The pastor's three grounds of confidence in ministry - first ground, the scriptures

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 

Introduction

I can recall years ago watching a documentary of a man building a house on some beach-front property. The area of the beach where he was building was known for its scenery and it excessive beach erosion. The owner knew that simply placing a home on a normal concrete foundation would prove to be disastrous. So what he decided to do was sink 9-12 telephone poles into the ground. Then the man poured a very think concrete foundation that was reinforced with tempered steel rods. The show spent most of its time highlighting the foundations this man had in place for his beach-side property.

What are the grounds for confidence that any preacher has when he stands before any people? The weight that a preacher carries into the pulpit is immense. Apart from the grace of God, the preacher's task is impossible. The task of converting sinners and feeding the saints flows not from the preacher's skill nor story-telling abilities - but rather from a three-fold foundation: the scriptures, Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Today's post will consider the first of these.

The preacher's first ground of confidence - the written words of God - 1 Corinthians 2:1

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:1 "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God." Adam Clarke, the great commentator writes concerning this first verse: 

"I declared to you the testimony, the Gospel, of God, not with excellency of speech, not with arts of rhetoric, used by your own philosophers, where the excellence of the speech recommends the matter, and compensates for the want of solidity and truth: on the contrary, the testimony concerning Christ and his salvation is so supremely excellent, as to dignify any kind of language by which it may be conveyed."

The scriptures - i.e the testimonies of the Lord (Psalm 19:7b) - are God's words. The Bible is God's voice in pen, paper and ink. When Paul came to the Corinthian church, he knew that his audience had most likely heard it all and seen it all. Corinth, after all, was a cultural center of the ancient world. Like any typical Greco-Roman city, Corinth would have had its share of professional orators who could have a crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. For the Apostle, the change needing to take place at Corinth would occur through style - but rather the substance of the Word of God. 

When we trace back through redemptive history in the Bible, we discover several men of God who learned their ground of confidence to not be in themselves - but in God's words. Exodus 4:10-12 records the following conversation between Moses and God:

"Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

Later on some 800 years later, the prophet Jeremiah and God have the following conversation in Jeremiah 1:4-9 - 

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 “Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord. 9 Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth."

Then 600 years after Jeremiah, Jesus indicates that one of His chief tasks in His first coming was to preach the words of God in Mark 1:38 "He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

Closing thoughts

I admit today that this post is written mainly to preachers (however, even those who don't preach behind church pulpits can glean general application). Paul recognizes - like Moses, Jeremiah and Jesus - that when he came to his appointed people, that the first ground of confidence had to be the scriptures. What else will change lives, save the Word of God? As preachers of the word, we bring the Bible, Jesus and the precious Holy Spirit. May we not neglect this first ground of confidence in Christian ministry - the scriptures. 

More tomorrow.....

P2 - Reflecting on the foolishness of the cross in 1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 1:18  "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Introduction and review

In yesterday's post I began reflecting on Paul's statement about the "foolishness of the cross' in 1 Corinthians 1:18. We spent most of that post dealing with the first half and ended with some remarks on the second half of the verse. Today's post will continue on whence we left off and conclude our reflections on this crucial element of the Gospel. 

Reflecting on the second part of 1 Corinthians 1:18

Certainly the first-half of 1 Corinthians 1:18 may seem hopeless - that is - until we come to the contrastive little word "but" in the second part. The word "but" is important, for it means that regardless of what may be said against the cross, God's word in the cross renders such protests as absurd. In contrast to the hopelessness of those perishing, Paul points to the cross as the power of God and thus hope for those who are being saved. 

Paul contrasts the "foolishness of the cross" to the perishing to that of it being "the power of God" to those who believe in the second part of 1 Corinthians 1:18. The repugnance of the cross to the natural unbelieving mindset can be a source of great tension. The flesh wants acceptance. Oftentimes the tendency in every church is to dial down the offense of the cross. But if for anything, this feature of the Gospel is what sets it apart from all other counterfeits.

Paul never diminished this offensive component of the Gospel - but all the more pressed it. The only place where God will meet the sinner is at the cross. All other attempts of man entail him trying to meet God or to manufacture some type of home-spun salvation. Such efforts fail. The cross is where Holy God in the Person of the Son, having been united to a truly human nature in His virgin birth - triumphed in providing reconciliation for all who would respond in saving faith. The unbeliever finds this offensive, since no credit can be taken - but rather can only be given to God alone. 

