Christianity is meant to be a life of tremendous and abiding joy in God. Why? Because God is infinitely delightful, boundlessly enjoyable, infinitely pleasant, infinitely lovely, infinitely satisfying. Do you know the joy the Psalmist describes in Psalm 43:4? "I will go to the altar of God my exceeding joy."
Is it no wonder why Jonathan Edwards said,
“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean…Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness.”
Oh Christian, God wants us to see Him, to understand Him, and know Him, in order that you might supremely enjoy Him and be satisfied with Him, and truly happy in Him. The great end of all bible study, all teaching, all preaching, is a mind and heart for God that bubbles forth with a life of joy. That is why the Westminster Confession writes: “The chief end of man is to know God and enjoy Him forever.” Therefore, we should be passionate and diligent about being happy in God!
Jonathan Edwards challenges us “to be endeavoring by all possible ways to inflame their desires and to obtain more spiritual pleasures. . . . Our hungerings and thirstings after God and Jesus Christ and after holiness can't be too great for the value of these things, for they are things of infinite value.”
The implications every day of your life is that God’s glory hangs on our being happy in Him. George Mueller exhorts and instructs us, “above all things see to it that your souls are happy in the Lord. Other things may press upon you, the Lord's work may even have urgent claims upon your attention, but I deliberately repeat, it is of supreme and paramount importance that you should seek above all things to have your souls truly happy in God Himself! Day by day seek to make this the most important business of your life… the secret of all true effectual service is joy in God….But in what way shall we attain to this settled happiness of soul? How shall we learn to enjoy God? How shall we obtain such an all-sufficient soul-satisfying portion in him as shall enable us to let go the things of this world as vain and worthless in comparison? I answer; this happiness is to be obtained through the study of the Holy Scriptures. God has therein revealed Him self unto us in the face of Jesus Christ. In the Scriptures, by the power of the Holy Ghost, He makes Himself known unto our souls. . . . [Therefore] The very earliest portion of the day we can command should be devoted to the meditation on Scriptures. Our souls should feed upon the Word. . . . This intimate experimental acquaintance with Him will make us truly happy. Nothing else will.”
When you are in church, I pray that your pastor will raise your affections and joy with the truth of God. So that as Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”(1 Peter 1:8). So that like Paul you can say "I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." (2 Corinthians 6:10).
The ultimate battle in your life is: Are you happy in God? Many of us have not been used to finding our joy in God so it does not come easy. That is why we must pray, seek, and begin to go hard after joy. “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.” (Jonathan Edwards) Will God be your exceeding joy?
Going hard after joy, Pastor Bill
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
JONATHAN EDWARDS ON THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him” (Revelation 22:3 ESV)
Jonathan Edwards once preached a sermon on Revelation 22:3 titled Serving God in Heaven. In this wonderful sermon he said that “the happiness of the saints in heaven consists partly in that they there serve God”. There are two things that strike me here. First is the beautiful hope and truth that we will be happy in heaven. Secondly, that the happiness in heaven will come in a particular way; in serving God. Thirdly, the happiness in serving God begins in this life.
What is happiness according to Edwards? “When the creature is in that state that is most agreeable to the proper perfection of its nature, then it is in its most happy state.” It is typical for Edwards to speak in terms that are not easy for us with far more inferior minds to understand. What is he saying to us? He is saying that when we live up to our purpose and design, we are most happy.
When I step up to the pulpit and preach on Sundays I feel so alive. It is so real to me, such a fit, it seems at that moment when my life makes the most sense. It is my happiest moment. It is my worship and glorying publicly of the God I love, honor, and cherish. When my dear wife is tending to her family and home and garden, she is happiest. We are all most happy when we are doing what we desire to do and are designed by God to do.
Conversely we are most unhappy when we are not doing what we were designed to do. Nothing gives me more emptiness and frustration as a pastor then when I have had to focus upon administration, counseling, committees, trying to please others, grow a church, etc. During seasons of my life when ministry primarily was required to focus upon those things my life was full of frustration and discontent. Like the saying goes, I was like a fish out of water. Just as a fish is happiest when swimming, we are happiest when we are swimming in God’s purpose.
