Ignite Topic Preview...

Some of you may be wondering what our topic is going to be for Ignite. Well, I came across this section in a Systematic Theology book written by Norman Geisler that will point you in the direction we are heading. Enjoy!

"The Preparation for the Savior

Immediately following the Fall, God announced His eternal plan to provides salvation for all humankind. He said to the serpent, whom He had allowed to tempt Adam and Eve, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Gen 3:15). The Savior would be the Seed of the woman, and He would ultimately–fatally–crush the serpent's head. This Christ did officially on the Cross (Col. 2:14) and will do actually when He returns (Rom 16:20; Rev 20:10).

The rest of the Old Testament is the preparation for the coming Savior. To begin, God called into existence the holy nation through which He would bring the Promised Seed. In the books of the law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), God laid the foundation for Christ. In the historical books (Joshua through Nehemiah), He made the provision for the holy nation to enter and obtain the Holy Land so that they could produce the Holy One (Christ).

We see, then, that in Genesis God chose the nation; in Exodus He redeemed them; in Leviticus He sanctified them; in Numbers He guided them, and in Deuteronomy He instructed them so that in Joshua they could be victorious. In Judges they were unsettled without a king, but in 1 Samuel the nation was established and in 2 Samuel it was expanded. After the reign of Solomon, the nation declined (in 1 Kings) and was departed (in 2 Kings–a prophetic history repeated from a priestly viewpoint in 1 and 2 Chronicles). In Esther the nation was protected, and in Ezra and Nehemiah they were returned and rebuilt.

Meanwhile, the poetic books express an aspiration for Christ. Job aspired for mediation, Psalms for communion with God, Proverbs for wisdom, Ecclesiastes for the greatest good, and Song of Solomon for intimate union–all of which was found ultimately in jesus the Messiah.

Finally, the prophetic books (Isaiah through Malachi) earnestly proclaim an expectation for Christ. Each book in its own way anticipated the coming Savior, concluding the Old Testament preparation for the One who was to bring salvation."

AND THAT IS JUST HALF OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HEARING ABOUT AT IGNITE! The Presentation of Christ in the NT will be the second half of Abner's content. I hope you are praying about this time together that it will do the most amount of good for Christ and His kingdom.

Nov 7, Prov 7 Highlights

Proverbs 7:1 "My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words."

The treasure of your heart and the apple of your eye. This is talk of affection and deepest devotion. Is it the Word or the world? Is it wisdom or women? May wisdom be written on your heart to avoid such peril (see v. 23 "cost him his life").

Proverbs 7:7 "and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness."

I'd hate to point out that this is one of the only times that the Bible actually uses the word "twilight" but we'll let that slide for now. The young man who "lacks sense" is the one who walks into sexual immorality because he is ignorant, stupid, foolish.

Proverbs 7:25 "Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths."

Nov 6, Prov 6 Highlights

Proverbs 6:4 "Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber."

No, this is not a proof-text for playing video games all night. The context is speaking of one who needs to resolve interpersonal matters that have ensnared him/her. Matters must be resolved to find agreement with one's neighbor.

Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise...9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest."

As believers called to walk worthy of our highest calling, we'd do well to consider the ant's ways more often. There is wisdom in her many steps. If you aren't an ant, you are a slug. The sluggard is warned like the ensnared believer in vv. 1-5 to not rest until something is resolved. In the slug's case, it is that he must become wise like the ant. Slugs sleep, ants act.

Proverbs 6:21 "Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you."

When God's Word and godly instruction is bound around your heart, it is living and active. These words will lead you, watch over you, and talk with you. Does the wisdom of God's Word live in you in this manner?

Proverbs 6:25 "Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes."

The heart is what is fought for in the spiritual battle. Either the Word is living, active, and richly dwelling within, or the beauty of the things of this world will be actively destroying you from the inside. Do not be captured by anything but the Word.

Proverbs 6:29 "So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished...32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself."

The one who commits adultery in deed or in desire can expect one thing--consequences. To not "go unpunished" and to "destroy himself" show that consequences are brought upon you by one who punishes and that consequences are brought upon your life by yourself. Be wise and turn from the error of your ways and seek a vibrant, living relationship with the God of all wisdom.

Nov 5, Prov 5 Highlights

Proverbs 5:1 "My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil."

Like a father to a son, so these words come with wisdom, understanding, discretion and knowledge that we tend to lack. "Lips" are twice mentioned here. First, our lips must guard knowledge. That which we've been taught ought to remain in us and guide us in discretion when tempted. Second, the forbidden woman's lips call the youth to give up wisdom rather than guard it. No matter how sweet and smooth, we must guard knowledge and walk wisely.

