Posts
This new profile picture should be familiar to space afficionados as "Earth Rise" taken from Apollo 8 as it circled from around the moon. Later, on Christmas Eve, the crew read Genesis chapter one during a live broadcast to the world. It remains one of the most pleasant and spine-tingling events of my life.
Far surpassing though are the times spent at the throne of God in prayer. God reminds me very often lately as I begin to pray, speaking to Him, that He prefers to speak first to me. It is usually a divine interruption and He says, "Worship me." We are so often in such a hurry to bring our issues to God that we forget our place and priority.
God says in Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."
To worship in the beauty of holiness is first and foremost His Holiness, then that which is imputed to us.
Afterwards, in obedience to Romans 11:36-12:2, I discover God's will for me that day. What a privelage to receive such knowledge, grace, and certainty. Have you learned to purposefully climb upon the altar, bind yourself, and allow God to utterly consume you so that you may know His good, acceptable, and perfect will? Have you so exercised yourself so that you do not jump off when the flames are too hot? Have you willingly forsaken all so that you may freely accept His will as your own with no attachments or exceptions? Only the pure saint can do this.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Futile Attempts
This morning while reading Ecclesiastes, I came across a verse that made me stop and rejoice. Have you ever had a moment like that with God? He gives you a Word “out of the blue”, unexpected, not even in relation to any prayer, line of thinking (whether recent or recalled), or situation. Just a gift that makes you pause and reflect to worship in a moment of truth.
I read in chapter 3 verse 11, “also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
This struck me in such a way because of the fruitless efforts that mankind makes to discover certain things. We all want to know where we came from. Charles Darwin thought he found the answer to that question. Today, The Origin of the Species creates more controversy than ever with the media blitz covering the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth.
Yahoo news announced the discovery of a massive deep-space explosion this week. About a month ago, a very large near-earth asteroid came within sufficient distance of earth to cause concern again about a potential impact. Was such a collision the end of the dinosaurs? Will it be the end of our earth as we know it? Will this planet survive given all the unknown, untracked, uncontrollable objects in space headed for us? (By the way, I laughed at this one quite a bit last week with the reported collision of the defunct Russian satellite with the Iridium satellite. We sure make enough of our own problems out there but we literally encounter thousands of impacts daily from micro-sized space stuff.)
Just a few verses later God gave me another gem. It was completely unrelated to the first but just as precious. God says in verse 16, “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.” Ahh, just the kind of stuff that a prophet loves. Do you know why there will be a new heaven and a new earth? This verse is the answer. Because in this present earth and heaven, wickedness and iniquity are there.
After the judgment is complete (both the Bema Seat and the Great White Throne) God will burn up the heavens and the earth with a fervent heat that will melt even the elements themselves. God writes about just how beautiful this new day will be in II Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
God was not finished yet (and not just because I wasn’t finished reading the chapter). Finally in verses 19-21 God says, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Again, totally unrelated to the other two but special to me because God pointed out something to me that I missed the first time I studied the topic of dominion. In the beginning, God created all living things and commanded man to have dominion over all other creatures. While this is necessarily true (and a great study of a capability that most of us no longer exercise) I like the word “preeminence” here along with the clear instruction of the finality of all of us.
Although we all die (it is appointed!), only man enjoys the future of eternal life with God. The body goes to dust but the spirit (of man alone) goes upward to God. My sincere sympathy to the animal lovers out there. But there is no animal heaven. “…the beast goeth downward to the earth.” However, this in no way excuses the deplorable ways that we treat the animals. Such cruelties in no way exhibit obedience to have dominion. There will be much unexpected judgment upon us for how we have abused our dominion over the animal kingdom.
Well, enough random stuff for today. My posts for the next month come to you from Japan where I reside on business. Pray for me to be bold.
Copyright 2009 Lawrence J. Caldwell
I read in chapter 3 verse 11, “also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
This struck me in such a way because of the fruitless efforts that mankind makes to discover certain things. We all want to know where we came from. Charles Darwin thought he found the answer to that question. Today, The Origin of the Species creates more controversy than ever with the media blitz covering the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth.
