ANTHEM: Strategies for Fighting Lust

Well, as many of you realize by now, I am not used to blogging in a very regular fashion. However, that being said, with so many good blogs already out there, on occassion, I think it is quite suitable to direct folks to another blog.

I am recommending this blog (from Dr. John Piper) on the issue of fighting against lust. So often Christians are told they shouldn't lust... but not as often are they supplied with practical tools or tips on the fight. So, with humble submission, may I encourage you (both men and women) to review these words of Piper, and apply them in 2011.

May God grant us victory in our battles against sin of all kinds in the coming year!

www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/anthem-strategies-for-fighting-lust

Restoring Power...

Do you consider yourself powerful... that is, full of power? If not, ponder these words from the Apostle Paul: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). God wants you to be strong as a believer; He doesn't want you to be strong in yourself, but strong in Him. So how does that happen? What must we do to be strong in the Lord?

Check out this command from Paul's letter to the Ephesians: "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). In short, we are strong in the Lord when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The question then becomes: How do I become a Spirit-filled Christian?

Well, because we are commanded to be filled... there is something we must do in order to become Spirit-filled. On the other hand, because we are commanded to be filled by the Spirit (notice the verb is in the passive voice and not the active voice)... being filled is something that happens to us, not something that we do ourselves. Does that seem confusing to you? Do those sentences seem contradictory? Well, the truth is being filled with the Holy Spirit means that God is doing something to us (hence the passive voice); but because the verb is also an imperative (i.e. a command from God), we do have a responsibility to obey this apostolic injunction. Think about a person who is baptized/immersed into water. Jesus commanded His disciples to be baptized--so it is a command to be obeyed by His followers... but "be baptized" is also a passive voice verb--and thus, the person who is obedient to the command receives the action of the verb: he or she is baptized by another. In the same way, we are to allow Jesus to baptize us with/in the Holy Spirit. He is the baptizer, and we must submit to the command to be filled.

So, before we chat about HOW we become Spirit-filled, let's talk about what being Spirit-filled looks like practically. There are two key passages (I think) that answer this question for us. The first is Ephesians 5:19-21, and the second is Galatians 5:16-23. In Ephesians 5:19-21, Paul helps us see what the Spirit-filled life looks like: it is a life marked by praise (vs. 19), gratitude to God (vs. 20), and a humble, submissive attitude toward Christ and the other authority structures God has established in life (Ephesians 5:22-6:9 describe the relationships between a husband & wife, parents & children, masters & slaves/employers & employees). So, when you see a Christian who is marked by praise to God, a thankful heart, and a submissive attitude toward Christ and earthly authorities... chances are you are looking at someone who is controlled by (filled with) the Holy Spirit. [By the way, this is why Paul contrasts a drunk person with a Spirit-filled person: in both cases, when one is "under the influence", it impacts your thoughts, attitudes, speech, conduct, etc. The difference is when you are under the influence of wine, it leads to reckless and immoral living, and when you are under the influence of the Spirit, it leads to Christ-like behavior.]

The other passage I alluded to above is Galatians 5:16-23. In this text, Paul explains that the fruit of a person's life under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control... as opposed to a life marked by habitual sinning (including but not limited to sexual immorality, idolatry, strife, jealousy, anger, drunkenness, etc.). In short, the person who obeys the command to be Spirit-filled will look a lot like Jesus looked when He ministered here some 2,000 years ago (see 1 John 2:6).

So back to our other question: How does one become a Spirit-filled Christian?

First, you must confess any known sins to God (1 John 1:9). Obviously, the HOLY Spirit's name even suggests His primary ministry in the life of a believer: He wants to lead God's children into holiness. Thus, a Christian who refuses to deal with his sins will not come under the mighty influence of the Spirit. So, the first step is to keep short accounts with God. Admit your sins to God and ask for His forgiveness. Be sure that no sin is building a wall between you and God (see Isaiah 59:2a)... nothing ruins intimacy with God more than a refusal to deal with your sins (see Proverbs 3:32b).