Proverbs 5:7 "And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house."

A second exhortation and plea from a father who desires more than anything to get through to his son: keep your way far from her! We are told not to depart and to depart, fast! Do NOT depart from words of wisdom, but DO desperately depart from the forbidden woman. Note: "keep your way far from her." Where are your feet headed? Eyes set? Thoughts fixed?

Proverbs 5:12 "And you say, 'How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.'"

The son that did not listen to the father's plea and warning, looks back on his moral blunder and says, "If only I had listened." Watch for the word "discipline" in verse 23.

Proverbs 5:21 "For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. 22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray."

When it all comes down to it, the father cares not so much of how his son listened to his warning, but that his son realizes this: ALL OUR WAYS ARE BEFORE THE LORD. If our way should take us to the forbidden woman, may we remember our Heavenly Father's omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipresence (all-present). The son fallen into immorality is ensnared, caught in the cords of his sin. There is no easy escape. The "history" of the internet is not quickly erased. The guilt of "going too far" is not easily forgotten. The bondage of immorality of any kind is a snare for the soul. Why? Because he lacked "discipline" to walk wisely in the fear of the Lord.

Nov 4, Prov 4 Highlights

Proverbs 4:6 "Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you."

Wisdom is often personified as one who cries out in the streets that all who fear the Lord might find her. Once found, she will keep and guard you. This is strikingly similar to the Ultimate Personification of wisdom--Christ Himself. He calls out to us. He is the Person who walks in and talks of this wisdom that is from above (James 3:13-18).

Proverbs 4:13 "Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life."

Interesting to note: if you do not forsake her (guard her), she will keep and guard you. She is your life. It should be life to you to walk in the wisdom of the Lord. Do not let go!

Proverbs 4:21 "Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart."

Again, keep wisdom within your heart, write it on your heart, bind it one your neck, and you will be kept by her.

Nov 3, Prov 3 Highlights

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil."

All too often we rely on our own understanding by living prayerlessly, walking by sight rather than by faith, and holding a higher view of ourselves and lower view of God than we ought. But we must trust in the LORD! He is our faithful, covenant-keeping, personal God!

Proverbs 3:15 "She [wisdom] is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

Repeat: "nothing you desire can compare with her." Is there anything comparable to wisdom of God in your life? If I told you there was a check for a million dollars in the mail, I'm sure you'd sprint to the mailbox and ravage the parcels of mail until you found it. Do you pursue the wisdom of God in this manner?

Proverbs 3:19 "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew."

And as we learn to appreciate His creation around us, we witness God's wisdom, understanding and knowledge displayed powerfully.

Proverbs 3:25 "Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."

Panic attacks should have no place in the mind and life of the believer for the LORD is our confidence. It is Him, not something that He merely supplies at times, or can perform if we are lucky--no! He is our confidence!

Proverbs 3:34 "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace."

Lord, make us wise and humble.

A. W. Tozer on Wise Shepherding

"To enjoy a great religious book requires a degree of consecration to God and detachment from the world that few modern Christians have."

Michael Fabarez in Preaching that Changes Lives comments, "We would be wise shepherds to raise up a congregation of readers."

I couldn't agree more! Let us be a congregation consecrated to God and detached from this world!

Read on!

Blind Moles through Golden Pipes

Martin Luther, historical reformer of the early church in the 1500s, about the difference between grace and law says, "Law (with its call for works) and grace (as a divine gift) are antithetic to one another. The law says 'do this,' and it is never done. Grace says, 'believe in this,' and everything is already done." "By grace alone!" was Luther's battle cry!

John Calvin, masterful theologian of the 1500s, about the spiritual realm says, "The greatest geniuses are blinder than moles!" He believed that every sinner needs God's special grace in order to please God.

Charles Spurgeon, powerful preacher of the 1800s, about the means of grace says, "All things come to us through Christ Jesus: he is the golden pipe of the conduit of eternal love, the window through which grace shines, the door by which it enters." He believed that the grace of God is the undeserved bounty of the ever-gracious Creator against whom we have offended, the generous pardon, the infinite, spontaneous lovingkindness of the God who has been provoked and angered by our sin.

Boy, are we blessed by godly men who paved the way before us down the narrow road that leads to Christ-centered, grace-oriented, God-honoring, church-purifying theology about the truth of God!

"If anyone aspires..."

Have you ever given a thought to how you view your future ministry to be like in the church? Take just a moment, considering all your strengths and weaknesses, gifts and abilities, and fears and desires to see where the Lord might be leading your heart regarding ministry to Christ in His body.