We are happiest when we are being what God made us to be and doing what God made us to do. And we were made to know God and glorify Him forever. Happiness in God involves service. Edwards says “when a serves God he acts according to nature. It is a most excellent action, an action of true happiness.” Remember how Eric Liddell in the movie Chariots of Fire said that when he ran it gave him pleasure because he could feel the Lord’s pleasure?
Oh how much is our service gives glory to God! Oh how happy and alive are we when we serve Him in the fullness of what He has made us to be!
Striving for most excellent actions,
Pastor Bill
Jonathan Edwards once preached a sermon on Revelation 22:3 titled Serving God in Heaven. In this wonderful sermon he said that “the happiness of the saints in heaven consists partly in that they there serve God”. There are two things that strike me here. First is the beautiful hope and truth that we will be happy in heaven. Secondly, that the happiness in heaven will come in a particular way; in serving God. Thirdly, the happiness in serving God begins in this life.
What is happiness according to Edwards? “When the creature is in that state that is most agreeable to the proper perfection of its nature, then it is in its most happy state.” It is typical for Edwards to speak in terms that are not easy for us with far more inferior minds to understand. What is he saying to us? He is saying that when we live up to our purpose and design, we are most happy.
When I step up to the pulpit and preach on Sundays I feel so alive. It is so real to me, such a fit, it seems at that moment when my life makes the most sense. It is my happiest moment. It is my worship and glorying publicly of the God I love, honor, and cherish. When my dear wife is tending to her family and home and garden, she is happiest. We are all most happy when we are doing what we desire to do and are designed by God to do.
Conversely we are most unhappy when we are not doing what we were designed to do. Nothing gives me more emptiness and frustration as a pastor then when I have had to focus upon administration, counseling, committees, trying to please others, grow a church, etc. During seasons of my life when ministry primarily was required to focus upon those things my life was full of frustration and discontent. Like the saying goes, I was like a fish out of water. Just as a fish is happiest when swimming, we are happiest when we are swimming in God’s purpose.
We are happiest when we are being what God made us to be and doing what God made us to do. And we were made to know God and glorify Him forever. Happiness in God involves service. Edwards says “when a serves God he acts according to nature. It is a most excellent action, an action of true happiness.” Remember how Eric Liddell in the movie Chariots of Fire said that when he ran it gave him pleasure because he could feel the Lord’s pleasure?
Oh how much is our service gives glory to God! Oh how happy and alive are we when we serve Him in the fullness of what He has made us to be!
Striving for most excellent actions,
Pastor Bill
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
GOD CENETERED VERSES MAN CENTERED CHRISTIANITY
What's the difference between a God-centered Christian and a self-centered Christian? It is very apparent in how they live out their theology.
For God-centered Christians, life is primarily about God. It is all about God's glory. For self-centered Christians, life is primarily about themselves. They are concerned primarily about their lives, their needs, and their wants.
When it comes to prayer, God-centered Christians primarily pray for God's glory to be seen and manifested through their lives. They desire to see God's give grace to advanced in their lives. Even when they pray for themselves, it is usually so that they can have a greater impact in the lives of others. Self-centered Christians pray for the things that they desire, the things that will, enhance their lives to make life comfortable, easy, safe, and secure.
God-centered Christians worship God primarily for who He is. Worship for them is all about God. They are compelled by seeing God's beauty, worth, and glory. Self-centered Christians worship God for His gifts and what He has done for them. They focus upon their own personal glory. They desire to be entertained in worship.
For God centered Christians, Jesus Christ is absolute Lord and master. He is their treasure. Because of that, their one focus is on pleasing and honoring him. Therefore, He has complete Lordship anytime, anyplace, and anywhere. they have an obedience ethic to their lives. Self-centered Christians love to serve God when it is fun, easy, convenient, and most of all, fulfills their own self-interest. Their ethic is a feel good ethic.
