Reflections on Grace: God as the Great Evangelist

You know, Christians can be peculiar at times. Grace is a doctrine that gets twisted around more than any other in my opinion. You will more than likely never come into contact with a Christian who hates grace or is against grace or denies grace. Most, if not all, professing Christians have some idea of grace as they can at the bare minimum understand the surface level (yet vital) truth that we are not “good enough” to earn our salvation and right standing with God. I say all this and there may be some liberal theological teaching that grace is not necessary for salvation, however, I would not consider them to be Christian in the least and they would have a difficult time labeling themselves as Christ-followers. Nevertheless, if there is some teaching  of this sort within Christianity out there in our crazy fallen world, I would love to know more about it. So, if you know of any sort of teaching, please inform me in a comment. Ok, enough side tracking. Grace. Right. People will ignore grace and abuse grace. However, there are many devoted Christians who will claim that they are saved by grace and they are fueled by amazing grace and they are grace-filled and since they have been given grace as a gift, they will extend grace to others. Here we have a lot of good, Christian, and biblical thoughts and actions by many, many people. However, when it comes to the idea of God’s grace in election, a great majority of those professing Christians will shout, “Calvinism, yuck!” Some people who profess Christ will even deny that election is biblical, and let’s just get real, that is ridiculous. As George Mueller once said, “To my great astonishment I found that the passages which speak decidedly for election and persevering grace, were about four times as many as those which speak apparentlyagainst these truths; and even those few, shortly after, when I had examined and understood them, served to confirm me in the above doctrines.” In other words, at first glance through the New Testament alone, Mueller found that the Scriptures “decidedly for election” outnumbered those “which speak apparently against” election 4:1. Wow. Then, upon further study, he realized that those Scriptures which were apparently against election indeed confirmed them. I mean, if you have ever read the book of Romans, it would be extremely difficult to avoid the truth of election and God’s free sovereignty in all things. I could attempt to go through the doctrine of election here, but this is a blog post and not a chapter in a book; plus I have a long way to go and a lot of studying to continue in order to more effectively, respectfully, and correctly defend the beloved doctrine of election. Nevertheless, once I rid myself of all preconceived notions about grace and God that I previously held and went to the Word, I saw a grace in God’s free sovereignty and election love that far exceeded any previous idea of grace I held. I am even more grateful, thankful, and joyful after seeing God as an electing God of grace. My worship of Him is fueled even more now by what I call biblical grace! If you are wanting to dive into the doctrine of election a little deeper, please heed this advice: Go purchase John Piper’s The Pleasures of God and read chapter five on election.

Now, what seems to shock and amaze me with all of this talk of election and grace is that most people celebrate grace and deny election or think of it as a cruel and evil act that God could never produce. Firstly, those who feel and think this way are only robbing themselves of true joy. Tony Reinke updated a blog post at Desiring God including a discussion of the Joy of Calvinism. Check it out here. But even more importantly, I believe that these men and women who are anti-calvinistic are misunderstanding grace to a point that they could end up having to limit God in some way. As a matter of fact, I have witnessed this for myself in classes I have been in. A misconstrued view of grace and election canlead to Open-Theism and ultimately, Universalism. They are also forced to ignore certain portions of Scripture. In the realm of evangelism, a proper idea of grace is very important to understand if we are to be faithful co-workers with God to reach the “sheep that are not of this fold” (John 10:16). The process in which someone is even able to place their trust in Christ is grace (John 6:44; Ephesians 2:5). God is the one who exhibits love and extends grace to awaken the sinner. Grace begins before the sinner even realizes it. God works and acts in the lives of every individual that comes to faith in Christ, before they come to faith in Christ. These are the ones we should focus the majority of our attention on: the spiritually receptive. As Christians, we are to follow the lead of God by His Spirit, and if He is the One who works in the heart of the lost sinner before they are able to receive the gospel and trust Christ as Lord, then we will inevitably be following Him to those He is working in (Acts 16:14). As a result, we must seek those who are spiritually receptive. If we are to do this, we must be committed daily to evangelism. It would be foolish to think that we as Christ-followers are anything more than tools and co-workers to a “Great Evangelist.” We must humble ourselves and get off of our “evangelistic high horse” and realize that we take the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and God does the rest. But wait! There is much more to it than that! There is grace! When exactly does grace come into play in the life of a sinner? It is a continual process from the time before they trusted in Christ, declaring Him as Lord, at the point of their surrender, and throughout their Christian walk with Him. However, ignoring the initial gift of grace which God provides through His sovereign election would not be giving proper appreciation to God’s grace. It would also rob God of His deserved glory as well as limit Him in His sovereign freedom. Over the next five days, I would like to take time to examine five acts of God in evangelism that John Piper mentions in his book, “A Godward Life.” Hopefully, they will enlighten us on grace and what it truly means in the salvation of the lost and how these thoughts can fuel our zeal for evangelism in our local context as well as in all nations.

1. God Awakens Sinners (Ephesians 2:5)

2. God Opens Sinners’ Hearts (Acts 16:14)

3. God Draws Sinners to Himself (John 6:44)

4. God Empowers the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

5. God Calls the Lost (1 Corinthians 1:24)

By His Grace — For His Glory — For our Joy

From The Hymnal: We Are The Body

NOPE! This is not the popular Casting Crowns song that first came to your mind. That “darn catchy tune” as one child once said is entitled, “If We Are The Body.” That song is presented as a challenge to children of God, the family of God, and the body of Christ. It is a look at our world of physical and spiritual poverty and a cry to the church to be what Christ has won and the Father has chosen her to be. Wonderful song. Wonderful challenge and message. It is the type of song that has you nodding your head in agreement or shaking your head in frustration with your congregation, yourself, and the Church as a whole. But that is not the song I am speaking of today.

The song that I am pulling out of my own personal hymnal, that is starting to fill up, is entitled, “We Are The Body.” No questions. No challenges. Just facts. Just truth. Challenges turn into expectations. The song begins with truthful and awesome affirmations. I love the “We are” lyrics found throughout this song. It evokes feelings of adoration of King Jesus who has called us to Him and feelings of awe in the presence of the Father who chose us to be “the body of the Most High” and “the bride of a Savior.” To be honest, I listen to this song every morning. It is the first song I listen to each day and I listen to it more than any other song. To me, it is a song that fills me with joy as I ponder the glory of God. There are a few lyrics hidden in this song that nearly bring me to my knees. I get weak and feel humbled by listening to the congregation at The Church at Brook Hills led by Mandi Mapes sing this song. I shout praises with my brothers and sisters in Christ daily. The next two lines which close the first stanza are, as mentioned above, those humbling and praise producing lyrics:

“And we fall for the King of the kingdom

As we sing the songs of salvation”

My heart leaps! I shout for joy! Yes, may we daily “fall for the King” and sing joyfully “the songs of salvation” to the broken and fallen.

