The Vital Need for God’s Blessing
Psalm 127:1-5,
March 20th , 2016
[Introduction]
Solomon’s declaration of this perspective is in reflected in the phrase, “Under the Sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 (ESV)
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV)
11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Perspective is the angle from which we see things.
We need God’s perspective: what is important from God’s view?
We need God’s Presence and Blessing; God’s work in and through us for His glory and our ultimate good.
Human effort without God’s perspective, presence and blessing is ultimately meaningless.
Negatively: Human effort in life is useless without the Lord’s blessing.
Positively: The Lord’s blessing is vital in Work and Family
God’s presence gives meaning and purpose to work and family.
I. . Work [1-2]
A. A firm foundation and protector (1)
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
“In vain” means meaningless, purposelessness, uselessness.
[illustration]
The Lord led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He organized, planned, and led the people. He set guards.
But unless the Lord was watching over the process, which He did, it would have been a wasted effort.
God’s presence gives meaning and purpose to work.
B. Useless of labor without God’s blessing (2)
2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Hard work does not make up for God’s presence.
We need to work hard, but more importantly we need God’s blessing.
God’s presence gives meaning and purpose to family.
II. Family (3-5)
A. Children are a heritage. (3-4)
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
Children are a heritage, a reward, a gift.
Unfortunately, too many people see children as an inconvenience.
[application]
At times Attitude can be more important than action.
While I would never tell anyone that they had to have children to obey God, I would say that you should call a blessing what God calls a blessing.
God calls children a blessing.
We too should call children a blessing.
God’s presence gives meaning and purpose to family.
B. Flourishing legacy (5)
5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Children of those who seek the Lord are a flourishing legacy.
It is an encouragement to children to go on and serve the Lord.
That is a terrific legacy.
[Conclusion]
Seeking God’s blessing, presence, in our work and family may not give us the results that we perceive as success.
The Lord may use a bad experience at work to lead us in a different direction.
He may use it to teach us patience or something else.
His presence and blessing give purpose and meaning to work.
Seeking God’s blessing, presence, in our family may not turn out the way we want.
Our children may make poor choices. But a godly legacy is of great value.
While proverbs are not promises, they describe what generally happens.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
A godly legacy is a great gift that we can give to our children.
Even if we don’t have children, our godly influence is a great gift we can give to those we know.
Don’t just see things from a human perspective, only “under the sun”, but seek God’s presence and purpose to give meaning to our lives.
God’s presence is vital in our work and family life. May we seek His blessing in all that we do.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
“Live with an Eternal Perspective”
To “Live with an Eternal Perspective” puts life in order with an emphasis on what is truly important.
From an unknown author.....
Only One Life
Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Author Unknown
From an unknown author.....
Only One Life
Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Author Unknown
Saturday, August 22, 2015
“Reasons to Trust the Bible”
“Reasons to Trust the Bible”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Outline today is based on Erwin Lutzer’s book, “Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
On one level faith is a one sense a subjective response.
But genuine faith is a subjective response based upon an objective reality.
1 Corinthians 15:14 (NKJV)
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
Jesus tells us.....
Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'”
Love God with all your being and as the Apostle Peter tells us :
1 Peter 3:15
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
I. Logic - The Claims of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Yeah, but what about other writing that to be inspired?
Is it circular reasoning to accept the Bible because it claims to be God’s Word as God’s Word?
In evaluating the Bible, you start with what it says about itself.
If it didn’t claim to be inspired, we wouldn’t be having this message.
A. Unity of Scripture
1.In Genesis God creates the universe (Genesis 1:1).
In Revelation the universe is destroyed and replaced by a new one (Revelation 21:1)
2. Death enters the world (Genesis 2:17).
Death is abolished (Revelation 21:4).
3. Man is cursed (Genesis 3:17).
The curse is removed (Revelation 22:3).
4. Satan appears as the deceiver of men (Genesis 3:1-4).
Satan disappears forever (Revelation 20:10).
II. Historical - The Reliability of the Bible
Archaeology....
III. Prophetic - The Predictions of the Bible
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 “You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”
Fulfilled Prophecy
1. Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14).
This prophecy is fulfilled 700 years later (Matthew1:18,22,23).