Only the Holy Spirit can show the natural unbelieving mindset's estimation of the cross to be wrong (see 1 Corinthians 2:14). The Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to all who believe" (Romans 1:16). Whether a ritualist or an elitist, whether rich or poor - all sorts of unbelievers are beckoned to come to the cross. The Holy Spirit's saving grace shining into the darkened mind and opaque heart shows the cross to be the place of rescue. The result of the Spirit's efforts and the sinner's response yields an embracing of the God-man - Jesus Christ. 

Concluding thought

The foolishness of the cross ends up being the strength of the Gospel - since God, not man, is credited with all the work. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:5 "so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

P1 - Reflecting on the foolishness of the cross in 1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Introduction:

There is something supremely scandalous about the cross to the religionist and the intellectual unyielded to God's saving grace. To both - the cross is foolishness. Today's post aims to reflect on the significance of the foolishness of the cross found in 1 Corinthians 1:18

Reflecting on the first part of 1 Corinthians 1:18

When the Apostle Paul speaks of the cross of Christ in the Gospel as "foolishness" in 1 Corinthians 1:18, he uses the Greek word "moros", from whence we derive our English word "moronic". In the first century, this word referred to someone that was "empty headed" and "without sense". To the unbelieving mind - the salvation wrought by Jesus through the cross bore a stigma. What was it? Why did the Gospel back then in the first century offend? Why does it cause great controversy among 21st century religionists and skeptics today? 

For starters, the cross abolishes all efforts of self-congratulation and posturing. Self-confidence is rendered null and void. At the cross, all efforts to know God by religious ritual or intellectual ascent are shown inadequate. Certainly knowing God and loving God with the totality of one's mind and heart is to be the end point of life - however that endpoint must begin at the cross. The law revealed on Mount Sinai demands us to do these things; however only the grace of Mount Calvary can deliver the power and desire to love and know God. 

When Paul considers the two main groups to whom he preached (the Greco-Roman Gentiles and the Jews), he recognized their respective rejections of the cross. In 1 Corinthians 1:22 we read of the Jews "asking for a sign". The way of ritual, miracle and outward form appealed to many of those emeshed in Judaism. When Jesus ministered for instance among the Jews of that day, the Jewish leaders said to Him in Matthew 12:38 "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." In that same verse Paul then mentions those Greeks who "search for wisdom". The Greco-Roman mind loved to engage in philosophical inquiry and intellectual elitism. Paul's preaching to the Athenian philosophers at Mars Hill in Acts 17:22-34 illustrates how most of them felt about the Gospel. Both groups, apart from the grace of God, detested Jesus, His cross and resurrection. 

The first mindset of "demanding a sign" could be likened to today's moralist or the pluralist who wants a god through ritual, moral living, mysticism or through multiple ways other than the cross. Other expressions of the "demanding a sign mindset" conceives of a Christianity that is more about entertainment than with the eternal welfare of souls needing Christ Jesus crucified, risen and ascended. 

In his book "Christless Christianity", theologian Michael Horton talks about how if the Devil wanted to plan the most diabolical scheme, he would have every city in America be clean, every citizen be law-abiding and every church full to capacity. Citizens would say "yes sir" and "yes mam" and children would be the epitome of good behavior. Preachers would be nice and there would be no crime. According to Horton, the Devil would be more than glad to tolerate such a scenario - providing that there be no mention nor preaching of the cross. 

The second mindset mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:22 of "searching for wisdom" corresponds to the arrogant intellectual elite who conceives of attaining ultimate meaning through reason alone without God - and most certainly without the cross. Athiest Richard Dawkins for instance has been noted as saying: "It's a horrible idea that God, this paragon of wisdom and knowledge,power, couldn't think of a better way to forgive us our since sins than to come down to Earth in his alter ego as his son and have himself hideously tortured and executed so that he could forgive himself." Such observations reminds us that unbelieving mankind's war with God and His sole means of redemption through faith alone in Christ alone carries on unabated. 

