God centered Truth for Life: Recent Episodes
Al Ngu
Dios prometió en Jeremías 29:14: «Seré hallado por vosotros —declara el Señor—, y restauraré vuestra cautividad y os reuniré de entre todas las naciones a las que os he arrojado». Este es un versículo verdaderamente reconfortante y tranquilizador que muestra la promesa de Dios. Pero quiero explorar con ustedes por qué quiere Dios que lo invoquemos, le oremos y lo busquemos.
Bueno, la respuesta es bastante simple y se encuentra en el versículo 11: «…porque yo sé los planes que tengo para vosotros —declara el Señor—, planes de bienestar y no de calamidad, y de daros un futuro y una esperanza». El versículo 12 es significativo porque dice: «Entonces me invocaréis, vendréis y oraréis a mí, y yo os escucharé». La palabra “entonces” surge del versículo 11, que habla del plan de Dios para prosperaros, no para haceros daño, sino para daros un futuro y una esperanza. Este es Israel, que estaba en el exilio en Babilonia, y fue enviado allí debido a su desobediencia a Dios y a su pecado ante él. Dios los exilió allí durante 70 años con el propósito principal de disciplinarlos y enseñarles a ser humildes.
Motivación para buscarlo y orar a DiosV11 …porque yo sé los planes que tengo para vosotros, para prosperaros, para daros un futuro y una esperanza
v10 Dios dijo: «Cumpliré mi promesa y os haré volver». V11 «…porque yo sé los planes que tengo para vosotros, para prosperaros, para daros un futuro y una esperanza» es una motivación poderosa. Es una promesa. Una gran promesa.
La palabra «prosperar» en hebreo:
—1. prosperidad, éxito: a) Lv 26:6 Nu 6:26 Dt 23:7 Is 48:18 60:17, 48:22 = 57:21 52:7 = Nah 2:1 שְׁלוֹם הָעִיר Jr 29:7, מַחְשְׁבוֹת שָׁ׳ Jr 29:11 (en lugar de 7b).
Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson y Johann Jakob Stamm, The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament, 1994–2000, 1507.
Eso es lo que uno quiere saber para tener la fuerza, la determinación y la resistencia necesarias para seguir esperando en el Señor y no rendirse, pues Dios lo prometió. Pero no sabemos cuánto tiempo lleva, pero muchas veces Dios usa este tipo de situaciones para moldearnos. Así que, si estás pasando por momentos de espera y clamando a Dios durante mucho tiempo y aún no has escuchado de él, estos versículos serán muy fortalecedores para ti y para mí, así que debemos aferrarnos a la promesa de Dios.
Jeremías 29:11-12 11 Porque yo sé los planes que tengo para ustedes —declara el Señor—, planes de bienestar y no de calamidad, para darles un futuro y una esperanza. 12 Entonces me invocarán, vendrán a orarme, y yo los escucharé.
Porque esas palabras que dijo: «Conozco mis planes para ustedes, planes de bienestar y no de mal, planes para darles esperanza y un futuro», son la premisa o la base para que Dios diga en el versículo 12: «Entonces me invocarán, vendrán a orarme, y yo los escucharé».
Y Dios es tan bondadoso al prometernos que tiene un plan para nuestra prosperidad y para darnos esperanza en el futuro, antes de decir en el versículo 12: «Entonces me invocarán, vendrán a orarme», y prometió escucharnos. Medita sobre “Yo conozco los planes para nosotros, un plan para prosperarnos, no para dañarnos, un plan para darnos esperanza y un futuro”.
Así que, amigos, es fundamental comprender primero el versículo 11 e interiorizarlo, porque una vez que realmente conocemos la promesa de Dios: “Yo conozco los planes para nosotros, un plan para prosperarnos, no para dañarnos, un plan para darnos esperanza y un futuro”, entonces podemos establecernos en la presencia de Dios, invocarlo y orarle, ya sea por un período corto o largo, incluso hasta que nos escuche y responda. No sabemos cuánto tiempo tardará en responder. Pero lo que sí sabemos se basa en su promesa de un plan para prosperarnos, darnos esperanza y un futuro; por lo tanto, podemos perseverar y poner nuestra esperanza en Dios en Cristo sin vacilar. Basados en esa promesa, debemos interiorizar en nuestro corazón que Dios lo hará por nosotros; por lo tanto, invocaremos su ayuda continuamente y sin rendirnos. Creo que es muy importante que sigamos orándole incluso si no recibe respuesta, porque él prometió y seguiremos adelante.
Jeremías 29:12-14 12 Entonces me invocarán, vendrán a orar a mí, y yo los escucharé. 13 Me buscarán y me encontrarán, porque me buscarán de todo su corazón. 14 Yo seré hallado por ustedes —declara el Señor— y los haré volver del cautiverio. Los reuniré de todas las naciones y lugares adonde los he desterrado —declara el Señor— y los traeré de regreso al lugar de donde los saqué al destierro.
En cualquier versículo 13, Dios dice: «Me buscarán y me encontrarán, porque me buscarán de todo su corazón». Ahora bien, la condición es buscar a Dios con todo nuestro corazón, lo que significa nunca rendirse, ni siquiera por un largo período.
Dios prometió: «Yo seré hallado por ustedes —declara el Señor— y los haré volver del cautiverio».
Puedes aplicar esto a ti mismo, sea cual sea Perdidos en sus vidas y en cualquier lucha que hayan tenido, por cualquier cosa que oren por restauración. Dios prometió rescatarnos de la pérdida que el enemigo ha causado a sus familias, vidas, ministerios o lo que sea. Y el tiempo de restauración llegará y Dios nos prosperará. Me encanta que Él tenga un plan para mí y me apegaré a él. Y espero que ustedes también. Amén.
Tuhan menjanjikan Yeremia 29:14 yang mengatakan. “Aku akan didapati olehmu, firman Tuhan, dan Aku akan memulihkan keadaanmu dan mengumpulkan kamu dari segala bangsa yang telah Kuhalaukan kamu.” Ini benar-benar ayat yang sangat menghiburkan dan meyakinkan yang menunjukkan janji Tuhan. Tetapi saya ingin meneroka dengan anda mengapa Tuhan mahu kita berseru kepadanya dan berdoa kepadanya dan mencari dia?
Jawapannya agak mudah dan itu adalah dalam ayat 11, “… kerana Aku ini mengetahui rancangan-rancangan yang ada pada-Ku mengenai kamu, demikianlah firman Tuhan, rancangan untuk membuat kamu sejahtera dan bukan untuk mencelakakan kamu, dan untuk memberikan kepadamu masa depan yang penuh harapan.” Sekarang v12 adalah penting kerana ia berkata, “Kemudian kamu akan berseru kepada-Ku dan datang dan berdoa kepada-Ku, dan Aku akan mendengar kamu.”
Perkataan ‘kemudian’ adalah hasil daripada ayat 11 bercakap tentang rancangan Tuhan untuk memakmurkan anda dan bukan untuk membahayakan anda tetapi untuk memberi anda masa depan dan harapan. Ini adalah Israel yang melalui pengasingan di Babel, dihantar ke Babel kerana ketidaktaatan mereka kepada Tuhan dan dosa mereka di hadapannya dan Tuhan mengasingkan mereka ke Babel selama 70 tahun untuk tujuan pada dasarnya untuk mendisiplinkan mereka dan untuk mengajar mereka merendahkan diri.
Motivasi untuk mencari dia dan berdoa kepada TuhanV11 … kerana Aku mengetahui rancangan-rancangan yang ada pada-Ku mengenai kamu, untuk memakmurkan kamu, untuk memberikan kepadamu masa depan dan harapan.
v10 Tuhan berfirman, “Aku akan memenuhi janji-Ku kepadamu dan membawa kamu kembali.” v11 “…kerana Aku mengetahui rancangan-rancangan yang ada pada-Ku untuk kamu, untuk memakmurkan kamu, untuk memberikan kamu masa depan dan harapan” adalah motivasi yang kuat. Itu janji. Janji besar.
Perkataan ‘makmur’ dalam bahasa Ibrani:
—1. kemakmuran, kejayaan: a) Lv 26:6 Bil 6:26 Dt 23:7 Is 48:18 60:17, 48:22 = 57:21 52:7 = Nah 2:1 שְׁלוֹם הָעִיר Jr 29:7, מְַבְב שָׁ׳ Jr 29:11 (bukan 7b).
Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, dan Johann Jakob Stamm, Leksikon Ibrani dan Aram Perjanjian Lama, 1994–2000, 1507.
Itulah jenis perkara yang anda ingin tahu supaya anda boleh mempunyai kekuatan dan keazaman dan stamina untuk terus menunggu Tuhan dan tidak berputus asa kerana Tuhan berjanji. Tetapi berapa lama kita tidak tahu tetapi banyak kali Tuhan menggunakan situasi seperti ini untuk membentuk dan membentuk kita. Jadi jika anda sedang melalui masa menunggu dan berseru kepada Tuhan untuk masa yang lama dan masih belum mendengar daripada-Nya, ayat-ayat seperti ini akan sangat menguatkan anda dan saya, jadi kita perlu berpegang pada janji Tuhan.
Yeremia 29:11–12 11 Sebab Aku ini mengetahui rancangan-rancangan apa yang ada pada-Ku mengenai kamu, demikianlah firman Tuhan, “rancangan untuk membuat kamu beruntung dan bukan untuk mencelakakan kamu, rancangan untuk memberikan kepadamu harapan dan masa depan. 12 Kemudian kamu akan berseru kepada-Ku dan datang dan berdoa kepada-Ku, dan Aku akan mendengarkan kamu.
Kerana kata-kata yang dia katakan “Aku tahu rancangan-Ku untuk kamu merancang untuk memakmurkan kamu dan bukan untuk mencederakan kamu, rancangan untuk memberi kamu harapan dan masa depan“, itu adalah premis atau asas bagi Tuhan untuk berkata dalam ayat 12 “Maka kamu akan berseru kepada-Ku dan berdoa kepada-Ku dan Aku akan mendengarkan kamu.”
Dan Tuhan sangat baik untuk berjanji untuk meyakinkan kita bahawa Dia mempunyai rancangan untuk kita makmur dan dan untuk memberi kita harapan pada masa depan terlebih dahulu sebelum Dia berkata dalam v12 maka kamu akan memanggil saya dan datang dan berdoa kepada saya dan dia berjanji untuk mendengar kita.
Renungkan “Saya tahu rancangan untuk kita, rancangan untuk memakmurkan kita supaya tidak membahayakan kita, rancangan untuk memberi kita harapan dan masa depan”
Jadi orang-orang adalah sangat penting untuk memahami ayat 11 terlebih dahulu dan menghayatinya kerana apabila kita benar-benar mengetahui bahawa janji Tuhan: iaitu “Aku mengetahui rancangan untuk kita, rancangan untuk memakmurkan kita, bukan untuk membahayakan kita, rancangan untuk memberi kita harapan dan masa depan,” maka kita boleh menetap di hadapan Tuhan dan berseru kepada Tuhan dan berdoa kepada-Nya dan sehingga Dia mendengar kita walaupun dalam tempoh yang singkat atau lama. Berapa lama masa yang diambil untuk dia menjawab, kami tidak tahu. Tetapi apa yang kita ketahui adalah berdasarkan janji-Nya untuk rancangan untuk memakmurkan kita dan memberi kita harapan dan masa depan, oleh itu kita boleh bertahan dan menaruh harapan kita kepada Tuhan dalam Kristus tanpa goyah. Berdasarkan janji itu kita mesti menghayati dalam hati kita bahawa Tuhan akan melakukannya untuk kita oleh itu kita akan berseru kepada-Nya secara berterusan dan tanpa berputus asa. Saya rasa ini sangat penting untuk kita terus berdoa kepadanya walaupun tiada balasan daripadanya kerana dia berjanji dan kita akan membajak.
Jeremiah 29:12–14 12 Kemudian kamu akan berseru kepada-Ku dan datang dan berdoa kepada-Ku, dan Aku akan mendengarkan kamu. 13 Kamu akan mencari Aku dan mendapati Aku apabila kamu mencari Aku dengan segenap hatimu. 14 Aku akan ditemui oleh kamu,” firman Tuhan, “dan akan membawa kamu kembali dari pembuangan. Aku akan mengumpulkan kamu dari segala bangsa dan tempat di mana kamu telah Aku buang, demikianlah firman Tuhan, dan Aku akan membawa kamu kembali ke tempat dari mana Aku membawa kamu ke dalam pembuangan.
Mana-mana ayat 13 Tuhan berkata, “Kamu akan mencari Aku dan mendapati Aku apabila kamu mencari Aku dengan segenap hatimu.” Sekarang syaratnya ialah mencari Tuhan dengan sepenuh hati yang bermaksud jangan berputus asa walaupun dalam tempoh yang lama.
Tuhan berjanji, “Aku akan didapati oleh kamu, demikianlah firman Tuhan dan Aku akan membawa kamu kembali dari pembuangan.”
Anda boleh menerapkannya kepada diri sendiri apa sahaja itu hilang dalam hidup anda dan apa sahaja yang anda perjuangkan, apa sahaja yang anda doakan untuk pemulihan. Tuhan berjanji untuk mengembalikan kita daripada kehilangan apa yang telah dimusnahkan oleh musuh kepada keluarga atau nyawa atau pelayanan anda atau apa sahaja. Dan masa pemulihan akan datang dan Tuhan akan memakmurkan kita.
Saya suka fakta bahawa Dia mempunyai rancangan untuk saya dan saya akan berpegang pada itu. Dan saya harap awak juga begitu. Amin.
上帝在耶利米书 29:14 中应许说：“耶和华说：我必被你们寻见；我必使你们被掳的人归回，将你们从我所赶你们去的各国中招聚回来。” 这节经文确实令人感到安慰和安心，彰显了上帝的应许。但我想和你一起探讨，为什么上帝希望我们呼求祂、祷告祂、寻求祂？
答案很简单，就在第 11 节：“……我知道我为你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。” 第 12 节意义重大，因为它说：“那时你们必呼求我，来祷告我，我就应允你们。”
“然后”一词源于第11节，经文谈到上帝的计划是要赐你们兴盛，而不是降灾祸给你们，而是要赐你们未来和盼望。这里指的是以色列被掳到巴比伦，因为他们悖逆上帝，在上帝面前犯了罪，所以被掳到巴比伦70年。上帝将他们掳到巴比伦70年，主要目的是管教他们，教导他们谦卑自己。
寻求上帝并向上帝祷告的动力第11节……我知道我为你们所定的计划，是要赐你们兴盛，赐你们未来和盼望。
第10节上帝说：“我必履行我的诺言，使你们归回。”第11节“我知道我为你们所定的计划，是要赐你们兴盛，赐你们未来和盼望。”这是一个强大的动力。这是一个应许。一个伟大的应许。
“兴盛”在希伯来语中的意思是：—1.繁荣、成功： a) Lv 26:6 Nu 6:26 Dt 23:7 Is 48:18 60:17, 48:22 = 57:21 52:7 = Nah 2:1 שְׁלוֹם הָעִר Jr 29:7, מַחְשְׁבוֹתשָׁ׳ Jr 29:11（而不是7b）。
路德维希·科勒、沃尔特·鲍姆加特纳、M. E. J. 理查森和约翰·雅各布·斯塔姆，《旧约希伯来语和阿拉姆语词典》，1994-2000，1507页。
你需要了解这些，这样你才能拥有力量、决心和毅力，继续等候耶和华，不因上帝的应许而放弃。但这需要多长时间，我们不得而知，但很多时候，上帝会利用这种情况来塑造我们。所以，如果你正经历一段漫长的等待和向上帝呼求却仍未听到祂声音的时期，这类经文将会极大地坚固你我，因此我们需要紧紧抓住上帝的应许。
耶利米书 29:11-12 11 耶和华说：“我知道我为你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。12 那时你们必求告我，祷告我，我就应允你们。”
因为他说“我知道我为你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。”这句话，是神在第12节说“那时你们必求告我，祷告我，我就应允你们”的前提或基础。
神如此慈爱地应许我们，他先向我们保证，他有一个让我们兴盛的计划，并赐给我们未来的指望，然后他在第12节说“那时你们必求告我，祷告我，我就应允你们。”
默想“我知道祂为我们预备的计划，祂赐我们兴盛，不伤害我们，赐我们希望和未来”。
所以，朋友们，首先理解并内化第11节至关重要。因为一旦我们真正明白了神的应许，即“我知道祂为我们预备的计划，祂赐我们兴盛，不伤害我们，赐我们希望和未来”，我们就能安顿下来，在神面前安顿下来，或长或短地呼求祂，向祂祷告，直到祂垂听我们的祷告并回应我们。祂需要多长时间才能回应我们，我们不得而知。但我们所知道的，是基于祂应许的，祂赐我们兴盛，赐我们希望和未来，因此，我们可以坚持不懈，将盼望寄托在基督里的神身上，毫不动摇。基于这应许，我们必须在心中内化，相信神会为我们成就这一切，因此我们会不断地呼求祂，永不放弃。我认为，即使没有得到他的回应，我们也要继续向他祷告，这对我们来说非常重要，因为他应许我们，我们必继续前行。
耶利米书 29:12-14 12 那时，你们必求告我，祷告我，我就应允你们。13 你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。14 耶和华说：“我必被你们寻见，必将你们从被掳之地救回。我必从我赶你们到的各国和各处招聚你们，又将你们带回我使你们被掳离开的地方。”这是耶和华说的。
上帝在第13节说：“你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。”现在的条件是全心寻求上帝，这意味着即使很长一段时间也永不放弃。
上帝应许：“我必被你们寻见，必将你们从被掳之地救回。”这是耶和华说的。你可以把它应用到你自己身上，无论它是什么你们生命中迷失的一切，无论你们经历了什么挣扎，无论你们祈求的是什么，都得以恢复。上帝应许会拯救我们，使我们脱离仇敌所摧毁的家庭、生命、事工等等的一切。复兴的时刻终将到来，上帝必使我们兴盛。
我爱祂为我预备的计划，我会坚守下去。也希望你们也一样。阿门。
Saya telah dibesarkan di Gereja Methodist semasa kanak-kanak beralih kepada persekutuan Kristian intervarsiti di sekolah pada masa sekolah menengah dan seterusnya, dan pada asasnya saya sentiasa terdedah kepada ibadat normatif. Ibadah normatif termasuk unsur-unsur yang tidak dilarang secara jelas oleh kitab suci, selagi ia konsisten dengan prinsip alkitabiah dan menggalakkan pembangunan. Itu akan meliputi seluruh spektrum ibadat antara mazhab, malah gereja tinggi seperti gereja tinggi Anglikan dengan ibadat liturgi selagi ia berkaitan dan selaras dengan prinsip alkitabiah dan menggalakkan pembangunan, saya tidak akan mempunyai masalah malah saya akan mempunyai pertalian yang hebat dan untuk itu.
Apakah itu dan mengapa Ibadat RegulatifTetapi apakah ibadah yang mengatur? Saya tidak pernah mendengarnya sehinggalah saya memasuki seminari pada tahun terakhir saya. Saya mengikuti kelas jam kredit selama dua jam mengenai ibadah kawal selia oleh Dr Duncan dan saya hairan ada perkara sedemikian yang dipanggil ibadah kawal selia. Pada asasnya hujah untuk itu sebenarnya terdapat dalam:
Keluaran 20:1–5 (ESV) Dan Allah mengucapkan segala firman ini, berfirman, 2 “Akulah TUHAN, Allahmu, yang membawa kamu keluar dari tanah Mesir, dari rumah perhambaan. 3 “Janganlah kamu mempunyai tuhan lain di hadapan-Ku. 4 “Jangan membuat bagimu patung pahatan, atau apa pun yang menyerupai apa pun yang ada di langit di atas, atau yang ada di bumi di bawah, atau yang ada di dalam air di bawah bumi. 5 Jangan sujud menyembah kepadanya atau beribadah kepadanya, sebab Aku, TUHAN, Allahmu, adalah Allah yang cemburu, yang membalaskan kesalahan bapa kepada anak-anaknya, kepada generasi ketiga dan keempat dari orang-orang yang membenci Aku.
Dalam Keluaran 20, Tuhan menetapkan 10 perintah untuk Musa memberitahu semua orang Israel, dan sebelum itu Dia memberi mereka latar belakang mengapa Sepuluh perintah kepada bangsa Israel. Saya suka fakta bahawa Tuhan mula berkata, “Akulah Tuhan, Tuhanmu yang telah membawa kamu keluar dari Rumah perhambaan, jangan kamu mempunyai tuhan lain di hadapan-Ku.” Dia menetapkan kredibilitinya, Dia menetapkan siapa Dia sebelum memberitahu Israel apa yang perlu dilakukan. Saya percaya bahawa perkara yang menarik tentang agama Kristian ialah anda perlu mengetahui siapa Tuhan agama Kristian sebelum cuba melakukan moral dan perintah agama Kristian. Jika anda cuba melakukan atau mematuhi 10 perintah itu sendiri dengan berfikir bahawa itu akan menyenangkan Tuhan dan mendapat tiket untuk pergi ke syurga, tanpa mengenali Tuhan yang memberikan Sepuluh perintah, anda benar-benar salah dan dalam kesusahan. Inilah yang anda panggil legalisme, dan ia sebenarnya cukup berleluasa di dunia kita hari ini semata-mata kerana kejahilan tentang kebenaran firman Tuhan. Dan itulah sebabnya saya bersemangat untuk membawa semua ini dalam tulisan saya dan podcast saya dan dakwah dan pengajaran saya.
