Last Sunday I was approached by several members who asked if I could post the ten principles of defeating Giants mentioned in my message from II Samuel 21:15-22. So here they are. I hope they will help you in your walk with Christ this week.
1. When faced with the Giant called Despair set your heart to praising God and the Giant will flee
2. When you set your heart to take on the giants expect those in our own family to come against you
3. Make the glory of God your chief concern and God will empower you to do things you once thought impossible
4. Be ware when all men think well of you, you are closer to danger when this happens
5. If you are going to walk with God expect to learn first hand from God in the School of the Wilderness
6. The people that God will use to help you defeat the giants will not be the ones you would normally choose.
7. To make your life a life of defeating Giants invest in the kingdom of God early in your life. Those early investments will pay off when you are old
8. To defeat the giants you must learn to submit to authorities in your life
9. If you do not fight with others you will fall alone
10. The people that you train in Warfare will be the ones that will rescue you when you are old.
11. The most difficult battle you will face will be the battle at the end of your life.
Taking a Good look at Scripture
Pastor Phil
Teachng the Word
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Are We Just Creating More Idolaters?
Over the past several months I have begun to see and hear some things that are causing a growing concern. I have been listening to many conversations in the church over the past several months and I continue to hear the following statements coming from those who belong to, “The Church.”
The statements I hear are the following, “I cannot wait to get to heaven so I can see my grandmother, I cannot wait to get to heaven so I can be free from my pain and suffering; I plan on sleeping in until 4 p.m. every day in heaven; And so the talk goes at many of the churches I have attended over the past year.
I attended a church that was just recently completed. It had all the really high class furnishings and state of the art sound system and beautifully crafted pipe organ. During the meet and greet time I heard continually of what a great building they had and just look at this ceiling and the architecture. Much was being made of the building and furnishings but something was noticeably absent. I did not hear any conversation like the following; Is not our God great? Is not our Lord and Savior a magnificent God who would allow us to even enjoy such a place?
It seemed in all the conversations of the church I only heard the church thrilled with the benefits of redemption but completely ignorant of the beauty of their redeemer. Their conversations were fixated on the stuff not on the Savior. I was frightened in those moments for I fear we have only made more idolaters instead of more passionate worshippers of our Savior with our focus on building and blessing instead of the beauty and the benefit of knowing our Savior.
These are just some of my thoughts. I hope you can be convicted and challenged by them in the days ahead so you will turn your heart's affections more and more to the Savior. As Paul instructed us in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Come let us fix our gaze heavenward to see our Redeemer and may the sight of him thrill us more than all the things of this universe.
The statements I hear are the following, “I cannot wait to get to heaven so I can see my grandmother, I cannot wait to get to heaven so I can be free from my pain and suffering; I plan on sleeping in until 4 p.m. every day in heaven; And so the talk goes at many of the churches I have attended over the past year.
I attended a church that was just recently completed. It had all the really high class furnishings and state of the art sound system and beautifully crafted pipe organ. During the meet and greet time I heard continually of what a great building they had and just look at this ceiling and the architecture. Much was being made of the building and furnishings but something was noticeably absent. I did not hear any conversation like the following; Is not our God great? Is not our Lord and Savior a magnificent God who would allow us to even enjoy such a place?
It seemed in all the conversations of the church I only heard the church thrilled with the benefits of redemption but completely ignorant of the beauty of their redeemer. Their conversations were fixated on the stuff not on the Savior. I was frightened in those moments for I fear we have only made more idolaters instead of more passionate worshippers of our Savior with our focus on building and blessing instead of the beauty and the benefit of knowing our Savior.
These are just some of my thoughts. I hope you can be convicted and challenged by them in the days ahead so you will turn your heart's affections more and more to the Savior. As Paul instructed us in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Come let us fix our gaze heavenward to see our Redeemer and may the sight of him thrill us more than all the things of this universe.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Our Appointed Time
It is now just two days after the earthquake in Haiti and we are seeing hundreds of thousands of lives lost. There was no warning of the earthquake just people going about their daily lives thinking they had more time to live and consider what really matters. For many in Haiti the time to consider what really matters is over, millions more are now more aware than ever that life does not last for long. It can be snuffed out with a quick shake of the ground and it is all over.
