tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9499709936372443712024-03-13T01:34:20.676-07:00The Dead Puritan SocietyJohn Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-81920370710098609012011-11-14T09:24:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:25:58.765-08:00Taught to be Teachable<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >The other day I ran into someone I had not seen in a long time and they asked me this question, “What is God teaching you?” It is one of those questions that can easily be blown off if you speak fluent “Christianese.” Personally I didn’t know how to respond because of the vast measure of what God has been teaching me. As I left I thought of this, in order to be taught, you must be teachable.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >It is a simple statement for sure, but gives way to another question, what makes you teachable? The fact that God is gracious enough to teach us anything is overwhelming to think about, but in order to grasp the lessons of God; we must be a humble pupil. For the humble student who admits their inadequacy is the student who will learn the most. But the student who professes prominence, is the student has learned nothing at all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Proverbs26:12 says, “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” The person who believes knowledge is king is just a jester in his own court. For knowledge is nothing without the wisdom of how to use it. The Lord has graciously given us the knowledge of his word, but if it does not produce humility, it is meaningless. Why? Because it was never applied, for when we apply the wisdom of God we not only see the inadequacy of ourselves but the insurmountable grace that God has given to us, as he saves us and sanctifies us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Psalm 86:11 speaks directly to this, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I many walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” This is the end result of all that God teaches us. Not to flaunt our biblical knowledge towards others but to be awestruck by the person of God. Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Why do we fear? Because we are humbled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >So when asked the question, “What is God teaching us” we don’t reach into the recess of our knowledge, but rather we dig into the area of which we have been most humbled. Thus true wisdom is the admission of a humble inadequacy before a holy God. But why are we humbled and why do we fear? Because we love Him who first loved us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >The one who is only the teacher and never the pupil, the one who is always convicting and never convicted, and the one who always has the answer and never has a question is the one displaying his lack of love for the great Teacher. But the one who is always the pupil, always convicted, always questioning, and always admits when wrong, is the one who loves the teacher. May we never forget the humble fear we are to have before our holy God. For it is love that abounds when the teacher teaches, and the student listens, and is humbled by the lesson. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Garamond","serif""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-65983298129552134642010-03-21T13:36:00.001-07:002010-03-21T13:38:09.610-07:00The Garden's Only Victor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw450NvN2iX22w2-RzxZZF2CAtra9IMs0iHM4MfVVuKRqcj1ZbYDTcY039FdtNaGdw-EyqG8IiyLtovpcR_bjJ5JQGPAh7QhgaIJzHdlweEgPwXZC9zzeFyhbMI1ECDMPxnc8hxgCqE7t/s1600-h/Deadlogo4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw450NvN2iX22w2-RzxZZF2CAtra9IMs0iHM4MfVVuKRqcj1ZbYDTcY039FdtNaGdw-EyqG8IiyLtovpcR_bjJ5JQGPAh7QhgaIJzHdlweEgPwXZC9zzeFyhbMI1ECDMPxnc8hxgCqE7t/s400/Deadlogo4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451189134659027330" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It began in a garden. The cool of the day was upon the righteous man, and perfection lay about him. He walked in harmony with God and was gifted all of creation and a perfect wife. This was truly paradise and there was nothing a man could desire more. Then on that cataclysmic day he was shown something he never knew when he and his bride were confronted with the desire to know good and evil. It was on this cool perfect day that the eternal fate of all men hung upon temptation of one man. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Yet the temptation was not fought, and they fell prey to its siren call and in an instant their pure hearts became as black as tar. They forsook a relationship with the one true God, to be a “god” themselves. Their desire for God was replaced with a desire for self. They had seen good, but now evil had become their brother and the serpent their father. Their perfection had been traded for damnation. Their harmony had been traded for war. Their love of God been traded for hatred for their Creator. They were tempted in a garden, and their failure damned the souls of every generation. They were cast from that garden, defeated and terrified. And God pronounced his judgment upon them all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">To the serpent, the devil himself, he said. Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." The Enemy knew that God’s words were true, and through the next 5,000 years he would roam the earth and learn of the coming Messiah which he saw create the universe. The words of God would echo in his mind yet all he would hear would be “you shall bruise him, you shall bruise him.” And he knew that the “Him” was God himself. Thus he worked to devastate his coming. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">He fought the generations that would be his lineage, and even sought to have Christ himself killed upon his birth. For he did not want Him to make it to the cross. Yet as Christ grew up and at the age of thirty his ministry began. Yet the devil had a ministry of his own, to keep the cross from occurring. Yet after three years, there was still no failure or fault found in the God/man Jesus Christ. And the enemy knew that if he was going to be crushed, he would seek to make the bruise issued to him by God himself as painful and as torturous as possible. To keep Christ from the cross, he would put all of his evil attention and power upon the one who came to save the souls of many. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It ended in a garden. The public ministry of Jesus Christ had come to a close. There were to be no more healings, no more teachings to thousands, but one final command to obey. To die. Christ had just finished teaching the disciples and led the last legitimate Passover of all time. They had broken the bread, and drank the cup the first time and communed with God at their side. This was the only communion that took place which foreshadowed the cross, for in but a few hours the ransom for sins would be paid through his death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Both Christ, and Satan saw the ordained time upon them, and Satan had asked for permission to sift the disciples like wheat in Luke 22:31. Though addressed to Peter the “you” is plural signifying he intended to do so to them all. In </span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">John 16:32 </span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">32</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> "Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”</span></u></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Though Peter fought these words, this struck the disciples to a point of sorrow for they knew the words of the Lord to be true. Upon this, Christ, let them into the inner sanctum of his relationship with the Father, and prayed for His glorification and for their deliverance from the trial that awaited. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">They left the upper room and walked in the night to the Garden of Gethsemane. This was more than likely a private Garden, for the disciples came here often with Jesus to escape the crowds and rest. It was a place to find retreat in the lushness of the olive trees that grew upon the mount, and isolation for prayer. It would have been lit only by the stars and the moon, and being Spring, the trees would be in bloom and the night air crisp. But Christ did not come here to hide from the public, rather he came here to be found. He knew Judas was currently plotting against him, and he knew he would find Christ in the garden. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Thus the hour had begun. The hour that would include his arrest, trial, beatings, crucifixion and the forsaking of His father was upon him. It was the most important hour in eternity and as the Christ entered into the Garden, so did the enemy, to tempt him for the last time. </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-8079371021018458312010-03-18T14:14:00.001-07:002010-03-20T09:19:47.608-07:005 Marks of Spiritual Stability: Part III-V: - Unbreakable Faith, Unending Prayer, Undeniable Peace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPL_Oahn0gNujY_ZqWlCDWFVVPM_HVipsf5kXZGYWEnjRr_D2sYBy_HBkThFd_cPqpZaURTb51s3SW0P0Dqu_-8dq7PcSLBUUxvDVtJrum8WDj6Vb8OlW_SOf-5a3u31HdG-jcMWSfFLA/s1600-h/Deadlogo5.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPL_Oahn0gNujY_ZqWlCDWFVVPM_HVipsf5kXZGYWEnjRr_D2sYBy_HBkThFd_cPqpZaURTb51s3SW0P0Dqu_-8dq7PcSLBUUxvDVtJrum8WDj6Vb8OlW_SOf-5a3u31HdG-jcMWSfFLA/s400/Deadlogo5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450751430663056242" /></a><br /><div>Concluded From Part II...</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Unbreakable Faith</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Paul is writing his brethren knowing that the trials were increasing. The Phillipian Church was poor and battered. They had received their wave of persecution, but they saw another coming. At the time Paul wrote this Nero sat on the throne, and his hatred for Christians grew and the flame of his rampage was burning more brightly.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Christians were considered the lowest of the low. They were to be treated less than slaves, thus finding work was near impossible. They became impoverished economically because they were cut off from the society, and their lives were considered more worthless than dogs. In the remaining years of Nero’s reign, he would tie Christians to large timbers and cover them with tar. He would then have them burned alive to light his sinful parties while having other Christians torn apart by dogs for his guests amusement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is what they would be anxious over, yet as Paul so eloquently stated, “Rejoice in the Lord,” thus stating that the joy of the Lord outweighs the persecution despite hunger and economic hindrance, as well as a humiliating death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thus when he says, be anxious for nothing. The Nothing he is referring to is pain in life and pain in death. This is NOTHING in light of eternity, and therefore he called them to have an UNBREAKABLE FAITH. A faith that does not flinch in the faith of adversity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Philippians 4:6</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The term </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">merimnao </span></span></span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">refers to “Worry” or “concern.” And thus is the cause for anxiety. Sleep is to be lost, the heart palpitates, and panic takes the place of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Today anxiety is a disorder. It is a chemical imbalance that can require both psychological and medicinal treatment. But both are both mystical and dangerous. The world cannot escape the plague of anxiety for it’s origin </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">IS</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> the World. However Christians have adopted a worldly response to anxiety through psychology and mystical mediation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><h3><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Christian yoga has been on the rise and infiltrated the church. The center for Christian Yoga states it </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“simply allows us to combine these two essential goals: becoming physically healthy and spiritually healthy. We become more spiritually healthy through the yoga practice by calming our minds and quieting ourselves to the point that we can tune out the world's frequency and tune into God's frequency.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3><h3><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well I think these quasi-Christians need to get their heads out of the Himalayas and into the Bible. God’s frequency is not found in contorting your body to look like an antenna on a television, but through steadfast Worship, Humility, and Faith. Let me give you the Bibles call to worry and anxiety. STOP BEING ANXIOUS. Don’t be anxious for anything. Why? Because there is nothing to be anxious about? Why? BECAUSE CHRIST IS ON THE THRONE and he sovereignly controls all things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3><h3><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anxiety is a result from an adulterated view of the Sovereignty of God. Selfishly the Christian sees Christs teaching on worry as a fabrication or a lie all-together.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Luke 12:24-25 </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><i><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">24</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> "Consider the ravens</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">25</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The man who says “Well…He didn’t know about my job at that time.” Is merely disguising and justifying his anxiety by distorting what Christ said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Luke 21:34 </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Note that Christ equally lays out worrying as just as wasteful as drunkenness and wasting your life away. It’s efforts are fruitless and steal away the joy the Lord provided in his son Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In Short, we are to be anxious for nothing because there is nothing to be anxious about. Anxiety is pointless. It appears to be the “Release” for emotion, but merely shakes the faith we are to stand firmly upon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The lack of anxiety shows an unbreakable faith in the sovereignty of God. It displays that we truly do believe </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Romans 8:28, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“</span></span></i></span></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It reveals the confidence that all those things occur for God’s glory and our sanctification. Philippians 1:6 </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For I am </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thus, when the world strikes, we remember our immutable sovereign God whose plans are higher than ours and whose work within our lives requires the trials that we battle in. And we strike back in full force in spiritual stability with and unbreakable faith laid on the foundation of Christ alone. And therefore are anxious for nothing.</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unending Prayer</span></u></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The question arises though. “If we are not to be anxious then what are we to do with the things we were anxious about?”</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Paul clearly stated that we are to be anxious for nothing, however he continues on to say…</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Philippians 4:6 </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Note the IN EVERYTHING. Thus, all the things that can cause anxiety are dealt with in the same way as the things that bring you joy. This “Everything” includes joy and pain, persecution and victory, and Suffering and sanctification.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Command lies in </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">gnorizo. </span></span></span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It means that we are to make known to him everything and disclose everything before him. It is in the present tense denoting that this is a consistent act in our life, and not a one time thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Specifically it is speaking of consistently and always letting our requests be made known to God. That word “let” struck me. The first thought I had was, why would I not want to present these requests to God. However, I realized I do that when I seek to deal with it apart from God, and therefore have a misplaced view of Him.</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anxiety occupies your mind. It scatters your thinking and distorts the truth, and in the believer is produced through lack of faith and prayer to the Lord.