What's Fun About That?

As God led me to salvation, one big question I had was, "What's so fun about being a Christian? What do you guys do for fun?" Reggie and Jeff (the guys who witnessed to me) always had the same answer, "Bible study and prayer!" Needless to say, that answer was not convincing.

But today I say without hesitation that they were right. I'll rephrase it though so perhaps the meaning will have more impact. "Spending time with Jesus reading His Word and talking and listening to Him bring me great joy."

It is a joy incomparable. Often words cannot describe it. I try to tell people and just get tongue-tied with glee. Sometimes I think it is like the moments Paul spoke of in II Corinthians 12:2-5, "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities."

I believe this is the glory we share with Jesus as He prayed for us in John 17:22-24, "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."

I pray you desire to spend time in heaven with Jesus to experience this joy. It is for His glory, not your experience. This is a truth for believers, not sinners. This is not the gospel. It is just a wonderful gift of God.

The Fear of the LORD

Did you know:

Today we must learn to fear the LORD - "...the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children." (Deuteronomy 4:10)

Praise God the day will come when He will put his fear into our hearts forever - "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." (Jeremiah 32:40)

My only question is, does this also apply to the saints? For these were written specifically to Israel. I can find no such reference pertinent to the saints.

Whose Faith is it Anyway?

Having fully explored the way of worship, I am moving on to the facets of faith. God says we are to enter worship boldly. We can only do this in holiness. If there is sin present in our lives, we must deal with that first. We can also do that boldly and presently. But how do we maintain the holy life? What are we responsible for, if anything? And what is God's part in all this?

The just shall live by faith. Let's pick Romans 1:16-17 as the text for this for it describes the beginning of our faith.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

The question is, whose faith or what kind of faith shall we live by? God answers that in Galatians 2:20:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Notice that little word "of" next to "faith". Too often translators and Christians erroneously substitute "in" for "of" here. If it truly were "faith 'in' the Son of God" then it would be a works salvation. It puts the requirement of belief as a condition of salvation upon the sinner. But this is simply not possible. After all, before salvation, the sinner is dead already in God's sight (John 3:17-18). And upon salvation, the newborn Christian is now dead to sin in Christ. As I have said many times before in this blog, a dead man can do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Jesus affirms this in John 15:5.

Therefore it is the faith "of" the Son of God which saves. Only He is worthy and able to save us from our sin. It was His faith without measure as the Son of Man that is able to believe that His Atonement would satisfy His Father.

And yet there is another facet to the statement that the just shall live by faith. We alone are responsible to maintain the holy life by faith, our personal faith. This faith is "in" the Son of God, that His Atonement is sufficient for salvation, justification, righteousness, and holiness. This faith we must exercise when sin arises in our lives and we must take personal responsibility to do the following:

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." - Proverbs 28:13

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - I John 1:9

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:11

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" - I John 5:2-5

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

Finally, I want to share with you a beautiful exposition of the demonstration of personal faith. I heard this in a sermon last week while visiting a church in Japan. It is based on Hebrews 11:13, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

The things that God promises He will do require faith on our part to believe that He will indeed do them. Look at the action words in that verse which demonstrate that kind of faith - seen them, persuaded of them, and embraced them. It is that last phrase which God deeply impressed upon me as I was wavering about the desired salvation of a Japanese friend.

God wants us to embrace His promises. To embrace a promise in faith means (in the Greek) to literally hug it closely and tightly like a hug whether for dear life or a hug for a dear loved one. It is full of affection, emotion, desire, focused attention, and virtue. (Virtue is that very first thing we add to our faith - II Peter 1:5)

This is new to me but altogether precious. What great power flowed through that faith and prayer. I knew right then that my prayer for my friend was right from the throne of God, full of grace, and right from His heart, that none, even this one, should perish, but come to salvation. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16 It was the most powerful hug I have ever felt. It is this kind of faith, I believe, which is represented by Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." That hug was God's tangible substance and evidence that He will do the thing purposed in His heart.

