Awful Love of God

"When Scripture, prayer, worship, ministry become routine, they are dead. When I conclude that I can now cope with the awful love of God, I have headed for the shallows to avoid the deeps. I could more easily contain Niagara Falls in a teacup than I can comprehend the wild, uncontainable love of God." Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

["Awful" = amazing, impressive, awe-inspiring]

This song comes to mind. Listen and ponder the implications of God's love for you!

Need for Community

I'm currently reading The Relational Soul: Moving from False Self to Deep Connection. It is excellent and everyone should read it!

The chapter that focuses on "Community" explains the importance of living in community, connected with others, especially a faith/church community. Here's a few quotes from that chapter:

"The church of Christ is the actual expression of his presence in the world." ... "To live in a true-self way we must live in specific, particular, concrete relationships." ... "It is impossible to foster soulful relationships without a real commitment to a particular community of faith. We learn to love by loving real people. No one matures in the capacity to connect well if what we love is our idealized images of others or ourselves."

When I think of community I see a vision of people sitting around a big table, connecting deeply over a wonderful meal. Jesus invites us to the table. Not to sit alone, but to enjoy communion and community with him and others. Zach Williams has a song entitled "To The Table" that sort of paints this picture. Take a listen and ponder how you are doing relating to God and others within real community.

Contentment

I've been reading a copy of the Free Grace Broadcaster that focuses on Contentment.  It has been thoroughly encouraging.  I just finished an article by J. C. Ryle(d. 1900), always a favorite (plus he has a cool beard).  He was working from Hebrews 13:5 - "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have; for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Here is one of Ryle's final exhortations:

"Oh, believing reader, trust in the Lord forever, for He says, 'I will never leave you.'  Lean back all your weight upon Him: do not be afraid.  Glory in His promise.  Rejoice in the strength of your consolation.  You may say boldly, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear' (Heb. 13:6)"

Resting in Him will surly enhance our level of genuine contentment.

I commend to you the available resources found at Chapel Library.  If you don't know of this grace-centered ministry you must visit them soon.  You will be wonderfully blessed.

The Gospel is the Word of Life

"To all those who love Christ and his gospel," John Calvin writes:

"Without the gospel everything is useless and vain; without the gospel we are not Christians; without the gospel all riches is poverty, all wisdom folly before God; strength is weakness and all the justice of man is under the condemnation of God.  

But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, fellow townsmen with the saints, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, heirs of God with Jesus Christ. By whom the poor are made rich, the weak strong, the fools wise, the sinners justified, the desolate comforted, the doubting sure and slaves free.  The gospel is the Word of life."

From John Calvin's preface to Pierre-Robert Olivetan's 1535 translation of the Bible

Quotable Spurgeon

I realize that we do not worship preachers. However, God has clearly gifted some men in a special way. That giftedness, when used to articulate biblical truth, leads us to praise God. Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) is one such preacher. He had such a unique way of conveying the message of Scripture. Perhaps his preaching style and ability was simply a product of Victorian England. I think more than that, his clarity, power and wisdom were products of hours in the presence of God and rigorous study in the Word.

Here is an example of one brief yet compelling statement:

"In the red sea of His own blood, our Redeemer has drowned the Pharaoh of our sins."

Amen Preacher, Amen!

Quotable Piper - on Depression

While preparing to teach on despair and losing heart, I found a brief article at Desiring God. The quote below rang so true. Even in the darkest hour, those who are in Christ have an unshakable, immovable, certain hope! Turn to Him. Trust in Him. Pursue Him.

"All depression is related to the obscuring of our hope...we need to fight like crazy to see clearly how precious Christ is." - John Piper

Source: Can Christians be depressed?

Quotable

"When the true Gospel of Grace is preached, the believers will be glad, the rebels will get mad, and the pharisees will be confused"

This quotation is attributed to Rolfe Barnard who was a southern evangelist in the 1950s and 60s. He had a powerful ministry throughout the South and eventually "preached" his way to Canada. His style and passion for Christ while he was preaching is a thing of the past. Thankfully, several of his sermons were recorded and are readily available today.

My father had a few copies of Barnard's sermons on cassette and he shared them with me soon after my conversion in 1995. That old-fashion preacher told of God's mercy and grace in a way I had seldom heard. These words of truth stirred my soul, and still do. I count Rolfe Barnard as one of my favorite preachers ever.

If you have time, I encourage you to listen to a classic Barnard sermon: "Sovereign Mercy." It is one of my favorites. At the conclusion of the message he shares the true story of how God, working in great power, moved upon the heart of a lady during a meeting in Canada. A real picture of God's sovereign mercy.

Quotable Baxter

"O see then that this work be done with all your might! Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow."

This quotation is take from The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter. As a pastor I am struck by the utter helplessness that I often feel, mainly because my brain is not only shallow but awfully small. But God provides so graciously. I am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit and for God's living and abiding Word. God is good.

Quotable Spurgeon

I am so very thankful for the life and ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was exceptional in many ways. Although he lived in a different generation, his words are timeless. The challenges that he faced were not so much different to what we are faced with some one hundred years later. Below is a brief quotation from his classic daily devotional work. I trust it will challenge your view of yourself and the Savior.

