Public School Meditations

RESPECT, (From Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
To view or consider with some degree of reverence; to esteem as possessed of real worth.

Families pass on beliefs, traditions, models of behavior to their children.

I want my children to understand:

Respect / Honor

Hard Work

Love

"What parents do in moderation, there children will do to excess."

Hunger for God Pt. 2

A HUNGER FOR GOD pg 48-49

"This is the essence of Christian fasting:

We ache and yearn—and fast—to know more and more of all that God is for us in Jesus. But only because he has already laid hold of us and is drawing us ever forward and upward into “all the fullness of God.”

My prayer for the Christian church is that God might awaken in us a new hunger for himself—a new fasting.

Not because we haven’t tasted the new wine of Christ’s presence, but because we have tasted it and long, with a deep and joyful aching of soul, to know more of his presence and power in our
midst."

A Hunger for God

I have started reading John Piper's "A Hunger for God." You can do so also just by clicking on the title as I have linked it to the Desiring God website where Piper MAKES ALL OF HIS BOOKS AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE!

I would like to see others do this to demonstrate that they are not just writing books to make money, but to serve the Christian community and body of Christ.

I will blog about what I learn as I am desiring to look into fasting as I see the urgent need of revival in my church and community.

May God give us all a hunger for Him. Here is an excerpt:

"For all the ill that Satan can do, when God
describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love, it is
a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, and a wife (Luke 14:18-20). The
greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts.
And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but
for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an
appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable,
and almost incurable."

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Few men that I have ever read after have insight into the Scriptures like Arthur Pink. I don't agree with everything he says, but the man sees the spiritual side of Scripture like few others. Matthew Henry, JC. Ryle are two others with this gift.

Here is a quote from Pink that I read this morning that was like a stream of cool water on a hot dry day.

""Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples" (John 1:35). This is the place to ask the question, What was the fruitage of John’s mission? What results accrued from his ministry? They were very similar to what may be expected to attend the labors of a servant of God, who is used of His Master, today. John had borne faithful witness to Christ: how had his ministry been received.’,

In the first place, the religious leaders of his day rejected the testimony of God (Luke 7:30).

In the second place, great crowds were attracted, and men of all sorts attended upon his ministry (Luke 3:7-15).

In the third place, only a few were really affected by his message, and stood ready to receive the Messiah when He appeared.

It has been much the same all through the ages. When God sends forth a man to take an active and prominent part in His service, the religious leaders look upon him with suspicion, and hold aloof in their fancied superiority. On the other hand, the vulgar, curious crowds, ever hungering for the novel and sensational, are attracted; but comparatively few are really touched in their consciences and hearts."

Knowing God Pt. 7

"Were we imagining a God, then naturally we should ascribe to him only characteristics which we admired, and jealousy would not enter the picture. Nobody would imagine a jealous God. But we are not making up an idea of God by drawing on our imagination; we are seeking instead to listen to the words of Holy Scripture, in which God himself tells us the truth about himself."

"People have gotten into the practice of following private religious hunches rather than learning of God from his own Word."

"People have ceased to recognize the reality of their own sinfulness, which imparts a degree of perversity and enmity against God to all that they think and do; it is our task to try to introduce people to this fact about themselves and so make them self-distrustful and open to correction by the word of Christ."

To which I would add, "starting with our eye beams first."

Is Your Eye Evil?

Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'

My good friend was very excited, I could tell. The local golf pro had called him to play in the Chamber golf outing at the premier course in Northern Michigan. So he got to play in a four man scramble, at a great course with lots of prizes all for free. He was thrilled.

You would think, being my friend that I would have been happy for him. So why was it that part of me was upset? Disgusted even? The reason was that he was getting to do all this and I wasn’t. What is it about human beings who envy and are get jealous when good things happen to people? Even people that we like?

I already answered the question. We are envious and jealous. This is a fruit of our sinful natures. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like...

In Matthew 20, Jesus is telling a parable about people who agreed to work a full day for a certain wage. The farmer hired some people later on throughout the day and at pay time, paid everyone the same. Our natural human nature says, “That’s not fair!”

Jesus uses the parable to teach us to delight in the goodness of God in having much grace. The new nature should have produced excitement in me for my friend. Upon thinking of this Scripture and recognizing the conflict, I was able to see my envy for what it was, confess it and truly begin to share in my friends joy.

Sin is out to destroy our lives and make us miserable. Jesus has come that we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly.

What's in a Name?

I heard an interesting thing on NPR the other day concerning muslims. A summary of the quote: "It doesn't matter so much what the Koran says, it only matters what the particular muslim thinks it means and how they understand it and apply it."

Is this same thing true with Scripture? At some level, I think it is... which is why we must have names for things, creeds, and confessions of faith. Most people say they believe the bible, but by names and terms, we help define what we believe the bible to teach.

When our terms, definitions etc. conflict with what they Bible actually says, we are in trouble. Which is why we need to prove ourselves from the true teaching of Scripture.