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is foolishness, for we clearly see that our Sovereign God desires that we bring that which plagues us before him. And when don’t, it reveals our lack of trust in His power and person.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Therefore, Paul exhorts the Philippians to bring their requests of alleviation of tragedy and the desire for spiritual triumph before the Lord and to lay bare their hearts before him in prayer. I love that this is a command. Again, we have a glorious command to bring the Lord that which can plague our soul and seek refuge in Him. And he hears and responds.</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is done through unending prayer. It is made manifest in constant communion with God. We are to develop a habitual prayer life, and here it specifically speaks of our requests. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Paul uses two prepositional phrases here. The First is “by prayer and supplication.” And the other is “with thanksgiving.”</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Prayer and Supplication deals with 2 words. The First “Prayer”</span></span></span></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">proseuche</span></span></span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> refers to prayer in general sense, where supplication” or</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">deesis, </span></span></span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">refers to a specific prayer of need. Paul makes very clear here, Pray and be specific. In other words don’t just pray general prayers. True the Lord knows exactly what the situation is, however laying bare your requests before the Lord means you are laying yourself bare before the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unceasing prayer is a consistent acknowledgement of our absolute inability and desperate need before a holy God. Because we are a Christian does not lend us the right to entreaty God any different than we did the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What was your first prayer? It was the prayer for salvation.</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was on that day that we saw the depravity of our black heart and the offense it was in the presence of a holy God. We were struck dumb by the punishment met with the swift judgment of eternal Hell. It was the first time we saw that our father was the devil himself and Christ was coming to crush he and us for eternity. And out of faith given to us through the grace of the righteous judge we fell prostrate before him and beseeched of him to stop and acknowledged him as the one true God. We repented of our treachery and sin and laid bare before him. But the hand that we saw coming to crush us was reaching out to save us from the abyss of sin and depravity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Upon this salvation of which Christ alone can give, we prayed in petition and thanksgiving, whose product was tearful joy, for we received that which we never deserved. Life. A life that grows in the conformity of Christ, and a life that ends in eternal glorification in sinless perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our prayers today should be no different than the first.</span></span></span></u></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Paul states that our prayer should be WITH thanksgiving. Why? Because we are to never forget the payment Christ made on the cross to make our eternal life and </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">prayer</span></span></u></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> possible. We should always approach the throne in thankfulness, never asking for more pain, yet if it comes, we know who it is coming from. The one who reached out with his saving hand, and transformed us from enemies to sons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our prayer should be unending and our petition should always be in conjunction with the Lord’s Will. Spiritual Stability is sustained through prayer no matter how hard the trial or how weary the saint. </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“</span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”</span></span></u></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Romans 11:36</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. Undeniable Peace</span></u></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Philippians 4:7</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</span></span></u></i></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Paul sets up an equation of peace. Rejoicing in the Lord + Christlike Humility + Unbreakable Faith + Thankful Prayer = absolute Peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We speak of peace in terms of war. However the world has never truly been at peace, because nobody ever trusts one another.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">However, Paul makes clear that this is the peace of God. Therefore it is not only trustworthy, but bears all the attributes of God. It is everywhere, it is never ending, it is true, and it is secure.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And why does it surpass all understanding? Because nothing compares to it. The peace the world speaks of is a fantasy, it is but a mere truce between people. But the PEACE OF GOD IS A BARRICADE. The vilest of enemies cannot penetrate its barriers, and when they seek to attack, they see an unwaivering confidence and humility in the one on the other side. For despite the bloodied blows, peace remains in the Hearts and minds of those in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The terms hearts and minds refer to the entire person not just two separate parts. It is in the mind that thought occurs, It is the mind that knows the truth of Christ’s sovereignty and power, and it is in the heart that a zealous passion spills, clinging to the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Note this. Peace is a Barricade that guards, however it is not WHAT is the barricade but WHO is it. It is Jesus Christ, for we are </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">IN</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> him. When we are IN Christ nothing can penetrate, and the things which once plaugued us with anxiety mean nothing. For we have an unwavering confidence that Christ will always do what is best for his Children. Even if it means death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For our peace was found at Salvation Romans 5:1</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> through our Lord Jesus Christ,</span></span></u></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our Spiritual Stability rests upon Christ alone, and when we go outside of his throne-room and seek to deal with the enemy alone, we will always fail and fall prey to our anxious ways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yet although this peace prevails and guards, at time we treat it as a revolving door. This occurs when we see the peace originating from ourselves and therefore place ourselves as the author of our own salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Christ did not save us so we would be unstable. Rather he did, so that we can stand firm in the face of adversity, and not flinch as the spiritual tsunamis seek to engulf us. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For we are protected, forever, and stable in Christ alone. Who Loves us.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In 1660 John Bunyan was sent to prison for preaching without a license, however this was a ploy by the Anglican church to get the influential preacher away from the people. They sought to sway him towards their faith yet he replied, “You release me today and I’ll preach tomorrow.” A three month sentence turned into a 12 year stay in Bedford prison. </span></span></span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">During this time he wove shoelaces and preached to an imprisoned congregation of about sixty parishioners to support his family. In his possession were two books, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs and the Bible.</span></span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> In addition he had a violin he made out of tin, a flute he made from a chair leg and an unlimited supply of pen and paper.</span></span></span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> His lived in his cell where the door was not locked and his denial of the faith would lead to a swift release to his wife and Children. Yet he did not flinch in the fall prey to this demonic chant nor was he anxious for his family. For his peace was with God, and he understood the depth of his love. Bunyan writes,</span></span></span></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><b><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“These words, the faith of this, God loves me, will support thee in the midst of what dangers may assault thee. And this is that which is meant, when we are exhorted to rejoice in the Lord (Phil 3:1), to make our boast in the Lord (Psa 44:8); to triumph in Christ (2 Cor 2:14); and to set the Lord always before our face (Psa 16:8). For he that can do this thing stedfastly, cannot be overcome. For in God there is more than can be in the world, either to help or hinder; wherefore if God be my helper, if God loves me, if Christ be my redeemer, and has bestowed his love that passeth knowledge upon me, who can be against me? (Heb 13:6, Rom 8:31) and if they be against me, what disadvantage reap I thereby; since even all this also, worketh for my good? This is improving the love of God and of Christ for my advantage.”</span></span></span></i></b></p></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-40374220183438383622010-03-17T12:13:00.000-07:002010-03-18T14:56:15.402-07:005 Marks of Spiritual Stability: Part II - Unwavering Humility<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45jn9-4Udj1yshC_0NIkDXlrB2cI8GE85aPQEMKhfBbvmidMT3i2Uw3h9oBp6srOLtdjLXDIOUou_Y6892nhRfTQJ5mvnDIyqOfBOvNftZqEO1ORHVbwlZezO3eVHbwUrC9xlmx65Pl4R/s1600-h/Deadlogo7.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45jn9-4Udj1yshC_0NIkDXlrB2cI8GE85aPQEMKhfBbvmidMT3i2Uw3h9oBp6srOLtdjLXDIOUou_Y6892nhRfTQJ5mvnDIyqOfBOvNftZqEO1ORHVbwlZezO3eVHbwUrC9xlmx65Pl4R/s400/Deadlogo7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450096036925855154" /></a><br /><div><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Continued from Part I...</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><u>2. Unwavering Humility</u></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Philippians 4:5</span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Let your gentle </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">spirit </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">be known to all men. The Lord is near.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Amidst the Command for Unceasing Worship, He calls them to retain an unwavering Humility. This is a command however, not for our benefit alone but that of others. As the pressure of persecution rises Paul knows that men can scatter, and unity be a distant memory, thus he calls back into play that which he previously stated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Philippians 2:3-5 </span></span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is this spirit of Humility that must be made manifest in times of trial. When Paul says, “Let your gentle </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">spirit </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">be known to all men” another way to put it, is “make known to all men your reasonableness.” It refers to the consideration of others over self, and abdicates ones own constitution. Some have translated it “big heartedness” referring to a genuine care, concern and consideration for others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is also a command. </span></span></span></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(ginosko)</span></span></span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">means to come to know or recognize. Yet it is in the </span></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">aorist passive 3</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">rd</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> person. Meaning that it is not for us to know, but for others to consistently personally know the humility and forbearance of Christ through you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Note this. To the body of believers, it promotes Unity and stability when all are humbling themselves to each other. To the World, it promotes the gospel. True humility in the world stands out like a ketchup stain on a white shirt. The world cannot miss it, for the action of humility redefines their definition and causes them to examine Christ.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Therefore what is the testimony to our fellow believers and the world? Is is A humility drenched in vanity or a humility drenched in Christ?</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">THE LORD IS NEAR. – This is not referring to the approaching return of Christ as it is the immanence of his presence. Paul is reminding them that the Lord is always with them. He is the one who gives them courage in the face of adversity and fortitude when asked for the source of their good-will. He is near, for he is indwelling you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This again is another radical encouragement for the stability of the believer, the immanence of Christ. When they display humility to the World and others, the Lord is near. When the brother responds in loving-kindness the Lord is near. And when the world responds with its fist, the Lord is Near. Spiritual stability is found in the believer who retains his humility at all costs despite the present conditions of life.</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></p></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-79208251142943325352010-03-16T16:28:00.000-07:002010-03-17T13:05:59.864-07:005 Marks of Spiritual Stability: Part I - Unceasing Worship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwh9MhdUwgOfIeU-VGZ14DyjEqCvxLe7NkQVAPcAH-8m1RqJC8vd0TDkBcfMG3CD1y2iTxnop5auZWLVyZM7qyyiqh7bl8gxhjbo2ms9eFsgI2c2ItWeoLQtIgLWWbROU7LxQGTm8a7R9/s1600-h/Deadlogo2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwh9MhdUwgOfIeU-VGZ14DyjEqCvxLe7NkQVAPcAH-8m1RqJC8vd0TDkBcfMG3CD1y2iTxnop5auZWLVyZM7qyyiqh7bl8gxhjbo2ms9eFsgI2c2ItWeoLQtIgLWWbROU7LxQGTm8a7R9/s400/Deadlogo2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449384155641133554" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></b><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>Being anxious has become an art form. It has been mastered by every walk of life and has become a contemporary topic that is encouraged as a coping mechanism in times of uncertainty. It is a familiar friend who encourages us to fixate our gaze upon the coming events of life with trepidation. It encourages us to have sleepless nights plagued by haunting questions that loom in our minds. And when we seek to flee from it, it deceptively connives us into thinking more upon our need to escape it and therefore has won our focus upon it.</b></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>However, anxiety is a deceitful foe of our own invention that rears its ugly head from our own hearts. It is a mirror of the state of our soul and reveals the true focus of our person. Yet it is not to be suppressed but annihilated. It is not to be called upon but cut from our core. We are to be anxious for nothing. It should be a term we know of, but to not know personally, and be deaf to its piercing call. For our joy lies not in it, but in the savior who redeemed us from its sinful clutches. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><u><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>Philippians 4:4-7 </b></span></span></span></u></i><i><u><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b> </b></span></span></span></u></i><i><sup><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>4</b></span></span></span></sup></i><i><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b> Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! </b></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>5</b></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b> Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. </b></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>6</b></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b> Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. </b></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>7</b></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b> And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>The church of Philippi was a church forged from the roots of paganism. It was infested with Greek and Roman culture and never had enough Jews to be able to have a synagogue. Yet within this city a church was planted and filled with all classes of people. In Acts 16 we see Lydia, a wealthy woman whom came to Christ and whose home was used for the church. In the same chapter we see the Roman centurion whose citizenship to Rome was radically altered to citizenship in heaven upon an earthquake and the testimony of the gospel. Thus, the joy of the salvation of his entire family is etched into the pages of Scripture as a testimony that salvation is cross cultural and can pierce the most wretched of hearts. The church was thus filled with slaves and soldiers, wealthy and the poor, and Jew and Greek. It was a testimony of the how Christ can unite, and knit together, a people for himself of which the world cries to separate. Their citizenship in heaven transcends the color of their skin, the money in their pocket, or the paganism of which they were born. For all were saved by grace. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Paul writes to the poorest of all the churches at the end of his two-year imprisonment in Rome. They knew of his dedication to Christ through his imprisonment in Phillipi and saw first hand the physical repercussions of his beatings in their hometown. However, they were also being dealt the blow of persecution and death of which was far from its peak</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Leading up to Chapter 4 Paul spoke of his love of the work of Christ upon their lives, the supremacy of Christ in preaching, the call for Christ to be premier in all things, the humility of Christ himself upon the cross, and the sanctification Christ provides through faithful obedience to His Word. We know with absolute certainty that Christ was on the mind of Paul. He was the first and the last, the chancellor of the faith, the monarch of heaven, the centrifuge of righteousness, and the epicenter of joy. Paul knew the effects of sin all to well, yet it was a mere piece of straw compared to the infinite delight found in Christ Jesus. Thus, his cry to the church of Philipi was to remember Christ and rejoice in Christ alone, despite the afflictions of the depraved planet</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Thus amidst this strife Paul echoed a gift from Christ. Spiritual Stability.</span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Despite the onslaught of hate upon the redeemed, Christ offered a way to stand firm.</span></span></span></b></span></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Philippians 4:1</span></span></span></b><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">5 Marks of Spiritual Stability</span></span></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">1. Unceasing Worship</span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></b></span></span></b></span></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Philippians 4:4 </span></span></span></i></b><b><i><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">4</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Rejoice. Paul uses this term 8 times in Philippians and 25 times in all of his writings. It is the constant cry of his ministry to not suppress the souls response to Christ which is joy. It is not a selfish declaration of vain works, but a focused worship upon the one who breathed eternal life into the lungs of dead and depraved men. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The word Rejoice,</span></span></span></b><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></span></b><b><i><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kairete</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">), </span></span></span></span></i></b><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">is an </span></span></span></b><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">imperative present active, meaning that it is a command for the redeemed to always be rejoicing. In what? IN THE LORD! <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">(Kairete en kurio) REJOICE </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">IN THE LORD</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">. It is not the rejoice of self promotion or vain Glory but rather the Christ, the only son of God. The deceitful cry of the world clammers for us to rejoice in our personal accolades and to follow our own heart. And in churches across the globe we are called to give ourselves a spiritual pat on the back and rejoice for our choice of Christ and of life.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">But Paul brings his call to rejoicing to the crescendo. Rejoicing in Christ's immutable person, his sovereign power, and his saving Grace. Christ is the supreme focus and not self. </span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">In Addition this Rejoicing is commanded to Never Cease. Rejoice in the Lord, </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ALWAYS</span></span></u></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">! <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Always means always. (Pantote) At all times. Never Ceasing. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Thus, in times of heartache, affliction, persecution, temptation, and strife, Christ is always to be worshipped, and that worship is the product of joy in Christ. It is the unceasing worship of him that smashes the scales of adversity, and refines the sanctification of the humble.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Rejoice in the Lord always; </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">again I will say, rejoice! <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">This is the final time he mentions this term in the epistle and you can tell how important joy is to him. He hammers home this command of joy, for in his own life it destroyed his vanity and generated a boasting, a worship, that is in Christ alone.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></i></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">It is a detriment to delineate the commands of Scripture, yet some seek to say they are not a list of do’s and don’ts. This is done to elevate self over Savior out of a fear of legalism. However they are a righteous list! Remember this is not your Mom or boss giving you a list of chores to do, but rather the creator of the universe commanding you for your protection from evil and sanctification of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Far too often do we take the commands of the Word and take affront to their call, but we are not rebellious 10-year olds, we are children of the most high God. And this is a command for joy! <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">It is not a command for lament but joy in the victory of Christ over sin, and His resurrection from the dead.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">This is not a worship to merely drown out the clanging gong of persecution, but in spite of it. Paul knew of the sinister forces that plagued the church and knew of his brethrens dealings with it. And thus he commands their UNCEASING Worship of a Holy God. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">This was not a new command for the soldiers of Christ, but rather one that has comforted and dominated the hearts of the followers of the one true God.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Isaiah 41:15-16 </span></span></span></b><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">15</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> "Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges; You will thresh the mountains and pulverize </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">them</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, And will make the hills like chaff. </span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">16</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> "You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, And the storm will scatter them; But you will rejoice in the Lord</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Trials and adversity have struck every man who has walked this earth, and the answer has always been the same. Rejoice in the Lord, and never cease. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span style=" line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Paul understood full well what the Philippians were up against, for he tasted his own blood in their pagan city. Thus he pillages the hearts of fear of man, and directs them to a love of Christ. He has thus reminded them of the power and sovereignty of our Savior, and thus reminds them that despite how hare the world hits you, it never surpasses the greatness, glory, and sovereignty of Christ alone. For </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Unceasing Worship is a Fruit of the stable Christian.</span></span></span></b></span></span></b></span></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:footnote-list"><div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn1"> </div></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-48795926354747393672010-03-06T22:18:00.000-08:002010-03-08T20:32:30.436-08:00JESUS HATES<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjwi4bOmpripIPnkxZmcJjJk_MhpxBAYXA24A1OmlFiWfjlvXwYs70vY3nDZ-8U4RQFV2PxzFJPJgENdp8EzZfqGQK4AG0XPCP1W61jIUdmMmQDzb3kHpy0suFeZsiTjk7zu2K5F61dLW/s1600-h/1+logo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjwi4bOmpripIPnkxZmcJjJk_MhpxBAYXA24A1OmlFiWfjlvXwYs70vY3nDZ-8U4RQFV2PxzFJPJgENdp8EzZfqGQK4AG0XPCP1W61jIUdmMmQDzb3kHpy0suFeZsiTjk7zu2K5F61dLW/s400/1+logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446388075522795890" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He is placed at the helm of the controversy. His exploits and his message is released to a wanting public craving to understand that which consistently confuses them. He is described as a carpenter born in a ratty town and at thirty took the world by storm while being a god who began to establish his kingdom on a broken planet. He came to die for the sins of all men and earnestly sits on the edge of his throne waiting for them to see his image on a cross, or his face on the wall of a friend, and anticipates their choice of him so that he can fill his eternal kingdom with people who need to be loved and comforted. Yet through his divine love he has opened the treasure trove of grace to those who don't understand or have even heard of his name, and by the shear wonder of the creator of a praying mantis they enter into the eternal bliss of his abode to forever serve the one who saved them without their knowledge from a mythical place called hell. His name...is Jesus. And Jesus Christ hates him.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Rampant paganism infects every crevice of the globe. It festers in the gutters of our communities the history books of our schools and seeps into the cracks of the walls of the church making its way to the pulpit. And Jesus Christ hates this. Where it is as prominent as a musk ox at a baby shower. He hates it. And where it is as deceptive as Faberge egg with a misleading tactile balance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. He hates it because Christ is a holy God with a holy message and requires a holy response. Thus he hates all false testimonies, for even the slightest distortion of his person is the gravest of errors and the presentation of another, and not Christ alone. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The pagan Jesus is just as an affront to the one true Christ as Buddha or Muhammad. He is just as powerful as the block of wood which was graven his image. He is a fairy tale, a lie, and the gateway drug to a libertine life and eternal hell. And yet again. Jesus Christ hates him for he is the most high God whose holiness screams perfection, pronounced sovereignty, and damns the treachery of his false counter-part. He is a jealous God who hates sin. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is this astonishing to think about? The hatred of Christ. Rather, it is something far too neglected from the pulpits and contemporary pockets of evangelicalism. The holiness of God is exchanged for a misrepresentation of the person and message of Christ. This maligned focus on the "love" of Christ, blurs the wondrous truth in the lens of the Christians camera by establishing man-centered elements generated to woo the seeker and justify the sin of the man in the pew and the pulpit. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we neglect to understand what Christ hates, we repudiate that which he loves. As his soldiers in battle we are to hate the sin and the foe which seeks to defile and defame the name above all names. We are to hate the evil that once ruled over us and our sinister former father who sought to lead us to hell with an inoculated smile on our face. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yet because of his person and his hatred of sin, Christ broke the shackles of the enemy and crushed the table on which our ransom was due, and what is our response?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do we justify slight sin? Do we rest on elementary teachings which abase us from a responsibility of sin? Do we generate a Jesus who is our homeboy or fall prostrate before the creator of the universe? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dear Reader. You must ask yourself this question before you continue. Do you understand what it is to hate? It is the cry for the redeemed in Christ to hate sin. To plow into battle out of hatred of the foe and unwavering love for our general. It is to battle as warriors against deception and lies that seek to taint our great Savior's name. It is thoughtful hate, emotional hate, knowledgeable hate and a separating hate which declines the a-moral cry of a sin-soaked world to yield to ones own constitution. We are to know what it is to hate. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What does Jesus hate?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Haughty Eyes</span></span></u></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates pride. Pride is the desire to elevate self over God. This is the starting and ending point for all sin. It arrives when one worships the creature rather than the creator and seeks to usurp the authority and standards God decreed to his creation. In the garden man fell because of it, at the foot of Sinai men were killed because of it, and at the cross Christ was killed because of it. Christ hates pride because it diverts the attention and glory due to him. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yet many have sought to use Christ as the mascot for their "ministry" which proclaims their spiritual affluence and cultural relativity. Many have sought to mute the call to righteousness proclaimed from the throne of holy God and generated their own exegesis of it. Yet you cannot clasp your hands over the snout of a roaring lion. You cannot temper the deafening blow of a nuclear blast. And certainly you cannot escape the fury and thunderous voice of Christ at judgment. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Psalm 101:5 states, "Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure." </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The haughty eyes declare a finite view of God and a elevated view of self yet they will not stand. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yet this is the Jesus that is proclaimed by the so-called saints. It is a Jesus who lacks in majesty, a Jesus that can be approached in flip-flops and a Mr. Potato head grin. This cavalier attitude will not stand before the king for despite all one does to generate a mutual Jesus, he cannot and will not taint the King. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A Lying Tongue</span></span></u></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates liars. One lying for self servitude paints a corrupt picture to fill his head with pride and his wallet with cash. His palatial house is built upon a Jello-mold luring people in to rob them of the truth. The liar destroys the truth through the misrepresentation of Christ. He is a loving God who saves all. He is a kind God who has no power over evil. He is a subservient God who is here for you. Lies! A distortion and disregard for the truth. Pastors across the globe lie to themselves and the sheep on an easy-believism which saves you into the local country club with the cross on the door. The deceptive lips of the liar are met with a quivering toungue seeking to taste the innocence of their prey. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates it, why? Because he does not lie, and he abhors all that is evil. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Titus 1:2 "in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hands that Shed Innocent Blood</span></span></u></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates murder. When Pride deepens it seeks self glory above all else, including human life. They see those created in the image of God as human Dixie cups and take no care in their disposal. This occurs when there is a lack of control over anger, and the heart is corrupted in vanity. They search out their victim and kill for the momentary joy of carnal delight as their victims warm blood covers their flesh. Yet as it cools they seek another victim of momentary pleasure and submerge themselves in the hunt. Yet this is not just in the physical death, for the battle lies in the mind as well. Christ says upon the mount in Matthew 5:21-22 21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother," </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unrighteous anger leads to the facade of justifiable wickedness. But is this only aligned to physical death? No. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The wicked see the innocent as living stepping stones whose gentile nature is a vehicle to their own agenda. This seeps its way into the church when pastors see themselves as spiritual stock-traders willing to disdain the sheep to build the foyer in "Me Community Church." They have shaved the hair from their wolfish bodies and tattooed themselves to resemble a sheep. They make their way to the front of the barn on Sunday mornings appearing loving yet behind closed doors he rips the flesh from their bones. Why? For personal triumph. As the saying goes, "Outlast your critics." True words, yet many wish to feast on them. For they have a soft smile on their face, but an anger that will obliterate even the slightest of opposition of an innocent obstacle. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A Heart that Devises Wicked Plans</span></span></u></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates Deception. Wicked men have the goal and existentially establish it as righteous and therefore anything will do to arrive upon the pedestal. They will skewer anyone who gets in their path and connive and steal their way to their earthly kingdom. Jesus Christ hates this. He hates the treachery of the mans hearts. He hates the wiles of them getting there, and he hates the outcome of sinful devices. For Christ came with the utmost mission. The cross. His thirty-three years of earthly life were fixated upon an hour. It is within that hour that the wicked plans of man would come to fruition and their hatred upon the Creator of the galaxies and generator of righteousness would be poured. Yet although he knew he would be the blunt of the accusations of injustice and the culmination of wicked deception his love was for the Father and his people. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He walked head-on into the wicked plans of man, but was not deceived. Because although it was the finger of man that pronounced the death of Christ, it was the finger of God that pronounced the death of sin. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The cross displayed both the unrighteous hate of man upon the Lord, and the Lords righteous hate of man's sin upon the Savior. Both were displayed yet only one was glorious. Despite the device of the evil, it will never make the Lord flinch. Job 5:12-13, states, "He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success. He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><u>Feet that Run to Evil</u></b></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><u></u></b>Jesus hates the love of evil. The delights of a man's heart reveal the delights of a man's soul. As the progression of hate continues we see how once man deceives himself, he sets himself up for opportunity. Yet this hypocrisy can be veiled or unveiled. To begin with, there are those who glory in their sin. There is nothing to be hidden. The coldness of their heart is revealed in their affront to righteousness. The bumper sticker that screams the abasement to the living God and the desire for all that repulses him reveals the heart of the driver. Yet the veiled heart reveals the truth of the heart of the man deceiving himself then others. He takes delight when the cashier gives him extra change and considers it a fortuitous joy to find pornography in a public restroom. When sin rings its bell, he salivates as one of Pavlov's dogs. He is at the ready to embrace it yet deceives the innocent around him into thinking he is a pillar of righteousness. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates this. He abhors it and desires nothing more to destroy the offense to him. Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."</span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><u>A False Witness who promotes familial chaos</u></b></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><u></u></b>Jesus hates dissension. The pride of the dissenter seeks to serve himself in his own sin by generating chaos amongst the family. His mission is clear - To destroy the church. He etches his dissension on the body like a hoodlum carves his name on a public mirror. He distorts the image of truth with swift fashion to build frustration and madness on his deprave campaign. He will lie in the face of his grandmother and appear to have honey dripping off his lips. He will skillfully gossip and make it appear as concern rather than a deceptive blow to his conquest. He never considers the cost as the broken hearts and bodies of the saints pile up below his feet. He inhales the stench of sin and it smells sweeter than the aroma of righteousness. Up is Down. Left is Right. Black is White. And though his backward mind directs him, he understands the thinking of his victims. Therefore he maligns the truth with what appears mild error, and builds his forces by rallying the goats in sheep clothing. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">His dissension knows how to devastate and recruit the undiscerning. Charles Spurgeon said, "Discernment is not the difference between right and Wrong. It is the difference between right and almost right." The dissenter knows that, and Jesus Christ hates it. <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Christ loves his children. He protects his redeemed and is a jealous God. He has the utmost hatred for dissension and gossip. He is a God who hates evil. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></span></i></b></span></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></span></i></b></span></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></span></i></b></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are many who claim to know the true Christ. They divert the gaze from the cross onto self, they malign the truth with the indoctrination of worldly pleasure. They create a convoy to distort the truth of who Christ is and call it evangelicalism. Jesus hates it. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Why does Jesus hate with an infinite hatred? Because he loves with an infinite love? He does not just kind of hate, or love a lot. It is infinite. His hate will thrust the soul of a son of Satan to the furthest place from his throne, and his love will sandblast the most wretched of sin and cling eternally to the soul he purified. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The question is this. Do you hate as God Hates? Do you love as God loves? If you answer yes, then your complacent heart has revealed your mediocre view of God almighty for he loves and hates infinitely. Yet we are to ever grow in the likeness of him and earnestly grow in our hatred of sin and our love of Christ. The more you love Christ, the more you hate evil. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">May the Jesus we proclaim be the Jesus who sits on the throne interceding for us as we read this now, and not the impostor the pulpits seek to sell in order to buy their congregations. May we be a zealous people who never rest in our craving of Christ, and never cease from a loving obedience to Him. </span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus hates many things yet if you are saved he loves you. But don't fall into the trap of denial. May you not seek to cause dissension in your own heart and think that just because Jesus loves you he doesn't hate the sin you commit.</span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></span></i></b></span></span></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></span></i></b></span></div></div></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-49850071924766395862010-03-05T16:39:00.000-08:002010-03-09T09:01:39.582-08:00WHERE HAVE ALL THE PURITANS GONE?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZRlU9bQnbQHwJcXNq38-L6wBtI45092zn59EhaNjaUb48Zsh8-Am087iD2XJ5gGsvCxNYUgk2zAen6XoWvzu-Og6hOgT9ZRETs_CSqicACJ_Jo4uYxNm4jpW4UU90KbmavuP8a27sqYk/s1600-h/puritanbeef.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 173px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZRlU9bQnbQHwJcXNq38-L6wBtI45092zn59EhaNjaUb48Zsh8-Am087iD2XJ5gGsvCxNYUgk2zAen6XoWvzu-Og6hOgT9ZRETs_CSqicACJ_Jo4uYxNm4jpW4UU90KbmavuP8a27sqYk/s320/puritanbeef.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370726556606087874" /></a><br />Well if you are reading this, you might just be one. That does not mean that this blog has been transcribed from screen to paper so you can read it by candle light before 5 am Hebrew prayer just early <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">enough </span>to fill up your horse with some fuel and traverse the glorious countryside. <div><br /></div><div>This is an Ode to the Puritan of the 21st century. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NEO</span>-PURITAN! </div><div>With Bible in mind, heart, and backpack, he walks the streets with an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ipod</span> filled with truth. As he listens to modernized hymns by Bob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kauflin</span> he walks to the local Starbucks to sit and mediate on Edwards"Religious Affections" <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">laboriously</span> digging away at the vast vocabulary in order to mine the deep spiritual truths that will feed his soul. </div><div><br /></div><div>To what purpose? <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Intelligence</span>, knowledge, clout, or to be the unique guy who sits in the corner of the local coffee depot who reads books with men who wear but a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Whig</span> and a black tablecloth? None of that. Simply put. Glory. With every breath of lung and every beat of heart, and every moment of consciousness, it is dedicated to the undisputed glory of God. For whatever he does, whether he eat a scone, drink a latte, walk the streets, load his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ipod</span>, fill up his dodge neon, he does all to the glory of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>But where is he? Where is this guy who we want to meet at that coffee shop and be the only one that knows that the cover of Edwards bio is not about a man with a bad haircut. If he is not in the coffee shop, is he at work? If he is not at work, is he at church? Well if you make your way through a service and through the bulletin that resembles something more of the local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">PennySaver</span>, you might have to question...Is he even in the pulpit? Why has the dedication to the study of God's Word, the ever present understanding of Gods holiness as the standard for every word that proceeds from mouth, the purity of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">pulpit</span>, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">exhaustion</span> of all been exchanged for a non-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">offensive</span> sermons and a copy of the Message?</div><div><br /></div><div>O where have all the puritans gone. Now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">don't</span> go crazy and wish that you lived in the 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> Century in order to be with such surveyors of the cross. Really...small pox and no plumbing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">aren't</span> all its cracked up to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>Where are they you ask? Well the answer is the title of this blog. They are dead. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">originals</span> are gone from this earth and now basking in the eternal presence of Christ himself. Yeah...I'm jealous too. But What of us today? Do we take up the mantle of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">neo</span>-puritans. Do we wield our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">powerbook</span> with purpose, do we enjoy the ease of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">excavation</span> with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">libronix</span>. Do we do all unto the glory of God with diligence and dedication and all love? Well if the answer is yes, grab a bumper sticker that says "I Brake because God <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">sovereignly</span> decreed it" and may we seek to find one another out. </div><div> </div><div>In order to reach the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Neo</span>-Puritans from the far reaches of this globe I dedicate this blog. As a fellow NP I understand what is happening to our churches today. I can see the decay of the quasi-Christianity that was built upon sand. I hear the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">clammering</span> of the evangelical dinner bell that seeks to feed our flesh and starve our souls. BUT MAY IT STOP! May it stop not through anger, hatred, bitterness, or malice for our so-called brethren. But may we live unto the glory of God with saturating heart soul and mind with nothing else but God's Precious Word, and once we have our fill may we pour it out to him in prayer and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">proclamation</span> not for our best life now, but for the express purpose of Glory and adoration of He who died for Me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Where are all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Neo</span>-Puritans. Well. There is one right here. Writing this blog. This one is laboring through Overcoming Sin and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Temptation</span> by John Owen. Seeking to write a blog about each chapter, while its gravity takes my attention nearly 15 minutes a page to fully mediate on this quarry of nuggets of truth. </div><div><br /></div><div>So where are you? Are you out there? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-46927433102840043722010-03-01T13:32:00.000-08:002010-03-09T09:02:37.804-08:00What type of Bride are we?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnnJ0py-vX9KPjvIz9H3iYghkC9Pr4sOAelVgyLheELlHOMfQ9q9VTeqen2bc6jeQIFoP_I9dzVHaMsRLJqhcqEsBaFI3tO9ErS_EHNa9YSugvyLmRZUdvWQbkO-ZrelCBRPO07A5oLuO/s1600-h/puritan-woman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnnJ0py-vX9KPjvIz9H3iYghkC9Pr4sOAelVgyLheELlHOMfQ9q9VTeqen2bc6jeQIFoP_I9dzVHaMsRLJqhcqEsBaFI3tO9ErS_EHNa9YSugvyLmRZUdvWQbkO-ZrelCBRPO07A5oLuO/s320/puritan-woman.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401878387981191746" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In the distance the Bride approaches. This is the day the groom has been preparing for. He had chosen his bride and gave everything for her, and now was the time to be wed. As the wedding march begins to play his heart begins to beat, his smile is contagious, and nothing occupies his mind but embracing his bride. The doors begin to creak open in the back of the church and he breaks all protocol. He begins to run toward her. He sees a flash of white behind the door, and is unaware of the faces around him that have dropped their jaws in amazement. All he wants is her and he approaches the open doors with full force. The doors opens, and he stops. He is speechless and amazed as he gazed upon her standing there. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">She stood in what appeared to be a wedding dress. It was crumpled on the seems and the train was no longer white but tan from walking through the street. He was surprised at the oatmeal from her breakfast that was caked on stomach but even more surprised at the yellowed stains coming from beneath her arms. Her hair was unkept and there was no make-up to be found, in fact there were black circles under her eyes from staying up the night before. But what shook his heart, was not her appearance, but her demeanor. She looked upon him with eyes lacking in love and was apparently not eager for this day. She looked at the groom, yawned, and said, "can we get this over with?"</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">As Christ died for the church and gave himself up for her, he eagerly awaits the marriage feast. He has gone to prepare a place for us that is unimaginable by human minds, and he continually interceded for us. But have we taken care of our dress? Have we prepared for the day when we meet him with much excitement. Or do we stand there, complacent. What type of Bride are we?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The bride is to present itself before the one whom died for her, yet in this day and age it appears the bride thinks herself more important than the groom and that she is the one seeking to dominate a relationship of which the groom is the head. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-46131266800929886722010-02-08T16:27:00.000-08:002010-03-09T21:29:23.527-08:00Patrick Hamilton: The First Scottish Reformer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkbjeLKf93M6JFC1LpN8urnfYqxH9Q_LO30YLW1Cq8zX2_beV5PTGCQs1dPkcSKjFUQLwfFLC4KdBtUDNkngrQC30qLGK6aRoIUtBPtZVTT4veBohBuGYfyL9PyuE47OvhOlCDpo2Ogrw/s1600-h/patrick_hamilton.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkbjeLKf93M6JFC1LpN8urnfYqxH9Q_LO30YLW1Cq8zX2_beV5PTGCQs1dPkcSKjFUQLwfFLC4KdBtUDNkngrQC30qLGK6aRoIUtBPtZVTT4veBohBuGYfyL9PyuE47OvhOlCDpo2Ogrw/s320/patrick_hamilton.