tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67365312416580598252024-03-12T21:41:25.332-04:00Christ Is SweetChrist is sweet, let's enjoy Him together.Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.comBlogger305125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-92222502001463850072014-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-17T00:00:04.537-05:00The Christian should always be looking at that<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(The Christian's) whole out look upon everything that happens to (him) should be governed by three things: my realization of who i am, my consciousness of where i am going, and me knowledge of what awaits me when i get there. You will find this argument in many places in Scripture. The apostle Paul once put it like this, 'our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;while we look not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.' (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) The Christian should always be looking at that.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Martin Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Vol 1, P 144</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-68574998700346870742014-12-15T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-15T00:00:07.773-05:00Christmas: Wake Up!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the middle of winter, being woken up by the sun feels like
a distant dream. At the moment i watch the day slowly dawn as i read the Bible
in the morning, and, on very bad days, while i'm driving my wife to school
sometime later that morning. But there's something wonderful about sunrise,
something hope filled, something refreshing about seeing the sunrise, something
significant.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">And
because the Gospel is true, we should expect everything in the natural world to
be filled with significance. This was clearly Malachi's point of view, when he
described the coming of Christ like the rising of the sun. And there's lots of
ways that's true. The sun brings hope, healing, help, security and joy, just
like Christ's coming does.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">But i
think there's something else that Christ being like the sun does as well. It
wakes us up. Malachi ministered in such a depressing time in the history of
Israel. Not as bad as the times of the Judges perhaps, and in some senses
better than the exile itself, but not by much. The people had returned the the
promised land, free from captivity. As good students of Moses, they'd have
known what to expect next. A glorious temple and a glorious kingdom, and they
got neither. The temple was ok, but nothing in comparison to the old one, and
as for the kingdom, they'd gone from being a world power to a provincial
backwater.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">And
worse, they were asleep spiritually. The people offered the blind and sick
animals in sacrifice, and the priests let them. Few took God's Word seriously.
Worship had become wearisome to the people. There were few who were faithful,
few who heeded Malachi's call. They were asleep, and they needed the sun. And
the sun is the prescription for all our ills. We need to stop chasing the
darkness away and open the windows.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">If we're
asleep, our prescription is the same. If tithing seems like madness to us, we
need to be woken up. We need to remember that we have no earthly city, we have
to remember that what we earn belongs to God anyway, we have to remember that
our faith is seen as we serve God not money. As the sun rises, we hold money
cheaper.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">If
worship is a weariness, we need the sun to warm us up. We need to remember our
riches in Christ, our salvation from sin, our union with the Son of God. We
need the sun to warm us up until we sing. And worship isn't just singing. We
need to be woken up so that we live our whole lives as if the Gospel is true.
So that what we read in the Bible stays with us, and changes us. we ned to
bathe in the sun until we sing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">If we
struggle to take the Bible seriously, we need to open our eyes and be dazzled
by the sun. We need to ask for help every morning to see what's really there.
And just like an eye doctor is glorified when we ask for help to see the sun,
so God the Father is glorified when we ask for help to see the Son. And those
are the prayers He loves to answer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">This
is the healing we need. To give, to sing, to see. We need to be weaned off the
dark, cold air, which we're told to desire, which we're told is safe, and come
out into the light. We need to leap like calfs, because the Son of God has
come, and He shines on us in all His glory.</span></span></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-78397639042338987272014-12-09T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-09T07:28:27.058-05:00Christmas: Refiners FireMalachi was written during the most depressing time of Israel's history. Not the darkest, that honour goes to Judges or Lamentations, but definitely the most depressing. The Hebrews had returned from exile, been blessed with Godly leaders and rebuilt a temple, but still the people sinned, still they offered blind animals in the temple, still they married the daughters of a foreign God.<br />
<br />
There's a depressing familiarity about all that isn't there? Your author has been blessed with loving parents, world class training, a faithful wife, and types this from an office on a million dollar campus, but he still sins, he still shows unfaithfulness, ingratitude and laziness whenever he feels like he can get away with it. And the same is true (to a greater or lesser extent) of you too.<br />
<br />
So what's to be done? Malachi tells us. And the answer is not found in religious activity, nor moral relativism, nor a government programme, the answer is a person. This person will suddenly come to His temple, He'll turn up one day and throw out the money changers. This person is the messenger of the covenant, He has made promises to the Sons of Jacob that He will keep. And He's like refining fire.<br />
<br />
Fire. Bad news. Fire is a terror, as Smoky the Bear reminds us every summer. Fire will burn up the alloy, and since we're all alloy, we need some good news. The good news? That sweet word, refiners. Yes we're alloy, but there's silver to be made, when we are refined.<br />
<br />
So Christ comes to refine us. He comes to end our false worship, our spiritual adultery, our lazy sins. He comes to burn up the things in life that displease Him. He comes to help us live by the Spirit, He comes to help us choose the narrow way. He comes to save, and to sanctify. He has saved us from the penalty of sin, and He is saving us from the power of sin. Slowly but surely those joy killing weeds in our hearts are being burned up. Slowly but surely sin looks less and less attractive, and Jesus more and more.<br />
<br />
This is the hope that Malachi held out to the faithful remnant. There won't always be blind and sick animals being sacrificed. There won't always be priests who lead their people astray, Judah won't always be a forgotten backwater, God will keep His promises. The Christ will come, committed to His people, and save them from sin.<br />
<br />
