Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Mercy
Matt. 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
I believe it to be impossible for a man, on one hand to remember his great offenses and the great mercy of the Lord, and on the other hand not be merciful toward others. Even a fairly good man, in the eyes of the world, has enough of the human depraved nature within him to merit his eternal punishment. It's not the amount of sins, but the presence of sin that makes us helpless before a holy God. To be sure, every person has done more wicked acts of unrighteousness then they could ever count. James says, all it takes is one small infraction, and you're guilty of the whole law. When a sufficient understanding of the mercy of God grips our hearts, we should certainly be able to have mercy on those who wrong us. How many times do we think that it's okay for the Lord to have mercy on me, but so and so is going to pay for what they did or said. Those who have faith in God to have mercy on them in the last day, will have mercy on people who wrong them this day.
Lord, may I have a greater understanding of the sin you pardoned and the wrath you took for me? Thank you for your Mercy!
In the name of Christ Jesus
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
8:11 AM ::
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Monday, January 30, 2006
Sermon on the Mount: Hunger
There have been times that I've gone to restaurants, and arrived really hungry. The waitress takes the order and brings some bread. After 45 minutes or so, my food comes. When I first arrived I was pretty hungry, but instead of patiently waiting on my food, I spent my time eating the whole basket of bread. After filling myself with bread, it's all I can do to eat what I ordered. As Christians there are reasons for not being hungry for the Word. The bible speaks a lot about waiting on Him. How many times have I filled myself up with other things, while "waiting" so when it came time to meet with the Lord, there was no room left? In order to be hungry, we must deny ourselves the things that may not be bad in and of themselves, but soak up all of our affections. May I become someone who has a large appetite for righteousness; one who is willing to wait to be satisfied by only him.
Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
7:22 AM ::
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Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sermon on the Mount: The Meek Brother
After the death of their father, three brothers discuss the dividing of his belongings. To all of them, the most sought after possession was the house he lived in. The youngest of the three was the only son who had actually read the will. Unaware, the other brothers argued and even fought over who was going to own the house. Although he was just as concerned as they were with securing the deed, the younger brother did not feel the need to take part in the dispute. In fact, he was able to stay calm and mild, while treating his brothers with gentleness. He rested in the fact that the house already belonged to him.
Matt. 5:5 ¶ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
10:07 AM ::
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Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Walking in the Blessedness of the Beatitudes
The beatitudes all have something in common. The "blessed" in each verse is rooted in faith. People whose lives are characterized by the beatitudes are happy and doing well only because they have hope in God to give them what most look to the world for. Both the lost and the saved are on a quest for satisfaction. The world continues to be deceived into thinking the things they can see and touch can satisfy them. We who are saved have had our eyes opened to see more than what our physical eyes allow. Our quest for satisfaction takes us to God's words, and we are satisfied again and again with the hope we find there. Now, if I am joining the lost in their method of finding satisfaction, how will I guide them to the truth? Furthermore, if I make claims to being born again, but am not living as if my eyes have seen the truth, the lost around me will only see me as hypocritical. Unless my well being has been grafted to the word, I will be useless in shining God's glory through my life. When I was lost, I remember being attracted to the few Christians my age who I saw as real. I could tell they were satisfied. The way God used Matt Lollar in my life was I could tell he was serious about God, and I almost immediately saw him as genuine. We cannot fool the lost. Our hearts must be truly changed.
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
7:13 AM ::
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Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Sermon On The Mount: Mourners
In vs. 4 Jesus speaks of people who mourn. The word mourn in this verse means to be grieved. Happy are those who are sad? Those who are grieved on earth are recipients of the comforting power of the holy spirit. Christians should be the most heavy hearted people. Not in the sense that we walk around down and depressed, but a heavy heartedness that is produced in us by seeing things the way they are. A heavy heartedness that will make us sober. Look at what peter says.
