Hello, it's been awhile since I've last written on here. Very soon i will be moving to a new blog with instead of writing my opinions on stuff I will just share specifically what God is doing in my life and the lives of those around me. I was just realizing that those are the most powerful things to read anyways. Maybe I will give some encouragements from the word too.
Things have been going really well lately. God is really changing my heart. I came to FIRE with a lot of anticipation and naivette. I have been both blown away with amazement at amazing things happening that I would never expect and also dissapointed. People are people wherever we go, and honestly I am beginning to find more comfort in that. It doesn't matter so much in finding the right group of believers to get edified and on fire for God. The focus shifts now for me at least to feed myself on the word and prayer and be the catalyst for change in whatever community I find myself in. People are people. That also has been kind of an obvious but startling discovery in evangelism. For some reason I always let the fear come to my mind that when I witness to someone they will be like the president of the athiest's association and just know so much about science and whatever and I will just have no idea to respond and they will go away even more convinced that christianity is false. And yet everywhere I go people are normal, they are just seeking to be satisfied somehow in this life. They want love, friendship and kindness.
With prayer here it has been interesting. This trimester all my roommates left and I had a new roommate who used to be a pastor in Cameroon but he wanted more training so he came to FIRE. We had a lot of adventures together, including turning the heat off almost all winter just to save money. I had a lot more time to myself with less roommates so I was able to get to know God better and just see his beauty through his word. I really want to start to memorize all of the promises in the bible. Even just descriptors of his character, haha I think God loved it when he told Moses that he was so angry with the Israelites that he would cut them off from the earth and make a people from Moses' line. But Moses argued with God and said "No, they're you're people, and you brought them out here, for the sake of your glory and your reputation you better save them. You are a merciful God and true they've been totally rebellious but your glory is more important than that". I want to know God so well that I can say with confidence "God, I love you, I know that I haven't obeyed you as I should but I know that you are a faithful God, abounding in mercy and so I cast myself on your mercy, you're my only hope, please transform my life". Our hope can never be in our own righteousness but in God's abounding righteousness and love. Nobody can pray "God, you know I've been pretty good lately, I think I deserve for you to give me a promotion at work, or you just fix my marriage on the basis of my righteousness". I don't think Isaiah was kidding around when he said our righteousness is as filthy rags (64:6). I think it is such a marvelous hope that we having in the chesedh (lovingkindness) of God.
It really also just takes such a burden off of my shoulders, I don't need to strive so hard to be good and holy. In fact it is impossible to do so. Jesus said that if we want to enter into heaven our righteousness needs to exceed that of the Pharisees. All I need to do is just look to God for his grace to transform me and humble myself because "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble". This is really neat, as I was writing this I just thought of Luke 18, I never made this connection between the significance of the two stories together in this chapter. The story that really fits with what I have been thinking about is the tax collector and the Pharisee who both come into the temple and the Pharisee thanks God "that I am not like other men, I fast twice a week... etc" but the tax collector stands off to the side and just beats his breast and earnestly cries out to God "have mercy on me, a sinner". Jesus said that this man not the other is the one who goes home justified before God. But if you look at the story before that it has such a similar theme, even though I always thought they were different. Jesus told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not give up... and in this parable the persistent widow gets her request not because of money or stature but because of persistence and that from an unjust judge and then Jesus ends with "how much more will God grant his holy one justice who cry out to him day and night?". We can have such a confidence in God not only because of our persistence but so much more so because God is just and he is merciful. What a beautiful thing, it makes you just want to throw your life and every thing that is going on in your life in God's hands.
Haha, I kind of get sidetracked easily. I was going to say more about specifically is going on in my life but I might do that later. I am heading back to Saskatchewan on April 2nd. I am so excited, I'm going back to Millar to visit all the people I went to school with last year. I really miss a lot of people. I hear God is really moving there this year and people have got even more passionate about prayer and missions. Those two things will start revival. I also just want to encourage them to more faith. A lot of times this trimester I kept gathering stories of miracles so that I could go back and brag about FIRE, but then I think God rebuked that prideful attitude in me one class here when we learned about the body of Christ. That is another really beautiful thing to ponder. The kingdom of heaven on this earth and all of us being sons and daughters of God. The more that we think of these things the more that denominational barriers and doctrines and past wrongs and all these things that divide will fall to the wayside and we will become one in Christ as we are. We are his body, can you imagine if a human body stopped working together? If the mouth said to the legs "I don't need you" it would just lie there on the road talking a lot. That may be an accurate picture of the church today ;), I say that in jest and almost with regret because God really has given me a deep love for the body of Christ and I'm sick of people in the church criticizing it. When we say "the church in North America is dead" or some vast generalization like that not only are we including ourself unadmitently in that judgment but we are disregarding the power of God that is still breathing life and vitality in the midst of religion. Let us throw off all these things that hinder unity and let us love our brothers and sisters. It sounds so simple, and actually it is. Forgive those who wronged you and ask forgiveness of those you've wronged. Humble yourself and encourage one another. If you have a problem go directly to that person and work it through if they don't listen follow Matthew 18. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up. So that it may benefit those who listen. My goodness, let's quit thinking other people are the problem and let's let God absolutely radically transform our hearts. Let's deeply surrender to God and just let him conform us to Christ. The world won't know how to handle us, God will start moving, and we will actually be far more satisfied in him than ever before.
