Zeal and Resolve

Ray Ortlund:  How to promote the great work of Christ in our time

“Two things urgently needed in ministers, if they would attempt great advances for the kingdom of Christ, are zeal and resolve.  Their influence and power for impact are greater than we think.  A man of ordinary abilities will accomplish more with zeal and resolve than a man ten times more gifted without zeal and resolve. . . .  Men who are possessed by these qualities commonly carry the day in almost all affairs.  Most of the great things that have been done in the world, the great revolutions that have been accomplished in the kingdoms and empires of the earth, have been primarily owing to zeal and resolve.   The very appearance of a intensely engaged spirit, together with a fearless courage and unyielding resolve, in any person that has undertaken leadership in any human affair goes a long way toward accomplishing the intended outcome. . . .  When people see a high degree of zeal and resolve in a person, it awes them and has a commanding influence upon them. . . .  But while we are cold and heartless and only go on in a dull manner, in an old formal round, we will never accomplish anything great.  Our efforts, when they display such coldness and irresolution, will not even make people think of yielding. . . .  The appearance of such indifference and cowardice does, as it were, provoke opposition.”

Jonathan Edwards, “What must be done more directly to advance this work [of revival],” Works (Edinburgh, 1979), I:424. Wording updated.

He IS

Christine Wyrtzen Devotional:  ANGUISH AND APPETITE

Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.  Psalm 119:143

    When a person hears bad news, he often loses his appetite.  He feels sick to his stomach and what once appealed to his senses holds little value.  Friends and family encourage him to eat something to keep up his strength.  One of the first questions we ask someone in fresh grief is, "When is the last time you ate something?"

    Pain can do that to my spiritual appetite, too.  If I am seized with anguish and doubled over in pain, it doesn't seem possible that my soul could delight in anything.  Yet, in the midst of sorrow, God promises to feed me a banquet from his table.  Even in the presence of my enemies, the table is laden with spiritual food.  God doesn't scale back the meal with the equivalent of a bowl of soup when His children are bent low.  He only enlarges what we will consume.

    You might be asking, "What if I'm not hungry?  What if I have no desire to consume Living Bread today?  What if I'm in such a hopeless place that a bunch of words on paper don't appear to me to be any kind of banquet for a ravaged soul?"  My answer comes from experience.  "Force feed."  Never am I in greater danger of the effects of spiritual malnutrition than when God's spiritual provision has lost its appeal. 

    So is the Word of God the spiritual meal?  Am I just given a bunch of words to hang onto?  Is this all I can anticipate when it feels like life has fallen apart?  I forget that God IS the Word.  He IS the meal.  It is He who speaks His Word into my ear.  It is He who holds me tenderly as He does.  It is He who can multi-task; comforting me in a seeming suspension of time, and simultaneously, working behind the scenes to work my pain for my good and His glory.  I can't see what He's doing yet but that's okay.  I'm lost in the sound of His voice and the soothing promises that bathe my soul in His peace.

In whatever ways I have shut down from life, stir my heart to experience the delights You have promised.  Keep the pains of this life from dulling my spiritual appetite. Amen

Two Way Street

Mark Batterson post:  One-dimensional Churches

We have a new mantra at NCC. It may not be super catchy. In fact, you may be nonplussed by it. But it's the way we're thinking about church. It's the way we're welcoming guests. It's becoming part of our DNA. Here it is: we invite YOU to be part of what God is doing at National Community Church and we want to be part of what God is doing in your life.

That may not seem like much, but I think it's huge. Most churches leave off the second-half of that statement and the result is a one-dimensional church. When people walk through our doors I assume it's because God is at work in their life somehow, someway. We want to be part of that. I think too many churches invite people to be part of what God is doing at their church. That can come across as self-serving. Don't get me wrong. We've got a huge vision at NCC. God is on the move. And God wants each of us to be part of something bigger than us and more important than us. But we've got to be two-dimensional. And that means discerning how God is already at work in people's lives and becoming part of that.

