"Unction" in Preaching

Chapter 2 of Lloyd-Jones: Messenger of Grace is fantastic and convicting. I would encourage all preachers to read this chapter. Here is a brief outline:

Unction and the Pew (what the Spirit does in the hearers):

1. Preaching under the anointing of the Holy Spirit is preaching which brings with it a consciousness of God.

2. Where there is power in preaching there is little wandering of attention in the pew.

3. Where there is unction in preaching children also may listen and benefit.

4. Powerful preaching is preaching which results in a change in those who listen.

Unction and the Preaching

1. As anointed preaching is the work of the Holy Spirit, the preacher knows this is a gift that is not under human control.

2. The more a preacher knows of unction, the less he will think of himself and his own work.

Preparation for Preaching

1. Sermons will be formed from truth which the Holy Spirit can honor (Bible-saturated).

2. The life of the preacher will be part of the sermon.

3. There will be dependence on the Holy Spirit for his present aid.

4. There should be an awareness that Christianity is both a body of truth and doctrine, and a life to be experienced.

5. Chief attention will be given to Christ himself.

A few quotes:

"Any man who has had some glimpse of what it is to preach will inevitably feel he has never preached. But he will go on trying."

"Distrust in oneself must mark the preacher...A self-confident preacher ought to be a contradiction in terms."

"To expect the Holy Spirit to give his aid to what are merely our ideas is to desecrate the pulpit."

Agree or Disagree?

"The more the Church has accommodated her message to suit the palate of the people the greater has been the decline in attendance at places of worship."

-Lloyd-Jones, Messenger of Grace, p. 13.

1,000 Posts Giveaway

Don't forget about the 1,000 Posts Celebration. I'll be giving away 2 books: Worldliness and Chosen for Life.

All you have to do is let me know what you find most helpful about this blog. I'll draw some names on Tuesday morning.

The Aim of the Holy Spirit

On the night of His betrayal and arrest, Jesus said a lot about the Holy Spirit. The Farewell Discourse (John 14-16) contains at least four passages on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted to ensure His troubled disciples that the Spirit of truth would enable them to accomplish all that He commanded them to do.

And, of all that Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, one particular aspect of the Spirit’s work stands out. Jesus said, “He will glorify me” (John 16:14) and “He will bear witness about me” (John 15:26). This is the Holy Spirit’s primary ministry. The Spirit glorifies Jesus. The content of the Spirit’s witness is the glory of Jesus Christ.

Clearly, this is not all that the Spirit does. The New Testament is full of references to the person and work of the Holy Spirit. However, in everything that the Spirit does, this is His aim. When the Spirit is at work, the Savior is exalted.

Charles Spurgeon said, "It is the CHIEF office of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ. He does many things, but this is what he aims at in all of them, to glorify Christ. Brethren, what the Holy Ghost does must be right for us to imitate: therefore, let us endeavor to glorify Christ. To what higher ends can we devote ourselves, than to something to which God the Holy Spirit devotes himself? Be this, then, your emotional prayer, "Blessed Spirit, help me ever to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!"

In his book, Keep in Step with the Spirit, J.I. Packer compares the Spirit’s work with that of a floodlight. A floodlight aims to illumine whatever it is directed toward. When floodlighting is done well, you cannot even see the floodlight. You are not supposed to even notice where the light is coming from. In the same way, the Spirit is shinning on Jesus Christ. The Spirit points men and women to behold the Savior and find their deepest joy in Him.

Think of the implications of this truth. We can say with confidence that whatever does not glorify Jesus Christ is not of the Holy Spirit. If the Spirit does something, it will inevitably glorify Christ.

We should learn to test everything by this truth. How many churches claim to be “Spirit-filled,” who do not make much of Jesus Christ? How many ministries claim to be depending on the Spirit, who take up 100 causes without reference to the Savior?

Perhaps this is one of the greatest weaknesses of churches today. We try to accomplish God’s work in our own strength. We divorce the mission of God from the empowerment of the Spirit of God.

If we want to be in step with the Spirit, we must keep in step with the Spirit’s aim. How can we expect the Spirit’s power if we are not passionately engaged in the Spirit’s work? Spurgeon’s question is powerfully convicting: “To what higher ends can we devote ourselves, than to something to which God the Holy Spirit devotes himself?”