Sekarang dalam ayat berikutnya Tuhan berkata kamu tidak boleh membuat bagimu patung pahatan atau apa-apa rupa apa-apa yang ada di langit di atas atau di bumi di bawah atau air di bawah dan kamu tidak boleh sujud kepadanya atau beribadah kepadanya kerana Aku adalah Tuhan yang cemburu. Saya telah membacanya selama beberapa dekad yang lalu berfikir bahawa Tuhan memberi amaran kepada kita untuk tidak menjadikan apa-apa di dunia ini sebagai berhala untuk sujud dan bagi saya itu cukup jelas. Dan itu bersambung dengan ayat 3 yang mengatakan, “jangan ada tuhan lain di hadapan-Ku.” Dalam erti kata lain, jangan jadikan penyembahan berhala imej patung apa-apa yang ada di bumi atau di dalam air ini sebagai Tuhan. Dalam aplikasi zaman moden kita, ia hanya bermakna tidak mencintai apa-apa atau meletakkan harapan anda pada apa-apa yang melebihi siapa Tuhan seperti Augustine berkata masalah kita bukan cinta dunia, masalah kita adalah cinta yang tidak teratur. Sama seperti jika kita cintakan wang, cintakan keselesaan duniawi yang OK ke tahap yang besar, tetapi jangan jadikan ia sebagai alas yang sama dengan Tuhan kerana cinta apa pun di dunia ini yang setanding atau di atas Tuhan akan membawa kita ke dalam masalah melanggar perintah penyembahan berhala ini.
Walau bagaimanapun, dalam dunia yang telah diperbaharui, prinsip penyembahan yang mengatur sebenarnya berhujah bahawa:
3 “Janganlah kamu mempunyai tuhan lain di hadapan-Ku. 4 “Jangan membuat bagimu patung pahatan, atau apa pun yang menyerupai apa pun yang ada di langit di atas, atau yang ada di bumi di bawah, atau yang ada di dalam air di bawah bumi. 5 Jangan sujud menyembah kepadanya atau beribadah kepadanya, sebab Aku, TUHAN, Allahmu, adalah Allah yang cemburu, yang mengunjungi
Apabila Tuhan memerintahkan Israel untuk tidak membuat apa-apa gambaran apa-apa di bumi atau syurga atau air di bawah dan mereka tidak akan sujud kepada mereka dan berkhidmat kepada mereka, ajaran reformasi sebenarnya mengajar kita bahawa apa yang Tuhan katakan ialah jangan menyembah saya dalam bentuk patung yang berukir atau rupa apa pun di bumi, di syurga atau di dalam air. Sekarang ini sukar untuk ditelan kerana dalam ayat 5 Tuhan berkata kamu tidak akan sujud kepada mereka atau beribadah kepada mereka kerana Aku, Tuhan, Tuhanmu dan Tuhanku yang cemburu. Tuhan tidak mengatakan anda tidak akan sujud kepada mereka dengan menyangka bahawa saya sedang diekspresikan dalam patung-patung yang diukir itu. Tuhan jelas membezakan antara berhala-berhala itu dan dia, kerana Dia berkata jangan tunduk kepada mereka atau menyembah mereka.
Tetapi bagaimanapun, ini adalah bagaimana doktrin penyembahan yang mengawal selia datang melalui fakta bahawa Tuhan memerintahkan cara bagaimana Dia disembah dan tidak disembah melalui gambar-gambar itu. Contohnya, mungkin anak lembu emas yang Israel tunduk kepada anak lembu emas, adakah itu penyembahan berhala kepada anak lembu emas, atau adakah Israel berfikir bahawa Tuhan yang maha kuasa menampakkan diri dalam bentuk anak lembu emas? Dalam fikiran saya yang terakhir ini jelas satu kekejian.
Kecuali itu jika kita pergi dengan hujah mengenai ketetapan beribadat yang bermaksud:
• Prinsip Regulatif Ibadah: Ibadah mesti mengandungi hanya unsur-unsur yang diperintahkan atau dibenarkan secara jelas dalam Kitab Suci. Apa-apa yang tidak ditetapkan adalah dilarang.
• Prinsip Penyembahan Normatif: Penyembahan mungkin termasuk unsur-unsur yang tidak dilarang secara jelas oleh Kitab Suci, selagi ia konsisten dengan prinsip alkitabiah dan menggalakkan pembangunan.
Ibadah kawal selia termasuk hanya unsur-unsur yang diperintahkan atau dibenarkan secara jelas dalam kitab suci. Apa-apa yang tidak ditetapkan adalah dilarang. Itulah sebabnya ibadah peraturan dipanggil ibadah preskriptif. Walaupun penyembahan normatif mungkin termasuk unsur-unsur yang tidak dilarang secara eksplisit oleh kitab suci selagi ia konsisten dengan prinsip alkitabiah dan menggalakkan pembangunan.
John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, dan Herman Bavinck semuanya condong ke arah penyembahan yang teratur. Walau bagaimanapun, untuk kejutan dan kegembiraan saya, saya mendapati Augustine lebih cenderung kepada penyembahan normatif.
Augustine & Ibadah Normatif—Pewatakan hati & pusat kitab suciDalam karya seperti On Christian Doctrine and City of God, Augustine menekankan bahawa penyembahan harus memuliakan Tuhan dan membina gereja. Dia memfokuskan pada watak hati dan pusat Kitab Suci, khotbah, dan sakramen (pembaptisan dan Ekaristi), tetapi dia tidak secara eksplisit mengehadkan penyembahan hanya kepada unsur-unsur yang diamanatkan oleh kitab suci.
Augustine menekankan bahawa penyembahan harus memuliakan Tuhan dan membina gereja, saya rasa dia betul-betul memahaminya. Sekarang apa yang dia tulis pada baris seterusnya adalah menarik kerana dia menulis dia memfokuskan pada watak hati dan pusat kitab suci, khutbah dan sakramen, dan itulah yang saya akan lalui. Saya fikir perkara yang paling penting ialah perkataan, “pewatakan hati dan pusat kitab suci.” Selagi ibadah itu mengandungi watak hati pengarang komposer dan dengan genre sentraliti kitab suci, saya fikir itu akan menjadi bentuk ibadat terbaik yang berlaku secara normatif. Jika anda melihat Augustine, seorang lelaki yang menulis salah satu buku penyayang yang paling menarik dan menarik dan sengit dalam dunia teologi Kristian, The Confessions, tidaklah sukar untuk melihat mengapa dia akan menumpukan perhatian kepada watak hati dan sentraliti kitab suci dalam ibadat. Malah saya berpendapat bahawa ibadah tanpa perwatakan hati sebenarnya akan menjadikan ibadah menjadi lebih tegar dan kering.
Saya rasa Tuhan tidak mahu mengambil watak hati itu daripada kita dalam penyembahan kita kepada-Nya dan itulah yang dimaksudkan dengan keseluruhan kitab mazmur. Daud menulis sebahagian besar penyembahan, pemujaan, doa, ratapan kitab mazmur dari lubuk hatinya dan itu adalah watak hati. Sebaiknya kita belajar daripada Daud dan menyatakan kecenderungan hati terhadap Tuhan dalam penyembahan kita, dalam penulisan lagu kita, dan penyembahan liturgi pada kebaktian gereja hari Minggu. Saya akan berpendapat bahawa Daud menulis mazmur dengan watak hatinya yang diilhamkan oleh Roh Kudus. Oleh itu, saya akan berhujah bahawa pada zaman moden Tuhan memberi kita ruang dalam ruang untuk kita menyatakan watak hati kita dalam lirik ibadat dan ibadat liturgi kita dengan intipati kitab suci. Selagi kita selaras dengan pemusatan kitab suci ia akan menjadikan ibadah lebih tulen dan ghairah.
Ibadah Normatif dalam liturgi gereja tinggi Anglikan dan Lagu Hill kontemporari dll.
Sebenarnya penyembahan normatif termasuk penyembahan gereja tinggi Anglikan gereja tinggi dengan banyak ungkapan liturgi dan kata-kata yang tidak secara langsung daripada kitab suci tetapi mengalir selaras dengan pusat kitab suci dan pembangunan gereja, saya pasti akan menyokongnya dan pergi dengan itu. Jadi ibadah normatif bukan sekadar lagu seperti Lagu Bukit, Lagu Ketinggian, lagu Bethel dan lain-lain. Saya sangat menyedari beberapa kesalahan teologi dalam beberapa gereja tersebut. Tetapi ada lagu-lagu yang bagus dari mereka dengan ekspresi hati yang spontan atau watak kepada Tuhan dengan kepusatan kitab suci walaupun agak berulang-ulang dan kurang format kata-katanya, namun, adalah penyembahan yang luar biasa sebenarnya saya fikir itulah yang menarik ramai orang muda ke gereja.
我從小在衛理公會長大，中學時期轉入校園基督徒團契，基本上一直接觸的是規範敬拜。規範性敬拜包含聖經未明確禁止的元素，只要它們符合聖經原則並有助於造就。它涵蓋了所有跨宗派的敬拜，即使是像聖公會這樣的高教會派，也包含禮儀性敬拜，只要它們相關且符合聖經原則並有助於造就，我就不會有任何問題，事實上，我會對它產生濃厚的興趣。
什麼是規範性敬拜？為什麼要規範敬拜？但什麼是規範性敬拜？我直到進入神學院最後一年才聽說過它。我選修了鄧肯博士教授的兩小時規範敬拜學分課程，令我驚訝的是，竟然有這樣一門叫做規範性敬拜的東西。本質上，這種論據實際上可以在以下經文中找到：
出埃及記 20:1-5 (ESV) 神吩咐這一切的話說：2 「我是耶和華你的神，曾將你從埃及地為奴之家領出來。 3 「除了我以外，你不可有別的神。4 「不可為自己雕刻偶像，也不可做什麼形像彷彿上天、下地，和地底下、水中的百物。5 不可跪拜那些像，也不可事奉它，因為我耶和華你的神是忌邪的神。恨我的，我必追討他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代。
在出埃及記20章，神設立了十誡，讓摩西吩咐以色列人遵守，在此之前，他解釋了為什麼要給以色列人頒布十誡。我很喜歡神一開始就說：「我是耶和華你的神，曾將你從為奴之家領出來；除了我以外，你不可有別的神。」祂在指示以色列人做什麼之前，先確立了自己的信譽，確立了自己的身份。我相信基督教的精髓就在於，在嘗試實踐基督教的道德和誡命之前，你需要先認識基督教的上帝。如果你試圖自己遵守或遵行十誡，以為這樣就能取悅上帝，並讓你獲得一張上天堂的門票，卻不認識頒布十誡的上帝，那你就大錯特錯了，麻煩大了。這就是你們所說的律法主義，它其實在當今世界相當猖獗，只是因為人們對上帝話語的真理一無所知。這就是為什麼我熱衷於在我的著作、播客、講道和教導中闡明這一切。
在下一節經文中，上帝說：「不可為自己雕刻偶像，也不可做什麼形像彷彿上天、下地、下水的百物；不可跪拜它們，也不可事奉它們，因為我是忌邪的神。」過去幾十年來，我一直在讀這些經文，認為上帝是…警告我們不可將世上任何事物當作偶像來敬拜，對我來說，這一點非常明確。這與第3節經文相呼應：「除了我以外，你不可有別的神。」換句話說，不要將任何地上或水中雕刻的偶像當作神來崇拜。在現代的應用中，它只是意味著不要愛任何事物，也不要將你的希望寄託在任何高於上帝本身的事物上。正如奧古斯丁所說，我們的問題不在於愛世界，而在於混亂的愛。就像我們愛金錢、愛世俗的舒適，這在很大程度上是可以接受的，但不要把它與上帝同等看待，因為任何對世上任何與上帝同等或高於上帝的愛，都會讓我們陷入違反偶像崇拜這條誡命的麻煩。
然而，在改革宗的世界裡，規範性敬拜原則其實主張：3 “除了我以外，你不可有別的神。” 4 「不可為自己雕刻偶像，也不可做什麼形像彷彿上天、下地，和地底下、水中的百物。5 不可跪拜那些像，也不可事奉它們，因為我耶和華你的神是忌邪的神，常察看世人。
當神吩咐以色列人不可雕刻什麼形象，彷彿地上、天上、和水中的百物，也不可跪拜、事奉它們時，改革宗的教義實際上教導我們，神的意思是，不可雕刻什麼形像，也不可做什麼形像彷彿地上、天上、水中的百物。這很難接受，因為在第5節神說，不可跪拜那些像，也不可事奉它們，因為我耶和華你的神，也是我忌邪的神。神說你們不可跪拜它們，並不是以為我被表現在那些雕刻的像裡。神清楚地將這些偶像與祂自己區分開來，因為祂說不可跪拜它們，也不可事奉它們。
耶和华你的神，以这些偶像的形式显现。
但无论如何，规范性敬拜的教义正是如此，因为上帝吩咐人敬拜他的方式，而不是通过这些偶像来敬拜他。举个例子，以色列人向金牛犊下拜，这是对金牛犊的偶像崇拜吗？还是以色列人认为全能的上帝以金牛犊的形式显现？在我看来，后者显然是令人憎恶的。
撇开这一点不谈，如果我们按照关于敬拜规律性的论点来理解，这意味着：• 敬拜的规范性原则：敬拜必须只包含圣经明确命令或授权的内容。任何未规定的都是被禁止的。
• 敬拜的规范性原则：敬拜可以包含圣经未明确禁止的内容，只要它们符合圣经原则并有助于造就。
规范性敬拜只包含圣经明确命令或授权的内容。任何未规定的都是被禁止的。这就是为什么规范性敬拜被称为规范性敬拜。而规范性敬拜可以包含圣经未明确禁止的元素，只要这些元素符合圣经原则并有助于造就。
约翰·加尔文、乔纳森·爱德华兹和赫尔曼·巴文克都倾向于规范性敬拜。然而，令我惊喜的是，我发现奥古斯丁更倾向于规范性敬拜。
奥古斯丁与规范性敬拜——心灵的倾向与圣经的中心地位在《基督教教义论》和《上帝之城》等著作中，奥古斯丁强调敬拜应该荣耀上帝并造就教会。他关注心灵的倾向以及圣经、讲道和圣礼（洗礼和圣餐）的中心地位，但他并没有明确地将敬拜限制在圣经规定的元素上。
奥古斯丁强调敬拜应该荣耀上帝并造就教会，我认为他的观点非常正确。他接下来的文字引人入胜，因为他写道，他关注的是内心的倾向以及圣经、讲道和圣礼的中心地位，而这正是我所遵循的。我认为最重要的一点是“内心的倾向和圣经的中心地位”这个词。只要敬拜包含了作者或作曲家的内心倾向，并以一种以圣经为中心的体裁，我认为这就是最好的敬拜形式，而且恰好也是规范的。如果你看看奥古斯丁，他写了基督教神学界最引人入胜、最引人入胜、最发人深省、最充满深情的著作之一《忏悔录》，你就不难理解他为什么会关注内心的倾向和圣经在敬拜中的中心地位。事实上，我认为，没有内心倾向的敬拜实际上会使敬拜更加僵化，甚至枯燥。
我认为上帝并不想夺走我们在敬拜祂时内心的倾向，而这正是整本诗篇的意义所在。大卫从内心深处写下了诗篇中的大部分敬拜、赞美、祷告和哀歌，这就是内心的倾向。我们应该向大卫学习，在我们的敬拜、诗歌创作和主日礼拜的礼仪中表达出对主的内心倾向。我认为大卫是带着受圣灵启发的内心倾向写下诗篇的。因此，我认为在现代，上帝给予我们空间，让我们在敬拜歌词和礼仪中表达内心的倾向，并以圣经为中心。只要我们以圣经为中心，敬拜就会更加真实、真诚和充满激情。
圣公会高教会礼仪中的规范敬拜和当代山歌等事实上，规范敬拜包括高教会圣公会高教会敬拜，其中许多礼仪表达和歌词并非直接来自圣经，而是与圣经的中心地位和教会教化相符，我绝对支持并遵循这一点。因此，规范敬拜不仅仅是像山歌、高地之歌、伯特利之歌等歌曲。我敏锐地意识到其中一些教会存在一些神学缺陷。但他们也有一些优秀的歌曲，以圣经为中心，表达了对主的自发情感或倾向。尽管有些重复，歌词较少，但无论如何，这都是极好的敬拜。事实上，我认为这就是吸引许多年轻人去教堂的原因。
I have grown up in a Methodist Church as a kid switched over to intervarsity Christian fellowship in school in the middle school time and onwards, and essentially I’ve always been exposed to the normative worship. Normative worship includes elements not explicitly forbidden by scripture, as long as they are consistent with biblical principles and promote edification. That will cover the whole spectrum of interdenominational worship, even high church like Anglican high church with liturgical worship as long as they are related and in being consistent with biblical principles and promote edification, I will have no problem in fact I will have great affinity and for it.
What is and why Regulative WorshipBut what is regulative worship? I never heard of it until I entered seminary on my last year I took a two-hour credit hours class on the regulative worship by Dr Duncan and to my amazement there is such a thing called regulative worship. Essentially the argument for such is actually found in:
Exodus 20:1–5 (ESV)
And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
In Exodus 20, God established the 10 commandments for Moses to tell all the Israelites, and before that he gave them background why the Ten commandments to the nation of Israel. I love the fact that God started off saying, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the House of slavery, you shall have no other gods before me.” He established his credibility, He established who He is before telling Israel what to do. I believe that that’s the cool thing about Christianity is you need to know who the God of Christianity is before trying to do the morals and the commandments of Christianity. If you try to do or obey the 10 commandments yourself thinking that that will please God and get yourself a ticket to go to heaven, without knowing the God who gives the Ten commandments, you are really deeply wrong and in trouble. This is what you call legalism, and it is actually pretty rampant in our world today simply because of the ignorance of the truth of the word of God. And that’s why I’m passionate of bringing all this out in my writings and my podcasts and my preaching and teaching.
Now in the next verse God said you shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or the earth below or the water below and you shall not bow down to them or serve them for I’m a jealous God. I’ve been reading them for the last few decades thinking that God is warning us not to make anything in this world as an idol to bow down and to me that’s pretty clear. And that is connecting to v 3 that says, “you shall have no other gods before me .” In other words don’t make this idolatry of the images of carved images of anything on earth or in the water as God. In our modern-day application it will simply mean don’t love anything or put your hope in anything that’s above who God is like Augustine says our problem is not the love of the world, our problem is the disordered love. Just like if we love money, love worldly comfort that is OK to a great extent, but just don’t make it the same pedestal with God because any love for anything in this world that is on par with or above God will get us into the trouble of breaking this commandment of idolatry.
However in the reformed world the regulative worship principle actually argues that:
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the
When God commanded Israel not to make any imagery of anything on earth or heaven or water below and they shall not bow down to them and serve them, the reformed teachings actually teach us that what God is saying is don’t worship me in the form of a carved image or the likeness of anything on earth in heaven or in the water. Now this is hard to swallow because in verse 5 God said you shall not bow down to them or serve them for I the Lord your God and my jealous God. God didn’t say you shall not bow down to them thinking that I am being expressed in those carved images. God clearly makes a distinction between those idols and him, because he says don’t bow to them or serve them.
There is no indication whatsoever to think that don’t worship the Lord your God in the form of those images.
But anyhow, this is how the regulative worship doctrine comes through by the fact that God commands the way how he is worshipped and not to be worshipped through those images. Case in point perhaps is the golden calf that Israel bowed down to the golden calf, is that an idolatry of the golden calf, or did Israel think that the almighty God manifests himself in the form of golden calf? In my mind the latter is clearly an abomination.
That aside if we go by that argument regarding regularity for worship which means:
- Regulative Principle of Worship: Worship must include only those elements explicitly commanded or authorized in Scripture. Anything not prescribed is forbidden.
- Normative Principle of Worship: Worship may include elements not explicitly forbidden by Scripture, as long as they are consistent with biblical principles and promote edification.
Regulative worship includes only those elements explicitly commanded or authorized in scripture. Anything not prescribed is forbidden. That’s why regulative worship is called prescriptive worship. While normative worship may include elements not explicitly forbidden by scripture as long as that consistent with biblical principles and promote edification.
John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and Herman Bavinck are all leaning towards regulative worship. However to my pleasant surprise and joy, I found Augustine more leaning towards normative worship.
Augustine & Normative Worship—Heart’s disposition & centrality of scripturesIn works like On Christian Doctrine and City of God, Augustine emphasizes that worship should glorify God and edify the church. He focuses on the heart’s disposition and the centrality of Scripture, preaching, and sacraments (baptism and the Eucharist), but he does not explicitly restrict worship to only scripturally mandated elements. [1]
Augustine emphasizes that worship should glorify God and edify the church, I think he’s got it exactly on the point. Now what he wrote the next line is fascinating because he wrote he focuses on the hearts disposition and the centrality of scripture, preaching and sacraments, and that’s precisely what I would go by. I think the most important point is the word, “hearts disposition and the centrality of scripture.” As long as the worship contains a hearts disposition of the author of the composer and with a genre of the centrality of the holy scripture, I think that will be the best form of worship which happens to be normative. If you look at Augustine, a man who wrote one of the most fascinating and engaging and intense thought-provoking affectionate books in the Christian theology world, The Confessions, it is not hard to see that why he would focus on the heart disposition and the centrality of scripture in worship. In fact I would argue that worship without heart’s disposition would actually make worship to be more rigid and even dry.
