Sinning away conviction of sin.
In his book, Indwelling Sin in Believers, John Owen writes of the believer who, "sins away his conviction of sin."
I must admit that this was a source of very real conviction for me. I reflected upon how often I catch myself engaged in something that one might consider a "little" sin with less conviction than I should have. Maybe a book or a TV show or a movie. Even the purchase of something that I delude myself into believing will bring some lasting satisfaction and meaning to my life.
I am confronted with the question, "How sensitive to sin and I - really?" I have to admit that like many folks I don;t do well in my answer. As James tells us, my desires create havoc in my soul that unfortunately is common enough to be dismissed unless directly confronted from outside.
This is due to several things not the least of which is an intentional examination of most of my life in the light of the Word and the Spirit. What seems OK is most often not. The law of grace loses it's power to restrain me because my mind is not fixed upon Him, His sovereignty and His calling. I simply find it distressingly easy to let the "little" one's slip by.
Though these "sins" are (according to man;s measure) "little" they have the cumulative effect of numbing my heart to sin in general. The old "everyone does it," or the "it's not a biggy," even "I'm redeemed and forgiven," are poor rationales for my failure in regards to these sins.
I have to make myself remember that if I had only committed the least of these "acceptable" sins Christ would have still had to suffer the horrors of their payment. There only one acceptable payment for any and all sins but I, maybe like may of you, have a tough time keeping this in the front of my mind.
So I grow numb to conviction in an ever increasing way and find myself humiliated by greater lapses. Lapses that would not have been so easy to make had i dealt honestly and directly with the "lesser" sins.
All this is to say that we must (ok, maybe it's just me) must do whatever is needful to become and remain sensitive to all sin in our lives.
This take intentional commitment and discipline. It is hard and tedious work. It looks a lot like legalism but though the law was fulfilled its use in our lives still stands. Somehow I have to move from being a mere fan of Jesus to being a fanatic for His glory.
Sin is spelled S-I-N not O-O-P-S!
It's a scary proposition to consider praying for a level of sensitivity to sin that truly honors God. So much of what is our lives - my life - will have to be examined and re-evaluated. So much will have to change - even what seems like the minutia.
But - gratitude demands it. God expects it. The Word and the Spirit enable it. Who am I to refuse it?
Pray to see to what degree you may had sinned away some of your conviction of sin.
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Making the Most Prayer 02 032714
Making the Most
of the means of grace
02
2. Private prayer
This is not just "private" prayer - it is penetrating prayer. It is prayer that calls upon God to show us, not just Himself, but our selves as well. It is prayer that cuts through all the "I want," "I need," "Please give," and gets down to the, "have mercy upon me a sinner."
Most of us know the acronym ACTS
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Now there nothing wrong with this as a reminder of the components of prayer but I think if falls short of the whole of it. There is no explicit "letter" for seeking God's exposure of our hearts. It's easy to run through these parts of prayer without ever seeking God's exposure of our true and hidden spiritual needs - the nitty gritty. There is no depth demanded and I suspect (for I find it true in me) that there is no depth sought.
Prayer is, fundamentlly, a conversation - a two way conversation. Certainly we ought go to God with the common and even mundane requests that we are aware of but to do this and only this is perhaps a great waste of a great opportunity.
Most of our private prayers could be prayed in public with little alteration. They are shallow and halt - usually. Private prayer, as the Puritains saw it, was deep, gut wrenching, no-holds-barred, open your soul and heart and seek to expose the deepest of corruptions kind of prayers. They were blood-sweating prayers. They were prayers for holiness and righteousness of life - here now - for Him.
Oh, we may get close to that when we pray the "C" (confession) but God desires so much more of and for us and we must dig deeply into prayer to touch it. David asked God to "test," or "try" his heart to see if there was any wicked way in him. That's "any" wicked way not just the easily seen and comfortably remembered evil ways that we are at ease acknowledging.
I think sometimes that we are too comfortble in our redemption and justification. We wear it more tike a windbeaker than a heavy coat. What I mean is that we are more than willing to see our easy sins and rejoice in their forgiveness but we are rarey willing go dig deep into the cold and dark recesses of our souls to find what the Puritains called "heart sins" or the sins under the sins that are uder the sins. We fail to ask to see the utter corruption for which Christ came and suffered.
Private prayer is the time when we need to be digging deep. We need to be seeking God's exposure of just how badly we need Christ - just how very very much we need Him. It's the place where we drop the "I'm not so bad," approach to our sin and cry out to see exactly how "bad" we really are.
PS
Are these posts of any benefit to you? If they are or are not I would like to hear from you. Your input and/or encouragement would be a blessing and mercy. You can comment on the blog page of, if you want, you can email me at sheepdog.ms@gmail.com.
Bless you for your help!
Michael
of the means of grace
02
2. Private prayer
This is not just "private" prayer - it is penetrating prayer. It is prayer that calls upon God to show us, not just Himself, but our selves as well. It is prayer that cuts through all the "I want," "I need," "Please give," and gets down to the, "have mercy upon me a sinner."
Most of us know the acronym ACTS
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Now there nothing wrong with this as a reminder of the components of prayer but I think if falls short of the whole of it. There is no explicit "letter" for seeking God's exposure of our hearts. It's easy to run through these parts of prayer without ever seeking God's exposure of our true and hidden spiritual needs - the nitty gritty. There is no depth demanded and I suspect (for I find it true in me) that there is no depth sought.
Prayer is, fundamentlly, a conversation - a two way conversation. Certainly we ought go to God with the common and even mundane requests that we are aware of but to do this and only this is perhaps a great waste of a great opportunity.
Most of our private prayers could be prayed in public with little alteration. They are shallow and halt - usually. Private prayer, as the Puritains saw it, was deep, gut wrenching, no-holds-barred, open your soul and heart and seek to expose the deepest of corruptions kind of prayers. They were blood-sweating prayers. They were prayers for holiness and righteousness of life - here now - for Him.
Oh, we may get close to that when we pray the "C" (confession) but God desires so much more of and for us and we must dig deeply into prayer to touch it. David asked God to "test," or "try" his heart to see if there was any wicked way in him. That's "any" wicked way not just the easily seen and comfortably remembered evil ways that we are at ease acknowledging.
I think sometimes that we are too comfortble in our redemption and justification. We wear it more tike a windbeaker than a heavy coat. What I mean is that we are more than willing to see our easy sins and rejoice in their forgiveness but we are rarey willing go dig deep into the cold and dark recesses of our souls to find what the Puritains called "heart sins" or the sins under the sins that are uder the sins. We fail to ask to see the utter corruption for which Christ came and suffered.
Private prayer is the time when we need to be digging deep. We need to be seeking God's exposure of just how badly we need Christ - just how very very much we need Him. It's the place where we drop the "I'm not so bad," approach to our sin and cry out to see exactly how "bad" we really are.
PS
Are these posts of any benefit to you? If they are or are not I would like to hear from you. Your input and/or encouragement would be a blessing and mercy. You can comment on the blog page of, if you want, you can email me at sheepdog.ms@gmail.com.
Bless you for your help!
Michael
Friday, March 21, 2014
Uses of Affliction 08
Uses of Affliction 08
7. The exercise of grace in the children of God
Grace must apply to something. Grace is given for a purpose. We could write long on the purpose of grace but others are better suited to undertake such a profound work. For us, here, grace is given that we may be free but freedon is not free.
The freedom God calls us to cost Him much and once He calls us into it, it will cost us all. All our self-love, all our selfish fears, all our selfish demands, all our self-focused worship, all our self-directed service. What the application and exercize of grace costs us is our sin. It relentlessly digs and digs to remove the root of our sin. This is a work of grace, a free gift and yet a costly one.
Are we willing to see and accept that afflcitions - all afflictions are indeed intended to exercize grace in our lives? Are we willing to accept that no matter how dark and difficult the affliction it is God is working for our good and His glory?
There is no requirement for God to work thusly in our lives except for His character, His love for us. So we must pray to understand that even afflictions are gracious and wonderful acts of God in our lives.
No, they are not pleasant but they are necessary for our sanctification.
I read a great deal in the Puritains and they all speak of sharing in the suffering of Christ (as do the Epistles). Why are we so very resistant to this? Where have we gotten the idea that being His menas a trouble free life when He promised us tribulations. And where do we ever get the idea that a trouble free life means that we must be doing something pleasing to Him when a trouble free life more often indicated an apathetic existance.
Afflcitons drive us to Him and when we are His afflictions serve to keep us close. Rare is the believer who stays near (or even is near) to Him when in comfort or at ease. Comfort and ease have been mistaken as relating to our blessedness when indeed they are traps of apathy and faithlessness.
Paul tells us that God is a God of comfort in all our afflcitions. One might assume (cautiously) that being afflicted is the norm for the believer. And indeed, if we are truly aliens and strangers here afflictions are the norm. This is not home - this life is not the point - and God'ss gracious afflcitions keep us mindful of that.
Let us keep in mind the "uses" of afflciton and embrace them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Uses of Afflictions
The trial of one's state, whether one is in the state of grace of not.
Excitation to duty, weaning one from this world, and prompting him to look after the happiness of the other world.
Conviction of sin.
Correction and punishment for sin.
Preventing sin.
Discovery of latent corruption whether in saints of sinners.
The exercize of grace in the chidren of God
7. The exercise of grace in the children of God
Grace must apply to something. Grace is given for a purpose. We could write long on the purpose of grace but others are better suited to undertake such a profound work. For us, here, grace is given that we may be free but freedon is not free.
The freedom God calls us to cost Him much and once He calls us into it, it will cost us all. All our self-love, all our selfish fears, all our selfish demands, all our self-focused worship, all our self-directed service. What the application and exercize of grace costs us is our sin. It relentlessly digs and digs to remove the root of our sin. This is a work of grace, a free gift and yet a costly one.
Are we willing to see and accept that afflcitions - all afflictions are indeed intended to exercize grace in our lives? Are we willing to accept that no matter how dark and difficult the affliction it is God is working for our good and His glory?
