Treasuring Christ in Catastrophic Situations Part II

Yesterday I hope I primed the pump and piqued your interest. Let me say first of all, that I know Joel Olsteen is not the only false teacher and more importantly, he was not the first false teacher to propagate the fact that God wills all people well. What breaks my heart is that the enemy can take what he knows to be in the heart of every sinful nature and put it together in such a way that makes it sound doable, sound desirable and sound delectable. Let me share a staggering proposition with you! The proposition is simple and it goes like this, God is not concerned about our happiness as much as He is concerned about our holiness! As a matter of fact, He states this proposition in I Thess 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification …” God’s will, or in other words, His determined purpose is that we, his children, be holy. In this context, the determined purpose of God for our holiness includes sexual purity. God has repeatedly, in both the Old Testament and New Testament, commanded us to be holy. Search the scripture and you will not find a command to be healthy, wealthy, or comfortable. Salvation takes us from death and wicked disobedience to holiness. We come to Christ in all of our sin, and we receive cleansing by His atoning death. Then, day by day we become more and more what God designs us to be. We increasingly experience the reality of being set apart for Him in holiness. Sanctification is the name given to this process. Paul is reminding the Thessalonians of the implication of their having been purchased by the blood of Christ. The implication is this, they belong to Christ and their lives must reflect that, just as your life and my life must reflect that. Sanctification is the process by which your moral condition is brought into conformity with your legal status before God. A second place that we see this truth is in Ephesians 1:4: “just as He chose us in him … that we should be holy and without blame …” God is our Father who “has loved us with an everlasting love” Therefore, God uses many methods in the process of our sanctification, including trials, tribulations and testings. We will examine this method in detail in the next few posts. Once we have been redeemed we cannot continue to sin as a habit or as a pattern (I Jn 3:9). A careful examination of scripture reveals that God is at work developing at least five attitudes in our life. Let’s take a look at these five attitudes that God develops in the lives of his redeemed children. After establishing these five attitudes I then hope to share how God uses things like trials, tribulations, and testings to develop them in our lives. The first attitude that God develops is that… 1. You are to love the Lord with all your heart De 6:5 - “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jos 23:11 - “Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.” Ps 31:23 - “Love the LORD, all you his saints!” Mt 22:37 - “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” God is at work in your live through various means to bring you to where you love Him with all your heart. Yes, I know that none of us while living in these bodies, this side of heaven will love the Lord our God with all of our heart perfectly. There is no room for God nor is there opportunity to love God when we love the things of this world. When we love things like power, prominence, position, possessions, or pennies, we don’t love God. “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” (I John 2:15 ESV) It is such an unfortunate and almost unthinkable concept that we who have redeemed by the grace of God and the blood of Christ could be so much in love with so many things that we are unable to love God. However, it is a reality. God is not taken by surprise. He knows us all to well. So God designs trials, tribulations or testings to drive us to him and to drive out the “leaks, garlic, and onions” of Egypt that have lodged themselves in our hearts. Among all the reasons that God has in his design for your trial or tribulation is this – God is working to drive out the love of the things of this world from your heart and to develop a greater love for him. The crime, yes the treason lies in this, that more often than not we desire the gifts rather than the giver; we desire the things of God rather than God himself. Listen, God does determine to give to his children the best that he has to give. What is that? It is himself. If God determined to give us anything else, anything less than himself, God would be an idolater. We have the best now, we have God. Joel, I don’t need the favor of man – I have the favor of God. I don’t need Mercedes, Mansions, or Millions. The bitter trials I have experienced have taught me that I am guilty of loving them more than I love God. So… “…let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me…” (Jere 9:24 ESV) We will look at the other four attitudes tomorrow, Lord willing.