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413027303845505186" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Before the first millennia Scotland was a nation committed to the proclamation and evangelism of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These men of zeal would travel in small boats held together with the skins of animals, and braved the treacherous seas so that the lost could hear the gospel of Christ. In the midst of this formation of measures, the world was showing its need of a reformation as the reign of Roman Catholicism began to plague Europe.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">As all diseases spread, the doctrine crept across the North Sea and infiltrated Scotland’s borders. By the twelfth Century, under the reign of King David I, the demolition of the true church was completed, and in its stead sat Catholicism. Dr. Alexander Skene wrote:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The old Celtic Church came to an end, leaving no vestiges behind it, save here and there the roofless walls of what had been a church, and the numerous burying grounds to the use of which the people still cling with tenacity, and where occasionally an ancient Celtic cross tells of its former state. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">By the 1500’s the nation which was once deep seated in truth, was adulterated by false teaching. However, this did not deter a remnant from the desire to know, and live for the truth of Christ.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In 1526, a twenty-three year old Scottish man named Patrick Hamilton began hearing rumblings of men who were teaching the riches God’s Word in Europe. His royal lineage, along with his education at the University of Paris, primed him to be a formidable noble in Scotland, however Hamilton knew what was occurring in Europe was not common. With a passion for truth he left his homeland to find and meet with his modern day heroes of the faith. He went from country to country and eventually traveled to Germany where he met with William Tyndale and John Frith. Tyndale was a third of the way through his time of translating the Bible into English. Hamilton would have been amazed at the medium of print, as Tyndale was the first to use this to greatly affect distribution of the Holy Scriptures. To sit at the feet of Tyndale and hear the zeal this man had for his countrymen would have been infectious. His journey was out of necessity, for if in England he would have been killed for the labor that fed his soul.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hamilton came to Wittenberg at the best time in history to visit. Here he met the herald that shook the planet with his pen, Martin Luther. This was just six years after the Diet of Worms, where Luther was called to renounce the truth of salvation and affirm the heretical teaching of the Catholic Church. Where others died from such words, the Lord spared Luther. Hamilton would have heard of this great event from mouth of the man who uttered the words to the rulers of the world, “</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other, my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."</span></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/CALLOUSED%20TO%20THE%20CROSS/Chapter%201.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Being just five years from the first published Bible in German, Hamilton would hold in his hands that which men had died for. Luther welcomed Hamilton into his home and he sat and dined with Martin Luther and his bride of two years </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Katharina von Bora, or Katie as Luther called her</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">. To hear the story first hand of how she, as a nun, heard of salvation by grace through faith, embraced the truth, escaped the clutches of the Catholic Church and found her way into Luther’s life would have moved his soul. But to be able to sit at the base of Luther’s pulpit, sing in thunderous accord the hymns he penned, and hear the glories of Christ preached from the Word of God, for the genuine glory of God, would have been the highlight of all.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hamilton heard how Christ’s death on the cross was the perfect sacrifice for God, that Christ was the only worthy sacrifice, and salvation comes by grace alone through faith. But upon this hour Hamilton’s heart was fixated on the hearts of countrymen. He had been dining at a banquet of the Word while his brethren were starving. He longed for them to hear this truth and embrace that which transformed him. Thus he departed from this spiritual journey which gripped his soul and headed back to bring the light of Christ to Scotland. Hamilton did not return as an educated noble, but the first reformed preacher armed with the impenetrable truth of God’s word that unveiled the deception ingrained in his homeland. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hamilton returned to his home of Kingscavel and began to proclaim the foundation of the</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Reformation, “By grace ye are saved.”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">William Blaikie writes, “Never did the silver trumpet sound more sweetly or richly; and as it fell on the ears of men who had never heard it before, it was at once recognized as the trumpet of heaven.”</span><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/CALLOUSED%20TO%20THE%20CROSS/Chapter%201.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A few months after his arrival, he married and continued to spread this message throughout Scotland. The young preacher was embraced in public and in secret for his courteous and respectable behavior to all people. However, it was his zeal for the truth and clarity of speech that began to spread of light in darkness.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Many who heard were in a spiritual famine and eagerly devoured this truth.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hamilton had all things a young man could desire. A country he loved, the wife of his youth, nobility, influence, and the truth about the cross of Christ. His popularity began to spread and eventually made way to the archbishop of St. Andrews. Hamilton was summoned by the Archbishop, and a decree was issued to nationally expel him and his “heretical” teaching. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The arrogance of the church was displayed as they sought to make Hamilton a national example despite his popularity and nobility.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The trial was just as shameful as it was unjust, and the verdict that was determined before the trial ended was pronounced. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Death. Hamilton was taken before St. Andrews, tied to a stake and the timber was lit. They burned him slowly for six hours, a desperate trial he endured with grace.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A man of twenty-four embraced the flames of earthly fire to enter into the gates of eternal heaven where he would be welcomed by the one whom died more tragically than he.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The news of his death echoed through Scotland and was met with curiosity as to the message he proclaimed. Patrick Hamilton’s ministry lasted but one year, yet catapulted the true gospel of grace to his countrymen. The Archbishop, thinking he was putting out a small flicker of light, lit a fuse leading to a paramount Reformation.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He was the first of the Scottish Reformers, and his life, ministry, and death ignited a passion in many others. Twenty years later the spiritual successor of Hamilton, John Knox took the helm of the Reformation of which the impact has not been extinguished to this day. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Why the zeal for the truth? Why the willingness to die? Why grace in the face of adversity? Because, he was radically sensitive to the Cross of Jesus Christ and the eternal grace of which it endued. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hamilton did not leave the world empty handed as to his thoughts on Christ and the cross; he had written a short treatise entitled </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Patrick’s Places</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">. Upon hearing of his death, before his own martyrdom, John Frith translated and published the document in English. He writes: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><i><span style=" font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Law saith,<br /> Pay thy debt.<br /> Thou art a sinner desperate.<br /> And thou shalt die.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Gospel saith,<br /> Christ hath paid it.<br /> Thy sins are forgiven thee.<br /> Be of good comfort, thou shalt be saved.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Law saith,<br /> Make amends for thy sin.<br /> The Father of Heaven is wrath with thee.<br /> Where is thy righteousness, goodness, and satisfaction?<br /> Thou art bound and obliged unto me, to the devil, and to hell.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Gospel saith,<br /> Christ hath made it for thee.<br /> Christ hath pacified him with his blood.<br /> Christ is thy righteousness, thy goodness, and satisfaction.<br /> Christ hath delivered thee from them all</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <div style="mso-element:footnote-list"> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <div id="ftn1"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/CALLOUSED%20TO%20THE%20CROSS/Chapter%201.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">[Bainton, pp. 142-144].</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn2"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/CALLOUSED%20TO%20THE%20CROSS/Chapter%201.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Blaikie, William G. The Preachers of Scotland: From the Sixth to the Nineteenth Century. T & T Clark, Edinburgh, 1888. Pg. 49-51</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-48711395606959744692009-12-17T20:48:00.001-08:002009-12-20T10:49:01.340-08:00A Whitfield Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbus-ZapufdOFz_ovfbuUCnMl3iBczGWYU7q4x-NMf38_TQgck4jdhuMl_gedZfkWbeaDSSlQcQs3rjn-JtA9M9MUdSIBS7j_RB3zCX1arsIchpIR6IkGqJSzKm23wqdNPJvI1E_5ByBkp/s1600-h/Christmas.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbus-ZapufdOFz_ovfbuUCnMl3iBczGWYU7q4x-NMf38_TQgck4jdhuMl_gedZfkWbeaDSSlQcQs3rjn-JtA9M9MUdSIBS7j_RB3zCX1arsIchpIR6IkGqJSzKm23wqdNPJvI1E_5ByBkp/s320/Christmas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416454819858259442" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>We live in a day and age where Christmas has been commercialized and Christ has been taken out of Christmas. In a recent Gap ad the statement is cheered from smiling faces "Go Christmas. Go Hanukkah. Go Kawanza. Go Solstice." Where-as Hanukkah is the celebration of religious freedom brought through Maccabean revolt, in one fell swoop Universalism ensues to include Judaism, a made-up African holiday, and a pagan event known as solstice celebrated by the Children of the Moon.With a smile and a swift dance move, this clothing company takes the birth of our Lord and treats it as a universal stocking stuffer.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>But has it always been this bad? To answer the question is this. No. In fact, it was worse. George Whitfield lived in an era where Christians debated on celebrating the birth of our Lord because the event was an excuse for drunken debauchery. He speaks to the drinking and frivolous gambling (which are the games of dice and cards in his day), which delineates and defames the glory of the birth of the God-Man Jesus Christ. The roots of the history are deep as the celebration of Christmas was so defamed and marred that the church suggested falling prey to worldliness and leaving out the celebration at all. However, Whitfield deals with this battle and affirms, yes, we should celebrate this joyous occasion, but how? Commercially? Corporately? or with Glory?</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>The following sermon deals with the reason of Why we should celebrate the birth of the king of Kings and Lord of Lords. We can either sit and point out the rankness of others, or we can spend that time dwelling upon the Prince of Peace. I debated on shortening the length of the sermon, but could not butcher this piece like that. We're all grown-ups here and in need the radical truth which encapsulated the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>This is the Dead Puritans gift to you this Christmas. May it feed your soul and may you have blessed Christmas. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">_____________________</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Observation of the Birth of Christ </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">by George Whitfield</span></i></span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Matthew </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1:21</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, "And she shall bring forth a Son, and then shalt call his Name Jesus: For he shall save his People from their Sins."</span></span></p><span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The celebration of the birth of Christ hath been esteemed a duty by most who profess Christianity. When we consider the condescension and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, in submitting to be born of a virgin, a poor sinful creature; and especially as he knew how he was to be treated in this world; that he was to be despised, scoffed at, and at last to die a painful, shameful, and ignominious death; that he should be treated as though he was the off-scouring of all mankind; used, not like the son of man, and, therefore, not at all like the Son of God; the consideration of these things should make us to admire the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was so willing to offer himself as a ransom for the sins of the people, that when the fullness of time was come, Christ came, made of a woman, made under the law: he came according to the eternal counsel of the Father; he came, not in glory or in splendor, not like him who brought all salvation with him: no, he was born in a stable, and laid in a manger; oxen were his companions. O amazing condescension of the Lord Jesus Christ, to stoop to such low and poor things for our sake. What love is this, what great and wonderful love was here, that the Son of God should come into our world in so mean a condition, to deliver us from the sin and misery in which we were involved by our fall in our first parents! And as all that proceeded from the springs must be muddy, because the fountain was so, the Lord Jesus Christ came to take our natures upon him, to die a shameful, a painful, and an accursed death for our sakes; he died for our sins, and to bring us to God: he cleansed us by his blood from the guilt of sin, he satisfied for our imperfections; and now, my brethren, we have access unto him with boldness; he is a mediator between us and his offended Father. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Therefore, if we do but consider into what state, and at how great a distance from God we are fallen; how vile our natures were; what a depravity, and how incapable to restore that image of God to our souls, which we lost in our first parents: when I consider these things, my brethren, and that the Lord Jesus Christ came to restore us to that favor with God which we had lost, and that Christ not only came down with an intent to do it, but actually accomplished all that was in his heart towards us; that he raised and brought us into favor with God, that we might find kindness and mercy in his sight; surely this calls for some return of thanks on our part to our dear Redeemer, for this love and kindness to our souls. How just would it have been of him, to have left us in that deplorable state wherein we, by our guilt, had involved ourselves? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For God could not, nor can receive any additional good by our salvation; but it was love, mere love; it was free love that brought the Lord Jesus Christ into our world about 1700 years ago. What, shall we not remember the birth of our Jesus? Shall we yearly celebrate the birth of our temporal king, and shall that of the King of kings be quite forgotten? Shall that only, which ought to be had chiefly in remembrance, be quite forgotten? God forbid! No, my dear brethren, let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church, with joy in our hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer, which redeemed us from sin, from wrath, from death, from hell, be always remembered; may this Savior's love never be forgotten! But may we sing forth all his love and glory as long as life shall last here, and through an endless eternity in the world above! May we chant forth the wonders of redeeming love, and the riches of free grace, amidst angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, without intermission, for ever and ever! </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And as, my brethren, the time for keeping this festival is approaching, let us consider our duty in the true observation thereof, of the right way for the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls, to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; an event which ought to be had in eternal remembrance. </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I. My brethren, I am to show when your celebration of this festival is not of the right kind.