• Full-time missionary overseas
• Short-term missions leader
• Inner-city pastoral ministry
• Inner-city evangelism
• Biblical training center worldwide
• Church-planting team
• Church-plant elder
• Church-plant deacon/servant
• Church-plant administrator
• Lay elder in local church
• Deacon in local church
• Music ministry leader
• Staff member part-time
• Staff member full-time
• Professor in Christian education
• Christian school administrator
• Christian college professor
• Adult education teacher
• Senior pastor of local church
• Associate pastor of local church
• Biblical counselor
• Writer/author/speaker
• etc

Whatever it may be that you envision yourself aspiring to (1 Tim 3:1), you must pray for God to fill you with the godly desire to pursue it. And it will not come in an epiphany overnight and come to fruition the next morning--it is something that comes through faithful, steady, prayerful and sacrificial service to Christ and His kingdom for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. Consider further if you are using your gifts, abilities, strengths, and desires for His kingdom's cause right now.

Christ Himself said, "Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest" (Jn 4:35).

Will you be the one among your friends that starts a revival in your sphere of influence?
Is the condition of your marriage conducive for kingdom efforts?
Is your speech regularly seasoned with the grace that sets sinners free?
Is your faith one worth modeling? One that inspires those of genuine faith around you?
Does your heart for the lost take you beyond your comfort zones to new places of ministry?
What holds you back from being elder/deacon qualified? What does God think about that?
Do you aspire to serve Christ's body with an ambition that seeks no higher aim?

Once again, Christ says, "We must work the works of him who sent me [Heavenly Father] while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work" (Jn 9:4).

Man as Creature and Person

What is man? Theologians call the doctrine of man Anthropology. There are zillions of ideas as to what man essentially is because of the endless unbiblical worldviews we see today. But what is man according a biblical anthropology? Here are some helpful thoughts that I believe take theology to humility and responsibility.

Anthony Hoekema in his book Created in God's Image says, "The human person does not exist autonomously or independently, but as a creature of God" (Gen 1:1, 27). Quoting Werner Foerster, Hoekema says, "Thus in becoming, being, and perishing, all creation is wholly dependent on the will of the Creator." God "gives all men life and breath and everything else," and "in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:25, 28).

He goes on, "Man is not only a creature, however; he is also a person. And to be a person means to have a kind of independence--not absolute but relative." This relative independence means that we have freedom to make decisions, set goals, and move toward them. We have options in life and we have the power to decide where we will go.

But do we have a contradiction in terms? Can man truly be a created person? Wholly dependent on God for life yet relatively independent to move in life as we see fit?

Filling these roles out further, Hoekema says, "To be a creature means that I cannot move a finger or utter a word apart from God; to be a person means that when my fingers are moved, I move them, and that when words are uttered by my lips, I utter them. To be creatures means that God is the potter and we are the clay (Rom 9:21); to be persons means that we are the ones who fashion our lives by our own decisions (Gal 6:7–8)."

Whole point: we must keep both of these truths clearly in focus. All worldly anthropologies of man will imbalance these two concepts in some form. Some more drastically than others. We have absolutely no existence without God who is central to all creation. AND at the same time we are not puppets or robots.

May our hearts be full of gratitude for God's sovereign grace in our lives, in creating and re-creating us in His image. And at the same time, may we "be imitators of God" as we have the responsibility to be conformed to His image.

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil 2:12, 13).

"For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me" (Col 1:29).

Something for Your Monday

You have to watch this Video, all the way through...You'll at least get a good smile out of it;)

Walking in Repentance

The Valley of Vision is a small book stored with rich literature from the Puritans. They are mainly composed of prayers of different topics. What stands out most to me after reading through so many of them, is their utter hatred for and suspicion of their sin. As this prayer below reflects on the continuance of repentance (don't miss: "I need to repent of my repentance; I need my tears to be washed; I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, no loom to weave my own righteousness"), be in awe of our great Father's great grace.

"O God of Grace,

You have imputed my sin to my Substitute, and have imputed His righteousness to my soul, clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe, decking me with jewels of holiness. But in my Christian walk I am still in rags; my best prayers are stained with sin; my penitential tears are so much impurity; my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin; my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance; I need my tears to be washed; I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, no loom to weave my own righteousness; I am always standing clothed in filthy garments, and by grace am always receiving change of raiment, for you always justify the ungodly; I am always going into the far country, and always returning home as a prodigal, always saying, “Father, forgive me,” and you are always bringing forth the best robe.

Every morning let me wear it, every evening return in it, go out to the day’s work in it, be married in it, be wound in death in it, stand before the great white throne in it, enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation, the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness, the exceeding wonder of grace."

