Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim 1:17 (ESV)

Words by Walter Smith
1876

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, Almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Peace and War

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:18 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message

XVI. Peace and War

It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Romans 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:1-2.
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Righteousness must not be sacrificed in the name of false peace.

As defined throught the centuries, the just-war theory holds that in order for a war to be justified sevearal criteria must be satisfied:
- just cause - use of force must be defensive and never offensive
- just intention - to secure a fair, lasting peace for all parties.
- last resort - all other legitimate means of settling the conflict have been tried and failed.
- limit objectives to what is necessary to establish a just peace.
- use of force approved by a legitimate authority.
- only proportionate means be used.
- noncombatants be protected whenever possible.
- must a be a reasonable chance of successs.
- must be a realistic hope that conflict will lead to a superior, lasting peace.

Chrisitans cannot wage with earthly weapons the most important war we are called to fight. As Paul reminds us, "Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens" (Eph. 6:12) No Christian wars are fought with earthly weapons and for earthly goals.

Until Christ comes, we will have war. But Christians must work and contend for peace. We must pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.


from The Baptist Faith & Message Study

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer to Stand Firm in Truth

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thess 2:16-17 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Need of Grace

O Lord,

Thou knowest my great unfitness for service,

         my present deadness,

         my inability to do anything for thy glory,

         my distressing coldness of heart.

I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable,

     and loathe and abhor myself.

I am at a loss to know what thou wouldest have me do,

     for I feel amazingly deserted by thee,

     and sense thy presence so little;

Thou makest me possess the sins of my youth,

    and the dreadful sin of my nature,

    so that I feel all sin,

    I cannot think or act but every motion is sin.

Return again with showers of converting grace

    to a poor gospel-abusing sinner.

Help my soul to breathe after holiness,

    after a constant devotedness to thee,

    after growth in grace more abundantly every day.

O Lord, I am lost in the pursuit of this blessedness,

And am ready to sink because I fall short of my desire;

Help me to hold out a little longer,

    until the happy hour of deliverance comes,

    for I cannot lift my soul to thee

    if thou of thy goodness bring me not nigh.

Help me to be diffident, watchful, tender,

    lest I offend my blessed Friend

    in thought and behaviour;

I confide in thee and lean upon thee,

    and need thee at all times to assist and lead me.

O that all my distresses and apprehensions

   might prove but Christ’s school

   to make me fit for greater service

   by teaching me the great lesson of humility.

from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, page 99

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

The Solid Rock

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—
Psalms 18:46 (ESV)


Words by Edward Mote
1834

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

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The Christian and the Social Order

14  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matt 5:14-16 (ESV)

The Baptist Faith & Message

XV. The Christian and the Social Order

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.
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Love of neighbor requires that we genuinely care about the shape of our society.

All human life is sacred from conception to until natural death.

Christians must stand without apology against the corruption of God's gift of sexuality.

The lordship of Jesus Christ extends to every dimension of human work and culture.



from The Baptist Faith & Message Study

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

The Dash Between Your Dates

Charles Spurgeon said "Dying is but going home. Indeed, there is no dying for the saints." Six years ago today my Daddy went home.  This post is in memory of him.  He made his dash count. I will see him on the other side when it is my time to go home. - ah

 

"A beginning and an ending, dates upon a stone

But the moment in the middle is how we will be known

Cause what defines us can be found within a line

Finding reason for our time"

... What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes

James 4:14 (ESV)

What will you do with the dash between your dates?

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

only what's done for Christ will last."

