The last few weeks have been pretty intense for me. It seems that more and more people I come in contact with are experiencing very overwhelming circumstances in their lives at this time. For some it is medical in nature, with sickness, operations, co-pays, and prescriptions. Others are having a very difficult time keeping their families in check, either raising children on their own, dealing with 'tweeners', or teens who want to spread their wings and start flying solo NOW. Still, others are having difficulty at work; dealing with co-workers or employers in situations that aren't altogether 'Christian'. At the same time, almost everyone is dealing with the increase in gas, milk, bread, bananas, utilities, prescriptions, and insurance as they see their checking accounts dipping lower and lower.
Compound this to church life and it can be even more overwhelming. Maybe it is those Christians who always wear a smile and everything in is 'fine'. Some retreat from church life altogether, attempting to handle life on their own or being so overwhelmed it seems like there is absolutely no time for being with their church family.
As I preach through Acts on Sunday evenings, I am reminded that life was extremely overwhelming for the believers in the New Testament, and more so. While most Bible teachers and commentators believe their are great similarities between that day and age and ours, one key component of NT life is missing from Western Christianity and the American Church: extreme persecution.
Last night I preached on Acts 12. Here King Herod executes the apostle James, imprisons Peter, an angel of the Lord leads Peter to his escape while the church is having a cottage prayer meeting to God on his behalf. After being released, King Herod is outraged and executes the 16 guards who apparently were not able to do their jobs.
Some time later, a group of people (that King Herod is initially angry with) decides to befriend the king's personal aide and ask for peace. Since King Herod is an extremely prideful and arrogant man, he consents and gives a speech decked out in the most regal of royal attire. [The historian Josephus describes it like this: the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him.] As King Herod gives his oration to them, they cry out and say, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
In response to this, an angel of the Lord strikes King Herod and he dies, being eaten by worms (my 7 year old was very intrigued with this part of the story).
The story ends with verse 24: 'But the word of God grew and multiplied.'
What are we to make of this? In an overwhelming world, true believers must take assurance in the sovereignty of God, trust His word, declare the gospel message that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and three days later rose from the grave and He ascended to the Father.
Western Christianity would take on a different shape if we faced the type of persecution the NT believers did. While it is common for some to encounter some verbal harassment or be silenced by a rule or law, we have no idea what it means to gather for worship in secret and wonder if a 'spy' will out us and our executioners arrive to behead or imprison us.
Why was James executed and Peter released from prison? My only answer is this: God is sovereign and He did what was best. While my mind can't understand this, it gives me great help in an overwhelming world. Especially when I talk to people who are faithful in their love, devotion, worship, and exaltation of Jesus but are struggling. Especially when I see those who have no regard for the things of God and it seems like they are prospering.
Being faithful in an overwhelming world is possible only through a personal relationship with King Jesus. It is in Him I find my foundation. I might not understand why things happen they way they do, but He never changes!
I pray that no matter how overwhelming the world may be to me the word of God will grow and multiply, in South Point, the tri-state, America and to the ends of the earth!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers (Chapter 4)
To those who are reading this blog, sorry for the delay in posting about chapter 4. The last two weeks have been hectic to say the least, more like frustrating. Anyway, this chapter, while shorter than the previous, still contains some nuggets of gold that are very challenging and convicting. Here is a summary:
Summary
The Life, Vigor, and Comfort of our Spiritual Life Depend Much on our Mortification of Sin
1. Life, Vigor, and Comfort are not Necessarily Connected to Mortification
2. Adoption and Justification, not Mortification, are the Immediate Causes of Life, Vigor, and Comfort
3. In the Ordinary Relationship with God, the Vigor and Comfort of our Spiritual Lives Depend much on our Mortification of Sin
a. This alone keeps sin from depriving us of the one and the other.
b. It weakens the soul and deprives it of its strength.
c. It untunes and unframes the heart itself by entangling its affections.
d. It fills the thoughts with contrivances about it.
e. It breaks out and actually hinders duty.
f. As sin weakens, so it darkens the soul.
g. Mortification prunes all the graces of God and makes room for them in our
hearts to grow.
h. As to our peace; as there is nothing that has any evidence of sincerity without it, so I know nothing that has such as evidence of sincerity in it.
