As I sit here at my desk listening to a song I wrote several months ago for little Eden - my new daughter - I am reminded of all that God has overtly done for me and my family.
He has so abundantly blessed me in umpteen ways. From a calling to the pastoral ministry, and that in the service of the greatest church family on the globe, to a wonderful wife and three precious little girls, God has truly showered His blessings on me!
My theology compels me to insert that tribulation and trials and persecution await me...and they do feature, and may well overcome all this for a season or the entirely of my time this side of glory, but my experience at the moment, if 'bottled' and given the erroneous stamp of 'one size fits all' would compare with the prosperity heresy!
So gracious has God been to me!
Even down to the home we enjoy, the car we have been blessed with, my guitar, food sufficient for the family...and delicious in that, awesome friends - here and abroad.
This note is somewhat scatter-brained and my purpose may seem strange, perhaps, to some, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has this dark cloud, of which I will now speak, over his or her head which I have here called the Judas Complex! If that is plagiarised, I sincerely don’t recall where I heard it!
This is the mentality that says/thinks; ‘It’s just a matter of time before you mess it all up!’, 'Come on Glen, who are you kidding? You don’t have the character to sustain what God has given you! You are and will always be a looser – a problem, you’ll see! You know it...think about your temptations and sins and the gravity of the potential evil you could fall into...just wait - you will prove to be a betrayer of the Lord Jesus.'
In short, ‘in due course you will find it to be so that (given the spread of disciples) you get to be Judas!’
‘Not Peter, not Paul...no not you...Judas is your card!’
‘You’re the runt of the litter, the dud etc.’
Now before someone sends me to a shrink...like that’s going to help! Or a BA (Baptists Anonymous) meeting let me say that God is bigger than this silly - this stupid - this pathetic and utterly ridiculous rubbish!
His love is eternal and so is His gift of salvation and so the preservation of His own!
To hell with the devil!!!
I mean that absolutely literally...in other words, 'get behind me Satan!'
God has given me a 16 years walk with Him that, although peppered with failure and almost every sin imaginable in my disgusting and wretched heart, has proven to me one thing, to say the least, and that is that He is faithful...infinitely so!
I don’t have to fail! He who is able to keep me from stumbling and present me blameless with great joy on that day indwells me! I can’t do it! News flash! No one can! Only He is able to carry me all the way to the finish line! And He will...and even if I blow it hook, line and sinker...nothing can dissolve the eternal life that is mine in Him!
Of course there are false professors who prove to be so over time, but I know I love Christ!
I know He is my life, my all in all...and this alone by His sovereign grace and favour toward me!
I once was blind...O how blackened was my hellish heart...I hated God and all that represented Him to me. This is not true of me now! He changed me...gave me a new heart...wrote His Law on my heart and mind...O how I love that Law!!! I delight in the Law of God in my inner man...impossible for the old me! I know I'm now a God lover by His own doing...unchangeably so!
Nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus!
Stuff this stupid 'Judas Complex'!!!
Sorry I said 'stuff'! No other word carries sufficient emotional weight right now to capture my utter disgust of the madness of it!
I don’t know if I am even making sense right now...but let me land on a high note...God is awesome, perfect, beautiful, forgiving, slow to anger, holy, a consuming fire, and full of compassion and sympathy toward His children and their struggles!
I love you Jesus Christ my Lord and King and Saviour and Darling Bridegroom!
I will keep trying to love you more and more and your people too and to win sinners to Your worship and Kingdom!
All this by the power you supply alone...for unless you build the house, fight the battle etc. all is hopeless! O but You do build, fight, supply and sustain!
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!!!!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Angel and the Little Scroll!
The Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ is fast becoming, for me, the most exciting book in all the sacred volume!
The highly symbolic apocalyptic genre, in which these brilliant, radiant visions are wrapped, is a joy to unfold indeed.
The key thing being, I believe, the phrase, "in the spirit".
Not only does John see a vision...this he does – and, in that, many of them. But he takes part in the very fabric of these marvellous moving pictures. He becomes an actor in the story line of this final volume of Holy Writ.
This is vital in our appreciation of this pristine, prophetic epistle because it will iron out some of the creases of erroneous, speculative exegesis pertaining to the Revelation needing to be taken as literal.
John literally sees and experiences everything exactly as he says (writes) it. That is a given. But these visions of which he is himself a character must be interpreted in light of their intended associations. Rooted deeply and richly in the Old Testament Scriptures, Revelation draws its contentual imagery from the vast and rich sum of ancient sacred soil.
The first audience would immediately have grasped this.
The section we unpacked this Lord's Day past was chapter 10:1-11. Connected, of course with all that has gone before it, especially with respect to the 8th and 9th chapters, as well as leading on, in its meaning, to what follows, this section gives us none other than a re-affirmation of the Great Commission given to John on Patmos so as to encourage this suffering but stalwart saint of God to get up and get going again in the very purpose for which he was exiled in the first place...the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ - that is preaching the gospel!
Not only will John derive comfort from this portion, and that, again, to preach Christ risen and coming again, but each and every one of his audience, then and now, who too suffer for their faith will and must so draw from this holy spring sustenance and strength to ‘surf the prophetic wave all the way to the shore line’.
And so, in our text, Christ comes to John in the form of a mighty angel. (Either this is Christ or an actual angel - either way he, at very least, acts the part of Christ...note the descriptions he carries!) ‘Wrapped in a cloud’, ‘face’ shining ‘like the sun’, ‘rainbow over his head’ etc.
All of this is meant to bring our hearts and minds to familiar Biblical imagery!
Furthermore, this ‘mighty angel’ has a ‘little scroll’ (now called ‘little’ in contrast to the gigantic angelic holder thereof) in his right hand...not closed but opened! I wonder why…not!
Chapters 6ff tell us why. Christ, the Lamb/Lion took the seven-sealed scroll and, with specific reference to the conquest of the cross, has become worthy of opening its seals, all seven of them!
God's entire redemptive purpose is here meant and this is only possible by the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour!
So He, Jesus, rides off ‘conquering and to conquer’ (white horse)! This then leads to all manner of suffering unique and general that the Church must expect as par for the course.
Chapter 7 sends our minds to the positive protective side of this coin, the Church militant being sealed on their foreheads, and ends with the Church triumphant in glory resting, at last, in her Bridegroom’s arms.
Chapter 8 brings us back to the beginning of the New Covenant age with all the prayers of the saints, perfected by Christ’s intercession, ascending into the very throne room of God.
These are not only answered by God in powerful ways, but used of Him, as instrumental agencies, in the unfolding of His eternal redemptive and damning decree. From these prayers and in direct association with them come the seven trumpets of judgment...judgment, yes, but not final judgment...at least not until the seventh of these is brought to the fore (11:15ff).
These destroy ‘a third’ of the different parts of the universe and are given as parables of perdition so as to call the wicked to repentance...thus enhancing their culpableness if unheeded.
We must discern herein all the suffering of the wicked as coming from God Himself, without exception, as ‘mini-hell's’ until the real deal hits like a bare fist in the resurrected faces of the impenitent.
God is calling to repentance, with arms wide open, all sinners who will hear...this He does in these terrible, but not final, parabolic foretastes of wrath! (See Rom 1:18ff).
Chapter 10 then brings with this mighty angel (Christ - I believe) the oath to the Father (representing the Trinity) that there will be no more delay! Next in the chronological clock is chapter 11:15...however this is yet a little while away...at least as far as content and imagery goes. But the next aspect, unless the angel is ‘telling tales’, is the final judgment (the seventh trumpet).
Something important, however, remains to be said before this culminatory act of God in the Second Advent and judgment therein. This is to, quite simply, push 'pause' as it were, and that so as to call John to ‘go, take the scroll’ (once sealed, now fully opened - describing the seals and trumpets) and to ‘eat it’ (digest it fully himself), and then to ‘prophesy’ it!
This is none other than a re-enactment of the Great Commission that John had been party to receiving so many decades before, this time from the now (then) perspective of this struggling and frail apostle.
He is re-commissioned!
We are herein too re-commissioned!
Whenever we are feeling at the end of our rope…no matter how much we are suffering, this is to be interpreted as normative Christian experience!
Our prayers are heard in our trials and persecutions and even used of God in the unfolding of His eternal decree. The trumpets are how God answers and stands up for His bride against her enemies this side of the Grand Finale!
We must preach this!
This alone is Christianity!
Tell the Church what to expect and what to do in the face of suffering...that is, to get up and get going! God is yet your strength and shield!!!
Tell the devils people (all non-Christians) that all their suffering is from the hand of a very involved and blatantly busy God!
Whether He uses Satan (Job) or other demonic agencies, or people - ultimately all are His servants!
With all this right interpreting of life to the world remember all the while that ‘the gate is narrow’ and most will still reject God and curse Him to His face! That is not our problem ultimately...our business is to be faithful!
On the day of Judgment all these will not only have to give an account for their association with, and part in, the sin of our first parents, and that in the fall; not only will they have to explain their wholesale embrace of their sinful nature; not merely of all their actual sins committed in this life; not only will they have to answer for their further denial of God, albeit having heard and supressed the trumpets of general revelation in their every ounce of pain and torment throughout this life; but, more so, they will be irreparably culpable in that they have heard the preaching of the Word (little scroll) that explains God's calling to them in all their experiences and that in the view of Christ and His accomplishment on the Cross!
This, I believe, is the meaning of the angel and the little scroll!
What a glorious text indeed!
Preach it to everyone!!!
"You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."
God be praised completely!!!
The highly symbolic apocalyptic genre, in which these brilliant, radiant visions are wrapped, is a joy to unfold indeed.
The key thing being, I believe, the phrase, "in the spirit".
Not only does John see a vision...this he does – and, in that, many of them. But he takes part in the very fabric of these marvellous moving pictures. He becomes an actor in the story line of this final volume of Holy Writ.
This is vital in our appreciation of this pristine, prophetic epistle because it will iron out some of the creases of erroneous, speculative exegesis pertaining to the Revelation needing to be taken as literal.
John literally sees and experiences everything exactly as he says (writes) it. That is a given. But these visions of which he is himself a character must be interpreted in light of their intended associations. Rooted deeply and richly in the Old Testament Scriptures, Revelation draws its contentual imagery from the vast and rich sum of ancient sacred soil.
The first audience would immediately have grasped this.
The section we unpacked this Lord's Day past was chapter 10:1-11. Connected, of course with all that has gone before it, especially with respect to the 8th and 9th chapters, as well as leading on, in its meaning, to what follows, this section gives us none other than a re-affirmation of the Great Commission given to John on Patmos so as to encourage this suffering but stalwart saint of God to get up and get going again in the very purpose for which he was exiled in the first place...the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ - that is preaching the gospel!
Not only will John derive comfort from this portion, and that, again, to preach Christ risen and coming again, but each and every one of his audience, then and now, who too suffer for their faith will and must so draw from this holy spring sustenance and strength to ‘surf the prophetic wave all the way to the shore line’.
And so, in our text, Christ comes to John in the form of a mighty angel. (Either this is Christ or an actual angel - either way he, at very least, acts the part of Christ...note the descriptions he carries!) ‘Wrapped in a cloud’, ‘face’ shining ‘like the sun’, ‘rainbow over his head’ etc.
All of this is meant to bring our hearts and minds to familiar Biblical imagery!
Furthermore, this ‘mighty angel’ has a ‘little scroll’ (now called ‘little’ in contrast to the gigantic angelic holder thereof) in his right hand...not closed but opened! I wonder why…not!