This next stanza transitions the song from recognizing and affirming who we are as the body of Christ to exclaiming what we as the body of Christ are to do. This is not simply a question posed as, “Why are we not doing this or that?” It is more of an affirmation of what the body of Christ does. The feeling I get is, “We are the body and this is what we are doing!” “And we stand for those who cannot stand for themselves.” Amen! My soul and mind race to the meek in our world and those who are oppressed without a voice. Most of these meek and voiceless people are in areas where there is little to no access to the gospel, so our stand is doubly vital. Oh, this next lyric: “And we love the loveless.” Yes! This can be interpreted as either loving those who are not loved by anyone else in their life or as loving those who seemingly have no love in them. As the body of Christ, we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44-45), yes! Not only that, but we as the body of Christ goes where the gospel has not been preached and the name of Christ and glory of God has not be made known. “And we go where Your light’s not shining.” Oh, to have this Pauline ambition! “Thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named” (Romans 15:20). What joy and glory! We as the body go into the darkest places of earth and joyfully bring good news of the kingdom for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

This soft song of praise builds at this point as it prepares to climax in the subsequent stanza. While we go into the dark to bring the light of Christ, “we stand like a city on a hilltop.” Amen! The following lyric takes me back to Paul writing to the Galatians when he writes to them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). I ponder this truth as I sing “We boast in the Spirit living in us.” What a biblically sound and Scripture-saturated song this truly is! Our life lived in this world as strangers as we die to ourselves daily is rejoiced in the next lyric for truly, “We march on a road leading to freedom.” My heart floods with feelings of joy and anticipation as this narrow road we follow is difficult with few brothers and sisters to travel with, but we have an eternal, sovereign, and elected promise of freedom waiting us at the end. Praise be to God! This stanza closes with the truthful works that accompany the body of Christ “As we reach out our hands to the fallen.” The climax is approaching and the most beloved lyrics I have ever heard in a modern worship song are begging for time to pass so they can be exalted in song.

Any rambling I give to these lyrics will only hinder their precious purpose in lifting your heart and soul. Church, understand who we are and who the Father chose us to be and what Jesus Christ commands us to do. Faith and works. Spiritual and physical. There should never be a dilemma over whether the local church should be meeting physical or spiritual needs. How ridiculous and strikingly un-biblical this line of thinking is! We meet both the physical and the spiritual needs of those in our community and to the ends of the earth. (Note the emphasis on certain words in the previous sentence) Enjoy these closing stanzas and be gripped by their meaning and purpose. Rejoice by singing this song as I will include a link to it below. The difference between the body of Christ and humane societies, social programs, or charities is that we bring living water to the thirsty. We live for the One who was and is and is to come! Because of our submission to the One True Lord of heaven and earth, our lives count for something greater than ourselves. Eternity is in the balance for countless lives as we stand at Niagara Falls with an endless supply of living water. With this eternal, never-ceasing supply, the implication is simple: 2 billion souls. Amen! 2 billion without the gospel. We will go to every tribe and tongue to preach the gospel of Christ, the soul-quenching and thirst-satisfying eternal salvation and joy. And one day, we will stand with our brothers and sisters from every people group shouting praises to our great King, LORD, Master, and God! Here is our motivation:

“And our anthem will be a song of praise to the King

‘He is worthy, He is worthy’

With one voice we will sing, ‘Where oh death is your sting’

He is mighty, He is mighty”

Amen! Glory to God, our great Victor, Savior King!

We Are The Body (by Mandi Mapes)

We are the body of the most High
We are the bride of a Savior
And we fall for the King of the kingdom
As we sing the songs of salvation

And we stand for those who cannot stand for themselves
And we love the loveless
And we go where Your light’s not shining
We are the body of Christ

We shine like a city on a hilltop
We boast in the Spirit living in us
And we march on a road leading to freedom
As we reach out our hands to the fallen

And we bring living water to the thirsty and
We live for the One who was and is and is to come

So our life counts for something greater than ourselves
We are the body of Christ

And our anthem will be a song of praise to the King
“He is worthy, He is worthy”

With one voice we will sing, “Where oh death is your sting”
He is mighty, He is mighty

© Brook Hills Music

Reference: http://www.brookhills.org/gathering/lyrics/44/we-are-the-body-of-christ.html

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By His Grace — For His Glory — For our Joy

The Little Things: John Piper and Erica Christian

 

I am intrigued by the way people view each day. Sure, all of us have those days that begin so stress filled and busy that we can barely think of anything except what task we must complete next. I think of how my dad is hosting the 13th Region Baseball/Softball Tournaments this week. On Monday, he arrived at work around 7:00 or 7:30 A.M. Being the Athletic Director, he must be there early to make sure everything is ready. When I say everything, I mean everything! It was pure insanity the entire day. Erica and I offered to help him out by taking tickets and we worked for 14 hours. He beat us by an hour and was working much harder than we had to. I literally have never seen one person have so much thrust upon him in one day and be able to be seemingly calm and collected while having to make difficult decisions nearly every moment while having to work on the baseball and softball fields almost every hour. With all of that craziness going on, I am sure that he could not think of anything except for what he had to get done. By the way, the first day of the 2012 13th Region Baseball/Softball Tournaments was the most succesful that I have ever seen. I have been apart of 13th Region Tourneys for 6 years and I have never seen one so organized, put together, and enjoyable. For this, I must stand and applaud my dad, Keith Gilbert, for all of the hard work he has put in over the past view weeks. With that in mind, he could not have noticed what I noticed. I saw how beautiful the sky was. I smelled the freshly cut grass. I gazed upon the newly risen sun. I admired the beauty of the baseball field ready for games to make their mark on it. I heard the joyful roars from the crowds of the winning teams and the sorrowful and frustrated cries from the crowds of the losing teams. While it was a long day of work for me, I enjoyed the beautiful nature of the day which so elegantly and cordially reflected the glory of God.

