Isaiah 41:23a "Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods;"
Isaiah continues, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to issue the challenge to all other would be claims of Divine authority. We have looked at other books in comparison to the Bible under the tests of infallibility and inerrancy. Today we want to consider the test of clarity. Is the given book clear in its meaning and consistent in its message?
The Miracle of the Bible's Clarity
The Bible is remarkable in the fact it was written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years period of time, living on three different continents (Europe, Africa and Asia) and writing in 3 different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek). The Bible is composed of 66 smaller volumes called "books" which would had been originally scrolls. The Bible has its own system of making plain its meaning, since you can take a passage (in context) and use it to shed light on another passage (in context).
The Methods used in bringing out the Bible's Clarity
Though there are parts of the Bible that can be more difficult to interpret than others, yet the Bible is clear enough to where on major doctrines, there is full clarity of meaning. The Bible as the inerrant and infallible word of God (see previous posts) is meant to be explained (preached or taught). Whenever it is read, explained or taught, God is said to be speaking (compare John 6:66-70 and 1 Peter 4:11).
Motives for appreciating the Bible's clarity
No other book has this quality of clarity like the Bible. The Bible, being clear in its meaning, also makes clear issues that would be otherwise hidden from human understanding. It alone can pierce into the depths of the human heart and soul (Hebrews 4:12). Unlike man, who by reason alone cannot even fully comprehend his own heart (Jeremiah 10:23), the scriptures (The Bible) can penetrate the heart and bring about understanding (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15).
As much as this quality of the Bible has been under attack in recent years, yet for millennia Godly men and women have been studying and coming away with clarity from God's Word. it truly is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).
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Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Bible Alone is Inerrant
Isaiah 41:22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;
In yesterday's blog we considered the test of infallibility, whereby we are testing to see whether or not a book with the claim of Divine authorship can lead us to an accurate knowledge of truth on any matter. We saw yesterday that the Bible alone fulfilled this. Today we want to look at a closely related idea - inerrancy. If infalliblity has to to with the character of revelation, then inerrancy has to do with the contents - the words of a given text. In short - are they without error.
Accuracy in all matters past or future
Isaiah mentions "former events" and "outcomes" as criteria for the inerrancy test. Does the text in question accurately tell you the facts of a past event and can it predict accurately what is yet to be? The ability to predict the future accurately is the harder of the two tests, since only a supernatural, Divine Mind could ever deliver 100% accurate information about predicted outcomes.
Fulfilled prophecy as the greatest mark of Divine authorship
According to Isaiah's test, if a given book, claiming to be from God, can accurately predict the future, then it is proof of it being God's word. The question is, do any religious books contain fulfilled examples of prophecy or prediction?
The Koran, touted by Islam to be God's word, contains not one example of predictive prophecy. Neither does the Book of Mormon, and its attendant volumes the Pearl of Great Price and Doctrines and Covenants. The Hindu writings such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-gita does not, neither does the writings of Buddah and Confucius.
Furthermore, of those organizations that claim to be the voice of God, they at some point have been wrong in their predictions. The Jehovah Witnesses for instance have wrongly predicted the second coming of Jesus at least three times (1914, 1920's and in the seventies).
Does the Bible have examples of predictive prophecy?
According to studies done by Biblical scholars, there are over 600 general prophecies in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the subject of 334 of them. Micah 5:3 for instance predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethelehem Epaphratha. 700 years later, we find in the birth accounts of Matthew and Luke Jesus Christ born in this same town! Zechariah 9:9, written over 500 years before Jesus, declared that the chosen one, Messiah, would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus does so the week of His crucifixion in the Gospel accounts.
The most remarkable proof of the Bible's inerrancy
Daniel 9:23-27 tells us that in God's way of reckoning time, from the moment that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem to the cutting off of Messiah would compute to exactly 483 years. We know that Cyrus, King of Persia, issued such a decree in March of 445 b.c. The Old Testament Jews counted their years in 360 day periods. If we multiply 360 days times the 483 year period spoken of in Daniel, we come up with 173,880 days. If we count those days from Cyrus' decree (spoken of by the way in Ezra 1:2-4) we arrive at the date of April 15, 29 A.D. That is the exact day when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross!
No other book, alleged vision, dream or any other claim to Divine authorship has this mark of inerrancy. The Bible alone not only has it, but has hundreds of examples wherein it demonstrates its unique quality as God's word.
