White Horse Inn - Repentance and Personal Transformation

Those of us here on the White Horse Inn certainly believe that people not only can be transformed, but that every Christian is transformed and is in the process of being transformed. But we just think very differently about that than most Americans today. Personal transformation is just not a category for us. That's a term with a lot of baggage. Generally speaking it's the kind of transformation that I'm still in charge of and that I can manage with the right game plan.

The new birth -- conversion and repentance -- now that's a completely different kettle of fish. God assails me from out of nowhere in judgment by His Word and Spirit; nails me, brings me to the point of agreeing with His judgment about me, and then executes me. And then through that pulls me out through the other side alive with Christ out at the other end as new creatures.

So it's actually the devil who's in the business of keeping folks on the treadmill of makeovers, New Year's resolutions, and self-help fads in order to improve the self. It's God who's in the business of killing us and making us new creatures in His Son. It's called mortification (dying to self) and vivification (living to God in Jesus Christ). And it doesn't just happen once, but every day until we're glorified. Furthermore, it's something that God does to us through His Word of Law and Gospel. Not something that we can do for ourselves, through our own clever programs.

http://contemporarycalvinist.blogspot.com/

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John Piper - How Do You Fear God?

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John Piper - Genuine Love Must HATE

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How would you feel if your thought life was to be shown on National TV tonight?

by Kevin Williams, Garrett Holthaus, Charles Leiter.

What if someone told you that your every thought from the day you were born had been recorded and will be shown tonight on national TV? And not only that, but a website will flash across the screen during the program, directing all of your friends and family to where they can watch all of your thoughts about them. How many people would be angry with you? Everyone? Would you be angry with yourself?

Your thought life reveals the real, unrestrained you. Most people think they're good enough to get to Heaven and God won't send them to Hell, but God has seen every one of our wicked thoughts and actions. He has seen every time you've broken His commandments, lusting over someone you're not married to, lying and stealing (no matter how little); He knows every time you've carved a false idol of God in your mind, a corrupt god of your own imagination who will turn a blind eye to your sin. He has heard every time you've used His Holy Name in vain, using the name of the One who gave you life in place of a curse word. You wouldn't do that with Hitler's name, but you do it with God’s name! The “Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain,” (Exodus 20:7) and “every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)

Be honest with yourself: when you face God on Judgment Day - keeping in mind that He's seen your every wicked thought and action - will He find you innocent or guilty? If God gives you what you deserve, should He send you to Heaven or Hell? God has written His moral law on your heart so you are “without excuse” (Romans 1:18-32); you know it is wrong to lie, to steal, to lust, and to curse because God gave you a conscience to know right from wrong. Your own conscience demands justice!

Imagine a courtroom scene where a child rapist is coming before the judge for sentencing. But instead of giving him what justice demands, the judge lets him go free because the rapist is a “nice guy” who has given to charity and goes to church every Sunday. You would be outraged, and you should be! Yet most people think the High and Holy God is just like this corrupt judge, and that they can bribe Him with their “good deeds” so that He'll overlook their sin.

Again, what would you think if the judge said to the rapist, “I'm a very loving judge, so I'll just let you go free?” You would not think that the judge was loving at all, but that he was corrupt and not worthy to be a judge! Yet most people expect the Holy God who is “the judge of all the earth” (Genesis 18:25) to be just that corrupt with them, and overlook their sin.

Infinite Love and Goodness demand Infinite Justice. Because God's love and justice are infinite He won't punish only murderers and rapists, but He'll punish ALL sin wherever it's found. That's why “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9) “No thief, no sexually immoral person, no idolater will enter heaven” (1 Corinthians 6:10) and “all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8)

Now the question for you, dear reader, is this: is there any hope for someone like you? Is there any hope for the person who has defied God time and again by rebelling against His will and refusing to love and worship Him? Is there any hope for the criminal who stands guilty in the courtroom of God? Yes there is! There is forgiveness with God!