For the Glory of Jesus,
Pastor Justin

1 John 2:1-6

It was a joy to teach on 1 John 2:1-6 last night. We searched out 20 observations on verses 1 and 2.

We rejoiced in the fact that Jesus is our righteous advocate with the Father because He is the propitiation for our sins.

Jesus is in every way qualified to be a suitable and all-sufficient Savior!

Finally Off My Wish List

In 2005, I put the 2 volume Martyn Lloyd-Jones biography on my Amazon wishlist. Finally, in 2009 they are on my shelves!

Can't wait to be challenged by the life and ministry of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones later this year.

Volume 1: The First Forty Years

Volume 2: The Fight of Faith

I am a Calvinist

I am a Calvinist. Not because I like John Calvin, but because the theology called "Calvinism" is Biblical. My allegince is to the Word of God.

One of the most influential documents in helping me see the wonder of my salvation was this article at the Desiring God site called, "What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism."

Wherever you stand, take some time to read it. It is well-written, gracious, and helpful.

Sovereign Grace CRAZY SALE

The folks at Sovereign Grace Ministries are serving us at a crucial time in our economy. Get the details of the "Crazy Sale" here.

Meet Wayne Grudem

Have you ever wondered what Wayne Grudem does in his time with God in the mornings? Well, CJ Mahaney asks him to describe his devotion times along with other helpful questions.

And, this is just part 1 of 4!

Celebrating 1,000 posts

Blogger tells me that I am nearing 1,000 total posts here at the CROSS-eyed blog. This milestone is a cause for both celebration and evaluation.

I cannot tell you how much I have been helped by blogging these past 4 years. Blogging has helped me to process my thoughts. It has forced me to write (something that doesn't come naturally to me). It has given me an opportunity to meet new friends. It has opened doors for ministry. It was used of God to get me to NC! It allows me to serve others by recommending good books. And most importantly, it has helped me preach the gospel to myself.

So, help me out by answering these 2 questions:
1. Why do you read this blog? What is most helpful to you?
2. Please think of 5 particular posts that have been meaningful/helpful to your walk with Christ. What has been the best of the best?

In order to encourage participation (and as a way to thank you), I will give away a few books. If you will comment or e-mail me with your answers to these 2 questions by Tuesday, Feb. 3, I will put your name in a drawing. I'll give away a copy of Worldliness by CJ Mahaney and a copy of Chosen for Life by Sam Storms to two participants (since only 4 people read this blog, your chances are pretty good). If I draw your name and you already have these books, I will figure out another book to send you that you don't have.

Thanks for reading this blog. I hope you have been pointed to the Savior.

Instructing a Child's Heart

Sometimes a particular chapter is worth the price of the book. Such is the case with chapter 8 of Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.

Chapter 8 is called, "Giving Children a Vision for the Glory of God." It is about helping our kids develop a passion for God.

John 15:12 - Memory Verse Meditations

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Verse 10 says that abiding in Jesus means keeping His commandments. Well, here is His COMMANDMENT: Love one another as He has loved you. The Christian life is marked by our love for one another. A true follower of Christ loves Jesus and loves Jesus’ people. Meditate on how much and in what ways Jesus has loved you. Consider His dying love. Then, ponder how you can express your love for your fellow church members this week.

Memorization tip: 15:12-14 are 3 pretty short verses. 15:15-16 are relatively long. Work hard at getting 15:9-14 down really well so that you are ready to tackle the longer verses when they come.

Spurgeon on the Chief Work of the Holy Spirit

"It is the CHIEF office of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ. He does many things, but this is what he aims at in all of them, to glorify Christ. Brethren, what the Holy Ghost does must be right for us to imitate: therefore, let us endeavour to glorify Christ. To what higher ends can we devote ourselves, than to something to which God the Holy Ghost devotes himself? Be this, then, your emotional prayer, "Blessed Spirit, help me ever to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!"

-CH Spurgeon

Read this Slowly: CH Spurgeon in the Garden

Whatever you are doing, please slow down. This is worth stopping everything and taking in slowly. If you cannot stop now, please bookmark this and come back to it when you have time to meditate.
This is from the sermon called, "The Agony in Gethsemane" by CH Spurgeon.

