Each day this week I am going to feature a different quote that inspires me. I hope you will find these inspirational too.
TO SERVE THE PRESENT AGE,
MY CALLING TO FULFIL,
O MAY IT ALL MY POWERS ENGAGE,
TO DO MY MASTER’S WILL!”
MAYNARD G. JAMES
(1902-1988)
Dale Ralph Davis has said, “It is not only by grace alone that we become God’s people but by grace alone we remain His people.” I don’t care if one is Calvinist or Arminean, we can both agree on this statement. We are saved by grace alone, Ephesians is very clear on that. We are also kept by the power of that same grace, given to us as a gift from God. We do nothing before salvation to merit it and we do nothing after salvation to merit keeping it. Has anyone lived perfectly, even after being born again? No? Then it is only by God’s grace we remain in fellowship with Him. The more one studies grace in Scripture, the more amazing it becomes.
As the Canons of Dort expresses it, “God does not owe this grace to anyone. For what could God owe to one who has nothing to give that can be paid back? Indeed, what could God owe to one who has nothing of his own to give but sin and falsehood?” I leave you this morning with one other quote to ponder, this one from Alistair Begg: “As a result of grace, we have been saved from sin’s penalty. One day we will be saved from sin’s presence. In the meantime we are being saved from sin’s power.” Amen and praise God for His grace.
Based on Psalm 24, we study who is worthy to worship the Lord God Almighty. A timely message on holiness.
http://discernmentministries.webs.com/apps/podcast/podcast/255210
Here is a picture taken in front of Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At 272 steps, climbing it was a challenge!
At the bottom, one can see the images on top of the gateway. One proceeds up 272 steps into the cavern temple
Today through Tuesday, we are excited to offer the resource: The Quest, Changing a Church’s Culture from Missions-minded to Missions-active free of charge. Simply go to the link below and get your copy for Kindle or PC
Enjoy!
I was reflecting on the top 5 people I would like to spend a day with (not counting Jesus, of course). Here is my list:
1) Adoniram Judson
2) Amy Carmichael
3) William Carey
4) Lottie Moon
5) Hudson Taylor
Those are my top 5, what are yours?
As we saw yesterday, confession is taking our repentance and allowing the church to hold us accountable so we do not continue in the same pattern of sin. So often, we forget that we have been saved into the body of Christ. Our actions, both good and bad, reflect on Christ and on the church. What we do in our personal lives is everyone else’s business.
When a person confesses their shortcomings, burdens and sins – the church is then empowered to help them and share their burden as Scripture commands. People aren’t simply to acknowledge another’s confession and say, “I’ll pray for you.” They are to act. For example, if a person was to confess not reading and studying Scripture, another brother or sister should immediately offer to spend time with them weekly in studying the Scripture together. Or, if a person was to confess they had a drinking problem, another brother who has had victory over that sin would offer to counsel, support, hold them accountable. In this way we fulfill the law of Christ.
Confession leads the church into actually living the shared life. In a later post I will answer some common objections but I leave you with this today – does your church practice a healthy discipline of confession? Why not?
One of the best definitions of confession I have run across was written by Dr. Richard Krejcir. He writes the following: “Repentance is before God; confession is before God, then having others hold us accountable to our faith. The distinction between confession and repentance is that confession is taking our repentance and telling someone besides God (of course you have to go to Him first and foremost!) to hold us accountable.”
This is an area of Christian discipline I find to be lacking in most people’s lives, and in the life of a church as well. Tomorrow I will continue to develop thoughts on the discipline of confession.
The latest happenings this month at Ta Ethne
DAY 14 – HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
What a magnificent, majestic song to sing in praise to God! Yes, all the saints do adore Him, the God of our Salvation. When we stand before the throne we will cast down our crowns at His feet, acknowledging that He and He alone is worthy of any honor. The great angels and other heavenly creatures also will bow in reverence, honor and awe before our great God.
We cannot see Him now. To witness His holy glory would destroy us. Our sinful bodies are simply not capable of withstanding His perfect presence. One day, we will have a new body and be cleansed from all sin but for now, He is hidden from our sight. Now, we see as through a glass darkly, but then we will see clearly.
At the coming of the Lord Jesus, when this present heaven and earth pass away and everything is made new, only those who belong to the Lord will inhabit the universe. All His works will praise His name. All will give Him the glory He deserves.
Every time I sing this song, I am swept up in emotion as I reflect on how wonderful and amazing God is. I sing this with all my heart and mind, praying that He takes joy in my offering to Him. Early in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon, late in the evening, all are appropriate times to ring out praise to our most holy God.
Most high and holy God, I offer to You everything I have. Nothing I am or will be is in any way a worthy gift to such a magnificent God, but all I have I give to You. You alone are worthy of praise and glory and majesty. I bow before Your glorious throne.
HOLY, HOLY HOLY by Reginald Heber
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Who wert and art and evermore shall be
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
ta ethne 