I don’t think God wants to take away that hearts disposition from us in our worship towards him and that’s precisely what the entire book of psalms all about. David wrote majority of the worship, adoration, prayer, lament of the book of psalms from deep down his heart and that is heart disposition. We would do well to learn from David and expressed that hearts disposition towards the Lord in our worship, in our writing of songs, and the liturgical worship on Sunday church service. I would argue that David wrote the psalms with his heart’s disposition inspired by the Holy Spirit. I would therefore argue that in modern day God gives us space in room for us to express our hearts disposition in our worship lyrics and liturgical worship with the centrality of scriptures. As long as we are in line with the centrality of scriptures it will make worship so much more authentic genuine and passionate.
Normative Worship in Anglican high church liturgy and contemporary Hill Songs etc.In fact normative worship includes high church Anglican high church worship with lots of liturgical expression and words which are not directly from the holy scripture but flows in line with the centrality of scriptures and edification of the church, I would definitely support that and go with that. So normative worship is not just songs like Hill Songs, Elevation songs, Bethel songs etcetera. I’m keenly aware of some of the theological faults in some of those churches. But there are good songs from them with spontaneous heart expression or disposition to the Lord with the centrality of scripture albeit somewhat repetitive and less words format it, nevertheless, is superb worship in fact I think that’s what draws in a lot of young people to church.
[1] Augustine, On Christian Doctrine and City of God
God promised Jeremiah 29:14 that says. “I will be found by your declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all nations that I have driven you.” This is truly a very comforting and reassuring verse showing the promise of God. But I want to explore with you why does God want us to call upon him and pray to him and seek him?
Well the answer is pretty simple and that is in v 11, “… for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and to give you a future and a hope.” Now v12 is significant because it says, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
The word ‘then’ is a result of verse 11 talking about God’s plan to prosper you and not to harm you but to give you a future and hope. This is Israel going through exile in Babylon, was sent to Babylon because of their disobedience to God and their sin before him and God exiled them to Babylon for 70 years for a purpose essentially to discipline them and to teach them to humble themselves.
Motivation to seek him and pray to God
V11 …for I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope
v10 God said, “I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back.” v11 “…for I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope” is a mighty motivation. That is a promise. A big promise.
The word ‘prosper’ in Hebrew:
—1. prosperity, success: a) Lv 26:6 Nu 6:26 Dt 23:7 Is 48:18 60:17, 48:22 = 57:21 52:7 = Nah 2:1 שְׁלוֹם הָעִיר Jr 29:7, מַחְשְׁבוֹת שָׁ׳ Jr 29:11 (rather as 7b).
Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, and Johann Jakob Stamm, The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament, 1994–2000, 1507.
That’s the kind of thing you want to know so that you can have the strength and the determination and stamina to continue to wait upon the Lord and not to give up because God promised. But how long does it take we don’t know but a lot of times God uses this kind of situation to mold and shape us. So if you are going through a times of waiting and crying out to God for a long time and have yet to hear from him, this kind of verses will be very strengthening to you and I, so we need to hang on to the promise of God.
Jeremiah 29:11–12 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Because those words that he said “I know my plans for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and the future”, it’s the premise or the basis for God to say in v 12 “Then you will call upon me and pray to me and I will listen to you.”
And God is so kind to promise to assure us he has a plan for us to prosperous and and to give us a hope in the future first before he said in v12 then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and he promised to listen to us.
Meditate over “I know the plans for us, a plan to prosper us not to harm us, a plan to give us hope and a future”
So folks it is incredibly important to understand verse 11 first and internalize it because once we are really knowing that God’s promise: viz “I knows the plans for us, a plan to prosper us not to harm us, a plan to give us hope and a future,” then we can settle down settle in the presence of God and call upon God and pray to him over short period or long period even until he listens to us and responds. How long does it take for him to respond, we don’t know. But what we do know is based on his promise for the plan to prosper us and to give us hope and future, we can therefore persevere and put our hope in God in Christ without being wavered. Based on that promise we must internalize in our hearts that God would do it for us therefore we will call upon him continually and without giving up. I think this is really important for us to continue to pray to him even in the absence of response from him because he promised and we shall plough on.
Jeremiah 29:12–14 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Any verse 13 God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Now the condition is to seek God with all our hearts which means never give up even over a long period of time.
God promised, “I will be found by you declares the Lord and I will bring you back from captivity.”
You can apply that to yourself whatever that’s lost in your lives and whatever you struggled, whatever you pray for restoration. God promised to bring us back from the loss of what the enemy has ravished your family or lives or ministry or whatever. And the time of restoration will come and God will prosper us.
I love the fact that He has a plan for me and I’m gonna stick to that. And I hope you will be too. Amen.
This is an article about what God said in Isaiah 42:4 that he would not rest until he established justice on earth. As we all know justice is such a huge topic today in our modern world and including many Christians today. But there is a difference between the justice that’s being fought today which is commonly called social justice, compared to the justice God is fighting for in Isaiah 42. I will have to qualify that the what God fights for also includes that social justice which is really oppression, ethnic oppression, the poor by the rich abuses etcetera.
So this is really important to understand what is God talking about in Isaiah 42.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged[a]
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
You can see that the Lord said that He puts His Spirit upon him, and His servant will bring forth justice to the nations V1-2. And then verse 4 God says He will not grow faint or be discouraged till He’s established justice in the earth. So we want to find out what is this word ‘justice’ all about. In order to understand what that word justice mean in Isaiah 42:4 we need to look at Isaiah 41 first.
Justice that God fights for is the justice between Him and the idolsIsaiah 41:21–24 (ESV)
Set forth your case, says the Lord;
bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
22 Let them bring them, and tell us
what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they are,
that we may consider them,
that we may know their outcome;
or declare to us the things to come.
God is challenging the idols to speak to Him, and ask them to set forth their case! And even bring their proofs! Do you know this is how God speaks to the idols in your life my life because the God of the universe the creator of the whole cosmic powers totally transcends and overpowers any idols of the cosmic darkness in this society in our culture.
God blasts idols as “nothing”Here God is challenging the so called idols to tell God what happened before and what’s going to happen. God is really talking down on them because they are nothing exactly what the Bible says.
24 Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.
Behold you are nothing, here is the most blatant and blazoned calling out of who these idols are really are and they are nothing. And God warned whoever chooses them will become an abomination.
My point is seeing how God talks down and condescendingly upon the idols and calling the idols as nothing, whereas they are beholden as precious to so many people including Christians in this world. The lesson here is they really are nothing and we must be liberated and set free from them.
Examples of who idols are in our life could be money, power, sex, culture overall as commonly portrayed in the city of New York or any Hollywood movies. Whenever we struggle with these idols in our lives just remember the Lord God we worship talks down on them and calling them as nothing. It’s best that we remember this and be cognizant of this wherever we go and bear this in mind and in our prayers and never be like a fool.
Now we are moving into the exciting part now:
Isaiah 42:3 (ESV)
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
So the question is what is this “justice”?
What is this “justice”?Justice (mišpāṭ) is the leading idea of this first Servant Song, pointing to the scope of the servant’s work, his reliability in its discharge and his perseverance through to its accomplishment.[1]
The word mišpāt is versatile, but its sense is plain in context. In the light of the foregoing court scene it must retain its meaning of ‘judgment at law’, the result of the trial between the Lord and the idols. The servant thus carries to the world the message that there is only one God. [2]
The word justice as depicted here is almost like the prime calling of the anointed servant of the Lord, which is really the Son of God himself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore it’s really important to know its meaning in the context here. Justice is usually understood as equity or fighting against oppression or injustice, and very often understood as ‘social justice’ against the rich oppressing or colonizing lords.
But here justice is understood as ‘judgement at law’, the result of the trail between the Lord and idols. After you read Isiah 41, you will understand the anger, wrath, God vents at those idols, calling them as nothing! ’
Justice means God’s Kingdom, power & GloryTherefore in effect, God is seeking to judge them with law, and bring about justice, as in a sense, God has been unjustly treated, as the idols robbed God’s honor and authority as the Lord over Israel and our lives today. God is seeking that ‘justice’.
So it’s really God seeking to re-establish His dominance, as the Lord’s prayer says “:For thine is the kingdom, power and glory forever.” And that’s our God. But the idols in our lives robbed that from our God, and hence Jesus has come to this world to seek to establish ‘justice’. And He accomplished that above all things, at the cross, where He died, and resurrected from the dead, having broken the power of death and Satan who holds the power of death.
Amen
[1] J. A. Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 318–319.
[2] J. A. Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 319.
Been thinking about the congruent power of the Spirit and the reformed theology how’s that going to work out in practice which is something I would love to see being implemented. There is a remnant of reformed pastors with the charismatic background are doing some of both, I have my own vision of what it should look like that I would love to see.
Make it spontaneous and authenticRecently we visited a church and I saw their charismatic inclination or to have people coming up to be prayed for. I see there is positive and negative on that. The negative is that after a while, because this is being performed week in and week out, it almost feels like the congregation looks forward to be prayed for and making this whole exercise rather routinely repetitive. It sort of takes off the supernatural edge to it meaning it can become mundanely routine. I think this will cultivate a psyche for people to long to be touched by the Lord which I fully understand, from my charismatic church background, however I really do not see that scenario in the Bible, in the case of the Lord Jesus or Paul or Peter. I think if people long to be touched by the Lord and be blessed by God’s healing and touch because of a great need, they should act like the blind, the crippled crying for Jesus, or the woman with the bleeding problem pushing in among men to reach Jesus to be healed. That makes it so authentically real and powerful.
God responds to hungry hearts, longing heartsGod is not interested in amnesia kind of desire or lukewarm Christianity. What I’m saying is that from the scripture I see the initiative of the people to come to Christ to be healed came to Christ, and not the other way round. I recognize that we are not in the realm of Christ or anywhere remotely near him, but I would say that a better way to execute and not perform healing, is to have a general prayer from the pulpit for all people who have needs of healing of sicknesses perhaps by them putting their hands on on the body that need healing. Or to save time we can also ask that anyone who needs healing to put your hands up, which is in line with the scripture because the crippled or the blind always come to Christ to make themselves known. I think there’s a far better way of executing the healing power of Christ to the congregation without dragging the meeting or spending too much time on everyone else.
Depth of PreachingThe second really important aspect I observed is the lack of depth in preaching. It is not something to criticize or any sort but this is really falling far short of the reformed preaching of exposition of the scripture the reformed theology is doing so well. That’s why it’s my burden to exhort my charismatic church pastors’ leaders, pastors to consider to look into learning theology in a far deeper way or else we will end up speaking in rather superficial way in a very fast to application format of preaching. And also I see that there is a lack of argument for a case in the sermon because there is none. It is pretty much more towards experiential and application types straight away without much exegesis at all. And I will say using “the Lord told me” in certain direction of preaching is rather questionable because this can form a shortcut in doing proper research and study of exegetical requirements of the word of God. I was really awakened to the contrast in the depth of preaching in the argument in preaching like Martin Lloyd Jones said “preaching is logic on fire” and that’s exactly what I want to do, and would love to see in reformed pulpit or charismatic pulpit.
Learn from our tradition & historyMy last point would be just to emphasize the depth and the theological understanding insight from the reformed world like Calvin, Augustine, bathing, Edward is really something that we should take hold of and run with. For example I did a 30 minutes teaching on Christology taken mostly from Bavinck and I’ve found that astonishingly rich theology that I was not aware of even after gotten my own MDiv. But the beautiful thing is after you got your MDiv, you are kind of being trained to dissect and to analyze any theology books you read and make your own decision whether it is in line with the scripture, in context. I would say the non reformed world has missed a lot in this, the intellectual and pastoral great minds of our history.
This is a brilliant analysis by Herman Bavinck and I totally agree with that. I find it tremendously difficult to follow the line of supra, Lapsarian theology.
Its the God of compassion responding to the fall that he started to elect some humans to salvation in Christ and pass over others which is called reprobation. The logical sequence is what is making sense here. Eph 1:4-5 says even as he chose in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He in love he predestined us for adoption to serve his son through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Bavinck explains that God’s council is a single, eternal, and indivisible act of his will, and creation, the fall, election, and redemption. Eph 1:4-5 highlights the election occur before the foundation of the world, this refers to the eternity of God’s decree, not as logical priority over the fall. In God’s timeless eternity, all aspects of the decree, creation, fall, election are also simultaneous, but theology distinguishes the logicality to understand their relationships.
Infra Lapsarian is about the logical, not temporal, order of God’s decreesBavinck argues that God’s election Eph 1:4-5 presupposes of fallen humanity in need of redemption. The phrase he chose us in him ( Christ) indicates the elections always in Christ, the media of redemption.
The goal of election that we should be holy and blameless and for adoption himself points to God redemptive purpose to a fallen stateBavinck argues the election addresses human sinfulness, aiming to restore and adopt sinners into God’s family. This alliance with infra Lapsarian emphasizes on election as God’s mercy response to the fall, rather than a supra Lapsarian view: election seem to necessitate the fall to display God’s glory.
Addressing the tension
The apparent tension Eph 1:4-5, before the foundation of the world may seem to favor supra Lapsarian in that election precedes the fall. Bavinck resolved this by distinguishes logical and temporal order. The phrase does not imply the election logically proceeds the fall, but that all God’s decrees are eternal.
Infra Lapsarian orders the decrees logically ; God’s decree to create, permit the fall, and then elect some to election salvation in Eph 1:4-5 affirm that eternity of this plan, not its sequence.
Critique supra Lapsarian for potentially making the fall and necessary means to display God’s glory, which would imply God authored sin. Infra Lapsarian in his view, better preserved God’s justice, and mercy by seeing election as a response to the fall, not its cause.
I think this whole thing is brilliant. It really helped me– praise be to God.
How do you struggle to take delight in the Lord’s Day? How could the WCF’s teaching on the Lord’s Day be applied to your life, or the lives of those in your church to help in seeing the beauty of the Sabbath?
I will admit that it is a challenging and difficult process to take delight in the Lord’s day in the sense of what Westminster confession talking about keeping the Sabbath holy unto God By making preparation of our heart and ordering our common affairs beforehand, and observe a holy rest all the day from our works, words, thoughts and our worldly employments and recreations. But also, to be taken up the whole time in the public and private exercise of his worship in the duties of necessity and mercy.
This is a very strong dedication and setting aside the Lord’s day as a Sabbath day holy unto God that require essentially almost a complete holy rest from all our works so as to be taken up in worship on the Lord’s day. This practically is almost impossible because of the heavy schedule of bi-vocational seminary student and a full-time job so as to catch up all the assignments and paper and preparation on the weekend is crucial just to barely stay on top of it.
I would say Isaiah 58:13-14 helps me a lot in the perspective in terms of the word “delight”. Isaiah writes that if we turn back our foot from the Sabbath, from doing our pleasure on God’s holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy day of the Lord honorable, if we honor it, not going our own ways or seeking our own pleasures then we will take delight in the Lord, then God will make us ride on the heights of the earth.
To me this is insanely motivating and powerful to make us ride on the height of the earth just by putting pleasure on God’s Sabbath as a day of the Lord. I see this as God wanting our heart for a day that He sets apart every week instead of taking our own ways, this surely bring much pleasure to the heart of God. It’s like my way of God’s ways and if I submit to God’s way on the day of holiness called Sabbath day, He promised that we will take delight in him. I think it is more than just honoring the Sabbath day, makes us delight in the Lord, but it is the process of setting our time for God weekly is in in itself taking delight in God!
I believe we will grow overtime in it. Now the question of how we do that practically on the Lord’s Day i.e. Sunday is that I quite agree with Dr Duncan’s lecture saying that a great way of spending Sabbath day is have two worship services on Sunday morning and Sunday evening, that pretty much fill up and dedicate the day of the Lord and keep it holy to the Lord.
I look forward to writing on the height of the earth in the Lord. Amen.
Isaiah 58:13–14 (ESV)
13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on my holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight
and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;
14 then you shall take delight in the Lord,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Some have argued that the topics of election and predestination should be avoided in preaching due to their complex and difficult nature, and even that they are a hindrance to evangelism. Do you agree or disagree? Provide rationale for your position.
I would say that it is not easy to talk about election and predestination in our evangelism correct, however there are some phenomenal truths that can be very appealing to the non-believers in evangelism. For instance God from all eternity by His most wise and holy council of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass and yet he is not the author of saying, and also he does not violate the free will of the creatures, neither is the liberty and contingency of secondary courses being taken away but rather established. That to me is a very appealing voice of the attribute and the character of God. Because he’s totally in charge in control and yet he gives us the free will to respond he doesn’t control his creation robotically. And also the liberty or contingency of the secondary causes are not taken away but rather established. That means what we do matter and we are not going towards fatalism.
JI Packer also expounded that the whole Bible is the outworking of God’s sovereign purpose for his world, the purpose that led him to create, the sin that disrupted, and his work of redemption is currently restoring. I think that’s a really appealing message that in this broken world which non believers will acknowledge, to know that God is currently restoring the world, it is a real message of comfort and encouragement and relevance of God. And the purpose of all this restoration is the endless expression and enjoyment of love between God and his rational creatures- love shown in their worship, praise, thanks, honor, glory, and service given to him, ending the fellowship, privileges, jaws, and gifts they give to them. Bible tells us that what God has done to advance God’s redemptive plan for sin damaged planet earth, and they look ahead to the day of its completion, when planet earth will be recreated in unimaginable glory. They proclaim God as the almighty creator Redeemer and do all constantly of the multifaceted works of grace that God performs in history to secure for himself a people, a great company of individuals together, with whom his original purpose of giving and receiving love can be fulfilled. God has shown himself absolutely in control in bringing his plan to the point and working out everything according to his own will and completing his redemptive project.
Considering the area of pastoral care alongside of preaching/evangelism (you hint at an answer, but aim it toward this question): How might you discuss election & predestination with someone faithfully attending your church, who did not grow up in a Reformed church, but who wants to talk to you about how they believe “election and predestination don’t have any practical use,” instead, they say: “these doctrines just seem to make people complacent in their faith”?
Topics of election and predestination should be avoided in preaching due to their complex and difficult nature?
I would say that while election and predestination is highly mysterious, and we cannot deny it as its plainly written in the Bible. And WCF has really articulated it beautifully, though, hard to swallow sometimes, because, the reality is its still hard to understand fully, but we have to remember that we are his creature, and He is God. And He reserves the right to mystery that He hasn’t revealed, and He has the perfect right to reveal what He chooses to His creatures, as in: Deuteronomy 29: 29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
An important point is that God doesn’t violate our free will. WCF: “God does not violate the free will of the creatures, neither is the liberty and contingency of secondary courses being taken away but rather established.”
That settled, I would then focus on the restoration of this broken world, as JI Packer puts it, “The whole Bible is the outworking of God’s sovereign purpose for his world, the purpose that led him to create, the sin that disrupted, and his work of redemption is currently restoring.”
God’s sovereign purpose and work now is the work of redemption that’s currently restoring what’s been destroyed by sin, and it’s that restoration, we believers in Christ, we are honored and called, to take part in. And it’s the highest calling for all of us all.
Jesus expressed his emotion frequently like he wept for Lazarus on his death with his sister, Mary and Mariam. I think it is incredibly important for God to feel our emotions and actually identify with us emotionally and not a detached stoic God that would’ve been like pantheism or Greek gods.
Jesus cried out for the lost sheep of Israel that he longs to gather them as little chicks.
I guess the argument against that will be Jesus expressed his emotion as a man the incarnate God, but if we want to draw a connection to the emotional heartbeat of God, the only expression of that on earth will be the heart beat of Christ walking on earth as he is also the perfect image of God. He is God. I will find it astonishing for God to incarnate into this world and expressed his emotions, scholars would explain that as an anthropomorphic expression of God. But Christ is also God walking on earth in a strange way. That dichotomy is therefore almost like a social construct to delineate it quite unnecessarily.
To argue for the unchangeability of God, the immutability of God, that is easy that even Gen 6 God was grieved and he regretted making mankind because they were evil sinners. But he never changed because he is still a loving God and compassionate and a righteous holy God. His purpose never change. Is just a on the spot manifestation of his emotion on individual cases that does not contradict impassibility and immutability.
As for the sources of research, I will look into Augustine in his confession , which is really a powerful book that book in itself consolidate humans emotions with God and in fact, it will be impossible for Augustine to write that on an emotionless God. Augustine will never agree with the God that does not grieve inside or rejoice over us.
Other sources like the Institute by John Calvin and some patristic literature and the historical theology I’m sure.
So my conclusion, the incarnate God came as a man to express the heartbeat of God, and if we take that away, defeats part of this incarnation expression or manifestation of his majesty, and the reality of who God is.