The Gospel (“good news”) is this: Imagine you are in a human courtroom and the judge finds you guilty, and because he's just, gives you the maximum fine of ten million pounds. But there is no way you can pay the fine, so you're about to spend the rest of your life in jail. Then someone you've never met before steps into the courtroom and says, “I've sold all my worldly goods to pay your fine.” Your fine has been paid, so justice has been served and you're free to go! Well, two thousand years ago God became a man, Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, led a sinless life and then suffered and died under the wrath of God on the cross to pay the penalty in full for all your sins. Then He rose again in triumph over all the powers of death and darkness, so that in Him we can have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

But it's not enough to merely believe “intellectually” in order to be forgiven by God. The Bible says that even the demons believe intellectually! (James 2:19) In order to have real forgiveness, you must repent, as Jesus Himself said: “unless you repent you will also perish.” (Luke 13:3) And repentance means turning fully away from your life of sin and turning fully to God, trusting in Jesus Christ ALONE to save you and not your own deeds; trusting in Him as the One Who willingly stood in your place on the cross, taking God's wrath for you; the wrath YOU deserve.

What are you waiting for; don't gamble with your eternal salvation! “Your life is a vapor,” (James 4:14) and you have no way of knowing which second will be your last. “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7) God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires for you to turn from your sins and live! (Ezekiel 18:23) You have a personal invitation from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

To discuss this further please email: kevwilliams@hotmail.de or call: 07963396636

See our website: www.PuritanFellowship.com

Lake Road Chapel at www.lakeroadchapel.org

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"I Grew Up a 'Christian'." (Susan Yenser's Story)

I hope everyone who is reading this will take the time to listen to Susan's powerful testimony.



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Repost: Truth Matters - Promoting A Radically God Centered View Of All Things

John 14:16-18 (ESV):

16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

"Could it be that too many of God's true children, and especially the preachers, are sinning against God by guilty silence?...I for one am waiting to hear the loud voices of the prophets and reformers sounding once more over a sluggish and drowsy church. They'll pay a price for their boldness, but the results will be worth it." - AW Tozer

We at Truth Matters are concerned with the condition of the evangelical church. This includes the "gospel" message of "easy believism" that is popular today. This world is filled with millions of people (including evangelicals) who think they are going to heaven, but are sadly mistaken (Matthew 7:13-27). One of the things we have learned many times before, but this past year in particular, is that a preacher's method does effect the message. As Ligon Duncan stated at the 2007 PCRT conference, "You cannot use a method that is fundamentally self-centered to invite people into a moral universe that is fundamentally God-centered."

We believe that the prescribed response to the Gospel is that we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 20:21). God reveals through His Word alone (Sola Scriptura) that He offers Salvation by Grace alone (Sola Gratia), through Faith alone (Sola Fide), in Christ alone (Sola Christus), for His Glory alone (Soli Deo Gloria).

We need to understand that the true gospel is a call to self denial (Lk 9:23-26). It is about counting the cost of following Jesus (Lk 14:28-30). It is about surrendering to Christ as both our Lord and Savior. We believe that our response to the gospel includes both that we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 20:21). This involves an understanding of our sin, and our lost, spiritually dead condition. It involves an understanding that God is Holy and Righteous, and that His Just Wrath is upon us. Yet, He demonstrated His Love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. We need to understand that Jesus Christ died and rose again for our justification.

All Believers in Christ are called to be His Witnesses. Our Witness here at Truth Matters blog includes the following:

* to glorify God by declaring Jesus Christ in all His glory as the only hope for fallen man.

* to glorify God by testifying to the excellencies of Christ

* to glorify God by unashamably declaring the Truth of Scripture as laid out within the theology of the Reformed faith.

* to glorify God by contending for the faith

* to glorify God by calling the visible church to be obedient to true Worship

* to glorify God by promoting a radically God centered view of all things

* to glorify God by honoring God's revealed Word through the practice of Biblical interpretation and discernment

The goals of our Witness described above are challenging ones. As we pursue this walk along the narrow path, we do stumble into the sin of spiritual pride. Some of the comments we receive here at Truth Matters blog criticize our efforts. Although the ones making these critiques misunderstand our motives, their comments typically come with some valid points. Constructive criticsim is always welcomed. Through God's Sanctifying Grace, our words will be more effective in reflecting the Grace, Mercy, and Love within our Lord and Savior's heart that He expresses towards this lost world, as well as His blood bought Church.