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And FIRST, you do not celebrate this aright, when you spend most of your time in cards, dice, or gaming of any sort. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is a season, for which there is no more allowance for wasting of your precious time in those unlawful entertainments, than any other. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Persons are apt to flatter themselves that they are free and at liberty to spend whole evenings now at cards, at dice, or any diversion whatsoever, to pass away, as they call it, a tedious evening. They can do any thing now to pass away that, which is hastening as fast as thought: time is always upon the wing; it is no sooner present but it is past, and no sooner come but it is gone. And have we so much to do, and so little time to do it in, and yet complain of time lying heavy upon our hands? Have we not the devil and the beast to get our of our souls? Are not our natures to be changed, our corruptions to be subdued, our wills to be brought over to God, or hard hearts to be softened, all old things to be done away, and all things to become new in our souls? Is there not all this to be done? And yet we have too much time upon our hands! It is well, that instead of having too much time, it be not found that we have got too little, when we come to die: then we shall wish, my brethren, that we had made more account of our time, that we had improved it for the glory of God, and the welfare of our immortal souls. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Good God! How amazing is the consideration, that many can go to church in the morning, and take the Sacrament, and come home and spend the afternoon and evening in cards. Is this, my brethren, discerning the Lord's body? Is this taking the sacrament according to its institution? Is not this a pollution thereof, and making the blood of the covenant an unholy thing. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Therefore, those of you who have made this your practice in times past, let me beseech you, in the bowels of mercy, not to do so any more; for, indeed, it is earthly, it is sensual, it is devilish. Consider what is said of those who eat and drink at the Lord's table unworthily, that they eat and drink their own damnation: And can they, my brethren, be said to eat and drink any otherwise, who no sooner go from the table of the Lord, but run to the diversions of the devil? Indeed this is exceeding sinful, and displeasing unto the Lord; then forbear those diversions which are so evil in themselves: O be not found in those exercises, and in that pleasure, which you would not be found in when you come to die. Thus, my brethren, you se it is not a right celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus, to spend it in cards, dice, or any other diversions, which proceed so directly from the devil, and are destructive to all true goodness. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">SECONDLY, They cannot be said truly to celebrate this time, who spend their time in eating and drinking to excess. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is a season when persons are apt to indulge themselves in all manner of luxury: iniquity now abounds apace; nothing is scarcely to be seen but things of the greatest extravagance imaginable; not only for the necessities of the body, but to pamper it in lust, to feed its vices, to make it go on in sin, to be a means for gratifying our carnal appetite; and this is a means to make us forget the Lord of glory. This makes us only fit to do such drudgery, as the devil shall set us about; this is only preparing to run wheresoever the devil sends: this, instead of denying ourselves, is indulging ourselves, this is not, nor cannot be called, a celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we are making ourselves worst than the beasts that perish. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am not speaking against eating and drinking of the good things of life, but against the eating and drinking of them to excess, because, thus they unqualify us for the service of God; and to our fellow-creatures they make us unsociable, and may occasion us to be guilty of saying and acting those things, which we should be ashamed to think of, if we had only ate or drank with moderation. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Therefore, my dear brethren, let me beseech you to set a watch over yourselves; be careful that you do not run into that company which may tempt you to evil, for would a man run himself into danger on purpose? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Would a man enter himself into that company, where, before he goes, he knows he shall be exposed to great temptations; and therefore, if you have any reason to think that the company you are going into will be a temptation, I beseech you, by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, that you would not run into it. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">How can you say, "Lead us not into temptation," when you are resolved to lead yourselves into it, by running into the occasions of sins.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> You are commanded to keep from the appearance of evil; and do you do that, by running into the place and company where it is like to be committed? No, this is so far from avoiding, and shunning it, that it is a plain proof to the contrary; therefore, if you are for observing this time, this festival of our church, let it not be done by running to excess; for you plainly see, that those who are guilty thereof, cannot be said properly to celebrate it. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">THIRDLY, Nor can they, my brethren, be said to keep, or rightly observe the commemoration of the birth of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who neglect their worldly callings to follow pleasures and diversions. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Alas! many, instead of keeping this time as it ought to be, run into sin with greediness; instead of devoting their time to the Lord, it is only devoted to the devil and their own lusts. How many who thus mispend their time, at this season, lay by the work of their callings for a considerable time, with no other view, but to follow earthly, sensual, and devilish pleasures. If they should go to hear a sermon, or to a society, my brethren, the mouths of all the Pharisees at once are open against them, that they are not only a going to be ruined themselves, but are going to ruin their families too; they think it needless to make so much ado; this is being righteous over-much; but you may be as wicked as you please, and they will not cry out; however, when you are wicked over-much, by serving the devil and your own pleasures for a week or a month together, then, my brethren, with them you are only taking a little recreation, spending your time in innocent diversions; no one cries out against you, there is no outcry that you are going to be ruined. Again, if you give never so small a matter among the poor people of God for their relief, then you are robbing your families, then you are going to turn madmen! And in a few days will be to methodistically mad, that you are not fit for a polite gentleman's conversation; but if you spend one hundred times the money in playhouses, &c. on your lusts and pleasures, then you are liked and esteemed as a good friend and companion; but, my dear brethren, these good companions in the world's account, are never so in the Lord Jesus Christ's. You cannot serve God and mammon; you must either lost your lusts, your pleasures, and your delights, or you cannot expect to find favor with God; for indeed, and indeed, the ways that too many follow at this time, are sinful, yea, they are exceeding sinful. You see they cannot be said to celebrate this holy time, who thus mispend their precious time to the neglect of their families; such are destroying themselves with a witness. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thus, my dear brethren, I have shown you who they are who do not observe this holy festival. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">II. I come now, in the second place, to show you, who they are who do rightly observe, and truly celebrate the birth of our Redeemer. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And I shall show you who they are in two particulars, directly opposite to the others; and then, my brethren, take your choice: you must choose the one or the other, there is no medium, you must either serve the Lord or Baal; and, therefore, my dear brethren, let me beg of you to consider, FIRST, That those spend their time aright, and truly observe this festival, who spend their hours in reading, praying, and religious conversation. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What can we do to employ our time to a more noble purpose, than reading of what our dear Redeemer has done and suffered; to read, that the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, came from his throne and took upon him the form of the meanest of his servants; and what great things he underwent. This, this is an history worth reading, this is worth employing our time about: and surely, when we read of the sufferings of our Savior, it should excite us to prayer, that we might have an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ; that the blood which he spilt upon mount Calvary, and his death and crucifixion, might make an atonement for our sins, that we might be made holy; that we might be enabled to put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man, even the Lord Jesus Christ; that we may throw away the heavy yoke of sin, and put on the yoke of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, my brethren, these things call for prayer, and for earnest prayer too; and O do be earnest with God, that you may have an interest in this Redeemer, and that you may put on his righteousness, so that you may not come before him in your filthy rags, nor be found not having on the wedding garment. O do not, I beseech you, trust unto yourselves for justification; you cannot, indeed, you cannot be justified by the works of the law. I entreat that your time may be thus spent; and if you are in company, let your time be spent in that conversation which profiteth: let it not be about your dressing, your plays, your profits, or your worldly concerns, but let it be the wonders of redeeming love: O tell, tell to each other, what great things the Lord has done for your souls; declare unto one another, how you were delivered from the hands of your common enemy, Satan, and how the Lord has brought your feet from the clay, and has set them upon the rock of ages, the Lord Jesus Christ; there, my brethren, is no slipping; other conversation, by often repeating, you become fully acquainted with, but of Christ there is always something new to raise your thoughts; you can never want matter when the love of the Lord Jesus Chris is the subject: then let Jesus be the subject, my brethren, of all your conversation. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Let your time be spent on him: O this, this is an employ, which if you belong to Jesus, will last you to all eternity. Let others enjoy their cards, their dice, and gaming hours; do you, my brethren, let your time be spent in reading, praying, and religious conversations. Which will stand the trial best at the last day? Which do you think will bring most comfort, most peace, in a dying hour? <b>O live and spend your time now, as you will wish to have done, when you come to die. </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">SECONDLY, Let the good things of life, you enjoy, be used with moderation. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am not, as the scoffers of this day tell you, against eating and drinking the good things of life; no, my brethren, I am only against their being used to an excess; therefore, let me beseech you to avoid those great indiscretions, those sinful actions, which will give the enemies of God room to blaspheme. Let me beseech you, to have a regard, a particular regard to your behavior, at this time; for indeed the eyes of all are upon you, and they would rejoice much to find any reason to complain of you. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">They can say things against us without a cause; and how would they rejoice if there was wherewith they might blame us? Then they would triumph and rejoice indeed; and all your little slips, my dear brethren, are, and would be charged upon me. O at this time, when the eyes of so many are upon you, be upon your guard; and if you use the good things of this life with moderation, you do then celebrate this festival in the manner which the institution calls for. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And instead of running into excess, let that money, which you might expend to pamper your own bodies, be given to feed the poor; now, my brethren, is the season, in which they commonly require relief; and sure you cannot act more agreeable, either to the season, to the time, or for the glory of God, than in relieving his poor distressed servants. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Therefore, if any of you have poor friends, or acquaintance, who are in distress, I beseech you to assist them; and not only those of your acquaintance, but the poor in general. O my dear brethren, that will turn to a better account another day, than all you have expended to please the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life. Consider, Christ was always willing to relieve the distressed; it is his command also; and can you better commemorate the birth of your king, your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, than in obeying one of his commands? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Do not, my dear brethren, be forgetful of the poor of the world; consider, if providence has smiled upon you, and blessed you with abundance of the things of this life, God calls for some returns of gratitude from you; be ye mindful of the poor, and when you are so, then you may be said to have a true regard for that time which is now approaching; if you would truly observe this festival, let it be done with moderation, and a regard to the poor of this world. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">THIRDLY, Let me beg of you not to alienate too much of your time from the worldly business of this life, but have a proper regard thereunto, and then you may be said rightly to observe this festival. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">God allows none to be idle: in all ages business was commended; and therefore do not think that any season will excuse us in our callings; we are not, my brethren, to labor for the things of this life inordinately, but we are to labor for them will all moderation: we are not to neglect our callings; no, we are to regard those places and stations of life, which God in his providence has thought convenient for us; and therefore, when you neglect your business of the hurt of your families, whatever pretense you thereby make for so doing, you are guilty of sin;; you are not acting according to the doctrine of the gospel, but are breaking the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, both according to his word, and to his own practice. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">At this festival, persons are apt to take a little more liberty than usual; and if that time from our vocations is not prejudicial to ourselves or families, and is spent in the service of God, and the good of immortal souls, then I do not thing it sinful; but there is too much reason to fear, that the time spent upon our own lusts, and then it is exceeding sinful, it is against our own souls, and it is against the good of our families, and instead of commemorating the birth of our dear Redeemer, we are dishonoring him in the greatest degree possibly we can. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Therefore, inquire strictly into your end and design in spending your time; see, my brethren, whether it proceeds from a true love to your Redeemer, or whether there is not some worldly pleasure or advantage at the bottom: if there is, our end is not right; but if it proceed entirely from love to him that died, and gave himself for us, our actions will be a proof thereof; then our time will be spent, not in the polite pleasures of life, but according to the doctrine and commands of the blessed Jesus; then our conversation will be in heaven; and O that this might be found to be the end of each of you, who now hear me; then we should truly observe this festival, and have a true regard to the occasion thereof, that of Christ's coming to redeem the souls of those which were lost. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Let me now conclude, my dear brethren, with a few words of exhortation, beseeching you to think of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Did Jesus come into the world to save us from death, and shall we spend no part of our time in conversing about our dear Jesus; shall we pay no regard to the birth of him, who came to redeem us from the worst of slavery, from that of sin, and the devil; and shall this Jesus not only be born on our account, but likewise die in our stead, and yet shall we be unmindful of him? Shall we spend our time in those things which are offensive to him? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shall we not rather do all we can to promote his glory, and act according to his command? O my dear brethren, be found in the ways of God; let us not disturb our dear Redeemer by any irregular proceedings; and let me beseech you to strive to love, fear, honor and obey him, more than ever you have done yet; let not the devil engross your time, and that dear Savior who came into the world on your accounts, have so little. O be not so ungrateful to him who has been so kind to you! What could the Lord Jesus Christ have done for you more than he has? Then do not abuse his mercy, but let your time be spent in thinking and talking of the love of Jesus, who was incarnate for us, who was born of a woman, and made under the law, to redeem us from the wrath to come.</span></span></p><p></p></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-36617948628308782632009-11-11T20:51:00.000-08:002009-11-11T20:59:12.136-08:00Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuhDRto8cSFr6ga9CvWaJAeJrwT54M-pNUtjHwD7zsdePp9zcDTc7lAu7nWeHufGbtxlGuNiAZzr2J_ba5hDCz196qTiBHsDCws5yuOQCCx-yweJ6QCaF1hAHM6LAoaiRQkeIh9Gypjzx/s1600-h/je.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuhDRto8cSFr6ga9CvWaJAeJrwT54M-pNUtjHwD7zsdePp9zcDTc7lAu7nWeHufGbtxlGuNiAZzr2J_ba5hDCz196qTiBHsDCws5yuOQCCx-yweJ6QCaF1hAHM6LAoaiRQkeIh9Gypjzx/s320/je.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403077190818134514" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Deuteronomy 32:35--"Their foot shall slide in due time."--</span></center><center><p><b>In</b> this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as verse 28) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following things, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.</p></center><ul><p>1. That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."</p><p>2. It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"</p><p>3. Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.</p><p>4. That the reason why they are now fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.</p></ul><p>The observation from the words that I would not insist upon is this. "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God". By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment. The truth of this observation may appear by the following considerations.</p><ul><p>1. There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel, who has found means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God's enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in pieces. They are as great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry stubble before devouring flames. We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell. What are we, that we should think to stand before him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down?</p><p>2. They deserve to be cast into hell; so that divine justice never stands in the way, it makes no objection against God's using his power at any moment to destroy them. Yea, on the contrary, justice calls aloud for an infinite punishment of their sins. Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" (Luke 13:7). The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over their heads, and it is nothing but the hand of arbitrary mercy, and God's mere will, that holds it back.</p><p>3. They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. They do not only justly deserve to be cast down thither, but the sentence of the law of God, that eternal and immutable rule of righteousness that God has fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to hell. "He that believeth not is condemned already" (John 3:18). So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is. "Ye are from beneath" (John 8:23). And thither he is bound; it is the place that justice, and God's word, and the sentence of his unchangeable law assign to him.</p><p>4. They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.</p><p>So that it is not because God is unmindful of their wickedness, and does not resent it, that he does not let loose his hand and cut them off. God is not altogether such an one as themselves, though they may imagine him to be so. The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.</p><p>5. The devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own, at what moment God shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession, and under his dominion. The Scripture represents them as his goods (Luke 11:12). The devils watch them; they are ever by them at their right hand; they stand waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to have it, but are for the present kept back. If God should withdraw his hand, by which they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls. The old serpent is gaping for them; hell opens its mouth wide to receive them; and if God should permit it, they would be hastily swallowed up and lost.</p><p>6. There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God's restraints. There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell. There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire. These principles are active and powerful, exceeding violent in their nature, and if it were not for the restraining hand of God upon them, they would soon break out, they would flame out after the same manner as the same corruptions, the same enmity does in the hearts of damned souls, and would beget the same torments as they do in them. The souls of the wicked are in Scripture compared to the troubled sea (Is. 62:20). For the present, God restrains their wickedness by his mighty power, as he does the raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;" but if God should withdraw that restraining power, it would soon carry all before it. Sin is the ruin and misery of the soul; it is destructive in its nature; and if God should leave it without restraint, there would need nothing else to make the soul perfectly miserable. The corruption of the heart of man is immoderate and boundless in its fury; and while wicked men live here, it is like fire pent up by God's restraints, whereas if it were let loose, it would set on fire the course of nature; and as the heart is now a sink of sin, so if sin was not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into a fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone.</p><p>7. It is no security to wicked men for one moment, that there are no visible means of death at hand. It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world. The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable. Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen. The arrows of death fly unseen at noonday; the sharpest sight cannot discern them. God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sending them to hell, that there is nothing to make it appear, that God had need to be at the expense of a miracle, or go out of the ordinary course of his providence, to destroy any wicked man, at any moment. All the means that there are of sinners going out of the world, are so in God's hands, and so universally and absolutely subject to his power and determination, that it does not depend at all the less on the mere will of God, whether sinners shall at any moment go to hell, than if means were never made use of, or at all concerned in the case.</p><p>8. Natural men's prudence and care to preserve their own lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure them a moment. To this, divine providence and universal experience do also bear testimony. There is this clear evidence that men's own wisdom is no security to them from death; that if it were otherwise we should see some difference between the wise and politic men of the world, and others, with regard to their liableness to early and unexpected death: but how is it in fact? "How dieth the wise man? even as the fool" (Eccl. 2:16).</p><p>9. All wicked men's pains and contrivance which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take effectual care, and to order matters so for himself as not to fail.</p><p>But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in confidence in their own strength and wisdom; they trust to nothing but a shadow. The greater part of those who heretofore have lived under the same means of grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those who are now alive: it is not because they did not lay out matters as well for themselves to secure their own escape. If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about hell, ever to be the subjects of that misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, "No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself: I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief: Death outwitted me: God's wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying, Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction came upon me."</p><p>10. God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment. God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. But surely they have no interest in the promises of the covenant of grace who are not the children of the covenant, who do not believe in any of the promises, and have no interest in the Mediator of the covenant.</p><p>So that, whatever some have imagined and pretended about promises made to natural men's earnest seeking and knocking, it is plain and manifest, that whatever pains a natural man takes in religion, whatever prayers he makes, till he believes in Christ, God is under no manner of obligation to keep him a moment from eternal destruction.</p><p>So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire bent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.</p></ul><p><b>APPLICATION</b></p><p>The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation. This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ. That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.</p><p>You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the goodstate of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.</p><p>Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a fallen rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God's enemies. God's creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope. There are black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come with fury, and your destruction would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff of the summer threshing floor.</p><p>The wrath of God is like great waters that are damned for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose. It is true, that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God's vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are constantly rising, and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, that holds the waters back, that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward. If God should only withdraw his hand from the flood-gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea, ten thousand times greater than the strength of the stoutest, sturdiest devil in hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it.</p><p>The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God. However you may have reformed your life in many things, and may have had religious affections, and may keep up a form of religion in your families and closets, and in the house of God, it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction. However unconvinced you may now be of the truth of what you hear, by and by you will be fully convinced of it. Those that are gone from being in the like circumstances with you, see that it was so with them; for destruction came suddenly upon most of them; when they expected nothing of it, and while they were saying, Peace and safety: now they see, that those things on which they depended for peace and safety, were nothing but thin air and empty shadows.</p><p>The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you were suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.</p><p>O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. And consider here more particularly,</p><ul><p>1. Whose wrath it is: it is the wrath of the infinite God. If it were only the wrath of man, though it were of the most potent prince, it would be comparatively little to be regarded. The wrath of kings is very much dreaded, especially of absolute monarchs, who have the possessions and lives of their subjects wholly in their power, to be disposed of at their mere will. "The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul" (Prov. 20:2). The subject that very much enrages an arbitrary prince, is liable to suffer the most extreme torments that human art can invent, or human power can inflict. But the greatest earthly potentates in their greatest majesty and strength, and when clothed in their greatest terrors, are but feeble, despicable worms of the dust, in comparison of the great and almighty Creator and King of heaven and earth. It is but little that they can do, when most enraged, and when they have exerted the utmost of their fury. All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised. The wrath of the great King of kings, is as much more terrible than theirs, as his majesty is greater. "And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him" (Luke 12:4, 5).</p><p>2. It is the fierceness of his wrath that you are exposed to. We often read of the fury of God; as in Isaiah 59:18 "According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries." So Isaiah 66:15 "For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire." And in many other places. So, we read of "the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Rev. 19:15). The words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, "the wrath of God," the words would have implied that which is infinitely dreadful: but it is "the fierceness and wrath of God." The fury of God! the fierceness of Jehovah! Oh, how dreadful must that be! Who can utter or conceive what such expressions carry in them! But it is also "the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." As though there would be a very great manifestation of his almighty power in what the fierceness of his wrath should inflict, as though omnipotence should be as it were enraged, and exerted, as men are wont to exert their strength in the fierceness of their wrath. Oh! then, what will be the consequence! What will become of the poor worms that shall suffer it! Whose hands can be strong? And whose heart can endure? To what a dreadful, inexpressible, inconceivable depth of misery must the poor creature be sunk who shall be the subject of this!</p><p>Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state. That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies, that he will inflict wrath without any pity. When God beholds the ineffable extremity of your case, and sees your torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your strength, and sees how your poor soul is crushed, and sinks down, as it were, into an infinite gloom; he will have no compassion upon you, he will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand; there shall be no moderation or mercy, nor will God then at all stay his rough wind; he will have no regard to your welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much in any other sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict justice requires. Nothing shall be withheld, because it is so hard for you to bear. "Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them" (Ezek. 8:18). Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy. But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God, as to any regard to your welfare. God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery; you shall be continued in being to no other end; for you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel, but to be filled full of wrath. God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that it is said he will only "laugh and mock" (Prov. 1:25, 26, etc.).</p><p>How awful are those words which are the words of the great God. "I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment" (Is. 63:3). It is perhaps impossible to conceive of words that carry in them greater manifestations of these three things, viz. contempt, and hatred, and fierceness of indignation. If you cry to God to pity you, he will be so far from pitying you in your doleful case, or showing you the least regard or favour, that instead of that, he will only tread you under foot. And though he will know that you cannot bear the weight of omnipotence treading upon you, yet he will not regard that, but he will crush you under his feet without mercy; he will crush out your blood, and make it fly, and it shall be sprinkled on his garments, so as to stain all his raiment. He will not only hate you, but he will have you, in the utmost contempt: no place shall be thought fit for you, but under his feet to be trodden down as the mire of the streets.