2. Micah predicted the exact birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2)
This prophecy was fulfilled 500 years later Luke 2:4,6,7).
3. David predicted Christ's crucifixion in detail hundreds of years before this method of death was used(Psalm 22)
4. Isaiah foretold Christ's suffering and atonement 700 years before Christ's death (Isaiah 53:4-6).
IV. Christological - The Authority of Christ
Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
The Testimony of Christ Concerning the Scriptures.
1. He believed the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17-19)
2. He believed in Solomon (Matthew 6:28-29).
3. He believed in Moses (Matthew 8:4).
4. He believed in Abraham (Matthew 8:11).
5. He believed the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 10:15).
6. He quoted the Old Testament (Matthew 21:13,16,42; 22:28-33;36-40).
If you claim to be a Christian, and then claim that the Bible contains errors, is untrustworthy and has been mistranslated, then you have a different attitude toward that Bible than Jesus does.
If you claim to be a Christian, you should have the same attitude toward the Bible that Jesus had. Jesus said the Bible was trustworthy, true, and accurately preserved.
The Lord Jesus Christ
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Luke 21:33
If I claim to be a Christian, I should have the same attitude toward Scripture that Jesus did. Any other view calls into question my claims to be a Christian.
V. Scientific - The Story of Creation
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
From Lutzer’s book, [135]
“In these ten words we have the foundation concept of time; this refers to a specific point in a continuum when Creation took place.
“God” is the basis for personality; “created” introduces the concept of energy, those forces in the universe that play such a large part in explaining life and the secrets of the planets. Finally, “the heaven” refers to the vast regions of space and “earth” affirms the existence of matter.
Lutzer continues,
In his book The Genesis Record Henry M. Morris points out that this opening statement in Genesis refutes (1)atheism because the universe was created by God. It refutes (2) pantheism, for God is transcendent to that which He created. It refutes (3) polytheism, for one God created all things. It refutes (4) materialism for matter had a beginning.
It refutes (5) dualism, for God was alone when He created. It refutes (6) humanism, for God, not man, is the ultimate reality. It refutes (7) evolution because God created all things.
VI. Providential - The Canonical Process
Luke 1:3-4 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Textual criticism studies the existing copies of Bible in an attempt to determine the original wording. Several thousand existing Greek manuscripts exist and have been studied so that we can be sure of having an accurate text. The oldest existing fragment of the New Testament (a portion of John 18) is only 25 years from the original.
2. "Canon of Scripture" refers to the books that are regarded as part of a complete and divine revelation. The word "canon" comes from the Greek language and means a measuring rod or rule. It eventually came to mean a list, or a catalogue.
3. A book to be included in the canon had to pass a test or had to measure up to a standard. Some of these tests included:
"(1)Was the book written or approved by an apostle?
(2)Were its contents of a spiritual nature?
(3) Did it give evidence of being inspired by God?
(4) Was it widely received by the churches?"
B. Why are no more sacred writings necessary?
The writer of the Book of Hebrews said God has spoken unto us in these last days by His Son.
Hebrews 1:1-2
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."
There is no other revelation for faith in Christ. The entire body of revealed truth has been once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 3
"I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
The Scriptures were written to explain how man and God could be reconciled. The question is, does it accomplish that purpose? If so, why add anything else to its inspired pages? Anything else would either be useless or contradictory and God will have no part with either. What is the point of having more “scripture”which simply corroborates what the Old and New Testaments already teaches? What is contained in the Bible is sufficient to both know God and grow complete in our lives.
II Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
VII. Personal - The Power of the Word
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
From a commentator
4:12. For the Word of God is living (zon) and active (energes). Not only that, its penetrating power is greater than any double-edged sword and reaches the innermost being of a person so that it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In doing this, it is able to discriminate successfully between what is spiritual in man and what is merely “soulish” or natural (it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit), and does so even when these often-contradictory inner elements are interwoven as closely as joints and marrow.