- It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, (Isa. 42:1, 1 Pet. 1:19–20, John 3:16, 1 Tim. 2:5) the Prophet, (Acts 3:22) Priest, (Heb. 5:5–6) and King (Ps. 2:6, Luke 1:33) the Head and Savior of His Church, (Eph. 5:23) the Heir of all things, (Heb. 1:2) and Judge of the world: (Acts 17:31) unto whom He did from all eternity give a people, to be His seed, (John 17:6, Ps. 22:30, Isa. 53:10) and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified. (1 Tim. 2:6, Isa. 55:4–5, 1 Cor. 1:30)[1]
From these scriptures, and many others, it pleased God in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and man. And that’s because He had already pre- ordained the fall of Adam & Eve, before the foundation of the world. And that necessitated a mediator between God and man. But even more beautiful and glorious is that God the Father also appointed God the Son, to be prophet, priest, King, Head and Savior of His church, Heir of all things, Judge of the world. And God also gave, from all eternity, a people to be Jesus’s seed and to be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified], and glorified by Christ!
I am blown away by the scope of the call of His Son to be the 5-fold kingly office to all nations. It’s not just to die for the world and redeem the elect of the world, but also to exercise and implement the complete authority, love, nourishing and rule of His elect, a people to groom to redeem, call, justify, sanctify and glorify. In a line, He is preparing a beautiful bride for His Son. What. Beautiful, glorious love epic story.
Conclusion
-
The overall arching purpose of God to create the world, and his precious loved humans, is to bring up a people who will love him & He will build them to be a perfect bride as it pleases him?
-
God “writes” into humanity history the greatest drama of epic love with trial and anguish to bring up the glorification of his saints & reveals the immense love of Christ, therefore? I would argue therefore, without the fall, there would not have been an opportunity to showcase the true authentic deep love of God for his people.
Isaiah 42:1 (ESV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
God in pre incarnation of Christ in Isaiah already planned pre-ordained that He will bring put his Spirit upon His Son, and He (Christ) will being forth justice to the nations.
Hebrews 5:5–6 (ESV) 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 1:2 (ESV) 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
[1] The Westminster confession of faith. (1996). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
First of all the distance between God and humans is so great that we can never have any fruition of him as our blessedness and reward except by God’s condescension upon us, which he has expressed by way of covenant. So, God has chosen to relate with us and to reveal himself to us through a covenantal way like the Abrahamic covenant, Mosaic covenant, and eventually the new covenant by the son of God our Lord Jesus Christ himself. All these covenants are in fact the covenant of grace not of law. So, covenant is the means whereby we enjoy God as our blessedness and reward. Therefore, our justification and sanctification in life completely depends on the revelation and the relationship of God with us through the covenant which is the only means we can enjoy his blessings and reward.
Our justification is completely dependent on Christ’s fulfillment of the covenant works which is the first covenant God made with man whereby life was promised to Adam, and in him his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. That covenant of works points to the terms of conditions on which the blessings of the covenant continues. Man by his fall has made himself incapable of life by that covenant of works, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; Whereby he freely offered unto sinners life in salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring them of faith in him, that they may be saved and promising to give unto all those who are ordained unto eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. Now this is a huge promise because fallen man like all of us will not be able to be willing to believe in Christ if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, those of us who are the elect. In the covenant of grace, there is blessing despite disobedience. The covenant of grace conditions are fulfilled by Jesus on our behalf. Our faith is required of us in the covenant of grace but it is not the basis of salvation. It is merely the means to receive the blessing which Jesus has obtained on our behalf. Therefore our obedience is tied up with Christ’s fulfillment of the conditions.
The only way we can go on in our lives sanctified is by and through the mediator of our Lord Jesus Christ to stay in grace. Like Westminster says we are brought into this covenant by grace and stay in it by our mediator our Lord Jesus Christ. Our ongoing sanctification depends on our obedience to Christ. Our obedience can only follow from the active and passive obedience of Christ because Christ fulfilled the conditions of the covenant of works, our salvation is by grace alone and by faith alone in Christ who has obeyed perfectly the covenant of works on our behalf.
This is hugely encouraging to folks in church to understand that it is not by our effort to continue to be sanctified and walking with Christ but it is rather Christ has already won the battle on the cross by his perfect obedience, and that we are drinking in that benefit and walking in him by the Holy Spirit, commonly called abiding in Christ. And then we are justified by Christ because he fulfilled all the conditions of the works of covenant which our forefather Adam failed. And now we can continue to be sanctified because of his complete obedience that our obedience is tied up with Christ fulfillment of the conditions and because he has fulfilled it, we can be overcomers in our Christian walk with God.
Listening to Dr Duncan on Westminster theology now on the impassibility of God. Genesis 6:5 to 6 says God recreated that he made men on the Earth and agreed him into his heart.
So in Westminster confession chapter 2 says God is spirit, and he doesn’t have a body. In Old Testament God uses anthropomorphic expression to describe eternal, spiritual God with our human and anatomy. So the impassibility of God is that God is not controlled by things outside, all his impulses from within and consistent, invisible and incorporeal.
I find it hard to reconcile per se. But Carson’s. NIV study Bible says:
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible Notes) 6:6 regretted. Does sin cause God to change his mind? Elsewhere the answer is no (Mal 3:6; Heb 6:17; Jas 1:17). Yet some passages suggest the opposite (1 Sam 15:11 [but see v. 29]; Jonah 3:10). God is involved personally with humanity. While his final purpose for humanity does not change, his means to carry that purpose forward may.
I find it very agreeable on the last sentence that purpose of God does not change, his means to carry the purpose forward, May. I think there’s exactly what happened to Genesis chapter 6. God changed his means achieving the purpose which has never changed. I guess the question is was he emotionally actually grieved? I would say that, even if he was grieved as scripture says, And as many scars as anthropomorphic expression, there is no contradiction because his purpose doesn’t change, his emotional response does not change his purpose, and therefore he is still unchangeable, immutable, and therefore impassible.
Jesus expressed his emotion frequently like he wept for Lazarus on his death with his sister, Mary and Mariam. I think it is incredibly important for God to feel our emotions and actually identify with us emotionally and not a detached stoic God that would’ve been like pantheism or Greek gods.
Jesus cried out for the lost sheep of Israel that he longs to gather them as little chicks.
I guess the argument against that will be Jesus expressed his emotion as a man the incarnate God, but if we want to draw a connection to the emotional heartbeat of God, the only expression of that on earth will be the heart beat of Christ walking on earth as he is also the perfect image of God. He is God. I will find it astonishing for God to incarnate into this world and expressed his emotions, scholars would explain that as an anthropomorphic expression of God. But Christ is also God walking on earth in a strange way. That dichotomy is therefore almost like a social construct to delineate it quite unnecessarily.
To argue for the unchangeability of God, the immutability of God, that is easy that even Gen 6 God was grieved and he regretted making mankind because they were evil sinners. But he never changed because he is still a loving God and compassionate and a righteous holy God. His purpose never change. Is just a on the spot manifestation of his emotion on individual cases that does not contradict impassibility and immutability.
As for the sources of research, I will look into Augustine in his confession , which is really a powerful book that book in itself consolidate humans emotions with God and in fact, it will be impossible for Augustine to write that on an emotionless God. Augustine will never agree with the God that does not grieve inside or rejoice over us.
Other sources like the Institute by John Calvin and some patristic literature and the historical theology I’m sure.
So my conclusion, the incarnate God came as a man to express the heartbeat of God, and if we take that away, defeats part of this incarnation expression or manifestation of his majesty, and the reality of who God is.
I come from a culture in church upbringing of charismatic evangelical church background, and later in involved in planting churches. From the childhood days, I grew up in a Methodist church background with my mom. I would say the charismatic worship in churches have impacted me a lot since university days.
My wife and I have sensed the call of God in planting church and pastoring. It has been a real joy and challenging in the midst of it. It is without any shadow of doubt it is the Lord who directed our path as a family in doing rather radical things. We are from an international church planting movement, and we have planted churches back in Malaysia, and then God called us to come over here in the US to continue the ministry as a bi-vocational ministry , very much like what’s called tent-making ministry of Paul in the NT. We have seen churches successfully planted and pastored, however the latest one in Manhattan has stalled. So with that background, I have struggled to understand the culture here in New York, and also what I should be doing. Saying all these we with our children had moved from Malaysian culture to Californian culture, and just over 10 years ago, to the New York culture, it has to be the Lord who strengthens us and been our hope.
In trying to reach out to New Yorkers, it really depends on which part of the city you live in. The city is notoriously expensive, and for any church planting, finance is of the utmost in one’s head immediately. From what I see, most church planters raise funds, forgo their own vocation professional jobs, and heavily depend on the more lucrative income from their wives., without which it is undoable for the cost of living. I will list down some of the major cultural adjustment contextualization.
The Culture of Bi-Vocational Ministry
That’s my background and working as an engineer and doing weekend pastoring. Coming to do that in NYC, I can see why church planters flopped. First, it is such a vast city, the transportation commute just takes too long to do any ministry, and hence Keller in City to City has emphasized the need of cultural immersion, i.e. living in the neighborhood where you want to plant. And that’s also in full time capacity, and I see that that’s beyond my reach, just because we are not financially able to do that also considering the school factors for children. So we ended in Long Island to pastor a weekend church in Manhattan, it has been not the most effective. I struggled in this church plant model. I think if we live among the people neighborhood, even with just mainly a weekend ministry, it would have been much more doable. The cultural be with your people is so very important.
Theological & Philosophical Understanding & Equipping
This has been a real joy in worshipping the Lord in the house of God and sustained me a lot in facing setbacks, struggles with ministry, work, relationship etc. It’s the source of encouragement and strength in worshipping that I would never forget. In the midst of struggling , I have to say the church planting culture that my church movement sent me, is not in line with the style in New York, because you need finance and group support for launching a church, which I have neither. So I was kind of parachuted into Manhattan, and living far away in Long Island, making that church plant incredibly challenging. That’s a huge cultural shock for me, although we had some college students who came and started our church together, but the theology and philosophy of church plant was largely absent from my mind in the American context.
But I would say the lack of theological understanding especially the sovereignty of God in reformed tradition and to be able to see and preach the redemptive narrative of God in Christ are the two most important transformations I received since coming to New York and having met Tim Keller whose sermons are full of these two. After listening to many of his sermon for years, I began to see why it’s so attractive and compelling for people to come to church.
First the divine sovereignty of God
This subject is not something I have ever heard or learnt from my cultural background. My background belongs to the Arminianism theology, with a passion to spread the love of God in Christ and making disciples. And pastors, almost all, do not have formal education training in seminary schools. It’s all about your calling and in trusting God, to plough the land for sowing the seed of the gospel and nurture a church.
Since coming to NYC, I heard enough of Keller’s sermons that I sensed that aspect of who God is missing with me. To see God as sovereign brings a lot of fresh air, comfort and edification to my heart, because I being to realize that, even in the time of failure (my church plant failed), and time of waiting, there is a sense of which, I can rest in Him, and wait for his timing and way to launch. That’s what calmed me down, given me rest in Him. And that’s the divine providence of God out of his goodness and grace. This changed my outlook tremendously, about life, ministry, and families. It’s hard for people not to be hardened and discouraged at times when things are going tough, without the assurance of the sovereignty and divine providence of God. That’s why many blame God when they don’t get what they asked for after long time, without such understanding and hence trust in the almighty God and all wise God.
Second, the entire theological education
From my culture background, theology training is not held high, because its very practical driven theology, and experiential type. As long as you love the Lord and serve him, you are good to go, regardless of whatever your theological trancing is. While heart condition is number one in all things with God, knowledge of theology is right there number two, and without the word of God theology, a good heart can only operate on a far diminished form from the richness of the word of God which has great transformation power. I would say therefore this has brought tremendous blessing to my life. It’s also about that time, Tim Keller brought in RTS to New York city, and when I heard that, I was overjoyed and joined the 3rd cohort. It’s an incredible blessing that I could get my theological training in the fold of Tim Keller. I would say that’s really the divine providence of God, and looking back, that’s probably the best thing happened to my life for a long time. To me, that’s really a turning point tin my life and our ministry. And above all, my own relationship with the Lord has taken on a breath-taking wider horizon, simply because I now know Him much better.
Thirdly on the area of worship
I see that my background worship differs quite substantially from reformed worship which is generally the case with most professors and student in RTS, though there are some charismatics, and Baptists etc. I would say, this is a strange culture, and I do see the beauty of singing hymns, as theology is rich, and combining it with the more contemporary songs with hands lifting and expression of celebration is what I look for. Worship is a place of where we meet God corporately on Sundays, and this can be the most beautiful moment that can be and should be built upon. I do know the regulative worship in PCA, and certainly some charismatic worship songs tend to run too shallow theologically, and this is where I, after all my training in school, would be able to discern and adapt what’s best theologically, and worship tune wise. I think my desire and planning is to see a church that combines both styles of worship, Word based centered, and Spirit empowered.
Fourthly the New York culture is really a very busy hectic culture driven by work in an expensive city.
So for us to reach out to them, I love the most from what Keller teaches as in adaptation to the culture (seeing the common grace), and later the confrontation of their culture idols to meet their real needs. To bring in the redemptive messages to show them what they hope for can never be fulfilled by their normal ways unless they come to the God who created us. This is easy said than done, and requires a lot of relationship building etc. As all known too well, work is among the idols
I do see the possible opening of the gospel and that’s through the daily burdens of life. There is value system in my background that’s totally different from the post Christian America today. And to meet the New Yorkers, the personal touch of it doesn’t come easy, obviously a lot of community building is required, and this needs manpower and time.
Fifth is the area of prayer
This is an incredibly important and powerful area form my church culture background. I see there is hardly any organized meetings for prayer. In our backgrounds, we hold prayer meeting once a week, and we poured our hearts to God together and believe God will do the rest. It’s a real uplifting times as we spend time together and humble ourselves before God. People see the hearts of leadership, and that goes a long way. I would love to gather folks together regularly for prayers. Prayer needs to be seen by people and so we can all ray together, instead of just listening to one person praying. The corporate prayers, or break into small groups prayers, has been. So conducive for church growth and touching the people outside.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I thank God for my upbringing culture. To be able to continue to develop the call of God and in the culture, God has put us in, is the most exciting thing and I look forward to what the Lord has for us coming up. I see the charismatic spiritual gift culture that I received will fit in very well, if operated like 1 Cor 13, coupled with good God centered expositional messages, I foresee a great future reaching the folks right in New York city or anywhere else. The strength from my cultural background has propelled me and family gone that far with God in this land, however, it will take the next move of God to see the Spirit of God working .
Introduction
CS Lewis believed that myths, despite originating from various cultures and religions, often contain elements of truth and longing that resonate with humanities innate spiritual yearnings. He saw myth as a natural language through which deep root spiritual realities could be communicated. Lewis draws upon with the logical motif and narrative to illustrate and reinforce Christian concepts and themes. For example, in the Chronicles of Narnia, he uses the mythical realm of Chronicles of Narnia to explore fundamental Christian ideas such as redemption, sacrificial love, and the battle between good and evil. By weaving Christian themes into familiar mythic landscapes, Lewis invites readers to engage with profound truths in a captivating and relatable way.
Myth, Imagination & Supernatural & Aesthetic Experience
In that essay, Lewis analyzed two types of faith viz, the intellectual faith, and the religious or faith or trust in God which experiences the numinous (supernatural). He equates that the intellectual faith is the precondition for numinous faith. He calls it the feelings aroused by numinous is awe, very much like the awe of God in the OT.[1]
He finds the seed of religious experience in our experience of the numinous. In our age like our own such experience does occur and but, until religion comes and retrospectively transforms it, it usually appears to the subject to be a special form of aesthetic experience. [2]
By that he means if we don’t have religion in our life, what’s really the works of the transcendent God would simply be labelled as something beautiful without God. He argues that faith does not come from the experience of the philosophical arguments alone, numinous experience alone, but from historical events that transcends the moral category, which demand their presupposition the existence of God.
The Apologetic Value of Myth
CS Lewis writes, “Taking the point in particular the old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history and happened on a particular date, particular place, and definable historical consequence. We passed from history to a historical person crucified by Pontius Pilot, so that myth became fact.” [3]
All that’s like the transcendent God coming down to earth, is just to too good to be true, and yet it is really myth became fact. And if that happened, that will energize the whole base of humanity to move closer to knowing and experiencing transcendent God. It’s also part of the curiosity and inquisitiveness of human nature to be drawn with something fascinating, something beyond us.
I think the beauty and power of mythical thinking in apologetics is to open and provide a way for us to connect to the mysterious and mythical element of the transcendent God. Too often, case in point, Easter just becomes a commercial social celebration gathering with Easter bunnies etcetera because people lost touch with the mythical and the mysterious aspect of the dying God on the cross. We must communicate that to the unbelievers in the world so that they can appreciate Good Friday and Easter that it is not just a ceremonial process in the good old Christian customs but rather it is part of the greatest mystery and myth of Christianity that a God-Man was crucified in time and space. This is not only good for apologetics for non-believers but this is hugely beneficial and essential for Christian flourishing too.
Wonder & Delight because of the mythical radiance from God
We are also telling unbelievers and the Christians that if and when they choose to believe in Christ, they need to understand that it is not a mere assent to the intellectual story of Christ death on the cross, but it is essential to embrace the mythical and mysterious aspect of such crucifixion of a God man. To be convinced the supernatural that is that even possible naturally.
The mythical aspect of the gospel as Lewis puts it, “claims not only our love and our obedience but also our wonder and delight because of the mythical radiance resting on theology as God chooses to be mythopoeic and myth pathetic, therefore we want to respond in light manner.” [4]
And that is to respond not only with obedience and with love but also with the wonder and delight. So the apologetics to the non-believers and even believers is the aspect of wonder and delight in the God who speaks to us in such intensity and passion.
CS Lewis writes on his friend, “ Corineus advanced that…Modern Christianity basically just believes a modern system of thought which retains the vocabulary of Christianity and exploits the emotions inherited from it while quietly dropping its essential doctrines. He compared modern Christianity with the modern English monarch, the forms of kingship have been retained, but the reality has been abandoned. [5]
This is conceivably the saddest that has happened and is happening in reality in our culture in our days today and for millennia. That’s because people adopted the tradition of Christianity the forms and the shapes and all this but abandoned the orthodoxy the essential doctrines. And this is all happening towards churches that have gone liberal jettisoned core doctrines of the holy scripture that in inerrant word of God. That becomes an inherent problem why many unbelievers are confused because they don’t see any real difference between the church and the world.
Lewis’s friend is contending that why would educate it enlighten pseudo-Christians insist on expressing their deepest thoughts in items of the arcade mythology which must hamper and embarrass them at every turn? [6]
What he’s called is mythology are the so-called historical essential doctrines of the church from the Bible come if you call them as such, you have not read the bible. And these Christians they are absolutely precious and the fundamental core of the entire Christianity let alone cutting them off. I take it that people feel the historical essential doctrines of the Bible are outdated somehow and they want to jump on the modern or postmodernism bandwagon, but that’s exactly and Antichrist book as described in the Bible.
The scariest thing and upsetting thing is what CS Lewis called the “clergyman becoming intellectual prostitutes or preach for pay”- and thereby created what he called as the darkening of conscience among thousands of men. [7]
The biggest problem what I see from the here is that the misconception of the modernity calling historical orthodoxy doctrines of the word of God as myths. I get that more souls removed from the historical orthodoxy in church and with the postmodernism and modernism pounding on our philosophy and the culture on a daily basis, it won’t be hard to imagine that there is a disdain from the culture towards anything historical orthodoxy push appears to be binding to them. So Lewis sort of rides along with them taking on what they call as myth and expound what is really important on ‘myths’, those doctrines.
To combat that criticism of Christianity holding on to the old historical doctrines, Lewis warned of dropping to a darkening of conscience of men and women who don’t know real Christianity anymore.
He, therefore, in a very radical way, creatively asked the question, “If they want to cut off from this what is called vestigial mythology, would not be would it be, “Much easier for the mother of invalid child if she put it into an institution and adopt someone else healthy baby instead. Life would be far easier to many a man if he abandoned the woman he has actually fall in love with and marry someone else because she’s more suitable.[8]
So if the nonbelieving world think that our Christian orthodoxy doctrines are like myth, Lewis argues, “Even assuming (which I almost certainly deny) the doctrines of historic Christianity are nearly mythical, it is the myth which is the vital and nourishing element in the whole concern. ” So Lewis arguing that his friend once us to move with the times, very much like today. society wants us to move with the time and not wanting to stay with historical orthodoxy of Bible. Lewis right the time actually move away. But in religion, we find something that does not move away. It is the myth that abide, it is what he caused the modern and living thought that moves away. I think that is absolutely correct to say that I will modern thoughts and modernity and philosophy keeps moving and changing and moving. The only thing that is absolute is the historical orthodoxy word of God. For example he quoted the pagan revival of Julian apostate, the Nix, the monism of Aus, the deem of, the dogmatic materialism of the great vans. They have all moved with the times. And the thing that were all attacking remains. The myth has outlived the thoughts of all its defenders and all its adversaries. It is the myth that gives life. This apologetics is powerful because Lewis is arguing that the very thing that modernity all the idioms and religions they have been attacking Christianity orthodoxy scripture all moving, they all moved along with times. In other words, position on religion and believe kit, moving there is no certainty or concreteness about it. In comparison, it is the religion, so-called myth of the historical orthodox doctrines they stay and never change very much like the Lord God never changes. The meet is outlived of thoughts of its defenders and all its adversaries. It’s the myth that gives life.
