What Is A Christian To Do? Part 1

Unless you have been living under that proverbial rock, you are well aware of the fiasco that the so-called Obama-care has created. Politicians who promised competent and common sense representation are using this "political football" like children in a  play ground to bring the other-side to its knees by way of the Federal Budget.

There is no doubt that are a lot of things broken in Washington D. C. To say this might be stateing not only the obvious but just might be the understatement of the year. The political system is broken, the budget is broken, morality in politics is  broken, and our country suffers. 

The problem is not the broken political system nor the debt ceiling nor even Obama-care. The Human Race is broken. The problem is actually deeper and more serious than being merely broken. The Human Race [apart from those in Christ] is dead in trespasses and sins. Imperfect, fallible, and fallen men/women are sinners, captivated by darkness, and blind to the true light. And they are in charge!

Whose fault is that? Well, one could make the case that those who voted these sinners into positions of authority are to blame. But let's think about it for a moment.

Proverbs 21:1 reads "The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever it pleaseth him." (Prov 21:1, Geneva Bible, 1599)

 Never forget that the Lord God Almighty is in charge. He is absolutely Sovereign. He sets up, or places in power and He tears down those in power as He sees fit. 

Nothing takes Him by surprise. There is nothing nor no one who is greater than Him. There is nothing nor no one who can tharwt His divine decree.

God established government

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." (Romans 13:1)

The Duty of Citizens

"...then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21)

"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work." (Titus 3:1)

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." (1 Peter 2:13-14)

"Honor all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King." (1 Peter 2:17)

"Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people." (Exodus 22:28)

And if it needs to be said that I am not advocating blind obedience in every and all things that government dictates then you really don't know me or you have no valid argument and have chosen to stand on a slippery slope attacking a straw man. I should not have to say that we as Christians are not obligated to disobey or disregard the revealed commandments of God.

The Command to Pray for Leaders

"I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For Kings, and [for] all that are in authority..." (1 Timothy 2:1)

It is our duty as citizens to pray for those in government. This includes "those on the other-side." It includes those whom we think are amoral, immoral, imbecilic, dishonest, and or partisan.

Tomorrow in part 2, Lord willing, we shall look at those things that we should pray for and how we are to pray for those who are in authority. Lord willing, see ya then!

The Christian's Certainty

The Christian’s Certainty

1 John 5:13

"These things I have written unto you that believe in the name of that Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe in the name of that Son of God." (1 John 5:13, Geneva Bible, 1599)

1A  Eternal Life is Possible

       1B  The Possibility Acknowledged

       2B  The Possibility Addressed

       3B  The Possibility Advanced

       4B  The Possibility Argued

2A  Eternal Life is Personal

        1B  It is Personally Available

        2B  It is Personally Assessable

3A  Eternal Life is Perceptible

        1B  The Believer’s Duty

        2B  The Believer’s Dividend

4A  Eternal Life is Practical

        1B  Eternal Life Proves Relationship

        2B  Eternal Life Provides Rejoicing

         3B  Eternal Life Posits Reality

What More Could You Want?

My grace is sufficient for you’ 2 Cor. 12:9. These words should be engraven on the palm of every believer’s hand. My grace…My love is enough for you. These are the words of Christ. He says, to those who seek deliverance from pain and sorrow, ‘It is enough that I love you.’ This secures and implies all other good. His favor is life; his loving kindness is better than life.

- Charles Hodge

Goals: Evaluation & Projections Part 2

Yesterday we pointed out that on the 1st of October the last quarter of 2013 began. We also pointed out that 2013 is almost gone. It is soon to be history. 

Rather than ask, "Where did this year go?" I think it is more appropriate for a believer to ask, "What did I do with this year?" Maybe an even more appropriate question might be, "What did God do through me this year?"

I  cannot encourage, exhort, or emphasize any point more strongly than to evaluate the goals that you set for 2013. Please see yesterday's post and use the seven (7) questions that I listed. Use October to prayerfully seek the mind of God through the Holy Spirit to evaluate your goals.

Projection

I encourage you to use the month of November (if necessary part of December) and ask God through His Holy Spirit to enable you to establish or set goals for the coming year of 2014.

First - let me caution you about being to majestic or enthusiastic in choosing or setting goals. In other words, do not set goals that are too lofty or impossible to reach or achieve. You will become disappointed, discouraged, and dismayed which will lead to the forsaking of your goals.

Second - let me caution you about making them to broad or general. Be specific. Prayerfully examine all areas of your life both spiritually and temporally and prayerfully set achievable goals in each area.