Second, commit to obeying Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master (Acts 5:32). Or, to say it another way, commit to obeying the commands of Holy Scripture (Galatians 5:24-25). Jesus said the proof of our love for Him is found in our obedience to His commands (John 14:15), and so, if we truly love Christ, then we will follow His teachings. Again, if the Spirit's desire is to lead us into righteousness, then it makes sense that He would guide us according to the Scriptures He inspired (2 Timothy 3:16-17 & Psalm 143:10).

Third, present your body to God as a vessel to be filled (i.e. used for His glory)--see Romans 12:1 & 6:13. It's hard to enjoy a tall glass of water on a hot day when you have no glass, right? Well, it's equally hard for God to fill (i.e. control) a vessel which is not presented/yielded to Him. Paul's call in Romans 12:1 is that we yield all that we are and all that we possess to Him to be used for His pleasure and honor. So if you wish to be controlled by God's Spirit, offer your life to the Spirit--give Him your body, your mind, your hands, your feet, your wallet, your car, etc. If yielded to Him, He will take it, fill it, and use it for His purposes (2 Timothy 2:21).

Fourth, ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Many people stumble over this principle. "Well," someone may say, "if God wants me to be filled with His Spirit, He'll just do it." No, He won't. The reason Paul gives the command in Ephesians 5:18 is because God wants us to choose the Spirit-filled life and recognize our utter dependence upon His might (see John 15:5). He will not simply fill us automatically or apart from our choice to yield to His Spirit and lordship. The biblical pattern is this: ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). If you don't ask, you won't receive (James 4:2).

Fifth and finally, believe that God will fill you. In other words, believe that God wants to fill you more than you want to be filled. Believe that because God has commanded us to be filled, if we seek to obey that command, God will be faithful to fill us (Matthew 21:22). You may not FEEL anything special... maybe you will. The point is this: regardless of how you feel, TRUST that God will do what He says He will do... and He will fill you with His Spirit if you yield to these principles.

One last thought. The great evangelist, D.L. Moody, was once asked, "Why do you talk so much about the importance of regularly and consistently being filled with the Spirit?" Moody replied, "Because I leak." Being Spirit-filled is NOT a one-time event. A Spirit-filled Christian is one who practices these principles over and over again every day in order to keep himself yielded to the power of God's Spirit... and when you do, you will be full of power... God's power. And when people around you see God's power at work in your life you will have the opportunity to give the glory to God (where it belongs) [Matthew 5:16]

Restoring Prayer...

I have learned something about many Christians (including myself): we know prayer is important, we have listened to many lessons and sermons on prayer, there are a host of books and resources available to learn more about prayer, we confess and recognize that we do not take advantage of this great privilege as often as we should... but in the end: we spend a lot more time TALKING about prayer than we actually do PRAYING.

That's NOT good!

So what can I do (or say) to help you pray? Well, all I can do is offer some suggestions--only YOU can decide that you will spend time before the Father who loves you, and who delights in your coming into His presence to share your heart with Him. But, here are a few suggestions based on Scripture:

First, choose a time each day when you will pray. It may seem un-spiritual to "make an appointment with God"... but if you don't make one, prayer will not happen. Satan is too effective at keeping us from the prayer closet--so set a time each day when you will pray. Jesus said (Matthew 6:6), "When you pray...". Set an alarm, write it on your daily calendar or planner, do what you need to do to set aside time to pray. [And as a side note: if prayer is relatively new to you, don't set an unrealistic expecation with regard to time. Start with 5 minutes if that's all you can manage. Make it a habit, and when 5 minutes doesn't cut it any more, increase it to 10 minutes. Then, when 10 minutes is too short for all of your praying, increase it to 15 minutes... and so on. Let your knowledge and needs define the time frame. And don't worry about how long your pastor prays, or how long your Mom prays, or how long Spurgeon used to pray... pray for as long as you need to.]