Oh man, the beauty of community, what a message for my own life. I love you all, let's go after God together. Fight the good fight of faith and finish the race, take a hold of that for which Christ took a hold of us. Peace.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Mercy Me, an honest look at sin
Mercy Me: Psalm Fifty-One and Everyday Life
by Paul Tripp
It was one of those moments you want to take back. It was one of those times when you go where your desires and emotions are leading you. It was one of those situations when you know you should stop or walk away but feel you can’t. And it was one of those moments when afterward you are confronted with the sin that still lives inside of you. Yes, it was one of those moments.
It wasn’t a big deal in one way. Just a small conversation that had turned a bit ugly. It wasn’t a dramatic life-altering moment. It was in the privacy of my home with one of my family members. But maybe that’s the point. Perhaps it’s very important because that’s where I live everyday. You see, you and I don’t live in a series of big, dramatic moments. We don’t careen from big decision to big decision. We all live in an endless series of little moments. The character of a life isn’t set in ten big moments. The character of a life is set in 10,000 little moments of everyday life. It’s the themes of struggles that emerge from those little moments that reveal what’s really going on in our hearts.
So, I knew I couldn’t back away from this little moment. I knew I had to own my sin. The minute I thought this, an inner struggle began. “I wasn’t the only one at fault. If he hadn’t said what he said, I wouldn’t have become angry. I was actually pretty patient for much of the conversation.” These were some of the arguments I was giving myself.
Isn’t this interesting. Rather than appealing to the mercy of the Lord in the face of my sin, what I actually do instead is function as my own defense lawyer and present a list of arguments for my own righteousness. The theology behind the defense is that my greatest problem is outside of me, not inside of me. In so arguing, I’m telling myself that I don’t really need to be rescued by the Lord’s mercy. No, I’m telling myself that what I need to be rescued from is that sinner in the room who caused me to respond as I did.
Here’s the point. Before you can ever make a clean and unamended confession of your sin, you have to first begin by confessing your righteousness. It’s not just your sin that separates you from God, your righteousness does as well. Because, when you are convinced you are righteous, you don’t seek the forgiving, rescuing, and restoring mercy that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
What’s actually true is that when I come to the Lord after I’ve blown it, I’ve only one argument to make. It’s not the argument of the difficulty of the environment that I am in. It’s not the argument of the difficult people that I’m near. It’s not the argument of good intentions that were thwarted in some way. No, I only have one argument. It’s right there in the first verse of Psalm 51, as David confesses his sin with Bathsheba. I come to the Lord with only one appeal; his mercy. I’ve no other defense. I’ve no other standing. I’ve no other hope. I can’t escape the reality of my biggest problem; me! So I appeal to the one thing in my life that’s sure and will never fail. I appeal to the one thing that guaranteed not only my acceptance with God, but the hope of new beginnings and fresh starts. I appeal on the basis of the greatest gift I ever have or ever will be given. I leave the courtroom of my own defense, I come out of hiding and I admit who I am. But I’m not afraid, because I’ve been personally and eternally blessed. Because of what Jesus has done, God looks on me with mercy. It’s my only appeal, it’s the source of my hope, it’s my life. Mercy, mercy me!
reformedevangelist.com
by Paul Tripp
It was one of those moments you want to take back. It was one of those times when you go where your desires and emotions are leading you. It was one of those situations when you know you should stop or walk away but feel you can’t. And it was one of those moments when afterward you are confronted with the sin that still lives inside of you. Yes, it was one of those moments.
It wasn’t a big deal in one way. Just a small conversation that had turned a bit ugly. It wasn’t a dramatic life-altering moment. It was in the privacy of my home with one of my family members. But maybe that’s the point. Perhaps it’s very important because that’s where I live everyday. You see, you and I don’t live in a series of big, dramatic moments. We don’t careen from big decision to big decision. We all live in an endless series of little moments. The character of a life isn’t set in ten big moments. The character of a life is set in 10,000 little moments of everyday life. It’s the themes of struggles that emerge from those little moments that reveal what’s really going on in our hearts.
