Witchcraft & Abortion

"Whenever pagan sexual immorality is accepted, abortion and child sacrifice become a necessity in covering up the fruit of sin."

Remember reading the Old Testament and Israel is about to cross over the Jordan to dispossess and annihilate the pagan nations in order to inhabit the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob? They were to completely obliterate them because of their wicked practices and not show any pity on certain nations because they sacrificed their children, making them pass through the fire, etc. I had always thought of that being infanticide, or child sacrifice (between toddler and teen age). This brief documentary was very enlightening to connect ancient abortion practices with pagan witchcraft and idol worship. Watch both part 1 and 2 for the full account.

Hell in Leviticus

I've been reading through Leviticus and it has been more exciting and convicting than one might think. This book is filled with the Judaic laws in reference to worshiping God in the Tabernacle. Last night I was reading chapter 6 and was hit with the picture of hell and God's wrath demonstrated there and in the animal sacrifices. The sacrificial system was set up as a precursor that pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It is impossible for the blood of animals to take away sins. The people needed to see the effects of their sin and understand the requisites for God's justice for forgiveness and removal of guilt.

In verses 8-13 of chapter 6 there is such a strong emphasis for the fire on the altar to be kept burning continually because of it's repetition.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁹ “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it. ¹⁰ The priest is to put on his linen robe, and he shall put on undergarments next to his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire reduces the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar. ¹¹ Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.¹² The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. ¹³ Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.

In the Hebrew, Jeramy told me that the negative (NOT) is the intensive form of the negation as opposed to the passive form. It called to remembrance what Christ teaches about Hell in the New Testament. He repeats Isaiah 66:24 for emphasis also.

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴ where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] ⁴⁵ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, ⁴⁶ where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] ⁴⁷ If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, ⁴⁸ where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. (Mark 9:43-48)

Imagine worshiping in the Tabernacle and meditating on God's holy justice that requires death as a consequence of sin since the Fall. I considered that this picture of the altar is an image of hell in the Tabernacle, that a perpetual atonement was needed because of God's eternal, infinite nature. Imagine your body continually burning in fire on the altar! And being reminded of that every time you sin! But how is it possible to atone for one's own sin and receive God's forgiveness at the same time? That's why Christ came - to be the substitutionary atoning sacrifice in our place that we might receive forgiveness and live as God intended: free from the bondage of sin.

Martha Peace on Thoughts & Attitudes

If you struggle with a bad attitude more often than you would like (like me) then the following excerpt may put it in perspective. One of the most impacting things I've learned from this book is that our thoughts have a direct correlation to our attitudes. (That should be a no-brainer, right?!) If our thoughts are holy, good, pure, honorable, positive, etc, then our attitude will follow suit. If not, then the opposite happens. Taking our thought lives captive to the obedience of Christ is the first crucial step toward gaining victory over our attitudes. Remember, God is HOLY and for just one, single, solitary sin Adam and Eve were cast out of God's presence and we find ourselves in our current sinful, "dead in trespasses" state and pass it on to our progeny. It is a serious matter to honor and obey God in this way and if you haven't committed your thought life to the Lord Jesus Christ, I commend you to repent now.

The battle that God's soldiers fight is for their minds to think the way that God would have them think - taking their wrong thoughts captive out of respect and obedience to their Lord, Jesus Christ. Thoughts, ideas, speculations, reasonings, philosophies, and false religions are our battle. It is a battle that is daily and ongoing until we go to be with the Lord. It is a battle that is fought by means of God's power through prayer and study of the Scriptures. The results are a renewed mind that thinks rightly, thus taking "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

One of the ways that, by God's grace, we develop a renewed mind is by preparing ahead of time what we are going to think during a difficult situation.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13, emphasis added

The apostle Peter wrote his letter (1 Peter) to Christians scattered throughout various Roman provinces. The persecution against Christians had heated up and would eventually become extreme. There is tremendous hope in Peter's letter that must have sent their emotions soaring as he wrote about the "precious blood, as of a Lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:19). There is also a very sobering call to prepare mentally for the coming persecution and in the meantime to live a holy life entrusting their souls to their "faithful Creator in doing what s right" (1 Peter 4:19). Peter was trying to prepare them ahead of time so that when the trials came they would think righty through them and give God great glory. It was as if Peter was telling them, "I have some really bad news and you need to prepare yourself for it - great persecution is coming and God will test your faith to see if it is genuine. He will give some of you a great privilege to suffer for His sake. You need to think about this now so that you will honor our Lord when the time actually comes."

