Praying the Word of God

A few months ago, I completed the book When I Don't Desire God - How to Fight for Joy by John Piper. It was very edifying, but I benefited most from the chapters on the Word of God and Prayer with relation to using the Word of God to guide you in prayer. Piper also mentions an acrostic that he uses each day in praying and reading the word. I thought it was a good one to remember and use so here it is. The acrostic is IOUS.

1. Inclination - Ask God to give us an inclination to His Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36)
2. Open - Ask God to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read His Word (Psalm 119:18)
3. Unite - Ask God to unite our hearts in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11)
4. Satisfy - Ask God to satisfy us in His steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).

I was greatly encourage by his suggestions to allow the Word of God to be a spring board into prayer. We can't go wrong by praying the Bible. Sometimes that is all we can do.

Christian Imperialism

Heritage Baptist Church of Owensboro, Kentucky is having a Missions Conference next month during July 13-16. I love the title given to the conference: "Christian Imperialism - Extending the Kingdom of Christ through the Foolishness of the Cross." This really is the only way that Christianity is to spread. And as history has shown us and the Bible teaches us, it will be costly to take the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the World. May we pray and be faithful in accomplishing this task. And may we treasure our Lord more than the comforts of this world. Below is a video promoting the conference that focuses on the task and costs of taking the Gospel to every tribe, tongue, people and nation. It is very telling and convicting.

The Truth of the Bible as Hate Speech?

Here is a very thought provoking discussion by James White concerning the current state of the freedom of speech in Canada with respect to Christian beliefs. It is quite possible that what is happening in Canada will one day happen here. As James points out, if we one day must face the decision between faithfulness to God and love for our earthly possessions, may our response be as those recipients of the letter to the Hebrews found in Hebrews 10:32-39

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. (NASB)

More of the ESV Study Bible

Another peek into the upcoming ESV Study Bible - the introduction and beginning chapters of Revelation.

You can learn more about the ESV Study Bible and get a pre-order discount at www.ESVStudyBible.org.

The Seriousness of the First Commandment

In Exodus 20:3, we read the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me" - period. This commandment is first and we see in Deuteronomy 13: 6-11 how serious God takes the breaking of this commandment. Deuteronomy 13 deals specifically with individuals who seek to lead the people of God to "go after other gods" and serve them. It deals with the specific violation of the first commandment. In Deuteronomy 13:6-7, we read of those who are closest to us tempting us to follow other gods.

“If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which neither you nor your fathers have known, some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other . ."

Notice the description of some of these people. The wife "you embrace." The friend "who is as your own soul." You son and daughter and your brother. These are the closest friends and family members. These are the ones a person greatly love. But, these are the ones described as enticing the people "secretly" to go and serve other gods. How did God tell the people to respond to these closest to them when they tempt them to follow other gods? We have the answer in Deuteronomy 13:8-11:

"you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. But you shall kill him. Your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you."

The people are told not to yield to or listen to the one tempting them to go after other gods. They were not to pity him, spare him, or conceal him. But they were instructed to kill him. In fact, it says that the one being tempted by these close friends and family were to be the "first against him to put him to death." This is amazing. Imagine being the first one to throw the killing stone against the wife "you embrace" or "cherish" (NASB), your daughter or son, or friend "who is as your own soul!" Again, what we see is that God in the nation of Israel would not let anyone draw His people away from Him. The first commandment is serious and the nation of Israel was to treat it as so. God alone is God and there is no other. This was done so that "all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do such wickedness as this among you."

We do not practice this in the church today, but God still takes the breaking of the first commandment as serious. The church today practices discipline such as found in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. We are still called to not listen to those false teachers who would lead us to other gods for they can do serious damage to the faith. We are called to "contend for the faith" (Jude 3), not to yield to them (Galatians 2:4-5), and even consider them as "accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9). "Vengeance" is the Lord's (Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30) and one day he will judge those who seek to lead His people toward seeking and serving false gods. Indeed, this is a serious commandment. May we pray that God would give us discernment and wisdom to see false teachers even when they may be our closest friends. God is our supreme love and deserving our full devotion and exclusive loyalty. May He also give us grace never to become one of these individuals that "secretly" leads others to serve false gods. Thank God that He is a merciful God always forgiving those who in Christ come, confess and ask (1 John 1:9).

Where Do We Go From Here?

I just received and read (it took me about one and a half hours to read the word-packed 40 pages) John Blanchard new evangelistic booklet, Where Do We Go From Here? His booklet, Ultimate Questions, has been printed by the millions in different languages and used greatly in evangelism. I would say, and agree with the publisher, that in this new booklet, Blanchard has another tool that will reach this same level of use in showing people the gospel. He draws the reader instantly in from the first sentence detailing the death bed scene of a famous political leader (I will let you read to see which one). From there he discusses the certainty of death, false views of what happens after death, and then the biblical view of what happens after death. I would encourage individuals and churches to get this booklet and use it as God provides opportunities in your witnessing efforts. Below is the publisher's blurb on the book. Don't let the phrase "user-friendly" turn you away; Blanchard is biblically solid and upfront in his explanations of sin, death, hell and judgment.

Where do we go from here? may become more widely used than anything John Blanchard has written since Ultimate Questions, which now has over fifteen million copies in print in fifty languages. The reason is obvious. Where do we go from here? is the final question all humanity faces, and this booklet tackles it head-on. Exactly what does happen to us when we die? The immediate future of the body is fairly obvious, but what about the spirit or soul? Is it annihilated or reincarnated? Is it conscious or unconscious? Do we face endless pain or endless pleasure? Is there a ‘second chance’ to put things right? Do we have to wait until after we die to find out? This booklet answers these and other questions biblically, clearly and in a user-friendly way. Here is an ideal resource to share with people who have no grasp of the Christian message.

More Information Here

A Picture of Worship

Whatever your interpretation or view of the Book of Revelation, one can't keep from noticing when reading it that one of its major themes is worship. In chapters 4 and 5 alone, one can see many worshipers in this scene as well as 5 proclamations of worship to God. We see the four living creatures (Revelation 4:8; Revelation 5:8-10;14)) and the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:10-11; Revelation 5:8-10;14) worshiping God. These are then joined by the angels and the "myriads and myriads and thousands and thousands" in the pouring out of praise to the lamb(Revelation 5:11-12). Finally, even these are joined by "every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them" (Revelation 5:13) in the worship of the Lamb and He who sits on the throne.

What a group of worshipers. Then let us read the calls to worship God found in these two chapters.

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME” Revelation 4:8.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” Revelation 4:11.

And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” Revelation 5:9-10.

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” Revelation 5:12.

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever” Revelation 5:13.

The theme of worship is obvious and this is found at the very beginning of the book. It would probably be beneficial at times to read the Book of Revelation and only focus on these pictures of worship. Can you imagine how John felt as he saw these visions and described this view into heaven. His inspired words indeed present us a picture of worship that all believers should desire and anticipate. They also should give us things to consider when we see and hear what some call worship in many churches today.