Occupy Till I Come (Part II)

The Sunday Sermon...

Gospel Driven Disciples introduces a new component: The Sunday Sermon. These sermons will be from various men of God from various time periods with the goal of provoking a deeper appreciation of our Lord Jesus Christ and to facilitate obedience to the admonition given in II Peter 3:18 – “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.”

This Sermon is by J. C. Ryle, (1816-1900) First published by Drummond's Tract Depot, Stirling, Scotland

Occupy Till I Come (Part II)

II. The second question I wish to consider is this, what is the present position of our Lord Jesus Christ?

The parable appears to me to answer that question distinctly in the twelfth verse. "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return." This nobleman represents the Lord Jesus Christ, and that in two respects.

Like the nobleman, the Lord Jesus is gone into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom. He has not received it yet in possession, though He has it in promise. He has a spiritual kingdom unquestionably: He is king over the hearts of His believing people, and they are all His faithful subjects. He has a controlling power over the world, without controversy: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. "By Him all things consist," and nothing can happen without His permission. But His real, literal, visible, complete kingdom the Lord Jesus has not yet received. To use the words of Heb. ii. 8, "We see not yet all things put under Him." To use the words of Psalm cx. 1, "He sits on the right hand of the Father till His enemies are made His footstool."

The devil is the prince of this world during the present dispensation. (John xiv. 30.) The vast majority of the inhabitants of the earth choose the things that please the devil far more than the things that please God. Little as they may think it, they are doing the devil's will, behaving as the devil's subjects, and serving the devil far more than Christ. This is the actual condition of Christendom as well as of heathen countries. After 1900 years of Bibles and Gospel preaching, there is not a nation, or a country, or a parish, or a long established congregation, where the devil has not more subjects than Christ. So fearfully true is it that the world is not yet the kingdom of Christ.

Of the Spirit and of Power

The Power of True Godliness

Your Weekly Exposure to Edwards

Gospel Driven Disciples posts some highlights from the prolific works of Jonathan Edwards. The following excerpt is taken from “The Religious Affections”

“…in demonstration of the Spirit and of power…” (I Corinthians 2:4)

The inward principle is a communication of God, a participation of the divine nature, Christ living in the heart, the Holy Spirit dwelling there in union with the faculties of the soul as an internal vital principle, exerting His own proper nature in the exercise of these faculties. This is sufficient to show us why true grace should have such activity, power, and efficacy. No wonder that which is divine is powerful and effectual; for it has omnipotence on its side.

If God dwells in the heart, and is vitally united to it, He will show that He is God by the efficacy of His operation. Christ is not in the heart of a saint as in a sepulcher, or as a dead Savior, who does nothing, but as in His temple, and as one who is alive from the dead. For in the heart where Christ savingly is, there He lives, and exerts Himself after the power of that endless life that He received at His resurrection.

Thus every saint is subject to the benefit of Christ’s sufferings, and is made to know and experience the power of his resurrection. The Spirit of Christ, which is the immediate spring of grace in the heart, is all life, all power, all act. Hence saving affections, though oftentimes they do not make so great a noise and show as others, yet have in them a secret solidity, life, and strength, whereby they take hold of an carry away the heart, leading it into a kind of captivity, gaining a full and steadfast determination of the will of God and holiness.

(Taken from The Religious Affections)

Five Things You Don’t Want to Hear At the Pearly Gates!

5. Your Mansion is right this way. It is next to Jonah’s place. Don’t worry you will get use to the fishy smell.

4. Since the economic turndown has affected us we are using asphalt instead of gold to pave the Streets.

3. Your wings are still at the tailors and your harp has been on back order for three months. You aren’t early are you?

2. Yes, your earthly irritating and obnoxious neighbor made it after all. The skin of his teeth did come in handy.

1. Oh, its you. We weren’t expecting you. We don’t seem to have a reservation under that name

Stop this chalk from breaking!

“If you believe in Jesus you are a fool! If there is a God, let him stop this piece of chalk from breaking into smithereens when it hits the floor”

I see from a Facebook post that another “warm & fuzzy – feel good – silliness over substance – there I forwarded it on” emotional video is making its rounds. The video plays tear jerking music in the background while it tells the story of a “bully” professor from USC who tormented believers for twenty years by calling them fools for believing in God. He then proceeds to prove his point by telling God, “If you exist then stop this chalk from breaking as it hits the floor. The object apparently is to have 1 million viewers watch the video.

Usually these types of arguments that God does not exist center on, “If God strikes me dead in the next five minutes, or let lightening strike me dead if God is real.” Naturally when neither phenomenon happens the idea is, “Well, I told you God didn’t exist!”

These stories, including, this latest one about a professor at USC are both so silly and so beneath our God that they honestly don’t need a response. However, I am compelled, not to defend our God because He certainly doesn’t need any defense, but to hopefully help somebody understand the foolishness of these types of arguments.