Fearful people do not trust God. Instead of thinking through a possible future difficulty "fixing their hope completely on the grace to be brought to them," they let their thoughts wallow in the negative what-ifs (1 Peter 1:13). "What if this happens? What if that happens? I won't be able to bear it. I can't take it! I just know something horrible is going to happen!!" They worry and fret and panic about things that usually don't happen. Instead they should think that if a difficult or even extreme circumstance occurs, God is all powerful and faithful to keep His promises. Therefore, they can trust God completely knowing He would give them the grace they would need if such a difficulty arose. He is so good. He will not let His children be "tempted beyond what [they] are able to bear" (1 Corinthians 10:13, adaptation added). Therefore (as Peter said), prepare your mind through trusting God, and in the meanwhile live a godly, righteous life.

Excerpt from Attitudes of a Transformed Heart by Martha Peace pages 134-135. Copyright 2002 Focus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1-885904-28-2. 134-135.

Martha Peace on Guidance

I can see and hear myself from years past saying, "I have peace about my decision;" or "I feel led;" or "There is no doubt in my mind that God wants me to . . ." Now I hear myself saying, "This is an area in which I have freedom;" or "What do the Scriptures say?" or "Lord, as best I can determine You want me to do . . .;" and lastly, "If You have a different plan I know You'll make it clear." I have heard others say, "The Lord told me to . . . " or "I saw a vision," or "The Lord spoke to me last night in a dream." There are almost as many views of guidance from God as there are Christians! The reason I chose this particular topic . . . is because the issue of guidance directly relates to knowing the will of God. The will of God is affirmed in our lives as good and acceptable and perfect to the degree that we have been "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind[s] . . . " (Romans 12:2, adaptation added).

If your view of how God guides you is not true to the Scriptures then you could wrongly discern His will and not even know it. You also could be giving out very definite advice and directing other people's lives in an unbiblical way that God never intended. . . . Is God speaking directly to us through a still, small voice? Does He lead us through our emotions and feelings such as "I feel led" or "I have peace"? Is He guiding us at all or simply leaving us to fend for ourselves?

When we consider how God guides us, we also must remember that our hearts deceive us. We are capable of believing and feeling that God is guiding us when really our consciences may have been taught error instead of truth. The only for sure way to know God's will is to go to the Scriptures.

It is a mark of maturity as a Christian to honor God by relying on what we know for sure rather than depending upon other methods of guidance which at the very best are unsure and dependent on using Scripture out of context. None of us can be transformed in our thinking if we are out of His will. The only way to know His will confidently is to embrace a biblical view of guidance and to trust God's Word and His providence instead of trusting some vague, mysterious impression, "check," or still small voice that we think we may have heard or felt. If we are to be renewed in our thinking and attitudes then it follows that we must "not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17; emphasis added).

Excerpts from Attitudes of a Transformed Heart by Martha Peace pages 101 and 109. Copyright 2002 Focus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1-885904-28-2.

A Song for Saturday

This song reminds me of God's sovereignty in all His works. Jeramy has said this to me and I think it is true, that when people are confronted with the sovereignty of God, they either accept it in joy or respond in bitterness. It is easy to accept the things He does that we agree are good, but very difficult to cope with those things we consider evil or various trials of our circumstances. It is through the lens faith that we can find the good in evil circumstances. Romans 8:28.

Open The Eyes of My Heart, Lord

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you will know what is the hope of His calling,

what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Ephesians 1:15-19

In this prayer Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of other believers and prays for God to continue to reveal Himself and His wisdom to them in Christ.

I consider that the hope of God's calling is that, as He has chosen us, we will not be abandoned to death and everlasting hell, that Christ will never leave us or forsake us and that He will accomplish all that concerns us for His glory and our good.

The riches of the glory of His inheritance have its roots in the promise God made to Abraham, that He would show him a land for his posterity. But in Christ, our inheritance is in heaven, a little section designated just for us. See 1 Peter 1.

The surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe is explained in the verses that follow. Only by the omnipotence of God can He raise a Man from the dead and place that Man at the top of the spiritual chain of command. And not only this but continues to do this - to give life to dead people and place them in a state of spiritual authority - when He regenerates a heart that was once at enmity against Him and now worships Him joyfully! Just think of what we once were without Christ and where we might be now had God not changed our hearts!

Scriptures For Saturday

I will cry to God Most High,

To God who accomplishes all things for me.

Psalm 57:2

This passage hit me today as I was reading along. Notice the utter dependence on God, looking to Him only, resting on His power and ability to accomplish all things. See that this verse is not speaking of the health/wealth prosperity "gospel" preached today in some churches, but in the context of the remaining verses of the Psalm and the book as a whole, it speaks of spiritual things: refuge, salvation, mercy, lovingkindness, grace, strength, vindication, the application of righteousness and holiness. This verse reminded me of the following two passages:

Bless our God, O peoples,

And sound His praise abroad,

Who keeps us in life

And does not allow our feet to slip.

Psalm 66:8-9

In Him you also, having heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:4-6

Salvation is a work completely begun and finished by Almighty God. God's grace for salvation is not a reward for repentance, it is the cause. And likewise the application of sanctification and perseverance in the faith. We can rest in the accomplished work of Christ on the Cross knowing that God is the one who keeps us from straying out of His hand.

"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."

John 10:29

Everything Is Theological

Is it possible to separate what is spiritual from what is physical? Is it possible to go read the Bible and live life completely disconnected from what was read?

In one sense, yes. There are many people who go to church, listen to solid exegetical sermons, read the Bible (even daily) and divorce the gospel from their practical living. These individuals don't consider their sinful patterns in terms of personal sanctification (i.e. they still gossip, lust, and indulge the flesh after hearing convicting sermons about the same issues).

However, the true answer is no. God, who is spiritual, created everything that is physical. So then, the physical cannot be estranged from the spiritual. (See Genesis 1:1ff, Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:15 and 1 Timothy 1:17.)

"Wait . . . but I'm no theologian!" Ahh, but you are! What one thinks about God is theological by definition, for everything we say and do reflects an implied theology of God whether we admit it or not. This always manifests itself in our behavior towards Him and His Church. What we believe about God ultimately dictates how we live day-to-day.

For example, if we don't think that God is powerful, then our actions will reflect that. We will not pray. We will not depend on His strength and grace to make it through the daily grind; we will rely on our own strength. We will conclude that there are hearts that are just too hard for God to change, and we won't evangelize. Eventually, we will surmise that the gospel is impotent; over time we may even reject the faith.

In another example, if we don't think that God is omnipresent, then we convince ourselves that we can go on sinning because God doesn't see. We will begin to doubt the existence of God, for to be God is to be omnipresent. Moreover, if we think that God is not all-together wise, then we will concoct our own means when difficult situations arise. Soon, we succumb to some type of naturalistic humanism.

Again, another example: Equating the love of God with benevolent sentimentalism instead of with objective authoritative truth is destructive. To do so denies reason, power, righteousness, and justice because such absolutes are founded upon an Absolute God who has spoken to us in an intelligible way. That individual will eventually become a moral relativist, which is the philosophy that says whatever is good to you is good and what is right for one person is right for that person. It's just another form of religious pluralism, which, ironically is a religious system in and of itself that has made itself a form of absolutism without an absolute on which to be grounded. This person may not condemn homosexuality, abortion, pornography, alcoholism, anxiety, bitterness or anger, but they will create other things to condemn. They will arbitrarily condemn whatever they personally disagree with. In reality then, they are being exclusive and not inclusive, for the denying of one thing is by default the endorsing of another.

Again we ask: Why does it matter what we think about God and how we understand His methods in redeeming humanity? Can't we truly enjoy fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ without all the intellectual stimulation? Why do we need to define terms? Why can't we all just believe what we believe without letting there be division amongst us? "Can't we all just get along?"

If we follow that line of reasoning, we set ourselves up for a false peace. For example, if we don't want to differentiate between arminian and reformed theological viewpoints, then how do we evangelize? What will we say? What will we avoid saying? How could we possibly have a clear conscience that we are speaking the truth of the gospel in love? What benefit is there to the believer to know the manner in which God applies salvation? The answers to these questions will dictate behavior.

