Latest Entries »

“The True Cross” ~A.W. Tozer

Filed under: Edifying Quotes, The Good News — Leave a comment
March 28, 2013

OldRuggedCross_B&W“The loss, the rejection, the shame, belong both to Christ and to all who in very truth are His. The cross that saves them also slays them, and anything short of this is a pseudo-faith and not true faith at all. But what are we to say when the great majority of our evangelical leaders walk not as crucified men but as those who accept the world at its own value—rejecting only its grosser elements? How can we face Him who was crucified and slain when we see His followers accepted and praised? Yet they preach the cross and protest loudly that they are true believers. Are there then two crosses? And did Paul mean one thing and they another? I fear that it is so, that there are two crosses, the old cross and the new.

“. . . But if I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of self-assured and carnal Christianity whose hands are indeed the hands of Abel, but whose voice is the voice of Cain. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it. The old cross brought tears and blood; the new cross brings laughter. The flesh, smiling and confident, preaches and sings about the cross; before the cross it bows and toward the cross it points with carefully staged histrionics—but upon that cross it will not die, and the reproach of that cross it stubbornly refuses to bear.”

A. W. Tozer, God’s Pursuit of Man (Camp Hill, PA: Wingspread, 1950), 53.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Comment

Psalm 29:2 – True Worship and Beauty

Filed under: My Bible Commentary, Truth — Leave a comment
March 20, 2013

Open BibleWORSHIP: Worship isn’t just singing a tune in the car or an emotional experience during a church service. Rather, it’s a heart of adoration, devotion, and obedience. It’s the intentional and willing surrender of your heart and mind to a particular person or object. One might even say the one you worship is properly your obsession.

BEAUTY: Beauty is truly more than skin deep, especially when it comes to the Lord. His beauty is so much more that what He looks like. Too often in our generation beauty is associated with the visual: a sunset or famous model, but beauty has levels and layers far beyond the outward appearance. Jesus’ truth and mercy, His grace and justice; all of His non-visual attributes all come together to radiate His true beauty. Beholding His glory will truly be an eternally beautiful reality that will far outweigh anything we can merely see with our eyes! His beauty will penetrate our understanding, bringing to light the depth of Psalm 29:2.

“Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comment

The Battle Has Just Begun (Part 2)

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment
March 17, 2013

Bible Sword ImageAnother easily forgotten facet in this spiritual battle is this- people are not our ultimate enemies.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12. Oh, how easy it is to walk by sight, losing our eternal focus!  Although men are the enemies of God, may we never forget they are also blinded by sin, self, and Satan.  In the end God will be their judge, not us.

In an earthly battle, a sword is nothing less than an efficient and effective instrument of combat, one that has accompanied many a hand over the centuries.  Before His arrest, Jesus even instructed the disciples to buy swords to carry with them in their travels. (Luke 22:36) Although many around the world no longer own swords, spiritually speaking the battle still rages and only a sword will do.  God’s Word is our sword and the Word serves as the only effective offensive weapon in our spiritual arsenal.

The Word of God is both living and active, which reveals that the power of the Word does not merely come from the ink on the pages of the Book.  Rather it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Word of God.  Working through the power of the Holy Spirit, His truth and love flow from Heaven’s throne, bringing to life His Word, bringing the light of the glorious Gospel to life in hearts and minds of all willing readers.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

“You Only Live Once”

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment

Bible Light Bulb Image“You only live once” has been used innumerably throughout the centuries to give people permission to do things they probably shouldn’t. In reality, they’re really saying they only live one time in this body, so let’s eat, drink, and be merry. But declaring “you only live once” really stands in judgement against those seeking to use it as a cloak to cover their sins. 

The truth is, living once means we only have one short lifetime to turn to Jesus. We only have one life to ask Him to forgive us of our sins. As born again believers, we only have one time in our earthly tents to walk uprightly, allowing His Holy Spirit to work in our lives so we can be effective witnesses of His glorious Gospel to the lost. 