Even this morning we have news of a college basketball player who fell on the floor and was rushed to the hospital only to be declared dead moments later. He was a great player in good health. He was only a sophomore and he had years left of his life or so many thought. No one knew that he was playing his last game with the opening tip off.
What is to be made of these happenings in our world? One thing is sure, we have only this moment before us to consider Christ. There is no guarantee of our next breath. There are some television preachers who proclaim that it is because of sin that the nation of Haiti had this devastation. Others may proclaim that it was because of sin that this player died suddenly. Such statements do not correctly represent the gospel.
To be sure they are right in what they said, all people die because of sin. No one leaves this world in perfect righteousness. We are all under the curse of sin and death because of it. We all have rebelled against God and all equally deserve his judgment. But God in his grace has revealed his Son to us and those who have fled to Christ will escape the coming judgment at the end of the age.
All of these storms and sudden deaths are merely what happens in a world that has rebelled against God. The disciples were walking along the road one day and they were thinking of tragedies in their day and they thought of the thousands of Jews who were slaughtered by Pilate as they went to the temple one day. Listen in on their conversation. Luke 13:1-9 (NIV)
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
Such seems to be the answer of a modern day television evangelist. TO be sure he was right in that Haiti was under a curse but see how Jesus responds to their question.
3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Jesus' replied, No, they were not worse sinners than you. The reason that they died is the same reason we will all die, we have sinned against God and as a result this world is under a curse, not just the nation of Haiti but all of the earth stands under a curse.
Once again the question comes "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?"
The disciples are just like us in this way, we somehow think when bad things happen to others it happens because of some specific sin they committed, so we think to ourselves we must be better because this has not happened to us. Let us forever put away such thinking. Let the Word of the Lord correct us in this attitude. Hear now the Word of our Lord as he responds to such a question, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Here is the message the Word of the Lord gives us about disasters and tragedies that come upon us unaware. This world is under a curse and it will always be under a curse until it is purified by the coming of our Lord. (For more information about this read II Peter chapter 3.)
When we see disasters and tragedies it should point us all to the fact that it will happen to us one day as well. We will be walking along and then death will sweep over us and take us. The Scripture says that it is appointed unto man once to die and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) All of us have an appointment with death and it is fixed in the eternal counsel of God. So how should we respond to this news of tragedy and disaster when it happens?
First let us examine our own hearts to see if we are prepared to meet God in judgment. Any death is a reminder to all of us that none of us will escape this life alive. Are we in the faith? Have we turned from our sins and trusted solely in Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins? Then we are safe in Christ alone and we do not need to fear our physical death for it will only be the doorway into eternal life with God.
If we are not in the faith let us flee at once while we still have breath in our lungs to Christ for forgiveness and cleansing. There is no other way to be prepared for eternity.
Then if we know others who do not yet know Christ let us go to them and plead with them to trust in Christ for they know not the day of their death. It may come upon them suddenly like the earthquake in Haiti, or it may creep upon them like old age creeps upon many and they lose their ability to see and remember and respond to God and his Word.
So let us give ourselves to Christ afresh and anew and let us sound the clarion call of repentance and trust in Christ as man's only hope to escape eternal death and destruction.
Hear once more the words of our Lord who said, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." No, the Haitian nation is not any more cursed than we are here in America. We just do not know how fragile our life really is. Some falsely think that they can trust in their health for long life but this was not the case yesterday for a twenty one year old healthy basketball player from Southern Indiana.
We work to alleviate the suffering of the world not thinking we can end all suffering for that will not happen until the new heavens and the new earth are made. We work to alleviate suffering now because we desire all men to see the goodness of God and come to repentance. So let us go forth with a towel and food and medicine and care to those who suffer and let's at the same time speak of the grace of Christ who loved a lost world and stands ready to save those in eternal danger of perishing forever.