Ultimately, knowing God rightly will empower us to love Him as He truly is. The more we worship Him as He truly is then the more we are transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). This then allows us to operate freely in the realm of His righteousness, liberated from the bondage of sin.

(This post was written with help from my wonderful husband:-)

Wow!

That's all I could say after watching, hearing this snippet message of why a sinner should repent. I think the preacher is Kevin Macleod.

God deserves our worship even if we don't get heaven in the end. He demands our obedience. God will get no glory out of a life lived in human wisdom, human strength, human effort and He will receive no glory out of a humanist philosophy: one that lives for Him just to get good things from Him. Why am I a Christian? What is my motive for reading God's Word, memorizing Scripture, claiming allegiance to Christ, prayer, rejecting evangelical feminism, worldly philosophies and all the like? Why does anyone repent? Salvation is by grace through faith, both of which have been given as a free gift in and through Christ. As a gift, it is our own; He will not take it back from us. What thoughts dominated my mind when God granted me the grace of godly sorrow that led me to repent and surrender to the Lordship of Christ? I remember thinking that Christ had given His all for me and I hadn't given myself totally to Him and He deserved all of me.

What Reminds Me to Be Grateful

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called, "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY AND TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR, for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2

Christ Is Enough

"I have no longings for another; I'm satisfied in Him alone." Is Christ enough for us? I pray daily for a grateful heart, remembering that I could just as easily have been on the fast track to hell, but by His grace alone, I am not. There is nothing else on earth that can satisfy like Christ who "is all in all" (Ephesians 1:23 NASB). In Heaven we will be able to be enamored with the beauty of Christ's face. If we don't want this, then we don't want Heaven. I Will Glory In My Redeemer, if you click on the song title in the list, you will hear the first verse. If you order anything from Sovereign Grace Ministries, shipping is free and their prices are very inexpensive.

I Will Glory In My Redeemer

I will glory in my Redeemer

whose priceless blood has ransomed me.

Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails

and hung him on that judgment tree.

I will glory in my Redeemer

who crushed the pow'r of sin and death.

My only Savior before the Holy Judge:

The Lamb who is my Righteousness.

The Lamb who is my Righteousness.

I will glory in my Redeemer.

My life He bought, my love He owns.

I have no longings for another;

I'm satisfied in Him alone.

I will glory in my Redeemer.

His faithfulness, my standing place.

Though foes are mighty and rush upon me,

My feet are firm, held by His grace.

My feet are firm, held by His grace.

I will glory in my Redeemer

who carries me on eagle's wings.

He crowns my life with lovingkindness.

His triumph song I'll ever sing.

I will glory in my Redeemer

who waits for me at gates of gold

And when He calls me it will be Paradise:

His face forever to behold!

His face forever to behold!

An Unexpected Confrontation

Today Jeramy and I decided to take a walk around our neighborhood and get some exercise.  As we were heading up the hill from our townhouse a black man with a book in his hand, determined to speak with us, began admiring our children.  Immediately he asked us if we were Bible readers.  After naming specific books, Proverbs, Psalms, Romans and Ephesians, he continued to speak with us regarding spiritual things.  

My first immediate inclination in response to how quickly he began to speak of divine things cautioned me to think that he was either a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon.  After offering us an extra-biblical book, Jeramy asked by whom it was published and my suspicions were confirmed - Jehovah's (FALSE) Witness.

Perhaps you've been stopped by them before, even at your doorstep.  My Dad was an object of such proselytization before he came to the Creator and Redeemer, who is God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scripture.  The only infinitely valuable being able to endure infinite wrath against a Holy God as He became sin on our behalf.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John 1:1-3

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George Santayana

This heresy is just the Arian heresy (300AD) recycled in 1872 by Charles Russell.  The Church addressed Arianism back in the 300's but when it later revived, where was the church leadership at that time to refute it and herald a Sovereign Savior, Lord and God, Jesus Christ?  This sect of false religions have totally taken certain Scriptures out of context and preached a bad news gospel.

They know their bad translated text very well and can 

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

1 Peter 3:15

In fact, I believe this man might have been a preacher of such heresy.  But these individuals won't go back to the original Greek and Hebrew.  They don't spend time learning those languages to understand that their "scriptures" are full of calculated heretical support for the propagation of this false teaching and as a result make it very difficult to be dissuaded by actual Truth, who is the Great I AM, Jesus Christ.