However imperfect (or offensive) we may be at times, our stand for the purity of His Church and His Truth must continue. We desire to see the visible church return to it's biblical foundation. We desire to see a church where the Truth revealed in God's Word is preached and taught in all it's fullness; where the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper are prominant. We desire to see the church seek to please God, not man. We desire all of these things with the motivation of seeing God glorified, honored and worshiped in Spirit and Truth.

2 Timothy 4: 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

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John Wesley- Preaching In The Power of the Holy Spirit

Paris Reidhead on John Wesley:

“Wesley was a preacher of righteousness that exalted the holiness of God. And when he would stand there with the two to three-hour sermons that he was accustomed to deliver in the open air and he would exalt the holiness of God and the law of God and the righteousness of God and the justice of God and the wisdom of His requirements and the justice of His wrath and His anger and then he would turn to sinners and tell them of the enormity of their crimes and their open rebellion and their treason and their anarchy. The power of God would so descend upon the company that on one occasion it is reliably reported that when the people dispersed, there were 1,800 people lying on the ground utterly unconscious because they’d had a revelation of the holiness of God and in the light of that, they’d seen the enormity of their sin. And God had so penetrated their minds and hearts that they had fallen to the ground.”

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WOTMR - The Banana Story

I am glad I found this on You Tube. My friend Corey sent me this story about a year ago. It is a must listen to! HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING???

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4



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Mark Kielar - The Arrival of the KING

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Paul Washer - The Judgment of God And The Great White Throne

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Mark Kielar - The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

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Paul Washer - Regeneration - Being What You Are

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God Ordains The Means

"...divine sovereignty does not stand against evangelism—because God ordains not only the ends but also the means. He predestines some to be saved and commands us to preach to that end. If we do not preach and teach the gospel, then none will be saved. But God has ordained that some will be redeemed; He has chosen His people to be saved. So he has also ordained that we should preach and share the gospel, and therefore we will, exercising our human responsibility in accordance with His sovereign purpose. God commands all who are His to engage in evangelism; it is part of our obedience to Him. Packer explains: “We are not all called to be preachers; we are not all given equal opportunities or comparable abilities for personal dealing with men and women who need Christ. But we all have some evangelistic responsibility that we cannot shirk without failing in love both to our God and neighbor.”

— Richard D. Phillips

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Mark Driscoll - Total Depravity and God's Judgment

Here is a good clip of Mark Driscoll. I was hesitant to post this because Driscoll sometimes uses language from the pulpit that is very inappropriate. However, this is a terrific clip...



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The Church of Oprah Exposed

Paul Washer - The True Gospel

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Paul Washer Preaching To Reformed Rappers

Paul Washer - The Greatest Words in All of Scripture

Paul Washer - The Acropolis of the Christian Faith

Paul Washer - The Great Privilege

John Piper's God Exalting Grammar

Crosstalk VCY America - Todd Bentley's Lakeland "Revival"

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Richard Baxter - Prideful Preachers Don't Take Rebuke

"So high indeed are our spirits, that when it becomes the duty of any one to reprove or contradict us, we are commonly impatient both of the matter and the manner. We love the man who will say as we say, and be of our opinion, and promote our reputation, though, in other respects, he be less worthy of our esteem. But he is ungrateful to us who contradicteth us and differeth from us, and dealeth plainly with us as to our miscarriages and telleth us of our faults. Especially in the management of our public arguings, where the eye of the world is upon us, we can scarcely endure any contradiction or plain dealing. I know that railing language is to be abhorred, and that we should be as tender of each other’s reputation, as our fidelity to the truth will permit. But our pride makes too many of us think all men contemn us, that do not admire us, yea, and admire all we say, and submit their judgments to our most palpable mistakes. We are so tender, that a man can scarcely touch us but we are hurt; and so high-minded, that a man who is not versed in complimenting, and skilled in flattery above the vulgar rate, can scarcely tell how to handle us so observantly, and fit our expectations at every turn, without there being some word, or some neglect, which our high spirits will fasten on, and take as injurious to our honour.