In yesterday's blog we considered the test of infallibility, whereby we are testing to see whether or not a book with the claim of Divine authorship can lead us to an accurate knowledge of truth on any matter. We saw yesterday that the Bible alone fulfilled this. Today we want to look at a closely related idea - inerrancy. If infalliblity has to to with the character of revelation, then inerrancy has to do with the contents - the words of a given text. In short - are they without error.
Accuracy in all matters past or future
Isaiah mentions "former events" and "outcomes" as criteria for the inerrancy test. Does the text in question accurately tell you the facts of a past event and can it predict accurately what is yet to be? The ability to predict the future accurately is the harder of the two tests, since only a supernatural, Divine Mind could ever deliver 100% accurate information about predicted outcomes.
Fulfilled prophecy as the greatest mark of Divine authorship
According to Isaiah's test, if a given book, claiming to be from God, can accurately predict the future, then it is proof of it being God's word. The question is, do any religious books contain fulfilled examples of prophecy or prediction?
The Koran, touted by Islam to be God's word, contains not one example of predictive prophecy. Neither does the Book of Mormon, and its attendant volumes the Pearl of Great Price and Doctrines and Covenants. The Hindu writings such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-gita does not, neither does the writings of Buddah and Confucius.
Furthermore, of those organizations that claim to be the voice of God, they at some point have been wrong in their predictions. The Jehovah Witnesses for instance have wrongly predicted the second coming of Jesus at least three times (1914, 1920's and in the seventies).
Does the Bible have examples of predictive prophecy?
According to studies done by Biblical scholars, there are over 600 general prophecies in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the subject of 334 of them. Micah 5:3 for instance predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethelehem Epaphratha. 700 years later, we find in the birth accounts of Matthew and Luke Jesus Christ born in this same town! Zechariah 9:9, written over 500 years before Jesus, declared that the chosen one, Messiah, would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus does so the week of His crucifixion in the Gospel accounts.
The most remarkable proof of the Bible's inerrancy
Daniel 9:23-27 tells us that in God's way of reckoning time, from the moment that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem to the cutting off of Messiah would compute to exactly 483 years. We know that Cyrus, King of Persia, issued such a decree in March of 445 b.c. The Old Testament Jews counted their years in 360 day periods. If we multiply 360 days times the 483 year period spoken of in Daniel, we come up with 173,880 days. If we count those days from Cyrus' decree (spoken of by the way in Ezra 1:2-4) we arrive at the date of April 15, 29 A.D. That is the exact day when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross!
No other book, alleged vision, dream or any other claim to Divine authorship has this mark of inerrancy. The Bible alone not only has it, but has hundreds of examples wherein it demonstrates its unique quality as God's word.
Friday, November 18, 2011
The Bible alone is infallible
Isaiah 41:21 “Present your case,” the LORD says.“Bring forward your strong arguments,” The King of Jacob says.
Yesterday we began a new blog series on evaluating claims made by certain religions as to what is the Word of God. When a document claims this title, it is claiming to be the very words of God communicated to human beings. In this first test, infallibility, we are concerned with the character of the given revelation. Will it lead the reader into truth, or error? Is it trustworthy? Questions such as these fit under this idea of infallibility.
So lets briefly look at some religious books and the Bible, and determine, from Isaiah's first test, which book is the infallible Word of God. A good test case would be whether or not the given book will accurately lead me to an understanding of the world around me as it pertains to history.
1. The Hindu Upanishads. In Hinduism, one of the major documents claimed to have a mark of divine revelation is what is termed the "Upanishads". Hinduism of course is not a uniform system of belief, rather it is more a system of "beliefs". Whenever we begin to examine these documents, we discover that the universe started off from either an egg, non-being or in another instance, creation begins with a great horse sacrifice. Clearly this will not lead me to a the truth about origins, since all the accounts are contradictory.
The Bible on the other hand has over sixty different passages spread over 66 books that do not contradict in the least. Genesis 1 and 2, the chief among those texts, tells of God beginning everything from nothing, speaking all things into existence, investing into the creation laws and life. The universe was originally created good, but then through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, decay entered, resulting in everything running down. The other 60 or so creation passages in the Bible match exactly with this basic description.