Chapters 6ff tell us why. Christ, the Lamb/Lion took the seven-sealed scroll and, with specific reference to the conquest of the cross, has become worthy of opening its seals, all seven of them!
God's entire redemptive purpose is here meant and this is only possible by the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour!
So He, Jesus, rides off ‘conquering and to conquer’ (white horse)! This then leads to all manner of suffering unique and general that the Church must expect as par for the course.
Chapter 7 sends our minds to the positive protective side of this coin, the Church militant being sealed on their foreheads, and ends with the Church triumphant in glory resting, at last, in her Bridegroom’s arms.
Chapter 8 brings us back to the beginning of the New Covenant age with all the prayers of the saints, perfected by Christ’s intercession, ascending into the very throne room of God.
These are not only answered by God in powerful ways, but used of Him, as instrumental agencies, in the unfolding of His eternal redemptive and damning decree. From these prayers and in direct association with them come the seven trumpets of judgment...judgment, yes, but not final judgment...at least not until the seventh of these is brought to the fore (11:15ff).
These destroy ‘a third’ of the different parts of the universe and are given as parables of perdition so as to call the wicked to repentance...thus enhancing their culpableness if unheeded.
We must discern herein all the suffering of the wicked as coming from God Himself, without exception, as ‘mini-hell's’ until the real deal hits like a bare fist in the resurrected faces of the impenitent.
God is calling to repentance, with arms wide open, all sinners who will hear...this He does in these terrible, but not final, parabolic foretastes of wrath! (See Rom 1:18ff).
Chapter 10 then brings with this mighty angel (Christ - I believe) the oath to the Father (representing the Trinity) that there will be no more delay! Next in the chronological clock is chapter 11:15...however this is yet a little while away...at least as far as content and imagery goes. But the next aspect, unless the angel is ‘telling tales’, is the final judgment (the seventh trumpet).
Something important, however, remains to be said before this culminatory act of God in the Second Advent and judgment therein. This is to, quite simply, push 'pause' as it were, and that so as to call John to ‘go, take the scroll’ (once sealed, now fully opened - describing the seals and trumpets) and to ‘eat it’ (digest it fully himself), and then to ‘prophesy’ it!
This is none other than a re-enactment of the Great Commission that John had been party to receiving so many decades before, this time from the now (then) perspective of this struggling and frail apostle.
He is re-commissioned!
We are herein too re-commissioned!
Whenever we are feeling at the end of our rope…no matter how much we are suffering, this is to be interpreted as normative Christian experience!
Our prayers are heard in our trials and persecutions and even used of God in the unfolding of His eternal decree. The trumpets are how God answers and stands up for His bride against her enemies this side of the Grand Finale!
We must preach this!
This alone is Christianity!
Tell the Church what to expect and what to do in the face of suffering...that is, to get up and get going! God is yet your strength and shield!!!
Tell the devils people (all non-Christians) that all their suffering is from the hand of a very involved and blatantly busy God!
Whether He uses Satan (Job) or other demonic agencies, or people - ultimately all are His servants!
With all this right interpreting of life to the world remember all the while that ‘the gate is narrow’ and most will still reject God and curse Him to His face! That is not our problem ultimately...our business is to be faithful!
On the day of Judgment all these will not only have to give an account for their association with, and part in, the sin of our first parents, and that in the fall; not only will they have to explain their wholesale embrace of their sinful nature; not merely of all their actual sins committed in this life; not only will they have to answer for their further denial of God, albeit having heard and supressed the trumpets of general revelation in their every ounce of pain and torment throughout this life; but, more so, they will be irreparably culpable in that they have heard the preaching of the Word (little scroll) that explains God's calling to them in all their experiences and that in the view of Christ and His accomplishment on the Cross!
This, I believe, is the meaning of the angel and the little scroll!
What a glorious text indeed!
Preach it to everyone!!!
"You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."
God be praised completely!!!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Next year stuff!!!
I'm excited...a little nervous too, about what next year has for us as a church family.
I think this year ahead is going to be full of joy and growth in Christ. I pray this will be so.
God has given to each of us at KBC a loving and real Christian family. I can say, honestly and without fear of contradiction, that I love these precious people - the members of Krugersdorp Baptist.
Sad times are ahead too.
Michael and Stacy Lear, with Antje’s and my 'guard' child, little Jonathan, are leaving us to embark upon a ministry in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg. They are such an asset to us here and will be sorely missed. But God is on the throne! Scottsville Baptist is in for a tremendous blessing indeed.
We have a new deacon...Alan Krause. Alan has joined the others (Peter Gilbert and Alex Gasser) and that as a true and Biblically defined deacon.
Jeremy Pointer, a dear brother, is in the process of steadily readying himself, in every way, to join me (God willing) in the eldership. Lord willing we will have a plural eldership again soon into the New Year.
Vince Krause will begin deacons training in February 2012.
'Year for Life', after a brief 'sabbatical', will begin again next year. Zani Krause is our full time student. Quite a few others have expressed an interest in part time involvement. I would love to see everyone who is able benefit from this wonderful opportunity.
While on the one hand I long to see all our members plug in fully to the life and bloodstream of our fellowship I am increasingly coming to realize that this must come from God at work within them and not from my 'rod' upon them! I must become a man of prayer. While preaching is vital, and exhorting with that...all is meaningless unless ‘bathed’ in the earnest prayers of God's church!
Christianity Explored will begin next year.
Instead of family enrichment courses running throughout, we will have 2 family first conferences…one focusing on marriage, the other on parenting.
Financial training will also become part of the fabric of our calendar.
The Wednesday night ‘School of the Bible’ will focus on an overview of the whole Bible. Not too hectic, not too deep, just a 'book a time' approach - so as to provide the big picture for all.
The 060 ministry will continue almost the same as before baring the fact that I will be heading it up personally.
We will also be starting up 'The Middle Ages', a ministry focusing on those between ages 30 and 60. This for the purpose of assuring that the middle ages don't become the dark ages! This will focus in on mid-life matters. It will be monthly initially and on a Friday night at the same time as the senior youth ministry. Paul David Tripp's 'Lost in the Middle' will provide guidance in the choice of our topics of discussion.
These are just random ramblings out of sequence and without being exhaustive.
Great news regarding a web-page...Jay-Jay and Melanie Stein have been working on this and, Lord willing, we will be officially on line as of next year. This will be a tremendous blessing!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Blogging is for the birds...or is it?
It has been a while since I added to this blog.
The reason...a reaction to the rampant abuse of the social network!
Now all things of this nature are essentially neutral (even positive), but the foolishness that surrounds 'face book' and the like is rife in our day...at least in some of my experiences with those involved therein.
It is amazing how my experience in pastoral ministry and counselling in particular has soured me to the potentially awesome opportunities that the internet affords the guarded and self-controlled!
On that note...so much for my self-control!
Anyway…I have a fresh hunger for God and my ministry here at Krugersdorp Baptist Church. This I attribute to the ‘Spurgeon's Fraternal’ that I had, along with my fellow elder Mike, the privilege of attending last week. God so mightily used this time of mutual encouragement to enliven and stir my heart anew for the things that really matter.
Praise Him forever!
Not much more to say than that we must use all things God gives us for good, as He deems it, and not abuse the same for evil...deep!? Seriously...not so out there, but sometimes the simplest things are the most needed!
God be praised forever and with our all in all!
‘O Lord, I am a frail and tired fool. You are perfect in all Your uncreated, infinitely resplendent virtue. I love You in limping leaps of crippled ecstasy! Revive Your own!’
Amen
The reason...a reaction to the rampant abuse of the social network!
Now all things of this nature are essentially neutral (even positive), but the foolishness that surrounds 'face book' and the like is rife in our day...at least in some of my experiences with those involved therein.
It is amazing how my experience in pastoral ministry and counselling in particular has soured me to the potentially awesome opportunities that the internet affords the guarded and self-controlled!
On that note...so much for my self-control!
Anyway…I have a fresh hunger for God and my ministry here at Krugersdorp Baptist Church. This I attribute to the ‘Spurgeon's Fraternal’ that I had, along with my fellow elder Mike, the privilege of attending last week. God so mightily used this time of mutual encouragement to enliven and stir my heart anew for the things that really matter.
Praise Him forever!
Not much more to say than that we must use all things God gives us for good, as He deems it, and not abuse the same for evil...deep!? Seriously...not so out there, but sometimes the simplest things are the most needed!
God be praised forever and with our all in all!
‘O Lord, I am a frail and tired fool. You are perfect in all Your uncreated, infinitely resplendent virtue. I love You in limping leaps of crippled ecstasy! Revive Your own!’
Amen
Sunday, July 31, 2011
All things for good!
This morning I began to preach through Romans 8:28-30, and I will be finishing that message tonight.
It is part 5 in a series entitled (within the larger epistle) 'Assurance of Glorification'. This particular message received the subtitle 'All things for good' - my points being 1. What bold statement does Paul here make? (V 28) 2. What evidence does he bring to the table? (V 29) 3. What practacle help does this give me? (Matt 6:19ff, Jas 5:10-11).
We saw that the definite group that the apostle has in mind have primarily two descriptions, namely, 'those who love God,' firstly, and then, 'those who are called according to His purpose'.
The latter objective truth is the reason and cause for the former subjective experience. We love Him because He first loved us! This love for God is, again, the subjective aspect that we must seek to either identify within ourselves or discover to be absent. Not to say that we love Him well or sufficiently, far from it, but that we are, with Paul, grieved and groaning and mournful about the fact that we don't as we ought!
Such is a manifestation of this love for God that all true saints should be able to identify within them!
These, as already stated, do so because they are called according to His purpose (eternal decree) and that has, implicitly, its basis as just that - His purpose alone!!!
We are not called according to His prescience (foreknowledge) of what we would do etc. But according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will always and without exception!
This then brings us to ask and so answer the question what does this ‘all things’ entail?
The context makes plain that it refers, firstly, to the sufferings of this life. Whether internal (7:24) or external (8:18, 35ff) - however you slice it - sufferings in every conceivable sense are meant.
This however does not limit the intent of 'all things' as some minimalist exegetes may assume. Each and every action, thought, word or aspiration of each and every creature, animate and inanimate, physical or spiritual, visible or invisible must be seen as included in this all-encompassing statement!
The occasion doesn’t limit the ‘clout’ of the theological truth drawn on to meet its specific end!
The all things then are just that 'ALL THINGS'!
God providentially oversees the unfolding of His eternal decree right down to the most evil aspects, and the most seemingly mundane as well. All this without being Himself contaminated in any way whatsoever by the evil therein or, in any sense, taking away the fact that the creature is fully culpable and accountable for his actions that He, the just Judge will hold him to, and call him to give an account for.
So all things work together for good! What is here meant by good? Simply Christlikeness as verse 29 expounds clearly!
Conformity to the image of Christ is the overarching and supreme goal of glorification and that all to God's glory alone! See Job!
By way of an explanation or so as to prove or provide evidence for the bold assertion above the apostle presents the ‘ordo solutis’ (order of salvation) which stretches all the way back to the eternal, intrinsic, free and sovereign love of God for some of Adams fallen race.
This is what the phrase 'those whom He foreknew' means. Not 'that which He foreknew' or 'those whom He foreknew would do this or that (believe/love Him etc.),' but those (themselves) whom He foreknew.
These He also predestined (all of them without exception) and that to be conformed to complete Christ-like-perfection. And incidentally, He will accomplish all His eternal will! (Dan 4:34-35). He gets what He sovereignly decrees!
These same foreknown individuals who have all been predestined by God unto complete Christlikeness He also (without dropping so much as one of them) effectually called…savingly granting faith, repentance, eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to respond favourably to His gospel call.