Second, find a place to pray. The Bible says you can pray anywhere... and you can... BUT don't let that keep you from having a consistent, regular place where you meet with God. It doesn't have to be a fancy place--but I recommend that it be a place where there is little noise, where you can focus wholly on God, where you can read Scripture, sing, and pray out loud, and a place where you won't be interrupted. Bring a Bible, a pen, and some paper with you (and maybe a hymnal), and make that place a holy place where you go to meet with God. It can be a corner in the basement, a special chair that you always sit in when you pray, a nook in your kitchen, a closet that isn't too filled with junk. You name it... it can become a "prayer closet." Again, Jesus said (Matthew 6:6), "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."

Third, I recommend that you use some model or format for your prayer time. In other words, to help you have some direction as you pray, select a process that enables you to pray about the various aspects of life. Take for example, what is typically referred to as the Lord's Prayer recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. This a great pattern--taught to us by Jesus Himself--for our prayer times. It causes us to pray about God's person, His priorities, His provision, His pardon, His protection, etc. You can use the acrostic C.A.S.T. (1 Peter 5:7): Confession, Adoration, Suuplication, Thanksgiving. In this format, you spend time confessing your sins to God, you spend time praising God for who He is, you spend time sharing your requests and needs with God, and you also spend some time thanking God for all that He has done for you. This is a simple but great way to pray. Others think about concentric circles: I pray for myself, I pray for my immediate family, I pray for my extended family, I pray for my friends (both Christian and non-Christian), I pray for my church leaders, I pray for needs in my church, I pray for my co-workers, I pray for my neigbors, I pray for missionaries, etc. You start with those closest to you, and you work outward.

Finally, let me encouarge you to do two things that I believe will help you grow as a pray-er. First off, find someone who loves Jesus a lot and spend time praying with him or her. Many lessons about prayer are better "caught" than "taught". I have learned a lot over the years by listening to other godly people pray. Second, learn to pray the Bible back to God. There is a great promise in the book of 1 John (1 John 5:14-15)--it basically says that we can have confidence that our requests will be answered by God IF we pray according to His will... and the best way I know to do that is to pray God's truth back to Him. For example, David prayed in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God." What a great prayer to pray. Just copy David's prayer. Make it your own. Or for example, when Paul prays for his Jewish friends (Romans 10:1) to be saved, we can emulate his example: We can pray for God to save our friends too.

I hope these few suggestions will help you pray... because after all, that is what God wants from His people: "My house [people] will be called a house [people] of prayer" (Matthew 21:13).

Restoring Purity...

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged. My apologies to any who drop by here regularly--my schedule has become quite full in recent weeks, and blogging has yet to become a "normal" part of my weekly calendar.

If you've looked at my previous blog, you know that I want to spend some time chatting about this recent series I preached from Matthew 21: Restoring God's House. Specifically, I said that I believe Matthew 21:12-17 reveals that Jesus is looking for 4 primary characteristics in His house (i.e. His people--Hebrews 3:6): 1) Purity, 2) Prayer, 3) Power, and 4) Praise.

So let's talk about purity. It's not a very common word in our culture, is it? If we do use it, it usually refers to water, or sexuality. I do like pure water and I do believe God calls us to sexual purity... but that's certainly not the only two issues where purity matters. Purity relates to sincere motives. It relates to the pursuit of holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1). Not only does God want us to be sexually pure, but pure in our speech. He wants us to be undefiled in our attitudes, and so on.

I was recently very convicted about this truth in my own life. I was chatting with some good friends, and in a passing moment of sinful weakness, I made some comments about a fellow brother in Christ that were just... well... BAD. I was reminded how easy it is to let the posion of a judgmental spirit get the best of me. My "guiltometer" shot through the roof as I drove home (after the conversation). What kind of example was that? How could I have said that? How rude and wrong of me to slander a friend to others!

What about your TV habits? What are you watching on a regular basis? How important are "your" TV shows to you and your schedule? Do you not do certain worthwhile things because they conflict with your favorite TV programming? Do you not go to small group because your favorite show is on? Do you miss out on a prayer meeting because you can't miss an episode of ___________? Do you take a pass on that service opportunity because you know it will keep you from watching __________? Or perhaps more convicting: are you watching programs that you know (deep down in your "know-er") are not honoring to Christ or edifying to your spirit? Are you purposefully watching programs that "turn on" your flesh and starve your spirit? This, too, is something Jesus would have you ponder.

In the end, a fellow pastor says it best. "When it comes to evaluating how my relationship with God is going, I ask myself two primary questions: 1) What in my life stirs my affections for Christ?, and 2) what in my life quenches my affection for Christ?" That same pastor acknowledges that even something simple like keeping up with sports can become too important to him. I think that's pretty impressive (and insightful) that he knows that about himself. And I guess it ultimately points to the fact that he does intentionally take time to evaluate the condition of his soul... and many of us who claim to be Christ followers don't.

So... in what area(s) of your life is purity at risk? Where does sin rule and reign rather than King Jesus? What person, place or thing do you treasure (value) more than Christ? What object holds more sway over your soul than the Lord of lords? In the end, only you can answer that question... but I hope (if nothing else) this blog challenges you to spend some quiet moments with God evaluating your purity level.

And by the way: don't forget the great promises from God's Word... when we discover we're not pure--it's Jesus (and Him alone) who can deal with our need for cleansing (1 John 1:9 & Ezekiel 36:25).

Restoring God's House

One of the texts in the gospels which has intrigued me now for some seven years is the record of Jesus cleansing the temple during the passion week (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-47). I think it is so fascinating to me because it is a picture of Jesus that shocks my "religious self". In other words, many in the church have sadly grown accustomed to a mild, weak, effeminate, and soft Jesus--when in reality, He is the Lord of glory... zealous for His house (John 2:17). Jesus has expectations regarding His house; and somehow, people are surprised at this. We shouldn't be. Jesus is walking in the midst of His churches and He is evaluating their spiritual condition (Revelation 1:13 & Chapters 2-3)... and that's what I believe He was doing some 2,000 years ago when He cleansed the temple.

We are His house by-the-way (Hebrews 3:6). Thus, Jesus isn't just trying to communicate about what should happen in a sacred place (i.e. the temple in Jerusalem), but rather He is speaking to what qualities He is looking for in His people (i.e. His house). So... what is He looking for? Well, I would be lying if I said that this one text (Matthew 21:12-17) reveals them all; however, I will say that I believe the four qualities referred to in this text are crucial. Here they are (in order as they are seen/found in the passage of Scripture): 1) Purity (vs. 12-13), Prayer (vs. 13), Power (vs. 14), and Praise (vs. 15-16).

It seems to me that Jesus wants His people to be marked by purity, prayer, (supernatural) power, and praise (i.e. not just singing to God... but a deep commitment to glorifying His name in all their life). So... the question before the house (no pun intended) is this: Is your life marked by those four qualities? If not, why not?

I'll talk more about these qualities in future blogs-- but for now, I really do want you to examine your life under the loving guidance of the Lord (Psalm 139:23-24). Rate yourself. On a scale from 1-10, give yourself a score under each of the four qualities. Are you regularly giving into temptation and playing with sin? Maybe you're at a 2 or 3 on the PURITY scale. Are you a red-hot prayer warrior? Maybe you're an 8 or 9 on the PRAYER scale. Do you ignore the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Or do you diligently seek to be filled with the Spirit each day? What about praise... do you spend time each day giving God the honor and glory He deserves for all His marvelous works? Grade yourself. Be honest... and let the Lord guide you as you examine your own life. You can't address what you don't acknowledge. The Lord knows the truth about you--so you're not going to shock Him. But it's important that you know where you stand in these matters. After all, in the end, God is looking at the condition of His house, and if need be, judgment will begin with His own (1 Peter 4:17). Rather than wait for His discipline, let's delight His heart by examining ourselves, correcting what's wrong, and celebrating what's right in our lives (1 Corinthians 11:31).

Let's restore God's house to it's original condition... what do you say?

Are You Prepared to Face Death... and God?

As I shared this past week with my local church family, my grandmother passed away at the age of 92 on August 15th. She was born and raised in Germany, and I will miss her. It's hard to imagine, but I only had seven opportunities in my 37 years to spend time with her. I have travelled to Germany 3 times in my life, and she came to the U.S. 4 times in my lifetime. Thankfully, our last meeting she stayed with my parents for a year (2006-2007), and I was able to spend some extended time with her. Still, I have never spoken German fluently... and thus, our relationship was deep (because of blood), but shallow in terms of limited communication. Oh, how I wish I could have shared the wonders of Christ with her in a more deep fashion.

Death. It has a way of humbling us, sobering us, and reminding us of our mortality, doesn't it?! My grandmother's passing reminded me of the serious words of Hebrews 9:27: "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that to face judgment." Death may or may not scare you... but what about the word 'judgment'? Are you prepared to stand before the holy, righteous and just Judge of all mankind and give an account of your life to Him? That day is coming friend... make no mistake--regardless if you are a beliver in Christ or not (Acts 17:31; Romans 14:12; and 2 Corinthians 5:10). Are you prepared to die today (you could you know... you're not guaranteed tomorrow)? If you were to die today and God were to ask you WHY He should allow you to enter into His heaven... what would be your answer? Where is your faith resting? What or whom are you trusting in to obtain everlasting life?

The truth is--according to the Bible--the only hope any of us has is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:1). He is our hope of heaven IF we have turned from our sins and trusted in Him alone for the gift of salvation (Mark 1:14-15; Luke 13:3; John 3:16; John 3:36; John 20:31; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:43; Acts 16:30-31; Acts 17:30; 1 John 5:5). We must be willing to turn away from our sins (those attitudes and actions which displease God and which are revealed in His Word--e.g. The Ten Commandments) with His help, and we must be willing to believe that Jesus Christ is God's one and only Son, that He lived a sinless life (wholy obedient to His Father's will), that He died on the cross to pay for the sin debt of mankind (i.e. death--Romans 6:23), that He was buried, and that on the third day God raised Him from the dead to prove to all that Jesus' death was indeed accepted by God as the full payment for man's sin debt. The Bible says succinctly: 'For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of [human/religious/good] works, so that no one may boast' (Ephesians 2:8-9)... and 'If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [i.e. the Sovereign over all], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead [having purchased your redemption through His substitutionary death], you will be saved... for anyone who trusts in Him will never be disappointed' (Romans 10:9-11).

The gospel of Jesus Christ really is good news. Sinful, rebellious, fallen, imperfect people like you and me can be reconciled to God, forgiven of our sins, adopted by God into His family, and promised the hope of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 1:7; John 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5)... if we will turn from sin and trust in Christ. What a gracious and merciful God--to extend the possibility of salvation to us. I hope you have received His free gift of salvation. If not, today is the day to prepare to face death... and God (Isaiah 55:6-7 & 2 Corinthians 6:2).

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew (the photo is of the Sea of Galilee)...

Well, as my church family already knows, I am about to embark on a "break" from pastoral ministry for a month. This is a first for me in thirteen years of ministry. I've taken some vacations along the way (though probably not as many as I should), but never a complete "break" from preaching and pastoring. Yet, I am convinced--by Scripture--that this is a good thing (not to mention that my soul is telling me I need this desperately).

I don't know if you have ever noticed this or not--but Jesus spent a lot of time withdrawing from people and ministry. Check out these Scriptures: Matthew 4:12; Matthew 12:15; Matthew 14:13; Matthew 15:21; Mark 3:7; Luke 9:10; John 6:15. I think He knew how important it was to take some time to re-fuel, to re-connect with His Father in heaven, and to refresh Himself from the challenges and burdens of ministry. What's more, I think He knew that the power and direction for His life would come from prayer and solitude.

I have to admit that requesting a month away from ministry was humbling--but in the end, that's what God wants us to be: humble (1 Peter 5:6). I know I need to take some time to re-calibrate, rest, and be refreshed in the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).

As a consequence of this break, I will not be blogging, e-mailing, surfing the web, etc. So... this will be my last blog for a bit. May I humbly request that you be in prayer for me as the Lord reminds you to do so. Pray that His will be done during this break, that I find rest at the feet of Christ (Matthew 11:28-30), and that I will be better prepared to return to ministry in a month. And lest I forget to say it later: thanks for praying!