Yahoo news announced the discovery of a massive deep-space explosion this week. About a month ago, a very large near-earth asteroid came within sufficient distance of earth to cause concern again about a potential impact. Was such a collision the end of the dinosaurs? Will it be the end of our earth as we know it? Will this planet survive given all the unknown, untracked, uncontrollable objects in space headed for us? (By the way, I laughed at this one quite a bit last week with the reported collision of the defunct Russian satellite with the Iridium satellite. We sure make enough of our own problems out there but we literally encounter thousands of impacts daily from micro-sized space stuff.)
Just a few verses later God gave me another gem. It was completely unrelated to the first but just as precious. God says in verse 16, “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.” Ahh, just the kind of stuff that a prophet loves. Do you know why there will be a new heaven and a new earth? This verse is the answer. Because in this present earth and heaven, wickedness and iniquity are there.
After the judgment is complete (both the Bema Seat and the Great White Throne) God will burn up the heavens and the earth with a fervent heat that will melt even the elements themselves. God writes about just how beautiful this new day will be in II Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
God was not finished yet (and not just because I wasn’t finished reading the chapter). Finally in verses 19-21 God says, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Again, totally unrelated to the other two but special to me because God pointed out something to me that I missed the first time I studied the topic of dominion. In the beginning, God created all living things and commanded man to have dominion over all other creatures. While this is necessarily true (and a great study of a capability that most of us no longer exercise) I like the word “preeminence” here along with the clear instruction of the finality of all of us.
Although we all die (it is appointed!), only man enjoys the future of eternal life with God. The body goes to dust but the spirit (of man alone) goes upward to God. My sincere sympathy to the animal lovers out there. But there is no animal heaven. “…the beast goeth downward to the earth.” However, this in no way excuses the deplorable ways that we treat the animals. Such cruelties in no way exhibit obedience to have dominion. There will be much unexpected judgment upon us for how we have abused our dominion over the animal kingdom.
Well, enough random stuff for today. My posts for the next month come to you from Japan where I reside on business. Pray for me to be bold.
Copyright 2009 Lawrence J. Caldwell
Futile Attempts
This morning while reading Ecclesiastes, I came across a verse that made me stop and rejoice. Have you ever had a moment like that with God? He gives you a Word “out of the blue”, unexpected, not even in relation to any prayer, line of thinking (whether recent or recalled), or situation. Just a gift that makes you pause and reflect to worship in a moment of truth.
I read in chapter 3 verse 11, “also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
This struck me in such a way because of the fruitless efforts that mankind makes to discover certain things. We all want to know where we came from. Charles Darwin thought he found the answer to that question. Today, The Origin of the Species creates more controversy than ever with the media blitz covering the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth.
Yahoo news announced the discovery of a massive deep-space explosion this week. About a month ago, a very large near-earth asteroid came within sufficient distance of earth to cause concern again about a potential impact. Was such a collision the end of the dinosaurs? Will it be the end of our earth as we know it? Will this planet survive given all the unknown, untracked, uncontrollable objects in space headed for us? (By the way, I laughed at this one quite a bit last week with the reported collision of the defunct Russian satellite with the Iridium satellite. We sure make enough of our own problems out there but we literally encounter thousands of impacts daily from micro-sized space stuff.)
Just a few verses later God gave me another gem. It was completely unrelated to the first but just as precious. God says in verse 16, “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.” Ahh, just the kind of stuff that a prophet loves. Do you know why there will be a new heaven and a new earth? This verse is the answer. Because in this present earth and heaven, wickedness and iniquity are there.
After the judgment is complete (both the Bema Seat and the Great White Throne) God will burn up the heavens and the earth with a fervent heat that will melt even the elements themselves. God writes about just how beautiful this new day will be in II Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
God was not finished yet (and not just because I wasn’t finished reading the chapter). Finally in verses 19-21 God says, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Again, totally unrelated to the other two but special to me because God pointed out something to me that I missed the first time I studied the topic of dominion. In the beginning, God created all living things and commanded man to have dominion over all other creatures. While this is necessarily true (and a great study of a capability that most of us no longer exercise) I like the word “preeminence” here along with the clear instruction of the finality of all of us.
