The Cross and Christian Wisdom

Earlier this week, I listened to a sermon by Dr. David Platt. This sermon, "The Cross and Christian Wisdom" was both an encouragement and a challenge to me. In tonight's Refuel, I am posting the link to that sermon and notes from it. I hope that it encourages and challenges you as much as it did me. I would also encourage you to look into this entire series: "The Cross and Christian Community," as Dr. Platt and the other pastors at his church look at I & II Corinthians from the point of view of seeing the cross and what Christians response in various areas of their life should be because of the cross.

http://www.radical.net/resources/sermons/the-cross-and-christian-wisdom

Dr. Platt's outline:

“THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN WISDOM”

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Two Foundational Truths...

• The cross of Christ is the pinnacle of wisdom: God purposed to glorify Himself by saving undeserving sinners through the sacrifice of His one and only Son.
• The cross of Christ represents God’s predetermined affection for sinners.
• The cross of Christ represents God’s past substitution for sinners.
• The cross of Christ represents God’s present execution of sinners
• Wisdom is not found in devotion to power, prestige, position, possessions, pleasures, and prosperity. 
• Wisdom is found in death to pride.
• The cross of Christ represents God’s future glorification of sinners.
• Such wisdom is not invented or discovered by man; such wisdom is graciously revealed by God.
• Only by the mercy of God…
• Behold the choice of God the Father.
• Behold the crucifixion of God the Son.
• Behold the call of God the Spirit.
• Unquestionably, man is morally accountable.
• Ultimately, God is sovereignly gracious.
• We have the mind of Christ.
• Revealed by the Spirit…
• Through the Word…
• To our hearts.

Four Inevitable Exhortations...

• Let’s be desperate for the Spirit in order that we might know God’s glory.
• Only the Spirit of God knows the fullness of the glory of God.
• If we want to know God, then we need the Spirit to reveal Him to us.
• Therefore, people who are desperate to know God will be desperate for His Spirit.
• If we are not desperate for His Spirit, it is a sure indicator that we have grown content with knowing little about God.
• When we are desperate for His Spirit, we will grow to know God with the very perspective of Christ.
• Let’s seek discernment from the Spirit as we trust God’s generosity.
• The limited wisdom of man…
• We lack knowledge, perspective, and experience.
• The limitless wisdom of God…
• He has perfect knowledge, eternal perspective, and infinite experience.
• Let’s live different by the Spirit as we reflect God’s goodness.
• Worldly wisdom results in selfish living.
• Godly wisdom results in selfless love.
• Let’s go with dependence on the Spirit as we proclaim God’s gospel.
• The wasted life keeps the message of Christ crucified hidden…
• For fear of rejection.
• In neglect of the lost.
• The wise life makes the message of Christ crucified known…
• With confidence in reception.
• No matter what it costs.

By David Platt. © David Platt & Radical.

Website: Radical.net

I Dare You!

"I dare you!"

"I double-dog dare you!"

"I triple-dog dare you!"

The highest form of peer pressure experienced on the elementary school playground. If you were triple dog dared to do something, you did it no matter what it was, or you were regarded as uncool. Some of us may not have understood what we were saying or doing, but we would dare each other to do anything and everything! You would think that as we get older that this form of peer pressure wouldn't have as much of an effect on us.

And yet, as I have grown older, daring someone to do something has never lost its effectiveness. 

We still dare each other to do stupid things, we just aren’t as forthcoming to say the word. We'll say "I bet you can't jump over that fence" or "I bet you can't eat a whole pizza." That challenging of who we are and what we can do pushes us to extremes. A popular book a few years ago was "The Love Dare," challenging married people to learn how to truly love their spouse. So why is this dare concept so effective, and are there principles in the Bible that we should follow concerning taking on a dare?

I believe that as humans, our natural inclination is to take on these dares for our own pride and self-esteem. Like many things in life, there can be both good and bad dares.

The main point that drives these dares is peer pressure. Peer pressure is defined simply as being influenced by one's peer group to do something. Again, like anything, there can be good and bad peer pressure. So how do we know when we are experiencing good or bad, and how do we deal with that? The answer can be summed up in Psalm 1 and Proverbs 1. 

In Psalm 1:1, we read, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Proverbs 1:10-16 says, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, 'Come, with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:' My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood."

These 2 passages set forth principles of avoiding bad peer pressure at any age. When we think of peer pressure, we often think of those dares on the playground in elementary school or something stupid that we did on a school bus in high school. But peer pressure exists at any age of our lives. Peer pressure could come from a boss telling us to do something wrong to advance our job. Peer pressure could come from a co-worker making unwanted advances. I ask the question again, how do we deal with these influences?