The heart of the pray-er who penned these words surely "exceeds" my continual repentance. May we walk in repentance, putting off our filthy rags and dressing ourselves in our Savior's robes of righteousness.

A Prayer for Power

A prayer for the ROCK group...

"For this reason we bow our knees before our Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 

that according to the riches of Your glory, You may grant the ROCK Group to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith,

that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

that we may be filled with all Your fullness."

-Ephesians 3:14–19

May our heavenly Father grant to us, according to the riches of His glory: strength, sight, and satisfaction.

1.) Strength--the strength of the Spirit (Acts 1:8 "you will receive power [Gr. dunamis--from which we get "dynamite"] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you") in our inner man where Christ now dwells richly in us (Gal 2:20 "no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me," and Col 3:16 "the word of Christ dwell richly within you").

2.) Sight--only from a position of being rooted deeply and grounded firmly in the love of God (Col 2:6, 7 "as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him") may we have strength to comprehend and see ("Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" Ps 119:18) the boundless dimensions of God's love for us in Christ.

3.) Satisfaction--the perfect man or woman is the one who is completely full of God ("For in him [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" Col 2:9) and satisfied in Him ("Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" Ps 90:14).

"Now to You who are able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to You be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." 

-Ephesians 3:20, 21

The Sacrificial Lamb

Yom Kippur was on Saturday this weekend. On the biblical calendar, this is one of the most important days because it was when atonement was made for the nation of Israel (Leviticus 16:1–34).

Leviticus 23:26 says, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27 'Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord...28b to make atonement for you before the Lord you God."

I came across this video that will really grip your emotions and fix your eyes on the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). You will NEVER read Isaiah 53 the same way again. "Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter" so our Savior was captured and crucified on the cross.

Never forget the cross, nor the Lamb.

What is Expository Preaching?

Ever wondered what "expository preaching" is really all about? Are we as a church doing it right? If you tried out all the churches in the Antelope Valley would you notice a difference between how they all handle God's Word? Here is an short video discussion between three men who have faithfully exposited the Word of God in their respective churches.

Upon watching this 10min clip, I hope you will...

1. Be able to define and describe what "Expository Preaching" is;

2. Have a greater respect for the preacher's regular responsibility in preparing and preaching sermons for churches around the world;

3. Be able to engage more on Sunday mornings with each sermon;

4. Know how to pray for preachers of the Word more educatedly;

5. Have a greater reverence for God's Word;

6. Be more grateful for Valley's commitment to proclaim God's Word.

He Has Made Himself Known!

From Psalm 19:1–11, we learn about "General Revelation" and "Special Revelation" from King David. No doubt it is a more challenging theological concept, but it is well worth trying to understand the best we can.

Brief definition of the biblical concepts:

1. "General Revelation"--God revealing Himself to mankind generally through Creation (Psalm 19:1–6).

What the Bible says about the concept of "General Revelation":

Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

Also see Romans 1:19–20 "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

(For more fun reading on this Main Point #1: Psalm 8:3–4; Isaiah 40:12–15; Acts 14:15–17; Romans 2:14–16 referring to the voice of God in the conscience of EVERY man)

2. "Special Revelation"--God revealing Himself to mankind especially through the Word of God (Psalm 19:7–11) AND the Person of Jesus Christ (Gal 4:4; John 14:9).

There are two sources of "Special Revelation" of God: the Word of God and the Son of God.

First of all, the Word of God being Special Revelation.

From our text from Friday night, please see Psalm 19:7–11.

2 Peter 1:19–21 "And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God las they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

1 Corinthians 2:9 "But, as it is written,

'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him'—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ."

Secondly, the Son of God as the supreme Special Revelation of God.

Galatians 4:4, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law."

Hebrews 1:1–3 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

John 14:9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Other ways God has revealed Himself to mankind (in the past, not presently):

a. Theophanies (God appearing to man in some shape of form)

b. Dreams and visions (Numbers 12:6)

c. Direct contacts (Numbers 22:9; 23:4; Exodus 33:11)

d. Miracles and signs

e. The Prophets

BUT the nice thing is that we have these recorded for us in the Word of God! So read on! :)

Brief comparison of the biblical concepts:

I believe Pache's comment is accurate and trustworthy, "The revelation given in nature [general revelation] is insufficient. It does allow us a glimpse of the power, providence and eternality of God; but it fails to present clearly His person, His holiness, His righteousness and--above all--His redeeming love and everlasting purposes for us" (Rene Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture, pg. 16).

Therefore, you cannot be saved by General Revelation alone. Though someone can believe that God exists through seeing and observing creation, they still cannot be saved because they haven't heard and believed in what the Bible says about Christ dying for their sins, making them right with their mighty Creator God.

"The Bible may be regarded as completing the intended divine revelation of God partially revealed in nature, more fully revealed in Christ, and completely revealed in the written Word." Praise God for the fullness of His revelation to us! We are not left short-handed, or with partial information about Him!

Its kind of like inside information in the investment world. When you get "specific" information from someone on the inside who works for Apple, and they say that a new product is being released in January 2011, then you should put your stock in Apple before it comes out. You have an advantage because you know information that the "general" public and other investors do not know.

God has revealed Himself specially through His Word that we might gain insight into how we can be saved--through Christ and Christ alone. The one who has never heard the gospel is still in the dark, until they are reached with the preaching of the gospel. Listen to Paul...

Romans 15:20–21 says, "and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,

and those who have never heard will understand.”

How can we be holy?

This morning's message at The Master's Seminary chapel was delivered by Dr. Bill Barrick on "Sanctification: The Work of the Holy Spirit and Scripture."

To answer his question, "How can we be holy?" he answers from Scripture:

1. The Initial Sanctification

First Corinthians 6:11 says, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

First, remember that you were made completely and perfectly holy by the regeneration of your soul and the washing of the stains of your sins. In Christ, we have been positioned as holy before our holy God. That should ALWAYS motivate you to become holy out of the gratefulness of your heart.

2. The Exhortation of Sanctification

Second Corinthians 7:1 says, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

Since you are clean (number 1 above), therefore be clean! We have the promises of God to bring us out of every defilement of body and spirit. We have been exhorted to purge out that which is inconsistent with our holy calling.

3. The Imperative of Sanctification

Hebrews 12:14 says, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."

We are to strive for holiness, making it our ambition to seek a holy life. Can it be observed of your life that you strive for or pursue holiness?

4. The Process of Sanctification

Second Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Be assured of this, that becoming holy like Christ is a process. You won't be done with all former sins in four minutes. You won't walk through temptations like they never phase you. You are a "work in process." God has so wisely and wonderfully designed in His Word that you may be forgiven as you repent of your sin, that you'd be shown grace when broken over your sin, and that you'd be shown mercy when you are feeling like a failure. God is patient. Endure the process, for it is God who began a good work in your and He will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).

So go. Be holy, as He is holy.

Christ's Ascension...So What?

What do you know about the Ascension of Christ? Is it deep to you? Was it really that significant? Does it have any relevance to us now? Kenneth Alan Daughters expounds on this often overlooked, yet Biblically significant, aspect of Christ's earthly ministry in his article: The Theological Significance of the Ascension.

For the sources of the quotations below, please check the Emmaus Journal, Vol 3 (1994) 163–177. He begins, in part...

"Easter is incomplete, Pentecost is impeded, and the Second Coming is impossible without the ascension...Where is Christ now?...If he is not on the right hand of God the Father, he does not reign, and we have no King."

1. It marks the end of Christ's self-limitation (Phil 2:1–8)

2. It is the occasion for Christ's exaltation and glorification (Jn 17:5; Phil 2:9–11; Eph 1:20–22)

"He is reigning as King in heaven, sitting at His Father's right hand and soon His rulership will extend to this earth when He returns in judgment to set up His kingdom...It also demonstrates the Father's acceptance of Christ's earthly work...God the Father set the seal and crown upon His resurrection, and upon His whole earthly ministry...He rose to ascend; he ascended to reign."

3. It marks the entrance of resurrected humanity into heaven

"Jesus was the first man to enter heaven with a glorified body. He is our forerunner (Heb 6:20). His presence there is our guarantee that we too will be resurrected and taken to heaven."

4. It marks the beginning of Christ's new ministry of intercession and advocacy (Heb 7:25; 1 Jn 2:1)

5. It allowed Christ to send the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us (Jn 16:7; 14:12)

"Unless Jesus returned to the Father, we would not be empowered to do these 'greater works'...Our works are not greater in quality, but greater in quantity. Greater works can be accomplished because the Spirit indwells each one of us. Jesus has shared Himself with us more by sending His Spirit than if He had stayed personally."

6. It served as the opportunity for Christ to give us spiritual gifts (Eph 4:8)

7. It allows the preparation of our future heavenly home (Jn 14:2–3)

8. It anticipates His return (Acts 1:11)

The Ascension is a significant aspect of not only Christ's life here no earth, but also His present ministry from heaven's throne to those who believe today. BUT, how often do we spend time to contemplate and really mediate on the significance of this culminating and forward-looking event of Christ's ministry?

May we appreciate the Ascension of Christ more than before and in every day until He returns in the same fashion He left.