First, of all, I dare say that this is an urban myth. I really question that this story has taken place as it is presented in the video. No doubt there are colleges, universities, and higher learning institutions all over our land who have challenged the existence of God, Faith, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We have allowed our higher learning institutions to be high-jacked years ago by agnostics, atheists, shamans, spiritualists, and anyone else who gives us the “heebee jeebees.”

Second of all, even if a professor has challenged a class to prove the existence of God by dropping a piece of chalk, do you really think that no one in over twenty years ever stood up? Over the last thirty-eight years of having been a Christian I have known scores of individuals who love “combat”, especially “Christian Combat” so much that they would have enrolled in his course just to stand up.

Thirdly, let’s face it; you cannot prove the existence of God by hoping to sucker God into a cheap display of supernatural ability. Come on, think about it – God spoke and the universe came into existence in full maturity and functionality. God is not going to (from what we know about Him) in the majority, heck, the super-majority of these cases strike someone with lightening on the courthouse steps or stop a piece of chalk from breaking.

Why? You can’t prove God exists to a spiritually dead man. He cannot respond to your arguments and logic. He is immune to your reasoning. Spiritual things, such as God, scripture, faith, and Jesus Christ are spiritually discerned.

The only thing that this professor or any other atheist will ever respond to is the work of the Holy Spirit as He opens their heart and regenerates them by His power and the effective working of the Word of God. Illustrations about throwing up the parts of a watch and having them fall to the ground as an intricate and working timepiece are lost on spiritually dead people.

They need the gospel, the scripture coupled with our prayer for the working and moving of the Holy Spirit. Didn’t Paul say that “faith comes by hearing?”

Fourthly, my heart breaks because we think we are doing God a favor. We think we are striking a blow against atheism. We think we can forward these types of emails, videos, and what have you with the idea that we actually did something. May I suggest to you that most of our witnessing and testifying is not done in the venue it was designed. We spend a lot of time witnessing to the choir, to those who already may be believers and who for the most part agree with us.

Let’s forget about heart tugging stories and videos and preach the gospel. Let’s let the chalk hit the floor and proclaim that you sir, are under the condemnation and judgment of an angry God. However, before you leave this place, breathe an earnest prayer to God, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner. Lord, I need to be saved. Save me. I call upon thy name." Join with me in prayer at this moment, I entreat you. Join with me while I put words into your mouths, and speak them on your behalf-"Lord, I am guilty. I deserve thy wrath. Lord I cannot save myself. Lord, I would have a new heart and a right spirit, but what can I do? Lord, I can do nothing, come and work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure."

 (From the sermon “A Free Grace Promise delivered 10/11/1888 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon from the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit.)

How do I know there is a God?

1. By faith, creation shouts to me that the universe, stars, moons, earth, sun, and all that is in the universe was the work of God.

2. By faith, God through His Holy Spirit and His Word has opened my eyes and made a lasting impact and change in my life

3. By faith, I have seen, observed, heard, read, or otherwise been made aware of the impact and change that God has made in the lives of millions of people around this world today and throughout history

4. By faith, the Word of God, energized by the Holy Spirit as a living, powerful and sharp-two edged sword has convinced me that God exists

5. By faith, the Holy Spirit of God who has taken up residency in my life bears witness with my Spirit that God exists

6. By faith, I have observed for almost 39 years the extreme lengths that the enemy of God has gone to convince me and the rest of this world that God does not exist.

7. By faith, you sir are standing there demanding that God strike you dead, that lightening strike you, or that piece of chalk not hit the floor because as predicted you have said in your heart, that God does not exist.

You, beloved, it is by faith that we believe God exists. Not by argument, tangible proof or theater. Wait until the seven year tribulation when God unleashes the vials and bowls, you will see divine theatric proof then.

So, Mr. “Chalk dropping” atheist, let me say, unless you give me $40,000.00 in the next seven days, I do not believe that you exist. Better than that, I told George Jones to come to my house for dinner and he did not. Does that mean that some 50 years of being the greatest country singer ever born is a myth?

I leave you with this quote from Gregory Koukl: “These kinds of questions give a bad name to atheists. There are atheists who are careful and who would never be caught dead making this kind of statement. When you hear an atheist saying something like this, you know that he's silly and small-minded. He doesn't care about being careful about his point of view and he is just saying silly things. He doesn't even take his own atheism seriously. If he did, he'd be a lot more careful than to say a stupid thing like that. Because, obviously, the existence of any conscious being is not contingent upon their obedience to my frivolous commands.”

(From a transcript of a commentary from the radio show "Stand to Reason," with Gregory Koukl)

Equipping Others...A Novel Idea!

"Pastors should be free for theological reflection"

Munich, November 26 (idea) A leading management consultant advises clergy to concentrate on their commission to preach and counsel. Ministers should be relieved of management activities, says Peter F. Barrenstein, German director of McKinsey & Company. He recommends that local churches hire an executive to take care of managerial and administrative tasks. Pastors should be free for theological reflection and evangelism.