1.  We must listen to Godly counsel. 

Who is the Psalmist in Psalm 1? Why the man after God's own heart- King David. Who is the write of Proverbs 1? Why it's the wisest man who ever lived- King Solomon. These two men, despite all of their flaws and all of their mistakes still honored God with their lives. They were kings that God used to execute justice and keep Israel safe from its enemies. And they wrote words down that God gave them for the people of Israel and for their own children. 

Unfortunately, Solomon's son, Rehoboam did not follow this advice from his grandfather, father or his father's Godly counsellors. He had all of the Godly influences he could have asked for. His father had built a temple to God and had written books and proverbs and songs that would lead someone to follow God. But he chose rather to listen to his peers. He chose to foolishly say, "I will crush these people under my iron fist because I deserve to be feared," rather than saying, "I will respect these people because I want to be respected by them and feared by all other peoples around us."

Is there someone in your life who is experienced as a teacher/studier of God's Word? Is there someone that you can go to for advice who has lived for God for years? If there is, you must most certainly listen to their advice above someone who is not following after God. 

2. We must be careful who we walk with.

Rehoboam was to be the next king of a full kingdom of Israel. He was approached by the elders of the people and was asked if he would be a king who would care for them or if he would crush them like his father did. Rehoboam went to his father's counsellors first, like we saw above, but just as we also saw above, he went to his friends as well. And after he did both of these, he followed the advice of his friends.

These "friends" who did not honor God with their lives. These "friends" who had no desire to serve Jehovah. Because Rehoboam followed this advice, he saw the kingdom split. He listened to  those who he thought were his friends, but rather they just caused him trouble.

Who are your friends? Who do you walk with? The Bible presents a very clear progression for us in Psalm 1:1. If we start walking with someone and keep heading down a path with them, eventually we will stand with them. Pretty soon standing won't be enough, and we will be sitting with them, committed to that same lifestyle. If we are not careful about who we walk with, who we are friends with, we may find ourselves in the counsel of the ungodly, the way of sinners, and the seat of the scornful, rather than in the counsel of the godly, the way of believers, and the seat of the righteous. 

Take these principles from God's Word. This advice that was given to Rehoboam by his father and grandfather. He didn't listen and it cost him many blessings from God. If you want to receive God's blessing you must take it.

I dare you!

Approved unto God

It's that time of year: the beginning of the school year is upon us all. Many of us college students started school over a week ago, while many pre, elementary, and high schools are beginning this week. Some of you reading this would have started even before that. Tonight, I would like to offer you an encouragement and a challenge as you begin a year of learning.

As you go throughout this year, there is no doubt that you will be doing a lot of studying. In the Bible, the word study is specifically used five different times. Here are those five times:

Proverbs 15:28
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Proverbs 24:1-2
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Ecclesiastes 12:12
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

I Thessalonians 4:11
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What principles can we take into this school year from these five Bible passages?

1. Study so you are able to give an answer.

When we study, we should be studying so we can give an answer. What is the point of studying otherwise? But this is more than just studying for the purpose of giving an answer. This is studying so that we do not look like fools when we have not studied.

I was a student who didn't have to study much in elementary or high school. But when it came to my final exams, I had to study hard so that I did not look like a fool when the test was placed in front of me and when the grade came out. Even now in college, there are times when I do not have to study as much- because I have studied something out or know it already- but there are still times when I absolutely need to study, or I will look like a fool.

2. Study what is right.

What is the point of studying if what we are studying is wrong? We have already seen that we need to study to give an answer. If we study the wrong material though, we will be giving the wrong answer. 

In the context of this passage, the wrong "material" is the way of the wicked. The wicked desire to do just that- wickedness. Mischief. Evil. If we study to be like them, we will be on a path that is leading to destruction. But if we study the right material, the righteous way, we can live on that righteous path for all our lives.

3. Study the Word of God above all else.

Now I know what many of you thought when you read Ecclesiastes 12:12-- "MOM!!! THIS GUY JUST SAID TOO MUCH STUDYING ISN'T GOOD FOR ME!!!" But we have to realize where Solomon, the author, is coming from here in this book. This is the same author and book where it is said, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" And obviously, everything is not emptiness. What Solomon is saying here is that much studying of topics outside of God's Word without finding and reading the commandments of God, along with obeying them, is not good for a follower of God. It makes us weary- tired. It's why PCC insists that all students take a Bible class every semester. The Bible refreshes us when we are in the middle of studying other topics and is the most important book for each of us to study.