Reflecting on the second part of 1 Corinthians 1:18

The first-half of 1 Corinthians 1:18 presents how the cross is utter foolishness to the person who has never believed. Such an attitude is bleak and blunt and appears to be the only sentiment one could have towards the cross - that is - until we come to the contrastive little word "but" in the second part. The word "but" is important, for it means that regardless of what may be said against the cross, God's word in the cross renders such protests as absurd. Saving grace delivered by the Holy Spirit's shedding of light on the cross exposes the love that was otherwise hidden in its sillouette to unbelieving eyes. In contrast to the hopelessness of those perishing, Paul points to the cross as the power of God and thus hope for those who are being saved. 

More tomorrow.....

Lived words and living words

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, andable to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Introduction

Living words and lived words. What's the difference? This morning I was reading a book by an author who was talking about their experiences in prayer. Christian biography can be an invaluable supplement to regular Bible reading and mediation - since the biography contains "lived words". The author in question had an experiential walk with God, that was based upon God's living words. Biographies, devotionals, commentaries and theologies are all examples of what I call "lived words". Lived words serve to depict what Christian faith looks like as it progresses in understanding, virtue and the practical affairs of the Christian life. "Lived words" may not change the soul but they do depict the life of a changed soul. Lived words are the words of men and women so impacted by God. To know God is the chief aim of life. To read the words of those who lived the Christian faith in their thought life, their virtue and in their relationship with God can influence the next generation to emulate their example.

But now what about God's "living words"? Those are in a different category of their own. The "lived words" of mature saints are but settings which have within them an intimate aquaintanced with the precious stone of the living words of God - the Bible. Living words impart Divine life and power. Living words are God's words that change the soul and impart life to the human spirit by way of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit attends the scriptures in their reading, hearing and explanation. 

Final thought

Unless we daily read, think upon and act out God's living words, we ourselves won't have "lived words" to describe our lives. Today, let's read, meditate and live out God's "living words" - the Bible; so that we can be described by others with lived words - that is - as those who lived the Christian life everyday. 

How silence before God is so refreshing

Isaiah 40:31 - 41:1 "Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. 41:1 Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment."

Introduction:

Silence. Stillness. The language of awe oftentimes entails no words, nor sound - only wonder. The world in which we live is too often noisy. When was the last time you pulled over to the side of the road on the way home from work to admire the sun sinking into the horizon? thanking the Sovereign God that regulates our course around it? The experience of watching snow fall and listening to each flake hit the ground in silence enhances enjoyment and appreciation of the snow. When we conjoin the experience of the snow with reflection upon God's Providential guidance of each flake, we come to appreciate God in a much deeper way.

This morning I did something for the first time in a long time - I sat silent before the Lord. I don't know about you, but I oftentimes fail to practice this simple discipline. Frequently I find myself and our Christian world too addicted to noise. In those moments of the Christian walk when we are unable to articulate how we feel, or when we don't know how we ought to pray - silence is far better than giving up. Whenever you read Isaiah 40 and 41, God's affirmations of "fear not" and "be strong" are best received in a mode of silence and surrender. 

Author Richard Foster quotes from an older writer - simply known as "Brother Lawrence" - concerning the place of silence in the Christian life:

"I do nothing else but abide in His Holy presence, and I do this by simple attentiveness and an habitual, loving turning of my eyes upon Him. This I should call....a wordless and secret conversation between the soul and God which no longer ends."

Think of silence before God as a form of fasting. When one fasts, they are quieting the soul. Physical appetites and the whine of the flesh are denied for the purpose of hearing the Holy Spirit speak to us through scripture and in our human spirit. In our prayer lives, talking to God with punctuated 1-2 minute intervals of silence positions us to wait upon His promptings. I don't know about you, but I find myself too hasty in bringing my requests before God to the detriment of silence. Silence prepares the heart to take a moment to be still and appreciate God. 

The cross and Jesus' accomplishments were interwoven with this thread of silence. We read in Acts 8:32 of a Deacon by the name of Phillip expounding upon Isaiah 53:7-8 wherein the prophecy is given of the Messiah being as a "a lamb that is silent before its shearer". When Jesus was brought before the Jewish officials in his pre-crucifixion trials - He remained silent (Matthew 26:63). As Jesus' closest followers stood before the cross - we see no words escaping their lips. Jesus Himself utters seven words from the cross - while His followers remain silent. The cross and all its victorious agony had deeply penetrated to the deepest core.  