Who is Worthy of Worship?

Take a look at Scripture at a few examples...

Is Peter?

Acts 10:25–26 "When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, 'Stand up; I too am a man.'"

How about Paul? And Barnabas?

Acts 14:11, 14–15 "And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!' 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 'Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.'"

Try Angels?

Revelation 19:10 "Then I [John] fell down at his feet to worship him [the angel that spoke to him], but he said to me, 'You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.'"

Jesus?

Matthew 13:31–33 "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' 32 And when they [the disciples] got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'"

Matthew 15:25 "But she [the Syrophoenician woman] came and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, help me.'"

Matthew 28:9 "And behold, Jesus met them [women after His resurrection] and said, 'Greetings!' And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him."

John 9:35–38 "Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' 36 He answered, 'And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?' 37 Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.' 38 He said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him."

Surely if Jesus was only a man like Peter, Paul or Barnabas, or even if He was an angel, He would have rejected the worship offered to Him throughout His life. Rather, Jesus accepted worship and commended men and women for their faith in Him.

Logical conclusion: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so worship Him and Him alone for He is God!

Frazier Park Snow Day-Part 3

Darrin raises the bar with his famous face plants, many of which have left evidence and debris in his mustache.

Tyler puts us all to shame when perfecting the standard sled jump, though only moments after he would be found cold, curled up on a log, tending to his frozen, ice-burnt wounds with no shoes on.

HAD to try "The Train" at our last stop of the day. Pretty much cleared out the whole park with our superior performance, but left with no regrets knowing that we left our best on the slopes.

Frazier Park Snow Day-Part 2

Today was an incredible day of fun AND fellowship! God is so good for having kept us all safe up in the mountains as we thrashed our bodies on sleds in the snow AND He is so good for having provided wonderful opportunities to get to know other brothers--and sister ;)--in Christ better, to talk about things of His Word and creation, and to relate to one another over eternal and personal matters...when we weren't discussing who had frostbite the worst (a very personal matter indeed...just ask Tyler T)!

Our arrival at Frazier Park, as Paul shows us how much air he wants to get.

First order of business...find the steepest slope with the most jumps and "Go big or go home!"

Where others find "dead ends" we come alive with our finest tricks!

Frazier Park Snow Day-Part 1

Paul and Tim (whom we had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know) made haste to drop in and book it to the bottom.

Paul takes a plunge from unparalleled heights! See as he pulls a sudden and unexpected, yet skillfully successful, trick on his way over the "speed bumps."

Daniel, under the impression that this was a smoothly-carved out half-pipe, finds himself being lodged into the opposing embankment.

Mark Those Observations!

I have been teaching through the Gospel of Mark on Friday nights for the college ministry for a couple of years now. My Expository Preaching professor, Dr. Ardavanis, is also preaching through the Gospel of Mark in his church at Placerita Baptist in Santa Clarita. One of the joys of my preaching class, which has also become a source of personal embarrassment at times, is hearing how he has preached through the sections of Mark and what the propositional statements were for his texts when I didn't necessarily see them that clearly. For instance,

1. The "Compassionate Goodness of Christ" is NOT the main point of Mark 7:31–37, in which Jesus heals a deaf man.

2. "Christ's Compassion and Miraculous Provision" are definitely aspects of Mark 8:1–10, but NOT the main point to emphasize, which I also did.

3. I generally have been teaching each paragraph, or section of thought, observing Who Christ is, what He has said/done, and how people respond to His actions. They make for great little devotions, but seem--to me now--to have been missing something that unified them all.

One of the greatest mistakes I feel like I have made is teaching through the Gospel of Mark, without the overarching theme of the whole book, and the major theme of the larger sections of Mark's writing.

For instance, 1:1 says, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." THIS is the purpose statement of the book of Mark. Therefore, my steady appeal to those who hear my messages should be something along the lines of "This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and here in this passage it is clear that He is the Son of God. Will you receive Him by faith and follow after Him?"

Also, if you look closely you will find the theme of Jesus' authority threaded in and out of the context of chapters 1–8. You will see His authority over sickness, Satan, demonic possession, forgiveness of sins, creation, sickness, death and disbelief. Surely Mark comes out strong in his Gospel providing evidence for the authority that Jesus Christ has as the Son of God.