"Again looking at Jesus in the garden, we learn the excellence and completeness of the atonement. How black I am, how filthy, how loathsome in the sight of God, — I feel myself only fit to be cast into the lowest hell, and I wonder that God has not long ago cast me there; but I go into Gethsemane, and I peer under those gnarled olive trees, and I see my Saviour. Yes, I see Him wallowing on the ground in anguish, and hear such groans come from Him as never came from human breast before. I look upon the earth and see it red with His blood, while His face is smeared with gory sweat, and I say to myself, “My God, my Saviour, what aileth Thee?” I hear Him reply, “I am suffering for thy sin,” and then I take comfort, for while I fain would have spared my Lord such an anguish, now that the anguish is over I can understand how Jehovah can spare me, because He smote His Son in my stead. Now I have hope of justification, for I bring before the justice of God and my own conscience the remembrance of my bleeding Saviour, and I say, Canst Thou twice demand payment, first at the hand of Thy agonizing Son and then again at mine? Sinner as I am, I stand before the burning throne of the severity of God, and am not afraid of it. Canst thou scorch me, O consuming fire, when Thou hast not only scorche but utterly consumed my substitute? Nay, by faith, my soul sees justice satisfied, the law honoured, the moral government of God established and yet my once guilty soul absolved and set free. The fire of avenging justice has spent itself, and the law has exhausted its most rigorous demands upon the person of Him who was made a curse for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Oh the sweetness of the comfort which flows from the atoning blood! Obtain that comfort, my brethren, and never leave it. Cling to you Lord’s bleeding heart, and drink in abundant consolation."

My 2nd Favorite Book on Preaching

WTS now has my 2nd favorite book on preaching. Of course, my favorite is The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper.

My 2nd favorite book on preaching is Spirit Empowered Preaching by Arturo Azurdia. A must read for all those who preach God's Word and a good read for those who listen to preaching (which should be all Christians). The cover I have is a bright yellowish, but now it looks pinkish on the WTS site.

Don't judge a book by its cover! This is an easy to read and challenging book.

Get Outta My Face!

WTS Books has a special for a few days on a new book for parents and teachers of teens called Get Outta My Face! This is a hightly anticipated book and looks to be a must read for all parents of teens. Until Saturday, you can get this book for 65% off ($4.88).

You can see the endorsements for the book along with the Table of Contents here.

Update: WTS sold out of the 1,000 they had and got 500 more. Wow.

Making Abortion Unthinkable

I'm not sure where I picked up the phrase, "making abortion unthinkable," but I've been praying for that to happen for several years now (If I had to guess, I probably heard John Piper use that phrase).

Today is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Since that decision in 1973, Americans have killed over 46 million children.

Jonathan Brooks gave a great illustration Sunday to help us visualize just how many people that is. If average size people held hands, there would be a line of people from NC to California, 13 rows deep.

Please pray with me today that God would indeed make abortion unthinkable in our land.

Additional notes:
If you have had an abortion or paid for an abortion or encouraged an abortion, please know that the gospel is glorious enough to include you. Christ died for sinners. If you will repent of your sin and trust fully in Jesus Christ, He will cleanse you and make you His child.

Ligonier is broadcasting some RC Sproul messages on abortion today.

Justin Taylor shares Norma Mcorvey story (the "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade).

God is Our Good

"The redeemed have all their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God is the inheritance of the saints; he is the portion of their souls. God is their wealth and treasure, their food, their Life, their dwelling- place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honour and glory. They have none in heaven but God; he is the great good which the redeemed are received to at death, and which they are to rise to at the end of the world. The Lord God is the light of the heavenly Jerusalem; and is the "river of the water of life " that runs, and "the tree of life that grows, in the midst of the paradise of God." The glorious excellencies and beauty of God will be what will for ever entertain the minds of the saints, and the love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another; but that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in any thing else whatsoever that will yield them delight and happiness, will be what shall be seen of God in them."

-Jonathan Edwards, God Glorified in Man's Dependence

Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics

I have enjoyed reading Gospel and Kingdom by Goldsworthy. It is basically a book about how to interpret the Bible with Jesus Christ at the center. Here is a good summary paragraph:

"Hermeneutics aims at showing the significance of the text in light of the gospel. To interpret an Old Testament text we establish its relationship to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. In order to do this we draw upon our knowledge of the structure of revelation that biblical theology has opened out for us."