And it's that same hope that the whole Bible holds out for us this morning. We won't always sin. One day, we'll be with the Lord, and sin will be, well, not even a memory. But before then, be encouraged, that the Lord is so committed to your happy holiness, to your refinement that He not only lived to make it happen, but He died to make it happen.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-83612844678535340422014-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T00:00:04.877-05:00We Have No Authority Save This Book<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>There is nothing more important in Christian life than the way in which we approach the Bible, and the way in which we read it. It is our textbook, it is our only source, our only authority. We know nothing about God and the Christian life in a true sense apart from what we read in the Bible. We can draw various deductions from nature (and possibly by mystical experiences) by which we can arrive at a belief in a supreme creator. But i think it is agreed by all Christians, and it has been traditional throughout the long history of the Church, that we have no authority save this book. We can not rely solely on subjective experiences, because there are evil spirits as well as good spirits; there are counterfeit experiences. Here, in the Bible is our sole authority. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Vol I, P10</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-51819397318752050492014-11-27T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-27T00:00:05.042-05:00Thanksgiving 2014Today, i'm thankful for;<br />
<br />
My salvation. It should come first, it's the foundation for everything else.<br />
<br />
My marriage. Seven years ago this week i first told Rachel, 'i love you.' I've not regretted one moment since.<br />
<br />
The Church. The global body of believers who love Jesus and will one day be with Him.<br />
<br />
My church. I love Trinity.<br />
<br />
The Bible. Nourishment, joy and hope every morning.<br />
<br />
My Bible. I use the ESV Readers Bible, and i recommend it to you.<br />
<br />
My family. I love my parents and my sister, and i'm thankful i get to be their son and brother.<br />
<br />
My in-laws. Who welcome me in, love me, and put up with my cheap West Virginia jokes.<br />
<br />
My wife. I love her heart, her compassion and her desire to do all things well.<br />
<br />
My new house. Perfect for us, a mercy from God.<br />
<br />
My ministry. A joy and a responsibility to work with teens day in and day out. One that i love, and i love them.<br />
<br />
Trinity Christian School. It thrills my heart to see what the Lord is doing here.<br />
<br />
God's love is steadfast and enduring. And the more i know myself, the more i understand how it must endure.<br />
<br />
<br />Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-72188307498392390822014-11-24T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-24T00:00:01.512-05:00Why Does Each Gospel Sound Different? <div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The first four books of the New Testament report the same Gospel account, but from four different perspectives. They give the same message with differing but perfectly harmonious emphases. Matthew presents Jesus as the sovereign, whereas Mark presents Him in the extreme opposite role as servant. Luke presents Him as the Son of Man, whereas John presents Him as the Son of God. The same Jesus is shown to be both sovereign God and servant man. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In presenting the sovereignty of Jesus, Matthew begins his Gospel with the genealogy of the Lord - going back to Abraham, the father of the Hebrew people through King David, Israel model King. In presenting Jesus' servanthood, Mark gives no genealogy at all, because a servant's lineage is irrelevant. In presenting Jesus as the Son of Man, Luke traces his genealogy back to the first man, Adam. In presenting Jesus as the divine Son of God, John gives no human genealogy or birth and childhood narratives. He opens up his Gospel, by giving, as it were, Jesus divine genealogy: 'in the beginning was the Word, as the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7, pp xi-xii</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-91920015671155013422014-11-21T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-21T00:00:04.064-05:00Like ElijahI've come to love James' letter over the last couple of months. We've just finished fourteen weeks going through it in Teen Church at Trinity. It's part Sermon on the Mount, part Amos, part Isaiah, all Jesus. I suppose, since it's in the Bible, it would be. It's a letter that gets in your face and forces you to deal with things you'd rather not, it's a book to challenge, and to encourage.<br />
<br />
Near the end of the letter, written to struggling, dispersed, Christians, James makes a startling comparison. An encouraging comparison. A provocative comparison. In his conclusion, as he challenges his readers to examine their faith, their prayers and their community involvement, he tells us in 5:17 that 'Elijah was a man with a nature like yours.'<br />
<br />
Excuse me?<br />
<br />
'Elijah was a man with a nature like yours.' In terms of provocation, and encouragement and startling the kids in the back row awake, he couldn't have chosen much better. Elijah was a man just like you. There is power in your faith, power in your prayers, just like there was for Elijah. He prayed that it wouldn't rain, and for forty months it didn't, and then he prayed that it would rain, and it did.<br />
<br />
'Elijah was man with a nature like yours.' Elijah who fed the hungry and healed the sick and raised the dead. Elijah who faced down the prophets of Baal, Elijah, to whom and through whom God worked wonderful things. James doesn't tell us that 'a king who you can barely remember' had a nature like ours, or 'that minor prophet whose book you skip ober,' had a nature like yours. He says Elijah.<br />
<br />
So stop wishing that you had faith like that man, and realise that through and in Christ you have something better. Your nature is just like his, and he longed to know what you. Stop assuming your prayers bounce off the ceiling, and pray in faith, knowing that Christ's name is the signature on your dirty cheque, and God is listening. Struggling, dispersed Christian; stop doubting the power of your prayers, and pray with faith.<br />
<br />
Be encouraged, Elijah...Elijah! was a man with a nature like yours!Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-21111974286446262882014-11-12T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-12T00:00:09.627-05:00The Lord's Name (ii)<div class="MsoNormal">
James closes this verse with a warning,’ so that you may not
fall under condemnation.’ our words are sacred, what we say is serious. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus said
the same thing in Matthew 5:37, ‘let anything you say be simply yes or no,
anything else comes from evil.’ That word condemnation is used everywhere else
in the Bible to talk about the condemnation of those who don’t believe in
Jesus. that’s how significant your words are. Really, James says, if your words
aren’t under Jesus control, it’s because your heart isn’t either. You words
reveal what’s in your heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks, Luke 6:45 tells us. So what is the abundance of your heart? What flows
out of your heart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
James isn’t asking us if we’ve ever made a mistake, but he’s
asking us about the theme of our lives. Is honest, truthful, God honouring talk
the direction of your life and the desire of your heart? Is that what you’re
known for? Is that what you want? To respect God’s name, to be known as someone
whose yes means yes and who’s no means know. Someone who confesses Jesus with
their tongue by guarding their mouth and watching what they say. One
commentator said, ‘we ought to be so disposed in thought and speech that we
neither think nor say anything concerning God and His mysteries without
reverence and much serious that in estimating His works we conceive nothing but
what is honorable to Him.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The devil is called the father of lies in John 8. Jesus said
I am the truth. So which are you more like? Who are you following more closely?