God centered Christians focus on all of God's attributes such as His love, mercy, grace, hatred of sin, holiness, justice, and wrath. Self-centered Christians don't want acknowledge and focus on the attributes of God that would make life uncomfortable. they obey only when they want to. they want a savior but not a Lord who interferes with their lives.
God centered Christians want to be vessels of blessings for His glory and to be poured out for others good. Self centered Christians want to gather God's blessings and keep them for themselves.
God-centered Christians believe that Christ loves us in order to free us to make much of him. Self-centered Christians believe that Christ loves us to make much of us.
God-centered Christians believe that suffering is a primary way that God manifests His glory in the life of a believer. When trials, temptations, and difficulties come their way, they ask God to sustain them, strengthen them, and show them how they can bring honor to Him in and through their suffering. Self-centered Christians believe that God is centered upon their health, wealth, prosperity, happiness, ease, and comfort. When trials come their way, they are always asking God why it is happening and focusing on God delivering them from it.
God-centered Christians believe that the chief end of man is to know God and glorify Him forever. Self-centered Christians believe that the chief end of man is to be happy, comfortable, safe, and secure.
Which are you a God-centered Christian or a self-centered Christian?
Striving to be a God-centered Christian,
Pastor Bill
For God-centered Christians, life is primarily about God. It is all about God's glory. For self-centered Christians, life is primarily about themselves. They are concerned primarily about their lives, their needs, and their wants.
When it comes to prayer, God-centered Christians primarily pray for God's glory to be seen and manifested through their lives. They desire to see God's give grace to advanced in their lives. Even when they pray for themselves, it is usually so that they can have a greater impact in the lives of others. Self-centered Christians pray for the things that they desire, the things that will, enhance their lives to make life comfortable, easy, safe, and secure.
God-centered Christians worship God primarily for who He is. Worship for them is all about God. They are compelled by seeing God's beauty, worth, and glory. Self-centered Christians worship God for His gifts and what He has done for them. They focus upon their own personal glory. They desire to be entertained in worship.
For God centered Christians, Jesus Christ is absolute Lord and master. He is their treasure. Because of that, their one focus is on pleasing and honoring him. Therefore, He has complete Lordship anytime, anyplace, and anywhere. they have an obedience ethic to their lives. Self-centered Christians love to serve God when it is fun, easy, convenient, and most of all, fulfills their own self-interest. Their ethic is a feel good ethic.
God centered Christians focus on all of God's attributes such as His love, mercy, grace, hatred of sin, holiness, justice, and wrath. Self-centered Christians don't want acknowledge and focus on the attributes of God that would make life uncomfortable. they obey only when they want to. they want a savior but not a Lord who interferes with their lives.
God centered Christians want to be vessels of blessings for His glory and to be poured out for others good. Self centered Christians want to gather God's blessings and keep them for themselves.
God-centered Christians believe that Christ loves us in order to free us to make much of him. Self-centered Christians believe that Christ loves us to make much of us.
God-centered Christians believe that suffering is a primary way that God manifests His glory in the life of a believer. When trials, temptations, and difficulties come their way, they ask God to sustain them, strengthen them, and show them how they can bring honor to Him in and through their suffering. Self-centered Christians believe that God is centered upon their health, wealth, prosperity, happiness, ease, and comfort. When trials come their way, they are always asking God why it is happening and focusing on God delivering them from it.
God-centered Christians believe that the chief end of man is to know God and glorify Him forever. Self-centered Christians believe that the chief end of man is to be happy, comfortable, safe, and secure.
Which are you a God-centered Christian or a self-centered Christian?
Striving to be a God-centered Christian,
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
LIVING THE MYSTERY OF PARADOX
"For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:6-11 ESV)
"But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things" (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 ESV)
A paradox is a statement or concept that contains conflicting ideas. In logic, a paradox is a statement that contradicts itself; for example, the statement "I never tell the truth" is a paradox because if the statement is true (T), it must be false (F) and if it is false (F),it must be true (T). In everyday language, a paradox is a concept that seems absurd or contradictory, yet is true. In a Windows environment, for instance, it is a paradox that when a user wants to shut down their computer, it is necessary to click "start".The Christian life is full of paradoxes. But they are only statements that seem conflicting on a horizontal plane. In God's world and in our daily experience as Christians, they make perfect sense.