Lewis talked about we are not knowing the abstract meaning at all, but tasting it. But We were testing turns out to be universal principal. The moment we state this principle, we are admittedly back in the world of abstraction. It is only wow receiving the myth as a story that you experience the principal concrete.
So he is saying that the idea of me as an abstraction as an abstraction, and it is only when we take the myth as a story that we can experience the principal concrete. Another words, the so-called myth of Christianity must be received as a story so that we can experience the principle of the story concrete.
He wrote that myth consents thought, incarnation transcend Smith. The heart of Christianity is a myth, which is also a fact. The all myth of the dying guard without seizing to be miss, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the Earth of histories. It happens – at a particular date, in a particular place, forward by definable historical consequences. We passed from Boulder, die. Nobody knows when away, to a historical person, crucified, and punished by pilot. By becoming fact, it does not seize to be a myth, that’s the miracle.
So Lewis is arguing that the heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. I would agree that truly Christianity is a myth because to have the God of the universe Hung on the cross and bleeding 2000 years ago for redemption of mankind, does sound very much like a myth to many, who have not believed in the gospel. I love that. He said the myth of the dying guard on the cross does not seize to be myth, and it comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the Earth of history. I definitely agree that it is a mess because, Jesus, came down from heaven of legend and imagination to the Earth of history. He actually happens a particular time and place and a date. To combine as a fact for the crucifixion of the dying guard on the cross is a powerful testimony of the incarnation of God and the suffering of Christ for humanity. Luis calls the crucifixion national seize to be made: that is the miracle. I hundred percent agree that the myth is the miracle.
Lewis wrote that he suspects men have sometimes derived more spiritual sustenance from myths. They do not believe then from the religion, the profession. There is so much truth in it and shame on many, who profess some kind of believe in Christ in the religion of Christianity have been changed in transformed in the lives because there is no personal conviction. It is what is called the Christianity or Christian by name or cultural Christian. It is fascinating for him to write that, actually more spiritual sustenance for Smith, and I think that is relatable because myth is fascinating supernatural thing of people that you don’t even know whether it’s true or not but certainly it sounds pretty profound. So Luis wrote that to be truly sent to historical fact of the dying on the cross, and also receive the, with the same imagination, imaginative embrace which we accord to all myths. For myth and fact merges on the cross.
Myth: a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
The definition of myth. It’s a story of. The early history of people that involves supernatural beings. This is a really important take because. The whole of redemptive narrative of God in Christ Jesus is supernatural and therefore in the eyes of the world, in many ways, it’s a myth. Just to clarify myth has been sort of misconceived commonly that it is something that is not true, but the definition of myth is something supernatural which can be true or. Not true. So when Louise talks about the dying God on the cross does not cease to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history, is a profound statement. He’s able to connect something that is most profound in the world which is the death of the transcendent God on the cross and that is definitely supernatural because the death of God is impossible but that is the death of a human in Christ Jesus who is both God and man. Baloise brilliantly connects the myth nature crucifixion of Christ on the cross 2 an actual event in space and time in history. He’s contrasting the myth legend of boulder die nobody knows when or where, to a historical person crucified under Pontius pilot. That myth became fact on the cross. However that myth does not cease to be myth and that is the miracle. The word miracle is the exact word needed to describe the event because of what happened on the cross it’s nothing less than miraculous and definitely myth became fact. The problem with the very materially wired world today is not able to see the myth the mythical aspect of the cross, but merely seeing the human dying on the cross. Besides frankly even many who believed Christ died on the cross for humans sins and received Christ as believers, have no head much lively spirit spirituality in this earthly world. Louis rightly said a man who disbelieved the Christian story is fact but continually fed on it as Smith would come up perhaps, be more spiritually alive than one who ascended and did not think much about it. The key problem is those Christians or supposedly born again Christians who believed the story of crucifixion but didn’t think much about it, has not brought much transformation to their lives. On the other hand, however, those who did not believe in the Christian crucifixion as fact but just believed it as a myth, louis argued, are perhaps more spiritually alive. There’s a real danger of just assent to it as intellectual knowledge but without absorbing and soaking in the mythical aspect of the Christian narrative redemption story.
I would argue that the word myth in in the Christ redemption narrative story it’s really equivalent to supernatural or miracle. It is indeed without a shadow of doubt Christianity without supernatural is a human story devoid of the divinity, taking the two most potent events in Christianity which is the incarnation of God into this world Christmas, and the son of God offered as a sacrifice to redeem mankind on the cross. Both prominent events are profoundly supernatural and hence mythical. So for us to communicate this to the non believers, we have to convey the mythical aspect of the entire redemption story.
Lewis writes, we must not be ashamed of the mythical radiance resting in our theology. We must not be nervous about parallels and pagan idols: they ought to be there dash you’d be a stumbling block if they weren’t. We must not, enforce spirituality, withhold our imagination welcome. If God chooses to be a mythopoeic dash and is not the sky itself a myth dash shall we refuse to be Mr. pathic? For this is the marriage of heaven and earth: perfect myth and perfect fact: claiming not only our love and our obedience, but also I will wonder and delight, address to the savage, the child, and the poet in each one of us no less than to the moralist, the scholar, and the philosopher.
I would agree that God has revealed himself in a very mythical manner or what he called his mythopoeic call mom by us examining the incarnation and crucifixion and resurrection. And the fact that Christianity is so mythical and supernatural, louis is right to say that we must not withhold our imaginative welcome. If God chooses to be mythopoeic and is not the sky itself a myth, shall we refuse to myopathic? So he’s right that we are only paint attention to myth or call myopathic because God chooses to be mythopoeic, by even just looking at the sky itself it’s a mystery and myth, the entire creation of the world it’s in such amazingly profound complexity that beyond any human engineering imagination. Therefore it is actually a myth that became fact. For anyone to approach Christianity without touching the supernatural or the myth it’s not can you to know the real faith and religion in Christ Jesus the transcendent God who created the world.
I love the fact that Lewis brought in the sense of imagination to cross the bridge from what is natural in the material world to the supernatural world which he calls it as myth. I would only critique do is in the sense that he did not bring the word supernatural in his apologetics discourse, although he’s alluding to it big time through the word myth. The entire Bible is a myth in a sense because it is totally supernatural starting from Genesis all the way to Revelations. We can’t even pass the first chapter of Genesis without believing in and acknowledging the supernatural work and power of God as he called out the different creation and speak them into being and create them actually ex-Nihilo. In other words he created everything out of nothing. That is supernatural and therefore isn’t that a myth?
I would argue that bringing mythical imagination into the apologetics of believing in Christ the Son of God the savior of the world, we will enrich and still with the mind of the folks whether they believe in Christ or not. For Christians it will be a challenge and stirring of hearts and challenging them to stretch themselves into the supernatural by faith. There are plenty of Christians today who do not quite believe in the supernatural and the whole aspect of faith has not really been exercised or taught much. So this paper is to help the unbelievers to cross the bridge from the natural to the supernatural. Lewis said that a mere intellectual assent to the doctrine of Christ crucifixion and resurrection will not sufficiently build a complete born again story.
I think it is particularly powerful when Lewis described that the heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact referring specifically to the old myth of the dying God without ceasing to be myth, comes down from heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens at a particular date, particular place ,followed by definable historical consequences. We pass from time, nobody knows when or where, to a historical person crucified under Pontius pilot. To me this is particularly powerful when Lewis described the entire incarnation of the Son of God from the heaven, the legend, in imagination to the earth of history is a supreme myth and that is nothing short of the miracle. And also to see a God the dying God on the cross is another supreme myth that became miracle. The power of myth is so powerful that it transcends even a pure intellectual assent to a religion people professed. Like he said man have sometimes derive more spiritual sustenance from myths they did not believe then from the religion they professed.
That shows how much power is contained in the very sustenance of myth even though they don’t really believe in it, because the very myth contains so much supernaturally charged mystery and power that overwhelms the mere intellectual assent to a religion. And that to me is very powerful in apologetics in driving people to search for the supernatural and not being content with the natural full of intellectual discussion and apologetics. That’s why I believe that intellectual apologetics does not cut it, although I believe the transcendental approach of apologetics by Vantil is in the route of supernatural or myth and that’s why it cuts it as well.
Lewis writes, “It is not reason that is taking away my faith: on the contrary, my faith is based on reason. It is my imagination and emotions. The battle is between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other”.[9]
Lewis writes, “I start thinking I am going to choke, and I am afraid they will start cutting me up before I am properly under. In other words, I lose my faith in anesthetics. It is not reason that is taking away my faith: on the contrary, my faith is based on reason. It is my imagination and emotions. The battle is between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other.[10]
Lewis writes, “Christians need to be reminded that what became fact was a myth, that it carries with it into the world of fact all the properties of a myth. God is more than a god, not less; Christ is more than Balder, not less. We must not be ashamed of the mythical radiance resting on our theology. We must not, in false spirituality, withhold our imaginative welcome. If God chooses to be mythopoeic- and it’s not the sky itself a myth- shall we refuse to be myopathic? For this is the marriage of heaven and earth; Perfect myth and perfect fact; Claiming not only our love and our obedience, but also our wonder in delight, addressed to the savage, the child, and the poet in each one of us no less than to the moralist, the scholar, and the philosopher”.
-I think Lewis just made Christianity so much more alive and personal, something not only to be obeyed and followed in obedience, and with love, but indeed with wonder and delight. That’s a huge contribution to humanity understanding of Christianity because no one, even though rejecting Christianity or just being ignorant, will reject delight and wonder in a religion. To deprive Christianity of wonder and delight is to make the God of miracles and love and passion into a stoic idle that doesn’t speak or move.
The Myth of Incarnation, Predestination & Election
“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.” – C.S. Lewis, Miracles, 173.
Lewis calls Incarnation as the “Grand Miracle”. All the miracles in OT prepare for the Grand miracle—Incarnation. Incarnation of God into a human is mind blowing to any sane educated folks, unless you reach into the dimension of faith. There is no way for anyone to understand and hence believe that without being supernaturally touched by the Spirit of God, and what’s called regeneration of our soul/spirit by the Spirit. And that’s why it’s the biggest stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks who seek wisdom (1 Cor 1:22-25). It is something humanly impossible and outrageously scandalous in the minds of all civilizations, and that’s why Jesus took the Roman world, the Jewish nation by storm, when he finally resurrected from death. It is such outlandishly extravagant that, God precisely demonstrated his love and grace beyond even the best poets can conjure up a love story of such magnitude and power. That’s all in the eyes of many unbelievers a myth. And if we can tap into it, and explain with conviction, it will be apologetically powerful. Not only that, when one gets into, he deep reflection of such act of God, there is nothing but just sheer deepening of our souls, and understanding and affection for Christ. And that’s transformative.
God chose Israel not because of something in Israel (Deut 7:6–8), but He refers to his promise to Israel’s ancestor, Abraham. So, we have to go to Abraham:
Genesis 12:1–2 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Why did God choose Abraham? It’s a mystery, and myth. Because no one really understands. I concur what Dr Hoffecker said that God sees something in a man’s heart that we don’t. Like God told Samuel that man looks at the outside, but God looks at the inside. (1 Sam 16:7).
Therefore things that we don’t know, and hence tend to speculate, best left to the transcendent God who knows it all even before the foundation of the earth (Eph 1:4), He has destined us to before saved. Paul wrote that he was chosen and called by the Lord even before he was born (Gal 1:15-17).
So, all these to speak of the mystery of God and an important verse to explain this all is:
Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
We must settle in not knowing and understanding the predestination which is. Major pillar doctrine of Christianity, and that belongs to the category of mystery, and in the sight of artists, unbelievers, they become myth. So, there is enormous untapped power and potential in the mythical thinking and projection like Lewis has so elegantly and powerfully captured them. Of course, there are also many ungodly myths from of old, but that doesn’t cancel the good myths that Christian can take hold of, and develop them to enrich our own spiritual life and also connect with the non-believers mind set apologetically.
Conclusion
I think the apologetic value of myth is tremendous as per CS Lewis, taking the point in particular the old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history and happened on a particular date, particular place, and definable historical consequence. We passed from history to a historical person crucified by Pontius Pilot, so that myth became fact. All that like the transcendent God coming down to earth, is just to too good to be true, and yet it is really myth became fact. And if that happened, that would energize the whole base of humanity to move closer to knowing and experiencing transcendent God. It’s also part of the curiosity and inquisitiveness of human nature to be drawn with something fascinating, something beyond us.
I think the beauty and power of mythical thinking in apologetics is to open and provide a way for us to connect to the mysterious and mythical element of the transcendent God. Too often, case in point, Easter just becomes a commercial social celebration gathering with Easter bunnies etcetera because people lost touch with the mythical and the mysterious aspect of the dying God on the cross. We must communicate that to the unbelievers in the world so that they can appreciate Good Friday and Easter that it is not just a ceremonial process in the good old Christian customs but rather it is part of the greatest mystery and myth of Christianity that a God man was crucified in time and space. This is not only good for apologetics for non-believers, but this is hugely beneficial and essential for Christian flourishing too.
We are also telling unbelievers and the Christians that if and when they choose to believe in Christ, they need to understand that it is not a mere assent to the intellectual story of Christ death on the cross, but it is essential to embrace the mythical and mysterious aspect of such crucifixion of a God man. To be convinced the supernatural that is that even possible naturally.
The mythical aspect of the gospel as Lewis puts it, claims not only our love and our obedience but also our wonder and delight because of the mythical radiance resting on theology as God chooses to be mythopoeic and myth pathetic, therefore we want to respond in light manner. And that is to respond not only with obedience and with love but also with the wonder and delight. So, the apologetics to the non-believers and even believers is the aspect of wonder and delight in the God who speaks to us in such intensity and passion.
[1] CS Lewis, Is Theism Important? –God in the Dock, ( Zondervan: ) 187
[2] Ibid, 187
[3] CS Lewis, God in the Dock (Zondervan: )
[4] Ibid
[5] CS Lewis, God in the Dock, (Wm. B. Eerdmans: Grand Rapids) 54
[6] Ibid, 54
[7] Ibid, 54
[8] Ibid, 55
[9] CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, (Harper Collins: New York, 2001) 138
[10] Ibid, 140
I agree with what Keller talked about what transformation excited is not building up the church but penetrating the bastions of cultural influence for Christ. I can see that like what Keller said that, much of the excitement & creative energy ends up focusing on cosmic or social redemption rather than bringing about personal conversion through evangelism and discipleship. And I can also see what his quoted James K Smith who insisted the liturgy and practices of church communities are critical for the formation of worldview. I would say just as Keller said, pietism tended to lift up full time ministry and denigrates secular vocations, transformations can lead to the opposite extreme, I think we should not drop the transformationist model just because their tendency is on the outside of church redemption rather than inside, because I think if we could do both, it will be fantastic. Pietism mode of building up the internal church through conversion, the evangelism, discipleship should be a given for any church, however the transformationist model for the outside of the church redemption is rare.
I agree that transformationist has the potential danger of being triumphalist for self-righteous and overconfident ,it’s ability both to understand God’s will for society and to bring it about. I think essentially this due to conservative biblical evangelical upbringing seeing what should be happening in the society from the word of God. The reality is the world outside the church is not the same as the church per se, and it will be impractical, totally unrealistic to impose of such changes on the society i.e. culture outside the church.
I also agree transformationism has often put too much stock in politics as a way to change culture. He quoted James Hunter saying government politics is only a set that is downstream from the true sources of cultural change which happens in the Academy, the arts, the media companies, and the cities. The real influence happens in teaching schools, publishing books producing, plays movies, slowly the public opinions begins to shift. I somewhat agreed to this however if we were to follow strictly this route, and not following the transformationist route, we would have another million babies aborted if it were not for the changes that was brought about by political Presidential change in the White House and consequently in the Supreme Court justices. As much as it is highly controversial and difficult to bring about political change, I will stand by the transformationisms approach bringing up about changes in the politics i.e. by prayers, evangelism, and preaching the word of God.
I agree one of the weak points of transformationism is the apparent absence on the concern for the poor which is really a big agenda in the mind of God as we read from the scriptures. Keller talks about coerciveness from the transformationist, it would be hard to see that happening anytime soon in America, and I do not see that as a concern. On the contrary, for right now the woke is on top of her, canceling anyone who wants to speak of conservative voice case in point including the church.
I think the apologetic value of myth is tremendous as per CS Lewis, taking the point in particular the old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history and happened on a particular date, particular place, and definable historical consequence. We passed from history to a historical person crucified by Pontius Pilot, so that myth became fact.[1] All that like the transcendent God coming down to earth, is just to too good to be true, and yet it is really myth became fact. And if that happened, that will energize the whole base of humanity to move closer to knowing and experiencing transcendent God. Its also part of the curiosity and inquisitiveness of human nature to be drawn with something fascinating, something beyond us.
I think the beauty and power of mythical thinking in apologetics is to open and provide a way for us to connect to the mysterious and mythical element of the transcendent God. Too often, case in point, Easter just becomes a commercial social celebration gathering with Easter bunnies etcetera because people lost touch with the mythical and the mysterious aspect of the dying God on the cross. We must communicate that to the unbelievers in the world so that they can appreciate Good Friday and Easter that it is not just a ceremonial process in the good old Christian customs but rather it is part of the greatest mystery and myth of Christianity that a God man was crucified in time and space. This is not only good for apologetics for non-believers but this is hugely beneficial and essential for Christian flourishing too.
We are also telling unbelievers and the Christians that if and when they choose to believe in Christ, they need to understand that it is not a mere assent to the intellectual story of Christ death on the cross, but it is essential to embrace the mythical and mysterious aspect of such crucifixion of a God man. To be convinced the supernatural that is that even possible naturally.
The mythical aspect of the gospel as Lewis puts it, claims not only our love and our obedience but also our wonder and delight because of the mythical radiance resting on theology as God chooses to be mythopoeic and myth pathetic, therefore we want to respond in light manner. And that is to respond not only with obedience and with love but also with the wonder and delight. So the apologetics to the non-believers and even believers is the aspect of wonder and delight in the God who speaks to us in such intensity and passion.
[1] CS Lewis, God in the Dock
“Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words or turn away from me”. Do not forsakewisdom, she will protect; love her. She will watch over you. (Proverbs 4:5-6)
I think this is a huge concept and idea of how to treat God’s word or Wisdom as a person. God’s Word or Wisdom as revealed in the Bible gives us a tremendous insight. The personal touch of God is so powerful.
As a John 1: 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
You see the personification of the Word logos is God so if you love the Word of God, you love God because they are the same. The Word of God, the scripture is revelation of who God is and what he does. There’s no other things shows that, although I know the nature, shouting screams and the glory of God, only because of God.
The real deal is not to forsake and she will protect you, love her and she will watch you. Love is powerful. Love that “love” the word. Love her because you are really treating the word of God is a person now and it’s not just a person but very personable person, a person whose emotion and attributes, characteristics,like you fall in love with a girl, you fall in love with a woman,you fall in love with a man. You love your wife, you love your husband, your boyfriend, girlfriend. This is how God wants us to understand and treat the word of God. Now if you love the Word, you have no problem to obey the word because you love her. It’s no more duty. It’s a delight from duty to delight. You don’t obey the word of God because you have to. You obey the word of God because you love her. Hallelujah it’s like you want to care for your husband or wife because you love him or her.
V 7 “:The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you”.
Cherish her and she was you and her and she would honor you. What a powerful profound statement right here even though it costs all you have. Christianity is all or nothing. And that’s why Jesus said the first commandment is “Love the Lord of God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul”. Its all and notlove as much as you can.
The problem is we don’t understand that loving God with all hearts is organic even if you love gotten only 10% for now, but you know your heart is towards that direction. It’s no problem even if you screwed up big time, but the Lord, God will forgive you and restore. Amazing look at David. David is the greatest king over Israel ever. But he made the most grievous sin that I’ve known of and its sick to the heart because he killed one of his own soldiers to get his wife because his wife is beautiful and she bathed half naked in her backyard, and David saw her her from his balcony in Palace. After that he go her to sleep with him, that Dave slept with her and God judged severely. The baby that was born died. And David was severely punished, and all his concubines were slept by his son Absalom as God judged David. He was doomed. His son Absalom went after him, trying to kill him and take his throne, that is a judgment form God. But on the incredible side, he was so shaken in his heart because God confronted him. His conscience pricked him so badly so hardand the Spirit of God convicted him so badly, and that he fell down and pleaded with God for forgiveness. He cried. Like he prayed in the book of Psalms. He wrote, he prayed that, “Take not your Holy Spirit from me”. –He loves the Lord. You see, love covers a thousand sins.
1 Peter 4 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Psalm 51
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right[b] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Against the Lord, have I sinned. Of course, he sinned against other guys, but he’s always talking with God. He’s so focused with God and loving the Lord passionately. God is the most important person in his life. There’s no other comparison. No one comes near. The Lord eventually restored him, forgive him. He moved on to become the greatest king of Israel ever known. Because he loves the Lord. A lot of things can be forgiven, and God looks over the wrongs and the sins of done, and God forgives you, and moves on. But don’t do it again and indeed David never did that again. In fact, never 300 concubines after that shamed by his son and he never went near them anymore.
The power of love in the Lord. Amen.
Do we pray that God curse the evil wicked ones like David prayed? For the longest time, I have a hard time to understand the retribution curses that David uttered against his enemy , because in the New Testament, Jesus has never uttered a single word of retaliation towards the enemies, except warnings and forgiveness, … Continue reading Do we pray that God curse the evil wicked ones like David prayed?