Although we all die (it is appointed!), only man enjoys the future of eternal life with God. The body goes to dust but the spirit (of man alone) goes upward to God. My sincere sympathy to the animal lovers out there. But there is no animal heaven. “…the beast goeth downward to the earth.” However, this in no way excuses the deplorable ways that we treat the animals. Such cruelties in no way exhibit obedience to have dominion. There will be much unexpected judgment upon us for how we have abused our dominion over the animal kingdom.
Well, enough random stuff for today. My posts for the next month come to you from Japan where I reside on business. Pray for me to be bold.
Copyright 2009 Lawrence J. Caldwell
I read in chapter 3 verse 11, “also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
This struck me in such a way because of the fruitless efforts that mankind makes to discover certain things. We all want to know where we came from. Charles Darwin thought he found the answer to that question. Today, The Origin of the Species creates more controversy than ever with the media blitz covering the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth.
Yahoo news announced the discovery of a massive deep-space explosion this week. About a month ago, a very large near-earth asteroid came within sufficient distance of earth to cause concern again about a potential impact. Was such a collision the end of the dinosaurs? Will it be the end of our earth as we know it? Will this planet survive given all the unknown, untracked, uncontrollable objects in space headed for us? (By the way, I laughed at this one quite a bit last week with the reported collision of the defunct Russian satellite with the Iridium satellite. We sure make enough of our own problems out there but we literally encounter thousands of impacts daily from micro-sized space stuff.)
Just a few verses later God gave me another gem. It was completely unrelated to the first but just as precious. God says in verse 16, “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.” Ahh, just the kind of stuff that a prophet loves. Do you know why there will be a new heaven and a new earth? This verse is the answer. Because in this present earth and heaven, wickedness and iniquity are there.
After the judgment is complete (both the Bema Seat and the Great White Throne) God will burn up the heavens and the earth with a fervent heat that will melt even the elements themselves. God writes about just how beautiful this new day will be in II Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
God was not finished yet (and not just because I wasn’t finished reading the chapter). Finally in verses 19-21 God says, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Again, totally unrelated to the other two but special to me because God pointed out something to me that I missed the first time I studied the topic of dominion. In the beginning, God created all living things and commanded man to have dominion over all other creatures. While this is necessarily true (and a great study of a capability that most of us no longer exercise) I like the word “preeminence” here along with the clear instruction of the finality of all of us.
Although we all die (it is appointed!), only man enjoys the future of eternal life with God. The body goes to dust but the spirit (of man alone) goes upward to God. My sincere sympathy to the animal lovers out there. But there is no animal heaven. “…the beast goeth downward to the earth.” However, this in no way excuses the deplorable ways that we treat the animals. Such cruelties in no way exhibit obedience to have dominion. There will be much unexpected judgment upon us for how we have abused our dominion over the animal kingdom.
Well, enough random stuff for today. My posts for the next month come to you from Japan where I reside on business. Pray for me to be bold.
Copyright 2009 Lawrence J. Caldwell
Monday, February 16, 2009
Free at Last
Sometimes the prophets are portrayed as the "doom and gloom" guys because all we talk about is sin and judgment. There really is an upside to all that. I want to share some encouragement with you.
God says in Luke 15:7&10, "that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth...(and) there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Meanwhile, back down here on earth....
"...ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36 I cannot find words to describe this state that is far beyond a feeling and knowledge.
Likewise, to know and experience the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17:21-24 is also indescribable. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." We experience this most profoundly in prayer.
We can in fact enter into prayer boldly as God tells us in Hebrews 4:15, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
As we are there, we can fully expect to see God as Jesus told us in Matthew 5:8,"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Furthermore, we shall enjoy many other untold spiritual blessings at the throne as God tells us in Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (I would love to hear your stories of how God has done this in your lives!)
