learning the importance of community...

I am being introduced in a greater way than ever to the importance of Christian community and how it teams with the gospel to advance the kingdom of God in our culture.  Community in no way takes the place of or super-cedes the gospel but has a very important place that I am learning to give more attention to.  I highly suggest the reading of "Total Church" by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis.  It gives a fresh perspective on many things including community, the gospel, and evangelism.  I have not finished the entire book, but am close and look forward to the rest of it.

Let me say also that I do not recommend any reading over what we find in scripture.  This book simply highlights what scripture already tells us in the Gospels, the book of Acts as well as Paul and Peter's writings.

Must Read...

If you are anything like me and struggle with procrastination in any sense of the word in any area of your life, these are must read blog posts by CJ Mahaney.  The first is titled, "Are you busy" and the second, "Confessions of a Busy Procrastinator" with more to come.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/

Audio and Video from the "Biblical Parenting Conference"

http://theresurgence.com/shepherding_a_childs_heart_conference

Humility in the Teaching of Jesus

Here are some scripture references from Chapter 4 of "Humility and Absolute Surrender" that speak to humility shown to us through the teachings of Jesus...

Matthew 11:29

Matthew 20:27

Luke 9:46-48

Matthew 18:3

Luke 20:27-28

Matthew 33:11

Luke 14:1-11

Luke 18:14

John 13:14

Luke 22:26-27

"And let us believe that what He shows He gives, and what He is He imparts.  As the meek and lowly One, He will come in and dwell in the longing heart"  Andrew Murray

There is no time like the present to take to heart our desperate need for humility before God and there is no better example of humility than in our Savior Jesus Christ.  

After election thoughts...

This is a sermon by Al Mohler after the 2004 election...some good stuff in here check it out.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/After-the-Election.aspx

Let this be my life and message...

Titus 1:11-15

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.  Declare these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority.  Let no one disregard you."

This is the message of hope and change that we need to be championing, and can do it boldly at the call of the Lord.  This is the gospel of Jesus Christ!  

Humility: The Secret of Redemption

Thoughts on Chapter 2 of Andrew Murray's, Humility and Absolute Surrender

"Until a humility which will rest in nothing less than the end and death of self, which gives up all the honor of men as Jesus did, to seek the honor that comes from God alone, which absolutely makes and counts itself nothing, that God may be all, that the Lord alone may be exalted - until such a humility be what we seek in Christ above our chief joy, and welcome at any price, there is very little hope of a religion that will conquer the world."

Christ embodies humility and with perfection shows us the model for humility with His very life. What we must do is continually trust that the life revealed in Christ is the life we are called to.  It is a life lived to die to self for the ultimate goal of God's glory.  

Some serious questions are posed in the quote.  Do I seek this humility over my joy?  Do I welcome this humility at any price?  An honest answer would be, far too often I do not.  What I do know is that this humility will produce an eternal joy that will be greater than any earthly joy I could imagine.  I also know that whatever the cost of this humility it will be worth the result beyond my comprehension.  So why then do I not seek this humility over my temporary joy and at any cost as I should?  The flesh dies hard!

But I rest my hope in Philippians 1:6 believing that God has done a saving work within me and is continuously working in me and one day will glorify me in His presence because of Christ.  It is because of this that I long to die to myself daily and take on the likeness of Christ in humility before God.  My prayer is that God would continue to move within me to accomplish this work for His glory!

Thoughts on "humility and absolute surrender"

I'm reading a new book by Andrew Murray titled, "Humility and Absolute Surrender".  It is two of his works combined into one book.  My plan is to write a thought or two from each chapter for the edification of those who may read.  I desperately desire humility and surrender to mark my life as it did Christ's and desire for both to be revealed to a greater degree as I read scripture and read through this new book.

Chapter 1 is titled, "Humility...the glory of the Creature" - 

"God has so constituted us as reasonable beings, that the truer the insight into the real nature or the absolute need of a command, the readier and fuller will be our obedience to it."

Has humility been regarded too lightly?  Has humility been sought after through means of guilt from sin and self loathing?  How can true humility be born of either of those things...if humility is to be born of guilt from sin or self loathing what does that say of Christ's humility? Guilt and condemnation can't be the vehicle for our humility before Christ.  It must be His nature, who He is, what He has done, His grace and redemptive sacrifice, His forgiveness, the fact that He saved me while I was yet a sinner and continues to sanctify me and one day will glorify me before Himself as I stand in the righteousness of Christ fully pardoned though not deserving not even a little!  My humility must be for His glory!

Humility is a complete recognition that we are entirely dependent on God, therefore we live like it.  Murray says, "its simply the sense of entire nothingness, which comes when we see how truly God is all, and in which we make way for God to be all."  

This does not just happen in our lives...it takes some doing on our part.  At the end of chapter 1 Murray says, "humility must be made the object of special desire and prayer and faith and practice".  Some may say that sounds like legalism and works, I say it sounds like the evidence of faith and trust in Christ who is our ultimate example of humility.

 

There is no substitue

I am doing a study on the book of 2 Timothy and have found much of what Paul writes to Timothy to be a present reality and an absolute necessity in my life.  We are wrapping up the book and I have been studying chapter 4 and find myself captured by God's truth through Paul in His final instructions to Timothy.

The charge is clear and there is no room for debate in what is being said here.  Paul is charging Timothy in the presence of God and Christ to "Preach the Word"!  I have been increasingly encouraged as God has revealed more and more of what this means exactly.  Many days this seems like an overwhelming task and in the flesh it is just that...but through trust and faith in the Word (John 1:1) to do the work, the charge becomes a matter of obedience on my part...not a matter of producing results.

To preach, proclaim or herald the Word of God is to announce the King's news.  What an honor to be called to announce the greatest news ever given.  However, this calling seems to have been twisted a bit in some places.  The job to announce and proclaim has been made into a job of negotiating and tweaking.  It is never the job of a herald to negotiate the King's news...only proclaim it!  

We are messengers of a perfect and holy gospel, window dressing is not necessary nor is it called for.  The entire Word of God...His complete counsel and revealed truth is the news we are to proclaim unashamedly and faithfully (2 Timothy 1).  As we see in chapter 4 verses 3 and 4 the likelihood that people will tolerate it is unlikely...but that does not mean they do not need it.  We all need it!  

There is no substitute because, "the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who would believe" (Romans 1:16).  If we are not giving people the gospel...we are not giving them anything at all.

What is our standard for voting?

As someone who has been changed by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ there is no question what my standard of voting is.  It is His word.  This may seem to some as an absolutely rediculous and narrow minded standard to adhere to concerning politics.  But is it?

I think it is the only standard by which we should base any decision we make in life and that includes politics.  

Colossians  1:16-17

"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities...all things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

There is no distinguishing here the word all is a very inclusive word.  Our vote is to be a vote that glorifies God.  Why?  Because in HIM all things hold together.  Too much confidence and trust have been placed in ourselves and our own moral compass, when the the standard is God and His Word.  That is the moral standard in which all things will hold together.  We see things unravelling now because we have not surrendered to the preeminence of Christ in all things.   

Notice I have not mentioned any candidates...there is no need to.  They are not the answer!  The only thing that will save this nation is Jesus Christ and His preeminence.  He is the priority when we vote and if He is the priority then there is only one way to vote and that is by the standard set forth by the creator of the universe.  So yes vote, absolutely vote...but ask yourself, what is your standard of voting?  Economy, foreign affairs, bank account, social agendas or Jesus Christ who all things were created through and for?