There is no requirement for God to work thusly in our lives except for His character, His love for us. So we must pray to understand that even afflictions are gracious and wonderful acts of God in our lives.
No, they are not pleasant but they are necessary for our sanctification.
I read a great deal in the Puritains and they all speak of sharing in the suffering of Christ (as do the Epistles). Why are we so very resistant to this? Where have we gotten the idea that being His menas a trouble free life when He promised us tribulations. And where do we ever get the idea that a trouble free life means that we must be doing something pleasing to Him when a trouble free life more often indicated an apathetic existance.
Afflcitons drive us to Him and when we are His afflictions serve to keep us close. Rare is the believer who stays near (or even is near) to Him when in comfort or at ease. Comfort and ease have been mistaken as relating to our blessedness when indeed they are traps of apathy and faithlessness.
Paul tells us that God is a God of comfort in all our afflcitions. One might assume (cautiously) that being afflicted is the norm for the believer. And indeed, if we are truly aliens and strangers here afflictions are the norm. This is not home - this life is not the point - and God'ss gracious afflcitions keep us mindful of that.
Let us keep in mind the "uses" of afflciton and embrace them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Uses of Afflictions
The trial of one's state, whether one is in the state of grace of not.
Excitation to duty, weaning one from this world, and prompting him to look after the happiness of the other world.
Conviction of sin.
Correction and punishment for sin.
Preventing sin.
Discovery of latent corruption whether in saints of sinners.
The exercize of grace in the chidren of God
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Uses of Affliction 07 032014
Uses of Affliction 07
6. Discovery of latent corruption whether in saints of sinners.
Oh yes! Murmur - murmur - murmur - - -
Peek-a-boo sins are tough ones. They lie quietly in the shadows just waiting for their trigger.
Take our afflcition. We never susupected we were lukewarn and lazy - but we were. We never thought of ourselves as materialistic - but we were. We would have been aghast had anyone told us we were prideful - until pride raised its ugly head. We would never have thught our trust in God was alloyed with a trust in stuff and people - but it was. We never would have seen how our wills were still competing with His - but they were. (OK -you can change and the "weres to "ares" for the sake of full disclosure).
Our latent sin is exposed by our affliction. We are convicted of that sin. We repent. We are restored and continue in our growth.
We struggle and will struggle with latent sin until He comes. And strugggle we must if indeed our goal is to be conformed as God wishes us to be conformed to His likeness, to be holy as He is holy.
Afflistions will turn up the heat to bring those latent sins to the surface and this is a great mercy. God could leave us to hopelessly struggle but His grace and mercy provide for our need in this and His Holy Spirit will battle for, with and even agwinst us (our flesh) to root out such sinfulness and cleanse our hearts.
Please, please consider the wonder of a sin hating God who will do all in His great power to relieve us of this toxic remainder. He is willing to do whatever He must to expose and then address that sin that lurks beneath our awareness. Though sometimes hard and unpleasant the result is merciful and magnificent.
I will tell you that most likely what the affliction will expose is the depth of our self-love. It is not behaviors that afflcitions expose here but those deep and abiding roots of pride and self-ness that result in the sinful behaviors and attitiudes. It is the ehart that God wishes to heal and relieve.
6. Discovery of latent corruption whether in saints of sinners.
Oh yes! Murmur - murmur - murmur - - -
Peek-a-boo sins are tough ones. They lie quietly in the shadows just waiting for their trigger.
Take our afflcition. We never susupected we were lukewarn and lazy - but we were. We never thought of ourselves as materialistic - but we were. We would have been aghast had anyone told us we were prideful - until pride raised its ugly head. We would never have thught our trust in God was alloyed with a trust in stuff and people - but it was. We never would have seen how our wills were still competing with His - but they were. (OK -you can change and the "weres to "ares" for the sake of full disclosure).
Our latent sin is exposed by our affliction. We are convicted of that sin. We repent. We are restored and continue in our growth.
We struggle and will struggle with latent sin until He comes. And strugggle we must if indeed our goal is to be conformed as God wishes us to be conformed to His likeness, to be holy as He is holy.
Afflistions will turn up the heat to bring those latent sins to the surface and this is a great mercy. God could leave us to hopelessly struggle but His grace and mercy provide for our need in this and His Holy Spirit will battle for, with and even agwinst us (our flesh) to root out such sinfulness and cleanse our hearts.
Please, please consider the wonder of a sin hating God who will do all in His great power to relieve us of this toxic remainder. He is willing to do whatever He must to expose and then address that sin that lurks beneath our awareness. Though sometimes hard and unpleasant the result is merciful and magnificent.
I will tell you that most likely what the affliction will expose is the depth of our self-love. It is not behaviors that afflcitions expose here but those deep and abiding roots of pride and self-ness that result in the sinful behaviors and attitiudes. It is the ehart that God wishes to heal and relieve.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Uses of Affliction 04 031714
Uses of Afflcition 04
3. Conviction of sin.
Now we quit preaching and go to meddleing :0.
There is nothing like an afflcition to clearly expose the depth of the remaining corruption we need to address. Nothing can expose the sin still lurking in our hearts like a good ol' afflcition.
Over the past 15 months or so as we have dealt with a certain amount of afflcition. Through it I have discovered sinfulness I never would have named as being my own. I have never known the depth of my self-love and selfishness until the Lord brought our afflcition.
Even as I was examining my faith and my attachment to the world (Uses 1 and 2) I was overwhelmed by the insidiousness of my sin. My pride and resentment, my presumption, my poor stewardship - it all was exposed to a degree I had never experienced.
Prayer was the first to fall. I discovered that many of my prayers were a redundant chorus of "me me me my my my mine mine mine IIIIIIII." I was shocked to say the least. But I would not have noticed had we not been under an affliction. They tend to get your focus on yourself in a real unhealthy way.
It took real focus and effort to correct my self-absorbed prayers but they were sin and had to be confronted and corrected - it certainly was convicting.
But more than the mechanics of our walk, afflcitions really drill down into our hearts and expose the silt and "stuff" - the sin - that still resides there. Anger, pride, resentment, presumption are just a few I've found and they were there in very subtle forms - but they were there.
They say that the most important thing to a shepherd is the fence that keeps the sheep in. That, from my experience, is very true. Afflictions come where and when we are outside the fence and they come to draw us back in. That's how good Shepherds work with their sheep.
We need to pay serious heed to the fact that "conviction" means we have been found guilty. Conviciton is a fact. Yes, we may have feelings that attend it but it is not a feeling. It is a cold hard fact! And affliction should bring conviction.
We need the heat of afflcitions to expose and draw off the dross in us, the sin in us. Without the refining heat of afflcition the dross simply keeps accumulating until we are full of it.
I read a piece today that stated something on the order of, 'In Christ we never lack anything we need. If we do not have it we may assume we do not need it (yet, if at all).'
Inversely may we not assume that if God takes something away it is becasue we need for it to be taken away? I think so.
But funadmentaly and critically afflictions bring (or should bring) conviction of sin. God is getting our attention and calling us to a deeper examination of our hearts. Do not assume yu will not find any sin there! You must! And in finding it you must accept the conviction (fact of your guilt) and then repentantly address the sin.
3. Conviction of sin.
Now we quit preaching and go to meddleing :0.
There is nothing like an afflcition to clearly expose the depth of the remaining corruption we need to address. Nothing can expose the sin still lurking in our hearts like a good ol' afflcition.
Over the past 15 months or so as we have dealt with a certain amount of afflcition. Through it I have discovered sinfulness I never would have named as being my own. I have never known the depth of my self-love and selfishness until the Lord brought our afflcition.
Even as I was examining my faith and my attachment to the world (Uses 1 and 2) I was overwhelmed by the insidiousness of my sin. My pride and resentment, my presumption, my poor stewardship - it all was exposed to a degree I had never experienced.
Prayer was the first to fall. I discovered that many of my prayers were a redundant chorus of "me me me my my my mine mine mine IIIIIIII." I was shocked to say the least. But I would not have noticed had we not been under an affliction. They tend to get your focus on yourself in a real unhealthy way.
It took real focus and effort to correct my self-absorbed prayers but they were sin and had to be confronted and corrected - it certainly was convicting.
But more than the mechanics of our walk, afflcitions really drill down into our hearts and expose the silt and "stuff" - the sin - that still resides there. Anger, pride, resentment, presumption are just a few I've found and they were there in very subtle forms - but they were there.
They say that the most important thing to a shepherd is the fence that keeps the sheep in. That, from my experience, is very true. Afflictions come where and when we are outside the fence and they come to draw us back in. That's how good Shepherds work with their sheep.
We need to pay serious heed to the fact that "conviction" means we have been found guilty. Conviciton is a fact. Yes, we may have feelings that attend it but it is not a feeling. It is a cold hard fact! And affliction should bring conviction.
We need the heat of afflcitions to expose and draw off the dross in us, the sin in us. Without the refining heat of afflcition the dross simply keeps accumulating until we are full of it.
I read a piece today that stated something on the order of, 'In Christ we never lack anything we need. If we do not have it we may assume we do not need it (yet, if at all).'
Inversely may we not assume that if God takes something away it is becasue we need for it to be taken away? I think so.
But funadmentaly and critically afflictions bring (or should bring) conviction of sin. God is getting our attention and calling us to a deeper examination of our hearts. Do not assume yu will not find any sin there! You must! And in finding it you must accept the conviction (fact of your guilt) and then repentantly address the sin.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Heart Keeping 02 030414
Heart Keepers 002
2. Deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
Paul exposes himself and us in Romans when he speaks of his own struggle with sin. For some of us this is, well, embarassing. Paul, the author of 2/3 of the New Testament; a man to whom Christ revealed Himself after His ascention - this pillar of the faith had a constant and pernicious battle with heart eveils and disorders? Wow, do we even stand a chance?
Yes, we do! We most certainly do!
But we only have a chance if we desire a chance. What I mean is we must be motivated somehow to battle (with the aid of the Holy Spirit) each and every heart evil and disorder.