We have also at times the supreme benefit of learning directly from God. Although we get no new revelation as Paul did for fourteen years in the Arabian desert alone with Jesus (Galatians 1:17-18; 2:1). We do in fact learn directly from the Holy Spirit as God tells us in I John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
This is how we obtain the divine privilege to worship God in spirit and in truth as He commanded in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
And finally, we have confidence in our preparation to meet Him one day in the clouds without even a moment's notice. We are ever ready. We have nothing to fear now or at the judgment for as He says in Ephesians 5:25-27, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
My dear readers, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (III John 1:4) I would delight to hear of more things you know and experience in this light. Share the joy and encourage one another!
God says in Luke 15:7&10, "that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth...(and) there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Meanwhile, back down here on earth....
"...ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36 I cannot find words to describe this state that is far beyond a feeling and knowledge.
Likewise, to know and experience the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17:21-24 is also indescribable. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." We experience this most profoundly in prayer.
We can in fact enter into prayer boldly as God tells us in Hebrews 4:15, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
As we are there, we can fully expect to see God as Jesus told us in Matthew 5:8,"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Furthermore, we shall enjoy many other untold spiritual blessings at the throne as God tells us in Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (I would love to hear your stories of how God has done this in your lives!)
We have also at times the supreme benefit of learning directly from God. Although we get no new revelation as Paul did for fourteen years in the Arabian desert alone with Jesus (Galatians 1:17-18; 2:1). We do in fact learn directly from the Holy Spirit as God tells us in I John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
This is how we obtain the divine privilege to worship God in spirit and in truth as He commanded in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
And finally, we have confidence in our preparation to meet Him one day in the clouds without even a moment's notice. We are ever ready. We have nothing to fear now or at the judgment for as He says in Ephesians 5:25-27, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
My dear readers, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (III John 1:4) I would delight to hear of more things you know and experience in this light. Share the joy and encourage one another!
Friday, February 13, 2009
The "Normal" Church
What happens when a church organization or a Church fellowship gets into sin? What happens when a little leaven leavens the whole lump? I'll answer this question today from the perspective of spiritual gifts as given in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.
The prophets will try to fix it by preaching against sin and reinforcing all such Biblical truth.
The evangelists will try to fix it by bringing more unsaved people into the church to get saved.
The pastor/teachers will try to fix it by getting people more educated with more expository and topical preaching.
The ministers will try to fix it by trying to make everyone feel more comfortable.
The exhorters will try to fix it by encouraging everyone that things will get better.
The givers will try to fix it by throwing more money at the problem (like more programs, new music and instruments, bigger monitors and screens, etc.).
The rulers will try to fix it by adjusting the procedures and processes, ways and means, or constitution of the church.
The merciful will try to fix it by feeling even more sorry for people and praying for them.
The wise and knowledgeable will try to fix it by spreading their own opinions.
The faithful will try to fix it by acts of the flesh that seem right to them.
The miracle workers will try to fix it by hoping and praying that God will fix everything eventually.
The healers will try to fix it by trying to heal everyone from the diseases and calamities that are sure to come upon them in God's judgment.
The discerners of spirits will try to fix it by letting everyone know that it's all the fault of Satan so there will be many prayer meetings of spiritual warfare coming up.
But you see folks, none of this will work. When sin enters into the Body, Satan will indeed tempt the Body to bastardize their gifts and turn them to fleshly pursuits. He is a master at such deception. And while in sin, the Christian will not ever realize it. Apart from the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we would be condemned to perish in the chaos.
But God is faithful, merciful, and full of lovingkindness towards His children. He will not leave them forever in such desperate straits if they hear His voice and repent. Even still, the spiritual gifts must be left aside for the moment. Nothing but the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the tragedy of the cross, and the Reality of His resurrection will bring the Church back into a righteous, "one" relationship with God.
As Oswald Chambers says, "The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way."
The Church needs to wake up, get right with God, and then get to work.
The prophets will try to fix it by preaching against sin and reinforcing all such Biblical truth.