</p><p>3. The misery you are exposed to is that which God will inflict to that end, that he might show what that wrath of Jehovah is. God hath had it on his heart to show to angels and men, both how excellent his love is, and also how terrible his wrath is. Sometimes earthly kings have a mind to show how terrible their wrath is, by the extreme punishments they would execute on those that would provoke them. Nebuchadnezzar, that mighty and haughty monarch of the Chaldean empire, was willing to show his wrath when enraged with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and accordingly gave orders that the burning fiery furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was before; doubtless, it was raised to the utmost degree of fierceness that human art could raise it. But the great God is also willing to show his wrath, and magnify his awful majesty and mighty power in the extreme sufferings of his enemies. "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" (Ro. 9:22). And seeing this is his design, and what he has determined, even to show how terrible the unrestrained wrath, the fury and fierceness of Jehovah is, he will do it to effect. There will be something accomplished and brought to pass that will be dreadful with a witness. Then the great and angry God hath risen up and executed his awful vengeance on the poor sinner, and the wretch is actually suffering the infinite weight and power of his indignation, then will God call upon the whole universe to behold that awful majesty and mighty power that is to be seen in it. "And the people shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire. Hear ye that are far off, what I have done; and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites..." (Is. 33:12-14).</p><p>Thus it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it; the infinite might, and majesty, and terribleness of the omnipotent God shall be magnified upon you, in the ineffable strength of your torments. You shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and when you shall be in this state of suffering, the glorious inhabitants of heaven shall go forth and look on the awful spectacle, that they may see what the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty is; and when they have seen it, they will fall down and adore that great power and majesty. "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh" (Is. 66:23, 24).</p><p>4. It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh, who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble, faint representation of it; it is inexpressible and inconceivable: For "who knows the power of God's anger?"</p><p>How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be. Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or old! There is reason to think, that there are many in this congregation now hearing this discourse, that will actually be the subjects of this very misery to all eternity. We know not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves that they are not the persons, promising themselves that they shall escape. If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation, that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him! But, alas! instead of one, how many is it likely will remember this discourse in hell? And it would be a wonder, if some that are now present should not be in hell in a very short time, even before this year is out. And it would be no wonder if some persons, that now sit here, in some seats of this meeting house, in health, quiet and secure, should be there before tomorrow morning. Those of you that finally continue in a natural condition, that shall keep out of hell longest will be there in a little time! your damnation does not slumber; it will come swiftly, and, in all probability, very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder that you are not already in hell. It is doubtless the case of some whom you have seen and known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you. Their case is past all hope; they are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair; but here you are in the land of the living and in the house of God, and have an opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned hopeless souls give for one day's opportunity such as you now enjoy!</p><p>And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God. Many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the people at Suffield, where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?</p><p>Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to this day born again? and so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? Oh, sirs, your case, in an especial manner, is extremely dangerous. Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. Do you not see how generally persons of your years are passed over and left, in the present remarkable and wonderful dispensation of God's mercy? You have need to consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly out of sleep. You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite God. And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect this precious season which you now enjoy, when so many others of your age are renouncing all youthful vanities, and flocking to Christ? You especially have now an extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the precious days of youth in sin, and are now come to such a dreadful pass in blindness and hardness. And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God, who is now angry with you every day and every night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings?</p><p>And let every one that is yet of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God's word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favours to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others. Men's hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace at such a day as this, if they neglect their souls; and never was there so great danger of such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all parts of the land; and probably the greater part of adult persons that ever shall be saved, will be brought in now in a little time, and that it will be as it was on the great outpouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles' days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be blinded. If this should be the case with you, you will eternally curse this day, and will curse the day that ever you were born, to see such a season of the pouring out of God's Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to hell before you had seen it. Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.</p><p>Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation: Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed."</p></ul></span>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-62767617955642838222009-07-01T12:52:00.000-07:002009-07-01T20:28:23.250-07:00The Mortification of Sins in Believers: Part I The Necessity of Mortification<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZqTKKCeAok4obMWGKYdpR0D2L83RS2Xa2n_WMrwc0R-AfwkXM2xC3JyE0kg4pbgVLUZZfPCV3ANBF66KtQnM1S3880f4h3JmdjJCpR1PgTqIVMM688la7TsYbBtMXAI_aBLkHVnt5_3a/s1600-h/Puritan.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZqTKKCeAok4obMWGKYdpR0D2L83RS2Xa2n_WMrwc0R-AfwkXM2xC3JyE0kg4pbgVLUZZfPCV3ANBF66KtQnM1S3880f4h3JmdjJCpR1PgTqIVMM688la7TsYbBtMXAI_aBLkHVnt5_3a/s320/Puritan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353595437859721202" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia;font-size:19px;">Chapter 1</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Romans 8:13 "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sin is an ailment like no other. It sets in and permeates the flesh all the days of its earthly life. It eats away at a person who neglects it. It is a friend to some, a forgotten burden to others, and an enemy to the one who understands grace. It is a foe that wages war against us, and therefore must continued to be put to death. </span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In this first chapter, Owen lays out the Necessity for Mortification. He begins by talking about the persons involved; the Believer. Owen writes, "The choicest believers, who assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin." Let it be noted that he is stating that there is sin in the believer. It is not apart of his nature, but is a remnant of the flesh. As this is a huge key to his book, this will be discussed in detail. But this is noted so as to state that we are not misguided to think that there is no sin, nor the propensity to sin, within the redeemed.</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Persons: Believers</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Within this statement, in reflection of Romans 8:13, Owen states that even the most sanctified of believers, who has been saved by the blood of Christ, through grace, can never stop killing the sin within them. Later on he states, "be killing sin or it will be killing you." The battle is fierce and never ending in this life, and to state it in a lax sense gives way to dam that holds back this foe and if given way, will permeate the life of the believer who has a higher view of self than </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sanctifier</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. We must know the enemy. The enemy itself is not man or beast, but spot. It is the blemish, the mark that is missed, the fleshly passion that resides and comes out of none other but man. This would mean to say that although saved, one still has sin within them. Well how can this be as man has one nature. Owen makes mention of this as well but first reveals the chief foe of sin, and the only one who can adequately battle it with great victory. The Holy Spirit. </span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Cause and Means: The Holy Spirit</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is the Spirit of Christ, whereby without Him, all attempts of mortification will fail miserably. Owen writes, "Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by the ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world." Thus, seeking to mortify sin apart from the Holy Spirit is vanity. To state that, "I don't have to sin and will not sin, on my own strength." is an arrogant assumption that will lead one to a detrimental fall into mediocrity. If one fails to understand the power of the Spirit, they fail to understand the depravity of self. Thus, what now, must be done?</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Duty: Mortify the Deeds of the Body</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The presence of Sin calls for Spiritual action. the believer is not to understand the Spirit is the only one who can battle and do nothing. The Spirit is not to be conjured up like a genie to fill the presence of a believer, rather it is to be ever present in the battle against the body. </span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What is the body? Romans 8:13 concludes with, "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">but if by the Spirit you are</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." In short, the flesh and the body are the same. The Flesh, and the flesh is the source where, "the very members of the body are made servants of unrighteousness." Thus can we say that the whole member of a person can have sin within it. Yes, in fact it is an ever present battle for the "putting to death" is present active. Meaning that this is a continuous event. Thus if this is continuous then sin is always present in battle, not in </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">manifestation</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Note that although the soul battles sin, it does not mean that sin is manifested in the believer, rather it is righteousness. Some have thought that this would concur that we have two natures, rather this is not the case. Rather it is the exercise to usurp the authority of sin through the power of the Holy Spirit, and engaging in the killing of it. </span></span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Owen writes, "the deeds of the flesh are to be mortified in their causes, from whence they spring." This was not only stated by, but lived by the apostle Paul when he wrote this. Owen writes, "The mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh is the constant duty of believers." In short, the sin that remains in our flesh will rear its head and turn into a nearly </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">untamable</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> beast if the head is not severed. Therefore, it is our duty to kill even the slightest sin in our life, through the enacting of the Holy Spirit. </span></span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Promise: You Shall Live</span></span></span></h3><h3 style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What an incredible truth to grip our souls. That although the fight continuous, although the battle fierce at times, there is the relief of understanding what Paul writes, "you shall live." Owen writes, "The life promised is opposed to the death threatened in the clause forgoing." Galatians 6:8 states, "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." Owen suggests that what is reaped is apart of this life, as eternal life begins upon the moment of salvation. Therefore it is a joy and a comfort that the killing of sin reaps that which is eternal, and letting sin fester will only reap corruption and cloud the heart, mind, and actions of the redeemed. What an </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">unbelievable</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> blessing to understand what the mortifying of sin produces. Owen writes, "The vigor, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh." O' may we never fret at the battle with the flesh, but may we relish in the fruits of battle as only the Holy Spirit can give to His redeemed. </span></span></span></span></h3></span>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949970993637244371.post-15040974085095388412009-06-30T21:01:00.000-07:002009-07-01T15:48:37.763-07:00A Summer of Owen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvHE22YiAS4zDioj6s_CuLgwp23Lh7mTg592rMNzmmLBftKypMs0S9pIvX__YJrntVRJUupcNW4AxTXpDiOAyazcO5LRE39gZA5ZduAuGuQr9iSUuqu6GmSOPvp7B0ZAArOrqusA52yyq/s1600-h/1581346492m.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvHE22YiAS4zDioj6s_CuLgwp23Lh7mTg592rMNzmmLBftKypMs0S9pIvX__YJrntVRJUupcNW4AxTXpDiOAyazcO5LRE39gZA5ZduAuGuQr9iSUuqu6GmSOPvp7B0ZAArOrqusA52yyq/s320/1581346492m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353342778509448674" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">John Owen </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(1616 - 1683) was an English theologian and "was without doubt not only the greatest theologian of the English</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Puritan movement but also one of the greatest European Reformed theologians of his day, and quite possibly possessed the finest theological mind that England ever produced" ("Owen, John", in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, p.494)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Owen entered Queen's College, Oxford, at the age of twelve and received a B.A. in 1632 and an M.A. in 1635 at the age of nineteen. "While at Oxford his tutor was Thomas Barlow, a anti-Arminian </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">philosopher whose metaphysics</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> were to prove a formative influence on the thought of the young Owen."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> In 1637 Owen became a pastor; in the 1640s he was chaplain to Oliver Cromwell</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, and in 1651 he was made Dean of Christ Church, Oxford's largest college. In 1652 he was given the additional post of Vice-Chancellor of the University. After 1660 he led the Independents through the bitter years of persecution until his death in 1683.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This summer I have resolved to focus on "Overcoming Sin and Temptation" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">by John Owen - Edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The book includes three of Owens most prominent works. 1 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On the Mortification of Sin in Believers </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of it </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Indwelling Sin </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Throughout the summer I will be posting quotes and thoughts related to this important field of study. Owen states, "There is no death of Sin without the Death of Christ." Thus we cannot understand the depth of salvation unless we understand the depth of Sin. Yet how does this relate to the believer and Sanctification? These questions will be looked upon in the coming months as we seek to understand the glories of the cross, in the life of the redeemed, for the glory of He who saved me. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"> </span></div>John Cox IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17417396704157968064noreply@blogger.com0