Treasuring Christ in Catastrophic Situations Part I

Thanks to TV ads, so called Christian Book Store displays, and even supermarket checkout stands, most of you are aware of Joel Olsteen’s book, “Your Best Life Now” You know the one with Joel’s big ol’ smiley face looking straight at you – well, don’t bother to pick it up. It isn’t worth the paper it is printed with. The Premise of Joel’s book, obviously, is that God wants you to experience your best life now – and if you would learn how to harness God’s power in your life – you would be more successful than you have ever been and thus happier than you have ever been. In fact, on pg 41 Olsteen encourages the reader to start each day by “declaring” something like this, “Father, I thank you that I have your favor. Your favor is opening doors of opportunity. Your favor is binging success into my life. Your favor is causing people to want to help me” – and then on pg 51 he says, “If you keep expecting it and declaring it, God’s favor will show up.” And just what does Olsteen mean by favor? Well, it’s hard to miss as you read through the book. If you have God’s favor – you will be very wealthy and healthy. In other words – the book is really just your run of the mill name it and claim it , or what I call – blab it and grab it – prosperity heresy. “God wants to make your life easier.” So when Ps 8:5 says that we have been crowned with honor – Olsteen says it means that God wants to make our lives easier. In fact, Olsteen’s conclusion based on his creative interpretation of Ps 8:5 is this: “Consequently – and I say this humbly – I’ve come to expect to be treated differently. I’ve learned to expect people to want to help me. My attitude is: I’m a child of the most high God. My Father created the whole universe. He has crowned me with favor, therefore, I can expect preferential treatment. I can expect people to go out of their way to want to help me.” Again – Olsteen says, God wants to make your life easier.” Really!? Is that really what God wants for me? Daryl Winegerd – in his critique of Olsteen’s book says of this premise – “I guess I missed that portion of the NT. I must have been preoccupied with Jesus’ teaching about persecution, self-denial, and cross bearing. What would Joel Olsteen say about Paul’s sobering words to Timothy in II Tim 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” Olsteen assures the reader that he is speaking humbly – and yet his arrogance is all too evident in his bold contradiction of the NT, even of Jesus who said of Himself in Mk 10:4 5– “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” One would at least think that the goal would be to show how rich our Father the King is – so that people think good thoughts about our wealthy dad when they see us wealthy Kings kids. But it doesn’t even approach that. The end goal is ME. My health. My Wealth. My ease and my comfort alone. In fact, “I can expect people to go out of their way to want to help me attain it.” Talk about selling people short. My goodness! There’s atheistic humanitarians who have more heart than that. God says in Is 43:7 – that we were created for His glory. We were created for His glory, which alone tells us that our best life now does not terminate on us. If God is going to give us our best life now – then I can guarantee He has something far greater in mind than our measly ease and comfort. Here is the danger and why I bring this topic up at all, especially since the book has been out for almost 5 years, with varying degrees of modification this is how most Christians think. Did you hear what I said? Most believers think like this in their heart of hearts. You say how do you know, or why do you say this? Just listen to prayer requests, or listen to the prayers at most present day prayer meetings: The majority of requests are for temporal or physical things The majority of requests are for our comfort or for our ease Rarely are any requests for spiritual things Even more rare, are the requests scriptural principles or premises Lord willing, it is my design to share with you biblical principles and promises that will enable you to see God’s design and purpose in trials, tribulations, and even temptations. And even more so, I want to demonstrate from Scripture that not only does God design them for us specifically, but this is the way of life for His children in this age and what our response is to be. Unfortunately the bible does not teach us that this life is to be our best life NOW. Our best life does not consist of wealth, health, material possessions, comfort or ease. It consists of knowing God and being known by God. So, over the next few posts, I want to give you an overview of this subject. I want you to come to the place where you are in fact treasuring Christ in catastrophic tribulations! It is my most sincere prayer and heartbeat that you don’t waste your ___________!

The Importance of the Sovereignty of God

"Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all." (I Chronicles 29:11 ESV)

John Murray wrote: "The church and the world have never stood in greater need than today of the message of the sovereignty of God."

There was a time when the sovereignty of God was a theological concept that was taught and understood by God's people. This doctrine was regularly preached in the pulpits and God's people loved this doctrine. It seems that today, if you mention the absolute sovereignty of God, it is as if you are speaking in a foreign language.

No doubt there are a number of reasons that this biblical doctrine and concept is important. I am sure you could "pile on" and add on for days, since this is such a vital biblical concept. However, we are going to briefly mention four reasons that affirm the utter importance of understanding the sovereignty of God. The sovereignty of God:

Defends History

History has meaning when it is viewed in the light of the sovereignty of God. There is nothing chaotic or haphazard about all of the events that have taken place in world history. Whether it be the rise and fall of civilizations, monumental discoveries, wars, disasters, and seemingly random calamities, nothing has taken place that has not been ordered by a sovereign God. God is in control and is working out his determined purpose and in his perfect timing. From WWW II to 9/11, history as you know is simply "His Story" being worked out.

Defines Providence

God is never caught by surprise! God's providence or control is seen in every event and in every life. God's purpose and plan for every individual, whether sinner or saint is guided by his providence. As mind blowing as it is, even the wicked have been made for the day of destruction. Divine providence is simply the sovereignty, the superintendence, or the agency of God over events in people's lives and history.

Dispenses Comfort

The very number of hairs on our head are numbered by God. A sparrow does not die and decompose without the very knowledge of God. God dresses the fields with flowers even though they never work for them. God has determined every event in our lives. He has numbered our days, he has written our days. The epistle of James makes it clear that any trial, tribulation, or even temptation is for our benefit. We can find great comfort in the fact that, what people might call random acts of violence, or the most heart braking episodes of our lives, God is in control and a prayer away. He will never leave us and will not withhold any thing from us that we need.