The inner life of a Christian is often a strange mixture of motivations both genuinely spiritual and completely human. It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh. The readers might think that they were contemplating certain steps out of purely spiritual motivations when, as God’s Word could show them, they were acting unfaithfully as did Israel of old.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
Imagine that you are with your family on a trip to Disneyland. You get completely lost and end up with in South Central Los Angeles with your car breaking down at 10:00 o’clock at night. You pull out your cell phone to call AAA. Then looking at the dead phone and you remember having forgotten to charge it and you had no car adapter. You have this sinking feeling that you need to walk back 15 block to a Seven -Eleven in order to find a phone.
At ten o’clock its dark and you notice by the light of a street light a block away a group of about a dozen young men who were talking loudly and enjoying themselves. They notice you and your family in the car, they quiet up and start walking directly toward your car.
How do you feel at that moment?
They get closer and closer to your car. You tell everyone to make sure your doors are locked. You tell everyone to start praying.
This group of young men arrive at your car and knock on the window.
[pause]
Then you notice these men are all carrying Bibles.
How do you feel now?
A car load of atheists in south Central Los Angeles in similar conditions would be just as relieved as you are.
The Bible is reliable, it is completely trustworthy.
We have reason for the hope that is within us.
That act of faith is not blind. It is a reasoned faith.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Outline today is based on Erwin Lutzer’s book, “Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
On one level faith is a one sense a subjective response.
But genuine faith is a subjective response based upon an objective reality.
1 Corinthians 15:14 (NKJV)
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
Jesus tells us.....
Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'”
Love God with all your being and as the Apostle Peter tells us :
1 Peter 3:15
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
I. Logic - The Claims of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Yeah, but what about other writing that to be inspired?
Is it circular reasoning to accept the Bible because it claims to be God’s Word as God’s Word?
In evaluating the Bible, you start with what it says about itself.
If it didn’t claim to be inspired, we wouldn’t be having this message.
A. Unity of Scripture
1.In Genesis God creates the universe (Genesis 1:1).
In Revelation the universe is destroyed and replaced by a new one (Revelation 21:1)
2. Death enters the world (Genesis 2:17).
Death is abolished (Revelation 21:4).
3. Man is cursed (Genesis 3:17).
The curse is removed (Revelation 22:3).
4. Satan appears as the deceiver of men (Genesis 3:1-4).
Satan disappears forever (Revelation 20:10).
II. Historical - The Reliability of the Bible
Archaeology....
III. Prophetic - The Predictions of the Bible
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 “You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”
Fulfilled Prophecy
1. Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14).
This prophecy is fulfilled 700 years later (Matthew1:18,22,23).
2. Micah predicted the exact birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2)
This prophecy was fulfilled 500 years later Luke 2:4,6,7).
3. David predicted Christ's crucifixion in detail hundreds of years before this method of death was used(Psalm 22)
4. Isaiah foretold Christ's suffering and atonement 700 years before Christ's death (Isaiah 53:4-6).
IV. Christological - The Authority of Christ
Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
The Testimony of Christ Concerning the Scriptures.
1. He believed the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17-19)
2. He believed in Solomon (Matthew 6:28-29).
3. He believed in Moses (Matthew 8:4).
4. He believed in Abraham (Matthew 8:11).
5. He believed the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 10:15).
6. He quoted the Old Testament (Matthew 21:13,16,42; 22:28-33;36-40).
If you claim to be a Christian, and then claim that the Bible contains errors, is untrustworthy and has been mistranslated, then you have a different attitude toward that Bible than Jesus does.
If you claim to be a Christian, you should have the same attitude toward the Bible that Jesus had. Jesus said the Bible was trustworthy, true, and accurately preserved.
The Lord Jesus Christ
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Luke 21:33
If I claim to be a Christian, I should have the same attitude toward Scripture that Jesus did. Any other view calls into question my claims to be a Christian.
V. Scientific - The Story of Creation
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
From Lutzer’s book, [135]
“In these ten words we have the foundation concept of time; this refers to a specific point in a continuum when Creation took place.
“God” is the basis for personality; “created” introduces the concept of energy, those forces in the universe that play such a large part in explaining life and the secrets of the planets. Finally, “the heaven” refers to the vast regions of space and “earth” affirms the existence of matter.