May God save and bless his people and be their shepherd and carry them forever Psalm 28 (NIV) 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;be their shepherd and carry them forever. To even hear this kind of prayer that David prayed to God, asking God to be our shepherd and carry us forever is … Continue reading May God save and bless his people and be their shepherd and carry them forever
This is clearly seen and shown in Acts 5, where Ananias and Saphira brought in the sale of the land proceeds to do the church, led by Peter. When they presented the money to Peter, who was full of the Holy Spirit, the money was not the full proceed of the sale of the land. … Continue reading The Boldness of God and the Cowardice of man
Al Ngu. August 1, 2023 To be winsomely reformed, is the one of the mottos in the Reformed world, the philosophical approach with outside world for the sake of not provoking hostility unnecessarily so as able to preach the gospel. I think there’s a lot of truth in this, however I do think this … Continue reading To be Winsome As a Christian or Speaking the Prophetic Truth
When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion, we were like those who dreamed.[b]2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord, like streams in the Negev.5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.6 Those who go … Continue reading POETRY REFLECTION : PSALM 126
Joshua 24 it’s about Joshua at the end of his life in an average trying to convince the nation of Israel, how much God has done for them, God driven out all the different nations for them, and literally God fought for them. And also Joshua warned them that if they disobey God, the curses … Continue reading Idols in our life these days
Genesis 22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Abraham called … Continue reading Redemptive Historical Sermon on Abraham offering up his son?
Galatians 4:22–24 (ESV) 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are … Continue reading Do you want the promise of God fulfilled in your life in his way or by the works of your flesh?
In America this is the month what’s called Pride Month, unprecedented around the world, probably the only nation they’re celebrate LBGT officially. President Biden and Administration put out a Pride flag right in front of the White House last week with two American flags on the left and the right, sending a strong message and … Continue reading Feed my Lambs – Protect God’s People from the false teachings on Sexual Immorality
This is a remarkable and refreshing article by Kevin DeYoung and very insightful on Tim Keller’s philosophical and theological ministry emphasis. Tim Keller has had a towering influence upon my life in my ministry and also to my wife and our children as well to some extent. After reading this article by Kevin DeYoung I’m very grateful he brought out the differences he has with Tim Keller which really resonates with me. Like Kevin DeYoung what I learned so much from Tim Keller and admire his preaching and insightful gospel analysis etc, I do have some grounds which I differ from him and I’m so glad that Kevin young pointed it out in a very similar fashion I can truly resonate with.
Center Left Politically & Socially
DeYoung writes, “At the same time, Keller is probably center-left within the PCA, whereas I am center-right. As much as I give thanks for Keller, I often find myself sizing up our cultural moment and approaching ministry in a somewhat different way.”— I am center-right.
First Tim Keller is center left within the PCA whereas Kevin DeYoung is center right. I’ve always wondered where does Tim Keller land in terms of his political and social view and I’ve always suspected he’s on the center left but I could never put it down because I wasn’t sure it would be right. But now a respected well known the theologian and pastor Dr Kevin DeYoung has described him to be that way I feel relieved. As much as I respect his great preaching gospel centered theology and preaching, I differ from him in terms of my political and social viewpoint, not only within the PCA only but the evangelical world. I am definitely center right like Kevin DeYoung and I feel more assured and grateful that I found where I could land.
Kuyper/Bavinck Neo Calvinism first or Calvin first ?
Now the second thing is really interesting because Tim Keller takes more from the Kuyper, Bavinck and Neo Calvinism first above taking his cues from Calvin and others in the reformed world. I’m glad that this is something I have also observed much as well.
DeYoung writes: Keller has acknowledged before that he is a culturalist first, then a pietist, then a doctrinalist. I would say that my order is just the opposite. In fact, if it’s not too doctrinalist of me, I think that sound doctrine is more than an impulse; it is foundational and indispensable for the other two emphases. While I’m at it, I might as well say that I’m not convinced that the culture-transforming agenda belongs to the Church qua Church, nor that it won’t end up being co-opted by an ever-expanding list of “social justice” causes.[1]
I find this refreshingly spot on and really helps me to think through my own ministry in terms of the balance between BA doctrinalist and a culturalist with reference to Kevin DeYoung’s article in the paragraph above. For sure I believe every evangelical Christian including Reformed Christian should first and foremost be a doctrinalist before becoming a culturalist, though its as important and relevant as it may be, in the modern day and age. Because without being the doctrinalist, how can you be the culturalist? How can you dissect and analyze our culture without first being grounded in our own doctrine of Christ.? Like John Calvin says unless you know who God you is can never find out who you are. The center of gravitas must be God, and the doctrine of God. And that’s why we should read John Calvin first before reading Neo Calvinism for example. While Kevin DeYoung’s not convinced that the culture transforming agenda belongs to the church, I disagree with that. I believe cultural transformation is very much part of the church life in Christ in working out the glorious power of the Holy Spirit and the life of Christ to the world at large.
Kevin DeYoung wrote:
I asked Hansen while he was writing the book, “Is Keller basically a dyed-in-the-wool Presbyterian who is willing to bend and nuance things because he wants to reach the lost, or is he basically a big-tent evangelical with enough Reformed sensibilities to keep him tethered to good theology?” Hansen replied, “Oh, definitely the second.” Hansen suggests that, for Keller, the Old Princeton tradition of Charles Hodge and J. Gresham Machen “emphasized the closed fist of theological orthodoxy.” I’m more appreciative of the Princeton tradition and their early Westminster successors than Tim is, and he’s more appreciative of Kuyper and neo-Calvinism. I take my cues from Calvin, Turretin, Machen, and Murray first, then add twentieth-century British evangelicals to keep me from being too narrow. I think Tim takes his cues from those British evangelicals first, but reads enough Calvin, Turretin, Machen, and Murray to keep him well grounded.[2]
So the book talked about Tim Keller being a big tent evangelical with enough reform sensibilities to keep him tethered to good theology. Kevin DeYoung writes that he is more appreciative of the Princeton tradition and they’re early Westminster successors then Tim Keller is. Tim is more appreciative of Kuyper and Neo Calvinist and I will agree with Kevin DeYoung that I will be appreciative more of John Calvin first and then the Neo Calvinism stuff. The Neo Calvinism stuff is really very cultural oriented how to be orthodox and yet modern in an effort to reach the contemporary world which is very good in itself but it is just not as orthodox and soul anchoring as John Calvin’s and Augustine’s writings.
DeYoung writes: “I’m more appreciative of the Princeton tradition and their early Westminster successors than Tim is, and he’s more appreciative of Kuyper and neo-Calvinism. I take my cues from Calvin, Turretin, Machen, and Murray first, then add twentieth-century British evangelicals to keep me from being too narrow. I think Tim takes his cues from those British evangelicals first, but reads enough Calvin, Turretin, Machen, and Murray to keep him well grounded.”
–I am more Calvin first too.
[1] Kevin DeYoung, Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/05/an-american-evangelist?fbclid=IwAR1EgzhD3veAM35aqF7TyraWmpmO8_UpYCs8iv0L9qOyKD1RbL0Uy9_xUcI
[2] Kevin DeYoung, Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/05/an-american-evangelist?fbclid=IwAR1EgzhD3veAM35aqF7TyraWmpmO8_UpYCs8iv0L9qOyKD1RbL0Uy9_xUcI
3:26–31
26 帶他走的時候，抓住一個從鄉下回來的古利奈人西門，把十字架放在他身上，要背在耶穌身後。 27 有一大群人民和婦女跟隨他，為他哀哭哀號。 28 耶穌轉身對她們說，耶路撒冷的女子，不要為我哭，當為自己和兒女哭。 29 因為看啊，日子將到，他們會說：“不生育的人和不生育的人，不吃奶的人有福了！” 30 然後他們開始對山說：“倒在我們身上吧！” 到山上，‘遮蓋我們。’ 31 如果他們在木頭青綠的時候做這些事，那麼當它乾涸的時候會怎樣呢？
距離下個月的聖誕節小說和復活節還有大約三個星期。 所以這是一個非常合適的時間。 我想談談從耶穌口中說出的一個重要聲明，它是如此強大，以至於它真的很公正。 綜合了基督教的許多思想，基督徒應該真正注意他在路加福音第 23 章，起訴書第 26 節起的這段話中所說的話。
好的，這讓耶穌離開了。 投降的西蒙被抓住了十字路口。 第 27 節，他們將跟隨他，有一大群人和婦女為他哀哭哀哭，有一大群人哀哭、哭泣。 大多數人和婦女都在為他哀悼和哀悼。 第 20 節關於轉動。 據他們說，耶穌說耶路撒冷的女兒。 不要等我，而要為你們自己和你們的孩子哭泣。 當我讀到它時，我就像窒息一樣。 和。 你知道嗎？ 當他說的時候，他的頭髮額頭上實際上正在流血。 荊棘已經刺入了他的頭骨。 他被鞭打了很多次。 從字面上看，只有。 帶著鞭子的身體，鞭痕和剛剛從她身上流出的鮮血，從他的身上流了出來。 然後他不得不背著。 十字架現在是西蒙·瑟林幫他背的。 你知道，在這個。 這就像公開遊行，你知道，公開羞辱和人民，大量的人跟隨他，為他哭泣和哀悼，為他。 人們和人們完全混淆了這個我們認為是彌賽亞的人。 死者連水何所養，瞎子睜眼。 扶養殘廢。 淨化豹子。 他還能做什麼，你知道他會的。 他平息了風暴。 他斥責風。 下降;消沉。 他所做的一切都是超自然的。 就這樣，他用兩條魚和五個麵包餵飽了 5010,000 15,000 名男女。 他的講話充滿恩典。
第二件事是
當耶穌說。 耶路撒冷的婦女，耶路撒冷，不要為我哭泣，為你自己哭泣。 你知道那個人在說話。 這是本神。 其實，男人在說。 因為他看到了即將發生的事情。 現在發生在他身上的一切都不算什麼。 與即將到來的相比。 在裡面？ 隨著年齡的末世。 你知道末日何時到來。 將比你在十字架上看到的更可怕 1000 * 1,000,000 倍。 但即使是耶穌在十字架上所經歷的，對任何一個正常人來說也已經是絕對可怕和可怕的了。 他們有點醉了。 釘十字架可能會給這個瘋子當場死去，或者給某個人帶來極度的痛苦。 但是耶穌，你說呢？ 我們為我所熟知。 有種族。 不適合我。 不。 不要為我哭泣。 就像變身一樣。 我相信他能夠接受並做到這一點。 然後轉身，為自己哭泣。 他不尋求憐憫，上帝，他不尋求憐憫。 在他面前展示他的。 同情另外兩個人對我們，甚至在點上。 英語正在受苦。 這實際上是他去世前幾個小時。 他已經半死不活了。 在經濟上，他只是濕透了。 情緒激動。 當眾羞辱，口水灑在身上，渾身是血，羞愧難當。 他經歷過，他可以接受。 太神奇了。 我認為任何具有任何正常人類能力的人都無法承受它。 令人震驚的是超出了人類的能力。 你知道，你現在不能說他是上帝，因為上帝不會這樣受苦。 他是個十足的男人。 所以我只是說他看見了。 輝煌的未來。 這個很有趣。 他會挺過去的。 這就是他是女人的原因。 不要為我哭泣。 別哭。 幾乎讓我想起了阿根廷別為我哭泣的歌曲。 不要為我哭泣。 不要等我。 等你們自己。
第三：人們必須看到什麼是真實的數字交易：
耶穌在說：你看到什麼是可怕的，但你沒有看到的是可怕的，甚至比你自己更可怕的事情。 如果你不悔改並相信我現在所做的事情。 十字架給你？ 餐廳底下？ 不再。 三天后，恢復正常，恢復健康。 像往常一樣，再次回到完全的人和完全的神，他仍然是完全的神。 停止。 三天時間她的人類可以起死回生。 他將要宣講福音，使他的門徒有能力回到天堂。 他說事情就是這樣。 再過三天，再給我三天，這就完成了。 哈利路亞。 這就是為什麼耶穌告訴那個告訴我逮捕他並將殺死他的人。 他說去告訴那個。 狐狸在三天內摧毀這座寺廟，我們的餐廳。 這正是它的意思。 他是在自言自語。 他是聖殿。 還有三天。 不要等我。 等你自己，伙計們。 阿門。
上帝的憤怒是如此強烈，因為。 神的恩典。 太厲害了
About three more weeks before Easter coming out next month. So it is a very appropriate time. I want to talk about one major statement that’s so powerfully uttered from the lips of Jesus that that really just. The consolidated a lot of thoughts in Christianity and the Christian should really take heed of what he said in this statement in : Luke 23: 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
They led Jesus away and seized Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind Jesus who was badly whipped, wounded, dripping with blood and too weak to carry the cross. And verse 27 they that followed him was a great multitude of the people and women were mourning and lamenting for him.
Jesus said daughters of Jerusalem. “Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” When I read that, I just like choked. And you know what? When he said that he was actually bleeding badly on his hair forehead. The thorns was already pierced into his skull and he was whipped so badly. Literally there were just a body with the marks of the whips and blood just flowing from her body from his body. And then he had to carry the cross but Simon of Cyrene helped him to carry the cross. And you know, and its like public parade, public shame and people, great multitude of people followed him, crying and mourning for him.
And people were just totally confused about this man whom they thought was the Messiah who’s going to redeem Israel and set Israel from the bondage of Rome. He raised the dead even walked on stormy water, and opened the eyes of the blind, raised the crippled cleansed the leprous. What else he can do; you know he will. He calmed the storm. He rebuked the winds. Everything he did was supernatural. He fed 5000 thousand 15,000 men and women with two fish and five loaves of bread just like that. And his speech was full of authority and grace.
This man, Jesus Christ, was full of truth and grace, and people loved him and he loved little children. He said, let the children come to me with the Kingdom of God belongs to people like the little children. He said that unless you become a little children, you can’t enter the Kingdom of God. I mean, listen to this man. Oh graceful words were falling out of his mouth, you know, and he’s teaching us. On the Kingdom of God , he said that the smallest seed eventually become the biggest tree you know. Kingdom of God is always the antidote antithesis to what is perceived strong.
Strong in the world, and he is the man, he said, daughters, and don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Why?
29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
OK, now this is substantially this is a Jesus is actually quoting old Testament Hosea, saying, this is the time God’s judging the idolatrous Israel to the point that it was judgment so bad that people were crying out to the mountains, “fall upon us, fall upon us”, we can’t take this. This judgment from God is too severe, it’s just they rather just die now.
You know there’s a such horrific so I want to bring a couple of things here number one the end time judgment is going to be so horrific for those people without God who rejected God, rejected the divinity of Christ and rejected his redemption. Is he saying as a Messiah, the savior of the world? I mean, the judgment is going to be absolutely one heck of a horrific incident, the last forever and ever.
The judgement got so strong because the grace of God is so strong. Do you see the contrast? God is not just to pour on such great rough on the day of judgement, if he had not already poured us such great grace on the cross. Because of such horrific wrath coming, Jesus was prepared to die a horrific death for the sake of saving us and opening up an opportunity for us. But many people rejected him today. But many people have received him. The call is yours, the core is ours. There’s not going to be like sort of. I tried. I don’t want it, you know? You just have to believe and trust in him. OK, this first is horrific judgement and wrath of God coming.
The second thing is: When Jesus says, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep for yourself”, you know who is He speaking. This is God-Man.
Because he sees what’s coming. What is happening to him now is nothing compared to what is coming. In the eschatological age, when the end time comes. Is going to be 1000 * 1,000,000 times more horrific than what you see on the cross. And but even what Jesus experienced on the cross is already absolutely horrendous and horrific to any sane person. The crucifixion could have caused any man to be insane and died on the spot, or somebody excruciating pain.
But for Jesus, he was willing to suck it up, endured the deep pain, anguish, shame. Don’t weep for me. It’s like transforming. I believe that he was able to suck it up and turned around, said, “Don’t weep for me, weep for yourselves”. He looks for no pity. In front of his shows his compassion to other people, to us, even at the point of death! This is literally hours before his death. He was already half dead. Physically, he was just drenched. Emotionally drenched. Publicly shamed with saliva on his body, blood all over his body, the shame and pain. He went through, he could take that. It is amazing. I don’t think anybody with any normal human ability will be able to take it. Its astounding, its beyond human capacity. You can’t say he’s God at that moment because God doesn’t suffer this way. He’s fully man. So I’m just saying that he sees the glorious future. He’s going to go through it. Don’t weep for me. Don’t cry. Almost reminds me of the song don’t cry for me Argentina. Don’t cry for me. Don’t weep for me. Weep for yourselves.
Number 3: people must see which is the real number deal: Jesus is saying: You see what is horrific, but what you don’t see is the horrific, even much more horrific things on yourselves.
If you don’t repent and put your trust in what I’m doing now on the cross for you? Under the shame & death?
No more. Three days later, back to normal and back to health. Back to fully human and fully God again, as usual, he’s still fully God. And in three day’s time he’s human and came back to life. And that he’s going to proclaim the Gospel, empower his disciples and then go back to heaven. He said that’s what happened. Three more days, “Give me three more days, it shall be done.” Hallelujah. That’s why Jesus told the messenger who informed Jesus that Herod wanted to arrest him and kill him, “Go and tell that fox to destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up.” This precisely what it means. He is speaking by himself. He is the temple. Three more days. Don’t weep for me. Weep for yourself, folks. Amen.
“We need great scholars—but a thousandfold greater need is a multitude of preachers, not professors. Preachers who know the English Bible, and who scorn not simple folk—who know how to get down off the theological and scholastic stilts, and preach with heart-power to plain people, a simple, old-time gospel.”—–B.H. Carroll, “Opening Address” (1905)
These words resonated with me and hit me hard. I started seminary school late unlike most of my classmates. Thank God I have developed a passion in studying theology, especially those I enjoyed tremendously like Pauline Theology, History of Christianity I & II, Intro Pastoral and Reformed theology, Christology etc., p/s definitely not Hebrew and Greek sorry. And during the course of my 5+ years now in Seminary, having done 80 credit hours, some of my classmates have already graduated with MABS (MA Biblical Studies, 66 credit hours) in NYC, while I stuck out my neck for my love of theology and practical/applied ministry, dived into hybrid MDiv Orlando RTS. RTS is one of the few seminaries in the country that insists on 100+ credit hours for MDiv. I have to salute RTS for that for making a standard of what Dr Ligon Duncan said “Pastors need more theology, not less.”I certainly pray, and hope that this expert of 40 credit hours to get to MDiv from MABS is with the effort and we will bear fruit accordingly in the ministry that follows. I certainly pray, and hope that this expert of 40 credit hours to get to MD from MABS is with the effort and we will bear fruit accordingly in the ministry that follows.
Southwestern Baptist Theological seminary, or Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, requires 88 credit hours to get an MDiv. Go figure. In RTS, I will still need a whopping 26 credit hours (on top of my 80 hours) to get my MDiv. And coming from a background of church planting in Malaysia and schooling in the UK, and now working and studying pastorally in the US, I constantly try to find a place where I can land my feet and my ministry. Sometimes I look with envy the professors with the PhD’s lecturing and teaching without the pastoral concern. That’s why this line is powerful and encouraging to me.
“We need great scholars—but a thousandfold greater need is a multitude of preachers, not professors
We need scholars, 1000 greater need for a multitude of preachers not professors according to Dr BH Carroll. He’s saying that we need a multitude more preachers who know how to get down off the theological and scholastic stilts, and preach with heart power to plain people a simple old gospel. Now it is good to hear that, what he saying is that we need theologically and scholastically trained pastors to preach the gospel message with heart power of the Holy Spirit obviously. He is not saying that you don’t need theology to be a preacher of the word of God, because he said “Get off your theology stilts so that you can come down to the real world and preach to the real world, people without theological jargons and thinking at the high level. What he is saying is not to fail to carry the theological words package into the real world, in other words to be able to intersect theology with real life or everyday life today. On the other hand there are many pastors and preachers today are not theologically trained, but with just good heart to preach the gospel and make disciples. While in the reformed world in particular we have a lot of training of credit hours upon credit hours of theological training, however many still stay with the stilts of theology and not coming down to the real world. That’s what BH Carroll said.
We ought to preach with heart passion in the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit
I’m so encouraged that we need both, we need theology and also translate that to everyday life. But not only the ability to translate to the everyday life, but also be able to preach with good heart to preach the gospel and make disciples.
I certainly want to add to what he said, indeed we ought to preach with heart passion in the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. You know well trained theology does not necessarily translate to well passionate heartfelt preaching. That’s where the heart passion that’s only ignited by the Holy Spirit will do the job. However to get that heart ignition by the Holy Spirit, we need that theology and the reflection of the word of God in our hearts and souls so that this can be translated into heart passion preaching.
You have seen sometimes how well trained students preaching, you can see how their sermons are well arranged, chronologically arranged, theologically sound, however it just sounds a little rigid and a lack of life. Coming from a charismatic church planting movement background myself without much theological training albeit planted a few churches, preaching with the hot passion of the power of the Holy Spirit is everything we want from the Holy Spirit.
