Preparing for Suffering

In a post quite a while ago I linked to an article about Matt Chandler (the pastor in TX with brain cancer). I'm sure you probably know him.

This message at the Together for the Gospel Conference is worth watching, if you have 50 minutes. Matt's introductory words, about 25 minutes, are encouraging and moving. C.J. Mahaney's portion offers some really helpful resources to prepare your own heart for suffering or to share with someone else. And it's a privilege to join in with the prayer time at the end... and I know the Lord will move, in some good way, in response.

T4G 2010 -- Session 8 -- Matt Chandler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

Not Fair

From Al Mohler's talk at Together for the Gospel,

“Fair" is not applicable to a sovereign God who is holy and perfect and acts in accordance with His own perfection. Perfect ... is better than fair. And perfect cannot be interrogated by fair. Perfect is infinitely superior to fair.

It is not fair, they will say, that some are not saved. It is not fair, of course they argue, that any might be in hell. But if we are going to understand anything even close to what is fair, it is not fair that anyone would be in heaven. It is not fair that anyone would be saved. It isn’t fair, in particular, that I would be saved.

T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

How to Disarm an Angry Person

This helpful post How to Disarm an Angry Person came from Justin Taylor's blog:

Ed Welch talks here about how to respond when someone is sinfully angry at you. He ends with these practical-theological suggestions:

1. Don’t minimize the destruction of anger. You are getting shot at! Of course it hurts.
2. You are setting out to learn a disarming strategy that takes humility and love, and this is way over your head. As such, “Lord have mercy on me” is the order of the day.
3. Remember that angry people are blind to their own anger. They are the last to know that they are killing people. Instead, all they see is that they are right and others are wrong. Assume that they are spiritual lunatics.
4. Divest yourself of all the things you desire and cherish for yourself. Do you want love? Toss it and keep only the necessities, such as the desire to love. Do you need respect and understanding? It will only be an encumbrance. Get rid of it.
5. Move toward the angry person in love and humility. Fear runs away, anger attacks. Humility and love move toward. In a surprise attack they blindside angry people with weakness. Your timing will be important. Sometimes you can say something while the gun is aimed. Other times you will wait and speak later.
6. The person’s anger could have many reasons – you being one. But murderous anger is always wrong. At some point, from your place of love and humility, you will hold up the mirror and help angry people see themselves (Matthew 7:5).



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The Redemptive Violence of Grace

Here's a point that stuck out to me from a Paul Tripp series Portrait of a Struggle:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Our Redeemer has an end in sight in His work in our lives--that we will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. He will not stop short of His goal, and the vehicle of our growth is suffering. Suffering is not unfaithfulness or inattention from God but an expression of His love.

God's Faithfulness

This morning I read Psalm 89 and part of the corresponding exposition from Spurgeon's Treasury of David.

Note,... he speaks of faithfulness, which is the mercy of God's mercies--the brightest jewel in the crown of goodness. The grace of an unfaithful God would be a poor subject for music, but unchangeable love and immutable promises demand everlasting songs. In times of trouble it is the divine faithfulness which the soul hangs upon; this is the bower anchor of the soul, its holdfast, and its stay.

Masculinity

This message by Russell Moore on "crucified masculinity" is chock-full of wise considerations for raising sons who will be protectors, providers, and faithful men.

Easter Message

The message we heard on Easter was one of the most moving and powerful I recall.

It looked at Ephesians 1:15-23 and the knowledge that Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have (experiential... not merely intellectual or factual, like the devil has).

And it explored the power at work in the lives of believers... a power that correlates to God's power in:

1) Raising Jesus from the dead,
2) Seating Him at the right hand of His throne,
3) Exalting Him above every other authority in the universe,
4) Putting all things under His feet, and
5) Making us the Church His body.

Why do we not feel like an incredible power is working in our lives?

Because we have eyes that need to be enlightened. We need help to see:

1) The blinding, deadening power of sin. Any measure of victory over sin is an awesome display of God's delivering power.
2) The magnitude of the demonic power that comes against us every moment of our lives. Any measure of safety is an awesome display of God's power keeping the evil one at bay.
3) What happened to Jesus after the resurrection... and we need help to recognize that the same power is working in us.

I'd highly recommend listening to the whole thing.
"The Immeasurable Greatness of His Power Toward Us"

Praise Adonai

Ben asked me today what my favorite (contemporary) worship song was. At the moment, this is what came to mind: "Praise Adonai."

Who is like Him
The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing Praise

Who is like Him
The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing Praise

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing
Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing Praise

Paul Baloche

A Gospel Poem

Justin Taylor posts A Gospel Poem


In a new book of collected talks on Atonement, J. I. Packer writes on the necessity of the atonement and cites an old hymn by Joseph Hart. Packer writes: “Read it carefully, for this is the true gospel.”

O ye sons of men be wise,
trust no longer dreams and lies,
Out of Christ, almighty pow’r
can do nothing but devour.

God you say is good. ‘Tis true.
But he’s pure and holy too;
just and jealous is his ire,
burning with vindictive fire.

This of old himself declared:
Israel trembled when they heard.
But the proof of proofs indeed
is he sent his Son to bleed.

When the blessed Jesus died
God was clearly justified:
Sin to pardon without blood
never in his nature stood.

Worship God, then, in his Son,
there he’s love and there alone.
Think not that he will, or may,
pardon any other way.

See the suff’ring Son of God,
panting, groaning, sweating blood!
Brethren, this had never been
had not God detested sin.

Be his mercy therefore sought
in the way himself has taught:
There his clemency is such,
we can never trust too much.

He that better knows than we,
bids us all to Jesus flee.
Humbly take him at his Word
and your souls will bless the Lord!

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Perfect Lamb

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter.
Your lamb shall be an unblemished male,
And the blood shall be a sign for you,
And when I see the blood
I will pass over you.

He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering
And slay it for a sin offering
In the place where they slay the burnt offering.
The priest shall make atonement for him.

He shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD
For his sin which he has committed.
It is a guilt offering;
He was certainly guilty before the LORD.

Never, by the same sacrifices
Which they offer continually,
Can the Law make perfect those who draw near.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats
To take away sins.

Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
For the Law was given through Moses;
Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

If the distance is so great for you
That you are not able to bring the tithe,
Then you shall exchange it for money,
And go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
You may spend the money
For whatever your heart desires;
For oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink,
And there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD.

Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot,
Went to the chief priests, and said,
“What are you willing to give me
To betray Him to you?”
And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver.

He looked at Jesus as He walked
And said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said,
“Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus.

Yet He did not open His mouth
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

Then Pilate said to Him,
“Do You not hear how many things
They testify against You?”
And He did not answer him with regard
To even a single charge.

Pilate said to them,
“Then what shall I do with Jesus
Who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Crucify Him!”
And he said, “Why,
What evil has He done?”
But they kept shouting all the more,
Saying, “Crucify Him!”

And when they had crucified Him,
And when they had crucified Him,
They divided up His garments.
And sitting down, they began
To keep watch over Him there.

But the LORD was pleased to crush Him,
Putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself
As a guilt offering,
He will see it and be satisfied,
As He will bear their iniquities.

And Jesus cried out again,
And yielded up His spirit.
And behold, the veil of the temple
Was torn in two,
From top to bottom.

But He, having offered one sacrifice
For sins for all time,
Sat down at the right hand of God.
For by one offering
He has perfected for all time
Those who are being sanctified.

(Isaiah 53, Exodus 12, Leviticus 4-5, Hebrews 10, John 1, Deuteronomy 14, Matthew 26-27)