What a novel idea. Why does it take a leading management consultant to advise pastors to do what they are suppose to do? The challenge is that in many cases, pastors are not doing what they are to do.

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians that God gave pastors and teachers to equip the members of the flock to do the work of the ministry. When such equipping takes place then pastors are freed up to study the Word of God and to pray. Such study and prayer leads to both power in their preaching and rich content for the members of the flock.

Churches have to be taught that pastors are not hirelings hired to do everything they first, think that they should do, and second, all the things that they as the flock don’t want to do. Pastors are to equip and train individuals in order for them to utilize their God given gifts.

Instead of an executive being hired to handle administrative and managerial duties, how about this idea? Why not disciple, train, and equip men in the church who also desire to shepherd the flock. What could a multiplicity of Godly men do? Why not train men who do not desire to shepherd, but who obviously have the gift of serving and wish to be deacons? Why don’t we free pastors from everyday service, counsel, visitation, and etc., by allowing Godly men and women to serve in the functions God seemingly has designed?

Not a rocket scientist here, just someone who wonders what the average evangelical church is thinking. It is a shame that the churches in Germany need a consultant to help them relieve overburdened pastors of tasks never designed to be done by pastors. It is clearly spelled out in God's Word. He thinks of everything, doesn't He?

“The Wedding, Wine, Woman, and Wonder” Part I

On Mondays after my morning devotion and breakfast, I begin my exegesis on my text for the next Lord’s Day bible lesson for my adult class called the Sojourners. God has given me a great opportunity with a group of wonderful people who love the Lord and love His Word. More importantly, they love the word explained expositorily built from solid exegesis.

I normally begin reading the text numerous times in at least seven English translations until I can grasp the overall proposition of the text. Then of course begins the real “work” and that is translating the Greek into the English and developing a working text. Then arduous work follows developing the subject, proposition, and skeletal outline in order to eventually come to a finished lesson for Sunday.

I mention this because we finally come to the second chapter in the gospel of John. In particular we will be dealing with verses one through eleven. This is the first of seven “signs” or miracles that Jesus performs to reveal Himself to His disciples and the nation of Israel that He is the Messiah, the Promised Coming One of whom Moses spoke in the law and the prophets wrote about.

It is a heart breaking shame that often times the real meaning of this passage is lost due to being “drowned” in the controversy of the sign itself, the creation of wine. This is an extremely important event and has magnificent ramifactions. It's meaning and place cannot be missed. As you can imagine, as much as I am looking forward to dealing with this passage in conjunction with John’s purpose of writing this gospel (John 20:30-31) and the gospel’s place within the New Testament, I approach this “assignment” with some fear and trepidation.

This amuses our pastor. He asked me at lunch yesterday if I had reached John, chapter two yet? I informed him that we will be teaching it this coming Lord’s Day. He laughed. First of all, it is comforting to know that he and I are on the same page when it comes to this passage and every other passage that deals with wine and “strong drink.” It amuses him because he is secondly, aware that our church has had a “fundamental” background with certain “pre-conceived” notions about this subject. The majority of our class is going to have some “heartburn” over the actual product that Christ did in fact create.

Stay tune, next Monday, we will share how the class reacted. Don’t you just love the Word!

Occupy Till I Come

The Sunday Sermon...

Gospel Driven Disciples introduces a new component: The Sunday Sermon. These sermons will be from various men of God from various time periods with the goal of provoking a deeper appreciation of our Lord Jesus Christ and to facilitate obedience to the admonition given in II Peter 3:18 – “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.”

This Sermon is by J. C. Ryle, (1816-1900) First published by Drummond's Tract Depot, Stirling, Scotland

Occupy Till I Come (Part I)

"And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." -Luke 19:11-13
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The words before your eyes form an introduction to the parable, which is commonly called the "Parable of the Pounds." They contain matter which deserves the prayerful consideration of every true Christian in the present day.

There are some parables of which Matthew Henry says, with equal quaintness and truth, "The key hangs beside the door." The Holy Ghost himself interprets them. There is no room left for doubt as to the purpose for which they were spoken. Of such parables the parable of the Pounds is an example.

St. Luke tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear."

These words reveal to us the secret thoughts of our Lord's disciples at this period of His ministry. They were drawing nigh to Jerusalem. They gathered from many of their Master's sayings, that something remarkable was about to happen; they had a strong impression that one great end of His coming into the world was about to be accomplished: so far they were quite right. As to the precise nature of the event about to happen they were quite wrong.

Reader, there are three subjects opened up in the passage of Scripture, which appear to me to be of the deepest importance. Upon each of these I wish to offer a few thoughts for your private meditation. I purposely abstain from touching any part of the parable except the beginning. I want to direct your attention to the three following points.

I. I will speak of the mistake of the disciples, referred to in the verses before us.

 II. I will speak of the present position of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 III. I will speak of the present duty of all who profess to be Jesus Christ's disciples.

May God bless the reading of this tract to every one into whose hands it may fall. May every reader be taught to pray that the Spirit will guide him into all truth.