I think we had an example of that at our Kingstowne location this weekend. A woman came forward for prayer who has been coming to NCC for quite awhile and runs a missions organization. The miracle she is believing God for is the monies to open an orphanage in the Congo. They raise the cash first and they need $15,000. Her vision is our vision. That is the way God is working in her life and we want to be part of it. That doesn't always equate to a financial investment. But on this occasion I just felt like it was wrong to ask God to do something for us that we had the power to do for ourselves. So we took an impromptu offering at the end of the service. Our giving is going to translate into a miracle for those sixty kids waiting for a home!

My point? We need to have a church vision and we need to invite people to be part of it. But we also need to discern the way God is already working in each individual's life and be part of that too. Church is a two-way street.

Affection of Jesus

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:8

Approval

Ray Ortlund post:  Human approval

1. Human approval is divided. Some like you, others dislike you. A split vote. Who can you believe?
2. Human approval is shallow. None of them know your deepest heart. What if they did?
3. Human approval is distorted. Your friends overlook — hopefully — some failings. Your enemies are blind to your merits. How do you sort it all out?
4. Human approval is unsatisfying. The need of your heart for belovedness goes far beyond anything another sinner can say or do.
5. Human approval is a blessing. The loving favor of true friends is a gift from God. Receive it cheerfully, with thanks to Him. And be sure to give it out to others in generous supplies every day.

“I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” Philemon 7

Embrace It with an Insatiable Appetite

Christine Wyrtzen Devotional

A REJECTION THAT HAS HISTORY

I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.  Psalm 119:141

God chooses the foolish, the ones who are already peculiar and despised.  Once chosen, we are despised even more because we are God's.  As a result, we can feel small and very low.  If ever we needed God's Word, it's when we are low.

Because God calls out the ones who are not likely to be chosen in this world, there is already rejection written on the psyche of His child.  There are familiar mental pathways of worthlessness inside of him that feel like second nature.  To be spurned by family and friends, then to be spurned for the cause of Christ, can feel the same even though the causes are radically different.

As God's child, I don't need to sort it out all out today.  The spiritual cure is the same no matter where rejection comes from.  It was for David, whether spurned by his brothers, spurned by long-time friends, or spurned by his enemies.  He ran to the shelter of God's love and immersed Himself in the promises of God's faithful love.

There are many reasons I might feel the sting of inadequacy today.  I can take them to heart and nurse my insecurity.  Or, I can understand that this very moment is an exercise to live by faith, to stand tall and declare that no one has the right to define my worth except my creator.  My place with Jesus is a home I never have to earn.  It just 'is'.

I used to feel small and hide from others.  Now, I remember who You say I am and rise to full stature.  I am unworthy of Your love, Lord, but I embrace it with an insatiable appetite for more of You.  Amen

Praying for Each Other

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart.

Philippians 1:3-4 [The Message]

Affectionately Desirous

Excerpt from Ray Ortlund post:  Heart-connection

...


The church is God’s alternative to this world of put-downs. Every Sunday we can walk into church with this thought: “The Lord is not bringing me here today to bring anyone down or even pass them by in a smiling but unthinking way. Before I walk out the door, I am going to look deeply into the eyes of at least one other person and, at that moment of grace, give my heart away. God forbid that I would be politely neutral. God grant that this will become relationally intense.”

“Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8. 

No Boasting

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 1:28-29

Saw and Believed

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

John 20:8

Missiology

Ed Stetzer post excerpts:  Musings on Missiology:  Theological Approaches to Social Action and Transformation

Here on the blog we were recently looking at the relationship between evangelism and social justice and connecting it to the ongoing discussion of the missional church. My guess is that many evangelicals will find it interesting that the reaction to this shift in attitude from individuals such as Donald McGavran, John Stott, and Billy Graham was across the spectrum. Some saw justice as an implication of the Gospel, others as a "facet" of the gospel "diamond," and others as a co-equal of the Gospel. We will look at the spectrum of belief more in depth later.


I remember sitting on the side of a conference facility kibitzing with Tim Keller before I was to speak at the Dwell Conference that Redeemer hosted in Manhattan. We were meeting in what was a former United Church of Christ church facility, but now was conference hall rented for special events. My topic was, "Dwelling in the Kingdom Mission." I turned to Tim and mentioned the irony that I was about to speak to a group of evangelicals about the Kingdom of God and the missio dei in a facility that once housed a church that probably lost its way during the Kingdom of God movement of the early 1900s or the missio dei movement later in that same century.