I'll look forward to getting and reading Goldsworthy's Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics.

Marvelously Mistaken

“If your Master was subject to all this contempt and all this pain, do you suppose you will always ride through this world in a chariot? If you do, you will be marvelously mistaken. As your Master was persecuted, you must expect to be the same. Some of you pity us when we are persecuted and despised. Ah! save your pity, keep it for those of whom the world speaks well; keep it for those against whom the woe is pronounced. “Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you.” Save your pity for earth’s favorites; save your pity for this world’s lords, that are applauded by all men.”

-CH Spurgeon

NC Snow Day!

The Greatest Preachers

"Throughout the history of the church the greatest preachers have been those who have recognized that they have no authority in themselves, and have seen their task as being to explain the words of Scripture and apply them clearly to the lives of their hearers. Their preaching has drawn its power not from the proclamation of their own Christian experiences or the experiences of others, nor from their own opinions, creative ideas, or rhetorical skills, but from God's powerful words. Essentially, they stood in the pulpit, pointed to the biblical text, and said in effect to the congregation, "This is what this verse means. Do you see that meaning here as well? Then you must believe it and obey it with all your heart, for God himself, your Creator and you Lord, is saying this to you today!" Only the written words of Scripture can give this kind of authority to preaching."

-Wayne Grudem, Bible Doctrine, p. 40.

The World Will Hate You: John 15:18-16:4

It has been estimated that there were about 175,000 Christians killed for being a Christian in the last year. 175,000 martyrs.
The statistics show that this number will continue to increase over the next few years and the number will be about 210,000 in 2025.
There were 45 ½ million Christians killed in the 20th century (this is most likely more than all other centuries combined).

And these numbers don’t even include countless millions who have been tortured, mangled, raped, and imprisoned because of their commitment to Christ.

Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."

I drew out 2 points from this text in my message on Sunday:
-Christians Should Expect the World to Hate Us.
-Christians Can Endure the Hatred of the World.

Question: Can you mention any experience which you have had as a Christian that made you aware of your union with a suffering, crucified Lord?

John 15:11 - Memory Verse Meditations

John 15:11 – "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

The words of Jesus bring great joy to His followers’ hearts. Jeremiah said that God’s Word brought joy and rejoicing to his heart (Jeremiah 15:16). Jesus wants you to have full joy (His joy!). As we meditate on Jesus’ desire for us to have full joy, let’s ask Him to cut away everything in our lives that saps our joy in Him.

Bunyan on God's Sovereignty in Persecution

“It is not what enemies will, nor what they are resolved upon, but what God will, and what God appoints, that shall be done…And as no enemy can bring suffering upon a man when the will of God is otherwise, so no man can save himself out of their hands when God will deliver him up for his glory…God has appointed who shall suffer. Suffering comes not by chance or by the will of man, but by the will and appointment of God.”

“All the ways of the persecutors are God’s. Wherefore, as we should, so again we should not, be afraid of men: we should be afraid of them, because they will hurt us; but we should not be afraid of them, as if they were let loose to do to us, and with us, what they will. God’s bridle is upon them, God’s hook is in their nose; yea, and God has determined the bounds of their rage, and if he lets them drive his church into the sea of troubles, it shall be but up to the neck, and so far it may go, and not be drowned…I say the Lord has hold of them, and orders them; nor do they at any time come out against his people but by his license and compassion how far to go, and where to stop.”

Taken from Piper's The Hidden Smile of God.

Amen! A Thousand Times, "Amen."

"When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey; speak about Dr. Carey's Savior."

-William Carey

My New Year's Present to Myself

I got myself a new everyday Bible for the New Year. The thinline I had been using was coming apart. After much evaluation, I went with the Classic Reference TruTone Chesnut, Eternity Design.

-Although a little bigger than the thinline, it is still small and can easily fit in my computer bag.
-The print is bigger than the thinline (I'm getting old) and much bigger than the attractive Personal Reference Edition.
-It has the center column references.
-The biggest surprise has been how it sticks to our pulpit at Christ Baptist. My old Bible would slide down to the bottom. This one sits right were I want it.
-I love reading in a Bible that has not been marked up and which I'm unfamiliar with where certain passages are on the page. It brings a freshness to my reading. I'm able to underline and circle those things that stand out to me just like I'm reading it for the first time. If you have been using the same Bible for a long time, I recommend getting a new one every couple of years.

