My mind in the last few weeks and months has taken me to a notion of my need to hunger for God and take responsibility for cultivating my relationship with him. Scripture is clear that this is the case.
While reading Psalm 42 this morning, I had this thought. Read the Psalm with this in mind: David is preaching to himself. Many, many times in our lives our hearts or spiritual selves are dark, dry and difficult. It is in those times that we must fight. It is in those times that we must remind ourselves of the Steadfastness of the love our God.
So, as you go today, preach the gospel to yourself.
From The Pursuit of God
I am rereading A.W. Tozer's classic The pursuit of God. I reread my favorites once a year or so and this is one of them. Sometimes I can't get past a chapter or a page because of it's depth and weight. The second chapter is one I can't quit reading. The following few paragraphs are taken from it. The chapter is titled, "The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing".
Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him by creating a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of the creation these are called simply “things.” They were made for man’s uses, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him.
But sin has introduced complications and has made those very gifts of God a potential source of ruin to the soul.
Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and “things” were allowed to enter. Within the human heart “things” have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.
Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him by creating a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of the creation these are called simply “things.” They were made for man’s uses, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him.
But sin has introduced complications and has made those very gifts of God a potential source of ruin to the soul.
Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and “things” were allowed to enter. Within the human heart “things” have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.
Ben's Story
Ben Somers is a friend of mine. I have known his family for at least 15 years. For many of those 15 years we have been praying for Ben. His father and I were part of a four person prayer group that met weekly for 3 years. Much of our prayer time was spent focusing on Ben.
After that prayer group stopped meeting, I became the youth pastor to Ben's brother Chad. Chad and I got close and I began discipling him. Much of our time was focused on prayer for Ben and what God was teaching Chad through difficult times with his brother.
This is Ben's Story.
After that prayer group stopped meeting, I became the youth pastor to Ben's brother Chad. Chad and I got close and I began discipling him. Much of our time was focused on prayer for Ben and what God was teaching Chad through difficult times with his brother.
This is Ben's Story.
Religious Repentance vs. Gospel Repentance
Last Sunday we looked at 3 different ways to live:
1. Religion makes law and moral obedience a means of salvation
2. Irreligion makes the individual a law to him or herself
3. Gospel takes the law of God so seriously that Jesus paid the penalty of disobedience, so we can be saved by sheer grace.
It's very easy to think you are living a gospel centered life all the while you are really living a life of religion or irreligion -- both of which are attempts at making yourself your own God.
The answer is repentance!!! But how do you know if you are even repenting properly? Maybe these will help.
Religious Repentance
Goal is to keep God happy
Gospel Repentance
Goal is to experience eternal joy in Christ
Religious Repentance
Sorry for sin b/c of consequences
Gospel Repentance
Sorry for sin b/c it breaks God’s heart
Religious Repentance
Way to pay the price for our own sin
Gospel Repentance
Jesus suffered and paid the price for our sin
Religious Repentance
Earn our forgiveness with our repentance
Gospel Repentance
Just receive it
Religious Repentance
Disappoints b/c your counting on your own morality
Gospel Repentance
Brings freedom b/c Christ always loves us
From Exodus 14
Exodus 14:13
This verse tells you to hold still and watch the salvation of the Lord. Take time right now to stop and look at the salvation of the Lord.
The context of this verse is that the people have been in slavery under Egypt and they were let go by the Pharaoh who was now chasing them to put them back into slavery. They were nervous and scared and said that it would have been better to be slaves than to die in the wilderness. In the midst of the the pressure of circumstances God tells them to stop and watch your salvation happen in front of your eyes.
He says, "You are about to witness me defeat your enemy." He says, "You will never see your enemy again."
Exodus 14:14
The lord is fighting for you. Stop looking at the enemy. That is direction for you. Stop looking at what you see as your enemy, be quiet and watch the Lord fight for you.
Exodus 14:15
Just go forward.
This verse tells you to hold still and watch the salvation of the Lord. Take time right now to stop and look at the salvation of the Lord.
The context of this verse is that the people have been in slavery under Egypt and they were let go by the Pharaoh who was now chasing them to put them back into slavery. They were nervous and scared and said that it would have been better to be slaves than to die in the wilderness. In the midst of the the pressure of circumstances God tells them to stop and watch your salvation happen in front of your eyes.
He says, "You are about to witness me defeat your enemy." He says, "You will never see your enemy again."
Exodus 14:14
The lord is fighting for you. Stop looking at the enemy. That is direction for you. Stop looking at what you see as your enemy, be quiet and watch the Lord fight for you.
Exodus 14:15
Just go forward.