How can we be so motivated? Flavel uses and interesting term, "Humiliation." Not humbling but humiliation. This is a most uncomfortable idea. We work hard - very hard at never being humiliated and here it's presented as a necessary element in keeping the heart.
But can we be anything other than humiliated when we consider the cross? When we reflect upon the suffering both physical and spiritual that our Master was willing to endure for our sakes? Can we not find humiliation in our refusal to be humbled and made contrite? Can we not find humiliation in our failure to faithfully pursuer godliness and holiness in the face of the cost?
Humiliation requires exposure. Our deepest sins and secret desires must be exposed for us to have a sense of humiliation. It is not a casual thing not a common thing. We work very hard to resist and abait anything that might expose us to humiliation. We sneak and lie to avoid it. We critisize and complain to divert attention. We work very hard to fool others and ourselves.
Humiliation is hard to bear. But if the cost of not being humiliated is faithlessness, a hindered sanctification or a constant questioning of the veracity of our faith - isn't it reallly worth it?
Note though, it is not the sinful actions that Flavel calls us to humiliate - It is the sins in the heart. The deep deep recesses of our hearts need to have the light of the Word shone into them so that we may expose - to oursevles at least - the depth of our remaining depravity and disorder.
This is not to be done causally or lightly. It will be painful and irritating. You will suffer and struggle. But is we truly desire to live in the freedom Christ has bought us this must be done. Without it we remain wounded and bound, cheating ourselves of the freedom Christ paid for.
How? What are the "mechanics" of such a deep search and the resulting humiliation? I wish I had an easy answer, a simple "how to." But each of us much pray earnestly that God will first convict us of the need for such a search and will, by His Word, Spirit and perhaps the guidance of a godly mentor show us our "how."
I can only suggest some things. The first is, of course, prayer and not a short simple prayer. This is heart work and a great battle and demands great effort and submission. I have thought that actually stretching out of the floor in a postion of submission might be of help. Humbling ourselves physically can be an aid to humbling ouselves spiritually. Focusing on the target - a deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders - would be critical. Perhaps, should being prostrate on the floor not seem seemly to you, you could sit and write out your prayer for God to expose these twists in the heart.
Saturating yourself with the Word will be necessary. The Psalms are replete with prayers of this nature. Seek them out. Meditate on them. Ask God to make these prayers your prayers.
Foremost in all this is to beseach the Holy Spiriti to be the Holy Spirit in this. Claim the promise of His advocacy and His comfort. Demand - yes demand, that He work in your heart and your mind to bring the humiliation of exposure so that you may seek God's relief and release form these evils and disorders.
Paul was willng to "beat" his body daily to make it his slave and if he was willing to do that (figuratively) what are we willing to do that our hearts might know the blessed peace of Christ?
I don't believe there is any "magic means" to this goal. There is no formula, no recipe. But we have an arsenal of means for communicating with God and hearing from God that we may take up and use in this quest.
I have come to believe that if I take my faith seriously and truly desire to be conformed to His likeness that not only my mind but my heart must be renewed and renewed consistantly and constantly. I encourage you to pray earnestly for the conviction to seek that deep humiliation for the evils and disorders of the heart that as they are exposed and God addresses them we may be freed so we may remain free.
2. Deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
Paul exposes himself and us in Romans when he speaks of his own struggle with sin. For some of us this is, well, embarassing. Paul, the author of 2/3 of the New Testament; a man to whom Christ revealed Himself after His ascention - this pillar of the faith had a constant and pernicious battle with heart eveils and disorders? Wow, do we even stand a chance?
Yes, we do! We most certainly do!
But we only have a chance if we desire a chance. What I mean is we must be motivated somehow to battle (with the aid of the Holy Spirit) each and every heart evil and disorder.
How can we be so motivated? Flavel uses and interesting term, "Humiliation." Not humbling but humiliation. This is a most uncomfortable idea. We work hard - very hard at never being humiliated and here it's presented as a necessary element in keeping the heart.
But can we be anything other than humiliated when we consider the cross? When we reflect upon the suffering both physical and spiritual that our Master was willing to endure for our sakes? Can we not find humiliation in our refusal to be humbled and made contrite? Can we not find humiliation in our failure to faithfully pursuer godliness and holiness in the face of the cost?
Humiliation requires exposure. Our deepest sins and secret desires must be exposed for us to have a sense of humiliation. It is not a casual thing not a common thing. We work very hard to resist and abait anything that might expose us to humiliation. We sneak and lie to avoid it. We critisize and complain to divert attention. We work very hard to fool others and ourselves.
Humiliation is hard to bear. But if the cost of not being humiliated is faithlessness, a hindered sanctification or a constant questioning of the veracity of our faith - isn't it reallly worth it?
Note though, it is not the sinful actions that Flavel calls us to humiliate - It is the sins in the heart. The deep deep recesses of our hearts need to have the light of the Word shone into them so that we may expose - to oursevles at least - the depth of our remaining depravity and disorder.
This is not to be done causally or lightly. It will be painful and irritating. You will suffer and struggle. But is we truly desire to live in the freedom Christ has bought us this must be done. Without it we remain wounded and bound, cheating ourselves of the freedom Christ paid for.
How? What are the "mechanics" of such a deep search and the resulting humiliation? I wish I had an easy answer, a simple "how to." But each of us much pray earnestly that God will first convict us of the need for such a search and will, by His Word, Spirit and perhaps the guidance of a godly mentor show us our "how."
I can only suggest some things. The first is, of course, prayer and not a short simple prayer. This is heart work and a great battle and demands great effort and submission. I have thought that actually stretching out of the floor in a postion of submission might be of help. Humbling ourselves physically can be an aid to humbling ouselves spiritually. Focusing on the target - a deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders - would be critical. Perhaps, should being prostrate on the floor not seem seemly to you, you could sit and write out your prayer for God to expose these twists in the heart.
Saturating yourself with the Word will be necessary. The Psalms are replete with prayers of this nature. Seek them out. Meditate on them. Ask God to make these prayers your prayers.
Foremost in all this is to beseach the Holy Spiriti to be the Holy Spirit in this. Claim the promise of His advocacy and His comfort. Demand - yes demand, that He work in your heart and your mind to bring the humiliation of exposure so that you may seek God's relief and release form these evils and disorders.
Paul was willng to "beat" his body daily to make it his slave and if he was willing to do that (figuratively) what are we willing to do that our hearts might know the blessed peace of Christ?
I don't believe there is any "magic means" to this goal. There is no formula, no recipe. But we have an arsenal of means for communicating with God and hearing from God that we may take up and use in this quest.
I have come to believe that if I take my faith seriously and truly desire to be conformed to His likeness that not only my mind but my heart must be renewed and renewed consistantly and constantly. I encourage you to pray earnestly for the conviction to seek that deep humiliation for the evils and disorders of the heart that as they are exposed and God addresses them we may be freed so we may remain free.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Heart Keeping 01 020314
6 Heart Keepers 01
John Flavel in his work Keeping the Heart offers six things we ought to be doing in order to keep the heart.
Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.
Deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
Earnest supplication and instant prayers for purifying and rectifying grace when sin has defiled and disordered the heart.
Imposing strong engagement upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God and avoid the occasions whereby the heart may be induced to sin.
A constant and holy jealousy over our own hearts.
The realizing of God's presence with us and setting the Lord always before us.
In this series I hope to go through each one of these and help us understand how and why these are important.
Needless to say we should all recognize the imperative of "keeping" or "guarding" our hearts. Jesus made is very clear that it is out of our hearts that all evil springs. Even in our redeemed state and in the midst of God's sactifying work we still have that remnant of the corrupt nature in our hearts and we must live and act on that fact humbly submitting to God and resisting and fleeing the Devil.
1. Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.
"PAY ATTENTION - ON PURPOSE!"
The word heart in the Bible typically is synonymous with the word "soul." So we need to be clear that we are not talking about either the muscle or the emotions. This isn't the seat of your feelings or affections but rather the seat of your faith that we are dealing with.
The "frame" of your heart can best be seen as like steel beams that support any massive structure. Though they are not visible yet they are the key to the structural soundness of any building.
What are the "steel beams" of your heart? Are they submission to, dependence on, worship towards and trust in God? If these are not sound then your structrue is in danger.
It's not a matter of having one or two of these but having all four as the frame of your heart - and hopefully the only frame. Anything other than these four basic "beams" and your structure is not sound. You will have weak spots and vulnerabilities.
Trusting in things, people, position; taking comfort in prosperity or favorable circumstances; harboring self-love or the fear of man are all examples of the weak beams with which we tend to frame our hearts.
It is well written in Proverbs:
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [7] Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. [8] It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Verse 5 = the heart
Verse 5b & 6 = the mind
Verse 7 = the choices
Verse 8 = the blessing
It all begins (and ends actually) in the heart. Is the Lord actually the Lord of your heart? Do you struggle in your heart with doubts and sin? Is your heart aimed at and centered upon the Lord and what He has done for you - desires from you?
We know that the answer to the question above is, "Not so much as I would desire." And so we must intentionally and regularly and consistantly examine our hearts - the frame of our hearts - to make sure they are framed with the right stuff.
Psalm 26:2 ESV
Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
Psalm 51:10 ESV
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 119:10 ESV
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
Psalm 119:34 ESV
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 141:4 ESV
Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
We examine our hearts through the Word of God and prayer. Not to mention the necessary reliance upon the work of the Holy Spirit. Being consistantly and prayer fully in the Word with an aim to the condition of our hearts is critical. Think of the intensity nd awesomeness of open-heart surgery. This work of keeping the heart is not less so and perhaps even more so.
I encourage you to pray for the conviction, strength and intention of keeping your heart. This is the way of sanctification that the Lord has established so it is the way we should commit to go.
John Flavel in his work Keeping the Heart offers six things we ought to be doing in order to keep the heart.
Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.
Deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
Earnest supplication and instant prayers for purifying and rectifying grace when sin has defiled and disordered the heart.
Imposing strong engagement upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God and avoid the occasions whereby the heart may be induced to sin.
A constant and holy jealousy over our own hearts.
The realizing of God's presence with us and setting the Lord always before us.
In this series I hope to go through each one of these and help us understand how and why these are important.
Needless to say we should all recognize the imperative of "keeping" or "guarding" our hearts. Jesus made is very clear that it is out of our hearts that all evil springs. Even in our redeemed state and in the midst of God's sactifying work we still have that remnant of the corrupt nature in our hearts and we must live and act on that fact humbly submitting to God and resisting and fleeing the Devil.
1. Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.
"PAY ATTENTION - ON PURPOSE!"
The word heart in the Bible typically is synonymous with the word "soul." So we need to be clear that we are not talking about either the muscle or the emotions. This isn't the seat of your feelings or affections but rather the seat of your faith that we are dealing with.
The "frame" of your heart can best be seen as like steel beams that support any massive structure. Though they are not visible yet they are the key to the structural soundness of any building.
What are the "steel beams" of your heart? Are they submission to, dependence on, worship towards and trust in God? If these are not sound then your structrue is in danger.
It's not a matter of having one or two of these but having all four as the frame of your heart - and hopefully the only frame. Anything other than these four basic "beams" and your structure is not sound. You will have weak spots and vulnerabilities.
Trusting in things, people, position; taking comfort in prosperity or favorable circumstances; harboring self-love or the fear of man are all examples of the weak beams with which we tend to frame our hearts.
It is well written in Proverbs:
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [7] Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. [8] It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Verse 5 = the heart
Verse 5b & 6 = the mind
Verse 7 = the choices
Verse 8 = the blessing
It all begins (and ends actually) in the heart. Is the Lord actually the Lord of your heart? Do you struggle in your heart with doubts and sin? Is your heart aimed at and centered upon the Lord and what He has done for you - desires from you?
We know that the answer to the question above is, "Not so much as I would desire." And so we must intentionally and regularly and consistantly examine our hearts - the frame of our hearts - to make sure they are framed with the right stuff.
Psalm 26:2 ESV
Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
Psalm 51:10 ESV
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 119:10 ESV
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
Psalm 119:34 ESV
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 141:4 ESV
Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
We examine our hearts through the Word of God and prayer. Not to mention the necessary reliance upon the work of the Holy Spirit. Being consistantly and prayer fully in the Word with an aim to the condition of our hearts is critical. Think of the intensity nd awesomeness of open-heart surgery. This work of keeping the heart is not less so and perhaps even more so.
I encourage you to pray for the conviction, strength and intention of keeping your heart. This is the way of sanctification that the Lord has established so it is the way we should commit to go.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Trusting God - Trouble (a) 021714
When we read Matthew 5 and 6 we are so blessed by the promises and assurances Jesus gives us. There is so very much in these chapters that perhaps it is easy to miss some of it. I've been thinking particularly of:
Matthew 6:34 ESV
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I noticed first that "tomorrow will be anxious for itself." I am comforted that Jesus understands our anxieties. And I am encouraged that He counsels me to accept that there will be "anxiety" in each day.
And what would I count as "anxieties?" Well, I would consider that the word translated anxiety means to be troubled with cares so what I am anxious about is what I have both legitimate concern for and illegitimate concern for.
I'm anxious about sin. The day is full of temptations. Gossip, lust, lack of trust, making "my" plans, poor stewardship are all potential concerns of mine. But I can't let their potential comsume my mind.
I do however need to responsible for these temptations. So in order to not be anxious about sin I need to prepare my mind and heart every morning for the coming day. My days being pretty much a regular routine, I know when and how I'll be tempted for the most part. I know where to divert my mind and my eyes. I know when I need to pray and pretty much what I need to pray for. But all of that is adressed early in the day before I leave home.
We, I think, are anxious in direct proportion to our lack of knowledge of our hearts and our failure to prepare ourselves for the day's trials and temptations. I know that if I just rush into a day and fly on auto-pilot I not only miss the opportunity to avoid sin but I miss His blessings that come throughout the day.
Are you anxious about sin? I think most of us are more anxious after the fact than before it. But we can and need to get ahead of it by preparing ourselves for what we know is coming. We must prepare our selves for that battle we fight every minute of every day and we need to prepare in His presense.
Lord, I go forth today in Your name and by Your power. I enter the battle once more calling upon You to strengthen me and guide me; protect me and preserve me. Make me more sensitive to temptations Lord. It's so easy to get caught up in sinful things when I am insensitive to them. Make my heart sensitive and my mind aware of what may come and what does come in the way of temptation and Lord grant that I might resist and where I fail to resist bring me to repentance Amen
Matthew 6:34 ESV
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I noticed first that "tomorrow will be anxious for itself." I am comforted that Jesus understands our anxieties. And I am encouraged that He counsels me to accept that there will be "anxiety" in each day.
And what would I count as "anxieties?" Well, I would consider that the word translated anxiety means to be troubled with cares so what I am anxious about is what I have both legitimate concern for and illegitimate concern for.
I'm anxious about sin. The day is full of temptations. Gossip, lust, lack of trust, making "my" plans, poor stewardship are all potential concerns of mine. But I can't let their potential comsume my mind.
I do however need to responsible for these temptations. So in order to not be anxious about sin I need to prepare my mind and heart every morning for the coming day. My days being pretty much a regular routine, I know when and how I'll be tempted for the most part. I know where to divert my mind and my eyes. I know when I need to pray and pretty much what I need to pray for. But all of that is adressed early in the day before I leave home.
We, I think, are anxious in direct proportion to our lack of knowledge of our hearts and our failure to prepare ourselves for the day's trials and temptations. I know that if I just rush into a day and fly on auto-pilot I not only miss the opportunity to avoid sin but I miss His blessings that come throughout the day.
Are you anxious about sin? I think most of us are more anxious after the fact than before it. But we can and need to get ahead of it by preparing ourselves for what we know is coming. We must prepare our selves for that battle we fight every minute of every day and we need to prepare in His presense.
Lord, I go forth today in Your name and by Your power. I enter the battle once more calling upon You to strengthen me and guide me; protect me and preserve me. Make me more sensitive to temptations Lord. It's so easy to get caught up in sinful things when I am insensitive to them. Make my heart sensitive and my mind aware of what may come and what does come in the way of temptation and Lord grant that I might resist and where I fail to resist bring me to repentance Amen
Friday, February 14, 2014
Trusting God - Or? 021414
Jesus tells that we will trust either God or Mammon (Money). And who of us could dispute that truth? For better or ill we need money to live in this fallen world and we are subject to all the schemes and machinations of our economy devised by men and women for whom Mammon if indeed God.
We do foolish things when it comes to money and we do make mistakes. We take bad advise and well - we sin. And so money (for both needs and debt) looms large in our vision and can preoccupy our prayers.
It's all too easy to see Mammon as an answer - and we have to admit sometimes it is. But how do we pray for that answer - and whom we pray to for that answer is critical.
Fred has been out of work for a year. He and his wife squeak by on what she earns and the kindness of both friends and strangers. They worry and fret. They are embarrassed and convicted. They have erred and sinned when it comes to money.
How do we encourage them? How do we direct them to pray. Fred needs a job - they need money - what do we say, what do we do?
Encouraging them to pray for God's provision is a "Yeah duh." But they struggle with constantly praying for money. They feel they are using God like and ATM and they do not want to. They fear imposing upon friends and ruining relationships. They are embarrassed and to some extent ashamed. The "brave faces" they put on often crack and become scowls and frowns of shame.
They wonder why God should make up for their errors and their sins with material blessings. They struggle with bartering with God about what they will do if He come to their relief. They struggle becasue their prayers seem inundated with their needs to the exclusion of other more important things.
What to we tell them, what do we do?
Are their prayers for financial relief actually prayers to Mammon? They sometimes feel they are? Though God provides for them daily and friends and strangers do what they can to help they still struggle with trust even in the face of provision
They know that God is providing but as we all know, looming future needs can force their way into our hearts and blot out that present gratitude with fear and axiousness.
Are they trusting God "Or" are the trusting someone or something else. They think of some who could relieve their distress either by helping Fred find work of by directly addressing their debt. They find themselves trying to figure out how God can fix the problem and they even sometimes feel that God expects then to fix it their own.
As Fred's wife says, she struggles, " I know God CAN provide, I struggle with IF He WILL provide." This is so very common especially when we look at the circumstances as the consequences of of our sin. We ask, "Why should I ask God to clean up my mess?" "Why should I expect or even ask Him to undo the consequences of my sin?"
Prayer can be tough in tough times. The world condemns, Satan raises our failures and sows doubts and the flesh wants to have a pity party or just give up.
Perhaps - just perhaps the safest prayer we could ever pray - regardless of the situation is, "God have mercy on me, a sinner."
When it comes to tough times and the assaults we suffer in them we tend to "pray to the hurt" instead of praying as we ought. It's a fight but a fight worth the effort.
But still the question remains, "Am I trusting God for money or am I asking God for money to trust in."
We do foolish things when it comes to money and we do make mistakes. We take bad advise and well - we sin. And so money (for both needs and debt) looms large in our vision and can preoccupy our prayers.
It's all too easy to see Mammon as an answer - and we have to admit sometimes it is. But how do we pray for that answer - and whom we pray to for that answer is critical.
Fred has been out of work for a year. He and his wife squeak by on what she earns and the kindness of both friends and strangers. They worry and fret. They are embarrassed and convicted. They have erred and sinned when it comes to money.
How do we encourage them? How do we direct them to pray. Fred needs a job - they need money - what do we say, what do we do?
Encouraging them to pray for God's provision is a "Yeah duh." But they struggle with constantly praying for money. They feel they are using God like and ATM and they do not want to. They fear imposing upon friends and ruining relationships. They are embarrassed and to some extent ashamed. The "brave faces" they put on often crack and become scowls and frowns of shame.
They wonder why God should make up for their errors and their sins with material blessings. They struggle with bartering with God about what they will do if He come to their relief. They struggle becasue their prayers seem inundated with their needs to the exclusion of other more important things.
What to we tell them, what do we do?
Are their prayers for financial relief actually prayers to Mammon? They sometimes feel they are? Though God provides for them daily and friends and strangers do what they can to help they still struggle with trust even in the face of provision
They know that God is providing but as we all know, looming future needs can force their way into our hearts and blot out that present gratitude with fear and axiousness.
Are they trusting God "Or" are the trusting someone or something else. They think of some who could relieve their distress either by helping Fred find work of by directly addressing their debt. They find themselves trying to figure out how God can fix the problem and they even sometimes feel that God expects then to fix it their own.
As Fred's wife says, she struggles, " I know God CAN provide, I struggle with IF He WILL provide." This is so very common especially when we look at the circumstances as the consequences of of our sin. We ask, "Why should I ask God to clean up my mess?" "Why should I expect or even ask Him to undo the consequences of my sin?"
Prayer can be tough in tough times. The world condemns, Satan raises our failures and sows doubts and the flesh wants to have a pity party or just give up.
Perhaps - just perhaps the safest prayer we could ever pray - regardless of the situation is, "God have mercy on me, a sinner."
When it comes to tough times and the assaults we suffer in them we tend to "pray to the hurt" instead of praying as we ought. It's a fight but a fight worth the effort.
But still the question remains, "Am I trusting God for money or am I asking God for money to trust in."
Friday, January 17, 2014
Quarrle and Fight #1 James 4
James 4:1a
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?
This is an universally appropriate question. However what we need to have in mind is that this question is being asked of believers, of the church.
We are all aware of the "big" quarrels and fights that divide and destroy churched and we are all appropriately distressed by them. Whether the issue is critical or seemingly trivial it will destroy the church when it is allowed to. Sometimes a local group must pass through such a time of pruning and distress but that should be the exception not the rule. Just as there are blessed additions to the Body so too there are sanctified subtractions.
However we will not be addressing this passage (James 4:1-10) from some corporate viewpoint. If the "you in verse 1a is plural than we can extrapolate it's application to each and everyone of the "you(s)." it touches. The seed of quarrels and fights is the sin abiding in each one of us. We are the cause.
But just knowing the cause and not addressing it is a distressing sign of the ambivalence that may lurk in our hearts. I meet with many believers who harbour ambivalence and apathy in their hearts concerning the holiness God calls us to and works toward in us. It is as though they have found some comfortable and manageable place of compromise where their hearts are more at peace than not and they are willing to bear the incongruity of their position and the difficulty it brings.
God's call on our lives is not to "radical living," or even "radical faith>" His call is to holiness - plain and simple. Certainly our lives and beliefs will seem radical as we strive with His Spirit toward holiness but the point isn't to Wow the world but to grow in holiness after the image of Christ.
We've sadly forgotten and in some ways forsaken the quest for holiness and godliness and exchanged it for a display of radical distinction on the outside - in public and come to think that what we do will change what we believe. It won't. Only a deep and humble commitment to godliness/holiness and an utter humiliation before God in seeking it will produce in us His desired objective.
Again, though this applies to the big quarrels and public fights we see in the church, they are simply symptomatic of the little quarrles and fights we have against the will and providence of God. I hope and pray you are open to and seeing your guilt in this and how insidious our sinful hearts are even as we are being conformed into the likeness of Christ.
I close with this quote from John Flavel from his work, Keeping the Heart:
To repress the outward acts of sin and compose the external part of thy life in a laudable manner, is no great matter; even carnal persons, by the force of common principles, can do this: but to kill the root of corruption within, to set and keep up an holy government over thy thoughts, to have all things lie straight and orderly in the heart, this is not easy. John Flavel
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?
This is an universally appropriate question. However what we need to have in mind is that this question is being asked of believers, of the church.
We are all aware of the "big" quarrels and fights that divide and destroy churched and we are all appropriately distressed by them. Whether the issue is critical or seemingly trivial it will destroy the church when it is allowed to. Sometimes a local group must pass through such a time of pruning and distress but that should be the exception not the rule. Just as there are blessed additions to the Body so too there are sanctified subtractions.
However we will not be addressing this passage (James 4:1-10) from some corporate viewpoint. If the "you in verse 1a is plural than we can extrapolate it's application to each and everyone of the "you(s)." it touches. The seed of quarrels and fights is the sin abiding in each one of us. We are the cause.
But just knowing the cause and not addressing it is a distressing sign of the ambivalence that may lurk in our hearts. I meet with many believers who harbour ambivalence and apathy in their hearts concerning the holiness God calls us to and works toward in us. It is as though they have found some comfortable and manageable place of compromise where their hearts are more at peace than not and they are willing to bear the incongruity of their position and the difficulty it brings.
God's call on our lives is not to "radical living," or even "radical faith>" His call is to holiness - plain and simple. Certainly our lives and beliefs will seem radical as we strive with His Spirit toward holiness but the point isn't to Wow the world but to grow in holiness after the image of Christ.
We've sadly forgotten and in some ways forsaken the quest for holiness and godliness and exchanged it for a display of radical distinction on the outside - in public and come to think that what we do will change what we believe. It won't. Only a deep and humble commitment to godliness/holiness and an utter humiliation before God in seeking it will produce in us His desired objective.
Again, though this applies to the big quarrels and public fights we see in the church, they are simply symptomatic of the little quarrles and fights we have against the will and providence of God. I hope and pray you are open to and seeing your guilt in this and how insidious our sinful hearts are even as we are being conformed into the likeness of Christ.
I close with this quote from John Flavel from his work, Keeping the Heart:
To repress the outward acts of sin and compose the external part of thy life in a laudable manner, is no great matter; even carnal persons, by the force of common principles, can do this: but to kill the root of corruption within, to set and keep up an holy government over thy thoughts, to have all things lie straight and orderly in the heart, this is not easy. John Flavel
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Ever Before Me 011014
For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
Psalm 51:3
Do we - do we really know our transgressions? Are we as aware of, as sensitive to sin as we should be? I know I am not and that is a cause for great distress.
I catch myself in sin and am shocked that I never saw it coming.
Perhaps you would say that I am being too scrupulous. But is that even possible? Are there some sins that deserve more attention than others? Are there OK and not OK sins? Do I consider the opportunity for sin in every choice and decision I make? Can I be too scrupulous concerning my sin?
Why can't I cry with Paul: Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Romans 7:24
I hear much talk about pornography, drugs, adultery and fornication (among others) but I do not hear much talk of envy, covetousness, fear of man, etc. Are we making distinctions between the seriousness of sin?
Take, for example, one I struggle with constantly: The desire to have material comfort and security over and above having a strong and effective witness. My prayers are constantly assaulted with interruptive and distracting thoughts concerning my "needs" which inhibits (to say the least) real heart-felt prayer for His glory and the salvation of those around me.
Or, consider the struggle in praying when one is envious of those who do not have to deal with my trials and afflictions. It is hard to pray when one's heart is envious and covetous. These are sins few others ever see and yet they are there and of no less import than any other. Yet it is easy to dismiss them or at least minimize them because they do not fall into the category of "big sins" (as though there was such a thing).
I want to know my transgressions as David knew his and to hate them more that I may love Christ more. I want to be more sensitive and active concerning those sins you don't see and probably wouldn't suspect that hinder my prayers and plague my heart. They are so easy to miss or dismiss that I must pray for the Holy Spirit to make my conscience raw and sensitive to these sins.
How can I know His salvation and its worth if my sins are not always before me?
Friday, October 4, 2013
A critical question and comfort
"Has God weakened your ability to sin, denied you the opportunity, taken away the object of your lust, or diverted your thoughts? Be sure that you have received mercy in this. If God had not so dealt with you, you might by now be a terror to yourself, a shame to your family, and under the punishment due to some notorious sin. You would have incurred additional guilt, perhaps ruined others, or caused some to be eternally ruined by your example. All this has been prevented by these providences and eternity will witness that this is a special mercy. These are not accidents. The merciful hand of God is in them. And you are less wicked than you would otherwise be." John Owen
How often do we consider God's providential interference with our flesh? How often do we, in prayer, thank and praise Him for intruding into our lives so that we can avoid offending Him?
How may times has a lost minute, a traffic light, a phone call, a cable outage, some interruption kept us from sin.
I don't think we consider this very often at all. But there are no small mercies, no small blessing and this is one that we somehow don't see and certainly we don't give thank for.
Our consciences both spiritual and social may keep us from the "biggies" but it in God's providence none the less. And when our consciences are diverted, when we are distracted from our service to Him it is His gracious providence that hedges us in, redirects our glance, halts our tongues, stops our train of thought.
When you pray don't forget these mercies, these blessings. You may not have any specific thing to thank Him for but He knows where He has provided even if you don't. Praying for those unknown - unseen mercies will bring depth and joy to your prayers. They will also serve to make your conscience more tender so you will begin to see them and count them wonderful.
Indeed, even when we are unaware, "There but for the grace of God go we."
How often do we consider God's providential interference with our flesh? How often do we, in prayer, thank and praise Him for intruding into our lives so that we can avoid offending Him?
How may times has a lost minute, a traffic light, a phone call, a cable outage, some interruption kept us from sin.
I don't think we consider this very often at all. But there are no small mercies, no small blessing and this is one that we somehow don't see and certainly we don't give thank for.
Our consciences both spiritual and social may keep us from the "biggies" but it in God's providence none the less. And when our consciences are diverted, when we are distracted from our service to Him it is His gracious providence that hedges us in, redirects our glance, halts our tongues, stops our train of thought.
When you pray don't forget these mercies, these blessings. You may not have any specific thing to thank Him for but He knows where He has provided even if you don't. Praying for those unknown - unseen mercies will bring depth and joy to your prayers. They will also serve to make your conscience more tender so you will begin to see them and count them wonderful.
Indeed, even when we are unaware, "There but for the grace of God go we."
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Sinning away conviction of sin.
In his book, Indwelling Sin in Believers, John Owen writes of the believer who, "sins away his conviction of sin."
I must admit that this was a source of very real conviction for me. I reflected upon how often I catch myself engaged in something that one might consider a "little" sin with less conviction than I should have. Maybe a book or a TV show or a movie. Even the purchase of something that I delude myself into believing will bring some lasting satisfaction and meaning to my life.
I am confronted with the question, "How sensitive to sin and I - really?" I have to admit that like many folks I don;t do well in my answer. As James tells us, my desires create havoc in my soul that unfortunately is common enough to be dismissed unless directly confronted from outside.
This is due to several things not the least of which is an intentional examination of most of my life in the light of the Word and the Spirit. What seems OK is most often not. The law of grace loses it's power to restrain me because my mind is not fixed upon Him, His sovereignty and His calling. I simply find it distressingly easy to let the "little" one's slip by.
Though these "sins" are (according to man;s measure) "little" they have the cumulative effect of numbing my heart to sin in general. The old "everyone does it," or the "it's not a biggy," even "I'm redeemed and forgiven," are poor rationales for my failure in regards to these sins.
I have to make myself remember that if I had only committed the least of these "acceptable" sins Christ would have still had to suffer the horrors of their payment. There only one acceptable payment for any and all sins but I, maybe like may of you, have a tough time keeping this in the front of my mind.
So I grow numb to conviction in an ever increasing way and find myself humiliated by greater lapses. Lapses that would not have been so easy to make had i dealt honestly and directly with the "lesser" sins.
All this is to say that we must (ok, maybe it's just me) must do whatever is needful to become and remain sensitive to all sin in our lives.
This take intentional commitment and discipline. It is hard and tedious work. It looks a lot like legalism but though the law was fulfilled its use in our lives still stands. Some how I have to move from being a mere fan of Jesus to being a fanatic for His glory.
Sin is spelled S-I-N not O-O-P-S!
It's a scary proposition to consider praying for a level of sensitivity to sin that truly honors God. So much of what is our lives - my life - will have to be examined and re-evaluated. So much will have to change - even what seems like the minutia.
But - gratitude demands it. God expects it. The Word and the Spirit enable it. Who am I to refuse it?
Pray to see to what degree you may had sinned away some of your conviction of sin.
I must admit that this was a source of very real conviction for me. I reflected upon how often I catch myself engaged in something that one might consider a "little" sin with less conviction than I should have. Maybe a book or a TV show or a movie. Even the purchase of something that I delude myself into believing will bring some lasting satisfaction and meaning to my life.
I am confronted with the question, "How sensitive to sin and I - really?" I have to admit that like many folks I don;t do well in my answer. As James tells us, my desires create havoc in my soul that unfortunately is common enough to be dismissed unless directly confronted from outside.
This is due to several things not the least of which is an intentional examination of most of my life in the light of the Word and the Spirit. What seems OK is most often not. The law of grace loses it's power to restrain me because my mind is not fixed upon Him, His sovereignty and His calling. I simply find it distressingly easy to let the "little" one's slip by.
Though these "sins" are (according to man;s measure) "little" they have the cumulative effect of numbing my heart to sin in general. The old "everyone does it," or the "it's not a biggy," even "I'm redeemed and forgiven," are poor rationales for my failure in regards to these sins.
I have to make myself remember that if I had only committed the least of these "acceptable" sins Christ would have still had to suffer the horrors of their payment. There only one acceptable payment for any and all sins but I, maybe like may of you, have a tough time keeping this in the front of my mind.
So I grow numb to conviction in an ever increasing way and find myself humiliated by greater lapses. Lapses that would not have been so easy to make had i dealt honestly and directly with the "lesser" sins.
All this is to say that we must (ok, maybe it's just me) must do whatever is needful to become and remain sensitive to all sin in our lives.
This take intentional commitment and discipline. It is hard and tedious work. It looks a lot like legalism but though the law was fulfilled its use in our lives still stands. Some how I have to move from being a mere fan of Jesus to being a fanatic for His glory.
Sin is spelled S-I-N not O-O-P-S!
It's a scary proposition to consider praying for a level of sensitivity to sin that truly honors God. So much of what is our lives - my life - will have to be examined and re-evaluated. So much will have to change - even what seems like the minutia.
But - gratitude demands it. God expects it. The Word and the Spirit enable it. Who am I to refuse it?
Pray to see to what degree you may had sinned away some of your conviction of sin.
Monday, September 30, 2013
093013 Motes
John Owen wrote, "Most would rather hear of the doctrines of grace, the pardon of sin, and the free love of God than break the fallow ground of their hearts and see to the weeds and briars that grow thee, though this is the only way to come to a true knowledge of grace." (Indwelling Sin in Believers)
Self-examination is not something that comes naturally to either reprobate or redeemed. Certainly we avoid what we might call the "big" sins but we do that to avoid the unpleasant and public consequences more than we might do it for the glory of God. But as there are NO distinctions made between sins the fact that we are so prone to make distinctions tell us a great deal about the condition of our souls.
It would seem, at least in my experience, that it is so very hard to take the time and make the effort to find the mote in my eye, much less the log. Logs I can for the most part avoid. But this makes me wonder if in this teaching Jesus was not trying to tell us that our personal motes are in actuality logs. We will nit-pick another's sins while finding a comfortable means of avoiding doing the same for ourselves.
I would challenge us to take an accounting of our motes. One Puritan writer, his name fails me, tells us the the "small" sins we commit and dismiss are more heinous than the (supposed) great sins. The reason for this is that we commit the "lesser" sins with greater impunity thereby bringing greater insult to the glory of God and greater injury to our souls condition.
I would suggest that the apathy that is so prevalent in our age is now a part of our faith. We carve out a comfortable harmatology (theology of sin) and do all we can to abide there regardless of the effort needed to maintain the self-deception.
I was talking with a friend who had just taken a very expensive vacation and was struck by the phrase, "I earned it, I deserved to take a break." What distressed me was what appeared to be his utter disregard for the fact that he had earned nothing. Though he labors diligently in his profession he seems to have no understaaning that everything he has is a gift, a blessing, a mercy from the heart of God. Nor did he seem to realize that his attitude expressed a certain selfishness concerning this merciful provision.
These are the motes we need to seek to root out. Where do we fail to keep God's providence and His intent for that providence? How do we get to a point where we even think there is a possessive "mine" to any of God's merciful providence? Yet, I - we do that so very often. How do we experientially repent of such subtle sins as this?
Self-examination - diligent and disciplined - is demanded. Certainly as His child I am secure in my salvation but am I faithful in it? Is He indeed the sovereign Lord to whom all things belong and for whom all things should be done? Or is He a co-sovereign Lord who at some point abdicates to me and allows me to reign over what He alone has provided.
Yes, we may have to work terribly hard in and for what He provides. Long ours and hard work may be our daily lot but regardless of any effort or sacrifice on our part it is all from His providence and it is all, always His. It never - ever- becomes ours. This is a "mote" that is truly a log. This is that one drop of poison that poisons the whole cup.
Self-examination is not something that comes naturally to either reprobate or redeemed. Certainly we avoid what we might call the "big" sins but we do that to avoid the unpleasant and public consequences more than we might do it for the glory of God. But as there are NO distinctions made between sins the fact that we are so prone to make distinctions tell us a great deal about the condition of our souls.
It would seem, at least in my experience, that it is so very hard to take the time and make the effort to find the mote in my eye, much less the log. Logs I can for the most part avoid. But this makes me wonder if in this teaching Jesus was not trying to tell us that our personal motes are in actuality logs. We will nit-pick another's sins while finding a comfortable means of avoiding doing the same for ourselves.
I would challenge us to take an accounting of our motes. One Puritan writer, his name fails me, tells us the the "small" sins we commit and dismiss are more heinous than the (supposed) great sins. The reason for this is that we commit the "lesser" sins with greater impunity thereby bringing greater insult to the glory of God and greater injury to our souls condition.
I would suggest that the apathy that is so prevalent in our age is now a part of our faith. We carve out a comfortable harmatology (theology of sin) and do all we can to abide there regardless of the effort needed to maintain the self-deception.
I was talking with a friend who had just taken a very expensive vacation and was struck by the phrase, "I earned it, I deserved to take a break." What distressed me was what appeared to be his utter disregard for the fact that he had earned nothing. Though he labors diligently in his profession he seems to have no understaaning that everything he has is a gift, a blessing, a mercy from the heart of God. Nor did he seem to realize that his attitude expressed a certain selfishness concerning this merciful provision.
These are the motes we need to seek to root out. Where do we fail to keep God's providence and His intent for that providence? How do we get to a point where we even think there is a possessive "mine" to any of God's merciful providence? Yet, I - we do that so very often. How do we experientially repent of such subtle sins as this?
Self-examination - diligent and disciplined - is demanded. Certainly as His child I am secure in my salvation but am I faithful in it? Is He indeed the sovereign Lord to whom all things belong and for whom all things should be done? Or is He a co-sovereign Lord who at some point abdicates to me and allows me to reign over what He alone has provided.
Yes, we may have to work terribly hard in and for what He provides. Long ours and hard work may be our daily lot but regardless of any effort or sacrifice on our part it is all from His providence and it is all, always His. It never - ever- becomes ours. This is a "mote" that is truly a log. This is that one drop of poison that poisons the whole cup.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Psalm 94:12. 091213
Psalm 94:12 ESV
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,
Consider:
"A man by trouble comes to know his own heart, which in prosperity he is a stranger to. He sees the weakness of his grace and the strength on his corruption; how nothing is weak but grace, nothing strong but sin; and this lays him in the dust"
Thomas Case, A Treatise on Afflictions
Do we really look deeply at His purposes in our afflictions or do we merely look at the affliction and seek its relief? Do we allow the heat of the furnace to burn away all the fleshy concerns and fears that we might see the root, our sinfulness and its true power and place in our hearts?
Heart-breaking-ly it seems most common for us to seek relief without examination much like going to a doctor seeking some easy diagnosis and quick cure when we, in reality, suffer a terrible malady. Would we really want to be told we have the flu when a cancer was eating away at us? It seem, when it comes to our life in Him, we would.
