"O Father, enable me to esteem holiness with apparent failure as infinitely better than success which is coupled with compromise." ~ Spurgeon
Personal holiness is to be separate from the intoxicating, but false and hell-bound, securities that this world offers. Rev18:1-8
To know God is to evidence an ever increasing separation from the world-celebrated tendencies natural to this human flesh.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Because Jesus is God, I (blank).....
John 5:16-29. Jesus is God.
If He were not God, His death and resurrection would be pointless,
but He is God, so His death and resurrection are everything.
He is Lord and Master.
His deity demands response.
Dan challenged the youth group last night with this question:
"Because Jesus is God, I...(fill in the blank)....
The responses from the K'NM small group were rich:
Because Jesus is God, I will repent of my sin right away.
Because Jesus is God, I will stop deliberately, wilfully disobeying.
Because Jesus is God, I will pray when faced with temptation.
Because Jesus is God, I will forgive those who have wronged me.
Because Jesus is God, I will share the gospel without fear.
Because Jesus is God, I will show humility at school.
Because Jesus is God, I will surrender EVERY area of my life to His control.
Because Jesus is God, I will rely on His strength rather than my own.
Because Jesus is God, I will turn away from the idols I am tempted to worship.
Because Jesus is God, I will cultivate an eternal mindset.
Because Jesus is God, I will pray more, and differently, and with deeper worship.
Because Jesus is God, I will be patient with those who annoy me.
Because Jesus is God, I am not my own. I am His slave!
We closed our Small Group time with this prayer titled, "Christ Alone":
"O God,
Thy main plan, and the end of thy will is to make Christ glorious and beloved in heaven where He is now ascended,
where one day all the elect will behold His glory and love and glorify Him forever.
Though here I love Him but little,
may this be my portion at last.
In this world thou has given me a beginning,
one day it will be perfected in the realm above.
Thou has helped me to see and know Christ,
though obscurely,
to take Him, receive Him,
to possess Him, love Him,
to bless Him in my heart, mouth, life.
Let me study and stand for discipline,
and all the ways of worship,
out of love for Christ;
and to show my thankfulness;
to seek and know His will from love,
to hold it in love,
and daily to care for and keep this state of heart.
Thou hast led me to place all my nature and happiness in oneness with Christ,
in having heart and mind centered only on Him,
in being like Him in communicating good to others;
This is my heaven on earth,
But I need the force, energy, impulses of thy Spirit to carry me on the way to my Jerusalem.
Here it is my duty to be as Christ in this world,
to do what He would do,
to live as He would live,
to walk in love and meekness;
then would He be known,
then would I have peace in death."
~The Valley of Vision
If He were not God, His death and resurrection would be pointless,
but He is God, so His death and resurrection are everything.
He is Lord and Master.
His deity demands response.
Dan challenged the youth group last night with this question:
"Because Jesus is God, I...(fill in the blank)....
The responses from the K'NM small group were rich:
Because Jesus is God, I will repent of my sin right away.
Because Jesus is God, I will stop deliberately, wilfully disobeying.
Because Jesus is God, I will pray when faced with temptation.
Because Jesus is God, I will forgive those who have wronged me.
Because Jesus is God, I will share the gospel without fear.
Because Jesus is God, I will show humility at school.
Because Jesus is God, I will surrender EVERY area of my life to His control.
Because Jesus is God, I will rely on His strength rather than my own.
Because Jesus is God, I will turn away from the idols I am tempted to worship.
Because Jesus is God, I will cultivate an eternal mindset.
Because Jesus is God, I will pray more, and differently, and with deeper worship.
Because Jesus is God, I will be patient with those who annoy me.
Because Jesus is God, I am not my own. I am His slave!
We closed our Small Group time with this prayer titled, "Christ Alone":
"O God,
Thy main plan, and the end of thy will is to make Christ glorious and beloved in heaven where He is now ascended,
where one day all the elect will behold His glory and love and glorify Him forever.
Though here I love Him but little,
may this be my portion at last.
In this world thou has given me a beginning,
one day it will be perfected in the realm above.
Thou has helped me to see and know Christ,
though obscurely,
to take Him, receive Him,
to possess Him, love Him,
to bless Him in my heart, mouth, life.
Let me study and stand for discipline,
and all the ways of worship,
out of love for Christ;
and to show my thankfulness;
to seek and know His will from love,
to hold it in love,
and daily to care for and keep this state of heart.
Thou hast led me to place all my nature and happiness in oneness with Christ,
in having heart and mind centered only on Him,
in being like Him in communicating good to others;
This is my heaven on earth,
But I need the force, energy, impulses of thy Spirit to carry me on the way to my Jerusalem.
Here it is my duty to be as Christ in this world,
to do what He would do,
to live as He would live,
to walk in love and meekness;
then would He be known,
then would I have peace in death."
