our sinful desires demand instant gratification and we love to satisfy them, we will never defeat the actions that spring from them.
What is not defeated is our will. We still want to sin. Sin provides some pleasure, some relief, some status or benefit and we want it and refuse to consider the consequences to our consciences. Every time I knowingly sin, it is because I want to. That is the truth of 1Cor 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I ought to be able to kid myself. When I want to gaze at something, think something, say something, eat something that I shouldn’t, I ought to recognize my sinful desire that says, “I want…” and say to that desire, “of course you do. You’re a sinful desire that hasn’t been put to death yet. Here let me help you with that…” and smother the bastard desire before he grows into a fully developed sinful action.
If you do not, your own sinful nature, in cahoots with the devil and his world full of attractions will steal your joy in the lord which is your strength. Learn this lesson every time you sin and know…
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Satan is defeated, in that we no longer fear death, but why, Andy, do we still fail due to Satan's lies and deceit while we are still living in this world? Is it because we do not fully understand or take hold of the fact that he is defeated, or does he still have some real power here in this world? Since he "[fell] from heaven like a lightning bolt", has he been here trying to trip us up? And what is our best defense against that?
April 18, 2011 12:33 PM
It is worse than that we “don’t understand”. We sin because we love it, because we prefer it and choose it over pleasing God in the moment. Until we cut through our pride and admit that our sinful desires demand instant gratification and we love to satisfy them, we will never defeat the actions that spring from them.
What is not defeated is our will. We still want to sin. Sin provides some pleasure, some relief, some status or benefit and we want it and refuse to consider the consequences to our consciences. Every time I knowingly sin, it is because I want to. That is the truth of 1Cor 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I ought to be able to kid myself. When I want to gaze at something, think something, say something, eat something that I shouldn’t, I ought to recognize my sinful desire that says, “I want…” and say to that desire, “of course you do. You’re a sinful desire that hasn’t been put to death yet. Here let me help you with that…” and smother the bastard desire before he grows into a fully developed sinful action.
If you do not, your own sinful nature, in cahoots with the devil and his world full of attractions will steal your joy in the lord which is your strength. Learn this lesson every time you sin and know…
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Defeat of Satan
Psalms 76:5 Our boldest enemies have been plundered.
Seen from one angle, The defeat of Satan pictures people as mere possessions to be carted off according to the will of whomever is stronger. There is no mention of our will. The only focus is on the supremacy of Christ in the work of redemption.
Luke 11:21 For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe 22 until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.
Every person who comes to trust and treasure Christ is another display of his superior strength. Satan is defeated. He can no longer cause the believer to be controlled by a fear of death and thus be given over to living for the purpose of being distracted from death.
Hebrews 2:14b …only by dying could [Jesus] break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying
Referring to his impending death, Jesus states… John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
The judgment for the sin of the world fell upon the scourged and crucified Christ. The whole world is invited to take part in the benefits of that payment. Satan is stripped, disarmed, despite the fact that many don’t know it or choose not to believe it.
You could be free. You could have victory over Satan and the fear of death. And you could rejoice not only in that victory, but in the spoils of victory, the community of the redeemed amongst their redeemer for all eternity.
Luke 10 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
Seen from one angle, The defeat of Satan pictures people as mere possessions to be carted off according to the will of whomever is stronger. There is no mention of our will. The only focus is on the supremacy of Christ in the work of redemption.
Luke 11:21 For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe 22 until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.
Every person who comes to trust and treasure Christ is another display of his superior strength. Satan is defeated. He can no longer cause the believer to be controlled by a fear of death and thus be given over to living for the purpose of being distracted from death.
Hebrews 2:14b …only by dying could [Jesus] break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying
Referring to his impending death, Jesus states… John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
The judgment for the sin of the world fell upon the scourged and crucified Christ. The whole world is invited to take part in the benefits of that payment. Satan is stripped, disarmed, despite the fact that many don’t know it or choose not to believe it.
You could be free. You could have victory over Satan and the fear of death. And you could rejoice not only in that victory, but in the spoils of victory, the community of the redeemed amongst their redeemer for all eternity.
Luke 10 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
Monday, April 11, 2011
No Sex In Heaven
Luke 20:35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.
Angels and children are given as examples of beings made by God who experience fullness of joy apart from sexual desire and satisfaction. If one were to ask what sex is anyway, it is this:
The desire for physical pleasure.
Psalms 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
The desire for intimacy, to know and be fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
The desire to give one’s self to one who also longs to be enjoyed.