- C.T. Studd

"The measure of life is not its duration but its donation." - Peter Marshall

"Great beginnings are not as important as the way one finishes." - Dr. James Dobson

We must be intentional if we want to finish well. Remember Luke 9:23:

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 (ESV)

chorus:

And the years go by, how they seem to fly

They’ll all be over soon

When our life is done, did we live and love

The way we wanted to

Cause everyday that we leave behind

Goes on to tell the truth

Of how we lived in the line between the two

The line between the two

So teach us to number out days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 90:12 (ESV)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,   making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:15-16 (ESV)

"Will I walk straight, will I be true

Will I finish strong

Will I stand up for the moment

When I could right a wrong

Because the legacy we have will never change

It’s how we spend our days"

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

1 Cor 16:13 (ESV)

In 2 Chronicles 26 we read about the life of King Uzziah.  Uzziah started strong. In verses 1-5 we find him seeking the Lord. In verses 6-15 we see the Lord giving him success, but in verse 16 his life takes a tragic turn. Through all of his success and blessings from the Lord "when he was strong" Uzziah grew proud and it led to his downfall in verses 16-23. 

But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chron 26:16 (ESV)

"I could live a life for just myself

Or I could live a life for someone else

But I’ll live and die just to hear

You say

Well done my son come and be with Me"

 

The question is less "what is God's plan for my life?" and more "how does my life best fit into God's plan?" - Alvin Reid

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
Psalms 71:17-18 (ESV)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.   I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Tim 4:6-8 (ESV)

Be determined to make your dash count! Have a battle plan and be intentional about finishing strong.  Be able to say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Don't be like Uzziah. Remember it is not how you start but how you finish. FINISH STRONG!

The song "The Line Between The Two" was written by Mark Harris, Jeff Moseley & Pete Kipley. 

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

Influential Anglican John Stott (April 27, 1921 - July 27, 2011)

"The Rev. John Stott dies at 90; influential Anglican evangelist

Unassuming but erudite, the pastor was considered a mentor to Billy Graham and Rick Warren. He was a principal framer of the 1974 Lausanne Covenant that launched the global evangelical movement.

The Rev. John Stott did not fill stadiums with the faithful like his longtime friend, Billy Graham, or give the invocation at a presidential inauguration, as megachurch pastor Rick Warren did for Barack Obama. Yet he was a giant of the evangelical world — perhaps the most influential evangelist most people have never heard of."  - Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times

John Stott wrote 50 books including Basic Christianity, The Cross of Christ, The Birds, Our Teachers, and his last book The Radical Disciple.

Time magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2005.

Below are some John Stott quotes and a tribute video.

"The church has a double responsibility in relation to the world around us. On the one hand we are to live, serve and witness in the world. On the other hand we to avoid becoming contaminated by the world. So we are neither to seek to preserve our holiness by escaping from the world nor to sacrifice our holiness by conforming to the world.  Escapism and conformism are thus both forbidden to us. 

from The Radical Disciple

"So faith in God is not incompatible with co-operation with God.

We acknowledge that our food comes ultimately from God, and we

rightly thank him for our daily bread. But we are still dependent on

farmers and fishermen, and on the wholesale and retail trade. Again,

when we are ill, we rightly pray to God to heal us. But if we are

wise, we also consult our doctor and accept whatever treatment he

recommends. ....

Faith and works go together. Not indeed in salvation, which is by faith alone.

But in everything else we both trust God and take appropriate action."

from The Birds, Our Teachers

ChristianPost.com list 10 Memorable Quotes from John Stott

• His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us with no other choice.

• The truth is that there are such things as Christian tears, and too few of us ever weep them.

• Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in preserving the faith and radical in applying it.

• Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us.

• We should not ask, ‘What is wrong with the world?’ for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather we should ask, "What has happened to salt and light?"

• Social responsibility becomes an aspect not of Christian mission only, but also of Christian conversion. It is impossible to be truly converted to God without being thereby converted to our neighbor.

• Sin and child of God are incompatible. They may occasionally meet; they cannot live together in harmony.

• Good conduct arises out of good doctrine.

• The very first thing which needs to be said about Christian ministers of all kinds is that they are "under" people as their servants rather than "over" them (as their leaders, let alone their lords). Jesus made this absolutely plain. The chief characteristic of Christian leaders, he insisted, is humility not authority, and gentleness not power.