And, if you look to the next large context of Mark, you will find an "inclusio," which is a body of thought inclosed with one main purpose. The inclusio spans from chapters 8 to 10. On either end of the body of thought, there are two similar miracles performed by Jesus that function as the passage's "book ends." At the center of these three chapters lies the three different foretellings of the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of Man. Not only that hard news to hear for the 12, but also a model for the way in which they would live following after Him--if you are to follow Him, you are to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. If you are to follow Him, then forsake it all to find it all in Him. If you are to follow Him, you will not be ashamed of Him in this adulterous and sinful generation. If you are to follow Him, you will be last of all and servant of all. If you are to follow Him, you must be servant, slave, and sacrificially selfless to all. These are the terms or requisites of authentic discipleship.

What is interesting in the first bookend, when Jesus heals the blind man at Bethsaida, is that He heals him in two phases. Why? It was not because Jesus was warming up and improving or practicing on him. It was not that anything was limiting Him from healing this man's blindness. It WAS an illustration for the doubting disciples for them to have the eyes of their hearts opened to the truth of who Jesus really is. In 8:17, 18, and 21 say, "Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?...Do you not yet understand?"

And what is unique about the second healing of Jesus restoring sight to blind Bartimaeus, is that He does it without touching him. Just the commendation of Bart's faith and the power of Christ would suffice. For Bart had seen/believed something about Jesus that others were slow and partially blind to see about Him--"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Bart got it right! He knew that this man was the promised Messiah through the line of David! And it was his undivided faith that healed him.

So lesson learned: Preach the biblical text propositionally with the support, flow and force of the context.

Can You Become a Leader?

I came across a powerful set of questions in J. Oswald Sanders' book on leadership, Spiritual Leadership, which are worth considering for your own relationships with one another:

1. Do other people's failures annoy or challenge you?

2. Do you "use" people, or cultivate people?

3. Do you direct people, or develop people?

4. Do you criticize, or encourage?

5. Do you shun or seek out the person with a special need or problem?

These are pretty penetrating tests of our leadership potential. Spend some time thinking through which way you lean in each of these questions in each of your relationships.

A Verse of Encouragement

Lately I have been feeling pretty weak physically and at times it can really wear on me. I know that there are plenty of people at Valley who are going through the sickness season, and there are many others who are experiencing affliction in various ways, perplexing times, and even persecution for standing up for Christ. So here is a verse to encourage you in the midst of your weakness.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Cor 4:7).

The surpassing power of God is what gets us through each trial and hardship, and that power is not of own doing or striving. May God receive glory in our "inglorious" days. And may our minds and lips be full of praise to God for His surpassing power demonstrated in our weakness, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh (v. 11).

I'd love to be able to say, "I'd rather be sick and know the power of God, than to be healthy and feel like I don't need God's power." Unfortunately, I have a lot of maturing to go until I get there!

Does God forgive us when we don't confess our sin?

I was asked this question recently and thought that it would be profitable to include the discussion in our blog. "Does God forgive us when we don't confess our sin? Like if we never admitted we sinned, does he forgive us for that by his grace?" Whenever the answer doesn't seem screamingly clear to me, I just start by reinforcing biblical truths that I know are in place first, and then view the question in my fresh understanding of those other concrete truths. For instance...

1. Forgiven are those who fear the LORD

Psalm 103:11–13 says, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him."

One would not know where to start when trying to measure the distance "the east is from the west." This shows the extent and effectiveness of His perfect forgiveness. Do you think about this truth when you feel guilt from things you have done in your past? Do you think on this truth when you slightly fall back into past sins that you once felt such immense guilt about? Do you think on this truth when you are caught up in sin from day to day?

Note: There is no sign of taking advantage of God's gracious and complete forgiveness here, as if we can just walk up to this truth and say, "I have sinned. You say you will forgive me entirely. So I will go on living like I always have because you never count it against me." NO! "The LORD is great in his steadfast love and shows compassion to those who fear him."

Too often we don't walk in the fear of the LORD. We must recognize that if it weren't for the compassionate mercy and gracious forgiveness of the LORD, then we would stand condemned for the whole of our lives AND into the next, experiencing the totality and severity of God righteous and indignant wrath for sinful rebellion against Him. And turning away from Him and choosing a life of sinfulness should cause us to tremble in fear.

Romans 6:1, 2 (along with Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; Jude 7) say, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Let us not "pervert the grace of God," but "walk in newness of life," "using our freedom to serve God and man."

2. Blessed are the forgiven by the LORD

Psalm 32:1–2 says, "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgive, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit".

Not knowing if you are forgiven for sins is no way to live. Trying to conceal your sin, covering it up and justifying your sinful thoughts or actions is really a decaying process for your soul--"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of the summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin" (32:3–5).

If you know that you've sinned and you feel guilty because you've broken God's holy standard, then you only have two choices--try to cover it up yourself or be covered by God. David here is expressing the anguish and turmoil of what it is like to attempt to cover it up himself. This is no way to live! It only leads to death (2 Cor 7:10).