Demonstrates Glory

With an all power and all majestic God in charge we can relax. We don't have to work ourselves in to a frenzy trying to maintain the world. God is demonstrating his character and nature through the events of history for his glory. God determined to reveal his character and nature and we are to magnify and reflect his character and nature. God gets the glory! Through every event that is sovereignly manifested in our lives we are to demonstrate the various parts of God's glorious character so that others may see God and perhaps might become a worshipper of our God also.

A. W. Pink wrote: "The God of the twentieth century is a helpless, effeminate being who commands the respect of no really thoughtful man. The God of the popular mind is the creation of a maudlin sentimentality. The God of many a present day pulpit is an object of pity rather than of awe-inspiring reverence." (Don't you wish you could write like this? I do!)

The truths of the bible are built upon the foundation of the sovereignty of God. Yes, Virginia, the bible makes it clear that God is in absolute charge or control. We are greatly comforted by the fact that nothing takes our God by surprise and that nothing is greater than our God. Therefore, God can protect all his people, supply all their needs, control all things, and even avenge all things.

The Sovereignty of God! What a doctrine!

The Most Amazing Love Story – Part III

We began these posts with the statement of James Montgomery Boice; “The third chapter of Hosea is, in my judgment, the greatest story in the bible.” We certainly agree with Boice. We said that this chapter contained tremendous truths in the light of the awfulness of sin. Israel had been unfaithful to God and had worshipped the false gods that surrounded them. They had loved them, worshipped them, sacrificed to them, and had trusted them. Yet God loved them with and everlasting love. It is no secret of the depths that Israel had sank as we read the Old Testament. The second truth depicted in this chapter was that of the awfulness of sin. We saw the awfulness of sin depicted by the humiliation and bondage of Gomer as she was stripped naked and put up for sale as a slave. She had lost her freedom, her dignity, and was about to be sold to the complete control of another. Of course this is the picture of the human race in bondage to sin. We have no freedom (no life as a matter of fact) no dignity and we are at the whim and will of sin. Thanks be, unto the living God that this chapter does end here, but also depicts one more tremendous truth. Hosea was dispatched by God to the capital city of Samaria where he bid on his wife and purchased her out of the slave market. Hosea put clothes on her and as Boice wrote, “…led her away…and claimed that love from her that was now his right.” What love! We see this love of God throughout the Bible! God dispatched his Son to the market place of sin, death, and bondage which held each one of his elect and he purchased us for himself. Here we attempt to fathom the unfathomable! We are depicted by Gomer. We had been sold naked and chained in the market place of sin. Christ gave his blood, the evidence of his life poured out as the payment to the Father to appease his justice and wrath. Then the most unthinkable and incomprehensible thing took place, the Father wrapped us in the righteous robes of his dear Son. We are now his to do his bidding. We have been told; “go and sin no more.” We are drawn irresistibly back to verse 3, “…you must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another…so will I also be to you.” Now we rejoice in the fact that our sins have been atoned for, we have acceptable dress in the presence of God and we belong to him. We have been made free, free to become his slave – a slave of righteousness.

Yes, Mr. Boice, Hosea chapter 3 is the greatest chapter in the bible, if not the greatest chapter in the Old Testament. It is in fact the most amazing love story ever!

The Most Amazing Love Story - Part II

Last time we took a quick look at the fact that Hosea chapter 3 was probably one of the greatest stories in the Bible. This chapter begins with those amazing words, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress…” We read next that Hosea did as he was commanded, “So I bought her…” We know that what is being portrayed here is the everlasting love that God has for his people, the people of Israel. There is a second thing however that is portrayed in this chapter, and that is the awfulness of sin. I know that for the most part we understand sin to be a bad thing. We would be like the little girl who went home and told her mom that the preacher had preached about sin. When asked what he had said about it, the little girl said, “Well, he is agin it!” We are “agin” or against sin for the most part. However, sometimes we really don’t see the awfulness of sin without the help of the Holy Spirit. How do we see the awfulness of sin portrayed in this chapter? We see it portrayed by the position that Gomer fell into. Gomer had, through her adulteress relationships, eventually found herself in some form of debt that she could not pay. The only means available to her had forced her to become a slave. She had lost her freedom. She had lost her ability to make choices for herself. Hosea found her standing on a block of wood or a platform stark naked, in chains about to be sold as property. She was no longer a person but a commodity being sold for the use of another. That is the awfulness of sin. The bible makes it clear that each one of us have been born into the bondage of sin. Both Romans and Galatians make it clear that sin has taken our freedom and we, apart from Christ, are subject to the master of sin and our sin nature. Any freedom that we have, any choices that we make prior to the redemption of Christ is governed by the master of sin. Sin is awful, sin is cruel, sin is degrading, and sin is deadly.