While I did take time on Monday to notice all of these things, I typically am like most others in the sense that I do not notice creation everyday. Most days I even get more frustrated with nature than I enjoy it. I complain when it is too hot only to complain even more when it is too cold. When the temperature is just right, I complain about the sun not being out. I complain when it rains, snows, storms, and when it is clear. I just do not appreciate creation and as a result I belittle the great Creator. By belittling His creation, I inevitably belittle His glory and greatness. There is tremendous joy found in honoring creation because of the Creator. I have seen this great joy in two people who have greatly influenced my life; one who is with me everyday and another who doesn’t even know my name: John Piper and Erica Christian.

In one sense, these two have nothing in common. John Piper is a highly respected and well-known theologian and pastor who is elderly and living in Minneapolis, MN. Erica Christian is a respected college student who is young and living in London/Williamsburg, KY (depending on what month it is). They both are teachers. John Piper teaches the Word of God and Erica Christian teaches in special education as well as elementary education. In relation to me, John Piper is a man I have never met nor seen in person, but he is a great mentor and teacher to me through his many books and sermons. He has shaped my theology and view of God and the world like few others have. On the other hand, Erica Christian is my fiance. She is my best friend. In her a great deal of my joy is found. She is the most beautiful and precious gem of a woman who I have ever met. She greatly has an effect on my life and walk with Christ more than she could know. As I watch her each day be more committed to God, I am inspired and pushed. Her love for me seems to be unfailing even when we both fail each other. She is my love and my life and one day I will be overflowing with joy to call her my wife.

While these two saints are quite different in their relation to me as well as in relation to each other as I have outlined above, they are eerily similar in other respects. Now, I am not referring to the obvious similarities such as, they are both human beings, they both live in the USA, they are both Christians, or they are both in a local church. I am referring to something that is rare in at least the majority of people I come into contact with. They both have keen observatory skills when it comes to creation and they find overwhelming joy in them. I consider joy to be “overwhelming” when pages are filled with words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that lift the reader’s soul and body to jump and grin from ear to ear. I also consider joy to be “overwhelming” when one describes what they see in creation each day and emotions flow from them and is so contagious that they are noticed in others as well. I have seen this overwhelming joy in John Piper and Erica Christian. In order for you to understand their joy in the little things of life, I will give you an example from each of them.

Consider this text from John Piper’s work “The Pleasures of God”:

“Two nights ago I took a kitchen chair, put it in the grass beside the cottage and sat down to watch the moon. Ordinarily I live beside a busy freeway in downtown Minneapolis where the car lights and street lights hide the sky. But for these few weeks of vacation and study-leave, I live with Noel and our sons on the outskirts of Barnesville, Georgia, on a piece of wooded property called “Brightwood.” There are no street lights and no freeways. We sleep in a little cottage down the hill from where my wife’s parents live. Just across the barbed wire fence there is a tiny “mobile study” about sixteen-by-eight-feet with windows on two sides. It sits in a clearing surrounded by two-hundred-year-old oak trees and eighty-foot arrow-straight Georgia pines mingled with maple and sweet gum trees. This is where I sit and write and, between paragraphs, stare out over the four-acre lake at the bottom of the hill.

This is a place made for eyes and ears and nose and skin, and a big heart. Almost every day I simply stop and stand still between the cottage and the study or between the lake and the woods or on the hill going up to “the house”–I feel so moved by the beauty of this amazing world of sight and sound and smell and touch that I want the moment to last long enough for all the beauty to soak in and to stay.

Coming down to the cottage from the house the other day, I stopped at a rotting stump and broke off a piece of wood. It was surprisingly hard and snapped instead of crumbling. I looked and saw that the broken part was streaked and reddish and even moist. I put it to my nose and was jolted by the best cedar fragrance I have ever smelled. All the way to the cottage I kept inhaling this amazing aroma from a piece of wood that has probably been dead for ten years.

About fifty yards from the cottage, toward the pecan orchard, we are cultivating a worm bed. There’s a pile of mulch with some old tires and cement bricks and a wooden door lying on the mulch to keep it moist underneath. We water it now and then with the hose. When we want some worms we lift up the door and turn over the tires and blocks and let the granddaddy longlegs scatter by the hundreds. Then I use the pitchfork to scrape off the top layer of mulch while my seven-year-old son spots the crawlers and wigglers, snatches them with his hand and puts them in a bucket. They are floppy and fast. But Barnabas is faster.

Three or four times a day I stoop down to go under the barbed wire fence between the study and the cottage. There is a big pink rope wrapped around the wire so that we won’t get snagged. The metal post, holding the wire where we crawl through, is hollow. To our amazement we discovered that a little gray tree frog lives in the post. There is a little water in the hollow and he goes up or comes down in the post according to the heat and the light. He will let us walk right up to him as he sits on the edge of the post in the evening. It is clearly his place, because he has been there for several weeks now and nothing we do chases him away. This has made me wonder about all the other tree frogs that at night produce such an incredible whirring and buzzing and scratching in these peaceful woods (along with the crickets and cicadas). I have wondered if all the tree frogs are as possessive of their turf as he is. If so, there are thousands of little knotholes and crooks and branches all staked out and claimed by their own little tree frogs. It must be an amazing world of turf and territorialism up in those trees that completely escape us humans.” (John Piper, The Pleasures of God, pp. 77-79, Multnomah Books 1991, 2000)

Whew! All of this rambling of detailed observation may seem meaningless to you, yet my heart leaps with joy as these images run across my mind. The physical nature of life is so prevalent that we ignore it, yet by ignoring it, we forfeit joy. Taking time to notice worms, frogs, lakes, fields, granddaddy long legs, mud, and every other creepy crawler in the earth simplifies life and allows you to see the beauty and complexity of God’s works. He takes pleasure in them and so should we.

“May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works” (Psalm 104:31).When I read this verse, I think of my beautiful fiance, Erica Christian. As I drive each morning with her to work and as we go nearly everywhere together, I cannot help but think this is the cry of her heart. I can say this because she rejoices in the works of the Lord every single day of her life (barring those “bad days” I mentioned we all have from time to time). For example, driving down the road this morning on the way to work, there was a great cloud of fog hovering over us and out in front of us as far as we could see. I sarcastically thought, “Great! Now we cannot see anything!” Erica on the other hand genuinely said, “Wow! Look at the fog. It is so amazing!” She was intrigued by the fog and after further observation, she was amazed by the fog. It was a glorious creation made by a glorious Creator and she adored it because He made it. I can think of another time when we were walking along the sidewalk to class this past spring semester. I nearly stepped on a worm crawling from sidewalk to grass. I thought nothing of it, but Erica stopped me and said, “Don’t step on him!” She then proceeded to help the little worm finish his journey into the grass. She saw more than  I did. She had a greater appreciation for even the smallest and seemingly most insignificant of God’s creation. As we continued to walk, she hears a bird singing. It was nothing out of the ordinary to me, but it is always special to her. She wonders what kind of bird it is and looks for it. Her eyes trace the landscape and search all of the trees until she finds it. And if she doesn’t she ponders which species of bird it could be. Their songs are beautiful to her as she hears them as praises to God who gives them life. They reflect His glory through graceful flight and beautiful song. The wind blows and she embraces the feeling and laughs if it messes up her hair. As the sun beams down, Erica doesn’t complain about the heat, but instead she smiles as the sun warms her soft skin. She wonders if it will burn her or slightly tan her skin. “What is the temperature?” she asks. No matter the reply, she widens her big brown eyes in amazement and appreciation. As creation reflects the glory of God, she realizes it as her heart exclaims, “The glory of the LORD endures forever! May the LORD rejoice in his works!” Erica notices how great God’s works truly are and she praises Him by rejoicing in them like He does. If she could work at a zoo or aquarium to admire both the enormity and microscopity of creation, she would. She loves the rain. She loves the sun. She loves the snow. She is not the biggest fan of storms, but she will curl up next to me on the couch as we wait it out in fear of the Lord who controls the wind, storms, and seas. Every season is her friend and a day on the beach will lift her soul up in joy as she praises the God of the ocean, sand, and sunshine. His works are great and there is no other person in my life who realizes this the way Erica Christian does! She is flooded with emotion and true joy through the works of God in creation. The greatest part is that she finds her ultimate joy in the Creator and not ultimately in His creation. However, her admiration of the physical realm of life only fuels her worship of God, the sovereign Lord and Creator of all.

I am eternally grateful for these two Christian Hedonists. John Piper wrote a book on Christian Hedonism (Desiring God) and Erica Christian probably doesn’t even realize that she is one. Nevertheless, both of these saints find their joy in God and they realize that true satisfaction and lasting, eternal joy can only be found in Him. From this, they both adore, appreciate, and rejoice in the works of the Lord, for they glorify His great name! I am encouraged by these two every day to appreciate the little things of life that I pass by and ignore daily. Make no mistake, fullest joy can only be found in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). However, do not allow this to stray you from adoring the works of God in creation since they glorify His name daily without fail. Never ceasing, creation obeys its Master. In fact, we humans are the only part of creation that have the gall to tell God, “No! Not your way! Mine!” May we repent daily.

So what does this mean for us today? Allow the accounts I have given of these two faithful saints to penetrate your soul. Be encouraged and go outside today! Embrace whatever weather condition God has sovereignly placed on your city, town, or village today! Pick up a flower and smell it. Jump into a pond or lake and feel the rush of cool water. Lay in a field under the sun and embrace its warmth. Pick up a caterpillar and let it crawl all over your hands. Pick up a lightning bug and peak under your closed hands to see it light up in the dark. Watch the birds fly and fish swim. Look carefully in a field and maybe catch a glimpse of a deer running across it. If nothing else, walk outside and feel the wind or heat. Sweat, feel exhausted, relax, and rejoice in the Lord and in the creation that He rejoices in! Notice the little things and thank God for them!

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” – 1 Timothy 4:4-5

“May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!” – Psalm 104:31-35

By His Grace — For His Glory — For our Joy

VBS 2012: The Crucial Role of Teachers

Under God’s supreme sovereignty and providence, I have been presented with multiple ministerial opportunities this summer. I will and have been teaching, leading, mentoring, serving, and worshiping with a mixture of children, youths, and adults throughout the summer. In preparation for these opportunities, namely Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church East Bernstadt, I have been considering the weight of the role I have been given. I have been given the role to invest in adolescents and foster an idea and belief in the God of the universe. I hold high respect for anyone who invests in the life of a child or adolescent. Teachers sacrifice much time and self-seeking pleasures in order to see their students succeed and have a joyful life. Parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and cousins all invest in the lives of children and adolescents and their influence on them greatly affects the lives of these children and adolescents. It is a remarkable thought, really. Just think, the influence you have on your child, brother, sister, cousin, nephew, niece, grandchild, student, or friend will play a major role in how their life turns out. Their worldview, faith, work ethic, and treatment of others will be mostly influenced by your role in their life. Whether we realize it or not, we are all teachers in some capacity. Parents, you no doubt teach your children. Brothers and sisters, the lessons you teach your siblings through your actions and lifestyles are more influential than you could ever imagine. Children and adolescents are like sponges soaking in every single lesson that is poured into them, whether good or bad. Why do children have hate-filled feelings or filthy mouths? The answer more than likely can be found in the place they call home.

In light of all of this, the role that I have been given during VBS is monumental in comparison. My pastors and fellow leaders are given four days to invest in and teach the Word of God and to paint an accurate portrait of God to these many children and adolescents. The implications are enormous and eternal. While everyone influences in some way the worldly outcome of children’s lives through their teaching, we will be influencing the eternity of many boys and girls. What an exuberant, glorious, and vital role this is! The portrait of God we paint this week will play a huge role in the lives of these children and youths as a view of God and eternity will be presented. It is crucial that this view is 100% biblical. The Bible is our sole authority under the sovereignty of God and Lordship of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we must seek truth and saturate each day of VBS with the gospel of Christ and the Word of God.

Our goal this week is not primarily to love kids and change their physical lives on earth as far as providing for their needs is concerned. Make no mistake, this is a goal, just not the primary goal. Our primary goal should be to present a clear and truthful picture of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to glorify His name, increase His fame, and lead youths and children to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Under His great sovereignty, our mighty Shepherd will call His sheep and they will indeed hear His call and respond (John 10:3, 16). We do not have the ability to save or even convict, but the power of God in His Word and through the teaching and preaching of His Word and worship by His Word does convict and all who call upon His name will be saved (Romans 10:13). With this in mind, we must foster an environment that is not just motivated by the Word of God, but completely and utterly filled with the Word. My prayer is that the Word of God is so prevalent in VBS 2012 at FBCEB that anything we say apart from the Word is forgotten and buried under it. May the Word flow from our lips as teachers and be the only focus of our teaching, worship, recreation, and food dispersal. We will not just have one key verse that motivates a good discussion, but rather our discussions will be saturated with the Word for the glory of God. No gimmicks, no charades, nothing outside the Word of God. This must be our goal for this week: to make much of Christ by exalting the glory of the Father’s grace. Our motivation is a room full of lost sinners in need of a Savior. Eternity is at stake and we have the joyful duty of displaying the infinite worth and glory of our happy God. May our lips speak nothing but truth and may our worship come from the Word to exalt the glory of God in spirit and truth (John 4:23).

Teach this next generation to worship the Lord alone and be fully satisfied in Him everyday. My role this summer in teaching these children and youths is crucial for God’s glory, my joy, and their eternal salvation. Hungry children will be coming. Spiritually depraved children will be coming. Thirsting children will be coming. Impoverished children will be coming. By the grace of God and under the sovereignty of God, I will teach them. I will bring eternally satisfying living water and food to these spiritually starving children and youths (John 6:35; 7:38). May Christ work in the lives of these young people as I stand aside and decrease while He increases (John 3:30). By the final day of VBS 2012, I pray that more of the Shepherd’s sheep are gathered into the flock and I will be able to stand with new brothers and sisters in Christ as we sing, “Where O death is your sting? He is Mighty! He is Mighty!” (1 Corinthians 15:55). May our work be for His glory as we exalt Christ’s victory over death and sin!

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

By His Grace — For His Glory — For our Joy

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Miscellaneous Monday: 5/21

RELAPSE AND THE MEANS OF GRACE – David Mathis highlights the relapse and need for means of grace of MLB all-star and MVP, Josh Hamilton. With help from John Frame, Mathis discusses Hamilton’s own mention of a need for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship; three things all Christians must have to continue in grace.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE – This is a very interesting little “pop quiz” to test your knowledge of the doctrine and theology of God and the Trinity. These questions come from “a set of talking points” that Jehovah’s Witnesses give to their door-to-door teams. If you do not think teaching Christian doctrine and theology is very important, maybe this quiz will change your mind.

DR. ALBERT MOHLER’S COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS – As yet another season of graduation is among us, take note of Dr. Mohler’s commencement address to the graduates of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Marvel at the charge he leaves them with as they marked this day as out of the ordinary as hundreds of men are being sent under the call to “utter what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”

COMPETITION AMONG MOTHERS – Tim Challies expounds on a definite observance in our society: competition of mothers in the public realm of social media and the Internet. A new pressure has been added to mothers in the form of competition between other mothers. Challies says the solution is found in boasting in weaknesses rather than strengths. This is an excellent post on motherhood, humility, and the circumstantial poison of social media.

A PLUG – Last but not least, I cannot close out this Miscellaneous Monday without giving a plug to Rosetta Stone. This language learning program is top-notch. My fiancé, Erica, and I have been working through Spanish through Rosetta Stone and it is proving itself to be worthy. We are learning more and more each day as we are being immersed in Latin American culture from a living room couch. This is definitely a cool and successful way to learn a language. Warning: it is a tad bit pricey and it will require dedication and commitment. Do not waste your money if you do not have time to devote to learning the language; you just will not be successful. May God be glorified as we seek to reach a wider group of individuals with the gospel of Jesus Christ by learning Spanish.

“You and I may never be nominated for the fictitious Mother of the Year award. The proverbial trophy case will remain dusty and empty. But nonetheless we should boast all the more gladly of our weaknesses and need for God’s grace so that Christ’s power will rest on us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).” – Gloria Furman

“Without God’s grace, we are lost. And we need God’s grace not only at the beginning of the Christian life but throughout.” – John Frame

“In Christ, you will all get safely home.” – Albert Mohler

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 

 

For Graduates: What Now?

Bittersweet End

With thousands of students finishing their academic careers in one form or another, there are many decisions to make. In one sense, that final walk in the ceremonial attire of a cap and gown in front of family, friends, and fellow graduates is one of joy, exuberance, and pride. Honestly, it is very difficult to keep from smiling both from a spectator’s and graduate’s perspective. Tears of joy and happiness will no doubt flow from the eyes of mothers, fathers, and grandparents. It is always, for every graduate no matter the level of education, a bittersweet end. Bitter as you reflect on the past years of sharing life, learning, and growing alongside the same people day-in and day-out; yet sweet as you celebrate the accomplishment with your fellow graduates and friends as you look to the future. While the future of every graduate seems bright and promising on that joyous day of celebration as an influx of congratulations seem to never cease, reality sinks in the next day for some and the next month for others. The reality of the question, “What next?” Life didn’t end with the celebration of their completion of school. There are a plethora of options and on the surface, there are some simple choices. High school graduates will either continue their education at a college or university, enter into the work force, join the military, or sit at home and do nothing with a diploma hanging on the wall. Undergraduate college graduates will either continue their education at a professional school/enter into a Master’s program, enter into the work force, join the military, or sit at home and do nothing with two diplomas hanging on the wall. Graduate students graduating from either a Master’s program or professional school will either continue their job in the work force, join the military, finish a doctorate degree, or sit at home and do nothing with three (possibly four) diplomas hanging on the wall.

The Questions and Purpose of Young Christians

With these options in mind, life begins to start happening much faster than it ever did. College goes by much faster than high school and the reality of needing a job sneaks up on everyone. In light of all of this, there are many decisions that need to be made after graduation (and for most, throughout their college or working careers). Serious decisions that young people have never had to make before are now thrown in their faces. As a young Christian, the question becomes, “What does God want me to do now?” I would like to advise all of the young graduates that are about to be thrown into the world, particularly young Christians. Do not be so concerned with finding out God’s perfect will for your life at this point. I know how you feel. You want an answer, and an immediate one at that from God. You ask Him, “College or work force?” “If college, which one?” “What should my major be?” “What job do you want me to have?” Now, is it wrong to question God, or to seek His face during this confusing time? Of course not, and I would even encourage it. However, questions of this sort, along with other factors (parents, society, friends, etc.), can be a hindrance to your finding God’s will for your life. By the way, the basic will for your life and for the life of every other Christ-follower is to praise His name, be satisfied in Him above all else, and make His glory known to all peoples of all nations. Without question, this is the will of God for every one of His children. However, the way this is carried out looks different for everyone. Not everyone is called to be pastors or teachers or doctors, but in whatever you are called to do, do it all to the glory of God to make the gospel of Jesus Christ known and His name praised.

The Best Time for a Young Christian

The way in which you go about discovering what His specific will for your life is will require patience, obedience, discipline, and devotion to Him. I can promise you that by seeking God during this confusing time, you will discover His glory, grace, power, awesomeness, and love in a more astounding way than you would have ever thought possible. I am personally going through a very difficult decision-making process and through it, I have grown exponentially closer to God. Many say correctly that it is during the college years that so many young people turn from God. I agree that this is probably due to added temptations and a first time experiment with worldly freedom for most. However, for God’s true children; for you, His beloved son or daughter, I tell you that now is the best time to grow closer to God than you ever have before. You are in a vulnerable position which produces a humility which God loves. He loves a humble heart and He will reveal Himself to you. My own college experience thus far has taught me that God is sovereign and He is worthy. He is worthy of my all (literally speaking) in every aspect of my life and even including my very life. Use this confusing and apprehensive season in your life to draw nearer to God and experience Him more fully than you ever did. I promise you that you will, maybe for the first time, somewhat understand Psalm 16:11.

What Young Christians Will Receive

Now for some practicality. I am sure (actually 100% sure) that you will receive cards and letters from family, friends, and most directly from your church that will include this verse: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). How predictable our churches can be. Do not misunderstand. This is a truthful verse and it is given with the best intentions by your family, friends, and church. So, don’t go to the 75 year-old women in your church and throw stones at them for trying to encourage you. However, I think you need much more than this. In fact, God has already given you a future and a hope by His grace in the Person Jesus Christ. By your faith in Him, you have been set free from sin, set free to obey Christ and walk in righteousness and ultimately you are saved from the punishment of eternal death and separation from God as you have been counted righteous and will one day walk in the presence of God forever. What a future you have! What a hope this is! I love this verse! Redemption was promised and redemption is given to all who believe and endure to the end, including you! This verse is not the most proper verse for this occasion though. I feel that most people do not appreciate the gravity of decisions that must be made. Honestly, you need to counsel God and petition Him and you can now do this by God’s grace through Christ’s intercession. What you need to do during this time more than anything else is, yes, to trust in the plans that He has for you and to rejoice in the future and hope you have in Christ, but even more than that, to abide in Christ.

What Young Christians Need

I much prefer this verse and passage for graduates: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:5-8). Now, I know this will not fit on a card or short letter, but it is exactly what a graduate like you needs to read and realize. This is the passage that needs to be written on your heart as you make life-altering decisions and begin to encounter the world in a whole new way. You need Jesus. You need His word. You need His presence. You need His intercession. By abiding in Him, you will receive all of this, not to mention “whatever you wish” (which would obviously be within His will if you are abiding in Him) as you glorify the Father through the fruit that you bear. Again, this relates back to your ultimate goal in life as a Christ-follower, which is to glorify God in all that you do and make His name known and praised among all peoples of all nations. Abide in Christ. This means to seek Him, read His word, meditate on His Word, intentionally pray to Him, and by your faith in Him allow Him to produce much fruit in your life. You are the branch and you need the true vine in order to bear the fruit you are desiring to bear. What will this look like for you? I do not know. However, God does and by His will and in His way and time, He will fulfill it in you. How can you receive clarity and peace about how and where you should produce fruits and fulfill His specific purposes in your life? Abide in Him. Christ will abide in you as a result and by this you will “prove to be [His] disciples” (John 15:8). When you abide in Christ, His words will abide in you which will transform your heart and your mindset, setting your thoughts on the purposes and will of God. From this, your prayers will please God and you will receive what you are seeking, which is clarity for the decisions you must make.

Find His Will by Glorifying His Name

As you enter into this new season of your life, I pray you would do so guarding your heart. It is true that college/work force will bring you new temptations and Satan would love for you to abandon God and shame His name rather than increase the fame of His name. Do not allow confusion and uncertainties to overwhelm you. Instead, abide in Christ and allow His word to abide in you as He transforms your heart and mind to desire what He desires for your life. Only here will you discover what God wants you to do. Above all, remain faithful. Be patient and trust God’s sovereign rule and perfect timing. Temptation will come and forms of suffering are unavoidable, however, sin and death has been defeated. Rest in the work of Christ and your faith in Him. Worship Him as Lord every day and seek to bring glory and honor to His name through the fruits the True Vine will produce in you! The more you seek to glorify His name, the more joy and satisfaction you will find in Him and the closer you will come to discovering His specific will for your life. Could there be a greater purpose in life? I will leave you with one more verse to tattoo on your heart as you make decisions and head into college or the work force: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

By His Grace — For His Glory — For our Joy

Two Masters: God & Sin

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” – Romans 6:12

Over the past few months and really over the past two years, there have been a lot of things on my mind. My understanding of God, the Bible, salvation, sin, and grace, particularly in the realm of human suffering, would have been torn apart by deceiving wolves in the forms of very nice and kind people. If not for my own personal meditation on the Word of God, relying on its inerrancy and truth, along with the seemingly intimate leadership of John Piper and David Platt through their teachings, my understanding of sin, suffering, and grace would be very skewed. I am truly grateful for the works of these men by the grace of God. With all of this theological debate and whirlwind in my mind and life, no doubt, the doctrine and reality of sin has trumped all other thoughts. Sin is powerful and without question, reigns supreme in some people’s lives. However, I was encouraged a couple of weeks ago when I came across a post on Desiring God’s blog that directly supported my own conviction about sin in our lives. While sin does compete for our affection and devotion, we do not have to obey it. I feel in the lives of so many people, particularly professing Christians, it is easy to misinterpret Scripture by saying that sin is too powerful to overcome and that you just rely on God’s grace to forgive you while you continue to live in sin while disobeying Him.

In my opinion, we are all in a situation where we have two masters we can serve. One is God and the other sin. Just as Jesus taught it is impossible to serve both money and God, I think the same would apply to sin and God. There is a very misunderstood and construed version of God’s grace which is thought by many to forgive all sins regardless of the response of a person (repeating a prayer at age 9 is not much eternal security). Friends, when confronted with the love and grace of God in the Person Jesus Christ, there are only two options: You can bow and worship or turn and flee. In other words, in light of our desperate condition and terminal illness of sin, you can either serve your sin by walking in it and continuing in it, or you can turn from it and be freed from its bondage into the loving arms of Jesus Christ, the One and only cure. The only proper response to God’s grace is change. Grace is free and nothing keeps it from anyone who would call on the name of Jesus. Faith in the perfect righteousness and works of Christ is enough to save us from our sin and usher us into the eternal presence of God, which will be fully realized at our resurrection day. However, there are striking implications for the life of a Christ-follower. Sin persists, but it has been defeated in Christ. As a regenerate believer, you are free to obey Christ and free from obedience to sin. Rebellion will still exist, yet there is a divine “way out.” Our sinful nature is literally like a little demon that we carry around on our shoulders on a daily basis. Because of this, our journey in this life as Christians is not an easy one. However, to abuse grace by continuing to deliberately sin, feeling no remorse, and not implementing change (repenting) is deadly. A regenerate heart will not abuse grace, but cherish it. Understand, that as sin in this culture is rampant in more forms than ever before, we must not form our own Jesus with our own idea of grace and forgiveness in order to justify our lifestyles. There are two masters we can serve: sin or God. By His grace, we are free to choose the latter. I pray that you do. Obedience to sin is foreshadowing eternal damnation and deserved punishment. Obedience to God is foreshadowing eternal life in the perfectly joyous presence of the Trinitarian God and undeserved glory.

“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” – Romans 6:13-14

By His Grace — For His Glory — For our Joy

The Worth, Value, and Glory of God: Introduction

It continues to amaze me how people, including myself at times, can just casually show up at worship services, read the Bible and a devotional every morning, take part in church activities, and deliberately live a life of sin. We will verbally express that we believe in, trust in, and love God, but our lives do not match up. For some, their lives do not match up at all. Now, I am not even approaching an alignment of our lives with how the Bible calls us to live. I am merely talking about the lack of alignment between the life we say we live, and the life we actually live. This is evident in all of our lives at times, so do not misunderstand and think that I am calling out certain individuals. However, deliberate sin backed up with nominal allegiance to Christ is a problem. This is only true, however, if God is worthy, valuable, and glorious. Hypocrisy is only an issue if God is truly worthy of our devotion.

Over the next few days, I want to expand on the worth and value and glory of God. The question has been on my mind lately, “Is God really worth it?” Worth what? We will find out. The more I read the Bible and truly study and meditate on its meaning and truth, the more I am humbled. I am humbled by many things, but primarily by the kind of life a Christian is to live. I am humbled by the radical call of Christ to “Follow [Him]” and the commands and teachings He gave. I want to give some focus and thought to the life His disciples are called and commanded to live. I want to see the worth of God. I want you to see His true value, because if He is not worth much, then we all need to quit this whole “Christianity thing.” However, if He is worthy and quite valuable, what does that mean for our lives? Here’s a little foreshadowing: It means everything! This next series of posts will focus on sin, grace, our freedom, and the cost to follow Jesus, all of which will culminate to a prayerful enlightenment on the glory of God and the truth of His worth and value. The ultimate question will become, “Is God worthy enough for us to follow Jesus Christ the way He has called and commanded us to?” Will we continue to be casual church attendees to comply with a cultural norm? Will we continue to legalistically read a thick, leather-bound book called the Bible along with our devotionals in order to receive up-lifting “Osteen-isms” to “start our day out right”? Will we continue to take part in church services as “nominal Christians” as a source of personal entertainment and family leisure? Or, will we decide to take Jesus at His word and be what we call ourselves? Will we decide to actually follow Jesus and allow all of the implications this has on our lives to take hold? Will we be cultural Christians, or biblical Christ-followers? If God is not worthy, valuable, and glorious, then hypocrisy is no longer an issue and relativism should rule the world. However, if He is worthy, valuable, and glorious, then, according to Scripture, we have much to consider.  Let’s find out if He is worth it!

By His Grace — For His Glory — For Our Joy

Grace & A Command: How Will We Respond?

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 20; Matthew 10; 28

Focus Verses: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30; Matthew 10:16-39; 28:17-20

           When we are given a command, there is a desired response, particularly for that command to be followed. The desired response is obedience. Any other response is considered rebellion. When a military commander commands his unit to perform a certain task, obedience is expected and anything other than obedience can be considered not only cowardice but also mutiny. Discharge would follow deliberate disobedience to an officer’s command which has come down a long list of authorities. When a teacher assigns an assignment for his/her class to do, he/she expects the students to comply with the assignment. Punishment follows the disobedience of the children to this authority figure.

Important Recognitions

In 2 Chronicles 20, the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, was faced with an enemy that he literally cannot handle. Great distress overcomes him as a result. This is the report king Jehoshaphat received from his men: “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, Engedi)” (2 Chronicles 20:2). A great multitude of the Moabite-Ammonite-Meunite coalition was approaching Judah at the city of Engedi. Jehoshaphat was gripped with fear and wisely and faithfully “set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). In the face of turmoil and apparent destruction, Jehoshaphat did not ask questions or try to find answers. He didn’t even attempt to consult with his generals or prophets. The first thing he did was seek the LORD. What a tremendous example! Jehoshaphat begins his prayer for help in the presence of people from every city in Judah with an acknowledgement of who God is. He first recognizes God’s sovereignty and lordship over “all the kingdoms of the nations” (2 Chronicles 20:6). This is important to notice that Jehoshaphat recognized and praised God for His rule over all people and all kings whether they worshiped Him or not. This clearly conveys that God’s rule and glory is not dependent on human acknowledgement or worship. He is the great “I AM.” He is God regardless of the acts of men. In this sense, God never changes (Malachi 3:6). Before his petition to God, Jehoshaphat praises God for His “power and might” acknowledging that “none is able to withstand with [Him]” (2 Chronicles 20:6). He ends his petition to the LORD God with this cry, “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Indeed, we are all powerless and our eyes should be set to God who is our helper and our strength (Psalm 121:1-2). Jehoshaphat is decreasing while increasing the worth and glory of God in this prayer (John 3:30).