So David's advice is "Let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found...You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance" (Ps 32:6–7).

Because let's be honest, "Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart" (32:10–11)! THIS is the way to live--to be covered by the steadfast love of the LORD. Trust Him, seek His forgiveness for all the sin He is making known to you, and rejoice for you know you are clean!

3. Sanctified are those who are holy in the LORD

When talking about forgiveness in the life of a believer, we are really talking about the process of becoming more holy--sanctified. Putting off that which is in accordance to our old nature and putting on that which pertains to our new nature in Christ Jesus (Col 3:1–17; Eph 4:17–32; Rom 6; 1 Thes 4:3–8). The key doctrines of our faith are often referred to as "Doctrines of Grace," namely Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification in the life of every believer. It is very important in getting each of these understood biblically so that you don't get mixed up and confuse them with each other. And with a healthy understanding of the doctrines of grace, you will be able to understand best what God is doing in the life of one who has been called His child.

By God's grace you are positionally forgiven (justification) for all of your sins--past, present and future (John 1:29). But progressively (in sanctification) you are called to ask forgiveness for your sins as you see them and ask the LORD to search them out. For instance: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). That is a conditional clause. Meaning that if we confess, He will forgive. And if we don't confess our sin, then why should He forgive us? And Psalms 139:23, 24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" So it is our responsibility as holy and beloved children of God (He adopted us) to make it a habit of seeking forgiveness and confessing sin.

However, this DOES NOT mean that you are any less saved or forgiven positionally if you don't ask forgiveness for your sins (in progressive holiness) here or there. If you make a habit of not confessing sin, or just confessing it because those around you are, or because you were just told to from a young age, then it may evidence that salvation was not genuine in the first place.

BUT what it MAY mean is that if you are aware of sin in your life and you DO NOT ask for forgiveness, then you surely will not be as close to God as you could and as He desires. Why do we not feel as close to God as we ought? Because of our disobedience--our choosing of the power and presence of sin rather than the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. For example, if I continually did contrary to my wife's desires, then of course we would not feel close to one another. We are still in a relationship until the Lord ends it, but within the context of our relationship we could be closer if I did as she pleased and vice-a-versa. Though you are covered by His perfect and efficacious grace, He still longs for you to repent of your sin until you no longer sin (perfect holiness and communion with Him in heaven--Yea!). "You shall be holy, for I am holy," (1 Pet 1:16) must be taken to mean our progressive holiness, being made more and more into the likeness of Christ (Rom 8:29).

AND actually, because He has forgiven you perfectly and hidden you in Christ's clean and perfect righteousness that can NEVER be taken away, this is to be a MOTIVATION for you to want to seek forgiveness for the sins that you see pop up in your life on a regular basis. The less you appreciate and believe what He has accomplished for you at the cross, the less you will strive to become holy like He is.

No, we will never know the full extent of our sins. But we are sure that whatever they total in number and in grievousness to God, He has forgiven us of them all. So because of this, may we walk in obedience and seek closeness to our loving, forgiving Father Who cannot dwell with darkness (You gotta read 2 Cor 6:14–7:1!).

For an example, the "Puritans"--a group of believers alive during the early establishment of the church in America--were radically committed to integrating the doctrines of grace into real life. If you read their prayers that have been recorded in works like Valley of Vision or other Puritan works and biographies, they would often pray that they would be forgiven of the entirety of their sin, especially the sin they were not even yet aware of. They knew that God's holiness so far exceeded their own to where it made them broken about the fact that they still had the residual effects of sin in their fleshly bodies.

So to return to the question: "Does God forgive us when we don't confess our sin? Like if we never admitted we sinned, does he forgive us for that by his grace?"

I would say that the simple answer is this--Yes and No:). He DOES forgive us of all our sin in a general sense no matter what we have done (He doesn't hold anything against His children as if they were still children of wrath). BUT He DOESN'T forgive us until we've confessed specifically to our wrong doing. If we are born-again and don't know or care about how our sin offends God, then that would seem like we aren't repentant of it and that we aren't turning to the Lord in closer communion with Him and obedience to Him. So just because He has forgiven us all our sin (even the sin of not confessing our sin!), this doesn't give us an excuse or pass to overlook past or present sins and not deal with them according to God's Word.

So confess your sin as soon as He makes you are aware of it (no matter how long ago it was). Confess to the LORD also that you are prone to wander and feeble and frail (sinning and falling short of His glory every day in many and different ways). And fear the LORD knowing that out of His steadfast love and faithful kindness He forgives us of all our sins. This should align our will with His and restore us to close communion with Him.