• We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer to Fulfill His Purpose

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thess 1:11-12 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

The Story of Everything

From the Month of July 2011

July 11
Harry Potter, Jesus and Me by Andrew Peterson

I’m a fan of the Harry Potter books. There. I said it. Whenever I visit a bookstore I can’t resist a walk through the Young Readers section, where my heart flutters at cover illustrations of dragons and detectives and ghosts and kids dashing across fantastic landscapes. I’ve always loved those stories, and many times I take the books from the shelves and, with chills running up and down my arms, thumb through them. Sometimes I even smell them. (There. I said that, too.) Click here to continue reading. 

(I not yet read any of the Harry Potter books. - ah)

July 12
Is It OK For Christians To Believe In The Doctrine of Hell But Not Like It? by Keving DeYoung

It takes a certain courage to look at what the Bible teaches, not like it all that much, and still believe it. I am thankful for brothers and sisters who believe in hell or believe in complementarianism or believe in election and reprobation or believe homosexuality is a sin despite their internal protestations. It’s a good sign when we take our stand on the Bible even when we’d prefer to take our stand somewhere else.
But it’s a better sign when we take our stand on the Bible and learn to love where the Bible stands.
Click here to continue reading.

July 13
Burst the (Christian) Bubble by Alvin Reid

Leaders of the church in any era have the responsibility of identifying the idols of our time and confronting them with the gospel. David Platt has done this with the idol of the American Dream and it’s materialism, for instance. We have a variety of idols in our time, from rampant sensuality, to prolonged adolescence (especially in young men) to the new atheism, and the historically ubiquitous idol of worshiping self. But there is another idol that has slowly crept into our lives and into the very culture of our churches. We joke about it, and can see it around us. But I am not convinced we see it as the threat to genuine Christianity that it has become.

I refer to the Christian subculture, or the Christian “bubble.”  Click here to continue reading.

July 18
Freedom of Religion Has to Be Freedom For Everyone by Ed Stetzer

I have great concerns when people start deciding what "is" and "is not" a real religion and if other religions can build places of worship. Be aware that the standard that Christians advocate here may very well be used on Christians in the future.

As the views of evangelicals become increasingly distasteful to many in prevailing culture, some may use these same arguments when they ban your building. How you treat our Muslim minority may very well point to how the majority culture will treat Christians one day. Click here to continue reading.

An Open Letter to an Unborn Baby by Russell Moore

a young woman will give birth to a little boy, and has made an adoption plan for this couple to become his parents. The pastor asked if I’d write a letter to this boy, for when he’s old enough to start asking questions about his adoption and what it means. I’ve changed his name, but this is what I wrote. Click here to continue reading.

July 19
Reparative Therapy, Homosexuality and the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Albert Mohler

This controversy will inevitably demonstrate the basic worldview divide that separates the secular therapeutic community and evangelical Christians. The politicians, the mental health industry, and the media will have their own debate on the matter, but Christians now face the urgent challenge of thinking about these issues in a way that is fully biblical and theological — and thus faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Click here to continue reading.

Cooperation

For we are God's fellow workers. ...

1 Cor 3:9 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message


XIV. Cooperation

Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.


Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.
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For Southern Baptists cooperation means a worldwide kingdom work with others who share our faith, values and worldview.

Congregationalism is a deeply established Baptist principle. 

Congregationalism: The belief that a local body of believers is directly responsible to God's authority, not a church hierarchy.

Voluntary Association: The united, cooperative effort of churches with common beliefs to minister together in ways they could not minister alone.

Our churches can do together what no one church can do alone.

Cooperative Program: A plan of cooperation by which Southern Baptists provide financial support for ministry and missions in an ongoing, systematic way.

The Cooperative Program allows local Baptist congregations to unite in a single, unified budget for advancing the cause of Christ.


from The Baptist Faith & Message Study

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Our churches can do together what no one church can do alone.  Sometimes I wonder if Southern Baptists still believe this?  If only Southern Baptist Churches could get back to this Baptist pattern of cooperation.  It was John Wooden that said "It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit."

Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Sanctification (To Be Set Apart, Holy)

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Thess 5:23-24 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Continual Repentance

O God of grace,

T hou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,

          and hast imputed his righteousness

     to my soul,

   clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,

   decking me with jewels of holiness.

But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;

   my best prayers are stained with sin;

   my penitential tears are so much impurity;

   my confessions of wrong are so many

     aggravations of sin;

   my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with

     selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;

I need my tears to be washed;

I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,

   no loom to weave my own righteousness;

I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,

   and by grace am always receiving change of

     raiment,

   for thou dost always justify the ungodly;

I am always going into the far country,

   and always returning home as a prodigal,

   always saying, Father, forgive me,

   and thou art always bringing forth

     the best robe.

Every morning let me wear it,

   every evening return in it,

   go out to the day’s work in it,

   be married in it,

   be wound in death in it,

   stand before the great white throne in it,

   enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of

   the exceeding sinfulness of sin,

   the exceeding righteousness of salvation,

   the exceeding glory of Christ,

   the exceeding beauty of holiness,

   the exceeding wonder of grace.

From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)

words by Chris Rice

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Click here to find out more about Jesus!

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thess 3:11-13 (ESV)



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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

1882

Words by Louisa M. R. Stead

(These words are said to have written been after Stead witnessed her husband drown. -  cyberhymnal.org)

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Casting Crowns singing 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus.

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

Stewardship

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,   but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matt 6:19-21 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message 2000

XIII. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth.


Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.



Stewardship: The responsibility to manage resources God has placed in our care.

Christian stewardship extends to our energy, our time, and the totality of who we are.

A Christian's stewardship is motivated not by obligation but by a joyful sense of privilege.

The Tithe:
In the Old Testament God commanded the people of God to give a minimum of 10% as an offering (see Lev. 27:30-32; Mal.3:10).  Some people argue that Christians, no longer under the law, are now free from the responsibility of the tithe.  Responsible believers understand, however, that Christians bear no less responsibility for giving than God commanded of His people in the Old Testament. Those who have been transformed by Christ are called to an even higher level of giving that is motivated by more than law and mere obligation (see Matt. 6:19-21; 23:23). Christians must seek to give generously to the local church and to gospel causes, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Cor. 9:7).

Taken from The Baptist Faith & Message Study


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

23rd Psalm Parenting by Alan Melton

This post is from Alan Melton on how the 23rd Psalm teaches us to care for and protect our children.  He co-wrote the book Disciple Like Jesus For Parents. You can find out more about this ministry and find other helpful resources at www.disciplelikejesus.com . _ ah


23rd Psalm Parenting

In addition to describing the attributes of our Lord and Savior, this beautiful Psalm teaches us much about how we are to care for and protect our children. We are to protect them like Jesus protected the twelve.  Jesus showed us how to make disciples and then commanded us to do the same.


“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Here we see the provision of the shepherd. Most parents are good at providing food, shelter, and transportation to their children. But what provision do you personally make for your children’s spiritual knowledge? What training are you providing in how to interact with others? How are you providing for them in the area of ministry involvement? What is your provision in teaching them to discern good versus evil? Take personal responsibility for not only their temporal needs but also their eternal needs.


“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” This verse speaks of rest, nourishment, and refreshment. In the midst of the dizzying pace of our present world, do you provide a place of respite for your family? Do you and your children ever stop to catch your breath in a place of safety, solitude, and peace? When God created the earth, He ordained rest every seven days. How often does your family rest? Do your children have a quiet time with the Lord? Ensure that your family gets rest, refreshment, and time with God.


“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Since the fall of Adam and Eve people have needed restoration on a continual basis; we fall off God’s path and choose our own. Like sheep we are prone to wander. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God and we sin constantly. However, His word tells us that we simply need to confess our sins to be forgiven and restored to fellowship with the Lord (1 John. 1:8). Restoration allows us to get back on the path that our Lord has placed in front of us. Do you provide loving correction for your children and then restore their souls? Do you forgive and choose not to bring your children’s sin before them again? Do you show your children where you have wandered off God’s path and then received restoration from the Father? Do you lead them in the path of righteousness? Provide loving restoration to your children and lead them into righteous living.