Lutzer continues,
In his book The Genesis Record Henry M. Morris points out that this opening statement in Genesis refutes (1)atheism because the universe was created by God. It refutes (2) pantheism, for God is transcendent to that which He created. It refutes (3) polytheism, for one God created all things. It refutes (4) materialism for matter had a beginning.
It refutes (5) dualism, for God was alone when He created. It refutes (6) humanism, for God, not man, is the ultimate reality. It refutes (7) evolution because God created all things.
VI. Providential - The Canonical Process
Luke 1:3-4 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Textual criticism studies the existing copies of Bible in an attempt to determine the original wording. Several thousand existing Greek manuscripts exist and have been studied so that we can be sure of having an accurate text. The oldest existing fragment of the New Testament (a portion of John 18) is only 25 years from the original.
2. "Canon of Scripture" refers to the books that are regarded as part of a complete and divine revelation. The word "canon" comes from the Greek language and means a measuring rod or rule. It eventually came to mean a list, or a catalogue.
3. A book to be included in the canon had to pass a test or had to measure up to a standard. Some of these tests included:
"(1)Was the book written or approved by an apostle?
(2)Were its contents of a spiritual nature?
(3) Did it give evidence of being inspired by God?
(4) Was it widely received by the churches?"
B. Why are no more sacred writings necessary?
The writer of the Book of Hebrews said God has spoken unto us in these last days by His Son.
Hebrews 1:1-2
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."
There is no other revelation for faith in Christ. The entire body of revealed truth has been once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 3
"I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
The Scriptures were written to explain how man and God could be reconciled. The question is, does it accomplish that purpose? If so, why add anything else to its inspired pages? Anything else would either be useless or contradictory and God will have no part with either. What is the point of having more “scripture”which simply corroborates what the Old and New Testaments already teaches? What is contained in the Bible is sufficient to both know God and grow complete in our lives.
II Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
VII. Personal - The Power of the Word
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
From a commentator
4:12. For the Word of God is living (zon) and active (energes). Not only that, its penetrating power is greater than any double-edged sword and reaches the innermost being of a person so that it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In doing this, it is able to discriminate successfully between what is spiritual in man and what is merely “soulish” or natural (it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit), and does so even when these often-contradictory inner elements are interwoven as closely as joints and marrow.
The inner life of a Christian is often a strange mixture of motivations both genuinely spiritual and completely human. It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh. The readers might think that they were contemplating certain steps out of purely spiritual motivations when, as God’s Word could show them, they were acting unfaithfully as did Israel of old.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
Imagine that you are with your family on a trip to Disneyland. You get completely lost and end up with in South Central Los Angeles with your car breaking down at 10:00 o’clock at night. You pull out your cell phone to call AAA. Then looking at the dead phone and you remember having forgotten to charge it and you had no car adapter. You have this sinking feeling that you need to walk back 15 block to a Seven -Eleven in order to find a phone.
At ten o’clock its dark and you notice by the light of a street light a block away a group of about a dozen young men who were talking loudly and enjoying themselves. They notice you and your family in the car, they quiet up and start walking directly toward your car.
How do you feel at that moment?
They get closer and closer to your car. You tell everyone to make sure your doors are locked. You tell everyone to start praying.
This group of young men arrive at your car and knock on the window.
[pause]
Then you notice these men are all carrying Bibles.
How do you feel now?
A car load of atheists in south Central Los Angeles in similar conditions would be just as relieved as you are.
The Bible is reliable, it is completely trustworthy.
We have reason for the hope that is within us.
That act of faith is not blind. It is a reasoned faith.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
I hate waiting
I hate waiting.
One of my indelible memories of the Army was the push to hurry up and get someplace and then having to wait a long time for something to happen. Waiting extended periods of time in long lines became an ever present frustration. “Hurry up and wait” became a well known mantra of frustrated soldiers. There were lines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My memories after the haze of years from that time coalesce with thoughts that involved waiting in a line.
I am not the only one here who dislikes waiting. Waiting for an elevator to stop at every floors drives us to tapping our toes. Not in rhythm but in impatience. All of here have stopped at red lights, impatiently whispering ‘hurry up and change to green.’ We get impatient with microwave ovens. Slow internet. I remember dial up modems and then dsl and faster dsl. I like a fast drive through. Many times we are in a rush to get someplace. But waiting is a normal part of life. Commission sales people don’t want you to take time and consider a decision. They want you to buy now. When we take the time to consider and evaluate options regarding what we need, we don’t tend to buy as often or as much.