The question before us as disciples of Jesus is how willing are we to take the time to be silent before our Lord? When we come before the Lord and contemplate the barren cross of the God-man, do we aim to enjoy our God? As Christ now sits upon His throne as our prophet, priest and King - we must ask anew: "Do I take the time to be silent and to recognize His Lordship and sway over my life?" As a final practical point - I would urge the reader to read through Isaiah 40-41 and mark down the verse that speak of silence before God. Then, take 1 minute or more to just sit and think upon what you read and say nothing. At first it may seem difficult to do - yet like enjoying a sunset or falling snow - God's tangible presence will be felt. 

A little pond, leaves and understanding God's leading in circumstances

Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

I can recall growing up as a young boy and walking over to the pond near our home. Every autumn I enjoyed walking up to that pond and observing the leaves fall onto its glassy surface. At one end of the pond was a small drain that emptied the pond into a small creek that ran alongside our property. I marveled at how leaves at one end of the pond would begin to face the same direction relative to that drain. No matter whence they came nor the direction they had been facing when they landed on the water; that drain and its tug on the water's surface orientated all the leaves in its direction.

Sometimes when we are aiming to discern God's will as Christians, its helpful to consider the pattern of our circumstances. All secondary means of weighing out God's will - like circumstances - must be sifted through the pages of scripture. The Bible stands as the infallible and inerrant source of measures and standards, since it is God's will written and revealed. 

As the Psalmist requested Divine guidance, He pleaded that the Holy Spirit guide him on level ground. Manytimes in the circumstances of our lives, certain indicators can be used by the Holy Spirit in reorientating our lives. Oftentimes life is not like the glassy surface of a little pond but moreso like a roiling sea of activity. We know of course that it is in those tulmultuous times that God steps into the sea of our circumstances and bids us to come. Just as Jesus commanded the sea of Galilee to obey His voice and it became calm, God can take chaos and bring it to order. What was broken is mended. What was formerly an uncertain direction is made clearer.

What are some of those indicators God uses in our circumstances? Let me lay out real quick "four p's":

1). People

2). Problems

3). Appointments

4). Promptings

With an open Bible and eyes closed in prayer, we can begin the process of surveying what is really going on in our lives. God is ever at work. Our issue is that we often fail to recognize what may very well be His ways of guidance. Scripture is our anchor, our compass and our map. The Holy Spirit is our internal companion Who is Sovereignly in union with the Father and the Son in our circumstances. Today as you consider your circumstances, take stock of the pattern and overall drift of direction. 

Ask the Lord to show you in His word and through prayer what and where He is leading you next. As you pause and look, you will see the "leaves" of the details of your life pointing in an overall pattern. Ask the following questions: What people has he brought into your life? What problems or challenges have you faced lately that has driven you to pray? What Divine appointments demonstrate that there are no coincidences, but Providence guiding you through this season in your life? What promptings or impulses have you not been able to ignore, but instead keep coming up on the inside?

God has been at work, you and I just need to listen, be ready to obey and then do what it is He is calling us to do. 

Why the Gospel is the center and circumference of God's work in this world

1 Corinthians 1:17 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void."

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

Whenever we read Paul's letters to the churches he either ministered at or influenced, we turn to the Book of Acts for the background and then to the letter itself for specific instructions and applications. The church at Corinth was a church that needed to be reminded of the centrality of the Gospel. As Paul first came to the city of Corinth in Acts 18, we read of his activities in Acts 18:5 "But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ."

For eighteen months Paul labored at Corinth. When he came - he came proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A few years would transpire in the church at Corinth before Paul would write his two letters that we in the New Testament. There were indeed many issues Paul addressed with the church - but out of all the issues, none were more important than the Gospel itself. 

When we come to 1 Corinthians 1:17, we find Paul switching gears from the then present conditions at Corinth to that of their beginning days as new followers of Christ. In short, Paul makes much of the Gospel. He reminds them that when he first came to them, he aimed to proclaim this most incredible message. 1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5 truly represents the all-encompassing embrace of the Gospel that grips the soul not only at conversion, but all the way through daily Christian life and even into eternity. 