Every one of those foreknown, predestined to Christlikeness, and called ones say 'yes Lord' to His compelling call and are so (without exception) Justified on the basis of the true atonement of Christ. His righteousness is eternally and so irreversibly traded for their wretchedness by the ‘imputational’ swap that occurs the moment they, by grace, believe.
These foreknown, predestined to be fully Christ like, effectually called, and irreversibly justified ones - each of them, without any falling through the proverbial ‘cracks’, are also, from God's perspective already glorified. This has not yet happened in our lives and even in the case of our departed loved ones, who’s spirits are made perfect, this ultimate hope of glorification will only reach its apex at the second advent of our Saviour and Lord. Suffice it to say that this, as God has eternally planned/decreed/purposed it is as good as done!
All things work together to this ultimate and un-derail-able end of perfect Christ like holiness and glorification. This is progressively realized in the season of sanctification that precedes its fulfilment, but is only fully realized when we enter the judgment through the resurrection, that which itself presents, in our case, the favourable verdict of ‘not guilty’!
This is a tremendous basis and precious hope kindling promise for our glorification to come!
If we love God - as we all do who are truly His - then this is only because He first loved (knew) us! And if this be the case it is absolutely certain that He will perfect the good work He has unilaterally and Omni-potently begun in us (glorification)!
Salvation is all of God and all of grace!
What practacle lessons may now be gleaned?
Simply that if this is God's bent...His passion...His driving interest, namely our sanctification to the ultimate goal of our glorification (complete Christlikeness), then surely we ought to 'join' Him in His purpose to make us like Christ.
So let us not gather treasures on earth - at all! Even our families can be treasures in the wrong sense! Job's weren’t. He, while he had them, offered sacrifices faithfully on their behalf. He was a good dad! When God, through Satan, took them Job responded in a proper manner - the only proper manner! (I have no harshness in my tone as I write these sobering truths).
When we read James' account of Jobs life we may be surprised to find that his narrative may be used as an opportunity to show off the gracious dealings of God in the lives of His children! But if Christlikeness is in view...this apparent problem is quickly resolved.
God is more concerned about our character (Christlikeness) than our comfort (immediate), and more concerned about our holiness (Christlikeness, again) than our happiness (immediate). I add ‘immediate’ for the fact that ultimate comfort and happiness will be synonymous with the former virtues and even now, in part, somewhat coincide!
Let us set our minds on the things that God is after!
Let us give ourselves completely to this end alone!
And let us long for His coming and as it is written in the Revelation of our Lord Jesus say with the Spirit (who is constantly saying, even praying [Rom 8:26-27] to this end), "Come Lord Jesus!"
Praise God forever!!! He alone is worthy!!!
It is part 5 in a series entitled (within the larger epistle) 'Assurance of Glorification'. This particular message received the subtitle 'All things for good' - my points being 1. What bold statement does Paul here make? (V 28) 2. What evidence does he bring to the table? (V 29) 3. What practacle help does this give me? (Matt 6:19ff, Jas 5:10-11).
We saw that the definite group that the apostle has in mind have primarily two descriptions, namely, 'those who love God,' firstly, and then, 'those who are called according to His purpose'.
The latter objective truth is the reason and cause for the former subjective experience. We love Him because He first loved us! This love for God is, again, the subjective aspect that we must seek to either identify within ourselves or discover to be absent. Not to say that we love Him well or sufficiently, far from it, but that we are, with Paul, grieved and groaning and mournful about the fact that we don't as we ought!
Such is a manifestation of this love for God that all true saints should be able to identify within them!
These, as already stated, do so because they are called according to His purpose (eternal decree) and that has, implicitly, its basis as just that - His purpose alone!!!
We are not called according to His prescience (foreknowledge) of what we would do etc. But according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will always and without exception!
This then brings us to ask and so answer the question what does this ‘all things’ entail?
The context makes plain that it refers, firstly, to the sufferings of this life. Whether internal (7:24) or external (8:18, 35ff) - however you slice it - sufferings in every conceivable sense are meant.
This however does not limit the intent of 'all things' as some minimalist exegetes may assume. Each and every action, thought, word or aspiration of each and every creature, animate and inanimate, physical or spiritual, visible or invisible must be seen as included in this all-encompassing statement!
The occasion doesn’t limit the ‘clout’ of the theological truth drawn on to meet its specific end!
The all things then are just that 'ALL THINGS'!
God providentially oversees the unfolding of His eternal decree right down to the most evil aspects, and the most seemingly mundane as well. All this without being Himself contaminated in any way whatsoever by the evil therein or, in any sense, taking away the fact that the creature is fully culpable and accountable for his actions that He, the just Judge will hold him to, and call him to give an account for.
So all things work together for good! What is here meant by good? Simply Christlikeness as verse 29 expounds clearly!
Conformity to the image of Christ is the overarching and supreme goal of glorification and that all to God's glory alone! See Job!
By way of an explanation or so as to prove or provide evidence for the bold assertion above the apostle presents the ‘ordo solutis’ (order of salvation) which stretches all the way back to the eternal, intrinsic, free and sovereign love of God for some of Adams fallen race.
This is what the phrase 'those whom He foreknew' means. Not 'that which He foreknew' or 'those whom He foreknew would do this or that (believe/love Him etc.),' but those (themselves) whom He foreknew.
These He also predestined (all of them without exception) and that to be conformed to complete Christ-like-perfection. And incidentally, He will accomplish all His eternal will! (Dan 4:34-35). He gets what He sovereignly decrees!
These same foreknown individuals who have all been predestined by God unto complete Christlikeness He also (without dropping so much as one of them) effectually called…savingly granting faith, repentance, eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to respond favourably to His gospel call.
Every one of those foreknown, predestined to Christlikeness, and called ones say 'yes Lord' to His compelling call and are so (without exception) Justified on the basis of the true atonement of Christ. His righteousness is eternally and so irreversibly traded for their wretchedness by the ‘imputational’ swap that occurs the moment they, by grace, believe.
These foreknown, predestined to be fully Christ like, effectually called, and irreversibly justified ones - each of them, without any falling through the proverbial ‘cracks’, are also, from God's perspective already glorified. This has not yet happened in our lives and even in the case of our departed loved ones, who’s spirits are made perfect, this ultimate hope of glorification will only reach its apex at the second advent of our Saviour and Lord. Suffice it to say that this, as God has eternally planned/decreed/purposed it is as good as done!
All things work together to this ultimate and un-derail-able end of perfect Christ like holiness and glorification. This is progressively realized in the season of sanctification that precedes its fulfilment, but is only fully realized when we enter the judgment through the resurrection, that which itself presents, in our case, the favourable verdict of ‘not guilty’!
This is a tremendous basis and precious hope kindling promise for our glorification to come!
If we love God - as we all do who are truly His - then this is only because He first loved (knew) us! And if this be the case it is absolutely certain that He will perfect the good work He has unilaterally and Omni-potently begun in us (glorification)!
Salvation is all of God and all of grace!
What practacle lessons may now be gleaned?
Simply that if this is God's bent...His passion...His driving interest, namely our sanctification to the ultimate goal of our glorification (complete Christlikeness), then surely we ought to 'join' Him in His purpose to make us like Christ.
So let us not gather treasures on earth - at all! Even our families can be treasures in the wrong sense! Job's weren’t. He, while he had them, offered sacrifices faithfully on their behalf. He was a good dad! When God, through Satan, took them Job responded in a proper manner - the only proper manner! (I have no harshness in my tone as I write these sobering truths).
When we read James' account of Jobs life we may be surprised to find that his narrative may be used as an opportunity to show off the gracious dealings of God in the lives of His children! But if Christlikeness is in view...this apparent problem is quickly resolved.
God is more concerned about our character (Christlikeness) than our comfort (immediate), and more concerned about our holiness (Christlikeness, again) than our happiness (immediate). I add ‘immediate’ for the fact that ultimate comfort and happiness will be synonymous with the former virtues and even now, in part, somewhat coincide!
Let us set our minds on the things that God is after!
Let us give ourselves completely to this end alone!
And let us long for His coming and as it is written in the Revelation of our Lord Jesus say with the Spirit (who is constantly saying, even praying [Rom 8:26-27] to this end), "Come Lord Jesus!"
Praise God forever!!! He alone is worthy!!!
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Indwelling Intercessor/Hear what the Spirit says to the Churches!
What a Saviour! What a God! Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I'm so glad He came to save me!
Yesterday morning I preached on Romans 8:26-27 which I gave the ongoing title, 'Assurance of Glorification' (part4 - this time) - subtitled, 'The Indwelling Intercessor'.
We looked at the fact that 1. We are weak and need help! 2. God the Holy Spirit comes to our aid! 3. God the Father always says 'yes' to the Holy Spirit's perfect prayers!
What blessed me was the fact that Paul includes himself in this honest acknowledgment of human weakness and all round frailty (Rom 7:24 continued really) and that even down to his prayers – the vehicle of expression with regard to all of life’s concerns.
If Paul was weak, as he was, and if this was okay, as it is (not an excuse to be lazy and passive – but perspective that ‘oozes’ comfort for the fact of its universal truth!) then little old 'I' am in good company for being weak too! Paul needed the prayers of his brethren, so do I etc.
Especially, and more honoring to the immediate context, however, Paul, the church in Rome, and all saints in all ages with them need the intercessory (prayer) aid of the almighty Holy Spirit.
Good news...He comes to meet that very need in our lives!
The very groaning’s that we experience, the aches and cravings - those heavenly aspirations for holiness and to be all that Christ has called us to be for Him and His glory - is proof positive of the Holy Spirits presence in our hearts!
But it goes further!
These self-same groaning’s are caused within our hearts (the arena of activity) by Him and ought to bring to the forefront of our minds the fact that He is about His holy business of ‘inter-Trinitarian-communion’ on our behalf.
He is praying to the Father for us!
Now these prayers, are they of a positive or a negative nature? Seriously the question is even silly because of the obvious answer - yet worth the time to highlight the obvious and so perhaps therefore taken for granted.
Let’s see, we are weak and need help. Otherwise stated we are insufficient, broken, leaking, flat (something less than sufficient) - He (God the Holy Spirit) comes to help (not harm) us!
It's positive!
More so, He intercedes for the saints (whom He has come to help!) according to the will of the Father (entire Godhead really) who is - by the way - "for us" (see verse 31)!
So what have we seen?
God the Father, obviously, says 'yes' to the very things He Himself wants (‘will of God’ prayers articulated to Him by God the Holy Spirit who is praying the Fathers will).
God the Holy Spirit cannot pray amiss! He never errs! He utters perfect prayers that the Father always answers in the absolute affirmative!
And now ‘connect the holy dots’...which are all ‘for’ and not against us!
These Holy Spirit prayed prayers are all for our good, help and, in short, becoming all that God wants of us - absolute conformity to the image of His Son!
Just this one text alone, if all Scripture besides were lost to us, would suffice for the thinking Christian to have absolute assurance of salvation!
We cannot ever lose our salvation!
We must rejoice in the assurance of Glorification that this Indwelling Intercessor doctrine brings in its wake!
Praise God forever!
Last night we summed up the seven letters to the seven churches of the Revelation (Ch. 2-3) and my message was entitled, 'To all pastors of all churches in all ages', subtitled, 'Hear what the Spirit says to the churches'.
The end of the matter came to us in the following questions being answered. 1. How does Christ want us to think of Him? 2. What pleases Christ? 3. What displeases Him? 4. What will be the outcome for those who refuse to heed His warnings? 5. What will be the outcome for those who overcome?