I confess I have often wondered that this most heinous sin should be made so light of, and thought so consistent with a holy frame of heart and life, when far less sins are, by ourselves, proclaimed to be so damnable in our people. And I have wondered more, to see the difference between godly preachers and ungodly sinners, in this respect. When we speak to drunkards, worldlings, or ignorant unconverted persons, we disgrace them to the utmost, and lay it on as plainly as we can speak, and tell them of their sin, and shame, and misery; and we expect that they should not only bear all patiently, but take all thankfully. And most that I deal with do take it patiently, and many gross sinners will commend the closest preachers most, and will say that they care not for hearing a man that will not tell them plainly of their sins. But if we speak to godly ministers against their errors or their sins, if we do not honor them and reverence them, and speak as smoothly as we are able to speak, yea, if we mix not commendations with our reproofs, and if the applause be not predominant, so as to drown all the force of the reproof or confutation, they take it as almost an insufferable injury. Brethren, I know this is a sad confession, but that all this should exist among us, should be more grievous to us than to be told of it. Could the evil be hid, I should not have disclosed it, at least so openly in the view of all. But, alas! it is long ago open to the eyes of the world. We have dishonored ourselves by idolizing our honor; we print our shame, and preach our shame, thus proclaiming it to the whole world. Some will think that I speak overcharitably when I call such persons godly men, in whom so great a sin doth so much prevail. I know, indeed, that where it is predominant, not hated, and bewailed, and mortified in the main, there can be no true godliness; and I beseech every man to exercise a strict jealousy and search of his own heart. But if all be graceless that are guilty of any, or of most of the fore-mentioned discoveries of pride, the Lord be merciful to the ministers of this land, and give us quickly another spirit; for grace is then a rarer thing than most of us have supposed it to be."

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White Horse Inn - Selling Jesus: "Christian" Consumerism

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Paul Washer - I'm Not Ashamed of the Scandal

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John Owen - How The Holy Spirit Prepares The Soul For His Work of Regeneration

It is impossible for us to regenerate ourselves. But this does not excuse us from our spiritual responsibility.

We can go and hear the Word of God being preached (Rom 10:17). We can go determined to understand and receive the things revealed to us to be clearly from God.

Many souls are eternally ruined because they simply will not let God speak to them and teach them from His Word. It is true that no man can regenerate himself, even although he hears and receives God's Word. But God is prepared to come to those who come to Him by the way He has told them. He meets souls where He says He will meet them.

As the Word of God is preached, certain things begin to happen in the hearers as the Holy Spirit brings the Word home to them personally. These things usually happen to the person before he is 'born-again'.

The first thing that happens is that the Holy Spirit illuminates or enlightens the understanding, enabling the person to know and to understand spiritually the spiritual truths revealed (1 Cor 2:9,11). This is quite different from a natural understanding of what is being preached by the use of reason only.

The Spirit's work of illumination makes the Word clear to the mind (2 Pet 2:21). The Gospel is understood, not only as true, but as God's way of righteousness (Rom 1:17;10:3,4). Illumination helps the mind to agree to the truth (Acts 8:13; John 2:23; 12:42). Illumination brings a momentary joy (Luke 8:13; John 5:35). Along with illumination a person may receive some spiritual gifts (Matt 7:22).

Illumination is not regeneration, nor does regeneration infallibly take place after illumination. When light is shone on God's saving grace, then the soul sees clearly what is being offered. So illumination prepares the soul for regeneration.

The second thing that happens is that the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. This is also brought about by the preaching of the Word (1 Cor 14:24,25). The soul begins to feel a disturbing sense of its guilt as it is brought to face the righteous demands of God's law. It begins to feel a sense of sorrow or grief for the sins it has done (2 Cor 7:10). They are now past and can no longer be put right (Rom 8:15). This leaves the soul to feel humbled for its sinfulness (1 Kings 21:29). Now, unless the soul is swallowed up in despair, it begins to look for a way out of its present state of misery (Acts 2:37; 16:30). Often the person begins to reform his life and great a change of attitude follows (Matt 13:20; 12:44; 2 Pet 2:20).

Some neglect this light and conviction or seek to stifle it. Some are overwhelmed by the power and strength of their lusts, the love of sin and the power of temptations. Some think that being enlightened is quite enough and that this is all that God intends to do with them.

All these things which are brought on people by the preaching of the Word are in fact the actions of the Holy Spirit working along with that preaching (Isa 49:4; Jer 15:20; Ezek 33:31,32; John 8:59; Acts 13:41,45,46). Those 'enlightened' are said to be made 'partakers of the Holy Spirit' (Heb 6:4).