Science at its most fundamental level matches this as well. The universe, according to the laws of thermodynamics, had to have had a beginning. Furthermore, the 30 or so fundamental laws and mathematical equations describing the universe are so finely tuned that the only explanation could be that a Divine Intelligence is behind the universe's existence. Lastly, if we deny that the God of the Bible created the Heaven's an the earth, we are left with two other alternatives - either the universe created itself or it is eternally old - neither of which is supported by well established laws of physics. Thus the Bible leads me to a right knowledge of creation.
2. The Koran. The Koran claims that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, but rather someone made to look like Him died in his place. The question is: does this statement lead me to an accurate knowledge of history? Did Jesus actually die on the cross? A quick review of non-Christian secular sources written around the time will verify that is was Jesus, as a man, who physically died on the cross. Secular historians wiritng shortly after Christ's crucifixion, such as Cornelius Tacitus in his "Annals", chapter 15 verse 44, speak of "one Christus, who was put to death in the principate of Tiberius by the Procurator Pontius Pilate."
The Bible. Yet all four Gospels in the Bible speak of such an event taking place. Clearly the Koran cannot be the word of God, since it leads me to an innacurate knowledge of history.
3. The Book of Mormon. In the book of Mormon, the story is told of two tribes of indians descended from tje Jews populating North America. One of those tribes were cursed, and the other blessed. In the book of Mormon, Jesus Christ supposedly makes various appearances throughout history to these peoples, with the Mormon's founder, Joseph Smith, being the modern day recipient of such revelation. The only problem with this story is that it has never been verified. No genetic test, no Genaeological records exist that concusively ties the Indians of North America back to the Jewish people. Furthermore, there currently exists over six different accounts of how Joseph Smith founded Mormonism back in the early nineteenth century.
Thus in surveying these other documents, they have failed the first test of infallibility. The Bible on the other hand, has demonstrated that it leads me to an accurate knowledge of history, science and eternity.
Yesterday we began a new blog series on evaluating claims made by certain religions as to what is the Word of God. When a document claims this title, it is claiming to be the very words of God communicated to human beings. In this first test, infallibility, we are concerned with the character of the given revelation. Will it lead the reader into truth, or error? Is it trustworthy? Questions such as these fit under this idea of infallibility.
So lets briefly look at some religious books and the Bible, and determine, from Isaiah's first test, which book is the infallible Word of God. A good test case would be whether or not the given book will accurately lead me to an understanding of the world around me as it pertains to history.
1. The Hindu Upanishads. In Hinduism, one of the major documents claimed to have a mark of divine revelation is what is termed the "Upanishads". Hinduism of course is not a uniform system of belief, rather it is more a system of "beliefs". Whenever we begin to examine these documents, we discover that the universe started off from either an egg, non-being or in another instance, creation begins with a great horse sacrifice. Clearly this will not lead me to a the truth about origins, since all the accounts are contradictory.
The Bible on the other hand has over sixty different passages spread over 66 books that do not contradict in the least. Genesis 1 and 2, the chief among those texts, tells of God beginning everything from nothing, speaking all things into existence, investing into the creation laws and life. The universe was originally created good, but then through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, decay entered, resulting in everything running down. The other 60 or so creation passages in the Bible match exactly with this basic description.
Science at its most fundamental level matches this as well. The universe, according to the laws of thermodynamics, had to have had a beginning. Furthermore, the 30 or so fundamental laws and mathematical equations describing the universe are so finely tuned that the only explanation could be that a Divine Intelligence is behind the universe's existence. Lastly, if we deny that the God of the Bible created the Heaven's an the earth, we are left with two other alternatives - either the universe created itself or it is eternally old - neither of which is supported by well established laws of physics. Thus the Bible leads me to a right knowledge of creation.
2. The Koran. The Koran claims that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, but rather someone made to look like Him died in his place. The question is: does this statement lead me to an accurate knowledge of history? Did Jesus actually die on the cross? A quick review of non-Christian secular sources written around the time will verify that is was Jesus, as a man, who physically died on the cross. Secular historians wiritng shortly after Christ's crucifixion, such as Cornelius Tacitus in his "Annals", chapter 15 verse 44, speak of "one Christus, who was put to death in the principate of Tiberius by the Procurator Pontius Pilate."
The Bible. Yet all four Gospels in the Bible speak of such an event taking place. Clearly the Koran cannot be the word of God, since it leads me to an innacurate knowledge of history.