Personal Thoughts
Two ideas are expressed in this chapter that speak most to me. The first deals with sin weakening the soul and depriving us of strength. As David harbored his sin and suffered the physical and mental consequences, it is a great reminder that while I may hold on to sin with no apparent 'consequence' I need to remember that my sins will find me out. I must continually be examining myself and confessing sin. If sin is allowed to 'harbor' and grow then the natural progression is one of deeper and more gross sin. One has to wonder if sin continues to grow how long it will take for 'hidden sins' to become 'public sins'. As a pastor, I only have to look at colleagues, the vast majority I do not know, who have fallen from grace. I am not questioning their salvation mind you, only that hidden sins eventually grew to be public.
There is a growing number of ministers, and many within the Southern Baptist Convention, who are now being accused and charged with sexual sin. Some involve marital infidelity, some homosexual encounters, and the grossest (in my opinion) child molestation charges (with children of either sex).
While this is but one of thousands of examples, it is a powerful one nonetheless. Other sins can be looked at, and one must remember it is not just pastors, but every Christian that must mortify the flesh and confess sin. If sin is allowed to grow, it will ultimately lead to death.
The second idea that challenges me is understanding how sin hinders duty (or worship). It is interesting to me that Owen states,
Why don't we worship God? Why do millions of Christians gather each week at houses of worship, yet never worship? Why continue the monotonous, boring, ritual of 'going to church' when worship is absent? One answer - SIN.
Sin is a hindrance to worship of God. It is next to impossible to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength when we love our sin more. We can't fully love God, love others, and share Jesus when sin has a control on our lives.
Hence, our very lives, our vigor and our comfort concerning our spiritual lives depend much on our mortification of sin.
Next Week
I will attempt to have chapter 5 ready next week. If it doesn't happen, bear with me. This week has been better than last week and I am sure next week will better than this. Sometimes I feel as though satan is attempting to sidetrack me and hinder what God wants to do. As Resurrection Sunday approaches, it seems that is the case. Pray for me as we enter this greatest of weekend services!
Your Turn
Again, feel free to comment on what challenged you from this chapter or to express your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to reading them and seeing how God is growing each of you!
it is a great joy to serve as your pastor,
Ricky
Summary
The Life, Vigor, and Comfort of our Spiritual Life Depend Much on our Mortification of Sin
1. Life, Vigor, and Comfort are not Necessarily Connected to Mortification
2. Adoption and Justification, not Mortification, are the Immediate Causes of Life, Vigor, and Comfort
3. In the Ordinary Relationship with God, the Vigor and Comfort of our Spiritual Lives Depend much on our Mortification of Sin
a. This alone keeps sin from depriving us of the one and the other.
b. It weakens the soul and deprives it of its strength.
c. It untunes and unframes the heart itself by entangling its affections.
d. It fills the thoughts with contrivances about it.
e. It breaks out and actually hinders duty.
f. As sin weakens, so it darkens the soul.
g. Mortification prunes all the graces of God and makes room for them in our
hearts to grow.
h. As to our peace; as there is nothing that has any evidence of sincerity without it, so I know nothing that has such as evidence of sincerity in it.
Personal Thoughts
Two ideas are expressed in this chapter that speak most to me. The first deals with sin weakening the soul and depriving us of strength. As David harbored his sin and suffered the physical and mental consequences, it is a great reminder that while I may hold on to sin with no apparent 'consequence' I need to remember that my sins will find me out. I must continually be examining myself and confessing sin. If sin is allowed to 'harbor' and grow then the natural progression is one of deeper and more gross sin. One has to wonder if sin continues to grow how long it will take for 'hidden sins' to become 'public sins'. As a pastor, I only have to look at colleagues, the vast majority I do not know, who have fallen from grace. I am not questioning their salvation mind you, only that hidden sins eventually grew to be public.
There is a growing number of ministers, and many within the Southern Baptist Convention, who are now being accused and charged with sexual sin. Some involve marital infidelity, some homosexual encounters, and the grossest (in my opinion) child molestation charges (with children of either sex).
While this is but one of thousands of examples, it is a powerful one nonetheless. Other sins can be looked at, and one must remember it is not just pastors, but every Christian that must mortify the flesh and confess sin. If sin is allowed to grow, it will ultimately lead to death.
The second idea that challenges me is understanding how sin hinders duty (or worship). It is interesting to me that Owen states,
"The ambitious man must be studying, and the wordling must be working or contriving, and the sensual, vain person providing himself for vanity, when they should be engaged in the worship of God."