What Happens When You Worship?

Entering into worship, one may come boldly. (Hebrews 10:19-20)

One must certainly enter in personal holiness. (I Chronicles 16:29-30; Matthew 5:8)

As we worship in spirit, God's Spirit joins us One with God. (John 4:23-24; John 17:22-24)

Recognize that in the Spirit (and your spirit) you are seated presently in the heavenlies with Jesus, One with Him before the Father. (Ephesians 2:6)

At this point, what happens when we are either on our knees or prostrate before God in worship, is really up to God. Words cannot explain what God derives from worship. It is for God and God alone. It is for His glory. The "benefit", if you will, that you come away with, is the knowledge of His present service.

God will give you some truth and some service as you commune with Him. (John 4:23-24; Romans 11:36 - 12:2)

God will teach you some truth that no man can give you. (1 John 2:27)

That service is the knowledge of His present will. Take heed that you do not delay in doing it. Once God has commanded it, filled you with His Spirit for it, and enabled you through His spiritual gift(s), go and do the thing. If you don't, you will find yourself stuck in some kind of spiritual mire. Oswald Chambers often reminds us of this in his daily readings of "My Utmost for His Highest".

Rejoice in the total consumption of your living sacrifice. Make it also a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Leviticus 22:29) and praise (Jeremiah 33:11; Hebrews 13:15).

After the doing of His present will, go back and worship again, for He is worthy.

I say this to your encouragement and warning. I had two things to do that God willed for me. Rather than do them presently, I delayed for a week. It was painful. I am learning to move on, to instantly obey, to fear the LORD and love Him with my whole heart and keep Him in all my thoughts. Grace be unto you saints. Awake unto righteousness and sin not. Be ready at all times for His appearing.

Angels and Demons

For all my Christian life I shall remember my salvation. I shall remember (for purposes of this post discussion) the two men whom God used to deliver to me the gospel of Jesus Christ by which I was saved. Reggie Parker and Jeff Lovin were roommates just down the hall from me in our college dorm. The one thing I remember vividly about those two was their consistency. They were always bold in their witness and bold in speaking the name of Jesus. No matter what. Every action, every word, every circumstance always brought them back to the bold proclamation of the gospel and name of Jesus.

Over the years I have tried to look them up. Google. Facebook. Campus Crusade for Christ. Not a hit. They don't exist. I figure God wants it that way. No glory or praise or even thanks to the servants. Or perhaps they were angels and that's why I can't find them.

Many of my posts of late deal with worship. Here's what happened this morning as God has been prompting me to worship Him and be bold in my proclamation of the gospel and His name.

It started with resistance. No particular, discernable reason. I just did not want to bow down. That was enough for the Holy Spirit to convict me of ommission. No surprise that God was speaking about that very thing during an Adrian Rogers sermon on the radio that morning. "The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

The Spirit cried out, "Worship me!" I went into my office, closed the door, and got down on my knees. "No!", He cried. "Prostrate."

"Oh what is the difference," I wondered. He would not give in. "Prostrate." I could feel the flesh resist but my mind desire to obey. Then it hit me - hard. Humble thyself. Humble thy SELF. I went flat. And God poured in His Holy Spirit and out He flowed in audible worship - "...every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Is there a difference? Yes, if God says so.

And just before I arose, having offered myself in reasonable service on His altar, He let me know His will for that moment. "Write this down and then create a prayer list of saints I lay on your heart. Pray for them according to I Corinthians 15:34 and Ephesians 5:25-27. Then also add those whom I desire to save according to my grace and gospel."

So there you have it.

Getting the Word Out

Consider this my friends who awake unto righteousness and sin not:

In Jesus' time and up to the time of John writing Revelation some 90 years later, only three ways existed for any Scripture to reach the ears of the world: 1) immediate recipients of the letters, 2) received copies of the letters, and/or 3) heard it through oral tradition. Now consider further that any one recipient possibly received that one and only one letter in his/her lifetime. Given the length of some of the letters (ie. Romans and Corinthians), it is further possible that any one recipient through the most common method of oral tradition probably received only some portion of that letter.