3. The Book of Mormon. In the book of Mormon, the story is told of two tribes of indians descended from tje Jews populating North America. One of those tribes were cursed, and the other blessed. In the book of Mormon, Jesus Christ supposedly makes various appearances throughout history to these peoples, with the Mormon's founder, Joseph Smith, being the modern day recipient of such revelation. The only problem with this story is that it has never been verified. No genetic test, no Genaeological records exist that concusively ties the Indians of North America back to the Jewish people. Furthermore, there currently exists over six different accounts of how Joseph Smith founded Mormonism back in the early nineteenth century.
Thus in surveying these other documents, they have failed the first test of infallibility. The Bible on the other hand, has demonstrated that it leads me to an accurate knowledge of history, science and eternity.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Four Tests for defining God's Word
Isaiah 41:21-23 “Present your case,” the LORD says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,”
The King of Jacob says. 22Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;
As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.
Many claims to "God's word"
There are at the writing of this blog over 7,000 different religions in the world today. Almost all of them claim to have the true view of reality, current events and eternity. Truth by its very nature is exclusive - meaning that once a truth claim is made, anything in conflict with that claim cannot be at the same time true.
When it comes to claims about certain documents being Divinely inspired or revealed, many of the world's religions claim to have documents of divine origin. Islam has its Koran, Hinduism has its Upanishads, Buddahism and followers of Confusius and Mormonism have the writings of their founders, and then there is the Bible. Is there an objective way to measure marks for divine inspiration? There is. In the above text such a test is put forth. In today's blog I am going to briefly outline what these four tests are, and then over the next several blogs submit the Bible and all the other would-be contenders to these tests to answer one simple question: What is the Word of God?
The four marks of the Word of God
When we say the phrase "The Word of God", we are claiming that a particular document was revealed by God, and that He both spoke and is speaking to people through the words of that document. The above text helps determine whether or not a given claim of revelation is a product of men, or a product of God. Four tests are given by the prophet Isaiah:
1. Infallibility. Isaiah writes: "Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place". Infallibility has to do with giving perfect guidance in all matters, no matter what." Anytime someone is claiming to speak for God, we have to assess whether or not what they're saying is going to lead us to the truth, or lead us down a road of lies. Infallibility has to do with the character of the given revelation.
2. Inerrancy. Then he states: "As for the former events, declare what they were, that we may consider their outcome". Inerrancy, stated positively, describes a given document being accurate in all matters of science, faith and history. Stated another way, a document is claimed to be inerrant when it contains no errors. Does a given text describe the past in perfect, error free- detail? According to the prophet, this is a crucial test for determining which is the Word of God. This test deals with the contents of the alleged revelation.
3. Clarity. Isaiah writes: "That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods." Clarity is that quality wherein a document is clear in its explanation and meaning. When I examine any book claiming Divine authorship, is it consistent and clear, or do I find contradicitions and confusion? Is there a well-defined meaning in the context of what is written? Clarity is another test for evaluating claims of Divine authorship.
4. Sufficiency. Then finally, Isaiah notes: "Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together." Will I be able to take the given document and live by it in every area of my life? In other words, can I trust what the document says about eternal salvation? Raising a family? Working at my job? Making moral decisions? Knowing God? Understanding history, science and every major branch of knowledge? Only a document that is God's Word can fulfill this criteria. Frankly this last test can only be passed when the first three have been shown to verify the claims of Divine authorship of a given text.
In tomorrows blog we will submit different texts and the Bible to the first test of infallibility to determine: Which is the Word of God.
The King of Jacob says. 22Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;
As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.
Many claims to "God's word"
There are at the writing of this blog over 7,000 different religions in the world today. Almost all of them claim to have the true view of reality, current events and eternity. Truth by its very nature is exclusive - meaning that once a truth claim is made, anything in conflict with that claim cannot be at the same time true.
When it comes to claims about certain documents being Divinely inspired or revealed, many of the world's religions claim to have documents of divine origin. Islam has its Koran, Hinduism has its Upanishads, Buddahism and followers of Confusius and Mormonism have the writings of their founders, and then there is the Bible. Is there an objective way to measure marks for divine inspiration? There is. In the above text such a test is put forth. In today's blog I am going to briefly outline what these four tests are, and then over the next several blogs submit the Bible and all the other would-be contenders to these tests to answer one simple question: What is the Word of God?