Constant lying, constantly taking the Lord’s name in vain is evidence that
you’re not saved, that you’re failing this test. But Jesus came to save. That’s
what His name means, more or less, God saves. And He is willing to save you
from condemnation and forgive your dishouring words and dishonest talk. Let’s
ask Him to together now.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-20322798970108465682014-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-10T08:00:05.195-05:00The Lord's Name (i)One Yale professor has said this, ‘in truth, there is probably no country in the Western world where people use God’s name quite as much, or quite as publically or for quite as many purposes as Americans do. The 3rd commandment not withstanding, few candidates for office are able to end their speeches without asking God to bless their audience or the nation or the great work their undertaking. Athletes thank God in television after the winning TD, politicians like to thank God, because He was on their side.’<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how do you use God’s name?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of verse 12 James says ‘above all, brothers,’
above all! This seems to mean that james wants our attention of this if nothing
else. It’s like an exam review, you can skip all the classwork, as long as you
pay attention to the review, you’ll have it pretty good. This is the beginning
of the end of the letter, and James is eager that we don’t miss what he wants
to tell us about the Christian life. he wants our attention, he wants us to get
it. Above all, of all the important things that James has shared, this is at
the top, about all brothers, do what? Do not swear, either by Heaven or by
Earth or any other oath.’ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not swear. James isn’t talking about profanity here,
that’s covered elsewhere, he’s talking about how we use the Lord’s name. do not
swear by Heaven or by Earth. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. In the OT, ppl
made oaths all the time. The spies made an oath not to kill Rahab after she
helped them, David made an oath to do good to Jonathan’s family. But we don’t
really do that any more. What do we do? We casually and frequently take God’s
name in vain. Have you ever said ‘I swear to God?’ you've taken God’s name in
vain. Have you ever said ‘oh my God?’ you’ve taken God’s name in vain. Have you
ever used the name Jesus out of context? You’ve taken the Lord’s name in vain.
Do not swear by God’s name is the restriction. When I was growing up I wasn’t
even allowed to say ‘oh my gosh,’ because everyone knew what I meant. You might
be thinking. We’’ I don’t mean anything by it.’ That’s exactly what James is
addressing. We’re too casual, too lazy with our God talk to mean something by
it. You don’t mean anything by using God’s name? That’s almost the very
definition of taking God’s name in vain! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do you use God’s name? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe verbally you don’t have a problem with it, but non
verbally you do. How do you non verbally take God’s name in vain? You goof off
in worship. You don’t pay attention to the reading and preaching of His Word.
You ignore the work that the Holy Spirit wants to do in your life. you say, ‘
God told me to,’ when the truth is, you wanted to. You try to pass off your
will, your plans as God’s will and God’s plans. Don’t do this, James says,
don’t swear by Heaven or by Earth, don’t use His name to justify your desires.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, James instructs us, ‘but let your yes by yes and
your no be no.’ just tell the truth! When you say yes, do it! When you say no,
don’t do it! Make life simple for yourself by keeping your word. Sometimes the
Bible is had to apply, and sometimes it’s really easy…this is one of those easy
times. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t be the only one that thinks the more someone insists
on something the less likely it is to be true. You know what I mean, if someone
keeps telling you something is true, they’re determined to convince you and
wear you down about it, you’re a bit less likely to believe them right? Don’t
be like that, let your yes mean yes, and your no mean know. If people trust you,
if you’re of good character, you won’t need to ‘swear to God,’ or make an oath.
People will know you’re telling the truth because you always do. Christians,
more than anybody, should be known as truth tellers. Jesus said, I am the
truth,’ right? Jesus is the truth, His people must be reliable and trustworthy
in every area of life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you? Do people trust your word? </div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-84111616658812829862014-11-02T00:00:00.000-04:002014-11-02T00:00:11.406-04:00The Power in Preaching<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Keep close to the eternal source of spiritual vision. Imagination finds it's inspiration and power in the upper room today in the same way as on the wonderful day of Pentecost; expectant waiting, continual prayer, reflection upon the word of the Gospel - these were in the background. And what happened? Tongues of fire and a rushing wind were it's open symbols, and the coming of the Holy Spirit it's explanation. By the power of the Spirit these things happened, a great realization, an overwhelming spiritual energy and power of utterance. Their eyes were opened as they saw Reality as it had never been seen before. The invisible spiritual world became more real than the upper room. It was no longer remote or future. They were even now under the ruling authority of God more than the Romans or the Sanhedrin. From that time on their imaginations - their power to see and to relate facts were given unclouded vision, their wills the strength of rushing wind, their speech the warmth and glow of fire. That is how the Spirit of God always responds to the open heart. Rhetoric, logic, psychology are the channels and instruments of preaching, the Spirit of God is the source of power, as His Word if the message of life.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John Broadus, On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, P233</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-67251913355774001032014-10-31T06:59:00.001-04:002014-10-31T06:59:17.099-04:00Luther, Justification and Me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday i read a prayer letter from some dear friends. It mentioned that part of their new year routine was to get up earlier in the morning to spend more time reading the Bible before going to work. Amen, i'm there with you.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The only 'resolution' i made this year was to get up at 6am, so i could have a longer quiet time before heading off to work. Edwards probably wasn't joking when he said Christ recommended getting up early by rising early on the third day. Now 6am isn't very early by Pitt County standards, but it is only shortly after the time i'd go to bed in my student days, so it still presents a challenge to my motivation and discipline.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So far all's been going well. I have my coffee, a chapter of 'What Jesus demands from the world' some prayer, my Bible schedule (leviticus and matthew at the moment) and then some of whatever book is next in Teen Church (Colossians at the moment). After this i go to work happy, satisfied, ready.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This morning, my time was unavoidably interrupted. Interrupted is the wrong word, cut short perhaps would be better. But anyway, i was out of routine. And here's the challenge that represents to me, how much is my standing with God based on what i do between 6-730 each morning.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm told that on his desk Luther had written something like 'Ex baptisma' meaning, 'i am baptised'. This was to remind him that his salvation was out side of himself. That his justification depended on something that he had not done. Not 'being baptised', that was his way of remembering the life, death and ressurection of Christ on his behalf. Luther knew that whatever he was doing, telling Melanchthon he hadn't sinned enough, building his bowling alley, or throwing an ink well at the Devil, he was safe, he was secure, his justification was outside of him.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I'd love to say that my quiet times leave happy, satisfied and ready because because my heart is filled by the glory of the Gospel of the happy God each morning. But more often than not, i'm happy because i can tick a box, i can file away 'devotions' for another morning. Justification by quiet time is the great evangelicalism of my generation.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So on a flustered, irregular morning, what does Luther remind me? That i am a son of God through faith in Christ (Gal 3:26). And that is enough.</span></span>Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-56138700288495539572014-10-30T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-30T00:00:00.432-04:00Depending on God (ii)<div class="MsoNormal">
So the question becomes, ‘how?’ how can we depend on Jesus?
