The events of the last few days in Japan are indeed overwhelming. What do we do? What can one person do? These are the questions we all struggle with.
Why did this happen to the people of Japan?
There are currently some of the most heartless and inhuman people I have ever heard of crediting the earthquake to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Absolutely foolish and cruel! Events of this kind happen to the good and the bad, the just and the unjust. Who you are and what you do often have little significance. Someone will bring up Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the judgment of God upon nations He is not pleased with. Be careful; someone once said that if God doesn’t judge America, He owes Sodom and Gomorrah and apology.
Why did God allow this to happen?
We are the cause of these events. When we participated in Adam’s rebellion against God in the Garden we set forth the course of action that sin against God ultimately brings. Some will say, “I wasn’t there. Why am I guilty?”All have sinned against God. Just read your Bible to see if it isn’t so.
Consider the words of Jesus, Luke 13:1-5 (KJV):
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Really, the question isn’t why this happened to the people of Japan? The question is, according to Jesus, your condition before God? Instead of questioning this event, we should consider our own hearts. Have we repented, as Jesus said? If something of this sort happens to us, what will be our outcome?
I had the privilege of visiting Japan on a business trip in 2009. The people I met with and visited with were, beyond a doubt, the most polite and pleasant people it has ever been my pleasure to meet (and I have been all over the world).
What do we do?
We can and should pray. We can support Churches and Organizations that are mobilizing to help the people of Japan. What can one person do? One person can make a dramatic difference in the lives of others, if we will seek to help.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10
Paul here is not talking about Christian service. Serving Jesus (Sunday School teacher, greeter, mowing the church lawn, witnessing, pastor, etc.) is a privilege.
What Paul is talking about is works to improve our position with God. There is nothing you can do to improve your position with God. You position before God is in Christ. You can’t do better than that. You can’t make God love you more than He already does. His love is prefect and is demonstrated in the Cross.
For me, when I realized this a few years ago, it was as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. Perhaps today you are carrying that weight? All you need to is to set it at Jesus feet and enter into His rest. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
Paul here is not talking about Christian service. Serving Jesus (Sunday School teacher, greeter, mowing the church lawn, witnessing, pastor, etc.) is a privilege.
What Paul is talking about is works to improve our position with God. There is nothing you can do to improve your position with God. You position before God is in Christ. You can’t do better than that. You can’t make God love you more than He already does. His love is prefect and is demonstrated in the Cross.
For me, when I realized this a few years ago, it was as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. Perhaps today you are carrying that weight? All you need to is to set it at Jesus feet and enter into His rest. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
1 Thessalonians 5:18: "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Notice that God wants us to give thanks "in" everything, not "for" everything. There is a difference. He is telling us, that no matter what our circumstance or situation, we are to give Him thanks. "In everything give thanks..."
As Chuck Smith once said,"In order to give thanks in everything I must know 3 things:
1. God Loves me.
2. God is wiser than me.
3. God is in control.
If I know these three things, I can give thanks in everything."
“When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude.” (Spurgeon)
So, what about you? Do you give God thanks in everything? I confess that there are times I question my circumstances; until I remember these three things.
Notice that God wants us to give thanks "in" everything, not "for" everything. There is a difference. He is telling us, that no matter what our circumstance or situation, we are to give Him thanks. "In everything give thanks..."
As Chuck Smith once said,"In order to give thanks in everything I must know 3 things:
1. God Loves me.
2. God is wiser than me.
3. God is in control.
If I know these three things, I can give thanks in everything."
“When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude.” (Spurgeon)
So, what about you? Do you give God thanks in everything? I confess that there are times I question my circumstances; until I remember these three things.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
For a Good Friend...
Fits of Depression
“Fits of depression come over most of us,” Charles Spurgeon once told his students. “The strong are not always vigorous, the joyous are not always happy.” Spurgeon himself was living proof, for he often suffered agonizing periods of depression. One of the worst occurred when he was only 22 years old. His congregation had outgrown its building, so Spurgeon arranged to rent Royal Surrey Garden’s Music Hall, London’s most commodious and beautiful building, for Sunday night services. Surrey Hall usually accommodated secular concerts, carnivals, and circuses. Using it as a place of worship was unheard of in its day, and the news spread through London like lightning.