We had a heart searching time together and recommitted our lives individually and as a church family to His cause and glory alone.
The gist – worship Him in spirit and truth! Love God with all you are and have and your neighbour as yourself!
However you ‘slice it’ - authentic inside-out heart religion along with sound doctrine is absolutely vital. No compromise with sin ever! We need to learn to be righteously intolerant of sin in our own lives as well as the lives of others…patient, indeed, with penitent, failing brethren but disciplining impenitent pretenders promptly so as to guard the purity and holiness of the church of our precious Saviour.
We need a new fear of Christ in our churches!
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Eccl 12:13-14)
All glory to Him and Him alone!
Yesterday morning I preached on Romans 8:26-27 which I gave the ongoing title, 'Assurance of Glorification' (part4 - this time) - subtitled, 'The Indwelling Intercessor'.
We looked at the fact that 1. We are weak and need help! 2. God the Holy Spirit comes to our aid! 3. God the Father always says 'yes' to the Holy Spirit's perfect prayers!
What blessed me was the fact that Paul includes himself in this honest acknowledgment of human weakness and all round frailty (Rom 7:24 continued really) and that even down to his prayers – the vehicle of expression with regard to all of life’s concerns.
If Paul was weak, as he was, and if this was okay, as it is (not an excuse to be lazy and passive – but perspective that ‘oozes’ comfort for the fact of its universal truth!) then little old 'I' am in good company for being weak too! Paul needed the prayers of his brethren, so do I etc.
Especially, and more honoring to the immediate context, however, Paul, the church in Rome, and all saints in all ages with them need the intercessory (prayer) aid of the almighty Holy Spirit.
Good news...He comes to meet that very need in our lives!
The very groaning’s that we experience, the aches and cravings - those heavenly aspirations for holiness and to be all that Christ has called us to be for Him and His glory - is proof positive of the Holy Spirits presence in our hearts!
But it goes further!
These self-same groaning’s are caused within our hearts (the arena of activity) by Him and ought to bring to the forefront of our minds the fact that He is about His holy business of ‘inter-Trinitarian-communion’ on our behalf.
He is praying to the Father for us!
Now these prayers, are they of a positive or a negative nature? Seriously the question is even silly because of the obvious answer - yet worth the time to highlight the obvious and so perhaps therefore taken for granted.
Let’s see, we are weak and need help. Otherwise stated we are insufficient, broken, leaking, flat (something less than sufficient) - He (God the Holy Spirit) comes to help (not harm) us!
It's positive!
More so, He intercedes for the saints (whom He has come to help!) according to the will of the Father (entire Godhead really) who is - by the way - "for us" (see verse 31)!
So what have we seen?
God the Father, obviously, says 'yes' to the very things He Himself wants (‘will of God’ prayers articulated to Him by God the Holy Spirit who is praying the Fathers will).
God the Holy Spirit cannot pray amiss! He never errs! He utters perfect prayers that the Father always answers in the absolute affirmative!
And now ‘connect the holy dots’...which are all ‘for’ and not against us!
These Holy Spirit prayed prayers are all for our good, help and, in short, becoming all that God wants of us - absolute conformity to the image of His Son!
Just this one text alone, if all Scripture besides were lost to us, would suffice for the thinking Christian to have absolute assurance of salvation!
We cannot ever lose our salvation!
We must rejoice in the assurance of Glorification that this Indwelling Intercessor doctrine brings in its wake!
Praise God forever!
Last night we summed up the seven letters to the seven churches of the Revelation (Ch. 2-3) and my message was entitled, 'To all pastors of all churches in all ages', subtitled, 'Hear what the Spirit says to the churches'.
The end of the matter came to us in the following questions being answered. 1. How does Christ want us to think of Him? 2. What pleases Christ? 3. What displeases Him? 4. What will be the outcome for those who refuse to heed His warnings? 5. What will be the outcome for those who overcome?
We had a heart searching time together and recommitted our lives individually and as a church family to His cause and glory alone.
The gist – worship Him in spirit and truth! Love God with all you are and have and your neighbour as yourself!
However you ‘slice it’ - authentic inside-out heart religion along with sound doctrine is absolutely vital. No compromise with sin ever! We need to learn to be righteously intolerant of sin in our own lives as well as the lives of others…patient, indeed, with penitent, failing brethren but disciplining impenitent pretenders promptly so as to guard the purity and holiness of the church of our precious Saviour.
We need a new fear of Christ in our churches!
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Eccl 12:13-14)
All glory to Him and Him alone!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Come to Me...I will give you REST!!!
I have felt sick all week!
Since last Lord's Day I have been down with the flue, with the rest of my family. Our house has been a den of sniffles, groaning’s and short tempers.
My regular wake up times have gone for a loop and I have literally slept for about 9 hours each night...that is crazy long for me.
What’s the point in saying that?
Simply to lay a foundation for the fact that with this occasion of sickness and the excuse (legitimate or not) of sleeping in, my personal devotions have taken a back seat.
Sure I live in the 'guilt' charged 'forgive me' zone throughout the day due to this folly, but the fact still stands that I am not where I want to be in my fellowship with my Saviour and Lord. I find myself having little to say in times of ministry and counselling, I find myself detached in my studies and my wrestling with the texts at hand clinical and somewhat removed from a real investigation of the soul that I long for.
This is understandable of course and that for the simple reason that sickness does bring with it times of needed recuperation...but my mind also highlights the fact that many godly saints live, labour and die in a constant condition of pain and suffering.
What do we tell them?
“Never mind meeting with God!”
“He is difficult to fellowship with!”
“Just know He understands your struggles!”
And
“Sit back, suck up another DVD and seer your conscience!?”
Since when did praying, reading the Bible, listening to sermons, watching Christian DVD's etc. become such a challenge? At least the last illustration can compare to watching TV or a movie of a secular nature! But why is God not ‘fun enough’ (I mean this reverently) to merit a place in my ‘entertainment’ and relaxation and rest?
This is strange to put it mildly, wicked to say it straight!
I recall someone quoting someone else with these haunting yet extremely accurate words, "our congregations need our holiness!"
If this is so as it obviously is then when do we as ministers, as Christians irrespective, ever have a licence to play truant from deep intimacy and heart impassioned fellowship with the all sufficient, infinitely comforting, utterly rest causing Sovereign of glory?
I must come to the place, as it once was (first love stuff!!!), where God is my whole portion, my all in all, my hiding place and treasure and true relief from all of life’s storms!
May this challenge stir your hearts as it has reminded me of the things that really count!
God be our sustenance and our solace!
Amen!!!
Since last Lord's Day I have been down with the flue, with the rest of my family. Our house has been a den of sniffles, groaning’s and short tempers.
My regular wake up times have gone for a loop and I have literally slept for about 9 hours each night...that is crazy long for me.
What’s the point in saying that?
Simply to lay a foundation for the fact that with this occasion of sickness and the excuse (legitimate or not) of sleeping in, my personal devotions have taken a back seat.
Sure I live in the 'guilt' charged 'forgive me' zone throughout the day due to this folly, but the fact still stands that I am not where I want to be in my fellowship with my Saviour and Lord. I find myself having little to say in times of ministry and counselling, I find myself detached in my studies and my wrestling with the texts at hand clinical and somewhat removed from a real investigation of the soul that I long for.
This is understandable of course and that for the simple reason that sickness does bring with it times of needed recuperation...but my mind also highlights the fact that many godly saints live, labour and die in a constant condition of pain and suffering.
What do we tell them?
“Never mind meeting with God!”
“He is difficult to fellowship with!”
“Just know He understands your struggles!”
And
“Sit back, suck up another DVD and seer your conscience!?”
Since when did praying, reading the Bible, listening to sermons, watching Christian DVD's etc. become such a challenge? At least the last illustration can compare to watching TV or a movie of a secular nature! But why is God not ‘fun enough’ (I mean this reverently) to merit a place in my ‘entertainment’ and relaxation and rest?
This is strange to put it mildly, wicked to say it straight!
I recall someone quoting someone else with these haunting yet extremely accurate words, "our congregations need our holiness!"
If this is so as it obviously is then when do we as ministers, as Christians irrespective, ever have a licence to play truant from deep intimacy and heart impassioned fellowship with the all sufficient, infinitely comforting, utterly rest causing Sovereign of glory?
I must come to the place, as it once was (first love stuff!!!), where God is my whole portion, my all in all, my hiding place and treasure and true relief from all of life’s storms!
May this challenge stir your hearts as it has reminded me of the things that really count!
God be our sustenance and our solace!
Amen!!!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Incarnate Deity - Full of Grace and Truth
This morning, really yesterday morning by now, we had a baptism service at KBC and I have decided to preach the gospel of John at baptism services...focussing, as my overarching title has it, on 'Life in His Name' from the purpose statement found in verses 30-31 of chapter 20.
Lifting up Christ and seeking to demonstrate something of His resplendent glory is my desire.
We examined the first 18 verses of chapter 1 under the title, 'Incarnate Deity', and subtitled, 'Full of Grace and Truth.'
The gist was utterly redemptive and sought to highlight the fact that creation is something of a parable, albeit entirely real and actual occurrence based, of redemption! Christ, being the Light who enlightens, gives light etc. is to be seen as so doing in a general sense as far as it involved the first creation...but more so with respect to the new creation as in salvation from the darkness of the world system under Satan’s rule and so from sin and hell!
Christ, the Word, the true Light is the active agent in both creation and redemption, with the other members of the Holy Trinity.
He is God's perfect revelation of Himself, being eternally and fully God. He takes upon Himself full humanity, exactly like ours, yet without sin, and then as the God Man brings to the fore the new creation and that in His own person and work.
Seeing Christ is everything…for "no one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Fathers side, He has made Him known!"
Christ has made Him known! Who but God can reveal God in this full revelatory sense? Who but God can be full of grace and truth? Who but God can be partaken of in an undiminished sense as it is written, "…of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace"?
The fact of His 'Incarnate Deity' has been, I trust, a source of great joy to us!
God bless all who are needy!
Lifting up Christ and seeking to demonstrate something of His resplendent glory is my desire.
We examined the first 18 verses of chapter 1 under the title, 'Incarnate Deity', and subtitled, 'Full of Grace and Truth.'
The gist was utterly redemptive and sought to highlight the fact that creation is something of a parable, albeit entirely real and actual occurrence based, of redemption! Christ, being the Light who enlightens, gives light etc. is to be seen as so doing in a general sense as far as it involved the first creation...but more so with respect to the new creation as in salvation from the darkness of the world system under Satan’s rule and so from sin and hell!
Christ, the Word, the true Light is the active agent in both creation and redemption, with the other members of the Holy Trinity.
He is God's perfect revelation of Himself, being eternally and fully God. He takes upon Himself full humanity, exactly like ours, yet without sin, and then as the God Man brings to the fore the new creation and that in His own person and work.
Seeing Christ is everything…for "no one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Fathers side, He has made Him known!"
Christ has made Him known! Who but God can reveal God in this full revelatory sense? Who but God can be full of grace and truth? Who but God can be partaken of in an undiminished sense as it is written, "…of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace"?
The fact of His 'Incarnate Deity' has been, I trust, a source of great joy to us!
God bless all who are needy!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Knowing Your Flock!
I recall Lance Quinn saying at one time that a young man can be an excellent preacher, theologian, apologist, evangelist...you name it...but that a young man cannot be a pastor!
In my case – he was right!
I left my previous ministry chiefly because I came to realise that I wasn't a shepherd. Sure I preached the Word, challenged people to consecrated devotion to Christ and His cause in the world, witnessed to the lost and longed to see sinners saved, saints sanctified, the church purified and God glorified in all the above…but there was something sorely missing from it all.