“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” There is no doubt that in this troubled, fallen world that we all will encounter peril of some sort. Whether the peril is disease, or crime, or temptation, or simply traveling down the road, we and our children are constantly at risk to some degree. We all know that the enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy. The actions that we take to deal with these perils will determine in large measure whether or not the enemy has victory over our family. The reason that no fear exists in the valley of the shadow of death is the fact that the shepherd is with His sheep and He has some tools at His disposal. The “rod and staff” mentioned here was likely the same tool with different applications. The rod was used to keep the sheep from hurting each other and to keep them within the fold in a place of protection. The staff was used as a weapon to beat back the wolves when they tried to devour the sheep. Parents, are you with your children so that you may protect them? Do you lovingly discipline your children to keep them in the protective care of God’s fold? Do you use weapons or strategies to defend your children from the numerous wolves that exist in the world? Be with your children so that you may protect them. Lovingly use the rod and fiercely use the staff.


“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My
cup runs over”. Shepherds needed to prepare new pastures for their sheep once the existing pasture had been removed of the grass and foliage by the hungry sheep. The “enemies” included not only wolves but also poisonous weeds. Therefore, the shepherd would “prepare a table” for His flock. The meaning of anoint is associated with blessing; the Shepherd’s diligence in preparation is a blessing to His flock. Parents, do you plan in advance the places you will take your children, the activities that they will engage in, the curriculum they will be studying, and the peers they will be associating with? What will your children read, watch, listen to, and engage in? Prepare in advance the environment where your children will live and the influences in which they will be immersed. Create a culture of blessing in your children’s lives by your diligent planning and preparation.


Here is the payoff for the faithful Shepherd and His sheep; for the faithful parent and her children. The children and parents will be blessed with mercy and goodness for the length of their lives. Most importantly, they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.


Parents, I know that you want your children to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. You would not be reading this blog if you were not concerned about the spiritual condition of your children. If you will follow Jesus in the way that you shepherd your children, you can know that you have done everything you can for your children to ensure that the Lord will grant them goodness, mercy, and eternal life. While we can’t know with certainty the Lord’s sovereign will for our children’s lives, we can rest knowing that we have been obedient to His calling.


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Hope

 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

The LORD is... Psalm 23 (I Am Who I Am)

God said to Moses, "I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'"  Exodus 3:14 ESV

God revealed himself to Moses as I AM in Exodus 3. However the fullness of its meaning had not yet been revealed.

In nine places in the Old Testament, the Lord "filled out" or "completed" the name I AM to reveal more fully His divine nature and gracious ministry to His people:

• Yahweh-Jireh: The LORD will provide or see to it (Genesis 22:14)
• Yahweh-Rophe: The LORD who heals (Exodus 15:26)
• Yahweh-Nissi: The LORD our banner (Exodus 17:15)
• Yahweh-M'Kaddesh: The LORD who sanctifies (Leviticus 20:8)
• Yahweh-Shalom: The LORD our peace (Judges 6:24)
• Yahweh-Rohi: The LORD my shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
• Yahweh-Sabaoth: The LORD of hosts (Psalm 46:7)
• Yahweh-Tsidkenu: The LORD our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
• Yahweh-Shammah: The LORD is there (Ezekiel 48:35)

Of course all of these names refer to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”  So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
John 8:56-58 (ESV)

(adapted from JESUS In The Present Tense by Warren W. Wiersbe.)


Psalm 23 is probably the most loved psalm in the entire Bible.  Look at how these names for God are seen through out Psalm 23.  In the 23rd Psalm we see how God reveals Himself to us and ministers to us.  It is no wonder it brings comfort to so many people.  He has given us these names to remind us of His character and to show us who He is.  We see how He shepherds us:



1 The Lord is my shepherd; (Yahweh-Rohi)I shall not want. (Yahweh-Jireh) 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. (Yahweh-Shalom)3 He restores my soul. (Yahweh-Rophe) He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Yahweh-Tsidkenu) 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (Yahweh-Shammah) your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (Yahweh-Nissi) you anoint my head with oil; (Yahweh-M'Kaddesh) my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 23:1-6 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Education

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Psalms 25:4-5 (ESV)

The Baptist Faith & Message 2000

XII. Education

Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ's people.
In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists.


Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

pray without ceasing,

1 Thess 5:17 (ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Phil 4:6 (ESV)

Joseph M. Scriven

1855

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer— Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there.

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Unity

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Did You Lose Your Horse Today?

Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, because he owned a beautiful white horse. People offered fabulous prices for the horse, but the old man always refused. "This horse is a friend, not a possession," he would respond.

One morning the horse was not in the stable. All the villagers said, "You old fool. We told you someone would steal that beautiful horse. You could at least have gotten the money. Now the horse is gone, and you’ve been cursed with misfortune."

The old man responded, "Perhaps. All I know is that my horse is gone; the rest I do not know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can’t say."

After fifteen days the horse returned. He hadn’t been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses back with him. Once again the village people gathered around the old man and said, "You were right – what we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us." The old man responded, "Perhaps. Once again you’ve gone too far. How do you know if this is a blessing or a curse? Unless you can see the whole story, how can you judge?" But the people could only see the obvious. The old man now had twelve additional horses that could be broken and sold for a great deal of money.

The old man had a son, an only son. He began to break the wild horses. Unfortunately, after just a few days, he fell from a horse and broke both his legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and said, "You were right. The wild horses were not a blessing; they were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs and now in your old age you have no one to help you. You are poorer than ever." But the old man said, "Perhaps. Don’t go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. We have only a fragment of the whole story."

It so happened that a few weeks later the country went to war with a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he had two broken legs. Once again the people gathered around, crying because there was little chance their sons would return. "You were right, old man. Your son’s accident was a blessing. Our sons are gone forever."

The old man spoke again. "You people are always quick to jump to conclusions. Only God knows the final story."

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"And so it is with our lives. What we see as a blessing or a curse may simply be part of God's preparation for what lies ahead. Be careful in seeing "disaster" in any change. Just recognize it as change – which opens the door for good as well as bad – for gain as well as possible loss." - Dan Miller   (www.48days.com)


In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Eph 1:11 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Evangelism & Missions

13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  14 But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message 2000

XI. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.
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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Right Priorities

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 1:9-12 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Last Things

1  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:1-3 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message 2000

X. Last Things

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.


Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.
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The Bible depicts a timeline that includes past, present ad future.  God is not trapped in or limited by time. He created time as a construct within eternity - part of His creation.

The Bible's doctrine of eschatology, which focuses on Last Things, provides a future horizon for Christian theology and Christian living.  Believers are to live in anticipation of Christ's coming and in absolute confidence that God will consummate all things and accomplish His purposes.

The doctrine of Last Things focuses on Jesus Christ and His return. The Bible tells us that He will return to earth personally, visibly and gloriously.

When Christ returns, He will come in glory as a conquering king to claim His kingdom.

When Christ returns, the dead will be raised (1 Thess. 4:16). The promise of our resurrection is sure and certain. All those who have died - believers and unbelievers-  will experience the resurrection of the dead.

The righteous - those who are declarered righteous through faith in Christ- will be allowed into heaven.  The unrightous will be consigned to hell, the place of everlasting punishment (Rev. 20:11-15).

taken from The Baptist Faith & Message

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd;

That's Relationship!

I shall not want.

That's Supply!

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul:

That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

That's Guidance!

 For His name sake.

That's Purpose!

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

That's Testing!

I will fear no evil:

That's Protection!

For Thou art with me;

That's Faithfulness!

 Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies:

That's Hope!

 Thou anointest my head with oil;

That's Consecration!

 My cup runneth over.

That's Abundance!

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

That's Blessing!

 And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

That's Security!

 For ever.

That's Eternity!

Psalm 23 (KJV)

Commentary - Unknown Source.

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah