William Gurnall suggests numerous ways in guarding against the assaults of the enemy. If your faith is ailing, he says, renew your repentance as if you had never repented. Put forth fresh acts of faith, as if you had never believed, and you will beat Satan at his own game. Gurnall says this is one way we maintain our assurance of salvation. If the devil continues to haunt you with fears of your spiritual condition, then appeal to God and hear the news from heaven, rather than listen to the tales your enemy brings from hell. If you would argue less with Satan and pray more to God about your fears, they would soon be resolved.
Sail away from the enemy and head straight for God's harbor. Make an honorable retreat into those assurances and strengths which Christ provides for his endangered soldiers.
Another way Gurnall states is helpful in the battling the sinking doubts of our faith is to tell a trusted Godly friend of your struggles, because it often brings relief. He says, 'you lose two blessings by keeping the devil's secrets - the counsel of your fellow brethren and their prayers. And what a serious loss it is!"
Fighting the good fight,
Mark
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Good Investment
I have some good investment advice. Even when Wall Street isn't doing so well, you are guaranteed a good return on this investment: buy good theology books. Read them. Study them. It goes without saying, that Christians ought to be spending time reading their Bibles, but buying theologically sound material and keeping it at your fingertips is one investment that doesn't go sour. I was thinking tonight about how blessed I am with good reading material. I like to read, and it follows that I spend alot of money on books. While some people I know are complaining and fretting about their 401K's and mutual funds in an uncertain economic climate, I am collecting all the blessings of the dividends that a library of theology pays.I am half way through the first of three volumes of a work by Puritan author William Gurnall entitled The Christian in Complete Armour. I paid $19.99 for these paperback books and I can state confidently that so far, this has been one of the best books I have ever read. The author sheds much light on the warfare we are engaged in against our enemy the devil. He teaches the reader how to wear his armor, what the enemy's tactics are, how to be assured of victory, and other valuable information in the fight. The lessons learned from a work like this far exceed the price paid for the books. Does any mutual fund or stock provide this kind of return? Hardly.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Questions to Ask About Prayer
Biblically Oriented Questions I Need to Ask Myself About “Prayer”
Are my prayers so excessively self-centered and self-serving that God is barely listening?
For whom am I interceding? Am I using prayer to make ME feel better? Is it really about what I want anyway?
Job 1:1-5
Do I bore God with my prayers? Is there any passion in my communication to him that show that I really love him like I say that I do?
Am I attentive and alert when I pray or do I insult the King of the Universe by letting my mind wander?
Colossians 4:2
Am I using my prayer time unwisely? Am I unprepared when I come to prayer? Do I rush in and rush out of the presence of God?
Psalm 5:3
Is there some sin that I am holding onto with a white-knuckle grip and yet I dare approach the God who let his only Son die to save me from the guilt and stain of that sin?
Psalm 66:16-20
More Questions to Ask Myself About Prayer:
When I speak to God, do I speak to Him with infinitely more respect and honor than I would speak to my own earthly father?
The Word tells me to make my requests known to God. When I present my requests to Him, do I ask in a way that makes God my personal bell-hop who should answer at the snap of my fingers? Or am I really asking humbly in faith for things that would be according to His will? Am I expectant? Am I presumptuous?
In corporate prayer, who is my audience? Am I trying to impress someone else with the same old, stale, predictable, flowery language? Or is it really God I am talking to?
What kind of empty and trivial things can I remove from my life that distract me in prayer and cause my mind to be dull? Furthermore, what IMPORTANT things are also distracting me and cloud my thinking when I come to meet God in prayer? Are these things that important that they interrupt my fellowship with God? How will I set these things aside for awhile?
More questions than answers sometimes...
Are my prayers so excessively self-centered and self-serving that God is barely listening?
For whom am I interceding? Am I using prayer to make ME feel better? Is it really about what I want anyway?
Job 1:1-5
Do I bore God with my prayers? Is there any passion in my communication to him that show that I really love him like I say that I do?
Am I attentive and alert when I pray or do I insult the King of the Universe by letting my mind wander?
Colossians 4:2
Am I using my prayer time unwisely? Am I unprepared when I come to prayer? Do I rush in and rush out of the presence of God?
Psalm 5:3
Is there some sin that I am holding onto with a white-knuckle grip and yet I dare approach the God who let his only Son die to save me from the guilt and stain of that sin?
Psalm 66:16-20
More Questions to Ask Myself About Prayer:
When I speak to God, do I speak to Him with infinitely more respect and honor than I would speak to my own earthly father?
The Word tells me to make my requests known to God. When I present my requests to Him, do I ask in a way that makes God my personal bell-hop who should answer at the snap of my fingers? Or am I really asking humbly in faith for things that would be according to His will? Am I expectant? Am I presumptuous?
In corporate prayer, who is my audience? Am I trying to impress someone else with the same old, stale, predictable, flowery language? Or is it really God I am talking to?
What kind of empty and trivial things can I remove from my life that distract me in prayer and cause my mind to be dull? Furthermore, what IMPORTANT things are also distracting me and cloud my thinking when I come to meet God in prayer? Are these things that important that they interrupt my fellowship with God? How will I set these things aside for awhile?
More questions than answers sometimes...
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Our Footsteps
This morning I read the verse 1 John 2:6 which says “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked”. It reminded me of why I named this blog ‘Our Footsteps’… because the Bible is clear as to how we ought to walk. The steps we (I) take along the way each day she be a crystal clear reflection of what Christ has done in our lives. We ought to be walking as He walked: with love, compassion, humility, gentleness and in all obedience and faith. Check out these verses:
Psalm 34:23 - The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Psalm 119:133 - Establish my footsteps in Thy Word.
Proverbs 4:11-12 - I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
Proverbs 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 20:11 - It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
2 Corinthians 5:7 - we walk by faith, not by sight
Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 4:1-3 - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
Ephesians 5:1-2; 8; 15-16
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma… For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Philippians 1:27 - Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
Colossians 1:10-12 - Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father
Colossians 2:6-7 - As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith
2 John 1:6 - And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Psalm 34:23 - The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Psalm 119:133 - Establish my footsteps in Thy Word.
Proverbs 4:11-12 - I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
Proverbs 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 20:11 - It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
2 Corinthians 5:7 - we walk by faith, not by sight
Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 4:1-3 - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
Ephesians 5:1-2; 8; 15-16
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma… For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Philippians 1:27 - Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
Colossians 1:10-12 - Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father
Colossians 2:6-7 - As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith
2 John 1:6 - And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Clueless
“Now I want you to know, brethren…”, Paul says in Philippians 1:12. It’s a common phrase that the Apostle uses. In this case, he was writing to the church at Philippi to let them know of his condition. With Paul being under house arrest, being in high spirits was the last thing they might be expecting. But, oh no… Paul didn’t want them having wrong thoughts about him or his condition or the progress of the gospel. He didn’t want them being clueless or ignorant of his situation.
Paul uses a similar phrase in Colossians 2:1, “For I want you to know”. And again in 1 Corinthians 11:3, “For I want you to understand”. Or yet in two more places, Romans 1:13 and 1 Corinthians 10:1, “…I do not want you to be unaware, brethren…”. Do you get the impression that Paul did not want the Christians of his time to be clueless, ignorant or unaware? How about in 1 Thessalonians 4:13? “We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren…”. Galatians 1:11: “For I would have you to know…”. The fact that Paul repeats himself (repeatedly), tells me that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing something to us.
Ours is a generation of Christians who are probably the most unaware in all of human history… am I right? Don’t we all (myself included) walk around in our own comfortable Christian bubble, completely oblivious of the spiritual famine around us? We’re unaware and I wonder why. We’ve developed spiritual calluses three feet thick and our hearts are like granite. All the while our relatives, friends and neighbors are running headlong through the wide gate that leads to destruction.
We professing believers (myself included again) are often unaware of our creation around us. We miss a delicate rose, a horse galloping in a field, even a beautiful sunset because from the moment the alarm clock goes off in the morning until our heads land in the pillow at night we are going 90 miles per hour. We ignore a baby's laugh, or are oblivious to an act of kindness - because we rush from one meeting to the next and from one shopping center to another... when one TV show is over we click to the other station. Clueless. Ignorant. Unaware.
“Now I want you to know”, that I plan to make some changes so I don’t remain in my clueless, ignorant, unaware state. Will you too?
Mark
Paul uses a similar phrase in Colossians 2:1, “For I want you to know”. And again in 1 Corinthians 11:3, “For I want you to understand”. Or yet in two more places, Romans 1:13 and 1 Corinthians 10:1, “…I do not want you to be unaware, brethren…”. Do you get the impression that Paul did not want the Christians of his time to be clueless, ignorant or unaware? How about in 1 Thessalonians 4:13? “We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren…”. Galatians 1:11: “For I would have you to know…”. The fact that Paul repeats himself (repeatedly), tells me that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing something to us.
Ours is a generation of Christians who are probably the most unaware in all of human history… am I right? Don’t we all (myself included) walk around in our own comfortable Christian bubble, completely oblivious of the spiritual famine around us? We’re unaware and I wonder why. We’ve developed spiritual calluses three feet thick and our hearts are like granite. All the while our relatives, friends and neighbors are running headlong through the wide gate that leads to destruction.
We professing believers (myself included again) are often unaware of our creation around us. We miss a delicate rose, a horse galloping in a field, even a beautiful sunset because from the moment the alarm clock goes off in the morning until our heads land in the pillow at night we are going 90 miles per hour. We ignore a baby's laugh, or are oblivious to an act of kindness - because we rush from one meeting to the next and from one shopping center to another... when one TV show is over we click to the other station. Clueless. Ignorant. Unaware.
“Now I want you to know”, that I plan to make some changes so I don’t remain in my clueless, ignorant, unaware state. Will you too?
Mark
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Our Response to God’s Law
We are not under the Law but under grace, right? But if God had a purpose for giving the Law, then we certainly should have some response to it, shouldn't we? What is our response?
1). Learn It - Deuteronomy 5:1 – Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully.
Psalm 119:73 - Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
2). Obey It - Obedience results in BLESSING; Obedience results in WISDOM; Obedience results in LIFE
Deuteronomy 5:31-33 – But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess. So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.
Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6 - See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Deuteronomy 32:46-47a - Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.
3). Love It - Psalm 119:97 - O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
4). Teach It - Deuteronomy 4:6-7 - These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
1). Learn It - Deuteronomy 5:1 – Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully.
Psalm 119:73 - Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
2). Obey It - Obedience results in BLESSING; Obedience results in WISDOM; Obedience results in LIFE
Deuteronomy 5:31-33 – But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess. So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.
Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6 - See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Deuteronomy 32:46-47a - Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.
3). Love It - Psalm 119:97 - O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
4). Teach It - Deuteronomy 4:6-7 - These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Purpose of the Ten Commandments
God had some reasons for giving us the 10 Commandments (and the rest of the ‘Law’). What are some of the purposes?
1). To guide and direct His people in their relationship to Him
2). To guide and direct His people in their relationship to their fellow man
3). To ‘tutor’ us, teaching us that we are sinful
Romans 3:20 - by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Galatians 3:24-25 - Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
4). To express His love for mankind -
Exodus 19:5-6a - Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
5). To give mankind a means by which to show his love to God
John 14:15, 21, 24 - If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
1 John 2:3 - By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments
The 10 Commandments from Exodus 20:1-17:
1Then God spoke all these words, saying,
2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3“You shall have no other gods before Me.
4“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
5“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
8“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9“Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
11“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
13“You shall not murder.
14“You shall not commit adultery.
15“You shall not steal.
16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
1). To guide and direct His people in their relationship to Him
2). To guide and direct His people in their relationship to their fellow man
3). To ‘tutor’ us, teaching us that we are sinful
Romans 3:20 - by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Galatians 3:24-25 - Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
4). To express His love for mankind -
Exodus 19:5-6a - Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
5). To give mankind a means by which to show his love to God
John 14:15, 21, 24 - If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
1 John 2:3 - By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments
The 10 Commandments from Exodus 20:1-17:
1Then God spoke all these words, saying,
2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3“You shall have no other gods before Me.
4“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
5“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
8“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9“Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
11“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
13“You shall not murder.
14“You shall not commit adultery.
15“You shall not steal.
16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Monday, March 2, 2009
Worry and Difficulty? Or Joy and Peace?
What do the following words have in common? skepticism, suffering, collapse, problem, crisis, predicament, worry, difficult, trouble, foreclosure, recession.
These are all words that our President of 'hope' used in his speech last week. I listened to part of the speech but had to turn it off for fear of plunging into despair with words like that!
It's no wonder 'joy' is absent from the lives of most people. They have put their trust, faith and confidence in an economic system that can never provide the joy and fulfillment that people are longing for. The things happening before our eyes in our country is a distraction for even the Christian. Even we get caught up in the uncertainty of our times and we lose our joy, or worse yet, we let something else steal our joy.
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians partially because he was bursting with joy. Paul wasn't too concerned about the Wall-Street-type predicaments of his day - in fact, he mentioned how he'd learned to be content in whatever circumstance he found himself in. Here was a man under house arrest and he was able to maintain his joy and peace regardless of his circumstances.
What brought Paul joy?
1). Reflecting and remembering - Philippians 1:3 - "I thank my God in all my rememberance of you". He no doubt was thinking of how Lydia and the Philippian jailer had been converted in Acts 16.
2). Praying for others - Philippians 1:4 - "always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all". Who doesn't find joy in praying for another brother or sister... especially when we start to see answers to our intercessory prayers?
3). Participating in the gospel - Philippians 1:5 - "in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now". Some of my greatest times of joy have been in sharing the gospel... whether it was a ministry trip to feed and clothe the homeless or doing a bible study in the local jail or delivering Christmas presents to kids whose dads were locked up in prison... or whatever ministry work took place... this is joyful and rewarding participation in the gospel.
4). Confidence in God to bring things to fruition - Philippians 1:6 - "for I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus". Paul had unwavering confidence that God would finish what He started. That really is our only hope, that God will not leave us hanging by a thread or leave us out on a limb. He will finish the work, and that should bring anyone the joy that might otherwise seem elusive.
5). Affection and love for other believers - Philippians 1:8 - "how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus". Paul wanted to be with his fellow Christians. He loved that kind of thing. I often find myself renewed, refreshed and encouraged after I've been with a Christian friend for breakfast. Fellowship with like-minded Christians is a source of great joy.
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Mark
These are all words that our President of 'hope' used in his speech last week. I listened to part of the speech but had to turn it off for fear of plunging into despair with words like that!
It's no wonder 'joy' is absent from the lives of most people. They have put their trust, faith and confidence in an economic system that can never provide the joy and fulfillment that people are longing for. The things happening before our eyes in our country is a distraction for even the Christian. Even we get caught up in the uncertainty of our times and we lose our joy, or worse yet, we let something else steal our joy.
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians partially because he was bursting with joy. Paul wasn't too concerned about the Wall-Street-type predicaments of his day - in fact, he mentioned how he'd learned to be content in whatever circumstance he found himself in. Here was a man under house arrest and he was able to maintain his joy and peace regardless of his circumstances.
What brought Paul joy?
1). Reflecting and remembering - Philippians 1:3 - "I thank my God in all my rememberance of you". He no doubt was thinking of how Lydia and the Philippian jailer had been converted in Acts 16.
2). Praying for others - Philippians 1:4 - "always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all". Who doesn't find joy in praying for another brother or sister... especially when we start to see answers to our intercessory prayers?
3). Participating in the gospel - Philippians 1:5 - "in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now". Some of my greatest times of joy have been in sharing the gospel... whether it was a ministry trip to feed and clothe the homeless or doing a bible study in the local jail or delivering Christmas presents to kids whose dads were locked up in prison... or whatever ministry work took place... this is joyful and rewarding participation in the gospel.
4). Confidence in God to bring things to fruition - Philippians 1:6 - "for I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus". Paul had unwavering confidence that God would finish what He started. That really is our only hope, that God will not leave us hanging by a thread or leave us out on a limb. He will finish the work, and that should bring anyone the joy that might otherwise seem elusive.
5). Affection and love for other believers - Philippians 1:8 - "how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus". Paul wanted to be with his fellow Christians. He loved that kind of thing. I often find myself renewed, refreshed and encouraged after I've been with a Christian friend for breakfast. Fellowship with like-minded Christians is a source of great joy.
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Mark
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Blessed Beyond Measure
I don't know how many blessings in a weekend one man can enjoy, but I will list three of them (although there were many more). 1). My parents celebrated 50 years of marriage yesterday (congratulations, Mom and Dad, I love you). As I shared at their party, this is a major accomplishment. The world defines 'success' in terms of money or status, but I see 'success' differently. Success is keeping a promise to each other and to God, for better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and in health. That is success. And that is a blessing.
2). At the celebration, one individual stood up and shared some things I didn't know about my grandfather (who went to heaven some twenty years ago). He told my mom and dad about how much he appreciated my grandfather who had taught him Sunday School as a youth and how much of an impact he had in shaping his life. That too is a blessing.
3). My oldest son was baptized this morning at church. He gave his life to the Lord more than a year ago, and today he followed in obedience to go into the baptismal tank and show the world what Jesus Christ has done in his heart. At his young age, he understands that there is no saving grace in baptism. Salvation is not by an act or a work that we do. He understands that and now has wanted to be a young testimony to the public. He quoted John 1:1 to the leadership of the church as one of his favorite verses before the baptism service. He did great under the 'pressure' of the pillars of the church gathered around to hear why he wanted to go through with this solemn but joyous act. I was very proud of him. This event was a great blessing, not only for me, but for our whole family.
Blessed beyond measure,
Mark
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