And finally, for your benefit, let me ask you a question. When was the last time you "went away and withdrew" in order to be refreshed by the Lord? It's not just a principle pastors need to apply, you know--this is something you need to ponder too. I think Jesus was modeling something important for all of us. We need time away from our normal routines... we need time alone... we need silence to think and meditate well... we need a time away to pray and seek the Lord... we need some time away to hear that still, small voice... we need to turn off the TV, turn off the radio, step away from our cell phones and computers, stop texting, blogging, surfing, etc. We need to be still and know that we are NOT God (Psalm 46:10a). So, I hope in some small way my taking this break will encourage you to do the same... even if you can't leave your job for 30 days like I am (maybe you can plan a long weekend, use a week of vacation for spiritual renewal, go to a conference on the Bible, etc.).

Follow Jesus' example: withdraw and be alone with the Father, and find rest for your souls.

A Note to Mom's and Dad's

While I am convinced Scripture does not require a man to have children in order to serve as a pastor / overseer / bishop / elder (all synonyms in the New Testament)... I admit that sometimes the reality that I do not yet have children can function as a detriment in my ministry to those in my congregation who do.

So, while I'm not writing this blog myself, I was thinking about the members of Broadway who have young children and who might benefit from the blog below of a fellow pastor. I offer this link (http://theresurgence.com/how_i_pastor_my_family) as a pattern to ponder. I don't believe this author is demanding that you follow every suggestion, nor am I passing it on because I think this blog is perfect... but I do think parents of young children can be encouraged and equipped by reading it, chewing on it, and asking God for guidance and wisdom as to how they might apply its ideas to their own lives/families.

I hope it helps.

P.S.--The views, comments, and suggestions may or may not accurately reflect the theology of this blogger. (Aren't disclaimers great!?!?!) God bless you.

Deuteronomy 6:7

How goes the FIGHT against sin?

My recent study of St. Matthew's account of Jesus being tempted in the wildernes (Matthew 4:1-11) was a very beneficial and edifying experience for me. I admit that the congregation I serve was subjected to a not-so-good sermon on that passage a couple of weeks ago--mostly because I was so overwhelmed by my examination of the text that I failed to do a better job of outlining my message, and consequently, I think I rammbled more than taught well (sorry Broadway!). But, in any case, I was certainly blessed by observing intently the Savior in the midst of His testing. What an amazing use of the Sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6:17)!

So... I hope to highlight here (in a more direct and brief manner) some practical things I learned from Jesus' example that you and I as believers can use to resist the devil and cause him to flee from us (James 4:7).

First, though it isn't mentioned in Matthew's account (see Luke 4:1), Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit as He entered into His time of testing/temptation. And I am absolutely convinced that you and I will never be successful at resisting the devil and temptation unless we, too, are fully submitted to and fully dependent upon the Person of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Ephesians 5:18). Only as we choose to remain submitted to the Lord's rightful authority in our life (John 13:13) will we be able to cause Satan to flee (James 4:7). And, if Jesus was relying on the power of the Spirit to stand against temptation, who are we to think that we can say NO to sin apart from relying on His strength in our life as well (Ephesians 3:16).

Second, let us note that Jesus faced temptation head on in the midst of a fast (Matthew 4:2 & Luke 4:2). Now let's be bluntly honest: how often do you and I fast? My guess is not often enough. What a powerful spiritual discipline this is... and yet, in our culture, fasting is not recognized as a powerful tool for spiritual growth (at least not by the majority of Christians). Yet, few spiritual disciplines reveal to us what is truly controlling our lives like fasting does. But certainly fasting is also beneficial to the believer because it causes us to feast more on the Lord and His Word (Psalm 34:8a & Psalm 119:103). As Richard Foster notes in his book, Celebration of Discipline, "Fasting reminds us that we are sustained 'by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' Food does not sustain us; God sustains us... Therefore, in experiences of fasting we are not so much abstaining from food as we are feasting on the word of God."