Objection: If this preparatory work of the Holy Spirit does not lead to regeneration, does the Holy Spirit intend only to do a weak and imperfect work in that soul, or is He unable to bring that soul to 'New Birth'?

Answer: In some, real conversion does take place. This initial work of the Holy Spirit is neither weak nor imperfect, but it can be willfully and stubbornly resisted. In the 'elect' the Holy Spirit, of His own sovereign grace, removes this wilful stubbornness. The rest He leaves to suffer the righteous rewards of their evil deeds. The Holy Spirit is perfectly free to do what He wants to do. He does what pleases Him, when it pleases Him and how it pleases Him. However, His works are always good and holy. He fully and perfectly accomplishes what He freely planned and purposed to accomplished.

Illumination No Guarantee of Salvation.

There is an 'illumination' which does not lead to salvation. It does not change man's will and does not give the mind a delight and satisfaction in spiritual things. The mind does not delight in God (Rom 6:17; 12:2; 1 Cor 2:13-15; 2 Cor 3:18; 4:6). It gives no spiritual insight into the glory of God's grace.

Neither does this illumination purge the conscience from dead works to serve the Living God (Heb 9:14). It only convicts the soul of sin and rouses it to condemn many things of which before it heartily approved. Such illumination works on the feelings, arousing fear, sorrow, joy and delight. But it does not fix them on heavenly things (Col 3:1,2). Nor does it tear out evil desires and fill the heart with heavenly joys. It often leads to a major reformation in lifestyle, even producing the appearance of godliness. But there are three great defects in this illumination.

The first is that it allows raging and reigning sins of ignorance to continue, as it did in Paul before his conversion.

The second is that the reformation of life it stimulates the person to attain seldom leads to getting rid of all know sins, unless for a while the soul is engaged in a flagrant pursuit of self-righteousness.

The third is that this reformation of life, although it may be strong at first, soon fades and decays. Eventually it leaves people as spiritual skeletons.

Taken from The Holy Spirit by John Owen, Abridged, pp52-55.

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John Piper - How God Teaches the Deep Things of His Word

The reason Psalm 119 has 176 verses is that the Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. The psalmist exults in the multifaceted preciousness of God’s word by taking each letter of the alphabet and writing eight verses of exultation, each verse beginning with that letter. It’s like saying: “The word of God is precious in every way from A to Z—beyond perfection.” (Eight is one more than seven, the number of completeness and perfection.)

Ordinarily in each group of eight verses, the psalmist uses mostly different words that start with the letter for that section of the acrostic. For example, the verses beginning with the letter heth (verses 57–64) use eight different words beginning with that letter. But verses 65-72, that start with the Hebrew letter teth, stand out, because they begin with the same word five times—the word good (tov). This makes us sit up and take notice.

Something really good is being emphasized. What is the good he wants us to see?

Here is my translation in awkward English that lets you see the prominence of the word good.

65: Good (tov) you did, Yahweh, with your servant according to your word.
66: Good (tov) discernment and knowledge, teach me, because in your commandments I trust.
67: Before I was afflicted I erred, but now I keep your word.
68: Good (tov) you are and you cause good to happen, teach me your statutes.
69: Smear upon me lies, so do the proud, but I with all my heart watch your precepts.
70: Gross like fat is their heart, I delight in your instruction.
71: Good for me (tov li) it was that I was afflicted, so that I might learn your statutes.
72: Good for me (tov li) the instruction of your mouth, more than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

These are not random comments about what is good. They are connected. And a specific good is in mind.

Verse 65 says that God did something good. It accords with his word. That means God’s word is designed for our good and that what God does to help us go deep with his word is good. What did he do that makes the psalmist write this?

In verse 66 the psalmist prays that God would give him good discernment because he trusts in God’s commandments. That means God does not bless with discernment a negative attitude toward his word. If we trust that his words are the best counsel in the world, he will give us discernment when we ask.

So the psalmist pleads for a mind and heart that penetrates deep into the word of God and becomes spiritually discerning for all the hundreds of situations that are not addressed directly by the Bible. So, he prays—and we should pray—God, do whatever you must do to teach me your word.