what does that sort of life look like? James tells us in 4:15. ‘instead you
ought to say, if the Lord wills we will live and do this or that.’ Again the
sin issue here is not planning the future, it’s not planning a future with God
at it’s centre. Instead of saying we will go here, we should say, if God wills
it, we will go here. If God allows us we will go here, if God is for the idea,
we will do it. We must learn to depend on God because our lives are in God’s
hands. We only live physically because God wills it. God wills that our brain
tells ou heart to pump blood around our body. God wills that we don’t fall down
dead. And it’s only by God that we live spiritually. God gives us our salvation
that He had bought, we don’t earn it, it’s from God. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you try to remember that on a daily basis? Do you try to
remember that your life is wholly in God’s hands? Paul did regularly. In Acts
18:21 he writes, ‘I will return to you again, if the Lord wills.’ In 1
Corinthians 4:19 he writes, ‘I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills.’ He
knew that His life was totally in God’s hands, and He depended on God because
of it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
James says we will live and we will do. When we do, we do
with God as the focus. All our activities and all our accomplishments are in
God’s hands. Not yours. Not your parents. Not your teachers. God’s. Ephesians
2:10 says that God has prepared good works for us to walk in beforehand. And if
we depend on God we are immortal until we are finished with those works. Paul
had preached the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, and he died, Stephen preached
the Gospel to the leading Jews, and he died. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only as you depend on God will you life a live worth living,
and doing things worth doing. So are you
depending on God? Or are you like the businessman in verse 13, distant from God
and not relating anything you do to Him? Make your plans, make bold plans,
challenging plans, exciting plans, but make sure you depend on God for the
success of your plans. Make sure you depend on God as you make your plans.</div>
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<br />
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And remember, as you live, work, rest and play, how secure
you are. Isn’t it wonderful to know that
it’s God who governs our future not our enemies, not nature, not chance, not
us, but our good, Heavenly Father. Why would we want to depend on anyone, or
anything else?</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-9723645595038394072014-10-28T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-28T10:12:15.995-04:00Depending on God (i)James writes in chapter 4:13 the phrase ‘come now,’ which means pay attention, or listen up. It’s the only time this phrase is used in the Bible, so we know he’s about to say something important. Who is he talking to? Remember his letter is written to Christians who live a long way from home, who are struggling to stay faithful to Jesus in a world that is against Him. Maybe that describes some of you. Maybe your Christian life started off great, but now it’s a struggle, maybe you’re more excited by the world than the Word. Well then James is the man for you! James is specifically addressing businessmen here, but the point stands for us all. These men are making a plan to travel, work and earn money. They’ve got the time worked out, they’ve got the place worked out, and they’ve got their work worked out. These guys are sorted. They are the classic, 21st century, secular American, relying on themselves. And this is the problem. James doesn’t tell us the problem is that they planned, but that they made no room for God in their plan. They never asked Him, they never looked to Him, they never thought about Him.<br />
<br />
Maybe that’s our big problem. Not so much that we commit sin, that we get angry, and lazy, and lustful, and proud, but that we live our lives with so little dependence on God. We are so far from God just in the course of our normal day to day decision making that we hardly ever even think about Him. We’re like David, who despised the Word of the Lord when he sinned with Bathsheba. That wasn’t his intention, but he made decisions with no reference to God’s will, he didn’t depend on God, and Nathan told him that he had despised God.<br />
<br />
Who do you depend on? James gives us three reasons why we shouldn’t depend on ourselves and one reason why we should depend on God.<br />
<br />
Verse 14 tells us that depending on ourselves is foolish. James tells us that we are a vapour, a breath. We are morning mist that vanishes. We hate to think of this. We are men, we are the captains of our fate, we are in control right? We build cities and expect them to last forever, we build new philosophies and threaten anyone who disagrees. But we’re vapour. We’re fragile, our time is short, and life will go on without us. So depending on ourselves rather than God, the great rock solid reality of life, is foolish.<br />
<br />
Verse 16 tells us that to rely on ourselves is boastful and arrogant. Those aren’t compliments. We may not walked around with our chests puffed out saying ‘I don’t need God,’ but if you never pray, if you never open the Bible, if you never ask for wisdom, you may as well be. Then James tells us that it’s even worse than boastful and arrogant, it’s evil. Evil. Evil to rely on yourself not God. That was the original evil, the original sin, Adam and Eve relied on their own judgment, their own eyes instead of the Lord. How often do you ask God for help? How often do you run your plans past Him?<br />
<br />
Then we learn, from verse 17, the depending on ourselves and not God is sinful. Living life with no reference to God, even a life of church attendance and Bible reading and good grades in a Christian school, is sinful. You’ve probably worked it out, but James drives it home. You know the right thing to do, to listen to God, and look to God, and depend on God, and you don’t do it. That’s a sin. Jesus doesn’t take your lack of attention lightly. To not depend on Jesus is the biggest way you can insult Him. He doesn’t want to be your co-pilot, He’s in the driver’s seat and you’re in the sick bay. He’s flying the plane home through a storm while you hold on for dear life. don’t ignore Him, depend on Him.<br />