~The Valley of Vision
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Always, Equally, Ready to Fulfill His Promises
"But do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord, a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day." 2 Peter 3:8"In the infinity of his own duration there is abundant time (for God) to accomplish his designs, and it can make no difference with him whether they are accomplished in one day or extended to one thousand years. Man has but a short time to live, and if he does not accomplish his purposes in a very brief period, he never will. But it is not so with God. He always lives; and we cannot therefore infer, because the execution of His purposes seems to be delayed, that they are abandoned." ~ Barnes
Psa 90:4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
"One day is with the Lord as a thousand years - That is, in one day, in one moment he can do the work of a thousand years. Therefore he "is not slow:" he is always equally ready to fulfill his promise. And a thousand years are as one day - That is, no delay is long to God. A thousand years are as one day to the eternal God. Therefore "he is longsuffering:" he gives us space for repentance, without any inconvenience to himself. In a word, with God time passes neither slower nor swifter than is suitable to him and his economy; nor can there be any reason why it should be necessary for him either to delay or hasten the end of all things. How can we comprehend this? If we could comprehend it, St. Peter needed not to have added, with the Lord." ~ WesleyWord Study of "Ignorant":
G2990 λανθάνω lanthanō lan-than'-o
A prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially unwittingly: - be hid, be ignorant of, unawares.
1) Impatience manifested in complaining, hopelessness, apathy regarding my walk, or that of those around me. 2) Prayers that are dictated by my time table, rather than trust in His perfect work!
"He is always equally ready to fulfill His promises."
Oh Father, I have done this. I have overlooked the truth that you are Infinite and Perfect within time as you work out Your will. O God, there is none like you- Always Equally Ready! Forgive me for my attitudes of hopelessness and apathy in how I approach the unsaved people in my life. I have complained. I have despaired. I have been lazy in witnessing. I have been small in my faith. This is and has been sinful overlooking of Who You are. To know You, is to know the One Who is Always Equally Ready to work His perfect will.
This knowledge of you removes all fear and discouragement and instills trust. Teach me to dive even deeper into this truth; to bring my heart and mind and actions under the spotlight of your revealing truth that I might be changed. I desire, O God, to exalt You and Your glory in all things, including my perspective on Your time!
Amen
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
01-12-11 Journal Notes
Going deeper on 2 Peter 3:7!
"But by the same word, the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire; being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly."
Questions:
Whose/what word?
God's Decree! By the same power with which He spoke creation into existence, He spoke the flood's destruction, and will one day, speak a firey judgement upon this earth, and those on it who have rejected His Lordship will perish.
Word Studies:
Word ~ log'os ~ The Divine expression of God's reasonings, motives, computation, command.
Stored up~ θησαυρίζω~thay-sow-rid'-zo
From G2344; to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively): - lay up (treasure), (keep) in store, (heap) treasure (together, up).
Fire~πῦρ~poor
A primary word; “fire” (literally or figuratively, specifically lightning): - fiery, fire.
Judgement~κρίσις~kree'-sis
(Subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension a tribunal; by implication justice (specifically divine law): - accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.
Destruction~ἀπώλεια~ap-o'-li-a
From a presumed derivative of G622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.
Ungodly~ἀσεβής~as-eb-ace'
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G4576; irreverent, that is, (by extension) impious or wicked: - ungodly (man).
Cross References:
Psa 50:3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
Prayer:
Dear Gracious and Good God!
You are holy - the All Powerful One! I am nothing,that you should be mindful of me, and yet here I sit, wallowing in the riches of Your parenthood and Lordship. You love me. I do not grasp this nor live in this as I should. Death is coming to all that is around me, but my hope is sure and steadfast because of Your convenant love and faithfulness. You are the Promise Keeper! I lift up my eyes to heaven - to what I know is coming, and I see the earth all around me through the grid of this truth. I am not dismayed, but excited for that day when I will see You face to face and know you, and finally be free - completely free of this sinful flesh. In that day I will praise you in perfection! You are worthy of all praise!
Give me a following heart this day, Lord, so that I can serve and worship you with my life!
Amen
"But by the same word, the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire; being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly."
Questions:
Whose/what word?
God's Decree! By the same power with which He spoke creation into existence, He spoke the flood's destruction, and will one day, speak a firey judgement upon this earth, and those on it who have rejected His Lordship will perish.
Word Studies:
Word ~ log'os ~ The Divine expression of God's reasonings, motives, computation, command.
Stored up~ θησαυρίζω~thay-sow-rid'-zo
From G2344; to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively): - lay up (treasure), (keep) in store, (heap) treasure (together, up).
Fire~πῦρ~poor
A primary word; “fire” (literally or figuratively, specifically lightning): - fiery, fire.
Judgement~κρίσις~kree'-sis
(Subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension a tribunal; by implication justice (specifically divine law): - accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.
Destruction~ἀπώλεια~ap-o'-li-a
From a presumed derivative of G622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.
Ungodly~ἀσεβής~as-eb-ace'
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G4576; irreverent, that is, (by extension) impious or wicked: - ungodly (man).
Cross References:
Psa 50:3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
Prayer:
Dear Gracious and Good God!
You are holy - the All Powerful One! I am nothing,that you should be mindful of me, and yet here I sit, wallowing in the riches of Your parenthood and Lordship. You love me. I do not grasp this nor live in this as I should. Death is coming to all that is around me, but my hope is sure and steadfast because of Your convenant love and faithfulness. You are the Promise Keeper! I lift up my eyes to heaven - to what I know is coming, and I see the earth all around me through the grid of this truth. I am not dismayed, but excited for that day when I will see You face to face and know you, and finally be free - completely free of this sinful flesh. In that day I will praise you in perfection! You are worthy of all praise!
Give me a following heart this day, Lord, so that I can serve and worship you with my life!
Amen
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