God’s Command

Immediately following this prayer, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel…And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them…You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem’’” (2 Chronicles 20:14-17). The king was humbled by the response from the LORD and immediately “bowed his head with his face to the ground…worshiping the LORD” (2 Chronicles 20:18). When faced with the grace and mercy of this powerful and mighty God, there can only be two responses, humble worship and adoration as you fall to your knees, or the fleeing of an apostate. Even more important to notice is the response of this faithful king and his people Judah the next day.

Judah’s Response

In light of the Authority who commanded them to “go down against them [tomorrow],” Jehoshaphat and Judah had two options: obey or disobey. Obedience was their choice. “And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Not only did they obey the Lord, but the people of Judah under the leadership of Jehoshaphat arose early to obey the command of the LORD. I can imagine them sleeping so lightly, eagerly anticipating the powerful and mighty acts of their faithful God on their behalf the next day. As soon as the sun crossed the horizon, I can just see the entire nation jumping from their slumber to witness the wondrous works of God Almighty. They were so joyous in fact that Jehoshaphat “appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 20:21). And God was faithful to His people in their obedience as He “set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another” (2 Chronicles 20:22-23). The worship of the people pleased the LORD and He was faithful to His promise to fight the battle for them as He caused the peoples of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to turn on one another until none of them were left. Oh and how the blessing followed; so much blessing, in fact, that the people of Judah needed three days to collect all of the spoils. God was greatly glorified and His name was made famous in all the land (2 Chronicles 20:25, 29).

His Glory, Not Ours

In light of this Old Testament passage, the question begs, “What good is this for us?” Well, that is the problem. We assume that life is all about us. From my recent study of 1 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles, I have noticed three main things: God is sovereign, God is faithful, and life is all about God. Now, with that said, we can in fact draw a few implications from this text.

A Great Horde of Enemies

Similarly to the Judeans in this text, we too face a horde of enemies in the form of Satan and his demons. He is gathering up a multitude of family members, friends, worldly enemies, and even sometimes your pew-mates to work against you. Jesus even promised His disciples persecution and enemies in Matthew 10. Take note of these examples:

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves…” – Matthew 10:16

“Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” – Matthew 10:21-22

“If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” – Matthew 10:25

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” – Matthew 10:34-36

As it can clearly be noted, faith in Christ creates a great horde of enemies which could even be in your own family. Jesus promises us persecution, betrayal from our relatives, false accusations, and separation from friends and family, all resulting from our faith in Him.

Fear Not

The first thing that God says to king Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah as they are about to face a great multitude of enemies is, “Do not be afraid.” Fear not! God knew the enemies that Judah was about to face and commanded them to not be afraid before anything else. Jesus did the same for His immediate disciples and the same for us. In light of the command of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, and the promised persecution, betrayal, false accusations, and separation, Jesus commands us to “Fear not…” (Matthew 10:26, 31; 28:18-20). When we begin to think about missions and reaching the thousands of unreached people groups, the persecution and earthly loss are startling. Jesus says, “Fear not!” Why did God’s command to not be afraid spark joy in Jehoshaphat? Because he has heard of and seen the powerful and mighty works of the LORD. How can we obey and receive joy from Christ’s command to fear not? We can fear not because “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to [Him]” (Matthew 28:18). In other words, Jesus is Lord over all, even the most seemingly insignificant creatures (Matthew 10:29-30). In the face of real fear of this great horde of enemies formed against us, fear not for they are not sovereign, but subordinate to God who is worthy of fear since He “can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Fear not!

The Battle Is Not Yours

There is beautiful comparison and insight into God’s grace at this point of study. God tells the people of Judah that the battle is not theirs to fight, but it is His. He will do the life-saving work for them. Similarly, God looks at us in our sin and He sees the enemies of sin, Satan, death and destruction and tells us, “This is not your battle to fight, it is mine to win.” Jehoshaphat was told not to fight! We are similarly told not to fight to earn our salvation. If Judah had attempted to fight this battle, defeat and destruction would follow. In the same way, if we attempt a legalistic fight to earn our way into God’s presence, we will fall in eternal defeat, destruction, and death. “For by the works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). No matter how hard we try to please God, all of our efforts will results in utter failure. Praise God that He made a way. He came to earth as a man, being fully God and fully man in order to live the perfect life that we couldn’t live (Romans 3:23) and to die the death that we all deserve because of our sin (Romans 6:23) only to rise from the dead on the third day in order to win the battle for us defeating sin, Satan, destruction, and eternal death. Because of His victory, we can die to our old sinful life and rise to walk in a new life in step with the Spirit and one day walk in the glory of His presence eternally with fullness of satisfaction and joy. The battle is won and the enemy is already defeated; we do not have to fight!

Go and See the Salvation of the LORD

            Now, what is our response to this reality going to be? What should it be? Let’s take a look at King Jehoshaphat’s response when God declared that He would fight this battle for them. Jehoshaphat and all of Judah worshiped God and rose early the next morning to obey the command of the LORD. As Christians, what is our command? In light of the tremendous grace of God in salvation, what has He commanded us to do as His people? The command has been the same since He called Abraham: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a). Just as God commanded Judah to go down to the place of the battle to witness God perform wondrous works, He commands us as His followers to go into the most harsh spiritual battlefields to proclaim the gospel of His kingdom and the glory of His grace and then watch Him work in the hearts and lives of men. As long as there are lost souls, our mission is not complete and in this sense, we cannot rest. We can rest in the grace of God, yet we must never tarry in working for the kingdom of God in the nations for the sake of the Name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9-11). We have been set apart and commanded to be witnesses of His grace and to witness His glory in the lives of those we disciple.

Conclusion

If you are a Christ-follower, then you have been commanded. This is not a special calling, but a special-command for all who follow Christ. Each regenerate heart should seek to spread the glory of God’s grace so that the nations would praise His name and they would receive unparalleled joy. Will you obey or will you disobey? The response is simple. God desires willing followers who will obey His commands by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we have walked through the glory of God’s grace in the lives of the people of Judah and King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles, it is clear that this God indeed does not change in His nature and character as the glory of His grace is clearly seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ in Matthew. Praise God that He is a gracious and glorious God. In the face of promised persecution with a great horde of enemies formed against us, we have the grandest promise in the history of the world to empower us to wake up early to obey the command of our Master to “Go and make disciples.” I will leave you with the words of our sufficient Savior, Jesus Christ:

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20b

By His Grace – For His Glory – For our Joy