One lady, albeit that she couldn’t stand me due to my being a Calvinist (she was at best Arminian/probably Pelagian), said to me on one occasion, "you don’t love us"! She was right! I didn’t know how to love a flock yet...something was out of orbit within my personal sanctification that manifested itself when under pressure and opposition. I couldn’t stand some of my congregation and felt as if they happily returned the favour. The one liner, 'God is getting rid of the dead wood' became a source of sickening hope for me within this crippled season of my ‘service’ to Him in the labourers I had embarked upon.
I tried, I prayed, I wept to love the church...but I wasn’t ready. I was too quickly allowed to leap (incidentally against the wise council of my elders in my previous ministry).
I say that to say this, God has done a work of grace in me since then in this particular regard. Not to say I have in anyway arrived, I am far from where I long to be, but He has brought me to the place where I can genuinely say with Paul, "God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ". In fact I would say, without apology, that unless a man can honestly own those words, he has no business in the pastorate/eldership (or diaconate for that matter)!
How can he shepherd those most precious to God without a shepherd’s heart and love for the flock?
Where am I going with this all? I am setting the stage, as it were, so as to share something of practical value with whosoever would find some use or value in it. Recently I put together, in excel, a template that will aid in my pastoral service to the flock under my charge and care. The purpose is to keep a close 'eye' on each and every member of our fellowship and that for the purpose of deliberate discipleship.
The headings include:
1. List of members. 2. Current commitment to this fellowship. 3. Current service in this fellowship. 4. Desires and gifts to be developed. 5. Areas of concern to be addressed. 6. Areas of need to be met.
These are for private (within the eldership) use and, with that, for the purpose of pointed prayer and service. I would sincerely love to have each member of our church family feeling served and loved completely, and that includes developing them to their full potential and usefulness to the body and so the Head.
I long to be a better shepherd and such practical helps, I believe, are the way forward for me.
If this blesses someone else as well - praise God!
Soli Deo Gloria!!!
In my case – he was right!
I left my previous ministry chiefly because I came to realise that I wasn't a shepherd. Sure I preached the Word, challenged people to consecrated devotion to Christ and His cause in the world, witnessed to the lost and longed to see sinners saved, saints sanctified, the church purified and God glorified in all the above…but there was something sorely missing from it all.
One lady, albeit that she couldn’t stand me due to my being a Calvinist (she was at best Arminian/probably Pelagian), said to me on one occasion, "you don’t love us"! She was right! I didn’t know how to love a flock yet...something was out of orbit within my personal sanctification that manifested itself when under pressure and opposition. I couldn’t stand some of my congregation and felt as if they happily returned the favour. The one liner, 'God is getting rid of the dead wood' became a source of sickening hope for me within this crippled season of my ‘service’ to Him in the labourers I had embarked upon.
I tried, I prayed, I wept to love the church...but I wasn’t ready. I was too quickly allowed to leap (incidentally against the wise council of my elders in my previous ministry).
I say that to say this, God has done a work of grace in me since then in this particular regard. Not to say I have in anyway arrived, I am far from where I long to be, but He has brought me to the place where I can genuinely say with Paul, "God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ". In fact I would say, without apology, that unless a man can honestly own those words, he has no business in the pastorate/eldership (or diaconate for that matter)!
How can he shepherd those most precious to God without a shepherd’s heart and love for the flock?
Where am I going with this all? I am setting the stage, as it were, so as to share something of practical value with whosoever would find some use or value in it. Recently I put together, in excel, a template that will aid in my pastoral service to the flock under my charge and care. The purpose is to keep a close 'eye' on each and every member of our fellowship and that for the purpose of deliberate discipleship.
The headings include:
1. List of members. 2. Current commitment to this fellowship. 3. Current service in this fellowship. 4. Desires and gifts to be developed. 5. Areas of concern to be addressed. 6. Areas of need to be met.
These are for private (within the eldership) use and, with that, for the purpose of pointed prayer and service. I would sincerely love to have each member of our church family feeling served and loved completely, and that includes developing them to their full potential and usefulness to the body and so the Head.
I long to be a better shepherd and such practical helps, I believe, are the way forward for me.
If this blesses someone else as well - praise God!
Soli Deo Gloria!!!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
That Book in your lap/Let Me in
This morning we looked at that well known and loved passage in the second epistle to Timothy chapter 3 and verses 16 through 17.
My message was entitled 'That Book in your lap' subtitled, 'What Satan doesn't want you to know about the Bible'.
There were essentially 7 points that were gleaned from the text namely: 1. All Scripture is all Scripture. 2. All Scripture is God breathed. 3. All Scripture is authoritative. 4. All Scripture is profitable. 5. All Scripture is accessible. 6. All Scripture is perfect. 7. All Scripture is sufficient.
We ‘landed’ with reference to the 15th verse which highlights the fact that Christ is the Word of God become flesh and that 'all Scripture' is either about Him in a forward looking sense or, from the New Covenant's perspective, looking back to the historical person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The challenge was for us to not take for granted ‘that Book in our laps’ but to marvel, and that ever increasingly so, at the grace and love of God in graciously giving us His holy Word!
The evening's message was preached from Revelation 3:14-22.
As a title, 'The Letter to the Pastor of the Church in Laodicea', subtitled, 'Let Me in'.
The gist being that this church, and they were His church in spite of their failing to be all they could and should have been, had come to the point of slowly but surely excommunicating Christ from their fellowship and that due to their economic ‘wealth’ and pseudo ‘success’ causing within them a degree of independence. Their great sin was that they were sinfully self-sufficient and so had no need of Christ really, at least in their evident, albeit unbeknown to them, estimation of it.
He is found outside the church, as it were, knocking. This has nothing to do with the gospel, as in evangelizing the lost (that silly painting!), but everything to do with restoring fellowship with Himself, and that within the context of a wayward backslidden church...His true ‘lampstand’/church nonetheless.
The 'lukewarm' aspect is to be seen not as ‘straddling the line’ or being a half-hearted ‘fence-sitter’, as it were, but as being outright useless and distasteful and so ineffective as light bearers due to their ‘power source’ – Christ Himself – being ‘side-lined’ to the ‘outer courts’.
The hot medicinal springs of Hierapolis were of great value to those who were sick, the cold refreshing drinking water of Colossae was a real source of joy to weary travellers, but the lukewarm, nauseating water (if you could even call it that) of Laodicea was enough to make one vomit on tasting it!
Hence the hot and cold are both of value, contextually speaking, and do good...the lukewarm - no value!
It is, I firmly believe, a grave mistake to take the text to mean that Christ would rather we were complete pagans, as His church, than that we were ‘iffy’, ‘middle of the road’ saints. This is untrue, in and of itself, and not what this particular congregation would have understood.
So the matter is clear...we are to repent of all and any self-sufficiency and let Jesus back into our own lives personally and our church corporately. Not in a salvific sense but in a fellowship/communal sense!
He is ‘the Amen’. (The firm One… trustworthy and true throughout) He is ‘the faithful and true Witness’. (The One who always and only did according to the will of God in obeying His commission - the Laodiceans has lost the plot and were unfaithful and unhelpful either to the sick or weary!) And He is the omnipotent Creator of all things, able to enable those who abide in Him!
Their own assessment of themselves was sorely flawed...Christ lovingly yet firmly sets the record straight diagnosing their plight and proscribing the cure...namely, Himself!
The challenge to us as a church family is to 'let Him in' and that as, not the humble carpenter of Nazareth, in His humiliation that is...but as He has already revealed Himself in that glorious vision of Revelation chapter 1. He is conquering constantly and we are to render Him homage and reverent worship and honour!
The long and short of it...the daily bread from the sacred Volume amounts to this: Take up and read...read of Christ and rejoice in His absolute sufficiency. And, with that, return to an awareness of your wretchedness and acknowledge your acute and, chronically so, need of Him.
No compromise ever!!!
Soli Deo Gloria forever!!!
My message was entitled 'That Book in your lap' subtitled, 'What Satan doesn't want you to know about the Bible'.
There were essentially 7 points that were gleaned from the text namely: 1. All Scripture is all Scripture. 2. All Scripture is God breathed. 3. All Scripture is authoritative. 4. All Scripture is profitable. 5. All Scripture is accessible. 6. All Scripture is perfect. 7. All Scripture is sufficient.
We ‘landed’ with reference to the 15th verse which highlights the fact that Christ is the Word of God become flesh and that 'all Scripture' is either about Him in a forward looking sense or, from the New Covenant's perspective, looking back to the historical person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The challenge was for us to not take for granted ‘that Book in our laps’ but to marvel, and that ever increasingly so, at the grace and love of God in graciously giving us His holy Word!
The evening's message was preached from Revelation 3:14-22.
As a title, 'The Letter to the Pastor of the Church in Laodicea', subtitled, 'Let Me in'.
The gist being that this church, and they were His church in spite of their failing to be all they could and should have been, had come to the point of slowly but surely excommunicating Christ from their fellowship and that due to their economic ‘wealth’ and pseudo ‘success’ causing within them a degree of independence. Their great sin was that they were sinfully self-sufficient and so had no need of Christ really, at least in their evident, albeit unbeknown to them, estimation of it.
He is found outside the church, as it were, knocking. This has nothing to do with the gospel, as in evangelizing the lost (that silly painting!), but everything to do with restoring fellowship with Himself, and that within the context of a wayward backslidden church...His true ‘lampstand’/church nonetheless.
The 'lukewarm' aspect is to be seen not as ‘straddling the line’ or being a half-hearted ‘fence-sitter’, as it were, but as being outright useless and distasteful and so ineffective as light bearers due to their ‘power source’ – Christ Himself – being ‘side-lined’ to the ‘outer courts’.
The hot medicinal springs of Hierapolis were of great value to those who were sick, the cold refreshing drinking water of Colossae was a real source of joy to weary travellers, but the lukewarm, nauseating water (if you could even call it that) of Laodicea was enough to make one vomit on tasting it!
Hence the hot and cold are both of value, contextually speaking, and do good...the lukewarm - no value!
It is, I firmly believe, a grave mistake to take the text to mean that Christ would rather we were complete pagans, as His church, than that we were ‘iffy’, ‘middle of the road’ saints. This is untrue, in and of itself, and not what this particular congregation would have understood.
So the matter is clear...we are to repent of all and any self-sufficiency and let Jesus back into our own lives personally and our church corporately. Not in a salvific sense but in a fellowship/communal sense!
He is ‘the Amen’. (The firm One… trustworthy and true throughout) He is ‘the faithful and true Witness’. (The One who always and only did according to the will of God in obeying His commission - the Laodiceans has lost the plot and were unfaithful and unhelpful either to the sick or weary!) And He is the omnipotent Creator of all things, able to enable those who abide in Him!
Their own assessment of themselves was sorely flawed...Christ lovingly yet firmly sets the record straight diagnosing their plight and proscribing the cure...namely, Himself!
The challenge to us as a church family is to 'let Him in' and that as, not the humble carpenter of Nazareth, in His humiliation that is...but as He has already revealed Himself in that glorious vision of Revelation chapter 1. He is conquering constantly and we are to render Him homage and reverent worship and honour!
The long and short of it...the daily bread from the sacred Volume amounts to this: Take up and read...read of Christ and rejoice in His absolute sufficiency. And, with that, return to an awareness of your wretchedness and acknowledge your acute and, chronically so, need of Him.
No compromise ever!!!
Soli Deo Gloria forever!!!