Reflections on my Facebook Experience

I have enjoyed my month on Facebook and sense that it has been helpful. So, I plan to continue facebooking until I deem it unhelpful.

Here are a few random reflections:
1. Facebook is about people, not technology. I think I had this backwards in my mind.
2. I would never have been able to sit down and think of all the people from my past that I have found on Facebook. I forgot I knew so many people.
3. Facebook has helped me preach the gospel to myself. Knowing that I've got friends who have little or no gospel influence in their lives has helped me think about how to communicate the gospel to my own soul.
4. The status updates are a means of accountability. I must be honest with myself. I can't write, "Justin is aware of his need for a Savior," if I'm not aware of my need for a Savior.
5. I have ignored quite a few "friend" requests. I'm trying to keep my friend list to people who I actually know and have a relationship with. Although I'm delighted to have met a few friends through Facebook.
6. How in the world do people keep up with 500+ friends? Doesn't it just become meaningless at that point?

Trusting God's Promises When Everything Else is Gone

Helpful reminder from John Piper:

5 Key Ideas from 1 John 1:1-4

1. Life Comes In and Through Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus Christ has eternally existed with the Father.
3. Jesus Christ was manifested in the flesh.
4. Fellowship with God is the basis of fellowship with each other.
5. Joy is made full (completed) when we share in it with others.

Jesus in 1 John

Here are some of the references to Jesus Christ in the book of 1 John. Christianity is about Jesus Christ. He is the content of the Christian gospel.

-Jesus is the eternally existent Word of Life (1:1; 5:12).
-Jesus was with the Father and made manifested in the flesh (1:2).
-We have fellowship with Jesus (1:3).
-Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin (1:7).
-Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father; He is righteous (2:1).
-Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (2:2; 4:10).
-Jesus is our example of how to live (2:6).
-Jesus is the Christ (2:22; 5:1).
-Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also (2:23).
-Jesus appeared to take away sins (3:5).
-Jesus appeared to destroy the words of the devil (3:8).
-Jesus laid down His life for us (3:16).
-Jesus has come in the flesh (4:2).
-The Father sent Jesus as an expression of His love (4:9).
-Jesus is the Savior of the world (4:14).
-Jesus is the Son of God (4:15; 5:5).
-Jesus came by the water and the blood (5:6).
-Life is in Jesus (5:11-12).
-Jesus came to give us understanding (5:20).

Intelligent Site Search at WTS Books

WTS Books has updated their search engine. You can now narrow your search and find that book you are looking for much easier. You can also now compare selected books.

Give it a try.

God is Most Glorified...

"Nothing glorifies God more than maintaining our stability and joy when we lose everything but God."

John Piper, The Hidden Smile of God, p. 46.

Love Letters From Church History

Want to read a love letter from Martin Luther or John Calvin?
Michael Haykin has complied a book called, The Christian Lover: The Sweetness of Love and Marriage in the Letters of Believers.

Looks like an interesting read. You can glimpse at the table of contents to see some of the other couples whose letters have survived to inspire us.

2 Best Books on Marriage

If you are married, or hope to get married one day, you should read these 2 books:

1. When Sinners Say "I Do."

2. Love that Lasts

I'm not kidding. What are you waiting for?

Some Books for 2009

Since one of my goals each year is to read helpful and challenging books, I thought I would be a little more intentional this year. Instead of just reading what comes across my desk, I'm going to plan to read some books well this year. I'll still read some new books, but I'll be focused on reading books that have proven themselves to be worthy of study.

So, here is a list of some of what's on my list:

Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

William Tyndale biography

Gospel and Kingdom by Goldsworthy

Majesty and Misery, Spurgeon sermons on the cross (3 volumes)

When People are Big and God is Small by Welch

The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges

A Proverbs Driven Life

I really enjoyed reading A Proverbs Driven Life by Anthony Selvaggio. I had never heard of Selvaggio but when I saw the table of contents, I knew I wanted to read this book. Basically, Selvaggio organizes the book of Proverbs into a few major themes. He has chapters on the use of our tongue, Biblical work ethic, wealth, friends, marriage, and parenting. I could see this being a very helpful book for a preaching series on Proverbs.