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Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-21723378030393216402014-10-22T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-22T00:00:02.030-04:00Belief<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In respect to the whole matter of evidence and belief, it is important to remember the relationship between belief and disbelief. As regards many truths of Christianity, he who disregards them is compelled to believe something that takes their place. He who cannot accept difficulties, real or alleged, in the Christian evidences must not forget the difficulties of infidelity.We must believe something, must believe something about the problem of religion, and if we go away from Christ, 'to whom shall we go?'</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">John Broadus, On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, P155</span></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-27561564888961803122014-10-17T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-17T00:00:00.988-04:00The Turning PointJames 4:1-12 asks us what excites us. Out of his pastoral concern for the Christians spread far and wide from the spiritual home, James writes a letter with 12 tests, to help them examine their faith. What get's us excited? Today i'm excited about closing on our new home in a couple of weeks, less excited about packing up everything into boxes this weekend. But am i as excited about openin by Bible tomorrow as opening that front door at the end of the month?<br />
<br />
James tells us that when we're excited about the world, more than Jesus our prayer life goes haywire. We don't get what we want, because we don't ask, and even when we do ask, we ask wrongly, 'to spend it on our passions.'<br />
<br />
When we do this, we are cheating on God. That’s what verses 4 tells us. ‘you adulterous people.’ Isn’t that what adultery is? Going behind the back of the person you said you’d love and be faithful to? Using a spouse for what you can gain from them while you chase other loves? When we are friends with the world, when we use God to get what we want in the world, we are spiritual adulterers. That’s pretty shocking isn’t it? Well it gets even worse, James says that if we’re friends with the world, if we’re going behind God’s back and having a relationship with the world when we said we’d be faithful to Him, we are His enemies. His enemies. James doesn't pull any punches does he?<br />
<br />
So what does God do to these enemies and adulterers? We think we know the answer don’t we? We think that He’d judge them, cast them off, throw them in the lake of fire. But what do verses 5 and 6 tell us? He yearns jealously over the spirit He has made to dwell within them. When God’s people are more excited about the world than they should be, God yearns for them. When you’re far from God, He wants you to come home, He is passionate about you. And He gives you more grace. Friends, there is always more grace. More grace in God than sin in you, and if you’re anything like me, there is a lot of sin in you! <br />
<br />
God's grace is the turning point in this passage, as it's the turning point in your life.<br />
<br />
This is the grace that gives us an excitement about the things of God. It makes us excited to open our Bibles, excited to be at church, excited to share our faith. Three times in these verses James tell us that being passionate about God makes us humble. Humility is what happens when we know that God is God and we are not, and that we are helpless without Him. We know that our hands are empty. And because we know that we show our humility by submitting to God. By obeying Him, by asking for His help, by accepting that at all times, in all seasons and in all ways He knows best. If you’re humble you’re submitting. If you have a hard time following God and submitting to God, you need to pray for that humility.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And what does a life full of humble submissive excitement look like? An endless string of mission adventures and angelic visions? No, says James, in verses 11-12 it looks like loving your brother and listening to the Bible. Much more mundane, much more Christlike!</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-65492014678733995112014-10-15T14:22:00.001-04:002014-10-15T14:22:12.860-04:00Preaching's Objective<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Perhaps the first objective of preaching is to please God. A sermon should first be an offering to God. A minister studies God's Word, prepares a message, and then first gives it to God in an act of worship. This has implications for discipline and preparation. A second objective is the salvation of souls. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. The preacher tries to bring a saving Gospel and lost souls together. He is also to edify the church and to help his people mature in Christ through his preaching</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, John Broadus, Pp49-50</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-47954069286292598212014-10-09T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-09T00:00:07.056-04:00Children of the Light (iii)<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
love the start of verse 9, ‘God hath not appointed us to wrath.’ If you have
faith in Jesus Christ this morning, if you’re in the day, not the night, then
God has not appointed you to wrath! That should
stun us, it should amaze us, it should knock the wind out of us. We
should stand on our heads for joy because we...sinners like you and me, after
all we’ve said, and all we’ve done, and all we’ve thought, we will not face the
wrath of God that we deserve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve
wasted our Father’s substance in the far city, and we come dragging our heels
home, expecting the worst, and He comes out of the house running, and gives us
new clothes, and new shoes, and calls for a feast. If we have faith in Christ,
a different nature, different behavior, we are appointed to obtain salvation
through Jesus Christ who died for us. As Christians we need to come back to
this truth early and often. There ought never to be a day when we don’t thank
Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins, and walking out of the tomb three
days later. We should never lose sight of the glorious Gospel. Not ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
one day, the end of verse 10 promises us, we’ll live together with Him. We’ll
live in Heaven. No sorrow, no tears, no sickness, no regrets, no
misunderstandings, no nighttime, drunkenness, no sin. Just Jesus, and Him
forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That
last verse tells us to comfort and encourage each other with the truth of
Heaven. We’ve all heard the knock on Christians that what we believe is just
‘pie in the sky when you die,’ we’re too heavenly minded to be of any earthly
use. Well, if your mind is not fixed on Heaven, you won’t be any use on Earth.