Verse for contemplation

Jamess 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The New Birth Pt 2

Ezekiel 36:26-28 " 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

Point # 2 When God causes someone to be born again, it will produce change!
When God gives us a new heart, takes away our heart that was cold and hard towards the things of God, and fills us with His Spirit, we will walk in His statutes, keep his judgments and do them.

Supporting Scriptures: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
God does not need to place a laundry list of do's and dont's before His people under the New Covenant because He has changed their heart to want to love and glorify Him in everything they do.

Matthew 7:16-20 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Discerning who the real Christians are is not rocket science! Sure there will be Judas' and tares that slip in at night while we sleep, but a good tree- a new heart- will produce holy living.
No holiness, no heaven. Do you have spiritual fruit in your life that God is producing that gives sufficient evidence that you have a new spiritual nature?

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Which of the two lists from Galatians characterizes your life?

Appeal to Logic: Ask someone who knows you well. Or here is a novel idea for the 21st century, take responsibility and be honest with yourself.

Conclusion: The Bible was written to act as a mirror to show us what we are in truth. Have you received the Holy Spirit of God? Does your life demonstrate that God has taken away your heart of stone and given you a heart that loves Him and walks in His ways?

The New Birth Pt. 1

The New Birth is the most important thing in all the world. Jesus said if you are not born again, you will not see heaven.

So what is the new birth? How do we get it? and How do we know if we have it?

This isn't like a lot of debates various churches hold. If you are wrong on this one, the Bible says you are lost and without hope.

The Old Testament points to the fulfillment of the New birth in the New Testament. It sheds light on the many aspects of the new birth.

Ezekiel 36:26-28 " 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

Point #1 God gives the New Birth, man does not do it on his own. We see by reading this verse that the new heart is given to us by God. The new Spirit is given to us by God. The verse has God saying, "I will, I will, I will, I will..." The promise hinges on what God will do. The verse indicates that man will respond to what God causes in him.

Supporting Scriptures: John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." The new birth is something that God does whenever He decides to do it. We cannot tell when it will come, but will only be able to see the effect that it will produce.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Those who become children of God (new birth) do not do so of their own choosing or based on what they will, but because of what God causes.

Appeal to Logic: What role did you play in your physical birth? The same is true in your spiritual birth. How well would you do in giving yourself a heart transplant? As you sit dead on a table, how good would you be at restoring yourself to life?

Conclusion: The New birth is something that God does, not what man does.

Excerpt from VCC July Newsletter

Luke 18:8b ... Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

This question should evoke a response like we see on TV when people have just taken a drink of soda, something totally outrageous is said and they spray their drink uncontrollably all over their computer.

This question is a razor sharp, large needle that should pierce right through to your heart. It should split right between our joint and bone marrow. (Hebrews 4:12) This question should give some readers a very queasy feeling inside. Tell your spouse, “Honey, I have to go lay down for a while, and ponder the condition of my soul.” Jesus wonders aloud, “When I return to this earth, will I find any people in the faith?” WOW!

Too quickly, many dismiss this question with a half-hearted shrug of the shoulders because it certainly couldn’t be talking about me. For crying out loud, I have done MANY wonderful works, I have taught Sunday School, I have taken in foster children, and cared for the less fortunate of the world. At the very least, you are in the top 25% overall of the people in my church…

But DO YOU KNOW CHRIST? Do you want your life saturated with the presence of the Holy Spirit and Holiness? Do you want to be where the means of grace are made available to the people of God? Are you in love with the world? Let me ask you that again, only this time, let us submit for evidence, your checkbook and calendar of how you spend your time! With these in view, let us restate the question, Do you love Christ more than yourself? Do you love Him more than camping and your job, and money and family? Do you love Jesus Christ enough that you deal with sin in your life on a regular basis? Jesus asked Peter, Do you love me more than these? More than what? More than everybody else that claims to love Him.

If you are not on the mailing list for our Newsletter and would like to be added, let me know.

There IS Free Will

"But they (punishments of hell: fire, worm dieth not, outer darkness, gnashing of teeth) are not arbitrary inflictions; they represent, rather, a conscious growing into the state in which one has chosen to be. The unbeliever has preferred to be by himself, without God, defying God, having God against him, and he shall have his preference. Nobody stands under the wrath of God except those who have chosen to do so. The essence of God's action in wrath is to give men what they choose, in all its implications:..God's readiness to respect human choice to this extent may appear disconcerting and even terrifying, but it is plain that his attitude here is supremely just."

It has always confused me why people would want to go to heaven where intimate fellowship with God is the defining characteristic of what makes heaven so great. A good many "christians" would prefer a heaven with no God, as long as the mansions, eternal life and perfect health were there, and let us not forget family.

Many people would even say they wanted God in heaven, but mostly because He is a God that they have created in their own mind, who thinks the world of them and is willing to make great sacrifices so that they can have, forgive me for this, "Their Best Life Now."