The Apostle Paul was very comfortable and familiar with paradox in his descriptions of the Christian life in these two texts from 2 Corinthians. One of those many mysterious and blessed paradoxes the Apostle Paul spoke of is "as sorrowful, but always rejoicing." A Christian can actually be happy and sad or sad and happy at the very same time. The Bible is quite clear that both joy and woe are part of the fabric of the life which God weaves and lovingly fits as perfect clothing for his children. This is a mysterious and paradoxical thing, but what a great comfort it is know that God is the weaver. Jonathan Edwards in his profound sermon The Pleasantness of Religion spoke of what he called the "three necessary sorrows" of the Christian life: Repentance, self-denial, and persecution. All three of those "necessary sorrows" bring that mysterious/blessed experience of being sorrowful but always rejoicing".
How many things that you consider to be things that make you happy, end up bringing you sorrow-if not now, in eternity? When we repent, we are experiencing what Paul calls "godly sorrow that leads to repentance". (2 Cor.7:10; Matthew 5:4). We are turning from the things that once made us happy with godly grief and turning to Christ the source of happiness and joy (Psalm 16:11). So the pleasure of turning to him far outweighs the sorrow of repentance.
When we deny ourselves we are killing the sin that brought false pleasure and inevitably brings us sorrow and experience the joy of obedience, pleasing God and being satisfied with him instead of the temporal pleasures of sin.
When we suffer reproach for Christ's name sake like Jesus who willingly suffered and was persecuted for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2) we again learn that the troubles and sorrows of being a Christian will bring you more pleasure and happiness than sorrow! (Matthew 5:10-12) This is an amazing and wonderful thing. These necessary sorrows ultimately bring more pleasure than sorrow. There are no sorrows that come in the Christian life except those that bring more invariably more joy than sorrow. Yes there is sorrow in living a God-ward life, but oh the joy!
Darrell Evans sings:
I'm trading my sorrows,
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down
for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down
for the joy of the Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord
Amen
I am pressed but not crushed
persecuted, not abandoned
struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the cursed
for His promise will endure
and His joy's going to be my strength
though the sorrows may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning.
Living the mystery of paradox with sorrowful joy, Pastor Bill
"But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things" (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 ESV)
A paradox is a statement or concept that contains conflicting ideas. In logic, a paradox is a statement that contradicts itself; for example, the statement "I never tell the truth" is a paradox because if the statement is true (T), it must be false (F) and if it is false (F),it must be true (T). In everyday language, a paradox is a concept that seems absurd or contradictory, yet is true. In a Windows environment, for instance, it is a paradox that when a user wants to shut down their computer, it is necessary to click "start".The Christian life is full of paradoxes. But they are only statements that seem conflicting on a horizontal plane. In God's world and in our daily experience as Christians, they make perfect sense.
The Apostle Paul was very comfortable and familiar with paradox in his descriptions of the Christian life in these two texts from 2 Corinthians. One of those many mysterious and blessed paradoxes the Apostle Paul spoke of is "as sorrowful, but always rejoicing." A Christian can actually be happy and sad or sad and happy at the very same time. The Bible is quite clear that both joy and woe are part of the fabric of the life which God weaves and lovingly fits as perfect clothing for his children. This is a mysterious and paradoxical thing, but what a great comfort it is know that God is the weaver. Jonathan Edwards in his profound sermon The Pleasantness of Religion spoke of what he called the "three necessary sorrows" of the Christian life: Repentance, self-denial, and persecution. All three of those "necessary sorrows" bring that mysterious/blessed experience of being sorrowful but always rejoicing".