The four marks of the Word of God
When we say the phrase "The Word of God", we are claiming that a particular document was revealed by God, and that He both spoke and is speaking to people through the words of that document. The above text helps determine whether or not a given claim of revelation is a product of men, or a product of God. Four tests are given by the prophet Isaiah:
1. Infallibility. Isaiah writes: "Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place". Infallibility has to do with giving perfect guidance in all matters, no matter what." Anytime someone is claiming to speak for God, we have to assess whether or not what they're saying is going to lead us to the truth, or lead us down a road of lies. Infallibility has to do with the character of the given revelation.
2. Inerrancy. Then he states: "As for the former events, declare what they were, that we may consider their outcome". Inerrancy, stated positively, describes a given document being accurate in all matters of science, faith and history. Stated another way, a document is claimed to be inerrant when it contains no errors. Does a given text describe the past in perfect, error free- detail? According to the prophet, this is a crucial test for determining which is the Word of God. This test deals with the contents of the alleged revelation.
3. Clarity. Isaiah writes: "That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods." Clarity is that quality wherein a document is clear in its explanation and meaning. When I examine any book claiming Divine authorship, is it consistent and clear, or do I find contradicitions and confusion? Is there a well-defined meaning in the context of what is written? Clarity is another test for evaluating claims of Divine authorship.
4. Sufficiency. Then finally, Isaiah notes: "Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together." Will I be able to take the given document and live by it in every area of my life? In other words, can I trust what the document says about eternal salvation? Raising a family? Working at my job? Making moral decisions? Knowing God? Understanding history, science and every major branch of knowledge? Only a document that is God's Word can fulfill this criteria. Frankly this last test can only be passed when the first three have been shown to verify the claims of Divine authorship of a given text.
In tomorrows blog we will submit different texts and the Bible to the first test of infallibility to determine: Which is the Word of God.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
What it means to think biblically
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
What does it mean to think biblically? If one passage of scripture could be cited to answer this question, the one above would be it. In the text above we can note the following three comprehensive traits of biblical thinking:
1. Comprehensive Categories. Eight areas are mentioned by Paul that cover every moral, spiritual and life situation imaginable. Truth deals with how I make value judgments and honor measures the value of what I judge. Purity guides my moral devision making and beauty insures proper balance. Good repute has to do with integrity of character to those who see me and excellence deals with the impression I leave behind. All of these areas find their chiefest expression in praise - for my whole life is to be a praise offering to the Lord.
2. Comprehensive Book. So where does Paul derive these categories? Note what he says next: "The things you learned, received and heard and seen in me". The Apostle Paul had preached God's Word to these Philippians. He was clearly writing Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Only one book could qualify in delivering such comprehensive categories - the Word of God. By its nature it is comprehensive. It alone can make one wise unto salvation. (2 Timothy 3:15). It alone contains predictive prophecy and accurate statements of human history, main ideas concerning science and sufficient information to explain the nature of current events in the world today.
3. Comprehensive living. So thinking biblically involves comprehensive categories, from the comprehensive book (The Bible) that are to be comprehensively lived out day by day. Paul writes: "practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." In the Jewish world (the mindset from whence the scriptures come), the way you demonstrated aquisition of knowledge was by whether or not you lived it out in your life.
In the biblical worldview, memorization of facts was only half of the total picture. This is why Paul puts such a premium on "practicing" these biblical categories. Once I am living out God's word, I have demonstrated that I am thinking biblically.
What does it mean to think biblically? If one passage of scripture could be cited to answer this question, the one above would be it. In the text above we can note the following three comprehensive traits of biblical thinking:
1. Comprehensive Categories. Eight areas are mentioned by Paul that cover every moral, spiritual and life situation imaginable. Truth deals with how I make value judgments and honor measures the value of what I judge. Purity guides my moral devision making and beauty insures proper balance. Good repute has to do with integrity of character to those who see me and excellence deals with the impression I leave behind. All of these areas find their chiefest expression in praise - for my whole life is to be a praise offering to the Lord.
2. Comprehensive Book. So where does Paul derive these categories? Note what he says next: "The things you learned, received and heard and seen in me". The Apostle Paul had preached God's Word to these Philippians. He was clearly writing Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Only one book could qualify in delivering such comprehensive categories - the Word of God. By its nature it is comprehensive. It alone can make one wise unto salvation. (2 Timothy 3:15). It alone contains predictive prophecy and accurate statements of human history, main ideas concerning science and sufficient information to explain the nature of current events in the world today.
3. Comprehensive living. So thinking biblically involves comprehensive categories, from the comprehensive book (The Bible) that are to be comprehensively lived out day by day. Paul writes: "practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." In the Jewish world (the mindset from whence the scriptures come), the way you demonstrated aquisition of knowledge was by whether or not you lived it out in your life.