Why don't we worship God? Why do millions of Christians gather each week at houses of worship, yet never worship? Why continue the monotonous, boring, ritual of 'going to church' when worship is absent? One answer - SIN.
Sin is a hindrance to worship of God. It is next to impossible to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength when we love our sin more. We can't fully love God, love others, and share Jesus when sin has a control on our lives.
Hence, our very lives, our vigor and our comfort concerning our spiritual lives depend much on our mortification of sin.
Next Week
I will attempt to have chapter 5 ready next week. If it doesn't happen, bear with me. This week has been better than last week and I am sure next week will better than this. Sometimes I feel as though satan is attempting to sidetrack me and hinder what God wants to do. As Resurrection Sunday approaches, it seems that is the case. Pray for me as we enter this greatest of weekend services!
Your Turn
Again, feel free to comment on what challenged you from this chapter or to express your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to reading them and seeing how God is growing each of you!
it is a great joy to serve as your pastor,
Ricky
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Chapter 3 - The Holy Spirit is the Great Sovereign Cause of the Mortification of Indwelling Sin
Chapter 3 has been a really good one for me. As the chapter title suggests, we are dealing with the Holy Spirit and mortification. I will again give a summary and attempt to be brief in my remarks.
Summary
The Holy Spirit is the great sovereign cause of the mortification of indwelling sin
1. Other remedies are sought in vain
2. Why mortification is the work of the Spirit
a. The Spirit is promised of God to be given unto us to do this work
b. All mortification is from the gift of Christ, and all the gifts of Christ are communicated to us and given us by the Spirit of Christ
3. How the Spirit mortifies sin
a. By causing our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh
b. By a real physical efficiency on the root and habit of sin
c. By bringing the cross of Christ into the heart of a sinner by faith
4. If the Spirit alone mortifies sin, why are we are exhorted to it?
a. All graces and good works which are in us are his
b. It is still an act of our obedience
Personal Thoughts
This is how we start out. In vain do men attempt to find ways to remedy their sin problem. The term 'popish' or 'popery' is used some in this chapter. While the meaning references the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy, let's not be quick to judge and cast stones, while we sit back in our pew and think we blessed to be Protestant (or Baptist, to any Landmarker out there reading this blog by accident).
While it may be easy to read this chapter and gloss over it because we don't have rough garments, vows, orders, fastings and penances, let us be careful to read what Owen is saying.
Let me start with what I think are two slippery slopes one can slide down (outside of the false teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, filled with a works righteousness).
Owen writes, "Such outside endeavors, such bodily exercises, such self-performances, such merely legal duties, without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit." Read that again carefully, "without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit."
I can't help but think of the likes of Oprah and Osteen, who attempt to pawn a gospel that is saturated in self-help psychology, promising healing, opportunity, wholeness, joy, acceptance, good-fortune, and maybe some wealth along the way. God is mentioned throughout many of their 'sermons' yet without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit.
Every attempt is used to dance around the primary issue, sin. So we seen many offers of forgiveness yet without Christ.
Jesus Himself says, "no one comes to the Father except by me." It doesn't get any plainer than that. So there can be not forgiveness apart from Christ and there can't be any mortification of the flesh apart from His Spirit that seals us for the day of redemption.
The other slope we must be careful of going down is thinking that we aren't like the Catholic Church and we have a good pulse on the teachings of Oprah and Osteen so we are therefore in the clear. Take heed, lest you fall! One would do well to remember that we can't mortify the flesh but by the Spirit. This means we have an innate tendency to set up our own system of works righteousness. We can, without realizing it, form our own traditions that appease our conscience for some time when we attempt to mortify the flesh in our own strength. "In vain do you worship me, teaching for doctrines the traditions of men (Matt 15:9)."
Owen says, "Spiritually sick men cannot sweat out their distemper with working." It will never happen. That is why we must rely on the Holy Spirit to accomplish this in us. As we submit to Him and allow sin to be consumed by loving forgiveness, having our lusts destroyed and a passion for Him renewed, it becomes obvious it can only happen if we live day by day for Him.
The Christian life has never been meant to be lived Sunday to Sunday, or Christmas service to Easter service to Christmas service; it is meant to be lived daily.
Daily living for Him requires daily mortification of the flesh by the Holy Spirit!