I do sense that the Baptist seems to have a greater passion to reach the lost and make disciples, with a more evangelical outlook, compared to many churches in the Reformed world. I I’ve seen so many great books and articles written in the Gospel coalition, the First Thing, that were mostly written by pastors and scholars related to reformed theological training especially those from the Baptist and southwest Baptist theological seminaries and some from Reformed theological seminaries, however that passion to reach the lost is not tangibly felt in the like of exhorting the congregation and audience to be soul winners passionately.
The sermon by Dr Malcom Yarnell III of SWBT on the founders day in SWB TS just a couple of days ago carries that unction of the passion of soul winning Baptist is clearly palpable.
He’s preaching for nothing less than revival in the Founders day called “Soul winning Evangelical Baptists.” The passion that came forth from a professor with such Christ centered theology solidly backing him up is astonishingly refreshing. He captured some of the keywords that I loved my ministry like Spirit filled, Christ centered, revivalist passion outreach.
On the way to the cross, Jesus was bleeding badly and suffered so much of the hands of the Roman soldiers. After all those whips and mockery and spit, there was a huge multitude of men and women following him. The woman were mourning for him.
Luke 23:28–29 (ESV)
28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
The pain carried by the loved ones and followers of Christ following Christ to the crossYou can imagine the scene seeing the greatest man on earth who saved you from sickness, demonstrated signs, who did signs and wonders of miracles before you, and spoke most gracious, beautiful words, full of truth and grace, and now, completely drenched in blood in a despicable sight. It’s beyond comprehension! Unbelievable! It’s a sight that evokes deep emotions of outcry, a deep cry of anguish to God. “Why, Lord? What happened?”
I can just imagine the mother of Jesus the human mother on earth, Mary, was weeping and crying all the way to Golgotha, following Jesus her own precious son. It is in those moments that is almost like darkness descended on earth. It’s like the emotionally the world has come to an end as they come to such tragic unexpected and much beloved son.
But at that moment, in the minds of those who believed in Christ, who loved Christ, who has been loved by Christ, and touched by Christ, and taught by Christ, it was a totally devastating moment to walk to Jesus cross, and funeral.
To witness the glorious one, the Son of God, the promised Messiah to end up in such a state, it’s just beyond words, simply unbelievable and it’s totally disappointing & heart breaking.
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And it is at that moment of time, Jesus turned around and said to the women, “Luke 23:28–29
28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
“blessed are those who are the barren ones, who never breast nursed a baby because the doom day is a judgment coming just going to be so severe that you’re going to cry out of the mountains, fallen spirit cry for yourself, weep for yourselves in which children. 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?
Do not weep for me, weep for yourselves and your childrenIn reality it is actually out of this world. The fact that son of God himself would be crucified on the cross drenched in blood, it’s out of this world. And Jesus give a sober warning to the women weeping for him. Do you know you would’ve thought that this is the time to show appreciation and love towards the women who throughout the expression, the emotions, weeping and crying for the one they loved, but Jesus said to them “weep not for me daughters of Jerusalem, weep for yourselves And your children.” This may sound harsh, but it actually carries the absolute truth. What you see now is a death that will be resurrected in three days and they will bring the glory of God.
You’ll see my gloryThat’s what Jesus go to tell them essentially don’t weep for him. The world of darkness has no power over him. The prince of darkness has not won. In fact, Satan, the devil will be defeated when he dies on the cross and resurrected from death conquering over death, defeating the devil. So it is great news. Therefore all daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourself and the children.
If you do not believe in Christ suffered so much, agonizing and anguish on the cross, you should be weeping for yourselves. If your children don’t appreciate what Christ has done on the cross, in anguish and sufferings for them and for us, they should be weeping for themselves to
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He changed the world, the entire cosmos, forever and ever
It is just simply incredible then, the depth of emotions so profound that came off of the lips of Jesus at such moment, highly emotional, highly charged, highly stated with expectation, and the entire profundity of it, He changed the world, the entire cosmos, forever and ever.
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The cross changed everything in this world decidedly. There’s no turning back. He has risen. Hallelujah Jesus has risen from the dead. That’s our only hope for all eternity.
Amen.
Psalm 110 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until ”2 The LORD will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”3 Your people will volunteer freely on the day of Your power; In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.
David prophesied in Psalm 110 that the Lord says to my Lord “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.” Now this is truly significant who is the Lord,? And who is my Lord? As it is also been repeated by the Lord Jesus, himself in the gospel, The Lord is God, the Father Yahweh, my Lord is clearly the son of God our Lord Jesus Christ. David called Jesus, my Lord, and the Lord the Father.
I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet
This is commonly used as one of the proof evidence that Jesus is of the deity, he’s God. The second person of the Triune God. Now what I want to bring up is the theme of the conversation is a spiritual warfare, which is much neglected by the contemporary evangelical and reformed world.
The entire context is the spiritual war between God and the satanic forces. God, the Father spoke to God the Son ” Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool it. The word “make” is a warfare word in the context of enemies. What does that mean? That means God is going to crash the forces of darkness, satanic forces enemies of Christ to the point of becoming a footstool for Jesus. It is a metaphorical language, this size Jesus will crush Satan and the forces of darkness completely. When is that happening? It began at the time Jesus rose from the dead, and went back to heaven, and seated on his throne on the right hand side of the father. Now, the process of “a whee”until” means it’s ongoing process. Basically God the father is saying “sit here my son on the throne on my right hand side until I crush enemies.”
That is the language used for spiritual warfare. That is the language that the evangelical world has been eerily silent. That’s the kind of language that charismatic Pentecostal prime them selves in, this is an unfortunate scene because it all we talk about is the gospel centered message, the grace of God, and forgetting the huge emphasis of the spiritual warfare is defined by God, the father, that he’s engaging in now, as we speak until all the enemies of Christ will be crushed. the kingdom will never be complete until the enemies of Christ are crushed the kingdom would not become complete just by us preaching the love of God per se. Because the love of God is is climaxed on the cross, but in actuality, the spiritual warfare also climaxed on the cross. If people look at the cross, only as a message of the divine love of God for humanity, they missed a huge part of that message of the cross, and that is the crushing of Christ enemy the devil. In fact, Paul wrote in his a piece of that the last enemy has been subverted, crushed by Christ on the cross. That lost enemy is death, and death is controlled by the devil. Jesus has defeated the devil and the death.
The implications of the spiritual warfare, crushing the enemy of Christ, has huge impact upon the church ecclesiology and eschatology and systematic theology. The definition of spiritual warfare in the words of God the Father to God the Son, “ Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” should fire up the church to make that happen. We should immediately put on notice in prayers, worship evangelism to crush the enemies of Christ, which is really the enemies of the church.
We should balance out the reformed theology of gospel centered messages which is far more appealing to the world of modernity today. Because modernity hates war in any language of confrontation aggression war is not welcomed. However, the Bible says we are now in the spiritual warfare against forces of darkness, principal principalities of darkness, not against flesh and blood, we must combine the gospel centered message on the grace of God in Christ with the God warrior redeemer in Christ Jesus.
The LORD will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies
Christ will rule in the midst of his enemies. Who is Zion? Zion is the church. God will stretch out Christ strong scepter from the church so that Christ will rule in the midst of his enemies and our enemies. The ruling does not only happen when Christ returns, but it’s an ongoing ruling mow in the midst of spiritual warfare facing our enemies. Who are our enemies? The forces of darkness and principalities of darkness, ruling and raging against the people of God in our society. The forces that devour churches the most today is the issue of sexuality for example that has caused many mainline denomination churches to split up, to the extent even supposedly very strong word based Presbyterian church into PCA and PC USA. And the list goes on :The United Methodist, the Episcopalian, the Reformed churches just to name a few. Our country has never faced such a wrecking ball in our society with our president pushing for transgenderism homosexuality, abortion and the lot. The accountability at the end of the day will be enormous.
The forces that caused Christians to be disheartened, to be sucked into the cultural forces of being catechized by them, like being strong committed Christians it’s out of fashion. Accusing Christianity is standing on the wrong side of history etcetera. Truly the Bible says the devil prowls around like a roaring lion waiting to devour someone.
1 Peter 5 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
But God has promised to crush his enemies and still continue to have Christ rule in the midst of his enemies. We may not see a lot of ruling in our society looking at our news, but you also see a new movement of outpouring the Spirit of God is happening in Asbury, Kentucky and spreading across the country. We are believing a tremendous move of the Spirit of God will move across our nation the next five years and more to come. Amen.
The power of pass over when God struck down the Egyptians to set Israel free.m4aDownload
2 Samuel 7: 1-5; 11–17
March 3, 2023
When David was finally moved into in his beautiful gorgeous cedar house, and God has given him rest from all his enemies, the king, said to Nathan, the prophet, “See, now I dwell in the house of cedar, but the Ark of Covenant lives in a tent.”
This is such a significant statement that just reflects David’s hard for the greatness of God. He has a tender heart for God, and he loves God. That’s what we want to be, and that inspires me! When he sat down his beautiful, gorgeous palace, he looked outside and saw the arc of God‘s covenant dwelling in a tent outside, and he feels bad. He feels the urging of his heart’s desire. That pleased God so much that God promised David through prophet Nathan, to tell his servant, David that He will give him rest from all his enemies. Moreover, the Lord will raise a new king up from his offspring, from his body.
God said, “I would establish his kingdom. He shall be the house for my name, and I would establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And his throne shall be establish forever.”
This is a lent time written by Tim Keller. When David desired to build a house for the Lord, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, telling David that instead of allowing him to build a temple, the Lord, will establish the house of David, culminating in one who sit on the throne forever. Obviously God is not simply promising that he will ensure the continuation of David, as a sort of memorial to him – the common belief of many religions that we live on in our descendants. He’s promising to raise up his own Son, from a descendant of David, one who would bear our stripes and our iniquity.[1]
How like God this is! We offer God some grandiose plan of how we planned on him, to honor him. And he counters with a completely counterintuitive plan, one in which he is glorified by becoming both king and substitute. [2] This is really something enormously powerful plan God has for bigger than our little finite mines feeble mind can even ever to handle. Imagine David was thinking beauty in physical palace, God turned around calling Nathan to bless David with a descendent sits on the throne, forever and ever. But that son is actually the Son of God himself incarnate into this world, Jesus Christ. It is amazing how God enlarged a request to a phenomenon unmatched that is ultimately far bigger than our wildest dream.
Pray and pray, prayer so that they are far more than we would dare to ask. Imagine like Tim Keller said this is truly incredible. I’ll just pray and pray and pray to the limit of our vision and faith, and then be prepared for God to do something even better.[3]
[1] Tim Keller, Lent Devotional 3/3/23, https://gospelinlife.com/lent-devotional/?mc_cid=a1a56d4a76&mc_eid=3a8d3b536a
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
In what’s happening in Asbury revival started two weeks ago and across the nation now, the joy in the celebration in the hope of restoration and revival is palpable in the air. It has spread from Asberry to Lee University to a lot of other campuses, including Yale University, and coming to New York City now in NYU, I believe.
Asbury Revival ReportAsbury revival? David Ro, Director of Mission in Gordon Conwell College., as well as involved in Mission in China for last 10 years, shared important aspects of this aspire revival as follows. #1. It’s not the Pentecostal or charismatic type. Where it gets very emotional and to the point of people crying or weeping or wailing. #2. It is neither of the Reformed doctrine type with gospel centered theology. What it is, is just the Gen. Z population rising up to grab hold of God in their hunger to find God in their authentic relationship with God. America’s Gen. Z population has been the most distant from God. And this time round? This revival is about them, and started by them. And spreading around the country for all demographics. This is very exciting. And I’m full praying for it and believing for the outpouring of the Spirit of God continue to spread across the United States and all over the world. What happened in Asbury is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is not. manufactured emotionalism. There is no celebrity preacher., is no. pride and arrogance of any sort. It is a movement of the Holy Spirit. In the hearts of young people of the Gen Z population, and they have come in with such humility in their hearts I’ve heard . Much repentance happened. Many were restored and healed emotionally. And a lot of wounds were healed and a lot of cleansing and forgiveness have happened. This is not exactly like the physical healing that we have seen so much in the Bible and during the Pentecostal rallies, healing rallies. But it is more of the emotional and mental and spiritual. And some of them come to Christ as a result, too.
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that is a revivalDr. Martin Lloyd Jones, gives a spectacular series of preaching in revival, and here I will attach you here next line what are the main things like?
Lloyd Jones said a major element in a revival is the person and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said “I will send you a helper, a comforter (John 14:16), after I have left this world, and that is the Holy Spirit.” Jesus promised in numerous places just before his death on the cross, and the resurrection from death, about the Holy Spirit. He’s told us that the Holy Spirit will renew all things and will glorify him and the Father, and will bring to all things of remembrance of what Jesus has taught us.
John 16: 4 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost and resulted in 3000 men and women repented and believe in Christ as the Son of God and Savior, the promised Messiah of the world. Now that’s the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that it’s a revival.
Acts 2: 2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Many people today believe that week we should be filled with the Holy Spirit, however, they don’t believe in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, like in the book of Acts two. They argue that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is once in a lifetime event that occurred on Pentecost, and it would never repeat again. But if you read an Acts 4, when the apostles, pray together the place was shaken by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4: 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second experience to the believers’ baptism in water as strongly defended by Martin Lloyd Jones. He has argued that speaking in tongues is not necessarily the automatic expression of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, though we do see very frequently accompanied the baptism in the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. However, he’s of the opinion that, there are occasions, I agree, that there were no speaking tongues after the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, that does not remove the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I agree with him that baptism in the Holy Spirit does not always result to speak in tongues, however, baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second experience I would rather argue as the empowerment for courage, strength, revelation to do the work of God just like Acts 4, the place where they met was shaken by the Holy Spirit.
You can call the steps and the Holy Spirit. Acts 10 Cornelius’s household was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44–46. 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
There are many occasions baptism in the Holy Spirit happened. In Acts 19, Peter ask them have they received the Holy Spirit? These guys were disciples, and the fact that Peter asked a question this question have you received the Holy Spirit to a bunch of believers in Christ, makes you think, Peter is looking for a second experience of baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:3–7 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Now granted, I know there are big names, theologians, preachers, and pastors who don’t speak in tongues. They actually. In my opinion., on. Baptized in the Holy Spirit without necessarily speaking tongues, clearly have the baptism of the Holy Spirit to have the insight and anointing to effectively spread the word of the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus. They don’t necessarily have to speak in tongues, therefore, it all flows in right now.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit or the Outpouring of the Holy SpiritMartin Lloyd Jones says it correctly those folks say the outpouring of the Holy Spirit only happened once in the day of Pentecost, and that’s why churches have stopped praying for revival. And there’s why hardly any revivals to the last hundred years because people stopped praying for it, asking for it in England and conceivably America too. However, of course you have seen the Holy Spirit poured out in Africa, and other places for the last hundred years.
And he said something if you call that work of the Spirit of God, as just gibberish human emotional experience you’re really come in pretty darn close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I agree.
Quenching the Spirit of GodNow that’s also another thing. It’s called quenching the Spirit of God. That is less severe than blasphemy against the Spirit of God, which is an unforgivable sin. Actually, the question of the quenching of the Spirit happens when you call the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as nothing. The outpouring of the Spirit happened just once, and that in a sense you just stopped the hunger and thirst of men and women to cry out for the baptism the Holy Spirit, essentially the outpouring, the Spirit of God, which translated into revival.
Look at those videos in YouTube Asbury, revival, thousands I mean, thousands of college students flocking to gather in the hours 24 hours daily running about 15 days in a row now spreading across the nation to Memphis to Alabama, etc. enter New York to Yale, etc., that is the empowerment of the Spirit of God. The manifestation of the power of the spirit of God is part of the story, the narrative of baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Regardless, it’s time for us to move on to cry out for the outpouring of the Spirit of God for a revival in our city ,in our town ,in our state, in our country, in our colleges everywhere. It’s time to cry out to believe. God is really just started! Somebody and a lot of people must’ve been praying real hard is in Asbury University in the first revival is broken up in the 21st-century in America.
Return all people of God ,to the altar of God and cry out to our Lord of harvest to bring in the harvest, to reap the harvest, to set the captives, free, to heal the brokenhearted, Amen.
The modern contemporary culture saying you can be anything you want to be. It sounds so appealing and attractive but it runs hollow and dangerous encounter the wisdom of the centuries and of and of the Bible.
God said I will wipe them out because of the continuous evil in man’s heart
Noahic idea of grace speaks loudly of the sovereignty and compassion of God. You know in our culture today people are precisely doing anything they want to, and anything they want to be, in rampant chaotic anarchy style of culture that resulted in the wrath of God. The world was full of sins in Noah’s time and God was grieved seeing the world was so much sin. In Genesis 6, the sons of God saw the daughters of men were attractive. Then and they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said my Spirit would not abide with in man forever, for his flesh his day shall be 120 years. V5, the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted He made man on the earth and grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said “I’ll blot out man whom I’ve created from the face of the land, man and animals for I’m sorry that I made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
This passage clearly tells us that we cannot be anything we want to be or do anything we want to. This is exactly what is described that the Lord saw the wickedness of man was great every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. There seems to be no break, they can do anything they want to and this is an egregious to God and to humanity. And God was grieved and regret that he made man and he started of the plan to wipe them out.
Noah represents the minority who remain righteous despite evil all around
However God’s grace was shown to Noah because in verse 8 but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord and God told Noah to make himself an art and bring his family and animals of every kind into the ark to preserve them. And that is the grace of God of preservation.
He was the first, but not the last period it is it is this small group of believers that God caused out in each generation, Abraham in Genesis 12, Israel’s exodus 1 -19, faithful exiles, 2 Kings 19, Isaiah 10 :20-22, until the coming of Christ who though abandoned by his disciples remained faithful to death.
The good news to the world today is that God’s amazing Grace to us to empower us to enable us to live the righteous life he desires which is for our flourishing and also for his glorious name and his love for us. Oh God is faithful and if we respond to his call he will in no way abandon us or forsake. However if we are bent on rebelling against him, the warning of the flood of Noah’s days remains a true possibility to all of us.
Good news is God working in us to will and work for His good pleasure
This is very much in line with what Hebrews 1:3 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Or in ESV says he’s the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Therefore you can see that we absolutely rely on God’s upholding us or sustaining us. But that does not make us a puppet. In sin we are dead in slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil, while still being responsible for my actions.
Therefore we are responsible for our lives under the sovereignty of God and he works both ways. Our salvation comes utterly by grace but in a way that does not obviate the need for my effort.
Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
There are two aspects of it the final thing is we are responsible to act in order to fulfill God’s purpose, but our ability to act comes from God who works in us to will us to give us the willpower to work in accordance with his good purpose. Now without God’s will working in us our determination to act will be futile and will not achieve the salvation that God wants to give to us spirit.
The words “workout your salvation” does not mean we get saved by our works. Paul means salvation in terms of progressively coming to experience all of the aspects and blessings of salvation. The Philippines continued obedience is an inherent part of working out their salvation in this sense. This works at all the result of God’s work within his people to will and work for his good pleasure. Even the desire or the will, to do what is good comes from God, but he also works in the believer to generate actual choices of the good, so that the desire result in actions.
Al Ngu February 10, 2023
Our Lord Jesus preached about hell in the gospels more than all the other prophets combined in the whole Bible. If that’s so important to Jesus the Son of God himself, hell is a reality and that must be taken seriously now. Before it’s too late. The reason is that many people live as if there is no tomorrow. There’s no end time coming in there, just enjoy their lives. Do the most they can. And what’s most dangerous about this? It is called short sightedness.
People are not knowing what’s going to happen in the long term and just live for the present? It’s like you are in the 60’s and you have nothing in 401K, except that this time I’m talking about something a billion times and more significant than the 401K savings for retirement. The reason is the reality is in the end time that it’s either go into the eternal bliss with God and Jesus Christ in heaven paradise, or in hell tormenting forever in eternal fire with sulfur with the beast and the dragon the Satan. When you think seriously about it first it is not funny secondly it’s not being cynical, thirdly it is way too much at stake. Press the wrong button make the wrong decision the eternal justice coming back to haunt you forever ever painful and nonstop.
Father Abraham send Lazarus to dip water on my tongue
Thinking about the rich man with Lazarus while he was rich on earth he had anything he wanted to and he will throw his leftover bones etcetera to Lazarus who was a beggar begging for food at his house. Jesus gave the parable when Lazarus died, he went straight to heaven to be with Abraham. And when the rich man also died, he went straight to hell burning fire. The rich man lifted out his head from Hellfire and saw Lazarus with father Abraham in heaven. He called out to father Abraham, “ Abraham please ask Lazarus to give me a dip of water on my tongue because it’s so hot and dry here.” Matt 15:25-26
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Then the rich man asked father Abraham to go and send Lazarus to his brothers on earth to warn them of the Hellfire. Abraham tell him no my son your brothers will not listen to Lazarus even from death because if they didn’t listen to the prophets on earth they won’t listen to Lazarus from the death even.
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
This story is told by Jesus as a parable with absolute truth and there is nothing metaphorical. The problem and danger of modern liberal theologians is that this is a fairy tale story with no real significance to it with no reality attached to it and that is even more dangerous because there’s deceitful and they can deceive entire generation or more. Its time to take the message of the end time warnings back today.
The Door is Shut
There’s another story about the parable of the five foolish virgins and five wise virgins. They are both waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. It’s interesting that Jesus used the word virgin for the women waiting for the groom, it signifies the purity of the souls all Christians and the church are waiting for the arrival of Christ in his second coming as a groom to the church.