This is the gospel and this is what we must proclaim in these days.
Even this morning we have news of a college basketball player who fell on the floor and was rushed to the hospital only to be declared dead moments later. He was a great player in good health. He was only a sophomore and he had years left of his life or so many thought. No one knew that he was playing his last game with the opening tip off.
What is to be made of these happenings in our world? One thing is sure, we have only this moment before us to consider Christ. There is no guarantee of our next breath. There are some television preachers who proclaim that it is because of sin that the nation of Haiti had this devastation. Others may proclaim that it was because of sin that this player died suddenly. Such statements do not correctly represent the gospel.
To be sure they are right in what they said, all people die because of sin. No one leaves this world in perfect righteousness. We are all under the curse of sin and death because of it. We all have rebelled against God and all equally deserve his judgment. But God in his grace has revealed his Son to us and those who have fled to Christ will escape the coming judgment at the end of the age.
All of these storms and sudden deaths are merely what happens in a world that has rebelled against God. The disciples were walking along the road one day and they were thinking of tragedies in their day and they thought of the thousands of Jews who were slaughtered by Pilate as they went to the temple one day. Listen in on their conversation. Luke 13:1-9 (NIV)
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
Such seems to be the answer of a modern day television evangelist. TO be sure he was right in that Haiti was under a curse but see how Jesus responds to their question.
3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Jesus' replied, No, they were not worse sinners than you. The reason that they died is the same reason we will all die, we have sinned against God and as a result this world is under a curse, not just the nation of Haiti but all of the earth stands under a curse.
Once again the question comes "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?"
The disciples are just like us in this way, we somehow think when bad things happen to others it happens because of some specific sin they committed, so we think to ourselves we must be better because this has not happened to us. Let us forever put away such thinking. Let the Word of the Lord correct us in this attitude. Hear now the Word of our Lord as he responds to such a question, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Here is the message the Word of the Lord gives us about disasters and tragedies that come upon us unaware. This world is under a curse and it will always be under a curse until it is purified by the coming of our Lord. (For more information about this read II Peter chapter 3.)
When we see disasters and tragedies it should point us all to the fact that it will happen to us one day as well. We will be walking along and then death will sweep over us and take us. The Scripture says that it is appointed unto man once to die and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) All of us have an appointment with death and it is fixed in the eternal counsel of God. So how should we respond to this news of tragedy and disaster when it happens?
First let us examine our own hearts to see if we are prepared to meet God in judgment. Any death is a reminder to all of us that none of us will escape this life alive. Are we in the faith? Have we turned from our sins and trusted solely in Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins? Then we are safe in Christ alone and we do not need to fear our physical death for it will only be the doorway into eternal life with God.
If we are not in the faith let us flee at once while we still have breath in our lungs to Christ for forgiveness and cleansing. There is no other way to be prepared for eternity.
Then if we know others who do not yet know Christ let us go to them and plead with them to trust in Christ for they know not the day of their death. It may come upon them suddenly like the earthquake in Haiti, or it may creep upon them like old age creeps upon many and they lose their ability to see and remember and respond to God and his Word.
So let us give ourselves to Christ afresh and anew and let us sound the clarion call of repentance and trust in Christ as man's only hope to escape eternal death and destruction.
Hear once more the words of our Lord who said, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." No, the Haitian nation is not any more cursed than we are here in America. We just do not know how fragile our life really is. Some falsely think that they can trust in their health for long life but this was not the case yesterday for a twenty one year old healthy basketball player from Southern Indiana.
We work to alleviate the suffering of the world not thinking we can end all suffering for that will not happen until the new heavens and the new earth are made. We work to alleviate suffering now because we desire all men to see the goodness of God and come to repentance. So let us go forth with a towel and food and medicine and care to those who suffer and let's at the same time speak of the grace of Christ who loved a lost world and stands ready to save those in eternal danger of perishing forever.