The hope of Heaven is our comfort at the graveside, at the hospital bed. It
makes the good days sweeter and the bad days bearable. The hope of Heaven gives
us our new nature, and makes sense of our different behavior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
how about you this morning? Do you recognize yourself in the description of
people who live in the day? Are you awake, or have you dozed off? Are you
sober, or getting drunk on worldly pleasures? Do you feel like you’re wondering
around lost, or is the Word guiding your way? Maybe you need to get saved, or
maybe you need to start living like you are saved once more. Whatever you need,
you need Jesus, because He has it. Let’s go to Him now.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-43592191430757293362014-10-08T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-08T00:00:00.999-04:00Children of the Light (ii)<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly,
Paul tells us that if we live in the day, we behave differently. Christianity
isn’t just doing things differently, but it’s not less than that. John
MacArthur says that being a Christian involves a radical moral change. We
behave differently. Look at verses 6-8 with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s
Paul saying? Don’t sleep, watch. Don’t doze off at your post, like the
disciples in Gethsemene, but watch. Look out for the dawn, look out for the
second coming. Don’t be caught off guard, don’t sleep, watch. Don’t be lulled
away by the devil’s lullaby that the world sings. Stay awake! And be sober. Is
your life sober? Not just in terms of alcohol, but in terms of it’s direction?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Verse
7 tells us that it’s people who live in darkness who sleep and get drunk, but
we watch, and we’re sober. The core of our life’s behavior is watchful and
sober. We’re watchful over our spending, because God gives us money so that we
can show that we love God more than money. We’re watchful over how we spend our
time, because life is short and eternity is long. We’re watchful over our
viewing habits, because the devil can use anything to inflame our lusts. We’re
watchful over our kids, because God didn’t give teenagers common sense, He gave
them parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A
sober person is self controlled, balanced, calm and steady. They have the right
priorities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
we’re not alone in this fight for spiritual sobriety. We’re armed, we’ve been
given protection. Look at verse 8 with me. We have a breastplate and a helmet.
We have faith, love and hope. The breastplate goes over our hearts. What’s in the
heart of our new behavior? Faith and love. Faith in God, and love to man. Faith
that no matter what happens, God is good, and God is in control. We didn’t use
to behave like that when we were in the dark, we used to behave like we were
God, like we were in control, like we were all that mattered, but now, our
hearts have faith in God. And our hearts have love to man. Jesus told us that
people would know we love Him because we love each other. This is daytime behavior, loving people. In
the darkness we love people because of what they can do for us. We love people
who we think are worth loving. But in the light, we serve all, we love all, we
help all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
we have a helmet to guard our heads, to guard our thoughts. It’s a helmet of
hope. This helmet gives us hope when everyone around us is losing theirs. It
means we know how the world will turn out, we know how the story ends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is
your behavior watchful and sober? Are your hearts filled with love and faith?
Your mind with hope? Do you have a new nature, a new behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you can answer those questions yes, then verses 9-11 tells us that we have a
different de</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">stiny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-78444075251760959922014-10-07T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-07T08:00:04.859-04:00Children of the Light (i)<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have a terrible confession to make. I’m one of those morning people. Maybe
you’ve seen our kind on the way to work, at the drive though line, dropping
your kids off at school It’s 730 and we’re smiling, the sun isn’t up yet, and we’re
cheerful. What can i say? On behalf of all morning people, we’re sorry, and
we’re trying to do better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
love the mornings. Especially this time of the year when the sun is slowly
coming up, and the colours are slowly changing. God is good to give us a world
where we don’t just flick a switch and get daylight, but where changes comes
slowly, and beautifully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
we live in a world with lots of different shades don’t we? Different shades of
political affiliation, hard Republican to hard Democrat and everywhere in
between. We live in a world with different shades of sporting support, whether
it’s red, or dark blue or purple and gold. We live in a world of varying shades
of religious belief, from the atheist who claims to hate God, even though he
doesn’t believe in him, to the pantheist, the polytheist, all the way to those
of us here this morning, and all around the world who worship Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That
example is an interesting one isn’t it? In 2014 we love to see religious belief
as a spectrum, as a group of people on different paths up the same mountain.
This is my truth, tell me yours. But the Bible makes clear than when it comes
to Jesus there is no grey, there is no
spectrum, there is only black and white. There is only day and night. You’re
either living in the daylight, or your living in the night-time. Psalm 107
describes people’s salvation as being brought out of darkness, Isaiah 9:2 tells
us that when Jesus comes the people living in darkness will see a great light,
In Luke 1:79 we’re told that Jesus has come to rescue those who sit in
darkness. Jesus Himself said in John 8:12 ‘i am the light of the world.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
we recognize these categories from our own experiences of life don’t we? We
turn on the news and we see darkness abroad. Our brothers and sisters killed
for their faith, whole countries torn apart by war. We see it on our own
streets, it’s hard to watch the local news without hearing of another shooting,
another break in. And most of all, we see it in our own hearts. When we’re lazy
in BIble reading, when we’re slow in speaking for Jesus, when we skip church,
we see this darkness in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’re
either in the light, or we’re in darkness. On the last day, those two
categories are all that will matter. Are you in the darkness, or are you in the
light? Are you a sheep or a goat? That was part of the reason behind Paul
writing this letter to the Thessalonians. He’d only been with them a short
time, and they wanted some assurance from him that they hadn’t missed the day
of the Lord, and that when it came, they were going to be ok. And we should
want the same assurance ourselves shouldn’t we? We should want to know, more
than anything else, that we live in the day, not in the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul
gives us three ways we can know here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First
of all, in verses 4 and 5, we see that if we live in the day, we have a new
nature. Read those with me. Christians aren’t people who just do things
differently, Christians are different. Verse 4 tells us that we’re not in
darkness. In the dark you stumble over things that would be harmless in the
light, in the dark you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t know whose
around you. In the dark you’re lost. Isn’t that a picture of us before our
salvation. Enslaved to sin without even knowing it? Wandering around aimlessly,
blindly, with no direction. We’re not in darkness anymore, so we desire to
honour God, particularly when it comes to thinking about Christ’s return. If
you’re in the dark, verse 4 tells us, that day will overtake you like a thief.