The eye is the lamp of the body;  so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Matthew 6:22-23

Do you ever feel like living and preaching the Gospel is an uphill battle?  I think that it's more difficult to correct someone's false doctrines than to preach to those who've never heard.

Praise God that it is HIS grace that saves individuals and not our efforts to work with Him, but only our obedience to His glory, which He affects anyway, again, all to His glory!

Dr. Voddie Baucham

There are very few black reformed persons (men or women) in the world of evangelical Christianity.  While I was at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY there were very few reformed black men there, most of whom were already married :-( and the single one I did know was about 13 years older than I.  These were the thoughts of a single, reformed, black woman looking for a husband.  :-)  Jeramy was the only one to show interest and I think I got the better deal anyway!   Here is Baucham giving an excellent sermon/apologetic for intelligently defending "the hope that is within us" without any further adieu . . .

 Please note: the entire sermon is about 20 to 30 minutes long.  This is only the first 5 minutes.  Click on subsequent parts for the full sermon.  If you don't listen to the entire sermon, please at least watch the first 90 seconds of the second part. It's totally worth your time!

God, The Source of All Good

O Lord God, who inhabitest eternity,

The heavens declare thy glory,

The earth thy riches,

The universe is thy temple;

Thy presence fills immensity,

Yet thou hast of thy pleasure created life,

and communicated happiness;

Thou hast made me what I am, and given me

what I have;

In thee I live and move and have my being;

Thy providence has set the bounds of my habitation,

and wisely administers all my affairs.

I thank thee for thy riches to me in Jesus,

for the unclouded revelation of him in thy Word,

where I behold his Person, character, grace, glory,

humiliation, sufferings, death, and resurrection;

Give me to feel a need of his continual saviourhood,

and cry with Job, 'I am vile',

with Peter, 'I perish', 

with the publican, 'Be merciful to me, a sinner'.

Subdue in me the love of sin,

Let me know the need of renovation as well as 

of forgiveness,

in order to serve and enjoy thee for ever.

I come to thee in the all-prevailing name of Jesus,

with nothing of my own to plead,

no works, no worthiness, no promises.

I am often straying,

often knowingly opposing thy authority,

often abusing thy goodness;

Much of my guilt arises from my religious privileges,

my low estimation of them,

my failure to use them to my advantage,

But I am not careless of thy favour or regardless of thy glory;

Impress me deeply with a sense of thine

omnipresence, that thou art about my path,

my ways, my lying down, my end.

[AMEN!]

(The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Ed. Arthur Bennett.  Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975.  pp 6-7.)

The Power of Words

Lately I have considered the power of our words.  My first thought of all, was how Christ is the Word.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John 1:1-3

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  For of His fullness we have all received and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 1:14,16-18

The Word is eternal, self-sufficient, uncreated, powerful and authoritative.  The Word is the Creator; the Word gives life and Light.  The Word, which was spirit initially, has taken a physical form, dwelling among a fallen humanity originally created in the image of God as the peak of His glorious creation.  The original glory of humanity was forfeited in the Fall, but Christ exhibits an even greater glory than has ever been seen - the glory of God Himself.  The Word is also described as being full of grace and truth.  This grace is without measure, for just as God is eternal and infinite in His fullness, so is His grace.  The power of God's grace in the Word, who is Christ, is powerful enough to effect a change in sinful individuals who, as a result, repent and receive salvation.  God's power as the Word, Christ, is limitless.

My second thought was the Scripture as the Word, breathed out by the Spirit of God.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.  

2 Samuel 22:31 NIV

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 NIV

What are words but breath exhaled over the vocal chords, shaped and formed into consonants and vowels with the aid of the mouth.  If the spoken Word at Creation, "And God said . . .", was powerful enough to create everything from nothing, then it is effective enough for all of our living, physical and spiritual.  And what is the Word of God, but that which He spoke and is, of His grace, recorded accurately for our benefit and accountability.  

He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 8:3 NASB

Scripture also calls the Gospel, or God's commands, the Word of God and the word of truth.