Saying we only live once shouldn’t be a slogan that gives us permission to slide, but to stand firm on the Rock and live a life pleasing to the Savior. After all, we only have one time to live on this side of Heaven or Hell.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” 1 Corinthians 7:23-24

Tags: , , , ,
Comment

“Christ in You” ~Major Ian Thomas

Filed under: Edifying Quotes — Leave a comment
March 14, 2013

5405_3d_space_scene_hd_wallpapers1
“To be in Christ–that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you–that is sanctification! To be in Christ–that makes you fit for heaven; but for Christ to be in you –that makes you fit for earth! To be in Christ –that changes yours destination; but for Christ to be in you–that changes your destiny! The one makes heaven your home–the other makes this world His workshop.” ~Major Ian Thomas

Tags: , , , , ,
Comment

“When You Read the Bible Through” ~Amos Wells

Filed under: Edifying Quotes, Truth — Leave a comment

bible-verses-about-love

When You Read The Bible Through

The following poem by writer Amos Wells, emphasizes our need for thorough Bible study, remembering that “every word” is important But

“[Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”(Matthew 4:4):

“I supposed I knew my Bible
Reading piecemeal, hit and miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third);
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs
Yes, I thought I knew the Word;
But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.

Oh, the massive, mighty volume!
Oh, the treasures manifold!
Oh, the beauty of the wisdom
And the grace it proved to hold!
As the story of the Hebrews
Swept in majesty along,
As it leaped in waves prophetic,
As it burst to sacred song,
As it gleamed with Christly omens,
The Old Testament was new,
Strong with cumulative power,
When I read the Bible through.

Ah, imperial Jeremiah,
With his keen, coruscant [shining] mind,
And the blunt old Nehemiah,
And Ezekiel refined!
Newly came the Minor Prophets,
Each with his distinctive robe;
Newly came the Song idyllic,
And the tragedy of Job,
Deuteronomy, the regal,
To a towering mountain grew,
With its comrade peaks around it,
When I read the Bible through.

What a radiant procession
As the pages rise and fall,
James the sturdy, John the tender
Oh, the myriad-minded Paul!
Vast apocalyptic glories
Wheel and thunder, flash and flame,
While the church triumphant raises
One incomparable name.
Ah, the story of the Savior
Never glows supremely true
Till you read it whole and swiftly,
Till you read the Bible through.

You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel a weary,
And yawn thro’ a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through.”

Tags: , , ,
Comment

“His Abundant Grace” ~Bob Hoekstra

Filed under: Edifying Quotes — Leave a comment
March 3, 2013

Open Bible“The abundance of grace in Christ makes it possible for us to “reign in life.” Reigning in life is being a Christ-like overcomer. It is growing and maturing in the things of Christ. It is living above circumstances instead of under them. It involves walking increasingly in the liberty of the Lord instead of in the bondage of the world. It involves walking in the wholeness of Christ instead of in the brokenness of man, but it can only be done “through the One, Jesus Christ”. Such cannot be produced in any way by the religious efforts of man, even the dedicated and zealous attempts of a serous Christian. It is only “through the One, Jesus Christ.” Reigning in life comes from trusting in, depending on, abiding in, counting on the One who walked upon this earth and overcame the world, the flesh, and the devil. It comes from looking to the One who always did those things which were pleasing to the heavenly Father. Then, as we draw life and strength from Him, we become more and more those who display His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”

“Such spiritual fruit comes from the grace of God at work in and through us, because it is the life of Christ flowing into and through those who do not deserve it, could never earn it and could never produce it on their own.  That is what life in Christ is all about. Jesus came full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace (or, grace upon grace)” (vs.16). The true Christian life is by grace from the moment of new birth right on into eternity. Christian living involves one layer of grace upon another, upon another, upon another, etc. Oh how we underestimate the overwhelming abundance of the grace of God. Every day is to be lived by the sustaining grace of God. Every step of progress and change into greater heights of new life in Christ is to be taken by the transforming grace of God. Only God’s abundant grace can take people from death reigning over them, to them reigning in life.”  Bob Hoekstra, “The Psychologizing of the Faith”, pp. 20-21

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comment

THE BIBLE: Pros and Cons

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment

The Bible Movie

THE BIBLE: produced Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (Note: Both are Roman Catholics.  Roma Downey is also pastor via the internet.)

The Bible: Part 1 of 5  (Creation-Spies in the Land of Canaan)

The comments below are this writer’s observations from watching part 1 tonight.  My desire was to base both pros and cons on  biblical accuracy, not visual and acting quality.

Note: Too often it’s what is omitted that reveals what kind of story a person is trying to tell. Granted, the History Channel’s movie is meant to be a “docudrama”, and there are many constraints in attempting to pictorially portray God’s Word, however people are very influenced by sights and sounds.  We must be careful to weigh everything against the actual Bible.