Waiting on the Lord to do something is an act of faith. If God answered things too quickly, we wouldn’t grow in trusting him as much. We pray and wait. Sometime we need to pray and act. Some of the best answers to prayer are no’s and wait.
We live in a world to tensions. We live between the first and second comings of the Lord Jesus. We read of the marvelous things in the Bible that He did and will do. We live in the present reality of the Kingdom of God waiting for the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God when the Lord Jesus returns in glory. We live in a world marred by the effects of sin.
Waiting is part of the last two verses of the Bible. We are waiting for Christ's return.
Revelation 22:20-21 (ESV)
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
And we need to remember that God’s perspective of time is not ours.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Sometimes a long silence is careful loving no answer from the Lord. Don’t misread the lack of getting the answer to a prayer that you want. God is God and we are not.
God uses the struggles of life to form Christian character if we seek him through it. Consider Paul's evaluation of the benefit of his struggles in the following verse.
1 Corinthians 15:10 (ESV)
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
As Oswald Chambers explained, "Some prayers are followed by silence because they are wrong, others because they are bigger than we can understand. It will be a wonderful moment for some of us when we stand before God and find that the prayers we clamored for in early days and imagined were never answered, have been answered in the most amazing way, and that God's silence has been the sign of the answer."
The apparent silence of God helps us to recognize our dependence upon him. We have nothing when we don’t have him. All the money in the world means nothing if we don’t have him. Waiting on God timing allows time for our prayers to become more polished, more mature, as we seek what is truly important.
We don’t know the time that God has given us. We don’t know when the Lord will return. But we can faithfully seek and serve him till he returns. Part of that is faithfully and fervently praying for His kingdom come, His will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Again, most of us don’t care to wait. I mess around with my phone when I am waiting. Sometimes we become tied to our electronics. Cell phones can be a blessing and a pain.
You can read the news on your Iphone or Android, Ipad, Kindle, Nexus, etc... You can use your smart phone to pay at Starbucks, or you can use your phone as your boarding pass. Classmates was overtaken by Myspace which in turn was replaced by Facebook. Now we have Instagram, snapchat, twitter, etc...
All of these application can be useful or they can be distracting. Most technology is morally neutral. It can be used for positive and negative things. Facebook is now mentioned in more than a third of divorce proceedings. People express things negative and positive and connect with some people they probably shouldn’t.
Technology should never replace relationships with other people. It should assist, not replace.
The next time you are waiting in line, run through your contact list, pray for someone. Text a word of encouragement to someone the Lord puts on your heart. We are all together waiting for the Lord to Return. May we use that time well as we wait.
One of my indelible memories of the Army was the push to hurry up and get someplace and then having to wait a long time for something to happen. Waiting extended periods of time in long lines became an ever present frustration. “Hurry up and wait” became a well known mantra of frustrated soldiers. There were lines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My memories after the haze of years from that time coalesce with thoughts that involved waiting in a line.
I am not the only one here who dislikes waiting. Waiting for an elevator to stop at every floors drives us to tapping our toes. Not in rhythm but in impatience. All of here have stopped at red lights, impatiently whispering ‘hurry up and change to green.’ We get impatient with microwave ovens. Slow internet. I remember dial up modems and then dsl and faster dsl. I like a fast drive through. Many times we are in a rush to get someplace. But waiting is a normal part of life. Commission sales people don’t want you to take time and consider a decision. They want you to buy now. When we take the time to consider and evaluate options regarding what we need, we don’t tend to buy as often or as much.
Waiting on the Lord to do something is an act of faith. If God answered things too quickly, we wouldn’t grow in trusting him as much. We pray and wait. Sometime we need to pray and act. Some of the best answers to prayer are no’s and wait.
We live in a world to tensions. We live between the first and second comings of the Lord Jesus. We read of the marvelous things in the Bible that He did and will do. We live in the present reality of the Kingdom of God waiting for the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God when the Lord Jesus returns in glory. We live in a world marred by the effects of sin.