Categories

I have found that establishing five (5) categories helps me in setting goals that are both specific and achievable. I try not to be "all over the board" when setting these goals. It is possible that these categories will work for you and maybe not. I use:

• Spiritual Goals

• Physical Goals

• Material Goals

• Financial Goals

• Vocational Goals

You might discover that some of your goals may spill over into one or more of your categories. Personally, when I find that has happened I try to pick the category it "fits" the most in and place it there.

Write them out

Make sure that you write out these goals. You need to have daily access to them. I recommend you keep your list of goals with your devotional material or tools. If you do, you are able to keep them fresh before you and you can pray over and through them regularly. It certainly helps in the evaluation process when they are fresh and available.

I started writing my goals in my what I call my devotional "Prayer Book." It really isn't a prayer book it is a Mead - Five Star, 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 spiral notebook. I then took to putting them on 5 x 8 cards. However, now that I have Office 365 I use the program One Note 2013 (which I love and now use for everything.)

Strategic Goal Setting

I won't take much time nor go into much detail with this heading. Most of you have read, had classes, or seen various posts which have talked about how to set goals. Let me make a few pertinent and germane comments.

First - write out the goal in a complete sentence, i.e., Spiritual - I want to maintain a daily devotion each day in 2014.

Second - write out the steps that are needed to achieve this goal, i. e. 1.  I will set the alarm and get up at 5:00 AM. 2. I will go to my private place (kitchen table, office, study, spare bed-room, etc,); 3.  I will pray, read my bible, and sing a song for 30, 45, 60 minutes each day.

Third - develop a system to monitor each step in order to make sure that the goal is achievable and secondly that the steps are manageable. Also as you monitor some goals you will find that you will achieve them prior to the year end and you will have to establish new goals. Always keep stretching.

Fourth - don't beat yourself up if you fail or don't achieve a goal. Just keep going. Lord willing each new day is a new day to continue working toward completion.

I have begun October by printing out my goals for 2013. I am prayerfully, carefully, and honestly evaluating each one. Come November I will then begin praying about the goals I want to establish for each category. 

December

Use December to reevaluate each goal that you established. Make sure it is realistic, achievable, and appropriate. Evaluate each and every step for each and every goal. Make sure the steps are viable and conducive to achieving your goals. 

Make a final list. Place it handily. Commit your list to God. Then, use the remaining portion of December to pray for God's leading, empowering, blessing, and enabling so that you can achieve as many God-given goals in 2014.

 Why is this process necessary? Why do I spend so much time on it in my own life and here in this blog?

I have found this to be true: If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!

Goals: Evaluations & Projections Part 1

Do you believe it is October already? Yesterday was the first day of the last quarter of this year. There are only 90 days left in 2013.

The first question most people would ask when confronted with this information is, "Where did the year go?" This question is certainly valid and does not come as a surprise. However, I think a better question that a believer should ask is, "What did I do with this year?"

Pastor James gave us a very sober reminder when he wrote, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit;' whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:13-14, NKJV)

Paul is just as serious when he admonishes the Colossians, "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time." (Colossians 4:5, NKJV) Time is really precious. None of us knows how much time we have in this life-time.

Many of you have read and followed this blog almost since the beginning, some five (5) years ago. As a result you have heard me talk about goals, goal setting, monitoring goals, and achieving goals. In addition you have "heard" me encouraging you to take the last quarter of the year and dedicate it to the goal process.

Evaluation

I advocate that you take October to review each goal that you had set for this year. List each goal on a sheet of paper and then through the month of October evaluate each one of your goals. 

Be sure to prayerfully seek the mind of the Holy Spirit for this exercise. Ask God by His Holy Spirit to enable you to clearly evaluate each and every goal.

Look at the goal itself. Ask the following questions about each goal:

• Did God through His Spirit lead me to set this goal?

• What value or benefit did God intend for me to derive?

• Was this a realistic and/or achievable goal?

• Did I establish realistic steps in order to reach or achieve each goal you established?

• Did I sufficiently, accurately, and prayerfully monitor the steps that I established or set?

• What goal (s) did I fail to reach or achieve?

• Why did I not reach or achieve this goal (s)?

Please, permit me to caution you not to hasten or rush through this process. Take most or all of the month of October and carefully, prayerfully, and honestly think back through the year. Do an honest evaluation of each one of your goals.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, I want to move to the Projection portion of this two part blog. Hope you join me then!

Do Worship Teams Send the Wrong Message?

 I think they do.

