Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Spurgeon On Prayer
"'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much'; but if it be not fervent we cannot expect to find it effectual or prevalent. We must get rid of the icicles that hang about our lips. We must ask the Lord to thaw the ice caves of our soul and to make our hearts like a furnace of fire heated seven times hotter."
Spurgeon's Call
"Reformations have not been wrought by men of lukewarm spirit and temporising policy. One fiery Luther is of more value than twenty like the half hearted Erasmus. who knew infinitely more than he felt, and perhaps felt more then he dared to express. A man if he would do anything for God, for the truth, for the cross, must set his face and with the whole force of his will resolve to serve his God. The soldier of Christ must set his face like a flint against all opposition, and at the same moment set his face towards the lord with the attentive eye of the handmaiden looking towards her mistress."
Friday, January 15, 2010
Notes from Meeting
Expression of the gospel
itinerary:
Greeting,introduction, then the series of questions.Who are we, what does the cross mean for us? What are the gospel implications of this? Why are we here? Where are we without the cross? What is our response to the gospel?
Then, what do we do? What does this mean for us?
Leave
itinerary:
Greeting,introduction, then the series of questions.Who are we, what does the cross mean for us? What are the gospel implications of this? Why are we here? Where are we without the cross? What is our response to the gospel?
Then, what do we do? What does this mean for us?
Leave
Resources for young bloods
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/sermonlist/215
http://acts29network.org/sermon/influence-through-mission--vision/
http://acts29network.org/sermon/influence-through-brokenness/
Book List:
Total Church
The Prodigal God
Radical Reformission
http://acts29network.org/sermon/influence-through-mission--vision/
http://acts29network.org/sermon/influence-through-brokenness/
Book List:
Total Church
The Prodigal God
Radical Reformission
Monday, January 4, 2010
Image
I am so worried of people finding out who I am. I guise it with outgoingness or big words or clothes or preferences. I put on another personality with a different image or feeling. I am worried that people wont respond to me in the desired way—it fleshes out artificially though. I think that I am introverted. When I am at my most sincere and comfortable I am quiet and responsive, not outpouring. I like to think and plan in silence. I can identify with my friend David whose most sincere moments are in solitude and I resonate most with him.
As I write this I am coming to realize that this conviction is not the silver bullet. I am identified with Christ. I do not attain to a standard because I am already that. Therefore I have freedom in that to be…who I am? Is that how it works? The way I really am is OK to be in Christ? For a majority of my life I have not felt it acceptable to be myself.
Because I can merely determine some of human nature I began in high school to alter my perceived self and appearance. I think it began then. It gave way to a compartmentalization of my life. Some friends began to be separated from others for sake of appearances and some clothes were worn with some friends while some were worn with others. Some topics were verbalized and others weren’t. I was always afraid to show my true self so I disguised it with multiple ones.
I am striving to realize how my worth is in Christ is a new creation so I am free to be how I was made to be. I haven’t fixed anything here. Rather, I need to know how the gospel works here in practicum. How is my personality redeemed in the new creation? How do I lead in my sincere personality? How do I be excited? How do I be angry? I see my actuality as semi- emotionless. This, I know, cant be true. Lord, reveal to me what this is. Show me how to be in my newness. How do I only say things that I feel, nothing more? How do I trust in your sovereignty o king and not try to manipulate the situation? How do lead men in my sincere-ness? Does this work the same way as counting all things as rubbish for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ? Oh Jesus how I know that pride would infect the beauty of the way you have made me in Christ. Can this way I actually am be the way I glory in Christ? Is this the way I must decrease, be crucified, die to myself? Oh great king, I don’t have powers—you do. I am nothing you are everything.
As I write this I am coming to realize that this conviction is not the silver bullet. I am identified with Christ. I do not attain to a standard because I am already that. Therefore I have freedom in that to be…who I am? Is that how it works? The way I really am is OK to be in Christ? For a majority of my life I have not felt it acceptable to be myself.
Because I can merely determine some of human nature I began in high school to alter my perceived self and appearance. I think it began then. It gave way to a compartmentalization of my life. Some friends began to be separated from others for sake of appearances and some clothes were worn with some friends while some were worn with others. Some topics were verbalized and others weren’t. I was always afraid to show my true self so I disguised it with multiple ones.
I am striving to realize how my worth is in Christ is a new creation so I am free to be how I was made to be. I haven’t fixed anything here. Rather, I need to know how the gospel works here in practicum. How is my personality redeemed in the new creation? How do I lead in my sincere personality? How do I be excited? How do I be angry? I see my actuality as semi- emotionless. This, I know, cant be true. Lord, reveal to me what this is. Show me how to be in my newness. How do I only say things that I feel, nothing more? How do I trust in your sovereignty o king and not try to manipulate the situation? How do lead men in my sincere-ness? Does this work the same way as counting all things as rubbish for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ? Oh Jesus how I know that pride would infect the beauty of the way you have made me in Christ. Can this way I actually am be the way I glory in Christ? Is this the way I must decrease, be crucified, die to myself? Oh great king, I don’t have powers—you do. I am nothing you are everything.
Yesterday
Christ Must be my greatest passion. However, I cannot say that a majority of the time he is. My blindness is so extensive, I am born with a need of Christ on my heart and the Lord’s divine nature and eternalness is obvious in all things that he has made but I find it hard to live in it. Even more, he has been revealed to me as a scandalous member of the elect, I am given the gift of the holy spirit who leads me and directs me. Even more, God has given me a need for his recorded word and I have been in it a decent amount. Even more, I have been given wonderful community where I am constantly inundated with Christ’s nature and person through my brothers and sisters. Then where is my excuse when I live day in and day out involved in minor skirmishes against the sanctification which is given for my joy and Gods ultimate glory.
I am washed out in my interaction with Jesus. My impish attempts at following him are wrought with hesitations for I refuse to set him up as my ultimate goal. I exchange a relationship which is more fulfilling then my capacity to be filled for a worthless trinket which shifts flippantly from pride to lust to self adulation to comfort. My end is selfish and I do not live in servitude. I am shamed by diligent brothers in Christ who model a good soldier and who tailor there life for the purpose of the Gospel. I would rather argue and create strife in the name of the truth while I abandon love and patience.
But God in his infinite grace steadfastly chases me! God in his Wonderful forbearance would still pursue me! I am a willing servant for that which destructs but Christ still hangs on the Cross for me. While I talked on my phone as freshman moved in he still died for me, as I wander in my thoughts and fall into impurity he still intended me to be his before the foundation of the world. My God! Why is your favour un merited. You steadfast love endures forever.
Christ, your wooing of me extends to my darkest moments. Tonight, as I caught the flu by your sovereignty, I was brought to my knees ( literally) in painful nausea. I had no control over my body as I was gripped by violent dry heaving and an inability to keep even water in my belly. No degree of numerous broken bones, thrashing football games, joint- destroying wrestling, lacrosse fights, or brutal MMA training kept me from my default- a direct and weak denial of Christ as my only joy and a pursuit of comfort in my affliction. I am like a homeless man who is offered a four star supper and upon entering the restaurant walks through dining room, past the kitchen and goes through the back door to fish out expired meats and mayonnaise soaked bread. As I vomited in my dorm sink all of my crutches were kicked out from under me as wallowed in helplessness. Optimism- swept away, lust- futile, anger- dismantled, and pride was stripped of its potency as I leaned over the faucet and wiped saliva from the corner of my mouth. My only, and to my shame the last, hope for me in that moment was Christ. His worth stood before me radiating in glorious oscillations. My worth in that moment was laughable in the ominous shadow of the holy Saviour. My happiness became obsolete as joy filled my heart. His glory filled me as I recalled how his sacrifice was complete and how he loved me through my sin because of his work on the cross. I still vomited violently but as my head bobbed up from the sink I caught my expression in the mirror, it was a smile! Not of any work or mindset that I could muster but rather Gods power at work in me. It was as if my joy was removed from my circumstances and was set in the unshakable bastion of the gospel. Ill say it plainly, my joy is not impacted by things that happen to me. King, your gospel is where I must stand in the midst of my affliction.
I am washed out in my interaction with Jesus. My impish attempts at following him are wrought with hesitations for I refuse to set him up as my ultimate goal. I exchange a relationship which is more fulfilling then my capacity to be filled for a worthless trinket which shifts flippantly from pride to lust to self adulation to comfort. My end is selfish and I do not live in servitude. I am shamed by diligent brothers in Christ who model a good soldier and who tailor there life for the purpose of the Gospel. I would rather argue and create strife in the name of the truth while I abandon love and patience.
But God in his infinite grace steadfastly chases me! God in his Wonderful forbearance would still pursue me! I am a willing servant for that which destructs but Christ still hangs on the Cross for me. While I talked on my phone as freshman moved in he still died for me, as I wander in my thoughts and fall into impurity he still intended me to be his before the foundation of the world. My God! Why is your favour un merited. You steadfast love endures forever.
Christ, your wooing of me extends to my darkest moments. Tonight, as I caught the flu by your sovereignty, I was brought to my knees ( literally) in painful nausea. I had no control over my body as I was gripped by violent dry heaving and an inability to keep even water in my belly. No degree of numerous broken bones, thrashing football games, joint- destroying wrestling, lacrosse fights, or brutal MMA training kept me from my default- a direct and weak denial of Christ as my only joy and a pursuit of comfort in my affliction. I am like a homeless man who is offered a four star supper and upon entering the restaurant walks through dining room, past the kitchen and goes through the back door to fish out expired meats and mayonnaise soaked bread. As I vomited in my dorm sink all of my crutches were kicked out from under me as wallowed in helplessness. Optimism- swept away, lust- futile, anger- dismantled, and pride was stripped of its potency as I leaned over the faucet and wiped saliva from the corner of my mouth. My only, and to my shame the last, hope for me in that moment was Christ. His worth stood before me radiating in glorious oscillations. My worth in that moment was laughable in the ominous shadow of the holy Saviour. My happiness became obsolete as joy filled my heart. His glory filled me as I recalled how his sacrifice was complete and how he loved me through my sin because of his work on the cross. I still vomited violently but as my head bobbed up from the sink I caught my expression in the mirror, it was a smile! Not of any work or mindset that I could muster but rather Gods power at work in me. It was as if my joy was removed from my circumstances and was set in the unshakable bastion of the gospel. Ill say it plainly, my joy is not impacted by things that happen to me. King, your gospel is where I must stand in the midst of my affliction.
Why?
First of all, I am new. Not in terms my flesh- age, fingernails, hair but "me", I am new. The part of me that has thoughts and feels, desires and hates is completely different from what it was. This might sound strange and distant but imagine you were put through a life and death experience. This experience would alter you forever- maybe not your flesh but certainly the thinking, feeling parts of you. The bible says that I have experienced this. Our problem, the reason why we sin and always feel lost- attempting to supplement this feeling with relationships and things- is that we have chosen other things that are not God. This is sin. We want to poor out our lives to something less than the creator of the universe. I have done this, we have done this. In order to return to God, in order to return to the joy that we can have, we need to be new so that the things which separate us from God are there no longer. That is why Jesus came, to create new people. He did not come to institute morality. He came to live in a new way so that we could be grafted into that new life. Paul in the bible says that when Jesus died, he died to. He then rose newly, like Jesus rose. He then does not live how he did, but rather, he lives with new desires and passions as a new son of God. When I came to believe that Jesus did what he says he did and was who he said he was I became new. This blog is about how I am living in reaction to that experience. As that new creation I am to be a follower of Jesus who makes other followers of Jesus. Therefore, if this blog points you to Jesus, follow him and show others how to follow him. What God chooses to use to show him may it withstand, what doesn’t, let it be destroyed. Amen
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