Third, let's not forget that fasting is closely connected to another spiritual discipline Jesus models for us so well: prayer. Was Jesus just walking about the Judean wilderness not eating for forty days? Of course not! He was meditating on God's Word (undoubtedly), and He was praying to His Father in heaven. How do we know that prayer is a powerful tool against temptation and the Evil One? What did Jesus say to His disciples in Gethsemane? "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). What did Jesus teach us in the model prayer (i.e. The Lord's Prayer--Matthew 6:9-13)? He taught us to pray like this: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One" (Matthew 6:13). So by all means, Christian, pray! Pray for God's protection against temptation, and ask that He will strengthen you to endure any temptation that comes your way (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Fourthly and finally, listen to (Luke 11:28), read (Colossians 4:16), study (Ezra 7:10), memorize (Psalm 119:11), and meditate (Joshua 1:8) on Scripture so that your sword (Ephesians 6:17) is sharp and ready for battle. If I learned one thing by studying Jesus in Matthew 4, it was that He was familiar with the Scriptures. He knew the history of Israel. He knew of God's supernatural provision for His people. He knew God's laws. He knew how people are tempted to forget God and treasure things rather than God Himself. He remembered how people in the past had sinned against God and His word. He had read the Torah (i.e. Pentateuch), He had pondered it's truth and meaning, He had memorized the history of Israel, He was well versed in the Scriptures. So, what about you? What about me? Could those things be said of us? Are we well acquainted with the Bible? If we are, we will do much better at resisting sin. If we don't know the truths, principles, and promises of the Bible, we will not be very successful in our fight against temptation. My prayer for us is that we will become a people of "the Book", and thus, be successful in our fight against sin.

May God, in His grace, deliver us from evil, and may we all continue to grow in the likeness of our Savior. Amen.

Recently I have been preaching a sermon series entitled, "Snapshots of the Savior", and I have been trying to capture some memorable moments in the life of Christ that not only reveal truth about our Savior, but also reveal principles that are important for us who seek to live the Christin life as well.

The first message in that series was "Blessing Children", and we looked at Luke's account in Luke 18:15-17 of how Jesus responded when his disciples were hindering children from coming to the Savior. It's one of the few times that the Bible says Jesus became 'indignant' (i.e. displeased & angry). Jesus wanted the children to be brought to Him, and so we sought to ask ourselves some valuable questions about our own relationship to children:

1) What is your attitude toward children? (Are they a blessing and gift from the Lord--Psalm 127:3, or are they simply viewed as a 'hindrance' in your life... keeping you from fulfilling the American dream of success?)

2) Are you bringing the children in your life to Jesus? (Do you spend time with the children in your life/sphere of influence? What do you do with them? What are you teaching them? Where are you taking them? What are you modeling for them? Do you regularly pray for them?)

3) Are you keeping the children in your life from Jesus? (Are you a hypocrite in their eyes--Matthew 23:13? Are you abusing them--Romans 13:4? Are you provoking them to anger needlessly--Ephesians 6:4?)

4) Do you have a child-like attitude toward God? (Do you see yourself before God as helpless as a newborn baby in need of provision? Jesus said only those who recognize their helplessness and need for God's salvation, and who humbly call out for mercy will obtain eternal life--Luke 18:9-14)

One thing I didn't touch on from this text that I think is so important is God's heart towards children who die (a child that was aborted, a child who died in the womb, a child who dies just days or weeks after being born, a small infant who dies due to an accident, etc.). It seems to me (and other Bible teachers) that Jesus says that children--babies, infants, toddlers--are in a category of those who 'belong to the kingdom of heaven' (Luke 18:16). I won't take time to delve into this subject fully in this blog, but I did want to suggest a great resource that I have found both biblical and helpful. It is a book by Dr. John MacArthur (long-time pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California) entitled, "Safe in the Arms of God". This book has provided great insight to me regarding God's heart towards children (and has supplied practical tips for how I can minister biblical hope to a family who has had a young child die). If you have questions or know someone who is wrestling with these issues, please visit http://www.gty.org/ and click the tab "shop" and then the word "books" to purchase a copy of this fine resource.

On more than one occassion I have given this book to a family or a parent who is dealing with the grief of having lost a child to death. My prayer is that letting people know about this book may supply more biblical hope and comfort to others outside my sphere of influence who could use this resource. God bless you.

FROM HYPOCRISY TO AUTHENTICITY

Have you ever pretended to be more spiritual than you really are? (Please, be honest... that's part of the reason for this particular blog--to encourage genuineness among Christ followers.) I have. I don't like to admit it--especially online where multitudes of people can read it--but I have been a hypocrite. I have said things in the past to make myself look more spiritually mature than I really was at the time.

For example, years ago, when I was a student in Bible College, I recall leading a small group in my dorm room every Wednesday morning. For the most part it was a pretty good time of discipleship and growth. The guys in my group were actually serious about their relationship with Christ, and usually our conversations were deep, insightful and challenging. But I have to be honest, I wanted to appear godly to these guys, even though in actuality, I was far from being truly Christ-like. And so, back then when I would read books by very mature saints I would often take their testimonies as my own. In other words, I might not truly have experienced Christ in the same deep or rich way as these great saints (A.W. Tozer, Brother Lawrence, Augustine, etc.), but I would tend to "borrow" their words as if they accurately reflected my own spiritual experience. [WOW! I feel dirty just typing that confession.] This way I could sound very spiritual, appear very godly, and even though I knew I wasn't that mature, I could fool my accountability partners.

One morning, in particular, I remember we were discussing the topic of heaven. So I asked each guy in our circle why heaven was going to be so great, or what they were looking forward to the most about going to heaven... and they had some pretty honest and biblical answers. But I knew that my answer was going to make them all feel sub-spiritual. I said, "I'm not looking forward to walking on streets of gold, or seeing angels, or meeting the great saints of the Bible--I'm looking forward to heaven because Jesus will be there, and I can't wait until I have perfect fellowship with Him in glory forever."

To be honest, I accomplished my evil goal. I could see on the faces of my friends that my answer had cut them to the quick. They looked at each other, and without saying a word, their expressions declared: "Man, he really is the most godly guy amongst us." What a phony I was... and yet those looks were what I was aiming for (John 12:43).

But here's the wonder of God's grace: 1) He didn't strike me down that day for my lie (though He could have--see Acts 5:3,5) or my hypocrisy (which Jesus does NOT respond kindly to--see Matthew 23:27), 2) I've grown enough (by His mercy) to confess publicly the above mentioned (awful) sins of my past... and 3) this is the BEST part--today I really do believe that Jesus will be the best part of heaven.

The truth is the gospel really isn't good news if it doesn't lead people to God Himself. Jesus didn't die just to forgive us. Forgiveness means little unless you are restored to a joyful and peaceful relationship with the one you love and the one whom you have offended by your sin(s). Jesus didn't die just so that we could claim a promise like Philippians 4:19. What's the point of receiving everything we need if God doesn't also give Himself to us? Jesus didn't die just to rescue us from going to hell. What delight is there if we avoid hell but never see God face to face?

In other words, all of the blessings that come to a Christian via the gospel are wonderful... but none of those blessings are as wonderful as the gift of God Himself. Jesus didn't die to keep His children from experiencing bad things, He didn't die so that we would never be sick, He didn't die so that we might be wealthy in this life, He didn't die to simply alleviate our guilty consciences... He died (according to 1 Peter 3:18) to bring us to God.

And this is crucial to understand, so please read this sentence carefully: if there is any blessing from God that you or I want more than we want God Himself, we have become idolaters. Christ died once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that we might be brought to God HIMSELF.

Years ago I lied to appear godly and told my friends that what made heaven truly heaven was that Jesus would be there... and the wonder of the transforming power of God's grace is that today my hypocrisy has become authenticity, and He deserves all of the glory for that metamorphosis. As John Piper has so plainly stated in one of his books: God is the Gospel. What makes Jesus' life, death and resurrection such good news is that His redeeming work has brought us to God Himself, and though He graciously bestows upon us (His children) so many blessings--He Himself truly is the greatest gift.

Is God your greatest treasure? My prayer is that if He is not... He soon will be.