How many things that you consider to be things that make you happy, end up bringing you sorrow-if not now, in eternity? When we repent, we are experiencing what Paul calls "godly sorrow that leads to repentance". (2 Cor.7:10; Matthew 5:4). We are turning from the things that once made us happy with godly grief and turning to Christ the source of happiness and joy (Psalm 16:11). So the pleasure of turning to him far outweighs the sorrow of repentance.
When we deny ourselves we are killing the sin that brought false pleasure and inevitably brings us sorrow and experience the joy of obedience, pleasing God and being satisfied with him instead of the temporal pleasures of sin.
When we suffer reproach for Christ's name sake like Jesus who willingly suffered and was persecuted for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2) we again learn that the troubles and sorrows of being a Christian will bring you more pleasure and happiness than sorrow! (Matthew 5:10-12) This is an amazing and wonderful thing. These necessary sorrows ultimately bring more pleasure than sorrow. There are no sorrows that come in the Christian life except those that bring more invariably more joy than sorrow. Yes there is sorrow in living a God-ward life, but oh the joy!
Darrell Evans sings:
I'm trading my sorrows,
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down
for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down
for the joy of the Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord
Amen
I am pressed but not crushed
persecuted, not abandoned
struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the cursed
for His promise will endure
and His joy's going to be my strength
though the sorrows may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning.
Living the mystery of paradox with sorrowful joy, Pastor Bill
Friday, February 9, 2007
True evangelism, Asahel Nttleton, and the Doctrines of Grace
I was reading the other day about the Second Great Awakening during the 19th century and two key figures in that move of God: Charles Finney and Asahel Nettleton. Ironically, few have heard of Nettleton except for his opposition to Finney. Finney was very Arminian (among other things!) in his theology while Nettleton was Reformed. What is fascinating to me is the long-term results of their ministries. History records that while Finney had thousands of converts, they were more like the converts of the mass and event centered evangelism of our day-a large amount never stayed in the church and fell away. Yet, Nettleton's converts had a remarkable reputation of remaining faithful over time and proving themselves to be true converts. The ratio of his converts to the population of America (about nine million) in his time is amazing. It has been said based upon eyewitness reports that through his preaching over 25,000-30,000 came to Christ. Thirty years later, most of these were still walking with the Lord!
I have found myself over the years feeling very skeptical when I hear the reports over the thousands of conversions, many healings, etc. I find myself asking the question, were they really converted or healed? Are we so enamored with our success that we report things in order to elevate our ministries or our churches? Are these thousands lives really changed? Do we have a strong or inadequate theology of conversion? Are the communities and neighborhoods changed as a result of their supposed conversions? Is the emperor naked and no one is saying anything?
Nettleton's system of beliefs may be summarized as follows. Man, being totally depraved in nature and by choice, cannot save himself. By God's grace, some have been chosen unto eternal life. For those chosen by God (the elect), Jesus provided a penal, substitutionary atonement for their sins on the cross. The elect, for whom alone Jesus died, will be drawn by the triumphant grace of God to repentance and saving faith in Christ. They will be kept by God unto eternal salvation. Human beings must be divinely regenerated, or have their sinful nature negated, before they can repent and trust Christ for salvation.
In Nettleton's system, human ability to respond at every stage of salvation comes from a sovereign act of God. Unless God moves, humans remain hopelessly lost. Asahel Nettleton preached strong on grace, faith, repentance, and the finished work of Christ on the cross. He trusted that it was God who saves mightily and effectively. He knew that an uncompromising presentation of the cross will be foolishness and an offense to those who are perishing, but to those whom God opens their eyes (2 Cor.4:4)there will come powerful and lasting salvation!
The methodology of Nettleton matched his theology. He used preaching as a means of bringing sinners to conviction of their sinfulness. He bathed all evangelistic efforts in fervent, humble prayer to the God who alone can effect the regeneration of a lost person. For those who responded to a call for the awakened to meet outside stated services, Nettleton offered inquiry meetings, which were essentially group evangelistic counseling sessions. At these meetings, individuals could receive personal assistance without public pressure to respond.