On Sunday morning, October 19, 1856, Spurgeon preached at New Park Street Chapel, saying: “I may be called to stand where the thunderclouds brew, where the lightnings play, and tempestuous winds are howling on the mountain top. Well, then, amidst dangers he will inspire me with courage; amidst toils he will make me strong; we shall be gathered together tonight where an unprecedented mass of people will assemble, perhaps from idle curiosity, to hear God’s Word; see what God can do, just when a cloud is falling on the head of him whom God has raised up to preach to you. … ”
That evening 12,000 people streamed into Surrey Hall and an additional 10,000 overflowed into the surrounding gardens. The services started, but as Spurgeon rose to pray, someone shouted “Fire! Fire! The galleries are giving way!” There was no fire, but the crowd bolted in panic, and in the resulting stampede seven people were trampled to death. Twenty-eight more were hospitalized.
The young preacher, reeling in shock, was literally carried from the pulpit to a friend’s house where he remained in seclusion for weeks. He wept by day and suffered terrifying dreams at night. He later said, “My thoughts were all a case of knives, cutting my heart to pieces.” At last, while meditating on Philippians 2:10, the Lord’s Word began to restore his soul.
It was this disaster, horrible as it was, that vaulted Charles Spurgeon to overnight fame as a preacher all the world wanted to hear.
Morgan, R. J. 2000, c1997. On this day: 365 amazing and inspiring stories about saints, martyrs & heroes (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville
“Fits of depression come over most of us,” Charles Spurgeon once told his students. “The strong are not always vigorous, the joyous are not always happy.” Spurgeon himself was living proof, for he often suffered agonizing periods of depression. One of the worst occurred when he was only 22 years old. His congregation had outgrown its building, so Spurgeon arranged to rent Royal Surrey Garden’s Music Hall, London’s most commodious and beautiful building, for Sunday night services. Surrey Hall usually accommodated secular concerts, carnivals, and circuses. Using it as a place of worship was unheard of in its day, and the news spread through London like lightning.
On Sunday morning, October 19, 1856, Spurgeon preached at New Park Street Chapel, saying: “I may be called to stand where the thunderclouds brew, where the lightnings play, and tempestuous winds are howling on the mountain top. Well, then, amidst dangers he will inspire me with courage; amidst toils he will make me strong; we shall be gathered together tonight where an unprecedented mass of people will assemble, perhaps from idle curiosity, to hear God’s Word; see what God can do, just when a cloud is falling on the head of him whom God has raised up to preach to you. … ”
That evening 12,000 people streamed into Surrey Hall and an additional 10,000 overflowed into the surrounding gardens. The services started, but as Spurgeon rose to pray, someone shouted “Fire! Fire! The galleries are giving way!” There was no fire, but the crowd bolted in panic, and in the resulting stampede seven people were trampled to death. Twenty-eight more were hospitalized.
The young preacher, reeling in shock, was literally carried from the pulpit to a friend’s house where he remained in seclusion for weeks. He wept by day and suffered terrifying dreams at night. He later said, “My thoughts were all a case of knives, cutting my heart to pieces.” At last, while meditating on Philippians 2:10, the Lord’s Word began to restore his soul.
It was this disaster, horrible as it was, that vaulted Charles Spurgeon to overnight fame as a preacher all the world wanted to hear.