1Pet. 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
He doesn't give us certain times of the day or week to be sober-minded, he just says to be sober. What is the reason he gives for being sober? The end of all things is at hand. Life here is not for our enjoyment. If my purpose is primarily to enjoy life, I will neglect walking with God, because spiritual warfare is simply not enjoyable! I envy Paul's single-mindedness:
Gal. 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
God's gift of earthly life does not have an experimental nature. He has a purpose for those he calls. We must not be centered around finding pleasure in the things we can see. What are some things that I find myself putting the battle on hold to do? What are some things that I have to completely let my guard down to take part in? May I remember that the enemy never takes breaks. When I am at ease, I will surely be attacked. Lord keep my heart heavy for you glory.
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
6:40 AM ::
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Monday, January 23, 2006
Poor In Spirit: Digging Deeper
Matt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Sometimes we may refer to someone's demeanor by using the word spirit. For example, Someone might say of another that they have a quiet spirit, or a gentle spirit, or a contrary spirit. In verse 3 Jesus mentions people who are poor in spirit. The greek word translated spirit is pneuma, which by implication in this verse means mental disposition. Disposition has to do with moods, attitudes, and mindsets. So what does it mean to have a poor spirit? Wouldn't it have to do with how we view ourselves? Wouldn't it mean that we approach our lives, our jobs, our friends and our families with the realization that we have nothing? Wouldn't a poor spirit make us hold everything with an open hand, and cause us to be tied to nothing? Wouldn't it make us less quarrelsome, and ready to sacrifice anything? A man who is poor in spirit is happy, because he has absolutely nothing to worry about. He sees the worth of Christ, and the worthlessness of material things apart from Christ. This man is ready to give up anything and everything to follow Christ. Lord, reveal the truth to me and change my heart so I may have the faith to have a poor spirit. Without you we grow cold and complacent. We become satisfied with nothingness, because we are deceived into thinking it's something. Make real to us just how poor we really are. Cause us to despair unless our eyes are upon you. Draw near to me, and don't let me waist my life. May I become more meek and humble as I draw near to you. Please be faithful to me. Please reward me with the highest treasure, yourself.
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world(nothingness), and lose his own soul?
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
9:36 PM ::
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Contrition
James 4:9-10 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Oh that God would bring us to a healthy state of woe as we see ourselves for what we are apart from Christ. May it's realities grip us to the point of great sorrow! May we become more heavy hearted over the wickedness we harbor in our hearts. May we see our offenses as directed only toward God. May it cause us to be grieved to the point of reformation. May the Lord cause us to turn our eyes from our lives and toward Him. Lord, place within me a contrite spirit.
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
8:31 AM ::
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Friday, January 20, 2006
False Security
"There are many professing Christians who have a view of salvation that disconnects it from real life, and that nullifies the warnings of the Bible and puts the sinning person who claims to be a Christian beyond the reach of Biblical threats. And this doctrine is comforting thousands on the way to hell."
John Piper
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
6:36 AM ::
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Thursday, January 19, 2006
Sermon On The Mount: Poor In Spirit
Matt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Does it mean depressed, or low on the Holy Spirit? I believe, and some of the men I've read on this topic believe, that being poor in spirit is simply the realization that I am very sinful, condemned, and helpless apart from Christ. People who are poor in spirit do not feel good about themselves or have high self esteem, but derive their worth from looking unto Christ. It isn't getting depressed because we are failures, it's finding hope in the fullness of God through our failure. And Jesus says that people who are poor and worthless apart from Him are happy people. I would say it takes a lot of faith to act upon that truth. Not only that, these people possess the kingdom of heaven. These beatitudes are in the context of evangelism in Matthew 5. Jesus goes directly into talking about salt and light. Why would a person who has no regard for himself be an effective witness?
When I am not poor in spirit:
I do not see the importance of God's word enough to be faithful to it
I get self-reliant, which causes me to worry. After all, it all depends on me
I become very leisure oriented, and waste a lot of time
I am not faithful to prayer, because I feel like things are going ok without it
I become the center of it all, my pride overtakes me and I only love myself
When I am poor in spirit:
He becomes my treasure, and I find Him in His word.
He becomes a rock to me, and a fortress
He replaces my leisure with things that fit into His calling
He attracts me to prayer
He becomes the center of my universe, therefore I can love others
When someone who isn't saved gets around someone who is poor in spirit, and happier than they are in their self-confidence, this sends a strong message --- It is very salty. The more of these beatitudes the grace of God plants in our hearts, the more salty we become, and the more Christ-light we exude. I believe this is the first beatitude listed for a reason. After all, will God do anything in a heart that sees itself as worthy?