I am convinced that what a person, church, or denomination believes about salvation has a direct relationship on the evangelism they practice, i.e. evangelistic methodology. A sound doctrine of salvation should produce a sound practice of evangelism.
What this challenges me to do is several things. First, to pray for God's sovereign purposes to be fulfilled in my city, church, and ministry and to pray for revival. Secondly, it reminds me to be faithful to teach , commend, and preach the truth of God's Word uncompromisingly. Thirdly, it means that I look for real God honoring fruit and not self exalting, self exulting shallow results that look good but are empty of any real worth and value. Fourth, I trust that God's word, the Holy Spirit, and faithful preaching in dependence on God will bring in His elect. Nettleton and a host of others demonstrates that truth.
Striving for faithful and fruitful labor to the bringing in of His elect and to the glory of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Bill
I have found myself over the years feeling very skeptical when I hear the reports over the thousands of conversions, many healings, etc. I find myself asking the question, were they really converted or healed? Are we so enamored with our success that we report things in order to elevate our ministries or our churches? Are these thousands lives really changed? Do we have a strong or inadequate theology of conversion? Are the communities and neighborhoods changed as a result of their supposed conversions? Is the emperor naked and no one is saying anything?
Nettleton's system of beliefs may be summarized as follows. Man, being totally depraved in nature and by choice, cannot save himself. By God's grace, some have been chosen unto eternal life. For those chosen by God (the elect), Jesus provided a penal, substitutionary atonement for their sins on the cross. The elect, for whom alone Jesus died, will be drawn by the triumphant grace of God to repentance and saving faith in Christ. They will be kept by God unto eternal salvation. Human beings must be divinely regenerated, or have their sinful nature negated, before they can repent and trust Christ for salvation.
In Nettleton's system, human ability to respond at every stage of salvation comes from a sovereign act of God. Unless God moves, humans remain hopelessly lost. Asahel Nettleton preached strong on grace, faith, repentance, and the finished work of Christ on the cross. He trusted that it was God who saves mightily and effectively. He knew that an uncompromising presentation of the cross will be foolishness and an offense to those who are perishing, but to those whom God opens their eyes (2 Cor.4:4)there will come powerful and lasting salvation!
The methodology of Nettleton matched his theology. He used preaching as a means of bringing sinners to conviction of their sinfulness. He bathed all evangelistic efforts in fervent, humble prayer to the God who alone can effect the regeneration of a lost person. For those who responded to a call for the awakened to meet outside stated services, Nettleton offered inquiry meetings, which were essentially group evangelistic counseling sessions. At these meetings, individuals could receive personal assistance without public pressure to respond.
I am convinced that what a person, church, or denomination believes about salvation has a direct relationship on the evangelism they practice, i.e. evangelistic methodology. A sound doctrine of salvation should produce a sound practice of evangelism.
What this challenges me to do is several things. First, to pray for God's sovereign purposes to be fulfilled in my city, church, and ministry and to pray for revival. Secondly, it reminds me to be faithful to teach , commend, and preach the truth of God's Word uncompromisingly. Thirdly, it means that I look for real God honoring fruit and not self exalting, self exulting shallow results that look good but are empty of any real worth and value. Fourth, I trust that God's word, the Holy Spirit, and faithful preaching in dependence on God will bring in His elect. Nettleton and a host of others demonstrates that truth.
Striving for faithful and fruitful labor to the bringing in of His elect and to the glory of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST!
"...It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again" (Philippians 1:20-25 ESV).
"For me to live is Christ..."(Philippians 1:21). Oh how that thought burns within my soul! It was the battle cry of the apostle Paul. Paul did not think to live is the way we 21st century Christians often define what it means "to live". What would you say? For to me to live is: work?...success?...popularity?...the acquisition of wealth and material things?...sex?... leisure, vacations, and early retirement?... to be highly regarded as a Pastor?...to have a successful church and ministry?...academic achievement?...What would your "to live" be?