God's hand can lay heavy upon the shoulders of His children. But like a father who firmly grips his child as the come to a street crossing, He does it for our good and betterment. It is not pleasant but when we do not allow the Master Physician the Great Father to show us the truth we merely delay the cure having to suffer the dis-ease again.
What affliction has God laid on you? Be mindful that the affliction is secondary to what God desires to do in your life and heart. Perhaps He desires a change of habit or behavior but I encourage you to look deeper, to your heart, and seek the root sin that gives bloom to the obvious one.
There is lies the lesson.
M
Thursday, May 30, 2013
What's the point?
(1Ti 1:5) But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
"A sincere faith." Ha!
Sincere???? anupokritos = one without hypocrisy or pretense, unfeigned, genuine, real.
Sincere???? from Latin sincerus or "without wax."
Used when evaluating marble statues.
When the marble had a crack of nick in it, less scrupulous dealers would fill the crack with a wax compound, put marble dust on it and then polish it so that the crack was hidden. But, the right amount of heat would cause the wax to melt and expose the cracks and flaws that were being hidden. that's why I teach and why I write - the way I do.
I only hope the heat I bring to bear is just hot enough to melt the way we've used to cover our cracks - the flaws in our faith.
These flaws are both what we believe and how we live out those beliefs. If we hold to an error our living will demonstrate that. We live what we believe, it shows. We cover up these flaws as best we can but when the heat is on these beliefs are exposed.
They say doctrine divides - and so it does. It divides the wolves from the sheep and the hypocrite from the non-hypocrite. Heat, that is trials, are God's loving providence to show us these flaws - and to expose them to others.
By the way, sin is also treated with wax and dust to keep them hiddden. but they will always be exposed.
This is the work of the Word and the Spirit - but it is also the work of the believer. How can we say we love another and yet continue to allow them to hide their sin/flaws? Though very common this too is a sin and perhaps a very cruel one. It's not fun, it is not comfortable but it is, when done in humility and love, needful.
We are to admonish one another:
(Rom 15:14) And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
"so you too will not be tempted" = entering into the struggle of another has
its dangers. As a Discpler I am
woefully ware of them. We must pray
diligently BEFORE - DURING AND AFTER-
that we might not be trapped/caught in
their sin and not be caught in a sin of our
own such as pride.
Let's not kid ourselves. We see sincerity as a feeling and not a fact when the very work itself proposes a fact about which we should have a feeling. We all have cracks we seek to hide. Some of us do it well, others don't but none of us can hide them from God - so why, if we are all under His grace, do we work soooo hard to hide them from others.
Is is a lack of a sense of insincerity (sin) that is killing the church and allowing hypocrites and even unbelievers to enter and feel a part of something they really despise. If we were more concerned with sin, if we could but grasp how evil it is we would be repentant and repentance is always the necessary precursor to revival.
Although God certainly desires that my theology and doctrine be as correct as my little brain can take - He did not send His Son so I could "get it all right." He sent His Son so that my sins might be forgiven and I might serve His purposes here as one of His children not just as one of His creatures.
Sincerity can be very deceptive to others and even ourselves. But have courage, God will turn up the heat to melt the wax and He will restore those places where the flaws are. Trust Him - ask Him - wait upon Him - He will do what only He can do.
(1Ti 1:5) But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Tetelesthai!
"A sincere faith." Ha!
Sincere???? anupokritos = one without hypocrisy or pretense, unfeigned, genuine, real.
Sincere???? from Latin sincerus or "without wax."
Used when evaluating marble statues.
When the marble had a crack of nick in it, less scrupulous dealers would fill the crack with a wax compound, put marble dust on it and then polish it so that the crack was hidden. But, the right amount of heat would cause the wax to melt and expose the cracks and flaws that were being hidden. that's why I teach and why I write - the way I do.
I only hope the heat I bring to bear is just hot enough to melt the way we've used to cover our cracks - the flaws in our faith.
These flaws are both what we believe and how we live out those beliefs. If we hold to an error our living will demonstrate that. We live what we believe, it shows. We cover up these flaws as best we can but when the heat is on these beliefs are exposed.
They say doctrine divides - and so it does. It divides the wolves from the sheep and the hypocrite from the non-hypocrite. Heat, that is trials, are God's loving providence to show us these flaws - and to expose them to others.
By the way, sin is also treated with wax and dust to keep them hiddden. but they will always be exposed.
This is the work of the Word and the Spirit - but it is also the work of the believer. How can we say we love another and yet continue to allow them to hide their sin/flaws? Though very common this too is a sin and perhaps a very cruel one. It's not fun, it is not comfortable but it is, when done in humility and love, needful.
We are to admonish one another:
(Rom 15:14) And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
We are to admonish - WARN - one another when we see a sin or a flaw and we are to do it because we love God, honor Christ and love our brothers. I is not comfortable and should not be engaged in lightly but it must be done.
OK, we all wax up and polish our sins and flaws. But why? Certainly not so God won't see them. No, we do it so others won't see them. I am stealing Paul Tripp's idea here - but we want our horizontal relationships to protect our pride and our illusions. We can't hide from God but we can hide from one another.
What a waste of time and effort. What a waste of grace and blessings. Paul was "sincere" when he identified himself as the foremost of sinners. He was probably recalling his heroic efforts to destroy the church. How that must have weighed on his heart and yet he makes no attempt to hide it because the change God wrought in him was a witness to God's grace and power - as well as a witness to the awfulness of unbelief and it's results.
Note please that it is the common believers who are admonished to admonish one another. Not a priest, not a pastor, not an elder although this is a very big part of their role. Rather we need to find our way to admonishing, melting the wax, at the grass-roots level. Common believer to common believer.
When scripture speaks of going to an offending (or offended) brother it is not speaking about sending in the Marines (pastors/elders/etc). It is talking about YOU going to THEM. Is there a condition? Certainly.
(Gal 6:1) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Note a few things:
"caught" = ensnared
"any trespass = really does mean "any"
"spiritual" = mature (already had lots of wax melted)
"restore" = not remodel but restore - put bad as it should be
"spirit of gentleness"= remember your experience and learn to tough lightly as
possible
"looking to yourself'= we should all admonish another with a mirror in our
hands so that we see ourselves as we admonish. Like
it is said, when you point a finger at someone you have
three fingers pointing at you.
its dangers. As a Discpler I am
woefully ware of them. We must pray
diligently BEFORE - DURING AND AFTER-
that we might not be trapped/caught in
their sin and not be caught in a sin of our
own such as pride.
Let's not kid ourselves. We see sincerity as a feeling and not a fact when the very work itself proposes a fact about which we should have a feeling. We all have cracks we seek to hide. Some of us do it well, others don't but none of us can hide them from God - so why, if we are all under His grace, do we work soooo hard to hide them from others.
Is is a lack of a sense of insincerity (sin) that is killing the church and allowing hypocrites and even unbelievers to enter and feel a part of something they really despise. If we were more concerned with sin, if we could but grasp how evil it is we would be repentant and repentance is always the necessary precursor to revival.
Although God certainly desires that my theology and doctrine be as correct as my little brain can take - He did not send His Son so I could "get it all right." He sent His Son so that my sins might be forgiven and I might serve His purposes here as one of His children not just as one of His creatures.
Sincerity can be very deceptive to others and even ourselves. But have courage, God will turn up the heat to melt the wax and He will restore those places where the flaws are. Trust Him - ask Him - wait upon Him - He will do what only He can do.
(1Ti 1:5) But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Tetelesthai!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Finger Thinking 042713
I've been reading Isaiah and Jeremiah - wow!!
But what really hit me (blame the Puritans) is how everything God calls His people to account for (Judah and Israel that it) is just as applicable to the "church" today. As a matter of fact the Puritans had the lovely habit of referring to Israel and Judah (those who had the faith of Abraham no the "religion" of Moses for faith trump form every time) - as the "church in the Old Testament. So leaping from that, the whole of the prophetic writings apply to the "church of today" as well.
As Martin Luther is reputed to have once said, "A golden plated turd is still a turd." It's the old "lipstick on a pig," thing. We are rich and big and hollow. We are sending men and women into the field for harvest while we let our neighbor do to hell. We are more concerned about the unborn and guns than we are the hell bound men and women around us. We are more committed to the Constitution than we are the Scripture. We are more focused on establishing our own security than trusting Him with it all.
We invite the world and the devil into our homes on giant HD screens. We watch trash sponsored by trash and see nothing wrong with it at all. We laugh at sin, we are engaged by corruption and oh how we love the tough guy who just shoots everybody.
We will carry a copy of the Constitution in our back pocket while our Bibles gather dust. We'll memorize the arguments for the Second Amendment but we know very little of God's Word by heart. We'll home-school everything except our faith - that we pay others to do. We have to get our kids into competitive sports so they can learn to "beat"/"defeat" others.
We will sing God's praises because there are 5,000 people in the building on Sunday morning but only a few are believers. We will sing God's praises with lyrics the prophets would detest and we are happy. We want excitement and engagement instead of solemnity and our engaging God. We will read hundreds of books written by questionable teachers but we will not examine their teaching by the Word.
We are indeed the church and we are no different than the "church in the OT." We are faithless in content, context and commitment. We are ripe for refining.
We will engage the "culture' in battles over morality but whoa to the Pastor who does so on Sunday. We hate the "big" sin while we collect the small. Idolatry is a thing of the past? Satan and the demonic are not more? And God forbid you suffer some mental illness that makes folk uncomfortable - there's no place for you pal!
Yeah - I'm pretty fed up with the common "church" and the "common" Christian. Not that I'm perfect - I could write volumes concerning my faithlessness and failure. But at least I am aware and willing to take up the fight. What about you?
But what really hit me (blame the Puritans) is how everything God calls His people to account for (Judah and Israel that it) is just as applicable to the "church" today. As a matter of fact the Puritans had the lovely habit of referring to Israel and Judah (those who had the faith of Abraham no the "religion" of Moses for faith trump form every time) - as the "church in the Old Testament. So leaping from that, the whole of the prophetic writings apply to the "church of today" as well.