So, I knew I couldn’t back away from this little moment. I knew I had to own my sin. The minute I thought this, an inner struggle began. “I wasn’t the only one at fault. If he hadn’t said what he said, I wouldn’t have become angry. I was actually pretty patient for much of the conversation.” These were some of the arguments I was giving myself.
Isn’t this interesting. Rather than appealing to the mercy of the Lord in the face of my sin, what I actually do instead is function as my own defense lawyer and present a list of arguments for my own righteousness. The theology behind the defense is that my greatest problem is outside of me, not inside of me. In so arguing, I’m telling myself that I don’t really need to be rescued by the Lord’s mercy. No, I’m telling myself that what I need to be rescued from is that sinner in the room who caused me to respond as I did.
Here’s the point. Before you can ever make a clean and unamended confession of your sin, you have to first begin by confessing your righteousness. It’s not just your sin that separates you from God, your righteousness does as well. Because, when you are convinced you are righteous, you don’t seek the forgiving, rescuing, and restoring mercy that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
What’s actually true is that when I come to the Lord after I’ve blown it, I’ve only one argument to make. It’s not the argument of the difficulty of the environment that I am in. It’s not the argument of the difficult people that I’m near. It’s not the argument of good intentions that were thwarted in some way. No, I only have one argument. It’s right there in the first verse of Psalm 51, as David confesses his sin with Bathsheba. I come to the Lord with only one appeal; his mercy. I’ve no other defense. I’ve no other standing. I’ve no other hope. I can’t escape the reality of my biggest problem; me! So I appeal to the one thing in my life that’s sure and will never fail. I appeal to the one thing that guaranteed not only my acceptance with God, but the hope of new beginnings and fresh starts. I appeal on the basis of the greatest gift I ever have or ever will be given. I leave the courtroom of my own defense, I come out of hiding and I admit who I am. But I’m not afraid, because I’ve been personally and eternally blessed. Because of what Jesus has done, God looks on me with mercy. It’s my only appeal, it’s the source of my hope, it’s my life. Mercy, mercy me!
reformedevangelist.com
Tell them that again!
Tell them that again’ (a good article I just read from http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/)
Frequently, I like to close out the week with some encouragements for preachers. Recently I came across this interesting story from the life of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892). In the sermon “All of Grace” on Ephesians 2:8 (#3479) he recounts an early preaching experience with his grandfather and reminds us to “tell them that again.”
I am led to remember this by the fact that a somewhat singular circumstance, recorded in my memory, connects this text [Eph. 2:8] with myself and my grandfather. It is now long years ago. I was announced to preach in a certain country town in the Eastern Counties. It does not often happen to me to be behind time, for I feel that punctuality is one of those little virtues which may prevent great sins. But we have no control over railway delays, and breakdowns; and so it happened that I reached the appointed place considerably behind the time.
Like sensible people, they had begun their worship, and had proceeded as far as the sermon. As I neared the chapel, I perceived that someone was in the pulpit preaching, and who should the preacher be but my dear and venerable grandfather! He saw me as I came in at the front door and made my way up the aisle, and at once he said, ‘Here comes my grandson! He may preach the gospel better than I can, but he cannot preach a better gospel; can you, Charles?’
As I made my way through the throng, I answered, ‘You can preach better than I can. Pray go on.’ But he would not agree to that. I must take the sermon, and so I did, going on with the subject there and then, just where he left off. ‘There,’ said he, ‘I was preaching on ‘For by grace are ye saved.’ I have been setting forth the source and fountainhead of salvation; and I am now showing them the channel of it, through faith. Now you take it up, and go on.’
I am so much at home with these glorious truths that I could not feel any difficulty in taking from my grandfather the thread of his discourse, and joining my thread to it, so as to continue without a break. Our agreement in the things of God made it easy for us to be joint-preachers of the same discourse. I went on with ‘through faith,’ and then I proceeded to the next point, ‘and that not of yourselves.’
Upon this I was explaining the weakness and inability of human nature, and the certainty that salvation could not be of ourselves, when I had my coat-tail pulled, and my well-beloved grandsire took his turn again. ‘When I spoke of our depraved human nature,’ the good old man said, ‘I know most about that, dear friends’; and so he took up the parable, and for the next five minutes set forth a solemn and humbling description of our lost estate, the depravity of our nature, and the spiritual death under which we were found.