The evangelists will try to fix it by bringing more unsaved people into the church to get saved.
The pastor/teachers will try to fix it by getting people more educated with more expository and topical preaching.
The ministers will try to fix it by trying to make everyone feel more comfortable.
The exhorters will try to fix it by encouraging everyone that things will get better.
The givers will try to fix it by throwing more money at the problem (like more programs, new music and instruments, bigger monitors and screens, etc.).
The rulers will try to fix it by adjusting the procedures and processes, ways and means, or constitution of the church.
The merciful will try to fix it by feeling even more sorry for people and praying for them.
The wise and knowledgeable will try to fix it by spreading their own opinions.
The faithful will try to fix it by acts of the flesh that seem right to them.
The miracle workers will try to fix it by hoping and praying that God will fix everything eventually.
The healers will try to fix it by trying to heal everyone from the diseases and calamities that are sure to come upon them in God's judgment.
The discerners of spirits will try to fix it by letting everyone know that it's all the fault of Satan so there will be many prayer meetings of spiritual warfare coming up.
But you see folks, none of this will work. When sin enters into the Body, Satan will indeed tempt the Body to bastardize their gifts and turn them to fleshly pursuits. He is a master at such deception. And while in sin, the Christian will not ever realize it. Apart from the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we would be condemned to perish in the chaos.
But God is faithful, merciful, and full of lovingkindness towards His children. He will not leave them forever in such desperate straits if they hear His voice and repent. Even still, the spiritual gifts must be left aside for the moment. Nothing but the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the tragedy of the cross, and the Reality of His resurrection will bring the Church back into a righteous, "one" relationship with God.
As Oswald Chambers says, "The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way."
The Church needs to wake up, get right with God, and then get to work.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Dr. Adrian Roger's message this morning (posthumous) is one of my favorites and goes along so well with many of the topics I write about in this blog and my books. I strongly recommend you get a copy of this CD and share it with your newborn Christians whom you disciple. Go to www.lwf.org and order "Abounding Victory Through Amazing Grace CD (1768CD)"
One of those topics he preached on is death. See my post from January 14, 2009 on this topic. Here is a list of things for you to consider regarding the old dead man of sin that you once were. A dead man cannot:
pray to God, worship God, save himself, know and understand the truth of God's Word, teach or preach rightly the truth of God's Word, get right with God, hear God, fellowship with believers, partake worthily in the Lord's Supper, or any such thing that folks believe that a Christian should do that is Biblical. This holds true for both the sinner AND the Christian who has unrepented sin in their life.
On the other hand, a Christian whose old man is dead (see Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6) can freely do all these things and more!
Whether you are Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Jehovahs Witness, Independent, or any other denomination makes absolutely no difference in this matter before God. It is simply a matter of this: are you alive in Jesus Christ or not? The life you now live in the flesh cannot be both you (your old dead man) and Jesus. It must be Christ alone! (See Romans 7 and be delivered from that old body of death!)
One of those topics he preached on is death. See my post from January 14, 2009 on this topic. Here is a list of things for you to consider regarding the old dead man of sin that you once were. A dead man cannot:
pray to God, worship God, save himself, know and understand the truth of God's Word, teach or preach rightly the truth of God's Word, get right with God, hear God, fellowship with believers, partake worthily in the Lord's Supper, or any such thing that folks believe that a Christian should do that is Biblical. This holds true for both the sinner AND the Christian who has unrepented sin in their life.
On the other hand, a Christian whose old man is dead (see Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6) can freely do all these things and more!
Whether you are Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Jehovahs Witness, Independent, or any other denomination makes absolutely no difference in this matter before God. It is simply a matter of this: are you alive in Jesus Christ or not? The life you now live in the flesh cannot be both you (your old dead man) and Jesus. It must be Christ alone! (See Romans 7 and be delivered from that old body of death!)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Favorite
The resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:1-46 is one of my favorite passages from God's Word. It brings to front one great reality of God and that is His eternal "now". That's a term I borrow from Oswald Chambers. I'll take you right to the point to show you why the eternal "now" of our Lord Jesus Christ is so important.