The best thing about this book is that it is thouroughly Christ centered. Selvaggio shows how Jesus is the essence of wisdom and how His death is sufficient for our failures.


I would recommend this book and am looking forward to getting these books by Selvaggio:
-The Prophets Speak of Him: Encountering Jesus in the Minor Prophets

-The 24/7 Christian: Practical Help From the Book of James

John 15:10 - Memory Verse Meditations

John 15:10 – "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love."

In verse 9, Jesus commanded us to abide in His love. In this verse, we are told how to abide in His love: by keeping His commandments. Jesus again compares our relationship with Him to His relationship with the Father. Jesus remains in His Father’s love by obedience to the Father’s desires. In the same way, we must obey Jesus in order to abide in His love. As we meditate on this truth, let’s rejoice that Jesus was completely obedient to the Father and that His obedience empowers our obedience.

Biblical Productivity

In case you haven't seen them, CJ Mahaney has been writing a series of posts dealing with busyness, procrastination, roles, goals, and redeeming the time. You can see what he has done so far here.

I have found his thoughts both encouraging and challenging. I am realizing that a procrastinator dwells within me and that he must be put to death.

NEED YOUR HELP - Persecution?

I need everyone who reads this blog to pitch in here. Very simple question. Even if you have never commented before, please do now.

If you are a Christian...
When in your life have you been "persecuted" for the sake of the gospel? Please let me know if you have ever suffered directly because of your commitment to Christ. No need to tell the whole story (unless you want to). Just briefly tell us what happened and why.

If you have never been persecuted, please just write: "I've never been persecuted."

*Of course, in America we have not been persecuted nearly as seriously as in other countries. However, I'm looking for anything. What "harm" has come to you because you are a Christian?

Light These Idle Sticks of My Life...

On this day in 1956, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming were speared to death by men they loved. They went to preach the gospel to a small tribe in the jungles of Ecuador. What they accomplished inspired a 19 year old college student to abandon it all.

I have never been the same since reading Jim Elliot's story. It was not so much his death that changed my life. It was his life. He was totally devoted to Christ.



Some of my favorite Jim Elliot quotes:
“God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.”

“Father, let me be weak that I might loose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me loose the tension of the grasping hand.”

“I covenanted with the Father that He would do either of two things: either glorify Himself to the utmost in me or slay me. By His grace I shall not have His second best.”

“O Christ, let me know Thee--let me catch glimpses of Thyself, seated and expectant in glory, let me rest there despite all wrong surging round me. Lead me in the right path, I pray.”

“Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for that world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar.”

“God deliver me from the dread asbestos of ‘other things.’ Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame for you.”

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Slowly Surveying The Wondrous Cross

I just finished reading Is it Nothing to You? The Unchanging Significance of the Cross by Frederick Leahy.

Basically, Leahy just stops for a while and ponders the significance of Jesus' death from some unique angles. He ponders the sign nailed above Jesus' head. He listens as Jesus speaks. He meditates on the clothes that the soldiers cast lots to obtain. He ponders the earthquake and open graves.

I've read all Leahy's writings now and would highly recommend them.

A Few Books at Really Good Prices

WTS has a mini-sale on 4 books published by Baker.

Must haves:
Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
The Cross and Christian Ministry by DA Carson

Brand new:
Christless Christianity by Horton

Church Growth

After Ananias and Sapphira are killed by the Lord, Luke records a strange church growth strategy.

Everyone was afraid (Acts 5:11) and, "None of the rest dared join them" (Acts 5:13).

The result of this fear: Multitudes of both men and women believe in the Lord (Acts 5:14)!

Thankful for God's Forceful Mercy!

I was reminded of this post from a few years ago as I read Genesis 18-20 yesterday:

Have you every heard someone say that God is a "gentleman," and will never force you to do anything? It is usually an attempt to affirm the sovereignty of man's free will. You will be hard pressed to find this kind of language in the Bible.
I am thankful for the forceful mercy of God. I am thankful that God sovereignly restrains and keeps me from a thousand sins every day. Given my depravity, if God did not restrain me through His mercy, I would always chose against Him.