It is not an overstatement to say that the Gospel is both the center and circumference of Christianity - with Jesus Christ occupying the center of it and the boundaries of its edges. If a minister comes to a church and does not know the Gospel nor its most salient features - then that man is not fit to occupy God's sacred desk. Paul came with this message and all of its important elements. What makes the Gospel so significant? Two answers can be given by first defining the Gospel and then describing the Gospel's impact from the beginning of salvation through and into eternity.

First, the Gospel is the good news concerning Jesus Christ and His achievement in reconciling sinners who respond to the Spirit's call unto Holy God for the sake of granting them benefits of sonship and an eternity with Him.  The Gospel is based upon an event - namely Christ's death, burial, resurrection and ascension. This event spells out the achievement of salvation by the Son. The event must needs become an experience - which can only occur in saving faith. The experience of salvation is spelled out in how the Spirit applies the benefits of Christ's work, from saving faith all the way to preservation unto the end. These truths outline the definition of the Gospel.

But now what about describing all that the Gospel does? We cannot even begin to list all of the areas covered by the Gospel. Nonetheless we can at least draw out a general description. Notice how the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ's work on our behalf, is shown to be the center and circumference of spiritual life, daily life and preparation for the next life....

1. The Gospel saves by granting spiritual life through saving faith in Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:17-29

2. The Gospel sanctifies through spiritual life in union with Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

3. The Gospel sustains spiritual life into eternity by the power of God in Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The Gospel is truly the center and circumference of Christianity and God's redemptive activity. Unless we get the Gospel right, nothing else will be right. 

The significance of the Holy Spirit's title: "Spirit of Jesus"

1 Peter 1:10-11 "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow."

Introduction

When we consider the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, one of the more curious titles for Him is the name: "Spirit of Jesus". In addition to the designation "Spirit of Jesus", other variations ("Spirit of Christ", "Christ's Spirit") are found that relate the Holy Spirit's ministry and work to Jesus the Son. Today we want to explore a little bit the significance of the Holy Spirit's role as "The Spirit of Jesus". 

The places we find references to the Holy Spirit as "The Spirit of Jesus"

According to the late Bible scholar Dr. John Walvoord in his book: "The Holy Spirit", page 10, there are five titles relating the Holy Spirit to the Son: 

1). Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9; 1 Pet 1:11)

2). Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:19)

3). Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7)

4). Spirit of His Son (Galatians 4:6)

5). Spirit of the Lord (Acts 5:9; 8:39)

According to other Bible teachers, we find reference to the Holy Spirit over 360 times in the Bible. Of those times, we only find seven references that speak of the Spirit with the title (and its variations) as "The Spirit of Jesus". As already indicated, this specific title has to do with how the Holy Spirit points the way to Christ or in some fashion ministers Christ to people. 

The significance of the Holy Spirit as "The Spirit of Jesus"
In the opening passage of today's post, the Apostle Peter indicates that the Holy Spirit's work in the Old Testament prophets aimed to prepare and point to the Son in His first coming. Although the prophets did not fully comprehend the full picture of what they were writing, Peter indicates that the Spirit's revelatory work was centered on revealing the Son. Hence as the "Spirit of Christ", we find the Holy Spirit being associated with the work of what would be and is the Person and work of Jesus the Messiah.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians speaks of the provision of "The Spirit of Jesus Christ" in Philippians 1:19. Here we are reminded of how the Holy Spirit delivers to the saints of God timely provisions which, in effect, are the ministrations of the Lord Jesus Christ to His people. When Paul indicated in Acts 16:7 that "The Spirit of Jesus" had hindered he and his companions from entering into Asia Minor, we find not only the Spirit being directly involved, but also the Son's involvement by association. The will of the Son is at work in the passage, which of course means that in ultimate terms, the will of the Father is working behind the scenes. Such language reminds us that all Three Persons of the Godhead work together as One God.

Other texts could be cited that utilize this title "Spirit of Jesus". Galatians 4:6 states that the Holy Spirit, sent by the Son, aids us in crying "Abba Father". The Spirit points not only to the Son, but also the Father. We could reference the other passages mentioned above, but this should suffice to show that the significance of the title "The Spirit of Jesus" and its variations aims to point the way to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the Will of the Father in the lives of His people. 