Friday, July 1, 2011
New song - 'Pretty Face'
Antje and I will have been married for 10 years this coming September 1st.
We were hoping to do something special, something we've never done together...then God gave us Eden Brenna Thompson, our new little princess, and she has over abundantly 'scratched this itch'!
Besides this, I have had it on my heart to write Antje a song but am not very good at writing love songs...I find it easier to write 'daddy daughter' songs, for some weird reason, but this said, and perhaps still a fair diagnosis, I wrote Antje a song last night anyway.
With my voice, which echoes through the night like cats being murdered, it has the potential of becoming a hit...on some uninhabitable planet, that is, where the native plant life feeds on 'out of tune fruit cake husbands trying to impress their wives'!
For what it’s worth here are the words...it's entitled 'Pretty Face':
Pretty Face
Who am I – without you?
I am, well – just a shell
Of a man – without you
Trapped in time – prison cell
Oh but wait & let’s see
You’re mine still!
Pretty Face we will be
Always will
If, in His will
Together until
He comes
Again – I’ll hold you
Closely by – tucked inside
My embrace – I love you
By His grace – in His stride
& those times when we’re we
We’re fine still!
Pretty Face your with me
Always my girl
If, in His will
Together until
He comes
(Musical interlude)
Who am I – without you?
I am, well – just a shell
Of a man – without you
Trapped in time – prison cell
Oh but wait & let’s see
You’re mine still!
Pretty Face we will be
Always will
If, in His will
Together until
He comes
Well and trustworthy is the proverb;
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD" (Prov 18:22)
Praise God for the love of my life!
We were hoping to do something special, something we've never done together...then God gave us Eden Brenna Thompson, our new little princess, and she has over abundantly 'scratched this itch'!
Besides this, I have had it on my heart to write Antje a song but am not very good at writing love songs...I find it easier to write 'daddy daughter' songs, for some weird reason, but this said, and perhaps still a fair diagnosis, I wrote Antje a song last night anyway.
With my voice, which echoes through the night like cats being murdered, it has the potential of becoming a hit...on some uninhabitable planet, that is, where the native plant life feeds on 'out of tune fruit cake husbands trying to impress their wives'!
For what it’s worth here are the words...it's entitled 'Pretty Face':
Pretty Face
Who am I – without you?
I am, well – just a shell
Of a man – without you
Trapped in time – prison cell
Oh but wait & let’s see
You’re mine still!
Pretty Face we will be
Always will
If, in His will
Together until
He comes
Again – I’ll hold you
Closely by – tucked inside
My embrace – I love you
By His grace – in His stride
& those times when we’re we
We’re fine still!
Pretty Face your with me
Always my girl
If, in His will
Together until
He comes
(Musical interlude)
Who am I – without you?
I am, well – just a shell
Of a man – without you
Trapped in time – prison cell
Oh but wait & let’s see
You’re mine still!
Pretty Face we will be
Always will
If, in His will
Together until
He comes
Well and trustworthy is the proverb;
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD" (Prov 18:22)
Praise God for the love of my life!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands
As something of an introduction to this particular post under the overarching heading 'Fleshing it Out' I would like to enter this terrain through a ‘side door’, if that makes sense, and so – here it is; ‘should a man embark upon the ministry before he has it all together?’
Now that is a very open-ended…very broad and relative question, in one sense. What do I mean? Not, of course, perfection...otherwise no pastors till glory (and when I say pastors I mean elders too - really the same office) will ever or have ever been ready or fit for office…and this cannot be the case, as God counts fitness in the lists of requirements He Himself gives in His Word (some do qualify!).
Further, I'm not really concerned in the asking with the character aspects...this is a vital study and of supreme importance, but I have another aspect of the ministry in mind as I think and write.
The subject at hand is one of an ethical nature. But even there it has as its root concern the whole matter of sound doctrine which, contrary to some of the (perhaps all [?]) 'Emerging' guy’s opinions, always leads to orthopraxy (sound living).
The trigger thought that plagues me is simply this: In pastoral counselling we will face many challenging questions. For instance, may a woman pursue the pastoral ministry? Should we marry a Christian with an unbeliever? Is divorce ever okay in God's eyes...and, either way; is re-marriage permissible at all if the ex-spouse is still alive? How far is too far in ‘dating’? Dating? What if homosexuals have 'married' and then get saved...how do I guide them through these almost uncharted waters?
These are random ‘off the cuff’ selections, but the point is made. Back to my question…having now something of a context within to place it…’may a man become an elder before he is clear on these matters?’ (My wording will change throughout as I restate myself for the purpose of clarification)
Again, one may rush in to answer 'of course'! But wait a minute! We as pastors of God's flock will give an account...we have a stricter judgment! We may not plead 'Lord, Lord we only knew a little...surely You understand'! And if we were to do so God's response will be 'then why did you embark on this task without being ready? Oh, I see, seminary came to an end and you needed a job...and so you used the church and filled an office with premature service! Depart from Me!'
What am I getting at?
I actually have myself under the spotlight as I write and that with regard to the whole matter of divorce and re-marriage, as a case in point. It seems as if everyone I study has it ‘all together‘ on this matter...only thing is they almost, to the man, differ one from another! Now without opening a can of worms or argument on this particular issue...which, as far as I'm concerned, is of the most difficult in the entire Bible, I simply wish to highlight the fact that our congregations trust us to, of all living people, shepherd them in this whole matter!
Must these poor souls go to ‘CUM’ or even a real Christian bookstore like’ Augustine Books’ or ‘Good Neighbours’ to find their paper pastors to answer their questions? This would mean that we negate our duty...our chief duty, and 'delegate’ their shepherding back to themselves...without having developed hermeneutics, in most cases…without a full doctrinal framework with that!
This is not on! This is wicked! This is WRONG however you slice it!
Before a man enters the eldership, I believe, he must have firm handles on such matters! He is entering the realm, of shepherding...and that to ‘green pastures and still waters’…not ‘garbage’...’but at least he is employed’!
Our current pastors must get their acts together! We must break the chain of ignorance and study, grapple, sweat and weep till we land with conviction upon such matters so as to ensure a new (ancient really) breed of men to lead God's people into the future!
This is because we are the shepherds of the Churches, those who God holds accountable - chiefly. It is His precious flock that is under our charge! These are real lives, with real issues facing them! Dare we quickly take this office to ourselves and risk leading them astray with their one chance at life in this world? We are handling the most precious cargo imaginable!
The churches are the lampstands...light bearers! Light and truth are synonymous! Oprah doesn’t have the light! Dr Phil is sorely lacking! Only the Church of our Lord Jesus has the real answers to the vital issues facing mankind...from the one and only true and living God's perspective.
As Elders we must know the Bible in such a way that we are able to live it and train others in it. This means that we must be mature men of God before we embark upon this sacred office of Shepherd!
This may be impractical in our day...so what! I'm not suggesting for a moment that we have fully arrived on every issue...but that we are well convinced on that which is revealed so as to make carefully weighed judgments regarding the application of theses doctrines in each unique ethical situation. The same texts interpreted the same way must form a basis for a multiplicity of practical out-workings...this is it!
Again, my question; ‘may a man enter into the office of elder/pastor without first having such wisdom or handles on the truth?’ I, to my own shame, would say, decidedly so, absolutely not!
There is no question here! Be ready first! Don’t get ready over time! Get ready over time...yes...time before! Not perfectly so, but at least principally so!
Just some thoughts drawn from my own embarrassing life experiences that are sadly due to my lack of proper preparation for this terrifying, glorious, sober, satisfying calling to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with his own blood!
God help us all!
Now that is a very open-ended…very broad and relative question, in one sense. What do I mean? Not, of course, perfection...otherwise no pastors till glory (and when I say pastors I mean elders too - really the same office) will ever or have ever been ready or fit for office…and this cannot be the case, as God counts fitness in the lists of requirements He Himself gives in His Word (some do qualify!).
Further, I'm not really concerned in the asking with the character aspects...this is a vital study and of supreme importance, but I have another aspect of the ministry in mind as I think and write.
The subject at hand is one of an ethical nature. But even there it has as its root concern the whole matter of sound doctrine which, contrary to some of the (perhaps all [?]) 'Emerging' guy’s opinions, always leads to orthopraxy (sound living).
The trigger thought that plagues me is simply this: In pastoral counselling we will face many challenging questions. For instance, may a woman pursue the pastoral ministry? Should we marry a Christian with an unbeliever? Is divorce ever okay in God's eyes...and, either way; is re-marriage permissible at all if the ex-spouse is still alive? How far is too far in ‘dating’? Dating? What if homosexuals have 'married' and then get saved...how do I guide them through these almost uncharted waters?
These are random ‘off the cuff’ selections, but the point is made. Back to my question…having now something of a context within to place it…’may a man become an elder before he is clear on these matters?’ (My wording will change throughout as I restate myself for the purpose of clarification)
Again, one may rush in to answer 'of course'! But wait a minute! We as pastors of God's flock will give an account...we have a stricter judgment! We may not plead 'Lord, Lord we only knew a little...surely You understand'! And if we were to do so God's response will be 'then why did you embark on this task without being ready? Oh, I see, seminary came to an end and you needed a job...and so you used the church and filled an office with premature service! Depart from Me!'
What am I getting at?
I actually have myself under the spotlight as I write and that with regard to the whole matter of divorce and re-marriage, as a case in point. It seems as if everyone I study has it ‘all together‘ on this matter...only thing is they almost, to the man, differ one from another! Now without opening a can of worms or argument on this particular issue...which, as far as I'm concerned, is of the most difficult in the entire Bible, I simply wish to highlight the fact that our congregations trust us to, of all living people, shepherd them in this whole matter!
Must these poor souls go to ‘CUM’ or even a real Christian bookstore like’ Augustine Books’ or ‘Good Neighbours’ to find their paper pastors to answer their questions? This would mean that we negate our duty...our chief duty, and 'delegate’ their shepherding back to themselves...without having developed hermeneutics, in most cases…without a full doctrinal framework with that!
This is not on! This is wicked! This is WRONG however you slice it!
Before a man enters the eldership, I believe, he must have firm handles on such matters! He is entering the realm, of shepherding...and that to ‘green pastures and still waters’…not ‘garbage’...’but at least he is employed’!
Our current pastors must get their acts together! We must break the chain of ignorance and study, grapple, sweat and weep till we land with conviction upon such matters so as to ensure a new (ancient really) breed of men to lead God's people into the future!
This is because we are the shepherds of the Churches, those who God holds accountable - chiefly. It is His precious flock that is under our charge! These are real lives, with real issues facing them! Dare we quickly take this office to ourselves and risk leading them astray with their one chance at life in this world? We are handling the most precious cargo imaginable!
The churches are the lampstands...light bearers! Light and truth are synonymous! Oprah doesn’t have the light! Dr Phil is sorely lacking! Only the Church of our Lord Jesus has the real answers to the vital issues facing mankind...from the one and only true and living God's perspective.
As Elders we must know the Bible in such a way that we are able to live it and train others in it. This means that we must be mature men of God before we embark upon this sacred office of Shepherd!
This may be impractical in our day...so what! I'm not suggesting for a moment that we have fully arrived on every issue...but that we are well convinced on that which is revealed so as to make carefully weighed judgments regarding the application of theses doctrines in each unique ethical situation. The same texts interpreted the same way must form a basis for a multiplicity of practical out-workings...this is it!
Again, my question; ‘may a man enter into the office of elder/pastor without first having such wisdom or handles on the truth?’ I, to my own shame, would say, decidedly so, absolutely not!
There is no question here! Be ready first! Don’t get ready over time! Get ready over time...yes...time before! Not perfectly so, but at least principally so!
Just some thoughts drawn from my own embarrassing life experiences that are sadly due to my lack of proper preparation for this terrifying, glorious, sober, satisfying calling to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with his own blood!
God help us all!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The pains of childbirth/Hold fast what you have
This is the first opportunity for me to put to pen that which I discern to be God's will for us as a church family specifically at this present moment in time, and that in view of His Word preached to us, as His people, this Lord's Day.
This morning I preached from Romans 8:18-25 and my message was entitled 'Assurance of Glorification' (part 3), subtitled 'The Pains of Childbirth'.
The gist of the matter was that our present sufferings (all inclusive sufferings in that) are, albeit real and at times significantly difficult to bear up under, not worth comparing to our ultimate state of salvation, namely our glorification.
That said, Christ however most definitely sympathises with us in our sufferings and loves and comforts us in and through all our traumas and tragedies. He is a High Priest who knows the depth of pain and agony...indeed the suffering of hell itself (on the cross).
Paul too is no 'ivory tower' theologian. His intense heartaches are recorded in the 11th chapter of 2nd Corinthians and verses 24-29.
This is said so as to affirm the fact that our pain is both real to God and that He is not saying to us 'build a bridge and get over it'...on the contrary, he is calling us to, in the full view of our most painful plights, ‘zoom out’, as it were, and see the big picture...the heavenly perspective! Don’t think this world promises health, wealth and comfort on every turn...if you do you will be horribly disappointed.
God promises pain! He doesn’t allow it, no ways! (Who is writing the book anyway?) He ordains it! Everything in the most absolute sense of the word is from His own sovereign hand and is for our ultimate good and His absolute glory!
'I don't know what God is doing, but I know that God is doing, and that God is good!'
There is purpose in our pain, Hebrews 12:3ff affirms this to the hilt..."that we may share in His holiness".
This evening I unpacked Revelation 3:7-13. 'The Letter to the Pastor of the Church in Philadelphia', subtitled 'Hold fast what you have'.
The thrust of the matter could be put forth as follows: This church was made up of sincere, genuine saints and Christ has no rebuke for them. This in no way says they were perfect...but highlights the fact that Jesus isn’t ‘nit picking' at every little blemish. He affirms their genuineness and expresses His love for them. He says their enemies, who, although claiming to be Jews, are in fact spiritual Gentiles and will, through the open door He has provided (having the key of David), prove this by coming to them and bowing down at their feet - referencing Isaiah 45:14; 60:14 etc. They will know that the church is the fulfilment of Israel's promises and, while not replacing 'national Israel' is Israel 'through the cross'! He tells them that He is going to sustain them through the coming trial. He calls them to hold fast what they have or they could lose it.
What does this mean for us in a nut-shell? Basically, we are, many of us - like those in Philadelphia, sincerely seeking to honour Him in our lives and service. And so we, if that be the case, can extract real encouragement from His words. But this not so as to ‘sit back and chill out’! Rather to heed His challenge to ‘hold fast what we have received from Him’ till the end!
And so, God is saying, without sounding too prophetic, I hope, that we as a church family (KBC) must expect trials and embrace them as God's loving, 'hand maidens' to the end of our Christ-likeness, and with that to cling tenaciously to what He has given to us...until we see Him ‘face to face’!
God bless and keep you all!
This morning I preached from Romans 8:18-25 and my message was entitled 'Assurance of Glorification' (part 3), subtitled 'The Pains of Childbirth'.
The gist of the matter was that our present sufferings (all inclusive sufferings in that) are, albeit real and at times significantly difficult to bear up under, not worth comparing to our ultimate state of salvation, namely our glorification.
That said, Christ however most definitely sympathises with us in our sufferings and loves and comforts us in and through all our traumas and tragedies. He is a High Priest who knows the depth of pain and agony...indeed the suffering of hell itself (on the cross).
Paul too is no 'ivory tower' theologian. His intense heartaches are recorded in the 11th chapter of 2nd Corinthians and verses 24-29.
This is said so as to affirm the fact that our pain is both real to God and that He is not saying to us 'build a bridge and get over it'...on the contrary, he is calling us to, in the full view of our most painful plights, ‘zoom out’, as it were, and see the big picture...the heavenly perspective! Don’t think this world promises health, wealth and comfort on every turn...if you do you will be horribly disappointed.
God promises pain! He doesn’t allow it, no ways! (Who is writing the book anyway?) He ordains it! Everything in the most absolute sense of the word is from His own sovereign hand and is for our ultimate good and His absolute glory!
'I don't know what God is doing, but I know that God is doing, and that God is good!'
There is purpose in our pain, Hebrews 12:3ff affirms this to the hilt..."that we may share in His holiness".
This evening I unpacked Revelation 3:7-13. 'The Letter to the Pastor of the Church in Philadelphia', subtitled 'Hold fast what you have'.
The thrust of the matter could be put forth as follows: This church was made up of sincere, genuine saints and Christ has no rebuke for them. This in no way says they were perfect...but highlights the fact that Jesus isn’t ‘nit picking' at every little blemish. He affirms their genuineness and expresses His love for them. He says their enemies, who, although claiming to be Jews, are in fact spiritual Gentiles and will, through the open door He has provided (having the key of David), prove this by coming to them and bowing down at their feet - referencing Isaiah 45:14; 60:14 etc. They will know that the church is the fulfilment of Israel's promises and, while not replacing 'national Israel' is Israel 'through the cross'! He tells them that He is going to sustain them through the coming trial. He calls them to hold fast what they have or they could lose it.
What does this mean for us in a nut-shell? Basically, we are, many of us - like those in Philadelphia, sincerely seeking to honour Him in our lives and service. And so we, if that be the case, can extract real encouragement from His words. But this not so as to ‘sit back and chill out’! Rather to heed His challenge to ‘hold fast what we have received from Him’ till the end!
And so, God is saying, without sounding too prophetic, I hope, that we as a church family (KBC) must expect trials and embrace them as God's loving, 'hand maidens' to the end of our Christ-likeness, and with that to cling tenaciously to what He has given to us...until we see Him ‘face to face’!
God bless and keep you all!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Deliberate discipleship
What do you believe about...? What are your current, to date, ideas regarding...? Have you heard...do you believe her...I'm not convinced…you?
Such questions are part of the fabric of all relationships among rational beings. These are easily discerned in all spheres of life from breast feeding to baking to Calvinism to circumcision. Evolution is a case in point. Abortion, another, home-schooling, a third, thatch roofs, Michael Jackson, Barbie or not Barbie...that is the question! You touch it, even by fluke, and one asks it instinctively as a reflex of intelligence.
These random ‘blurbs’ are flushed out of my cranium simply to illustrate the omni-cross-sectional canvas upon which the great 'what's', 'why's' and…not to forget, 'how's' manifest themselves.
Now if this is so, which is at least the case in most cases...wouldn’t you agree (?) (Even the question proves the comment/in the asking is the answer – either way, case sustained), then surely with respect to the most truly fundamental realm of life we must be satisfactorily assured of what we believe. This is heightened by the fact that God has not left us to our own vain imaginations, guess work and human philosophies but, on the contrary, has fully revealed to us, for our good, and His glory, all that we should ever require information on. He has given us a full and ever relevant Word from heaven. This is alone found in the 66 books of the protestant Bible. Not the demonic ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ version...or some other diabolical deviant, but the plain well translated Word of God (ESV, NASB, NIV, Holman’s etc.)
We are to know this Book of books! We must have healthy, working handles on the Canon that God has given or we are tempting deception and well deserving of it. Show me a man or woman who hardly studies the Scriptures and I will show you a fool who will be Satan's toy or worse...his tool!
I say all this to venture across into some pastoral (Theologically so) desires I have had for some time now. That is to prepare a questionnaire of sorts which simply asks of the membership of our church family what they currently understand about x, y & z. Matters reaching from creation, in general, to some controversial aspects within this field of revelation, all the way across to matters pertaining to eschatology and the different questions around this sacred topic…one, indeed, that has suffered and continues to suffer terrible abuse. This questionnaire can ‘reach into the pockets’ of application and so ethical issues in that...’can a divorced man become a pastor’? For instance! If not/so ‘can you substantiate your answer with the Bible’? Do you watch TBN? If you do, then which preacher is your favourite and why? Or which witch is which? (No jest intended).
All these are matters that would quite well expose something of where they are really at, at this particular place in time. These forms would need to have their names on them so as to be a means to improved pastoral ministry and, so, a starting point in quality visitation and other like personal service to the Body.
We would not disclose the personal findings outside of the eldership (even with our wives) and so this would, assuming trust is intact, be a way of heightening pointed ministry or as my faithful brother Mike often words it...'deliberate discipleship'!
Theology matters...cannibal’s need Calvinism...tracts won’t cut it in the crisis’s of real life! We need every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!
Random ramblings...raw but real!
Praise Jesus for our eternal, irreversibly imputed, righteousness!
Such questions are part of the fabric of all relationships among rational beings. These are easily discerned in all spheres of life from breast feeding to baking to Calvinism to circumcision. Evolution is a case in point. Abortion, another, home-schooling, a third, thatch roofs, Michael Jackson, Barbie or not Barbie...that is the question! You touch it, even by fluke, and one asks it instinctively as a reflex of intelligence.
These random ‘blurbs’ are flushed out of my cranium simply to illustrate the omni-cross-sectional canvas upon which the great 'what's', 'why's' and…not to forget, 'how's' manifest themselves.
Now if this is so, which is at least the case in most cases...wouldn’t you agree (?) (Even the question proves the comment/in the asking is the answer – either way, case sustained), then surely with respect to the most truly fundamental realm of life we must be satisfactorily assured of what we believe. This is heightened by the fact that God has not left us to our own vain imaginations, guess work and human philosophies but, on the contrary, has fully revealed to us, for our good, and His glory, all that we should ever require information on. He has given us a full and ever relevant Word from heaven. This is alone found in the 66 books of the protestant Bible. Not the demonic ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ version...or some other diabolical deviant, but the plain well translated Word of God (ESV, NASB, NIV, Holman’s etc.)
We are to know this Book of books! We must have healthy, working handles on the Canon that God has given or we are tempting deception and well deserving of it. Show me a man or woman who hardly studies the Scriptures and I will show you a fool who will be Satan's toy or worse...his tool!
I say all this to venture across into some pastoral (Theologically so) desires I have had for some time now. That is to prepare a questionnaire of sorts which simply asks of the membership of our church family what they currently understand about x, y & z. Matters reaching from creation, in general, to some controversial aspects within this field of revelation, all the way across to matters pertaining to eschatology and the different questions around this sacred topic…one, indeed, that has suffered and continues to suffer terrible abuse. This questionnaire can ‘reach into the pockets’ of application and so ethical issues in that...’can a divorced man become a pastor’? For instance! If not/so ‘can you substantiate your answer with the Bible’? Do you watch TBN? If you do, then which preacher is your favourite and why? Or which witch is which? (No jest intended).
All these are matters that would quite well expose something of where they are really at, at this particular place in time. These forms would need to have their names on them so as to be a means to improved pastoral ministry and, so, a starting point in quality visitation and other like personal service to the Body.
We would not disclose the personal findings outside of the eldership (even with our wives) and so this would, assuming trust is intact, be a way of heightening pointed ministry or as my faithful brother Mike often words it...'deliberate discipleship'!
Theology matters...cannibal’s need Calvinism...tracts won’t cut it in the crisis’s of real life! We need every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!
Random ramblings...raw but real!
Praise Jesus for our eternal, irreversibly imputed, righteousness!