This is the gospel and this is what we must proclaim in these days.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The urgency of the Gospel
Ezekiel 3:17-19 (NIV)
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Acts 20:25-31 (NIV)
25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Have you ever considered how many people you pass by each day? Have you ever felt the weight of the gospel as you go about you daily routine? God is jealous for His Son's glory and he has set us with the task of telling the gospel to all who live around us. How shall we accomplish such a great undertaking when it seems that most do not have the time to listen to the story?
Let me suggest a few possibilities. !. Begin to ask God to give you divine appointments with those you encounter each day. As you pass by each person lift up a prayer to the Father asking for his discernment as to how to share about Christ with this person. It may be just a kind word or a smile breathed in prayer. It may be you hand them a tract that explains the gospel for them to read later. It may be that you offer a word of praise as you are passing through the checkout counter. It may be that you actively listen to those who express a difficult day and then offer to pray for them.
2. It may be that you write out a personal presentation of the gospel and have it copied so you can distribute it to those you encounter. I have found that this one thing really helps to set in your mind what exactly it is that you believe. You may want to have your pastor or some other leader in your church to help you evaluate the contents of your writing.
3. It could be that you take advantage of writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing biblical views on any number of cultural concerns.
4. It could be that you take notice of the obituary column and send note of prayer to those who have lost loved ones recently.
5. It could be that you volunteer to spend time in your church's prayer room praying for the lost in your area and around the world.
These are just a few ideas that you could develop to help you be a faithful proclaimer of the good news. Certainly Paul had developed a way in his day to share about Christ with everyone he met so he could say that he was free from the blood of all men because he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God to them. Let us also be among those who have been found faithful.
A word of warning though, if you go on record as belonging to Christ and set your heart to declare the gospel expect difficulty to begin to visit you since you have now decided to go on the offensive against the enemy.
Join with me and others who have set our hearts on declaring the good news of the gospel until the Lord comes for us. I want my last words in this life to be, "I urge you to repent and turn to Christ."
Pastor phil
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Acts 20:25-31 (NIV)
25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Have you ever considered how many people you pass by each day? Have you ever felt the weight of the gospel as you go about you daily routine? God is jealous for His Son's glory and he has set us with the task of telling the gospel to all who live around us. How shall we accomplish such a great undertaking when it seems that most do not have the time to listen to the story?
Let me suggest a few possibilities. !. Begin to ask God to give you divine appointments with those you encounter each day. As you pass by each person lift up a prayer to the Father asking for his discernment as to how to share about Christ with this person. It may be just a kind word or a smile breathed in prayer. It may be you hand them a tract that explains the gospel for them to read later. It may be that you offer a word of praise as you are passing through the checkout counter. It may be that you actively listen to those who express a difficult day and then offer to pray for them.
2. It may be that you write out a personal presentation of the gospel and have it copied so you can distribute it to those you encounter. I have found that this one thing really helps to set in your mind what exactly it is that you believe. You may want to have your pastor or some other leader in your church to help you evaluate the contents of your writing.
3. It could be that you take advantage of writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing biblical views on any number of cultural concerns.
4. It could be that you take notice of the obituary column and send note of prayer to those who have lost loved ones recently.
5. It could be that you volunteer to spend time in your church's prayer room praying for the lost in your area and around the world.
These are just a few ideas that you could develop to help you be a faithful proclaimer of the good news. Certainly Paul had developed a way in his day to share about Christ with everyone he met so he could say that he was free from the blood of all men because he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God to them. Let us also be among those who have been found faithful.
A word of warning though, if you go on record as belonging to Christ and set your heart to declare the gospel expect difficulty to begin to visit you since you have now decided to go on the offensive against the enemy.
Join with me and others who have set our hearts on declaring the good news of the gospel until the Lord comes for us. I want my last words in this life to be, "I urge you to repent and turn to Christ."
Pastor phil
Friday, January 8, 2010
How Important is the Gospel?
Acts 20:22-24 (NIV)
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Yesterday I did something I have been praying about for some time. I was not a believer when I graduated from high school 35 years ago and over he years I have often prayed about how to share Christ with my graduating class of 1975. I knew that there would be some repercussions from sharing about Christ and I was somewhat concerned about that but as I have watched our culture continue to spiral out of moral truth I decided yesterday that the time was now.