Paul takes this even farther. He says, "...and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Do you believe that? Do you feel that? Death=Gain? Is the thought of your own death seen as "gain" or loss? Does thinking of your death produce a feeling of fear, anxiety, dread, or joy and anticipation? Is this life the best there is or is there more, exceedingly, infinitely, wonderfully more?
What caused Paul to have such a passionate sense of his life and his death? Paul's aim was Christ. Paul held loosely to the things of life on this earth because they did not bring him satisfaction and joy, only Jesus Christ did. So Christ was his happiness in life, and Christ would be his happiness in death.
Jonathan Edwards put it this way:
“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here."
Paul said, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8-14).
Jesus Christ was the highest good and happiness for Paul. He was a man satisfied with nothing less than God himself. As the Moravian Count Zinzendorf used to say, "I only have one passion and it is He!" Paul saw himself as a man journeying towards heaven and to be forever with Jesus. Is it no wonder that death would be so looked forward to as gain for Paul? Death was the door for all Paul had valued, treasured, savored, and lived for in this life: Jesus Christ!
This is why Jonathan Edwards resolved for his life on earth:
“Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.”
"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Oh for us to go hard after Christ in this life so as to be able to say that death is nothing but pure and joyful gain!
Longing to believe, feel, and live this truth,
Pastor Bill
"For me to live is Christ..."(Philippians 1:21). Oh how that thought burns within my soul! It was the battle cry of the apostle Paul. Paul did not think to live is the way we 21st century Christians often define what it means "to live". What would you say? For to me to live is: work?...success?...popularity?...the acquisition of wealth and material things?...sex?... leisure, vacations, and early retirement?... to be highly regarded as a Pastor?...to have a successful church and ministry?...academic achievement?...What would your "to live" be?
Paul takes this even farther. He says, "...and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Do you believe that? Do you feel that? Death=Gain? Is the thought of your own death seen as "gain" or loss? Does thinking of your death produce a feeling of fear, anxiety, dread, or joy and anticipation? Is this life the best there is or is there more, exceedingly, infinitely, wonderfully more?
What caused Paul to have such a passionate sense of his life and his death? Paul's aim was Christ. Paul held loosely to the things of life on this earth because they did not bring him satisfaction and joy, only Jesus Christ did. So Christ was his happiness in life, and Christ would be his happiness in death.
Jonathan Edwards put it this way:
“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here."
Paul said, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8-14).
Jesus Christ was the highest good and happiness for Paul. He was a man satisfied with nothing less than God himself. As the Moravian Count Zinzendorf used to say, "I only have one passion and it is He!" Paul saw himself as a man journeying towards heaven and to be forever with Jesus. Is it no wonder that death would be so looked forward to as gain for Paul? Death was the door for all Paul had valued, treasured, savored, and lived for in this life: Jesus Christ!
This is why Jonathan Edwards resolved for his life on earth:
“Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.”
"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Oh for us to go hard after Christ in this life so as to be able to say that death is nothing but pure and joyful gain!
Longing to believe, feel, and live this truth,
Pastor Bill
Friday, February 2, 2007
HOW IS IT WITH YOUR SOUL?
In the seventeenth century a group of young English Christians (which included John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield) regularly met together to encourage each other in the faith. Critics called them the “Holy Club.” Every meeting would start out with John Wesley asking the question “how is it with your soul?” I want to ask each of you: HOW IS IT WITH YOUR SOUL? It isn’t hard to answer the question.
In the 17th century a young theologian/pastor named Henry Scougal (1650-1678) wrote a letter to a friend in need as an encouragement and to help him progress in his spiritual life. It was called The Life of God in the Soul of Man. After this precious young man tragically died of tuberculosis at the age of 27, his work was later published as a book for a wider readership. I have read this book five times. One statement that Scougal makes changed the whole way I looked at my soul. He said , "The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love."
When Scougal wrote this, he meant in other words, that if we love cheap and worthless things, we reveal how small and cheap our soul is. If we love precious things, we reveal how large and valuable our soul is. John Piper writes,
"The soul is measured by its flights some low and others high, but the heart is known by its delights, and it's pleasures never lie."