Some Pros from the Movie–

Some Cons-

  • God’s angels never killed people with swords in Sodom. There are no examples in God’s Word of the Lord’s angels ever killing people.  See Genesis 11
  • The sacrifice of Isaac left much to be desired. The biblical description of a ram caught in the thickets by his horn was made out to be a little lamb in the movie.  There is important biblical symbolism to the ram. The horn represents power, and only Jesus had the power necessary to overcome sin. Although other OT places talk of the lamb as a sacrifice, the ram here is key.  Also during the sacrifice Isaac cries and begs Abraham not to do it.  Isaac is a type of Christ, and the Bible says nothing of Isaac begging his dad to stop.  Isaac trusted Abraham just as Christ trusted to Father all the way to the cross.  After the sacrifice, Isaac pulls away from his dad and runs to his mother who is at the bottom of the mountain.  See Genesis 22
  • Again, according to the Bible, Abraham’s servants went with Isaac and him. The movie has Sarah running after them as if to stop Abraham.
  • The movie is very misleading as to how Isaac’s family ended up in Egypt.
  • The movie states that the Israelites all left the Promised Land due to a famine and went into Egypt where they were slaves for 400 years and Abraham was just a distant memory.
  • Unfortunately there is no mention of Joseph, even though there dozens of parallels between Joseph and Jesus. See Genesis 30-50
  • The key prophetic details of the lamb’s blood in the tenth plague in Egypt are omitted. See Exodus 12:6-7
  • In part 1, God is never referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob even though this is one of His names in the Bible. Even Muslims recognize God as the God of Abraham. See Exodus 3:6, etc.
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Comment

The Battle Has Just Begun (Part 1)

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment

Public domain image, royalty free stock photo from www.public-domain-image.comIn the eternal Kingdom of God, those who’ve chosen to be raised anew by the life of Christ are then called to reach back into the kingdom of darkness, allowing the power of Christ to work through them, rescuing the blind and the lame. And as with any battle, the enemy of our souls doesn’t stop attacking simply because we’ve defected to the true King’s side. In fact, now we can, for the first time, begin to understand the reality of the battle. The side we once fought for is now the side which fights so ardently against our souls. Now openly engaged, the battle has really just begun.

In this spiritual war, there will be many important lessons to learn, relearn, and teach to others.  This three part series  is written to share a few simple, but key points that can hopefully serve as lamp posts for those just joining the battle and for seasoned vets as well.  The first key to remember and continually return to is that of our own powerlessness. 

Street LightCall it a negative profession if you want, but it is a reality none the less. We cannot fight this spiritual battle in our own strength.  In Psalm 103 it says, “For He [the Lord] knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” 

Again in Matthew 26:41, Jesus says, “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  

In our own power, we are at best using dust in a battle that is more powerful than we can begin to fathom.  We are powerless against temptations and trials if we depend on our own resources.  In fact, our flesh would love for us to try fighting in our own strength.  After all, in our power, it is our flesh that gets all the glory and God gets none.  In the end, we cannot win against the enemy of our soul, but Jesus can.  Jesus did.  And that same God who died for our sins and had the power to raise Himself from the grave is the same God who will fight for us every day.  Just as in so many of the battles recorded in the Old Testament, the Lord promises to go before us and guards behind us.  “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:14. “For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12.

No matter how strong or weak we think we are, may we never resort to fighting our own battles.  God is our daily bread and He will fight our daily battles from now until eternity!  “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 7:19,24,25a

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

“Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love” ~Charles Wesley (1742)

Filed under: Edifying Quotes — Leave a comment
February 16, 2013

bible-verses-about-love

“Blest be the dear uniting love
that will not let us part;
our bodies may far off remove,
we still are one in heart.”

“Joined in one spirit to our Head,
where He appoints we go,
and still in Jesus’ footsteps tread,
and do His work below.” 

“O may we ever walk in Him,
and nothing know beside,
nothing desire, nothing esteem,
but Jesus crucified!”

“We all are one who Him receive,
and each with each agree,
in Him the One, the Truth, we live;
blest point of unity!”

“Partakers of the Savior’s grace,
the same in mind and heart,
nor joy, nor grief, nor time, nor place,
nor life, nor death can part.”

“Blessed Be the Dear Uniting Love”, Charles Wesley (1742)

Tags: , , ,
Comment