As Martin Luther is reputed to have once said, "A golden plated turd is still a turd." It's the old "lipstick on a pig," thing. We are rich and big and hollow. We are sending men and women into the field for harvest while we let our neighbor do to hell. We are more concerned about the unborn and guns than we are the hell bound men and women around us. We are more committed to the Constitution than we are the Scripture. We are more focused on establishing our own security than trusting Him with it all.
We invite the world and the devil into our homes on giant HD screens. We watch trash sponsored by trash and see nothing wrong with it at all. We laugh at sin, we are engaged by corruption and oh how we love the tough guy who just shoots everybody.
We will carry a copy of the Constitution in our back pocket while our Bibles gather dust. We'll memorize the arguments for the Second Amendment but we know very little of God's Word by heart. We'll home-school everything except our faith - that we pay others to do. We have to get our kids into competitive sports so they can learn to "beat"/"defeat" others.
We will sing God's praises because there are 5,000 people in the building on Sunday morning but only a few are believers. We will sing God's praises with lyrics the prophets would detest and we are happy. We want excitement and engagement instead of solemnity and our engaging God. We will read hundreds of books written by questionable teachers but we will not examine their teaching by the Word.
We are indeed the church and we are no different than the "church in the OT." We are faithless in content, context and commitment. We are ripe for refining.
We will engage the "culture' in battles over morality but whoa to the Pastor who does so on Sunday. We hate the "big" sin while we collect the small. Idolatry is a thing of the past? Satan and the demonic are not more? And God forbid you suffer some mental illness that makes folk uncomfortable - there's no place for you pal!
Yeah - I'm pretty fed up with the common "church" and the "common" Christian. Not that I'm perfect - I could write volumes concerning my faithlessness and failure. But at least I am aware and willing to take up the fight. What about you?
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Finger Thinking 041713 There ain't nothing friendly about Casper the ghost!
I have a dear friend and brother who has written a book titled Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes. It's been out for a while and has done pretty well but it is interesting that so little attention has been paid to this work not to mention the insights and guidance the author can provide for believers as well as non-believers.
I find it distressing that so little attention - not to mention credibility is given to this critical subject. The Gospel of Mark is replete with references to demons and possession and yet the church today keeps its head in the sand when it comes to the enemy and his little helpers.
Oh, I know - that was then - this is now - right? Hooey!! To deny the existence, operation, danger and influence of the demonic is to deny the scriptures - period!
Yeah - today we'd rather just call it mental illness and give it a pill. Well folks, after 20+ years of working with psychiatrists, psychologists and their patients that assumption does what assume always does. It leaves folks - even those who are afflicted with some mental illness out in the cold when it comes to the work of the Prince of the power of the air. So, they are just "honey out of luck!"
There is nothing "fantastical," or "sensational" in this book. It was not written to tickle your ears or feed your flesh. It does provide the reader with a sound and clear BIBLICAL perspective on our latest cultural IED - ie: ghost hunting.
Mom's and Dads who would never consider allowing their kids to play with Ouija Boards of Tarot Cards will actually sit and watch these hellish TV shows with them. I find that utter irresponsible and terrifying! Oh - these same parents will let thie kids watch the MTV and reality trash as well. No wonder our kids are numb and dumb.
But - this is about a book, an important book and a ministry, an important mnistry and the fact that the church - the "common" church is just too given to cultural compromise to get off its duff, get its head out of the sand and look at a very very serious issue.
Yeah, I guess I'm a little irritated! Ok, I'm a lot irritated. Self-denominated believers just can't seem to be bothered with the fact that Satan and his little helpers have their own TV shows and a teaching young and old alike lies straight out of the pit of hell.
Yes, the subject is outside our comfort zone - but "we" (believers) are supposed to be uncomfortable here anyway. Unfortunately we have grown to find "fictional" sin on TV and in movies and demons being contacted and engaged as "ghosts" to be entertaining.
To be honest, if I had my choice I vote for the gladiatorial games and circuses of ancient Rome over the lies we see on TV. Patti and used to watch a show called Castle until the two main characters started carrying on an affair right in the house where his college age daughter and his mother lived. So much for that show! So now we live on Duck Dynasty and old TV shows on Netflix.
But back to my point - BUY the book - know the truth - then USE it!!!!!!
James 4:17 NASB
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I find it distressing that so little attention - not to mention credibility is given to this critical subject. The Gospel of Mark is replete with references to demons and possession and yet the church today keeps its head in the sand when it comes to the enemy and his little helpers.
Oh, I know - that was then - this is now - right? Hooey!! To deny the existence, operation, danger and influence of the demonic is to deny the scriptures - period!
Yeah - today we'd rather just call it mental illness and give it a pill. Well folks, after 20+ years of working with psychiatrists, psychologists and their patients that assumption does what assume always does. It leaves folks - even those who are afflicted with some mental illness out in the cold when it comes to the work of the Prince of the power of the air. So, they are just "honey out of luck!"
There is nothing "fantastical," or "sensational" in this book. It was not written to tickle your ears or feed your flesh. It does provide the reader with a sound and clear BIBLICAL perspective on our latest cultural IED - ie: ghost hunting.
Mom's and Dads who would never consider allowing their kids to play with Ouija Boards of Tarot Cards will actually sit and watch these hellish TV shows with them. I find that utter irresponsible and terrifying! Oh - these same parents will let thie kids watch the MTV and reality trash as well. No wonder our kids are numb and dumb.
But - this is about a book, an important book and a ministry, an important mnistry and the fact that the church - the "common" church is just too given to cultural compromise to get off its duff, get its head out of the sand and look at a very very serious issue.
Yeah, I guess I'm a little irritated! Ok, I'm a lot irritated. Self-denominated believers just can't seem to be bothered with the fact that Satan and his little helpers have their own TV shows and a teaching young and old alike lies straight out of the pit of hell.
Yes, the subject is outside our comfort zone - but "we" (believers) are supposed to be uncomfortable here anyway. Unfortunately we have grown to find "fictional" sin on TV and in movies and demons being contacted and engaged as "ghosts" to be entertaining.
To be honest, if I had my choice I vote for the gladiatorial games and circuses of ancient Rome over the lies we see on TV. Patti and used to watch a show called Castle until the two main characters started carrying on an affair right in the house where his college age daughter and his mother lived. So much for that show! So now we live on Duck Dynasty and old TV shows on Netflix.
But back to my point - BUY the book - know the truth - then USE it!!!!!!
James 4:17 NASB
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Think - Pray - Do!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Intimate insights 002
For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. (Psa 51:3)
Too often I've read the whole passage (Psa. 51:2-4ff) and been blessed. Tonight however I was caught off guard by a statement in a sermon I was listening to. As soon as I heard the statement this verse came to mind.
With this verse came the realization that my sin is not ever before me - that I have paid poor attention to the faithfulness (of lack of it) in my walk with Him. It was a visceral blow to suddenly recognize a sinful attitude I had had in the past and never even noticed.
No, I'm not suggesting we go rummaging through the past to discover past sins but rather that we may need to pray for a greater insight and sensitivity toward sin - in our own lives (we already do that with others).
Father, I don't want to be ignorant of my sins nor do I want to continue to generalize them thereby weakening significance in my life. I ask you to make me mercifully aware of my sin so that although it is indeed ever before me - Your grace and mercy are there as well to lead me to repentance and restoration. I am so prone to overlook or under regard my sin - it is so easy to do. Help me Father to be aware and to address my sin in a way that is healthy for my growth and brings glory to You.
Amen
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Psalm 25:16-18 not done
Psalm 25:16-18 ESV
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. [17] The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. [18] Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
In another post I mentioned a work by Christopher Love. The title is, A Christian's Directory. It is indeed well worth reading. He deals, at one point, with our struggles - sorrow concerning "worldly crosses," vs "our sin." He writes:
"If you mourn for sin, the true joy that arises from the forgiveness of sin, will swallow up the grief that comes to you through any worldly cross of affliction."
Do we find that to be true? I think that's part of the point of Psalm 25:16-18. Our worldly crosses really can take our eyes off His mercy and grace which in turn diminishes our comfort and confidence in Him.
We are not prohibited in any way from sorrowing for our worldly crosses but we have to keep all things in perspective. When we suffer "crosses" in our lives it is all too easy to forget the "cross" we will never ever have to bear. This is very unhealthy for the believer.
I think we have gotten confused about "here." We have forgotten that it is not our home. We have forgotten that it is judged for destruction. We strive to be "at home" in a place we are just visiting - though we are visiting with a purpose.
Even in this Psalm we can see how our minds can focus on the "crosses" to the detriment of our mortifying our sin. We are forgiven - though we still sin. It is our sin and its forgiveness we need to work on keeping before our eyes.
The Puritans can be tough to read. They had great senses of humor but when it came to sin and salvation it seems to disappear (as well it should). They found themselves going to prison, to the chopping block, to the pyre. They found themselves homeless, destitute, hungry, oppressed, persecuted ---- etc. etc. etc ---
But they also knew they were going to heaven - they knew they were saved and they fought anything, feeling or thought, that turned their minds and hearts away from those facts. It's is not easy to hurt now and hope for heaven then. Sometimes it hurts so bad now that we beg for heaven now.
We read in the Word about hero's. Well folks - there is only one hero in the Word and that's God. Every marvelous and miraculous deliverance, release, rescue, etc. were God's doing NOT Abraham's or Moses' or David's or Paul's --- but God's. These men and women we elevate to the status of heroes were just men and women like you and I who learned to trust in God and were used by Him through His power and provision to be there when He worked His wonders and displayed His glory.
We've got to quit looking for and/or trying to be heroes. We need to be humble and meek and faithful servants of the only hero (which is a pretty poor term for Him).
Let us be sad in our affliction but rejoice in our salvation - It's not always easy and it sometimes feels fake - but it is what we need to be doing.
Father, teach me, gently, to look to You alone for my needs and to acknowledge You alone for all my blessings. Teach me from your Word how to do this humbly, regularly and wisely.
Amen
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