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
7:55 AM ::
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Wednesday, January 18, 2006
In The World
Matthew 5:3-16
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons* of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
6:05 AM ::
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Monday, January 16, 2006
The whole conforming thing
Rom. 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
...1Cor. 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some...
We are faced with a paradox: to conform, or not to conform? That's the question. The same Paul who in Romans 12 instructed us not to conform to the world, in 1Corinthians 9 told us he went to great lengths to conform to the world. Is this guy crazy; is he trying to confuse us? I don't believe he is. In Romans 12:2 Paul's instruction regarding conforming is in the context of mind transformation. In other words, God actually changes, as John Piper would say, our "want tos". He is telling us, "do not have a heart that wants to be like the world, and do what they do, and have what they have, and appear as they appear." He says, "Do not want this! Be transformed, so you want the will of God!" So when we get to 1 Corinthians 9, do we see Paul conforming to the world? Yes, it's quite obvious, he talks about doing anything he can to fit in with the people he is around. The difference here is that Paul's mind has been transformed to love the Gospel of Christ. This is what he actually wanted, this is what he wanted for the people around him. In his own mind, he did not want to have the life the people around him lived. So when he conformed, he was driven by an overwhelming desire to see Christ proclaimed through the gospel. Lord, actually change what we want!
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
7:03 AM ::
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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Are we sleeping?
1Th. 5:5-11 You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. It was not Gods intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.
Worldly churches are comfortable churches
Worldly friends are comfortable friends
Activities that do not provoke or require thought are comfortable
Failure to meditate on the Word is comfortable
Neglecting evangelism is comfortable
Keeping busy and using that as an excuse to neglect spiritual things is comfortable
Neglecting personal prayer is comfortable
Neglecting family prayer is comfortable
Neglecting prayer with friends is comfortable
A lack of true accountability is comfortable
Failing to hold your friends into account is comfortable
The whole effortless Christian existence is comfortable
Sleep is comfortable.
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
3:18 PM ::
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Thursday, January 05, 2006
"Art is never finished, only abandoned"
I have two main influences in my life, the influence of Christ, and the influence of the world. To be influenced by Christ, is to be intentional. To be influenced by the world is to be passive. I think too many people limit the idea of worldliness to appearance, but it's much more. I believe that at the center of worldliness is self. When I forget Christ, I start revolving my life around myself. The world is a buffet for self! I won't find anything in the bible to feed selfishness, so it becomes a dead, dry book that isn't life to me, because it doesn't build selfishness in any way. When I am focused on self, I no longer think in terms of eternity. Life becomes about me and the years I have on Earth. If I am not actively seeking Christ through His word, I am going to start making decisions for myself based upon what I see around me. I will make decisions based upon the time table of earthly life. After all, what else is there?
1Pet. 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
I believe Peter was speaking of ignorance of the gospel. He is saying do not go back to living as you did when you were ignorant of Christ. How do people live that don't see the gospel?
2Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
So a life ignorant of the gospel is self-centered - the characteristic of the lost world. So what are we to do?
Rom. 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
I believe renewal here is not a focus on, but a constant awareness of our need for change as we see our lives through the truth of scripture. We don't change then stay, we stay changing. When we get out of transform mode, we revert back to conform mode. Neutral quickly becomes reverse. Leonardo DaVinci once said, "Art is never finished, only abandoned". Although this way of thinking didn't benefit DaVinci, I believe it does well to describe what I believe this verse is telling me. I believe to constantly be renewing my mind, means that I have to know that I will never be perfect in this life, so the fight must go on. I continually have to refocus on the gospel. I must constantly go from seeing the cross as a relic from the past, to seeing it alive in my life today. If I don't see the urgency of continual change, I will not change, but comfortably settle back into old ways. Lord, please continue to transform me as I behold you!
1Cor. 15:31 I protest, brothers, by umy pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, vI die every day!
Posted by Jeremy Turner ::
9:29 AM ::
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