Verse 67 tells us what God did to answer this prayer for biblical discernment: “Before I was afflicted I erred, but now I keep your word.” God sent affliction. And this affliction was a profound teacher. It moved the psalmist into deeper obedience (“Now I keep your word”).

But not only obedience, also understanding. Verse 71: “Good it was for me that I was afflicted, so that I might learn your statutes.” Affliction brought learning. This is the discernment he had prayed for.

So the good that God did (v. 65) was Bible-illumining, discernment-giving, obedience-producing affliction. What was the affliction? It was slander from spiritually hardened adversaries. Verses 69: “The proud smear me with lies, but I with all my heart watch your precepts.”

This is the good the psalmist wants us to see. Verse 68: “Good you are, and you cause good to happen.” The good is the affliction that brings about understanding, discernment, and obedience. “Good it was for me that I was afflicted, so that I might learn your statutes” (v. 71).

How can he call affliction good? It’s because in his value-scheme, penetrating insight into God’s word is more valuable that thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Verse 72: “Good to me is the instruction of your mouth more than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” If God and his word are your highest values—your greatest desires—then whatever helps you know them and experience them deeply will be good—not easy, and maybe not even morally right (like slander from your adversaries), but good in the sense that God ordains it to give you what is absolutely best—the illumining effect of God’s infinitely valuable word.

In Martin Luther’s meditation on these verses he said that trials (Anfectungen) were one of his best teachers:

I want you to know how to study theology in the right way. I have practiced this method myself.... Here you will find three rules. They are frequently proposed throughout Psalm [119] and run thus: Oratio, meditatio, tentatio (Prayer, meditation, trial).... [Trials] teach you not only to know and understand but also to experience how right, how true, how sweet, how lovely, how mighty, how comforting God’s word is: it is wisdom supreme.

As soon as God’s Word becomes known through you, the devil will afflict you... and will teach you by his temptations to seek and to love God’s Word. For I myself... owe my papists many thanks for so beating, pressing, and frightening me through the devil’s raging that they have turned me into a fairly good theologian, driving me to a goal I should never have reached. (What Luther Says: An Anthology, 1359–1360)

Lord, incline our hearts to your word and not to gold and silver. Make us cherish your word so much that we embrace whatever it takes to give us understanding and good discernment and faithful obedience.

And when it comes, give us the grace to say, “Good you are, and you cause good to happen.”

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John Piper - Should God Forgive a Child Molester?

"People Like Josh Are Just Troublemakers in the Body!!!"

Here is a great video I saw over on Lane's blog...

John MacArthur - Seeker Friendly Churches - Does Truth Matter Anymore?

WOTMR - Youth Groups Are A JOKE!

Part 1 - "Jesus" Freak Evangelical Manifesto



Part 2 - Radical Differences!



Part 3 - A Church In Pennsylvania



Part 4 - Why Do Youth Leave The Church?



Part 5 - What To Do About Youth Groups?



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Our Only Hope of Success in Evangelism

J.I. Packer, in his excellent treatise Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, states:

“The sovereignty of God in grace gives us our only hope of success in evangelism.”

Packer explains (emphasis mine):

“Some fear that belief in the sovereign grace of God leads to the conclusion that evangelism is pointless, since God will save His elect anyway, whether they hear the gospel or not. This . . . is a false conclusion based on a false assumption. . . . So far from making evangelism pointless, the sovereignty of God in grace is the one thing that prevents evangelism from being pointless. For it creates the possibility–indeed, the certainty–that evangelism will be fruitful. Apart from it, there is not even a possibility of evangelism being fruitful. Were it not for the sovereign grace of God, evangelism would be the most futile and useless enterprise that the world has ever seen, and there would be no more complete waste of time under the sun than to preach the Christian gospel.”

The effects of such confidence in the sovereign grace of God should, according to Packer, produce three things:

1. It should make us bold.

“You are not on a fool’s errand. You are not wasting either your time or theirs. You have no reason to be ashamed of your message, or half-hearted and apologetic in delivering it. You have every reason to be bold, and free, and natural, and hopeful of success. For God can give His truth and effectiveness that you and I cannot give it. God can make His truth triumphant to the conversion of the most seemingly hardened unbeliever. You and I will never write off anyone as hopeless and beyond the reach of God if we believe in the sovereignty of His grace.”