 

But [Jesus] answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Luke 8:21

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:7

So, it stands to reason, therefore, that since the Word of God is so powerful as to create everything into existence, to give life and rescue those who are spiritual dead by effecting a salvation by grace through faith - that words incite action.  Our words have impact on those who hear.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29

I confess that oftentimes I speak without regards to the person listening.  Sometimes the words I say, or the words others say, do not impart grace, but on the contrary suck the joy out of someone else's heart.  When believers speak, we must be conscious of those who are listening and guard our tongues.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

James 1:26

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; 

The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 13:3

But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Matthew 12:36

Whoa, that's convicting!  Sometimes the words we say can create a joy vacuum, or can convey critical or judgmental thoughts.  There have been many nights in my short life, where I have lost sleep over the words that have been spoken to me by believers and non-believers alike!  The power of our words can hurt, heal, encourage, edify, teach, rebuke, correct, discipline, nag, complain, reveal anxiety, reveal evil and malicious intents, and even tear down our homes without the use of our hands!  (Prov. 14:1)

For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matthew 12:34b

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, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

How easy it is for a woman to let her feelings, emotions and thoughts create a flood of words, of which we may or may not realize their potential effects on those who hear.  How often do we "vent" or "collect" our thoughts verbally, audibly, with little regard for the person listening, while they provide a ministry to us in their listening!  How much more relieved do we feel, as women, when we've unloaded all our thoughts onto some unsuspecting listener and call it fellowship?  

What we need is heart transformation, heart transplantation.  If our hearts are changed, if we see the glory and beauty of the holiness of God, repent in utter humility (I preach to myself also!), then grace will be given to us to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corin. 10:5)  Our hope, as we obey Christ, is that the abundance that will flow from our hearts over time and practice will be full of the same grace and truth as the Word who is Christ.   

The Mover

O Supreme Moving Cause,

May I always be subordinate to thee,

be dependent upon thee, 

be found in the path where thou dost walk,

and where thy Spirit moves,

take heed of estrangement from thee,

of becoming insensible to thy love.

Thou dost not move men like stones,

but dost endue them with life,

not to enable them to move without thee,

but in submission to thee, the first mover.

O Lord, I am astonished at the difference

between my receivings and my deservings,

between the state I am now in and my past

gracelessness,

between the heaven I am bound for and

the hell I merit.

Who made me to differ, but thee?

for I was no more ready to receive Christ 

than were others;

I could not have begun to love thee hadst thou not

first loved me,

or been willing unless thou hadst first made me so.

O that such a crown should fit the head of such

a sinner!

such high advancement be for an unfruitful

person!

such joys for so vile a rebel!

Infinite wisdom cast the design of salvation

into the mould of purchase and freedom;

Let wrath deserved be written on the door of hell,

But the free gift of grace on the gate of heaven.

I know that my sufferings are the result of my

sinning,

but in heaven both shall cease;

Grant me to attain this haven and be done

with sailing,

and may the gales of thy mercy blow me safely

into harbour.

Let thy love draw me nearer to thyself,

wean me from sin, mortify me to this world,

and make me ready for my departure hence.

Secure me by thy grace as I sail across this 

stormy sea.

[Amen!]

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

Sing the glory of His name;

Make His praise glorious.

Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!

Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.

All the earth will worship You,

And will sing praises to You;

They will sing praises to your name."

Psalm 66:2-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John 1:1-3

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Sprit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Romans 8:6-8

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

(The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Ed. Arthur Bennett.  Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975.  pp 12-13.)

Thy Mercy My God

This is a great hymn by John Stoker.  There is a lot of praise in this hymn for the encouragement of holding to the Doctrines of Grace.  Click on the link and enjoy the music.  The video is not really anything to watch but the music is performed by Caedmon's Call and is of excellent quality.

Thy Mercy My God

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, 

the joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue.

Thy free grace alone from the first to the last 

hath won my affection and bound my soul fast.

With out thy sweet mercy I could not live here;

Sin would reduce me to utter despair;

but through thy free goodness my spirits revive

and He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart

which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;

dissolved by thy goodness I fall to the ground

and weep for the praise of the mercy I've found.

Great Father of mercies thy goodness I own

and the covenant love of thy crucified Son;

all praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine

seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine

seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine!