An emphasis on social awareness and world transformation has led to problems. Any Christian with a history book and a willingness to learn can see that. Yet, I think it is essential that evangelicals be more engaged in social action-- and I think that most evangelicals would agree. We need to care for the poor, visit the captive, minister to the marginalized, and engage in social action more (Ps. 14:6; Deut. 10:18; 24:17; Mal. 3:5; Mt. 6:2; James 2:2-6; 1 Jn. 3:17-18). We need to discover social action but I have pointed out many times that the last two times that Christians "discovered" social justice, it did not end well.

Tim encouraged me to go ahead and mention the irony of that moment. I am not sure if I did in my talk that day, but I will now. I think that evangelical Christians must focus more on the Kingdom of God and the missio dei, but they must do so while avoiding the errors of those who discussed similar truths in earlier generation. In order to do that, we should learn from the past so we do not repeat its errors.
Mark Twain once said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Evangelicals need more social action, but they need to know and avoid the errors of those who came before us and shared the same concern.

Last week, we talked about how the Kingdom of God theological theological emphasis combined with the Social Gospel and had some problematic repercussions-- gospel proclamation got lost in social action. This week, we are continuing to look at how evangelism and social justice interface by looking at the emergence of liberation theology and the church's shift in attitude towards the poor in the missions conversations in the mid-to-late 1900s. Next week, I will suggest some ways to avoid the extremes and find a way to live both.

...


Conclusion

The social justice question is always a challenging one. The Liberation Theology movement expressed that value by building on the missio dei movement and "joining God in His work" of bringing about societal transformation. (I won't rehash that from the last post.) Evangelicals have generally seen the ecumenical approach as unhelpful and to be avoided-- while often co-opting some of the ideas and even language of the ecumenical movement.

These issues will always be a struggle for Christians. Everything new is, well, generally not. For example, the Lausanne Movement is about to meet again and the organizers explain their mission as a mix of evangelistic and social concern (leading to praise from some and concern from others):

The Congress, held in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance, will bring together 4,000 leaders from more than 200 countries to confront the critical issues of our time - other world faiths, poverty, HIV/AIDS, persecution, among others - as they relate to the future of the Church and world evangelization... Together we will seek the Lord as we examine the world and our culture to discern where the church should invest its efforts and energies to most effectively respond to Christ's call to take the gospel into all the world and make disciples of all nations... lives changed for all eternity, broken families mended, physical and emotional hurts healed, communities transformed.

Evangelicals have tended to try to find a way not to turn their social justice into the problematic approaches that came before them. I have tried to unpack those here. But, we cannot just say, "Well, that's why we need to avoid societal transformation." That's like saying we need to avoid "grace" before some people misunderstand it. Just because someone misuses a biblical principal does not mean that we are excused from using it.

I remember planting my first church among the urban poor in Buffalo, NY. I had well intentioned believers tell me to avoid being involved in social action because it would detract from the gospel. They warned me specifically about the dangers of Liberation Theology (by name) and told me to be sure to preach Jesus.

I found that I could not preach Jesus and not care about justice. And, if I wanted real justice, I had to preach Jesus. They did not seem separable, but history has shown that they can be.

So, as Evangelicals have worked to make a biblical connection between social justice and the gospel we can see different approaches take shape. Should social action and justice be seen as a part of our evangelism, or as a consequence of it? Or perhaps you would like to suggest another connection.

Over All Other Voices

Christine Wyrtzen Devotional: THE LOGICAL CHOICE

You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.  Psalm 119:138

I often read a portion of the Word and think, "Ok, this is sure out there.  I guess I'll stretch my faith and choose to believe it anyway."  (Like it was some heroic act.)  I'm pulled up short this morning.  It should be easy to believe God.  He is a truth teller.  He is holy.  His love is faithful.  Knowing this, why would the choice be difficult.

I consider the alternatives.  Will I choose to believe human beings over God?  They are imperfect spokesmen.  Each has a skewed perspective, twisted by sin.  If any speaks accurately, it is rare.  Most often, men's words are toxic but only God knows to what degree.  I don't.  To stand on their words above God's Word is not logical when stacked up against the evidence of man's character vs. God's character.