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Galatians 1:4 [The Lord Jesus Christ] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Genesis 15:1 Do not be afraid… I am your shield, your very great reward.
The desire for acceptance and love and a place that feels like home, where we belong, what we were made for.
John 14:2 I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Sex is only a foretaste of divine satisfaction, not an end in itself. Sex is a candle to be extinguished when the sun rises. It is a satisfaction to be surpasses by far. We will already be happier than the man in the Viagra commercial skipping down the street. We will have stronger desires to be satisfied like any exhausted lover longing for sleep. We will be married, the bride of Christ, happier in him than any memory of sign-post intimacy could ever make us. There will be no sex in heaven and we won’t miss it a bit.
For the church to enjoy it and keep sex in its proper place here on earth would be a testimony to a culture that seeks to drain the dregs of pleasure out of whatever empty bottle it finds lying around.
Angels and children are given as examples of beings made by God who experience fullness of joy apart from sexual desire and satisfaction. If one were to ask what sex is anyway, it is this:
The desire for physical pleasure.
Psalms 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
The desire for intimacy, to know and be fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
The desire to give one’s self to one who also longs to be enjoyed.
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Galatians 1:4 [The Lord Jesus Christ] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Genesis 15:1 Do not be afraid… I am your shield, your very great reward.
The desire for acceptance and love and a place that feels like home, where we belong, what we were made for.
John 14:2 I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Sex is only a foretaste of divine satisfaction, not an end in itself. Sex is a candle to be extinguished when the sun rises. It is a satisfaction to be surpasses by far. We will already be happier than the man in the Viagra commercial skipping down the street. We will have stronger desires to be satisfied like any exhausted lover longing for sleep. We will be married, the bride of Christ, happier in him than any memory of sign-post intimacy could ever make us. There will be no sex in heaven and we won’t miss it a bit.
For the church to enjoy it and keep sex in its proper place here on earth would be a testimony to a culture that seeks to drain the dregs of pleasure out of whatever empty bottle it finds lying around.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Love of Most Will Grow Cold
Besides earthquakes, tsunamis and the crumbling of the world economy, one of the signs of the end of the world as we know it will be this:
Matthew 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…
For love to grow cold, it has to have first been hot. Those who once illustrated a passionate love for Christ will walk away from church and every vestige of sacrificial faith. They will prefer financial gain, sports and entertainment and leisure, anything that has immediate payoff as opposed to hoping for the promised eternal rewards of faith and service.
And Jesus doesn’t say this might happen. It is prophesied, predicted like…
John 13:38 I tell you the truth, Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
Jesus knows what our hearts will do. But we are still responsible and will bear the consequences of our desires and actions. Though the widespread chilling of passionate faith is certain, it is still difficult to watch for one whose joy is dependent on the Christian joy of others.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
When I watch dozens of new people stream into our church and our attendance numbers stay virtually the same, I know, like lots of other pastors know, that the “regulars” are coming less frequently.
The church becomes like Wal-Mart, just visited when there is a felt need or we can spare the time.
I guess I have to watch this happen. But I hate it. And it concerns me that it doesn’t concern those who are drifting away, because drifting leads to shipwreck. And no one wants that for you.
Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
The love of most will grow cold. This will happen. It doesn’t have to happen to you.
Luke 10:27-28
You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, Love your neighbour as yourself…. Do this and you will live!
Matthew 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…
For love to grow cold, it has to have first been hot. Those who once illustrated a passionate love for Christ will walk away from church and every vestige of sacrificial faith. They will prefer financial gain, sports and entertainment and leisure, anything that has immediate payoff as opposed to hoping for the promised eternal rewards of faith and service.
And Jesus doesn’t say this might happen. It is prophesied, predicted like…
John 13:38 I tell you the truth, Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
Jesus knows what our hearts will do. But we are still responsible and will bear the consequences of our desires and actions. Though the widespread chilling of passionate faith is certain, it is still difficult to watch for one whose joy is dependent on the Christian joy of others.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
When I watch dozens of new people stream into our church and our attendance numbers stay virtually the same, I know, like lots of other pastors know, that the “regulars” are coming less frequently.
The church becomes like Wal-Mart, just visited when there is a felt need or we can spare the time.
I guess I have to watch this happen. But I hate it. And it concerns me that it doesn’t concern those who are drifting away, because drifting leads to shipwreck. And no one wants that for you.
Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
The love of most will grow cold. This will happen. It doesn’t have to happen to you.
Luke 10:27-28
You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, Love your neighbour as yourself…. Do this and you will live!
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