Let us allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and see if there be any wicked way, any traditions of men, any man-made pride that needs to be confessed. Let us repent of our own sense of spiritual self-righteousness and live in light of the imputed righteousness of Christ in us.
Next Week
Next week Chapter 4. I know I have been greatly challenged by this book. I hope you are not getting discouraged by some of the antiquated language, but will continue to read through this work.
Your Turn
What insights did you gain from this chapter? How has it impacted your life? What needs to change in your life to mortify the flesh?
Did something make you angry? Maybe it offended you?
Feel free to comment on what I think, what you think, or what others think. No man is an island and together we can learn more from each other. Until then...
share your faith with someone this week!
Summary
The Holy Spirit is the great sovereign cause of the mortification of indwelling sin
1. Other remedies are sought in vain
2. Why mortification is the work of the Spirit
a. The Spirit is promised of God to be given unto us to do this work
b. All mortification is from the gift of Christ, and all the gifts of Christ are communicated to us and given us by the Spirit of Christ
3. How the Spirit mortifies sin
a. By causing our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh
b. By a real physical efficiency on the root and habit of sin
c. By bringing the cross of Christ into the heart of a sinner by faith
4. If the Spirit alone mortifies sin, why are we are exhorted to it?
a. All graces and good works which are in us are his
b. It is still an act of our obedience
Personal Thoughts
"In vain do men seek other remedies; they shall not be healed by them."
This is how we start out. In vain do men attempt to find ways to remedy their sin problem. The term 'popish' or 'popery' is used some in this chapter. While the meaning references the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy, let's not be quick to judge and cast stones, while we sit back in our pew and think we blessed to be Protestant (or Baptist, to any Landmarker out there reading this blog by accident).
While it may be easy to read this chapter and gloss over it because we don't have rough garments, vows, orders, fastings and penances, let us be careful to read what Owen is saying.
Let me start with what I think are two slippery slopes one can slide down (outside of the false teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, filled with a works righteousness).
Owen writes, "Such outside endeavors, such bodily exercises, such self-performances, such merely legal duties, without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit." Read that again carefully, "without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit."
I can't help but think of the likes of Oprah and Osteen, who attempt to pawn a gospel that is saturated in self-help psychology, promising healing, opportunity, wholeness, joy, acceptance, good-fortune, and maybe some wealth along the way. God is mentioned throughout many of their 'sermons' yet without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit.
Every attempt is used to dance around the primary issue, sin. So we seen many offers of forgiveness yet without Christ.
Jesus Himself says, "no one comes to the Father except by me." It doesn't get any plainer than that. So there can be not forgiveness apart from Christ and there can't be any mortification of the flesh apart from His Spirit that seals us for the day of redemption.
The other slope we must be careful of going down is thinking that we aren't like the Catholic Church and we have a good pulse on the teachings of Oprah and Osteen so we are therefore in the clear. Take heed, lest you fall! One would do well to remember that we can't mortify the flesh but by the Spirit. This means we have an innate tendency to set up our own system of works righteousness. We can, without realizing it, form our own traditions that appease our conscience for some time when we attempt to mortify the flesh in our own strength. "In vain do you worship me, teaching for doctrines the traditions of men (Matt 15:9)."
Owen says, "Spiritually sick men cannot sweat out their distemper with working." It will never happen. That is why we must rely on the Holy Spirit to accomplish this in us. As we submit to Him and allow sin to be consumed by loving forgiveness, having our lusts destroyed and a passion for Him renewed, it becomes obvious it can only happen if we live day by day for Him.
The Christian life has never been meant to be lived Sunday to Sunday, or Christmas service to Easter service to Christmas service; it is meant to be lived daily.
Daily living for Him requires daily mortification of the flesh by the Holy Spirit!
Let us allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and see if there be any wicked way, any traditions of men, any man-made pride that needs to be confessed. Let us repent of our own sense of spiritual self-righteousness and live in light of the imputed righteousness of Christ in us.
Next Week
Next week Chapter 4. I know I have been greatly challenged by this book. I hope you are not getting discouraged by some of the antiquated language, but will continue to read through this work.
Your Turn
What insights did you gain from this chapter? How has it impacted your life? What needs to change in your life to mortify the flesh?
Did something make you angry? Maybe it offended you?
Feel free to comment on what I think, what you think, or what others think. No man is an island and together we can learn more from each other. Until then...
share your faith with someone this week!
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