Listen to the language of Genesis 19-20:

In Genesis 19, God is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. However, before He "rains" sulfur and fire from heaven, He saves Lot and his family. Lot is not the most willing rescuee. Can you imagine? God says, "I am about to destroy this city and everyone in it." Lot wants to ponder what he should do for a while. In fact, 19:16 says that Lot "lingered" after being told of the immediate destruction of the city. So, what should God do at this moment? Should He withhold judgment until Lot decides to leave the city? Should He just punish Lot along with the other wicked folks? No, God's forceful mercy is put on full display! Here is what the text says, "So the men (19:1 says they were angels) seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city." Did you catch that? The mercy of the Lord forced Lot and his whole family out of the city.

In Genesis 20, Abraham claims that Sarah is his sister again. Abimelech likes Sarah and is going to take her as his wife. God communicates to Abimelech that he is a dead man because of Sarah. Abimelech pleads his case, that he did not know she was Abraham's wife. God says, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her."

Thank God for His Forceful Mercy!

John 15:9 - Memory Verse Meditations

Of John 15:9, Charles Spurgeon said, “There are many great texts in the Bible, but I have often questioned whether there is a greater one than this.”

John 15:9 – "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love."
What an amazing thing for the Savior to say. How much does the Father love the Son? In the same way, the Son loves His own. As we meditate on this amazing verse, let us rejoice in the deep love of the Savior for us; a love that led Him to bear our sins on the cross. And, don’t forget to obey the command to abide in the Savior’s love. Abide in the Savior’s love by living in response to His love. Verse 10 tells us that the way to abide in His love is to keep His commandments.

Books I Picked Out for My Wife to Read in 2009

Here are 5 books I lovingly picked out for my wife to read in 2009. She has the most difficult job on the planet. She serves me selflessly. And, she still have time to read a lot. Among all her other reading, I wanted her to read these books.

1. The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
2. Worldliness edited by CJ Mahaney
3. Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
4. Life in the Father's House by Wayne Mack
5. When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch

Challenge 2010

What will you do in 2010 that will make the most significant spiritual impact in your life? What will you do this year that will contribute most to your personal growth in godliness?

This I know: if you don’t plan to grow in godliness this year, you won’t. Godliness doesn’t just happen. Cultivating Christ-likeness requires discipline and time.

Don’t waste this year. By the grace of God, go hard after holiness this year. Of all the things you are going to pursue this year, make the pursuit of maturity in Christ your primary goal.

So, how are you going to position yourself to increase your enjoyment of God this year?

There are lots of ways to lay ourselves in the path of godliness. However, I want to challenge you in one particular way. I want to challenge you to do something this year that will make the most impact in the most areas of your Christian life.

Based on Colossians 3:16, I want to challenge you to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in 2010.

Among the many ways to grow in godliness in the Christian life, none are more helpful than saturating ourselves in the Bible. In Donald Whitney’s excellent book on the Spiritual Disciplines, he writes, “No spiritual discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word.”

George Muller said, “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.”

Grow in godliness this year (this decade) by devoting yourself to letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Colossians 3:16: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly."

Here are 5 observations on these 9 words from the sermon Sunday:
1. This is a command.
2. This is a command directed at those who desire to center their lives on Christ (context).
3. This is a command to do something with the Word of Christ.
4. This is a command to let the Word of Christ dwell in us.
5. This is a command to let the Word of Christ dwell in us RICHLY.

What Bible Verse did Spurgeon Say This About?

Spurgeon said, “There are many great texts in the Bible, but I have often questioned whether there is a greater one than this.”

Which text was he referring to? Go ahead, give it a guess.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 23

My daughter loves books (just like her daddy). So, I got her a book for Christmas: Sammy and His Shepherd: Show Me Jesus in Psalm 23. This is an absolutely great kid's book.
Susan Hunt does a fantastic job of expositing Psalm 23 through a story about a sheep named Sammy who has a GREAT shepherd. Sammy loves his shepherd but Sammy's shepherd loved him first. Sammy's shepherd cares for the flock well.

This book also includes a "study guide" with questions to ask children about the meaning of the story.
I've already read it twice now.

Visit the Sick

I enjoyed and was challenged by a new book by Brian Croft: Visit the Sick: Ministering God's Grace in Times of Illness. I know of no other books like it. It deals with both a theological understanding of sickness and a practical guide to making hospital visits.