In the biblical worldview, memorization of facts was only half of the total picture. This is why Paul puts such a premium on "practicing" these biblical categories. Once I am living out God's word, I have demonstrated that I am thinking biblically.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
God's antidote to worry
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
How often do you worry? Fret? Lay awake at night? The above passage is a perfect prescription for combating chronic worry. The word translated "anxious" puts in mind someone who keeps remembering again and again what they thought they might had missed or didn't do. It is a soul that is not at rest - but always in constant activity.
To be concerned and worried are two different things. Concern is having an attitude of responsibility for things that I should take care of before its too late. Worry is trying to take responsibility for things whose outcome I really can't control nor know. I want to know! I want to control things! These statements are the cornerstones of worry. Worry tries to accomplish them without consideration of God's Sovereign control.
The scripture above gives us the antidote to worry:
1. In everything by prayer. This is resigning yourself to God's control and breaking free of the tyranny of the urgent. This is saying that your strength and your effort requires His insight, His power to rush in and guide you through.
2. With supplication. I heard a preacher one time define supplication as praying the type of prayer that turns you inside out and outside in, resulting in God making you alright. This is intense prayer. This is where you do business with God - where He goes from an abstract concept to The Real Person you are relying on for everything.
3. Thanksgiving. A thankless heart will never be in the position to recognize God's answer. Thankfulness enables you to be open to what God is doing and wants to do. Why? Because you are thanking Him for what He has done for you already.
4. Let your requests be made known to God. Get specific. Get personal. That is what God wants. The need is designed by God to drive you to Him. How often has your prayer life thrived when everything was comfortable? It is rare. More often than not, the Christian-walk seeks the God of Glory when times are dark. Faith reaches higher when the valley grows deeper.
Now note the promises that result from taking in this prescription:
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Just to know that God has it all taken care of and that He will never leave you nor forsake you is the greatest comfort. For the text reinforces this thought with a second promise, namely that His peace will guard your heart nad mind in Christ. When our mind is racing - we need the peace of God in Christ. When our heart is heavy - we need the peace of Christ to lift it up. Take this prescription by faith - and watch your worry be replaced by enduring faith that has peace without end.
How often do you worry? Fret? Lay awake at night? The above passage is a perfect prescription for combating chronic worry. The word translated "anxious" puts in mind someone who keeps remembering again and again what they thought they might had missed or didn't do. It is a soul that is not at rest - but always in constant activity.
To be concerned and worried are two different things. Concern is having an attitude of responsibility for things that I should take care of before its too late. Worry is trying to take responsibility for things whose outcome I really can't control nor know. I want to know! I want to control things! These statements are the cornerstones of worry. Worry tries to accomplish them without consideration of God's Sovereign control.
The scripture above gives us the antidote to worry:
1. In everything by prayer. This is resigning yourself to God's control and breaking free of the tyranny of the urgent. This is saying that your strength and your effort requires His insight, His power to rush in and guide you through.
2. With supplication. I heard a preacher one time define supplication as praying the type of prayer that turns you inside out and outside in, resulting in God making you alright. This is intense prayer. This is where you do business with God - where He goes from an abstract concept to The Real Person you are relying on for everything.
3. Thanksgiving. A thankless heart will never be in the position to recognize God's answer. Thankfulness enables you to be open to what God is doing and wants to do. Why? Because you are thanking Him for what He has done for you already.
4. Let your requests be made known to God. Get specific. Get personal. That is what God wants. The need is designed by God to drive you to Him. How often has your prayer life thrived when everything was comfortable? It is rare. More often than not, the Christian-walk seeks the God of Glory when times are dark. Faith reaches higher when the valley grows deeper.
Now note the promises that result from taking in this prescription:
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Just to know that God has it all taken care of and that He will never leave you nor forsake you is the greatest comfort. For the text reinforces this thought with a second promise, namely that His peace will guard your heart nad mind in Christ. When our mind is racing - we need the peace of God in Christ. When our heart is heavy - we need the peace of Christ to lift it up. Take this prescription by faith - and watch your worry be replaced by enduring faith that has peace without end.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Confident no matter what
Philippians 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
What is joy? In the text that we are reading above, joy refers to the unshakable confidence the Christian has no matter what the circumstances. What we see written in this text is a command - a command that demands an all-the-time attitude of rejoicing in the Lord. Now would God command the Christian to do something without the provision of grace to accomplish it? Absolutely not! Today I want to begin looking into this incredible chapter of Philippians, for I believe it can lead us to understand what it means to have a joyful Christianity.