This may seem staggering to some folks today in this world of internet, Tweet, blogging, and the former mass media of printed material. We may tend to think that the Word of God is instantly available to anyone in the world. Sadly, this is not true for many reasons. But just as in Jesus' time, so it is today in many parts of the world. Ancient, slow, limited communication.

Suppose you were around in Jesus' time or even now in some remote place where there are no Bibles, no computers, no cell phones. Imagine right now you are stranded there for some interminable amount of time. What of God's Word will you have with you? How did it get there? Why?

Why so little?

What kind of relationship do you really have with God? Are you One with Him as Jesus prayed for you? Suppose you have just that one fragment of God's Word. Maybe you got it from a tract that contained a few verses. And that's it for the rest of your life. Would you starve to death spiritually?

Or would you thrive because you have a living, loving, passionate, free, and holy relationship with God? Could you love Him just as much without a Bible? I have a missionary friend in China who knows many people there who love God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind without a shred of Scripture to lay personal claim to. How is this possible?

God says in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." That gospel is clearly spelled out in I Corinthians 15:1-4, "1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

That is the power of God. It saves men from sin. It brings the rightful glory and worship back to God and God alone.

Can you love Him and worship Him passionately with never another bit of the Bible passing your way? The gospel of Jesus Christ has thrived for two-thousand years despite the devil's best efforts to destroy the Word of God. He may be able to destroy the books but He cannot destroy our Lord Jesus because He claimed once for all men, for all sin, for all time, "It is finished." Death has no more power over Him or His adopted brothers and sisters. Sin has no more dominion over us. We are an holy kingdom of priests, saved from sin to worship and serve our living and true God in the beauty of holiness, spirit, and truth.

That truth is the Word of God. And whatever bit of it you have, hide it in your heart so that you sin not against Him. That Word is not just a book. It is the living Lord Jesus Himself, living in you, because He loved you and gave Himself for you. Jesus alone must be sufficient for you to be witnesses unto Him by any means possible.

Opinions Don't Matter

The internet and 24/7 news seem to be more opinion than factual, well-researched, newsworthy portals. That is my conviction. To many Christians, TV was (and still is) the enemy of the mind and spirit. I would add the former two items. Christian blogs and forums abound here. With them comes the abundance of opinion about any topic of interest including the very Word of God. My conviction further holds that opinion does not matter in the case of the Word of God. If anyone has anything to say about the Word of God therefore let him do the following:

1. First, search the Scriptures to see whether the things heard and read and believed are really so. Acts 17:10-12 - "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." The power of the Word of God will always bear fruit.

2. Form your thoughts and convictions in heaven. Romans 11:36 - "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." The Word of God will always glorify the LORD.

3. Study. II Timothy 2:15-16 - "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." The Word of God will always boldness. Opinion is ungodly.

Any further time I spend on Christian forums, blogs, or other writings will be initiated in this way. This is not a criticism of those things or people, though some should be admonished for I see opinion far more often then is good. For instance:

1. The work has more of a person's word than the Word of God. Such knowledge is puffed up. Paul uses this term in I Corithians 4:6, "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." As in this verse, so I usually see it on the web. "I think God means such and such because so and so person says in his book...." What matters is what God says, not what others say about Him.

This is a subtle but important point that I shall dwell on for a moment. God says in II Peter 1:20, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." He goes on to warn us of false teachers. I see "Christian" writers labeled as false teachers all the time. While sometimes this is true, I want you to see that truly God's Word has but one and only one interpretation. Yet at the same time "... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Furthermore, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) When you are One with God and Jesus, you have the personal relationship whereby you hear God speak His Word to you intimately.

This is a mystery spoken of in Ephesians 1:9, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" and Romans 16:25-26, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" These are the words that we are called to boldly proclaim as truth according to I Thessalonians 2:13, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

This mystery must remain untouched, this glory that we behold in One (John 17:24).