Morgan, R. J. 2000, c1997. On this day: 365 amazing and inspiring stories about saints, martyrs & heroes (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
"Whoever would be filled and indwelt by the Spirit should first judge his life for any hidden iniquities; he should courageously expel from his heart everything which is out of accord with the character of God as revealed by the Holy Scriptures." A. W. Tozer
"God's Spirit wants to use you and me to bring the love of God to others. He wants His Spirit to flow like a torrent of living water out of our lives and into the lives of those who have yet to quench their thirst at the fountain of God." Chuck Smith
"Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it." J. B. Phillips
"How long shall we trust in man’s programming to accomplish the work of His Spirit in men’s souls?“ Jim Elliott, 1949
"I have gone through my Bible time and time again checking this subject and I make this statement without the slightest fear of successful contradiction that there is not one single passage in the Old Testament or the New Testament where the filling with the Holy Spirit is spoken of, where it is not connected with testimony for service." R. A. Torrey
"I am persuaded that I shall obtain the highest amount of present happiness, I shall do most for God’s glory and the good of man, and I shall have the fullest reward in eternity, but maintaining a conscience always washed in Christ’s blood, by being filled with the Holy Spirit at all times, and by attaining the most entire likeness to Christ in mind, will, and heart, that it is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this world." Robert Murray M’Cheyne
"God's Spirit wants to use you and me to bring the love of God to others. He wants His Spirit to flow like a torrent of living water out of our lives and into the lives of those who have yet to quench their thirst at the fountain of God." Chuck Smith
"Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it." J. B. Phillips
"How long shall we trust in man’s programming to accomplish the work of His Spirit in men’s souls?“ Jim Elliott, 1949
"I have gone through my Bible time and time again checking this subject and I make this statement without the slightest fear of successful contradiction that there is not one single passage in the Old Testament or the New Testament where the filling with the Holy Spirit is spoken of, where it is not connected with testimony for service." R. A. Torrey
"I am persuaded that I shall obtain the highest amount of present happiness, I shall do most for God’s glory and the good of man, and I shall have the fullest reward in eternity, but maintaining a conscience always washed in Christ’s blood, by being filled with the Holy Spirit at all times, and by attaining the most entire likeness to Christ in mind, will, and heart, that it is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this world." Robert Murray M’Cheyne
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Mike MacIntosh on Praying for Others
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word."John 17:6
Jesus showed us how important it is to pray for others. We see here that as He reported to the Father about His mission, He prayed lovingly about His followers. Jesus prayed for the disciples with real, earnest, and heartfelt expressions of love, warmth, and compassion. And the disciples were in earshot. You see, they heard everything Jesus prayed. For some of the disciples, this may have been the very first time they heard Jesus acknowledge to God that He had a purpose for them and that He had accomplished that purpose. Do you have a prayer life like that? Do your friends and family know that you are praying for them? Have they ever actually heard you pray for them? Do your spouse and children know that you are praying for their future? Have they actually heard your prayer for them and about them?Jesus modeled the power of being prayed for. His example is a prayer of intercession, full of compassion and warmth. Jesus lifted His eyes and voice toward heaven, and the people for whom He was praying were right there, listening. Would it overwhelm your heart if you could hear Jesus praying for you? It overwhelms mine. (By the way , Jesus does pray for you; it says so in Hebrews 7:25.) What if your best friend, or your neighbor, or your teacher, or even your boss heard you praying for them? How would they react? What would happen in their hearts? You can be a blessing to others as you pray for them with love and compassion.
Jesus showed us how important it is to pray for others. We see here that as He reported to the Father about His mission, He prayed lovingly about His followers. Jesus prayed for the disciples with real, earnest, and heartfelt expressions of love, warmth, and compassion. And the disciples were in earshot. You see, they heard everything Jesus prayed. For some of the disciples, this may have been the very first time they heard Jesus acknowledge to God that He had a purpose for them and that He had accomplished that purpose. Do you have a prayer life like that? Do your friends and family know that you are praying for them? Have they ever actually heard you pray for them? Do your spouse and children know that you are praying for their future? Have they actually heard your prayer for them and about them?Jesus modeled the power of being prayed for. His example is a prayer of intercession, full of compassion and warmth. Jesus lifted His eyes and voice toward heaven, and the people for whom He was praying were right there, listening. Would it overwhelm your heart if you could hear Jesus praying for you? It overwhelms mine. (By the way , Jesus does pray for you; it says so in Hebrews 7:25.) What if your best friend, or your neighbor, or your teacher, or even your boss heard you praying for them? How would they react? What would happen in their hearts? You can be a blessing to others as you pray for them with love and compassion.
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