Mary and Martha both lamented to Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." All around Himself Jesus saw the signs and heard the words of unbelief. He groaned within Himself and openly wept for these. Nevertheless, in His unsurpassable grace, mercy, and power, He said to Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
Did you see the "now"?
Jesus said, "I am...." I am - right NOW! Standing before your very eyes. No waiting necessary. No tomorrow. No uncertain time in the future. NOW. I am. Present tense. Do you believe?
Do you know the power and presence of "I am" right now? This term "I am" is actually a very special name God reserved for Himself. It is how He introduced Himself to mankind through Abram in Genesis 15:7 right after this excellent interchange:
"And he (Abram) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. And he said unto him, I am the LORD...."
It is how He magnified Himself to Moses and Israel in Exodus 3:13-14, "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
It is how Jesus declared Himself God to a hard-hearted people in John 8:58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
It is how Jesus proclaims the eternality of God in Revelation 22:13, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
Christians are often ignorant or confused about the "when" of eternal life. Does it start at birth, salvation, death? When? This is an oxymoronic question. Eternal life has no beginning or end. No starting point.
We are beings created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) When sin came along, it did not put an end to our eternality. It changed our destination. In the beginning we had perfect "one" relationship with God, a perfect "now". Sin brought the curse of death and separation from God and this condemnation:
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18
We are conceived and born in sin. Thus we are separated from God. We are still eternal, and we still have eternal life, but it is a life apart from God condemned to hell. Upon salvation, we are raised to a new life through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now our eternal life is brought to a new destination, back to what it once was in perfect creation before the "Fall". It is the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-24, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
This leaves you, Christian, with one final question. It is a question that can help you to know for certain that you are saved. Perhaps you answered in the affirmative Jesus' question as He posed it to Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
Do you believe right now? If so, Jesus said that you will be with Him where He is and behold His glory right now. Here's the question....
Are you beholding His glory right now?
Enjoy the blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
Copyright 2009 Lawrence J. Caldwell
Mary and Martha both lamented to Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." All around Himself Jesus saw the signs and heard the words of unbelief. He groaned within Himself and openly wept for these. Nevertheless, in His unsurpassable grace, mercy, and power, He said to Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
Did you see the "now"?
Jesus said, "I am...." I am - right NOW! Standing before your very eyes. No waiting necessary. No tomorrow. No uncertain time in the future. NOW. I am. Present tense. Do you believe?
Do you know the power and presence of "I am" right now? This term "I am" is actually a very special name God reserved for Himself. It is how He introduced Himself to mankind through Abram in Genesis 15:7 right after this excellent interchange:
"And he (Abram) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. And he said unto him, I am the LORD...."
It is how He magnified Himself to Moses and Israel in Exodus 3:13-14, "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
It is how Jesus declared Himself God to a hard-hearted people in John 8:58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
It is how Jesus proclaims the eternality of God in Revelation 22:13, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
Christians are often ignorant or confused about the "when" of eternal life. Does it start at birth, salvation, death? When? This is an oxymoronic question. Eternal life has no beginning or end. No starting point.
We are beings created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) When sin came along, it did not put an end to our eternality. It changed our destination. In the beginning we had perfect "one" relationship with God, a perfect "now". Sin brought the curse of death and separation from God and this condemnation:
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18
We are conceived and born in sin. Thus we are separated from God. We are still eternal, and we still have eternal life, but it is a life apart from God condemned to hell. Upon salvation, we are raised to a new life through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now our eternal life is brought to a new destination, back to what it once was in perfect creation before the "Fall". It is the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-24, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
This leaves you, Christian, with one final question. It is a question that can help you to know for certain that you are saved. Perhaps you answered in the affirmative Jesus' question as He posed it to Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
Do you believe right now? If so, Jesus said that you will be with Him where He is and behold His glory right now. Here's the question....
Are you beholding His glory right now?
Enjoy the blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
Copyright 2009 Lawrence J. Caldwell
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