If you are interested in revival you've got to listen to this message by John Piper on where Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones stood on this topic. Incredible!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Need for Revival and Baptism with the Holy Spirit
by: Dr. John Piper
If you are interested in revival you've got to listen to this message by John Piper on where Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones stood on this topic. Incredible!
If you are interested in revival you've got to listen to this message by John Piper on where Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones stood on this topic. Incredible!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Who Wants Revival?
Some Biblical advice to all of us who seek to see a move of the Holy Spirit:
1 Peter 2:21-25
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
God, may we all return to our first calling as sheep living for the glory of the Shepherd!
1 Peter 2:21-25
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
God, may we all return to our first calling as sheep living for the glory of the Shepherd!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Stars
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1
As I returned home from a late meeting, my daughter (21 months old), Hannah Grace began to point from her car seat and say, "Star." She repeated this several times. The sky was crystal clear with a bright half-moon on display. I got her out of the car seat and we looked at the stars and the moon for a few minutes before going inside the house.
After her Mom got her ready for bed, she asked me to take her outside to see the stars so I picked up and told her, "We will go outside one more time and see the stars." She smiled as if to say, "I agree with your decision Daddy!" As we cleared the overhang of the front porch she instantly began to scan the sky and I was mesmerized by her amazement and interest in stars. I said, "Hannah, the Bible says the heavens declared the glory of God." She replied with her own personal word that means yes, "OK."
Where can we go to escape the glory of God? Even in suffering and strife we can see and experience the glory of God. In Acts it says in reference to Stephen as he faced a sure death for His belief in Jesus, "His face shown like an angel." When we encounter triumph in our life we can see and experience the glory of God. But, even on a uneventful May night in Alabama one can see and experience the glory of God. This glory the heavens speak of is Jesus Christ! His glory can none compare. Praise Him! Praise Him!
Friday, May 2, 2008
A True Mystery of our Faith
+++A Focus on Suffering and Healing from Hebrews 10:32-36+++
I recently had the privilege to sit under the teaching of one of the greatest preachers to ever walk the earth. I believe this man, 300 years from now, will be spoken of in a similar manor as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and Martin Luther. John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and founder of Desiring God Ministries, answered this question with an outstanding charge to ministers to embrace suffering. The questions was, "How does the supremacy of Christ create radical Christian sacrifice?" He used many text from Hebrews but his focus was on the following verses.
"But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." Hebrews 10:32-36
The first question for those who still believe God can heal someone has to be, "How does this text apply to the message of healing?" Though I may be looking at this through blood stained glasses I still believe it fits. There is no doubt that God still heals people and believe me I am all for it. There is also no doubt that part of our call as Christians is to embrace suffering, joyfully. But how?
We embrace suffering joyfully remembering what Peter teaches us, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7) The reason we can pray for healing or deliverance from persecution is because as the author of Hebrews points out there is a far greater reward. The reward is Jesus!
Paul who wrote thirteen books of the New Testament says this to the church of Philippi from his jail cell, "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
It is true that Jesus has saved us, delivered us, and healed us. He is also saving us, delivering us, and healing us as we mature in the faith He has so graciously called us to. A true mystery no doubt, but there is no mystery greater than the love He has for those who call Him Savior! Embrace suffering and pray with faith for God's help in time of need never forgetting the confidence we have in a greater reward. JESUS!
I recently had the privilege to sit under the teaching of one of the greatest preachers to ever walk the earth. I believe this man, 300 years from now, will be spoken of in a similar manor as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and Martin Luther. John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and founder of Desiring God Ministries, answered this question with an outstanding charge to ministers to embrace suffering. The questions was, "How does the supremacy of Christ create radical Christian sacrifice?" He used many text from Hebrews but his focus was on the following verses.
"But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." Hebrews 10:32-36
The first question for those who still believe God can heal someone has to be, "How does this text apply to the message of healing?" Though I may be looking at this through blood stained glasses I still believe it fits. There is no doubt that God still heals people and believe me I am all for it. There is also no doubt that part of our call as Christians is to embrace suffering, joyfully. But how?
We embrace suffering joyfully remembering what Peter teaches us, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7) The reason we can pray for healing or deliverance from persecution is because as the author of Hebrews points out there is a far greater reward. The reward is Jesus!
Paul who wrote thirteen books of the New Testament says this to the church of Philippi from his jail cell, "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
It is true that Jesus has saved us, delivered us, and healed us. He is also saving us, delivering us, and healing us as we mature in the faith He has so graciously called us to. A true mystery no doubt, but there is no mystery greater than the love He has for those who call Him Savior! Embrace suffering and pray with faith for God's help in time of need never forgetting the confidence we have in a greater reward. JESUS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