Friday, June 24, 2011
The prospect of 'pre-leave'
It has been about 4 months since we had a break, as in a holiday/time off on an official basis. I think we are starting to feel it as a family...each of us in our own right.
I have been talking to some of my friends regarding how long, in a healthy situation, a person should go without some leave and there seems to be no landed consensus. It would seem to me that 4 months is long enough...perhaps just right...but this is highly subjective and perhaps unique to the way we function as both a family and church family. I don't know.
Then there is the whole matter of how long to take off in succession. Should you use up all your leave in one go? Or should you spread it out a little? People say the ‘3 week thing’ usually, but what if you only have 3 weeks...then I guess option A above will come to the fore.
I have an idea that I would like to implement the next time I take off.
Due to the way I'm wired, I can’t ‘let go’ unless things are in order, and so I would need to take some ‘pre-leave’ ministry time first. Meaning a week leading up to my leave (and that for 10 days) take time off preaching and so prep as well, and focus on other also essential ministerial planning and 'tidying up' as it were.
For instance: Who will we ask to be our Family Camp speaker in 2012? What about our Year for Life 2012 program? We are in the process of putting together a web page, but I need to write a brief synopsis on each of the ministries as well as other matters pertaining to this. etc. etc. Besides curve ball counselling needs that usually fill this time in providence!
This means that by the end of this week of ‘weaning off’ ministry, but still working, and that including someone else to preach on the weekend following, of course, I will be able to ready myself for a proper break. True time off!
If I was to do this then I would return to a ready and waiting 'desk' that is up to date and craving my return.
Sounds good in theory...lets ‘surf this wave’!
I would value anyone’s response to this - especially with regard to the practical matters about how long before a break is healthy and other time factors...but not to limit anyone!
God bless.
I have been talking to some of my friends regarding how long, in a healthy situation, a person should go without some leave and there seems to be no landed consensus. It would seem to me that 4 months is long enough...perhaps just right...but this is highly subjective and perhaps unique to the way we function as both a family and church family. I don't know.
Then there is the whole matter of how long to take off in succession. Should you use up all your leave in one go? Or should you spread it out a little? People say the ‘3 week thing’ usually, but what if you only have 3 weeks...then I guess option A above will come to the fore.
I have an idea that I would like to implement the next time I take off.
Due to the way I'm wired, I can’t ‘let go’ unless things are in order, and so I would need to take some ‘pre-leave’ ministry time first. Meaning a week leading up to my leave (and that for 10 days) take time off preaching and so prep as well, and focus on other also essential ministerial planning and 'tidying up' as it were.
For instance: Who will we ask to be our Family Camp speaker in 2012? What about our Year for Life 2012 program? We are in the process of putting together a web page, but I need to write a brief synopsis on each of the ministries as well as other matters pertaining to this. etc. etc. Besides curve ball counselling needs that usually fill this time in providence!
This means that by the end of this week of ‘weaning off’ ministry, but still working, and that including someone else to preach on the weekend following, of course, I will be able to ready myself for a proper break. True time off!
If I was to do this then I would return to a ready and waiting 'desk' that is up to date and craving my return.
Sounds good in theory...lets ‘surf this wave’!
I would value anyone’s response to this - especially with regard to the practical matters about how long before a break is healthy and other time factors...but not to limit anyone!
God bless.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Setting the scene
For want of a broad title I selected 'musings' and in this first of several such contemplative posts I would like to kick off, as it were, with something of a road map - setting the scene as to where I am going with this blog and so why I am starting one in the first place.
It has been a long nursed desire of mine to have a forum where I could record my thoughts and where they could serve, at the same time, by God's grace alone, to edify others as well.
In this blog I will include a 'KBC Compass' wherein I will, from an expositional perspective, noting well the prophetic/providential dynamic to ministry, seek to discern what God is 'saying' to our particular church family, at this particular time, in our particular pilgrimage heavenward. That is to say that I will take the Lord's Day messages - the 'heartbeat of the day' - and highlight these so as to make myself accountable, as a pastor, as well as us as a local church family.
Just in case the word 'prophetic' (above) is causing any 'heartache and pain', as it could, and perhaps should so in view of the rampant modern abuses with respect to this whole matter, allow just a brief explanation. What I am seeking to emphasize is not some new or direct revelation, not at all! All I wish to emphasize is the fact that we serve the living God and that He is in complete control of His churches. He walks among us and speaks to us 'today' in the faithful exposition of His once for all given - and that perfectly so - Word. Simply what I am getting at is that God is speaking to us each week as a particular local expression of His universal Body. Each Lord's Day there is something special from God for us personally. It is perhaps best illustrated in that even the best of sermons on a CD or even DVD cannot replace the holy, prophetic, providential, unique, special, romantic, intimacy that occurs when the bride and her Groom converse in sacred samplings of eternal ecstasy. There is a living aspect to our worship. I, again, have no concern for a 'goose-bump' pseudo theology. What it is that I am seeking to magnify is that God speaks in time and space through His Word soberly and prayerfully proclaimed - using all the rules of sound hermeneutics and an orthodox, propositional, approach to the Bible.
Well that will be the 'KBC Compass'.
I would also like to include in this blog a recurring, albeit somewhat sporadic, entry entitled 'Theology Matters' - obviously a play on the word 'matters'. Theology both matters to all true saints, and, with that, all true saints face matters of a theological nature every day.
In this part of the blog I will have no qualms about pitching it as it is (or better as I see it). If I believe something strongly I will lay it down without even a hint of questioning or apology. On the other hand, if I am wrestling with an issue, I will say so. Further, if I am questioning an issue, even one well accepted by councils and creeds, I will explore this openly without fear of being seen as a heretic for so doing. Sounds a little ‘emergent’, as some would put it, although I find that 'movement,' for the most part, nauseating at best, Satanic at worst!
So that will come too…'KBC Compass' and 'Theology Matters'.
Another avenue I would like to attempt an excursion through is one that reaches a little deeper into an ethical, and so 'counselling', corner.
What to call it??? I don't like the word ‘counselling‘ too much - it seems so plastic and event like to me. Perhaps (I'm musing) 'Fleshing it out'…as in ‘fleshing out’ the Scriptures within the context of 21st century life in South Africa.
This will include questions regarding how to deal with particular, specific problems people face. Divorce and re-marriage etc...But not the theology merely - this must form the basis - but the application thereof into concrete 'real life' situations. These will be sufficiently guarded and somewhat modified so as to protect people from having their problems aired.
'KBC Compass', 'Theology Matters', and 'Fleshing it out'…one more angle, for now, will suffice...'Family First'!
The name says it all. However, when I say ‘first’ I really mean first with respect to all human relationships and dealings. This further must never be seen as in isolation or autonomy from the local church family - heaven forbid! But that as Christians we are to see ourselves as missionaries sent from heaven and our first mission field is our own souls, then, in turn, our wives (as men), next, our kids and so it unfolds through the brethren to the lost.
This is not to say that we are at liberty to neglect any of the above at all. Only that in the order of God's own standards as set out in the Holy Canon, 'Family First,' commands a voice.
Herein I will openly deal with child rearing issues, schooling issues, birth control matters, and sex (without being rude or a prude...which is worse? I think they are equally wicked!), finances - and so debt etc., and conflict resolution, to name what rises to the surface of my mind as I freely ‘muse’ along.
It is probably best to read whatever posts with regard to the fact that this is a blog aimed at adults and so not allowing your children too much liberty as I have not written primarily for them.
Well then, God bless all who may read any of these posts - and do feel free to grapple with me without fear of offense!
It has been a long nursed desire of mine to have a forum where I could record my thoughts and where they could serve, at the same time, by God's grace alone, to edify others as well.
In this blog I will include a 'KBC Compass' wherein I will, from an expositional perspective, noting well the prophetic/providential dynamic to ministry, seek to discern what God is 'saying' to our particular church family, at this particular time, in our particular pilgrimage heavenward. That is to say that I will take the Lord's Day messages - the 'heartbeat of the day' - and highlight these so as to make myself accountable, as a pastor, as well as us as a local church family.
Just in case the word 'prophetic' (above) is causing any 'heartache and pain', as it could, and perhaps should so in view of the rampant modern abuses with respect to this whole matter, allow just a brief explanation. What I am seeking to emphasize is not some new or direct revelation, not at all! All I wish to emphasize is the fact that we serve the living God and that He is in complete control of His churches. He walks among us and speaks to us 'today' in the faithful exposition of His once for all given - and that perfectly so - Word. Simply what I am getting at is that God is speaking to us each week as a particular local expression of His universal Body. Each Lord's Day there is something special from God for us personally. It is perhaps best illustrated in that even the best of sermons on a CD or even DVD cannot replace the holy, prophetic, providential, unique, special, romantic, intimacy that occurs when the bride and her Groom converse in sacred samplings of eternal ecstasy. There is a living aspect to our worship. I, again, have no concern for a 'goose-bump' pseudo theology. What it is that I am seeking to magnify is that God speaks in time and space through His Word soberly and prayerfully proclaimed - using all the rules of sound hermeneutics and an orthodox, propositional, approach to the Bible.
Well that will be the 'KBC Compass'.
I would also like to include in this blog a recurring, albeit somewhat sporadic, entry entitled 'Theology Matters' - obviously a play on the word 'matters'. Theology both matters to all true saints, and, with that, all true saints face matters of a theological nature every day.
In this part of the blog I will have no qualms about pitching it as it is (or better as I see it). If I believe something strongly I will lay it down without even a hint of questioning or apology. On the other hand, if I am wrestling with an issue, I will say so. Further, if I am questioning an issue, even one well accepted by councils and creeds, I will explore this openly without fear of being seen as a heretic for so doing. Sounds a little ‘emergent’, as some would put it, although I find that 'movement,' for the most part, nauseating at best, Satanic at worst!
So that will come too…'KBC Compass' and 'Theology Matters'.
Another avenue I would like to attempt an excursion through is one that reaches a little deeper into an ethical, and so 'counselling', corner.
What to call it??? I don't like the word ‘counselling‘ too much - it seems so plastic and event like to me. Perhaps (I'm musing) 'Fleshing it out'…as in ‘fleshing out’ the Scriptures within the context of 21st century life in South Africa.
This will include questions regarding how to deal with particular, specific problems people face. Divorce and re-marriage etc...But not the theology merely - this must form the basis - but the application thereof into concrete 'real life' situations. These will be sufficiently guarded and somewhat modified so as to protect people from having their problems aired.
'KBC Compass', 'Theology Matters', and 'Fleshing it out'…one more angle, for now, will suffice...'Family First'!
The name says it all. However, when I say ‘first’ I really mean first with respect to all human relationships and dealings. This further must never be seen as in isolation or autonomy from the local church family - heaven forbid! But that as Christians we are to see ourselves as missionaries sent from heaven and our first mission field is our own souls, then, in turn, our wives (as men), next, our kids and so it unfolds through the brethren to the lost.
This is not to say that we are at liberty to neglect any of the above at all. Only that in the order of God's own standards as set out in the Holy Canon, 'Family First,' commands a voice.
Herein I will openly deal with child rearing issues, schooling issues, birth control matters, and sex (without being rude or a prude...which is worse? I think they are equally wicked!), finances - and so debt etc., and conflict resolution, to name what rises to the surface of my mind as I freely ‘muse’ along.
It is probably best to read whatever posts with regard to the fact that this is a blog aimed at adults and so not allowing your children too much liberty as I have not written primarily for them.
Well then, God bless all who may read any of these posts - and do feel free to grapple with me without fear of offense!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