What are your delights? What are your pleasures? "The worth and excellence of a soul is measured by the object of its love." God has created us and redeemed us to have great, large, excellent, and beautiful souls. Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son”. John 17:26, “That the love the Father has for Jesus would be in you and that He would be in you." So God’s heart for a beautiful soul is a soul full of divine love for Jesus, a soul that is like Jesus, and a soul indwelt with the Spirit of Jesus. God is the most worthy and most excellent of beings. So, a soul that is worthy and excellent is a soul that directed towards the most worthy and excellent being in the universe: the living God!
What does a worthy and most excellent soul look like? It is a soul that is directed towards God, that sees, knows, and understands God. A soul that is satisfied with God alone. A soul that ENJOYS God above all things and longs to spread that joy and share that joy with others. Finally, a soul that longs for God to be magnified in every aspect of our life.
How does one get a soul like that? It is rooted in the belief that only God can change a soul. Therefore the secret of the development of a worthy soul is listening to God in the Word and praying the Word to God or as B.B. Warfield put it, “reading the word on one’s knees”! The Psalmist exhorts us “delight in the word of the Lord . . . day and night" (Psalm 1:2). Paul exhorts us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing…”
The key to the care of our souls is to DELIGHT IN THE WORD CONTINUALLY AND TO PRAY CONTINUALLY - that is, to lean on God all the time. Never give up looking to him for help, and come to him repeatedly during the day and often.
Oh dear Christian, read the word and pray the word, pray the word and read the word and strive to have a worthy and most excellent of soul.
Going hard for the worth and excellence of my soul by desiring the worthy and most excellent one,
Pastor Bill
In the 17th century a young theologian/pastor named Henry Scougal (1650-1678) wrote a letter to a friend in need as an encouragement and to help him progress in his spiritual life. It was called The Life of God in the Soul of Man. After this precious young man tragically died of tuberculosis at the age of 27, his work was later published as a book for a wider readership. I have read this book five times. One statement that Scougal makes changed the whole way I looked at my soul. He said , "The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love."
When Scougal wrote this, he meant in other words, that if we love cheap and worthless things, we reveal how small and cheap our soul is. If we love precious things, we reveal how large and valuable our soul is. John Piper writes,
"The soul is measured by its flights some low and others high, but the heart is known by its delights, and it's pleasures never lie."
What are your delights? What are your pleasures? "The worth and excellence of a soul is measured by the object of its love." God has created us and redeemed us to have great, large, excellent, and beautiful souls. Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son”. John 17:26, “That the love the Father has for Jesus would be in you and that He would be in you." So God’s heart for a beautiful soul is a soul full of divine love for Jesus, a soul that is like Jesus, and a soul indwelt with the Spirit of Jesus. God is the most worthy and most excellent of beings. So, a soul that is worthy and excellent is a soul that directed towards the most worthy and excellent being in the universe: the living God!
What does a worthy and most excellent soul look like? It is a soul that is directed towards God, that sees, knows, and understands God. A soul that is satisfied with God alone. A soul that ENJOYS God above all things and longs to spread that joy and share that joy with others. Finally, a soul that longs for God to be magnified in every aspect of our life.
How does one get a soul like that? It is rooted in the belief that only God can change a soul. Therefore the secret of the development of a worthy soul is listening to God in the Word and praying the Word to God or as B.B. Warfield put it, “reading the word on one’s knees”! The Psalmist exhorts us “delight in the word of the Lord . . . day and night" (Psalm 1:2). Paul exhorts us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing…”
The key to the care of our souls is to DELIGHT IN THE WORD CONTINUALLY AND TO PRAY CONTINUALLY - that is, to lean on God all the time. Never give up looking to him for help, and come to him repeatedly during the day and often.
Oh dear Christian, read the word and pray the word, pray the word and read the word and strive to have a worthy and most excellent of soul.
Going hard for the worth and excellence of my soul by desiring the worthy and most excellent one,
Pastor Bill
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