As a final thought, The Holy Spirit ever represents the interests of the Trinity. It has been said that He is the Ambassador of the Trinity - and thus in our interactions with Him, we are interacting with God Himself.  

The Maximal Greatness of God

Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord whoexercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord."

Introduction:

What kind of Being is God? When we think about God, we are in the words of the 11th century theologian Anslem of Canterbury conceiving of "a being than which no greater can be conceived". To speak of God means to talk about a being that is maximally great. This quality of God's "maximal greatness" categorizes God in a unique category unto His own. Today's post aims to briefly explore what is meant by saying God is "Maximally Great".

The Westminister Confession of Faith states: "There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or

passions; immutable,immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory."

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 begins its discussion of God as the Maximally Great Being by noting: "There is one and only one living and true God." This first statement is not meant to stutter. To say God is "One" is to say there is no other Being that is the category of Maximal Being. To then say "and only one living and true God" is to state how this God is His own reality, separate from the reality of this physical universe. In giving further explanation the BFM 2000 notes: "God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures." 

God's maximal greatness as The only Maximally Great being renders Him worthy of our worship. The BFM 2000 notes: "To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience." God as the Maximally Great Being is not just a static, abstact idea - but He is Personal, Living, Active. God's essence or Being is revealed through the Triune Persons. The BFM 2000 notes: "The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being."

As one writer has noted: God is One God, revealed in Three Persons, with each Person being truly God. As the Maximally Great Being, God is self-contained in His own self-sufficiency - a self-sufficiency that entails an eternal relationship apart from and without need of a creation. God as Triune chose to create all things to express the overflow of His presence - however He did not have to create. 

Closing thoughts

The point of today's post aimed to simply reflect and mediate a little bit on the Maximal Being of God. Such reflections can never comprehend God, but by such reflections we aim can know this God through Jesus Christ. May our thoughts be directed more towards this maximally Great God. 

Having hope in God when times are tough

Psalm 34:17-18 "The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit."

When David wrote this Psalm under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he was in a season of great duress. The King of Israel, King Saul, whom David had served was in pursuit of David to take his life. David was in such a desperate situation that he fled to the sworn enemies of Israel - the Philistines - to seek temporary assylum. David chose to masquerade as a mad man before the King of the Philistines so as to not to draw suspisions from the Philistines, since he had killed Goliath. One can read of these tense moments for David in 1 Samuel 21. 

As David composes Psalm 34, his observations about God's nearness derive from having observed God's faithfulness in others hard-situations. It becomes quickly apparent that David was experiencing God's incredible presence in one of the most desperate moments of his own life. It is one thing to observe God at work in other people's lives, and yet quite another when you experience it for yourself.

The Hebrew text behind the English translation speaks of David's heart literally being "distressed" and "crushed". However we are given personal glimpse of God's response to David's cry for help: God "heard him" and "delivered him". 

Certainly there are those seasons we all go through where it feels like the bottom has fallen out and we're in a free-fall. Whenever we lose a loved one, or observe a loved one going through a difficult time or experience health issues, change of location or immense pressures in life - things can seem bleak. However, it is in those moments where the cramped space of our circumstance is just enough space to draw closest to God - and He to us. The darkened skies of life are ever illuminated by the backdrop of God's goodness - even when we may be barely able to see the next step. As one writer has noted: "Absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence."

How often Jesus took the time to draw near to the Heavenly Father during the course of His earthly ministry (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12). Even on the cross, when everything was at its lowest point, Jesus sought after the Father. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, ever awaits to walk those who have trusted in Him by faith through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23; John 10:10). 

What makes the Christian's situation more remarkable than David's is that not only is the Lord with believers, He by the Holy Spirit now lives in them to see them through the tough times (John 14:16-17; Colossians 1:27). The most severest moments of life are refining times used by God to purify faith, strengthen resolve and to encourage dependance upon Him (James 1:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). 

The flame of faith may flicker in the cross winds of times like David's days, however it is shielded by the bigger and greater grace of God (1 Peter 1:5). Hope cannot ever be fully snuffed out in the Christian, since the Holy Spirit ever delivers hope shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:1-5). 

As you think about whatever trial you may be facing today or tomorrow - remember dear Christian - the Lord's nearness to you is more than enough to give you hope and light. God will and is seeing you through. Be encouraged.