Deism, & the Foreknowledge of Free willers

DEISM, n. the belief or system of religious opinions of those who acknowledge the existence of one God, but deny revelation: or deism is the belief in natural religion only,
or those truths, in doctrine and practice, which man is to discover by the light of reason, independent and exclusive of any revelation from God. Hence deism implies infidelity or a disbelief in the divine origin of the scriptures. (Websters 1828 Dictionary)

Depending on who you read after, some of our founding Father's were Deists. Thomas Jefferson for sure. Most evangelicals would claim that deism, as defined above, to be rank heresy.

However, it is interesting to me how deism, the idea that God created the world like a clock, wound it up, and then let it run its course without interfering, has influenced many churches to embrace deism in their view of salvation.

Let me explain.

The Bible teaches what theologians call The Sovereignty of God.

Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Dan 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

God is in charge of sparrows, lillies, and knows the number of hairs on everyone's head. Nothing takes place without his knowledge and even more so His direct, sovereign will directing the course of every aspect of the universe!

If he is not Soveriegn, then He is not God, whoever and whatever controls Him is.

Lot's of people like to say that all the verses in the Bible that deal with predestination and forknowledge of God regarding salvation happen like this.

"God knew everybody who was going to accept Him, and those are the ones he predestinated."

Do you see a problem with these two competing ideas?

Is God Sovereign over all acts or does He just forsee what will happen?

Even more seriously, these people are claiming that God forsaw that people would choose him for salvation. Now could there be ANY greater work or deed on the part of man, than to repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation?

SO,

Is salvation by grace or is it by debt (God owes us for choosing him)?

Is God sovereign over the flowers, grass and hair, but not the sinner?

Embracing free will is nothing more than embracing a form of deism, (What you practice is what you believe) it is putting man on the throne of salvation and not God, and it attacks the very nature of salvation being from the Lord,(the author and finisher of our faith) by grace alone and says, people do have a little bit of good in them, (Actually a lot of good, making the greatest possible act of goodness from within- choosing God) God sees their good and wise choice, and decided on the basis of what they chose, to become their God. (He does after all owe it to them if they call him on His promise to save them)

Ludicrous! Abandon your deism, submit to God on the throne of all things, believe the Scriptures that teach there is none that do good or seek after God.

True Christians

"True Christians are people who acknowledge and live under the word of God. They submit without reserve to the word of God written in "the Book of truth" (Dan 10:21), believing the teaching, trusting the promises, following the commands. Their eyes are upon the God of the Bible as their Father and the Christ of the Bible as their Savior."

As I was meditating on the "our Father" of the Lord's prayer and my 11 month old this morning, I thought of how much we are like an infant to God.

Jack is always in one of 3 places: The toilet, climbing up the stairs (usually falling down, leaving bruises on his head, and terrifying his mother) or in my room molesting my guitar. The thought occurred to me
that none of these 3 are bad places to be, for a child of appropriate age.

When he learns to love music and play the guitar, he will share in the joys of the Psalmist playing on his stringed instruments and be a blessing to others.

When he begins to use the toilet for its intended purposed, he will save his parents money on diapers, not to mention the blessing of not having to change them.

And when he gains the strength and dexterity to navigate the stairs, it will signal a growth in his physical and mental faculties that will Lord willing, enable him to ascend to higher places in his life to assist his fellow man.

How we are like this with God:

We often tread into areas, not forbidden by God, but to which we are not strong enough to handle quite yet. This verse came to mind.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The hard part is being patient, and practicing the skills necessary to navigate these places so that God is glorifed, and we are not putting our hands in the toilet, falling down stairs, and ruining expensive musical equipment.

Wonderful Meditation

Here is a verse you can carry around with you all day today.
Here we have a wonderful similie to express the Love of Jesus for us,
and if He loves us in such an unfathomable way, how wonderfule this command
must be. For His glory, and our good.

John 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Pray, Labor & trust

1Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all,
yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

This verse explains the balance expressed in the following quote: “Pray as if everything depended on God, live as if everything depends on you.”

Study Meditation

The reasons for which we long for heaven will reveal what is in our heart. Where our treasure
is, there will our heart be also.

Mansions and gold, health, old friends and family. Oh, God and Jesus will be cool too

but really, only because they will be giving us all this stuff.

Lord, give us hearts of flesh.

Knowing God Pt. 2

"How can we turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God? The rule for doing this is simple but demanding. It is that we turn each truth that we learn about God into matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God." Knowing God pg 23

We must take the truths of God from Scripture and pray over them, and ponder them. When we rise up, when we lay down, as we eat, as we sit in the living room, and for me, one of the privileges of being a pastor is that I can sit in my office and meditate on the truths of God.

When we do not spend time in the word, and do not know the many truths about God revealed to us, it will be impossible to meditate on God in our normal everyday life. The more we know about God and the more we ponder who He is and what He has done and is doing, the more we will be blown away by how the world functions and how we see His hand in everything-leading us to prayer and praise. Worship.

Here is a thought for you to meditate on today.

"There was a man, sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all through Him might believe." John 1:6-7

As you ponder this, consider that God uses men to bear witness of Christ and so that other men will believe in Him. How is your witness? Is your life characterized by light or darkness? Things of God or things of the world? Pride or humility?