God at Work as You Work

Reading from one of my favorite Systematic Theologies this morning. Related to the idea of Divine Concurrence, Augustus Strong writes:

"The divine efficiency interpenetrates that of man without destroying or absorbing it. The influx of God’s sustaining energy is such that men retain their natural faculties and powers. God does not work all, but all in all."

"The movement of the electric car cannot be explained simply from the working of its own motor apparatus. The electric current throbbing through the wire, and the dynamo from which that energy proceeds, are needed to explain the result. In like manner we need a spiritual Christ to explain the spiritual activity of the Christian."

Phil. 2:12-13
"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

For All the Blissful People Out There

There are those who condemn teaching on such difficult topics as election on the basis that "we shouldn't pretend like we understand everything about God". Setting aside the fact that this is the biggest straw man since Ray Bolger, is that really the goal of theology? Of course we will never fully understand God, but are we not called upon to understand God to the extent that He has revealed Himself? Shouldn't the fact that certain teachings of Scripture are difficult cause us to grapple with them more diligently? And, does understanding God better somehow cause us to marvel at His immensity less?

Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason has an excellent post this morning. Well worth the read.

Prayer Warriors

Listening to a powerful sermon by Pastor Tommy Nelson. He is preaching on "Prevailing Prayer," from Romans 15. In it he made a statement, regarding prayer as "the breath of the warrior" (Ephesians 6:18) that is well worth remembering:

"Successful ministry is the spoil of prayer."

For too many of us prayer is a txt msg to JC our BFFL, rather than the agonizing exertion we see in the Bible. It is a matter for the shopping mall, rather than the Garden. And the enemy is ROTFL.

Jewish Whassup

For students of the Old Testament, here is a deep insight into Jewish culture.

Jumping Over the Stumblingblock

If you missed it, here's an interview with Joel Osteen and counterpoint by Dr. Horton. Ya know, I don't care if the guy preaches to more people than God, shouldn't we at least balk a little when he says, "There's a lot better people qualified to say, 'Here's a book that's going to explain the Scriptures to you'." If you're not qualified to explain the Scriptures, Joel, then how are you qualified to be a PASTOR?!?!?

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." (2 Tim. 4:1-2, NASB)

So, just how does that compare to Joel's comments?

Cooties in the pulpit

If the church of, say, the Reformation era, was a majestic eagle then the church of today is Beaky Buzzard. Take the example of the 7-year-old preacher and the 9-year-old "prophet" in this video. I only WISH it were a joke.

So, how can you be "the husband of one wife" when she still gots cooties? I guess since the kid "got saved" when he was 3, and he's now 7, that means he's not a "new convert"?

"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." (1 Tim. 3:1-7, NASB)

Psalm 115:3

Another verse to avoid if you want to remain comfortably Arminian:

But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. (Ps. 115:3, NASB)

Music that Feeds

If you haven't yet heard the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team's recordings you have GOT to check them out. These are skilled musicians, but they are first and foremost committed Christians. You'll find this music uplifting and relaxing in turns. And they just get better and better with each recording. Here's a great place to start:

Creator of It All

Enjoy!

Keeping Our Focus

While preparing for Sunday morning's sermon on Ephesians 4:11-16 I came across this statement in a commentary:

"The first concern of the leadership of the church should be for the filled seats, not the empty ones. When a young preacher complained to Charles Spurgeon that his own congregation was too small, Spurgeon replied, 'Well, maybe it is as large as you'd like to give account for in the day of judgment'." (MacArthur, John. The MacArthur NT Commentary: Ephesians, p. 154)

What an excellent perspective, first from John MacArthur as he reminds us that we were given as gifts to the church and therein lies our first duty; and then from C. H. Spurgeon as he reminds us that the larger the congregation, the greater the responsibility. We must break out of the "double your pleasure; double your fun" view of church growth, and get back to the Biblical view:

"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment." (James 3:1, NASB)

The Wrong Side of Easter

"This broken, warring world is living on the wrong side of Easter Day. That is the basic fact, and the source of all our troubles. We are back where the disciples were, between Good Friday and the Resurrection. . . . We are standing helpless before the towering mystery of evil's tragic dominion, feeling our hopeless inadequacy in the face of the grim facts of sin and chaos and man's ruthless inhumanity to man. . . . the supreme need of the world at this moment is to start living on the other side--the right side--of Easter. It is to know that in the Resurrection of Jesus God Himself has spoken, and God's empire of righteousness and peace and joy and liberty has been brought decisively to light." (James Stewart, The Strong Name, p. 35)

Hosea 6:6

"They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them." (Hosea 6:6, NASB)

Evolution of a Heresy

"Church history shows over and over again that slight errors develop into serious errors which soon become heresy. In this case one of the most serious heresies of our generation has developed, namely, the idea that human decision is the cause of regeneration." (Erroll Hulse, The Great Invitation: Examining the Use of the Altar Call in Evangelism, p. 6)