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!
Monday, July 11, 2011
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