When he had said his say in a very gracious manner, his grandson was allowed to go on again, to the dear old man’s great delight; for now and then he would say, in a gentle tone, ‘Good! Good!’ Once he said, ‘Tell them that again, Charles.’ and, of course, I did tell them that again. It was a happy exercise to me to take my share in bearing witness to truths of such vital importance, which are so deeply impressed upon my heart.
While announcing this text I seem to hear that dear voice, which has been so long lost to earth, saying to me, “TELL THEM THAT AGAIN.” I am not contradicting the testimony of forefathers who are now with God. If my grandfather could return to earth, he would find me where he left me, steadfast in the faith, and true to that form of doctrine which was once delivered to the saints.
When we preach, the testimony of faithful Gospel preachers stand behind us, pulling our coat-tails and whispering, “Tell them that again.” A great reminder for preachers to stick closely and return frequently to the fundamentals of the Gospel! In reminiscing over the 30-year history of his church, C.J. Mahaney writes, “We never assume that there’s already sufficient understanding, appreciation, and experience of ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified’” [Living the Cross-Centered Life, p. 19].
Take it from C.H. or C.J.: “Tell them that again.”
Frequently, I like to close out the week with some encouragements for preachers. Recently I came across this interesting story from the life of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892). In the sermon “All of Grace” on Ephesians 2:8 (#3479) he recounts an early preaching experience with his grandfather and reminds us to “tell them that again.”
I am led to remember this by the fact that a somewhat singular circumstance, recorded in my memory, connects this text [Eph. 2:8] with myself and my grandfather. It is now long years ago. I was announced to preach in a certain country town in the Eastern Counties. It does not often happen to me to be behind time, for I feel that punctuality is one of those little virtues which may prevent great sins. But we have no control over railway delays, and breakdowns; and so it happened that I reached the appointed place considerably behind the time.
Like sensible people, they had begun their worship, and had proceeded as far as the sermon. As I neared the chapel, I perceived that someone was in the pulpit preaching, and who should the preacher be but my dear and venerable grandfather! He saw me as I came in at the front door and made my way up the aisle, and at once he said, ‘Here comes my grandson! He may preach the gospel better than I can, but he cannot preach a better gospel; can you, Charles?’
As I made my way through the throng, I answered, ‘You can preach better than I can. Pray go on.’ But he would not agree to that. I must take the sermon, and so I did, going on with the subject there and then, just where he left off. ‘There,’ said he, ‘I was preaching on ‘For by grace are ye saved.’ I have been setting forth the source and fountainhead of salvation; and I am now showing them the channel of it, through faith. Now you take it up, and go on.’
I am so much at home with these glorious truths that I could not feel any difficulty in taking from my grandfather the thread of his discourse, and joining my thread to it, so as to continue without a break. Our agreement in the things of God made it easy for us to be joint-preachers of the same discourse. I went on with ‘through faith,’ and then I proceeded to the next point, ‘and that not of yourselves.’
Upon this I was explaining the weakness and inability of human nature, and the certainty that salvation could not be of ourselves, when I had my coat-tail pulled, and my well-beloved grandsire took his turn again. ‘When I spoke of our depraved human nature,’ the good old man said, ‘I know most about that, dear friends’; and so he took up the parable, and for the next five minutes set forth a solemn and humbling description of our lost estate, the depravity of our nature, and the spiritual death under which we were found.
When he had said his say in a very gracious manner, his grandson was allowed to go on again, to the dear old man’s great delight; for now and then he would say, in a gentle tone, ‘Good! Good!’ Once he said, ‘Tell them that again, Charles.’ and, of course, I did tell them that again. It was a happy exercise to me to take my share in bearing witness to truths of such vital importance, which are so deeply impressed upon my heart.
While announcing this text I seem to hear that dear voice, which has been so long lost to earth, saying to me, “TELL THEM THAT AGAIN.” I am not contradicting the testimony of forefathers who are now with God. If my grandfather could return to earth, he would find me where he left me, steadfast in the faith, and true to that form of doctrine which was once delivered to the saints.
When we preach, the testimony of faithful Gospel preachers stand behind us, pulling our coat-tails and whispering, “Tell them that again.” A great reminder for preachers to stick closely and return frequently to the fundamentals of the Gospel! In reminiscing over the 30-year history of his church, C.J. Mahaney writes, “We never assume that there’s already sufficient understanding, appreciation, and experience of ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified’” [Living the Cross-Centered Life, p. 19].
Take it from C.H. or C.J.: “Tell them that again.”
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