The other alternative is to choose to believe the enemy.  He shoots arrows of thoughts my way and I often can't tell the difference between his words and my own thoughts.  They sound the same in my head and always seem to fit how I process information and feelings.  He's sly and intuitive and knows how to customize a lie.  Even though it feels natural to me, do I prefer the words of a liar over God?  Most of my life, the answer has been 'yes'.

If I needed a witness to vouch for me in court, whom would I choose?  One person is upstanding in the community and is known to be a person of integrity.  The second is a shady character, a person famous for double talk.  The choice seems obvious.  So is the choice to believe God over all other voices today.  When there are conflicting stories, Word against man, I choose the divine Word.

Your Word is my truth, my only reality, Lord. Amen

What Would Your Heart Long to Do?

Ray Ortlund post:  As if there were no tomorrow

“I never really knew Stevie Ray Vaughn well.  We played together only a couple of times, but it was enough to be able to link him with Jimi Hendrix in terms of commitment.  They both played out of their skin, every time they picked up their instruments, as if there were no tomorrow, and the level of devotion they both showed to their art was identical.  Listening to Stevie on the night of his last performance here on earth was almost more than I could stand and made me feel like there was nothing left to say.  He had said it all.”

Eric Clapton, Clapton: The Autobiography (New York, 2007), page 325.

When planning a worship service for Immanuel Church, one of the questions I often ask myself and our music leader is, “If this were your last opportunity ever to lead people in worship, what would your heart long to do?”  After all, it might be.  And even if we have another chance next Sunday, I never want to hold back.  So much is at stake every time.

A New Beginning

Mark Batterson post:  God's Grammar

Many years ago I heard an old sermon by an old preacher and I'll never forget it. The sermon was titled God's Grammar. He said: "Never put a comma where God puts a period and never put a period where God puts a comma."

The resurrection of Jesus Christ turned death into a comma. It's not the end. It's a new beginning! Don't put a period where God puts a comma. Why? Because God is in the resurrection business.

Poured Out

Miscellanies post:  ... so I might drink from his cup

He drank my cup … so I might drink from his cup.

Matt 26:26–29

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Mark 14:22–25

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:14–20

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

1 Corinthians 11:23­–26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Do Adore Thee

Tyler Kennedy post:  Good Friday Hymn

There's something about music played in a minor key that really serves sorrowful lyrics. And that's a gracious thing, especially when you know you ought to feel the weight of the words more and you don't.

We sang this hymn last night at Bethlehem's Maundy Thursday service, and God used the consonance of its words and melody to move me emotionally closer to the bitterness and beauty of the cross. I was grateful. Perhaps he would use it to move you too.

I found a great recording of it at Songsandhymns.org, which you can listen to or download.

Ah, Holy Jesus
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,
That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
Alas my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee.
I crucified Thee.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thy incarnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life’s oblation;
Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,
For my salvation.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
For our atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,
I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee.
Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,
Not my deserving.

Christ Raised

As I think about Good Friday, what Jesus endured, all that the disciples must have been thinking, and as I look forward to resurrection day ("if Christ has not been raised, then .. (our) faith is in vain") there are many songs that have special meaning.

Probably my favorite Good Friday song, because of the resurrection hope,  is Carman's "Sunday's on the Way"

Wise and Strong

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25

Revelation

Mark Batterson post:  Reading + Remembering = Revelation

The reason we need to read Scripture is because we need something to remember. Let me explain. In John 2, Jesus turns the Temple upside down or rightside up. He drives out the animals and turns over the tables. And it says the disciples "remembered" what was written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." If you don't read the Word you can't remember it. It's like not studying for a test. It's real hard to remember what you haven't read in the first place. The reason many of us don't have any revelation is because we haven't read the Word, therefore we cannot remember it. The disciples have a revelation in this moment because they remember what they have read.
Here's a revelation equation: Reading + Remembering = Revelation.

We need to read the Word so that the Holy Spirit can selectively and strategically bring to mind those words that He inspired thousands of years ago. We need to read so that we have something to remember. And it'll lead to revelation.

Gospel

Gospel 101 from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.