2. It should make us patient.

“It should keep us from being daunted when we find that our evangelistic endeavors meet with no immediate response. God saves in His own time, and we ought not to suppose that He is in such a hurry as we are. . . . We are tempted to be in a great hurry with those whom we would win to Christ, and then, when we see no immediate response in them, to become impatient and downcast, and then to lose interest in them, and feel that it is useless to spend more time on them; and so we abandon our efforts forthwith, and let them drop out of our ken. But this is utterly wrong. It is a failure both of love for man and faith in God.”

3. It should make us prayerful.

“Prayer . . . is a confessing of impotence and need, and acknowledging of helplessness and dependence, and an invoking of the mighty power of God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In evangelism, we are impotent; we depend wholly upon God to make our witness effective; only because He is able to give men new hearts can we hope that through our preaching of the gospel sinners will be born again. These facts ought to drive us to prayer. The knowledge, then, that God is sovereign in grace, and that we are impotent to win souls, should make us pray, and keep us praying. What should be the burden of our prayers? We should pray for those whom we seek to win, that the Holy Spirit will open their hearts; and we should pray for ourselves in our own witness, and for all who preach the gospel, that the power and authority of the Holy Spirit may rest upon them.”

May the God of all grace bless and prosper our labors in the hearts and lives of those who do not know Jesus Christ! May we be bold, patient, and prayerful, knowing that God’s grace is greater still.

HT: http://timmybrister.com/

End of post.

Mark Kielar - Why is it Important to Interpret the Bible Objectively?

The Bible Prohibited in Colorado

Senate Bill 200

After 400 years of religious freedom for those who wanted to own and
distribute Bibles on their own property in America, the Governor of
Colorado has put an end to it. SB08-200, signed into law last week
will prohibit the issuing, circulating, and distributing of Leviticus
20:13. While churches are exempted for now, Christian schools,
Christian book stores, private business, etc. are not.

http://www.generationswithvision.com/

End of post.

John Piper - How can I speak more boldly about Christ?

How can I speak more boldly about Christ?

The key is getting to know God really really well. Have him as your closest friend and as a reality in your life that is not marginal.

If we feel that he is marginal then we're going to feel awkward, because we know that they people we talk to are going to feel that he is marginal too. But if we feel that Christ is the most essential in my life on this airplane right now, then it will flow more naturally.

I sat beside a lady two days ago on a plane coming back from Chicago. I found out that she is 89 years old and on her way to the Philippines. I reached into my briefcase and pulled out a copy of The Passion of Jesus Christ, and I said to her, "May I give you a gift?" (This is one of the ways I try to talk to people about Jesus). She looked kind of surprised.

I held the book up and said, "I wrote this book. I'm a Christian." And she said, "Oh, I am too!" Now, I don't know what kind of Christian she was, but I said, "Well that makes me very glad. I know you have a very long ride from Minneapolis, to Tokyo, and then to Manila. I just thought maybe you would enjoy reading this book about Jesus." And we talked a little longer about Jesus.

I think I did that because I had prayed early in the morning, like I always do when I travel, "Make me a blessing to as many people as I can be. I have lots of work to do on the plane, and I can't talk all the time. I have to get ready for this thing I'm going to. But there they are, sitting beside me. I have my books and tracts with me, so lead me to do whatever seems appropriate here, Lord. Help me."

But that grows out of the fact that he's my life. He's my life. It's not like, "Oh here's a little thing I'm supposed to do." Rather, he is the one holding this plane in the air, providing the oxygen, and governing the sky. He is the one who created this person beside me, and he is the most relevant reality in their, whether they know it or not.

The battle has to be fought not mainly at the level of technique or strategy, but at the level of how absolutely real and relevant and precious Jesus Christ is to me.

End of post.

Paul Washer - American "Christianity"

I have been asked many times what is wrong with seeker "churches". These two Paul Washer clips below clearly sum up why I am against these types of "churches" and why these "churches" are Biblically wrong...

Part 1



Part 2

Mark Kielar - What Is Christian Fellowship? "Talkin' Football" is NOT Christian Fellowship

WOTMR - Todd Bentley's Violent "Ministry"

Part 1



Part 2