Master of the Unlikely

Think about the Christians you know; thing about yourself; and you will remember that God is a master at using the unlikely. We serve the God who calls old men to father many nations and lead revolutions, young men to fight experienced warriors and to tell off kings to their faces. We serve the God who chose to bring his Son into the world through a young virgin. He called tax collectors for Rome to be friends with Israel’s Messiah, and a middle-aged academic bigot to take the gospel to the gentiles. He can use you and me. We are well within the scope of his sovereign ability to use us for his glory.

- Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament: Philippians:Humility

Wise Love, Wise Lives

Philippians 1:9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays that the Philippians’ love may more and more abound in knowledge. And he wants their love to abound in knowledge so that they might discern what is best. Their love should be a discerning love. Sometimes we do not think of love and wisdom together. But Paul knows that wise love makes wise lives and that foolish love makes foolish lives. Or as he says here, they must have wise love so that they can have lives marked by moral purity, blamelessness, and righteousness until Christ returns. He wants their relationships with God and with each other to prosper, always maintained with the great final day of Christ in view.

- Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament: Philippians:Humility

At Least A Little Selfishness?

Even amid thoughts of his own death, Paul is concerned for the Philippians. We tend to think our suffering justifies at least a little selfishness. Have you ever thought to yourself, “Times are real tough right now. Maybe under normal circumstances this would not be right. But God understands. I have a lot on my plate.” No sign of that in Paul. Paul’s chief concern, even when his own life is threatened, is the furtherance of the gospel in the lives of the Philippians.

- Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament: Philippians:Humility

Paul Knew

What an amazing attitude! Paul had been heckled, hauled before a magistrate, and imprisoned, and now he sat in a jail praying and singing hymns at midnight. It was as if Paul knew God was in control and that everything had happened according to God’s plan.

-Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament: Philippians:Humility

God-centered Life

In the next verses, Paul writes, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (5:16-18). How can you be joyful always? Not by centering your life upon circumstances. Circumstances will always change. However, if you center your life on God, regardless of what happens at work, regardless of what happens at home, regardless of what happens at church, you can be joyful. God is at the center of your being, and he does not change!

How then do you center your life on God? First, pray continually, as Paul says in 5:17 (1 Thessalonians). Second, give thanks in all circumstances, as he says in 5:18. As him for what you need. Thank him for what you have. The Christian life always has God at the center. Is God always at the center of your mind and thoughts?

- Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians: The Second Coming

Quotes about 1 Thess.

In addition to love and holiness, he wants them to grow in hope (5:23-24). Paul knows that in order for the Thessalonians to live differently than the world as well as differently than their own pasts, they must have a different hope-a different goal in life-one that will inspire them to endure in the faith…Paul prayed because he hoped. Without that hope, he would not have prayed. If we want to pray like Paul prays, we must hope like Paul hoped.

Hope in the coming of our Lord Jesus leads to holiness in the present.

The beginning point of the Christian life, and of Christian ministry, is not living to please others but living to please God…If we live only to please others, we will not live faithfully. If you are a Christian, God will call you to do some things that will be unpopular with those around you. Yet those around you will never be your final court of appeal. As Christians, we must live fundamentally to please God.

Part of a Christian’s basic mission is to live a life that commends the gospel to others. You do this not so that others will think well of you but so that the gospel will be commended.

We are to be awake to God. We do not live in darkness but in the light. We do not live in the night but in the day. We are not asleep but awake, alert,and self-controlled. As Christians, we do not wait for condemnation but for salvation. We wear faith, love, and the hope of salvation, not wrath. We may experience physical death, but not spiritual death. We all will live together with Christ because he died for us.

- Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians: The Second Coming

The Power of the Gospel

We’re about to start 1 Thess. at church. To prepare, I have begun to read a commentary on 1 Thess. The introduction was talking about where Thessalonica was (Macedonia) and how Paul (Acts 17:1-13) came to the area (the Macedonian call). Mark Dever says, “When Paul answered that missionary call, history changed. The gospel of Christianity went from Asia to Europe for the first time.” I was struck by the unusual way that Paul was called to Macedonia. It wasn’t a physical person, a gut feeling, a rumor heard; it was a vision. I wonder if Paul was tempted to discard his “dream”. Did he argue with the Holy Spirit? Did he think that it was a simple dream, no a vision from God? Was he tempted to doubt what he had seen? Either way it was a huge step of faith. I’m not a risk taker. I like to be careful & safe. I want to know 100% before I take a step. I often give in to fear. I’d rather someone else do it (talk to that person, do that task, etc.). I’m not the person that God should use. Or I don’t want to change in this area. It would require too much uncomfortable trust. But, that is the power of the gospel! In my notes from Sunday’s sermon I wrote, “The power of God transformed Paul. God can use whomever He wants.” God is all-powerful and do whatever He desires and plans. He is not limited by my limitations (spiritual or physical). He is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. It’s disobedience and a severe lack of trust to tell God that you shouldn’t be used (or won’t be used) or that you can’t change. Who am I to tell God anything? I should trust the Lover of my soul. Knowing that He has the wisdom and knowledge to know what I can and cannot do. The power of the gospel can do/change anyone!

Working in Certain Ways

If you are anything like me, you are probably accustomed to God working in your life in certain ways, and as long as he continues to work in those ways you  find it relatively easy to trust him. But the moment the normal operating procedures change (maybe answering your prayers differently; maybe allowing you to go through a surprising set of circumstances), you find yourself getting a little nervous or even upset. Maybe you start complaining. Yet you and I must learn from Habakkuk's experience, from Job's trials, from Paul's thorn in the flesh, that God often uses various means to accomplish his purposes so that you and I do not mistake the means  for God himself. He does not want us to ever mistake the good that we know for the one who gives the good.