4. Study quietly and diligently.

We may hate to do our studying quietly and diligently, but there are definite benefits in doing this. Verse 12 of I Thessalonians 4 explains these benefits, one of which we have already somewhat looked at.

Benefit number 1 is that we "may walk honestly toward them that are without. . ." This verse is referring to those people who are unbelievers- without, or outside, the body of Christ. When we have diligently studied, especially God's Word, we can honestly answer unbelievers and help them understand God's Word.

Benefit number 2 is that we "may have lack of nothing." When God says this, He is saying that He will supply for all of our needs. He expresses this throughout the Bible. This is the principle found in Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." When we focus on our study of  God and His Word, He is more than able to supply our needs.

5. Study to be approved by God.

II Timothy 2 speaks of how we should study. We should study in a way that God approves of us and our actions, specifically in how we study His Word. We should be "rightly dividing the Word of Truth"- or rightly going through the Bible, taking its teachings, and learning to apply them to our lives in a way that's honoring and pleasing to Him.

So this school year, take these principles on studying from God's Word to heart as you looked to be approved by God as good workmen and students.

A King Named Evil

What would we expect from a king with this name? I suppose that the question answers itself. But things are not always as they seem. And while his name literally translated has nothing to do with our English word "evil," I believe that we can learn an amazing lesson from seeing his name how the translators of our Bible wrote it. To get to the heart of this matter, we must go back in time and review all of the events leading up to where we find Evil-merodach, king of Babylon. 

The story of Evil-merodach begins during the reign of his father, king Nebuchadnezzar and in II Kings chapter 24. Nebuchadnezzar had set up Jehoiachin, an eighteen-year-old boy as the king over the lands of Judah and Israel, while he ruled the entire Babylonian empire from his headquarters in Babylon. Jehoiachin ruled wickedly for three months before God decided to cut him off. Nebuchadnezzar came into Jerusalem and took Jehoiachin captive. He threw Jehoiachin into a nasty dungeon, where he would stay for the next thirty-seven years! He deserved this punishment- he had spurned the laws and commandments of God, rather than turning Israel to the one who could save them. Most stories of a defeated king would end here. But not Jehoiachin's story.

After 37 years, in II Kings 25, Evil-merodach came to the throne, taking over for his father. He went to the prison and decided it was time that Jehoiachin be removed. Most would assume that a king of one country when he decides to remove a king from somewhere would be removing him completely from the earth. When one reads in II Kings 25:27 that Evil-merodach "did lift up the head of Jehoiachin," he would assume that the Babylonian was chopping the head of the Hebrew king. Not this time.

A king named Evil brought the king of Judah out of the deepest, darkest dungeon. A king named Evil spoke kindly to Jehoiachin, while no one would have spoken kindly to him for years. A king named Evil gave the king of Judah a throne over all the other kings of Babylon -- he elevated Jehoiachin over his own people! A king named Evil removed the rags of the prison from Jehoiachin and gave him kingly garments. A king named Evil gave Jehoiachin a daily allowance of food, that was more than enough for him to live on.

If a king named Evil would do all this, what about a king named Almighty God?

A king named Jesus brought me up out of the deep, dark dungeon of my sin. A king named El Elyon spoke kindly to me when the world only desired to curse me. A king named Adonai will elevate me to a throne in heaven when I go to meet Him one day. A king named I AM removed my filthy rags from me and clothed me in a robe of righteousness. A king named Jehovah-Jireh provides for my daily needs and keeps me safe every day.

How do I know all this is true? Look at these verses from Matthew 7: "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Just like Evil-merodach provided good things for Jehoiachin, and just like an earthly father provides good things for his children, our heavenly Father provides all of our needs- from salvation to daily needs.

The principles in this lesson were originally taken from a message by Dr. Jeff Redlin at the Pensacola Christian College Opening Meetings on August 28, 2017.

The Art of Mentoring Part 1- Abraham and Lot

Sorry I didn't get this up yesterday. I didn't have wifi so it threw me off my schedule.

Today, we will be looking at the first of three sets of mentors and students.