Lily Update

Today Lily's appetite has returned and she's resumed her normal sweetness.  The morning was a bit difficult for her, but the majority of the day has been pleasant, considering.  She is avoiding her antibiotic for her ear infection like the plague.  Her coughs are still scary and she has a fever.  She takes her inhalant very well as she's not afraid of breathing in a mask.

Moriah has begun to experience more of the barking, wet, wheezing cough and tonight she had a fever.  I gave her some Tylenol and her fever was reduced, though not completely broken.  Her disposition is normal - jolly troublemaker.

At our church, the nursery volunteers always comment that Moriah is so well behaved.  I'm so glad - because she's not at home.  If anyone denies the Doctrine of Original Sin, let them keep a toddler for a day!  If you tell her, "No!" she will reach for it again, watching you to see your reaction.  She does this over and over and over again.  I think God gave us this beautiful little girl for the purpose of my sanctification, particularly in the areas of consistent discipline, patience and forbearance.

Why God Saves

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  

Ephesians 2:4-7

Today I was meditating on this passage and considering the Doctrines of Grace.  I have often thought that it would have been easier for God to omit the creation of Man considering the fact that Man is now fallen and completely and utterly a hostile enemy towards Him.  Why bother sending Christ?  All of Mankind is doomed to Hell - it is all we deserve for our rebellion against His commands.  His holy justice deems that there is no other option for fallen Mankind.  In hell, we would have no one to blame but ourselves.  We chose, out of our own free will, to sin against God and incur eternal wrath on our heads.  He could have left us hardened in sin and saved no one.  

But He chose to save some.  

God was not obligated to save anyone.  We have no claims on salvation.  God could have been perfectly obliged to condemn all to Hell.  All we justly deserve is eternal wrath and punishment poured out upon us for rebelling against a holy and righteous God.  Why would He save any?  Each of us has the same sinful condition.  Each of us deserve nothing but eternal torture of which we would never be able to bear or withstand.  The fires would perpetually become more intense as the heat of God's anger and justice is fully unleashed on our immortal souls for all eternity.  Just as God is infinite and we are finite, we would never know the limits of His anger against our sin.  We cannot begin to comprehend the depths of His hatred of it.

But God chose to save some.

Why?  What purpose did God have in choosing to save any?  I thought a lot on this: so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  God did it to show just how amazing, just how infinitely rich His saving grace really is.  God is incredibly kind!  The richness of God's grace is all the more surpassing, just as the "greatness of His power" at work in believers is surpassing!  How awesome!    We cannot begin to comprehend the height and the depth of His grace toward us who believe!

Amazing grace!  how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

'Tis grace hath bro't me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

When we've been there ten thousand years, 

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun.

The New Birth

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."  

John 3:5-6

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Sprit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:6-8

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of the flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were, by nature, children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) . . . 

Ephesians 2:1-5

Have you ever watched a woman in childbirth?  I've not, but it must be a really awesome (and kind of gross) sight!  The infant is completely, helplessly being pushed out of the birth canal without contributing any effort to the woman's labor (though we might wish he would!).  Have you ever watched the Holy Spirit birth life into a person?  It is truly an awesome and exciting thing to watch!  Imagine . . . weeks, months and years praying, ministering, preaching to and living the gospel before a loved one who is completely opposed to the things of God suddenly show interest in reading God's Word, asking spiritual questions and awakened to the vanity of chasing after the wind to a desire to chase after Christ!!  

The Spirit is birthing one of our loved ones now and Jeramy and I continue to pray fervently for him that God would open His eyes to see the beauty of the holiness and righteousness of Christ and put off the world and pursue Christ, trusting in Him alone for salvation.  This spiritual birth comes as a work of the Holy Spirit in subjection to the will of God and not man.  No person can merely pray a prayer, walk an isle, sign a certificate or take a public bath (baptism) and receive spiritual life if the Holy Spirit has not breathed it into him/her.  There is no work a person can do in order to receive salvation in Christ.  Just as we are powerless over our physical birth, we cannot contribute anything to our spiritual birth.  Even our ability to believe is a gift of God's grace as a result of the new nature in Christ.  All the work of salvation - the new birth of regeneration, grace unto repentance, belief, justification, obedience, sanctification, perseverance, glorification - is ALL the work of God in those who walk according to the Spirit of Christ.  Realizing this makes watching the new birth all the more exciting!!!  And it makes our praise and worship of God all the more glorifying to Him!!!