Waiting is part of the last two verses of the Bible. We are waiting for Christ's return.
Revelation 22:20-21 (ESV)
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
And we need to remember that God’s perspective of time is not ours.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Sometimes a long silence is careful loving no answer from the Lord. Don’t misread the lack of getting the answer to a prayer that you want. God is God and we are not.
God uses the struggles of life to form Christian character if we seek him through it. Consider Paul's evaluation of the benefit of his struggles in the following verse.
1 Corinthians 15:10 (ESV)
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
As Oswald Chambers explained, "Some prayers are followed by silence because they are wrong, others because they are bigger than we can understand. It will be a wonderful moment for some of us when we stand before God and find that the prayers we clamored for in early days and imagined were never answered, have been answered in the most amazing way, and that God's silence has been the sign of the answer."
The apparent silence of God helps us to recognize our dependence upon him. We have nothing when we don’t have him. All the money in the world means nothing if we don’t have him. Waiting on God timing allows time for our prayers to become more polished, more mature, as we seek what is truly important.
We don’t know the time that God has given us. We don’t know when the Lord will return. But we can faithfully seek and serve him till he returns. Part of that is faithfully and fervently praying for His kingdom come, His will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Again, most of us don’t care to wait. I mess around with my phone when I am waiting. Sometimes we become tied to our electronics. Cell phones can be a blessing and a pain.
You can read the news on your Iphone or Android, Ipad, Kindle, Nexus, etc... You can use your smart phone to pay at Starbucks, or you can use your phone as your boarding pass. Classmates was overtaken by Myspace which in turn was replaced by Facebook. Now we have Instagram, snapchat, twitter, etc...
All of these application can be useful or they can be distracting. Most technology is morally neutral. It can be used for positive and negative things. Facebook is now mentioned in more than a third of divorce proceedings. People express things negative and positive and connect with some people they probably shouldn’t.
Technology should never replace relationships with other people. It should assist, not replace.
The next time you are waiting in line, run through your contact list, pray for someone. Text a word of encouragement to someone the Lord puts on your heart. We are all together waiting for the Lord to Return. May we use that time well as we wait.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
The value of the Word of God
If you were to find an original 550 year old Guttenberg Bible in a flea market and pay ten dollars for it, you would have an impressive treasure. A few years ago Bill Gates bought a Guttenberg Bible. What he paid was not made public. But guesses range from $23 to $35 million dollars.
But the value of the Word of God is not from the paper it is printed on or the ink that is used.
A Five dollar paper back edition of the Bible is worth more to you than a Guttenberg Bible if you read it and do what it says.
Then it is more precious and valuable than gold.
Then you as God’s servant you are warned and encouraged to obey it
But the value of the Word of God is not from the paper it is printed on or the ink that is used.
A Five dollar paper back edition of the Bible is worth more to you than a Guttenberg Bible if you read it and do what it says.
Then it is more precious and valuable than gold.
Then you as God’s servant you are warned and encouraged to obey it
God speaking in the storm
Elijah after his victory over the prophets of Baal had to run for his life. He was very depressed and wanted to die. The Lord sent an angel to minister to him. And he wanted to teach Elijah a lesson.
1 Ki 19:11) The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
Sometimes we may want the Loud, but the Lord generally doesn’t use the Loud. He uses the quiet.
As we contemplate God’s Word and His creation we will be better able to hear the gentle whisper of God’s voice.
1 Ki 19:11) The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
Sometimes we may want the Loud, but the Lord generally doesn’t use the Loud. He uses the quiet.
As we contemplate God’s Word and His creation we will be better able to hear the gentle whisper of God’s voice.
“God Speaks: Are you listening?” outline Psalm 19
“God Speaks: Are you listening?” outline Psalm 19
I. God speaks through the Glory of Creation (1-6)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and
the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
II. God speaks through the Truth of His Word 7-11
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10) They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward
III. God Speaks: Are you Listening? (12-14)
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
I. God speaks through the Glory of Creation (1-6)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and
the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
II. God speaks through the Truth of His Word 7-11
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10) They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward
III. God Speaks: Are you Listening? (12-14)
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
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