    1.  Abraham and Lot

    2. Jethro and Moses

          3. Naomi and Ruth

      

     The story of Abraham and Lot is oftentimes looked at as a very sad story. Though they were family, they eventually had to split up after some fights. Lot chose to go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and was entrenched in that place of sin. But there are lessons that we can learn from the time that Abraham and Lot spent together, and even the time that they spent apart

  1.    A mentor can be trusted.

• Genesis 12:4a- “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:”

In this passage of scripture, it is important to understand the exact translation from the Hebrew text to English. This translation is- “Go Abram Yahweh Go Lot.” The importance of this is that it shows the dependence on God that Abram had. Abram first had to trust in Yahweh before he could go out and do what He had commanded. When Lot saw that Abram trusted God, he then could trust Abram with his life, and go wherever Abram went. Can those that you mentor trust you? Can they see a faith in God so strong that they will follow you as you follow God?

             2.    Mentoring isn’t forever.

• Genesis 13:11b-12- “and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

As I mentioned earlier, Abram and Lot had their differences and split up. But even in what seems to be a tragic time for a promising student, we can still learn a lesson. You will not be with your student(s) forever. It doesn’t matter how much you love them or want to stay with them forever, God has plans for each of us that take us down different roads. Don’t be afraid to let go of your student and let God have a chance to work specifically in their life.

             3.    Mentoring means rescuing.

• Genesis 14:16- “And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”

Good old Abraham to the rescue! With just 318 trained servants (and God on His side), he took on the armies of four kings and won the victory! He brought back everything and everyone that had been taken. This also supplies a lesson for us. While Lot made a mistake in where he was living (Sodom), Abraham was there for his student. God wants us to be there for those that he entrusts in our care, even when they make mistakes. This means even when it comes at a cost to our time and/or resources.

            4.     Mentors intercede through prayer.

• Genesis 18:16-33, 19:27-29- (18:23-26) “And Abraham drew near, and said, ‘Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ And the Lord said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes’”

Abraham was told by God that the place where his nephew was living was going to be destroyed for its wickedness. Because of this, Abraham was concerned for his nephew whom he had brought from the east with him. He then demonstrated one of the most important qualities that any follower of God should have- a prayer life that was strong. He interceded on behalf of Lot and his family just like he did in the above verses, and went from 50 righteous people down to 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally asking God to spare the city if there were only 10 righteous people living there. It’s not that Abraham showed a lack of faith in God to spare the city, it’s that he knew how the people in the city lived. I believe that this holds true for us today. Each of us must find time for prayer, not just for ourselves or our family, but for those God has placed in our care, our students.

God's Talent Show

This summer, I have been watching America's Got Talent a little more closely than I have in the past. Each act that has advanced to the live shows has been amazing and even some that did not advance were quite exceptional. But as I look back on the season to this point, I ask myself, "What must it be like to be told that you're not good enough to go on? What must that do to one's confidence? To someone as a person?"

Sometimes in life, we may be told that we are not good enough. That we don't have what it takes. That we are too small, too weak, or too inhibited to do what some one else is doing. Or even that because of the circumstances we are in, we are stuck and cannot break free. 

You want a list of people who were not good enough?

• Moses stuttered.
• David was overlooked, was too young, and his armor didn't fit.
• John Mark was rejected by Paul.
• Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
• Amos's only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
• Solomon was too rich.
• Gideon was too poor.
• Abraham and Sarah & Zachariah and Elizabeth were too old.
• Timothy had ulcers.
• Peter was afraid of death.
• Lazarus was dead.
• John was self-righteous.
• Naomi was a widow.
• Miriam was a gossip.
• Paul was a murderer (so were Moses and David).
• Jonah ran from God.
• Jeremiah was depressed.
• Elijah was burned out.
• John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
• Martha was a worrywart.
• Samson struggled with lust.
• Did I mention Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter, Paul--well, lots of folks did.

And I can go on, and on. By any human measure many of the people that we call heroes in the Bible would not have even been considered for the tasks that God had commanded them to perform.

But that is where the God's power comes into play.

You see God judges on a different field of play than we do. I Samuel 16:7 says, "... for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." God sees us not for what we have done, but for what He has done in us. He has given each of us talents and abilities that we can use for His honor and His glory. Matthew 5:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."

So what about you? 

Have you been told or do you feel that your gifts are not adequate for the task that God has called you to do? James 1:17-- "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Are you letting yourself be held back by the mistakes that you have made in the past? Romans 8:1-2-- "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Do you feel like God has forgotten you or is not with you? Philippians 1:6-- "He [God] which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

Are you afraid to take the next step for God? II Timothy 1:7-- "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

God is with you. He has given you a specific set of abilities and a specific situation that is designed for you. And He is ready to help you succeed. Are you ready to follow Him, no matter what the cost?

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