First of all, I do believe that singing is an important part of a congregation’s corporate worship of God. After all, we are told in Psalm 100:2 that we are to:

“Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2, NKJV)

We are also told to:

“Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16, NKJV)

I am not advocating that we do not sing. It is amazing how long the church got along without them. However I think the idea of “Praise and Worship Teams” are both a detriment and have run their course.

For some reason we have allowed the idea to take hold that pianos or organs are no longer conducive to worship. Now a days you almost can’t go into a corporate worship without being “bombarded” by one or more guitars. In most cases worship team members are made up of “would be performers” who in most cases perform rather than minister. Mind you I am not judging motives nor hearts when I make this observation. It is simply too easy to spot a performance rather than ministry.

Let me give you five reasons why I believe that most worship teams send the wrong message.

1. The worship team and music ascend to a greater position than the word of God.

Typically the pulpit is removed from the platform and the Word of God is relegated to a second place position behind the “worship” portion of the service. We have developed the dangerous idea that the music is at least as important if not more important than the preaching/teaching of the Word of God. The centrality and supremacy of God’s Word is minimized, however unintentional it might have been.

2. The Worship team and music often signals a people- centered emphasis rather than a God-centered emphasis.

Much of today’s so-called contemporary music is man-    centered rather than God-centered. Today’s worship music  is more emotional rather than didactic or worshipful. It is  difficult to differentiate between much of today’s so called  praise and worship music and the Top 40 songs on the pop  charts. John MacArthur has called much of today’s praise  and worship music “7-11” music. It is the same “7 words”, sung “11 times.” I call it Jesus is your boy-friend music.

3. The Worship team and music often telegraphs that “they” are more important than the congregation.

This is demonstrated at least three ways:

• The congregation is not “engaged.” Much of the time the worship leader or team have closed their eyes, begun swaying back and forth, and have almost “forgotten” that there is a congregation to engage in God-centered worship

• Many times the songs chosen are not “geared” for a congregation to sing. Often congregants cannot connect with the songs that are chosen. Many times the key is too difficult for the congregation to sing.

• Various members of the worship team are “high-lighted” and/or show-cased leaving the congregation unable to follow or accompany.

4. Worship teams and music often have projected that music is more important than the way that we are to live.

Again, it is not my intention to judge the hearts and/or motives of worship teams and leaders, but it seems     that the casualness of dress and standards of those     who are members of worship teams can send a wrong message. It seems at times talent or ability is more     important than character.

5. Worship teams and music often send the message that the worship” portion of the service is a concert rather than singing praises to God.

Again I don’t think this is necessarily intentional.           Many times the music is highly rated and emphasized       while the preaching or teaching is “tolerated” or             treated as an interruption to the so-called “worship           portion.”

I am not opposed to good music with lyrics and melody that excite out spirit to adore, praise, worship, love, and appreciate our God to the utmost. Rarely does any of today’s praise and worship music or services have this effect on me.

I think there is a place and time for “concerts” or “praise teams.” I just don’t think the time and place is in the corporate gathering of the body.

P. S. I am not "lumping" all worship teams into one bunch. I do not for one minute believe that there are some worship teams who have pure motives and truly lead God's people into worship. I just believe it is rare and not the norm.

P. S. S. I typed this in Word and cut and pasted it into blogger. I can't fix the spacing. I don't know why I can't type in Word and copy into blogger without format issues. I apologize.

Noteworthy Book - A Gospel Primer For Christians

One of the most helpful books that I have found for devotional reading is Milton Vincent's A Gospel Primer for Christians. I realize that there are a number of devotional books on the market available to believers, but I find this particular book to be of extreme value and benefit.

This devotional book contains just 97 pages. It is dedicated to the task of enabling believers "to see the glories of God's love."" Vincent's purpose in writing this little book is found on page five;

 "This book is offered as a handy guide to help Christians experience the gospel more fully by preaching it to themselves each day."

 It is divided into four parts:

• Part I - Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily
• Part II - A Gospel Narrative - Prose Version
• Part III - A Gospel Narrative - Poetic Version
• Part IV - Surprised by the Gospel

I was given a copy of this "primer" as a gift. I have read it multiple times and I include it in my daily devotions. It has given me a greater insight into the gospel and what Christ did for me in His atoning work on the cross.

If you are interested in gaining a greater appreciation of the gospel and discovering how the gospel actually aids you in pursing a life of godliness I recommend you purchase this little booklet immediately. I believe that Vincent's book should be a constant companion alongside your bible in your daily devotional time with our Lord.