The text here is that the five virgins who are wise have got their lamps filled with oil getting ready. But the five foolish virgins did not have any oil in their lamps because the groom apparently is much delayed and there has been a long time waiting for something. But the parable goes on with the groom finally arrived. Bang! So with a big trumpet call and the five wise virgins who were already ready with oil in the lamp went right up to meet the groom. And the five foolish virgins also started going immediately however they didn’t have oil with their lamps so they asked the wise virgins to give them some oil. But the wise virgins wisely said go and get your own oil because there is not there will not be enough oil for two of us sharing it. So the foolish virgins went to get some oil, while the wise virgins were already on the way to meet the groom. By the time the foolish versions got the oil and the headed towards the feast of the wedding of the of the groom, they knocked at the door but they won’t let them in. And the foolish virgins yelled “ Opened the door we got our eye here. But the Lord or the groom say depart from here for I do not know you.
Matt 25: 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
You know that door is the entry to the big feast of the wedding of the lamb the groom and the church if you’re invited you get it but if you’re not invited you’ll be kept out and kicked into the eternal darkness of gnashing of teeth and that’s what happened to the foolish virgins.
Life is a Choice and Getting ready for the biggest even in universe
Life is really about a choice and getting ready for the biggest event in the in the universe in the cosmos. If we don’t get ourselves ready as Christians, with all the vibrant doctrinal faith that has been shown to us, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. However if you are in a church that doesn’t preach about this doesn’t talk about it doesn’t teach the correct doctrines, the church has to be blamed themselves but on their leadership.
Are you getting ready?
William Kavanaugh argues that consumerism is the death of Christian eschatology, because it allows for no rupture with the status quo, no inbreaking kingdom of God, but only endless superficial novelty. It is the endless repeating cycle of consumption that never grows old, never grows up, and never comes in the end (Chris Watkin).
Now this is cutting edge by Kavanaugh. He’s saying that consumer causes the death of Christian eschatology. Why? Because it allows the status quo to remain status quo in our society. With no rupture. What does it mean rupture? In other words. Status quo remains status quo. There is no change, no breakthrough. It always is the same old, same old. Same vicious cycle.
What has materialism or consumerism got a grip on? On us! So strong as it is in the material world today that Kingdom of God cannot break in. There is not a chance and no hope. For breaking in or rupturing. They’re status quo. Because the only chance of doing that is through the Kingdom of God. But in this, materialism blinds the eyes of the people with superficial novelty. That novelty deludes people with worldly pleasures, comfort and enjoyment, so much so that people have completely lost sight of the eschatology, or the return of Christ.
When the Kingdom of God will be fully established, judgment will be held against all those who rejected and mocked Christ. But that sense of that Kingdom of God coming or the end time, judgment, or return of Christ does not seem to emerge in our imagination, because we’re so bound up with consumerism. Consumerism continues to have a grip upon our minds, our imagination. Consumerism can also equate to materialism. Materialistic worldview continues to hammer on our Christians’ rightful worldview of eschatology. Christians have been served a great harm because of materialism and consumerism. Put simply, money blinds the eyes of the Christian believers. That’s why the love of money truly is the root of all evil, said Jesus.
All of us need money to survive to live a life of decent comfort. Not even asking for incredible richness and cruising for vacation etcetera. But we’re really just saying living a life on par with the community. However, the continual bombardment of TV and movie series, etcetera on our minds would have it effect on us and take a toll on on our Christian worldview. Christian eschatology.
Now if our eschatology worldview is damaged we are in deep trouble because Christians begin to live for the present. If we begin to do that, we begin to be very short sighted. And our ship will run aground. We would have no sense of the coming back of Christ our Lord. And we have no sense of urgency, we have no sense of living for the future. Even though we know the certainty of what’s going to happen in the end time, future, we do not reflect that lifestyle simply because we are so bogged down by consumerism and materialism. As it is in said, it’s been ruptured on Kingdom of God. Eschatology has been ruptured. However. The consumerism stays in status quo and there’s no rupture.
That’s why it’s incredibly important that we do our weekly worship in a congregation setting to connect with God and with. One another, so that we continue to dwell in the presence of God. And in touch with humanity who loves Jesus. Together.
The important thing and tricky thing is to maintain a balance between consumerism being thrifty. And now don’t cast all eyes on the worldly pleasures that much that we lose sight of the homecoming of Christ. Jesus is coming back and surely he’s coming back. And soon. And very soon. The exact timing of which we were not known. But we do know he’s coming back and therefore we must get ready. Like the five virgin foolish women and the five wise virgin women. It’s the foolish virgin women who didn’t bother to fill there cups with oil and when the bridegroom finally showed up, they didn’t have the oil to be ready to meet with the groom. But the wise virgin women were ready to meet the groom.
We have to choose to be vigilant of the oncoming end time events. The Lord is coming back. Amen.
創 12:1 耶和華對亞伯蘭說：“你要離開本地、本族、父家，往我所要指示你的地去。
當上帝告訴亞伯拉罕去他要指示他的地方時，上帝沒有告訴他任何關於地址或方向或國家名稱或土地名稱的信息。 然而，亞伯拉罕應該服從。 因為神應許他要使他成為大名，大國，並蒙福，成為地上萬族的福。
然而，我想提出創世記第 12 章第 1 節中“去往我要指示你的地”這一方面。 你知道上帝要我們去的地方是我們的應許之地。 當上帝對亞伯拉罕說要去那地時，他會告訴他，上帝的意思是那是亞伯拉罕和他後代的應許之地。
本質上，上帝在呼召我們去我們的應許之地。 現在這比我們所看到和聽到的任何事情都要大得多。
現在應許之地是什麼？ 應許之地是上帝要我們興旺發達、養家糊口、享受上帝平安的土地。 現在，Shalom 不僅體現在物質、物理術語上，而且真正首先體現在精神上的繁榮生活中。 因為我們在這個世界上，但不屬於這個世界，所以我們進入的土地必須是我們可以進入安息的土地。 就像在希伯來書中一樣。 我們進入我們的安息日。
現在，當我們說應許之地是我們在這個世界上的時候，這意味著我們正在進入塵世之城和上帝之城之間的緊張之地。 這就是為什麼我們在世界上，這是世界之城。 然而，我們在世界上，但不屬於世界，如果我們不屬於世界，那麼我們屬於誰，或者我們屬於哪裡？ 答案是我們屬於上帝之城。 正如奧古斯丁有力地寫到這一點。 上帝之城，我們可以看到。
奧古斯丁在上帝之城和懺悔錄中帶出的最大的東西就是“愛”這個詞。 當上帝說“我會告訴你。，去我會告訴你的土地”。 他裝備我們、改變我們、塑造我們，使我們愛他和他的國度，真正擁有應許之地。 上帝要我們進入的土地。這是一塊充滿對上帝充滿愛的人的土地。 就像亞伯拉罕一樣。 在這個世界上，當他還活著的時候，他從未見過樂土。 他們只是憑信心從遠處看見。 他們從未放棄。 他們在信仰中堅守上帝的應許。 這就是上帝對我們的呼召，即使我們可能看不到今生應許的實現。 我們將在來世看到上帝呼召我們的應許之地。 真的是一種心境，一種精神狀態。
因為上帝希望我們在這個世界上真正追求上帝之城。 神的城充滿了神的榮耀、公義和愛。 以及神和他子民之間的愛的關係。 我永遠不會說上帝之城是一座充滿法律和秩序、懲罰和正義等等的城市，這可能是真的。 然而，最重要的畫面是與我們在基督耶穌裡的創造者上帝的關係和親密關係。 這就是上帝呼召我們展示的東西。 在我們的行走、與上帝、我們彼此的關係、我們的談話、我們的著作、我們的閱讀、我們的工作和我們的事業以及這個詞的每一個意義上的一切中，展示與上帝的親密關係。 神之國。
神要給我們看見的地，就是神所應許的地。 這是上帝之城。 我們是寄居者，外星人。 我們在這個世界上是陌生人。 應許之地是新天新地，現在我們正在朝著那個目標前進。 我們將在這個新天堂和新地球上。 現在我們必須建造那片土地。 這片土地顯示了上帝的榮耀和上帝的愛。 神在我們生命中的大能。 上帝正在呼召我們到這片土地，那片土地將展示上帝之城，在那裡每個人都願意進入上帝之城。 否則他們會因為基督而憎恨上帝之城。 中間不會有。 這個世界上不會有城市。 影響。 這是一個艱難的決定。 這就是為什麼我們需要上帝的聲音呼喚我們。 上帝在呼喚。 你準備好了嗎？ 你願意嗎？
事實上，這個問題更像是：“跳進去。 當你準備好時，它會變得如此非凡”。 我們每個人都需要有一個夢想。 要有遠見。 要有希望。 進入應許之地的希望讓我們每天都在努力前進。 阿門。
My wife and I attained a Sunday preaching service in a local church in New York today, it sounded very much like a charismatic church with some theological standing and background. But what I really got out was the repetitive nature of some of the obvious points, the repetition of which puts me off. And the other thing is the amount of Bible references scripture brought into the sermon unnecessarily makes the sermon to be full of scriptures apart from the main text and therefore making the sermon a shallow message with too many reference points. This is very problematic because it’s sort of giving you a mixture of all kinds of spiritual feeding without a direction of in-depth exposition from the text passage.
I think preaching requires substantial time of meditation and reflection on the scripture to bring out the depth of the word of God as per the revelation of the Holy Spirit. And that revelation and the reflection you got will have to sync with the needs and the fallen conditions of the modern contemporary society that we live in. Without all these things we will be finding ourselves doing a technical theological discourse without feeling and connection to the modern time.
Also exposition will require us to exegete the text from which we preach based on the context and the culture and the historical background of the passage when it was written. Without knowing the background of such it will be not accurate exegesis. Once we execute the context the real meaning of the passage at that point of time, we are able to move forward to project that to the modern community today and saying what it means. That kind of exegesis will really require a good commentary to help you to bring out the original meaning original historical context.
I don’t think you will need highly technical commentary to achieve that purpose. Or else you’ll find yourselves being too immersed into the technical highly theological thinking which is not suitable for the congregation.
In conclusion after learning from preaching lab one in my MDiv hybrid class preaching lab 1 in RTS Orlando, I discovered that I myself have a tendency in bringing a lot of verses to expound on the message but insufficiently in depth. Although mine is deeper exposition with the side verses. Actually my problem is expounding the sidekick versus too deep that overwhelms the main passage. This is this is actually the exact words or almost exact words of my professor.
Case in point I was preaching from the text of genesis 12 about Abraham’s obedience at one point, and I quoted Hebrews on Jesus struggling and with loud cries of tears in prayers to God the Father to save him, and Jesus learned obedience through suffering. That exposition impacted my professor more than the actual passage of Genesis 12. I learned a big lesson. I think I need to go back to Martin Lloyd Jones book preaching and preachers. Lloyd Jones is such an expert in exposition message preaching. Thank God for his servant like Martin Lloyd Jones and others like Tim Keller etc.
Al Ngu, Orlando, January 11, 2023
When Abraham was called by God to go to a new land he would show him, God promised he will bless him make his name great, make him to a great nation and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through him. The tricky part of it is that when God called Abraham God didn’t tell him where he was going, he just told him go and I will show you. Is a bit like us today a lot of times God doesn’t give us a details by God.
He stirs in our hearts to go somewhere and/or to do something for the Lord based on his calling but you don’t have the exact idea itself what to do or where to go. Very much like Abraham. Though there is a huge difference though because God appeared personally to Abraham and God spoke audibly to Abraham to call him and give him instructions and give him all the promises for him and make him so sure that it is God. In a sense this call is so emphatically important and significant because this will impact the entire humanity because Abraham’s call is to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. The blessings does not just rest on Abraham but on the entire humanity in the entire whole world, and it’s not just through Abraham but also through the offspring of Abraham.
That offspring is a is a singular noun not offsprings. It only one person that is included in that and that is that is Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham God who will bless the entire world. And that blessings come through the promise of God to Abraham and all the way down to all believers. It was fulfilled 2000 years ago in the son of God who became a human himself. And through him and through his death and resurrection as a redemption substitute for our condemnation and our sins when he conquered death. He defeated the devil and death.
God has called all of us because we are children and offspring of Abraham by faith in Christ also similarly to be a blessing to the entire generation entire world. We are all called, we are all In it. The call is clear we have no doubt, however some of us may be called specifically to be pastors or engineers doctors or deacons elders or musicians or worship leaders or Sunday school teachers or whatever vocation.
It doesn’t have to be some vocations in the House of God but they can be in the community we live in. But the overall goal remains the same – to be a blessing to all the families of the earth period now between the call and the fulfillment.
How does God empower us God’s sake to Abraham leave your country leave your homeland leave your tribe and families and go to the land I will show you. The four words “I will show you” is the empowerment of God. Similarly God promised us he will show us. He’s not gonna leave us groping in the dark fumbling on the way. But at the time of calling he’s not telling us. And you know why? Because that’s the way to build faith in us; that’s a way for us to completely thrust ourselves to trust him and put our faith in him to make a better you in this conversation in this story. So God will show us: I myself personally am transitioning my ministry from pastoral to nothing, I’m awaiting for God to show me. And based on that I know in my spirit God will show me. You know why because this is important to him because the calling is to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and teach them to obey everything I’ve taught you. And because it is so important so significant he would definitely tell you tell me tell us. So that is so important period : the guidance of the Lord, the leadership of the Lord, the direction of the Lord and they are all in the book of psalms, “ lead me or Lord, direct my path of God, command me the way I should go I should walk.” I rejoice in the fact that we have a God who promised to show me the way.
I hope you’re going to continue to put your trust and your faith in him as he leads you into the next chapter of your life Your ministry.
Or you may be seeking for a soul mate marriage partner in your life and you know that God has called you to live a life that is pleasing to him, glorifying his name in other words to be equally yoked with a spouse they’ll raise a godly family pleasing to him glorifying to his name. But as you looked around your environment you may find that there’s a lot of eligible women in the House of God but very few eligible young eligible men as is the case usually as there are more brothers than sisters in the house. There are more sisters than brothers in the House of God. Then as a woman who loves the Lord seeking a soul mate life partner what do you do? All I can say as God has called you, he will show you. And he must keep his words and he will as he’s a God of integrity ,of immutability, of the God of covenant with us. Nothing will change his mind and he will never break his word.
Or you were in the middle of difficult decisions as going through business or going through marriage or going through children’s lives struggles etc, you cry to the Lord and you asked Lord “show me your way”. I will not say the words he’s duty bound to show you the way but I will say his love is bound to show you the way.
However sometimes it may seem that we are not getting much direction, and it seems to be so quiet. Never doubt because he’s in the process of making things happen preparing you for greater things, shaping and molding you. Just like the way he matured Joseph who was thrown into the pit with 1001 questions with anger boiling on his mind and his anxiety and fear in his spirit. He was sold to the Egyptian army captain. And incredibly God was with him even in the pit and through the pit process. Its amazing how the entire journey through the pit, through the slavery, through the slavery as Egypt’s captain’s house, he eventually rose to become the Prime Minister of Egypt miraculously with God’s providence clearly. This all happened in the midst of apparent failure of his life and the silence of God. That is so powerful.
That is indeed as God says “I will show you.”
Al Ngu. January 8, 2023. New York
Acts 8 describes a phenomenally interesting and strange event that took place in Samaria after Philip had gone there to preach the gospel. Philip did great signs and wonders the many were amazed and believed in Christ and they were baptized in the water by Philip. And the news got to Jerusalem headquarter the eldership the apostles ship the supreme council, they heard that people and Samara had received the word and being baptized in water.
Acts 8: 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
They said something very intriguing and very revealing. The Apostles said the believers in Samaria had received the word of God, they have not received the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit had not fallen on them but they had only been baptized in the name of Jesus. So they decided to send Peter and John to Samaria to lay hands on them so that they may receive the Holy Spirit. Now this is becoming even more intriguing now: this is precisely what the charismatics and Pentecostals are doing, laying on hands on the folks for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Note the words “to receive the Holy Spirit” is highly confusing because theologically and in all other instances in the Bible a believer received the Holy Spirit the moment he believes in Christ Jesus. And this is also recorded for a number of cases in the Bible too.
Now what is the difference is the fact that it is clear on the two baptisms, the baptism in the water and the baptism of the Spirit. The fact that the apostles said, “ the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon them but they just received the baptism in water so let’s send John and Peter down there to lay hands on them so that they may receive the Holy Spirit.” What is that telling you? That is saying baptism in water does not make you receive the Holy Spirit in itself.
Well you have to believe in Christ Jesus first so you can be baptized in water, and yet not received the Holy Spirit, that is so contradictory in theology of the gospel. Now the only way I can interpret that is they have received the Holy Spirit however they have not received the Holy Spirit in terms of baptism of the Spirit. Almost in all cases, baptism of the Spirit is manifested as speaking in tongues as recorded numerous times in the book of Acts. The book of Acts gives us a blueprint on a lot of things for the church life for the doctrines of the church and of God, and the receiving the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Spirit, the filling in of the Holy Spirit is clearly demonstrated in this book. So I interpret that when the apostle’s council in Jerusalem decided to send top apostles Peter and John to Samaria to help Philip to to get them being filled with the Holy Spirit in order to receive the Holy Spirit in terms of baptism or Spirit, I wish there were instances after that they all started speaking in tongues but it was silent. But this is sufficiently clear to me that receiving of the Holy Spirit refers to this second experience that baptism of the Spirit. To say this is a not not the normative pattern in the book of Acts because it is a book that records the formation of the church and advancement of the church as I read from Carson and ESV commentary is hard to substantiate. Carson writes, “The period of Acts is a time of transition, and the book’s purpose is to show the gospel’s relentless advance, not to establish normative patterns for church life and polity.”[1]
There is also the argument saying that because Samaria is hostile to Jerusalem and now some folks in Samaria believed in Christ so they sent apostles from Jerusalem to them so that they receive the Holy Spirit so that they feel that it is really one church not two churches that united in Christ.[2] But what they said in the apostlilic council does not reflect that. The apostle’s council is as clear as it is you can read into it, but what is clear is that they are concluding they’ve received Christ they have been baptized in the water they need another one for receiving the Holy Spirit . Not that they don’t have the Holy Spirit, they do. However the need for the baptism in the Spirit because Apostles were actually using the words they had only been baptized in the water, what does that tell you?
And if you synchronize & harmonize that with a number of scriptures other places there are talks about baptism of the Spirit like the Lord Jesus himself said you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit when he was saying that the folks already been baptized in the water in his name. Bcause he has not ascended to heaven yet the Holy Spirit was not give, was not poured out yet and that’s why he said you will be baptized. Now now guess what? In the book of Acts chapter two of the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down, the Spirit of God came down in tongues of fire and rested upon upon them and they were all being filled and being baptized with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke in tongues. Immediately that tongue at that time are known language of other tribes but not known to the speakers themselves which also amazed a lot of Jews that came from other countries. They were amazed to find there Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem praising God in their languages which is not known by the Jewish people in nearby cities.
But proceeding from the first Corinthian 11 onwards the gift of the Spirit you can see clearly Paul said, “ I wish that you all speak in tongues even more I wish that you all prophecy.” What is he saying? Paul has never for one second downplay tongues or prophecy as the gift of the Spirit. Paul said “earnestly desire the spiritual gift”. Earnestly means don’t be a lame duck arguing the mind theologically and given up the the spiritual gift simply because doctrinally a lot of denominations have written off tongues and baptism in the Spirit etc. And that’s so sad that is actually going against what Paul says earnestly desire the spiritual gift. And then he said when you speak in tongues in church you should have an interpreter. And if you prophecy in church take turn. The gift of the prophecy reveals the secrets of the hearts of the man and woman who come to church and they will be convicted by the Holy Spirit as they hear the Lord speaking. That is prophecy. I know this is a hard spiritual gift to really operate well but the bigger question is and the bigger problem is most churches have given up on that or dropped that because of the constant battling about the theology of baptism of the spirit and the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy and the gift of healing by the doctrine of cessation of gift. It’s a matter of interest, doctor Martin Lloyd Jones, a renowned reformed Baptist preacher in London who held such great pulpit and influenced millions and millions of Christians and thousands and thousands of pastors in the reformed world in particular, he believed in the distinct second experience of baptism. He believed in baptism the water and baptism of the spirit. John piper believes in speaking tongues and is asked the Lord for it I recall listening to one of his videos. All right bottom line the apostles the the council say so about the baptism of the spirit receiving the Holy Spirit, churches today should not drag their feet. We must move on to earnestly desire the spiritual gift and lay hands on the people to receive the Baptist and the Holy Spirit Amen.
[1] Carson, D. A. (2018). The Gospels and Acts. In D. A. Carson (Ed.), NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (p. 1968). Zondervan.
[2] Ibid
The words of Jesus are spirit and life Psalm 119:92–93 (NIV) 92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. You see how the word of Christ is connected to life? It’s the word of … Continue reading When real life meets with real God
1 Peter 4:1–11 (NIV)—Nov 6 Sunday I will be dealing with the reason why we should serve God? How we are going to serve God? We are lining up a special Sunday worship service this Nov 6 called “Living for God” as we seek to build our church to be willing hearts in the context … Continue reading “Living for God” Worship Service
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