"The more loftily we see Christ enthroned, and the more lowly we are when bowing before the foot of the throne, the more truly shall we be prepared to act our part towards Him. Our Lord Jesus desires us to think well of Him, that we may submit cheerfully to His authority."

Source: Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening available here.

Christian in Name Only

"In countries to which Christian civilization has spread, large numbers of people have covered themselves with a decent, but thin, veneer of Christianity. They have allowed themselves to become somewhat involved; enough to be respectable but not enough to be uncomfortable. Their religion is a great, soft cushion. It protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life, while changing its place and shape to suit their convenience. No wonder the cynics speak of hypocrites in the church and dismiss religion as escapism." John Stott, Basic Christianity, pg. 137

No further explanation from me is necessary. Care to comment?

Prayer Quote

"Our confidence in prayer is not in our understanding of it, or our methods of discipline in it, but in God's character and revelation of himself in our Lord Jesus Christ."

This quotation is taken from Practical Prayer by Derek Prime. I have just started reading this little book. Thus far it is full of great insights on this most important of all spiritual disciplines. I foresee more quotes from Prime coming soon.

Worship Quote

"Regardless of what we think or feel, there is no authentic worship of God without a right knowledge of God...[which is found] in the revealed truth of Scripture." Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters, pg. 28

Although in the context of this quotation the author is speaking to worship leaders, I believe it is applicable to all of us.

I'm still "thinking" about the previous post. This quote follows along with the discussion. (Actually, there is no discussion. That would require you to provide input or comments.) So, we press on.

Quotable - Andrew Fuller

The following quotation is taken from a letter written by Andrew Fuller to his dear friend John Ryland.

"I am a poor guilty creature, but Christ is an almighty Saviour. I have preached and written much against the abuse of the doctrine of grace; but that doctrine is all my salvation and all my desire. I have no other hope than from salvation by mere sovereign, efficacious grace, through the atonement of my Lord and Saviour. With this hope, I can go into eternity with composure."

The letter was penned April 28, 1815. Fuller died May 7, 1815. Ryland preached his friend's funeral, as requested, using Romans 8:10 as his sermon text.

Source: The armies of the Lamb: The spirituality of Andrew Fuller, edited by Michael Haykin, pg. 269

Quotable MacArthur

"Two things a pastor should be most concerned about are telling his people who they are in Christ and then urging them to live like it."

Source: John MacArthur, Ephesians Commentary, pg. 100

Quotable Spurgeon

"Weak may be our feet, but almighty is God's right hand. Rough may be the road, but Omnipotence is our upholding. We may boldly go forward. We shall not fall. Let us lean continually where all things lean. God will not withdraw His strength, for His righteousness is there as well. He will be faithful to His promise, and faithful to His Son, and therefore faithful to us. How happy we ought to be!" Taken from Faith's Checkbook

Are you feeling weak today? Enter into the presence of the Almighty, and lean on Him.

Quotable - Accountability

"I charge you, by the concern we bear for one anothers souls, and by the love of God, that you warn and exhort me with patience if you see in me those turnings back of heart which I do not perceive in the blindness of my flesh." Jim Elliot in a letter to a friend, Shadow of the Almighty, pg. 104

These are wise words spoken out of a heart that was tuned towards God. We do not walk this way alone. While we certainly have the guiding hand of God, He has also blessed us with other like minded pilgrims. We need to utilize the counsel, encouragement and exhortation of others on this road. God may use a dear brother or sister to open our eyes to a misstep that is leading us to sin. Loving counsel and encouragement of a partner in ministry can be an invaluable tool, especially in the life of a pastor.

Quotable

"Peace is not the absence of trouble, it is the presence of God during trouble."

I am not certain where I found this quotation. However, I know that it is true. I have experienced the truth of it just this week. God is good, all the time. As far as I know, He is still on the throne!

Quotable Baxter - For Pastors

"In the name of God, brethren, labour to awaken your own hearts, before you go to the pulpit, that you may be fit to awaken the hearts of sinners. Remember they must be awakened or damned, and that a sleepy preacher will hardly awaken drowsy sinners." Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor

Nothing like a little Baxter to challenge you heading into the weekend!

[the picture is not Baxter's pulpit, I just thought it was kind of cool]

Quotable

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."

This quotation comes from Samuel Chadwick (d. 1932). I enjoy quotes and this one has been helpful and challenging for me. The picture is the same one we had hanging in our home when I was a child. Not certain of the title or the artist.

Quotable Edwards

"The kindling and raising of gracious affections is like kindling a flame; the higher it is raised, the more ardent it is; and the more it burns, the more vehemently does it tend and seek to burn." Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections pg. 303

I confess that there are times in my life when the flame of my affections for Christ seems to only flicker. It is at those times when I realize it is because I have cast my attention in another direction or idly failed to stoke the blaze. Mind you, the flame does not go out. It can not go out due to the eternal nature of its source.

There is a genuine tension with regard to our "affections." We have come to them because of the work of God in our hearts and lives. Yet, there is a duty that lies with us. To stoke the fire that was set by the Spirit himself.

It is proper for us to seek to have within us a roaring blaze. That is my desire.