- Mark Dever, The Message of the Old Testament

Peace, Hope, and Trust in God

"Oh, the sweet live of a Christian that hath made his peace with God! He is fit for all conditions: for life, for death, for everything." - Richard Sibbes

"God will have it so, for the comfort of Christians, that every day they live they may think...my best is to come, that every day they rise, they may think, I am nearer heaven one day than I was before, I am nearer death, and therefore nearer to Christ. What a solace is this to a gracious heart! A Christian is a happy man in his life, but happier in his death, because then he goes to Christ; but happiest of all in heaven, for then he is with Christ..." - Richard Sibbes

"The hope that we have in Christ is incredible. As a Christian, you have no reason to be finally discouraged. You will outlast every trouble that you ever face. You can be confident of that! My Christian brother or sister, you and I are members of a new society that God is building, and we are to be a moving picture that displays the truth of what we preach. We are a people who have found happiness in God and in trusting Him." - Mark Dever

Rom. 8:31b If God is for us, who can be [1] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [2] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?...37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Local Church: a Place, a People, or Your Passion?

The following quotes came from my church's care group blog. My dad preached an incredible message on the importance of the local church. You can listen to the sermon here. 

The most important decision a person will ever make is whether he or she will be devoted to Jesus Christ. And devotion to Jesus cannot be effectively implemented without a devotion to the local church… Without a high view of the church, our understanding of small groups will be pitifully incomplete. - Dave Harvey, Why Small Groups?, page 92.

But I’m concerned that many Christians don’t realize how this most important relationship with God necessitates a number of secondary personal relationships – the relationships that Christ establishes between us and his body – the Church. God doesn’t mean for these to be relationships that we pick and choose at our whim among the many Christians “out there.” He means to establish us in relationship with an actual flesh-and-blood, step-on-your-toes body of people… Why do I worry that if you call yourself a Christian but you are not a member in good standing of the local church you attend, you might be going to hell? Think with me for a moment about what a Christian is. – Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church?, page 22.

“Lone-Ranger Christians” are a contradiction because becoming a Christian means being united to Christ, and union with Christ expresses itself in union with a local body of believers. It seems to us that in the New Testament, to be excluded from the local church was to be excluded from Christ. This is why the issue of membership is so important… Are you an accountable member of a local church? Not just: Is your name somewhere? But, are you committed to discipline and being disciplined according to biblical standards? Have you publicly declared your willingness to be shepherded and to be led by the leaders of a local church? Do you see yourself and your gifts as part of an organic ministering body? Do you show by your firm attachment to Christ’s body that you are attached to Christ? – John Piper,  http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/2989/

Far from being only one of many options for the Christian, the church is the primary means through which God accomplishes His plan in the world (italics in original) . It is His ordained instrument for calling the lost to Himself and the context in which He sanctifies those who are born into His family. Therefore God expects (and even demands) a commitment to the church from everyone who claims to know Him. – Wayne Mack and David Swavely, Life in the Father’s House, page 6.

The New Testament assumes that all Christians will share in the life of a local church, meeting with it for worship (Hebrews 10:25), accepting its nurture and discipline (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1), and sharing in its work of witness. Christians disobey God and impoverish themselves by refusing to join with other believers when there is a local congregation that they can belong to. – J.I. Packer, Concise Theology, page 202.

The Lord esteems the communion of his church so highly that he counts as a traitor and apostate from Christianity anyone who arrogantly leaves any Christian society, provided it cherishes the true ministry of Word and sacraments. – John Calvin, quoted in Life in the Father’s House, page 5.

Your pastors will stand before God and give an account for how they have led your congregation (Hebrews 13:17). But every single one of us who is a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ will give and account for whether or not we have gathered together regularly with the church, spurred the church on to love and good deeds, and fought to maintain a right teaching of the hope of the gospel (Hebrews 10:23-25). – Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church?, page 16.

Looking for a good, biblical church? Check out these two websites:

9Marks

Sovereign Grace Ministries

So I Will Trust...

"That was Abraham's faith. He knew his God so well that if this God called him to slay his own son, he could obey because he knew God would be faithful to raise his son. He knew that the one who created the world and made life could give life to his son again. That is knowing God and taking him at his word! That is the faith that alone saves!

- Mark Dever, The Message of the Old Testament

It's cool to watch God's sovereignty at work! It really builds my faith in Him. At Na* I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to read through the Bible. No time/date goal. Just start in Genesis and read all the way through. Doesn't matter how long it takes. After Na* the Lord has led me into new areas of blind trust and faith. It has been so encouraging to read through Genesis and see how God led and provided for men & women, who also walked in blind obedience. So, amazing to see God set all of this up!

So I Will Trust You

By Stephen Altrogge
As recorded on Come Weary Saints
Listen to song sample
Lyrics
Almighty Maker, Universe shaper
You put the stars into space
Yet You descended, You have befriended
Those who had hated Your name, just like me
King of Glory, I know You love me
So I will trust You, yes I will trust You
God Almighty, You have saved me
So I will trust You, yes I will trust in You
Lord over nations, King of Creation
Heaven and earth bow to You
I am Your child, I’ve been reconciled
With tender affection You drew me to You
How could I not trust my King
The One who has formed me and shaped me
I will rejoice and will sing
For the One who has made me has saved me
© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI) Download Song HERE.