Thieves work by surprise don’t they? They never send a note telling you they’re
on their way! If we live in the dark, we’re not ready for Jesus to come back.
He will surprise us, and there will be nothing we can do about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But,
as verse 5 tells us, we are children of light. What a lovely phrase! We’re
children, so we depend on the good care of our loving Father, and we’re in the
light. We know where we’re going because the Bible lights our way. In our
hearts there is no longer the darkness of sin, but the light of a new creation.
Jesus has come and we see Him, and we love Him. He’s no longer boring or
irrelevant, He’s beautiful to us, He’s life. We hang on His every word, we long
to think His thoughts after Him, to follow His commands. We have been changed
inside! CSL says that we believe in Jesus in the same way we believe in the
noonday sun, not just because we see it, but because by it we see everything
else. Is that your nature, your daytime nature, that you see everything by
Christ?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-32330663693938833152014-10-01T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-01T00:00:07.799-04:00Use Consistency When You Speak<div class="MsoNormal">
Be consistent when you speak. That’s the message of James 3:9-12. This kind of question really gets under our skin doesn’t it? Are
we consistent in the words we use? Do we have a way of talking with our friends
and a way of talking with our parents and teachers? Do we have our church
conversation and our home conversation? Do we talk about people behind their
back? Do we put people down with our words? Are we consistent? </div>
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Verse 9 says Christians use their tongues to bless God their
Father. Is that true of you? Are you using the tongue God gave you for the
reason He gave it to you? Are you praising God when you talk? Are you taking
opportunities with your mouth, with your words to praise the God who made you?
James just assumes that this is what Christians do. Are you talking about what
you’ve read in the Bible or what God is doing in your life? are you sharing
prayer requests and taking the requests of others seriously? Does your heart
overflow with a pleasing theme? JE said that during the revival at Northampton
in the Great Awakening all the conversation in the town was about God’s work.
Is that true for you?</div>
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The rest of verse 9 tells us the problem. With our tongues
we bless God, and with it we curse those made in God’s image. Curse would
include things like talking about people behind their back, spreading gossip
about them, insulting them and putting them down. You all know how that feels
from both sides. Is your tongue consistent or is it deceitful and hypocritical?
For James it’s unthinkable that someone who is saved would curse a someone. As
unthinkable as a fresh spring producing salt water, or olives growing on a fig
tree, or figs on a grapevine. He says these things ought not be so, they’re not
part of the natural order, Christians should be consistent in their speech.
He’s not saying that if you get mad at someone and blurt something out that you
regret right away you’re not saved, he’s saying that if you are always curing
people around you, made in the image of God, you’re failing the speech test.</div>
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We all need help here don’t we? We all need help to speak
cautiously and consistently. We all need forgiveness. We’ve all said things
today, probably, that we wish we’d never said. We’d said things to family
members and close friends we regret, things that we wish we could take back.
Maybe this message makes you never want to speak again. Although in some ways
that would solve the problem it’s not very practical! I hope that seeing the
importance and danger of your words drives you to prayer. Using your tongues to
ask God for help. I hope it provokes you to ask God to give you encouraging
words, helpful words and uplifting words. I hope it makes you seek God’s mercy.
Only Jesus Christ never uttered a careless word, but only Jesus died for all
the words you wish you’d never said. There is hope only in Christ for our words
to be cautious and consistent, let us go to Him, now, and often. </div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-88663250019610010862014-09-29T00:00:00.000-04:002014-09-29T07:32:39.058-04:00Use Caution When You Speak<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am more deadly than the screaming shell from the howitzer,
I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, wreck lives. I travel
on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no
purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for
justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands
of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget, and seldom forgive. My name
is gossip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our words are important aren’t they? In a unique way, what
we say is who we are. We can’t shove back words in our mouths, once we’ve said
them, they’re said forever, and we can’t unsay them. What we say is who we are.
This James’s next test in his letter to the dispersed Christians, the
Christians who were struggling, who were attracted to worldliness, who were
tempted by riches. How do you speak? James mentions the tongue in every
chapter, it’s an important issue for him. And in the rest of the Bible. Matt
12:34 Jesus tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Psalm 45:1 tells us that our hearts overflow with a pleasing theme when we’re
close to God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So how do you speak?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">James 3:1-8 tell us to speak with caution. Caution means
being alert and aware around danger. First of all we should be cautious with
our words, because, as verse one tells us, those who preach or teach will be
judged with greater strictness. The more
you speak the more you are accountable for. This makes sense. Those who teach
the Bible have a huge spiritual influence, for good or for evil. Those who
teach lead people, and thye lead people either well or poorly. Either closer to
God or further away from Him. What a power words have over others that they can
decide where they spend eternity! No wonder there is a greater strictness in
judgment. A hundred atheists can’t match the damage of one poor Bible teacher.
So use caution when you speak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The second reason we find in verses 2-7, is that the tongue
has a huge influence over us, and over others. James says if we’re able to tame
the tongue, we’re able to keep our whole body under control. The tongue is
small but has a great power over us. Our words shape us, our words express who
we are. The tongue is like a rudder on a ship. Now in James’s time they didn’t
have the great ocean liners that we have, but Acts tells us that Paul travelled
to Rome on a ship with 276 people on it, so they weren’t all small sail boats. And
what controls these huge ships? Tiny rudders. And what controls you? Not your
hands or your eyes or your feet, your tongue. So be careful what you say, and
don’t boast. Next James tells us that the tongue is like a single spark that
burns down a forest. One person starts a rumor or tells a lie, and before you
know it everyone’s talking about. Everyone’s mouth is burning with the lie
you’ve told. James tells us these lies are set on fire by Hell. Use caution
when you speak because the tongue can easily be used as the devil’s tool. Like
a rudder on a boat, a spark in a forest and a wild animal on the rampage, the
tongue has a huge influence, so use caution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And use caution because the tongue is full of deadly poison. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">James really doesn’t mess around with his words does he? He’s not coddling his
listeners or protecting their feelings. Every kind of animal has been tamed,
but who can tame the evil of the tongue? Not Peter who told Jesus to stop
talking about the cross, not Paul, who insulted a High Priest when he was on
trial. And not you. If you were carrying a vial of deadly poison around with
you you’d be careful. You wouldn’t drop it, or spill it or hurt anyone with it.
Well, guess what, James says you do. So use caution when you speak.</span></div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-49546618432622367882014-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:002014-09-15T00:00:11.038-04:00Growth and Growth.Eleven men on a Galilean hillside, listening to their leader. Go and tell all the world, i have all authority, and i'll be with you. All the doubts and worries of the last few days seem like a dream...He's alive, and He's coming with us. It's all going to be ok.<br />
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Why did Jesus choose just twelve? You know He could have efficiently disciples a thousand times that number. Why twelve when one was a betrayer? Why not disciple all of Israel, and send them out? Now you're a light to the nations.<br />
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The church always works when it's the shepherd boy agains the giant. The church is Ruth, starving and looking for mercy, the church is Esther, casting herself on the mercy of the king, the church is Jeremiah preaching from the sewer, the church is the unpopular kids at Corinth High School. And in that way, the church thrives. Jesus loses about twenty thousand followers in a day in John 6, and then turns to His guys and asks if they're leaving too. He doesn't count gain and loss like we do, His ushers aren't in the balcony counting because the Kingdom of God is not a matter of flesh and blood.<br />
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The Kingdom advances as Bibles are opened in caves in northern Iraq. Demons flee as the Gospel is proclaimed from makeshift pulpits in primary schools in southern England. The sick are healed as 'thus saith the Lord,' rings out from a multi million dollar campus in Texas.<br />
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Trendy music isn't growing the Church. Neither a light show, or the best kids work in town, or the greatest summer camps, or the newest programs, or the biggest offerings. Those things might grow a church, but not the Church.<br />
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The Church grows as one man finds other faithful men to find other faithful men. It always has. Not the rich and the famous, but the poor, the weak, the needy. Men like you and me.Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-40347609649109714222014-08-29T00:00:00.000-04:002014-08-29T08:10:34.589-04:00Preach The Cross<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Preach the cross then, as God's all sufficient answer to men's perpetual question, 'how can i win salvation?' 'How can i achieve self conquest?' There are people in our congregations today who are asking that question, just as Saul of Tarsus asked it in the lecture theatre of Gamaliel, just as Luther asked it in the monastery of Erfurt, just as John Wesley asked it in the holy club at Oxford. laboriously these men hewed out (to use Jeremiah's figure) their own broken cisterns, toiling to store up their creditable achievements, their charities, austerities and penances. But for Saul, Luther and Wesley the day came when the answer to their question, 'how can i win salvation?' was answered from the throne of God. The answer was 'you can't! Take it at the cross for nothing, or not at all.' </i></div>
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James S. Stewart, Heralds of God. P 85</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-50316326413028531282014-08-25T00:00:00.000-04:002014-08-25T00:00:05.890-04:00Fighting Sin with Truth and BeautyJames was writing to help Christians fight a deadly infection. These Jewish Christians, far from home in the dispersion were slipping far from Christ. They were favouring the rich, they were growing lazy in their love, they were trying to mix Jesus with the world.<br />
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We know that our faith, or our love, for the Lord is growing cold when the fight against sin becomes weak. We no longer fight sin with the intensity that is willing to cut off our right hand, we make our peace with it instead. James wants his readers, and us, to fight sin with truth and beauty.<br />
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Fight sin with truth. Remember that sin leads to death. This is message in verse 14. First we're lured away by our own desire. Something or someone looks good, are desire is inflamed. Desire leads to sin. We go and get want we want. We gossip. We lust. We covet. And these things, when they're grown, bring forth death. Gossip kills. Lust kills. Coveting kills. Why? Because sin kills. James pleads with his hearers to remember this truth and to know that sin is not something to play with, not something to laugh about, not something to imitate, but something to flee from. We sin because we believe the lie that sin is harmless, so remember the truth that sin will lead to death.<br />
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And we sin because we think it will make us happy, something that James fights in the next paragraph. He wants us to know that every good gift, and every perfect gift comes from above. God is committed to our happiness, there is no shadow of turning with Him. He made us for Him, He made us for this happy holiness, and will never turn away from this plan. So what makes you happy? Not sin. Not sin! But God. The Bible never says 'just say no,' it says 'say yes to what is better.' Say yes to Jesus. He is the holder of all the good in the universe, He has pleasures forever at His right hand. Not just fleeting, sickly happiness, but joy, beautiful joy, forever. We sin because we think it will make us happy, so remember that every good thing comes from God, and from His hand alone.<br />
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Fight sin today with truth and beauty.Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736531241658059825.post-91443737429815077672014-08-22T00:00:00.000-04:002014-08-22T00:00:03.015-04:00To Worship<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>To worship is to quicken the conscience with the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination with the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.</i></div>
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James S. Stewart, Heralds of God, P73</div>
Ed Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06242555441606574769noreply@blogger.com0