I penned a letter that I sent to everyone by e-mail yesterday. It went out to about 200 of my former classmates. Today I received one letter back so far telling me that they were glad I had found religion but they found it offensive that I would use such an e-mail list to proselytize my classmates. At the end of the letter they did wish me a happy new year.
This response got me to thinking more about the necessity of the gospel. As I have been reading several biographies of those who have gone before us and those who have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel I was at once convicted and challenged to no longer be silent with the gospel.
I began to think what it would be like to stand next to our brothers and sisters across the history of the church at the end of time and hear them ask us what we had suffered for the cause of Christ. They may tell us of their scars and the life they had lived and the cost they paid and then it would be our turn and the question would come, “What scars do you have to show for your confession of Christ in your day?”
I thought for a moment and knew at once something was terribly wrong. What scars do I have to show for my walk with the Lord? Possibly a few that think I am crazy for believing in such "Nonsense." Every time I step onto an elevator I find myself grow timid, I step into a room of unbelievers and feel afraid because I do not want them to think I am a fool. My silence has been too deafening, my courage too lacking. I believe it is no longer time for us to be silent about the Gospel.
To be sure we must live lives that demonstrate the truth of the gospel. We should pray for our enemies and love those who despitefully use us, but we should not stop at that we must speak the gospel. There was an old preacher who was thought very wise when he said to his congregation, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words." When I first heard that I thought to myself, “What a nice statement.”
It sounded good in my ears and gave me a sense of rest. I no longer had to share the truths of the faith I just had to live a good moral life led by the Spirit. What a breath of fresh air, I thought.
I could not have been more wrong. The gospel is a matter of words, right words, and right doctrine. To only live a moral life is to reject the very gospel we seek to proclaim. The one who gave us the gospel speaks from His Word, Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
The salvation of those who will rust in Christ is dependent on preachers being sent. Romans 10:13-17 informs us that it is the preaching of the Word that is heard in the ear that produces faith in the redeemed. Words are absolutely essential to this ministry that God has called us to. Without words being spoken there will be no faith be exercised.
But we also must know this that when we begin to speak these words the enemy will do whatever he can to shut our mouths. Let us labor to be as the early disciples and say that we cannot help but speak of the things which we have seen and heard. O God may you open our mouths even more in these days so the dead can hear and live again.
Speaking up for the Gospel,
Pastor phil
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Yesterday I did something I have been praying about for some time. I was not a believer when I graduated from high school 35 years ago and over he years I have often prayed about how to share Christ with my graduating class of 1975. I knew that there would be some repercussions from sharing about Christ and I was somewhat concerned about that but as I have watched our culture continue to spiral out of moral truth I decided yesterday that the time was now.
I penned a letter that I sent to everyone by e-mail yesterday. It went out to about 200 of my former classmates. Today I received one letter back so far telling me that they were glad I had found religion but they found it offensive that I would use such an e-mail list to proselytize my classmates. At the end of the letter they did wish me a happy new year.
This response got me to thinking more about the necessity of the gospel. As I have been reading several biographies of those who have gone before us and those who have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel I was at once convicted and challenged to no longer be silent with the gospel.
I began to think what it would be like to stand next to our brothers and sisters across the history of the church at the end of time and hear them ask us what we had suffered for the cause of Christ. They may tell us of their scars and the life they had lived and the cost they paid and then it would be our turn and the question would come, “What scars do you have to show for your confession of Christ in your day?”
I thought for a moment and knew at once something was terribly wrong. What scars do I have to show for my walk with the Lord? Possibly a few that think I am crazy for believing in such "Nonsense." Every time I step onto an elevator I find myself grow timid, I step into a room of unbelievers and feel afraid because I do not want them to think I am a fool. My silence has been too deafening, my courage too lacking. I believe it is no longer time for us to be silent about the Gospel.
To be sure we must live lives that demonstrate the truth of the gospel. We should pray for our enemies and love those who despitefully use us, but we should not stop at that we must speak the gospel. There was an old preacher who was thought very wise when he said to his congregation, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words." When I first heard that I thought to myself, “What a nice statement.”
It sounded good in my ears and gave me a sense of rest. I no longer had to share the truths of the faith I just had to live a good moral life led by the Spirit. What a breath of fresh air, I thought.
I could not have been more wrong. The gospel is a matter of words, right words, and right doctrine. To only live a moral life is to reject the very gospel we seek to proclaim. The one who gave us the gospel speaks from His Word, Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
The salvation of those who will rust in Christ is dependent on preachers being sent. Romans 10:13-17 informs us that it is the preaching of the Word that is heard in the ear that produces faith in the redeemed. Words are absolutely essential to this ministry that God has called us to. Without words being spoken there will be no faith be exercised.
But we also must know this that when we begin to speak these words the enemy will do whatever he can to shut our mouths. Let us labor to be as the early disciples and say that we cannot help but speak of the things which we have seen and heard. O God may you open our mouths even more in these days so the dead can hear and live again.
Speaking up for the Gospel,
Pastor phil
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Finding Joy in the Midst of Despair
Often after the holiday season many find themselves in the throws of despair or depression. Things they had put their hopes in did not offer the deliverance from the fleshly word that we live in. They open of some gift bringing with it the form of lasting hope and peace does not materialize and once again life is thrown into the regular often mundane, even depressing situations of living in a fallen world.
Where shall we find our hope in such case? Does the Christian life have any offer to those who find themselves in this season of gloom? From one who often finds himself ins such cases hear these words clearly; the Gospel is our only hope for deliverance from such states. As David spoke to his own soul we must speak to ours, "Put your hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is my savior and my God." Psalms 42
We are commanded by Scripture to put our hope in God alone not in what we feel or in what we do to find our deliverance. Are you depressed, in the pits, feeling gloomy? Then look away from your despair unto Christ. See him standing at the right hand of the Father serving as your righteousness. The day of your eternal redemption is coming and the guarantee that you will not be in this pit forever is Christ, your redeemer. Look unto him and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth.
IN the same manner that you looked to Him for salvation at first you must look to him in this for he alone is your only hope. We labor in this hope for he who promised is faithful and he will rescue, though for a season if need be we may be in heaviness for our Sovereign God's appointed ends, which are always for our good and for His glory. Let us therefore boast in our weakness, though it be finding ourselves often in such places, for we shall soon be caught up to be with the Lord forever at the last trumpet call of God.
Surely now we can see that these times are meant for our savoring and rejoicing in our Lord when he comes for us, for had we not such pits of despair we would not savor the rescue of our Savior. SO let us rejoice when we find ourselves in such places for this is working for us a more sweet release when he comes for us.
Looking Unto Jesus, the Author and Hallelujah the Finisher of my Faith,
Pastor phil
Where shall we find our hope in such case? Does the Christian life have any offer to those who find themselves in this season of gloom? From one who often finds himself ins such cases hear these words clearly; the Gospel is our only hope for deliverance from such states. As David spoke to his own soul we must speak to ours, "Put your hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is my savior and my God." Psalms 42
We are commanded by Scripture to put our hope in God alone not in what we feel or in what we do to find our deliverance. Are you depressed, in the pits, feeling gloomy? Then look away from your despair unto Christ. See him standing at the right hand of the Father serving as your righteousness. The day of your eternal redemption is coming and the guarantee that you will not be in this pit forever is Christ, your redeemer. Look unto him and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth.
IN the same manner that you looked to Him for salvation at first you must look to him in this for he alone is your only hope. We labor in this hope for he who promised is faithful and he will rescue, though for a season if need be we may be in heaviness for our Sovereign God's appointed ends, which are always for our good and for His glory. Let us therefore boast in our weakness, though it be finding ourselves often in such places, for we shall soon be caught up to be with the Lord forever at the last trumpet call of God.
Surely now we can see that these times are meant for our savoring and rejoicing in our Lord when he comes for us, for had we not such pits of despair we would not savor the rescue of our Savior. SO let us rejoice when we find ourselves in such places for this is working for us a more sweet release when he comes for us.
Looking Unto Jesus, the Author and Hallelujah the Finisher of my Faith,
Pastor phil
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Salvation of A Great Sinner
January 5: Luke 15:20 (NIV)
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
What is necessary to understand for a full and meaningful walk with the Lord in this world? Some may answer, “Your theology must be perfect. You must not have any unworthy thoughts of God." Others may respond, “Make sure your life is ordered only be the Scriptures and that you possess no unwholesome practices in you." Still others reply, “Care not for anything but that you are saved and worry not about such things as theology, behavior or the like, and just live your life."
A man who was well known for his rejection and open ridicule of the Christian faith and its dictates would spend the first almost thirty years in complete wanton disregard for the truths of the gospel. He would live as a reprobate and encourage others in the same way. Even though he had been spared numerous times from certain death on the high seas and in ordinary life routines he would not turn to Christ.
He had attempted a few occasions of living the Christian life but all to no avail. These turns would only last a few months or at best a couple of years but he would once again return each time to greater reprobation. What would be his hope? From where would he find his deliverance? He tried to turn to the churches of his day only to find false teachers filling her pulpits. He tried reading books on religion or philosophy but nothing seemed to work. It would be a gradual awakening over time after being delivered from certain death on the high seas one more time that he would begin in earnest to seek after this God who had spared his life time and again.
How would God receive such a person who had spent the first part of his life living in wanton disregard for the things of God? The text before us today answers much to the shock of the world, that our Great Redeemer does not wait for us to come home he runs after us and finds us in the far country and as we turn to him he runs towards us to receive us. Can this be true? Yes Church this is the truth which we have received and on which we stake our claim. The good news of the gospel is that when we once see the utter hopelessness of our condition we will find our Savior running toward us with open arms.
O Holy Spirit come and bring your conviction of sin that we might see our utter brokenness so we too can be rescued as the great hymn writer John Newton who penned these wonderful words for us, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound the that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.”
Proclaiming such an Amazing Grace,
Pastor phil
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
What is necessary to understand for a full and meaningful walk with the Lord in this world? Some may answer, “Your theology must be perfect. You must not have any unworthy thoughts of God." Others may respond, “Make sure your life is ordered only be the Scriptures and that you possess no unwholesome practices in you." Still others reply, “Care not for anything but that you are saved and worry not about such things as theology, behavior or the like, and just live your life."
A man who was well known for his rejection and open ridicule of the Christian faith and its dictates would spend the first almost thirty years in complete wanton disregard for the truths of the gospel. He would live as a reprobate and encourage others in the same way. Even though he had been spared numerous times from certain death on the high seas and in ordinary life routines he would not turn to Christ.
He had attempted a few occasions of living the Christian life but all to no avail. These turns would only last a few months or at best a couple of years but he would once again return each time to greater reprobation. What would be his hope? From where would he find his deliverance? He tried to turn to the churches of his day only to find false teachers filling her pulpits. He tried reading books on religion or philosophy but nothing seemed to work. It would be a gradual awakening over time after being delivered from certain death on the high seas one more time that he would begin in earnest to seek after this God who had spared his life time and again.
How would God receive such a person who had spent the first part of his life living in wanton disregard for the things of God? The text before us today answers much to the shock of the world, that our Great Redeemer does not wait for us to come home he runs after us and finds us in the far country and as we turn to him he runs towards us to receive us. Can this be true? Yes Church this is the truth which we have received and on which we stake our claim. The good news of the gospel is that when we once see the utter hopelessness of our condition we will find our Savior running toward us with open arms.
O Holy Spirit come and bring your conviction of sin that we might see our utter brokenness so we too can be rescued as the great hymn writer John Newton who penned these wonderful words for us, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound the that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.”
Proclaiming such an Amazing Grace,
Pastor phil
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