This was Gomer. She was standing naked, humiliated beyond measure, having lost all dignity and being sold as property. The greatest story doesn’t end here though. We need to learn from this story the awfulness of sin, but next time, we will see the happy ending

The Most Amazing Love Story – Part I

James Montgomery Boice wrote; “The third chapter of Hosea is, in my judgment, the greatest story in the Bible…” I am inclined to agree with Boice. This chapter contains tremendous messages of hope in the midst of the declaration of the awfulness of sin. The story portrayed by Hosea is a story that is almost beyond human comprehension in itself. Here we see God depicted as one who has been “cheated” upon repeatedly by an immoral and unloving wife, yet God pursues this wayward wife with a love that could never be portrayed by even Hollywood. Chapter three opens with these haunting lines, “Go, again, love a woman who is loved by another man, and is an adulteresses, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel…” (ESV) The most amazing thing takes place, Hosea discovers that his wife has become a slave and is about to be sold in the slave market. Hosea goes to this auction and sees his wife, naked, in chains, and displayed with all her flaws and treasures exposed. As the bidding begins, Hosea must continue to up his ante and outbid those who trying to buy his wife. Hosea finally prevails with a winning bid of 15 pieces of silver and a bushel and a half of barley. Hosea tells his wife, Gomer, that she must live with him and stop playing the role of a harlot. He must assuredly taken some clothing and wrapped it around her and then led her to their home. What an amazing love that Hosea had for his wife. What an amazing love God has for his people. We see that God will yet pursue his people in verses 4 & 5: “For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.” (ESV) Though Israel was unfaithful, God continues to love them with an everlasting love. He will pursue them. Their faithfulness is to be motivated, just as our faithfulness is motivated, by the love that God has for each of us as his children. God loved us, sought us, provided redemption for us, and purchased us when we were naked and exposed in the sin market, and clothed us in his righteous robe.

Chapter three portrays and amazing love story as it depicts God’s wonderful love for Israel. It also depicts, however, the awfulness of sin and the horrible consequences of sin. These ideas will be explored in the next couple of posts.

In Time of Darkness or Dispair

During a major season of testing in my life, not so long ago, I sat down and in the midst of darkness and fear, I began to meditate on the providence of God. Here are some things that I "chewed" and ruminated on. I hope that you may find them helpful to you one day in the midst of a trial or a chastening seasoning of God: 1. Work to get a full recognition of God's working in your life from beginning until now. Fill your mind and thoughts with Him and His ways. (Ps 77:11-12) 2. Look to the Word of God and see all the promises that God has made to you (Ps 57:2) a. God's will, ways, & provisions for you won't violate His word b. The Word shows us the ways of holiness and wisdom c. The Word shows that disobedience will never allow you to profit d. The Word prohibits your trust in yourself or your abilities e. The Word shows that the cause of chastening is sin f. The Word promises that God will never leave nor forsake you g. The Word ultimately is your only consolation in the darkest times h. The Word tells you the only way to receive is to give i. The Word tells you the way to have peace with men is peace with God j. The Word is the only source for total inward peace 3. Be sure to recognize God as the sole author of your chastening or trials (Prov 3:6) a. Know that God cares for you b. Know how wise God is in dispensing His mercy to you c. Know the grace that is involved in God's mercy to you d. Know that God condescends to you in dispensing His mercy e. Know God's will in chastening is to make you more Christ like f. Know that God's mercy is from His Son who was obedient unto death g. Know God will refresh you during times of chastening/trials h. Know God is sovereign in all that He does i. Know how wise God is in choosing your trials/afflictions/chastisement j. Know how faithful and sufficient God has been, is and will be 4. Be sure to exercise you heart's affections to the particular providence of God a. Remember to remain joyful and comforted in God not events b. Put to death sinful, ungodly affections in your heart c. Exercise heavenly mindedness, set your affections on things above d. Maintain a contented heart with all that God gives or takes 1) Remember hell & damnation is all that you deserve 2) You don't deserve any mercy 3) Trials/afflictions usually bring to God & His will 4) Trials/afflictions are usually caused by your sin 5) Try and complain about all the good God has given 6) Consider your sin and what it does deserve 7) Consider how close God's help/answer really is 5. Don't give up if God's mercy and providential help is long in coming a. It is not the proper time to receive the things you pray for/need b. The trial/affliction has worked its full purpose yet c. Time causes you to search your heart more thoroughly d. Time makes the answer/blessing/deliverance more sweeter (1) The delay is for my advantage (2) It makes my heart more willing/submitted to God (3) The answer is no nearer than the darkest hour (4) Your unfitness delays God's provision (5) The blessings are pure grace/you don't deserve them (6) Appreciate the fact millions have no hope/answer 6. Don't try and figure out all the why of God's affliction/delay/purposes a. Trying to find out everything may cause great strain b. You may start to doubt or distrust God and His character c. You may try to deliver yourself by your own means