So how is it that I can rejoice in the Lord always? Note the following graceful provisions in these two verses:
1. The scripture. Paul repeats the command: "again I will say, rejoice". In writing scripture, and then repeating the text again, Paul is reminding us that what the Holy Spirit is giving him to write is indeed the very provision of grace to fuel our faith-life. What happens when you are facing that surgery? Or uncertain of the future of your health? Or hear news of a loved one being ill? Or perhaps you are grieving over the loss of a loved one? Only through regular exposure and taking in of God's word can you have the faith that will be necessary to truly have confidence in the Lord. This is indeed the source of the fuel of the faith-life.
2. Fellowship with God. I get this second provision from the next statement - "Let your gentle spirit". What is Paul speaking of when he says "spirit". It is that part of us wherein God the Holy Spirit is pleased to dwell. When we are walking in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with Him. (1 John 1:7). Having fellowship, or closeness with God yields peace - one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22).
Have you ever met anyone who has a quiet gentle spirit? Whenever we have the Spirit of God at the helm of the ship of our life, no matter what the sea may be like - we have peace of knowing that the God over the storm is also in the ship - and driving the ship of our faith.
3. The Second Coming of Christ. Paul ends this verse by this statement: "The Lord is Near". He is not speaking of the Lord's proximity to us (He speaks of that in other passages). Rather He is making a brief statement about Christ's second coming. Now why is that a marvelous provision of grace? Because it simply means that the course and purpose of history is determined not by sin, nor circumstance, nor people, nor natural disaster - but by the Lord.
If God is in control of the purpose and course of history, then surely He has the throttle of my circumstances. To rejoice means to have confidence that God is God no matter what. When I look to His soon return, He's got the future. When I look at Him indwelling me, I know he's got my emotions and thoughts in His hand. When I look to His word - I know that I know that I know that no matter what - I can have a joyful, confidence in the Lord.
What is joy? In the text that we are reading above, joy refers to the unshakable confidence the Christian has no matter what the circumstances. What we see written in this text is a command - a command that demands an all-the-time attitude of rejoicing in the Lord. Now would God command the Christian to do something without the provision of grace to accomplish it? Absolutely not! Today I want to begin looking into this incredible chapter of Philippians, for I believe it can lead us to understand what it means to have a joyful Christianity.
So how is it that I can rejoice in the Lord always? Note the following graceful provisions in these two verses:
1. The scripture. Paul repeats the command: "again I will say, rejoice". In writing scripture, and then repeating the text again, Paul is reminding us that what the Holy Spirit is giving him to write is indeed the very provision of grace to fuel our faith-life. What happens when you are facing that surgery? Or uncertain of the future of your health? Or hear news of a loved one being ill? Or perhaps you are grieving over the loss of a loved one? Only through regular exposure and taking in of God's word can you have the faith that will be necessary to truly have confidence in the Lord. This is indeed the source of the fuel of the faith-life.
2. Fellowship with God. I get this second provision from the next statement - "Let your gentle spirit". What is Paul speaking of when he says "spirit". It is that part of us wherein God the Holy Spirit is pleased to dwell. When we are walking in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with Him. (1 John 1:7). Having fellowship, or closeness with God yields peace - one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22).
Have you ever met anyone who has a quiet gentle spirit? Whenever we have the Spirit of God at the helm of the ship of our life, no matter what the sea may be like - we have peace of knowing that the God over the storm is also in the ship - and driving the ship of our faith.
3. The Second Coming of Christ. Paul ends this verse by this statement: "The Lord is Near". He is not speaking of the Lord's proximity to us (He speaks of that in other passages). Rather He is making a brief statement about Christ's second coming. Now why is that a marvelous provision of grace? Because it simply means that the course and purpose of history is determined not by sin, nor circumstance, nor people, nor natural disaster - but by the Lord.
If God is in control of the purpose and course of history, then surely He has the throttle of my circumstances. To rejoice means to have confidence that God is God no matter what. When I look to His soon return, He's got the future. When I look at Him indwelling me, I know he's got my emotions and thoughts in His hand. When I look to His word - I know that I know that I know that no matter what - I can have a joyful, confidence in the Lord.
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